Coffee. I LOVE coffee. Those of you who know me, know that I can drink coffee any time of the day and I need at least 3 cups a day. Today, I went to JRA testing and did a taste test on coffee. How perfect is that? I got paid to drink my favorite drink. At least...that's what I thought!
You have no idea how hard it is to drink a cup of coffee when you don't get to add in your own cream or sugar. They just put in the standard cream and 2 sugars. It was so hard to drink 1/2 a cup of coffee that just wasn't that good. Not to mention, you only get to eat a cracker with each cup! So, after drinking 4 cups of coffee, I realized that I don't really like coffee...but I like the non-dairy cream that goes with it (and the pastry that I usually pick too). How many calories could I save each day but not drinking coffee?
Ah. Such is life. I think that my life is like coffee. I really do love my life now. I love my husband, I love my kids (when they don't fight and behave like angels) and I love my daily life (Days of our Lives at 1:00 pm everyday!). It's good. But, without God (the non-dairy cream), it's just not that good and it's not enjoyable or even bearable. I can take a few sips but I can't down the whole cup. I need to remember to mix God into my life...or else, something is just missing.
So, pick up that daily devotional and add it into your life because it's the secret ingredient that you realize that you really love. It's not the coffee but the cream and sugar.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Unconditional Love
About a month ago, my husband and I got into a major fight. After almost 11 years of marriage, this was probably our first real fight. I wanted him to throw out a box of stuff that he saved from his ex-girlfriend and he didn't want to.
I shared this with my smallgroup and a Christian sister gave me the best advice ever. At first, it was tough to swallow but now I totally understand her words. She told me, "Grace, it's time that you start to love your husband. How horrible is it to always wait to be loved? If you can show him how much love you have, he is going to see what a wonderful person you are. He can only love you back."
Those words are so true. I wake up everyday and think about those words. How free would it be to just love? How wonderful would it be to feel the absolute joy of loving unconditionally?
I started to think about how sometimes I try this with my kids. But, unfortunately, I'm very inconsistent. On good days, I can do it. On bad days, I can't. I tried to be understanding to my son, who had a tendency to forget everything. So, I used to drive him back to school and help him find his things. After the 10th time, I blew up and threatened him that I wasn't going to do this anymore (more on the lines of, don't come back empty handed and that he BETTER find his stuff!!). I regret it now. I should have explained to him that his forgetful behavior isn't correct and that he should pay more attention to his things. Instead, now, he comes home with fear in his eyes if he forgets something. I don't want him to be afraid to tell me things (bad things). I don't want him to be afraid to share with me in case he makes a mistake. I just hope that it's not too late.
So, I have to remind myself to start loving more. Love during the good and the bad.
As with the box, my husband gave me the box the throw out (minus the pictures) and I did. Chucked it as fast as I could. After a few days, I went through the garbage bags and retrieved the box and hid it in my closet. I eventually gave it back to him.
I shared this with my smallgroup and a Christian sister gave me the best advice ever. At first, it was tough to swallow but now I totally understand her words. She told me, "Grace, it's time that you start to love your husband. How horrible is it to always wait to be loved? If you can show him how much love you have, he is going to see what a wonderful person you are. He can only love you back."
Those words are so true. I wake up everyday and think about those words. How free would it be to just love? How wonderful would it be to feel the absolute joy of loving unconditionally?
I started to think about how sometimes I try this with my kids. But, unfortunately, I'm very inconsistent. On good days, I can do it. On bad days, I can't. I tried to be understanding to my son, who had a tendency to forget everything. So, I used to drive him back to school and help him find his things. After the 10th time, I blew up and threatened him that I wasn't going to do this anymore (more on the lines of, don't come back empty handed and that he BETTER find his stuff!!). I regret it now. I should have explained to him that his forgetful behavior isn't correct and that he should pay more attention to his things. Instead, now, he comes home with fear in his eyes if he forgets something. I don't want him to be afraid to tell me things (bad things). I don't want him to be afraid to share with me in case he makes a mistake. I just hope that it's not too late.
So, I have to remind myself to start loving more. Love during the good and the bad.
As with the box, my husband gave me the box the throw out (minus the pictures) and I did. Chucked it as fast as I could. After a few days, I went through the garbage bags and retrieved the box and hid it in my closet. I eventually gave it back to him.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
$AVE by using your AAA card
AAA card members! Take advantage of back to school savings. Some include the following:
- Target.com - save 10%
- Kmart.com - save 5%
- LensCrafters - save up to 30%
- Discount at Six Flags
- Discount at Sesame Place
- Discount at the Bronx Zoo
For a complete list visit: AAA.com/Discounts
GPS annoyance!
Well, after I dropped the kids off at camp and ran my errands. Dropped off Gary's dry cleaning, headed on north to Mt. Kisco in hopes to get everything else done. Plotted in for the nearest Chase bank and found one close to Target. Except...it took me to a neighborhood! So, I plotted for the next Chase bank except it was all the way into Bedford. Ugh. Drove near Kohls and there was a tiny Chase drive thru branch! Made a wild turn and deposited my check. Phew.
Went back for Target. Found the last bits of school supplies needed and also picked up a bunch of toys from the Target mega-toy sale. There were some really AMAZING deals.
On my way out, I saw a Wachovia bank and finished my work there.
Then, on my way back home, hit the post office to mail out a package for a friend and my Netflix movie (hoping to get some new ones soon!).
Finally, I'm home and ready for my first cup of coffee.
Went back for Target. Found the last bits of school supplies needed and also picked up a bunch of toys from the Target mega-toy sale. There were some really AMAZING deals.
On my way out, I saw a Wachovia bank and finished my work there.
Then, on my way back home, hit the post office to mail out a package for a friend and my Netflix movie (hoping to get some new ones soon!).
Finally, I'm home and ready for my first cup of coffee.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Shocking damage of 1 weekend
Ha! Never expected a chili dog, chili burger and todai buffet to cause so much damage! (oh..not to mention absolutely delicious ice coffee drink, lemon cupcake, fresh waffles, eggs...need I say more?)
So, I forced myself onto the treadmill today and ran 3 mi. Though, I do believe that 3 mi. doesn't really do much. In order to start burning fat, probably need to run more than 3 mi. Tomorrow, my goal is to run 3.5 mi.
So, I forced myself onto the treadmill today and ran 3 mi. Though, I do believe that 3 mi. doesn't really do much. In order to start burning fat, probably need to run more than 3 mi. Tomorrow, my goal is to run 3.5 mi.
Pushing Yourself Further
And I wonder.... I run and yet I don't see much results. I do devotionals but I don't feel closer to God. I clean but my house never seems all that clean.
I think the problem with me is that I convince myself that "it's enough" but by just doing "just enough", doesn't really ever produce any real results. It's a good first step that I even try to do these things but I won't get the results that I really want unless I push myself just a little further. Right now, I'm just maintaining but not really improving.
So, hopefully, I can try to do a little more each day and see some results that will keep me encouraged. Though, I'm not going to kid myself and expect miraculous results. Just need to keep a healthy mind that I can always do a little more.
I think the problem with me is that I convince myself that "it's enough" but by just doing "just enough", doesn't really ever produce any real results. It's a good first step that I even try to do these things but I won't get the results that I really want unless I push myself just a little further. Right now, I'm just maintaining but not really improving.
So, hopefully, I can try to do a little more each day and see some results that will keep me encouraged. Though, I'm not going to kid myself and expect miraculous results. Just need to keep a healthy mind that I can always do a little more.
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