Healthy living....a'int so easy!

Well, I'm still plugging away at trying to lower my cholesterol. I go back in a few weeks to be re-tested so prayers would be appreciated!

On one hand, I have been doing really well. I have been exercising 4 times a week for the past couple of months. I have been running, weight lifting and even swimming some. I have really enjoyed being more active. I am hoping this will really help my numbers go down...I know it has to a little because before my physical I was going to the gym like once a month. :)

My eating habits have been harder to change. The first few weeks I was doing really well: cooking more at home, eating more fruits and veggies. These past few weeks though I have slipped a little: eating out more, getting ice cream A LOT. I am going to the grocery store today and I made a list of meals to make so I am hoping to get back on track. I have noticed a major difference in my ordering habits though. I am trying to make healthier choices like a side salad or fruit instead of french fries or brown rice instead of fried.

I do know that I need to work harder on eating better. Prayers in that area would be appreciate too. :)

Keeping it Simple

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life... can any of your worrying add a single hour to your span of life?... Therefore do not worry saying, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink" or "What will we wear?"... indeed your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Selected verses from Matthew 6:25-33)

This has been the theme verse of my first week of focusing on simplicity. Foster emphasized it in the simplicity chapter. He talked about how we should not live in anxiety. If we are seeking the kingdom of God we will not be anxious. This was definitely a lesson I needed to be re-taught on. Over and over.

My first week or so of my journey has been awesome. I have really enjoyed reflecting on what it means to live simply. Just the simple of act of giving up "fun" shopping has been an eye-opener. It has only been 10 days and it has been a struggle! It was probably ten times worse that I am off of work so I have had a lot more free time. There were so many times this past week I have wanted to go browse Target or check out some new shoes at DSW. But I DIDN'T so I celebrate that. It really showed me what a bad habit I have gotten myself into. I hope to keep this lesson in my heart after this month is over.

As I continue this month, I will be praying about ways to give. Not just in the monetary sense, however I need to become more faithful in that area.

As always, thanks for reading!

Simplicity

In "Celebration of Discipline", Richard Foster begins the chapter on simplicity by writing, "Simplicity is freedom." (p. 79) Isn't that so true? Sometimes I feel the gadgets "supposed" to make our lives easier, the clothes that are "supposed" to make us look cooler and the things we are "supposed" to have just make our lives more complicated and difficult. Reading this chapter on simplicity was very convicting. I struggle constantly with worshipping material items and using shopping as an escape from stress, anxiety or even boredom. I feel strongly that God wishes me to address these issues in my first month of study.

Foster writes that "the Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style." (p. 79) Foster writes about three inner attitudes and ten controlling principles for the outward expression of simplicity. He does warn that simplicity can turn into idolatry itself and legalism if taken too far. Balance is the key to achieving simplicity.

Foster emphasizes that "The central point for the Discipline of simplicity is to seek the kingdom of God and the righteousness of his kingdom FIRST and then everything necessary will come in its proper order." (p. 86) Our focal point must be God and His kingdom....not simplicity itself. "To receive what we have as a gift from God is the first inner attitude of simplicity...to know that it is God's business, and not ours, to care for what we have is the second inner attitude...[and] to have our goods available to others marks the third inner attitude of simplicity" (p. 88-89)

His list of outward expressions of simplicity were very inspiring and I have decided to use them as guidelines for my first month of study (and hopefully beyond this first month!):

1. Buy things for usefulness rather than status (p. 90)

2. Reject anything you have become addicted to (p. 90)

3. Get into the habit of giving things away (p.91)

4. Don't give into getting all the "new gadgets" (p.92)

5. Enjoy things without having to own them (p. 93)

6. Appreciate nature and God's creating (p.93)

7. Be wary of "buy now, pay later" schemes (p. 94)

8. Use "plain, honest speech" (p.94)

9. Don't buy or use anything that promotes oppression of others (p.95)

10. Get rid of anything that distracts you from seeking first the kingdom of God (p.96)

These are just guidelines of course, and as Foster warned, I don't want to take these too strictly. A couple goals I have for October are: 1. No shopping for myself besides groceries/toiletries. 2. Get rid of things I don't need/use 3. Look at what I spend my time doing/using and see if anything is an unhealthy addiction

I'll let you know how it is going at the end of the month. Thanks for reading!

Thanks God :)

God is truly good. It is amazing how He speaks to me and reaffirms me. Just yesterday he affirmed my desire to study the disciplines this next year. I was at Half Priced Books with my mom and was looking through the Christian book section. There on the shelf was a Celebration of Discipline workbook to accompany the book. There are sections on each discipline and it is structured so you can do it for 12 weeks or, you guessed it, 12 months. It is also flexible that you do not have to do the disciplines in any specific order. Amazing.

I have decided to update twice each month on my journey. At the beginning of the month I will talk about the discipline and what I hope to do and learn. At the end of the month I will share what I have learned and what other questions arose from my study. I'm very excited and I hope you will stay with me on this. :)

I will update soon about simplicity, but now I have much more to read so I will get back with you soon.

I'm ready for a change! Let the games begin!

I have decided to change my life! :)

How will you do this, Kim? You might be asking yourself. Well, readers, I plan to do this one day at a time for a year. Have you ever read Celebrations of Discipline by Richard Foster? If you haven't, stop reading my blog and go read it right now!

OK, have you read it? Good. It's a pretty amazing book. My wonderful cousin, Amanda got it for me as a high school graduation gift and I read it way back in the year 2004 (that was 6 years ago people!!) but I definitely did not get everything out of it I thought I could. A few years ago I picked it up to read again and read a few chapters. For those of you who did not follow my directions earlier (shame on you!) and have not read the book, each chapter covers a different discipline. For me, the book shows how discipline must be worked at constantly in order to achieve more depth in our spirituality and relationship with God.

I have decided to read this book again, but in a much different way. There are 13 chapters, one of which is an introduction to the spiritual disciplines. That leaves 12! (Yay 1st grade math!) Since there are 12 months in a year, I got a bright idea. WHY NOT FOCUS ON ONE DISCIPLINE A MONTH! Wowee! What an idea. So that's what I plan to do faithful blog readers. I will choose one discipline to study and implement in my life more intentionally. I figure I can handle reading one chapter in a month, right? (This from the girl that reads 4 or 5 books at a time. haha)

Foster separates the disciplines into three categories: the inward disciplines, the outward disciplines and the corporate disciplines. The inward disciplines include meditation, prayer, fasting and study. The outward disciplines include simplicity, solitude, submission, service. The corporate disciplines include confession, worship, guidance and celebration.

My plan is to focus on one discipline each month by first reading the chapter on that discipline at the beginning of the month and praying about how God wants me to implement it in my life. I won't necessarily go in order of the book, but see where God leads me on this journey. I am a very task-oriented person and even in my spiritual life I need structure. I know this won't be a "to-do" list where at the end of each month I'll be like "Yes! I mastered worship! Now on to prayer!" I just feel like I need to take a step back and really dive in deeper to each of these disciplines. I am really excited about it and hope you will go on this journey with me. I will always update at the first of the month to let you know what I will be working on, but I will also continue to write about random things because I love the randomness. :)

Now, for October I have decided to focus on....

SIMPLICITY!

I really feel like that's where God wants me to start. I have felt just a heaviness of "extra baggage" on my shoulders and I want God to simplify my life. I want to follow Him and worship Him only. Stay tuned for more on simplicity.

My Not-so Little Brother

On Sunday I am heading to Oklahoma for a visit family road trip. I am quite excited. :) My main reason for going is to see my little brother who attends OSU in Stillwater. He is a junior and I can still not believe he is over halfway through with college. When I headed off to college, Mark was only 13 and honestly, I still think of him as that annoying little guy. :)

Mark and I had a typical sibling relationship - we got along, but we definitely fought quite a bit. I remember being in a department store with my mother while I whined, "Mom, Mark bit me!" and showed her his teeth marks on my hand. He then responded with, "Well, she bit me first!!" and he showed his own bit wound. We argued a lot and were definitely not quiet about it.

Even though we fought often, it was all done with love. I truly did care about my little brother and I know he liked me too (Despite what he tells you!) He loved to spend time with me and my friends. I remember him staying up late to watch movies with me and my friends at my 16th birthday party sleepover. I said he was an annoying pest at the time, but I honestly loved that he liked to spend time with me.

When I left for college in 2004, I really think that helped our relationship move from just siblings to good friends. We have talked more on the phone and shared more about our lives then we ever did when we were younger. I am amazed how this little 13-year old I left in 2004 has transformed into this intelligent, awesome man. Heis excelling in a difficult chemical engineering major and has found a wonderful girlfriend who he has dated for over four years.

He'll probably be incredibly embarrassed I did this, but my desire to embarrass him constantly has not changed so YAY! :) I love you Mark, and I am very proud of you. I can't wait to see you next week.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Today is my parents' 34th anniversary.

My parents have always been amazing role models in my life and their marriage is no different. I have been amazed at their relationship and how they have been together so long in a world where divorce is very common. They are not perfect and they are not "happy" all the time...but they deeply love each other and share a strong faith in God.

I feel blessed to have such wonderful parents and such a strong example of a good marriage. It has given me high standards on my future husband. I am thankful for being raised in such a loving home. I am biased but they truly are the best parents ever. :)

Hope you enjoy a couple of fun pictures from their wedding that my mom just put up on facebook. I especially like the last one because of my dad's AWESOME outfit (Sarah, I think Kevin should wear that at your wedding haha!)