Live Life Fearlessly

Today, I am reminded of the goal I made for myself this year. The word I chose to live by in 2016 is "FEARLESS." It comes from Psalm 27:1-3.

The Lord is my light and my salvation

- whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life

- of whom shall I be afraid?

When the wicked advance against me to devour me,

it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall.

Though an army besiege me, 

my heart will not fear;

though war break out against me, 

even then I will be confident.

Sometimes our enemies are not the people around us, but ourselves. Our fear controls us and keep us from living the life we want to live because we are afraid of what might happen. I need to constantly remind myself to look to God and pray that he give me the strength and the courage to overcome my fears, and with Him, I will be confident. 

After making this my goal, and reflecting often on what it means in my life, I have already seen a growth within myself and in my confidence. I have attempted things that once paralyzed me in fear and that I would have never done, but that have to be done in order to achieve my dreams. I have accepted that I will makes lots of mistakes before I am successful, and that's okay. I will look at what I can learn from them and grow into a person that refuses to let her fear control and limit her. That's the person I want to be!

This morning, as I drink my cup of coffee, I think about how my life is getting ready to change.  Sometime over the next week, our family is going to be growing from three to four. We'll have to establish new routines, new behaviors, and new expectations for how things are going to get done on a daily basis.  I'm also going to have to find a way to keep working on my goals of growing my coaching business through all of the feedings, sleepless nights, and diaper changes that come with having a newborn baby (naps and late night feedings, perhaps?). Change happens when we work hard CONSISTENTLY, and I am determined to find a way to make it all work rather than letting my fear control me and giving in to it!

What's one word you want to live by in 2016?

5 Ways to Reward Yourself Without Food

Food isn’t the only thing we need to consider when making healthy choices. We also need to take the time to prioritize ourselves so we can have a healthy mind, soul, and body.  Instead, reward yourself with something that adds value to your life. When you take some time for yourself, it is not the same thing as procrastination or slacking off. It’s so much better because it allows you the time that your body needs to recharge, so you can be a better person for your family and your friends.

1. “You Time”…Guilt-Free!

How often do any of us take that kind of time for ourselves? Probably not as often as we should. It can be very hard to step away from our other priorities for a little while and focus on ourselves.  We’re often plagued with guilt because we feel like other things are more important than we are, and we’re not always worth taking the time. We need to stop thinking that we’re not worth it and make ourselves a priority too. Whatever you decide to do, make sure it’s something that you really want to do to make the time feel worth it.  Take at least 30 minutes a few times a week to do something just for you with no interruptions. Read a book, listen to music, go for a walk (by yourself!), watch a movie. Do what makes you YOU because that’s the person that everyone is attracted to!

2. Pamper Yourself

Sometimes we just need to feel good by taking care of our body in ways other than our fitness and nutrition.  Here are a few ideas:

• A massage.
• A new body scrub, bubble bath, or bath salts.
• A new haircut or color.
• A manicure or pedicure.

3. Try a New Experience

Gift yourself with an experience that you’ve never done before. Rewarding yourself with something that adds excitement or interest to your life makes your life feel more enjoyable and provides you with memories you won’t soon forget.

Some ideas:

• Try a new type of workout (have you ever tried Zumba? Pilates? Swimming?)
• Explore places you’ve driven past but have never gone to.
• Go to a museum or tourist attraction.
• Take a day or weekend trip with friends or your partner.

4. Shopping

How could I write about this without including one of my favorite things? I love shopping, and when I buy something new for myself, as a reward for all of the hard work I’ve put into a fitness goal I’ve finally achieved, it gives me more motivation to create new goals, keep moving forward, and push myself to do new things I’ve never tried before. Create a short-term SMART goal – something you can achieve in 90 days or less – and decide what you’re going buy once you’ve completed your goal.  For me, it’s usually a new workout outfit or a new pair of shoes, but it could anything that gets you pumped to work harder and keep going!

5. Do something you couldn’t do before

What can you do now that you couldn’t do before you started your health fitness journey? Or what is something you want to do once you’ve reached your goal? Fit into a roller coaster seat? Go bungee jumping? Play all morning with your children? Go to an adventure park? Run a 5k without stopping? Shop in regular-sized clothing stores instead of special plus-sized stores? Do it, and do it in style. You will feel so much accomplishment by remembering how far you’ve come and the experience will be that much more enjoyable!

What’s your favorite way to reward yourself?

Berryworks Shakeology

My body was craving something nutritious and this was the perfect drink to complement the Independence Day festivities this weekend!  It's jam packed with all of the superfoods and the vitamins and nutrients I need for the day, and has great flavor too!

Berryworks Shakeology

1 scoop strawberry protein powder

1 cup fresh or frozen berries (I used raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries)

1 cup milk 

Ice and water to taste

Blend and serve.

What is your favorite berry to eat or blend in your drink?

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

Summer is the perfect time to make cool and refreshing snacks to take to a family gathering. Recently I went to a graduation party and remembered this! I made cucumber salsa last summer and it was such a big hit they asked me to make it again! I adapted it the second time by leaving the jalapeno seeds in to give it a little kick.

This snack is crisp, light, and less than 20 calories per serving (excluding tortilla chips).  It's also quick and easy to prepare. Simply chop the vegetables, take out the seeds, mix together all of the ingredients and serve.  Each time I have made this recipe, everyone has raved about it.

What's your favorite summertime snack?

Our Mission

For the love of the game! Our mission at my church is:

Loving Jesus

Loving Others

Proving it

The Lord is about love, always. Loving others fiercely and showing them Jesus. He is also about truth, and unveiling it to others through kindness. I show my love for the Lord through the little things every day...a smile, a wave, hugs to my students, thoughtful words, making an effort to truly listen to others, and yes, play softball with my husband. 

God is everywhere, not just in a church.

What do you do in your everyday life that leads you back to God?