I am back and boy things have changed

Sorry for my absence - It’s been awhile and a lot has changed in life.

The last you heard from me I was planning on participating in 2018 miles in 2018.  Which I completed.  My husband and I ran in the 2018 participated in the Disney Princess 10k (which I also finished) other than that it was a quite for the first 6 months of 2018 then BAM! Big life decision happened.

After helplessly watching my weight climb, even though I was eating properly, exercising and doing everything right I made a decision to investigate Bariatric surgery.

My past medical history and co-morbidities were in control, however my weight had become a constant issue and had to be dealt with.  An appointment to meet a bariatric surgeon - Anthony McCluney, MD - Assistant Director, Steward Center for Weight Control was made.

Dr McCluney asked me one simple question, why did I wait so long.  I was knocking on the door to age 50 and how many more years was I going to keep doing what I was doing a try, fail, try, fail, try and fail yet again.  I told him that I wanted to try to do it on my own, and his reply was “and how is that working out for you?”

Harsh, right?  Nope...exactly what I needed to hear.  He was right.  I have battled my weight for a lifetime and always ended up back to where I started with another failed attempt.

I took all the information he gave me, and a list of lab work in case I decided to go forward and made the decision to go forward.

I will stop here and continue next week on another episode of as the stomach turns....

 Run For Eliza

This mornings run was in remembrance of a fellow runner who was abducted and murdered in Memphis. Eliza Fletcher was a mom of 2 young ones and this needless violence is a wake up call to remember to run safe and aware. Virtual runs are being done all over the country by members of the running community today and all weekend in her memory. Thank you for joining me this morning Kristen Curt Pelchat - it was great to run with you.

I’m a woman. I’m a runner. I run alone. I run in the morning. I run with pepper spray I run safe.

IG: sassensch68

Pay Yourself Back

Well, well, well.  The drippy one finds herself with a pocket of time so let's wind back the clock back to December 2016 shall we?

The story begins with getting my fitness journey back on track after recovering from surgery (covered in my other posts) and still in training for my very first Disney Princess 5K to be done in Feb 2017.  For giggles and grins, the diva and a small group of friends decided to try something new, run/jog/walk 2017 miles in 2017. This is a program associated with Run The Edge.

My sister-in-sweat, my daughter from another mother, one of my Disney loving friends and the drippy one joined forces and set out to accomplish the goal to cover 2017 miles in 2017.  As a team we hit that number by June 2017 I believe.

Personally, my chubby stumps carried me through 1346 personal miles.  Let me say that again, the #drippydiva and all of her sparkle-like sweat and flapping fat wogged to a personal grand total of 1346 MILES.

This former couch potato who would rather sit and binge watch a TV series actually got of her more than ample buttocks and covered 1346 miles.  It's still unbelievable to me.  If I could have only earned cash for that I would be rich!

So as 2017 was nearing the end new goals for 2018 needed to be set, so why not do it all over again? Princess Marathon, 10K this time (signed up and participating at the end of the month) and lace up my Sauconys and take a stab at doing  2018 miles in 2018.

Sounds a bit daunting but when you break it down it is roughly 5 miles a day for the next 365 days. HAHAHA!  Knowing myself and my body in its current state, I know I will not be able to wog (walk/jog) 2018 miles.  However, besting myself and complete 1500 miles is something much more attainable.

I put a call out to my trusty friends and we formed a team for 2018 - we call ourselves the #DisneyDivas..wonder why?!  We are committed, as a team, to complete 2018 miles.  As of today, this mighty group of 3 ladies have already logged 328 miles, not too shabby.

Back to my title and my thought about making money for exercising.  If you are familiar with the whole rewards concept - you do something (like run mile) you get something ($$).  What? Pay yourself for exercising?  Yup, that is exactly what is happening.  For every mile I am depositing .25/mile into a jar.  As it stands today, I have successful deposited $30.75 into the run jar.

What will I do with the funds? More than likely I will put it towards something Disney related, after all it’s all about MM.  The other possibility would be putting the money towards new sneakers.  Last year I went through 4 pairs.  Never in my 49 years have I ever worn our a pair of sneakers, never mind ware the treads down to flat on 4 pairs? That's it for now, stay sweaty my friends.

Am I Really Running?

The tile of this post is the question my brain fires off when I find myself at the gym on a “dreadmill” doing 3.7 miles/hr or approximately a 16 minute mile. Why does this even enter into the brain of someone working hard to make changes to build healthy habits and improve their body image?

When you are “fluffy” the natural action of comparing yourself to “thin” people just happens.  I see all these individuals effortlessly pacing along at 6-7 miles per hour, and here I am expending every ounce of energy to run an apparently slow 3.7 miles an hour. 

This is when I get a visit from those two little people that live inside my brain named Negative Nellie & Positive Polly.  You know they exist, I am not the only crazy person.  

Nellie says  “You have no right to say you are running. You look foolish, sweating like a pig on a spit, breathing heavy, fat bouncing every which way, why don’t you just quit.”  

Polly pipes in and says “Gurl!! Who cares what everybody thinks?  Gym hair, don't care! You are sparkling like the drippy diva that you are! You are crushing it! Run girl, run!”

The mindset of self-hate can and will breakdown even the strongest willed person and deflate motivation in the blink of an eye.

The only thing that can be said is do not listen to “Negative Nellie.”  She is not a fan and will hinder your progress. Tell “Nellie” to back up the bus and step off because she is not welcome on this ride.

For me, YES, running is happening on the very machine being occupied.  Granted my stride is short, but this girl is getting faster & healthy as time goes by.

The lesson that needs to be learned is to never compare your goals, the way you look or your journey to someone elses goals and journey. 

Fast or slow, a mile is a mile and every drop of sweat makes me sparkle like the #drippydiva that I strive to be.

Full Exposure Disclosure

So my Sunday started off as a normal day.....

Roll out of bed, make sure the other half gets up and dressed, grab the prepared gym bag (prepped the night before) and out the door we go.  Pull up to church 7:30/7:40 am shove my beloved out of the car - yell to him as he exists "now get out!" Arrive at the place of no judgement - work out for the predetermined time - fulfill my roll as the #drippydiva, grab my gym bag and off to the locker room I go.

NOW....this is where things take a turn

• Get in the stall, unzip the bag, mindlessly empty it, place soap and shampoo in the shower, return to the changing stall, hang clean clothes to jump into when complete

• UNDRESS and put all sweaty clothes into plastic bag to contain the ungodly aroma of sweat

• Here I am, in only my birthday suit then go to reach for.........my towel....

Yeah.....I totally forgot to pack a flipping towel.  How the heck did I forget to pack a towel?!?!

So I apologize to all people I came into contact this morning at church for my offensively nasty hair and the possible odiferous aroma that may have accompanied me.

LESSON:  double check your gym bag before you leave the house 

Having a Heat Wave A Tropical Heat Wave

Irving Berlin wrote the song back in 1933 and Marilyn Monroe sang it..

We're having a heat wave A tropical heat wave The temperature's rising It isn't surprising, I certainly can-can!

You are probably thinking "What?  We are in November..there are no heatwaves happening here." Wrong!  The Drippy Diva is experiencing her own, internally generated, nuclear level, power surges/hot flashes, tropical heat waves.

The reason she is sharing this is the drippy one has begun increasing her activity level once again.  It has been a long 5 weeks since surgery and she can no longer wait.  In a brief moment of downtime she had this week, the drippydiva hit the gym sans sister-in-sweat and boarded a "dreadmill". Yes, "dreadmill".  She would rather walk outside, but now that it is getting darker earlier we are all being forced to move our activity indoors.

While sweating makes one feel gross, there are many benefits.

-Boosts endorphins and helps to alleviate pain.. -Detoxifies the body.. -Sweat generates a natural antibiotic, such as dermcidin, to help cure any surface injuries we may have.. -Lowers kidney stone risk.. -Helps to prevent colds and other illnesses.. -Zaps zits.. -It's happy juice for the brain.. -And sweating is our own personal HVAC system..

Yeah, sweat is good for us, we might not like it but such is life.

This has been a public service announcement from the sweaty one. Now get movin' and do your body some good!

The Results Are In

In the last installment it was revealed that "The Drippy Diva" had a heck of September; a torn rotater cuff, a new mortgage and a cancer diagnosis. Since then, she is still dealing with the shoulder, she is packing away the funds for the first mortgage payment, and cancer has been dealt with. I am going to dive into my faith for a moment, if you will indulge me.

God has a way of working all things out, period.  In the whirlwind of receiving the diagnosis God was working overtime. To me it's overtime, to Him it's normal.  On a day where I was expecting a call date regarding pre-op testing the call was "there has been a cancellation, we can move your surgery up five days to 9/29."  My thoughts were, hold up, back up the truck! This throws a monkey wrench into the plans that I have made (you know God laughs at that kind of stuff) and now all sorts of calls and conversations need to happen.

After several calls to my husband, my mom, a hotel, and my wonderful boss Deb who said to do whatever I needed, the surgery was set and I was packing up my desk so I could work at home during recovery.  After all, my brains and hands were not broken, it's just below the waist that was out of order.

The Diva had to go to Boston immediately, that night, to get situated to be at the hospital for 8:00 am and then do a wonderful cleanse so there was room for them to fill me with air and make room for all those robotic tools. So I put on my big girl pants and headed to Brighton, MA all by my lonesome (for the time-being.)

Throughout all this, God was by my side.  God kept me safe and calm (as I drove to Boston, at night) and I knew whatever the end result was going to be it would be ok, regardless.

Fast forward to 10/13, my Disney loving Uber driver and great friend Rita and I headed up to Foxborough to hear the pathology.

My Surgeon/Oncologist walks in and delivers the news/results that was being prayed for by so many. Cancer was stage 1A, no spread, all contained, no further treatment besides a one month follow-up with him and 2 follow ups per year with my normal GYN for the next 3 years.

Rita cheered, I thanked God, and the very next words out of my mouth were, bring on Disney.

I am beyond blessed by all my friends and family who have reached out to me and who have cared for me in one way or another.  From the meals (thank you mom and work peeps), the cards, flowers, fruit, emails and texts, I am humbled. I could never thank you all enough.

I look forward to getting active again, as it has been a struggle. The activity restrictions after surgery are/were kind of strict.  My sister-in-sweat has been coming by my house to take me for little walks occasionally (like a dog minus the leash).  I can not go to far or too fast as soreness still presents itself if I over do it, but I am getting better day by day.  Thank you Kelly for your friendship, your prayrs and the laughter while we walked slower than turtles in mud. You are a blessing to me.

So that is all this drippy gal has for you at this time...I would say get me a towel, but the only reason I need one now is for the hot flashes.

It's A Whirling Dervish!!

Holy Smokes!!  September has been a month of craziness.  Long story short, shoulder muscle tear, cancer and I bought a house.

NOT MY MRI!!

First things first, back in May 2016 I was doing my household chores and reached into the dryer to take out the clothes and "OUCH!"  I figured it would pass, yeah, nope, didn't pass and not feeling better.  So I saw my PCP 9/13 and she ordered a MRI. Getting the MRI scheduled turned out to take longer than expected because I did not want to go to the MRI at the physicians practice. After 2 days they called to say that the office could not book the scan without a pre-auth and she reiterated she could book me at THEIR facility.  Um...no...I want to go to Shields. Upon returning to work on that Friday, I spoke with the CIO about the whole pre-auth thing.  He said, why I was asking, so he was informed that I was in need of a scan and my physicians office tried to book one and was told they couldn't do it without pre-auth; but they could book at their facility without one.  His reply, "Hold on, we can fix that.  What do you need scanned and when and what do you want it done?"

I really do work for a wonderful company.  Benefits may not be the best, but my co-workers and the employees here are fantastic.  Let's just say this, we take care of our own.  The motto our company lives by is "treat everyone like they are a family member" 2 days later, scanned; 2 hours later report read and submitted to my PCP.  Have I heard from my PCP yet, no.  Do I know what's wrong, heck yeah.

Now the second event is a little troubling but I do not have fear.
Three years ago, in September, I had a thyroidectomy because of cancer.  Out it came and and I have been cancer free, until.....

I don't want to get in depth, after all, this is the Internet and you have no idea who is reading it.  When you are a female you know when something isn't quite right.  Well, I knew something was not right when Aunt Flo was showing up sporadically for 3 weeks straight.  So I made a call and was booked the very next day for an appointment.

I have spent entirely too much time with my legs in stirrups riding a ghost horse with no name.  A smear, an ultrasound and a biopsy later, results come back on 9/21 as cancer.  Freaking wonderful!!  All my lady parts below the waist need to be exercised like a demon - ASAP.

I can not lie, that diagnosis kind of gripped me by the gut and put me into a 24 hour session of unknowing and fear.  Why me? Why now?  I don't have time for cancer and everything that goes along with it?  I have more things I want to do? God, what the heck, didn't I pass my test of faith the last time?  Don't you know I am buying a house? I have obligation and commitments that I take seriously...come on!!

Saw the gynecologist oncologist yesterday 09/22 to confirm diagnosis and schedule surgery for 10/3 to get the parts removed.  I am glad it is fast tracked, I have a vacation in November. I know, health first but I LIVE for my vacations.

If the results of the pathology prove that cancer is contained and has not spread I will be good to go. Normal recovery time six weeks, short recovery time 2-3 weeks.  If the pathology comes back and it has spread further treatment will be necessary.  We will cross that bridge when and if it gets here.  No need to worry, worry only steals joy from life, and dang it, life is too short.  I am enjoying my time here.

People say I look at life through rose colored glasses.  That may be true 3/4 of the time, because I choose to look for the good in all things, BUT I acknowledge the other 1/4 of the time where realist views are necessary.

I am hopeful because God is concerned with everything about me and I have faith that tells me whatever it is, God has this and things will be as He plans.  This is not a shock to God, but it is a shock to me.  We all have an expiration date, I'm just hoping mine does not come up for a LONG time.  This is a testimony in the making to prove God is good in ALL things.

Time to bring this post up to my normal happy place. If all this medical madness was not enough stress for one person, I closed on my house today!! We have been living in a family home for 12 years now paying rent that covered all the basics of house maintenance, no one was getting rich and we had a roof over my head. Again, no need to get into the specifics but we bought the house and now I have a mortgage. Buying a house was not on my bucket list but God has a plan.

Oh, I almost forgot!! This coming Sunday, 9/25, #theleakinglady and #thedrippydiva are doing a color run in Providence.  I still need to keep moving!!

So here I sit, shoulder muscle tear, lady part cancer, a new mortgage, planning a Disney trip, doing a colorful 5K this weekend and happy to be alive.

I think I need to go for a walk....

Sending you all love from #thedrippydiva

MOVE IT or BUST

One of the questions that some of my friends have asked me is "Why are you exercising?" "What motivates you?" "How do you stay motivated?"

Those are 3 questions which I think about and rehash often.  So here are my answers today (subject to change depending on my mood).

Let me be up front and tell you all this....I don't enjoy exercising.  The professionals tell us "exercise, it makes you feel better", "exercising gives you energy," "you will sleep better," "exercise relieves stress." For some, these may be a true statements.  For me, it's  horse pucky. When I am done exercising I am tired, sweaty, and I feel like a 5'7" pile of blah.  I have no more energy now then I had 10 months ago when I started this whole process.  *Disclaimer* I have always had plenty of energy so that is why I notice no change. My sleeping pattern has not changed, on average I get 6 hours of sleep on weekdays and I am lucky to get 7 on weekends. My internal body alarm goes off at 4:30 so there is no getting around it.  But I digress...

1. First question that needs to be answered is Why?
Basically the reasons why I do this is over the past few years, whenever I saw my primary MD she always brought up my weight and all my diagnoses.  Obese, high blood pressure, acid reflux, type 2 diabetes, my health post thyroid cancer (I am fine - nothing to report - no cancer has returned). Her topic of discussion, weight loss surgery.  She has talked to me at length about the options and her recommendation is to have gastric bypass surgery.

This is a serious surgery (and like marriage) should not be entered into lightly.  It would mean a total revamp of my lifestyle (and my husbands). Surgery is an option that may be right for some people at different stages of thier lives.  At this point in my life, I do not wish to go down that path, for now. So the path to a smaller, lighter, and healthier me is old school diet and exercising.

2. What motivates me?
Hmmmm...the fact that I do not want to go under the knife is one MAJOR motivator. The committment I made to exercise and be an accoutability partner to my "sister-in-sweat" is reason number two. I promised I would exercise 3 times a week, so when my word is given, I do my best to keep it.

3. How do I stay motivated?
Simple answer, refer to the question 2 above above.

There are some frivilous and selfish reasons why I am doing this as well, I can not lie.  If you know anything about me, you know my vaction spot of choice is WDW.  Going to the happiest place on earth requires LOTS of walking (minimum 9-12 miles A DAY), but it also requires stuffing myself into airplane seats and ride vehicles. Both things can be challenging and humiliating.

I hate the fact that when boarding a plane I need to ask for a seatbelt extender. I dislike the fact that my poor husband gets stuck in the middle seat so my girth and fatness does not invade a strangers space.  Just once it would be so nice to tell  him "Babe, of course you can take the window seat."

The uncomfortable feeling of worrying that I will not fit in a ride vehicle at the parks and not be able to enjoy ride makes me sad and anxious.  At Disney, fitting in a ride vehicle is not normally an issue (Disney ride vehicles are Pooh-sized friendly), but occasionally when I get in one, my constant companion know as "bertha" gets in the way of a lapbar or seatbeat. I have to physcially pick "her"up and then put "her" down so the lapbar or seatbelt can be in a proper position for the ride to proceed safely.  It is not very comfortable and is very embarrasing.

So a small goal is that by my next vacation, I hope to not be asking for an seatbelt extender when I get on the plane.  I will know sooner rather than later.

Who Wants Bling? What girl likes bling?  This girl!!  So as small goals I have been doing 5K races, both in person and virtually (we can cover virtual racing at a later date.) Another goal that was set is to do a Disney Princess 5K AT WDW - that is happening Feb 2017.  I am signed up and currently walking/running trying to achieve a 16 minute mile - I am almost there.  What do you get at the end of every race? BLING BLING!!

I don't want adult..
I know that if I do not exercise 3 times a week I will never get to the time goal needed for the Princess 5K, nor will I be able to lose weight successful (having no thyroid also impeeds the process.)  Those facts (and my hands) get my ample size deriere dressed and out the door, that and a promise. As long as I am upright, and I am physically sound (no colds or injuries) I am getting dressed and hitting the pavement or "dreadmill" weather dictates location.

There are days that I JUST DO NOT want to exercise, and there are somedays my schedule and the schedule of my partner in sweat do not line up (I prefer not going alone - if I have to sweat someone is getting sweaty with me.) For days like that, I put out the call out to my friends or drag my most faithful groom with me. Thank GOD for my friends & Chad, without them this journey would not be as successful.  I also know me, if one day is skipped, one turns into two and then, BAM!!,  its been a week and I have not moved.

So that is what keep me moving and loosing.

Friends, I know that this journey to better health is not easy and can sometimes feel lonley, and be very frustrating to say the least.  It also know that you my feel like you are doing all that you can and the scale is not moving and there are no visual physical changes.

Know this, everything you do will yeild results - the changes may be happening internally, but they are happening.  Please know, you are not alone.  Just keep moving and grooving ladies it will pay off in the end (and I am not talking about your backside)...if this #drippydiva can do it ANYONE can.

That's it for now...someone get me a towel the sweat is on!

It's a Colorful World

This past weekend I participated in the ColorVibe 5K event in Seekonk, MA at the Seekonk Speedway.  The charity supported by this event was the Ronald McDonald House. A group of ladies from the FB group Stronger Together participated, Kelly Coury, Donna Drew, Lisabeth Dion, and yours truly. We arrived at the Speedway at 7:00 am dressed in white ensembles and were ready to roll. Registration took place and we hung out waiting for the event to begin.  While lingering we watch many people of different shapes and sizes file in all sorts of attire. Around 8:15 am a Zumba class started.  Let me tell you, when I grow up I want to be as fit as those instructors.  Wholly Macaroni!  It was a warm morning and those ladies were tearing it up.  God Bless them!

If you would have told me 9 months ago that I would be participating in a Color Run/Vibe event I would have told you "you are nuts!"  But low and behold, here I was standing around with 1000+ other people waiting to get colorized.

The run kicked of at 9:00 am and the four of us started together in the second wave of runner/walkers.  I must admit it was a neat experience to run through a cloud of colored pink dust.

We trekked 3.1 miles through the property area of the Speedway.  Who knew they has so much land!  I started running and ending running, but in the middle I walked.  The land was not flat with lots of places anyone could have sprained an ankle.  You all know me, I am as graceful as a cow on crutches.

Donna Drew lead the pack and the rest of us walked together at points in time.  When it was all said and done we all finished the race colorful as could be. Kelly crossed the line multiple times for fun and celebratory purposes.

We thank Mark Lambert and Kaycee Lowengrub for coming out to support us.  Thank you Mark for the crossing line pictures.

Moral to the story...

My friends, Henry Ford said this

 
You will never conquer a goal you don't set for yourself, no one can do it for you.

The good news is if you set your mind to achieve a goal and do everything in your power to attain it, you WILL do it.  We live in a "microwave society" we want it now.  Listen. the timing may not always be what we want it to be, but DO NOT give up.

Quitters never win and Winners NEVER quit. This is #thedrippydiva signing off.   Someone get me a towel......

How Did This Happen?

I was doing laundry a few weeks back I was mindlessly sorting, washing and folding. When I went to put the clothes away I realized there was a drawer of workout clothes.."how did this happen?" I thought to myself. So lets back up to Thanksgiving 2015.

My husband and I were at the dining room table of my sister from another mother.  We had just consumed a wonderful Thanksgiving feast with all the trimmings.  All parties were full and no one had fallen into the "turkey coma".  Kelly made a comment that she would like to start working out because she wanted to improve her health.  I opened my trap, a.k.a. my mouth, and piped up saying "I have a membership at Planet Fitness.  If you want to go try it out and see if you like it we can meet up there one day and workout." That was the statement that got this whole ball rolling.

I've had a membership there for many years and went occasionally when feeling up to the challenge of trying to get fit.  Visiting PF is not uncomfortable as they are a "judgement free", although what to wear to the gym was a nightmare.  

I normally want to wear long shirts to cover all my rolls and more importantly cover "Bertha". 

Yes, I have named the fat apron that is located on the front of my body Bertha.  She is a constant inconvenience and should have her own zip code.  Let's face it we all have problem areas, mine span between my neck to my knees but more precisely there is more belly than butt, which makes the lower hemisphere of my frame the issue.  Anyhow back to the story...

We visited together, Kelly liked it, we made a commitment that if she joined we would workout a few times a week. 

I only had one pair of workout leggings and a couple of 5x t-shirts that were huge, long, covered everything I needed covered and also took care of hiding the bat wings better know as my "second wave".

Side note...why do we call the clothing we place on our bottom half "a pair?"  Granted I am big enough to wear 2 but heck, I am only wearing one garment, but I digress.

This is what I was going to have to wear to cover up this bohemith size body due to my embarrassment of Bertha and my other unattractive bits.  After a few weeks I found that I could no longer handle these long t-shirts as they were heavy got in the way.  

Side note, I sweat like a nervous bride so these shirts would also keep the heat in and cause me to sweat even more. #drippydiva party of one.

This began the quest to find clothing that I could wear that would cover my ample tummy and yet be cool enough to work out in.  It started with sports bras because I only had one, then it was tank tops, shortly thereafter I progressed to workout skorts instead of leggings for these summer months. Before I knew it I had workout clothes.  Thank goodness because I needed them and use them three times a week.

The moral of this story is....heck, there is no moral.

I have a drawer full of workout clothes!

Miracles

Driving in today I saw the most beautiful sunrise which got me thinking about miracles. We often ask God for miracles but never stop to realize that everyday is a miracle, we are walking miracles. 

How complex is the body? We function and breath on most days without any thought of what is happening, how many muscles does it takes to perform a simple function as a smile? Everything in our body works together like a symphony and we have only one person to thank for that, God. (MIRACLE)

And just for your information the number of muscles it takes to smile is 12Zygomaticus major and minor – These muscles pull up the corners of your mouth. There is one set on both sides of the face. Total muscles: 4
Orbicularis oculi – Causes the eye crinkle. Total: 2
Levator labii superioris – Pulls up the corner of lip and nose. Total: 2
Levator anguli oris – Helps to raise the angle of mouth. Total: 2
Risorius – Pulls the corners of mouth to the side of the face Total: 2

Psalm 139:14 NIVI praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

He has seen fit that every particle of the air we breath is in place and mixed in such a fashion that it provides us clean air to breath (MIRACLE). He paints the sky every morning with sunrises and sunsets, each one unique in its own way (MIRACLE).

Genesis 1: 6-8 NIVAnd God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” ⁷ So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. ⁸ God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.

This brings me back to each and everyone of us. We are unique and different in our own ways and that makes us beautiful, unique, special - MIRACLES.

Praise & Worship

This morning (11/11/12) I had the honor and privilege to lead the congregation at New Hope Christian Church in the Praise and Worship service.  If you know me, you also know that this is something I do on a pretty regular basis.

Nineteen years ago I would have never imagined leading roughly 500+ people in a Worship service.  I was a car and shower singer what was God thinking!! He certainly had, and has, other plans. 

There have been many times in the worship services where Gods presence is felt, but today's time of worship was deeper and His presence was more palpable then ever before.  I was moved to tears (in the middle of a song which makes it kind of difficult to lead) but Gods presence and the movement of the Holy Spirit was just so overwhelming, it stopped me in my tracks and His love more me and I for Him just flooded my soul.

Why am I writing this down and telling the world?  I am doing it more for myself then anything because I want to remember how it felt and remember that we have been created to Worship and these are the encounters that He wants to have with us.

 My desire is that as I continue to grow as His child, in this calling,  that my life brings glory and honor to Him. Selah!

"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." (Deut. 6:5)

Word Lesson (just for fun) - Hebrew words for Praise = Yadah

It's Tuesday....

After returning from vacation I am finally getting back into the swing of things.  I have caught up with all my email (personal and work), have returned all calls and have started planning our next adventure with another set of good friends.  Where did Monday go??

Tonight we start rehearsals with my peeps from LCDTheater group http://lcdtheatre.webs.com/.  We will be performing in a fundraiser for the Somerset Inclusion Playground Group November 9, 2012 at Whites of Westport.  http://www.somersetinclusionplayground.com/   The Somerset Inclusion Playground Alliance  (SIPA) desires to network with the community on building an Inclusive Accessible Playground that will be enjoyed by ALL children in the town of Somerset and our surrounding communities.

Tomorrow I return to the praise team rehearsal schedule rotation.  It feels like forever that I have not been leading worship.  But I must say I have not stopped praising and worshipping God for all that He has done for me and for the many blessing He has placed in my life.  My vacation reminded me of how majestic is the work of His hands, just read Genesis 1 and you will know exactly what I am talking about. (below is text from "The Message" version)

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

First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don't see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God's Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

 ^3-5 God spoke: "Light!" And light appeared.
   God saw that light was good and separated light from dark.
   God named the light Day, he named the dark Night.
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day One.

 ^6-8 God spoke: "Sky! In the middle of the waters; separate water from water!"
   God made sky.
   He separated the water under sky from the water above sky.
   And there it was:  he named sky the Heavens;
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Two.

 ^9-10 God spoke: "Separate! Water-beneath-Heaven, gather into one place;
   Land, appear!" And there it was. God named the land Earth.
   He named the pooled water Ocean.
   God saw that it was good.

 ^11-13 God spoke: "Earth, green up! Grow all varieties  of seed-bearing plants,
   Every sort of fruit-bearing tree."  And there it was. Earth produced green seed-bearing plants,
      all varieties, And fruit-bearing trees of all sorts. God saw that it was good.
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Three.

 ^14-15 God spoke: "Lights! Come out! Shine in Heaven's sky!
   Separate Day from Night. Mark seasons and days and years,
   Lights in Heaven's sky to give light to Earth." And there it was.

 ^16-19 God made two big lights, the larger to take charge of Day,
   The smaller to be in charge of Night; and he made the stars.
   God placed them in the heavenly sky to light up Earth

   And oversee Day and Night, to separate light and dark.
   God saw that it was good.  It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Four.

 ^20-23 God spoke: "Swarm, Ocean, with fish and all sea life!
   Birds, fly through the sky over Earth!"
   God created the huge whales, all the swarm of life in the waters,
   And every kind and species of flying birds. God saw that it was good.
   God blessed them: "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Ocean! Birds, reproduce on Earth!"
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Five.

 ^24-25 God spoke: "Earth, generate life! Every sort and kind: cattle and reptiles and wild animals—all kinds."
   And there it was: wild animals of every kind, Cattle of all kinds, every sort of reptile and bug.
   God saw that it was good.

 ^26-28 God spoke: "Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature
   So they can be responsible for the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the cattle,
   And, yes, Earth itself, and every animal that moves on the face of Earth."
   God created human beings; he created them godlike, Reflecting God's nature.
   He created them male and female.
   God blessed them:  "Prosper! Reproduce! Fill Earth! Take charge!
   Be responsible for fish in the sea and birds in the air,
   for every living thing that moves on the face of Earth."

 ^29-30 Then God said, "I've given you every sort of seed-bearing plant on Earth
   And every kind of fruit-bearing tree, given them to you for food.
   To all animals and all birds, everything that moves and breathes,
   I give whatever grows out of the ground for food." And there it was.

 ³¹ God looked over everything he had made; it was so good, so very good!
   It was evening, it was morning—
   Day Six.

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

He did this all in 6 days then he took the 7th day to rest.

Hmmm....

Just random questions that sometime cross my mind that I thought I would share with you all.

1. If "Pro" is the opposite of "Con", what is the opposite of Progress? Congress???

2. Why do you pay extra to get something put on your sandwich but don't get a discount when something is taken off?

3. When people say "PIN number" do they know they're saying "Personal Identification Number Number"?
 
4. What's the difference between partly cloudy and partly sunny?
 
5. Why is the name for fear of long words Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia?
 
6. Why do drugstores make sick people walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front?
 
7. How can bottled water go out of date?
 
8. If the professor on Giligan's Island can make a radio out of coconut, why couldn't he fix a hole in a boat?
 
9. Why do grocery stores have so many checkout line registers but only keep 3 or 4 open?
 
10. Isn't the 13th floor still chronologically the 13th even if it's named the 14th?

11. Evlotionists believe we evolved from monkies correct?  If that is true (which it aint) where are there still monkies?

Women of Faith

Whoever know me knows that I attend Women of Faith conferences every year.  I have been going since 1999 and this year is no different.  For the past 7 years I have been serving as a group leader.  Basically I sign a contract for a certain amount of tickets every year and then sell them and help ladies find hotel rooms for the event.

In the past years I had only committed to 25 tickets.  In 2011 I committed myself to 50 then God reminded me that He was bigger than that and I increased my contract to 75.  This year I signed a contract for 75 and He reminded me again that He was bigger then that and I now have (gulp) 90 tickets!!  God in all His wisdom made me increase the boarders and I have 8 left.

If you have never been to a WOF conference, it is an event where women of all ages and faiths come together in a non judgemental environment to worship, hear fantastic music from artists like Mandisa, Amy Grant, Selah (just to name a few of the artist who have graced the stage), laugh, learn and more than one occasion cry.  We listen to inspiration speakers like Sheila Walsh, Sandi Patty, Brenda Warner, Lisa Harper, Pat Smith, Patsy Clairmont, Marilyn Meberg and Luci Swindoll.

I encourage any lady who reads this post to check out http://www.womenoffaith.com/ to learn more about them.

I also want to ask you to come to Celebrate Event in Hartford CT, November 2 & 3.  If you are not from my area (MA/RI/CT) check the WOF site for an event in your area.

Most women who come to a WOF event come because they were asked...so I am asking you to purchase a ticket and come.  Your life will never be the same.

PAID IN FULL

My husband and I will be going on a cruise this summer with a wonderful couple. We met Paul and Denise at church and God has turned a casual relationship into a bonafied friendship.  Today, I made my final payment on the vacation invoice so now we look forward to waiting for vacation to come where the 4 of us will be spending time (7 days) laughing, relaxing, exploring and feasting together.

Then I thought about how Jesus paid another type of invoice. 

Because He loves us, Jesus paid for the sins of the world, for you and me, with his life (John 3:16)so we can spend eternity with Him.  When we leave this world and arrive in Heaven we will all be together again with Him in heaven enjoying the company of good friends worshiping God, laughing, relaxing, and enjoying the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:7).  Now THAT is going to a destination and a meal I am going to love!!