a certain invitation

June is one of my favorite months.

Heading out to celebrate my 54th birthday (minus the mug on top of my head!).

A gift from my BSG's (Bible Study Girlfriends)

One of my most favorite places! 

(I know I need some colorful flowers along the rock garden. Landscaping at our house is a work in progress. Look closely and you can see hubster's new workshop under construction in the background.) 

More June love

Awaiting the lettuce wrap

 

Just in case you think I've forgotten how to make yummy desserts-

Chocolate Cream Puff Cake for out-of-town guests this weekend. Oh the memories shared from this well worn recipe.

 

life isn't always a bowl of cherries

Even in this beautiful month of June, I am making a guess that you and I share something in common. A "something" like my migraines that deplete my inner reserve and leave me deflated. We all have "somethings."

Seemingly unanswered prayers...situations beyond our control...worrisome news...loneliness...crushed dreams...chronic pain...financial distress...marital strain...devastating diagnosis... 

It is in the presence of the "somethings" that I take you back to the title of this post.

a certain invitation

Jesus whispers this powerful invitation into your day.

Come unto Me.

His invitation delivers big - instant pardon from guilt and sin, relief from fear and sorrow, promised rest for your soul.

Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Come & Refresh. Gather His strength to take the next step in your journey.

I like to "go." God is teaching me to "come."

Just wonderin'. Do you have any June lessons you care to share?

>>>>>>

Another "something" update if you are following my healthy living weight loss journey. 23 weeks. Go Team Go!

I'm smiling. It's June. And we are friends!

margi

monkjo@live.com with any comments or questions. Junebug blessings!

crash & no crash

the Crash

It was coming and though inconvenient, not unexpected. My trusty laptop died after years of faithful service. With a new laptop, blogging sparrow returns. I have missed YOU.

snapshots of color

I added pops of color to my world since I chatted with you last. The photos tell the story...

5 dish towels at the kitchen window. No sew. Bright and cheeryo!

dots added

more garage sale finds land on sill

movin' out

Porch makeover. From shabby chic soft pinks and greens to Pops of Color.

swingin' for two

dressed in dots. two windows

old barn siding shelf

chubby

friendship blooms

two birds dwell with us

fluffing his feathers before the move

back view: dad's barn next door

I'll share more of our outdoors living space later. Lightweight blankets are neatly folded for cool summer evenings, the lounge chairs are beckoning, the rod iron table is ready to serve up grilled dinners, the flower pots are overflowing, and the birds are singing. Oops, another post:)

the No-Crash

My laptop may have crashed but my pursuit of healthy living hasn't. I am happy to report my latest chalkboard update!

54.4

19 weeks. I have come a long ways. I still have a long ways to go. My reward for passing the 50 pound weight loss? I treated myself to more color. New aqua colored sandals!


Slide over right foot one inch and hide the tea spill.

nourished

I love how God's Word speaks to our daily life. These past few weeks I have enjoyed a verse out of the Psalms. "Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you."

Need any sustaining power in your life? I sure do.

I was intrigued with the word "sustain" and did a word study. In my findings I unearthed a treasure, a treasure with my name written all over it.

Sustain (kuwl in Hebrew) occurs 37 times in the Old Testament. It means to support; to nourish.

The first time the word is used is found in the book of Genesis. Through a wonderful unfolding of events, God nourished Joseph and his family for the five years of famine ahead.

God sends nourishment, sustaining power and support when we are in need.

For the past 19 weeks on my journey to health, God has nourished my soul. I have to laugh with the Genesis account- "five years of famine ahead!" I imagine that God enjoys watching us smile!

>>>>>>>>>

If you're still following me, it is good to journey together. As you enjoy this beautiful season on your own patch of earth, may you experience the nourishment God so freely gives, and we so desperately need.

Still flyin',
margi

monkjo@live.com - for any questions or comments, I'm happy to reply.

a change of mind & .6

I like a clean clutter-free surface, be it countertops or desktops or tabletops.

Since trading in the work place for home place, I have found once again my love for working in the kitchen. I enjoy surfing the net for new recipes to try. I have found my "baker's hat" again.

Here are some of the changes I've made. (I don't have a picture of the toaster tucked back into the corner by my coffee machine but it is the first time in all our married life it has been allowed to be on display!)

My new Dutch Oven. Now that I finally have one, it stays stove top. Not practical to lug this heavy weapon in and out.



I've had my Kitchen Aid for quite a few years and haul it out for use (seldom). After working on homemade pizza and bread baking these last few weeks, it stays.  It kind of makes me feel a little like a Food Network kind of sparrow!

Oven ready, today's Trial #2 homemade pizza crust and sauce. Rates a B+. Keep searching.



This beautiful bowl I found at a garage sale a couple summers ago. I decided to switch it out for my wire basket. The bottom still had the price tag of fifty cents!


Toaster, dutch oven and a mixer makes three items hanging out with me! A girl can always have a change of mind...

And I almost did.

Remember my previous post weight loss of 20? I had lost another four pounds last week so my new number was 24. That loss propelled me on to my most stellar week in eating and exercising yet. I ate leaner and greener. I substituted a yogurt for the Chinese takeout meal. I passed up on my own chocolate chip cookie bars of pure goodness. I was in high hopes yesterday for another three or four pound loss.

Disbelief. On and off the scales several times. This can't be! My new number for the next seven days reads 23.4.

That's a GAIN of .6 of a pound. What??? Did you ever hear a sparrow growl?

Okay, so I was in a bit of a funk all day. Even Scruff hid under the blanket.

I forgot. I forgot that this journey isn't about beating the scales to get to my "perfect" weight. It isn't a race to quickly arrive at a certain size. Instead, it is a lifetime journey about getting fit and eating healthy and whole foods. It is a journey of finding balance in this out-of-control part of my life.

Yesterday a part of me whispered, "Give it up." 

Another part whispered, "Keep at it." 

I haven't changed my mind. New habits are furiously trying to replace the old ones. The road ahead is steep and the battle is tough. But I've got my second wind.

I've a chalkboard to overcome.

Flyin' forward into March,
margi

monkjo@live.com

the wait in weight

disclaimer

This post is an honest page out of my own journey in the struggle of weight and food issues. If you're not dealing with some hard struggles that almost are getting the best of you, I'm happy to catch you around the corner at the next blog posting. You're excused with my blessings:)

I need to write a disclaimer #2. It reads something like this:

concerning this subject

I have more questions than I have answers.
I have more failure than I have success.
I have a good mindset today, I may not tomorrow.

That being said, if you're still with me, let me ramble a bit of my heart and then share my plan.

I love cheezits, pizza, appetizers, ice cream, M&Ms . . . I'm a carb-lovin' sugar-seekin' girl! I'd rather eat the mashed potatoes and leave the meat. The moderation button seems to be missing in my DNA. This has landed me in a 2x size frame. Problem defined.

I've circled the globe on this personal struggle and although there is so much I don't know, here are a few things I do know.

1. This journey isn't so much about the finish line as it is the run.

2. This struggle is included in God's life-map for me. God wants to use this weakness of mine to showcase His glory.

3. Even the snail eventually made it to the Ark.

okay, here's the simplified version of my plan as it stands today

a. eliminate white sugar and white flour - takes care of most my trigger foods.

b. eat veggies, fruits, lean meats, whole grains. See what's in my fruit basket.

c. drink at least 32 oz. water daily - I'm so grateful that 17 months ago I had my last Diet Coke. Water is now my beverage of choice (I do still enjoy 2 cups of coffee with hubster). I have a large 32 oz. water bottle I keep refilling. Keeps it easy to chug it down and know if I get one bottle finished, I met my requirement.

d. walk 30 minutes minimum 5-6 days/week. This I do at home.

e. surround myself with motivation to stay on course. This comes from blogs, books, media on the subject. Dropped into my inbox  just this morning was this:

Type 2 diabetes is on the rise, mirroring our increasing rate of weight gain. It's important to understand that our obesigenic (fat-producing) environment is taking a toll on our health through diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions that are the result of poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle. Prescription meds treat the symptoms of the disease instead of creating health... We make 1,000 small choices a day, which either contribute to, or erode, our overall physical health. - Dr. Wayne Andersen on Habits of Health

f. weigh-in day is once weekly. Since I needed some major accountability, I chose to follow Tuesday's TV Biggest Loser. I weigh in that morning and post it here on my own family room chalkboard public forum! (I started in the beginning of January.)

my struggles probably aren't yours

I'm a food-aholic. But there is a long line...

spend-aholic
work-aholic
gaming-aholic
alco-holic
fame-aholic
surf-aholic
sleep-aholic
porn-aholic . . .

And then there are struggles with pride, fear, anger, speech, worry, bitterness . . .

I really believe that it is in our shared weaknesses, not our strengths, that we have the greatest bond with one another.

in the darkness of the morning came this from Psalm 18

The LORD is my rock and my deliverer;
In distress I called to Him for help;
With His help I can scale a wall; my favorite line
He trains my hands for battle;
His right hand sustains me.

God is writing the text in this journey for each of us. It puts a joy in Sparrow's little heart to know she does not travel alone. Neither do you.

I've a long weigh way to go. But today's new number?  20.0

My mini-goals are 15 pounds. Since I met my first GOAL - and since orange unveiled as a color this spring - my splurge! Can you see it? $25 purse from Penneys.

Thanks for sharing my page,
margi

For comments or questions, monkjo@live.com