How Do Babies Come Out?

Having a four-year-old adds a whole new dimension to life! I've been a little caught off guard by the really deep questions about God, Jesus, Heaven and death. But so far, I've been able to come up with fairly good answers for everything to this point (except for the whole fish fiasco ... I had to let Randy explain why the fish's body was still here if he was REALLY in heaven)! To date, my favorite "deep" question was, "Mommy, can our beds be right next to each other in heaven?" I loved that one. Almost made me cry. She asks a lot of questions about what we get to have and do in heaven. But now enters the dreaded topic ... childbirth!

OK, if it weren't for her little friends, this would have remained a non-issue. When she asked me, "Mommy, how do babies come out?" I told her the truth -- when Mommy had you, I went to the hospital and the doctor did surgery on my tummy and took you out! That's true. And after lots of questions about "surgery," she was fine with that. Enter little friends who did NOT come into the world that way! So the three little girlfriends are all sitting around today talking about it (I have no idea why or how things come up with them) and Moriah proceeds to tell them how babies come out. To which her older friend (age 6) replies, "That's not how ALL babies come out!" Oh great, I'm thinking. What now??? Then Moriah asks, "How else do they get out?" Long dramatic pause as Mommy is searching for an answer that won't lead to more questions ... when six year old friend says, "The get PUSHED out!" Moriah looks horrified. "PUSHED OUT?" she says. "Mommy, is that TRUE???" I very nonchalantly said yep, but inside was thinking, "Oh no! NO NO NO!! Please don't ask the logical next question." And she didn't. She just said (in very typical Moriah style), "That's wild!" To which I replied, "Isn't it though!" And I quickly redirected to a new topic ... gotta love little friends ... who weren't born C-section!

Yep, life with a four-year-old is one intense moment of questioning after another!

Life is FREE!

Quote of the Day

God always uses people whom He can trust to be loyal even under difficult situations to join with those who choose to be obedient to the will of God.

Life is FREE!

Just for Me

Most of you who might be reading this know that I have been struggling for weeks with sickness in my house ... culminating this week with pneumonia in my little girl and walking pneumonia in my own body! Sometimes in the midst of sickness, I have such a hard time really hearing from the Lord. I read the Word, I pray, I sit quietly and listen, but sometimes the overwhelming despair of ongoing sickness makes it hard for me to REALLY hear Him.

So the funny thing is a few days ago, I visited my own blog ... right here, where you're reading now ... and the Lord spoke to me! And I heard Him! The little box to the right that says "There is LIFE in the Word" ... yep, that's where He spoke His word to me. It said, "Come to me all who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest!" I know that verse. Heard it, read it and prayed it a million times. But the fact that it was "randomly" selected to be on my blog that day made me feel like Jesus Himself was in control of my blog ... in fact, He is!

Then every day for the past few days, the same thing happens, I come to my blog to see what Jesus has for me! And today, low and behold: "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair." Thanks, Lord. I needed that reminder, too! I'm sure tomorrow's Word will be timely as well! Obviously, it's no coincidence, but I think it's funny how the Lord can use anything to minister to our spirits ... in places we least expect it.

Life is FREE!!

Lighten' Up

I know, people, hold on to your biscuits ... this is my SECOND post in one week! Don't get too excited, but I just felt inspired again! So this is my first "Lighten' Up" post where I will share fun and random foodie things with a healthy lifestyle twist!

One of my favorite Bible verses is 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

This is the Amplified Version:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20: Do you not know that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, You were bought with a price [purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made His own]. So then, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body.

If my body is the temple where the very Spirit of God resides, then I ought to be mindful of what I put into it, how I take care of it (i.e. exercise) and so on! Now that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy an occasional piece of Vanilla Bean Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, but I am always mindful of overall health and wellness as a lifestyle!

That said, here's my lighten up tip for today: Salt and Vinegar Baked Potato!! I have an affinity for Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips, but in trying to "honor my temple" I'm trying to be more mindful of fried intake. So this is one of my favorite substitutions! Easy peasy — just get yourself one of those microwavable baked potatoes, cook it according to the instructions, top it with a little Smart Balance Light (with Omegas) ... or a little butter if you've been really good all day ... and sprinkle it with salt and a vinegar of your choice. Personally, I think white vinegar is the most "chip" tasting, but I also like malt and apple cider for this too! There you have it ... voila! Perfect healthy alternative to your salt and vinegar craving! ENJOY!

Sorry I didn't take a picture of my potato tonight. So instead, here are random follow-up pictures from yesterday ... Moriah wanted in on the "Home Girl" action:


In my next "Lighten' Up" post, stay tuned for my new favorite "antioxidant" snack! Super yummy ... and I took a picture of this one!

Just for Fun: Lovin' the Buff

Here's a fun fact about me — I LOVE finding new products that make my life more fun, more functional and more FREE! I've been on a quest to find the perfect solution to managing wind and cold during winter training in Florida. Sounds like such an easy task, but it's much more difficult than one might think. I started with a fleece scarf (which almost got me banned from my Tri-team). It did the job, but certainly the "management" part was a little difficult. So I've since graduated to the much cooler and oh-so-Survivor-esque buff! And I love it! In fact, on my first trial run with it, I actually found myself rehearsing what I would say on my Survivor audition tape. Something along these lines: I promise not to THUMP anyone with my Bible ... unless they REALLY deserve it! Oh wait, does that violate the rules of Survivor? I'll take my chances!

You can wear it so many ways, but here are just a few!

This is "Bring on the Immunity Challenge"

Brrr ... it's cold ... need ear, mouth and neck coverage!

Little House on the Much Cooler Prairie


Looks so cute as a wrist band, but it's really a sweat wiper!


Chillin' with My Homegirls!

If you feel inspired now and desiring to find your inner buff, here's the website: www.buffwear.com You won't believe how many designs you have to choose from (over 200, I think) and if you order today, they ship for FREE (from the UK)! No, I don't work for this company, but when they stumble on this blog, I think they may want to hire me. Or maybe not ... HAHA!! Be free ... be fun ... be BUFF!

Life is FREE!

Cheesy Grin Wednesday

OK, here it is. My first official "cheesy grin" blog! (There is an unofficial cheesy grin in my post from December 30, 2008.) It won't always be Wednesday, but it will always be cheesy! I'll post something I love along with my cheesy "I love this thing" grin! Don't expect much insight or spiritual connection on these days, just a laugh!

Today, I'm with my family at the "Happiest Place on Earth." However, my cheesy grin has nothing to do with princesses or the "D" word and everything to do with the little pleasures that come along with a family trip out of town! And since it's been forever since I've posted anything, I'm pulling out all the stops with a double-fisted cheesy grin!


Because "The Way I See It" (#777): There is happiness in simplicity!

In a little town in North Carolina, there is a gas station that always has the same thing on their marquee sign. It says:

JESUS
THAT'S ALL

Sometimes we make life too difficult. Actually, MOST times. Who needs honey nut, frosted, fruity, apple cinnamon or marshmallows added (although Moriah chose the Lucky Charms) ... it's the simple things that make my world "the happiest place on earth!"

Life is FREE!

Rocky Start

OK, I'm off to a bit of a rocky blogging start to 2009. I could make all kinds of excuses, but they are the same excuses everyone has for not doing the things they want to do ... because the things we HAVE to do use up all the time available to do anything at all!

Today's Point to Ponder:
Train for Life, Not for Now!

So those of you who know me well (which are the five people that read this anyways) already know that this is my mantra. It keeps me focused on not getting obsessive about training, on making "healthy" a lifestyle and not a diet or a "boot camp" and on not pushing through injuries no matter how much my obsessive personality wants to! That said, I'm temporarily sidelined from running. I re-injured my IT band (causes excruciating pain on the side of the knee when I run and go up and down stairs) on my first easy run of 2009. But I recognized it right away, stopped, told myself to "train for life, not for now" and walked home. That's not to say I'm not discouraged, sad, frustrated and all of those things, but this is for LIFE. And sometimes in life we have to slow down, redirect, do something we don't want to do in order to do the things we REALLY want to do! God often speaks loudest to me when I'm forced to a place that I don't want to be ... because He wanted me here. There's something I need to learn ... for LIFE, not for now!

Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.