Healthy Spirit

Lots has been going on. I made a wonderful new friend. Who is as excited about nutrition as I am. So hopefully I will have more info to share!!

I have still been crocheting away. Not selling much but that's ok. Selling enough to make it, I suppose.

I enjoyed a women's retreat with my Mom, Grandma, and Sister-in-Law,last weekend. That is really what I want to blog about today. I believe that being healthy does include being spiritually happy. I have always wanted to go on a women's retreat so when my Mom told me about their church having one I was excited about getting to do something with her, I just wasn't excited that it was her church hosting it. Here is my confession, I have attended their church on more then one occasion and was blessed each time I went, but it is a small church and it is very different from the church we came from in Georgia. So I was a little skeptical about how it would turn out; a small church hosting a women's retreat didn't sound so promising. (Harsh I know, but that's really how I felt) As the time neared for this retreat I started praying. I didn't want to have any expectations. I was afraid if I expected too much that it would hinder what God had planned for me. So I prayed for Him to prepare my heart for whatever He had for me. The first day of the retreat arrived and when it came to introductions, I gave my name and said "I came expecting nothing, but willing to receive whatever is offered." and I meant it. The purpose of the retreat was revealed later and it was "Women Under Construction".

Perfect. I was ready to receive. I have to admit I had a great time at the retreat and do look very forward to attending next year. God showed me that He is mighty in ALL things, including small churches. I never excepted to see or feel the intimacy that was there. I never felt isolated or alone and felt very welcomed. I came away with one word that stood out more then all the other words spoken at the retreat and that word was COURAGE.  Others may not have received the same thing, but for me courage is what I kept hearing God speak to my heart over and over.
In order for God to change you; you need to have courage. Courage is the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear. You can't even begin the process of change without having the courage to admit that you need change. You can't offer grace without first admitting that you need grace. Admitting that you need grace takes Courage. God can't restore you until you have the courage to release yourself to Him for Him to begin that restoration.

It was a great weekend that I can't possibly cover in one blog..lol. I just mostly wanted to share that we shouldn't put God in a box. We shouldn't assume that He only does great things through mega churches. I encountered more intimacy at this small baptist church women's retreat then I have ever experienced anywhere. I shared a wonderful healing weekend with some very radiant, captivating, and beautiful women.

God is mighty in all things and through all things (we just have to take off the blinders!!)

Till next time enjoy the photo's

Loves Angela

Three women packed for 2 days. can you say excessive!!

32 women in one cabin!! God is mighty..lol

Blessed to be able to share this experience with my mom and Grandma

Just a bunch of country girls and a truck:O)



Nature trail stop



Cabin companions



Not so green but still healthy and happy!!

We hhaven't been eating to green lately. I mean I have still been trying to be careful of what we purchase at the grocery but I haven't really been to the grocery very much in the last few weeks. Tito has been fishing up a storm and bringing home shrimp too. My freezer is staying full thanks to his new found skill and passion for fishing. I just wish I liked fish...ick. Some days I just can't bring myself to cook it. I have also realized that fall veggies are not my fave and neither are the fruits really. Maybe I can survive on bread and water alone..:O) Just kidding. I really have been living in fast forward for almost a month now but I can see the slow down coming of course it won't happen till next week and even then will be a short lived slow down before we will be going again. I never thought I would say this but, I dislike staying so busy that you can't breathe!! and really staying so busy you can't eat right. But there is truth to that. In this fast paced society it makes since that we have issues with obesity. We are just too busy to slow down and eat right. We need everything fast including food and most of us believe that it takes to much time to make healthy food. We had to chance to eat at home on Saturday night, and I really contemplated for a good hour and a half about just ordering out. then after much debate with myself got up and made a black forest ham sandwich on french bread with pepper jack cheese and sweet potato chips on the side. How hard was that!!? Not hard at all and it took no time, now I should have had it on wheat bread with no mayo but lets just be real what I had was way lower in calories then the burger or pizza we would have ordered!! I think I have to stop making eating right so darn hard and then maybe I will quit beating myself up on the days that we didn't eat perfectly natural food.

I went to LNO tonight and had a great time with some wonderful Christian women. We ate at O'Charley's which is probably my least favorite place to eat. However I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and cinnamon and sugar donuts for dessert. I was very pleased with myself when I walked out because I walked out with half my meal in a to-go box. I made a conscious decision when I placed my order to NOT CLEAN MY PLATE (yea isn't that going against the grain) and I was just satisfied, not over full and not starving!! The burger was very good and I was very happy with the service. When I inquired about the use of peanut oil the manager came out with the waitress to assure me that they don't use it but they did want me to know that they deep fry pecans in the oil. It made my day that my peanut allergy was taken seriously because sometimes I don't believe the waitresses really care.

Say a little prayer for me, I am going on a women's retreat this weekend and it looks like the menu may be a little challenging for me. So I will have to make and pack different foods that I can eat and not have reactions to.

Anyway gotta run...thanks for listening to my rant..lol

Loves Angela!!