No More No Less

Yes I watched Oprah's last show. Can you believe that she has had her show for all but 2 years of my life? I "grew up" with Oprah. She was the background noise to thousands of evenings in the household I grew up in. I took one thing away from yesterdays show that sums up how I've been feeling lately about life. She said in my best paraphrase that, "everyone should find something they are passionate about and go after it with all that they are." I have two things in my life that make me soar inside.

1. My relationship with Christ and all aspects Him- I love worshipping Him, I love praying to Him, I love believing Him, I love throwing all that I am going through at Him, I love that He holds my future and that all hope comes from Him. I love that He accepts me as me and has called me to a life that shouts His glory. I love hearing the stories of how He has changed lived lives. Those stories never get old. I LOVE Women of Faith conferences and watching ladies come together to praise His name!

2. Running- don't laugh! I feel so alive and closest to the Lord when I am running. I love pushing myself and encouraging others to do the same.

It's my prayer that I follow all the plans that the Lord has for me and do not wait for perfect timing and for all things to align in just the right fashion before I move forward on things. I don't want to hinder anyone else on their walk and step in the way of the things that others are passionate about and called to do. Do you know that lazy couch feeling we all get where it hits us that, "we should be doing x,y,z instead of just sitting here?" I have never gotten that feeling while passionately pursuing my relationship with Christ or while on a run.

I want You Lord! No More No Less

(MERCY ME)

I'm not trying to hide anything
I wear it on my sleeve
I wear it on my sleeve
I'm not trying to be something I'm not
This is all I've got
This is all I've got
I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel
Just trying to be real
Trying to be real
I'm not trying to say follow me
I'm not the one who leads
I'm not the one who leads

Let me introduce myself to you
This is who I am
No more, no less
I am just a man who understands
Because of You I'm blessed
No more, no less

I'm not trying to prove anything
It's all about the change
It's all about the change

I hope you stare just long enough to see
The heart that's beating here inside of me
Beyond all the things you may think you know
I'm just a kid trying to make it home, that's it
No more, no less
Lord, I want to go home
Nothing more, nothing les

Refreshing

If you have been lacking motivation in anything you have been wanting to accomplish watch Justin Bieber's movie Never Say Never. I'm his newest but not oldest fan. I love this kid and he loves the Lord! (my husband Kyle is a fan now too but please don't tell him I told you that)

Is anyone else inspired by these two? Don't hate. Guests were calling in this morning on a local radio program complaining of the 2 American Idol finalists saying, "neither of them deserve it". Umm, yeah they do! America voted! I've watched this show every single season and am proud to say it. I voted for Lauren last night but have enjoyed both of these performers from the beginning of the season. Who will win it? Randy Jackson thinks both are, "In it to win it".

How can we not be excited for these two sisters? I have never watched a full season of The Biggest Loser but found interest this year when nothing else was on television the nights leading up to Miss K's birth. I fell in love with these two sisters and I think that Hannah (directly below) and I could be great friends. Hannah came in 2nd place behind her sister Olivia who won it all.

(winner)

It's refreshing to watch people reach their goals. I am cheering for each of you as you reach yours! Comment below and tell me what you are working towards! I'd love to pray for you and encourage you along the way!

Breaking Free UPDATE

You've spoken and I've listened. Several of you are interested but most are not available the first Monday in June so to allow more attendance we will be starting Breaking Free on Monday, June 20th. To keep this simple please click --> Lifeway.com or visit a Lifeway store to purchase your copy of the study work book. Make sure to get the Updated version of the workbook that is shown above. RSVP and I can't wait to see you all here. PASS THE INFO ON!

PS: Do you like my new blog layout? It's here to stay. For a while at least :)

Breaking Free

Who's in need of a Bible study? ME!!!

I found myself looking online for a summer study I could join and I thought why not just host one myself? Here's your invite Austin friends:

When? Monday mornings at 10AM Beginning June 6th

Where? My house

How much? $20.00. The member book is $14.95 (I will order in bulk) and the other $5.00 will go for healthy snacks and coffee for the duration of the study and for any taxes on the purchase of book.

What? Here is what Lifeway has to say about the study

"This in-depth women's Bible study draws parallels between the captive Israelites of the Old Testament and New Testament believers in Jesus as the Promised Messiah. Beth looks at the Book of Isaiah through the lives of the kings who ruled during the prophet's ministry. These kings exemplify many of the obstacles to freedom with which we must deal. Using Scripture to help identify spiritual strongholds in your life, no matter how big or small, Beth explains that anything that hinders us from the benefits of knowing God is bondage.

Join Beth Moore on a Bible journey unlike any other. God intends for you to know and believe Him, glorify Him, experience His peace, and enjoy His presence. Breaking Free is Beth's life message that she wants to share with you. Taped live at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, this study includes testimonies of how women like you have found freedom and have been delivered from personal captivity."

WHO's in?? This is not a closed event and ALL (ladies) are welcome! Lets break free from things that hinder us ONCE AND FOR ALL!

Project 333

I read a blog called Gohean Crazy. You'll love her daily adventures with her 2 sweet girls. She has been posting since early April about Project 333 and I am jumping on the band wagon.

Have you heard of Project 333? This girl started a blog about living with only 33 items of clothing for three months.

There are several reasons that taking on this project appeals to me:

1. I spend WAY too much of my day trying to figure out what I should wear and change multiple times before leaving the house.
2. Once I leave the house in said clothing I am usually wondering if I have chosen wisely
3. I always have this need for more but not in a good way. I find myself thinking, "if I only had that then I could feel this" or "I wonder if that would look as good on me as it does on her" and I'm just quite sick of it.
4. I crave simplicity and am spending this season asking God to purify my heart and make me more like Him. I gotta lotta junk that needs to be out of me (and my house).
5. I've used stuff for fulfillment and it ain't cuttin' it.

...just to name a few

So here are my rules:

1.) From May 16-August 16th, I will only wear 33 items of clothing, shoes and accessories
2.) Pajamas, underwear, and workout clothes don't count
4.) At the end of each month (June 16th and July 16) I can swap 3 of the items for 3 different items from my closet

Ok, it's blog official. I guess I really have to do this now!

Run With Me: Week 10

Run with me: week 10

We made it!! This week we will no longer be "beginner runners".

Warm up: 5 minute walk
Run: 20 minutes without stopping (I know we can do it)
Cool down: 5 minute walk

Check back later today for our next running schedule & for updates on my life.

7.40

SHE SLEPT

PRAISE THE LORD SHE SLEPT!

I put her down at 9 and she woke up at 1030 but when I put her to bed at 1148 she slept 7 HOURS AND 40 MINUTES! Then I thought for sure she was up for the day but after her bottle she went back to sleep for 3 HOURS AND 17 MINUTES. GO MISS K!!!! (and I am rested for the first time in MONTHS!)

Advice Please

3 Month old Kennedy Kate is not sleeping well at all. I (try to) put her down by 9pm and she wakes up every night an hour and a half later and then we fight to get her back to sleep until almost 2am (Yes, I feed her during that time). Then she wakes up every 3 hours until 9 in the morning. This momma is tired and AND KENNEDY IS E.X.H.A.U.S.T.E.D.!!!

What do I do?????????

Run With Me: Week 9

Can you believe that we are already on week 9 of our 10 week running program? After next week we will no longer be beginner runners and will advance to the intermediate running plan! I can't wait!

This weeks workout:

Warm up: 5 minute walk

Work out: Run 15 minutes, walk one, run 5 minutes

Cool down: 5 minute walk

To add some strength training to my "getridofbabyweightasap" plan I have started Slim in 6 again and just started week 2. I have 15 pounds to lose. I still can't fit into my pre pregnancy jeans and I am starting to believe that all jeans should be made with a stretchy band ;)

A Weekend to Remember

4 Generations. Me, KK, my mom, and my grandmother

KK got to meet her great grandmother Esmond for the first time.

Posing with Grandma

With Grandma (my mom)

Saturday:

10AM: we went to look at the house that my aunt Candy is building and it is modern and beautiful! I wish that I would have taken pictures to share with yall.

2PM: Visit to my grandma and grandpa's house

4PM: Visit to my Aunt Pam and Uncle Kerry's new house. My cousin Courtney was there and it was great to see her. They loved meeting KK for the first time!

7PM: Dinner at Bay Town seafood where I had fried shrimp and stuffed crab

We ended a wonderful weekend with some dinner at the Salt Lick. We haven't been there in a very long time and it was nice to share a meal with my honey. I am loving every bit of being a mommy and will cherish every card that I received today. I don't want to take a single day for granted with my family and I am so glad that I got to spend some time with my mom's side. I pray that this weekend left my mom feeling refreshed and renewed. I sure feel that way!

Who? Me?

(Telephone conversation last night with my friend Beth)

Beth (new mom of 6 month old Nathan): If I don't talk to you before Sunday, Happy Mother's day!

Me: huh? (thinking...why is she saying that to me?) Oh! wow. I am a mom.

Pure Bliss! So thankful to have a new title this year!

So Inspired

I have begun the task of revamping our bedroom and I am so excited! We have been married for over 4 years and I have never had the bedroom that I want due to hand me down furniture, no head board, mismanaged money (not budgeting for it at all), and no inspiration. I called our landlord today and found out that WE CAN PAINT! Hello Comfort Gray. Volunteers accepted. I have taken my inspiration from this amazing blog and post and the duvet cover is in the mail. I have put money aside and next month we should be able to FINALLY buy a headboard. I am thinking either:

A

B

OR C

Which one do you like? I will post pictures along the way as we progress with our master bedroom.