10 Things in 10 Days list Update

Okay, so I didn't account for the rain. So the outdoor activities are way off schedule but the indoor things are coming along really well. Purged the bedroom. Now it's in my living room. But that's not so bad since I'm moving it down to the family room today to be shredded. I can't believe the paper work. Crazy. So the bedroom is looking really great. Today I'm working on the floor in the living room so that I can clean the carpet on Friday before we leave for Huntsville. That will work really well for me. I'm hoping the weather isn't crazy blazing this week and I can do the mulch out back and also spray paint the items in need. My list may extend beyond the 10 days, but it feels really great to have a plan. I might have to do this challenge again. I'm kinda liking the deadline. It's pretty fun. How about you? Are you working to a deadline? And if so, how do you organize your lists?

Freedom Friday!!!

Whooo hooo! Another week of bootcamp done! Check week 12 off the list. So a great conversation happened this morning during our stretch time. We've all realized that we're gaining weight. Okay, that was not the plan. The plan was to loose weight. I've gained 5 pounds since starting and a couple of my clothes are fitting tighter. Strange cause I thot muscle was smaller than fat...unless I'm bulking which really, isn't true at all. So, today is research day for me. I want to get to the bottom of this strange thing. It's not just me. Out of all the women this morning, 100% have experienced weight gain. What up wit dat? So in the spirit of freedom friday, I'm feeling actually really great about the fact that it's not just me, but I'm completely uncool with the gain. So, I've decided to post my foods. I journal what I eat anyway, so this is no big deal, but it is a bit more, (okay alot more) public. I think I'm beginning to realize my freedom in my weight isn't tied to a scale but more to how my clothes fit. And even there, it's a bit dicey because I can always buy another size. But measurements don't lie. I know that a woman should never exceed a 35 inch waist and men a 40 inch waist. This has something to do with the kind of belly fat that is very dangerous. So, therein lies freedom. Stay below 35. Done. Eat less, exercise more. Done. Live, love and laugh...be free. Working on it.

Food Journal so far today...

6:20 Protein Shake
6:30 -7:30 2 cups water
8:00 coffee
9:00 1 egg and toast with smidge butter
and 2 cups water

Thirst Thursdays

To thirst means to have a desire or need to drink or have an ardent desire (craving, longing). mmmmmmmm...doesn't that sound like the perfect definition for our relationship with our Abba Daddy? At some point in our lives, we all have a thirst. Sometimes we thirst after things that set us in a downward spiral. We hit the bottom and can't quite figure out how to satisfy our thirst on our own. And that's just it, we were never designed that way. The insatiable thirst to KNOW, is deeply rooted in our being. We're reminded, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost." Isaiah 55:1-3 but an even better promise is "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:5-7 and even better yet "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:34-36 If I could only get that right every day. To never thirst after my needs or my desires ever again...wow. Knowing that Jesus has that covered blesses me. Knowing I can just rest in the beauty of my own peace that surpasses all understanding is where I can rest. He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. Revelation 21:5-7 and "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life." Revelation 22:16-18 Have you had your free water today?

Winning Wednesday: Where You Go I Go

What does winning mean to you? Winning prizes, or position, or a race perhaps? What ever winning looks like to you, think on it from a Jesus perspective today. What do we do in our day to show our gratitude for the freedom He won for us? How do we show Him our enduring and grateful thanks? I know for me, it's not always pretty. Some days, I'm critical of my hair, or the size of my hips or that the scale is running in the wrong direction...but I know deep in my soul, that God doesn't make junk. I know that because He already won, that the rumblings in my head are not of God. God speaks truth to me. He tells me to count it all Joy. He reminds me that tears may last for a night time, but JOY comes in the morning...that's because my Redeemer lives. He won. So, I'm having a Victory party. No more pitty party in this house. I'm celebrating every victory I can find in my day. My choice is to stop being a victim and contiue being Victorious...because the battle that was fought for me (and you) was way to costly to be ignored. Even in my weakness, He is strong. I can run and hide in the shadow of my almighty, but I think He would love it more, if I went boldly forward, declaring:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2U3PU-E32E&feature=related

Where You Go I Go: Jesus Culture

Chorus
where you go I go
what you say I say, God
where you pray I pray
where you pray I pray
(repeat)

Verse
Jesus only did
what he saw you do
he would only say
what he heard you speak

he would only move
when he felt you lead
following your heart
following your spirit

how could I expect
to walk without you
when every move that Jesus made
was in surrender

I would not begin
to live without you
for you alone are worthy
and you are always good

you are always good
yeah...

you are always good
always good
always good
yeah, yeah yeah

Chorus

Bridge
though the world sees and soon forgets
we will not forget who you are and what you've done for us,
what you've done for us

Chorus

Bridge

Bridge 2
though the world sees and soon forgets
we will not forget, who you are,
who you are, who you are, yeah
who you are, oh you are my god, you are my god
you are my god, you are my god, you are my god
woah, yeah..

Chorus

Tweek-it Tuesdays

Today I want to challenge you. I'm challenging myself and I need accountability so I figure if I drag you along with me it'll work to my favor and wonderfully enough, for your favor too. With the advent of the Hydro Smart meter in our area, I'm facing a huge and insurmountable task it would seem. I need to conquer Mount Laundrymanjaro before rates change to time of use consumption. Now I know, that in your homes, laundry may not be your sticky area, but for me..oi vey. It's an on going, daily momentum buster. I simply and completely forget to do it. Our laundry room is in the basement and I'm a see it deal with it girl. So I need to tweek my plan since the Smart meter will be kicking in soon. I need to get down to 1 load a day and run it when I'm sleeping. Thankfully my washer just died and we bought a lovely front loader with a timer on it. So I can load before bed and set it to come on. Then I can get up before the higher rate kicks in and dry it and be done for the day. In theory this will work. On paper..awesome. Problem is, remembering to do it. So I need to tweek the plan. Somehow, I need something that makes me remember to go downstairs before I climb into bed....a sign...a push...hmmmm, maybe my husband, I could recruit him to remind me. What do you need to tweek? And hey...mudroom is done! Today I think I'll tackle my bedroom. :| Pray for me.

Press in toward Tuesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLZvwCB6tCM

Maintenance Mondays

Ever have the desire to change something or some part of your life and you buy all the books and magazines to inspire you, only to find them sitting on the shelf? You know what I've learned from this experience? Simply owning the book isn't enough. Reading it isn't either. It's the gleaning and application process where many of us fall short. Well, here's some inspiration. School goes back in our neck of the woods in 2 weeks. Let's together, tackle the last of the list. Let's do 10 projects in 10 days. You with me? Get your list together of 10 large or small things you want to do and get checked off the list. Saturdays count, Sundays for me, not doing it. So if we start today on August 23, by my calculations we should be done our 10 days by Sept 2nd. Just in time. Now for me...I'll be leaving for the north country on Saturday so I'm going to plug in an extra day there and say I'll be done Sept 3rd. Your call on how you want to pace yourself. So...question is...what's your list look like? Wanna share?
Here's mine.
1. clean carpet in living room
2. finish Simon's grad scrap book
3. organize mudroom for fall (done)!
4. remove anything not conducive to sleep from my bedroom (done)
5. paint muskoka chairs
6. power spray the deck
7. lay mulch around pool
8. paint JP's bed
9. remove wallpaper in Sara's room
10. frame and order grad pictures for Simon's diploma set

Okay that's me. Some of these projects are more time saturated, others are labor intensive, and other still, just take brain space. But all things I wanted done by the end of summer and somehow, here I am. So, 10 projects, 10 days. Not to mention, I want to help my dearest friend pack her home, make sure I have time for my kids last days of summer and keep house. Can this be done? With some ubber organization...I think it can!!! Who's with me?

Back to Blogging

Yep, it's time. I think I need to come back to blogging. Facebook is fun, but it's taken me away. So I think I'll start over. Hi, I'm Samantha, a homeschooling mom, speaker and parenting coach. Nice to meet you! Introduce yourself, stroll my blog, excuse my rants...if nothing else, I'm transparent. If your on Facebook, look me up. I'm back.