Boot Camp

Where do I begin? Let me start at the beginning. First of all, I have NEVER been a "workout kind of girl". I DO NOT like to sweat, AT ALL!!! So, after having Judah, I was trying to get rid of the baby weight (believe me, I had a LOT to get off- all worth it)! I started dieting pretty soon after he was born. The weight was going, but the inches were not. Six weeks after JZ was born (Judah Zachry), I started spinning- and LOVED it! However, $100 a month was a bit too expensive for me. I did it for a month and then took some time off becuase I started back to work (JZ was 10 weeks). I started back the middle of October at the Evans Y and have been hooked ever since! I go 3 days a week before work. I really enjoy going in the mornings because it is not as crowded and I don't have to put JZ in the nursery there and it is good "me" time. I have started making some good relationships with my "spinning buddies" too! I guess I tell you all this as background for boot camp.
One of my spinning buddies, Dawn (who is a Workout Queen), told me that the Y was offering Boot Camp so I excitedly decided to do it... not knowing what I was getting myself into! Yesterday was the first morning of boot camp (we meet Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday mornings). And let me tell you, I am feeling it today! I know people say all the time, "I didn't even know I had these muscles" well, I am saying that today! Arms, back, legs, stomach, EVERYWHERE hurts! The instructor, or should I say drill sergeant, is in the military herself so Boot Camp is the perfect name for it! She had us dying... I talking sit ups, push ups, running, 6 inches, windsprints, suicides, you name it, we did it! I was exhausted after that class!
This program is 6 weeks. During the 6 weeks, we will have 3 PT tests, our first being Saturday. I am curious to see what that will be like, but I can imagine- NOT fun! However, I am looking forward to the progress I will make and the results at the end. My goal is to be in the best shape I ever have been.... we shall see! Wish me luck :)

They Made it Home!

The LIFE Ministries Haiti team made it back home safely this afternoon! Praise the Lord! This morning about 3 a.m., the team was able to get a military flight out of Haiti to New Jersey. Once they arrived in New Jersey, they were unsure of how they would get back home. Pastor Donnie's son, Brandon, was on 88.3 this morning when a local heard him telling the story of his parents and the team trying to get home. This local, who is also a pilot, decided he would use his own personal plane to fly to New Jersey today and bring them home! Not only was the team coming home, but Donnie and Cindy's kids were able to fly to New Jersey so they could all be on the flight home together!
The team arrived home safely around 4:30 today!
Thank you for your prayers and continue to lift Haiti up!

Pray for LIFE and Haiti

Below is an email from LIFE MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL. I have known this pastor and his wife for MANY years. In fact, Pastor Donnie married Josh and I. Please read and pray.

As you may already know, Haiti has been devastated by the recent earthquake. We, at Life Ministries, have been particularly interested in this disaster as our pastor and some of our staff have been caught right in the middle of the devastation. We have not spoken with them in the last few days, but we have heard reports that Pastor Donnie and the team are safe. They have been working tirelessly in the ravaged city of Port-au-Prince.

Now is the time for the church to rise up and help this poor country. One of the best ways that we know how to do that at this time is by donating funds that will be used to help the Haitians in this critical hour.

Would you consider making a donation today to help the people of Haiti?

You can click here to give online through our PayPal account.

One hundred percent of all money given will go towards relief efforts in Haiti and all gifts are tax-deductible.

Also, please use the forward link at the bottom of this email to pass this along to others that would like to donate.

Thank you so much for your generosity,

Life Ministries Staff

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRAYERS FOR OUR TEAM AND THE PEOPLE OF HAITI.
WHETHER YOU GIVE THROUGH OUR CHURCH OR ANY OTHER ORGANIZATION ANY AMOUNT WILL HELP.

Selling Our House

Just before Josh and I got married in June of 06, we puchased our townhouse. My thoughts on buying a townhouse were that we would have PLENTY of room because both Josh and I lived at home prior to getting married. Well, I was wrong- we did not have enough room! Combined we had so much stuff and immediately filled up our house and needed more room..... then, add a baby in the house! Soon after finding out I was pregnant with Judah in October of 08, baby things started multiplying in our home. Then came the baby showers! First of all, I am SO GRATEFUL for the all the showers that were given for us but I was overwhelmed with "all things baby"! I had NO IDEA where I would put everything. I had to get creative with my storage techniques. So, needless to say, we have run out of room in our townhouse and it is up for sale! We are looking for a bigger house and hope and pray our current one sells quickly. Please pray with us!

I do love our current home and will miss it.... it has been the house we came home to after our honeymoon and the home we brought Judah home to from the hospital. Josh and I have so many memories here. Not to mention our good friends, Tony and Haley (Haley Lamb Photography), live right behind us, we are across the street from our church, New Hope, and I am a mile from work! Oh well, all good things must come to an end. I know that we will love the next home the Lord puts us in just as much as we love this one and we can create more new memories in it!

Where Are We?

My goal for having a blog is to have our life "in writing" . I do try to keep a very detailed baby book for Judah but that does not have much about Josh and I. So, here's an update on where we are in life.

Although it seems like Judah was just born, he is now almost 7 months old- 7 months on Monday to be exact. I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by since he was born! Judah is so much fun! Josh and I were talking as we were putting Judah to be last night about how much we LOVE this stage of his life. Each stage of Judah's life has been enjoyable but now he is getting his own personality- and watching it develop is great! Judah likes to play little games with us like peek-a-boo, or "Where's Judah?" as we call it. Playing games with him just makes him smile SO big and belly laugh.... WE LOVE IT!!! Our strong boy is sitting up and just transitioned into his big boy car seat last week, and let me tell you- HE THINKS HE IS HOT STUFF! He really enjoys facing forward and seeing everything as we pass by. Although he is not crawling, Josh wants him to so bad! He gets on the floor with Judah and does his best to get Judah to push up on all fours and crawl! To be honest, I am completely fine with him not crawling yet! We all know how crazy life will be once he does! Judah is also learning to wave! Judah truly is such an amazing blessing to us! We never knew how wonderful life would be with a child of our own until he arrived. Josh and I thank the Lord for him daily. We pray many, many blessing over his life. My prayer for Judah, ever since I found out I was pregnant with him, is that the Lord will use him for His glory and take him to the nations to spread His Word!

Josh is SO busy with life right now. He is, most importantly, an amazing husband and dad but also.... working full time (plus some) at Verizon, in school getting his masters in education to teach middle school, leading a middle school Bible study for guys, and leading a Bible Club through our church (New Hope) at Evan's Middle School.... he is one busy guy!

Since Judah has been born, I have been re-evaluating how I spend my time because we all know that being a parent changes everything! This is my life as of now (aside from being a wife and mom).... teaching 3rd grade at Brookwood Elementary, leading a high school Bible study for girls, and attending a small group Bible study with some AMAZING girls. I truly love and enjoy everything I am committed to. I realize how blessed I am to have the fantastic friends and family that I do!

So, this is where we are in life :)

Beginning....

Well, here we go! I am now a blogger. Josh asked me soon after Judah was born if I was going to be a blogger.... I happily said "NO" because I did nto think it was for me. Recently I have been thinking more and more about it and decided today would be the day!

More posts to come, off to bed!