18 Down and Many More to Go

In May of this year I starting thinking about getting healthy. So on June 1, 2013, I started a journey of healthy eating and exercising. I dare not say how much I weighed at the beginning. Not even my husband knows.

On September 24, I went to the doctor and got on the scale. I was so nervous. I'd started exercising and eating more healthier. Since I purposely don't have a scale at home, I really didn't know if I had lost anything. My clothes felt really comfortable though. To my surprise I'd lost 18 pounds! I was so excited that I posted a photo on Facebook while sitting in the exam room waiting for my doctor.

On October 15, my husband took a full body shot of me while we were waiting for our daughter to run her Cross Country meet. I'm not a fan of body shots, but I was happy to see this one.

 

I'm not sure how much weight I want to lose. I will share more about my journey as time permits. However, I do know that I want to be healthy. Being healthy looks different for each person. I want to encourage you to find a "healthier you" in the midst of serving your family.

Not Withholding Good

Summer is over. I have mixed feelings about it. Mainly because I love my husband's work schedule during the Summer months and I love eating watermelon on a daily basis. Slowly, I'm starting to get back into the swing of a set schedule as I eagerly await for Autumn to officially arrive.

Homeschooling if off to a great start. Our youngest and only child at home has entered her Sophomore year of high school. Where has time gone?...Although being a homeschooler, she's running Cross Country for the local public school that we are zoned for. Their girls Cross Country team is #3 in our state. She had her first invitational meet last Saturday.

As my husband and I were driving up to watch her run, I keep reflecting on something recently I read in Proverbs. Our church has small groups. I purposefully chose to attend the small group with older women. I love to glean from them and from a Biblical stance, I strongly believe in the Titus 2 mandate. So, each week I have the privilege of spending time with a group of older women. Currently we are studying the book of Proverbs. Specifically, the Proverbs 31 woman.

"Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, 

when it is in the power of your hands to do so." 

-Proverbs 3:27

That passage of Scripture stood out to me like a neon blinking off and on. The word "good" got my attention.

As I sat in the passenger seat looking at the beauty of the leaves turning orange with spots of crisp yellow burnt leaves in the midst of tall evergreen trees, I looked at my husband wondering if I'm doing "good" when it comes to him and not withholding anything good. He's so low maintenance. He says he only needs two things. One is a sandwich and you know what number two is.

So I asked myself these questions:
1) Am I doing good by preparing meals that he enjoys and satisfy his hunger?
2) Am I doing good by being the best lover that I can be and fulfilling his sexual needs?

To him, these are good things that he desires to have. For me, the power is in me to do them. After all, Proverbs 31:12 says, "She does him good and not evil all the days of her life."

Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner

Thank you to all my readers who entered the Shabby Apple giveaway. 

The names have been added of those who entered.

Please ignore the size of the hand that's in the jar. Haha!

The winner is...*Drumroll please*

TMichelle please contact me via email so that we can arrange for you to receive your Vintage Clothing piece from Shabby Apple.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

TMichelle chose "Cut the Cake" dress like the one shown in this picture. Please visit Shabby Apple at http://www.shabbyapple.com/ for more information about this dress or other Vintage Clothing.

Shabby Apple Vintage Clothing Giveaway

Ever After

I have some exciting news for you! If you're like me and love anything Vintage, then this is the perfect giveaway for you. I was contacted by Shabby Apple to give my readers a chance to win a piece of Vintage Clothing  to add to your wardrobe.

Save the Date

The giveaway starts Monday, July 15th at 6:00am (PST). You have until the following Monday, July 22nd at 6:00am (PST) to enter. The winner will be announced on Monday, July 22nd by 12:00pm (PST).

Cut the Cake

If you would like to enter the Vintage Clothing giveaway from Shabby Apple, please leave a comment here on this post.

At Last

Myself, along with Shabby Apple would like to thank you for entering this giveaway. After you enter the giveaway, make sure you come back on Monday, July 22nd, to see if your name was drawn. We will give the winner 24 hours to claim their prize. If the winner does not claim their within that time frame, another winner will be chosen.

Together Forever

I'm so excited about this giveaway. I look forward to saying "Congratulations!" to the winner. That winner can be you. The only way to find out is by entering the giveaway.

Moon River

The winner will have the option of choosing from one of the dresses from the photographs above. I also want to encourage you to shop Shabby Apple. Personally, I love their selection of modest, stylish, vintage clothing.

Sincerely,
Sandra King

*I was not compensated in any form to promote advertisement for Shabby Apple.
*This giveaway is not available for my international readers, but forward this giveaway to your friends in the United States.

My Journey to Simplicity Has Just Become Simpler

I did it! I went 7 days wearing only 7 pieces of clothing. I can't say that it was hard. In some ways it was, but in others, not so much. The word that's most fitting is funny with the "LOL" in caps. There were a few funny moments that I dare not share publicly. None the less, it was surely a journey that I will never forget.

I did however, learn something about myself. It had nothing to do with clothes, but everything to do with something material that up until 3 years ago I didn't have. It's my laptop. Or should I say was my laptop.

For years I longed to have my own laptop. I would literally dream about the things I could do with my laptop. For years I shared a desktop with the children and occasionally with my husband when he got on two or three times a year. One day, my dream came true.

I still remember the day bringing her home. Yes, her, because I called her "my little girl". She was mine. Everybody knew that she was mine. She was such a part of me that I gave her a name. I named her Tilly. I went so far as to add her as a daughter on my Facebook profile. I know by now you're shaking your head wondering if I had my head examined recently. Rest assure, my head is fine; well, as least that's what I've told myself for years (ha ha).

I've been longing for simplicity and carry out my commitments to the book "7" by: Jen Hatmaker. What I didn't know that my journey to simplicity would entail learning a valuable lesson about myself. You see, I had not died to self (me) the way that I thought I had. It wasn't until some material thing that was so precious to be was no longer there. Soon after, I heard something. Or should I say Someone.

"I'm all that you need Sandra. When you have Me, you have everything."

I wanted a simple life. I wanted to rid myself of excess. I wanted this journey to open my eyes to me and the things deep within me. That's exactly what He did and exactly what He's doing. He's making my life simple...

In recent days I've been reminiscing about the early days of my children's live. The days before I had a computer at all. Those days were so sweet and full of peace. We got up. We ate. We "played" school, but I was really homeschooling; I didn't know it then. I remember the days when I had no idea what was going on in the world because we didn't receive any channels on our television. Those were the days. The days where my stress consisted of a baby teething and why didn't my child eat lunch. I long for those days...

The next journey that I'm going on is a "No Stress" journey. That will be 7 days of no stress. How can that be possible? I'm not sure, but I'm going to find out. For sure that means ridding myself of those things that bring stress. My 7 days of no stress would be easier if I went to Hawaii, but I'm not. I'll let you know how it goes. Not sure when I'll be back on. I'm at the library and my session is about to expire. Until then, take care my friends.

Oh, before I forget, I gave away 7 pieces of clothing.

Unplugged: 7 Days of Wearing 7 Pieces of Clothing, Day 1

My outfit for the next 7 days...

It's only day 1 on my journey to wearing 7 pieces of clothing for 7 days. Yes, the same 7 pieces. I've been teary-eyed most of the day. I got teary-eyed the first time when I realized it was either a jacket or another piece of clothing.

Why did I get so emotional over a simple jacket? Well, because some people don't have the luxury of owning a jacket and I own several. It was at that moment that I chose to go without the jacket.

Five black skirts...Really Sandra?...Excess!

Afterward, I spent most of the afternoon sorting through clothes and transitioning for the warmer months. I put clothes in piles according to colors, prints, ect. I looked over at the pile of black skirts and I cried again.

"Will I ever stop crying?" That's the question that keeps pondering in the back of my mind...

It was then that I knew God was doing something in my heart. My 101 questionnaire interview with God started. Yes, it was like I was interviewing Him for the job of being God. It was almost like I was seeing if He was fit to really do it...*big sigh* Of course He is!

Why would I want to stop crying anyway? Why would I even question what He's doing to me while on this this journey?

I'm one of those Christians who always say, "I trust you Lord!" If that's the case why all the questions. Perhaps, it's because I trust Him when I still have some control in a sense. I've decided to let God lead me on this journey. I need to let go and follow...

I'll be back next week to tell you how my journey goes this week. This is my heartsong for the week...

Unplugged: 7 Days Without Social Media

I did it! I went 7 days without any social media. I didn't even Skype with my grandbabies.

My next journey will lead me down the path of asking myself, "Do I really need all of these clothes?"

I was talking to a sister yesterday in church. We were talking about clothes. I was telling her how I need some new clothes. It was then that I realized that I didn't need new clothes, I have enough clothes. Here's what the Bible says about my "dilema" of needing new clothes:

"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?"
-Matthew 6:25 

*big sigh* I'm finally starting to understand it after all these years...

From March 4th - March 11th, I will wear the same 7 pieces of clothing of 7 days. That includes undergarments...Washed daily of course!

"Unplugged": My Journey on 7 Things to Simplicity

"So much to do. So little time," said the woman who didn't complete the to-do list again.

Why is it we have so much to do these days and not enough time? Our fore mothers were inundated with tasks around the home and had the same amount of time as we do today. Yet, at the end of the day, they seem to have accomplished more than I can only imagine.

What is different today than the days of old? My first guess would be technology. We are plugged in to so many sources that our eyes become crossed from reading the latest via blog, Facebook news feed, Twitter and you name it. I've lost count of how many times I have sat on Pinterest getting creative ideas to re-decorate a bedroom, but have not been able to do it because I continue to click that button at the bottom to fetch more pins...*sigh* It was then that I realized my life looked like this:

I needed to become unplugged!

I got confirmation when talking to a friend and she shared this book with me. 

Some women in our church are reading this book. The goal is to do an experiment of sorts. I've decided to do something in regards to social media first, but I feel this tug to do more than just media by the end of my experiment(s).

For those who know me IRL (in real life), know that I'm a very social person. Hey, I'm the girl that will dance with the waiters and waitress at Joe's Crab Shack. I'm the one who's so nosy that I will go up to a random person and want to know their life story. I will even go so far as to try and find out if we're cousins or not. That girl, me, is going to unplug herself.

I'm going to unplug myself. I'm going to unplug myself...*repeating it over and over until it sinks in*

I'm starting out slow. Real slow. I'm not sure what that's going to look like. All I know is that I will start on February 18th.

From February 18th-25th, I will unplug from all social media. Social Media for me includes Facebook (which I love), Twitter (my new found obsession), Pinterest (one word: addicting) and Instagram (*big sigh*). I won't even check my emails during the week. Remember, this is just the beginning. I will do other things to "unplug" myself as time goes on. First, I had to start with something I love, social media. I'll leave my greatest love for last. Chocolate! My flesh is already shaking just thinking about that one.

The goal of my personal journey of unplugging is to live out this verse:

Jeremiah 6:16, "Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls."

To help me with this journey, I'm going to delete social media apps from my smart phone. *thump*
Did you hear that loud thump? My was my flesh! It's in the process of dying...

The only way He can increase in my life is if I decrease.

2013 Reading List & 2012 Short Recep

A new year is upon us. I breathe a sigh of relief and embrace this new year. Last year has earned the title "The Year of Transitions". Now that graduations are over and our children are settled at their new duty stations, things are so different here on the home front. There's just the three of us. Although things have changed dramatically around here, my duties remain the same.

My heart is still centered around my home. I spend my mornings and afternoons homeschooling a 14 year old teenager that has a great attitude about life. She's funny. She's smart. Evenings are spent together as a family. My husband is still a solid rock in my life. We laugh. We play together. We love each other.


As I was gathering my reading list for this year, I really didn't know where to start or what to read. I'm in a new season on this path we call life. It's a bitter-sweet season. I miss my young adult children, but it's beautiful watching my eagles spread their wings as they soar across the beautiful blue sky. They've transitioned from my lap only to leave their fingerprints stamped on my heart.

I'm a wife. I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother. I'm a homeschooling mom. I'm a homemaker. I'm an encourager and friend. With that being said, here's my reading list of 2013. These books reflect some aspect of whom I am, most important, I'm His daughter.

Here are the titles and authors:

"Fascinating Womanhood" by: Helen Andelin
"The Beauty of Modesty" by: David and Diane Vaughan

"Lies Women Believe" by: Nancy Leigh DeMoss

"Feminine Appeal" by: Carolyn Mahaney

"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World" by: Joanna Weaver

"A Virtuous Woman" by: Ruth Mast

"Woman You're a Kingmaker" by: Dr. Wellington Boone

"Disciplines of the Beautiful Woman" by: Anne Ortlund

"Liberated Through Submission" by P.B. Wilson

"Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" by Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald

"The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands" by: Dr. Laura Schlessinger

"The True Woman" by: Susan Hunt

"Encouraging One Another" by: Women of Faith

"The Many Sides of a Woman's Heart" by: Brenda Hunter

"Woman to Woman: Life Principles From Titus 2" by: Barbara Henry

Magazines:

Keepers at Home

Crowned With Silver

Above Rubies

Here's a sneak peek at what I've been doing since my last blogpost:

Taken moments after I arrived.

My first time meeting this little guy.

We picked up where we left off almost a year ago.

As you can see, I got to visit my grandbabies! I love being their Mema

My youngest daughter got to travel with me. It was great spending time with both my girls.

Youngest son graduated from Army OSUT. I'm a proud Army mom. Hooah!

One of my soldiers got to come home for Christmas. I was one happy Army mom :)

Still keeping the flames alive ;)

Until next time,

Sandra

*Disclaimer: Although these books and magazines are good and have practical tools that you can apply to your life, in no means do they replace the Bible. Also, I'm not endorsing a book and/or authors(s), I'm just sharing what I'm reading this year. Please use your own discretion when reading the books listed above or any book for that matter.