What is your excuse?

This morning I met a woman that is changing her life. She is diagnosed with cancer (we are praying that it goes in to remission), the single mom of a little girl , she lives in the projects, doesn't have a car and has yet to graduate from high school. It would have been so easy for her to have stayed in bed this morning. I think most of us would have understood if she chose to especially since it was pouring rain this morning. But this woman got up and got her and her daughter ready for their day. Then began her usual walk from the projects up to her daughters day care and then to the specialized school she goes to in order to get a high school diploma. I had the pleasure of giving her a ride for part of her walk this morning.

Seeing this woman push through her circumstances made me think about how often I let small issues get the best of me. Instead of striving forward and pushing myself to be the woman God made me to be I sit and eat cookies. While telling myself it is too hard to be better.

We often let our circumstances stand in the way of the life we want. We tell ourselves we didn't do well enough in college to get into grad school or we are too far behind to ever get a good job or we are too unlucky in love to ever met someone who loves us for who we really are. Then the really scary thing begins to happen...we start to believe these lies. The lies begin to eat at us from the inside out and then we give up. We no longer strive to make ourselves and our lives better. We are no longer seeking God's will for our lives. We are stagnate. We are going through the motions of everyday life without really caring.

So here is some tough love. Get Your Dang Butt Out Of Bed! It is easy to mope and feel sorry for yourself. So your life is not going the way you dreamed...Change It. Figure out what will make you happy; ask the Lord what he has in store for you and set small attainable goals for yourself. Soon you will begin to see the fruits of the changes you have made.

What would you do if you were diagnosed with cancer, lived in the projects, were the single parent of a toddler, had no car and did not graduate from high school? Would you give up and stay home and watch TV on the government's dime or would you drag yourself out of bed and change your life?

Shortness

A super short update on Shampoo Free.

Well after trying it out for a couple weeks I am back to using regular shampoo and conditioner. The baking soda and vinegar was cool but you just can't beat the convenience of the regular store bought stuff.

Shampoo Free!?

Shampoo Free sounds crazy... right.
For the last couple weeks I have been reading blogs about people who have gone shampoo free. At first I thought it was totally crazy. I mean really how in the world can baking soda and vinegar give you the same results that shampoo and conditioner do. But the benefits of going 'poo free really sucked me in. Some of the benefits are not using harsh detergents or chemicals on your hair; also in the long run it will save you money. So, I decided to give it a whirl. Here is how.....

First take a tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with water until it forms a thin paste.

• In the shower massage the mixture into soaking wet hair.


• Keep the mixture mostly on your scalp.


• Let it sit for a couple minutes the rinse in warm water

Then take vinegar (white or apple cider) and mix 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar.

• You can add a few drops of lavender or your favorite essential oil to the mixture.


• In the shower pour this over your hair starting at the scalp. If you have very thick hair you may need to do the bottom half of your hair, then the top.


• Let the rinse sit on your hair for a couple minutes the rinse out with cool water.

I have only done this routine one time but the instant results I saw where that my hair was very shiny, more voluminous and very manageable. I usually spend all day fighting with my bangs but today they were very obedient. I am going to go 'poo free for a 2 week trial period and see how it goes. If you give it a try let me know what your results are.

Teen-Age Girls I Am Calling You Out

People are judged by the way they look whether we want to admit it or not. I know, I know we would all like to think that we don't judge people's character by the way they dress but we really do. The way you present yourself to the world is very important. Why else do people wear conservative suits to job interviews.

That said.......Teenage girls I am calling you out! Girls 13 to 18 need to take a look in the mirror and decide what message they want to send to the rest of the world. My sister and I were at the mall last Friday and the whole place was swarmed with teenage chicks in bootie shorts, crop tops and all other sorts of painfully misguided clothing choices. It was like the cast of "Bring it On" had invaded the supposedly "high end" mall I was shopping at. Dressing like that makes you look cheap ladies.

Now don't get me wrong I am not saying that women should cover themselves head to toe in baggy, overly modest clothing. There is just a fine line between looking beautiful and looking slutty. I am personally way more inclined to look beautiful. So by all means look beautiful but if you look like a slut imma gonna call you out.

Here are some easy ways to slut proof your outfit.

1. If you are showing a lot of leg cover the rest up and visa versa if you are wearing a low cut top don't wear short shorts.

2. Skin tight is not cute. A tailored fit is.

3. Leggings are not pants. Nobody wants to see your bootie fat.


Lastly I want to speak to parents of these girls...... If your daughter comes out of her room looking less then beautiful send her back to change. Don't be afraid to tell her the message that she is sending to the rest of the world. I don't care what kind of excuses she gives you.

Mom and Pop is best

I love hole in the wall places. I would even go as far as saying I am passionate about it. I love going to a restaurant that is only in Cleveland or going to buy coffee that is not Starbucks. So here are a few of my current favs....

Dewys Coffee Cafe
Great free trade coffee, Arty/hipster decor and fantastic wifi.
http://www.shakersquare.net/ssm/deweys.htm

Zoss Swiss Baker
Super tiny bakery with killer Swiss pastries http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/16/204879/restaurant/Southeast/Zoss-the-Swiss-Baker-Cleveland

Inn on Coventry
Total diner feel. I had the avocado and tomato omelet....divine.
http://www.innoncoventry.com/


And now for a place a I am hoping to try out soon.
Tremont Scoops
http://www.tremontscoops.com/


If you all are ever in the Cleveland area check these places out. You won't be sorry

Content, Thankful and Choosing Joy

I was driving around today feeling rather bummed out. Actually I have spent the last month being bummed out. I think I was just feeling really discontent with my life and I was spending way to much time longing for the things that I don't have. So while I was driving around a children's song popped into my head. "I got a gratitude attitude yeah yeah yeah - What are you thankful for?" At this part in the song the kids are supposed to yell out things they are thankful for. But when I sang that part nothing came to my mind to answer the question "What are you thankful for?" And my heart broke. No wonder I was feeling so depressed I wasn't thankful for anything. So I immediately made a conscience decision to be thankful, content and to choose joy in my life. After making that choice this afternoon I went to visit a local church with my parents this evening. And wouldn't you know it..... A girl I have never meet before comes up to me and starts speaking words about joy, worship, and pearls over me. God is faithful to reward and encourage us. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit brought my thanklessness to my attention.

Confident Kids

A few Sundays ago we were having a prayer time at the beginning of kid’s church. During this time one of the preschoolers really caught my attention. He was going around putting his little hands on his friend’s backs and praying the sweetest prayers for each one. Once he was finished I called him over with the intention of building him up. So I told him that I thought he was a great prayer and that God really did hear him. After I said that he looked up at me and simply said “I know.” I was struck at his confidence. He needed no encouragement from me he was completely confident in his ability to pray and God’s ability to hear.

It is that confidence that many adult Christians lack. What can we do to instill Christian confidence in the kids we lead that will see them through to adulthood?

Opportunities to Practice
A high school soccer player that has been playing since 1st grade is often a more confident player then one that just started. The same is true with Christian kids. They have to be given opportunities to practice their faith or when they are all grown up they will not be confident Christians.

Encourage them
Seek out each child’s spiritual gifting and encourage them in that. For some kids it is totally obvious and others you may have to spend time in prayer asking God to reveal it to you. For example that kid that sings the loudest and does all the motions may be a leader. To encourage that leadership gift have them help you up front every once in a while.

Push them outside their Comfort Zone
For many kids praying out loud or in front of people is terrifying but if you offer to help them it is less terrifying. Praying for adults is something else kids may find stressful but once they have done it they become old pros. In my experience after kids pray for their teachers in class a couple times they go home and pray for their parents and grandparents.