When the day seems a little gloomy and things just don't seem to go the way you thought they would.

After my baptism on Sunday I have felt so blessed and so loved. As I walked through the hallways of the high school I teach at there were students that came up to me, gave me big hugs and congratulated me. I felt so blessed. I am so proud of the decision I made. I was flying high.

When I woke up on Tuesday morning I was feeling defeated.
I was feeling down.
What had come crashing down.
What was not allowing me to glorify God as I wanted to?
Fear
Confusion
Acceptance
Disappointment
As I began to get ready to take on the school day I didn't know why I was feeling this way. I suddenly felt so alone in a world where just yesterday I felt so loved and alive. What was going on?

One of my very special friends came to my desk around  7:15 to see if I wanted to pray with her.
I hesitated.
My mind was spinning in so many directions I didn't know if I could do it. As those words came out of my mouth she reminded me that prayer was just what I needed! It's like she knew that the enemy was coming at me and she came to help me defeat it! God is amazing and he does have perfect timing.

Even though the enemy will try to creep in all the time and take away your glory. Dig deep and pray. Don't give up...he is trying to ruin the beauty that you have.

Thank you God for the amazing people you put in my life that challenge me to glorify you and speak against the enemy!

"No weapons formed against you will prosper"

Isaiah 54:17

My Testimony:
Sunday April 28, 2013 I was baptized at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton, New Jersey. As I stepped into the water under the cross, my faith that I wrote was read for the entire church community to hear. Very close friends of mine and one student from where I teach stood up and shared such kind words and verses for me. I truly am a child of God who has been blessed in more ways that I can even imagine! I wanted to share my story with everyone who takes the time to read my blog <3

I was raised in a very loving home. My family supported me no matter what I was doing or what I was going through. I grew up going to church every Sunday but a personal faith was not a part of my life.

  

My road here has been a difficult one. I fell down so many times and He was right there to pick me up, even though I would not say His name. My first semester of college I suffered with severe depression and panic attacks. After coming home, I attended the University of Delaware the following year where I was able to succeed in both cheerleading and academics.  

When I was married in 2004 there were no references to God in our wedding ceremony.  I did not give this decision a second thought. My life seemed fine, why did I need Him?  

A few years later I experienced serious health issues. There were many months with no answers and I ultimately needed three surgeries. In retrospect, I see that those months of struggle were necessary to uncover an even bigger challenge in my life. I was diagnosed with an eating disorder which had become all-consuming.  I felt so alone. Through the support of family and a caring doctor I became determined to beat the illness, but still, I did not look to God.

A few months down the road to recovery, more obstacles came.  My husband and I separated. I was so lost. I sought church support, but it confused me even more with the guilt and shame of divorce.  I left the service in tears.

In April 2011, I was able to aid a student that suffered from sudden cardiac arrest.  I had a strong sense that God placed me there with her for a reason.  This was a turning point for me.   

I began attending Divorce Care and church at South Ridge Community Church in Clinton, New Jersey regularly. I was once again overwhelmed with tears, but this time they were different. This time I was opening my heart and listening to what God had been trying to tell me for many years. I was His daughter, and He was going to take care of me.

I wanted to learn more.  I began regularly seeking resources and relationships that could help answer the questions.  Things were starting to change for me. I was accepting God and the plans He had for me. Looking back now, He was always there even though I kept on ignoring Him.

I am so blessed today and I want to let everyone know how wonderful our God is. I am part of a fantastic Women's Bible study here at SRCC, still asking questions and growing my faith.  I also  began a blog I called "Faith, Food and Fitness--My Journey", volunteering with a nonprofit Christian health and wellness organization called FINDINGbalance and began a journey as a health and fitness coach.

God loves me and has an awesome plan for me! I can't wait to see what it is!

Five Minute Friday <3
I am linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker and Five Minute Friday.
Here is today's prompt:
Friend.

Timer is set.
Ready.
Go...

I am so blessed to have the very best friends. I have friends from elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and so many more walks of my life.
Some friends come into your life for moments, and some friends come into your life forever. I have had all types of friends. My true friends showed me who they are when I went through some of the toughest times of my life. They supported, understood, and were there for me every step of the way. When I was at my lowest points they were there for me to lean on. They didn't have to say anything, they just let me know that they cared.
A friend is someone who doesn't judge you.
A friend is someone who will tell you when you have something in your teeth (a pin I found today on pinterest that made me laugh out loud)

Funny how your mind goes off on tangents when you are given a topic.
I am so excited to make new friends tomorrow at the (in)RL webcast.
I am headed to Mt. Laurel to my new friend Erin's house. I don't know Erin. We have only exchanged emails, but I know we are both passionate about the same things and are what I would call "like-minded friends". I love when you know that you will be friends with someone when you have never even met them. Blogging has done that for me. I have just touched the surface since I have just began, but I see a bright future filled with many blogging friends I will have for life!
<3 Veronica

Linking up with Holley Gerth and the God-sized Dreamers. I am coming a little late to the party here, but better late than never!

"Take some time to play! Whatever energizes you. It can be related to your God-sized Dream in some way or totally different. Sometimes along the way to our dreams we just need a little time to play. It helps us keep going and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously."-Holley Gerth

Today is "Take your child to work day". I don't have any children, but many of my co-workers have brought their children with them today. It makes me think back to the days when I was a little girl.  I remember playing outside for hours with my brother and sister at home or my cousins when we were all dropped off by our parents for the weekend at Nanny and Pa's. Those were the days! I miss those days <3

Playing takes on a whole new meaning as an adult. If I had the energy of a child I would be outside running around playing in the backyard on the swing set, in the pool, jumping on trampoline or whatever I felt like doing that day.

My time to play as an adult lately has been doing my workouts:-) This hasn't just changed from my childhood, but it has changed for me in the past two years too. I always felt like I HAD to workout. If I didn't workout I would cut way down on my calories. I had such guilt and anxiety if I didn't workout. It was awful. It was a vicious cycle.

My happiness was determined by the scale.
I would put a number in my head that I "expected" to be that day.
If I stepped on it and the number was the number I had in my head...it wasn't low enough :-(
If it was higher, I was devastated.
If it was lower...it still wasn't low enough :-(
I don't know what I was expecting...but it seemed like it was a vicious cycle.

If I didn't workout I would barely eat. I was already cutting my calories enough, so to cut them even lower was contributing to my downward spiral.

I am so happy to be free and so happy for my chains to be broken.
Now my workouts are my time to play! I have been doing workouts from Beachbody called Turbo Fire and it is amazing! I can be totally free and have the time of my life while I am doing it. I cheered all the way through college and I feel like I am at cheer camp every time I workout with it!
I love my playtime! I cherish my playtime! My playtime is making me a healthy, happy person!
The person God has made me...the person he has great plans for!
I am hoping to motivate others to do the same <3

Beloved, 

I pray that all may go well with you 

and that you may be in good health,

as it goes well with your soul.

3 John 1:2

I have been thinking about this lately...

What do you do when when you need to breathe?

Breathing is something we don't think about on a daily basis, we just do it. The normal respiratory rate is 12 breaths per minute at rest.
Have you ever tried to just sit for one minute and breathe?
Try it.
Take one minute to actually breathe.
See what it feels like.
Don't think.
Just breathe.

Ready, Go...

It's hard. I know for me my mind wanders in all sorts of directions, and it's just one minute.
Where did your mind go?
Did it wander in many directions?
Were you able to clear your mind and think only about the breaths you were taking?

When I need to breathe I tend to do one of a few things. It really depends on what is happening in my life at that time. I tend to either need to clear my mind completely, set my mind straight or just not think at all. I breathe so differently for all three of them.  
Sometimes I need to breathe by just sitting still.
I might choose to lay down and concentrate on breathing in order to slow everything in my body and mind down.
Sometimes I need to really breathe and get my heart pumping.
If I am anxious and I can't sit still I'll need to go get a good workout in. I love how I feel after a good workout! My mind and body are fresh and I can truly breathe.
If I just need to chill out I'll go for a long walk and take deep breaths. I'll sit and read what I call a "good for me book" (that's all I read...books that are going to make me a better person).
When I need to set my mind straight I listen to Pandora Contemporary Christian music (this saves me when my mind is heading in a negative direction).

We all need to take time to just breathe. Whatever you need to accomplish through breathing, figure it out and do it! You will feel so much better:-)

<3 Veronica








    





ake some time to play. Do something creative. Snap a picture. Build a Pinterest board. Make a craft. Read a book. Bake a treat. Wrestle with your kids. Whatever energizes you. It can be related to your God-sized Dream in some way or totally different. Sometimes along the way to our dreams we just need a little time to play. It helps us keep going and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously.

I woke up this morning feeling so blessed and wanting to share the love I feel!
When we are often surrounded by so much negativity it is so hard to be different. 
I know that sometimes it's easier to ignore it or walk away from it.
Are we ever going to make a change if we continue to do that?
Instead, it's challenging to say something positive and maybe call the person out on how negative they are being. They may not want to hear it, but they also may not know they are doing it. It comes natural or habit to so many.
I want to be the light that makes people realize how destructive they are being to themselves and others around them and how changing their attitude can change lives including their own <3
It is well known that it takes more muscles to frown then it does to smile. Turn that frown upside down and be a positive light for all those around you. 
I am taking the challenge. Do you think you can?

"The wise people will shine
like the brightness of the sky.
Those who teach others to live right
will shine like stars forever and ever."
Daniel 12:3
<3 Veornica

Today during our sermon the director of programming and media delivered a message about evil. With everything that has gone this past week I thought I would share. When evil is around us we may begin to have a sense of doubt and fear. He gave us five main points to think about to help us wrap our heads around it:

1--Evil is complex.

2--Evil gradually leads to destruction.

3--Evil impacts us.

4--Evil impacts others around us.

5--Evil is defeated. 

It is so hard to understand why evil is all around us. Personally, I let evil impact me by allowing ED to get in my head for so many years (ED is the name I used to identify my eating disorder). It destroyed my relationship with food and exercise taking it to the extreme which caused me to be so unhealthy. ED had such a stronghold on me I never thought I would escape. 

A great quote he shared spoke so loudly to me and that time of my life: 

"Sin will take you further than you want to go.

It will keep you longer than you want to stay.

And it will cost you more than you want to pay."

I never thought exercise and food could take me to such an extreme, such a low. I never thought I could be living it on and off for almost 10 years causing other health problems as well. Evil took over, I let it, and I lost myself. 

Why is there so much Evil?

How can we be stronger than evil? We can't do it alone. We need help, we need Him. It wasn't until I discovered my relationship with Christ that Evil was defeated. I am so proud to say that #5 is possible and I did it! Evil is defeated! It took me a while, but by the grace of God it happened! 

He is my source of freedom and continues to amaze me each and every day through blessings that were unimaginable a few years ago <3 Christ was stripped of his dignity by being naked so ours could be built up! He is awesome!!! Thank you Jesus for all that you do for us!

"Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, 

for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

surely I will help you, 

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10

<3 Veronica

Growing up competitive sports were a huge part of my life. It was who I was, it defined me.
I began as a competitive gymnast.
When I went to high school I became a competitive cheerleader.
When I went to college I was a competitive cheerleader too.
After college my cheerleading days were over. So was competing.
When I got my first teaching job I began coaching gymnastics. I was no longer competing but my girls were. It wasn't what I was used to, I missed competing.
A few years later I got into competing in half marathons and sprint triathlons. I felt as though I needed to set goals in my life. When I was younger they were all about fitness, so that felt most natural to me and that's where I focused. Somewhere along the way I lost my focus of what healthy competition was. That is when I struggled with an eating-disorder. My goal became a number on the scale. I weighed myself every day, usually 2-3 times each day. The goal was to be the lowest number I could be by means of exercising more and eating less. The competition was between me, the scale and ED (the name I gave to my eating disorder which is very common among those who have struggled with any type of eating disorder).

When I first began my road to recovery I questioned why I was going through this.
Why me?
Why did I have to suffer?
It wasn't until I began to search for the answers to these questions that I found God. He had them all. i began to realize what having faith in the Lord could do for me. The competition needed to end. My focus needed to shift from a number on the scale to focus on God's love for me. Some people might think that I would be "mad at God", not me, I am so blessed and so thankful to Him. All those years of struggling, He has brought me to where I am today!
Encouraging and motivating others to live the healthiest life they can, including myself of course <3

I found this shirt on pinterest today and loved it! It has made me realize how I can have the competition I love back in my life. I want to compete for my life. Compete for the best of me in all aspects listed on the shirt:

FAITH

WORK

HEALTH

DREAMS

RELATIONSHIPS

Now do not get me wrong, competition is good as long is it is healthy and it doesn't become destructive to who you are. That is where I got lost. God has helped me see that I can encourage, motivate and support others to compete for the best life they can live! That is awesome. God is amazing! I can only thank him for all that he has done for me.

<3 Veronica

Five Minute Friday--JUMP

Timer is set...GO!

When I first began my personal relationship with God I jumped right in!
I wanted to know everything.
I wanted to figure out why God would choose to save me. Choose me to pick up every time I fell.
I jumped, head first. Literally dove my head into the Bible, many Christian living books, Christian music and surrounded myself with Christian friends.
I am so happy that I took the biggest jump of my life :-)
I don't know where I would be if I didn't.
I truly do not want to think about it either.
This jump saved my life. It was a very scary jump, but I knew that it was the right one.
I knew that God would catch me and never let me hit the ground.

Jump for His love!
Jump into the arms of God!
Jump and trust that he will be there to catch you!
I did and I couldn't be happier!
This was the best jump of my life!
Thank you Lord for catching me!

God is awesome!!

<3 Veronica

Sometimes it is so hard to get yourself to the gym, get outside, or do a DVD at your house.
Other things come up, you get side tracked, or you are too tired.
I was doing Turbo Fire today and Chalene from Beachbody's puts it the best.
She says "I have energy because I workout!"

If you ever feel like you don't want to workout because you are tired remember that exercise fights fatigue and boosts energy :-)

Our body is a temple. God wants us to treat it that way! I never thought about my body like this until recently. I always worked out to try to stay thin :-( It's not at all about being thin.
It is what is on the inside that is most important!
We need to respect the body that God has given us.
Eating healthy.
Staying active.
Treating your body with kindness.
Talking to yourself with positive words.
Loving yourself from the inside out!

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you,
whom you have from God?
You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.
So glorify God in your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Every Wednesday morning I have the extreme fortune of spending time before school with fellow Christian teachers and students at our Fellowship of Christian Athlete (FCA) meetings. It is not strictly for athletes, but for any christian that wants to be with like-minded people and have fellowship together, before school, as Christians. We are all so blessed we have such a strong community together. All of our messages are created and presented by our students. They drive the message, they lead the lesson, and they are the inspiration for all of us in the room to go out and live a Christian life in a world that makes that so very difficult each and every day, especially in public school.

This morning one of our senior girls blessed us with the message that God loves you, no matter what! She shared a song by Matt Maher, Hold us Together. The chorus really struck my heart:

Love, will, hold us together

Make us a shelter

to weather the storm.

All I could think about all day was love, and the love that God has for each and every one of us. Her message brought me to tears. After finally being able to finish writing my Faith Story, being reminded by a 17 year old how strong God's love is for all of us was amazing. He will protect us.

At some point during her message she mentioned the world EVIL. 

I wrote it down.

EVIL.  

I stared at it.

EVIL. 

Then read it backwards, LIVE. 

God want's us to LIVE against EVIL

He shows this through LOVE.

Flip EVIL around and you get LIVE. 

Change the I to an O, you get LOVE. 

LOVE is stronger than EVIL. 

"God demonstrated 

his own love for us: 

While we were still sinners, 

Christ died for us."

Romans 5:8

<3 Veronica

Today I am joining the lovely God-sized dreamers! We are given a prompt and then link up with Holley Gerth :-)

Here was the prompt:
The most important part of any God-sized dream is the Giver of it. Set aside a particular time this week to be with Him–to pray, journal, take a walk or simply sit quietly and listen.

My brain has been going in circles the last few weeks. I have made the decision to declare my love for Jesus Christ by being baptized on April 28th. It is a huge step of faith for me.

Now to write My Faith Story. This has been so hard for me. My story is being read during the service at which I am baptized and I feel as if there is so much to tell.  I have told my faith story to small groups before, but have never written it down.

As I sit and try to write it is apparent to me that every little detail plays a role in who I am today.

I don't want to leave anything out.

Today I have chosen to list all the times that God picked me up when I was down.
I have set aside time, just to be with Him.
To thank Him for leading me to where I am today; being a God-sized dreamer.


In the past, I turned my head to the mention of God.
I thought nothing of His name or what He had done for me.
I never thought I needed Him.

Through depression and anxiety my first year of college.
Through battling with my weight through four years of college cheering.
To getting my first job and battling my weight again.
Through my marriage ceremony during which I shunned Him with no mention of His name.

Through months of not knowing what was wrong with my throat causing me to have three different surgeries on my vocal cords.

To admitting to having anorexia and over-exercising out loud to family, friends and doctors.
Through my separation, depression and anxiety.
Through my divorce.
Through finally being "in recovery" form an eating disorder.

All the years of pain and heartache that I suffered, He was forever by my side.
Faithful and true to me. The woman who wanted nothing to do with Him.

Until finally, I continued to go to a place that I felt safe and comfortable and the tears would flow of joy because I opened my heart to God's voice. He was talking to me and I was finally listening.

I am forever grateful to the Lord for never giving up on me.

When I say never, I mean never.

I have not written in a few days and I am a little late with "Five Minute Friday" but I wanted to make sure I got it in. So...

Here.

So here it is, Sunday afternoon and I haven't yet gotten to the prompt from Friday. I was beating myself up inside for neglecting what I have committed myself to writing on my blog. Then I realized that I am not going to get anywhere by doing that. Instead, I need to sit down, no matter what day it is and commit to the prompt and never let it happen again.

Here I sit on the couch listening to the birds chirping.

What a lovely noise during spring time.
I am here because this is where the Lord has brought me, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania. Who ever would have thought I would be in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.

Not me. I had no idea where I was going, but I know the Lord does. I know wherever here is, is where he wants me to be.

Sometimes we want to question it, and sometimes we are so ecstatic that the "here" is where we wanted to be.
Here, I am happy.
Here, I am blessed.
Here, I know I belong.
Here, I know I am loved.
Here, I am comfortable.
Here, I know that He is with me.
Here, I know he has guided me.
Here.

Stop.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and all the other fruit of the spirit are characteristics of the Holy Spirit that we have within us when we accept Jesus as our Savior. And we can release them if we do it on purpose. Make a choice to let the good things God has placed in your spirit flow through your soul and body so others may be blessed and God will be glorified. -From Joyce Meyers Bible

Walk by Faith, live by the fruit of the spirits. The fruits are all flowing through my soul and my body and I have made it a goal to spread the word to others. By living a Christian life I know that others can see me shine with all of the fruits of the spirit and will hopefully join me in my walk of Faith.

My life has changed so much since I have accepted Jesus as my Savior and have made the choice to give my life to Him. I am declaring this through baptism on April 28th. It is only a few weeks away and I anxiously await this opportunity. I am so blessed with the fruits of the spirit and now I can publicly share it with my church community<3

This journey of Faith, Food and Fitness is just the beginning. It's my foundation to build on. I can only imagine the lives I can touch. I know that it may take a while, but I also know it is going to happen. On his time with patience.

My Race. My Jouney. My eye is on the prize.

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

As Christians we have to run the race that God has planned for us. There are so many distractions and temptations in this crazy world, but you must keep your eye on the prize. We need to make God our #1 priority in life and everything else will begin to fall into place.

This makes me ponder why I do the things I do?
I do it for Him. I do it to get the "crown that will last forever". I do it because God wants me too.

This journey has reinforced to me how important it is to have all 3 components in my life to stay balanced; Faith, Food and Fitness. God wants us to take care of our bodies in order to not be disqualified from the prize. Studying the word, prayer, eating clean and working out. That is the race I am running. Feeling great about it and staying on track.

<3 Veronica



Wonder Woman <3

I am linking up with Holley Gerth and the God-Sized Dreamers today! 
This weeks prompt was: It's time to have a little talk with the fear in your life. Write a letter that starts out, "Dear Chihuahua of Fear, I have some things I'd like to say to you..." 

Dear Chihuahua of Fear,
I have some things that I'd like to say to you...

I wish you didn't exist. I wish I never "bought" into you.

Before I had you I could dance on the edge of a cliff and not think twice.
Before I noticed you, I felt like I was wonder woman! (she is so cool)
Before I let fear into the door I never let anything or anyone hold me back.



Then you showed up. 
Nagging me with that annoying bark of yours. Just to let me know you were there.
Guess what though...wonder woman is back! She has God on her side and no one is stopping us!
The dreams are visions, the dreams are in the making, the dreams keep growing and growing. 
I"m kicking you to the curb! (sorry, but I never liked Chihuahua's anyway)

<3 Veronica

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity,

but a spirit of power,

of love and self-discipline."

2Timothy 1:7

Faith.

The first word in the title of my blog. One word, but something that I will always make bigger than that.

On Sunday morning pastor Josh at Carlisle BIC once again touched my heart and really got me thinking with his sermon based solely around Faith. He shared a touching story of a family that never lost faith as their young son was taken to heaven after suffering from a very rare brain tumor. There was not a dry eye in the auditorium. They never lost faith. They knew it was not the end and that they will one day be reunited. So hard. That little boy has touched so many lives as an angel from heaven.

Every day I am working to build my faith, my belief in God. Mary Magdalene had the most unbelievable faith. She constantly looked for Jesus. Something drew her to him and caused her to have a deep love and affection for Him. She was the first to see Jesus and report it to the disciples, not matter what she never lost hope. Mary Magdalene is a true woman of faith.

I know what has drawn me to Him and why I constantly look for and love Him, because he's awesome!
The stronger my faith gets, the better the balance between food and fitness becomes for me. I continually look for and ask for God's guidance and support and I know He will never let me down.
I know it will never be easy, but I know I have God on my side and nothing is better than that!
He lifted me up all those times I fell even before I looked for him and let him know how much I loved him...that's one incredible God!


I am growing in my faith <3 It feels awesome!

<3 Veronica

Two angels, one life saved!

Two years ago on April 5th, God placed me in the hallways of NHHS during cheerleading tryouts to safe the life of a girl that at that time I did not even know. Heather Skillman went into sudden cardiac arrest while running the mile. My years of training went into auto pilot as I ran to her side and without even thinking and immediately started CPR. With scared teenagers all around me I held it together as I kept going and saying to her "please don't quit on me, please don't quit on me". When the AED arrived I stepped away so others could take over. I was in shock, I had no idea what had just happened...

Heather was taken in a medevac minutes later. Still fighting for her life.

Weeks later a young girl walked up to me in the hallway and stood in front of me. I looked at her, she looked at me. I hadn't had her in class before, but why did I know this girl. Then she said "It's Heather!" It was her, the same girl that I found face down in the halls upstairs just weeks before that. She was back in school and ready to go! 

I am so proud of the woman she has become today. Heather is finishing up her freshman year at the University of Vermont! She is an inspiration to so many. She was faced with death and will let nothing stop her now! 

God may have placed me there for her, but he placed her there for me too. To this day I refer to Heather as my little angel♥ Love her!

Five Minute Friday.
The timer is set.

After.

What are we doing after dinner?
What are we doing after we go to church?

Those were such common questions I distinctly remember asking as a child. Those were the thoughts that first jumped into my mind after spending quite a few days with my two favorite nephews!

Why are we so worried about what we are doing after?
Why can't we live in the moment?

I think of after...and I think of next...and I think of the future. But the present is where I want to be right now. Enjoying every moment now and letting "after" be the next moment to enjoy.

Yes I am a dreamer and a goal setter, but life is too short to always be worrying about or thinking about the after. I want to live in the now:-)

Dessert is my favorite treat after dinner. I broke that habit during my reset, but I am looking forward to a treat after dinner tonight. We are taking Mark's niece and nephew to the Turkey Hill Experience. I know what I will be doing after dinner...yup...having a little bit of Turkey Hill Ice Cream Yes, just a little bit, because I don't want my stomach to hurt. Too much too soon might not be a good idea since I haven't had dairy in over 3 weeks now :-)

Live in the now.
Worry about the after when it is the now!

I have wanted a bread machine for months! My women's bible study group and I read Ann Voskamp's "one thousand gifts". A few different evenings we watched a video she made to go along with her book study. She always had loaves of fresh bread. (She was no joke though, she didn't need a machine!) Ann is such an admirable woman. Not because she can make fresh bread, but because she is such a strong woman of faith and is affecting the lives of so many. Definitely a book I would recommend reading. She writes so eloquently you feel like she is sitting next to you telling you a story! 

So my treat to myself for finishing the RESET was a bread machine! I wanted to be able to make my own clean-eating bread. First two attempts...not so good...Veronica 0-Bread Machine 2. Don't get me wrong, they were both edible, but not something I would want to bring to your house to have along with dinner. The first one looked "normal" but was had a little bit of a flour taste to it. The second one looked like a meteor hit it in the middle, but tasted much better :-) But it still is not right. 

Balance. 

Bread is no different than life. 

Once I find that balance my bread will be better! 

Everything in life has a perfect balance of ingredients. 

It is up to you to make that choice and find your ingredients to make that perfect loaf of bread.

Your Life.

"He who supplies seed to the sower 

and bread for food will supply 

and multiply your seed for sowing 

and increase the harvest of your righteousness."

 2 Corinthians 9:10

Every day I strive to be closer to God. Every day I take the time to listen to Him, he multiplies my happiness and guides me to do his will. Every day my relationship with the Lord grows more and more. 

Like my bread I continue to go on this journey to find the perfect balance of faith, food and fitness for me. 

I will get there. 

On his time.

Oh yes, I will get there! 

  Veronica

The bread machine and I will face off again tomorrow morning! Stay tuned...

I am trying something new again. I am a day late on it, but I had the most awful headache and body ache yesterday and the last thing I wanted to do was open up a computer. I am joining one of absolute favorite bloggers and an amazing group of women for "Tuesday Link-up". It goes along with her book "You're Made for a God-Sized Dream" that I am slowly working my way through. Each Tuesday she poses a question and then you link up your blog post along with all of the other amazing women doing the same!
Here is this weeks:
Why is your dream worth pursuing, fighting for and seeing through no matter what happens?

The first thing to pop in my head is that my dream is worth pursuing and fighting for because it is My Dream! Not my parents, my friends, or my boyfriends. It is mine and I am going to make it happen!


Since I am joining this party late, I guess it would be a good idea to let you know what exactly My Dream is. My dream is to help others through their struggles with Food and Exercise and to reclaim their life with a healthy balance. I do not want to not see others go through what I went through. I want to be that person that will guide them so they do not feel alone. 

Why is My Dream worth pursuing? Here are a few reasons. Because...

• He has placed it on my heart. For years I have ignored His calling, but it wasn't until this past year I started to listen. I started to actually take the time with the Lord to hear him speak to my heart.
• I want to fulfill what He has asked me to.
• I want to show others how awesome God is and what he has done for me...and continues to do!
• I want others to feel as free as I am from the shackles placed on them by food.
• I have an amazing support system right in the palm of my hand!
• I have struggled through my struggles to do this. I would not have said that years ago, but I know now why I went through what I have in my life...

I will fight, I will pursue, because it is My Dream. I will never let Him down!

 

"Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the lord is God!
He made us, and we are his.
We are his people,
the sheep of his pasture."
-Psalm 100: 2-3


He has risen!
I had the opportunity to attend Easter service at South Ridge Community Church yesterday in Annandale, NJ. This is the church that I go to when I am at home. I was so touched by our pastor Nathan's service, as many in attendance were.

To be honest, this was the first year that I personally reflected on the entire Easter weekend. As a new Christian, in years past it was truly just another holiday that family would gather together with food and festivities.

This year was different.

This year I took time with the Lord to thank him for all that he did for me.
For you.
For everyone who is broken.


Nathan had us take personal time to reflect on our brokenness.
With a small bit of ash placed in both palms. (All come from dust, and to dust all return. Ecclesiastes 3:20)
Then water poured over to wash it away. (You are washed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:11)


I thought about every bit of my past that was broken, and every bit of my brokenness now. My thoughts especially settled on the battle I fought with an eating disorder. With only 1 day left on my reset I have really been focused on that piece of me and all that was taken from me during that time. Sunday's service was another opportunity for me to start fresh, another chance to break away from my past battles with food and fitness. I am well on my travels of my new journey! Stronger in my faith every day of the journey.

Cleansed from the inside out and the outside in.

A perfect song for the Easter season!
Matt Maher-Christ is Risen