Live Well: Let'em Eat Cake

Well today I turned the big 2-7!! I can hear 30 beginning to knock on my door. Jeez where has time gone. It seems like yesterday I was celebrating my 21st birthday. Oh well. So we need to talk about nutrition right? I don't want to brag but I will be having some cake today. My friend and co-worker, Nicki, baked me a homemade lemon pound cake with lemon icing. I can hear it calling my name as I type!! I would like to say thanks to my Mom for the story that she wrote on her blog about my birthday. What an incredible woman God gave to me as my Mother and friend!

So where am I in my goals? I have dropped 2 more pounds. I am totally excited about that but what I am excited about most is the transformation in my body from doing pilates. I am beginning to see my legs slim down especially my thighs as well as my stomach tighten. I don't know about you but I inspect my body each morning before and after I shower. I am even seeing results in my gluts!! Now, I have accepted the fact that I will always have a butt and I am okay with that. I think it is just part of who and what God made me to be. Beyonce, You ain't got nothing on me sistah. I am "Bootylicious!"

I have seen a change in my attitude as well. I know that this is due to my devotions each morning. Spending time with God first thing in the morning has made a huge difference in how I approach the rest of my day. I smile a lot more and where people used to aggravate me to death it now just rolls off my back. Don't get me wrong I speak my mind A LOT and working with the public I find myself saying more than I probably should but at least my tone has changed! Ha!!! My co-workers have noticed the change in me as well. Last week I was dancing and singing in our showroom and one of our outside salesman smiled and said "What are you doing?" Nicki has also said to me "Don't stop what you're doing in the mornings. I like you a lot better this way. It is fun for me!" It is nice when people notice changes in you. And what is better is that my body is changing but so is my spirit.

As I continue the rest of my day I will eat my cake and have some other foods that I have been craving. Tomorrow will bring another day and I will begin again on my journey of healthy living and relying on the strength of my Heavenly Father to do so. I did not post a "Scoop" yesterday but I have a song that I would like to share. I heard it for the first time Sunday morning as I sat in church. We have a Contemporary service where we sing a lot of praise songs. This one was a new for all of us. We sang it before the sermon as well as during the Invitation. The sermon was about finding God in times of crisis. A point that was brought up is very familiar to me and my life lately. It is when we are in the Valley of life that God grows us. As I sang this song for the second time I felt tears rolling down my cheeks. It really spoke to me. It is a reminder that God loves us despite our imperfections, failures, sinful ways, and the hard things that life throws our way. He paid the ultimate price for us and rewards us with a life in Heaven with him.

HOW DEEP THE FATHER’S LOVE FOR US

How vast beyond all measure,

That He should give His only Son To make a wretch His treasure.

How great the pain of searing loss –The Father turns His face away,

As wounds which mar the Chosen One Bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross,My sin upon His shoulders;

Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice Call out among the scoffers.

It was my sin that held Him there Until it was accomplished;

His dying breath has brought me life –I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything,

No gifts, no power, no wisdom;

But I will boast in Jesus Christ,His death and resurrection.

Why should I gain from His reward?I cannot give an answer;

But this I know with all my heart –His wounds have paid my ransom.

Stuart Townend.