I'm losing the same weight over and over...

Finally, I made weigh in at my local Weight Watchers. I was so sad to see that I'm right back where I started at the beginning of 2007. Pretty much...I'm sick of losing the same weight over and over again. So, do something about it you say? Well, I AM!! Things have been going well since Wednesday (I know it's only Friday)but with weight loss every consecutive "good day" is a good thing.

Has any one tried Arnold's Sandwich Thins? They are really good and only 1 point. Tonight I am going to try them as a hamburger bun. I'll let you know how that goes.

This past week I have had a HUGE blessing fall into my lap. My sister-in-law, Freddie came for a visit on last Friday. Here is a picture of Freddie and I at her first Clemson game, she's the skinnier one! :)
On our way home we got into this conversation:
Amanda~"Freddie, if you want to stay with us next week, I'll pay you $50.00 to vacuum, mop, clean the bathrooms and the baseboards."
Freddie ~"OKAY!!" {rather quickly}

She has done such a great job all week, we have given her extra money, and the best part is she is staying all next week too!! Its been so nice to come home to a clean house, and I've been able to focus on organizing and purging my home. Praise the Lord and thanks Freddie for all your hard work!

Now Sunday, I get to do school work all day......

But, at least the house is clean!

Responsibility...Accept It!

Today, I accept responsiblity for me. Period. Weight Watchers, here I come. What is it about losing weight that is so hard? Why hold on to the baggage? That wasn't meant to be funny, but if you found it amusing...I'm glad I could make your day.

I probably will no go to an actual meeting until Wednesay, so until then I'm going to try to do it solo. It's 3 days...honestly, there would be serious issues if I can't do this for three days, right?

Anyone interested in a challenge? Anyone even reading this blog that needs to join a weight loss challenge? I'm all ears!! For right now, I'd like to pose the question, what are your most favorite point friendly, easy to prep lunches and snacks?

I got two responses on painting the hutch, one yes, the other no. I'm really leaning towards painting it, but that project is a ways off. So, it will stay in its current state for a while.

Later,
Amanda

Great deals! What do you think of spray paint?

This afternoon I hit Lifeway Christian Store to look for a book. They didn't have the book I was looking for, but they had Christmas Clearance items for 75% off! I was stoked! Here is what I got:

The yellow box contains a book and CD titled "Happy Birthday Jesus" reg 9.99, paid $2.50. We don't have children yet, but I'm BELIEVING!! The cookie jar says "Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus", was $24.99 paid $6.25. The little Christmas Tree Nativity Tea Light thing was $9.99 and I paid $2.50. And last was the brown picture plaque with scripture. It was 19.99 @50% off, so I only paid $10.00 for it.

Not too shabby, eh?

I'm going to put the book and CD into my hope chest. I used to call it my "hopeless chest" but when I thought about calling it that today, I felt bad about it. All my hope is in Christ alone, there is NOTHING that is HOPELESS with Him...can I get an AMEN?

The brown plaque is for my bedroom. I want to do brown and green in there. Since I'm a blue FANATIC, I'm trying to go with different colors. The walls I'd like to paint a shade of green and I'd like to get chocolate brown sheets, and a green waffle type coverlet for our bed. I like this one from Ikea. But, the closest Ikea is in Atlanta. Soon there will be one in Charlotte which is closer. I'm not sure if that's the shade green I want either. I'm so wishy washy! Also, I think I'm just looking for a reason to take a trip to Ikea.

Also, I'm thinking since I LOVE blue, but I'm trying to stop using it EVERYWHERE, I thought it would be nice to do something in a muted blue tone. With that said…would you paint this hutch black?

I could put it in the dining room, instead of leaving it in the kitchen. Also, I could put the other table in my kitchen with no chairs and in desperate need of refinishing in the dining room after painting it black to match the hutch. The walls could be painted a soft robin egg blue. Sounds so Pottery Barn, doesn't it? Pretty much, that’s where I got the idea. So imagine, black furniture, soft robin egg blue, white crown molding. I'm gonna have to turn my charm on to convince the husband about this one!

So much to do, I’m getting overwhelmed. I probably won’t start anything now!!!

Pray for Baby Harper!!

Kelly has an amazing blog of encouragement for Chrisitan women especially those stuggling with infertility. Please pray for Kelly, her husband Scott and baby Harper.

God is still in the miracle business!!!

Amanda

Sanctus Real

Have you heard this song? "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)"?
This morning as I was driving to work, I heard this song for the first time. This line of the lyrics caught me:

It feels like chaos but I believeYou're up to something bigger than me

Larger than life something heavenly

Honestly, the more I listen to the lyrics of the song, the more I relate. He questions if he is surrendering to Gods will or his own. I can honestly say, the past couple of years, I've surrendered to my own will only to find out I don't like the place I'm in. Then, I have the NERVE to be angry at God. I have so many blessings in my life, my husband, my home, my job, etc...yet I still felt like something was missing. I know that something I'm missing is Jesus!

You see, once you've had that personal relationship with Him, no other relationship compares. Too often we try to go through the valleys of life alone. Everyone's valley is different, some have relationship issues, financial issues, fertility issues, or even friendship issues. However, one fact remains. We don't have to go through it alone. In the quiet hours when your spouse is asleep, and your friends are unable to talk to you because they are also asleep and you feel like you could just pop and scream at the top of your lungs...do it! Well, maybe you should go in the other room so you don't wake the peaceful sleeping spouse. Jesus loves for us to curl in His lap and lay all our worries and cares upon Him. That's what He's there for.

DUH!! I'm not in control!

What was I thinking? So many days, hours, minutes and seconds wasted on trying to completely control EVERYTHING!!

While it's hard to surrender control, it's also refreshing. For so long, I've tried to fix our fertility issues, or come up with the next best solution only to find they don't really make sense and I hit a brick wall. I've fought and resisted releasing our baby situation to the Lord to the point of physical sickness about it. I'd cry, scream, be sad and allow my pain to block the miracles of babies for others I'm close to. I won't sit here and say there is no sting, and I refuse to sit here and say I'm unaffected by the whole thing. However, I'm making a choice today to fully and totally TRUST God and His word. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

I love to sing, do you think singing to Him is delighting myself in the Lord? How do you delight in the Lord?

PS, I went to the auction this week and got some awesome stuff. I'll post about that later! I will tell you that I got a few things for cheap to help with the decorating process of my home.

Note to self...

I need to start taking the Metformin. If you've ever taken Metformin, you know how easy it is to conveniently "forget" to take your dose, or how you contemplate taking it as if you were debating on running for public office. The stuff is horrible I tell ya...HORRIBLE!!! But, the reproductive endocrinology community seem to be impressed with the wonders it does for the PCOS ridden body and conception. It even has benefits for PCOS patients even if they are not trying to concieve.

Do you have an Aunt Michele? You know, the Aunt that you can go to at anytime with a question and her response is "Well, the bible says...". I LOVE MY AUNT MICHELE. She is such a godly woman and her wisdom just amazes me. I talked to her about a lot, and she gives me lots of advice. Lately, in discussions with her I've discovered I've got a lot of junk in my heart that I have got to get cleared out. I've become so bogged down in craziness that I cannot hear the One who makes everything clear...Jesus. She suggested that I start reading the bible, daily. She said "read it everyday, make it a habit to where if you forget to do it, it hits you like you forgot to put shoes on". She's great I tell ya! She said start with 1 John. I started last night. I love 1 John 1:5 ... God is light; in him there is no darkeness at all. God is truth, need I say more?

So often, I get so distracted by the ememy, and I lose sight on the awesomeness of God. His supremecy and that even when I fail to see it, He is still my champion, and He wants whats best for me, and ready to give that to me but I've got to do my part before He can move. My prayer is that I can remove my flesh (my emotions, wants, etc...) and hear Him and move to be able to fully grasp His will for me. Essentially, I want to be His chess piece.

Weight: Yesterday was a bust. I didn't make it to the WW meeting. I've GOT to get there. They are closed today, and I will not be able to make it tomorrow since I have to sing at a funeral.

Home: WOW. A bomb has gone off again! LOL!!! I've still got lots of purging to do! My husband is an amazing man. I really could kiss his face off.

School: Tonight is home work night...NICE.

Craftiness...nothing. Too tired!!

Over the Christmas holiday, I finally met my cousin Rob's wife Trisha. What a cool chick. We have lots in common and it stinks she lives so far away. Trisha, do you think ya'll are moving to Charleston anytime soon?? LOL!! She and I were robbed of the "Red Spatula" at the "First Fipps Family Bake Off" by our cousin Amy. It's on next year Amy!!!

That's all that's new on this end. We are still praying as to rather we should persue adoption, or fertility treatments. It's all so scary with no guarntee in the end. I'm confident that if we listen to God's voice in it all, whatever route we take will be His will, and we will be parents.

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him."1 John 5:14-15

Go check out this blog. Nancy has some cute ideas!!!

Out with the old, in with the new...again!

It's 2009. One question. Where did 2008 go?



Well my 90 day challenge is bunk, but I determined to bring my intentions of the 90 day challenge to pass.



2009 New Years Resolution(s):

- Closer relationship with Christ

- My home

- Health

- Craftiness

-School

Christ- I'm committing to praying, hard. I still feel like I don't know what I'm doing. But, I'm sure effective praying is just like baking a cake. You get better with lots of practice.

Home - There is so much to do, I'm not sure where to start. Please pray as we begin to investigate adoption agencies and possible fertility treatments.

Health - I started WW today...again. YAY, me! I lost 1.5 pounds. Just kidding. I'm going tonight to officially join.

Craftiness - I just completed my first card. I made a birthday one for a co-worker. I'm going to this weekend to take some pictures at a local auction to work on my photog skills.

School has started off rocky. I don't care for my teacher. But, I only have 4 nights left then it's over.

That's all for now!
Amanda