JustaChick

humor me....

Griffin completed his last day of high school yesterday.  Our weekend is full of graduation celebrations and the arrival of family members. Some members we haven't seen in a very long time. More awards ceremonies this week leading into graduation on Thursday. 

To say that I am proud of him, is an understatement.  I'm not very vocal publicly about all the obstacles and trials that he's overcome.  But there have been many and some have been gut wrenching and difficult to maneuver. 

In spite of everything that life has thrown him, he's kept his humor, his compassion, his love of life, family and friends and finished this season of his life strong.  He is graduating with an advanced diploma this week and next week? 

We head to Auburn for Camp War Eagle. 

Griffin,

Your family is so proud of you!  Dad and I love you so much and couldn't be more excited about your future.  Thank you for the holy privilege of being your mom.

It's time to celebrate!

Here are just a few of my favorite memories... (you might need a tissue)

“But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.” – Isaiah 32:8

War Eagle!

(aka Mom)

one more week down....

It's been an odd week and next week will likely be the same.  My girls turned 17 on Monday and we started this week off with lots of celebrating... and it was yummy! :)

My son celebrates his last day of high school today and graduation is next Thursday.. :)  I'm sure there will be more celebrating to be done as well. :) 

My attitude is one of perseverance these next two weeks, living in the moment and celebrating.. while running as much as possible!  BUT, here is the update!

Here are my goals as I continue on.. I'll have to figure out a new button for our weight loss journey now...

• Work out at least 6 times a week - I have figured out over these 11 weeks that working out a few times a week just won't cut it anymore.  So.. I will be running every day and/or walking/elliptical.  The weight won't come off unless I am pushing...as proven again this week.  I ran 3 miles twice this week, ran 1 mile at 5mph and 2.58 miles yesterday before shin splints hit.  Love those new shoes! :)
• Weight Watchers online. Good old faithful and dependable and easy WW online.  I love it.  It keeps me focused on what I am putting in my mouth and holds me accountable.  It also has really, really great recipes and tips.
• Still no more soda and I have cut back on my caffeine.  I'm going to continue to mix it up in the weeks to come.
• I am loving Advocare's awesome products.. thanks to my cousin Sarah Allen.  She rocks if you want to join me. I love the products so much that I joined to get the discounts and have graduated to the trim products.  Can't say enough good things about them.  My friend, Stephanie is also a distributor.. so if you know her, send her a message.  The story of the road to health for her family is awesome!

I've just completed week 12, I have lost a total of 27 pounds.. it equals 11.76% of my weight.  I've lost a total of 15 inches as well.  (Thank you Sarah Allen and Advocare... booyah!) 

I must admit that it's been a hard week emotionally.  I'm in between sizes and feeling like weight isn't coming off fast enough now.. (please don't comment that I am crazy.. or OCD... I totally get the weirdness of that comment).. but I am sure it's a plateau and am seeking His direction on emotional outlets.  The other hard part.. even after alterations.. the dress I wanted to wear on Sunday, for Senior Sunday?  Still way too big.  Doesn't matter what I wear..it matters that I am there.  Keeping it real and in perspective, but going shopping anyway. :0)

Share you favorite quote or scripture to keep you focused on the goal.. I could use some encouragement.. :)

Lobs ya,

So, how you doin'?

Happy Friday! (it should of been Friday.. but I got distracted! ;))

Welcome to the new look of weight loss Friday!!! I had no plans of stopping the weight loss journey, so when Kat at House of Hills said that she was continuing on.. well I decided to continue with her.

Here are my goals as I continue on.. I'll have to figure out a new button for our weight loss journey now...

• Work out at least 6 times a week - I have figured out over these 11 weeks that working out a few times a week just won't cut it anymore.  So.. I will be running every day and/or walking/elliptical.  The weight won't come off unless I am pushing...as proven again this week.  I ran 3 miles twice this week for the first time.  And, YES it felt like I was going to die.. but felt amazing afterwards. (Tylenol is my friend.)
• Weight Watchers online. Good old faithful and dependable and easy WW online.  I love it.  It keeps me focused on what I am putting in my mouth and holds me accountable.  It also has really, really great recipes and tips.
• Still no more soda and I have cut back on my caffeine.  I'm going to continue to mix it up in the weeks to come.
• Little to no carbs for a bit. Healthy carbs are good.  But carbs are not my friend.  I'm just sayin.
• Added alot of fruits and vegetables to my diet! I love it.  Trying to stay away from processed snacks and eating a green apple with peanut butter for some protein...I am on day 22 of a 24 day cleanse/trim challenge with Advocare's awesome products.. thanks to my cousin Sarah Allen.  She rocks if you want to join me.

I've just completed week 11, I have lost a total of 25 pounds.. it equals 10.86% of my weight.  I've lost a total of 15 inches as well.  (Thank you Sarah Allen and Advocare... booyah!) 

As I posted this week.. I had the blessing of winning the Losing It challenge.. cool beans.  But I had a terrible week this week.  I WAS so hungry and ate good but over the top foods.. :)  Like that krispy kreme donut that cost me 7 points yesterday, and the chips, salsa and queso that was consumed this week in celebration of Cinco de Mayo... after all.. how can a Texas girl go without her soul food?  But here's the thing... I think it is great to eat what you want periodically.  I am not a believer of denying yourself things that bring you joy..but only in moderation.  If you have a rough day, then pick yourself up at the next meal or the next day.  It's okay!  REALLY!  And quit weighing yourself all the time!!  Your weight fluctuates so much during the day!  Weigh once a week if you need to.  But do it ringing wet and before you have consumed anything for the day.  It gives you a truer sense of where you are.

The key to sticking to the lifestyle change you have adopted is perseverance and intention.  That is what relationship is all about.  Even the relationship with food.

SO!  What is your favorite snack recipe?  I'd love some new ones!!

Lobs ya,

I told you it was only the beginning!

For the four of you that jump on here and read my ramblings, I wanted to let you know of the continuing journey of the losing it. 

I was blessed to win this challenge:

and was sincerely honest when I said it was not an ending but a beginning!   Check out my prizes and this post from Mary at Giving Up On Perfect.  What I did not know last Friday, but am excited to share with you now is that Kathy at House of Hills will continue the charge for us! Come join me on Friday and join in if you want to!  There is a great community of women bound and determined to let Him have the victory over the lack of health in their lives.  It's inspirational, real and encouraging.

Hope to see you there!

Plan B by Pete Wilson

I have to admit.. I don't know Pete. I haven't ever met him face to face but I feel like I do know him in an online kinda way.  He's on my Pastor list on Twitter, I read his blog Without Wax .  I have lots of friends (okay, probably five) that go to Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN where he is the lead Pastor.  So when I found out that his book was being published by Thomas Nelson, I could not wait.

I couldn't wait because my spirit has been changed by Pete's teaching of God's Word.  His blog posts have made me think and called me to action.

Plan B is a wonderful book.  Pete's writing style has a very personal tone.  A "as if he is sitting across the table from you" style.  I tend to gravitate to those type of authors and leaders.  I want to know that for the few moments I have your attention, that you truly care about me and want to show me what He says.  Pete does exactly that in Plan B.

Everyone has a story.  We all have dreams that have been shattered, plans don't turn out the way we want them, we have suffered death, loss of a job, financial crisis or our families don't turn out the way we thought they would.  We all have a story.  We all have lived through some sort of Plan B.

Plan B is frank, Biblical, honest and offers hope.  As Pete walked alongside a very young girl in his congregation as she suffered through an unplanned pregnancy and subsequent death of her newborn, one question would haunt him for months: "What do you do when God doesn't show up for you in the way you thought God was going to show up?"

Pete sets out in Plan B to offer us hope and encouragement.  He offers the amazing fact that we are not alone.  We are never alone.

One of my favorite chapters was Chapter Three: The Illusion of Control.  How about this line: "The greatest of all illusions is the illusion of control".  There went a wallop right upside my head.  Did you see it?  Well hang on, how about this one? " You know why these things frustrate and anger us?  They're reminders that control is an illusion - and we don't like being reminded of that.  we want to control the outcomes in our lives.  We want to win if at all possible.  We want to be right.  We want it done our way.  This powerful desire leaks into our marriages, our jobs, our parenting.  And the danger for most of us is that not only are we tempted to think we hold the strings to our life; we really think we get to write the script.  We buy into the illusion of control.  We keep a death grip on those marionette strings.  Letting go of control like David did is a HUMBLING and even PAINFUL act."  (My emphasis)  Holy Toledo.  That one will stay with me for a long, long time.  That's a good word right there.

He walks you through your options of surrender and living in the moment with God.  It's refreshing and sound.

Another favorite chapter was Chapter Six: Whiplash.  Story of my life. Up until I re-dedicated my life to Him.  Became sold out for His glory.  This whole stinkin' chapter is underlined and high lighted.. but here are some of my favorite statements:

• "When you respond in your current circumstances as if you were confident that God is there, you will see God in the circumstances."
• "Because the simple truth is that God is there.  God is always there.  The problem comes when we allow our circumstances to distort our perspective and we miss God."
• "In other words, our view of what God wants and what he is doing in our lives is way too limited."
• "In this life, many of your questions will simply not have answers.  But through it all, God himself will never change.  This is why our faith must rest on his identity and not necessarily on his activity.
• "Even in the midst of a Plan B, you really have only one task, one calling.  And that is to do what you would do if you were confident God was with you."

Heavens to Betsy... that chapter rendered me speechless.  No joke. 

I won't continue to quote every favorite word from Pete's book.  I promise.. other favorite chapters?  Eleven: Power and Hope and Thirteen: Transformation through Tragedy.

I will close with this last word.. and I promise it will be the last quote:  "My greatest fear for my life and for yours is that we'll just get busy and distracted and settle for a mediocre, unexamined life.  It's that we'll just settle into life as usual and never become the persons God intended for us to be."

I loved the book, loved the message more and am grateful for the author. 

Rating:

I have a copy of Plan B to give away randomly on Saturday, May 8th at Noon, CST.  Just leave me a comment answering this question:

What would you be doing RIGHT NOW if you were living confidently that God was with you?

Lobs ya,

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their Book Review Blogger (BookSneeze) program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”