If you have made your way here via the devotion I have running on Proverb’s 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today, welcome!!! If not and you’d like to read it, click here.

Well, how about you? Ever been stricken with a nasty case of answer envy yourself? It is easy to catch and rapidly spreading in our world today in epidemic proportions. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to trek off to the doctor’s office, roll up our sleeves and endure the few seconds of a stinging needle to finally be rid of this awful disease?

Sorry. No such inoculation currently available.

And no, there isn’t a pill. Or a patch. Or even a fast-acting, light-mist nose spray.

Yes indeedy, mankind has invented no quick fix to this plague of humanity.

But God has.

However, He usually isn’t in the business of prescribing short-term solutions. He knows us. And He realizes that the lessons we really need to learn need to be taught slowly, over time.

So what has the Great Physician determined is the perfect script for answer envy?

The perfect script is Scripture itself. Oh yeah, only when administered by a slow I.V. drip over a long period of time.

You see, when we take our eyes off of our situation and fix them on God instead, we begin to focus clearly. We discover that, though it may be the answer that we seek, instead God is seeking us. And , while we feel it is best to know the answers to our prayers, God is much smarter than that. He knows that it is better to know Him. And the best way to know Him is to marinate in His word.

Run to your Bible, not to the phone. Don’t lose yourself in a good book. Open the Good Book. Don’t listen to your favorite songs until you know them by heart. Listen to the Lord speak through His word until it is tucked away deep within you. 

If you too are in God’s waiting room, don’t drum your fingers and fret and fuss. Linger with a quiet heart. It is better to know God than to know the answer.

Oh, and while you are waiting for the Doctor, take a minute to read a little something. Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, wrote a best-seller you know. Pick it up and read a passage. Maybe even letting it sink deep into your soul until you know it by heart.

Makes the time pass faster. Trust me, I know.

You see, after waiting exactly two years, one month and seventeen days, our home finally sold in our horrible Michigan housing market.

So this morning, I am typing for the first time from our new home. And no, I do not get to pick what day my devotion runs. Nor did I tell anyone at Proverbs 31 just what day we would finally be in the new house.

Only God makes appointments like that. Yes, sometimes He makes me wait, however when I finally get the message through my thick-headed brain, He also makes me smile.

Try it sometime. It is painfully pleasant!

“A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly.  A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones”  Proverbs 14:29-30

****A huge thank you to the many of you who have emailed, left comments, sent notes via Proverbs 31, etc… to let me know you are praying for my family as we move. It means so much to us!! I’ll write more later about the move, but as of three minutes to midnight last night when our 10-year-old’s two 20 gallon fish tanks made it safe and sound to the new place, we are officially out of our old house!!!! Yipee!!! (And the deadline was last night at the stroke of midnight. Talk about cutting it close!!!) Now on to the daunting task of unpacking what seems like 632 boxes but is probably closer to 132 J

In fact, they are calling my name right now!!!

Sweet box-emptying blessings,

Karen

Filed under: blog on July 2nd, 2008 | 21 Comments »

Okay. The timer is ticking and I am taking a quick 5-minute break to update you on the move….

Now 2/3 packed. Borrowed a cube truck last night and snagged a few college and high school guys from church and homeschool sports to help move “medium heavy” furniture and boxes. My sister-in-love Thais came and wrapped up all my pretties—china hutch stuff, dishes, etc…. Mitch is safe at church camp and returns home Monday to a double header game waiting for him. Kenzie will fly home this afternoon from my friend Lysa’s. Todd will trek two hours away to Detroit to get her and look at a few appliances listed on Craig’s list. (Did I mention this house has no appliances or window treatments?) Spencer has a ballgame tonight. Three Men and a Truck (they are sending an extra guy due to piano) arrive Friday afternoon to take the really heavy stuff.

We must be out by Tuesday.

Can tell my blogging friends, nearby friends, relatives, in-laws and out-laws are praying, along with my sweet speaker evaluation group from last weekend’s She Speaks conference.

How do I know?

I am still not freaking out!!!!

Bless you all!!!!

Karen

 

Filed under: blog on June 26th, 2008 | 10 Comments »

Whew!!!!

That is all I can say right now about the fabulous time that over 560 of us experienced at the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference this past weekend. I’d love to up give a full report, however, after a delay out of Charlotte, I arrived home late last night to an unpacked home that must be quickly packed and moved…….. in 8 short days!!!!!!!! Also, we have a child who heads to camp in the morning and one who was kidnapped by my friend Lysa to hang with her family for the week so she is unable to help. Thankfully, she packed up her room before she left so not as to give her mom more grey hairs!!

So…… alas, my boxes are calling and my son’s suitcase must be packed. I’ll try real hard to hop on later this week and update you all. And by that I mean ‘you all’ not ‘y’all’. I’m afraid that just five short days in the south has corrupted my daughter’s speech. I heard reports of her using that phrase just yesterday!!! YIKES!!! Will someone get that girl back to the Midwest. And fast!!!!

Seriously, thanks so much for all of you who prayed for me. I felt your prayers like never before.

Now, for the winners of the tea from Mari Helms at Tea and Traditions, chosen by random number integer, the winners are:

Rebecca Tyndal

Sara

Christy H.

Congrats ladies! Please email Mari at info@teaandtraditions.com to give her your mailing address.

And, any of you who wanted a sample tea, email Mari your name and address, along with the type of tea, and she’ll get you a sample to try.

My five minutes are up! Catch y’all later J 

Oops!!!

Sweet Tea Sipping Blessings,

Karen

 

Filed under: blog on June 23rd, 2008 | 7 Comments »

NOTE: I want to thank those of you who have been praying for our family, the sale of our home and for Kenzie, my sister-in-law and I who leave Wednesday for the Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference. Your prayers have made a HUGE difference! Keep ‘em coming and I’ll update you all when we get back. And please pray for my hubby and boys who will be on their own while we are gone and trying to pack the house for a quick move.

 This week Todd and I will celebrate our 22^nd anniversary. I remembered how excited I was to set up our frst little apartment and begin cooking for my man. Too bad I didn’t know how to do anything other than boil water, make instant coffee and occasionally whip up some cookies from a roll of slice and bake refrigerator dough!!! That first month in June of 1986, I did learn to do something else. Make tea!!! Hot tea, herb tea, iced tea, any kind of tea. Yep, I hit a home run with that one. Easy and so many kinds!

Speaking of tea, I am thrilled this week to be posting an interview with Mari Helms, a new cyber friend who has an entire website ministry called Tea and Traditions that is devoted to….you guessed it, TEA! And not just to tea, but offering hospitality through the serving of tea. Read on for the interview with Mari and for directions for entering the drawing to win some of her wonderful product!

  Mari Helms is a wife, homeschooling mom of three and small business owner.  Prior to motherhood Mari worked in various administrative positions acquiring skills that are proving essential in running a small home business.  It is apparent how the Lord has clearly prepared her in advance for what He has called her to do.  She passionately pursues her relationship with the Lord because without Him she knows none of this would be possible.

Tea & Traditions is an online tea retailer, but also an important ministry.  The Lord continues to open doors, using tea, for ministry to all kinds of people in all kinds of circumstances.  Hospitality is our primary focus seeking to educate, equip and encourage our customers to open their homes to whomever God brings their way. 

Tea & Traditions will be giving away three gifts:

Prize 1

2 oz. bag of PRECIOUS JEWELS, a rooibos (or red tea),  with pineapple bits, papaya bits, mango bits, black currants, strawberry bits, sunflower blossoms with black currant raspberry taste.  It is also our tribute to wives and mothers based on Proverbs 31:10.  Also included: disposable tea sacs and a perfect measure, to measure that perfect cup of tea every time.

Prize 2

2 oz. bag of WHITLOCK AFTERNOON, a black tea with sweet, aromatic peaches, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and ginger, a tribute to the homes on Whitlock Avenue in Marietta, Georgia that have hosted many an afternoon tea over the year.   Also included: disposable tea sacs and a perfect measure, to measure that perfect cup of tea every time.

Prize 3

2 oz. bag of JANE AUSTEN, a blend of three China black teas authentic to the early 1800s when Jane Austen lived and wrote her novels.  Also included: disposable tea sacs and a perfect measure, to measure that perfect cup of tea every time.

Be sure to check the end of this post to see how you can enter the drawing to win one of these great give-aways!!! Now for the interview…..

 

Mari, tell us a little bit about you and your family.

I am first wife to Todd for eight years and then mother to Isabella, Annais and Kaira, for six, three and one year respectively.  I homeschool and run Tea & Traditions a web-based tea retailer.  I love to write, do anything creative, fellowship with just about anyone and watch my family grow in the Lord. 

How did you come to own Tea and Traditions?

Tea & Traditions was a tea shop in Marietta until December 2007.  In November the previous owner announced the store was closing and I was devastated.  A few days later the Lord began to speak to me and give me what appeared to be a business plan for an internet based tea store.  I spoke to the owner the next day and here I am, now in business for four months.  And because of things the Lord led me to do a couple of years ago I was positioned to make this transition fairly smoothly complete with access to wonderful free resources at the local college including an attorney and business coach.   

What products do you offer through your website?

We sell fine loose tea, infuser mugs and tea accessories.  To our local customers I can offer baskets and will soon be hosting in-home parties to include tea education, hostess benefits and encouragement to those wanting a unique way to open their homes. 

What do you find to be the greatest challenge in owning a home based business?

Right now the biggest challenge is establishing a quitting time.  Since the business is still new there is a lot to be done.  Hopefully as I get into a routine and get things set up I will set working hours and non-working hours and stick to them.

And, what is the greatest blessing of working from home?

Being able to stay home with my children.  It isn’t always easy, but I always know how fortunate I am.  Since I have my own business at home they are very much a part of it.

How do you feel that tea, traditions and hospitality can be related?

Tea is a great way to extend hospitality not only beautifully, but easily and affordably.  I can host 20 women on a moment’s notice by putting a white table cloth on the table, bringing out the teacups and brewing a pot of tea.  It makes everyone feel special and relaxed.  Tea seems to have an amazing way of opening up intimate and unexpected conversation.

What is your goal when it comes to encouraging hospitality through your ministry?

My goal is our Mission Statement:

• To educate our customers on the fine art of tea – from selection to serving ?• To equip our customers to easily and affordably extend hospitality ?• To encourage our customers to open their homes to their communities

Any other words of advice for the readers?

Do not let loose tea intimidate you.  Once you realize how easy it is you will be hooked.  The bible says if He has called you, He has equipped you and we know He has called us (all of us) to hospitality.  You will be blessed by the sweet, surprised look on your guest’s faces when they taste that first sip of fine tea and think to themselves, “She made this just for me.” 

 Now for the give-away. Simply leave a comment any day this week about tea. Why you like it, what your favorite flavor of tea is, a special memory or funny story that has to do with tea, even why you’ve never tried making tea! Anything goes. Winners will be chosen by Mari and announced next Monday.

Sweet Tea-brewing Blessings,

Karen

 

 

Filed under: blog on June 16th, 2008 | 35 Comments »

Hi all—Just checking in for a minute to thank you all for your comments. To see how many out there are praying for our family and for the upcoming Proverbs 31 She Speaks Conference makes my heart swell and my eyes well up with tears!!!

Speaking of swelling….an update on Spencer’s foot. The doctor was puzzled as to why the infection still seems to be there after 3 weeks and already one go-round of antibiotics. So he—who is very cautious about unnecessary antibiotics, as are we—ordered another round. X-ray looked fine. Hopefully all will be well soon. Mitch’s creeping crud is getting better. I caught a modified version of it. No fever, but stuffy nose and nasal passages swollen shut so I sound like I could sing base!!! (And, I had a live radio interview last hour. Probably sounded like a man talking!!!) Prayers appreciated for my sinuses to heal. I am severely allergic to cold medicine so I’ll have to ride it out. Saline nose spray flushes are helping. (I know, more info than you wanted to know!!!)

Now, as for my “not-freakin’-out” mission. Well, those who know me well are standing in wonder and amazement. I am calm. I am quietly doing the next thing. I am trusting God that the time to finish what He needs me to finish will be given. And….it is all because of the Lord and you!!!! Please keep the prayers coming!!!

No word on when we will close on the houses. The loan officer is shooting for Tuesday before Kenzie and I leave Wednesday for She Speaks. It needs to close by Friday the 20^th in order not to lose our interest rate lock. If it closes Wednesday thru Friday, Todd will have to close without me. Please pray that God shows us what is best.

Now….on to the next thing. For me it will be to straighten the house before the appraiser comes. For you it will be to make yourself a note to check back in next Monday. I will be posting an interview with Mari Helms from Tea and Traditions—that thankfully was done a few weeks ago, so all I’ll have to do is hit the “publish” button!!!! Yeah!!!! Check out her wonderful website and pop back in next week to leave a comment and possibly win a prize!

Do-the-next-thing blessings,

Karen

Filed under: blog on June 11th, 2008 | 16 Comments »

Okay, people. I know that God is in complete control of our circumstances. I know He loves us and wants the best for us. I know He even promises not to give us more than we can handle. However, this weekend left me wondering if somehow, He has me mixed up with another Karen Ehman.

I am in the midst of packing for the expected sale of our home and obtaining items (like window treatments for the entire house) for the purchase of the new one—both hoping to be closed on early next week. Kenzie, my sister-in-law and I leave next Wednesday for the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference—the one that I have three new talks to prep for and a speaker evaluation group to love on and encourage. YIKES!! All good….but still YIKES!!! Couple that with “take-me-out-to-the-ballgame” evenings four nights a week and….well, let’s just say my life was hectic enough, thank you very much!

Then, this weekend, Mitch came down with the crud, accompanied by a high fever; Spencer’s deep puncture wound on the top of his foot (that he obtained by practicing spearing fish with a hotdog roaster and then complicated by allowing a leech to attach to it while he played in the pond) became infected again requiring a trip to the doctor’s 45 minutes away and as I type, Todd is headed to the hospital with him to get x-rays on it to access the situation.

Oh yeah….and horrible storms passed through our small town in mid-Michigan Friday and Saturday resulting in our new neighborhood being hit by a tornado. (Okay…so one station says tornado. One says a squall. It was something fierce, that’s all I know!)

At any rate, some homes had major damage, one was hit by a falling power pole and transformer that fried the insides of the house, one had an entire roof lifted off like the lid of a cookie jar. Barns were leveled. Trees were uprooted and the home we are buying? Thankfully only some shingle damage, a caved-in entire garage door, minor debris in the yard, oh and I did have to retrieve the realtor’s face that had blown off the sign and was lying a yard or two away!!!!

Here are a few pictures from the highway that leads up to the new subdivision.

 

 I am trying not to freak out. Really I am.

All prayers for my “not-freaking-out” mission appreciated!

Now, for the winners of the books from lasts week’s series of posts by Glynnis Whitwer on working at home. From the comments on the first post that Glynnis shared with us, the winners are Rebecca and Laura. Congrats!!! You ladies please contact Glynnis directly at editor@proverbs31.org to give her your mailing address.

For the rest of you…please be patient with me in the next few weeks. (Even now I had to drive 15 minutes into town to a coffee shop to access the internet since the storms took that out too!)

I will try to hop on and update, but all of these circumstances have put me in a place of clinging very tightly to the Lord. It is a good place, but doesn’t allow much time for anything beyond God, Todd and the kids.  

Sweet someday-I’ll-know-why-all-of-this-is-happening blessings,

Karen 

Filed under: blog on June 9th, 2008 | 21 Comments »

 

**You still have a chance to win a copy of Work @ Home by Glynnis Whitwer. Details below. And, if you are just joining us, scroll down to see part one of this post about making the transition to working at home. 

How wonderful to see the interest from so many of you who either already work at home or have dreams of doing so. Glynnis just returned from a family vacation and I twisted her arm to see if she might offer a few more words of wisdom on his topic while addressing some of the comments that have been left thus far. So, below is part two of this interview with Glynnis Whitwer, author of the practical book Work @ Home. There is still time to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing to win a copy of this how-to book! Just tell us your greatest challenge of working at home or why you would like to begin a home based business. The winner will be announced at the end of the weekend.

Whistle-while-you-work Blessings,

Karen 

 

Words of Wisdom from Glynnis

 

It’s great to see the interest in working at home.  I love it!  I have two thoughts I’d like to share that might help you navigate this often-overwhelming world of working at home. 

1 – If you are currently working outside the home, you do not need to make the same amount working from home.  One of the first things to do is a cost-of-work analysis.  Basically, you need to figure out what it costs you to work outside the home, then deduct that from your net income.  This is what you really need to make from home.  In fact, it’s probably even less because you will likely have a bit more time to save money on things like food (using coupons, planning menus, etc).  In fact, you might need to make substantially less than you do right now.

2 – Find an income-producing method that fits your personality.  For example, let’s say you love to cook.  You might consider selling Pampered Chef items.  But if you don’t like to sell to your friends and family, or are uncomfortable speaking to groups, then you probably won’t be very successful.   But what if you took that love of cooking, and started  a home-based business making unique cookie bouquets for gifts.  Then you could design a flyer and hand it out to all the local businesses in your area.  You might start a website and figure out how to ship the product.   To be successful you have to find a way to make money that is a good fit for your spiritual gifts, personality and lifestyle.   This might involve doing an honest self-evaluation about your strengths and weaknesses, and going from there.  If you don’t have an entrepreneurial streak, then you might want to tele-commute. 

The options for working at home are growing by leaps and bounds.  Don’t assume there’s only one path for you.  Ask God to direct your footsteps, do your research and bathe this process in prayer.  I’m confident God has a wonderful plan for you.

If you want to check out some websites that list legitimate options for working at home, here are a few:

www.cwahm.com

www.telecommutingmoms.com

www.internetbasedmoms.com

www.workathomesuccess.com

In His Love,

Glynnis

Now, remember to leave a comment if you want to be entered in the drawing to win a copy of  Glynnis’ book Work @ Home. 

Filed under: blog on June 5th, 2008 | 4 Comments »

***Updated info on our possible home sale: Thanks to all of you who have been praying. Long story short….the builder has had a few inquiries on the property in the past few days. However, the realtor has told them that there is an accepted offer on it. So, as long as the folks inquiring have a home to sell or other contingencies, we are fine. However, if any of them come along with no contingencies, YIKES!!! We would be left with no home to live in. This whole journey has been a trying and exhausting one, but one that has taught us many lessons (I’ll post the whole long story when we are in the new house). Could you please pray that all goes as scheduled? We are hoping to close on both properties back-to-back sometime before I leave for the She Speaks Conference on Wednesday the 18th with my daughter and sister-in-love. Our interest rate lock runs out the 20^th and the rates are now half a point or more higher. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

 

**Update from last weeks posts on weight loss: I was blown away by the response from many of you who are determined that you will rid yourself of the idol of food in your life. Please keep checking back to my site. I am exploring the possibility of posting more on this on a regular basis. If you missed the series, scroll back down to get caught up and leave a comment if you too would be interested. And to those of you who have emailed me to share the pounds you have already lost, congrats and keep it up!!! Remember—move more, eat less. You can do it!!! J

Also….many of you have inquired about the status of our home sale. Well, it has been an emotional roller coaster ride over the last 22 months. We thought we had our home sold two other times, but both buyers had homes to sell and their sales fell through leaving us once again with a home sitting on the market in our slow Michigan economy.

This time we have an offer from a buyer who has no home to sell, but we have had to take a rather low offer. We asked our buyers for time to look for a deal since we had to give them a deal. Well, we found a wonderful deal and the papers should all be signed tomorrow. However, it is all contingent upon some inspections and our buyers being granted permission from the county to build a pole barn. And, if our seller (the builder of a spec home that has been sitting on the market for two years) gets another offer from a buyer with no home to sell, our offer can be bumped leaving us with a sold home and no where to live!! (and friends of ours who live across the street from the home we have an accepted bid on saw a couple yesterday looking at the house and overheard them saying they were bidding on it the next day. Now, if they have any contingencies, such as a home to sell, it won’t affect us. However, if they don’t…….oh dear, after all of this waiting, I don’t think my heart can even stand the thought!!!!) Sooooooo….any and all prayers appreciated!!! Not to mention that all of this is happening just as I am getting ready for my last speaking engagement of the year (a high school commencement address this Friday to a Homeschool Performing Arts academy) ………and two new talks to prepare for the Proverbs 31 She Speaks conference ………and getting ready to hopefully move in the next 3-4 weeks. YIKES!!! It stresses me out just thinking about it!

But enough about me…..

  This week I’d like to introduce you to my friend and fellow Proverbs 31 speaker Glynnis Whitwer. Glynnis is on staff with Proverbs 31 as the Senior Editor of the P31 Woman magazine.  She is the author of work@home: A Practical Guide for Women Who Want to Work from Home, and co-author of a Bible studies series entitled Kingdom Living.  Glynnis and her husband Tod run a home-based business (www.roselanecottage.com), have five children and live in Glendale, Arizona.

    Today we’ll feature an interview with Glynnis and info about her book along with a chance for you to win one of two copies she will give away at the end of this week (so you have plenty of time to leave a comment on this post). Work@home” is a practical and inspirational guide offering help with all aspects of transitioning from the corporate workplace to working from home. Transitioning home requires careful thought, organization and expectations. Glynnis helps readers analyze the true cost of working outside the home, create a budget, define a timeline, find employment at home, and be successful working from home.

If you work from home or have ever toyed with the idea of doing just that, you’ll be encouraged as you enjoy this cyber visit with Glynnis. Or, if you know of someone who is desiring to work at home, send them over to my site this week. Also,be sure to check the end of the post for how to enter to win one of the two  free copies!

So Glynnis, what prompted you to write a book about working from home?

 

About 8 years ago, I was part of a small group at my church with a passion to help women who want to leave the traditional workplace, but didn’t know how to make the transition.  We started a small group, and then held some conferences.  I realized that there were many ministries helping women who were already home, but there wasn’t much for women who want to be home, but didn’t know how to get there.  So that’s when I decided to write a book that could reach a larger audience.

 

How long have you run a home based business and what got you started?

 

My husband and I started www.RoseLaneCottage.com in 2005.   We started it because my husband realized that although he was in top management, there was no security in working for someone else.  Actually, our only security is in God.  But my husband also wanted to spend more time with me and the kids.  I was already working at home for Proverbs 31, but we needed something for him. 

 

Do you have any statistics on just how many women run a business from their home?

 

The National Center for Policy Analysis claims there are 17 million home-based business being run by women.   However, if you include the number of women who tele-commute (work for a company from home), the number probably doubles.

 

What is the biggest challenge you personally face when it comes to working at home?

 

Without a doubt, the distractions are my biggest challenge.  I have five kids, and when they are home, my deep thinking stops.  So I strategize what I need to do while they are at school, and either don’t work when they are home, or only do simple tasks.

 

On the flip side, what has been the biggest blessing that has come from this choice?

 

My husband and I love the flexibility we have.  We schedule our work around our lives, instead of the other way around. 

 

What is your prayer for the readers who pick up your book? What do you hope they glean from reading it?

 

I pray that women who want to be home, will be given hope.  There are too many women who believe it isn’t possible for them to stay home with their children.  And their hearts break each morning when they drop their precious ones off into someone else’s care.  I want them to know that it is possible.

 

Any other tips or bits of advice for someone who might be contemplating whether or not this lifestyle is for them?

 

The most important thing any woman can do is make sure that she is obeying God’s will for her life at any given time.  Just because your best friend is working at home, doesn’t mean you should.  Take some time to pray about your priorities, and consider if you are giving enough time to your top priorities.  If not, then perhaps a change needs to be made.   For more information on how to make the transition from working outside the home to working inside, visit www.transitionhome.org.

 

Thanks so much for sharing with us, Glynnis!!!

 

You are more than welcome!!!!

 

Okay….now here is the way you can be entered into the drawing to win one of 2 copies of Work @ Home that Glynnis will be giving away: Simply leave a comment any day this week and share a tip about how you have successfully balanced your work at home and the other demands on your time such as family time and responsibilities. Or…leave a comment telling why you would like to learn more about making the transition to working at home. Make sure to leave your email address as well. Glynnis will pick the winners and we’ll announce them next Monday.

Happy Home-Working,

Karen

 

 

Filed under: blog on June 2nd, 2008 | 27 Comments »

**Note: If you are jumping in on this week’s series of posts on weight loss, scroll down to see my before and after pictures and to  get caught up on what we’ve been covering.

 

*Welcome to you who made your way here via www.firstimpressionsbaby.com. Glad to have you! And a heads up on what is in store for next week here on this site… on Monday author, speaker and Proverbs 31 Magazine editor Glynnis Whitwer will be interviewed about her book Work at Home. Glynnis is a wonderful resource for those women who want to make the transition from working outside the home to owning and operating a home business. She’ll offer tips, solutions, and a peek into how she does it. She will also be giving away some copies of her book to a few fortunate winners who leave comments. Please pass this info on to any friends and family members who have, or would like to have, a home-based business. The post will be up all week to give lots of women time to comment and share info with each other about the hopes and challenges of balancing family and work in the home.

 

 

Who are you listening to?

This was an important question that I had to ask myself often on the way down the scale.

For years I listened to the negative, echoing, and cutting comments from a handful of people from my past.

Like the cousin who, when I was about eight, once glanced around my grandma’s spare bedroom where we were playing and announced, “Someone in this room is fat.”  I was sitting on the floor with her and two other skin and bones relatives. I looked around at the four of us in our pastel summer shorts and determined that, since my legs were the thickest of the bunch, it must be me.

Then there was the cheerleading uniform fitting where the coach grabbed all of the skirts out of the storage bin from the year before and after peering at all of the tags on the insides, tossed the biggest one—size 11, my way and said, “Here. We’d better start with this one for you.”

I still recall the fat jokes by my brother. The mooing emitting from the mouths of some boys as I walked by the loooong wooden bench in my high school corridor. The well-meaning, but critical relatives who made back-handed or cleverly cloaked remarks about my size.

They made some bad choices. However, I made the worst choice of all.

I listened to every one of them.

Their words went straight to my heart. They stung my soul.

And I chose to replay them over and over again in my mind.

Ultimately, I chose to believe them and let their carless and sometimes cruel words defeat me.

When I finally let God have His way and rescue me from the life of slow suicide that I was living due to the horrible mistreatment of my body, I began to listen to the words of life instead.

Things clearly in the Bible. Like God has a plan for me. It is full of hope for my future. It is for my good, not my ruin. It will be a delight, not a disaster. (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

But there were also many warnings in His word.

Warnings that my body is the very temple of the Holy Spirit. I should take care of it, not kill it. I am not my own. I was bought at a great price. Therefore, I must honor God with my body. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

That I must note well what is before me when I eat and “put a knife to my throat” if I have a gluttonous appetite. (Psalm 23:1-3)

And the most haunting passage of all to me which I knew, if I didn’t change, would be my fate:

….And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed, And say: “How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction! I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined my ear to those who instructed me! I was on the verge of total ruin, In the midst of the assembly and congregation.” Proverbs 5:11-14

 

I had to let God’s Words, His perfect, flawless and TRUE words, become louder than the words of the world and the naysayers. There was just one slight problem.

The world shouts.

God whispers.

I had to get to the place where I was focused and intent on listening to His still, small voice over the negative cheers and jeers of the world.

While scripture was of the greatest importance, I also had many phrases that became meaningful to me. Let me share a couple with you.

 

First…..nothing tastes as good as being fit feels.

 

I mean it gals. Nothing. Not smooth, dark chocolate. Not salty, snappy potato chips. Not a brownie with nuts, ice cream and hot fudge. Not two extra helpings of potluck cheesy potatoes. Not even white-chocolate raspberry cheesecake. NOTHING!!!

While I feel that God did make foods for us to enjoy IN MODERATION and to be part of our celebrations, He did not intend for us to gorge ourselves on them. And, even the most wonderfully tasting foods cannot match the feeling I get when I slip on a pair of shorts eight sizes smaller than my “fat” shorts and take a brisk walk outdoors with my hubby or kids. Being at a weight considered fit for my height and frame is a fabulous feeling.

 

Next phrase…..Whether you think you can or you think you can’t…you are right.

 

While God gets all of the credit for the successes we have as believers in our weight loss endeavors, your believing (or not believing) in yourself is key. If you think you can’t do it, you can’t. If you believe that, with God’s help, you can, you will!

 

And finally…Satan wants you to focus on food. God wants you to focus on Him.

 

Do not get trapped into thinking about food and its calories all day long and stressing and obsessing over what you can and can’t eat. Put yourself on a calorie budget. Record what you eat. Use your calories wisely asking yourself with each bite…

Am I really hungry (or still hungry)?

Is this something I want and need?

Is this worth the calories?

If the answer is yes, eat it, record it and go on with your day. Focus on God, His word, your family and your ministry to others. Satan wants you to focus on the food and whine and pout because you cannot eat whatever you want.

And I simply must share with you this little story that my leader at Weight Watchers read to us one day.

While scripture was where I got my strength to make my life changes, I have to tell you ladies, that next to the Bible, this little story was my greatest motivation. I first discovered it right before a holiday gathering where there would be lots of food and lots of mental torment from a few “food pushers” and “naysayers” in my life. (The former tried to sabotage my eating by forcing foods on me or pouting when I didn’t eat large helpings of what they brought. Or they’d slather the veggies in butter before I could dish any out because they knew I was trying to watch what I ate. The latter group of people just made their off-handed, cleverly disguised, but cutting comments that chipped away at my resolve and tempted me to just throw in the towel, give up and stay fat forever.)

Then, I heard this wonderful story.

There once was a bunch of tiny frogs who arranged a climbing competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants. The race began. No one in the crowd really believed the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

Heard throughout the race were statements such as, “Oh, way too difficult,” “They will never make it to the top,” “Not a chance they will succeed,” and “The tower is too high.”

The tiny frogs began collapsing, one by one—except for those who, in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher. The crowd continued to yell, “It is too difficult! No one will make it!”

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up. But ONE continued to climb higher and higher. This one refused to give up.

At the end of the race, all had given up climbing the tower except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

All of the other tiny frogs wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it. They asked him how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal, despite the horrible odds and the cruel taunts and jeers of the crowd.

It was simple. You see, it turns out that the one determined, focused, and disciplined frog …….was utterly and completely……….DEAF!!!!

My prayer for you is that you will turn a deaf ear to the discouraging words in your life whether they are from your present, your past, or even from your own self-talk as you think in your mind, “I can’t do this!!!!”

Yes, sweet one, you can. But only through Christ.

Are you ready to begin? He’s always been there waiting for you to get serious.

You can start right now.

No….not AFTER you go eat a bunch of junk from the fridge or cupboard.

No, not after your lunch out today when you order the most fattening thing on the menu and polish it off with a huge dessert.

Not after, on your way home, you swing by a drive thru to grab a huge cheeseburger and some jumbo french fries and quickly consume them in secret. 

No, not first thing tomorrow morning.

Nope, not next Monday after you pig out all weekend.

Not even when you turn the calendar to June 1^st.

I said now.

Believing You WILL Do It,

Karen

**Okay, so here is the deal. If you feel God calling you to drive a stake into the ground and say “The gluttony stops here.” Do it. Leave a comment for us stating so. Then, drink His word deep into your soul. Memorize the scriptures posted this week. Find a weigh in-buddy. Eat less. Move more. Eat more whole foods and stay away from the junk. Build a FEW treats into your week as a reward. And DO NOT GIVE UP WHEN YOU BLOW IT!!! You will still have times when you will blow it. I do. The key is jumping back on the bandwagon at one or two pounds gained. Not twenty. And please stay tuned. I have had such a response to this topic that I am praying about us checking in with each other monthly, chatting about a topic related to weight loss and maintenance and even finding some way to see your successes when God enables you to drop a dress size or two (or ten!!!!) Would anyone be interested in that?Thoughts?  

Filed under: blog on May 30th, 2008 | 38 Comments »

*NOTE: To all of you who are just joining us on this weeklong post about weight loss. You may want to scroll down to the last few posts for my before and after pictures and to get caught up on what we are covering this week.

*ALSO: I want to give a shout out to you gals who made your way to this site by linking from the interview with me atwww.firstimpressionsbaby.com. Welcome!!!! Feel free to peek around and leave a comment.

I have to be honest with you. I have a love-hate relationship with exercise. I hate to run. I hate to sweat. I hate to exert force to lift weights. I can’t stand spandex and I absolutely loathe the atmosphere and the smell of gyms. I know, I know…it sounds as if I have a hate-hate relationship with exercise. So let me tell you the ONLY thing I love about exercise.

The way I feel when I am done.

I feel clear-headed. I feel younger. I feel as if I can meet life’s challenges with renewed energy. And I feel totally tired, yet strangely refreshed.

But, I still start off hating it EVERY DAY!!!!!!!

When I first began my weight loss journey, I was in such dire shape that I could hardly walk a city block. My knee harbored constant pain from a torn meniscus. Just bending and straightening it made tears well up in my eyes. I remember crying at night and praying to God, begging Him to take away my pain. I also had a bad case of bursitis in my opposite heel that was also agonizing. I promised God that if He’d just make the pain go away, I would start to exercise and lose my excess weight.

Alas, the persistent pain remained. And it was all my fault. My mother-in-love often tells her kids and grandkids “You are the sum of your choices” a quote from someone famous in the past. Whom, I’m not exactly sure. Well, it was true for me. The sum of my choices added up to one big overweight and out-of-shape mommy mess.

Medical tests and MRI’s showed that my torn meniscus was not healing on its own. And the doctors said it would probably never heal as long as I sported too much weight on my small frame. (I am 5 foot 5, have a small frame with tiny wrists and a size 4 wedding band and yet I weighed nearly 250 pounds!!!!) My doctor isn’t quick to pop a pill for every ailment, but he saw no other way out of my severe discomfort as long as I remained obese. So I was prescribed pain meds for my knee. I took the script home, but didn’t fill it. I didn’t want a pill to mask my pain and prevent me from getting to the root of my issue.

So I had no choice. I had to start to lose weight and attempt to exercise while in pain. Our local hospital has a rehab center (where I was going for physical therapy on my knee) that is clean, professional and full of great equipment. It does not at all have an atmosphere of a regular gym with raunchy music, scantily-clad co-eds and mid-life crisis-ers trying to pick each other up (yuck!!) It is a place where sweet senior citizens try to recover from a stoke or regular folks attempt to rehabilitate after an injury. I found out that this rehab center also sold year memberships—at a very low cost—to the public.(And, they have flat screen TVs on the treadmills and ellipticals. That is a plus to this live-in-the-country-with-only-bunny-ears-on-my-non-cable-TV-gal. I could exercise AND watch FOX news channel. Yippee!!)

So, I signed on the dotted line. I got my doctor’s permission. (Required by the rehab center since I was so obese. That was embarrassing) I donned a pair of BIG sweats (the ones Pat Robertson held up during my 700 Club interview) and hopped….er….um…carefully climbed on the elliptical machine. I began to operate it at a steady pace and went as long as my little heart could stand it. When the sweat beaded up on my brow and I thought my heart would surely pound out of my chest, I stopped. I looked down at the timer on the elliptical.

I had exercised a full 2 ½ mintues.

Ugh!!!! I wanted to quit. I wanted to cry. I wanted to eat an entire bag of Chips Ahoy Coconut Cookies. I knew I was too far gone; destined to be forever fat.

But people, in my mind I saw the sweet faces of my children and the concerned eyes of my wonderful, loving and accepting husband. (He never once made a crack, let alone a comment, about my weight. He tells me now that he was concerned for my health, but he never made me feel unattractive. He is a gem!!!) As I thought of them, I knew I didn’t want to leave this earth due to my choices and render them motherless.

So I  kept going. I strolled over to the treadmill. I slowly walked on it until my knee hurt so badly I wanted to cry.

Yep.  You guessed it. I only lasted 4 minutes. At a pace of about 2 miles an hour. That means it would have taken me a half hour to walk a mile. Not exactly record breaking speed.

Tuckered out and tired, I decided to stop the aerobics and switch to weight training. I sloppily used a machine or two, trying to appear that I knew what I was doing. I did not. One of the sweet workers at the center showed me how to properly use two machines; one that worked your arms (gotta get rid of that teacher flab—you know, the stuff that jiggles on your upper arms when you write on a chalkboard) and one that worked your legs. I used those machines for about 5 minutes each.

Then, my workout was over. In a grand total of about 18 minutes.

Not a workout to write home about. But it was a start. And, I felt I had passed a HUGE hurdle when it was over.

After that first day, I continued to go to the workout center as often as I could fit it in. Sometimes I went 6 times a week. Sometimes I went 3. Always I tried to do one of two things:

Go further than the day before: (meaning, if I had gone for 15 minutes on the treadmill at 2.5 miles an hour, the next day I went for 16 minutes, covering a longer distance.)

Or, go faster than the day before: (meaning, if I had gone for 15 minutes on the treadmill at 2.5 miles per hour, the next day I went for 15 minutes again, but at 2.6 miles per hour.)

Baby steps. But they added up. After losing the weight (106 pounds) in those 10 ½ months, I had worked up to walking 2 to 2 ½ miles at a speed of 3.5 miles per hour. (At that pace, I was now covering a mile in just over 17 minutes, not a half hour like when I first began. God had allowed me to cut my time nearly in half!)

Then one day, several months into my maintenance, He told me to run.

What!?!?! I had never, I mean NEVER run an entire mile in my life. Once, we had to run a mile for time in my personal fitness class in college. My friend Kari and I trotted for two of the quarter mile laps and walked for the rest; completely out of breath; feeling like I was going to up-chuck; weary and nearly fainting. That was when I was 20. I was now 43. How on earth could I run? It was more than I dared to hope for.

But God whispered to me. “Karen, today is the day. Just run. Remember the verse on that plaque in your high school youth pastor’s office? ”

“..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31

So that day last spring, when I got on the treadmill, I cranked the speed up to what was running for me. It was a pace of 3.7 miles per hour. (covering a mile in 16.21 minutes—again, not exactly break-neck speed!!) I told myself I would run ‘til I couldn’t run anymore and then I’d crank it back down to a fast walking speed.

To my amazement the readout showed that I’d made it ¼ mile. I began to get a little winded.

Then it read ½ mile. I was huffing by then. But I kept going.

I couldn’t believe it when I passed ¾ mile. This was further than I’d run in college.

Then, it happened.

Breathing hard, but not faint. The digital readout flashed the wonderful news “1.00 miles covered.”

I instantly began to cry.

Sure, people stared. Some thought I was upset about something. No one there would have guessed they were tears of joy. Okay, so the rehab center director did get the picture when later I told her what happened. She congratulated me like I’d just won the Boston Marathon!! Then, she threw me for a loop. She said, “Let me know when you reach the two mile mark!”

What? Come on lady. You’re talking nonsense! Someone must have slipped something in your water bottle! I could NEVER run two miles. I wasn’t even sure I’d ever be able to do a mile again.

But God had other plans. I continued my “go further or faster” routine. Long story short. I can now run 2 to 2 ½  miles at a time at a pace of 4.5 miles per hour. That means I now cover a mile in just over 13 minutes!!!!! And I try to do it 3-4 times a week.

Please, I DO NOT tell you any of this to boast!!! I tell it to offer you hope. If God can take this former couch potato (and potato chip popper) and transform her into a wanna-be-middle-aged-trotter who can now run non-stop for over a half hour, He can do it for you too! My goal now is to work up to running a 5K (3.1 miles) and run it in honor of my sister-in-love who is a breast cancer survivor.

In addition to running (or sometimes going on the elliptical for a half hour) I also do weight training about 4 days a week for 20-30 minutes. I have learned so much about muscle burning more calories at rest than fat does and the importance of weight bearing exercise in the prevention of osteoporosis. And I know from experience that when I am at a flabby weight or at the same weight yet toned, I am a smaller size, although the scale reads the same! In fact, once I lost the 106 pounds, I began to add weight training at a more serious level. Last summer I dropped one more pants size although the scale virtually stayed the same.

And please, if finances are an issue…know this, I also run on my road and I bought a set of free weights (3, 5, 10, 15 and 20 pounds) at a yard sale for 10 bucks. Often I exercise and run without it costing me a cent. If I don’t need to go to town or don’t have time, I do it the old fashioned way! I could do it only this way if I can’t afford a membership at the rehab center.

Finally, if you get nothing else out of this long winded post, get this:

Do SOMETHING. ANYTHING. It matters. The next day, do the same thing, or do a little more. If you do not give up and add time or distance or weights a little at a time, you too can learn to have a love/hate relationship with exercise. In fact, I will admit to you that you could even say that I am now addicted to my daily workout.

And I never thought it was possible to be addicted to anything other than chocolate, chips, cheese and ice cream.

Glory to God!!!!

Sweet sweating and weight-swinging blessings,

Karen

*Now your turn…How do you work exercise into your busy day? Or what excuses do you have for not moving more? What do you think would be some baby step goals for you when it comes to exercise? Leave us a comment on any of these topics or something else that has to do with exercise.

 

Filed under: blog on May 29th, 2008 | 14 Comments »