Sometimes I like the Easy Route

I have to admit it, sometimes I like to take the easy road -- especially when it comes to weight. For that reason, Plexus has been a blessing to me! This year is CrAzy for most teachers I know. A good friend and I were talking and she was telling me how she went on a short week long chocolate and sweet binge, because she is sooooo stressed from teaching and all the things they keep adding to our plate (lol!).

Luckily though, she decided to tap back into her weightloss journey and dropped 3 pounds this week! Down from 184 to 181 -- I'm so excited for her because I know what it's like to struggle with weight. It's always been an issue for me. What I love about Plexus is it's just easy to use. Even though we post these AMAZING TRANSFORMATIONS, because they obviously happen, not everyone looses weight that way on plexus. For some of us, the changes are slower and more gradual; but I'm ok with that! I eat what I want, when I want... normally just less. Right now you can join Plexus and get the plexus slim (helps make your waist skinny!), the biocleanse (reoxygenates) and the Probio5 (puts healthy biotics back in your system) for a little more than $125 and that includes a website that all you have to do is post on your FB page and you're in business. Even if you never sell anyone else their first packet, you are still getting all these products for a great price.

www.81949.myplexusproducts.com or use ambassador #102399 I feel bad when ppl say, $100+ a month is too much. I thought the same way, that's why I signed up to sell it. Since I'm a numbers person, I'll tell you the best way to look at it. You eat less, so you save money. Less cold drinks/coffee, you save money. That side of your closet that houses all those outfits that you keep hoping to get back into, more money saved right there. Everytime you DON'T have to buy a new pair of $40 pants or a $25 shirt, YOU HAVE SAVED MONEY. Increased confidence so you actually apply for those jobs that you've been wanting to, saved money. This summer, I actually felt so much better about the direction I was headed that I even went without makeup many days, saved money! Plus everytime ppl order from me or my website, I make money. And you can too.... But I really do challenge you to try it for yourself first. It's hard to sell a product that you can't personally vouch for. But when ppl see you and the quick or slow changes, they want a little of what you have... And I love helping people feel better about themselves. Anyways, just wanted to toss this out there. Hope you'll give it a try.... you can cancel anytime, I'll even text ya the customer service number to cancel, if you decide it's not for you.... but at least give it a try, and hang in there.... My newest customer is a man, and he's down 6 lbs in 8 days, but way more inches across his chest :) I hope you'll think it over, IF weight and health have been issues for you.... If you are pre-diabetic or diabetic this is definitely you need to try....

Moon Phase Oreos! Love it.... Of course I didn't create this little lesson, but I know lots of little people that would be actively engaged in it... http://www.sciencebob.com/blog/?p=828

Deep thoughts... and shallow moments!

Ahhh so the week has arrived -- high stakes testing week in Louisiana. I was nervous, then I got over myself and just put it in God's hands. I have done my job. We can only work with what we get. We only have so much influence, and so many hours in the day. Many of my friends have sent messages of encouragement, I think they know how pressurized I generally feel this time of year (lol!). No matter what happens though, I know, that at the end of the day, I have poured myself out for my students.

However the most important message I got this week, was from my sister, and it was something my MUCH older, lol, and wiser brother in law had shared with Kim. This is NOT the test that tells us if we get into heaven or not... Wow! He is right. This is not the most important test in the world. This test is a small measure of some 'successes, and even in some cases where it may look like a failure, if you take a good look at what they came to us with, we will see growth. However it does not measure maturity, it does not measure kindness or patience, it does not even take into account life issues that children have dealt with. It is just a measure.

I am so glad that Kim shared Bryan's statement with me. It was a "lightbulb moment" for me. It reminded me, that we are working with little humans, not just numbers. And most of all, it reminded me to trudge ahead this week, and try to use an extra dose of patience, kindness, and gentleness in the classroom, as I know these littles are feeling the weight of "the test." Father God, as always, open my eyes, that I may see your plans more clearly....

Whatever your "tests or trials" are this week, I pray that you remember that there is a bigger test in life... and if we fail, in the way we treat people... all other tests really don't matter much! Peace

Beautiful Things

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust... You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us....

I really love that song right now, it reminds me that God will finish the good work he started in us. I haven't written in a while. Around Christmas time I began feeling sort of pressed in and pushed down by the world. I went through a rough spot where I just got complacent. That's really not a great place to be, and oddly enough
a message from an athiest friend is what reminded me that I needed to get myself right with God again. We can run, but we can't hide from God's love.

Makes me think of Saul/Paul in the bible. I love how God took a man who once persecuted Christians, knocked him off his horse and gave him new vision and purpose...That's what I'm praying for these days: New vision and purpose.

In 1 Cor. 9:19-23 Paul states: 19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

I'm not sure that I have made myself "slave to everyone" but I feel like it's a direction that I should be heading. I want to live like that... to do ALL THIS for the SAKE of the GOSPEL, that I may SHARE in its BLESSINGS.

Father God, let me run the good race and let me not grow weary. Focus me on your plans and purposes. Save me from my selfish pride, teach me your ways. Renew my spirit, and let things oppose your work in me, melt away. Most of all, thank you, for never giving up on me. I trust you in all things. Amen

New Arrivals, Great Goodies

Got lots of cute pink/brown travel systems, plus a precious red and pink one too (there's a pic of this one below!); Also have a few walkers, a musical winnie the pooh one $26, and a 2-in-1 one for $26; but also have 4 cheaper ones that are a little more basic for $20 to $16; A cute Eddie Bauer Pack & Play with a mobile, music and a night light $35; Also some Exersaucers, Bumbos, and a Jeep Side by Side Double Stroller for $38.50, An aquarium 2 way cradle swing and a few more swings too, including precious Graco Brown/Pink one with mobile....

I could've got more out...

I love the movie Schindler's List. In my opinion it is one of the best movies ever, right up there with To Kill A Mockingbird. I love it because it shows that even amongst the most extreme evil, there is still good at work. To understand what's going on, Mr. Schindler creates a "business" where he needs workers and he buys these workers for his factory by bribing various ppl in the Nazi heiarcy. In essence he buys these ppls lives, because their job at the factory saves them from facing death in the concentration camps. My favorite part of the movie, where I always find myself drenched in tears follows.

Stern (one of Schindler's workers) steps forward and places a ring in Schindler's hand. It's a gold band, like a wedding ring. They created the ring from gold that came from fillings in their teeth and various other means. Schindler notices an inscription inside it.

STERN: It's Hebrew. It says, 'Whoever saves one life saves the world.'

Schindler slips the ring onto a finger, admires it a moment, nods his thanks, then seems to withdraw.

SCHINDLER: (to himself) I could've got more out...

SCHINDLER: (to himself) I could've got more... if I'd just... I don't know, if I'd just... I could've got more...

STERN: Oskar, there are twelve hundred people who are alive because of you. Look at them.

SCHINDLER: If I'd made more money... I threw away so much money, you have no idea. If I'd just...

STERN: There will be generations because of what you did.

SCHINDLER: I didn't do enough.

It always moves me.... stirs me deep within. It's the point where I stopped throwing obscene amounts of God's money away at retail stores. And that instead of the days where I'd go get my hair cut and colored 4 times a year for $125 a pop, I cut back to just twice a year and really not even that. I remember so clearly getting dressed one day looking in the mirror taking an hour to put on make up and fix my hair just right and I almost became ashamed of myself as it was vanity in a way I had never seen it before. There was a time when I spent more time on dressing myself than I did on praying and talking to God. Where I would spend $85 on a pair of jeans and not even give it a thought.

But then it washed over me, all of this and people are still dying. And when I die, will Jesus say, "Jill, I blessed you with money and a good mind and a body which could work, and you spent it all on you and yours." I know many well-meaning, good christians who would say, "God wants us to enjoy what he's given us." Of course, of course he does, I'd never argue that. But I get tired of "fluffy lovey lovey" stuff all the time. Jesus was hard-core and I want to be that way. And I want to find ppl who believe that way because I need them to raise the bar in my life. I want to be challenged and I just don't want to think that I was buying even a $40 shirt and people are starving bc they have no money. This all came back to me today as I was on the eliptical trainer watching some advertisement thing where they were showing children in Africa STARVING... not just hungry but starving.... tears streamed down, not bc I pitied them, but because I am ashamed that I have forgotten the things that God had once revealed to me so clearly.

And today, I recommit to being less me focused and more kingdom focused. I commit to spending more time in prayer, and using ALL of the resources God has given to me wisely... God has given us everything and so many of us make excuses not to tithe or do what God places on our heart but today, I'm going to work towards that tenacity and perseverance that the disciples talk about. I want to truly be more like Jesus. I don't want to settle and I don't want to appease myself with halftruths... because the truth of the matter is, is that we are building up his kingdom or we are tearing it down. Father God, thank you for revelations in my life, thank you that you have different revelations and standards for us all, and no one can decide the path another should take... thank you for your word in Ecclesiastes that says "There is a greivous evil that I have seen under the sun: riches were kept by their owner to his hurt." ... I don't wanna be that way Father God.... mold me, change me, make things clear. Amen

bad morning.

today has not started off the way i would have liked. i got up early, left the house at a respectable 6am to workout, drive across town and no freaking access card. i put it in my purse. didn't use my purse, so why isn't it in there??? no idea, so i try to make the best of things, i go walking at mcneese and already i am whining to God. yes i shed tears bc my card wasn't in my purse. why wouldn't i? it's one of the few things that i do, that i love! i planned, i prepared, i put my clothes out the night before. i grabbed my water bottle and my towel and still things couldn't go the way i wanted them to. ouch that hurts.

I am home by 7:30am, still plenty of time for me to turn out that paper due for my class this a.m.

i try to login to blackboard through msu's website and i can't get the site to work. i have tried off and on all night, finally i figure out a way to access blackboard without going through msu. YAY i still have time, i can still do this...

oh goodie, the extra meeting I had with a prof yesterday to MAKE SURE I was enrolled in BB was useless bc it didn't work. so there is no possible way i can do my homework or print out the 20+ pages or so i need today for class.

this is one of those mornings where i totally want to be irresponsible and tell mcneese to shove their freaking degree and certification. i am so tired of battling that place and i know God has allowed me to linger there forever so i can learn patience and to abide in him. but have you ever been at that point where you think "i just can't stand it another day." i hate it all, i hate boring 3 hour classes, i hate the parking, i hate busy work, i hate that they spend $8million on the jocks new workout place or whatever and i can't freaking login to a system that i need to be able to do my HOMEWORK. i hate paying outrageous fees, i hate having to email 4 different ppl to get one answer! i try NOT to hate it, I try NOT to complain about it, but I HATE THAT PLACE and I want to just YELL it at someone, or something. but even if i did, nothing will ever change.

father god, i am all messed up inside this morning and i don't want to be. i don't want to be frustrated, i don't want to feel like this. i don't want to care if I fail this class. and i don't want to feel crappy bc i am whining about working out and mcneese, when i know there are far worse things in this world, i want to not care about worldly things. i feel like i've given up so much, can you please just show me favor here? can u please just change my heart? please...