Common - it's a good thing. ;-)

I ran across something just now that I thought might help a lot of people (like me) going through weight loss struggles.  I've posted songs from Mandisa before here on my li'l blog, so hopefully you guys are a *little* familiar with her. ;-) 

For those who aren't - Mandisa auditioned years ago on American Idol and wowed the judges at her audition with her vocals.  Problem was, after she got her "golden ticket", Simon (you know, dear old Simon) said some pretty hurtful things about her size.  She didn't even know he'd said them until AFTER her AI journey was nearly over and she was watching episodes with her family! 

Anyway, she turned that hurt into inspiration, so to speak, and today, she just posted some awesome news on her official FB page: http://www.facebook.com/#!/mandisaofficial

I share with you guys things that help me see that I'm not alone.  And Mandisa's journey has soooo inspired me!  It's because of her that I've stumbled across some major tools for my wieght loss journey: Lisa TerKeurst's Made to Crave, and Beth Moore's Praying God's Word. 

There is a verse that I found through the Mandisa/Lisa/Beth's guidance, that really hit home:

NO temptaion has taken you except what is common to man.  God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of excape, that you may be able to endure it.  I Cor 10:13

Check out that first line: "No temptation has taken you, except what is common to man."  The worst lie the enemy could ever feed us (and sadly, the most effective) is that we are alone in what we're going through.  Can I just tell you, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE?  The creator of the universe - who cares so much about each of us individually that he individually numbered each individual hair on our head - promised YOU that what you're going through someone else is going through.  That temptation you're facing - someone else is facing.  That battle you're fighting -  someone else is fighting.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

We may never meet each other on this side of Heaven, but we can rest assured that we have a fellowship of believers who are right there with us - walking the same path we're walking - united in our goal.

God bless you on your journey - whatever that journey may be.  Here's a last little bit of inspiration for the journey ahead:

Moving Day!

It has been so crazy lately!!  My Dad wound up having a heart attack a couple weeks ago - in the recovery room after a heart cath - so I was with him for about 4 days in the hospital.  Since then, work has been crazy, church life busy, and this weekend, it looks like my dear, sweet husband and I get to move an entire house almost by ourselves!  We are moving from the house we've lived in for 4 years to an apartment closer to the church, and 5 of the helpers we had lined up wound up having other plans, so thank God one of the youth staff will be able to help us Saturday with moving some things.  We haven't made a big deal about moving because people talk so much, but I will be REALLY glad when this is over!! 

Somehow, I've managed to pretty much stay on my healthier-lifestyle-diet.  I've had exactly two Mountain Dews since 2/21/12 - one because I was about to fall asleep while driving back to Savannah from Valdosta and the other was flat-out because I was stressed out and caved. 

However, in spite of all that, I've managed to lose a whopping 16 lbs in the first month of my new lifestyle.  Not too shabby!  ;-)  I am very excited about settling into our 'new' place and getting back to a routine that includes exercising and actually cooking instead of grabbing fast food so I don't have to wash more dishes before moving day! 

Hope you all have a great spring!!