Created to be Heard

Recently while engaging in physical therapy , I requested to be instructed by only the female therapist.  Due to a traumatic past , I  felt uncomfortable being physically guided by the young male therapist . At first I attempted to  uncomfortably strain through and ignore the deep anxiety that was surfacing inside me. After what seemed like an  eternity, I heard a voice inside me say,”you don’t have to be uncomfortable tell the therapist how you feel. ”

I chose to tell the female therapist that I preferred to only work with her. In that moment I didn’t provide a reason or justification for my request. . She honored my decision to only work with her. It felt empowering in that moment to make a direct request without having to give a justification .

Where in your life would you benefit from using your voice ? I believe we were given voices to express and empower ourselves! If it resonates with you ,I would love for you to leave me a comment about how you are using your voice or how you plan on using it.

New Adventures

List of new my New Adventures

*Carlee started 4th grade and is loving it ( She is now reading Grade level , Woo hoo Carlee)

* My niece is now a Kindergärtner ( where did the time go)

* Moving into a more accepting place regarding my grandmas death ( still miss her like crazy )

*Participated in Coachvilles Engage Tribal Super Hero Camp ( words of Deanna I receive the virtual award for most publicly transformed !)

*Became a LifeCoach (more on that coming soon, also feel free to ask me about it)

*Moving into a space of responding instead of reacting ( feels awesome)

* Am in When a Woman Finds her Voice lauch team ( Super excited about that!)

* Participated in Sundi Jo s promoting of her Awesome book Dear Dad ( A book that will Rock your soul)

I am pretty sure I missed some adventures , for now this is my list!

 

 

Journey to a healthier ME continued

I finally have a success to write about my journey to getting healthier, I lost 4 pounds Yay! I have also realized that I am human and its okay if I have a candy bar now and then. My husband bought me some mini Butterfinger bars perfect for my chocolate craving , without being enough to break my successful healthy lifestyle changes.

Honestly I have only made babysteps such as giving up soda and eating smaller portions. Also something I have been doing is making smoothies. Although I have found that I dont drink them near as frequent as I had originally planned.

Each day is a new day with room for success. I feel it is key to not knock myself down with self criticism which is so easy for me to do! Yes sometimes I have one too many mini candy-bars or perhaps (gasp) a bowl of icecream! Overall I am okay with my success and am going to continue to make small changes to improve my health!

My friend is doing great on her juice fast go check out her progress at http://aproverbs31wife.com/juicing-survival-tips/

Journey to a healthier ME

I have confessions to make! I cheated this week! I ate our Friday cheese stuffed garlic bacon pizza, I ate ice-cream  as well. Last night I ate grapes with my daughter , they were great,but afterwards I still wanted ice-cream. The great news is I didn’t eat it.

This week I must continue to change my ways and not revert to old patterns if I ever expect to get healthy.  As the saying goes Insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Sure I stopped soda and yes I expected a miracle to happen.

I have come to the conclusion that this getting healthy thing will not be easy . I can do all things through Christ and that is what I must repeat to myself in times of temptation instead of just merely giving in to my flesh which loves food and sugar!

My weight has not changed . I am still at a depressing weight of 202. My habits must change to see any results or I will just remain in the I wish stage. The I wish stage is not where I want to be.

On a positive note my friend has lost five pounds. Unlike me she has not cheated and done the hard work and its starting to pay off ! Go check out her progress http://aproverbs31wife.com/whole-foods-and-juicing-week-1/?fb_source=pubv1

My goals for the week: Replace two meals a day with my blended veggies and fruit. Wake up in the morning and stay up instead of covering my head back up after getting up in the morning to get my daughter and husband off to work and school.

Journey to a healthier ME part 2

I have successfully quit drinking soda. Replacing my soda is Tea , and yes I do put sugar in it.  I will gradually reduce the amount of sugar I add to my tea.

Sunday I took a thirty minute walk with my family, on the way back from the walk I realized thirty minutes is too long. First clue that it was too long was the excruciating pain in my lower back. Its been nine months since I fractured my spine but things still take a toll on it.

Yesterday for exercise I babysat my four-year old niece, two-year old nephew and also my almost one year old nephew. That was plenty of moving to last probably the whole month , just kidding.

I have cheated on my getting healthy journey , I had ice cream a couple of times.

The great thing about the journey so far is I am drinking more water .

Dont forget to check on my friends progress http://aproverbs31wife.com/day-4-on-the-reboot-plan/

Journey to a healthier ME

Last week I was talking with a friend of mine who invited me to push the reset button for my health with her. It sounded like a great idea to have someone on the journey with me and accountability is always a great idea. She is blogging about her adventure over at her blog, along with a few others which I will leave the link for at the end of my post.

My first change is giving up SODA ! I have been an avid soda drinker for many years, although last year I did give it up for awhile. The stress of having my Grandma in the hospital led me to pick up soda again. I have realized now that I will have stress and need to combat it with something different than soda!

Excuses have been an ally of mine for way too long. Some of my best excuses have been :

1. I hurt my back and there is nothing I can do about it.

2. Giving up soda will give me a headache

3. Too tired

4. It is too hard and will take too long to lose the weight

My starting weight is 202 . Hopefully as the weeks pass , I can report progress back here. Feel free to leave your blog address and join me on this journey. If you don’t have a blog , feel free to leave comments about the changes you have made to be a healthier YOU!   Link to my friends blog who is joining me http://aproverbs31wife.com/the-reset-button-for-healthy-living/

THE BLOOD DONE SIGNED MY NAME ~ Melissa Ann Ricks

About the book

Are the sins of the mother and father visited upon by their own sons and daughters?

Undoubtedly damaged , Honey Lamb, like many, is a descendant of an unfortunate legacy of molestation, addiction,murder and bad decisions. For as long as she could remember she believed the unhappiness  she experienced was somehow bequeathed to her. The blood that surged through her veins seemed to be tainted and she often wondered about the DNA she possessed. Experiencing more than her share of misery at the hands of her mother , an alcoholic ,the source of her woes . Honey believed she had overcome her seemingly checkered path all by herself, when she met and married Mason; a man she loves beyond her own understanding. Unfortunately unsettling memories emerge ,to crack the veneer of her seemingly happy existence. Feeling unable to escape what she believed to be her destiny ,Honey makes a decision that may have ruined her life. Not realizing God places people in our lives for His purpose, she reluctantly embarks upon a journey that will open her heart to a divine inheritance. Will she accept what God has already given to her , or  will she shun the invitation of salvation and allow her familial carnal legacy continue to the next generation ? Will she come to understand that Jesus s blood redeemed us from a self-defeating existence because he became the sinful inheritance for us , while at the same time eradicating it forever , giving us a spiritual blood transfusion that would change us all?

About the author

M. Ann Ricks (Melissa Ann Ricks)  , is a  Christian fiction novelist residing in Bear ,  Delaware with her excellent husband and two awesome sons. She is a graduate of Rider University  and formerly a national accounts insurance executive.  Using Jesus Christ as her example , as He shared many parables , she creates  stories with fictional characters that contend with real life issues and inserts the word of God to communicate the genuine and un failing love of God , while making it abundantly clear  that Jesus is the ONLY answer. M. Ann is determined to tell the world how wonderfully awesome Jesus  Christ is and can be in our lives if we just allow him to be.  She is honored to be used by God to spread his message with stories she creates with the leading of the Holyspirit, knowing that he will provide her with stories and words that will lift up the name of Jesus as he is promised that if he is lifted up , He will draw all men to Him.

M.Ann is also what we would consider  a motivational /inspirational speaker , but she prefers the term” Godspirational”  as one may only be truly inspired ,transformed and receive true revelation when hearing the uncompromised word of GOd. M. Ann also constantly continues to use her group insurance knowledge as a Benefits and Network Consultant . Lastly M.Ann is a group fitness instructor as she is determined to keep her natural temple fit and ready for the Masters use !  M.Ann is the author of Awesome Wonder : the gift of remembrance , The Son , the much acclaimed ,third novel, THE BLOOD DONE SIGNED MY NAME

PROLOGUE

Northern, Italy 1918

 He He hadn’t washed in weeks. The country side was crawling with “Kraut” and all he could think about was the full lips that said his name with uninhibited desire.  She made him feel invincible and he needed to believe he was.  He would have done anything to have and keep her .

Those eyes …

She moved over him like a cunning feline. Under her spell he promised he would keep her brother Tanner quiet about everything. He had no idea how he was going  to silence the man who had become his friend , but he wasn’t going to let anyone ruin their plans. As he walked back their campfire after visiting a makeshift Latrine , his thoughts took him back to their night together.  Intoxicated by the cheap wine he agreed to the pact . She was beautiful , strong and most of all determined. He wanted to believe that they would have a good life once this useless war was over.  After settling in the muddy trench , he saw something imperceptibly move.  Italy could have been a beautiful place if it hadn’t been for this God forsaken war, he thought rubbing his eyes. He was unbelievably fatigued , so much that the foliage seemed to be moving by itself. He closed his eyes and opened them again to focus. Was there someone or something out there? He couldn’t wait until he was back in the U.S of A. More importantly he couldn’t wait to be with her.  He could still smell her. She was a vision a sweet .. temptress.

Author Website  http://www.mannricks.net

Email godsauthor@mannricks.net

Facebook author page https://www.facebook.com/pages/M-Ann-Ricks-Literary-Creations-Author-Melissa-Ann-Ricks/33259926513?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/pages/M-Ann-Ricks-Literary-Creations-Author-Melissa-Ann-Ricks/33259926513

Crowned by the King ~wear and share Gods Love

I recently was able to experience two very awesome crowned by the king moments! Before I share details of my experiences , I wanted to introduce you to the ministry that helped make this possible.  The ministry is called Crowned by the King. It makes sharing Gods love fun, easy and memorable.  Here are a few simple steps to help you share Gods crowning moments with those in your life.  You may  read on the Crowned by the King website to see for yourself how the ministry works. You purchase the ministry kit and the best part is you wear the beautiful necklace symbolizing Gods love around your neck. There are various ways to give women their own crowning moment.  Whether it is a family member or a friend God lies on your heart , you can be sure you are impacting women’s lives. I believe we as women need this tangible reminder of Gods deep love for us and that we are truly his beloved princesses.

I am excited to share my crowned by the King experiences with you.  As a part of the Cwa review crew I received two necklaces.  I was ecstatic when my two necklaces arrived in the mail. As I marvelled at not only the meaning of the necklaces , but the sheer beauty of them, I began to pray for Jesus to reveal the perfect recipient for a crowned moment.  I honestly didn’t realize that the first one to receive the crowned moment from the necklace would be me.  I was having an emotional day and desired to escape from my problems in an unhealthy way, then my crowned moment arrived. I glanced down at my crown necklace and the holy-spirit  pressed upon my heart telling me that I am beautiful, worthy and crowned a royal princess. At that moment I picked up my head and said yes I am Gods princess and I don’t have to give in to my flesh in this manner.

After pondering and praying upon who to give the second necklace to, I finally knew who would benefit greatly. I didn’t have to go farther than my own home. It was to be my eight year old daughter. My daughter is educationally diagnosed with autism. She had come home and told me that a child was telling her she was in the stupid class. I reassured her that she is beautiful and was not stupid.  A few days after the incidence , I called my daughter into the living room telling her I had something to read to her and after I was done reading I had a present for her. The book I read was one with letters to little princesses from God. Then I gave my beautiful daughter her necklace and told her that she is Gods princess . I could see the delight in my daughters eyes as she looked down at her very own princess crown. I pray that when I can’t be with her to offer her reassurance that wearing the crown around her neck will be a tangible reminder of who she is through Jesus!  

godsprincess2012’s photostream

godsprincess2012’s photostream on Flickr.

Spice up your life

As I was sitting here attempting to write this post on how to add spice to your life, I was interrupted by a frustrated husband who needed my help with something. My husbands’  issue was he could not get the back door to open . He needed me to shine a flash-light in the door crevice, so he could take it apart to open it. While we were diligently working on the door knob something amazing happened in our open garage and driveway. Our daughter for the first time ever, rode her bike without training wheels! We cheered for her as she victoriously rode her bike with confidence. In that precious moment, I realized it’s these small beautiful things that make my life full of spice. It’s being able to stand beside my husband shining a light into the dark places that adds spice. Its life’s little moments that add flavor and zest to my life .  As I sit here basking in my aha moment about spice , I remember another time when spice was unexpectedly found inside of a sterile Intensive care hospital room. Come along with me back to that unexpected day, in which I experienced spice amidst sorrow!

My Sister and I arrived at the cardiac intensive care unit to visit our Grandma who was very sick. In our hearts we knew time was growing short and soon Grandma would be leaving this world.  Fighting to hold back tears we entered her hospital room . It was traumatic to see our loved one hooked to so many tubes . Besides being hooked to various tubes Grandma also had a feeding tube and a naso gastric tube in her nose. Also she was hooked to a ventilator to basically breathe for her. Her blood was being filtered through a continuous dialysis machine. Despite all the tubes and sterile environment , I wanted to bring Grandma some sort of hope and comfort.  Music usually helps me , so I played some inspirational songs that I knew Grandma liked. Then I remembered she loves Neal McCoy. After doing a you-tube search of the artist , I came up with the song The Shake!  Grandmas eyes Lit up and when the lyrics of the song  sang: Shake it to the left , Shake  it to the right ,Come on baby you know what I like , Shake it real funky , shake it real low, Shake it til you can’t shake it no more , It’s a natural attraction mother nature wouldn’t make a mistake, What really turns me on is the shake . Not only did her eyes light up but she shook her head with  The Shake. I saw both nasal tubes shaking along with her in that moment she was adding spice to my life that I will never forget.  I want to leave you today with this song in hopes that you will do the shake to add some spice to your life ! htW4p15BqvRhcww.youtube.com/watch?v=W4p15BqvRhc