Excited for New Beginnings!

Happy New Year Everyone!
   Today is the 2nd day of the New Year, and I am feeling more energized and on fire for God & my new path. I listened & was still, and realized God has been calling me...waiting & wanting my attention, and I heard it. I am starving for HIM in my heart & life. I have been munching on all human ways of life, and it's left me with a terribly upset stomach. Once I accepted that God NEEDS to be my 1st in all aspects, I have been doing much better. I realized I was looking for happiness in all the wrong places. If I turn my eyes to HIM, he will fill all the emptiness in my life. HE will open doors that I couldn't even imagine, I am so excited to get to know HIM again, and trust, and believe, and know...REALLY KNOW, I am putty in HIS hands and he will mold me and place me where HE wants me! So a little update...today Alicia & I accompanied my parents to The Bridge Church in RSM,CA...it's a "foursquare church." if you're interested in knowing more about that go to http://www.foursquarechurch.org/

 this is their mission, "The Foursquare Church exists to glorify God and advance His kingdom. Jesus Christ's command is to preach the gospel and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19). Therefore, we are "Dedicated unto the cause of inter-denominational and worldwide evangelism."* These words express our spirit and our focus.

Our call is to preach Jesus Christ, God's Son, as the Savior, Baptizer with the Holy Spirit, Healer and coming King. Our assignment is to develop healthy, growing churches. Our commitment is to plant national churches around the world led by loving servants of Jesus Christ. Churches developed in this manner will reproduce again and again. This makes possible the spread of the gospel to those who have not heard or accepted the message of God's Son.

if you visit their site it talks about the meaning behind their name etc...very inviting to me. I love expanding my faith past the views of Saddleback Church. I am eternally thankful & grateful to Pastor Rick Warren, and the other Pastors that lead me to holy water, and to be saved through Jesus Christ. It will always be my home, but it's time for me to move on & experience other types of worship & fellowship on a deeper level. So speaking of "Sunday school" for Alicia...she attended the "2's & 3's" class. The teachers names were Rosie & Sean, very inviting, and Alicia took to them well. They were very understanding that Alicia had never experienced a daycare/babysitter setting, so they were flexible & open to us (the parents) staying & helping get her familiar with the setting. I was pleased. Alicia conquered larger milestones than I expected she would on her first try...she didn't cry when she saw Sean (she normally always does around men that are strangers), she willingly entered the room & wanted to play, she was okay with just Papa in there (normally she needs approval from Mommy/Grandma/Daddy/etc...too), she let me fill out paper work & never asked for me or cried, she was engaging & interacting with other kids, I was able to go into service, and no hang-ups....all HUGE steps for her, I was a proud Mommy to say the least. I do know that Papa stayed with her the whole time....but he said she played with others, and only looked back to make sure he was there, and asked for me maybe twice....so assuming we go more often maybe in 2-3 more times she will feel secure enough to enjoy Sunday School without a parent/guardian in there. Which is a HUGE deal, never thought it would go so smooth...so keeping my fingers crossed! God is showing the impossible is possible!

So as for my weight loss journey, I am reading this book by a former contestant of The Biggest Loser, Amy Parham. She wrote a book called "10 Lessons from a Former Fat Girl...Living with Less of You and More of Life." She lost 100 pounds herself, and she is passionate about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and helping me too, by paying it forward! Her can-do spirit will help me...1) identify circumstances and settings that tempt me to overeat and make adjustments. 2) use POSITIVE words & phrases to describe myself & avoid destructive thought patterns. 3) fit REGULAR exercise into my day and ENJOY lasting physical & emotional benefits. 4) take comfort from wholesome, loving relationships with God & people-not food. 5) live the fullest life possible-and reprogram the fat-girl mentality into a fit-girl reality  :)  I'm encouraged, and that's important to me...I got to start somewhere. I am also keeping a daily food journal, including cheating moments, so I can see what is making me be where I am. I am trying to incorporate more fruits & veggies as well, and cut out sugars & fatty foods...down 2 pounds...it's a start :)

Thanks for reading! If i haven't lost everyone by now, tune in soon to see how I am doing on my new journey's in the near future!

Love & Light & Laughter :D