Tusen Takk {Week of 5.11}

As some of you may know, I am currently reading One Thousand Gifts and keeping a "gift journal" for a year that will record 1,000 gifts, which equates to about 20 a week. You may wonder, what are these "gifts"? They are ordinary and everyday things. They are moments that may mean nothing to anyone else other than you. I am only one week in and am amazed at how many things I have to be thankful for and how this has shifted my attitude. Today I was spending time with a friend and she had Tussen Takk written on her arm. I found out that it means one thousand thanks in Norwegian. I thought this was so fitting for the journey that I am on right now, so I am going to share some of my gifts with you each week in a series titled Tusen Takk. Some of the things that I am thankful for are deeply personal and some implicate the amazing people in my life, whose lives' I don't want to put on blast, so I will just be sharing a few out of the twenty with you. I encourage you to share with me in this journey...

#1- Earlier this week I was sitting on the couch drinking a cup of coffee. Moses was kicking a soccer ball around the living room and stopped all of a sudden. He looked up at me and said, "Mama, do you love me?" I responded, "Of course I love you, do you love me?" He smiled and said, "The MOST" At times parenting can be so hard, but it is moments like these that make it all worth it.

#2- Inspired by a conversation with a friend, I had a very honest, rough conversation with God this week about something from my past. It has been a really long time since I have hashed something out like this and it kind of reminded me of when Jacob wrestled the angel. I felt so free after it.

#3- I was in Target and my kids were on full meltdown mode. They were screaming and crying in line and I was in a hurry to get back to our car because I was so embarrassed. I turned around and saw an elderly lady behind me in an electric cart struggling to get her groceries on the checkout stand. Even though I wanted to get to the cart, I stopped and assisted this elderly lady and she was so thankful. I am usually in a massive rush and I was so thankful for slowing down and being able to help someone in need.

#4-Moses wrote his name by himself for the first time in my Mother's Day card.

#5-I read this article earlier this week about allowing your kids to get bored. It was talking about how boredom leads to creativity. I decided to give it a try and it worked! The kids excitedly called for me to come into their room. They made me take a seat and performed a circus for me. It started by Mimi saying "Ladies and Gentlemen" and Moses saying "Boys and Girls" It was so cute. 

|Virtual| Coffee Date

If we were having coffee this morning, you would probably sense that I am way more relaxed than I have been in a while. We would also be sharing an amazing Black & White that I found at a local Deli, thanks to a friend. {BTW- I am not sure what it is about these cookies but I have been New York Dreaming lately...I must make a trip, but have no idea when or how}

I would tell you how I went away last weekend with a couple of girlfriends and it was exactly what I needed. We stayed at a beautiful beach resort at Mission Bay in San Diego. We didn't have a schedule and that was the most amazing feeling in the world. The night that we got there we unpacked our stuff and laid out by the pool. It was so peaceful and relaxing, and I was even able to read a magazine without interruption! After we laid out, we went back to the room and got ready for the evening. We all packed at separate locations and even picked out our outfits separately, but we ended up wearing the same color scheme...I wish that we would have got a picture. We went out a fantastic fondue restaurant called Forever Fondue in La Jolla. I haven' t ate that much in a long time but everything was so good. After getting lost, thanks to bad I-phone directions, we made it back to our resort in time to go on a moonlight boat cruise that is sponsored by the hotel. We went around Mission Bay and had a lot of great conversation. It was so special to me to be able to spend the time with two ladies that mean the world to me and know me so well. We were able to reflect on the past year, talk about the future, and the ups and downs of life. 

The next morning we woke up late (8am is late for a mama of 3 little kids). We slowly got ready and made our way to a yummy breakfast that we scored for free thanks to my friends charm. After that we laid out for a couple hours, went shopping, and hit up Sonic's Happy Hour. So many of my favorite things, with some of my favorite people, wrapped up into a wonderful couple of days. When I got home, I felt recharged.

This is where we stayed. Isn't it beautiful?

I would tell you how there are some really exciting things happening in our life and would ask you to be praying with me and my family as we navigate them. It never ceases to amaze me how God works and how exciting it can be to follow Him, even if means trusting beyond what you can see.

I would tell you how I am reading a new book called One Thousand Gifts, that was recommended to me by a friend. One challenge of the book is A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. I am keeping a journal for a year of 1,000 gifts in my life, which is roughly twenty a week. It is incredible how many things I have been missing or taking for granted because my eyes weren't open to them. A friend of mine did this a year ago, and I saw it transformed parts of her life, so I am excited to begin the journey. 

I would tell you how much I have learned to value community over the past three years. How this was something that used to be incredibly hard for me, but that has grown me significantly. 

I Cry

I cry...

Tears for the childhood that was taken from me

Tears for the scars that will never go away

Tears for the debris that still affect me today
Tears for the misplaced shame I feel

Tears for distortion of love

Tears for the destruction of life

Tears for lost hope and doubt of goodness

Tears for those who understand my pain as well as tears for those who misunderstand 

Tears for cleansing and healing 

Tears for restoration and true love

Thankful for God's Word and comfort that comes from His promises.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true." Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. (Revelation 21:4-7 NASB)

Be gracious to me, O God, for man has trampled upon me; Fighting all day long he oppresses me. My foes have trampled upon me all day long, For they are many who fight proudly against me. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me? All day long they distort my words; All their thoughts are against me for evil. They attack, they lurk, They watch my steps, As they have waited to take my life. Because of wickedness, cast them forth, In anger put down the peoples, O God! You have taken account of my wanderings; Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call; This I know, that God is for me. In God, whose word I praise, In the Lord, whose word I praise, In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me? Your vows are binding upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You. For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living. (Psalms 56:1-13 NASB)

For all who read this, please know I am okay. I struggle at times but find comfort in God. I desire to me honest and transparent about my life because I know that God can use if in the lives of others. Writing can be an outlet and therapeutic for me at times and this happened to be one of them. 

Monday {Weigh Day}

In light of this wonderful quote, I got rid of one pound this week. That puts me at 182, which is a total of 33 pounds lost and puts me 7 pounds away from my second goal. 

I had a break through moment this week when I put a shirt on that use to fit me pretty snuggly. I was literally swimming in it. It reminded me how far I have come, even though I still have a long way to go.  I won't be posting any pictures until I am at my second goal weight, but I will be sure to show you this shirt.

In order to keep motivated, I look for small victories that show I am changing. This week I was so proud of myself while grocery shopping. I love Ben and Jerry's and I love coffee. Ben and Jerry are conspiring against my plan to become more healthy because they just released  this:

The ice cream is coffee flavored with chunks of espresso fudge! I knew if I bought it, I would eat the whole thing, so I walked away. Small victory. 

What are some of the hardest things for you to resist? What helps you to not give in?

|Virtual| Coffee Date

If we had a coffee date this morning, it would have been in my living room. I would have been excited to share all the different K-Cups that I received in the mail with you. I landed on the Donut Shop's Sweet and Creamy Nutty Hazelnut iced coffee.

I would excitedly tell you that my 28th birthday is right around the corner. I am planning a trip to the Bahia Hotel with my two closest friends and I couldn't be more excited. We are all busy ladies, but I think we landed on a date and it is soon! I will make sure to fill you in on all the details after we get back.

We would talk about the crazy bear that broke into my car and how we are still trying to decided what we should do with our insurance company. I usually get stressed out about stuff like this, but for some reason this event just makes me laugh.

I would tell you about the sickness that took a toll on our family this week. Meems got it the worst because she had the flu, tonsillitis, and an ear infection. She will more than likely be getting her tonsils out after she recovers. The doctor said that they were extremely large. The sickness lead to a lot of relaxing and movie watching for the kids, so I read the 2nd and 3rd books of The Hunger Games. I loved them.

We would talk about how an encouraging word at the right time can be such a blessing. I would share with you about how a friend did that this week and how it really brightened my day. I would tell you how I am working on being more of a blessing to the people in my life.

If you were having coffee with me this morning, which KCup would you have tried?

Sweet&Creamy Nutty Hazelnut-Iced Coffee

Donut Shop Original

Gloria Jeans Butter Toffee

Van Houtte's Chocolate Macaroon

Wolf Gang Puck's Creme Caramel

Weigh In Day

I want to apologize to everyone who is following my weight loss journey and looked for this post on Monday, which is when I weigh in and post the results. 

Last week I ate the WORST and exercised the LEAST. I didn't have any weight change this week, so I am still at 183. (32 pounds lost). This is the first week I haven't lost weight. I was relieved that I didn't gain weight given my diet and lack of exercise. This week made me realize that I need to work on the eating healthier portion of the equation. It is easier for me to push myself to exercise, but takes me a lot more to be disciplined in eating well. 

In the future, if I go more than one day past my weigh in day without posting results, someone please call me out. More than likely it means that I am not wanting to be real with you all. 

Thanks for all who are encouraging me on this journey. Sometimes I lose sight of the overarching goal, so my motto this week for my diet and exercise is:

|Virtual| Coffee Date

If we had a coffee date this morning, you would have been at the park with me and the kids. I would have a tall, non-fat misto. This is my new favorite type of coffee. I know this is a shocker to some, since I usually only drink iced drinks (even in the snow and rain). 

Amariah yelled uncontrollably if I tried to take away the coffee cup.

In between chasing my kids and saving them from the top of the monkey bar ladder, I would have told you:

Moses got stuck up here. Of course I took I picture before I helped him :)

I am so tired. Actually, I probably wouldn't have needed to tell you, I look really tired. Why didn't I get a bigger coffee?! The past couple of days I haven't got a whole lot of sleep. Moses had some sort of sickness that caused crazy problems with #2 and Amariah got her six month shots yesterday and has been running a fever. She is super fussy and tired, but can't sleep well. Everyone says that one day I will miss these days, and I am sure I will, it just doesn't feel like it right now.

I really appreciate my husband and all the ways that he helps me. He was gone a couple of days last week at the Catalyst Conference and it was a little crazy around the house. I am happy to have him home and it was a great reminder to be thankful for all the things that he does. 

I struggle with anger. A lot. This is something that I am working on and seeking the Lord to help me with. If you think of me, please pray for this. 

I am in love more like obsessed with ganado print items.... 

Speaking of clothes, I have been given the opportunity to start my own online clothing store. My hope is that it will do well enough one day, that I can own an actual store. I am really excited but I have a lot of work ahead of me. The goal is to provide quality, affordable, and unique pieces of clothing to people that don't have access to them. All items will come straight out of Los Angeles' Fashion District. There will be a lot more to come about this soon but I am REALLY EXCITED for the day when I get to share my website with you all. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful week!