Insights From Cert

This weekend I was certified as a Crossfit Level 1 Trainer! The weekend was choc full of information that I will be going over and over to ingrain it in my brain. But, here are some quick highlights that I came away with, and thought I would share for anyone interested.

-Basics of Crossfit: This is really a revolutionary thought process towards fitness and general health. It's not just another fad, another exercise program, or a diet. It is a Rx for taking yourself from sickness to health. Let me ask you a question. Are you satisfied with your current level of health and ability? If not consider trying Crossfit out. Even just once. If it doesn't revolutionize your way of thinking, go back to your old way.

-What the heck does it do: It's not a cult, it's not full of glitz and glamour, it's not about that beach bod (although you just may find yourself fitting in your old bikini (-: ). It's about the fact that we all want to avoid the nursing homes, we all want to live our lives and be able to move and thrive all the way to the end. Right?! That's the goal of Crossfit. To provide functional movements (movements that are natural and organic) that are varied (all different types and challenge the body) at high-intensity (meaning you are making your body work at maximum capacity). Doesn't that sound like something you'd like your body to be able to do? Next time your friend asks you to grab the other end of a couch and haul it down to the moving van, wouldn't you like to say, "Heck yeah!"? Right now, if there was something on the floor that weighed 225lbs, I could pick it up...by myself. I couldn't do that 8 months ago. So, in theory, if I had a dude come over, the house caught fire, I could haul him out. Doesn't that just sound rad?

One last thing before I digress. I'm not here to push my agenda on anyone, or change anyone's mind on fitness and nutrition. But, I do know that there is more to life than what we think we knew about the way we've been doing things. Since the 70's we've had a problem with a rising obese and out of shape nation. The food pyramid was created to combat that, by the government, and with little research to go on. We know now that that food pyramid did nothing but push us further into now a growing epidemic of obese and sedentary people. I want to see that change, and I want to see people thrive and be healthy way into the twilight years! We only get one body people, and one life. Let's use it and treat it well!!

I am posting a video about understanding insulin and how it reacts in our body. A little bit of info on nutrition for you. If you have any questions at all, email me! I'd love to help you. Even if you can't make it to Crossfit, there are plenty of things that you can do on your own to change your life!

God Bless you, and help you keep up on this temple He's given us.

~Laura

Ok sorry, can't load the vid for some reason, but if you are interested click here and go to the post for Apr 5, 2010 and click down where it says "Insulin and Body Weight".

Bear Much Fruit

This is a picture of the lampstand that was in the Tabernacle in the Old Testament. What does it have to do with bearing fruit? I went through a little Biblical journey and was so astounded at how beautifully it ties into my own present life, and how it was used to remind me how God wants me to profoundly bear much fruit.

When the Tabernacle was to be built, the Lord gave Moses a very exacting picture of what it was to entail, and how it was to be built. Exact. This was by no accident, as it was a picture of a heavenly scene, and an echo of Eden if you will. Vern S. Poythress said in The Shadow of Christ in the Law of Moses: "The tabernacle is a renewed version of the Garden of Eden. But curtains with cherubim on them still bar the way into God's presence, just as cherubim barred the way into the original Garden of Eden after the Fall (Gen 3:24)."

In the Tabernacle, we see this lampstand with branches, buds, and blossoms (Exodus 25:33). "It is a message about time, the familiar cycle of growth of plants, springtime, summer, and harvest." He goes on to say, "This strange tree has buds, blossoms, almond flowers, and fruit all at once, because it must be a static picture of the whole cycle of time that God has created and sustains." So, phew; a lot of info and a picture of this lampstand with all the cycles of growth on it. What does that mean to me? The one thing that came to me was time. For these cycles of the fruit to mature, it takes time. How often do I want to get to the harvest time and don't really want to spend time in the summer, where it may look as if nothing is going on? How I love spring where I can see the newness of the buds, but just want to skip the process and go right to the reaping? We need to have a long obedience in the same direction, if it's the direction that the Lord has clearly shown us to go. Go by the last clear Word the Lord has given you, and remain obedient!

I realized something about us women. We like to do whatever we do, and keep doing it, even if it looks as if that fruit is no longer producing. The fact that we are in this group, and part of that friendship, and do this activity, just because it's "what we've always done", may not be what is best. We can do a thousand things and none of them well, just because we don't like change. God desires to prune us, to fix those branches that are broken, and sometimes that requires cutting them off. It's not this season's fruit. It's last season's.

To continue on the significance of what exactly the Lord has on the lampstand is so deep and made my brain spin with much information. I'll just relay a little of what stuck out to me. He described the flowers on the stand were to be almond flowers. The Hebrew word for that is (shaqed) and is related to the Hebrew word for 'watch' (shaqad). The stem sh-q-d means to be "watchful, wakeful, vigilant." (JPS Torah Commentary) In Jeremiah 11, God is talking to Jeremiah and is using these terms to convey a play on words to say He is watching, and vigilant that His Word will be fulfilled. And, how awesome that even though we must be patient to wait out His seasons that He gives us this picture of the almond tree. It is the earliest spring-flowering plant in the land of Israel, often even before the end of February. Isn't that so like God? To give us fruit, even unexpected results early in season? Just because of His love for us? Awesome.

If you read in Rev 1:11-13, 20, and Rev 2:1, 7, you start to get a picture of what the lampstands and the tree represent. The tree representing the Tree of Life, the lampstands representing the churches, God's people. We are the lights in this world. We have charge to bear much fruit. God gives us the ability to do so in John 15:1-3 when He tells us to abide in Him. Leviticus 24:4 exhorted the priests to tend the lamp continually, to keep it going and to not let it go out. Just as we have to allow the Lord to continually tend to our branches. The ones that are hanging off, broken, and needing to be pruned. God said He is vigilant, watching "I am early of the watch (soqed) to carry out my purpose." (Jer 1:12) Watching MY life to see His Word fulfilled. And I felt insignificant.

I don't know if any of this made sense, as I said, my mind was spinning after this. But, I came away with a greater knowledge of WHY God put things the way He did. The interweaving of Himself throughout scripture, and how NOTHING in any part of His Word is there by accident. I love that. I love that everything God is doing is about dwelling with us until we dwell with Him. I think that's so amazing. That's the picture I am getting as I read more about the Tabernacle and it's significance in my life.

Paleo Challenge

I am beginning an eating adventure today, and I must admit...I'm a little nervous. I'm supposed to look at this as a benefit, as a healthy lifestyle change; but to be honest, I look at it like I'm losing out, like I'm sacrificing. I am hoping that outlook will change. :)

I am embarking on a paleolithic diet. I have been attempting to be gluten and dairy free for a few months now, and I have seen improvement in my health for both myself and my kids. My kids and I suffer from psoriasis, and after being dairy and gluten free for just a couple of months, it completely went away. Now, paleo is a little more strict, and I am attempting this to see how far I can push myself out of eating things that are trouble for my body.

The gist of the paleo diet is to eat meat, fish and seafood, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts, berries and seeds, with about 65% of your food coming from animal sources and 35% from plants. These are the food sources our bodies have been designed to eat. I love it, my trainer/friend says that your protein intake needs to have a soul and a face! Out with processed foods, foods containing additives, preservatives, colorings, artificial flavorings or other “modern enhancements”.

Here is a graphic of the Paleo Pyramid to give you a visual of what this looks like:

I am getting certified in April to be a CrossFit Level 1 trainer, and I want to be at the top of my game. I want also to be able to coach and help people that are struggling with their own diet related issues. There are so many problems, diseases, and emotional problems that are diet related. We as a society want to mask them with drugs, and we can FIX them with diet! I know it's difficult. Believe me when I say I know. I am a sugaraholic, and addicted to the "feeling" that bad food gives me. I don't know if I'll stick to this strict of the paleo diet forever, but I know that I don't want to go back to eating processed foods, dairy, or gluten. I've seen what it does to me by just looking at my psoriasis which is back because I've been slipping! :)

I hope that maybe I've shared a little of my own struggles to encourage you, and I plan on sharing my weekly food chart with you. We are having a little contest at the gym to see who can stick to this and actually see results. Hey, there's a money pot. Money talks. I plan on doing my best to win some! This is my plan. At the end of the 2 months, if I happen to win some money, and even if I don't; where I normally would reward myself with a day of binging on chocolate and chips....I plan on taking myself to the spa. I think that reward sounds mighty nice. If any of you have questions, or want to take this challenge with me, email me.

Even though this is totally embarrassing, I plan on posting my weight, and measurements, as well as before and after shots. I need to be accountable, and though I'm afraid no one reads my blog, I still have to put it out there, and it makes me feel accountable!

Here is a great resource website: Living Paleo

Jadon graduated also today from Kindergarten. I admit, I cried a little at the end when she called them 1st graders. Geez! I couldn't believe how fast this year has gone by, and how big my kids are getting. I loved how sweet he looked up there, and the great things Mrs. Sharp had to say about him....ahhh, a Mother's pride. ;)

Moriah's Graduation

Moriah graduated from 2nd grade today. I can't believe it. Here is a little collage I put together from the "stepping stone" ceremony.

I am just testing out mobile blogging!!

We're Moving!

So, we've been praying for awhile about this, and we've decided to make the move down to Southern Oregon. I am originally from there, and a lot of our family is down there. It was a hard decision, because there is nothing to move away from here...we love it here! It was a good time though, with the Lord providing ways for us to pay off debt, and with Taylor's job being movable. The kids are also not at an age where they really care about leaving friends all that much. I know they will miss people, that's why I've told many of you that we'll be crashing your pad from time to time!

I am really looking forward to this opportunity to be obedient to what we feel like the Lord is calling us to do. He's opened up doors for us in each area. We'll be moving after school ends, so most likely the beginning of June.

We will be renting out our house, so if you know a family that is wanting to live in Sherwood, but at this time cannot afford to buy...send them our way!! I love this house, and it's perfect for a family. I am so glad to have my friends here, and I know that the Lord has some new ones for us in a new place. Thanks for your continued prayers that we would listen to the Spirit in this process!