Go. Be. Do.

Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.  And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.  And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they

I reminded myself of this recently. It's not about me at all, this wellness journey I am on to a healhier version of myself. Not at all. Never has been, really. It is about the people who invest in me. My husband. My boys. My family. My friends. They all share themselves with me. When I am not at my best, I'm not giving them a good return for their investment. They get the tired looks, the lack of energy excuses, and the wimpy "maybe next time" cop outs. I have come to realize that those that take precious time to invest in me deserve better from me. I need to adhere to the direction given on any flight I've ever been on that goes something like this: make sure your own oxygen mask is properly secured before helping others. If I don't take care of myself first, my ability to care for others effectively diminishes quickly. My choosing clean eating, drinking enough water, and exercising on a daily basis is how I put on my mask first. Am I perfect at meetin

Are you still working toward your New Year's Resolutions? Just last week was "ditch day", the day by which  most people have abandoned their resolutions...were you one of them? I've seen a lot of commericals for weight loss programs and gyms (one is playing as I type this now) and people posting their desire to lose weight/become healthier this year. Allow me to let you in on a secret... The only workout program that works is the one that you actually do. Three years ago I made a resolve to never be weak by my own fault again. Then, I put action steps into place in order to make that resolve into a reality. I had people in my life that I trusted and reached out to them for help.  I knew what did not work, so I decided to try something so different and so new to me that I did not have any idea what I was in for.  Hindsight being 20/20, it is probably best I did not know.  I would have talked myself out of it before even trying it, had I known. One month

So this happened last night... What started out as a cute moment with my neighbor dog who came over to play turned into a blurry selfie of a dog licking my cheek. You see, I'm not a dog person. I'm not going to be a dog person. Ever. I don't want to be a dog person.  They bark.  They smell.  They slobber. They require attention and food.  The list could go on and does. But, somehow...someway...this dog has worked his way into my heart. I love this dog.  He loves me. Maybe it's because he comes and goes aften a few minutes of play time.  Maybe it's because he doesn't try to take over my side of the bed.  Maybe it's because I have two teen boys and am used to more random smells and the constant disappearance of food occurring. Who knows the reason why, but this dog is special to me. So, last night when attempting a pic with him and I saw what was about to take place, I braced myself and allowed a dog kiss to be planted on my face.  I still jerked a little, as

More and more I am seeing this thought meme-ing its way through social media... "I wish it were as easy to lose weight as it is to gain weight." I beg your pardon... Whoever said it was easy to gain weight?   What part about gaining weight is any easier than losing it? I gained weight consistently over the course of the first 41 years of my life. I do not recall those years as easy ones where my weight was concerned. What is easy about being the heaviest person in your family? Or in your class? What is easy about having to buy clothes that are labeled as "husky"? Or later on in life, have to shop in a special section of the store for "women's sizes" or even in stores that only carry "women's sizes". What is that supposed to even mean...women's sizes??? What is easy about feeling as if you have no self control? What is easy about eating until your pants are too tight before you ever get up from the table? What is easy a

I had a moment over the weekend when I remembered my car from my college days.  Something during Sunday's sermon made me think of it. Wish I could remember what it was that sparked such a memory, but I know I had to chuckle when the thought of that car crossed my mind. That car. Oh, that dear, seafoam green Chevy Impala from some year in the 80's...bless its heart. That car spent as much time not running/getting worked on as it did running.  Maybe more so.  When one thing would get fixed, another went awry. Some things I never even attempted to get fixed due to the cost. Things like the heater running 100% of the time. That included summer, folks. Summers in Indiana are more humid than in Georgia. When I would travel the four hours from Fort Wayne to home, I would buy a bag of ice and put it under my legs to stay cool. I did what I had to do to get by...and, it never left me stranded on the side of the road; usually just in a parking lot somewhere.  There is that.  And,