Why Church Matters...

http://www.karipatterson.com/2010/04/17/why-church-matters/

Please go read this blog post on a blog I follow...it is so good (as many of her posts are!).

Anyone who knows me well knows I've had some bad experiences and lots of hurt by "the church"- specifically pastors. So, over the past 4 years I have been walking through my issues with the church & pastors. I have failed, I have risked, I have grown, I have overall come a long ways in 4 years. But I know my road is not "over". I trust pastors more than I did 4 years ago. I am involved in a church. I can actually say I love my church. I know some of my pastors now. But I have not arrived. I am still really cautious of pastors in general. I still have a hard time going to service every week (I'm at church every week serving but getting to service is harder for me). I go to some of the weekly events but could do more. I have tried some home communities but haven't fully committed to one. I pray for my pastors- esp for humility & wisdom- but I know I could pray more for them.

As I read this post I realized I still don't love "the church". I am still disillusioned at times because what I learned about what the church is and should be in Bible College is not how many churches actually operate. I know the church is made up of sinful people (myself included) so living out what I think "should" be will fail at times. I fail, we all fail at being the church- the way Jesus established it. And as Kari writes about we all have a purpose and role and because I still hold back I may be causing my church to limp...and because others that come to my church don't serve or don't give or don't whatever they are causing the church to limp a bit...We (as believers) are supposed to be a part of this messy thing called church. We are supposed to risk and grow and love and commit. I want to be there again...I want to LOVE the church again. I used to. I am starting to love my church... but loving the overall church...I am not there yet...

Another fun giveaway!

Gorgeous duvet cover is being given away! I hope I win :)

http://dreamywhites.blogspot.com/

Giveaway!

Here's a fun giveaway giveaway.

Health & Wellness

I am excited about Health & Wellness! Over the past couple of years I have become more aware of my health and what I eat. I have made steps to eat healthier and live a healthier. The first step was cutting down on my sugar intake. I've always had a sweet tooth but I have strong reactions to sugar. Strong enough that I was tested for Diabetes. I don't have it but my doctor thinks I may be hypoglycemic (he said it's hard to test for since you have to come in when you're having reactions). ANYWAY, I still love my sweets but don't crave them nearly as much since I've cut down. Some other steps I have taken over the past couple of years is switching to natural health & beauty products such as Arbonne and Created Natural. There is a lot of yucky chemicals in lotion & makeup. Anything with mineral oil should be thrown out! I still use regular deodarant (thought that will prob change soon) and mascara (made of bat poop- gross) but for the most part I have switched to natural, organic beauty products.

In my diet I have cut out foods with partially hydrogenated soybean oil and other hard to pronounce chemicals. I buy all natural yogurt, some organic fruits, hormone free meat, farm fresh eggs, whole wheat pasta, etc. I wouldn't consider myself a really healthy eater but have made a lot of steps towards that...

What I have started more recently (I have taken them off and on for a few years but recently became committed) is Juice Plus+. I am super excited about this product! I am excited to share with my friends about because I BELIEVE in it! Here is our website: www.juiceplus.com If you have never heard of it basically it is a prodcut to help you get in the recommended 9-13 servings of fruit & vegetables a day. It is whole food based nutrition including juice powder concentrates (in capsule or chewable form) from 17 different fruits, vegetables & grains. It is supported by clinical, 3rd party research to include health benefits.

I am having a Wellness Presentation on Tuesday March 23rd if you want more information just let me know. If you live out of town but are interested please let me know and I can get you some more information, answer your questions or get your order!

I have to share with my blogging friends because I believe in it and have seen how it has helped my immune system this winter. Last winter I was out sick numerous times (6 days in one month w/ 3 different colds) and this year have only had a very mild cold! More than that I know it is helping my body overall.

Please let me know if you have questions- I'd love to help you!

Overall, I am making steps towards health & wellness and am so excited about it! I am slowly getting back into exercise (the missing link since my car accident) and know my body will feel even better once I am in better shape. I hope to be healthier than my parents generation and definetly my grandparents generation (4 types of cancers, diabetes, 3 grandparents with heart problems, etc).

Decorating

Anyone who has been to my house knows I love to decorate. It's one of my hobbies and it is really fun and relaxing to me! I've done a few projects lately that I hope to take pictures of and post. I made a chalkboard & corkboard from frames I found at a garage sale last summer. Now my little "office" (in my laundry room) looks complete! I realize that everything I have in my office corner either came from a garage sale or from my parents house (almost as good as a garage sale!). I'll post pics soon.

Last weekend I took down all my winter decorations and brought out the few Spring decorations I have. I ended up going to two cute stores to get a few more things (all ended up being birds). I need a few more things still so I'm on the lookout for some cheap, cute decorations or crafts I can do. I tried making a sign that says "flowers" but I don't like it. I plan to redo it soon. How do you decorate for Spring? Do you use birds, bunnies, nests, flowers or...?

Simple Pleasures...

On one of my favorite blogs today she is having people blog about "simple pleasures"...

Here are a few of mine:

- coming home from a long day to a happy, lovable dog- she always puts a smile on my face and is so excited to see me each and every day
- the first flowers of Spring
- being able to savor my morning cup of coffee on a weekend or day off
- having a good hair day
- reading magazines- my favs are Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens & Country Living
- a good conversation with a friend
- waking up to snow and not having to go anywhere
- a baby smiling
- waking up without an alarm clock
- walking across campus at work in the Spring or Fall
- an unexcepted sunny day in the middle of winter
- a friend or family member saying they love me
- chatting with my mom on the phone about nothing (or something)
- my dog laying her head on me
- snail mail
- having a day or evening of sunshine to garden
- seeing a beautiful sunrise or sunset
- laying on the beach watching the waves crashing, enjoying the sun and taking a nap (or reading a book/magazine)

What are some of yours?

Senses...

I was thinking the other day how we can go through each day ignoring our senses. We get wrapped up in our busy days (or wrapped up in ourselves) and can unknowingly or knowingly ignore everything around us. For example, I can drive to work and not even notice the sunrise because I am focusing on how tired I am or how I wish it was Friday...or I can look up at the sky and thank the Lord for the beautiful sunrise He made! Or as I get out of my car every day after work I can walk right in my house glad the day is over or I can take a minute to notice the flowers sprouting out of the ground in my garden which brings a smile to my face. I remember one morning after living at my house for awhile I was taking my dog out to the bathroom and I looked up and realized I can see the tip of Mt Hood from my porch! Why I never noticied it before was shocking to me...but I am good at ignoring what is going on around me. I can walk through the grocery store never looking anyone in the eye...I can go through a morning not realizing it is sunny outside because I never looked out my office window...I can eat a meal and not slow down to taste what I'm eating...

As I was reflecting on the senses God gave us and how I don't always give them a chance to take in the world around me I thought about what I don't ignore... I don't ignore smells...my nose is very aware of good or gross smells. Smells can make me gag and I often have to plug my nose to avoid such gagging. I love good smells...candles, cologne, flowers, fresh air, the ocean and so on.

I hear things going on around me...I am sometimes too aware of sounds around the office that might annoy me or around my house that might scare me and I can't stand silence...I always have music on at work, music or tv at home, white noise at night, music or talking in the car... awkward silence in a group drives me crazy...I think the only time I am okay with silence is when I'm out in my garden... I am busy focusing on the creation around me...I also realize it is the only time I talk to the Lord without some noise in the background...

I know it's a small realization but I want to be more aware of my senses...of what is around me...not taking for granted the gift of the 5 senses...