Monday Motivation: Focus on Eternity

For the past several weeks the Lord has been shifting my focus from things on this earth to things that last for eternity. I didn't realize how much time I spent thinking, doing, and talking about things with no eternal value!

Fitness Friday: The Bottom Line

From a health perspective, we’re all the same in that we all need to eat to live. But we’re different in the ways that will work best for us to be healthy and reach weight goals.

Monday Motivation: Conquering Fear

Last week Don and I went to Cades Cove, Tennessee to camp out and go hiking. We chose a hike that looked challenging but not overwhelming.

Fitness Friday: A Look Back

This Friday, sharing a few links from past blogs to encourage all of us on our food fitness journey. Sometimes in our walk forward it's helpful to look back and be reminded of where we've been, and what we know to be true.

• Seven Seconds of Pleasure Is tickling your taste buds worth the cost of the after effects to your body?  

• Instant Results Are your expectations realistic?  

• Holiday Food for Thought  Being mindful about what you're eating is not just for the holidays.

• Eat the Cheeseburger  It's OK if we need to indulge once in a while. God understands.

Be encouraged to keep getting up every time you fall. It's never too late to start again!

Monday Motivation: Through Eyes of Love

We live in turbulent and unsettled times. Hatred, offense, and anger spew at us from the news, social media, and sometimes those we know and see in person. It's so tempting to get offended and angry. It's really hard to avoid getting caught up in the emotional frenzy!

Fitness Friday: Is the New Normal Worth the Cost?

Over the past several weeks I've been blogging on Fitness Friday about lessons learned during our "new normal" eating habits. This week, it's all about the sugar.

Monday Motivation: Perseverance

Yesterday Don and I went on a hike up to Mary's Rock in the Shenandoah Mountains. It's just under 2 miles up and 2 miles back. When I say, "up", yes, that means a climb to the top.

Fitness Friday: Combat the Cravings

Don and I passed the 4-week mark on our new eating plan. We've developed sustainable new habits, yet the lure of the old favorites is still strong at times. I'd like to share 4 ways to combat the cravings when they come, using the acronym f.o.o.d. (of course!)

Monday Motivation: Chase the Blues with Psalms and Music

Do you ever feel like you're in a funk? Can't get motivated to get your day started? That was me this morning - had the Monday blues. Nothing specific, just a bit of sadness and laziness.

Fitness Friday: Stay on Course, Part 2

Do you ever wonder why so many attempts at changing the way we eat fail? After last weekend, I realized that for me, it's because I've often used the wrong definition of success. 

Monday Motivation: Encouragement in the Psalms

In this challenging time in our nation, and our world, we need encouraging words to keep us going. What better place to look than the Psalms! Today's motivation comes directly from my morning reading.

Fitness Friday: Stay on Course, Part 1

This weekend Don and I are spending time with friends at the beach. It will be our first time travelling overnight since we started our new eating plan, and I'm a little nervous about the challenges we'll face. We are just starting our third week, so not quite to the point of new habits yet.

Monday Motivation: Second Guessing

As I sat on hold waiting to cancel my satellite internet, I thought back to the tech that came out only a few weeks ago to troubleshoot and fix the intermittent drop issues. I felt bad because he had to get up on the roof, which is not easy on this house, and it really shook him up. He said ours was his last roof.

Fitness Friday: It's Not About Perfection

We finished our first 10 days, and with great success! Of course, Don lost more weight than I did, and it's more noticeable on him. It's not fair...and any wives who have dieted with their husbands know exactly what I mean.

Monday Motivation: Remember

This year, Don and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage. 

In 2 Corinthians, Paul boasted about his trials.

Last Saturday we celebrated the 244th anniversary of our Nation's birth.

What do these events have in common? On these events, we remember.

Fitness Friday: Food is Not My Friend

This past Wednesday, Don and I started a detox regimen to clear our bodies of progressively worsening food habits. We're both tired of feeling tired and living in mental fog. I am sick of carrying this extra weight, and of clothes I wore last summer not fitting. Our love affair with food had to end! With resolve, we started our journey toward health on July 1st. 

Bigger Than the Bear

There he is AGAIN - the rogue bear that hogs the bird feeders. He came by a few weeks ago, and we had to take down the feeders for a few days so he'd move on. He did, so we put the feeders back up.

Eat the Cheeseburger

Yesterday my nephew Griffin graduated from high school. Last week we enjoyed dinner with him to celebrate since there wasn't a formal graduation. Because he is the youngest of the nieces and nephews, his graduation brought in a flood of memories of times gone by.

Finish the Race

For the past several weeks I’ve been in a slump. Not sure exactly how or when it started, just that it would not lift. This is the first thing I’ve written in many weeks.

Can you relate? Do you ever have times in your life where you just.can’t.seem.to.get.up?

Revenge is Not Sweet

This week I had a trying situation at work - aka, an opportunity to turn the other cheek and show kindness where it was not deserved.

I failed miserably. And for that I'm thankful.

To Stress or Not To Stress

Last week I drove home from Florida. Straight home, no stopping except for bio and fuel breaks. No hotel stay, no switching drivers - just me. 

Somehow

When something happens that is just what we need, how often do we say, "Somehow that all came together?" We shake our heads in wonder at how that happened.

The Toilet Paper (TP)

Don and I have been on a mission these past few days. Goal: find toilet paper.

My Time Was My Own

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

Do you enjoy your leisure time? Me too! But my problem is that I began to protect and covet it...at the expense of investing in what God called me to do.

Look Ahead - It's a New Day!

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

How often do you find yourself looking back over your shoulder at what happened yesterday? Or last week, last month, last year?

Transformed in the Dark

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

Have you ever been in the dark, can't seem to see what God is doing? Can't sense that God is there at all? Felt abandoned and alone?

Relish the Moment

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

Last Saturday morning the moon was breathtakingly beautiful! I started to go for my camera to capture that moment, then realized it was not possible.

Slow Down, You're Movin' Too Fast!

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

Are you ready for a divine encounter? Sometimes all it takes is for us to slow down and make room for it.

Focus on His Light

Welcome to Monday's Minute with Mary, 

a nugget of encouragement to start your week.

Do you sometimes find yourself in the dark, struggling with a difficult circumstance that is wearing you out? 

When Hurt Breeds Offense

A few mornings ago I woke up at 1:30AM. Stressed, anxious, and hurting. Felt like I was going to burst into tears. A few specific people came to mind who said and did hurtful or neglectful things over a period of time.

Light Up the Darkness

Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 

(Ephesians 5:11, NIV)

It's a Good Morning, Yes It Is!

Good morning to you!

The Lord has been dealing with me on where I focus. I have a tendency to go negative in my thinking, especially first thing in the morning.