The State is Responsible

I am never up on the news. We haven't had a TV since before 9/11 so I miss quite a bit. I practically never click on Yahoo or Google bites that are ready and waiting for you every morning. My husband loves talk radio but I think there is enough talking going on around me that I don't need to plug something in to hear more, know what I mean? I do get a Sunday paper but only for the coupons! I just don't care to hear from any of these sources.

For three reasons.

1. I'm just not that interested in politics (I know, I know, they affect us greatly. I feel comfortable letting my husband making the decisions for us. Mostly, he decides, I vote. 'Course, I do have an opinion at times and he never forces me to choose his side, okay? So don't worry about any of that. He's much more up on what's going on, cares more and I trust his judgement.)

2. We all know that the media is sending its own message. Whatever they want people to hear, they hear.

3. I've got lots of other things to worry about than what people on the other side of the world are doing.

I hope this doesn't sound crass or uncaring or like I stick my head in the sand because I don't. There are things that I really care about. Parenting issues are a big one.

I can't believe what's going on in the world when I finally do hear a tidbit from somewhere. It's shocking. Do people really have so little faith in themselves as parents or faith in God to teach you to parent that they rely on the state? I just don't understand how this can happen. I could quote a billion and one Bible verses here to expose what is going on in Sweden. But, I am guessing anyone reading this blog knows them. And why this is wrong.

Read here.

If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

Resistance Training

You know that exercise is good for you. Aerobic activity builds the all important heart. But what do you know about weight training?

It's like money in the bank. When you do an aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, running, stair climbing, rowing, biking, etc.) you burn calories while you are working out and even later after the workout. Some studies suggest even up to 48 hours after you exercise. BUT - with weight training you burn calories even while you sleep - days and days after the muscle is built.

When you build muscle it continues to "eat" more all the time so your metabolism is going at a higher rate all the time. Fat? It just sort of sits there. Unless you try to move around. Then it sort of jiggles there. Fat takes up more space and is shapeless. It is sort of like my mom's back storage room at her house. No one really knows what is in there and it grows every year. Ew.

So does it seem like you can't eat the same as you used to when you were younger? You probably can't. Check this out: "Sedentary individuals can begin to lose muscle mass as early as their mid-twenties. Human beings can lose up to 1-2 percent of muscle mass per year, eventually losing as much as 50 % of muscle mass in the course of a lifetime. The effects of losing muscle mass include a decrease in strength, greater susceptibility to injury, and in increase in body fat." (To read the whole article go here.)

Strength training can change that for you, there are benefits for every woman. You can build back your youthfulness. You will look better, feel better and be able to eat more with out weight gain.

Interested? I just read a great book on the how-to of the weight training. View it here - remember to check out your library before buying any book!

Why don't you take a little rest today?

Resting is harder than it looks. Working at home or living at work, as it were, makes for a never ending work load. Stay-at-home moms are constantly picking up this and straightening up that. To stop and rest is a difficult requirement.

Shabbat (the Sabbath day) is mandated by God. Yes! You have to do it! And, no, you can't just pick any day of the week and say, "I choose today to be my Shabbat". From Friday sun down to Saturday sun down we are supposed to stop working. To rest.

Consider with your husband how this could be a practical part of your family life. You could plan to cook everything ahead of time, weekly chores could be done on Fridays. How about a four day school week to accomplish that? A sweet friend of mine says that they always have dessert on Shabbat. I am sure all of her children look forward to it!

Check out what the other Jenny M - another sister in the Lord I've met online, has to say about why she loves to fulfill God's commandment.

Enjoy your Shabbat today. Focus your efforts on the spiritual instead of the carnal. Look to Him today.

Mr. Right's Favorite Cookies

Is it fair to post this during the 30 day challenge? I give you my personal permission to eat one. If you are counting they have 112 calories each. Make sure you feed the rest to your family and they aren't laying around for you to see every time you go to the kitchen, just to play it safe. :)

Chocolate White Chip Cookies

INGREDIENTS
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 2/3 cups white chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; stir into the creamed mixture. Fold in the white chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are set. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Marriage Conference!

I love conferences of all types... my husband usually enjoys them too. We always try to go to the local home school conference (which, by the way, is coming up - if you haven't yet gone, it is so worth it!!!) and we've been to numerous marriage retreats just for the fun of it.

There is another one coming up, you have a chance to focus on your marriage... check it out here to see if they will be doing it in your area next month!

On the bookshelf....

I'm reading a fun little book. It's called Maryjane's ideabook, cookbook, lifebook for the farmgirl in all of us. And it really is all of those things. She's got lots of great photos and recipes as well as many ideas. You'll love it. And, it was at my library, so check yours!

Get your workout clothes on this morning! Get going! I took a picture of myself working on my flat and muscular abs for your encouragement! (Ha!)

Have a great day... watch those calories and get the exercise in so that you can feel g-r-e-a-t when you fall in to bed tonight!!!