Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?

Once, when I was a girl, I made a commitment to chew the same stick of Wrigley's Extra Spearmint gum for as many consecutive days as possible.  The self-inflicted parameters were as follows:

1.  If I was awake, I was chewing unless I was brushing my teeth or eating. 

2.  The wad stayed on the post of the old wooden bunk bed I slept in. 

That was pretty much it as far as the rules were concerned.  Two rules, plain and simple.  I embraced the challenge wholeheartedly and went to town on the chewing.  By day nine, the once other-worldly green hue gave way to Girl Scout uniform tan.  At day fourteen it was more the consistency of rubber than that of chewing gum as we know it.  As I recall, that sticky mass made it to 21 days of chewing before it finally began to break down.  Or I began to break down.  I'm not exactly sure which.

In any case, it was a grand experiment and one that lives on in the recesses of my childhood memories along with summer days of wild blueberry picking and hurling our bodies off of smooth rocks in Lake Superior into the chilling waters below.  Good stuff indeed.

I've grown now, but the thrill of a challenge still entices me.  Hence, 31 days of walking in March.  This one is fairly simple; absolutely not as difficult as other summits I've sought to reach.

I stepped out this evening again with Ben skipping along beside me (yes, I tell you, my dog skips on walks; he's that happy!).  A curious thing always happens when I walk.  I set out thinking, "I don't have time for this."  Or, "Why am I walking for 31 days?  This is so silly."  Two more minutes in and I get it.

Immediately all of the swirling thoughts in my brain begin to slide into place.  I'm whispering prayers aloud into the evening air, "Lord, I'm Yours.  I don't see what You see.  But You see.  And that's Enough."  

"I trust You alone."

"Some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."

And then I quiet and still and simply walk and listen.  And He whispers into my heart.

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Kicking Off 31 Days Of Walking

For the month of March, I will be walking every day and writing a bit about it.  The purpose?  Our family will be traveling to the Smoky Mountains to meet up with my entire side of the family in April.  We will be sharing one large cabin, and I intend to do quite a bit of hiking while there.  I can't really travel all that way and be surrounded by the beautiful scenery there and not take full advantage of it, now can I?

I really look forward to hiking with my husband, children and all of our extended family members.  Hopefully it will be more spring-like than winter-like, but we will be grateful for whatever the season brings.  We are really looking forward to being all together, sitting fireside, playing games and making memories.

For today's walk I took a quick brisk turn around the neighborhood with my faithful four-legged sidekick, Ben.  He was more than eager to get outside and breathe in the air than I was. 

Winter is so funny to me.  When I'm inside, I want nothing more than to stay bundled up and try to warm the chill away.  Taking a walk in the frosty air does not sound like a good idea.

But once out there and slipping into the quiet rhythm of the journey, everything changes.  I enjoy breathing deeply from the diaphragm, feeling the crisp air fill my lungs.  It is quiet outside; just Ben and me.  The click of his nails on the pavement, an intermittent jingling of his City tags linked to his collar and the quiet padding of my tennis shoes:  these are the only sounds I hear.  It is bliss.

Would you like to join me?  The challenge is simple.  Walk every day for the purpose of exercise in the month of March.  Join us here each day and comment to let us hear about it and encourage one another! 

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Six Steps To Getting Fit Like You Mean It

Before we dive right into the nitty gritty here, let me just say out loud that I am not the most fit person on the planet.  We do our best to make healthy choices and changes daily, and leave the rest in God's hands.  That said, here are six tips I've learned along the way that really have the potential to make a major impact in your entire fitness makeup if put into practice.

1.  Move.  Easy-peasy, right?  Simple as can be, really.  If you're not moving each day, start.  If you are, amp it up.  You can start basic with things like taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the entrance door in a parking lot and taking your puppy for a quick tour of the neighborhood.  Ahem.  On foot.  From there, pick it up to a quick run, a 30-minute walk, perhaps some exercise DVD's or a local YMCA membership.   Sing the song while you are getting your exercise in, "I like to move it, move it.  I like to move it, move it." 

2.  Eat your greens.  All that stuff your mama told you about health and fruits and veggies was true.  Strive for multiple servings of vegetables and fruits at each and every meal.  And maybe even in between meals.  They will amp up your fiber intake and increase your energy by leaps and bounds.

3.  Become a heavy drinker.  Of water.  Skip all the sodas, sweet tea, lemonade and what have you; and go straight for the pure stuff.  Agua.  Water will help to combat food cravings by helping you to feel full.  In fact, oftentimes when you are hungry, you may actually be thirsty.  Try drinking a big glass of the ice cold good stuff first, wait five minutes, and see if you are still hungry.

4.  Go to sleep.  I love the saying, "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."  And while I'm not so fixated upon financial status in this world, I do believe that sleep does contribute to a wealthy life in the form of relationships, work productivity and mental stability; among numerous other forms of wealth.  I've heard it said that every hour you sleep before midnight equals two hours of sleep ~ going to sleep early is that valuable. 

5.  Stop counting calories.  You heard it here first.  Drop the number tabulating and instead try to focus on what you're putting into your system.  The goal overall is to eat healthy and eat less.  Make sure what you're taking in at every meal is food, real food.  None of this over-processed chemical-laced business.  If you're taking in real food -- less meat and mostly plants -- you don't have to think about the numbers. 

6.  Laugh.  It's true.  Let go, release a bit of tension and let a chortle escape; perhaps even a chuckle.  Research shows that laughter burns calories and lifts your mood.  Sounds like a win-win to me!

My baby girl a couple years back making the silliest face EVER!  For your laughing enjoyment.

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

She Goes

My beautiful friend, Kathy, travels to Ecuador in just a few brief days to meet her sponsored child.  Her bags are packed, travel documents and immunizations are all in order; and she is picking up last minute toys as gifts, such as marbles.

By all standards, she is more than ready.

And the most prepared part of her?  Her heart.

The depths of Kathy's heart for God are simply unfathomable.  Her husband, Brad, lost his battle to cancer a few years back while gaining the ultimate victory; now being eternally in the very presence of Jesus Christ.

 Brad and Kathy's love story is the stuff that Disney movies are made of.  They complemented each other perfectly.  He adored her sparkling quick wit and compassionate soul, and she likewise found joy in his infectious laugh and winning smile.  Brad loved music; and even more he loved to use his gift of music to lead people to the cross.  In his last days when he was drained of energy and weak, we would see him each Sunday morning using every ounce of strength that he had leading our church family in worship as our worship minister. 

He didn't have to come. 

He came of his own volition, simply because it swelled his heart beyond compare to share his love of our Savior with others in song.  

He wanted us to glimpse heaven as he did. 

I share this with you so that you may understand what left Kathy when Brad had to go.

But you know what she did?  She grieved, yes; and sometimes she grieves still.

But within this season of mourning she has also danced.  Kathy has never stop serving our Savior for a moment.  She continually serves at our local crisis pregnancy center, teaches an Adult Bible Fellowship class, is primary caretaker for her ailing mother, speaks at churches to inspire others in their journey; and now, travels to Ecuador to bring a smile in the name of Jesus.

No matter what she felt, no matter the depths of mourning which naturally run their course; she never stopped.  She doesn't sit and waste her finite minutes here.

She goes.

Visit Kathy's encouraging devotional blog at www.fixyourthoughtsonjesus.blogspot.com.  Subscribe to it to receive her updates as she posts.

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Perhaps Today

I knew an old mountain preacher who used to sign every letter he penned by hand with the closing, "Perhaps Today."  He followed it up with a scripture reference from the book of Revelation, citing that we do not know the day nor the hour when our Lord Jesus will return for His bride; but nonetheless, He is coming.  

Perhaps Today.

This same preacher, heart and character worn and polished through the years as the mountains he walked and ministered in, filled a sheet of college-ruled notebook paper, front and back, with words of wisdom and love for Josh and I on our wedding day.  And of course it was signed, "Perhaps Today".  

How often do we think along these veins?  That perhaps today the Lord could appear, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 

Would you live today a bit differently, or possibly altogether flipped right-side-up on its heels differently? 

What would that look like for you?  How would you put skin on that?

Would you love more and hold back less?  

Our family enjoyed watching "The Odd Life of Timothy Green" last night with a crackling fire and homemade oatmeal cranberry chocolate chip cookies.  As we took in the message and watched Timothy's life and purpose unfold, I couldn't help remembering back to this wise preacher's prophetic words.  Timothy knew his time was limited (and I'll leave it at that for those of you that haven't seen it).  Within that framework of finite minutes, he loved hard and well and opened his eyes to the moments around him.  Instead of seeking his own gain, he humbly sought to lift others up and love truly.

This morning as you awaken and prepare to meet together with the church body, remember, "Perhaps Today".

"In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."  ~ 1 Corinthians 15:52

Enjoy Today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Chicken Scratch

It was such a bright and sunshiney day today, we just had to get out.  So we did.  And our one-week-old chickies came with us.

To say that they were thrilled would be a terrible understatement.  They cheeped and chirped and hopped about happy as could be.  They even had the pleasure of experiencing their first scratch-about in the dirt.

The kids brought them worm after worm.  An eager chick would grasp it in her beak and run off screaming that she'd just won the grand prize.  A scuffling of chicks would ensue, and inevitably the worm would change beaks. 

The chicks enjoyed the sunshine and warm temps for about 20 minutes, and then we returned them to their brooder indoors. 

With the chicks tucked safely inside, I prepared this 3' x 5' in-ground raised bed for planting spinach this week.  I am trying double-digging this year; I've never done it before.  We'll see how it goes!

It's time now to start planning and planting!  Even just a few veggie plants can help your family food source become a bit more self-sustainable.

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.

Maximizing the Moment

Tonight I worked in a quick Tabata class.  I had never experienced Tabata before tonight.  It was pure insanity for 30 minutes. 

Basically, it's the housewife's equivalent of boot camp.  Except it's only 30 minutes.  

I entered the fitness room and took stock of the situation.  All of the other participants were setting up their gear.  So I followed suit.  I positioned my work station and waited for class to start.  I tried not to look too long at the gear, as it struck the desire to chew my fingernails in nervous energy. 

Tabata.

Even the name is intense.  So what happened?  We did 20 seconds of high-focus exercise, then stopped for 10 seconds.  Then again:  same exercise for 20 seconds, stop for 10 seconds.  And again and again and again.  I'm not sure how long this went on.  But I felt every single second of it.

It was hard; it was laborious; and I grunted like a pig. Yep.  Not a pretty word picture there; but quite accurate.  Making ugly workout faces I could clearly see in the full-length wall mirror, I huffed and I puffed. 

But you know what?  These are our opportunities.  When you have set aside a time to work out, work yourself to the full; and then work yourself some more.  You have committed this specific time up to do something wonderful for your body and your health.  Maximize it.  Push hard; and then when you think you can't go any further, push even harder.  It all adds up over time, and you will see results.

Enjoy today,

P.S. You are welcome here! Thank you for stopping by for a visit. Feel free to join the conversation by leaving a comment and sharing your thoughts.