That's right people! I reFUSE, to get caught in the temptation of the "eating season" this year...that's what we call the days between Halloween and TMEA (around Valentine's Day for you non-Texas music educators) and it's just TORTURE! There is always candy, treats and occasionally buffalo wings lying around waiting to be eaten! Plus, fall is a busy time of year for all of us and we have a bad habit of eating out when we are on the run. My school district is doing a challenge as part of their wellness program and giving out $100 rewards in drawings for those that do not gain weight during the holidays. I decided to participate because I really need to be losing weight but my goal is to NOT gain any either. :)
My biggest obstacle right now is finding time to exercise. It's not the actual DOING of the exercise that's a problem...I can actually spend an hour or two at the gym doing some cardio and then strength training and then some stretching. I have great endurance and I can walk on the treadmill or ride the bike while watching a show or reading for HOURS! But I can only fit in this amount of time maybe every couple months so I get discouraged and don't go. I convince myself that I have to put on the workout clothes and then I'll have to take a shower again, and yada, yada, yada, before you know it, I'm sitting in my chair on facebook :) I need to re-train my brain to do a little every day instead of something more intense only occasionally. That, my friends, will be my new year's resolution, AGAIN! (every year...)
We actually are trying to work out a bargain with Santa this year. Normally, in the past we have asked Santa not to bring super-expensive gifts because we just don't think it's fair to the other kids in the world...so we have given Santa a budget normally of no more than $100 per kid in the past. For many, that is still a lot, but we know lots of families that have given Santa no budget at all and he is bringing them iphones and tvs, etc. However, this year we are asking Santa for a Wii. We have ulterior motives for this. #1: Mommy wants to use it to "play" the games with the kids and get some exercise. #2: the prices have gone down from previous years and at $199 on Amazon, Santa can still stay within the budget we have alloted him of $100 a kid. #3: well...everyone is getting them so we want to keep up with the Joneses. #4: since Mommy is going to be using it, it really is a gift for her too from Santa so he's actually getting more bang for his buck!
All this weight and exercise focus has me thinking about my spiritual workout as well and what I believe God is calling me to do. In the past, I have shared that I believe God is calling me to teach His word...not just when it's convenient or when I have the time or when I have the right equipment or the right clothes on. I am willing and eager to do His will and have been participating as a bible teacher on a "volunteer" basis at church for many years now. I know that in order for me to move into vocational ministry, I will have to step a little out of my comfort zone. And since it has been made clear to me that I am not supposed to be focusing on seminary or ordained ministry (at least for this time in my life) then I felt I needed to look at the other areas of my life that require my focus and take away from the time I could be spending with the Lord, in His word, preparing for a teaching ministry that HE has in mind for me.
That's why I have decided to not teach bible study this spring. It probably sounds opposite of what I'm saying, but Thursday is currently taken up with bible study and lunch with my group most weeks, which gives me less than 2 hours before the kids get home. AND with teaching my small group, that takes up many hours of prep as well. Focusing on teaching this group has been awesome and I love it and I have been able to fine tune some of my prep and speaking skills. I also am really fed personally by it and I find comfort in it. However, in order to give time to the Lord and really hear what it is He is giving to me to share with others (as in a bible study that I am developing), I cannot be focusing on a bible study that someone has already written. I cannot focus on the comfort of being with my group, safe and secure in a bible study someone else has written. God is asking me to step out of my comfort zone and finish what He is giving to me to share with others. I am in the process and I am wanting to give God my obedience to see to completion what He has started. I will keep you posted on how it's going...my biggest fear is not having the structure or accountability of a bible study small group every Thursday, but I am VERY much looking forward to having this bonus quiet time with just me and God. And perhaps I can get in a quick visit to the gym as well :)
One more update on us: This weekend we have had the privilege of providing foster care for 2 little precious girls. As you may recall, we were licensed back in June for foster/adoption and have been waiting for the right children to come along in the foster care system for us to adopt. By the way, it is a SLOW, TEDIOUS, FRUSTRATING process! But we believe whole-heartedly in God's timing! We really are wanting to adopt but agreed to provide respite (temp) care for 5 days for another foster family so they could attend their son's college graduation. The girls are 2 and 3 and so they have been a handful, but they are SUPER sweet, very huggy, and we have enjoyed them immensely. They are girly-girls so we have had fun with dolls, and pink, and brushing hair...we have also had a few more emotional moments but that is mostly because they are little. I will admit that I have thrown my whole self into caring for these girls and love them already so I will be sad when they go back to their foster parents tomorrow. These girls are not available for adoption because their parents are still in the court process of trying to get them back. We weren't really interested in adopting girls this young anyway, but we are now praying about that...we'll have to see what God has in store.
The funniest/sweetest things from the weekend:
Seanna said "Christmas" and our oldest thought she said "breath mints" and they had a good laugh over that. She LOVED sitting on the couch next to the boys and would say "I sit by you." which just makes your heart melt...she just wants to be with people and be loved. Also, when I told her "you're adorable" she said "no, I'm a good girl!"
Ariel is only 2 so she doesn't say a lot but when she was sad one afternoon I said, "Don't smile!" with a very stern face and she started cracking up. So we started doing this all the time and now she says it to us and cracks up. Her laugh is in itself hilarious and contagious.
With the birthday of Jesus this Friday, we are reminded of how precious His gift was to us with the visit of these girls. His word says in James that "religion" at it's foundation is to care for orphans and it is humbling to be able to be His hands and feet in this way even if only for a short time...it is a gift for them but it is really a gift for US. This is a gift we give whether it's convenient or not. How joyous to experience the true meaning of Christmas this year.
May you have the same opportunity to be a blessing and be BLESSED in 2010!
Shelley
