Confessions!!

Confession:  The Ebb and Flow of my Moods is Affected Greatly by Other Things and Other People. (Especially things outside my control!)

I know this is not supposed to be the case, but it's the truth.  And, I am working on it.

I read a post one of my girlfriends (Thanks Cei) wrote on Facebook this morning.  It read: "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it."

So today, on a gloomy rainy day, with a sick baby at home, and more housework on the agenda for the weekend than I care to even think about!!  I am going to make a declaration that I will have a good day!! After all it is Friday!! Hope you all have a great one too...

Here is an excerpt from a Devotion I keep posted in my office at work. -- I find it settles my spirit!!

" Press through present chaos into the peace that is greater than your understanding.  Quiet your soul and be done with the anxiety that comes with uncertainty.  There is nothing uncertain or dubious about My Kingdom.  I would have you understand that even though the kingdom is a spiritual one and invisible to natural perception, the reality of its unquestionable.  Its foundation is firm -- solid rock.  When you are a part of that kingdom you, like the chief cornerstone and the foundation of the apostles and prophets, are also solid rock in the realm of the spirit.  Flesh has no power over rock, says the Lord." - Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.

Finding My Voice and My Words: My Testimony

For the last year or more, I have struggled with finding my voice, or maybe it was finding my words.  Nevertheless, the thing that I found so much joy in doing, writing, became super difficult for me.  I am still not entirely sure what it was that stopped my flow.  But, I found myself soaking up all the information I could on anything that interested me.  But, I felt unable to share.

This weekend, I felt like I became unblocked, like whatever had been hindering me, was finally being moved out of my way.  And, with it came a barrage of emotions.  If I could explain it, I probably would say that fear had a lot to do with it.

Writing for me, can not have limitations.  It opens up parts of me that other wise would stay closed.  It allows me to share without inhibitions and it makes me see things that I have chosen purposely not to see.

And, as a result of that, I guess I felt like not writing protected me from me.  As in all our lives, I suffered a trauma.  To some people, maybe it wasn't that, but to me, it caused me to sit back, take stock and reevaluate my life and the people in it.  It helped me to see the wheat from the tares, the roses from the thorns.  And, even though the seeding process was painful and tedious.  And, the road back even worse.  I came out on the other end, a better person, a person with less misgivings, and confusion.  A person who has had to learn to believe in exactly what I believe in.  And, be true, first and foremost to me.

While on this journey, I read an amazing book, "When I Lay My Isaac Down" by Carol Kent, and this is in excerpt from it, that I believe has shaped the direction in which I am going.

"There are some tragedies, that are too big for a heart to hold, and they defy any description that makes sense.  Time weaves its way through the shock, the hurt, and the inexpressible feelings and one day you discover that in the process of daily survival, you have instinctively made decisions good or bad that defined your theology, formed an opinion about God, and determined that you will either curl up or die emotionally or you will choose life.

The terrifying but truthful fact is that in choosing life, you realize it will never match the kind of life that was in your carefully thought out plan for your future.  It will force you to view the people around you differently.  The brokenness will challenge you to new levels of personal compassion.  It will melt your pride, diminish the importance of your carefully designed agenda, and it has the potential to develop unshaken faith that defines rationality.

There are the moments when God makes complete sense to us, and then life suddenly changes and he seems a foreign remnant of a childhood force fed faith... "Lord give me eyes to see your coming and going, ears to hear your voice and your silence, hands to hold your presence,and your absence, and faith to trust your unchanging nature in all seasons - Elsa Morgan.

Wish I had a wine cellar

Some days office politics makes me wish... I had a wine cellar!!

Monday Greatist Links Love!! - Have a Great Week!!

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000

Quote: Success

by The Greatist Team

"Success comes from taking initiative and following up…. persisting… eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?" — Tony Robbins 

Great News!!!

I am officially three months into eating better, working out, and taking my supplements.

And...... drum roll please.  My blood sugar has dropped almost 100 pts, without insulin.  

I am soo very proud of me, and I believe this will give me the motivation to keep pushing myself to greater heights...

Get on the bandwagon people!!

So lately, after a work out, when I don't get enough water, I wake up the next day with what I have self diagnosed as a dehydration headache, and even though you would think that it would be be easy to get rid of just by drinking water, for me sometimes it triggers a migraine.

Not sure how many other people have experienced this, but, I wanted to share some info that I found Here:

Dehydration Headaches

The human body is about 70% water. Simply put, a dehydration headache occurs as the result of excessive loss of water from the body, when we lose more water than we take in.

What Causes a Dehydration Headache?

It's a bit more complicated than that since the body loses valuable electrolytes as well. What causes headache a dehydration headache might be the most benign symptom if the root of the problem is not corrected.

Dehydration can be a prime mover, as a headache or Migraine trigger. Many people mistakenly think it occurs only in hot weather and that you're not dehydrated if you're not thirsty. Both of these are misconceptions.

Let's take a look at dehydration, what it does to the body, how to treat it, and more sensibly ... how to prevent it.

Dehydration basics

• Depending on variables (activity/temperature) It takes an average of 60 to 80 ounces to replace the water our bodies lose in 24 hours.
• Under normal circumstances, how much water we need depends a great deal on the volume of our perspiration and urine output.
• Our bodies' need for water increases under circumstances such as:
  • warmer weather or climate
  • living at high altitudes
  • increased physical activity
  • when experiencing vomiting or diarrhea
  • when fevered
  • when you have a cold or the flu
  • if you have a chronic disease such as uncontrolled or untreated diabetes, kidney disease, alcoholism, cystic fibrosis, or adrenal disorders
  • if you are taking some medications. Always check your prescription information.
  • during long air flights
• Losing as little as 1 to 2% of body weight can result in dehydration.

• Losing 3 to 5% can negatively impact reaction time, concentration and judgment.
• Losing 9 - 15% results in severe dehydration and is life-threatening.

Symptoms of dehydration

• Excessive thirst
• Fatigue
• Muscle weakness
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Less frequent need to urinate and decreased output
• Darker colored urine (should be nearly clear to pale yellow)
• Confusion
• Increased heart rate and respiration

Treating dehydration

Dehydration should be confirmed by your doctor. Caught early, after confirming with your doctor, dehydration can usually be treated at home.

Especially with children, your doctor's suggestions for treatment of this temple headache may vary depending on the cause and severity of the dehydration.

"An ounce of Prevention" is the best advice here. Obviously, it's better to prevent dehydration. Here are some steps you can take:

1. Drink plenty of fluids and eat foods high in water. Fruit contains the most water, followed by vegetables, meat, then grains with the least.

2. Choose your beverages wisely. Caffeine and alcohol can be dehydrating. For some people, too much fruit juice can cause diarrhea, which also can be dehydrating. leading to a temple headache.
3. If you're planning a day with more significantly exercise than usual, begin hydrating the day before.

4. Sports drinks can help maintain electrolyte balance, but be aware of the sugars in them, that may be what causes your headache.
5. Plan outdoor activities for cooler parts of the day.

6. If you're organizing outdoor activities, provide shaded areas.
7. When you're ill, be sure to continue drinking fluids.

You most likely have heard that your body is 70% water. You are either more like a lake or a swamp.

What's the difference? They are both bodies of water. But one has a flow of new refreshed water flowing in, the other is stagnate. You choose.

Photo Credit:

Have it Your Way!!

Did you know that you don't have to go to Burger King to "have it your way!"  On my quest for better eating, and more nutritous choices, I talked myself out of Panera and into Subway.  It's soo easy to forget that Subway now serves breakfast.  Anyway, that being said, the first morning, I got a egg white sandwich with flat bread and veggies.  Which was a ok choice but the flat bread, well my blood sugar was not impressed.  So the next morning, I had only one half, better, but still not impressed.  This week, I choice Egg Whites with Cheese, Chicken, and Veggies.  Score!!  BS*(My Blood Sugar) likes it.  So my new breakfast staples is Subway.. where apparently I CAN HAVE IT MY WAY!!  And, as far as the purse strings go another score its just $3.75

Not the best pic, but using the egg as the wrap, can make it a bit sloppy!!