Easter Weekend

Well, 2010 Easter has came and went, and yet, it was another holiday that I didn't take any pictures. I wish I was more of a picture taker so I could hold memories in my hand rather than in my mind. Maybe one day. I just hope it's before I have kids because if not, I'm afraid we won't have any pictures of them! :/


Our Easter weekend started early on Good Friday. Both Brandon and I had the day off, and we enjoyed it by sleeping in and going to Springfield to do some shopping later on that evening. 


On Saturday, I got up at a decent hour and conducted my weekly Saturday chores. I had to get up and a decent hour because we had plans with my Mom's family later on. We left our house (with Chester!!!) at around 1pm and got to my Grandmas about an hour later. We had great food, great fun, and great laughter! 


On Sunday, Brandon and I went to church! I know I go on and on about us and church, but church and our spiritual relationship is something that is immensely important to me. So, please put up with my ramblings once again. We've talked and talked about going to church. Here lately, I've been so sick of just talking about it;  I wanted to experience going to church once again rather than just talk about going. In one of my posts, I revealed how I became enlightened and God answered my year-long prayer. For those who don't know, I began praying to God to give me an answer about church. I grew up Church of Christ for 20 years. However, I never "felt" anything by worshipping at that type of church. I went to several different Churches of Christ and not once did I feel the Holy Spirit fill up my soul. I knew I was supposed to be filled up and thought if I studied harder that the Spirit would fill my soul, but I was wrong. For reasons I won't go into right now (because it would make this post LONGER than it should be), I stopped attending church. After going to different denominations with friends and family members, I finally did feel the Spirit fill my soul! Because of that feeling, I knew from then on that I needed to pray to God to answer a question, "Should I go to the Church of Christ just to satisfy my parents or should I seek elsewhere to satisfy my soul?" After a year of praying hard for strength, knowledge, and acceptance, my prayers were answered. God allowed my heart and soul to have relief and to know that I should seek a church where I can call home and where Brandon and I can build a strong relationship with God. To wrap things up... We ended up attending the First Free Will Baptist Church. It was amazing. I loved how passionate everyone was about worshipping God, Jesus, and the Spirit. Since we went on Easter Sunday, I know the service was a little different than what it normally is; therefore, I can't wait to go back next Sunday! 


Today has been a lazy day here at the Reeds'. I spent all day in my pajamas, as planned! ;) Brandon and I watched the movie 'Sherlock Holmes', and I must say, it was rather good! I highly recommend it to everyone! After the movie, Brandon got around and mowed the yard. It was really needing it, but now, it's lookin' good! While Brandon was mowing the yard, I made dinner, and now we are watching the NCAA college basketball game between Duke and Butler. I haven't really been into college basketball this year. It's probably because my bracket fell completely apart, as it did for so many others, after the 2nd round. 

I hope everyone has a great week! GOD BLESS! 

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

I'm coming to you once again, Father. I'm coming to you last when I should have came to you first. Please forgive me for thinking of you last. However, Father, that is not the real reason why I'm coming to you. I'm coming to you tonight, Father, for guidance, strength, and comfort in my personal life and career life.

There are things in my life of which I need to change. I realize this. This is why I'm asking for some guidance from you right now. I need guidance as I'm trying to steer myself out of this rut. My actions, and more or less how I handle situations, are not the healthiest for myself as an individual, as a wife, as a friend, as a daughter, and as an SLP. When things become a little too sticky for me to handle, I bottle it up inside without telling a soul. I know this is wrong. I know I should talk with you and my husband about situations, but my personality tries to prevent me from it. Guide me, Father, in making sound decisions that will allow me to open up to you, my husband, my family, my friends, and my co-workers better. Guide me, please. Guide me.

While in this rut, I feel weak. This is why I'm asking for strength from you, Father. I'm feeling weak because of 1. the lack of communication on my part; 2. the lack of standing up for myself; and 3. the lack of confidence in my decisions. Give me strength, Father, to be a better communicator to all that I encounter. Give me strength, Father, to stand up for myself and to let my voice/opinion be heard. Give me strength, Father, to make sound decisions that will allow me (the individual), me (the spiritual follower), me (the wife), me (the family member), me (the friend), me (the employee) and my physical/spiritual family to move forward in a positive direction. Give me strength, Father. Give me strength.  

My heart and spirit has been broken here lately, Father. This is why I'm bowing myself before you asking for comfort. Please comfort my heart and spirit in such a way that will mend both of them and allow me to move forward in a positive direction. Please comfort me, Father. Please, please, please provide me comfort.

Please, God, hear my plea and answer my prayer.

In Jesus Christ's name, AMEN!

Weight Loss Challenge

I've been using www.sparkpeople.com now for a solid week. I tried to stick to the recommended calorie/carb/fat/protein intake (it didn't always happen) and only worked out 2 days. I ended up losing a 1/2 lb during that one week of dieting! I couldn't believe it! :) This may actually work! I'm going to continue to work hard, stick (or try harder) to my nutrition recommendations, work out 4 days/week, and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I CAN DO THIS!  I KNOW I CAN!  I'm not going to give up either because I've felt better within this past week than I have all year. Since losing the 1/2 lb, I have 19 1/2 lbs to go! :) Good night and GOD BLESS!

Workouts and Neti Pots

Life for me has been a little crazy and tiring lately, and I don't know why! Brandon and I joined the local YMCA Wednesday, and I completed my first workout since the end of summer. I knew not to go all out, so I just walked for a mile. I changed my incline and speed accordingly, and the workout went well! I wasn't sore the next morning, which was my goal! Even though I was feeling great from working out, the next morning, I woke up feeling not-so-great. I woke up feeling a little bit of sinus pressure on both sides of my nose. I knew it was only going to get worse, and it did! By the end of the day, I felt (and probably looked) like crap! I ended up going to bed early that night, but before I went to bed, I used our Neti Pot. 

This is the Neti Pot I have. I got it at Wal-Mart for approx. $15. 

Neti Pots are designed to clear out all the junk in your nose and sinuses. All you have to do is mix the Sinus Rinse powder in the Neti Pot with 8 oz of water. Shake and pour solution into one nostril. You need to tilt your head so that the solution will pour out the other nostril. After pouring half the solution down one nostril, blow your nose, and pour the remaining solution down the other nostril. 

I swear by Neti Pots! They are amazing! My Neti Pot has helped my sinuses and allergies to the extent that I can feel, hear, and smell immediate results. 

Hopefully, my sinuses will clear up soon because I'm tired of feeling this way. GOD BLESS!

Sparkin' It Up!

A great friend, co-worker, and neighbor of mine shared with me a great little website that helps a person lose weight and get healthy. The website is www.sparkpeople.com. This website helps you track the exact calories, fat, etc. of every food that you eat every day. It also will track your workouts, water intake, gives recipes, etc. This website is absolutely amazing! I encourage everyone to check it out!

I'm really trying to focus and stay on track with the number of calories they "advise" me to eat. I want to lose weight, but I know eating healthy is not going to do everything for me. Really, the best and only way I lose weight is if I run and lift weights.

Knowing that, tomorrow, Brandon and I are going to the local YMCA and joining. I can't wait! It's been way too long since I last worked out. I truly do love working out. I love the overall tension and stress reliever. I love the feeling after working out. I love the feel of sweating. I know. It's gross, but I love it. Good Night and GOD BLESS!

Simple Pleasures and Prayer

Like others before, I am divulging into the Simple Pleasures blog. I believe this is a good blog (otherwise, I wouldn't partake in it) because it allows us to shrug away complications and focus on good, basic, simple things in life that make life a little better.

These are the Simple Pleasures of my life:

A Clean House

Crawling Into Clean Sheets After Taking a Shower

The Smell of Freshly Cut Grass

A Good Cup of Coffee

A Hot Relaxing Bubble Bath

Getting My Hair Done

Giving and Receiving Hugs

Taking a Long Walk on a Breezy Summer Night

The Smell of Honeysuckle

Swinging On a Porch Swing

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Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for being with my family during this difficult time and showing us our path that we are needing to take. Thank you for the strength and comfort that you have given us during this time. Please continue to provide us strength and comfort for we are still trying to heal.

Father, please be with Brandon and I as we are still going through the process of finding our church home. Please continue to give us the will, patience, and knowledge while we strengthen our spiritual relationship with you.

Please be with the Senators, Representatives, and President of the United States Government that they may lead our country in a positive direction.

Please be with and watch over the people in Haiti as they try to recover from the destructive earthquake.

Thank you for allowing your son to die upon the cross so that one day we may have a home with you in Heaven. I realize this was the ultimate sacrifice, but a sacrifice that you made for everyone.

God, please be with me as I am going back into my regular routine. Give me the strength to continue on. Today was very difficult for me, LORD. I didn't know it was going to be this hard, but I knew I couldn't go back home. The one thing that allows me to continue on is knowing that my Grandpa is with you in Heaven!

Please be with my Grandma as she adjusts and heals. She needs you now more than ever.

In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.

Indication of the New Year? I Hope and Pray Not!

It's official. I'm doing HORRIBLE at my resolutions! Ten days into the new year, and I haven't begun my resolutions! I feel like such a slacker!

We didn't go to church today. I felt so horrible about not going this morning that I sat and cried on the couch. This IS supposed to be the year that we begin our spiritual journey together. How are we supposed to begin our journey if we haven't taken 1 step out the door?!?

If I want to throw out an excuse for not going, the excuse would be us not being able to fall asleep til after 3 am. Tossing and turning. I didn't sleep very well, or very long for that fact.

Every single day over the Christmas Break, we stayed up late and slept in. Once the ten day break was over, snow came in and caused the surrounding school districts to close down. So, what did we continue to do? Stay up late and sleep in. We're able to do this because: 1. We both work for school districts; and 2. We don't have kids.

Tomorrow, I go back to work and can't wait! This routine of staying up late and sleeping in will finally stop.

We plan on going to church this coming Sunday. I pray that we stop the excuses, get our butts out of bed, and go to church!

Resolution #1: Church

Tomorrow is Sunday. Usually, I wouldn't have thought twice about it being Sunday; however, Brandon and I will be going to church tomorrow for the first time in 2 1/2 years. I'm really excited about it. I miss having a spiritual family that I can depend on. I also want Brandon and I to grow together spiritually. Mine and Brandon's relationship is strong, but I know it could and would be stronger with GOD on our side.

The church I grew up in, with my parents, is a Church of Christ. I went to a Church of Christ, regularly, for 22 years. The entire 22 years, I never felt a closeness to GOD. I never felt that connection. Sure, I went through the "motions" (Yes, motions because that's what they were; actions that were being conducted without a connection). Because I went through the motions, I feel in my heart that I have sinned against GOD and Jesus for making a mockery of them, their foundations, etc. I want to make this right so badly.

During the time that I haven't went to church (regularly), I have went to other churches, besides that of Church of Christ. In those churches, I have felt a closeness, even for the brief duration that I was there. Therefore, I know it exists, and I know that I can have that close relationship with GOD! :)

Tomorrow, Brandon and I plan to go to a church that is close to our home. There are a few churches, here in our town, that we have considered attending to, in so many words, "try-out". I am really excited about going to church. I don't think I have felt this excited about going to church ever. Maybe this is what I needed. Maybe I needed to disconnect myself with going to church to really evaluate my feelings about church and GOD because now, I feel stronger than ever about going to church!

While Brandon and I go through this journey of finding a church that we can call home and worship GOD accordingly, please pray for us. Pray for our strength through this journey. Pray that we find a church that is strong in their beliefs and stand up for what is right. Pray that the church family we do find that they help us to grow as individuals and as a couple. I know , but please, just pray for us. GOD BLESS!

New Year's Resolution

I know it's a few days after New Year's Day, but I decided to go ahead and post my New Year's Resolutions. For all of my resolutions, I've given myself a due date. This way, I'm keeping tabs on my resolutions and will more likely accomplish/complete them if given a due date.

1. Strengthen my relationship with GOD and my faith.

I used to go to church regularly; however, several things have happened, which made me decide to, so to speak, "put a hold on church". I miss going to church and having a relationship with GOD. I realize I can have a relationship with GOD without going to church, but I want a better relationship with GOD and a relationship with people who have the same beliefs, values, and morals that I do.

Due Date: 3/31/10

2. Start and maintain a workout routine.

I used to workout regularly and be in great shape. We lived at this apartment complex that has gym that we could use for free. Then we moved to a different city. This town does have a YMCA, but for some reason or another, we have yet to join the "Y". We've lived here for 6 months now, and after 6 months of ZERO exercise, I've gained weight. Therefore, we (my husband and I) are joining the local "Y" and gaining control over our health!

Due Date: 3/31/10

3. Run in 2 5ks.

I've always wanted to run in 5ks for fun but never have. Therefore, THIS IS THE YEAR THAT I'M GOING TO DO IT! Now, I just need to find someone to run with me. Hmmmmm...

Due Date: 11/30/10

4. Complete P90X.

I've seen this workout on tv several times, and I believe P90X to be a true, hard workout that will give you results. Now, I'm only going to start P90X once I've established a good workout routine and after I get into better shape.

Due Date: 8/30/10