Intentional living

So today, I'm going to begin living more intentionally and not just going with the flow of the daily grind. There are 3 major parts to this: first part is eating intentionally, second part is going about the house intentionally (meaning: seeking what needs attention), third part is more quality time with my kids.

Food: I want to eat better. I want to eat intentionally. Along with food, comes exercise. I want to exercise intentionally, and most importantly, consistently. We usually do fairly well with veggies at dinnertime, but I know we could use more throughout the day, and less sugary stuff.

Around the house: I want to be proactive, ahead of the game, not waiting until the last minute, and have an orderly house.

Kids: I want to read more to my kids, I want to have more play time with them, more Word time with them, and when they ask for something, I want to make them a priority instead of reapeatedly say "Just a minute..."

So, today, I had steel cut oats with 1/2 a serving of craisins, 1/2 a serving of blueberries, 4 pecan halves, and flax seed for breakfast. I had a salad with 1 T. Light Raspberry Viniagrette, carrots, celery, chopped pecans, 1/2 serving of craisins, 2 slices of chicken and 2 slices of ham cut. Then a sandwich, 1 slice of bread, very little mayo, mustard, 1 romaine leaf, 1 slice chicken and 2 slices of ham. It was all good. I just had a blueberry yoplait.

I also have the second load of clothes in the wash for the day, and unloaded and loaded the dishwaster, cleaned the big fish tank, and will be doing the small tank momentarily. I'm going to read a book to the girls in just a bit. Cassie hasn't finished her school work yet, so after quiet time, she'll do that, then off to swimming. Hopefully we'll squeeze the book in there before we go.

I feel good about my food decisions today. I have been completely intentional about what I've wanted, rather than impulsively grabbing the closest sweet or crunchy thing. Today is a new day.

So my goal with being intentional, as far as food and exercise goes it to eat more natural, less processed foods, and I'd like to do at least a mile a day on the treadmill. Two would be nice though. Also, I'm setting a goal for myself... I am 46 days away from turning 30. I would like to lose 30 pounds by my 30th birthday! Yesterday, I weighed myself, and disappointedly, but not surprisingly gained a couple pounds back. I was 229.2. I'm through being in the 200's. By my 30th birthday, my weight will start with a 1. I repeat..."My weight will start with a 1!" As my age changes from starting with a 2, so will my weight. They'll just be headed in opposite directions.

I didn't want to put the challenge out there to lose 30, by 30, but if I don't, it leaves me open for failure, with no accountability. So it's out there. I don't plan on cutting out all of the treats, but limiting them substantially.

As spring is springing, we're moving into the house near my inlaws (on their property), and I know if the house isn't kept tidy, I will hear about it. This is the perfect starting point for me. It's overwhelming, but I know I am capable.

I'm on a journey to a renewed me. I'll be praying for wisdom, guidance, strength, restraint, and more.

Funny little children

I've posted 2 blogs previously about the funny things my kids have said. Here is a link to them. I've just updated the Idioms one. (Updates at the bottome of that blog.)

http://alaskablessings.blogspot.com/2008/11/precious-children.html
http://alaskablessings.blogspot.com/2008/09/idioms-of-motherhood-sounds-like-good.html

From now on, I'll post an update blog like this with links...or just make a new blog. lol. We'll see. I will be posting a couple other new blogs. Topics will include, our first picnic of the year, my husband the pilot, and our newest addition...(not the baby, yet...but a 4 legged kind).

Easter...what's it really about?

What is Easter about? God sent Jesus Christ, His son, to live among us, and when it came time, He died for us. Jesus knew He would die for mankind. Because He was crucified on the cross, He paid for all sins, not just some, but ALL. Does that mean we can all choose to do wrong and go to heaven? No...not like that. If we do wrong and are truly sorry for what we did, we can ask Jesus into our life, Jesus’ blood pays for our sins, God will forgive us.

Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." Acts 15:11 says, "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are." Romans 5:1 &2 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Amen! I am thankful for my savior!


If you don’t know Jesus as your personal savior, or know of Him, but don’t KNOW Him, and love Him, I would like to pray for you. Please send me a message especially if you read the prayer below and have questions, OR sincerely say this prayer: "Lord, I believe that you sent Jesus, the Son of God, to die for my sins and has risen from the dead, please forgive me for what I’ve done. I want to live my life for you, not for me anymore. I do not deserve to go to heaven because I was born a sinner. Take me to heaven when I die. Thank you God for your grace and mercy. Guide me Holy Spirit, to make decisions according to your will for my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen." If you prayed that prayer, and believe in your heart, that Jesus is your savior, let me be the first to welcome you to the Kindom of God! In the the Book of John, chapter 14, verse 6, Jesus says, "I am the way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father exept through me." Send me a message if you’ve just excepted Jesus Christ as the Lord of your life, and your loving savior! I’d love to hear from you.

I encourage you, especially if you have never seen it, to watch "The Passion of The Christ". He died for you, the very least you could do is watch the movie and see what He endured so that you can go to heaven, if you choose to accept that gift. Church won't save us, being a good person won't save us, doing a lot of good things won't save us, giving a lot of money won't save us, even just reading the Bible a lot won't save us. We need a relationship with Jesus Christ, who forgives our sins, and we need to repent, to turn away from our sins and turn to Christ for true salvation.

For more information about Easter, please visit this site. http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vY2hyaXN0aWFuaXR5LmFib3V0LmNvbS9vZC9ob2xpZGF5dGlwcy9xdC93aGF0aXNlYXN0ZXIuaHRt"> Click here to find out more about Easter.


In memory of my Lord and Savior’s Crucifiction and Resurrection, God bless each of you,
Stephanie

It's Friday, but Sunday's comin'

Please watch this! As a Christian, this is a very special day in history. Thank you Jesus for dying for my sins! I have eternal salvation in heaven because you died for me.



If it doesn’t show up click here.

It’s Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter’s denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It’s Friday; but Sunday’s a coming.
It’s Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them." It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. And at the moment of Jesus’ death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday’s coming.
It’s Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that’s because it’s Friday, and they don’t know it, but Sunday’s a coming.
And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.
Now it’s Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn’t the only thing that was shaking because now it’s Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb. Yes, it’s Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it’s Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.
It’s Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It’s Sunday. And now everything has changed. It’s the age of grace, God’s grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it’s Sunday.

Just to put it out there...

Alright...so here's an update on what's going on in the real estate world as far as I'm concerned with it.

The house that's on 5 acres, on the creek and near an airstrip, is still at $400k. What's interesting about that house is that the 2009 tax assessments came in. Keep in mind over a month ago, we informally offered them $325k and the man quickly turned us down. I'm wondering if he ever even mentioned it to his wife. Anyway, on the 2008 assessment, the 1920sf shop was not listed, meaning the value was not included in the $341,400 assessment for last year. This years has it on their valued at about $31k. Here's the kicker: the total assessed value for that home is now $324,500! Ha! How odd is that that it came out nearly a month after we offered them $500 more than that?!?

Alright, so then there's the house, I think I've written about...I will have to double check. I know I've told my sister about, but can't remember if I blogged it. Anyway, another house that is right down the road, viewable from my inlaws' property. That house is on 40 acres (only about 10 or so are actually usable...the rest goes into the lake). How can you sell land under a lake? But then you can't own water?? Anyway, last summer they were listing at $450k, then came down to $400k (at the same time the other house was $400k). In a heartbeat, I would prefer the one on the creek over this one. But then they told us they dropped their price. They really wanted to get rid of it. They lowered it to $395k! LOL! I thought it was a joke. So...a couple months ago I looked at it again online and found they lowered theirs again to $350k. I figured, that's a pretty decent price...though I'm holdin' out for the other one. About 2 weeks ago, I looked it up again to get the address so I could look at the property line and found out that they lowered it again!! It is now listed for $314,500! I was shocked. I looked up the assessed value and found out it's assessed at about $310k. Not bad, not bad. If we were to move into that house, I would totally want some major remodeling done. To include taking out a drive through area, that goes under a roof that is two stories high, I would make it more living space, I'd want a bigger master suite...I don't think it has a walk in closet. It has 4 bedrooms, but one is a micro room. The garage is large enough, I think we could encroach on some of it to make better us of the space on the first floor. So anyway...we'll see what the summer brings.

On our homefront, we just had our first evaluation for the Alaska Home Energy Rebate done. We should be getting our complete evaluation results next week some time. They did tell us that they will put in that our windows need replacing, which is awesome because for the last 2 or 3 years we've talked about putting in vinyl windows and just didn't get to it. So that's awesome. I'm not sure if they're going to put that we need a new front door or not, but that would be cool too. Two years ago we replaced our porch door with something much more air tight, so that is updated. They also said, since our downstairs ( the older part of the house is only 2x4 construction, they would request that we add 2" of insulation to bring it to code/standard, and would match the thickness of the upstairs walls. So...we're going to do the entire house, and have vinyl siding added...something else we've talked about for 2 years or so and just didn't get to. We have these things for sure that we'll be updating, which will not only increase the efficiency of our house, but update the look of it too with new windows and siding. I'm excited!

The really cool thing about this program is that they not only reimburse you for the materials expense, but they will also reimburse for the labor of a licensed & bonded company. How awesome is that? It would probably take us a long time to get all that stuff done, but hiring someone will go much, much quicker. Another bonus for the state reimbursing labor costs is that they allow you 18 months from the first evaluation to get the updates taken care of, to increase the point rating on the house. After that, they redo the evaluation and see how much you improved.

So that's that. I'm also excited that we're going to start work on our upstairs bathrooms soon. We are going to be combining 2 bathrooms into a master bathroom, and making Sarah's room only have 2 doors instead of a third into the 2nd bathroom upstairs.

Our home refinancing went through so we were able to pay off my larger sum, student loan since the house apr was .7 % lower than my loan rate was.

Anywho...blessings to you all, thank you for reading my posts. I have my first prenatal appointment on March 26th, so I'm sure I'll blog again after that. Oh! The sun is shining beautifully today...it almost has that springy feeling to it...it's awesome! It was still a little light around 8 last night, which is totally weird. I love it though. It's exciting to know that spring is coming. Praise God! He is so good!

In my daughter's eyes

As I was tucking Sarah in for the second or third time last night and had an overwhelming feeling when I looked into her eyes. I wanted to know who she would become as a woman, as a mother, in Christ, all the things she would accomplish and the lives she would touch. I kept looking into her eyes just trying to envision the beautiful person she is and will become. She nuzzled my arm as she often does, and just loved on me. And as I looked in her unknowing eyes, I began to wonder if we will ever make it that far. Will we ever see the days that far ahead? I believe we are living in the "last days" (not necessarily days, but perhaps years) before the return of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

When I first became a Christian, Christ's second coming seemed far off, but prophecies are being fulfilled as the days progress on. One of the most recent things I heard about was the Jews returning to Israel, as well as someone saying start the ovens again...in reference to another holocaust. The Bible says that Jews will return home before the Messiah returns. As indicated in Isaiah 43:5-6, they will return in such an order. News indicates that they have begun returning from the East, the West, the North, and now from the South.

Isaiah 43:5-6 "Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. I will say to the north, 'Give them up!' and to the south, 'Do not hold them back.' Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth-"

Other prophecies include the One world government, the big 10, united currency, the microchip along with the mark of the beast. It's all quite alarming, even though the rapture of followers of Jesus Christ will be the end of all struggles and the beginning of eternity in heaven. Our carnal minds cannot wrap around leaving our lives, our spouse, our children, our family and friends as being a good thing, but it absolutely is for us, for those that will go to heaven. My heart breaks to imagine that some of my closest friends will not go with me. Maybe people believe, well, I'm a good person, so I'll go to heaven. That's not how it is though. Jesus says, ""I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." - John 14:6.

The Bible also says that many will be disillusioned. Matthew 24:24 says "For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible." I don't believe that 12.21.12 is the last day. It says in Matthew 24:36, "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." It goes on to say that just as in Noah's day, people will not know what will happen until the flood came and took them all away because they were caught up in so much sin and selfishness.

I urge you, if you don't know Jesus as your savior, please please please, ask me how you can, or at the very least, google it. If you think you will go to heaven, pray for God to show you the truth, that Jesus is the only way. Beware of false doctrine that claims they are Bible believing, even some evangelical churches are leading their followers in the wrong direction. As long as the Bible and God and Jesus are your sources, you can't go wrong. "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing." -1 Timothy 6:3 & 4

So all of these thoughts are running through my mind, that one day, sooner than later, perhaps, we will be called up to be with our Lord. Time is short! I wept quickly wiping the tears from my cheeks as quickly as they came out so Sarah wouldn't think something was wrong. Tears were flowing as fast as I could wipe them. Was it just pregnancy emotion or compassion for the unsaved, or out of mourning for potentially a future I may not see. That's not a bad thing because we cannot even imagine how beautiful and wonderful heaven is and will be when we get there. It's so difficult to wrap our brain around that that is the better option than staying here on earth where things will literally go...in a handbasket.

Is it selfish to want more time? Jesus may come back in 2 years, 20 years, or 60 years, we have to be prepared for any of those timeframes. I would love to be able to see all of my children grow up into beautiful people inside and out, and love the Lord as I do. Only God knows if that will happen. I am thankful that I know my future whenever my flesh expires. I pray that you know yours and that it is the same place, heaven. If you're not sure, or you're sure it's not, please let me know. I am your friend, I love you as God loves me. The choice is yours, salvation is for everyone. Free forgiveness is for every one! We don't have to work for it, earn it, pay for it or fit a creed or be without sin to be good enough.

I don't know if I captured the emotion I was feeling last night, but it was overwhelming. I hope you see this is from my heart, it's not to condemn or judge you or anyone for that matter. Luke 6:37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." There is no condemnation in Christ. As a Christian, I am convicted by my sins, and that conviction urges me to repent, turn toward Christ and make better choices. (Romans 8:1 & 2 "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.") Praise God!

May God richly bless you and your family in abundance!
In Christ,
Stephanie

P.S. If you want to see more about Bible prophecy fulfilled and what's coming, you can go to www.jvim.com and view some of the videos. Pay attention to the scripture, not the presenter. By the way, this isn't what inspired this blog, it's been building for a while now.

The results are in!

So....here it is! We're expecting! It was neither planned nor prevented. My mom was here for a visit, and I suspected these results, so I tested on the 17th, the day before she was to leave. Nothing. You know how the instructions say not to reuse it...? Lol! Well, I only had one, and I wanted to see if it was just bogus and would still work. It appeared to work better if I left the cap off so it could dry out again...I know, gross! But those things are spendy! It still yielded no results...but I think it was because it was still very early.

Saturday, the 21st, I tested, and had a very light top and bottom of he vertical line as the picture below shows:

This is my actual result, the first time, above.

Mike wanted confirmation before we told more people, though I did tell my mom and my sister, because I know those lines don't appear unless it's a "prego" response. The instructions also said that if it's before, on or near the day of your supposed to be period, it could be lighter. It also took longer than I expected...nothing showed up after 3 minutes, so I looked about a half hour later, and that picture (above) is what I saw.

I decided I'd be patient and wait a week...so Saturday, February 28th, I retested. The results are the picture at the top of this page. The vertical line showed up as soon as the urine absorbed...it showed up just as fast as the horizontal line. So, no doubts about it, we're expecting!

I'm so excited! I am starting heavier this time than either time previous. I really need to be vigilant to not gain weight. With Cassie, I started at 180, ended at 230. With Sarah, I started at 200 and ended at 230. So it would be terrific if I ended at 230 again...since I am at 225. My wedding set does not come of...and when I work out, my hands get tight. If at some point my hands are cold, I will try to get it off so I'm not uncomfortable when my hands get hot, later in the pregnancy.

I'm thinking it will be a boy this time...of course it will be about 3 months before we'll find out. I have some names in mind already...I know Mike has had a boy name in mind for a while. He likes Sebastian. Sebastian means commands respect. I like 2 names for boys that I think are nice. During previous pregnancies, Mike mentioned that he would like part of his name in their somehow. With that in mind, I like Zachary (God remembers) Michael (who is like God) and Landon (from the long hill, or grassy plain) Michael. I'll have to go names of course, but for girls, I have a couple new favorites...K/Catherine, Moriah, and Bethany. I like Katherine because it's pretty, has nickname options, (Kat, Katy, Kathy, Rinny, Rina,), not sure if I like K or C better. It is Greek and means pure, innocent. I like Moriah because it's like Mariah, which I've liked, but didn't like the meaning "bitter". Moriah is Hebrew and means God teaches, seen by Yahweh; biblical name of the mount of the Jerusalem's Temple of Solomon. I guess Riah could be a nickname... I like Bethany as well...I didn't used to because the only definition I found of it was "House of Poverty". Maybe it was removed because it's not appealing, I don't know, but it is place of figs, and town name near Jerusalem.

Anyway...that's the latest. You know I'll keep updates on appointments and whatnots.

Our home refinance has gone through, now we're waiting for my loan payoff to go through from the refiance!

Blessings!