Get on the bus

I received the new leaders kit for First Place today. I am reading the book written by Carole Lewis first. In the book she shared something from her favorite speaker Patsy Clairmont that I want to share with you.

She tells a story about her son when he was about six years old. Because they lived out in the country, she walked her son to the bus stop every morning. One day, early in the school year, before she got back to the house, she heard the footsteps of her son running up behind her.

“What in the world are you doing?” she said to him. “The school bus will be here any minute.”
“I’m quitting school,” he said, looking her straight in the eye.
“You can’t quit school,” she replied. “You’re only in the first grade. Why do you want to quit?”
“Well, it’s too long, too hard and too boring,” he said.
“Son, that’s life,” said Patsy. “Get on the bus.”

I REALLY had to laugh at this because my 17 year old son Jamie is just like this, as a matter of fact we had a similar conversation when he was this age, which led to me taking him out of school in 8th grade and homeschooling him.

Carole Lewis is telling us that we have a worthy goal here by participating in the First Place program. BUT to reach that goal it will take time, effort and focus. DON’T quit when you run into obstacles. She says to square your shoulders, set your lunch kit firmly under your arm and get on the bus—in other words, take one simple step toward your goal.

I strongly urge each one of you not to quit. Don’t get off the bus because you thing it will be too long of a ride, too hard or too boring. Remember what the initial reason for you to join First Place was. I love you all and hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Less is Best....

As we are ending our First Place group for the summer, I continue to do research on the most impossible task our modern day society has not been able to defeat. That is....weight loss without exercise. I have come to the conclusion that this is not possible. We do need to exercise AND eat less. OK..easier said than done. If we try to do this within our own strength we will not be able to accomplish this task. The simple fact is that we need to rely on Christ First. With Christ, all things are possible. We need to enjoy this summer, vacations and family gatherings. How can we do this and still maintain a level of healthy living? First of all I believe that we need to find a reason within ourselves and have a complete determination to make changes. Then we need to live out those changes for 30 days. If you can make it through 30 days you will begin to see a lifestyle change. You will find yourself wanting to exercise and eating your calorie level. When you go on vacation you will focus on opportunities to exercise. Get a hotel with an exercise room. Also, I believe that you need to take enough money to eat at restaurants which offer healthier choices. We have been in First Place for one year. We all know what we need to do....now lets continue to encourage each other, quit making excuses....and walk, walk, walk. Kristen has been walking with me 3 miles a day for three solid weeks now. We can do it!!

Overweight children...do we care?

This week has been a big week in the news for overweight kids and what to do with the "XXXL" Generation. Sadly, the parents seem to be in the same shape as their kids. What can we do to help? Many articles are suggesting that we don't tell them that they are overweight. This seems to be the same opinion of this "Y" generation of kids. Y should I lose weight? Y can't I eat out every day? Y do I have to exercise? My heart has been burdened for the past few months, and I am searching myself for an answer to be able to help. What I have found out with my own daughter (she is 12 years old) is that the first two weeks I had to force her to walk with me 2 miles a day. She mumbled and complained all the way too. Now she is in a routine and she knows that I mean business and we will walk every day, no matter what. But the key to this is that I participate with her. We do eat healthier at home and I had to do this with my other three children and husband. They aren't overweight, but to help Kristen and to encourage them to stay on the right path, I knew that I needed to make lifestyle changes. So far...so good...I also bought a teen walking DVD from Leslie Sansone. Now she can walk on rainy days and with people of her own age! She complains about that too.....but she will get over it.