tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51593918425582552442024-03-18T20:40:18.500-07:00 by SJBAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-30254984052177069312016-08-01T07:59:00.003-07:002016-08-01T17:07:25.881-07:00My Baby Steps To Health<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYMAZz1vC-uwQoecHShdTMqnB81JeAypxtFt3fB0uSbNjwZ_x-pkb6UKVhdUCBiG3hyLJ34lu5ID6z2dz785aKrxufeRfCLZfqnIhTfNgww_qXRnR60B2CdZ4xRDt0xhWrZkzQYq5Tc/s1600/IMG_0384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitTYMAZz1vC-uwQoecHShdTMqnB81JeAypxtFt3fB0uSbNjwZ_x-pkb6UKVhdUCBiG3hyLJ34lu5ID6z2dz785aKrxufeRfCLZfqnIhTfNgww_qXRnR60B2CdZ4xRDt0xhWrZkzQYq5Tc/s400/IMG_0384.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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In my last post, <a href="http://bysjm.blogspot.ca/2016/06/process-to-health.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> I shared all about how I wasn't prepared to live a body healthy life and how I got to the point of not only hating my body but ignoring it almost completely. That was not an easy post to write. Admitting some of things caused shame and other hidden feelings to rise to the surface but ohhhh my, was it ever good to work through them with God.</div>
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Once I had laid down all of my disappointments, shared my true feelings with God and asked Him to lead me to a long term health plan I felt him give me what would be my first step to living a body healthy lifestyle.</div>
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I will share the steps but friends, please know that this is more about the importance of inviting God into every aspect of our life. The steps He gave me are working and so far quite easily sticking. However, I'm not recommending that you do what I did. If you struggle to make body healthy decisions, the first thing I would say to encourage you is that God cares so tell Him. Invite him in. Not telling God about a struggle in our life is as good as hiding it. I know that probably isn't your intention, I know it wasn't mine but it brought the same results. </div>
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Ooooooooook! Let's talk baby steps!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">BABY STEPS</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">1.</span> </b>Stretch each day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I did 5-7 minutes of stretching each morning before spending time with God. It was 5 days before I felt the urge to add another step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">2.</span></b> Think about your portion sizes and when you can (without binge eating later) , have less.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, with this step, notice that there was no change in the food I ate. It was just a change in portion size. It was about 7 days again before adding step 3. The thing that made me feel ready to add another step was that I was easily remembering to take less on my plate and not have seconds unless it was really healthy or if I was still really hungry. It made me realize how often I would take seconds just because it tasted good and not because I was hungry.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">3.</span> </b>Add 25 crunches to your stretches routine.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">I can't remember exactly but it was a week or two before I felt ready to add another step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">4.</span></b> Surround yourself with healthy choices. On social media, don’t look at junk. Intentionally follow inspiring health feeds - body, soul and spirit :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">annnnnd STOP. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let's stay here for a while because for real, this was HUGE and really changed the way my mind was thinking and we all know how important that is! I went through my pinterest, instagram, Facebook and email to unfollow and unsubscribe to all things that were delicious but not healthy. While finding and unfollowing those accounts I was also looking for healthy lifestyle accounts that I found inspiring. At some point I will share some of those accounts but the accounts that inspire me may not inspire you so if you decide to do this, be patient in finding your people. ;) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It took me about three weeks before I felt the urge to add another step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">5.</span></b> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Eat more vegetables and start your meal with them. (this is still while eating whatever else I wanted with the veggies)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5byfWgRZL0LPbYWWwbGyCkIzoObRzR7yIUImF8n8ADgB7z_4mM5-uHsOHYrqGFW1BZSka0d3esBimJgjcKI348TQSTU6t5-QtZ593NwIv8B8ct2Bovfsh9Pq-VN4Fj4wGkqcyf0J8Rr0/s1600/IMG_7352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5byfWgRZL0LPbYWWwbGyCkIzoObRzR7yIUImF8n8ADgB7z_4mM5-uHsOHYrqGFW1BZSka0d3esBimJgjcKI348TQSTU6t5-QtZ593NwIv8B8ct2Bovfsh9Pq-VN4Fj4wGkqcyf0J8Rr0/s400/IMG_7352.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">God, I love you for so many reasons but this step was really cool! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">So, picture this.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's friday evening and I've ordered pizza for my family. While waiting the 20 minutes to pick it up I am chopping and preparing some cucumber, grape tomatoes, carrot sticks, avocado and maybe some fresh mushrooms. While on my way to pick up the pizza I start munching on the veggies and do so until get home, serve my family and watch them all eat their first piece of pizza. This is not difficult because I know I'll have some, I just have to eat my veggies first. By the time I'm done eating my veggies and start having pizza, my tummy is simply not as hungry and therefore I don't eat as much pizza. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I wanted a sweet treat I would choose to eat a piece of fruit first then have whatever sweet I was really wanting. haha Often times the craving would pass and I didn't have it at all. Sometimes I did though....and that's ok. As long as I had the fruit first.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I LOVE this step! Abundance and good choices over restrictions! YES!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a week before I felt to add step 6.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">6.</span></b> Add 12 leg lifts for each leg to your exercise routine (5 days/week)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">More body moving! and I was ready for it :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">7.</span></b> Word of knowledge about “dark days” and giving up chocolate and instagram before bed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At church there was a word of knowledge (if you're not sure what that is please feel free to email me) about someone who was having "dark days" and I knew I had to put my hand up because I was at least 4-5 day's of the week I was feeling very negative, angry or sad. Not necessarily related to food....just a general </span><span style="font-family: "papyrus";">feeling. Some people around me prayed then the pastor went on to say that she felt that at least one of the people having dark day's needed to make a change in their diet and bedtime routine and there would be further breakthrough. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I knew right away that was me. God told me that he saw why I ate chocolate and that it was a comfort to me (even through it was the extra dark kind by this point). He told me that he wanted to be my comfort and that I should stop having any form of chocolate. I said a big YES to giving it up! I was kinda hoping for a time period but He didn't give one. lol It's been about 7 months and for the first time the other day I had some FREE chocolate (free of dairy, nuts, sugar). I'm not going to continue to have it....for now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for a change in bedtime routine, I also felt that was me. Most nights before I would go to sleep I liked to check out what was going on in the Instagram world for 10 minutes or so. I actually thought I was doing pretty good with limiting how long I was on it. I felt that God was asking me to give that up and he asked me instead to replace it with a few minutes with Him before drifting off to sleep. I loved that He wanted to be the last thing on my mind before sleeping and as soon as I started the routine I noticed that He was also the first thing on my mind when I woke. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also haven't had a "dark day" since. Praise God! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was 7-10 days before I added another step.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>8</b>.</span> Think simply about food, don’t try to go all out with extravagant healthy meals.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkm6i0bZGBf5Ds0b8eifWdOF8YCfn7bYb4nc1kJ0pstvuCq5uEYHAZS0_0UQqoWAPwJBd_PEs0XUgeaIq1omshzxDXehYxEjfKFp_x-Ory9NJAvezz1p-UjRsAPfF848d03e7mOA_s9A/s1600/IMG_7237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkm6i0bZGBf5Ds0b8eifWdOF8YCfn7bYb4nc1kJ0pstvuCq5uEYHAZS0_0UQqoWAPwJBd_PEs0XUgeaIq1omshzxDXehYxEjfKFp_x-Ory9NJAvezz1p-UjRsAPfF848d03e7mOA_s9A/s400/IMG_7237.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Often times in the past when I </span>wanted<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> to eat healthy I would do my best to make sure that each healthy meal would taste </span>unbelievably<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> good so that I wouldn't miss the unhealthy options. Not this time. This time I felt that I should just keep it simple with the basics. Fruits and veggies were eaten in abundance. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">It was 3 weeks before I felt to add another step.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">9.</span></b> Jog up and down the stairs to get your heart rate up 3 times/week before your stretching & workout routine.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simple enough :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It was a week before adding step 10.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">10.</span></b> Drink a glass of lemon/lime water 20 minutes before a meal.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">Sounds easy....right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Thing is, when something </span>isn't<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> routine, it isn't necessarily that it is a challenge to do it but a challenge to <b>remember</b> to do it! It took about 2 weeks before I felt to add step 11.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">11.</span> </b>Fuel up on fruits and veggies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">At this point I was already eating fruits and veggies before each meal or treat. This step was a huge change in my thinking. My focus was to get my energy/essential vitamins and the fuel my body needed to make it though the day with the good stuff! I started making meals that consisted of mostly vegetables and snacks that were fruit. Yes, I was still eating carbs and treats. Somehow saying YES to fruit, vegetables and seeds and not saying NO to sugar and carbs was awesome for my mind. I had already been working on filling my mind with images of yummy healthy food and was doing my best to focus on </span>fuelling<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> my body with the good stuff. These things combined helped me to not even think about what I wasn't having.....most of the time ;)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">12.</span></b> 5 minutes on the Elliptical 3 days/week</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">I know, I know, only 5 minutes?!?! How can that make a difference?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All I can tell you is that it just did. At this point I was stretching, doing crunches, leg lifts and now the elliptical. Sometimes this routine didn't feel like enough. As in my body was ready for more so on those days I would add in some other at home exercises. More often than not I was adding more to the routine and really enjoying it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I hated this type of exercise, the fact that I was enjoying it was AMAZING! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">13.</span></b> Listen to your body to see what you think it needs.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Cravings and listening to your body are two very </span>different<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> things. I had grown accustom to giving in to cravings so learning to tell the difference between the two was first step. It was pretty simple cause cravings were usually unhealthy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "papyrus";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">How do I listen to my body? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I start to get hungry I think about what my options are and what I want. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For example....today for lunch I really wanted a bowl of stir fried veggies with rice and tahini dip but I kept thinking about a green smoothie. I ended up making the green smoothie with LOTS of spinach and after drinking it I'm feeling satisfied. I'm not a health expert and can't explain exactly why I think my body wanted the green smoothie but I feel great after having it and that's enough for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I also hydrate with water more often now because I take the time to think about what my body needs. That brings me to the last step (for now anyways).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">14.</span></b> Drink a tall glass of lemon water when you first wake up.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; letter-spacing: 0px;">I started with 8oz of lemon water when I first woke up and now I drink 32oz of lemon or lime water when I first wake up. Usually I drink that then make breakfast. By the time I start eating breakfast it's about 20 minutes later.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">As a consequence of making the above choices I unintentionally quit drinking coffee. I quit having all refined sugar except on rare occasions. I no longer eat wheat but have whole grains instead. I don't eat meat and pretty much never have meat products. I have seeds in my smoothies and eat legumes to keep up the </span>protein. I used to eat meat with pretty much every meal and now I just don't eat it at all. I am now Plant Based :) My body feels great and my energy has been constantly surprising me! <span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I’m now up to 20 minutes on the Elliptical 3 days/week. </span>On top of the above exercises I do arm curls and bicycle crunches 3 days/week. If I’m feeling inspired I’ll add in more exercises. I also ride my bike and am much more active with the boys. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm fully convinced that body health should start in our mind. Restrictive thinking just creates challenges that become so very hard to overcome. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a result of these changes I have lost weight but that isn't a focus anymore. I find that as soon as I begin to get focused on weight loss, what I'm doing doesn't feel like it's enough which is discouraging. When I focus on eating an ABUNDANCE of good healthy food, I feel light as a feather and thats enough for me! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thank you SO much for reading! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">xoxo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sue </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Below are a bunch of examples of meals I've eaten over the last 6 months. If you want more food inspiration from moi, head over to my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/healthbysjb/" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a> where I'm sharing at least one meal or snack per day. I share smoothie and pretty much all recipes that I love ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Left over stir fried rice with a salad wrap filled with carrot shreds, apple, cabbage shreds a peanut sauce and chopped peanuts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">FRUIT BOWL! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Watermelon, blueberries, strawberries & longan.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stir fry</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Chicken, zucchini, broccoli, carrot, black beans, cabbage, garlic, onion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No oil....I just used a bit of water instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Non Dairy Coconut yogurt with strawberries, coconut chips, pumpkin seeds, almonds & granola.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yNnKl5v8VniImHJ5wF98H5iURShN6dgZYttZcjb8gbYPvM_W3VGheQHNei5DagkjxfGuskB_WimRbzHXzcv0sIwF0uY9UL4Mi5VnGDKYhqNHslHEXCZ3xm5qK62_V1FNQkbPMc_cC7I/s1600/IMG_7168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3yNnKl5v8VniImHJ5wF98H5iURShN6dgZYttZcjb8gbYPvM_W3VGheQHNei5DagkjxfGuskB_WimRbzHXzcv0sIwF0uY9UL4Mi5VnGDKYhqNHslHEXCZ3xm5qK62_V1FNQkbPMc_cC7I/s400/IMG_7168.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Summer Rolls with a little green smoothie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In them...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">lettuce, carrots, avocado, broccoli</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">and I dipped them in a peanut sauce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Salad time! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pretty straight foreword with the lettuce, tomato, black beans, corn off the cob & avocado. The thing that makes this salad awesome is the Avocado, lime cilantro dressing! No oil, no sugar and delicious! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rice & Salad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Fried mushrooms, kale, black beans & onion topped with goats cheese and an egg.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80EMzTQMxLJ3MEXVy1KAWxJCHtbE_wBuGU1Fp6bYzTCkH4xT8bMQOPvPzErLdVWGRpvvY6B-j4zOYRPsqM2uYTtNzboq8mShpWl4p_RR2Lgat2ksZhlrQ-nOnd4dXy3I0w6CiimHJ8iQ/s1600/IMG_8023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80EMzTQMxLJ3MEXVy1KAWxJCHtbE_wBuGU1Fp6bYzTCkH4xT8bMQOPvPzErLdVWGRpvvY6B-j4zOYRPsqM2uYTtNzboq8mShpWl4p_RR2Lgat2ksZhlrQ-nOnd4dXy3I0w6CiimHJ8iQ/s400/IMG_8023.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jamaican Rice & beans, green beans with baked chicken. At this point I was no longer cooking with oil so it was oil free :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CjwxqlCFkH6oCYHYLgyv8AopW5iDm94-VC3ZUXI2mwHMMYBXGH48gYbX9PnpVpY06zquN-2YxCXEFtnU22KoG2VzLk3SCwIYHnKXwcXGAe0hUZLQCcYWM2_8phg76hEGpd27B2a3l24/s1600/IMG_8065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CjwxqlCFkH6oCYHYLgyv8AopW5iDm94-VC3ZUXI2mwHMMYBXGH48gYbX9PnpVpY06zquN-2YxCXEFtnU22KoG2VzLk3SCwIYHnKXwcXGAe0hUZLQCcYWM2_8phg76hEGpd27B2a3l24/s400/IMG_8065.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A tiny piece of baked chicken, baked sweet potato, sautéed snow peas, rainbow swiss chard & zucchini.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpdymFEO2qiTkH-fn8xyLEGI_4cAOdWWUOR-uk5-i4ji7iIDhQk-jDvE-7u8qzm9vPXE2JWG8wO-Zzp5QNv5vbUTVeP31AxLHlp3lzJ-HdF3zi4vyvDvnNxhxi24cvsHcy8dTr5UuJLs/s1600/IMG_8126.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUpdymFEO2qiTkH-fn8xyLEGI_4cAOdWWUOR-uk5-i4ji7iIDhQk-jDvE-7u8qzm9vPXE2JWG8wO-Zzp5QNv5vbUTVeP31AxLHlp3lzJ-HdF3zi4vyvDvnNxhxi24cvsHcy8dTr5UuJLs/s400/IMG_8126.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mega Salad! Fully loaded with carrot, red cabbage, grape tomatoes, zucchini, cabbage, broccoli, avocado, nuts, seeds, and lettuce! I used lemon juice and the avocado as dressing. Once it was smashed and mixed in it covered everything and tasted yummy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Spiralized curry potato fries, grape tomatoes, avocado and broccoli slaw.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rice, kale, baked chicken and grape tomatoes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simple Salad</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Smoothie Bowl with Longan </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/healthbysjb/" target="_blank">INSTAGRAM</a> for the recipe :)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DIaitwaix7qLwmGWHuun0ooFHPGcFYvZ0f9ttn1qhJlTV6EnTzoBA0dV6KaMPOVjYUx9vgqaDP3qFx5mqi5LzZmUJlRR2MPLCj6kHB4p4ahgCULXAFIvh46ThPo8e8zR48bxZYNEU1k/s1600/IMG_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7DIaitwaix7qLwmGWHuun0ooFHPGcFYvZ0f9ttn1qhJlTV6EnTzoBA0dV6KaMPOVjYUx9vgqaDP3qFx5mqi5LzZmUJlRR2MPLCj6kHB4p4ahgCULXAFIvh46ThPo8e8zR48bxZYNEU1k/s400/IMG_8524.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Green Smoothie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">coconut water, pear, kale, frozen banana, ice</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLMbSEBOKm4nO_ZtdW6I6QoVt7JNOvq0dgmUcv8Jl6LPItmwrq5Y5JAW7NZUrdRZz1RqRcRGybLuzlYP6ZwxUdzkpHa_z4oa-7T9O-JVV8_b43bDHwyZrF31nmSl30-q1_B2xpOqWap8/s1600/IMG_9292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLMbSEBOKm4nO_ZtdW6I6QoVt7JNOvq0dgmUcv8Jl6LPItmwrq5Y5JAW7NZUrdRZz1RqRcRGybLuzlYP6ZwxUdzkpHa_z4oa-7T9O-JVV8_b43bDHwyZrF31nmSl30-q1_B2xpOqWap8/s400/IMG_9292.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tropical Smoothie</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In it...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">coconut milk, pineapple, mango, banana</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlXmUooaORgMRFZ8FIktgCv9LADHmjuuRO6u67sVf1hgIK1bVwOqw1Qhzw0EbbYHUESPsGEzxS39ru4VY9my-vsGeHZchT9vFk_51ihlp0a35jJgXNlygWbbOJmeXisfFMSDQlH0qvaI/s1600/IMG_9230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqlXmUooaORgMRFZ8FIktgCv9LADHmjuuRO6u67sVf1hgIK1bVwOqw1Qhzw0EbbYHUESPsGEzxS39ru4VY9my-vsGeHZchT9vFk_51ihlp0a35jJgXNlygWbbOJmeXisfFMSDQlH0qvaI/s400/IMG_9230.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mish Mosh of left over food! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jamaican rice & peas, arugula, black bean dip, guacamole, corn off the cob, spiralized sweet potato fries.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">FYI....in the beginning, between many of these healthy choices there was cake, pizza and cookies. It really has been a process full of grace for myself friends :) </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-5421413166860409072016-06-01T19:18:00.000-07:002016-06-28T18:03:51.167-07:00Process to Health<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QWCIFFEHFEsd9RCuVJwV1pcrYlxQBWRskJ-aYehFkHMkXcPxpm1rXGNvNJDh0T8efZE20VQXKxbB6crHlegZaziK7WWnVuf-xZjvsQmauvUvtoHMQ5utcqbg1okjExmbkwAqhp788iw/s1600/IMG_7590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QWCIFFEHFEsd9RCuVJwV1pcrYlxQBWRskJ-aYehFkHMkXcPxpm1rXGNvNJDh0T8efZE20VQXKxbB6crHlegZaziK7WWnVuf-xZjvsQmauvUvtoHMQ5utcqbg1okjExmbkwAqhp788iw/s640/IMG_7590.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a slow processor.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And I kinda like to have stuff figured out before I start sharing about it. Not this time, I'm learning that sometimes it's good to share before I have the end result.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, this is me sharing my not quite 'there' health process.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;">Before I go on, I want to say that I have always been a big believer in "it's what's on the inside that counts" and "there is beauty in all shapes and sizes". That's not what today is about though. As much as those things are true, they didn't change how uncomfortable it was to be physically overweight. So, if you're reading this, please know my heart is for me to be physically healthy.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The health of my body got out of control.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I could blame having children, after all, it was when I was pregnant with Eli that I went totally nuts in the eating department. I won't though. The truth is, I wasn't prepared to live a body healthy life. What on earth does that mean? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It means I was prepared to live a spiritually healthy life and a soulfully healthy life but the fact that my body was in decent shape was just pretty much by chance. As soon as my choices were put to the test (yes, when I was preggers), I just made one bad choice after another. Pretty soon I didn't really care at all and ate whatever I craved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The moment I cared was when I had given birth to my adorable baby boy and no longer had a beautiful baby belly to take the focus. I cared about how my body looked and felt then quickly did something about the 60lbs I had gained. Then the yo yo game started. I would get motivated and make good choices when I would notice that my body wasn't looking and feeling the way I wanted it to and go on some kinda crash diet (all the while calling it a lifestyle change).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I often found when I was on the diets, I felt physically better even before I had lost the weight. I noticed the energy, how my tummy responded to food and even how clear my head felt. That wasn't enough for me to make changes that would stick though.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It took quite a while but eventually I looked in the mirror and said it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I hate you body."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Right now is probably a good time to say that this post wasn't easy to write. Feeling this way was shameful. I knew it was wrong. I just couldn't help it. I couldn't figure out how to love this body that was making me so uncomfortable. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">At that point </span><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't even figure out which crash diet to try next in order to lose the pounds I so desperately wanted to. I tried so very hard to think long term and would make changes in that mindset but they just wouldn't' stick and while I was "on track" it felt like all I could think about was the food I couldn't have and how much I wanted it. I spent time telling myself things like "do you want ice cream or to feel good?" The choice should be easy but it almost never was.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I tried stuff like ...</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">exercise </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">no sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">no wheat</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">no dairy</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">no processed foods</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">calorie counting</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">you get it....but shortly after committing to it I would have a craving I just simply didn't feel like denying and there I was....right back into eating junk. To be honest, it was comforting. I also knew that was wrong.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Most of the time I didn't even feel bad about it. Until I was figuring out what to wear for an event or even church. I am so sad to say this but I have actually not gone to church because of how I felt in my own skin. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since I wasn't conquering this body issue I was having, I decided to simply ignore my body. After all, I did feel good about who I was on the inside and loved so many things about life. I thought if I could just ignore my body then I would be happy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's what I ended up doing - I ignored the problem. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It wasn't just how I looked, it was how my body reacted to certain foods. Some stuff just doesn't agree with me, like dairy. But was pains in my stomach enough to keep me from eating ice cream when the craving came along (possibly 3 times/week), nope, it wasn't enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I tried positive affirmations and that was pretty good. I began to tell my body nice things like "I love you belly because you gave me my beautiful children" or "I love you legs because you work and you take me places I want to go". It was good but just not enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally the day came.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gave up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I just totally and completely knew I could not do this healthy living thing on my own.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This realization felt horrible. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It made me angry.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It made me ashamed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It made me disappointed in myself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It made me desperate to know how other people did it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then it made me angry again because I couldn't do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of staying with all those feelings that giving up made me feel, I had a very honest conversation with God about all of it. I told Him "I give up, I need you". I may have had some angry outbursts in there somewhere but seriously, I really did tell Him everything. All my negative thoughts and disappointments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Then I surrendered my body to Him and asked Him for help....like a lot. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I asked him to lead me in this journey. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I even got brave enough to tell Him my hopes and dreams for my body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That's when it all began.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My baby steps health journey.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4QWCIFFEHFEsd9RCuVJwV1pcrYlxQBWRskJ-aYehFkHMkXcPxpm1rXGNvNJDh0T8efZE20VQXKxbB6crHlegZaziK7WWnVuf-xZjvsQmauvUvtoHMQ5utcqbg1okjExmbkwAqhp788iw/s1600/IMG_7590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God gave me small steps and one by one I incorporated them into my life. Now, 5 months later my daily choices look quite different. Some of the steps are focused on what goes in my body and some are focused on moving my body. Some took weeks to focus on before adding another step and some just days.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I haven't lost all the weight. I actually haven't even weighed myself to see how much weight I have lost. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My number doesn't matter.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">My choices matter.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since making so many of these changes I no longer hate my body. I'm starting to feel the opposite. I feel like I'm learning what it looks like to love my body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm thinking long term but just taking one day at a time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you so much for reading about my journey. If you can identify or have thoughts on this, please feel free to share them in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Am I leaving you hanging if I don't share the steps that God gave me? ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Promise I won't leave you hanging for long. Those details will be my next post! I'm excited to share that with you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Make sure to "follow by email" so you get notified when I've posted part 2! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading part 1! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Much Love!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">xo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sue </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Follow me on Instagram to see some of the delicious meals I'm enjoying! <complete id="goog_1169608922">@healthbysjb</complete></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-33690632595017000382016-02-10T12:29:00.001-08:002016-02-10T12:30:27.799-08:00My Right Now<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Lots of change has been going on. I got married, moved and sent both my kids to public school and am still adjusting to it all. As if that wasn't enough --- My essential oil diffuser jewelry business Cedar & Honey, that I have been operating with a dear sweet friend Kari, is in the process of selling off inventory as we are closing shop. Kari and I both seek God's timing for all things in our lives and when we felt that it was time to close C&H, we felt it at the same time which happened to be when things were booming and really, when logic would say to keep going! For the Cedar & Honey lovers, there is good news! We're still selling jewelry, just in our separate shops. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kari will still be designing diffuser jewelry among some other lovely jewelry, essential oil and more! Check out here shop here</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/eternalheiress?ref=shopinfo_shopicon_leftnav" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">ETERNAL HEIRESS</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Of course I am still selling jewelry but am now going to focus on my shop. I opened it a while back but didn't list product or do much of anything as I was focusing my time and energy on C&H. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've been loading up the shop with new designs and old faithfuls. Here are some <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jewelsbysjb/" target="_blank">Instagram</a> shots I've been posting which by the way - you should come follow me there to see sneak peaks of what's coming for spring and some fun ways to style my jewelry. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn13zgpWkor3-9v0I-wb3bvP7iISYCO3W_BEkXM7A3-xFKPqvb8vHUJdICd8L6daQFLRtUwZU8CLgm31H9lF5J42KZ2PsJgYI4ANhALhg4e37y0LgUzAdCPuwnRwT6QHIjFpUL7RS3ScA/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn13zgpWkor3-9v0I-wb3bvP7iISYCO3W_BEkXM7A3-xFKPqvb8vHUJdICd8L6daQFLRtUwZU8CLgm31H9lF5J42KZ2PsJgYI4ANhALhg4e37y0LgUzAdCPuwnRwT6QHIjFpUL7RS3ScA/s640/IMG_3556.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/266282446/hand-stamped-antique-copper-disc-on-14k?ref=shop_home_feat_1" target="_blank">SEEN KNOWN LOVED Necklace</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLteKHGWKXGGK3qPxGmfBnaCgFQOCpuy0nk7d4Gm5YOtKK9fYcnRMbIzlvtZ38vUEGcpE4Q4osDBlgg4ZJi6ZXxENBnHUlXEvhE4d58lurnompipucqle4TybXiK9RTySpy5n91xhKuFw/s1600/IMG_4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLteKHGWKXGGK3qPxGmfBnaCgFQOCpuy0nk7d4Gm5YOtKK9fYcnRMbIzlvtZ38vUEGcpE4Q4osDBlgg4ZJi6ZXxENBnHUlXEvhE4d58lurnompipucqle4TybXiK9RTySpy5n91xhKuFw/s640/IMG_4090.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/266279380/wide-hand-stamped-cuff-ring-bold-ring?ref=related-3" target="_blank">HAND STAMPED CUFF RING</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/235413888/pink-copper-hand-stamped-cuff?ref=shop_home_active_16" target="_blank">HAND STAMPED CUFF BRACELETS</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvdf0NTV-_Zo4DnM1g02-SO3VTh97pjnRjFxwraLEDDrP2kswJSMIC9B-aH1HuA3LVda5a7uLZP7fK8SnimzOWbaYbnbDMT7XoxLe1_0NxTimDNpQbVGrNwOE5jl9tXcWCmW1H5rNqmE/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvdf0NTV-_Zo4DnM1g02-SO3VTh97pjnRjFxwraLEDDrP2kswJSMIC9B-aH1HuA3LVda5a7uLZP7fK8SnimzOWbaYbnbDMT7XoxLe1_0NxTimDNpQbVGrNwOE5jl9tXcWCmW1H5rNqmE/s640/IMG_4009.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/267782906/hand-stamped-sweethearts-tags-in-14k?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">SWEETHEARTS TAG</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/267620292/brave-bar-necklace-rose-gold-chain-with?ref=shop_home_active_9" target="_blank">BAR NECKLACES</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/267138540/stack-of-bracelets-matte-amazonite-with?ref=related-4" target="_blank">MATTE AMAZONITE & STERLING SILVER STACK</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ucedV_-_2dDDmpBKMShyphenhyphen38qf2SYc7WI-qfxaVxGC1gLDd3eH5rKIWyXFs5wFS7OF6V88Fk58i0kUvHJw53N0BnyhNL4SwXI1r8k5l-HJKGcLZwhMdEg318Mo2FUEQnt3ipxDvOJ5AXU/s1600/IMG_3006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2ucedV_-_2dDDmpBKMShyphenhyphen38qf2SYc7WI-qfxaVxGC1gLDd3eH5rKIWyXFs5wFS7OF6V88Fk58i0kUvHJw53N0BnyhNL4SwXI1r8k5l-HJKGcLZwhMdEg318Mo2FUEQnt3ipxDvOJ5AXU/s640/IMG_3006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/267531357/sterling-silver-and-moonstone-hand-chain?ref=listing-shop-header-1" target="_blank">HAND CHAIN</a></div>
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Thanks for your support friends!</div>
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Much Love! </div>
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Sue</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-44080697268978971332016-01-22T19:08:00.001-08:002016-01-22T19:10:15.231-08:00Your Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSuDWPEompgVI8WyqStrj5eUown7IlUbf_lQTxynFvUAgcz579RxNP97cYGMvQ85ZCPYvK3WwYeuhSLtkEW-xr493RJECKygdKrpu6i6jBhwZKj-7vLi0aYRhrXo_WAA-kMf2fzNsaJE/s1600/IMG_3046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLSuDWPEompgVI8WyqStrj5eUown7IlUbf_lQTxynFvUAgcz579RxNP97cYGMvQ85ZCPYvK3WwYeuhSLtkEW-xr493RJECKygdKrpu6i6jBhwZKj-7vLi0aYRhrXo_WAA-kMf2fzNsaJE/s640/IMG_3046.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you or better yet, a stranger took a good look at your everything, what would they say it means? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Would it mean you're ...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">fun</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">loving</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">creative</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">spontaneous</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">organized</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">generous</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">patient</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">passionate</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">a lover of the King?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have had the phrase "everything means something" in my head for about a week now and it was just tonight when I asked myself and God, is it true? Do I believe that everything means something? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it's good to know why we do what we do. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If a complete stranger took my everything</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my conversations</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my actions</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my use of time</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my thoughts</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">& even</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">my prayers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">what would they say my everything says about me?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">what would they say your everything means about you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I'm writing these words, I feel challenged. I've decided I believe it. I believe that my everything means something and I believe your everything means something too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everything, right down to the way I interact with the grocery store cashier....it all points to something. Certainly we are human and can not be perfect in character at every moment. However, I do have to ask myself how often I let the challenges of life get the best of me and start letting "my everything" point in a direction that I'm not meaning for it to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At any point, we can change the direction that our everything points to. ------->>></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">xo</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">SJB</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-32180664072626023092016-01-15T10:40:00.003-08:002016-01-15T10:49:26.020-08:00Salt & Light<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxnBOoovzWptw1tmDHEhTL35aU5FPiU8zhyEbpiycC8AJTw3WBnPyC_zgjsdlr8uw0rXCvLDSBa3f5VUS57wOF2DA_zgviz-zs1k6gOv092J7d5Eg6Qtbc6vYF7un0f6INZNl5EFxMs4/s1600/bc1f2b9344b491df985298b773338af0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxnBOoovzWptw1tmDHEhTL35aU5FPiU8zhyEbpiycC8AJTw3WBnPyC_zgjsdlr8uw0rXCvLDSBa3f5VUS57wOF2DA_zgviz-zs1k6gOv092J7d5Eg6Qtbc6vYF7un0f6INZNl5EFxMs4/s640/bc1f2b9344b491df985298b773338af0.jpg" width="510" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/truecotton?ref=unav_listing-r" target="_blank">Art by True Cotton </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you choose a word for the year? Or maybe a statement? Or a bible verse? What makes you choose the word that you decided on? It's a big commitment....one whole year of this one word being YOUR word.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Well I did choose a word this year, just as I have for the past 7 years. The first year that I chose my word it wasn't really me that made it all happen. Well, let me explain that. I was in the middle of some major life changes that were just all negative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Side note - this is where I get unsure of how much of my mess to share.....after all, my mess isn't the point of telling the story but without letting you in at least a little, you won't see the full picture. *Sigh* Here goes nothing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My marriage of 6 years along with all the dreams I ever hoped for (as far as I knew it) was coming to an end. I didn't have anywhere to live with my 2 year old munchkin. I had alienated myself and therefore didn't have friends around me. Thankfully my parents and I were in good relationship but they were living 3 hrs away trying to start a new life of their own. My living situation got figured out but the rest was still a mess. My heart ached and all I could think for months on end was "how did I get here". I kept going over my big decisions, then my small decisions and everything in between wondering if that was where I went wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">At some point while trying to figure out my life the new year came around. I was never one for new years resolutions but this year something had to change. I decided that I would choose one thing to change. The problem was, I didn't know what to choose. It seemed that so much had to change. I took it to the Lord. He lovingly told me that I needed to decide where I want to go, what kind of mom I want to be, what kind of daughter I want to be, the kind of people I want to be around and the list went on. It hit me. I need to live with intention.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Intentional.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">That was my very first word for the year. Everything I did and every decision I made was filtered through the lens of "is this living intentionally". I would ask myself, does this decision line up with the way I have decided I want to live? It was a lot of work and made me so very aware of where I had gone wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As you can imagine, living intentionally in the mess I had was a pretty big challenge so it was my word for about 4 years in a row. I guess that kinda makes it not really a "word of the year" but I loved the habit that started from letting "Intentional" be my word. I found myself automatically using that filter when making decisions. It was a new way of life and became much easier with time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two other words I had were FOCUS and FOLLOW. They also changed my way of thinking dramatically and I'm so grateful for the new filters that were put in my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year I have been so busy with life changes that I hadn't thought about a work for the year at all. I did however find myself wanting to write out and hand stamp "Salt & Light" constantly. I was thinking on it and reading about it in the word as well. I guess God wasn't going to let me forget to choose this years word - He even chose it for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When I've found myself thinking about what being salt & light means to me, I am quickly thinking about my boys and my husband. I want them to feel a ray of sunshine and a good taste in their mouth when they think of me and with every connection we make I pray that I can be their daily dose of salt & light. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBQSZB96s7KWlRgCjTXl0F0gETj2BJjVu1FRER3BnnBsxzXfglKT7i1Aa9l0_d0cj7VQHUH6YHJIBiM-PxzSXJc9AlY2mi6ZY1e4QlC2jqo5sXsjzI_KfTIauvuW4PsChofYvqzCKj-Y/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHBQSZB96s7KWlRgCjTXl0F0gETj2BJjVu1FRER3BnnBsxzXfglKT7i1Aa9l0_d0cj7VQHUH6YHJIBiM-PxzSXJc9AlY2mi6ZY1e4QlC2jqo5sXsjzI_KfTIauvuW4PsChofYvqzCKj-Y/s400/IMG_2379.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This little misshapen silver button pendant is coming out in my new collection February 1st! It is misshapen to represent that we don't have to be perfect to be salt and light. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/TheJewelryBoxbySJB" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Jewelry by SJB</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for reading friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOOO <<<------- hugs! Love Sue</span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-28941185216977795292015-11-09T07:01:00.002-08:002015-11-09T10:03:58.416-08:00A Prank?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxiD7KyIkvNYaGMpJo82AocyjsgKmHG69A3dQir0-YmYYJJXyGvUSC48NStjoT0w5Ap3JX5Q3ZpZdrvmDfxzJ3pVjdeOx8hyK8d7i-IPzS4vWbfAg_V5uu5isLkM_WPUbC7ZvfXwlYRI/s1600/5639ccd0dceeb0c921bdef480fc191be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxiD7KyIkvNYaGMpJo82AocyjsgKmHG69A3dQir0-YmYYJJXyGvUSC48NStjoT0w5Ap3JX5Q3ZpZdrvmDfxzJ3pVjdeOx8hyK8d7i-IPzS4vWbfAg_V5uu5isLkM_WPUbC7ZvfXwlYRI/s640/5639ccd0dceeb0c921bdef480fc191be.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last week I had this fun thing happen that was lead by Holy Spirit and afterwards found myself excited to share the story with you. As I kept thinking about it, I decided that I would just wait because not everything that happens is for sharing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">However, this morning during my worship time I felt that nudge to share the story from last week even though what I really wanted to write about was how my husband loved me so well this weekend. Maybe more on loving well another time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, last week I was taking my youngest sweetheart out for lunch. Eli wanted to stay at school to play with his buddies. It was no big surprise that Ozias chose Wendy's to go to for lunch. As we walked in I saw there was 3 teenage boys in line. Right away they suggested we go ahead of them which was fine by me. As I walked in front of them I could feel my heart behind them. I can't describe exactly what that feels like. I think normally I would just forget about them the moment I'm in front of them but I didn't. I was fully aware that they were there and as I acknowledged that, I heard that still. small. voice. telling me to buy them lunch. I actually went ahead with finishing my order then the still small voice got much much louder. I was going to do it after hearing the small voice but when His voice got louder I have to say, I got excited to do it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I settled Ozias into his seat which was pretty much beside the cash then I turned to the boys and said "Hi guys, order whatever you want off the menu. I'm going buy you lunch today." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I honestly didn't expect them to do much except order and let me pay. Their reaction was so fun to see. One of the boys tried to give me a few dollars - all he had to pay for his meal. Another asked things like"Are you serious?" "For real?"over and over. He even went to order then turned to me and asked if it was a prank. The five of us, including Ozias laughed while I explained to them that I was absolutely serious and there was no practical joke happening. Once they realized that I was serious and began to order their food, there was a seriousness that fell over them and they began to thank me over and over and over and over. Once each of them had ordered and I was paying they were talking to each other and asking why a stranger would want to buy them lunch. The tallest boy was telling the others that it must be Karma and that either they did something good and this is their payback or now they must go do something good. Like a stern but loving mama, I turned to them and explained "This is a gift and I'm giving it to you just for being here in this moment. You didn't earn it and you are not in debt to me or this world for receiving it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One of the boys just couldn't take it....he asked me "but why are you doing this?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The words quickly flew out of my mouth " because it's nice to have someone buy you lunch once in a while."</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They continued pouring out thank you's and I smiled then sat to have lunch with my sweet boy who was enjoying his food and not paying much attention to the whole ordeal after the laughing was over. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I sat there wondering what was God doing. He is always going deeper than we are and He is always doing more than we think when he asks us to do seemingly random things for others. I began to pray into what had just happened. I prayed that what God was doing would sink into their hearts and that they would later, in a quiet time reflect and know that it was their heavenly Father loving on them. Once I had started to think about what God may have been doing, I wondered if one of them or all three maybe needed to feel a mothers love or perhaps that feeling of being provided for. I'm ok with not knowing the details. Just getting to see those three teenagers turn into laughing, grateful boys was enough for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOOO <<<------- hugs from Sue</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-64760353840875455312015-11-04T07:49:00.000-08:002015-11-04T07:49:15.388-08:00Adventure with Jesus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to share an adventure I had with God yesterday but first I want to share a bit of background. K?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used to do something called striving. I did it a lot and with great intentions. I so deeply desired to be useful to God. I wanted to help change the world with Him. I used to do things like... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...over think</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...worry if it was His voice</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...try to create God moments</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...beat myself up for not doing enough</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">...spend more time thinking of how I can show others Jesus instead of loving Him myself</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I think it's a common thing since those of us who grew up in the church often heard things like "who are you sharing Jesus with? are you being a good witness? we need to share the gospel." </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's not that I don't believe in those things, I do. I just didn't know that the best way to do all three things is to know Him, know His ways and to know His heart. Ultimately, love Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">By doing those things, you can't help but love the Father deeply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's all about loving Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I did know about Him and had experienced his love, grace and mercy and yet somehow I wasn't fully in love with Him. Now, when I think about my King one of three things happens, my heart beats fast and I need to catch my breath, my eyes fill with tears of joy or a big fat smile comes across my face, one that can't be peeled off easily.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love Him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, yesterday while making some diffuser jewelry for Cedar & Honey, I was watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypl4qw0Y01Y" target="_blank"><b>THIS</b></a> video by Shawn Bolz. He reminded me of some beautiful truths that God had made very real to me in the last couple years. One of those truths is that we don't need to strive. We don't even need to be "on our game" to be used by God and to show others who He is. He shares some pretty awesome stories....but before you go watch Shawn's awesome video, first read my little story ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">After getting all orders made I was off to the Post Office, a place where I've already adventured with Jesus. More on that <a href="http://bysjm.blogspot.ca/2015/10/the-whisper.html" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I was feeling so refreshed and excited to boldly do something with God. Instead of planning a God moment, over thinking it or spending time thinking about how I can share Jesus, I simply told Him </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm listening for you and want to adventure your way God".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then I got in my car and went about my business.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I got to the post office and the regular woman that processes my orders was there waiting but she was missing her usual smile. I asked her how she was doing and she explained that she has had a debilitating headache for 4 days and is on a lot of meds to be able to be at work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought, ok good.....something to pray for. Before I said anything out loud about praying, I asked myself if I believed that Jesus could heal her. Then I asked myself if I believed that he wanted to heal her. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes! & Yes!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He can and he wants to was my internal dialogue. I already know this as a fact but to think about it in the moment made it that much more real and personal to the one woman right in front of me. There were a couple people behind me in line and I felt that it wasn't the right moment to ask her if I could pray so once my packages were processed I went to grab something else I needed. I came back and she was standing behind her desk with no customers so I took my chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is what I did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I told her that I am a Christian and that sometimes when I pray for people they get healed by God (<--- It's true, I've experienced healings or I would have just said that I believe He can heal her) and that I believe he wants to heal her head. Then I asked her if I could pray for her. I'm not sure I can quite describe her response. She was smiling so big and was clearly feeling the presence of the Lord, as was I. She was almost giddy when she said that she would like me to pray. As soon as I said that I would just pray right then and there, a customer walked up. She was clearly very uncomfortable and said that she better not let me pray while another customer was there. I told her that was ok because I was going to go to my car and pray for her healing. The excitement in her eyes was just beautiful! I would have stuck around but it was time for me to pick the boys up from school.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I walked away and could feel the presence of God so strong. Ha! He had already shown up! I began praying for her head right away and got excited at not only the healing work He wanted to do in this woman's body but also in her heart. I'm so overjoyed about the work that He has begun and can't wait to see this story unfold. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There it was, right in the middle of my regular life - an adventure with Jesus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we make life with God more complicated than it needs to be. He isn't waiting for perfect moments with the perfect person. I didn't do anything special except tell my King, while in the middle of doing my stuff, that He has my ear and that I want to do things with Him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe one day I'll sell all my possessions and move across the country to be a missionary or something super dramatic like that. For now, I'm going to focus on the mission field I'm in.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOOO <------- hugs from Sue</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-1381865600551299702015-11-03T07:42:00.002-08:002015-11-03T07:42:40.601-08:00But first......time with Him.<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't want to hang out with God this morning.....I mean, I did but I had a list of other stuff that has to get done and was ready to start checking things off as soon as I dropped the boys off for school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For around 7-8 months before I got married I was getting up between 5-6am to spend my time with God. That did not come naturally for me and was something that God laid on my heart to do and when I did it, boy was it good! Spending that quality time with Him in the early morning changed my whole life. Some of the things that shifted and moved into place, I could have never guessed would happen due to my getting up extra early to be with God. He knew though. He always knows the good things that will come from our obedience.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I got married everything changed, including the time that I would spend with God. I wanted to continue to get up at 5am to be with the Lord but it just wasn't happening for various reasons so the time I felt on my heart to be with God was after dropping the boys off at school. It makes sense that He would ask for my first available quality time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For some reason this morning I woke up excited about the things I wanted to get done today and just kept thinking about it while getting the boys ready and off to school. As I drove home I suddenly remembered that my first available quality time was already reserved for Jesus. My next thought was, oh no, what if He wants me to do something different than what I already have planned for my day. What a silly thought, right? I mean, if the King of Kings who loves me more than anything and always wants what is best for me has a different plan than I do, I should jump for joy and get excited to hear what He has planned for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Nope.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I didn't feel that way or think those things. I did decide that I would stick to my commitment and start on my 'to do' list after my time with God. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sun is shining bright this morning and in our living room we have two huge windows that take up almost the whole wall. So with the glowing sun beaming in, I turned on my worship music starting with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byEUIzfVLAs" target="_blank">Ever Be.</a> Friends, the moment I lifted my hands in praise my own desires began to fall away. I didn't hope for that or even expect it. I actually planned on worshipping, praying then getting on with my day, my well planned day. I wanted to get those things on my list done for two reasons but my motivating reason is that it would feel good. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I began to pray and tell the Lord that I want my hearts desires to be one with His, I felt joy and a delightful lightness which I'm sure was better than I would feel after getting my whole list checked off. Isn't God just so good!? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His plan is always better than our plan. Always. Even when it doesn't make sense. Actually, especially when it doesn't make sense. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Each morning I come to the Lord asking Him to fill my cup to overflowing. I physically cup my hands together and raise them up, then I wait. Often times I think about how there is only so much room in my hands. If it's filled to overflowing with love, hope, patience, grace, mercy and joy then there isn't much room for anger, spite, frustration and other negative things. I want His goodness to push out all the negative fleshly stuff that might get into my day. I'm always in need of more grace, patience and understanding for my family and each person I cross paths with in a day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I want to encourage you to give some quality time to God in your day, not because it's a rule and as Christians we need to follow the rules but because He is so good and on the other side of that quality time with Him, there is goodness and freedom. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God did change my day today and as much as I thought I would be frustrated not getting stuff done, I'm sitting here feeling great about sharing my heart with you. </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkyCyMXfTmQcLx0iK4N6qTkIzJ7UmYI77fCl9IP20yEyayRxcLMQ9oKKnwCGR0u_dpOeuOMuzXbCsbNYA2XXIdA9s_8um-ck_uoqde6IzMpLDQYfhn5JFee64kUtV1vyaeq2XFtfILRQ/s1600/IMG_1268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkyCyMXfTmQcLx0iK4N6qTkIzJ7UmYI77fCl9IP20yEyayRxcLMQ9oKKnwCGR0u_dpOeuOMuzXbCsbNYA2XXIdA9s_8um-ck_uoqde6IzMpLDQYfhn5JFee64kUtV1vyaeq2XFtfILRQ/s400/IMG_1268.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">^^^^^ HE > I ^^^^^</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Less of me, more of you God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm gonna go make some jewelry!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I love you friends, thanks for reading.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOOO <----- hugs from Sue</span></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-64661834226148374322015-10-21T19:43:00.000-07:002015-10-30T13:13:33.443-07:00The Whisper<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">First I want to thank you for being here! Thank you for reading the overflow of my heart, I hope it lifts you up today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I usually keep this type of thing for just me to know but my heart is truly overflowing and I guess I feel like it’s worth putting it somewhere. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to dive in..... Today before picking the boys up I was working on Cedar & Honey orders and almost had customs forms filled out for our orders to the USA but had to run out to get the boys from school. I brought orders and the forms with me thinking I would finish in the car then head to the post office. I gathered the boys then we got in the car and of course my little munchkin announces "I have to go pee". I knew we needed to head home to avoid a mess. Although Ozias has been potty trained for years now, I didn't want to invite a mess or put him in that terrible position of having to hold it....and all the ladies said amen! Anyways, to my delight, husband was home from work which meant I could drop off the boys and be on my way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Stick with me friends, I promise I will get to the warm fuzzy giving part. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I arrived at the post office which is actually in a drug store and as I was walking towards the door to go in a woman and four boys, looking to be between the ages of 6-12 yrs old were also walking up. I found myself looking at her and each boys face and remember folks....I'm on a mission here...it's time to send off orders. So, I know there is something about this crew that I need to pay attention to since normally I would just go on my way. As I walked past them into the store I heard it......</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the. still. small. voice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The voice in my heart was telling me to give her a $20 dollar bill from my wallet. I half smiled because I love it when God does this to me. He catches me right in the middle of my being busy and whispers. While prompting me to do something for this woman, it also felt as if He was asking me if I was listening for Him and at the same time hugging my heart and telling me that He is always with me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I told the Lord I would wait on him for perfect timing and went on to get my orders sent off. I did just that then wouldn't you know it, just as I'm reaching the front of the store I see that the woman and her boys (at this point I had heard her refer to them as brothers and sons so I knew they were her kiddos) are just cashing out. I quickly asked Holy Spirit if I should give it now, half wondering if maybe her card would be declined or something. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I felt that I should wait for her outside the store instead of giving it to her right then. As I walked through the last door to outside I reached inside my wallet and folded up a twenty. Just a few seconds later, there she was standing outside with me although at this point I'm pretty sure she hadn't noticed my being there. Without thinking I turned around, looked at her and reached my hand out saying "this is for you". Looking stunned she took what was hiding in my hand and when she realized what it was she asked me "why are you giving this to me?" to which I replied (wholeheartedly believing it was the words her heavenly Father wanted her to hear) "because you look like a busy mom that could use a break". As the words came out of my mouth I found myself moved by them and I knew giving her the money was just as much about giving her the word that God had for her. I believe He was also telling her "I see you". I'm praying right now that she would reflect back on that moment and those words and know just exactly the message God was giving her. She may never know just exactly how Holy Spirit lined things up so that we would be walking in and out those doors at exactly the right time. Praying she still feels and knows that He did orchestrate all of it. I smiled at her sweet face then went on walking to my car. Oh friends...it IS better to give than to receive! I truly felt as if I was the one that was just given way more than twenty dollars. Just as I opened the door to my car I could hear the woman shout "God bless you". Little did she know, He just did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you know that He sees you too? My sweet friend, he does see you and all that you do. You are not alone, you are seen by God and while he sees every little bit of you that makes you uniquely you, He loves what he sees. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Praying that message sinks deep in your heart and mind and when you feel unseen or alone that these very words would float to the front of your mind and once again sink deep in your heart.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOO <<<----- hugs, from Sue</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5159391842558255244.post-636881700733720732015-10-02T11:24:00.000-07:002015-10-30T13:14:56.427-07:00The Beautiful Pain Of Stretching<span style="font-size: large;">This morning while I knelt down to pray I felt the Lord telling me to stretch my legs...not just stretch them out but to literally stretch as if I was about to work out or go for a run. I'm always curious to know what God is saying and doing so did just what He suggested - I stretched my legs. Ya know that feeling you get in your muscles when you stretch? It's like a good pain, I actually really love that feeling but at the same time it does kinda hurt a bit. They say that's when you should stop cause if you go past the point when it is just starting to hurt, you could really damage your muscles.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As I sit on my living room floor in my prayer time stretching God began to speak to me about the season I'm in.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">On August 22nd of this year I got married.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <b>Yayyyyyyyy!</b> </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although we're in the "honeymooning" phase, we have more than celebrating to do. Together we have 3 children and I lived in a different city until we got married. So we're blending our family along with our stuff (lots and lots of stuff) and it is such a beautiful thing but let me tell you, it's not easy. I also know deep in my spirit that God is in it and I would even go as far to say that He orchestrated the whole thing. I have been learning lots this year that when God asks us to do things, it doesn't mean it is going to be a cake walk and right now, I feel God stretching me. I believe he is stretching all 5 of us. As I had breakfast with a friend yesterday morning, she encouraged me when she spoke of how our faith is built in the difficult situations of our lives. I want my faith to be built so I'm choosing to embrace all these challenges that come with blending 5 lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As I was doing my spirit lead stretches, almost right away I began to see where God was going with it. I was fully aware that if I did the splits I would not only feel the pain in the moment but would damage my muscles since I can't stretch that far.....yet. ;) If I did damage my muscles it would actually set me back and in the days to come, I wouldn't be able to stretch at all. Most likely I would have to let myself rest until my muscles heal. If I was able to continue to stretch, it would probably be much more painful than necessary due to my overextending my legs. While thinking of this I was seeing how in my life right now there is a delicate balance in how much I should stretch myself. The Lord has already blessed me with a situation where I am being stretched in my parenting, my business, my friendships and with learning to be the wife He made me to be for my husband. I know the Lord was encouraging me to take things one day at a time and not to put anything else on my plate that will cause me to overextend myself and ultimately cause damage that will be a set back in my life. Right now I am choosing to say no to some of my ideas and to some requests for my time and energy. I feel that it's important to be where God wants me to be and doing only the things He has set out for me to do.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel such a beautiful grace on my new family and although there are challenges, I am ready and willing to face them because I'm excited to see the beauty my Lord will create from these "stretching pains". I won't be able to do the splits tomorrow but if I keep stretching the right way everyday, I will get there. In the same way, right now I am not taking on all the things on my mind to do but their time will come. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I believe this is for someone today. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe you have lots on your plate already, are feeling overextended and need time to heal and gain back your energy. Maybe you're feeling the pressure to take more on and juggle just a few more things like you see your neighbour/friends doing. Maybe you're like me and have idea's of things you want to do but just can't see how you would manage it on top of the other things you have going on. Lastly, maybe you have been saying no to over extending yourself and need to be encouraged to keep on doing just that! No matter where you're at, I want to encourage you to sit back and ask God where He is and what He is doing in your life right now. He is always in our lives saying as well as doing something, so don't be afraid to see where He is and what He is saying to you. Once you know where He is at work in your life, join Him! He wants to restore all things broken, breath fresh life and hope into situations feeling hopeless and He wants you to know that He sees you right where you are and knows what's in your beautiful heart.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm praying for you friend. Praying for clarity so that you can see truth and know the Fathers heart for your life right now, I'm believing that seeing His heart will direct your path and give you the boldness you need to walk on it! He loves you so extravagantly and I love you too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">OOO <<<----- hugs from Sue</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07934669636431811168noreply@blogger.com0