A different type of goal this year

A few of my friends have been posting their nonfiction book list for the year. I was impressed by many of the books on their list and it reminded me of the many nonfiction books I have bought at conferences or on Amazon that I have wanted to read. I LOVE to read. It is honestly one of the things I miss most about my “life before children”. Reading does not happen as often as I would like! And the truth is that I LOVE a good fiction novel. I will read nonfiction books here and there, but they don’t appeal to me as much as fiction.

I have made reading goals for myself before…one year I wanted to read 75 books…and I did! So this year I have made a list of nonfiction books that I would like to read this year…amongst all the fiction.

1. So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore

2. Relationships: A Mess Worth Making by Timothy Lane

3. Gospel Powered Parenting by William Farley

4. Counterfeit Gods by Tiim Keller

5. Liberation of a Resentful Wife by Carol Arnold (no I’m not resentful, but I was told every Pastor’s wife should read this book!)

6. A Praying Life by Paul Miller

7. Love Walked Among Us by Paul Miller

8. Cast of Characters: Common People in the Hands of an Uncommon God by Max Lucado

9. A Treasury of Praise: Enjoying God Anew by Ruth Myers

10: Becoming God’s True Woman by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and others

11. Your Girl: Raising a Godly Daughter in an Ungodly World by Vicki Courtney

I also plan to read throughout the year: The One Year Chronological Bible and Jesus Calling by Sarah Young

Now…to just make time to read…

In Christ Alone

Today in church, I was touched (as I often am) during worship. I love the song “In Christ Alone”. I think it speaks so clearly to what it means to fully trust the Lord and His plan for your life. It makes me want to weep. I am thankful for my Savior and my Jesus who commands my destiny. Here are the lyrics below:

In Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

7 years later…

Seven years ago today, Natalie Beth was born! She was a whopping 6 pounds 12 ounces.  And before that moment…our life had been much different.

Before seven years ago, Nate and I would spend our Friday nights staying up late watching movies, playing Zelda or Sims, and wake up on Saturday whenever we felt like it. I was a full-time 6th grade teacher, high school youth group leader, selfish wife, and lazy housewife. Nate and I were able to hang out with friends when we wanted, go to TGIFridays once a week (my favorite restaurant then), and make a lot of time for each other.

Seven years ago, the Lord blessed us with our firstborn daughter. And life changed…drastically. And I am such a better person because of it! The first year of parenthood was a huge transition…no more time alone, no more free date nights, no more late nights with sleeping in, no more time to read whenever I wanted. But none of that mattered as much anymore. I still wanted (and still want) those things. But Nate and I had to stop being selfish. Having a child strengthened our faith and our marriage, and humbled us more than anything else.

I am so so thankful to the Lord for making me a mother. For blessing me with a loving, faithful, sinful (just like me!), forgiving, repentant husband and three beautiful girls that challenge me every day. The past seven years have been the best of my life and I AM THANKFUL.

Here’s a look at Natalie these past 7 years!

Birth:

One year old:

Two years old:

Three years old:

Four years old:

Five years old:

Six years old:

Seven years old:

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

Something worth running for

I know I haven’t written much the past few months…sickness, the holidays, my baby turning into a TODDLER! Needless to say, it’s been busy. But that’s just an excuse too. I’ve been kind of down…haven’t lost much weight since last June (but only fluctuated 9 pounds since then which is GOOD for me), tired all the time (yes, I know I have 3 kids, but a different kind of tired), constant headaches, and still have high blood pressure from my pregnancy (which my OB said could take 2 years from birth to go down).

So, last year at this time I wanted to lose 75 pounds. I have lost 30 and ran a half-marathon! Two things I am very proud of, but still feel this “weight” of how much I have to go…

I am only 34 and I just feel “blah” all the time. So, although training for that half-marathon was HARD, it did wonderful things for my self-esteem, weight-loss, energy, and overall physical well-being.

Okay…so I just signed up for THREE running races. A 5K (where you run into Wrigley, how cool is that?) in April, a 10 mile race (that ends on the 50 yard line of Soldier Field!) in May, and the 1/2 marathon again in June. I feel all nervous doing them…but I know I CAN do it this time. AND I’m in better shape, weigh 30 pounds less, and can already run 4 miles comfortably (last year I couldn’t even run a half mile when I started training). It was hard to do it, but I sure liked the feeling when I accomplished it!  And hopefully it will help my well-being, my health, and my weigh loss.

Pray for endurance! Pray for no injuries! Just pray!

Oh…and anyone want to run with me??!!!

http://www.chicagoevents.com/event.cfm?eid=105

http://www.fleetfeetchicago.com/htm/events_races_soldier.asp

http://www.131marathon.com/13_1_Chicago.htm