Monday, March 30, 2009

The Start of Week 9

(Taken by Kevin)
So, I am heading into week 9 of consistent working out - I have consistently worked out 3 to 5 times a week for 9 weeks. Just 9 weeks, BUT I can feel a tremendous difference. I feel lighter and more bouncy and less lethargic. I definitely think I have gone down a pant size, because my jeans get loose really fast now. The point to this healthy life style isn't really for me to loose weight - it's more so that I want to be as toned and as healthy as I can be before I start having babies plus other things of course. I want to be in the habit of living a healthy life style. I have always been athletic and such, but ever since I broke my leg (about 3 1/2 yrs ago or so) it has been so hard to stick to a regular workout system- I have had to work my way back up to running, I wasn't able to run again up until this past summer. It has been tough, because I still have pain in my leg and often find myself pushing through. I still need to have the 3rd surgery in order to get the plate out of my leg, and I think/am hoping it will help with the pain.

I love going to the gym and running the treadmill, I feel so much better afterwards. I've noticed a drastic difference in my toning ever since I started doing more cardio throughout the week (I was originally doing more exercise classes) - now I have switched to cardio Monday, Wed, & Friday - Tues. & Thurs are reserved for the AWESOME hard abs class LU offers (the class is seriously intense!). Also with the treadmill I have started doing interval running on a steep incline which I think has really benefited my legs in the toning process. My thighs are the toughest part to tone, and slowly but surely I am seeing them take shape.. (back to the shape they were when I got married - oh married body where have you gone!).

Don't get me wrong- to me their are so many other important things to focus on, such a your relationship with God, and family. I have also been working extra hard at spending time to just be with God, and it makes such a difference on the way I view the world, myself, Him, & others around me. Without that relationship first, I feel lost. Speaking of - I am reading this AMAZING book called: Your God is Too Safe - It has helped me SO much in my walk with the Lord. I can't even begin to describe the blessing it has been to me. I highly recommend it to any Christian looking to go deeper in their walk on so many levels. :)

My friend told me about this neat site you can use for free in order to keep track of your nutrition intake and exercise regimen - Here's the link : Gyminee
I also signed up to get daily e-mails from Hungry Girl - Tricks & Tips for Hungry Chic's - I like the daily e-mails because they give you weight watcher recipes and break down the points for you. I am also trying to keep track of my points which is an eye opener to the things we eat daily.

Well that's my update for now - I took some fun pictures over the weeked - I'll post them soon.
Ps. Please pray for Kevin's dad - he lost his job. :( We are praying the best for him. We would LOVE to have him live close to us. (praying those doors open) :)
Pss - Bailey our girl pup might be pregnant - only time will tell now- lets just say her and Leo were inseparable for a week. :)

Sunday, March 22, 2009

"Freedom 4 - 24 is a movement...

... to raise awareness of the sexually exploited women in Thailand."

Today Brentwood - (the church Kevin and I call home) launched a mission/cause called 
Freedom 4-24

The mission of Freedom 4-24 is this:  click here:   Mission

Click video to watch what was
 presented in church today.

I am crushed in spirit over this and can't even begin to imagine the horror these women and very young girls face daily. 
You can help by purchasing a Freedom 4-24 tee-shirt and the funds will go toward helping these women become free from bondage & come to know Christ. 

These prostitutes are bought for $1.00 an hour, and $24 American dollars can buy their freedom for 1 full night.  During that night they will be taken to a ministry that will share the gospel with them and show them a different road they can take.  Lives are being changed and will continue to be changed through our help.  
Here's where you can buy a shirt to support the mission for
 Freedom 4-24.  Kevin and I bought some today and just so you know the shirt that looks dark pinkish online is actually red. :)

If your interested in more details about the whole thing, I would be happy to tell you about it. 



Sunday, March 15, 2009

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

"The Way I See It #299"

Kevin is such a giver - I aspire to be more like him.
Kevin and I have set a monthly budget of how much money each of us can spend on "anything" within that month. You know things like Starbucks... Of course I have this awful tendency of spending my portion of the budget at the beginning of the month and by the middle of the month you see me scrounging for change. Kevin on the other hand is wise with his part of the budget and waits patiently before he spends it. So, with that said within the first 2 days of March I already spent my budget!! Heartbreaking, I know! But of course as usual Kevin has not.

Well, all that to say, today Kevin brought me Starbucks to work this morning! Such a treat, because I LOVE Starbucks (obviously)! He knows how much I love the whip cream too, so he even has them put the whip in a separate little cup so it doesn't melt before he gets it to me. But all good treats must be paid for and where is the money coming from? Surely not my budget. His spending money! He is such a generous person, me on the other hand I clench every penny I have and save it for unnecessary things. Not to say I don't like giving or blessing people, I really really do! I just have a hard time taking it out of "my" budget.. I tend to dip into the overall budget. Anyways, he is a blessing in my life, and I can only strive to be more like him. He is such a good example of what thoughtfulness truly is: 1. showing consideration for others; considerate.

I really liked the saying that was on the cup today, here's what it was:

The Way I See It #299

There is a subtle difference

between a mission and a promise.

A mission is something you strive

to accomplish - a promise is

something you are compelled to

keep. One is individual, the other is

shared. When a mission and a

promise are one and the same...

that's when mountains are moved

and races are won.
--Hala Moddelmog
President and CEO,
Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Monday, March 2, 2009

Snow Day Part 1 -

The start to a beautiful snow fall here in Lynchburg.
Once the snow started really falling, I had to get out in it.
We were so excited, because snow here reminds us so much of home (Michigan).

Playing in the snow.


The doggies liked the snow too!
Then when we thought it couldn't get any better...
Kevin and I woke up to this...
SO much beautiful snow!  
The backyard

Backyard

Front yard

Leo LOVED the snow, he kept bouncing like a little bunny in it!!
It was so cute.  It took Bailey some time, but eventual had fun in it too. 
:)


Leo being a bunny some more

This is what happens when you let little dogs with long hair 
play outside for awhile
Nice snow dreads huh?

We attempted to thaw the dreads with hair dryers but it wasn't working.
We ended up having to put them in the bath tub.  It was worth it though. 
We got a bunch of funny pictures of them playing outside.

Snow Day Part 2 -

After waking up to the most beautiful snow fall of the year, 
I was sitting on the couch and noticed Kevin was doing something strange in the snow...
To my pleasant surprise I realized this is what he had done. :)
See the heart!!!!!  What a true gentleman,
he always knows how to make me smile and make my heart melt.

I Love this picture of Kevin - this was before we got bundled up 
to venture out into the snow.
Bundled up and ready!!  It was so beautiful and bright outside!!
Taking a walk, enjoying the day. 
School was closed which also meant we didn't have to work!
Enjoying the free time we had together outside.


Our house surrounded by snow - 
wish that would happen more often!!
Building a snowman!  Kev also warming up his hands...
he had no gloves.

Done!  Thumbs up with the snowman!


I did not want to go in and neither did Kevin, 
so we decided to make some snow-angels!  Too fun...
I am going to be SO sad when the snow melts away.
Kevin making his angel

I had this incredible urge to lay face first in the snow.
It was wonderful! Had my fingers not been numb I may have been able to lay their all day!
Not wanting to get up I decided "swimming" in the snow would be fun...
and it was!!!

Cheeeeeessee!!!!

Kevin and I both jumped around in the snow, but 
of course Kev busted out his awesome moves!
He had fun doing flips in the snow while I pretended to "swim" 
and flop around like a dying seal. LOL  :)  
Love this picture of Kevin - it makes for a good ending
to a fun filled day.