Wednesday, September 24, 2008

G.L.I.T.T.E.R.S


My friend Jenny Helm and I play scrabble via Facebook. Call us nerds if you will but I believe that this past time has made me a better person. If I recall correctly my friend Jenny and me (yes, also Jenny) have played about 12 online Scrabble via Facebook games and I have won only one! It's okay though. I will persevere. See previous blog! Two days ago we started yet another game of scrabble and her first word was GLITTERS. It was worth 64 points. Now I am losing 168-62 but again. I will not give up! 
I am reading a new book called, "48 Days to the Work you Love" by Dan Miller (and a foreword by my fav Dave Ramsey)
pg 48 of this FABULOUS book states, "considerable evidence indicates that expectations of your future do, in fact, tend to create your future. Dr. Paul Yonggi Cho, head of the world's largest church, says: 'What you have in your heart becomes your experience.' People often end up where they expect to end up. 
It seems reasonable to spend some time determining specific, worthwhile expectations that will make your life more meaningful. Keep in mind that only about 8 percent of the general population can identify clear goals and only about 3 percent ever actually write those down. These are specific goals, not just the 'I want a bigger house' variety. With this process, you can quickly put yourself into the 3 percent category, noting that those 3 percent ultimately accomplish more than the remaining 97 percent." 

Tonight I will let you in on the goals I have for my life for the upcoming week. Writing them down gives me an advantage. Write your goals down too! I want all of you in the 3 percent with me! In NO particular order. 

  1. run 3 more times this week and do one day of cross training with the 2nd dvd in Slim in 6.
  2. go to youth group at MBC
  3. pray through my work and give Him all the glory (pray for others too)
  4. continue in the study of Psalms (one a day)
  5. send out 3 encouraging cards to friends or family
  6. Sign up 4 more reps by Thursday 
  7. Sign up 4 more reps by Tuesday (the last day of the month)
  8. Complete laundry before the weekend
  9. Become Executive Managers by Oct 3 (when Paul Orberson will be here in Austin)
  10. Love and Encourage my husband Kyle every single day!!!!!
Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the energy and life that you breathe into me. Thank You that You are my strong tower and I will not be shaken. Thank You that you are creating a steadfast heart in me and that you are teaching me what it means to trust You. Lord, You have PERFECT provision on my life and know every need before we know we need it and I give You the glory for that. Hallelujah for all YOU'VE done! I praise You Lord and make my requests known to You so that I will not be anxious. I give You our finances. I give You our debt. I give You my emotions- I am so thankful that you "get me". I give You our business and know that every good and perfect gift comes from above. I am so very thankful that I have this time in my life to get to know my husband and work closely with him. Thank you for the support of our friends and family and for how they push us on. You are almighty. My savior. There is none like you! 

Friday, September 19, 2008

Yellow

I was inspired by many things this week. Here is my attempt to share them with you.

1. In the magazine Your Business at Home featuring Fortune Hi-Tech Marketing (the company Kyle and I work with) there was an article by my favorite author, Joyce Meyer. Here is what she had to say about perseverance: "A person who refuses to give up WILL be successful...I believe determination and a refusal to give up are the key ingredients to success in any area of life. Anyone now enjoying fulfillment and contentment has already made the decision, possibly thousands of times, not to give up." In my mind I had already decided to stick with our business endeavor no matter what trials come but reading this expert from her book, I Dare You: Embrace Life with Passion has encouraged me to keep pressing on! 

2. As many of you know I am an avid reader of Runner's World magazine and am inspired by fellow runners monthly. In this months edition on pages 88 and 89 is an article titled Get Motivated. In it author Yishane Lee gives runners 10 reasons why they should keep running! Since scripture tells us to, "run with perseverance the race marked out for us" (Hebrews 12:1), I am constantly encouraged by advice within the magazine paralleled by what we should do in our lives as we strive to be more like Him. Here are the suggestions of why we should keep running given my Lee: 
  • Slim down- running 30 minutes equals burning 300 calories
  • Calm down- running relieves stress
  • Find energy- no matter how tired you are before a run you'll feel better afterward
  • Be well- running keeps your heart strong
  • Help out- running for charity makes running worth while
  • Be alone- running can be a refuge for those with lots of daily "people" demands
  • Socialize- there are over 2,000 running groups in the US. Join one. Make friends
  • Run a race- give yourself a challenge
  • Get out- running in 'adverse' rainy conditions reminds us that this is our chance to play and goof off like we used to in our non adult life
  • Run fast- set goals, achieve them and you will know the benefits of patience, perseverance, and work ethic. 
3. While running this afternoon an old song came on my Ipod and it was as if I was hearing the lyrics for the first time. As I began my last few minutes of my run Coldplay's Yellow began playing. Read the lyrics below and I will conclude this blog for the night. 

Look at the stars
look how they shine for you
and everything you do
yeah they were all yellow
I came along

I wrote a song for you
and all the things you do 
and it was called yellow

So then I took my turn
oh all the things I've done
and it was all yellow

Your skin 
oh yeah your skin and bones
turn into something beautiful 
Do you know you know I love you so
You know I love you so

I swam across
I jumped across for you
oh all the things you do
cause you were all yellow

I drew a line
I drew a line for you
oh what a thing to do
and it was all yellow

Your skin
oh yeah your skin and bones
turn into something beautiful
do you know for you I bleed myself dry
for you I bleed myself dry

Its true look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look how they shine for you
look at the stars
look how they shine for you


Everyone should know by now how much music speaks to me. I felt like the Lord was singing to me and reminding me just how much he loves me. I cannot fathom the love that he spilled for us on that day. Nor can I agree with those who say that this song was written about drugs, a girlfriend, or anything else. To me, Yellow represents joy. Read the lyrics above again replacing yellow with joy. Joy, bright, sunny, yellow. 
Lets finish with Hebrews 12: 1 and 2 
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Theme of the week. Persevere. Love God and do not give up. Amen! Praise You Jesus! You are mighty to save!

Sunday, September 14, 2008

The Blog Below..HELP

PLEASE HELP!!

I CANNOT FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE THE PICTURE IN THE BLOG BELOW.
IT LOOKS FINE ON THE SCREEN WHERE I EDIT IT BUT THEN THE PICTURES STAY THE SAME. 
MAY HAVE TO DELETE IT AND START AGAIN. AGH!

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Mi Familia dos


Now for the rest of the blog! Here are some of my other favorite people!!!

I absolutely love these two people and I love that I have this funny picture of the two of them together! 

Carl Friend is the friend I made in college at Texas State. Right after graduating in May of 2006, Carl introduced me to Kyle Childress who ended up being my husband! I am so blessed to have Carl friend as a friend and am so excited for him! He became a Regional Sales Manager with Fortune Hi-tech Marketing!!!!! Way to go! He also has a band called Poetry for a King and they are great!

Erin Knight is one of my very good friends and a life saver when it comes to my hair! I love having her as a friend because she tells it like it is and is usually so funny! She has a beautiful heart and loves me for who I am! She is the sister of my good friend Jenny H!


This is Amanda 'Lyons' Bewley. She and I have been friends since we were three and she is very dear to my heart. This picture was taken at her wedding shower in May. She now lives near Dallas and I miss her being down here! 
I love you Amanda!






On the far left is my friend Stephanie Helm. She and I married our husbands about a month a part and it is fun to have a friend who is in the same stage of life as me. I
Between Stephanie and me is my friend Nocona. Nocona and my husband have known each other forever and Nocona and I have a lot in common (emotionally) ;) She has 3 beautiful children and a great husband. They started a church in New Braunfels and we are so happy for them. On my right is Jenny H again. Everyone should know by now how special she is to me!


Introducing.....CRYSTAL GELBER! Crystal didn't want to be my friend but I made her...haha j/k. Crystal and I met in our "Young Marrieds" Sunday School class at Manchaca Baptist Church. When we first met she told me that she never thought we would be friends. We have a really good time together and I can always count on her to tell it like it is (have you noticed that I have a lot of people in my life who do that?) 


Last but not least here is my sister-law-Kelly. Kelly is used to being the only girl in the family but has accepted me just the same. She is full of personality and always fun to be around. She has become one of my very dear friends. Love you KP. 



(Yes, that is Stevie Helm in the back ground. He is Jenny H's husband and Kyle's best friend!)

A Night of Ike

My mom's whole side of the family lives in Houston. None of them decided to evacuate. All are safe this morning! (almost afternoon). WHOO HOO!! I was up until 2 A M watching KHOU on television to see what was happening to my family. I was hoping we would at least get some rain out of Ike but it seems that he has only brought wind to Austin thus far! It makes me so ready for cooler weather! Thank you Ike for rubbing it in. 

I am so glad that everyone is safe! Now I am off for a run in the wind around my apartment. Can't Wait!

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Mi Familia


THIS blog was inspired by a blog written by my dear friend who beats me at Scrabble every single time. Jenny H!  I would like to introduce you to the people who make me better and bring  me so much joy.

Introducing my nephew Landon James! He is so beautiful! He and I even have the same cheesy smile! He was born on June 21, 2007 and since he lives in San Angelo we don't get to see him enough.  He is my pride and joy and has brought the whole family much closer!
This is my sister Lindsey. She is three years older than me and I love her very much. When
 we were growing up we didn't have much in common at all but as we have grown older we have struggled through things that have brought us closer together. 
She is the mother to Landon and I am so blessed to have them in my life. 

This is my friend Jenny Helm. She and Kyle (my husband) have known each other for a very long time and when she first met me she didn't think they needed another "Jenny" in their group of friends. Now she agrees that they do. She is a beautifully strong women and I admire that she tells me like it is. It is wonderful to have a friend who prays for me and one who is so talented! See http://helmhousecreations.blogspot.com and buy your banner today!

These are the women who have a very big chunk of my  heart. Stephanie McGilberry on the left was a student trainer when we were in high school and she thought I was snobby until we met at youth group and were inseparable. Miss Ruby (between steph and myself) was my boss at the store I worked at in Gruene all through college. I LOVE HER and would name a daughter Ruby but Kyle and I are sticking to "J" and "K" names. Christina Joy Coleman is on the right and she is in Indonesia on missions until December. I love her so much because she is adventurous and doesn't take negativity from anyone! Stephanie, Christina, and I all met in youth group in high school and we have a pretty special bond. 
This is my husband Kyle and me at Jill's Wedding. Kyle and I met each other in June of 2006, had our first date on July 1, 2006 and were married on March 9, 2007. He is my best friend in the whole world and I am so blessed to have him in my life. He is my number one fan and believes that we can do anything we set our minds to. He is my hero and I am amazed at how well we compliment one another. God knew what he was doing! 
I have several more people to add to this but I it is not letting me upload any more pictures to this post. I will post another blog tomorrow with the rest of you included. 

I am so thankful for everyone who is a part of my life and am excited about all of the people that I get to meet every single day. 












Monday, September 1, 2008

PRAYER



Sanctified
Let there be no condemnation
For all who are fully known in Christ
Unspeakable grace for all the nations
By way of holy sacrifice
We worship with the sound
Of broken shackles
Falling to the ground

Sanctified
I have been set free
Grace divine
Has swept me off my feet

No greater love has ever been known
Than He who came to find the lost
No greater sacrifice has been shown
Than He who laid upon the cross

Let all creation sing
For HE has come
and He's changed everything!!!

Sanctified 
I have been set free
Grace divine
Has swept me off my feet

And I know that I will never be the same

Sanctify 'sa ng (k)te fi' verb (-fies, -fied) (trans). set apart as or declare holy; consecrate: a small Christian shrine was built to sanctify the site. (often be sanctified) make legitimate or binding by religious sanction: they see their love sanctified by the sacrament of marriage. free from sin; purify. (often by sanctified) figurative give the appearance of being right or good; legitimize: they looked to loyalty to sanctify their cause.