2012: A Gift of Time from God...by Jon Walker

As I've been thinking all day about how 2012 might be different, better, happier, healthier; how I might accomplish more, stress less, and worry less than I did in 2011. Then I read this a few minutes ago and it hit me so I wanted to share it with my loved ones.

“But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God.” (Romans 13:11 MSG)

We manage time; we waste time. We spend time; we save time. We wish the time would come; we wish the time would pass. We see time fly; we feel time drag. We watch clocks and carry calendars, creating the illusion that we somehow control time, yet all the while moments flow forward like a mighty river that cannot be stopped, harnessed, or re-routed.

Yet, God controls time. He created time and we, his creations, are fenced by his time, directed and guided by his holy and loving hand. The year 2012 is a gift of time from God.

How will you use it?

What do you think God wants you to do with the 365 days of this next year?

For me personally, I think God wants me to spend more time with Him. My one and only resolution then, is to spend more time with God. With Him all things are possible and I want to forget about all the things I can't control and trust in Him that 2012 will be a very good year for me and my family and friends.

Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday to Me

I stumbled across this quote today and wanted to share it with you.

"I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise. I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit."
-Dawna Markova

I didn't have a clue who Dawna Markova was until I Googled her. Briefly, she is a PhD and she helps people live on purpose. Hmmm.

So, since it's my birthday, let's get back to me. I cannot believe I have lived this long. Family history may have predicted a much shorter life. Especially when you combine it with one bad choice after the next. As I write that, I am thinking about how many times I have thought that I would die when I was 40 like my parents did. Now, more than two decades later (that's 60+ years old!) I finally realize that I won't die before I live and living shouldn't be a matter of time.

I have had so many birthday greetings today starting with a beautiful card from my husband, breakfast (that's not unusual - he always cooks if he gets hungry enough) phone calls, texts, Facebook postings, even a personal visit from No. 1 Grandson. I feel so loved. What makes me feel the best is all the kind words that people are saying about me.

Each day is, indeed, a gift to be lived on purpose. I hope that my life will continue to be lived on purpose and that on purpose, I will give and receive blessings beyond those imaginable.

The 60+ is actually 22,280 days, or 60 years plus 12 months. Okay, fine. 61. Now, I've said it!

The picture is me on my 16th birthday. 16 now 61. YIKES!

Servant Leadership - Be Useful

Being useful is the most important thing a manager can be. Managers should be a resource for their people; make sure they have the resources they need to do their jobs.

Being a leader isn't about power, although often times it seems like it's all about power. But, true power comes from the people.

So, if leaders are authentic, vulnerable, can accept, be present, and be useful, they become servant leaders. Servant leaders don't control people, it's not about being boss or being territorial. It's about creating a place that people can do good and meaningful work. Servant leaders pay attention.

Servant leaders love. There we go again. It's all about love.

Servant Leadership - Be Present

It's all about being available for others and yourself, not just being there. You need to be able to respond to issues and challenges. If your team sees you respond well in the middle of a crisis, you'll gain confidence and assure your team that you are in control of all your management responsibilities, not just planning for the future.

My exercise for this lesson is to think of something that makes me smile, then do it a couple times a day. This small investment is being present. It's guaranteed. Hmmm. Well, it certainly is easy enough to do. Think of something that makes you smile: a loved one, a great vacation, a cocker spaniel puppy. Visualize it and smile. I can do that.

P.S. The puppy's name is going to be Lester

What's Love Got To Do With It?

Love challenges us, it scares us and it embraces us. It's easy to love our family and friends (sort of), but how do we love our enemies? Turns out, love can change us so we become people who can love one another.

But, we risk rejection when we love. Rejection can wound deeper and last longer than other injuries. There is a huge symptom of rejection called vacancy and it tempts up to invite things into our lives we might never have welcomed otherwise. It causes us to act in ways we never dreamed of. Then to make matters worse, we try to fix our hurt and try to recover what rejected us. We want back what we really didn't even want in the first place. We want revenge. We want the last word. I have made so many stupid decisions in reaction to rejection!

It brings tears to my eyes tonight as I think about the rejection from my daughter, who I love deeply and who has left a big empty hole in my heart. It's a long, long story, but I learned tonight that rejected love is not lost. God receives it and He will deal with it. In the meantime, I will continue to pray to have her back in my life, while I love others.

It's all about love. We are commanded to love. It's the greatest!

Servant Leadership - Be Accepting

Acceptance is more important than approval! I think that's probably true. Most conflicts are not about the process, product or service; they are more about personality. I remember many years ago hearing Oprah say "it's not about taking out the garbage, what are you really fighting about?" when talking with a couple on the verge of divorce. It's so true. I know I don't argue about much anymore. What's the point? Who really cares who is (more) right? There are no winners and no losers. All can win.

Acceptance is a good characteristic to have. Authentic people accept others without judgement. I think we should save judgement for someone qualified to judge (and that ain't me).

Servant Leadership - Be Vulnerable

This one really hit home.

Being vulnerable is about being honest with feelings, open with our doubts and fears, open with concerns about an idea, an employee's performance or our own, and being able to admit mistakes. It's about saying "I was wrong," and really meaning it.

Being vulnerable means we have to forget about control. We really don't have any control anyway, but we can have power if we just realize that we have no control and must depend on others. We don't, after all, succeed at anything alone.

To be authentic, we have to reveal our true selves; our emotions about our work, the work place and each other. We have to be vulnerable.

Recently, we had a record month. Broke all kinds of records, both good and bad. I had to admit a terrible screw up and took full responsibility for the mess. I honestly felt that I should have known about the bad stuff. I truly was afraid of losing my job! I absolutely was vulnerable.

When the mistakes were fixed and procedures in place to prevent them from reoccurring, and I wasn't fired, I actually felt like I gained respect for doing the right thing and genuinely feeling bad about the mess.

Honestly is ALWAYS the best policy. Sometimes being honest puts you in a vulnerable position. This particular time it absolutely was the right thing to do. And, it was a good thing for the people I work with to see how I handled the situation.

Servant Leadership - Be Authentic

As a manager, the well-being of my people is dependent on me and how well I create the circumstances and environment in which they can do their jobs. Servant leadership is not about being nice. It's about creating an effective and productive workplace and an opportunity for personal and spiritual growth for everyone. Yes, it allows me to grow as I help others grow!

My behavior is how those around me determine who I am. To become a leader who serves, I have to put the spirit of work to work. The spirit of work is a decision to live my life at home and at work the same; what I do at work is, after all, a reflection of who I am.

Being vs. doing. There are five ways of being that move you toward serving. The first is "be authentic".

Be who you are. Be real. Know yourself; be yourself. Admit mistakes; apologize. Respectfully say what you think or feel. Mentor people; help them learn. I love this. I have been known to say, "everywhere I go, there I am" or "be where you're at when you're there". Being authentic brings new meaning to a couple of my favorite quotes. Being me, the real me, is so much different than the behaviors and actions people see. They can't see what I think or how I feel, so it's up to me to be who I am - everywhere I go and in everything I do.

The spirituality I bring to work should be the same spirituality that comes from my relationship with God. Through prayer I can get to know myself and become truly authentic.

Ask and You Shall Receive

The other night, I went to my CM Area Meeting and Aleks Bogdanovski (CM's US President) was the guest speaker. He talked about a meeting he had where he brought in fresh, warm chocolate cake. When the meeting was over, he asked why no one ate any of the cake he brought. They said it was because he never asked them.

Of course the purpose of his speech was to remind us consultants to make sure we offer our CM opportunities to everyone we meet. I, however, was reminded of the first time I went to my church and was greeted at the door by the pastor. Pastor Fred asked me to come back and a few Sunday's later asked me to attend a class he was teaching on the church and its beliefs. Because he asked, I have been attending this church regularly, doing Bible studies, and growing closer to the Lord. I'm not where I need to be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be.

Ask and you shall receive. It may be a new customer, host or team member. Or, maybe it will be an opportunity to get closer to God, or for you to be a blessing to someone who needs one. Beth Moore says it's okay to love lipstick and the Lord. I say it's okay to love Creative Memories and the Lord.

Things seem so much better when we stop thinking about ourselves and reach out to others.

Life is Short

Today, I was reminded of something that I have known for a long time. Life is short.

Love Apple or not, it's hard to deny Steve Jobs was a brilliant and successful man who gave us so much.

Back in the early '80s I bought my first computer, an Apple IIc. Since then I've owned many PC's including HP, Gateway and Dell. I returned to Apple products several years ago with an iPod. Now I'm the proud owner of an iPod, iPad, iMac, iPhone, and iTouch. I love my Apple "stuff" and couldn't imagine living without it.

But, having a lot of "stuff" doesn't mean you're living. Certainly there are things that can make your life more comfortable and enjoyable, but when you're life is done, the things remain and you're gone. Money, success and things can't make you happy or help you live longer.

Steve Jobs left quite a legacy. When my life is over, what will I leave? Things?

Since we don't know God's plan for us, we have to make sure our priorities are right and that we are living the life He intended for us to live. Be faithful and truly put God above all other things and He will pour blessings on your life, family, desires and dreams. Now those are things worth living for.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 21 of 21

Oh how I wish I would have read today's lesson this morning.

What I just learned after reading this lesson is that perfection is impossible. Well, I knew that, but now I see it in a different way. All the demands on us and unrealistic pressures are frustrating. If we put God first and trust Him, He will take care of us. Then we have a powerful responsibility to be true to ourselves.

I'm going to get out from underneath this cloud of doubt and expect God to do wonderful things, including help me treat my body better.

Celebrate each day for what it is, a priceless gift from God. Trust God and put Him first, nothing comes after Him.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 20 of 21

Fitness is a form of worship, but what does worship have to do with fitness? I've learned that worship should be something we do that impacts everything in our life. It's not something we do just on Sunday.

So, what should we worship? If we want all that God has promised us, we need to put Him at the center of our lives. Personal gratification distances us from God; spiritual gratification honors God.

"Two wings are necessary to lift our souls toward God: prayer and praise. Prayer asks. Praise accepts the answer." ~Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert

I plan to worship God seven days a week, all day and every day, while thanking Him for all that He has done. Focusing on God, rather than food will help me take care of His temple, my body.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 19 of 21

If you're feeling exhausted, you need to recharge your spiritual batteries. Get more sleep, get regular and sensible exercise, eat right, and turn your problems over to God. And, the greatest of these is "turn your problems over to God."

We all have moments and suffer through tough times. Today was one of the worst for me in a long, long time. Too much to do, too little time to do it.

After reading today's lesson, I was reminded of Beth Moore saying it is no mistake that God has perfect timing in the messages He gives to me. Everyday, and especially today, I need to take time to focus on God, His love, and ask Him for the wisdom to prioritize my life and give me the strength I need to fulfill my responsibilities.

The best source of energy is, of course, God.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 18 of 21

Today's lesson is all about spiritual health and spiritual growth. The good news is our spiritual journey lasts a lifetime. God is never done with us. He gives us direction, wisdom, perspective, and courage if we open our hearts to Him. We are either becoming more like Christ or less like Him. There is no neutral position with God.

I can remember the first time I asked God to come into my life. It was in 1963 and I was at the LA Coliseum listening to Billy Graham. I knew then that it was the right thing to do. Trouble is, I didn't "feel" anything different once I got home.

Many years later, I attended a Joyce Meyer conference and asked (again) for God to come into my life. I immediately felt different, but didn't really know what to do. So I took Joyce's advice and started going to a Bible teaching church. I have been going to Oak Haven ever since.

At Oak Haven, I "feel" different. I am currently doing a Bible study titled "Living Beyond Yourself - Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit" by Beth Moore. On the first night of study, Beth said it is not a mistake that I was there. God has timed this message for my needs and my concerns, even though Beth wrote it ten years ago. There are 15 women in this study and God is meeting all of our needs.

The point of this little trip down memory lane is that it confirms that I am on the right journey and that it will never be over. I am learning and growing and becoming. Just like I am supposed to.

"A Christian is never in a state of completion but always in the process of becoming." ~Martin Luther

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 17 of 21

Today's lesson is about emotional health. Oh, how I could have used this years ago. At one point in my life, I was an emotional wreck. Somehow, I got better. As I've said before in these posts, my life could have been so much better, so much easier, and I could have been so much happier had I known God and all He has in store for me.

In order to truly have all that God has promised, we need to be emotionally healthy. We need to have relationships that enrich our life and also allow us to enrich the lives of our loved ones. I can remember being so depressed, angry and sad. Now, what used to bother me just rolls off my back. I did learn (maybe it was with age) that there are some things you cannot change no matter how hard you try so why bother. It's so much easier to just accept, or at least be neutral, to things that bother me. I still worry about a lot of things, but for the most part, I save my energy when it comes to worrying about something I have no control over. And, I've learned to turn my worries over to God in prayer. He hears prayers and He answers them with the right answer - every time.

Here's my favorite quote from today's lesson:

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." ~Corrie ten Boom

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 16 of 21

Perspective and Balance.

We are responsible for our health and the care of our body. To do that, we need balance in our life. We can't be workaholics and expect to be physically, emotionally, or spiritually fit. We must also take time to relax and enjoy.

Everyday, we should pray for a sense of balance and perspective. We can have balance by spending 5-10 minutes with God everyday. If we don't have that, we must reorder our priorities. We also need to talk with Him throughout the day. He is always there, whenever we need him.

"Prescription for a happier and healthier life: resolve to slow down your pace; learn to say no gracefully; resist the temptation to chase after more pleasure, more hobbies, and more social entanglements." ~James Dobson

I listen to James Dobson on Faith Radio and he always has good advice. I enjoyed this quote from the book and hope you did too.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 15 of 21

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken." ~Samuel Johnson

Today's lesson is about addiction. Our society is highly addictive simply because of supply and demand. The number of addictive substances is growing, they are available and affordable. An addiction doesn't have to be to illegal substances. Some people are addicted to fast food. And, lots of people have experienced addiction and lived to tell about it. Help is available and a cure is possible.

Ultimately, I am responsible for controlling my appetite. I formed the habits, I can break them. I must guard my heart against dangerous temptations and life-sapping addictions…or else.

Addiction destroys.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 14 of 21

"The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don't want, drink what you don't like, and do what you'd rather not." ~Mark Twain. Isn't that the truth!

Speaking of the truth, this whole thing is do darn hard for me. As a "late-bloomer" in my Christian life, I know that God has a plan for the whole world and for me. I know I should pray. I know I should take care of the body I have.

I have also learned that God's plans are not always crystal clear. And, that I have to be patient, keep praying, and keep seeking His will for my life.

So, I would have to say that I know a lot. Why, why, why is it so difficult? Most of my friends have heard me say that I could teach Weight Watchers. I really think I could. But, I can't follow the program. Why have I given myself permission to go ahead and do what I know I shouldn't?

I don't have the answers to my questions. But God does. I will not give up and I know He won't either.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 13 of 21

Physical health is a choice.

It's easy to blame other people. But, fast-food restaurants and food manufacturers didn't force me to eat their food. Or, to sit on the couch and watch TV instead of exercising. Blaming is easier than fixing. Criticizing others is easier than improving ourselves.

My body. My responsibility. My decisions.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 12 of 21

Oh boy. After the past month today's topic is way overdue. It's about getting enough rest. I can't remember if I posted this yesterday, I know I thought it, I have to stop burning the candle at both ends.

Here are several ideas for getting the 8 hours of sleep each night that are required:

Reduce caffeine or eliminate it from your diet.
Prepare for sleep about one hour before bedtime by putting yourself into a calmer state.
If you can't fall asleep right away, don't lay there worrying about not getting sleep. Get up and read until you're tired. Or write down your worries and an action plan to solve them.
Establish regular sleep patterns.
Get some regular exercise.

I seriously plan to put these ideas into action. Almost every night I lay awake with thoughts and worries running through my head.

I loved this quote from the book. "Have courage for all the great sorrows in life and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to sleep. God is awake." ~Victor Hugo

One of my favorite quotes is "Be where you're at when you're there." Somehow that quote has a new meaning for me now. Rather than worry about work when I'm in bed trying to sleep, I'm going to get up, write down my worry, and go back to bed for some required sleep. I don't want to spend another night worrying about not getting any sleep. And, I don't want to be at work stressed or overwhelmed because I'm tired.

Now I lay me down to sleep. It's a great feeling knowing God is awake.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 11 of 21

God has given us the Bible so we can know Him, His promises, His power, His commandments, His wisdom, His love, and His Son.

Today's lesson is about the power of daily worship and meditation.

For almost my whole life, I didn't know there was an instruction manual for living. Sure, I knew the 10 Commandments. But, sadly, I didn't know that God's Word was an instruction manual. Oh how different my life would have been had I known.

I thank God every day that I finally got it and am developing a relationship with Him. God's word has the power to change every aspect of my life.

My Bible Study group has been rescheduled out two weeks. Although that made me happy because I've been burning the candles at both ends for a few months now, I also know that I have to put God first in my life. I can't wait for two weeks to put structure into my life when it comes to Him. Quiet time with God's Word must be a priority on a daily basis.

Lord help me to put You first, always. AMEN.

P.S. I know that if I do, I will become the person You always wanted me to be. And, I know that would make both of us happy.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 10 of 21

I know, it's been awhile since I've posted. Like many other things in my life, these 21 days are turning into months. But, I will finish each lesson. I may not do it the way it's intended to be done, but it will happen.

It will take discipline. Discipline in my thoughts and discipline in my actions. Discipline to exercise. Discipline to eat right. I hate the word discipline.

But, today I learned that discipline is the means to take control of my life, rather than letting my life control me. So, being the "controlling" person that I am, why is it so hard?

I spent the better part of the past week at our cabin celebrating Dean's 50th birthday. There were lots of laughs and a great time was had by all celebrating 50 years of one man's life. But, then the party was over and I started thinking about how fast time goes by. At best, I have 2-3 decades left. Sounds like a long time, but if it goes as fast as the last 2-3 decades, it'll be over way too soon.

Today's lesson tells me that Proverbs has the words of wisdom that I need to get control of my life. If I take them to heart, I can become a more disciplined person. For the next 31 days, I plan to read one chapter each day.

I am not afraid to die. I know that I will spend eternal life in heaven. I know that because I believe God. Therefore, I must believe what He says and the Bible calls for discipline. I guess I don't hate that word after all.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 9 of 21

God's words can help us establish clear priorities for our physical, emotional or spiritual fitness. I have trouble sticking to His plan, I keep trying to do it my way. I need to keep praying that He will help me become the person He intended me to be.

Today's lesson is about knowing your blood pressure and finding some exercise that is fun. Simple enough. But everyday we have opportunities, challenges and choices. If we don't choose God to be the center of our life everyday, the consequences will be both temporary and forever.

Today I choose God and ask Him to help me be proactive in my choices about my health.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 8 of 21

Everyday we make thousands of small choices about what we do and what we think, usually without much thought. I'm like most people and spend most of my day reacting. Somehow I ended up with this book. I don't believe that was for any other reason except God is asking me to slow down and think about the choices I make.

What am I learning? Here I am on Day 8. Am I applying what I'm learning to improve me personally, spiritually or physically? No, not really. Although, I have learned enough to know I can't fool God. Every step in my life is a choice and my choices are determining the quality of my journey.

None of my friends are as overweight as I am. But, when I think of the people I know that have healthy habits, the list is small. Now, if you're a friend of mine, please don't take this wrong. I definitely have friends who eat right and exercise regularly. Well, at least one does. Regular exercise is different than being active. Although I have learned that a short walk and a small healthy meal is much better than a full meal and no walk.

Here's my prayer for today.

Dear Heavenly Father,

Please help me! I'm not that dense. I understand what you're saying. Please help me to follow your commandments. Please help me get it - not just understand the words, but learn to live by them.

In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 7 of 21

Today's lesson was about praying. Pray in the morning, at night, and all through the day. Ask God every morning to give you the strength and wisdom to treat your body as the one-of-a-kind gift that it is.

Prayer asks, praise accepts the answer. Remember, we don't always get what we pray for, but we always get what we need.

Be anxious for nothing and pray about everything. Pray eyes-wide open.

Amen.

I'll be back...

Month-end's got ahold of me.

I didn't give up!

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 6 of 21

I don't like today's lesson at all. It's about procrastination and goals! Hmmm. I seem to have something backward. I always procrastinate and I never set goals. God help me. How am I going to get through this one?

Here's how to defeat procrastination! Pay less attention to the sacrifices made today and more attention to the rewards of tomorrow.

To quote Beth Moore "Measure the size of the obstacle against the size of God".

If not now, when?

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 5 of 21

Okay, I know it's been a few days. I was at the Creative Memories Showcase - an event not to be missed. Now back to work.

Here's what the message is today: consistent, regular exercise and having good health is more than only not being sick!

I remember when I did aerobics 3x/week. I not only looked better, I felt better mentally. When I used to go for walks/runs, I relieved the stress in my life. I wasn't trying to follow the Lord then, but I'm certain that if I put exercise back into my life, I will look better, feel better and become closer to God. That would pretty much take care of all my problems.

God's instructions are clear. He rewards wise behavior and punishes misbehavior. He gave me a good, whole body. I need to respect it.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 4 of 21

We live in a fast-food world where choices are convenient, inexpensive and tempting. It's also a digital world filled with modern conveniences that rob us of the physical exercise needed for healthy lifestyles.

There are no shortcuts. We have to make the right choices and do the work to live a healthy lifestyle. It's that simple. So, why is it so hard?

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 3 of 21

If you want to lose weight, don't go on a diet. Change your lifestyle! Moderation! It gets worse.

God's instructions are clear: if we seek to live wisely, we must be moderate in our appetites and disciplined in our behavior.

How am I going to do this??? By earnestly seeking it by turning my weaknesses over and asking God for strength.

Now for all of you who know me, you're probably thinking I've fallen into the deep end. I promise you, I have not. It's been a long time, but I'm pretty sure that if I lost weight I'd feel better, have more energy and look better. I've already proven that I can't do that alone, or on a diet. I'm trusting, by faith, that God will help me.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 2 of 21

Poor eating habits are easy to make and hard to break.

God has protected me in the past. There is no doubt in my mind that God has been protecting me my whole life. The one thing that stands out the most is when I got pregnant at 17 years old. In just 10 months, I got pregnant, my Mom died, I turned 18, my Dad died (six weeks after Mom died), I got married, I graduated from high school, I had my baby, I moved to MN. Being pregnant and in high school, living in CA without any parents, who knows what might have happened to me? God knew and he protected me. I have always believed that getting pregnant saved me. Strange, I know. But it made me make wiser choices and think about something else besides myself. My fun wasn't over, but I was much more responsible. After all, losing my parents made me realize that my son needed his parents. I had to grow up fast.

I also recall one answered prayer not too many years ago when I prayed for my son's safety. I pray for all my family and their health and safety, but this was specific, not general and God answered my prayer. Most of my prayers are not answered immediately, but they have been heard, not always answered with what I wanted, but with what God knew I needed - and when I needed it.

The point of these two stories is that they span more than 40 years and they're proof to me that God is everywhere, knows everything and is always with us.

I'm trusting Him to help me on this journey, especially when it's hard - that's when I need Him most. I've proven that I can't do it alone.

"Measure the size of the obstacles against the size of God." - Beth Moore

21 Days of Focus

Day 1 - When you form a deeper relationship with God, you can start establishing healthier habits, starting now.
Day 2 - Your journey toward improved health can be, and should be, a journey that you make with God.
Day 3 - It takes wisdom to be moderate; moderation is wisdom in action.
Day 4 - If you're not determined to be the master of your body…then you might just become a slave to your impulses.
Day 5 - Your exercise regimen should be sensible, enjoyable, safe, and consistent.
Day 6 - When it comes to food, fitness, or faith, the best moment to begin major improvements is the present moment.
Day 7 - If you're serious about improving your fitness or your faith, pray about it.
Day 8 - First you make choices…and soon those choices begin to shape your life. That's why you much make smart choices…or face the consequences of making dumb ones.
Day 9 - Fitness is a journey, not a destination. Achieving physical fitness - and maintaining it - is a seven-day-a-week assignment. If you don't make physical fitness a priority, your health will suffer.
Day 10 - Discipline matters. It takes discipline to strengthen your faith; it take discipline to improve your fitness.
Day 11 - God's Word has the power to change every aspect of your life, including your health.
Day 12 - God wants you to get enough rest. The world wants you to burn the candle at both ends. Trust God.
Day 13 - You're the human being whom God has entrusted with the responsibility of caring for your body. So it's always the right time to become proactive about your health.
Day 14 - God has a plan for your spiritual, physical, and emotional health.
Day 15 - You must guard your heart against addiction…or else.
Day 16 - Life is a balancing act. To improve your balance, consult your Heavenly Father many times each day.
Day 17 - When negative emotions threaten to hijack your day, lift your thoughts - and you prayers - to God.
Day 18 - Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, it's always the right time to take another step toward God.
Day 19 - For the journey through life, you need energy. The best source of energy, of course, is God. So if you're wise, you'll ask the Creator to energize you and guide you today and every day.
Day 20 - When you worship God with a sincere heart, He will guide your steps and bless your life.
Day 21 - God deserves first place in your life…and you deserve the experience of putting Him there.

Daily focus is from the book A 21 Day Journey to a New You - Food, Fitness, and Faith for Women.

Food, Fitness and Faith - Day 1 of 21

I picked up a book awhile back titled A 21 Day Journey to a New You - Food, Fitness, and Faith for Women. The book has 21 Biblically-based principles for achieving physical, spiritual and emotional health. Since I've already tried everything else, I figured I'd try this. After all, 21 days is an insignificant amount of time to change decades worth of bad habits.

I read an old saying today - "First, you make your habits, and then your habits make you." How true. Like almost everyone I know, what worked for me when I was a young lady, doesn't work now that I'm mature! I could elaborate on that, but I think you get my drift. I have never really taken care of myself, although there were years that I was in great shape - both physically and mentally (but never the at the same time), and now I'm paying the price. What has always been missing was my spiritual well-being.

My history as a Christian can be summed up like this: During my elementary school years I attended a Baptist church with my friend Judy. Her grandfather (if I recall right) was the minister. I remember going to VBS and still have some remnants of my time spent there. I also remember going to Unity by the Sea in Santa Monica and singing in the choir. My favorite song was "This is My Country". I learned that "Jesus loves the little children", but I really didn't know what being a Christian meant. I knew I wanted to be a Christian, but didn't know how. Then, about 10 years ago I searched, and found, God. I had been saved before, in the early sixties at the Los Angeles Coliseum during a Billy Graham Crusade. But, I expected some sort of noticeable difference in my life (without me doing anything different) and there wasn't one. I ran across Joyce Meyer on TV, then read the Left Behind series by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins, watched the Passion and began craving more knowledge and understanding. That led me to Oak Haven Church where I continue to learn how to be a good Christian.

My buddy Jack is amazed that after years of him trying to help me turn to Christ, I have actually done it. He says I always knew it was the right way because I had a solid foundation! So, that brings me back to my book.

Matthew 7:24 is about the sensible man who built his house on a rock and when the rain fell, the river rose, and the winds blew, his house still stood because its foundation was on a solid rock. So, Jack was partially right. I did have a foundation. I have always known God was real, but my foundation wasn't solid, it was very slippery.

I plan to spend the next 21 days changing that - it's really not optional at this point. I can be old and overweight if I want to, but it's not what God intended for my life. It's never too late to change, and so I'm trusting God to help me through this. If at first I don't succeed, I'll keep praying. He'll transform my life if I let Him.

During the next 21 days, I plan to establish good habits and change bad ones. Two good habits I plan to develop are to walk Grizz and drink more water every day. The bad habits I plan to change are no over-eating, no late-night eating, less eating out and going to bed earlier.

Today I choose to follow God's plan for my life. Faithfully, I believe He will help me if I let Him.

Three Amigos

Meet three of my grandsons. The Three Amigos are just one reason I LOVE to scrapbook and preserve precious memories. These boys are not only adorable, they are a part of me! They are lucky to have wonderful parents who tend to their everyday needs and also spend time at the city and county parades, rodeos, or whatever the celebration is - they get to participate. That is so important, but sadly, I have to admit, I didn't do that with my kids. It is undoubtedly one thing I wish I could change about my early parenting.

But, you can't go back. You can, however, make sure that your family knows that you love them and that they are important to you. Scrapbooking is one thing I like to do for the people I love and care about. Both my boys tease me about the time and money I invest in scrapbooking. But, I'm 100% sure that in the near future, they will look back at the things I've made and be so grateful that I took the time to celebrate the significance of our family. They'll have a permanent record of my love and my life will live on through my albums and gifts.

Everyone has memories to preserve. How are you ensuring your precious memories will be recorded for future generations to share?

Need help? Give me a call.
I can help you get started,
get caught up, get finished.
It's something I love to do
and something I love to share.
It's that important to me.


www.mycmsite.com/rondi
612-418-2845

And, that's NOT all I have to say about that!

MN ExPOW License Plates

Today on my way home from the cabin, I learned something new.

A car pulled out in front of me, which was disturbing because I was driving Dean's truck and pulling a trailer (something I don't usually do). Anyway, after I had to put on the brakes and the moron drove a couple miles at about half of the 55 mph speed limit (why he needed to pull out when he did is beyond me - he certainly wasn't in a hurry), I looked at the plates to see if the moron was from WI or MN. It turns out he was from MN, but it took me a minute to read the plates. I had never seen ExPOW plates before.

According to the 2003 Minnesota Code, Chapters 160 - 174A Transportation, Chapter 168 Vehicle Registration, Taxation, Sale Section 168.125, special license plates for former prisoners of war are issued free to any POW who also owns and registers a vehicle.

So, I learned today that MN has ExPOW plates, which I think is very cool and the least we can do for anyone who defended our Country, let alone an ExPOW.

But my real lesson today was that we never really know what anyone else is going, or has gone, through. I don't know if the driver was a moron, but I do know he's an ExPOW. I guess patience and judgement would be two things I really need to work on.

Be patient. Don't drive like hell; you'll get there. Save judging of others to those who are qualified to judge.

And, that's all I have to say about that.

RIP Kate Blesi

Today I attended the funeral of a friend, Kate Blesi (aka sleazy blesi). Kate was not sleazy, but it rhymed with Blesi, and therefore it was one of her nicknames.

Kate was smart and fun. She loved life; even before hers was shattered with a cancer diagnosis. She fought hard for 15 years. I'm sure there were many ups and downs during that time. But, never did Kate share her worries and let on how she felt. If you asked her how she was, she was always good. I do recall one conversation we had early on in the journey. She was on the operating table and heard the doctors saying "we losing her, we're losing her". And her response was "the hell you are!". That pretty much sums up how she lived with cancer.

In April, Kate retired from Medtronic after 34 years. I suspected it was due to her health, but she said it was because of changes at work that she wasn't thrilled about. I'm guessing that she hid from us the real truth, which may have been a little of both.

I met Kate about 25-30 years ago when I first started golfing at Greenhaven. We golfed and saw each other at JR's and other "events", and she also became one of the Breezy Babes. This picture was taken on one of the Breezy Babes weekends at Breezy Point. It was too nice to golf, so we rented a pontoon and spent the day on the lake. Kate didn't like having her picture taken, but I got this one and I like it because it shows her smile and she looks so relaxed and peaceful (which trips to Breezy were not).

Kate was pretty funny about some things. For example, none of us that she golfed with knew exactly how old she was. The obituary didn't have her birth date in it, the announcement at the funeral home showed the birth month and day, but no birth year. The Anoka Union, however, made a big mistake and listed her birth as Nov. 16, 1947. Kate was 63 years old.

So, now that you know a little about Kate, here's why I'm writing about her today:

Kate was a friend of mine, but in this modern day with all our technology (Internet, Facebook, email, cell phones, voicemail, etc.) I didn't know she was dying. I wish Kate would have told me (or any of the other girls). We could have been there for her. Most of the girls say Kate did it her way. I don't know that I believe that. Obviously she didn't tell us, but it's not so obvious to me that she wanted to do it without her friends knowing. Which made me think that I wasn't a very good friend to her; I should have known.

It's a fast, busy world. We work, play, sleep and then get up and do it again and again and again. We do what we have to do, some things we want to do, but we don't always take the time we should to be a true friend to our friends.

It makes me sad that I didn't get to tell Kate how much I cared about her. She may have wanted to do this her way, but I'd bet everything I have that she wouldn't have turned me away had I called her to say "hi, how are you?"

I'm going to focus on the people in my life; family and friends alike. There is no guarantee that we'll see them tomorrow, and hopefully, we won't ever have to fight cancer to know how precious our life is. If you love someone, tell them. If you have friends, check in on them every once in awhile. Maybe you don't have anything to say. But, maybe they do.

And, that's all I have to say about that.