To read about God's goodness in our lives, go to http://ungrind.org/2012/milk_and_honey/ for my recently published article.

Are there times that you can point to God's faithfulness and goodness in your life? Do share!!

Unless you are sleeping under a rock in the Himalayas somewhere, I'm sure you know that yesterday was Father's Day. And if you didn't, I am sure you figured it out pretty quickly from all of your Facebook newsfeeds.

In typical Brian fashion, he made all of his plans and bought his own gifts. I must admit though, that this year he did a pretty great job.

I was however able to surprise him with one gift. On the eve of this epic day, after Chase went to bed and before B himself went to bed, I conspicuously changed Chase's shirt. I put a rockstar "I love Dad," shirt on. which if you've been reading for a while, you understand.

The following morning, we decided to go to the early service at church so that we could head out to grab lunch before the baseball game. One of my favorite pastimes is finding hip, little places to eat. Give me off the beaten path, options for both B and I (i.e. vegan and burgers:) with a cool environment and I am sold. A helpful new to me app that I absolutely love is urbanspoon. This helps so much and I can search on it for hours...good times, folks..good times. I found an absolutely yummy place to eat that satisfied us both. The name was Tap and Tapas and it was located in downtown Nash.

Brian was hesitant but trusted my plan. He looked relieved when he saw burgers on the sign outside. He had a stuffed burger with an fried egg on top and I had a portobello mushroom "burger" with fried eggplant straws. The food was excellent and it was the perfect place to chill before the game.

Once we arrived to the game, it was pretty hot. Chase was super excited to get onto the field AFTER the game, so I prepared myself to stay for all 10 innings. Luckily, the stands weren't too full and I could get all country and prop my boot over the seat in front of me...you think there is no leg room on airplanes...I could barely fit my legs in front of me!

We must be a lucky charm to the Sounds because they broke a losing streak and won the game. Chase absolutely loved yelling for each hit and sighing for each miss. It was quite adorable. And quite annoying for a grumpy, older lady in front of us:)

After the game, we proceeded to the field for father/son pitch. It was great watching B and C pitch and hit. Brian grew up going to these games with his dad and it was very special for him to not only go on this day but to continue on with this important tradition.

After we left the field, we were all pretty sweaty and beat. By the time we got into the car and started the AC, Chase was out in five minutes. That to us meant a pretty successful day. It really was one of the best days for dads that we've ever had.

So what were your plans for Father's Day? Any special memories with your dad?

On allpointswhole, this is a topic we've discussed before. I've shared my own struggle with eating disorders..mine not as devastating as others but unhealthy nonetheless. It resembled more of a constant cycle of dieting and thus my weight fluctuating. I vividly remember start my first of many diets in the fifth grade. Although, I was only nine years old, I had a very poor self image and the little"baby fat" I carried seemed much more blown up in my mind than it actually appeared.

The older I've gotten, I've realized that most women are plagued with this form of  a eating disorder. Society tells us we are only attractive and worthy, if we are, as Sir-Mix-a-lot once sang, 24-36-24. And even though he was just a one hit wonder, we  sing along and attempt to live up to a standard that only those born with perfect genetics can live up to. 

Recently, I  joined the online community of Myfitnesspal. I absolutely love this site and it has aided in my attempts to lose weight that I put on during my multiple injuries from 2010-2011. It helps you stay accountable and offers encouragement through online "friendships." It really is such an eye opener and helps inspire you to make better choices.

Through some recent friend requests, I've noticed a disturbing trend, particularly with younger girls, They seem to be using the site to calorie restrict to very unhealthy numbers. I was shocked to see girls posting about binging, purging, and starving themselves. They don't talk about it as a struggle but rather boast about it! They encourage one another and give suggestions as to how they can deceive their peers and or parents to believe they are eating when they are in fact, not. One suggestion I read today stated "go into the kitchen and fiddle around, closing drawers, etc. Then when dinner time arrives and you tell your parents that you are not hungry, it will be more believable"

Wow.

This has been burdening me for sometime and quite frankly I don't know what the solution is. I am a "fixer" by nature and am racking my brain as to how I can make a difference in this epidemic. Other than looking for new outlets to mentor teen girls, I've decided to shed light onto it by exposing it on this blog.  I've also left comments on the girls' pages encouraging them that they are beautiful just the way they are..to please not purge, get help, etc I've received no replies...but I also have not been defriended. I've added a few more that I've seen comment on others in an attempt to try and impact them as much as possible.

This saddens me so much and makes my heart so heavy. Writing about it helps me collect my thoughts and hopefully inspires readers to address this issue on their blogs or with anyone they know suffering from this disease. If you happen to be experiencing or engaging in this behavior yourself, please find someone you can trust and take the leap of being vulnerable. It is so scary and uncomfortable to share your shortcomings, but it is oh so worth it. Ultimately, you are destroying yourself. And once you figure out why you are wanting to inflict that pain on yourself, you will be one step closer to healing and freedom. Sometimes just sharing with someone takes such a burden off of your shoulders and gives you such a release.

I want to continue to bring this issue to light, but for now I want to hear from you. Have you or anyone you know experienced an eating disorder? If you received help, what was it and how did it help you? Any ideas on how we can make a difference?

Okay, okay for all of you whipper snappers out there...I know I changed the title. I've been busy.
Sue me.

Well inquiring minds want to know..or at least I pretend they do. What is the grand total you ask??

Come on, just humor me.

Drumroll............27.6 pounds!

To say I am shocked is an understatement. I began this journey on Jan 30th. I never expected to get this far this fast. Not to downgrade my work..I have worked hard for sure. My original goal was to be 135 by the Mini (in about a week) but right now I am 131.0 so I am thinking I will try to get to 129 or lower.

My husband says stress is a good diet and since we just found out we were moving in less than a month (more on that later) and the hubs moves Monday, I just might drop weight rapidly (don't worry, I kid..I eat when I am stressed. I always wished I was one of those skinny girls that says "oh I can't eat..I'm too stressed:) Yea right.

Instead I eat a dozen doughnuts in one sitting.

So those are the results folks.

How is your weight loss journey going?

So last night we had our girl's night for the runner girls. This is our third time to get together outside of running since November. I love that we started doing this and I think we've decided we will keep it up every few months. We are a pretty serious group of runners and it is fun to get away and just have fun.

And pig out.

Last night, we went to Ted's Montana Grill, a fancy chocolate store and Dick's..because what else would a group of runner's do but eat and shop at a sport's store?

We decided to get team racing singlets for the upcoming marathon. We are pretty stoked about it. I would reveal them here but we can't have anyone stealing our idea:)

Because clearly, we have the best ideas.

So, do you have traditions that you and your friends do together? If so, what are they?

So today is that time again...

I wasn't at all hopeful for todays weigh in but had resigned myself to it. We were out of town for Easter and that meant eating out every meal and enjoying some indulgences. I figured I would still log everything but also enjoy myself.

I was completely shocked this morning when the scale said I was down 2.2!! I could not believe it! last week, I was down 1.4. If you are keeping up, this now puts me at 21.6 pounds!

To celebrate, i thought I would look up some fun facts about 20 lbs of fat....thats normal, right??  Unfortunately, all I found were globs of some disgusting substance and food images that  just made me hungry.

Fail.

How is your weight loss going? How much have you lost?

Well blog world, its that time again...time for what you may ask? Well.for my creative title to make its reappearance of course.

I kid. And yes, I realize that my jokes are only funny to myself. Is that narcissistic?:)

It's been four weeks since my last post. Why you ask? Oh, i don't know. Like I mentioned before, its hard for me to write about things that can be so trivial. However, I blog to inspire and motivate others, so I hope this does.

Or at least manifests a good laugh for you.

For the last 3 weeks, I have consistently gone down two pounds per week. That has been wonderful and including my last post, my total loss is 8.4. I will take that for one month!

I went into this week with minimal but hopeful expectations. I felt smaller; My clothes felt better. I got on the scale this morning and lo and behold, I was up exactly one pound. I didn't change anything I had been doing. I think my body just wanted to revolt from so much loss.

Or it hates me. Either one.


Since Jan 2, there has only been one week, now two, that I haven't lost. The first time, I ate out a lot and went up 1.8. My total loss is 19 pounds. But after today, 18.

I plan on taking my inches today. That is always an up lifter. But, honestly I don't feel bummed at all. That is a big surprise to me and I guess I really am growing:)

My exercise has drastically changed the last three weeks due to an injury. That may or may not play a role. Whatever the reason, I take it and embrace it. There is a lesson to learn even in the simple things, right?

So, are you on a journey to be a healthier you? If so, what changes have you made?

Today is Tuesday and not only is it my WW weigh in day, it also  happens to coincide with the word total which makes for a cute ...wait for it, title. (also a T word for those of you not paying attention,)

I was so excited to weigh in today and see a loss of 2.4. This is great news since last week I went up 1.8 and the week before only went down .4.

This is a total loss of 13 pounds since reaching my highest weight at Christmas. This is awesome news. 20 to go (though I am sure i will get comfortable after 10 more and the last 10 will be the most difficult.)

I wanna shift here a little bit. I think it is absolutely wonderful to have a weight loss goal. I think taking care of your body is very closely related to your overall spiritual and emotional health. With that being said, I want to make sure I don't focus my thoughts too much on the weight or scale. This week, I have focused more on eating 2-3 fruits a day, some protein and whole grains, and 4-6 vegetables.

I am doing this because I was reminded that the food we eat is for fuel not to binge. Sure, I can eat some low fat, low calorie snacks but is that really the healthy, whole choice? Will my body thank me for that? That is why this post is under Pointing the Compass. Eating well is part of a journey...once that includes spiritual, emotional and physical well being.

And that my friends, is definitely more than a number on a scale.

What are your thoughts on weight loss? What healthy choices are you making this week?

Last night, we got together (co-) leader and I and fixed the teen girls that we are so happy to work with dinner. We have ten girls but only five could make it.

My favorite part (besides the reese's cake I made) was sitting around the dinner table like we were family. Sharing stories, laughing, watching kiddos play. It was community at its best.

I love their raw honesty and willingness to share with two girls they barely know. It brings me back to those very moments in my life. People intervened for me and I am beyond blessed to share a conversation with them. Our group is really bonding and I am so happy to see that.

I give them nothing. They give me everything. Love you girls!!

Look at those naive young kids. OH wait, we are having computer issues so I can't show it to you. But picture a Christmas wedding, black and white photo. I am standing with my head held up high, with an exuberant look on my face. Brian looks terrified and is half smiling.

All we knew was that God was in control. Our first few years were dark but had moments of light. We were idealistic and were hopefully being helpful by mentoring kids.But, don't get me wrong,. In the midst of this Brian was the casualty  of my wounded -ness. Not that he was perfect. Trurst me. He was so gracious and never put expectations on me. He just let me be me.

When we moved here, we had only been married 3 years. At the time, to both of us-it had seemed much longer. You see we were friends for a few years before dating and we had experienced hell and glory together.

We are going towards eight years here which we both can't believe. I've gone from resenting it to recognizing its beauty and so thankful for all of the women God has put in my life. Those who get me..hey, they get it. Those who don't, I've lost but it's all good.,..nothing but love for ya. 

 Brian and I both tried to agan make a difference with kids. Brian was a youth pastor and we had many intimate moments menotring teens.  We are still friends with all of those kids and interact on Facebook. In the midst of this, there was still pain. I didnt  understand what was going on with me and Brian was intimidated by that. So he stayed silent.


Man, during these years, we have both transformed so much. I found myself still lost and was super immature.I put too many expectations of people b/c of my pride. I said words that hurt and I learned my lesson,.

But, I just know I feel more confident but only because I am learning so much about God's grace and how it really is an ocean we are daily swimming in it. What better truth is there? We are free!!

I"ve watched Brian continue to love and serve the church when I was fed up and losing my love for the church. But,  He is so faithful. He finally began tithing and this was a big trust issue of his heart. He is faithful to continue to give every week and loves tracking it. What can I say  he is an introvert and I am the crazy hormonal, prideful girl trying to follow God's path for our marriage. Or thats what all us ladies think, right?

We are in no way perfect. But, we are staying together, working it out....building and investing in our relationships. It has been sloooooow going. But God always intervened and kept us strong.

I can't wait to see where we continue to journey and discover God's daily purpose for our family. I think we will continue to grow, have some fights....but hold on. And our beautiful boys...what a blessing.

We are learning to finally communicate and understand one another better than we ever have. We joke that we just had it backwards. Most marriages are super intimate those first few years and then lose that interest and then divorce. We had very difficult.  first few years, but now-even though there's pain, we are still working and understand each other much better. Life is waaaay better.

Now each day, when we do it right by listening to God's voice, I see God's providence in every step we've taken. And there's is nothing more miraculous than I have experienced than where you look back and see how ALL of it was for His  glory. So we can continue to believe. Trust and obey. Favorite hymn ever.

We are sinners making it ONLY because of God's grace. There is nothing in us that has enabled us to have our anniversary today. 11 years on 11/11/11. We totally did that on purpose.

Not.

Ephesians 3:14-21 was a verse Brian used to read to me when we were dating off and on. That verse has become my life verse and I believe I will experience his love more than I can imagine. I pray it over each youth or adult I pray with and for all of my friends and former friends that just couldn't hold down. Of course, I and we have not always been so easy to be friends with...again that  seriousness we live with, expectations, insecurity, pride, you get the point. We miss our fellow journeyers but I guess we are always united in spirit and peace.

And of course there is always Facebook..

But I see myself maturing. And thats all we can do. 

But, its all about growing.

You should read it. Its one of the most beautiful prayers to pray for people in your life.

I am so proud of you babe for working part time, losing your dreams, but moving up in your company, working your butt off to provide for us.I know one day it will all make since.

 So, here's your gift. Since you never tell me what you want.
 
I know we will have a wonderful night.

Stay in his presence and walk in His spirit,

Oh and quit pissin me off,

Karin