Snow is gone. Most of it. Our neighborhood looks rather naked!
Don't get me wrong. I am happy to see the snow go. It was a lovely mild day today in Portland. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. Almost like spring was right around the corner. But here we are in mid January. Not out of the woods yet!
I am feeling much better. I have been very diligent about keeping gluten out of my diet. It does make a difference. Both my son-in-law and I have pretty adverse reactions. He is a bit worse than me. But one thing for sure, when I eliminate gluten, even if I have not lost weight (which I haven't lately...grrr...), you can see it in my face. Less poofy!
I slept in again. But I am being kinder to myself. I did stretch a bit this morning. And I did a lot of power walking between bus stops and student's houses.
I am telling you right here and now that tomorrow morning I will go to the gym early and then come home and go through the rest of my routine. The weather is no longer an excuse!
I had a bit of a break between students since the buses were extremely efficient today. So instead of grabbing several snacks, I stopped at one of my favorite pho places, "Pho Dalat" on SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard, across from the Fred Meyer's on SE Hawthorne.
I am about all souped out. (I used the carcass from my roasted chicken last night to make a killer lemon chicken/spinach/rice soup. It was heavenly!)
But I am still craving fresh vegetables. So I had #E-2 which is rice noodles topped with fresh vegetables, grilled pork and shrimp skewers. It is easy to eat gluten free at a pho restaurant. Just order rice noodles! But stay away from the egg rolls. The wrappers are made with wheat flour, just saying.
During my walks and bus rides today, I had some time to ponder. I was thinking about a conversation I had with my daughter and son-in-law regarding the Holy Spirit. I told them about what I read in my devotional, to not seek God's presence, but to allow myself to be filled with His presence.
We have had many lively discussions around our kitchen table. I am sure going to miss living with them. But life does go on. I am sure we will still get together regularly. My daughter does not like washing dishes. I remember when we lived in Salem, she would call and ask me over for dinner and know that I would want to help. There was always a pile of dishes just waiting for me! So nice to be needed! :)
Anyway, I was praying today as I walked. I tend to get worried and anxious and then ask God for help. I find myself asking him to "send His Holy Spirit". But after some scripture study and talks with the adult kids, I had this "aha" moment today.
God is always there. And as a child of God and follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in me. I just need to always be aware of His presence. I tend to get in trouble in life, or get bogged down with negative thoughts, or caught up in a tizzy of anxiety and then scream "Help me God!". It reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who, when Horton the elephant hears a little "Help!" from the dandelion seed.
That is probably how God feels. Then I pray and He always comes through.
Alas, then I go back to my usual ways. Unfortunately my usually ways are a bit like Eeyore. The little donkey from Winnie the Pooh.
You know, "What's the use. Nobody cares about me."
The thing is, this is about me. About my low self confidence. About perhaps not feeling loved enough as a kid.
This is not about God. God is love. God is always there. Waiting with open arms.
I wrote on an index card, the "fruits of the Spirit" last summer. I magneted them to the fridge. I need to write them on another card and tape them to my forehead. Or maybe just carry them with me. And live them.
It is no accident that my daughter gave me a book yesterday. I told her I needed to start reading again. I shared with her the books I loaded on my Kindle. She said, "I have a book for you mom. I started to read it, but said, "This sounds like Mom".
It is called Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely, by Lysa TerKeurst.
It is definitely a book for me. What my daughter didn't know is that I had just signed up for an online book study with Lysa TerKeurst. And I ordered her new book, Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart.The study starts next week.
And what she also didn't know is that I also loaded Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst on my Kindle! It is on my list from yesterday's blog.
AND she didn't know that I took a bible study class at Relevant Life Church in Salem on Unglued. It was then I fell in love with Lysa TerKeurst. In many ways she reminds me of myself. Especially in the self doubt department. But this women is beautiful, slender and a confident public speaker. She recorded videos for the bible study from Italy. It was a life changing experience.
And now, I am finding myself drawn to her writing again. Perhaps a kindred spirit will help me pull myself up. And finally lose this self doubt and live the loving life God intended. Perhaps!
When I feel myself doubting and backsliding, I often say "I am a good person. I am a child of God".
I am! And so are you!
Happy Thursday!
 |
| I am embarrassed! My street looks suddenly naked without it's snow covering! |
 |
| Naked backyard. Our tree looks sad. :( |
Don't get me wrong. I am happy to see the snow go. It was a lovely mild day today in Portland. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. Almost like spring was right around the corner. But here we are in mid January. Not out of the woods yet!
I am feeling much better. I have been very diligent about keeping gluten out of my diet. It does make a difference. Both my son-in-law and I have pretty adverse reactions. He is a bit worse than me. But one thing for sure, when I eliminate gluten, even if I have not lost weight (which I haven't lately...grrr...), you can see it in my face. Less poofy!
 |
| Gluten-free, unpoofy faced me! |
I slept in again. But I am being kinder to myself. I did stretch a bit this morning. And I did a lot of power walking between bus stops and student's houses.
I am telling you right here and now that tomorrow morning I will go to the gym early and then come home and go through the rest of my routine. The weather is no longer an excuse!
I had a bit of a break between students since the buses were extremely efficient today. So instead of grabbing several snacks, I stopped at one of my favorite pho places, "Pho Dalat" on SE Cesar Chavez Boulevard, across from the Fred Meyer's on SE Hawthorne.
I am about all souped out. (I used the carcass from my roasted chicken last night to make a killer lemon chicken/spinach/rice soup. It was heavenly!)
But I am still craving fresh vegetables. So I had #E-2 which is rice noodles topped with fresh vegetables, grilled pork and shrimp skewers. It is easy to eat gluten free at a pho restaurant. Just order rice noodles! But stay away from the egg rolls. The wrappers are made with wheat flour, just saying.
 |
| #E-12 at Pho Dalat |
During my walks and bus rides today, I had some time to ponder. I was thinking about a conversation I had with my daughter and son-in-law regarding the Holy Spirit. I told them about what I read in my devotional, to not seek God's presence, but to allow myself to be filled with His presence.
We have had many lively discussions around our kitchen table. I am sure going to miss living with them. But life does go on. I am sure we will still get together regularly. My daughter does not like washing dishes. I remember when we lived in Salem, she would call and ask me over for dinner and know that I would want to help. There was always a pile of dishes just waiting for me! So nice to be needed! :)
Anyway, I was praying today as I walked. I tend to get worried and anxious and then ask God for help. I find myself asking him to "send His Holy Spirit". But after some scripture study and talks with the adult kids, I had this "aha" moment today.
God is always there. And as a child of God and follower of Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in me. I just need to always be aware of His presence. I tend to get in trouble in life, or get bogged down with negative thoughts, or caught up in a tizzy of anxiety and then scream "Help me God!". It reminds me of the Dr. Seuss book, Horton Hears a Who, when Horton the elephant hears a little "Help!" from the dandelion seed.
That is probably how God feels. Then I pray and He always comes through.
Alas, then I go back to my usual ways. Unfortunately my usually ways are a bit like Eeyore. The little donkey from Winnie the Pooh.
You know, "What's the use. Nobody cares about me."
The thing is, this is about me. About my low self confidence. About perhaps not feeling loved enough as a kid.
This is not about God. God is love. God is always there. Waiting with open arms.
I wrote on an index card, the "fruits of the Spirit" last summer. I magneted them to the fridge. I need to write them on another card and tape them to my forehead. Or maybe just carry them with me. And live them.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
It is no accident that my daughter gave me a book yesterday. I told her I needed to start reading again. I shared with her the books I loaded on my Kindle. She said, "I have a book for you mom. I started to read it, but said, "This sounds like Mom".
It is called Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out and Lonely, by Lysa TerKeurst.
It is definitely a book for me. What my daughter didn't know is that I had just signed up for an online book study with Lysa TerKeurst. And I ordered her new book, Finding I Am: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart.The study starts next week.
And what she also didn't know is that I also loaded Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst on my Kindle! It is on my list from yesterday's blog.
AND she didn't know that I took a bible study class at Relevant Life Church in Salem on Unglued. It was then I fell in love with Lysa TerKeurst. In many ways she reminds me of myself. Especially in the self doubt department. But this women is beautiful, slender and a confident public speaker. She recorded videos for the bible study from Italy. It was a life changing experience.
And now, I am finding myself drawn to her writing again. Perhaps a kindred spirit will help me pull myself up. And finally lose this self doubt and live the loving life God intended. Perhaps!
When I feel myself doubting and backsliding, I often say "I am a good person. I am a child of God".
I am! And so are you!
Happy Thursday!
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