Exercise

Lately I've been working hard on dropping some weight.  I lost 21 pounds last winter (YEAH ME!) . . . but I'm frustrated to admit that as of a few weeks ago I had put 12 pounds back on :(.  Yeah.  I'm pretty disappointed in myself.  So a couple of weeks ago I started taking Plexus Slim (THIS IS NOT AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR PLEXUS, BUT I AM A PLEXUS AMBASSADOR AND HAVE HAD GREAT RESULTS AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN HEARING MORE JUST LEAVE ME A COMMENT).  I've had a lot more energy since then, I'm able to stick to my low carb lifestyle, I've started doing my daily walking again and I'm happy to report I'm down 5.6 pounds!!

Yesterday afternoon, and four cans of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint I'm using to FINALLY finish up THIS OUTDOOR FURNITURE project later (pictures coming soon!!), I decided to take my daily walk for exercise.  I put on my tennis shoes, put my ear buds in and walked 4 miles on a very warm and humid Missouri day!!  

Walking four miles was tough. It was HOT and HUMID.  I usually only walk three miles per day, but it was Sunday afternoon, I had some extra time, and so I just kept on walking . . . and listening to my ipod.

I listened to four miles worth of praise and worship music.  Some of the songs brought tears to my eyes.  Some of the songs made my heart soar with joy and peace.  I prayed as I walked, I praised as I walked.

Yes, walking four miles is good for my body.  It is good to get my heart rate up, it is good to move those muscles, it is good to burn a few extra calories.  But no matter what I do, no matter how healthy I am, one day my body will pass away.  And the four miles I walked won't really have mattered.  But the four miles of praise and worship songs.  The four miles of my heart being opened to my Savior.  The four miles of FOOD for my soul.  That will last forever.  

I said all that to say this.  Taking care of our bodies is a good thing.  I believe God wants us to be healthy and in good shape as we serve Him.  But if you are putting more time improving your physical body, than feeding the Holy Spirit that lives inside you, you're investing in the wrong place.

Prayers Needed

Today I am asking for your prayers.  I actually have a couple of prayer requests.  The first one is prayer for a friend of mine (Holly), and her husband (Jason).  Jason has cancer.  Jason has been participating in some clinical trials (yeah, his cancer is very serious) and, long story short, they have stopped the clinical trials and sent them home.

Holly and Jason are very strong in their faith.  They are asking God for a miracle, and yet they know that God is still God even if their prayers aren't answered the way they want.

Folks these people need to be bathed in prayer.  They need the power of the Holy Spirit to encamp around them.  They need lifted up.  They need the joy of the Lord to be their strength.  Jason needs healing.  They need peace that passes all understanding.

Please pray for this wonderful couple (and their family) as you would pray if they were your siblings, your kids, your parents.  We know that God is still on the throne.  And we know that nothing is too difficult for Him.  

I also ask for prayers for my sweet daughter, Alex, as she flies to Norfolk, Virginia EARLY Saturday morning.  Her husband will pick her up and they will get her in the "system" as a military spouse, and he will be getting signatures and finishing up his last few days of being stationed in Virginia.  Then they will be driving back to Missouri together.  We don't know exactly when they will be back . . . just depends on how quickly he is released from Virginia.  Once they are back in Missouri, they will be here for about a week, and then they head to San Diego, California where our son-in-law will serve his last two years in the Marine Corp.  Please pray for safe travels for them, as she is flying tomorrow, and as they are driving back sometime next week.  And keep praying for this mama who still can't believe her baby is going to be living 1,800 miles away.

Thank you all so much for your prayers.  I believe the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous availeth MUCH.

Blessings to you all!  

Load, Haul, Unload, Repeat

This is what my family did Sunday afternoon.

Haul hay.

This is my handsome husband loading the hay on the trailer.

This is my view driving the trailer to the bale pen.

This is handsome son unloading the trailer and putting the bales in the pen.

This is beautiful daughter.  She is hauling bales as well.

And, this is the heavy rain that forced us to stop for the day.  

While it would have been nice to have hauled all the bales in, you're never going to hear a farmer complain about rain in August in Missouri!

Hey, Hey, HAY

I think this is the LATEST my husband has ever been baling hay.

We have had a LOT of rain this year, and everything is late. 

Today our beautiful daughter is raking hay, and my husband is baling.  If he doesn't break down (which is always a possibility) he should finish up the summertime hay today.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate and he will be able to get a second cutting of hay this fall.  Our cattle will sure appreciate that hay when the snow flies this winter.

 This picture is freshly mowed hay.

I wish you could smell it.   Heavenly!!

The left side has been mowed, the right sight is still standing.  

And in case you're wondering what my garden looks like . . . well here you go.

No, it's not a mistake.  This is a shot of where my garden should be, if we had planted a garden that is.  Between all the rain we had this spring and summer, and two weddings in 49 days, we just couldn't find the time.

Maybe next year!