Falling Off the Exercise Wagon-Almost Literally

On May 11, 2016 I wrote a note on Facebook with these words about not feeling well, being sedentary, and making intentional changes:

I could blame this on genetics, slowing metabolism, being over 45, that I birthed six kids, am a busy mom, or any number of other legitimate sounding things. But the fact is, I’m too sedentary. I am owning this little fact. I am responsible. Only I can make myself create better health habits, and to get moving. So I am. Spring and summer are here which are a great new seasons to make additional changes and reach new goals. I am doing this and taking ownership of my problems with intentional solutions and new habits.

 Admittedly, I’ve fallen off the “Intentional Steps” wagon. I didn’t form new habits. I had a garden to plant, a house to paint, homeschooling to prepare, a business to work….Excuses. They are legitimate ones, but they lack intentional priority for health.

I have good friends who are lovingly encouraging me to continue to get moving. These are good friends, these ones that encourage and don’t accept my excuses.

And, I have new motivation with Equine J engaged to be married in July, 2017.

The other day I had our youngest son move a spin bike into the guest room, and today I hauled myself in there with an optimistic “Fat Burning Spin Workout in Just 20 Minutes” video set up, because who doesn’t want a short cut?

“Who can’t ride a bike for 20 minutes?” I thought.

Fifteen seconds in, the lady on the video says “Ok! Now, push it for all you’ve got! Turn the knob a quarter of a turn and go!” So I did.

Seven minutes into this, I knew I was in over my head, and twenty minutes no longer seemed doable. When she had us stand to pedal, I could no longer both stand AND pedal. I nearly fell off the bike all together. I hauled myself back on the seat with my arms, determined that I would not give up just yet.

Moments later, I opted to turn off the video, and just pedaled for the remaining 12 minutes.

When I got off the bike, I couldn’t stand, nearly fell again when my wet noodle legs wouldn’t support me, and had to pivot myself into a chair. I thought I was going to be sick to my stomach. Loving daughters ran to get more water and juice and peanut butter to stabilize blood sugar and any hydration needs.

I wrote to one of my encouraging friends who happens to also be a health trainer.

Me: Well this proved to be too much for me. I am now trying not to throw up and shaking like crazy. Drinking water and juice at the same time. I can’t walk 3 steps. I nearly fell. I feel belly muscles I forgot I had.  I strapped my Garmin Vivofit to my shoe and have only 2000 steps for the sweat I worked up. Perhaps I need a more beginner video?

My friend’s reply: Then you worked out too hard silly. But YAY you! Perhaps? You should write a blog. You are funny.

Me: Right after I get off the floor. I’m a closet funny person.

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I could call this a big, fat fail, folks. But I won’t, because really it wasn’t.

I moved today. I kept a sense of humor.

May I intentionally move again tomorrow.

Blessings as you move intentionally too,

Deb

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Exasperating Stumbling Block? Or Relationship Builder?

I want to share a lesson, a revelation, that has happened in the last couple of years now that we have adult children, one about to be married. 

 We might have moved to an advisory role as parents, and can no longer decide for our adult kids what they should or shouldn’t do, but we can also be exasperating parents and stumbling blocks, and hurt our future relationships with our children.

Root steps

Are we exasperating stumbling blocks?

If we criticize, rather than listen and encourage. or make their decisions about us and our human wisdom, rather than about their obedience to the Lord and calling, we are stumbling blocks. We exasperate. Even in the midst of having concerns about their decisions, ones for which they are under no obligation to us, we can pray, listen, encourage, and even support them if the decision itself is not dishonoring to God or a sin. We can choose to say “You are smart. I have confidence that you, with prayer and wisdom from God, will figure this out. I will pray for you as you do.” even while thinking something they are choosing simply might not be wise. We need to understand that they now own their consequences. We could encourage them to dishonor and disobey God in a calling if we are not careful and wise in our own responses.

Our response as exasperating stumbling blocks is actually prideful and our own sin . The other response honors God, and builds lines of communication and relationships. It encourages their obedience to the Lord. Criticism for their decisions might not yield the result of obedience to the Lord. Instead, it could build distrust in us and a barrier or wide divide in our relationships with our children.

I want to be a praying parent to my adult children. I want to be the parent who encourages them to obey the Lord, and to be a source of wisdom that they want to turn to. I want to be the parent that helps smooth the path for right relationships.

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Or, are we clearing a smooth path for relationship building?

I read this post by The Imperfect Homemaker, 5 Things My Mom Never Stopped Doing For Me, a few days ago. It is a post honoring the blog writer’s own mother’s success at parenting the adult writer. I can choose to be like that too, and not be an exasperating mother to my adults.

What do you think? What can you do for your adult children?

Blessings, 
Deb

P.S. We’re gearing up for our annual fundraising campaign for Reece’s Rainbow‘s Miracle of Adoption Christmas Campaign. We’d love to remind you of our fundraising items in our shop, and on our Facebook page there are more albums of items for sale that benefit the child for whom we are going to be raising $1000 between November 1 and December 31, 2106. Pay pal is our method of payment for all orders for fundraising sales. The child for whom we are praying for a miracle is Hannahlee. 

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Bracelets

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Art-preneur for a Cause

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 We linked up with The Modest Mom Blog.

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The Ultimate Success

Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit. Moliere (French Playwright, Actor)

This quote probably has more to do with patience than success, except that sometimes success requires patience.

For instance, success requires the patience to develop vision, plans, habit formation, and work ethic.
Patience, in turn, develops persistence, fortitude, and dedication.

There is a willingness to suffer disappointments, failure, and to make sacrifices, all to form the deepest roots for success.

The strength of success in any endeavor is the depth of roots, just like with trees.

“The dictionary is the only place where success comes before work.”  Attribution to quote unconfirmed

Success

I want to believe I’m successful, but why should my success matter?

What is success?

I am a work in progress. I’m not always good at what I do. I don’t always speak kindly. The winds of life blow, and I bend and break. I often need to realign my priorities, my routines, and my methods.

The growth of my business is sometimes slow. There are set backs. Occasionally there are disgruntled customers, and team members who can’t work. Some events are fantastic, and some are not.

We have awesome homeschooling days or moments. We have cranky, lazy days.

Sometimes I upset my husband, my children, my in-laws, my parents, and my siblings. I disappoint friends.

I’m working on developing the fruits of the spirit. I press on toward the goal, whether I’m limping along or speeding along. What matters is that I press on and move forward.

There is only failure if I stop trying to develop Christ like character and attitudes. There is failure if I don’t choose to learn from my mistakes. There is failure if I stop learning new skills or habits that ultimately would be used to glorify God. There is failure if I believe I have nothing left to learn or to offer to others. There is failure if I don’t try new methods or set new boundaries. There is failure if I refuse to acknowledge than an activity I’m doing no longer benefits my growth or that of my family.

Today, especially, I realize I need to say “no” to a few more activities in which I’ve been participating. I need to realign priorities and set more boundaries.

Does that mean I have failed in an area?

No.

It means I’ve grown in wisdom and discernment. It means I’ve stretched and grown and readjusted my path to the ultimate goal of glorifying the Lord.

That is success.

Blessings,
Deb

 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20-21‬ ‭

 

 

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September Hair Accessory of the Month – Skye hairstick

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September Flexi of the Month – Skye