Week Nine - Side One

I've been sick since Monday and I'm praising God that I'm on the mend!

When you are getting better it's like a feeling of renewal...I even started a little bit of spring cleaning this afternoon :)

Week Eight - Side Two

Week Eight - Side One

We are visiting my parents and it's a little more *sunnier* at their house...it's been great to get out and get moving!

Week Seven - Side Two

Week Seven - Side One

My theme for this week is shine....
Let your light so shine
Matthew 5:16

Week Six - Side Two

I praise the Lord for Mondays!
They feel like a fresh start :)

Have a happy Monday ♥

Week Six - Side One

I had a pretty good Monday and Tuesday...it was that Wednesday! We had company from out of town and I was left with a fridge full of leftover food and chocolate. I kept picking and picking until I was stuffed stuffed stuffed!

I'm just praising the Lord that today is a new day and I can start fresh...no losing hope here :)

Love you all ♥

Week Five - Side Two

I've been enjoying a song so much lately. For sure I'm driving my family crazy wanting to play it over and over :)

It's called "Our Hope Endures" my Natalie Grant. I couldn't find it on GodTube but you can listen to on MySpace.

Here is the link....

http://www.myspace.com/nataliegrant

It is song number 1.

Week Five - Side One

I had a rough day yesterday...feeling sorry for myself!

In a funny way I'm glad it was a rough one. I prayed and prayed...especially that I wouldn't head for the kitchen to make a snack that I wasn't hungry for. It took a couple hours but God brought me out of it...AMEN!

I then made my card and I just felt relieved.
Relieved that He loves me and I know He cares.

Week Four - Side Two

I've been holding onto this verse...

“The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Luke 18:27

Week Four - Side One

It is my prayer that God will continue to make me aware.

I've been enjoying and singing this song for the past couple of days...



I want to be aware of those around me...to be a postivie influence in their lives.

He has been so faithful the first three weeks. I've felt His hand guiding me, He is blessing me, and I'm listening to His still, soft voice.

Sending sooooooooooo much love to all of you,

Week Three - Side Two

It's amazing.

When we are at our weakest,

He lifts us up and makes us strong.

Week Three - Side One

Stay Strong.
Focus.

WOW...I thought week one would be hard, but this past week was rough.

So many times I found myself drifting back to food.
Several times I went back to food.
Too many times I was trying to jump back on board.
I prayed tons and tons.

I have some bruises but I'm pressing on and on.
Amen :D

Week Two - Side Two

I'm overjoyed for new days!

Yesterday evening I made the children kettle corn and gave myself a little bowl and thought that's plenty. Then my husband wanted some so I had to make a whole new batch! Now there was tons of kettle corn and I just kept picking and picking at it until I was stuffed!

I rejoice that today is a new day and my prayer is for more self control :D

Have a wonderful day,
Lots of love,

Week Two - Side One

Well, we made it through the first week!

How has it been for you?

My first week was better than I expected...had lots of water to drink! I'm trying to eat only until my stomach feels to the point of not still being hungry but not stuffed. Satisfied :D

For sure I feel like I have more energy...my doggie Sheriff has been taken on many more walks this week!

Today I'm going to continue pressing on towards the prize...the prize for me being weight loss. Whatever your prize is, I encourage you to press on. A lot of the time it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but keep moving forward and you will.

I love seeing your cards so much, I find them to be a great encouragement and I know that our other 52er's will as well! I'm having Flickr issues, it won't let me log on, so :) I'd love for you to leave a link to your blog or gallery where you are posting your cards so I can see :D Thank you!

Have a very wonderful rest of your day, see you on Monday!

Lots and lots of love and blessings,

Week One - Side Two

I've been thinking of the Israelites who were released from the bondage of Egypt. All they had to do was follow...And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; (Exodus 13:21-22, KJV)

I've been praying and praying for the Lord to guide me and give light to my situation. I've been asking for guidance with my eating. Here are a couple of my notes...

• eat slower (reminding myself "eat like a lady" LOL)
... mind your manners: Don't gobble your food, don't talk with your mouth full. And don't stuff yourself; bridle your appetite (Proverbs 23:1-3, MSG)

• only eating when hungry
When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. (Matthew 25:35, KJV)

It is getting easier :) On January 1st and 2nd I was always hungry; probably because I ate so much over the holidays and my stomach was saying, "hey send down some more shortbread"! I basically had to do a "mini fast" just so I could grasp the feeling of really being hungry.

At our house we don't have a set breakfast and lunch time which makes it easier to eat by my stomach clock instead of the clock on the wall. My only obstacle has been 4:00! I know I've got to get dinner on the table at around 5:30, so if I eat at 4:00 I'll miss out on the blessing of enjoying food as a family. So now when 4:00 hits and I'm truly hungry I just have a little slice of cheese and a cracker, with maybe a splash of juice. That totally helps. Getting my dinner prepared immediately after I eat my lunch also helps.

4:00 is also the perfect time to work on my 52 Pick Me Up cards.

Have a wonderful Tuesday! I'm looking forward to Thursday as we begin our week two :)

Lots of love,

Week One - Side One

The first step is salvation.

I'm going to share a bit of my personal testimony.

One of my earliest memories is going to Sunday School when I was six years old. I absolutely adored Sunday School and loved learning about the bible. For six years I missed only a couple of Sunday's...I've even got a certificate to prove it ;).

When I was 12 years old my Dad was transfered to a different city and church was very quickly removed from the picture. I began to delve into the world.

When I was 15 I was at a very low point and just needed Jesus, the Jesus I knew as a 6 year old. I tried to find hope in my bible...it just confused me and I couldn't read it through my tears so I shoved it deep into the back of my closet and didn't want anything to do with Jesus. My riotous living grew worse and worse. I gave myself away to this world. It was literally two years of hell.

God brightened my life when I was 17 years old (1990) when I met a cute guy in my accounting class and two years later we were married. We had three children, each two years apart.

Fast forward to 1999, my Pa had just died and I needed some hope. I got a hold of a bible and had a desire to read it! My favorite scripture was "Behold I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him" Revelation 3:20.

In December of 1999 I had a dream. I was walking inside of a very, very old rundown house. (Thinking back, the house pretty much represented my heart. It was a mess, full of hatred from my past.) I stopped at a door. I heard a small knocking. I opened that door. There was a bright light behind the door; brighter than I've ever seen in my life. I just kept repeating over and over, thank you.

When I woke up that morning I cried out to Jesus "What do you want me to do?" I heard a still small voice, "put Me first". At that moment Jesus' death on the cross for my sins moved from only being "head knowledge" to "heart knowledge". I was truly born again and I haven't looked back and this year it will be 10 years!

I'd love to hear your salvation story...they are always so encouraging.

If you don't have Jesus as your personal saviour He is waiting for you! Salvation is available to you right now, today.

Jesus said "I am the door by me if any man enter in he shall be saved." John 10:9

This is an amazing video and I encourage you to watch it! It touches my heart every single time :)



If you get a chance and want to share your 52 pick me ups...leave your link in the comments section, I can't wait to see them :)

He Has won the Victory!

I'm going to claim the victory. God says take it, it's yours. He has fought the battle now I'm to stand still and see His glory.

I'm going to simply trust in Him. Listen to Him. I don't need to overeat, I don't need to fret if I want to enjoy a treat; I need to drink my water and enjoy the blessing that He has given me and not take them for granted. God has never failed me. The times that I get what I don't want or I don't think the answer from Him is right...it always is! He want the best for us!

I have a problem of stepping on the scale every morning.
If I don't see a loss, I immediately feel discouraged.

I'm not going to step on the scale again until after 52 weeks is over. It's going to be amazing for me to see what He is going to do. Maybe it's not His will for me to loss 52 lbs. maybe it is!

Have a glorious Sunday! Tomorrow I'll post the first side of my week one card!

Lots of love,

Here We Go!

The method of 52 Pick Me Up is simple.
It's about setting simple and achievable goals.

We all have something that we want to do...
a goal that we'd like to reach.

Mine is weight loss.
Yours doesn't have to be about that...
it can be anything you want :)

I've been married to my high school sweetheart
for 15 years. For each year of our marriage
I've gained 5 lbs. That's 75 lbs.
That's too much.

I've set a goal to loose 52 lbs. this year.
A pound a week.

I'm going to enjoy little steps...
if I set too many *rules* or try to change
my entire life overnight, it's not going to work.
It hasn't in the past.

My first step is water. I don't drink near enough
water, so this week and for how ever many weeks
it takes I'm going to drink water. Until it's a habit.
A good habit.

Of course this involves removing some stuff I drink
that I shouldn't be drinking so much of.

If I remove something from my life I need
to replace it with something positive.

That is were the creative process comes in YEAH :)

I want to keep the costs down and use up the tons of scraps I have.

Artist Trading Cards (ATC's) are miniature works of art...
the size of a playing card, 2 1/2 by 3 1/2.

I will be posting my cards and some notes on
Thursday's and Monday's for the entire year.

I encourage you to join me on this journey.

You can either alter playing cards or
use your own paper. If you are going to use
your own paper I encourage you to
cut 52 - 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 pieces...just so they
are ready for you to add your pictures, quotes, scriptures...
whatever your heart desires.

The only rule is that is must be positive.
Uplifting!

You'll want something to continue to look
back on week by week.

It will be your reward filled with things you love.

I started a Flickr group for us to share...
http://www.flickr.com/groups/988361@N23/

Here is my title page...

I've been praying and praying for God to give me the
strength for this journey.

The first week seems like the hardest.

I'm going to focus and focus on my Lord and Saviour Jesus Messiah.

I've been enjoying a song.
It has really touched my heart and made
me want to give my all to Jesus.
He will carry me through this year. I trust Him.

If you'd like to listen to it, just press the play button

It is called "October" by Evanescence

I can't run anymore,
I fall before you,
Here I am,
I have nothing left,
Though I've tried to forget,
You're all that I am,
Take me home,
I'm through fighting it,
Broken,
Lifeless,
I give up,
You're my only strength,
Without you,
I can't go on,
Anymore,
Ever again.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from you)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love.

I can't run anymore,
I give myself to you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry.
In all my bitterness,
I ignored,
All that's real and true,
All I need is you,
When night falls on me,
I'll not close my eyes,
I'm too alive,
And you're too strong,
I can't lie anymore,
I fall down before you,
I'm sorry,
I'm sorry.

My only hope,
(All the times I've tried)
My only peace,
(To walk away from you)
My only joy,
My only strength,
(I fall into your abounding grace)
My only power,
My only life,
(And love is where I am)
My only love.

Constantly ignoring,
The pain consuming me,
But this time it's cut too deep,
I'll never stray again.

*****

May God bless you and keep you.
I'll be back on Monday to share with
you the first side of my first card.

If you ever want to email me please never even hesitate.
We can do it together.
I believe in God's perfect timing.
Just when you hit *send*, I'll be
needing to hear from you.

Sending so much love to you,

Shall We?

Let us rejoice together.
In the positive.
In the blessings.

This is all about removing what
what we don't need in our lives.

It's about positive replacement.

It's about allowing God to work for us.
Because if He is for us,
nothing can be against us.
(Romans 8:31)

Please join me on this adventure.

You'll only need a pack of 52 playing cards
and a year :)

See you on the 1st!