Heart Choices: 2009-02-15 -->

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Remembering My Mom


My mom died four years ago today. Instead of being sad, I want to remember all of the good times we had and treasure them in my heart. This photo was taken on her last birthday; her 75th. I was so glad I was able to celebrate that day with she and my dad.

My friend Terri always reminds that my mom now has another birthday; the day she graduated from this earth and went to Heaven. That comforts me because ...I know I'll see her again.
I'd like to share a few pictures with my blogging friends.

This photo was taken in Norway. My mom and dad loved to visit Norway as this is where all of their relatives originated from.


She loved her Norwegian cousins and enjoyed spending time with them.

She loved to do needlepoint, knitting and crocheting. She was always doing something with her hands. I didn't inherit this from her.

She loved to ride horses. When my dad and she were dating, they used to go horse back riding. I had the opportunity to take lessons with her many years ago.
This photo shows off two of my mom's talents. She was first of all ...a clown, alway joking. And second of all, she was an excellent piano player. She played by ear and could listen to a song and then sit down and play it. I took lessons as a kid but was never very good at it.

My mom had such fun taking Greg's car for a spin.
She worked in the medical field most of her life. I think that was another reason I became a nurse.

One of her favorite roles was that of Grandma

She loved to dance, especially those Norwegian folk dances!

Mom loved to walk the beach. Here she is with my sister Christine on Clearwater Beach, Florida.

I've been blessed with a wonderful mother and for that I'm so grateful. She loved the Lord and that love ...overflowed to all the people in her life.

Thank you Mom!

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Fitness Friday ~ Fitness Basics


On this Fitness Friday, Sandy of God Speaks Today and I will be sharing some basics about getting in shape and establishing a healthier lifestyle.

Remember, it's not about a diet or quick weight loss formula. It's about beginning to establish healthy lifestyle habits that you can live with from now on.

This takes time but ...it's well worth the effort.

I guarantee that you'll feel better, have more energy and your clothes will fit and look so much better. And that's a good thing!


Sometimes it's just good to review a few basics.

An exercise program should include:

5-10 minutes of warm-up exercise like stretching
  • 30-60 minute aerobic (cardio) that might include an activity like running, walking, bicycling or swimming.

  • 5-10 minutes of cooling down such as stretching

  • Strength training exercises at least three times a week
Here are a few key points to remember:
  • Endurance exercise is the best type of exercise to get your body burning fat. As your fitness level improves, your body is able to burn greater amounts of fat.

  • Exercise burns calories. If you walked 40-60 minutes or jogged 30 minutes you would burn about 300-500 calories. If you did this three times a week, you would lose about a pound of fat in three weeks simply by exercising.

  • If you combine exercise with a reduction in calories you will lose weight quicker. By only cutting out 100 calories (one cookie) and exercising three times a week, you could lose one pound in two weeks or 20-30 pounds a year.

  • Exercising before a meal will help decrease your appetite.

  • Don't eat before exercising. After you eat, blood is diverted to your stomach to digest your food. That reduces the amount of blood and oxygen that's available to other muscles. The exception would be a diabetic who might have a small snack since exercise reduces the blood sugar.

  • Drink lots of water! Living in Phoenix, Arizona I've learned about this. We have to drink even more water than other parts of the country because of the desert and no humidity. Drink water before, during and even after exercising.

  • Wear the right clothes when you exercise. Wear loose fitting clothing in hot weather. In cold temperatures, be sure to protect your head to help contain body heat. Layered clothing is great because then you can peel off layers after warming up.

  • To get the most benefit, exercise on a regular basis. Did you know that once you stop exercising consistently, half of your endurance improvement is lost within 12 weeks? After all that hard work, don't lose the benefits you've gained.

So, hang in there and let's encourage one another as we focus on the goal. Establishing habits that you can live with for the long term is so important.

If you have any other pointers or simply want to offer encouragement, I hope you'll leave a comment.

And don't forget to visit Sandy at God Speaks Today. Sandy's the originator of Fitness Friday's and she's going to offer you a challenge. She also has a few tips to help you establish exercise as a habit.

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Rest for the Weary



Do you find yourself so tired trying to do the 'right things'? Do you feel burdened with responsibilities?

I don't know about you but I don't want to miss out on what God has for me in this season of my life. I don't want to be too busy doing my own thing that seems to be good and ...miss out on His best.

Today I'm over at Laced with Grace. I encourage you to link there to find the secret about how to find rest for your weary soul.

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Book Lover


I'm a serious book lover! I admit it.

My love of books began as a young child. Before the age of seven, I led a very sedentary life because of a congenital heart defect. Since I wasn't able to run and keep up with the other children my age ... I often sat and read.

Not long ago Lisa of Family Life awarded me the Bookworm Award. You're supposed to grab the closest book to you and say what it is.

Well, as I'm sitting at my computer the closest book to me is "Streams in the Desert". It's a daily devotional that provides words of comfort, encouragement, hope and strength from the Scriptures. It was a gift from my good friend Helen since I was going through a difficult time.

But I have to admit that ...I have a book problem.

Just take a look at this picture of the closet in my office. I converted this closet into bookshelves. And this is just one side of the closet. The other side is packed full of books too. I hate to admit it but this is how it looked after I picked out lots of books to sell.

You see, I need to downsize.

So, I decided to have a book sale at my house. I sent invitations to many of my friends and I got the house ready.

Not too many people showed up. I guess they have lots of their own books and didn't need more. I understand!

Here are a few photos from my book sale.

Thank you Sue, Barb, Chris, Helen, Anna May and Jack!

I didn't realize how many cookbooks I had accumulated.

I really do love to cook but I doubt I've used all of these cookbooks!

I also have lots of Christian books and I didn't even begin to touch my health and fitness books.

So, if you live in the Phoenix area and are looking for some good books, email me. I'll make you a good deal!

If anyone has had experience selling books online, please leave a comment and tell me of your experience.

I would also love to hear from other book lovers. Maybe I need to do a bloggy giveaway. After all, I also have a few brand new healthy eating cookbooks.

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