June 28, 2007
"If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." - John 8:36
Yesterday my dear friend said she could really see a change in me and asked me if I felt free.
Wow, she had no idea how true and timely that statement was. Sisters, I am free indeed!!!
The past 4 years have been a real journey for me (not always easy, and many times with my fists held tight, and my yoke firmly fastened!) Can I just say that Evangel has been like "Lady Liberty" for me...a symbol of truth, grace, love, liberty in Christ, and a feeling of home. Thank you all so much for loving me, welcoming me, laughing and crying with me, and just letting me be myself. I'm so thankful to be truly free in Christ. He has taught me much about His wonderful grace...how underserving I am...how faithful He is. I was reading this morning from Romans 7 and 8. OK, Romans 7 COULD have been written by me (IF God had allowed it 'cause it is totally my life story...wanting to please God and always falling short.) What a wonderful Heavenly Father to not just leave me with my struggle in Romans 7 but to give me Romans 8:1...."Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me FREE from the law of sin and death!"
Can I tell you how "light" I feel walking around without that big heavy yoke???
I love the 4th of July (all holidays actually). Hanging out with family and friends, eating good food, resting...all good things, but this year takes on a whole new meaning. Celebrating the freedom we have in our country (God bless our precious soldiers) is one thing, but it can never compare to the freedom we have in Christ. I'm reminded of an old hymn that my daddy has always sung..."I'm free from the fear of tomorrow, I'm free from the guilt of my past, I've traded my shackles for a glorious song, I'm free, Praise the Lord free at last...(yes I'm singing it with my hands raised ha ha)...Let freedom ring girls!!! Love ya'll!!!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Thursday, June 14, 2007
OB-GYN and TCBY
June 14, 2007
Third times a charm! Let me explain....
A few weeks ago when we went to the beach, we got totally hooked on TCBY (the country's best yogurt). We would go every afternoon and get our 96% fat free chocolate treat! I was not sad when I left the beach because I knew I could go to any of the TCBY's close to home...(Valleydale, Hwy 150, the Galleria). So last week Abby and I were craving our TCBY and we headed out only to find that the first 2 TCBY's weren't there any longer. When did that happen??? We'll just run into the Galleria and get one there I said. NO TCBY! What happened? We asked the information desk and they said that it hadn't been there for a long time. I borrowed her phone book and found 1 TCBY in Homewood. Too far to drive on that particular day because Abby had cheerleader practice. We settled for a Haagen Daaz (NOT THE SAME!!!) and decided we would drive to Homewood another day. Strike 1!
Well, another day came. It was Saturday. We had spent the whole day at the pool and decided we would go get TCBY as a special treat. We come home, get dressed, and Abby says she's not feeling well. (I'm thinking she's just tired, whiny, etc. -come on you'll be fine...I really wanted my TCBY) Scott thought we should eat first and then go get dessert. Abby didn't eat (still not feeling well she said). We get in the car and are driving through Vestavia when Abby grabs a bag and vomits...(a lot!!!) Scott's turning the car around to head home and (terrible, selfish mother that I am - I'm thinking we are just a few miles from TCBY) so close!!! Strike 2! Then Thursday came...the dreaded trip to the OB-GYN for a check up. Usually I'm not too keen on this particular appointment, however I started thinking. The doctor's office is only about 3 miles from TCBY! Jackpot! I leave the hospital and start driving toward the place where the angel's hover and sing (that's a little John Pinette humor). I can't find it! I am driving around straining my neck looking for that blessed sign when finally it appeared..."TCBY"...followed by another sign..."CLOSED"! I look at the store hours (10:30-10:00) and it's only 9:55. No problem, I'll wait! And wait I did until I saw that sweet little old lady turn that closed sign to open (God bless her). I waltzed right in there and got my medium size cup of chocolate yogurt with a spoon full of crushed oreos (is your mouth watering?) Oh my gosh, now that made a trip to the OB-GYN worth it! My only concern is that I can't keep driving to Homewood when gas is almost $3.00 a gallon. I am now looking for someone to invest in a franchise close to me. Any takers?
Third times a charm! Let me explain....
A few weeks ago when we went to the beach, we got totally hooked on TCBY (the country's best yogurt). We would go every afternoon and get our 96% fat free chocolate treat! I was not sad when I left the beach because I knew I could go to any of the TCBY's close to home...(Valleydale, Hwy 150, the Galleria). So last week Abby and I were craving our TCBY and we headed out only to find that the first 2 TCBY's weren't there any longer. When did that happen??? We'll just run into the Galleria and get one there I said. NO TCBY! What happened? We asked the information desk and they said that it hadn't been there for a long time. I borrowed her phone book and found 1 TCBY in Homewood. Too far to drive on that particular day because Abby had cheerleader practice. We settled for a Haagen Daaz (NOT THE SAME!!!) and decided we would drive to Homewood another day. Strike 1!
Well, another day came. It was Saturday. We had spent the whole day at the pool and decided we would go get TCBY as a special treat. We come home, get dressed, and Abby says she's not feeling well. (I'm thinking she's just tired, whiny, etc. -come on you'll be fine...I really wanted my TCBY) Scott thought we should eat first and then go get dessert. Abby didn't eat (still not feeling well she said). We get in the car and are driving through Vestavia when Abby grabs a bag and vomits...(a lot!!!) Scott's turning the car around to head home and (terrible, selfish mother that I am - I'm thinking we are just a few miles from TCBY) so close!!! Strike 2! Then Thursday came...the dreaded trip to the OB-GYN for a check up. Usually I'm not too keen on this particular appointment, however I started thinking. The doctor's office is only about 3 miles from TCBY! Jackpot! I leave the hospital and start driving toward the place where the angel's hover and sing (that's a little John Pinette humor). I can't find it! I am driving around straining my neck looking for that blessed sign when finally it appeared..."TCBY"...followed by another sign..."CLOSED"! I look at the store hours (10:30-10:00) and it's only 9:55. No problem, I'll wait! And wait I did until I saw that sweet little old lady turn that closed sign to open (God bless her). I waltzed right in there and got my medium size cup of chocolate yogurt with a spoon full of crushed oreos (is your mouth watering?) Oh my gosh, now that made a trip to the OB-GYN worth it! My only concern is that I can't keep driving to Homewood when gas is almost $3.00 a gallon. I am now looking for someone to invest in a franchise close to me. Any takers?
Friday, June 8, 2007
Boot Camp and Goggles
June 8, 2007
Ya'll know I've been exercising since the end of April, and I'm always looking for new ways to burn calories. We've been going to our neighborhood pool everyday and I thought I'd swim some laps. (swimming is good for you and burns lots of calories I've always heard) Let me tell you-I'm not a great swimmer, you know the kind that does the perfect stroke, knows when to turn their head and breathe, and do that underwater turn thing. No, I'm the wear your child's mask (not goggles, mask) so you don't have to think about breathing. I'm the stop at the wall, turn around, begin again. And apparently I'm the make it one lap down and nearly die from lack of oxygen kind of swimmer. Oh my gosh, swimming laps is hard! After a slight break, I did manage 6 laps. (Be impressed people). So, every summer we have to buy a new "mask" and this year Wal-Mart made the cheapest mask ever. It totally leaked. So imagine my not so pretty stroke and then a leaking mask on top of that! (Not an olympic moment) This led to our excursion to Dick's Sporting Goods. (I won't even comment on the name of that store) We decided (Abby and me) that we would move into the 21st century and actually buy goggles! (Big step for us since we are both "nose holders")...side note -our neighbor scolded us for holding our noses and gave us hints on how not to-it's not that we didn't know how to hold our breath, it's just that we are lazy which I think I've covered before...- so we both pick out new goggles (not cheap let me add) and of course a new mask (just in case!). We were heading back to the escalator when I saw the fitness equipment on the wall. (I am a sucker for a new workout). There it was- Billy Blank's boot camp super cardio burner all nice and boxed and ready for me to try. And it was on sale! OK, let's just say there is a reason it is called Boot Camp! Picture the military with a screaming sergeant (is that spelled right?) telling you to count, and do it again, and work harder, blah, blah, blah. Oh my gosh, and I thought swimming was hard! I wasn't even using the Billy Bands that give you weight resistance! When am I going to be able to have enough oxygen to get through these workouts? Seriously, I know I'm the "oldest" among you all, but come on, sometimes I feel like I'm in a 60 year old body! (No offense if you are 60, it's just that I'm only 36). Oh to be young again, eat whatever I want, and not have to worry about metabolism, calories, excess pregnancy weight (did I mention Abby is almost 8-ha ha). Anyway, I say all this to arrive at the conclusion that I was NOT cut out for the military, especially the Navy Seals! I won't be signing up for the National Guard, and I'll probably be hanging out at the shallow end of the pool!
Ya'll know I've been exercising since the end of April, and I'm always looking for new ways to burn calories. We've been going to our neighborhood pool everyday and I thought I'd swim some laps. (swimming is good for you and burns lots of calories I've always heard) Let me tell you-I'm not a great swimmer, you know the kind that does the perfect stroke, knows when to turn their head and breathe, and do that underwater turn thing. No, I'm the wear your child's mask (not goggles, mask) so you don't have to think about breathing. I'm the stop at the wall, turn around, begin again. And apparently I'm the make it one lap down and nearly die from lack of oxygen kind of swimmer. Oh my gosh, swimming laps is hard! After a slight break, I did manage 6 laps. (Be impressed people). So, every summer we have to buy a new "mask" and this year Wal-Mart made the cheapest mask ever. It totally leaked. So imagine my not so pretty stroke and then a leaking mask on top of that! (Not an olympic moment) This led to our excursion to Dick's Sporting Goods. (I won't even comment on the name of that store) We decided (Abby and me) that we would move into the 21st century and actually buy goggles! (Big step for us since we are both "nose holders")...side note -our neighbor scolded us for holding our noses and gave us hints on how not to-it's not that we didn't know how to hold our breath, it's just that we are lazy which I think I've covered before...- so we both pick out new goggles (not cheap let me add) and of course a new mask (just in case!). We were heading back to the escalator when I saw the fitness equipment on the wall. (I am a sucker for a new workout). There it was- Billy Blank's boot camp super cardio burner all nice and boxed and ready for me to try. And it was on sale! OK, let's just say there is a reason it is called Boot Camp! Picture the military with a screaming sergeant (is that spelled right?) telling you to count, and do it again, and work harder, blah, blah, blah. Oh my gosh, and I thought swimming was hard! I wasn't even using the Billy Bands that give you weight resistance! When am I going to be able to have enough oxygen to get through these workouts? Seriously, I know I'm the "oldest" among you all, but come on, sometimes I feel like I'm in a 60 year old body! (No offense if you are 60, it's just that I'm only 36). Oh to be young again, eat whatever I want, and not have to worry about metabolism, calories, excess pregnancy weight (did I mention Abby is almost 8-ha ha). Anyway, I say all this to arrive at the conclusion that I was NOT cut out for the military, especially the Navy Seals! I won't be signing up for the National Guard, and I'll probably be hanging out at the shallow end of the pool!
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