Getting Healthy ....

This is my "resolution" for the new year if you will...
  To get healthy in all the area's of my life! Webster's 1828 dictionary defines Health as:

HEALTH, n. helth. [from heal.] That state of an animal or living body, in which the parts are sound, well organized and disposed, and in which they all perform freely their natural functions. In this state the animal feels no pain. This word is applied also to plants.
1. Sound state of the mind; natural vigor of faculties.
2. Sound state of the mind, in a moral sense; purity; goodness.
3. Salvation or divine favor, or grace which cheers God's people. Ps.43,
4. Wish of health and happiness
5. (Healthy) Wholesomeness; salubrity; state or qualities that promote health; as the healthfulness of the air, or of climate, or of diet, or of exercises.
 
So what exactly do I mean all areas of my life ? Well  here goes:
  Physically -- eating better and losing weight hopefully of course but more along the lines of feeling better, having more energy, exercising on a regular basis, having a daily routine/schedule and sticking to it for the most part (something I've struggled with for years), getting the dreaded follow up MRI out of the way (for those of you who don't know I have a Chiari malformation but am asymptomatic), and the endoscopy (esophogeal stricture so if we're ever out to lunch and I leave the table fairly suddenly it's fine just need to stand up or visit the ladies room), getting my hormones back in whack and getting on with the essential oils
 
Spiritually/Mentally/Emotionally - I was going to seperate all 3 of these but they're so entertwined I decided not to! Getting my prayer journal in order and using it! Praying more often, memorizing more scripture, praise music, playing my flute and piano more often, laughing more and looking at the glass 1/2 empty less, taking every thought captive, setting better boundaries (reading the book, as well as another Bible study and here) - which I'm sure will thrill some of the people in my life but it's time, adjusting to having only boys at home and two "extras" in our life! Being in a place where I feel healthy and less fragile some days, where life is good even when it's not, to let go of some things and appropriate others. Continue to pray for good friends here -- does lonesome fit here or under socially? hmmm...  To begin to do those things again that bring me joy or a sense of contentment.
 
Marriage Wise (is Maritally a word? I think it is but anyhow..) - appreciating my husband more and loving him, working on communication and all that! (and let's face it some hanky panky when he's home!); Watching Mark Gungor's tapes we were blessed with, attending more marriage seminars together, etc As a military wife sometimes there is a certain "distance" we have from our spouses (no not just physically) and to close that gap.
 
Financially - Continue working on getting out of debt, redo our budget and stick to it a little better (always room for improvement!), be able to give generously and also just have fun without having to worry about what it costs. Tithe.
 
I think that's it for now, sorry if they are vague. Just really feel like God is calling me to come up higher this year health wise, to be, if not healthy at least healthier!
 
What about you?

Bloggers and Construction... pretty please?

So I am really trying to get going with this blogging thing and work on my site ..... please bear with me if things change around the next few weeks,etc as I am trying to wade through tutorials,etc for blogs I like the look of etc!

Also those of you not using Explorer for your browser could you send me a screen shot or description of how this looks for your browser?

What do you like? dislike about my "corner of cyberspace" (thanks Brenda!)?

Thanks!

Making a house a Home...

Ok so you might not know from my blog of late but I absoloutly LOVE to decorate! Have honestly toyed with the idea of a business... this is why I really enjoyed being Programs for PWOC, I can decorate on someone elses dime and it's a new program every month! :) 

Truly though I enjoy decorating and making things look exspensive on the cheap, using items for different purposes - and if I do say so myself I'm pretty darn good at it! LOL ...not to mention easily moved, lightweight or things I don't mind getting broken or having to dispose of -- after all I AM an Army Wife! ;) I've teased Tim that I am going to write a book called "Creative Decorating for Military Wives ... or how to squeeze 2000 sq feet of stuff into 900 ..." when we retire! For those of you not in the military you might think that all military housing is the same, which would of course make sense and is therefore WRONG! LOL ... every house is a different size, shape and layout!

 So, I haven't done as much in this house as I usually do though, I don't know if it's cause we actually own it, it's larger than usual, or my hormone issues that I just didn't care (truly a nonexsistent testosterone will do that to you) but I am starting to want to again ... either it's that or the fact that we left Ft Irwin in March of 07 so techinically I should be unpacking and decorating a different house again! :) Anyhow ... Maybe you're like me and are looking for a little after Christmas inspiration.  I found some great articles on seasonal decorating here The Inspired Room, here The Nester and here Winter Mantel's if like me you have a mantel you don't always know what to do with or just want some inspiration (ours is huge! For some reason the people who put our fireplace and surround thought it needed to be big, the mantel is actually a wooden board that's 1.5x10.5x96 so it presents a bit of a challenge at times!) . We have redone our upstairs bath (twice) and I love it right now although I need to finish it (I don't know how to do the corners on the wainscotting!)...

I love Nell Hill's store but it can be a bit pricey her blog has great ideas you can adopt to a Hobby Lobby, GoodWill budget though! Nell Hill's Blog  and Gatherings on the Prairie in JC is a fun store to visit as well -- very similar to Nell Hill's but a little cheaper (although I spent $100.00 in one fell swoop on Christmas decs without meaning to!)

Where do you get inspiration? From nature, other blogs? Decorating Magazines (hey they're cheaper than hiring a decorator buy a bunch and rip out the photos you like!), or books? Other Homes? (I LOVE Christmas/seasonal Home tours for ideas! A LOT of my decorating is "stolen" - tweaking someone else's ideas to fit your home!) Do you enjoy setting a beautiful table?

Don't see home decorating as unessential -- making your house/quarters/tent/etc a home is part of making memories with your family! And hey it's easy to change! I've had teens walk into our quarters and say "I wish my Mom would do this....."  There are all KINDS of ideas out there and I guarentee the Prov 31 woman did her home! ;)

Ok so that's just some ideas/thoughts... I promise to blog more on this subject soon! Oh and I pictures soon too....(gotta get a new camera!)

A New Thing.....

Happy New Year everyone! 

Ok so I'm a little late... the following passage of scripture is something the Lord gave me years ago and when I say years I do mean years, as in 1988 at a Baptist Student Union Conference at Golden Gate Seminary in San Fransisco... I had no idea then the fires and waters I would walk through but it has been precious to me ever since! God repeatedly says do not fear, something I admittedly have struggled with. This portion was brought back to mind in a signifigant way two years ago (portion in green in particular) and this year at PWOCI (Protestant Women of the Chapel) conference in Dallas God once again brought it back to mind but especially verses 18-19 (highlighted below in blue). I am excited to see what God is doing this year -- in my health, with my husband/our marriage, with the kiddos,EVERYTHING! Excited but a little scared at the same time, it's been a heck of year! National Horse Competitions, new signifigant others in children's lives (more on that later when I have permission), Deployment (AGAIN), Girls in College, etc.....etc.... While I am still figuring out how to be a mom to adult children, and one soon to be, how to homschool only one, still struggling with consistency, lonliness and a quieter house, I am finding a renewed hope and sense of God's presence as well and a renewed sense of following where he leads even when it's scary,or not well lit!
   Now this is what the LORD says the One who created you, Jacob,
and the One who formed you, O Israel
"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name; you are Mine.
 I will be with you
when you pass through the waters,
and [when you pass] through the rivers,they will not overwhelm you.
You will not be scorched when you walk through the fire, and the flame will not burn you.
 For I the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior,
give Egypt as a ransom for you,Cush and Seba in your place.
  Because you are precious in My sight and honored, and I love you,
I will give human beings in your place,and peoples in place of your life.
 Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants 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 far away, and My daughters from the ends of the earth
  everyone called by My name and created for My glory.
I have formed him; indeed, I have made him."
 Bring out a people who are blind, yet have eyes, and are deaf, yet have ears.
All the nations are gathered together,and the peoples are assembled.
Who among them can declare this, and tell us the former things?
Let them present their witnesses to vindicate [themselves],  so that people may hear and say, "It is true."
"You are My witnesses" the LORD's declaration
"and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe Me
and understand that I am He.
No god was formed before Me, and there will be none after Me.
   I, I am the LORD,and there is no other Savior but Me.
   I alone declared, saved, and proclaimed—and not some foreign god  among you.
So you are My witnesses"—the LORD's declaration-"and  I am God.
  Also, from today on I am He [alone],and no one can take [anything] from My hand.
I act, and who can reverse it?"
 This is what the LORD, your Redeemer,  the Holy One of Israel says:
Because of you, I will send to Babylon and bring all of them as fugitives,
even the Chaldeans  in the ships in which they rejoice.
 I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
This is what the LORD says—
who makes a way in the sea, and a path through surging waters,
 who brings out the chariot and horse, the army and the mighty one together
(they lie down, they do not rise again;they are extinguished, quenched like a wick)
 "Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old.
 Look, I am about to do something new;
even now it is coming. Do you not see it?
  Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert. 
The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls,
because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland,
to give drink to my people, my chosen,
 the people I formed for myself  that they may proclaim my praise
                                                                                     ... Isa 43:1-20

Extremist?

Interesting isn't it how quickly those of us who are actually mainstream American's are being made to feel as though we aren't?? Or told we aren't?

Case in point, I commented today on a board concerning education and the tea party; while I don't necessarily consider myself a true Tea Partyist we did attend the original rally near us. However I'm sorry I don't consider a movement several thousand strong to be a "fringe" element or extremist? Hello??? Same with homeschooling.....

Then there's always the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell  (planning to blog my thoughts on that more later) ... hmm lets see over 60% of combat troops and 50% of non-combat troops did not support the repeal yet that constitutes a minority?! In who's warped world? I mean weather you agree or disagree over 50% is a majority anywhere else.

If being a conservative Christian woman who loves her husband, her children, her country and her God makes me an extremist .. then I guess I am but how sad is it that a country based on such priniciples is ever more rapidly marginalizing them?!!!