My One Word {and a surprise announcement!}

“Give”.

A simple word that I felt God was placing on my heart at the beginning of 2012. I honestly can’t express to you how much that one word has changed my whole life, and I am overwhelmingly blessed by the lessons God taught me through it. If I could sum up what I learned it would be this: “Giving to others is obeying God’s call to love, worship Him, and to see Jesus in each person….”

….goodbye 2012, thank you for the lessons. hello, 2013…

This year, I really expected God to lay some big word on my heart because I always pray that God would show me my biggest struggle. For instance, I am NOT a “giving” person. I am a “saving” person… for rainy days, hard economical times, dangerous situations, etc. God changed my heart through “give”, and I want him to do the same in 2013.

However, I just felt God’s finger pointing my heart to how I compare myself to others, especially with physical appearance. Then, I got very, very sick (in bed for days) right after Thanksgiving. I spent much of that time praying and just seeking God. It was like God was giving me this “time out” to understand how terribly I neglect my health. Because of that, I continually get very run down and sick. Also, the reason I compare myself to others is because I don’t feel good about my own health/body.

Comparing my “outside” self to the “outsides” of others is never the answer.

I felt God calling me to take some time to get healthy.

“But God”, I reasoned, “this isn’t really spiritual enough! I need something really DEEP — like trust, faith, sacrifice, offering, praise — I love these words, and these are the ones I think we should go with!”

However, after really praying about it, I realized that I cannot be God’s servant if I am not physically taking care of myself. If my body is God’s temple, and I am tearing down the temple, what does that say?

In order for me to be a better mom, wife, friend, employee, blogger, person, …. I have to be healthy.

So, this year, my one word … surprising to me… is HEALTH.

…. and my surprise announcement……

I’m starting a new blog to help me on this journey from swapping junk foods for real foods!!!!!

My new blog is called “Real Food Experiment” and will record my “experiments” throughout the year with taking better care of my health through BABY steps (because I am officially a baby). If you are like me and eat junk food, fast food, chips, oreos (aren’ts oreo’s a food group?), coffee, and basically trash….. join me! I promise that we can do this together!

Why a new blog? Well, honestly, I need the accountability. I have tried those food diaries and apps, but they just don’t work for me. I understand that if I eat 12 twinkies and don’t exercise, that I have too many calories. That’s not exactly rocket science. However, I never really factored in how I feel (moods, skin/hair, weight, etc) and the effects that food has on my daily life.

Click here to read more about “Real Food Experiment” and how each experiment will work! I would love for you to join me!

p.s. I’m still making FREE One Word blog buttons! PLEASE read this post for details on the information I need from you in order to make you one — thank you! PLEASE don’t be shy! I WANT to make them for you!!!  … AND remember to link up here on the 15th of each month as we “check in” with our “One Word” progress!!! On January 15, we can each link up our introductory post! I can’t wait for you to see the gallery of buttons and word choices!!!