CRU

CRU

WOW, this is already an awesome week.  Tonight started the first night of CRU.  CRU is the yearly youth rally our youth minister, Ashley Huneycutt, and our church, Hopewell Baptist, puts on every year in the fall.  It is truely amazing.  I have several pics here for you to see.

This year Criag Tackett and the Jonathan Project have returned to us.  We also have with us this year, Alan Capps.  He is also known as the Jesus Painter.  It was a joy to see him paint tonight.  His picture tonight was of Jesus holding the bread for all.  He IS the Bread of LIFE and is available to all.  It went right along with Craig's message of the Great Commission.

The night always starts off with music for the youth to enjoy while tossing around the beach balls.  Then, Craig opened with a praise song but then had to quickly do one that ALL the youth (young and old ;) love, The Lawnmower Man song.  That is even fun for me.  I don't do all the moves but such fun music I have to participate!!

Then Alan Capps came up to begin his painting.  When he was finished I believe it was time for Craig to speak.  He is so funny the youth just hang on his every last word.  It really is amazing how he can share the gospel and you can go away remembering almost everything he said.  

Following his message there were about 10 people who came forward to make decisions of some kind in their life for Christ.  I really love how Craig doesn't waste the hearts of the youth by toying with their emotions and getting them to make decisions based on feelings.  He can tell if they really are making a true decision for him.  He doesn't draw it out forever until  100 people come forward.  When God is tugging at your heart, it is apparent and they won't be able to stand still. 

 I really had a fabulous time just like always.  I know my boys are loving it more this year too because they are older.  We have two more nights of this and I really don't even care how much it adds to our week to get out three nights of the week.  That is one of the beauties of homeschooling.  We can sleep in and relax and enjoy what God has for us!!!!! 

Looks like homeschooling needs to be a blog of mine soon.  

Ok, I have a couple more pics to share. You can tell in the pics that the place was PACKED.  People were standing in the back and sitting along the walls.  In one pic I posted before this blog post you can see children lying in the isles to hear Craig.  

Perfect pic from my view at CRU!!!

My 3 Guys On My Mind

These are my guys.  Use to be my 'boys' but now I have a preteen, a teen, and Tim. They are not little boys anymore.  I don't know what I would ever do without them.  I have been so blessed and it is only fitting that I list them as the next topic (collectively) on my mind.  This may be a little long but not all my blogs will be this long.

Tim is my hubby.  We have been married for almost 17 years.  We knew each other only 6 months before we got married. We were engaged for 1 month then the wedding was 5 months later.  Many of you know how we met which is pretty funny.  We met at Camp Willow Run.  The first week we met I didn't know he was flirting.  Guess I was just blind to it.  Then the second week I came back to camp was about 3 weeks later.  He had worked it out that we would cross paths.  Then God stepped in and made another way for us to mingle that he had nothing to do with.  I had a boy who was causing problems and I needed his counselor.  Who do you think that was?  Yep, Tim.  So that made it to where we were able to talk.  I heard all about his trials and they didn't bother me.  He asked me out by wanting me to show him around Va. Beach the next weekend.  So, that is what we did.  He came up to Va. Beach and I showed him around.  He and I both knew that day that we were gonna be married.  So, it has been a long time since then.  We have been through ministry moves, seminary, easy times, and hard.  But God has always worked in us both and taught us many new things.  We grow every year.  Tim has been my music minister now for almost 10 years now.  The wild thing is, he will always be my music min.  I love that.  I love being his wife and serving with him in the ministry.  You will learn more about Tim throughout my blog.  

 

Tyler is my oldest.  He is 13.  WOW, a teen.  Yep, I have one.  I do not feel like I should be old enough for a teen. He is a joy to me.  There are so many things about him.  Where do I start?  First off, he is very tenderhearted and compassionate.  He is always putting others ahead of himself.  Since he was very young he would always try and help other people.  Yes, even his brother.  When Tanner was little his speech was really delayed.  Tyler had a lot of compassion for him and would pray for him all the time.  He even wanted to Santa to do something really special for him.  Tyler loves video games and LEGOs.  He is very proud of being a LEGO geek.  I love that he could care less what anyone thinks of him.  He is very outspoken about his faith too.  We homeschool so we get many opportunities to talk about God and what is in the Word.  He will also point stuff out that is Biblically wrong. He is a boy quickly growing to be a honorable and noble young man.  I love watching that.  He use to love tennis.  He doesn't get to play now.  Tennis clubs cost so much for practices.  Oh, I can not leave out how much he loves Science.  He is a part of Science Olympiad this year.  Many exciting things are gonna come from this. Also, Tyler loves school.  He actually gets upset when he'll miss Co Op.  Another thing, Tyler is a child of God.  He accepted Christ when he was 4 but confirmed it when he was 8.  Well, I know I am surely leaving something out but you will learn more about him over time.  

 

Tanner is my youngest who is 12 years old.  Yes, my boys are close in age (13.5 months apart).  They were actually both surprises.  That is another story.  Ok, back to Tanner.  When he was a baby I always said he would be my entertainer. Turns out, he is.  He always tries to make people laugh and make people happy.  He is very talented musically.  He loves playing drums and hearing music.  Tanner has several disabilities so that affects singing.  I can tell that is one thing he wish he could do better.  He is very active and playful too.  He struggles with school but is actually getting better at reading.  That really makes him proud of himself.  He is also the most generous person you will ever meet.  I have seen him countless times give money away or a toy he had because he just felt someone else needed it.  He is gonna be broke when he gets older cuz he gives everything away.  That actually is fine with me.  He loves to skateboard and ride the rip stick.  He is pretty sturdy too, rarely falls and gets hurt.  Did I tell you he loves to make people laugh.  I smile every time I say that.  Tanner also has accepted Christ as his Savior.  He did this in the McDonald's parking lot when he was 8 also. He has a little ways to go in his growing but I can tell he is gonna work hard at being a honorable and noble young man too.  

 

I love all my guys and love that I am the only lady in the house.  I hear many noises and experience crazy smells but what would I do without them?  Oh, did I point out that I am officially the shortest one in the home now?  Yep, Tanner passed me.  I really need to get a picture of this soon.  

I set my mind on that which is good-JESUS!!

This is the first blog post for this blog.  Since I want to share with you my mindset, we should first start with the Savior who consumes my mind.  He determines my thoughts, actions, and decisions.  He is my Father (God)-Son (Jesus Christ)-Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit).  I began living for Him the summer after 8th grade, 1987.  I was 14 years old. 

I had accepted Christ as my Lord when I was 9 but I did not change at all.  I continued to live like I wanted to live. I didn't start spending time with him in the Word (Bible) like I should.  I didn't talk to him (pray) like I should.  I didn't serve him and worship him like He wanted me to and needed me too.  He desired my love and worship for Him and I was selfish and kept it all for music groups, friends, TV, and even playing 'church'.  

So, after a few years of 'messing' up everything in my life at the time, I realized I needed Him and only Him and I wanted to give all my love to Him and show Him my desire to serve in many ways.  I was alone in my room on a summer night with a toilet roll in one hand and wiping my ever flowing eyes with the other.  I gave my life completely over to Him.  Some of you who read this will remember how I changed that summer.  I remember people coming to me and asking me what was different.  I loved that.  I loved that people saw Jesus in me.  


Ok, so now you know who I live my life for and who determines my mind.  He renews it everyday.  Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."


He also tells me in Matthew 22:37  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." So, this is what I intend to do for all the days of my life.   


If you want to know more about how you can know Christ like I do, PLEASE ask me.  Or, if you want to read for yourself first, then here is a great link.  

Me before I was saved and now!

3.5 months and having those valleys.

I am sitting here drinking a small, decaf cup of coffee with very little fat free/sugar free creamer and only two Splendas in it. That is huge for me. I am thinking back to 3.5 months and 33lbs ago when I found out that I did not need to be drinking caffeine anymore. I really wasn’t phased by it when they told me. I just realized that that is something I am gonna have to do to change the way I am. I did it. It took me a day and a half and not too bad of a headache and I was over it. I packed up the coffee stuff and did great. I got it out over time when I thought I could handle less sugar without being tempted to put more. Well, I think now that I am drinking it again, I am becoming that creature of habit and wanting more and more and not drinking as much water. SO, tomorrow, I am gonna pack up the coffee again and ONLY drink it when I am at church or for something special. I have to take these measures to be who I need to be and have that healthy body/temple for serving the Lord. So, anyone want and coffee? I have some to give out. I’ll bring it to church Sunday and have it in the car if anyone wants it. I have decaf and regular (ground and not). I will keep the creamer and Splenda on hand so I can stock my purse for when I go out.
I got discouraged some because I am not losing as many pounds as I was. The margin has dropped and also I am putting on my muscle but I know that I am not doing everything I need to do either. I have wavered from my diet and I need to get back to doing what I was doing. That means not trying to get away with ranch dressing cuz I CAN’T have it right now. So, pray for me still in this journey and y’all will see the fruits of your prayers and encouragement in a few more months. Pray specifically that I not grab those random chips or cookies the boys have and that I put exercising at the gym on my schedule. I HAVE to do it. In my Beck Diet Solution Workbook one of the things it talks about it thinking of some things as NO CHOICE activities. Like showering, brushing teeth, washing clothes. We have NO CHOICE. We HAVE to do those things. Well, some of the things I am doing are gonna be NO CHOICE things to me and I am gonna hold to it.
Thank you, God for guiding me and keeping my mind alert to think on these things you want me to do for myself and my body so that I can eventually serve others better and more and stay healthy and live longer for my family.
Thank you to everyone else too. Lisa, thank you for being the greatest coach and for the little ring band. It is helping me A LOT!!!!!
Love you ALL!!!!!!

2 months

Well, it has been almost 2 months. I have done really well and lost a total of 23lbs. I have hit a road block in the past two weeks where things have slowed down but I know that has a lot to do with the food I was eating and the fact that I have not exercised like I really need to be. I am praying things will get more on track now that all my traveling is done. I feel really optimistic about the outcome. To lose that in two months. Imagine what I can do in 4 more.
Please pray for me as I work on this harder and with more diligence. I got some really great walking shoes as a reward and am loving them and walking in the neighborhood. I am also working on cutting out the sodium. That is a kicker. I also need to get back into my book The Beck Diet Solution. I can tell that has a MAJOR impact on not staying on course.
Thank you all for praying for me and the major encouragement that I get from y’all.
I also have to give Tanner a HUGE virtual hug cuz he is so adorable to me. I’ll tell y’all in a few weeks what he says to me when he walks up to me every now and then. I just love hearing it.

One month in...

I am one month into my journey. I went to the Dr. and lost 3 MORE LBS.!!!! That makes a total of 14 lbs. That was pretty good considering how crazy I had to eat at MFuge in Philly last week. I also had an half a Philly Cheesesteak too. However, I walked a TON on hills and worked pretty hard painting and cleaning out weeds and stuff when you are only on an 800 calorie diet. I got somewhat week when I was outside pulling weeds but kept control of myself. This week I am at Ridgecrest and the food is really good. They cook a First Place diet/meal plan so it is pretty easy to eat what I am suppose to eat. Then, I am able to get my milk for my shakes. I have been tempted a few times but am trying to stay away from things here.
Please pray that I avoid the temptation and am able to add in the exercise I need to be getting. We have a fitness room just down the hall and there are hiking trails here that we are gonna go on. Thank y’all for your support and thank you to the ones (you know who you are) who think about me and what I am eating and trying to help me out. I am really gonna look into those things to do better.
I have to give a major thank you to Lisa, she is my coach and truly helping me a lot in MANY dif. ways. Love ya, girl.
Have a great day!!!!!!!!
Also, if you are on a journey too (of any kind) and want me to pray for you, I will. Just message me.
Also, had to share this. I heard someone say today “don’t ever be satisfied but do be content”. That is a thought to ponder on. Satisfied means you can tell yourself you can stop working on things but content means you can be happy with where you are right now but know that you can get better and improve.