Me time... how important it is!

In today's culture women have so many high ideals to try to live up to. Many of us have found ourselves contributing financially to the family as well as still trying to take care of everyone else's needs and desires. This often times leaves us feeling needed but not worth anything because we are the ones primarily giving of ourselves, we have little time or effort left to take care of ourselves, and there's no one taking care of us.

Think about that a little. How do we expect to do a good job with a happy heart when we are burning the candle at both ends? God expects us to care for those around us, but we need to be sure we are cared for as well. This is something I have personally been working on and I have found so much truth in.

My husband has so lovingly told me for a long time that I need to stop running all the time and enjoy a little time everyday for myself. Have I been good about doing it? Well... not really. Not until recently that is.

I used to think that "someday" I would have time to stop for bubble baths, a movie I'd wanted to watch, a good book, or a day out with my girlfriend. I figured I would have time for it when I was done with college, then it was when I had good job, then after I had a baby. I was always trying to make excuses for not taking care of myself and allowing myself some down time. I found out that that extra time never just happens, you have to make it happen.

I've been trying to make a small space in my day where I sit down for even a few minutes just for me. I might have a cup of coffee, read from a devotional or my Bible, or listen to some good Christian music or my favorite show on the radio. I find that I have to truly make an effort to do this, but it is so rewarding.

I've found that on the days where I've spent just a few minutes for me, aside from devotional time, the day goes much smoother and I am much kinder at the end of it all.

How hard it is to tell yourself you deserve a little "me" time. I struggle almost every time I stop for it. There always seems to be so much to do and not enough time to do it, but I'm always so much better off if I can just make it happen. My husband can usually tell a difference too.

Try it, you just might be a better person for it. :)

How do you take a little time for yourself? Do you?

A weighty issue...

On my mind today is what God has in mind for our physical bodies. God has called us to take care of our bodies as a temple for him.

I find myself struggling all the time because I love to eat and need to lose some weight.
I've tried Weight Watchers and done very well with it, problem is that I miss so many of the foods I love so much and honestly, most of them are healthy foods but by WW standards something that you can have very little of. Some examples of my food loves that I miss are nuts, oils and hearty wheat breads.

I recently started reading a new book by Joyce Meyer entitled "Look Great Feel Great: 12 Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now. In the book she explains all the steps she's taken to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. She is open and honest about where her problems with her weight came from. She explains how important it is to take care of ourselves in all aspects of our
health, not just losing weight.

Some of the foods I mentioned before Joyce talks about. She talks of how these are good for you and how your body needs these foods. Hallelujah... I can eat them again!

Over the last week and a half I have started to adopt some of the ideas in her book and find that I am eating better and feeling better about my food choices. I'm satisfied when I'm done eating and don't feel guilty anymore when I have something healthy but not WW approved. When I'm satisfied I'm not grabbing for the things that aren't good for me that I would often grab for on while on WW. Sure I would write down the points, but so far I'm not craving them at all!

I'm by no means endorsing this book. It's simply something I picked up at the library thinking that it was probably like all the other weight loss/ health guides. I'm not yet finished with the book and want to implement some of her other ideas into my life, but I'm taking it slowly so I don't get overwhelmed with the changes and quit.

If you'd like to take a look at this book I did find it for you at ebay and half.com and it's very inexpensive if you're interested in having one for yourself. I may talk about it more as I continue my journey to better health.

Half.com
Ebay.com

Hello!

Just starting this page and it's a work in progress. Please be patient and return to see what's in store for us as God leads us through.

I hope to focus on devotions and family life, as well as issues that affect the church body.