We all have something to give away...

We do...We all have something to give away.

Some have extra time, energy, finances, patience, encouragement, affection, a listening ear, wisdom...the list goes on and on. (Many of these things express love, btw.)

Are you sharing what you have?

We teach our kids to "share with others". Are we giving them an example to follow?

Search your heart, your abilities, your gifts, your possessions, your life today and see if there is something you can share with others. It may be a meal, a conversation, a book, a coat, coffee, or your presence. We all truly have something that someone else needs or could use.

What do you have that you could give away today?

What WILL you give away today?

Do you plan?

I think I might be a compulsive planner.

Sucks the fun out of life sometimes for me...but I hate procrastinating and having last minute emergencies of unpreparedness.

So in looking ahead....my goal is to graduate from Summit by June 2013. This is when my Master's Thesis is due. This is a 100+ pg. research paper on 'a ministry need in my community'.

Trust me, God has given me some serious downloads on what it is. Why do I have to plan??? I will have to work on this paper, while I am taking classes. I'm in my 3rd class, so in March, I will have 3 down and 7 to go (with 15 mos. to handle them in).

I have to plan.

And soon I will have to start protecting my time. Come summer, I have to really scale back on 'activity'.

See, God, my husband, my kids, my home, school, and ministry are the big rocks in my jar. All the extra stuff I do are the little rocks and sand that fill the jar.

Now, I don't think I will isolate myself to my home for 1 full year...however, I will have to say 'no' to commitments and tasks that do not keep my ship on this course.

I am already mentally preparing myself for what this is going to look like. And what I will have to say is..."I am so sorry, I'm in the midst of a huge assignment for school, and I really have no time to have a life right now...but can I take a raincheck for July 2013?"

I will have to say no at times.

....just because my time will be so limited and so devoted to my family and school.

But it's only for 1 year - 1 year of strict adherence to time-management. But it will be worth it. When I graduate, Jacob will be 3 1/2 and Daniel will soon be going into first grade (crazy I know)...and I will get to work a little bit that following year.

Hopefully do some church, on-staff counseling and stuff...and then once Jacob is in Kindergarten - I'm going to officially, hopefully work as much as I can...without taking from my fam...again.

My goal:

To drop my kids off at school, go to work @ 9 a.m....get off at 1 p.m. (in time to run an errand, kid-free), and then pick up my boys from school on time, come home, eat a snack, do homework, and cook my family dinner....handle bathtime and bedtime.

It's sounds so ideal to me...will it happen exactly like that? I don't know, but it'd be great if it did.

I really love working in an actual workplace.

I'm now in self-training mode of learning to love to be a 'worker of my home' (Titus 2:3-5). God has plainly shown me through various things and people, here is where I need to be.

It's all about: what's the priority? And right now, for me, my kids and husband (after God) are to be number 1...and I need to make sure that it stays that way, even when school gets demanding.

So in a few months...I may seem a bit MIA. I will still blog (as I am a writer and it's my outlet)...but my fb-time is going to go on the chopping block. A lot of my emailing/texting/talking/catching up...is going to have to be very limited.

Hopefully I'll be in such great shape too by that time, I'll only have to work out 3-4X/week, instead of 5-6. My time will be less flexible then...so I better get all the flexin' in now!

See the beauty of planning?

It's like customizing your future...setting plans in motion...however, I am always putting my plans at the feet of Jesus so that He can make them what He wants. That's actually how I ended up at Summit...by putting my life and time on the altar. It's so good to do from time to time to really see how much of life you are making for yourself, versus letting God make the life He intended for YOU!

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Side note: I think I share this stuff for accountability purposes and because I love sharing my life w/ you. So we shall see in a couple years if all this micro-planning actually works!!! I hope it does...sounds pretty ideal for me!

Gnight!

Expectations

I am me.
You are you.

And I never expect you to be like me.

My goals are set for the future I want, and I'm sure our futures are differnet.

However, if you want to be successful, you better learn to work hard and smart!

If you want lose weight, you better learn to like green and lean foods.

If you want to be toned, defined, and strong...you better learn to like to exercise & sweat.

If you want to stay married forever, you better read your Bible & learn to pray (hard).

If you want good kids who love God, you better be a good adult and love God yourself (and pray some more).

And if you want to go to heaven, you better get to know, believe in, and love Jesus Christ.

These are the things I want in life...but I do not expect you to be like me.

But if you want anything in life - I do expect you to do your part.

Be responsible. Be an active participant in your life. Be you!

Do I have to admit that today is my birthday?

I really, really, really used to love my birthdays. When I was a kid, we always had cake and ice cream at my granny's house. Then my early 20s...well that was B.C. and it was a week long party. Then I got to go through the phase of 'dinners w/ my girlfriends'.

I don't know what changed. Maybe it was the year I turned 30....since becoming a mom, I've been reluctant to go hang out with friends, like I love to do.

If you gotta know...I'm 35 today. And all week, I've struggled with admitting that. Trust me...I'm wondering why?

Have I really grown that vain

to be so caught up with numbers?

Maybe it's because I dress like I'm in my mid-20s and I'm wondering if I should dress more....more like a 'woman'. Wear the professional garb to grocery shop in??? Yikes.

The worse thing for me actually is a little boy, in the grocery store, saying "Hey LADY"...lady? Ladies are the white-haired, grammy-looking ladies...I'm not a lady in that sense. And then, I'm kinda on the tom-boy side...so I'm not really a lady in the other sense either.

For the record, 35 is not old. It's just a milestone that came too soon for me.
I don't feel 35. I don't think I look it either. However, I will say, I aged 5 yrs. in 2010 between having Jacob and nursing 1/2 the year during nights...and waking up every other month for 2 weeks w/ a coughing 3 year old. That did my skin in...good morning fine lines!

My 'cosmotological friends' insure me that botox is just what I need. But, I saw a 'lady' at Target the other day...her face was wrinkle-free, no lines in the forehead, or around the eyes...but man...her neck...well it showed signs of being way older than her face did. I don't want that either.

So what is all this halabaloo about 35? I don't know. I mentioned on FB the other day that mathmatically 35 is closer to 40. You know, when it's 5 or greater, you round to the nearest 10. Oh dear! (Not that 40 is old...)

Maybe my issue is being in the best shape of my life. I am able to run faster than I did in high school. I'm a size 5, smaller than I was when I was 23...but now...I'm 35. I should be celebrating that I can do over 20 push-ups at age 35, huh?

I think I'm stuck on the thought that no matter what I do, no matter how young I feel, look or act...I am 35. I cannot do anything about that number. I am "growing up" whether I want to or not.

At 35, I think people will take me more serious. But does that mean no more ballcaps for bad hair days?

At 35, I do sound a bit wiser. But does that mean that 'grandma' won't get invited out of the house after dark?

At 35, I'm getting a bit better at this mommy-thing. But will I embarass Daniel nearing 50 when he graduates high school...and over that hill when Jacob does????...oh mercy. (Not that 50 is old or anything...)

Hmmmm. If I had to go by the way I "feel", I'd say "I'm 27ish". From far away, I may be mistaken for 25. But up close and personal...you may plainly see that I am 35.

I am 35 today. Today, I am 35.
I turn 35 years old today.

Maybe if I keep repeating it, I'll believe it. It's so hard for me. When did this happen? It just doesn't seem possible. Ummm, so does it have to?

Is this why there's the saying, "Never ask a woman how old she is"? Because, I think...the next time I get asked for my age...that will be my response.

For the record, I don't think 35, 40, 50 or any age between 35 & 60 is 'old'...I am just in awe at the fact I've made it this far. I think when we're teenagers, we can't fathom being 21...then we're 21 and we think there's no way we'll be 30...then one day, we wake up 35 and it's like reality. I finally feel like 'a grown-up'. Can't hang w/ the young ladies anymore and not seem like the 'mentor' in the group. The days of flying under the radar with my age are over baby.......bummer!

Oh well, Happy 35th Birthday to me anyways!

Just some random ramblings....

Just a couple things I've had on my mind lately....

Why does everyone want to be the person up front? Why does everyone want to be famous, in the limelight?

In that light...they have a microscope on you...and if you where the wrong accessories w/ your dress, they'll slam you on Yahoo....all day!

In seeing this week's pics of the 'worst dressed from the Golden Globes' I was so sad that they would slam Madonna for her not so great choice for accessories. There is no room for error...at least with the media, huh?

So with that in mind, I thought...why does so many want to be the next __________?

Hmmmm. Well, some are truly called. And some are truly not. How do some who are lacking the gifting make it to the top...without the gifts. And those, with all true sincerity and gifting, get pushed to back?

So sad that many sincere people really do get picked over because they stand for integrity and truth. And others get picked because they will go along with any plan and refuse to sharpen the iron with iron. We live in a time that 'men love to have their ears tickled'....many want to be in the right always, and when someone is willing to stand up and say "I don't agree with that"....well, they're kicked off the team.

I'm rambling...but we have to people who will do what God calls us to. Nothing LESS and nothing more...because usually, when we're moving on to do more w/out His anointing/leading...we're moving in the flesh. And if God don't build the house, the labor is in vain.

Which brings me to...what's up with gift envy? Not sure if this is a term...but I am making it up....and I'm talking about the spiritual gifts. We all have gifts and we gotta find ours and quit looking at what others have. Just like...ladies, quit worrying about who is wearing what purse...in the end it doesn't matter.

We need to figure out what our calling, our gifting and God-given talents are and use them! Use them before you lose the sensitivity to the Spirit! It's actually quite exhilirating to use your gifts, joy will permeate through your face...and that's always attractive!

Be content with the gifts He has given you. We need YOU using what God gave you. And if you think you should have other gifts...then you're really questioning what God planned out for your life...and in all my experience, HE KNOWS BEST so trust Him and use what you got!

Let's stop being envious of what spiritual gifts other people have and find our own. And then ask God to open the doors for us to use them. Then is when we experience joy...when we are moving in the Spirit, being where we're suppose to, praying with the ones who need us the most, sharing encouragement w/ the downtrodden, etc.

Let's do what God has for us to do...and be content with that. Then, maybe then, will He entrust us with more!

Stuck in L.A. traffic...stuck with complaints!

So the other day, my husband, my near 5 yr. old, and I were stuck on the 405 in Los Angeles, CA. Folks in Bako, Rosedale Hwy. ain't traffic, okay?

But as we are stuck there...gridlock before the 101 off-ramp...my 'family' is falling apart over the traffic. Hey, it was 7:30/8 a.m. what did they expect? (Expectations, that's a whole other topic). But complaining, complaining, complaining. This was Daniel's first experience of being 'stuck in traffic'. (Yes, we will plan better and drive down the night before to avoid that next time.)

But as they were going on, and on, and on....I said, "Hey guys, why don't WE ;) turn our complaining into prayers?" "Daniel, let's pray that God will get us out of this traffic, okay?" And within 15 minutes, we were getting off the freeway. Our idling in the middle lane, turned into crawling, then merging over because our off ramp was coming up...and then, the freeway opened up so that we could safely get off the freeway.

Now, obviously, when you tell your child to pray for something that is so tangible, in the back of your faithless mind, you're telling God, 'oh man, I really hope you do this'...right? And at the same time, your faith-filled mind just knows that He will and so you pray w/ greater expectation. (There's that word again....)

On the way home tonight from class, I was reminded of this freeway illustration and the power behind my words:

WHY DON'T WE TURN OUR COMPLAINING

INTO PRAYERS!!!!

So what have you been complaining about?

Your spouse? Have you prayed for him/her lately...today?

Your finances? Have you prayed for more? Have you asked God to direct you on where to spend WHAT you have? Have you even submitted the little bit to HIM?

Your kids? Are you praying for them?

Your boss? Are you praying for him/her?

Your job? Are you praying and learning more to grow into a new position? Are you thanking God that you have one in this economy?

Your house? Are your eyes open to those on the cold streets? Are you praying for God to help you with your budget, or to provide for more so that you can have a nicer one? Are you asking God what your purpose is on your block, in your neighborhood is?

Your church? Are you lifting your leaders up in prayer, interceding for them, asking for God's intervention and direction in their personal lives?

Your parents? Are you praying for them? For their salvation? For their heart to be softened?

I am guilty too.

Complaining is like overeating,

it's so easy to do and we don't know when to stop.

But, here's your reminder...stop complaining and start praying. Jesus said to 'cast all your burdens on Him'...share it all. Complain to HIM, get it off your chest to Him. Then ask Him to give you spiritual eyes to see what needs to change in YOU...what is your role in all this dissatisfaction? See, when we go to the Lord w/ all our complaints and an open heart, He will take the burdens, He will show you what is in your life for you to grow, and He will give you light at the end of the tunnel for the things stifling you...usually with instruction on how to pray even deeper about that person/trial/thing that got you complaining in the first place.

God wants us to go to Him about everything. I go to God and apologize in advance..."I'm so sorry I feel this way...but God, I need to vent"...and once I do...and I am quiet to listen, my heart is softened or I have a renewed sense of direction to go.

We have to retrain the way we handle inconveniences.

We have to turn off the dripping faucet of whining and complaining,

and turn to the spring of Living Water.

Remind me of this next week when the docs drop the ball, or my kids have simultaneous meltdowns, my husband doesn't take the trash out, and I have an urgent errand with an empty tank of gas, right?

We all have ugly moments...but we need to handle them before they handle us! Our kids are watching and learning too. How we handle life will be how they handle life...and my goal is to have spiritually-leading young men. So with that....I'm off to pray...and praise the Lord for all His goodness!

Goodnight!



UPDATE ON DANIEL from UCLA visit!

There are a few parts to the plan for him:

There are 2 options to treating his allergies:
Allergy shots or move Daniel out of Bakersfield. My son is allergic to Bakersfield as it is the worst in the nation for allergy sufferers. (Figured this one...) The UCLA doc is shocked that they only tested Daniel for allergies to 2 weeds & 5 trees, when we live in weed capital! So, obviously, we need more allergy testing to see all that he is allergic to and start w/ the shots to alleviate the allergies, that stir up his asthma. Or move out of the valley where this junk hovers over us, on us, in us....errrr.

The doc has a plan through using a peak flow meter, to see if we can take him off the Singulair (PTL) and move him from Advair to Qvar. Never received a peak flow meter before :( Great plan for objective data to see where his 'asthma' really is and not just go by the cough. Great plan to see what kind of difference each med is really making in him.

Also, new nebulizer equipment was given to us. Yes, sadly enough, we've been using a 'disposable' tubing/medicine cup/mask from the doctors for breathing treatments. This may be why I've been telling them that 'the albuterol seems nearly ineffective w/ his asthma symptoms'. You DON'T USE  disposable equipment for daily/regular breathing treatments. (Email for the name of the one we got...it's the best on the market - flexyourselfjen@yahoo.com).

He gave us a plan to follow for those crazy, middle of the night coughing episodes. We'll use his albuterol aggressively and if the alb. really doesn't work, we may be able to just suppress the cough for those exacerbated episodes w/ a potent cough syrup. This cough at night may be what he referred to as an "allergic cough". Also, corrected us: DO NOT USE ALBUTEROL W/ ATROVENT AT THE SAME TIME! (As previously directed). Do them seperately: first alb. then followed by atro.

Let me just add add us deciding to go to this UCLA allergy/asthma specialist was a result of being told by one of Daniel's docs that we needed a pedi pulm. for 'stronger meds'. This got me praying hard because my gut said that Daniel did NOT need more/stronger meds. And that there was more to why Daniel is not growing and gaining, and NOT because of the advair or he needed a different med. Through serious prayer and God moving, last weekend, it was revealed to me that Daniel probably had celiac disease. I made changes last weekend to a gluten-free diet...and immediately there have been changes in Daniel.

After sharing these changes w/ the UCLA doc and looking at Daniel's lack of gaining and growth - he is convinced Daniel does have celiac (especially since it's hereditary and my mom just found out in the last 6 mos. from a procedure she has it)...and so we are going to be getting a blood test a.s.a.p. to confirm.

I am convinced just by the changes in Daniel just this week that he has it. He's gone from being a kid who runs to the bathroom 3-5 times a day, crying on the toilet to a kid who only goes once or twice, no running to the rr, and no crying. And the appearance of "it" has gone from crazy colored, foul-smelling, oily to more 'normal'. It's like night and day difference.

Who wants their kid to have one more thing right?

But the beauty of the celiac is that it's all controlled through DIET not meds. I did some homework on this. When he's on a gluten-free diet, his small intestine will begin to heal over the next year...he will then start to gain and grow!!! And the immune system will be stronger. See, his asthma may be so sensitive to every cold/allergy right now because it's so weak from the malabsorption of nutrients in his intestines from this celiac.

So, get the kid off gluten, get a healthier small intestine, get more nutrients absorbed, and get stronger immune system...and have less flare-ups.

This, plus the plan for allergy shots...

is going to give me a kid who is HEALTHIER!!!

Without adding MORE MEDS...in fact the plan is to dose down!!!

Of course I wanted to cry when the doc gave me this plan to live on as less meds as possible. There is light at the end of this tunnel. And to me, all this is a result of all your prayers and my prayers....AND GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO ANSWER AND PROVIDE INSIGHT AND DIRECT US!!!!

Now, you realize, I have another PRAYER REQUEST right?

Pray that Kaiser absolutely cooperates w/ the requests of the UCLA doctor and moves on them quickly and that it works out that we get the allergy treatment here locally. And this plan of dosing down WORKS!!!! There's more things we have to do diligent, but now we have a plan w/ HOPE!!!!!

It's a process to continue to pray through!

We choose....

We choose our life.
Some choose to be the victim, some choose to be the victor.
Others choose to resign to the easy way out.
Others cannot decide.


We choose the advice we will follow.
Some choose wisdom, some choose foolishness.
Others choose to do it their own way.
Others decide to not do a thing.


We choose our friends.
Some choose like-minded, driven people to hang with.
Others choose codependent people to feel secure.
Others remain loners.


We choose our spouse (most of the time).
Some choose based on money, looks, prestige and power.
Others choose based on emotional/mental attraction.
Others choose to remain single.


We ultimately choose who will be -
By the advice we follow,
By the friends we let influence us,
And by the spouse we marry.


Whatever you do - make the right choice.
The things we allow in our life will do two things:
They will either hurt us or help us.


I have the life I have by:
Choosing to be the victor and choosing wisdom.


I have been successful this far in life by:
Drawing boundaries with people who want to hold me back.


I have the beautiful secure family I have by:
Marrying a man of integrity, character, love, and honor.


However, to get to the core at where I am today, and how....
The answer is that I ultimately chose Christ.
He is my beginning and end. And with Him,
all this has been possible...
And more is yet to come.


Won't you pursue the life you long for, the life you deserve by:
Choosing Christ today!


Email me at flexyourselfjen@yahoo.com to know what this means and how.


God bless,
Jennifer Morin
1-7-12

Rough couple of weeks...coming to an end!

Yes, I've been MIA a bit. With homework as the first priority upon finally waking up from sleepless nights of sick babies, my blogging has been put on the back burner. But get ready, cuz with a new year, comes greater ambition and I've got some things I want to check of the list.

Stay tuned for a video in the morning!!!!

God bless & good night!