Fresh Start

The majority of us live in the rat race, the alarm goes off in the morning and it's as if the shot gun just fired and were off through the maze of our day looking for our piece cheese at the end of the day.  We don't take time to be in the moment, we are always looking ahead at what still needs to be done.  I don't believe God intended us to live life that way; after all life did start in a garden of loveliness.

I too was a part of that rat race.  I believe in giving my employer 110% , if not more and found myself working 45-60 hours a week (if not more).  I found myself going in at 7:00 am, getting off at anywhere from 5:00-7:00, going home, eating dinner and then firing up the computer to work a few more hours.  I didn't mind because I loved my job.  During that time however, after a while I noticed I was putting on more weight, my knees hurt to go up the stairs so I started using the elevator and now my back is just weak enough I have problems just going to the store.

Out of no choice of my own, I was been pulled out of the rat race I was running.  I found myself in sort of a depression and I'm having trouble getting myself going.  Pretty much all I wanted to do is watch Netflix/Hulu or play games on my phone.  God has given me a wonderful opportunity to slow down and take care of myself, but I seem to lack the energy.  The soul is willing - the flesh is week.

I don't want it to be that way, it's time I pull my big girl panties up, stop looking back and go forward with the love of Christ in my heart and prepare myself for whatever wonderful things God has in store for me.  For me, it's a season of rest and getting my act together.

What season are you in?

~Sheryl~

Humble yourselves, therefor, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

1 Peter 5:6 NIV

I wrote this back in September of 2019 after I lost my job.  A lot has happened since then and yes, I am back to work.  God has shown me I need to take this fresh start and run with it, and that I will.

2020 will be a year of self-discovery: mind, body and soul.  I would be honored if you joined me in this journey.

~Sheryl~

The Power Of Temptation

It's Wednesday night, 5:00 p.m., bible study starts at 6:30, as you're leaving work you review your mental check list of things that really need to be done - tonight. On your way home you start debating with yourself if you should really take the time to go to bible study. After all, there is laundry to be done, a checkbook to be balanced and a dozen other things waiting for you when you walk into the house.


You walk into the house and can smell dinner already started. The dogs bark their greetings at you and the cat comes and smells your shoe and runs for the hills. Awww....yes - home. You look at the clock that is now saying you need to leave in 45 minutes. You start hearing that little voice in your head, "why rush with dinner and go back out where it's cold and dark? Stay home in your warm house, enjoy a leisurely dinner with your family and watch Survivor. After all, it's not your fault they moved it to Wednesday nights." You listen to the voice.

Our latest sermon series on temptation has really got my attention. Not that I didn't think of temptation before but God has used this time to convict me and to open my eyes to the temptations that I have been given to. I never really thought about there being something much bigger at stake than the temptation it's self. Yeah the big temptations-the big sins, everyone knows that if we are tempted to kill someone and follow through that yes, there is something much bigger on the other side of that temptation.

It's those times when we have that brownie when no ones looking, swipe that piece of plastic (our spouse will never know-right), or decide to stay home from the bible study or small group you've committed too. There are countless temptations facing us everyday. Some are easier than others to resist - some have such a pull on us that alone we can't pull away from it.

1st Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

I'm not ready for this series to be over. I feel like I still very much in the middle of it and I have so much to learn. But I am thankful that God used this series to get my attention. To remind me that giving into a temptation will affect my faith, my family, and my future and possibly a future that may not even by my own but effects someone else.


There is no way to avoid temptation - with the help of the Holy Spirit we can over come them.

If you feel comfortable, please leave a comment letting me know how I can pray for you. What temptations are you facing? What temptation have you overcome? I'd love hearing from you.

It can be done....

You can get a sleeping dog woman up at 5:00 am to go to the gym. 

I made it to the gym today by 5:30 but not with some obstacles being put in my way:

• Plugged my dead ipod into my computer to charge over night.
• One of my furfriends unplugged the cord from my computer, battery died over night.
• Dead computer = dead ipod in the morning - crud.
• Received text from Big K - she's not going this morning, she's the one that wanted this.
• Little K's  car is behind mine.
• Frost on Little K's car that is behind me.
• Go back into the house and get keys to move said car with frost on windows trying to avoid trash that is waiting for pick up at end of the drive way.
• Park Little K's car at an angel due to frost still on windows that I haven't taken the time to scrape - and avoiding garbage can at the end of the drive.
• Procede to adjust Little K's car 3 more time to get it over far enough and straight enough so I can back my car out.
• Get in car to leave, look over, left Little K's lights still on.  Go back into the house, get her keys, shut off light, put keys back into house.
• One my way, almost turn onto the interstate going the wrong direction.
• Get to the gym, I seem to have great difficulty making up my mind where I'm going to park....just park already Sheryl.

Yea!!!! I made it.

You know, sometimes you have to wonder if it's even worth it. 

Yeah, it's worth it.  I'm not real social that early in the morning but I didn't mind listening to the music from the class in the next room and just peddling away for the next 30 minutes.

I yawned on the way home and thought to myself, "I must be the only one that yawns after a work out."  Thought exercising gave you more energy?  It does, I just didn't wait long enough.  I can't describe how much better I have felt today, not only physcially but mentally.  I've been very productive and sometimes that's hard when you are the only one in the office.

Thankfully early morning swim practice starts this week and I won't have to fight for the shower when I get home.

True Confession - Here's to a my health!

For me weight and staying physically fit has been a life long battle - I lose, I gain, I lose, I gain.  I got a wild hair last Saturday to go to the gym.  I rode the bike for 30 minutes.  It has been a few weeks since my shadow darkened their door step so for me - this was big. 

Then with out giving it much thought at all, I did something totally crazy.  I talked to one of the trainers about what I need to do to get back on track.  I even set up an appointment to talk to the naturalist and to set up an exercise program.  During this conversation he really didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, but he did confirm what others (my family) have been trying to get me to do. 

Big K has been trying to get me to the gym in the morning before work.  I'm thinking she nuts!  I'm not breathing much before the alarm goes off at 6:00 let alone have my tush at the gym earlier then that. Bless her heart but after some of the conversations we've had about it she finally quit bringing it up.  She knows I should do it, I know I should do it, but geeez 5:15 in the morning????

Then during my meeting with the trainer he mentioned that the most successful people at weight loss and fitness start their day working out - dig the knife in a little more, I knew that too.  Is this the Holy Spirit confirming through him that I need to to this and if I know I should do this why don't I do something about it? 

I made a very scary decision this morning, I'm going to start working out at the gym at 5:30 in the morning.  I'm not even breathing at 5:30 in the morning and why have I decided to do this going into the winter months????? 

God is convicting me, I feel he is telling me that I need to take better care of myself.  To take care of the body he blessed me with.   I don't have many health issues right now but if I don't take off some weight and get in better physical condition I'm going to have problems in the future.  Besides, I want to be one of those Grandmas that take their grand kids places, play with them on the floor, and be very active.

• I want to be able to go into a department store and buy clothes with out going into the plus size section.
• I want to have control over food instead of food having control of me.
• I want more energy and I want the driven person back that I once was.
• I want to put my CPAP machine up on the shelf and let it gather dust.
• I want to be ready at a moments notice when God calls me to a task - both physically and mentally.

But I'm scared:

• What if I fail. 
• I'm afraid I will lose my comforting friends - hamburgers, fries, my pillow.  That fear comes from the love of food and napping.
• How do I stop thinking about food all of the time - and WHY do I think of food all of the time?
• I'm scared I'll feel hungry - I Hate feeling hungry.
• Will I have the strength to make it a way of life

A tweeter friend tweeted once "What's holding you back?"  After I thought about it I decided I'm holding me back.  I don't consider myself a negative person, I hope people don't see me that way, maybe they do.  However, when it come to me and my self-esteem I am very negative-I have convinced myself that I am fat and ugly.

I know this is all a choice, making the choice and sticking to it are two different things, for me anyway.  So once again I begin my journey.  I had lost 20 pounds since April and put back on 4 of those pounds, not too bad but it's time to get the scale moving down once again.

Thank You

In memory of my dad (Koren war), my father-in-law (WWII), and in honor of my future son-in-law (Marines) I want to Thank You and all the men and women who have served and given their lives to keep us safe and to give us our freedom. 

Happy Veterans Day.