Striving for Excellence

Proverbs 31:10: An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.

Hi folks! Hopefully some of you out there are still checking this occasionally! Sorry about the long absence - time just S-L-I-P-S away.

I am so excited about my new class!! I am taking the "Excellent Wife" class this spring at LH, taught by the wonderful and amazing Melodi Henry!! I actually have the book (well a friend let me borrow it) but I only got partway through and then it fell to the wayside. Forgive me, Matt, but now I am EXCITED about this class!!

This blog is kind of my accountability - since writing it down for all to see means people will be asking me how it is going - but I am going to try and REALLY do this class right. I'm going to read the chapters when I can take my time and really pay attention, instead of while sitting at the table helping Molli with long division or waiting in the carpool line, etc.

I also have been convicted in the past week (but especially last night in class) about not being faithful to private quiet time, Bible study and prayer. Melodi is right . . . how can I have an intimate relationship with God without spending quality time with Him??? How ridiculous I am, praying mostly when I need things, reading the bible only on a whim or when I need to look something up. I prayed for forgiveness from Him last night in not putting time with Him and His word first!!!

Thank you, Melodi, for all you do! Thank you, Heather, for encouraging ALL married women to take this course!!

And thank you, Matt, for your great and awesome Husband-ness, and I'm sorry for not telling you more often!! Be patient, for I am turning into . . .

. . . The Excellent Wife!!!

I'm a Quad-athlete!

OK, so you know I am on my way to being fit and healthy. It looks like a very long road from here but I'm ready to go the distance!

I am doing well - eliminated sugar and empty carbs from my diet, and exercising faithfully.

Well, today the Gold's Gym in C.S. had the "Septathlon" where they do a 20-minute "launch" of each of their classes showing the new routines. It lasted from 8:30-11:30 . . . but because the childcare area had a 2 hour limit, I had to resign to doing only five of the seven classes.

Except Myla decided to sleep in two hours past her normal awakening time and slept until 9:20. I have a strict "let sleeping babies lie" rule so I waited for her to wake up, then rushed and got our derrieres to the gym.

So I could only do four classes.

ONLY??? Ha! What a laugh! I'm surprised I survived to tell the story! My heart nearly came OUT of my chest from beating at such a ridiculously high rate. But I'm the type to not slow down, even though the instructor says, "now, go at your own pace, take a break when you need to . . . " I'm not going to be the pitiful one who has to stop because she can't do it.

Except during BodyFlow, where there were a couple of spots where I couldn't follow her, because my body doesn't exactly do all of those things and balance in all of those positions.

But you should have seen me gettin' my groove on on BodyJam! Well, maybe you shouldn't have. I caught a glimpse or two of myself in the mirror and it was more than I bargained for. Suffice it to say that I learned a few new moves today. How anyone can do all of those things and TALK while doing it is beyond me. (like the instructor).

Anyway, I went to BodyStep, then BodyCombat (don't approach me in a dark alleyway now!), then BodyJam (call me the Disco Queen or the Salsa Sweetie), and then BodyFlow (now that was just humorous).

But . . .

I had a ton of fun. I will never just go do 30-45 minutes on the treadmill ever again. How boring!! And I definitely got a MUCH better workout with the classes!

Oh, and if anyone is crying because they missed out on this much fun - they are doing it again tonight (Tues) in C.S. from 5:30-8:30, and tomorrow in Bryan (morning and evening sessions).

If you are not a member of Gold's - go to their website where you can print out a free VIP Member pass to try it for a few days (I've seen coupons from 1 day to 2 weeks) -

Hope to see you there sometime!!

A Brand New Me!!

So I asked myself, "Self, do I post this on my blog for all the world to see?"

Myself said, I think, yes.

It will be another key to my success.

I am tired of being out of shape, and I have heard that when your babies turn 20 months old, you can't blame extra pounds on them any more.

Myla turned 20 months a few days ago.

So . . . it's time.

I just officially joined the Gold's Gym Health and Fitness Challenge.

You can vote for me to win and I will win amazing prizes.

But, it hasn't started yet. The challenge officially starts on Jan 21st. They are just collecting fat and out-of-shape people right now.

But I have started! Starting on Monday, I made a committment to eat healthier, and be healthier. My body is God's temple. I shouldn't stuff it with such bad things, and forget to give it a little exercise. I have done great this week!! I have eaten a lot of lean protein and salads, etc. I have done better about drinking water. And I went to the gym only twice, but hey, it's a start, and I really worked hard.

You are going to be my accountability. Help me. Ask me how I'm doing. I won't get embarrassed.

And if you are a member of Gold's Gym and would like to meet me in the mornings to work out together, I would be so happy!!

I can't wait to introduce you to the new in-shape Mindi! (you know, the one that can go upstairs and carry a load of laundry down and not be winded . . . )

Epidemiologists . . . I need your help!

I wonder what percentage of people are sick on any given day. I don't mean diseases like cancer or systemic things like high blood pressure and diabetes.

I mean the things you catch that make you sick for a few days and then you get better. Colds. Strep throat. Stomach viruses.

I'm guessing it is greater than 12.5%.

The reason for my guesstimate is that there are eight people living under my roof. It has seemed for a pretty long time now that one of us is sick.

Miranda started running a fever on Friday and had a sore throat. She was better by Sunday night but then Matt got sick. He has had a sore throat and fever since Sunday. Luckily for him (well, for all of us I suppose), I can go to work for him when he is sick.

He is back at work this morning but as I dropped Myla off at Mother's Day Out, she felt a little warm. And she was fussy this morning. Hopefully she's not getting sick.

Anyone want to do some research and see what percentage of the general population is sick at any given time? On average?

Again, my guess: 12.5% or greater, or one person out of eight.

Large families out there . . . do you have this problem?

Huck-a-BOOM!!!

Who was following the Iowa caucus yesterday??

Meeeee!! (arm waving wildly in the air)

Congratulations to Huckabee, who pulled off a solid victory in Iowa, even with an understaffed, underfunded, and underorganized campaign. Yesterday's caucus showed that people actually vote for the actual CANDIDATES. They vote based on issues and values and who they like.

Even though Huckabee had only spent $300-$400K total on his Iowa campaign, and Romney had spend $9 MILLION on TV ads, radio ads, direct mailings . . . the people of Iowa researched the candidates and voted on the one they believed in.

Though most of the pundits had predicted a virtual neck-and-neck between Gov. Huckabee and Gov. Romney, Huckabee won by an impressive 9 points.

Did you see Huckabee on Jay Leno? Though he was criticized for going to California to film on the eve of the caucus, he did a great job and probably won over some voters. If you missed it, check out this link (since I haven't figured out how to put a video right into my blog). Make sure you watch both parts because on the second part, Huckabee jams on his bass guitar with Leno's band, and then high-fives the other band members!

http://www.mikehuckabee.com/?FuseAction=Blogs.View&Blog_id=1049

OK, enough gloating . . . but I am SO pumped!! When I found Huckabee, he was polling in single digits and usually in 4th or 5th place.

Please pray for Mike Huckabee as he continues his campaign. He is not expected to do well in New Hampshire, since it is composed of more indepedent voters and there are WAY less Evangelical Christians. If he can just finish a solid third (behind McCain and Romney), he's still in good shape. He's already doing well in several other key (early) states, such as South Carolina and Florida, where he hasn't campaigned at all.

So . . . here's to you, Mike Huckabee!! May God bless you on your campaign to reach the White House!!

Ready for a Great . . . 2008!!

Wow.... can it really be 2008???

I am ready . . . though January always seems long, cold, and boring.

Here's some things that I am looking forward to in 2008:

Summer Olympics! (Yay! Go gymnastics!)

The presidential elections! (a little nervous here)

Um . . . don't forget . . . Leap Year!!

Here's what else will happen -

My oldest daughter Monica will turn 16 and get her driver's license . . . yipes!!!

Maci will start high school in the fall.

Hopefully . . . Myla will be potty trained in 2008 . . . making us a diaper-free family for the first time in a few years!

Birthdays . . . Matt and I will hit 34, Monica 16, Maci 14, Molli 11, Marshall 9, Miranda 4, and Myla 2!!! Those numbers seem so CRAZY, like they should be FAR in the future!

How does the time pass so quickly??

I'm excited for what God has planned for Living Hope and how our Wednesday night HOPE group will grow and change.

I like getting new calendars and the kids like getting new school schedules.

I like looking forward to warm weather, though it usually takes longer than I want it to.

What are you looking forward to in 2008???

My Cup Runneth Over!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psalms 23:5

Wow! I am suddenly overtaken by tears of joy.

How? How has God been so good to me?

I have been immensely blessed in life despite plenty of mistakes.

You know the old adage, "You can't take it with you" - referring to the fact that when we die, we don't take our houses, our Suburbans, our cell phones, our email accounts . . . or even our Wii's.

But you know what we CAN take with us??? People! Or at least their souls. All of these precious little (and big) children that fill my life with so much joy will all be with me for all eternity, praising God. My awesome hubby? He'll be there too.

I lay in bed last last night with my tears runnething over with pure joy and happiness. I have had a rough 2007 and I was ready to put the lid on that year and open a new year. But despite illness and the loss of a dear family member, I go into 2008 with so much love for so many people in my life that it overwhelms me. I woke up this morning with the same thought. I was ready to blog about it . . . though the blog I composed in my head did more easily flow from my brain. Now it sounds kind of . . . well, silly.

But the fact that I have one AMAZING husband and six AMAZING children to share a home with staggers me. Add on top of that . . . a super-great mom who I love so much. My parents were divorced when I was 21 and it rocked me to the core. But now I have two new people in my life. She remarried "Grampa James" in 1999 and he is wonderful too!

I had anger and issues with my father after the divorce but have reconciled that relationship. Praise God!! I'm so grateful for having him more in my life after years of hurt. His wife, Jean, is a doll and loves all of us dearly.

My brother is the coolest bestest brother ever!! He's an awesome auctioneer. He has a cool boat, a cool pool, and a cool wife! I love them both so much! I love their four super-cool kids too and I'm so glad that my six kids and their four kids all have similar ages and it's a big party and celebration every time we are together! Check out this pic of my mom, Grandpa James, my six kids, and my brother's four kids:

Is that one happy-looking crew, or what?

Then add my husband's family! We married so young, so long ago, that I feel that I have known and loved them forever. His parents are both so good to me and their love for me is genuine. He has two brothers that I love, with great personalities and great hugs! Matt's sister is several years younger than we are, but since she has married and had a baby in the past year and a half, we have grown MUCH closer! She will be having another baby in April and I am so excited that she will have two baby girls to play with my two baby girls!!

OK . . . so that's just pretty much the immediate family - without going into cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, etc. . . . !

That does not count all the dear friends that I have. Several of you out there have been there for me time and time again. You are so supportive of me and help me out with whatever I need. I have old friends and roommates from college, newer friends from optometry school and living in Killeen, and many many new friends and loved ones that we have grown close to since moving to College Station. When I got sick I was absolutely blown away by all of the unsolicited support, phone calls, emails, meals, etc.

So, here comes a Mindi that is a little bit different from the one before. I keep thinking I'm learning my lessons and finally "get it" about life . . . but God always has more to teach me.

I don't know what I am suddenly overcome with love and appreciation with everyone in my life - but I'm so thankful that it's full of such wonderful people.

Thank you God, and please don't let me forget the importance of PEOPLE. And I pray that I will get to WORSHIP You, God, with ALL of these people in heaven some day.