make every moment count

two things happened in two days that reminded me to make every moment count.

first, i watched a raunchy movie, it was pretty funny at times, it had some insights into relationships, but then it impacted me with its clever way of distracting from the truth and encouraging insensitivity to evil. it made me feel sick. i was embarassed to be in the theatre, feeling embarassed that someone from church might see me there. i felt sad for our society and especially younger generations (since its 14A in canada, but R in the states) who are being led to a trough of sexual and moral confusion. music (ie. i kissed a girl), movies (most??? i watch alot of movies, and i CANNOT believe the level of sexual content that is in a 14A, even PG 13 is very close), even commercials and of course, magazines, tv, etc. are so full of terrible examples of sexuality and what is expected of women or men. i feel confused. i dont know what it means to be a Christian woman, married, sexy, holy: whats right, whats not for me in those roles?...in watching this movie, i just wonder what Christian couples have decided are acceptable vs. what does God actually think about all this? what's He going to say when we see Him? thats where make every moment count comes in: dont waste time listening to advice on marriage, sex and relationships from sources that are not on common ground with the Bible. Secondly, dont give into what this culture is doing, it was making me think of Sodom and Gomorrah...our culture is trying its hardest to normalize EVERYTHING. nothing is off limits. and this is way beyond sex before marriage, or casual sex. anyway, i take purity seriously. or i would like to. i would like to make every moment count for purity, to say no to what our society/culture is trying to do, to mess with marriages and relationships. and its not that a person/producer/writer is necessarily intentionally plotting to cheapen marriages and commitment or trying to make people continually unsatisfied with their partners (or maybe there is, ie. to have effective, thriving, consumerism there must be newer, improved items to buy, and the old ones have to be thrown away--thats what we do with things, thats what society seems to be doing with people). plus, i think writers think they are writing what is actually happening out there, but in the process, the power of suggestion make "what is actually happening" somewhere, start to happen everywhere.
(like in another movie i saw recently, they had to have a 3 girls kissing at a party since 2 girls kissing is not as riske anymore, its just so darn commonplace (snarcastic)).

i wished i would have looked up the rating on kidsinmind.com as it does give a clear run thru of what to expect of a movie. so if your heart sounds like mine, dont go see The Ugly Truth.

i sooo want young women, not so young women, all women to see their value AS A WOMAN and to not give themselves away for nothing, with little thought. to see they are precious.

the other thing that made me see that i need to make every moment count, was when i was approached by a nice young lady to do a bible study and every time she saw me, she'd say she wanted to get together and talk and do a bible study. i didnt want to rush her into anything, and i also dont want to over commit myself, but i was excited for the opportunity. so we finally made a date to get together, then the day before, we ran into eachother, had a little visit, a little catch up, so then we planned to keep our date for the next day. i felt compelled by God to share some quick points of what it means to commit to God, but i decided to save it for the next day.

she cancelled. with a non-committal rebook for the day after. it didnt happen.

i wish i would have just said what i wanted to say that first day. lesson learned. i'll try that next time. why not? my life is in God. what i need to say, can be said with preparation or not. God will use the willing heart and also when the opportunity arises, i know to use it.

anyway, poor audrey is calling me to bed, so to bed i will go.

g'nite

getting there

i am quite thrilled that i lost 2 lbs this past week. i'm getting so close to my goal range, i really only need to lose another 11.6 lbs to be within my goal range where i wont need to pay anymore. so at best, that would be another 6 weeks, it will probably take a little longer, but i've got to really give it my best.

i'm have definitely lost a size or two, but since i've got another 15 lbs to go, that will probably mean another size and a bit, so i am really trying to stop myself from buying more summer clothes. my yoga style pants are getting alot of wear these days since they fit much better than jean capris.

its been exciting to see a bit of a transformation, where i'm finally looking the way i want to look.

count me in

okay, if you know what has worked in the past, keep doing it!!!

thats a weight watcher's slogan. i shoulda known. i only had a 0.2 lb GAIN this week at weigh in, but i was, of course, really hoping for a loss. i didnt count points most of the week because i was BUSY (here are the excuses: kids in soccer in the a.m., kids club in the p.m., sick baby all night, dr.'s appointments, plus prep for the kids club because i was directing the Preschool club, making dinners, lots of driving, etc.) and i tried to eat basically the same thing everyday without over indulging. i guess i did that, but after counting my points yesterday, i see that i probably did go over some days, but obviously i maintained this past week.

so, lesson learned: Count your points, Amanda!!! you've got 15.6 lbs to go!

i really dont want to lose my momentum

feeling closer

i had a goal of reaching my 5% loss or being under 170lbs. i felt pretty excited about the prospect of being under 170 since it feels like its been a looong time, and thats just so much closer to 155.

i got my 5% which was an 8.8 lb accumulative loss (since the "restart" on June 11) but 10.2 lbs since i began in October. i'm only 13 lbs from being back within my allowable weight (at 155 goal) so thats pretty exciting, and quite attainable. i just finished 5 weeks which i prepaid, and then paid for a single day today. so i figure if i keep going at a steady pace, another 5 weeks should/could have me at goal! will i ever be excited to be back under 160!! its coming :D

i'm starting to look the way i want to look and now its just fine tuning. i'm still having some issues with my belly button (its slightly herniated, and sometimes is hard so thats kind of scary). i talked to a clinic dr. about it and he was pretty adamant that if i experienced any pain that i should head straight to Maple Ridge for emergency surgery. hmmm

here's to filling your plate half full with veggies!