My Temple

I Corinthians 3:16 - 17 "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.  For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple."

I have not been treating my body as a temple, or anything close.  Through the years I've gotten less active and gradually gained more and more weight, mostly in my stomach (the classic 'apple' shape that leads to heart attacks.)  My cholesterol has been up to 410 with triglycerides of 800+.  So I went on medication.  Gradually my doctor has added more meds to counteract my bad habits. 

I decided to do something about it, so my husband took this lovely 'before' picture in October of 2009:

It turns out I was 'interested' in losing weight, but not 'committed'.  I used the treadmill a few times, then continued to put on the pounds and hang out on my couch, playing computer games.  Fortunately for everyone, I did not take another 'before' picture when I was at my peak.

Then, my 'gem' of a friend came along with some encouragement.  She said she was taking Zumba class and we should join her.  Along with another friend, I did just that at the beginning of November.

I'm loving Zumba.  It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be and its lots of fun. I know I look ridiculous doing Latin dance moves, but I've decided not to care about that.  Almost immediately I started to feel more energetic.  I even tried working out on some machines when class was cancelled for the holidays. 

My company ran a campaign to get us to eat more fruits and vegetables (strive for five) and I dove in, again with support from my friends.  Next Gem mentioned that she was joining Weight Watchers.  They have a new program, and I was welcome to come along.  So I did that in early December and I have been very impressed with that program. 

So far so good.  I've lost 15 pounds and my clothes are starting to fit again. 

Perhaps I got too cocky.  Seemed too simple.  So when the company sent out a flyer advertising a 7-week training program for a a 5-K in early May I gave it some thought.  Run, jog or walk, they promise I will cross the finish line.  This time I brought it up.  Gem is in if I'm in.  I posted it in my FaceBook status - committed.  Should be committed, I think.

The class starts next week, so I decided to try a little jogging today.  How hard can it be after Zumba?  I needed to go to the bank anyway - less than a half a mile from my house.  I put on my jogging garb.  Stretched a little.  Got outside and jogged past my neighbor's house.  It felt weird.  I'm not sure how to move anymore.  I walked the next block briskly.  Okay, I can do this.  Broke out into another awkward jog.  My stomach bounces up and down.  I've got a sports bra, but no sports belt (do they make those?)  I finish the block and walk again, huffing and puffing.  Someone drives by and waves.  I can't figure out who it is (sorry!) but I wave back.  Two more people smile and wave.  I'm starting to wonder if I look funny or what.  On the way back, I jogged some more.  Another block, but it was a long block.  I was starting to wish I'd worn less clothes, but then realized that bulky sweatshirt was the only thing hiding my bouncing belly.  It took another block to catch my breath.

What have I gotten myself into?!?

Random Photos

The quilt

I love having grandchildren.  My grandson, Ryott, turned one this week.   I started knitting a blanket on the day he was born and I finished it this week.  It's got a lot of flaws, but I'm still happy to have made it myself and to know that he will sleep with it.  Here are a few pictures:

Trying it out on Norah's toddler bed

A white house

The truck

Sailboat

A fish

Crocheted border - thanks to Reagan for teaching me how to do it

A tree

Imperfect joining of the squares

Tufts on the backside

Simply Surrender

I'm ready to be broken before the Lord.  I want to go public with my new commitment to surrender my finances to God.  I've been thinking about it for a long time, and this week's message at church helped cement my commitment to 'Simply Surrender'. 

I've been working for many years to grow closer to the Lord.  Bit by bit he is helping me to do that, showing me what I need to do - like the analogy in John 15:1-2  "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."

A few years ago I watched a Rob Bell Nooma video called Kickball (http://nooma.com/nooma-kickball-006-rob-bell.php).  It really made me think - do I really believe that God is good and has my best interests at heart?  If I do, then why don't I trust him - why do I go to Visa and lines of credit instead of waiting for his provision?  It took me a few years to work through that one.  My head said 'trust', but I really didn't want to give up control over my spending. 

A days ago I was struck by Luke 16:  9-13
"9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles. 10 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true [riches]? 12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."

Mammon is not a word I use every day.  It's money and material things.  When I go to Kohl's to buy clothes to cheer me up instead of going to God, I am serving mammon.  So my new mantra is "God or mammon? Need or greed?"  I'm going to pray about my spending, stop the rationalizing, stick to shopping lists (list or lost) and rely on close friends and family to hold me accountable.  It's already difficult, but it's been a pretty good week.  I'll keep you posted.

I'll close the passage we studied in church this week - very applicable message about brokenness - very encouraging words - Isaiah 40:25 - 31
"25 "To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the Holy One. 26 Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. 27 O Israel, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? How can you say God refuses to hear your case? 28 Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to those who are tired and worn out; he offers strength to the weak. 30 Even youths will become exhausted, and young men will give up. 31 But those who wait on the LORD will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. "

Basket Weaving 101

I love to create.  God does too - Isaiah 45:18 says "For this is what the LORD says-- he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited-- he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other. " 

Yesterday and today I had the opportunity to fashion some baskets, joining a long, long tradition.  Wikipedia says basket weaving is one of the widest spread crafts in the history of any human civilization.  It is hard to say just how old the craft is because natural materials decay naturally and constantly... much of the history of basket making has been lost and is simply speculated upon.  There are many references to baskets in the bible, beginning in Genesis. I like the idea of being a part of that.

I have always known that I would make a basket some day.  Yesterday my friend Debbie showed me how.  The kits she got for Kari and I had a lot of extra pieces, so I shared them with my DIL (daughter-in-law) Reagan - I taught her while reinforcing the techniques in my own head.  I like the way it feels to bend and shape the softened reeds.  It made me wonder if that's how God feels when I begin to soften and bend to his will so he can shape me into something better.  

Reagan is holding the first set of baskets we made today - mine is on the left (her right) and hers is on the right (her left).   We were hoping they would fit in Reagan's shoe holder, but we made them too big.  We'll have to try again sometime.  So I gave mine to Brian.  It now holds some vanilla pipe tobacco and smells delicious. 

This is my third basket - from above.  I think I'll keep this one.

My third basket from below.

A side view of basket number 3. 

Clockwise from the left - my #2 (Brian's tobacco basket),  my #1 (Reagan's garden basket / housewarming present), Reagan's #1 (possibilities include mail, cards, fruit, etc.), my #3 (not sure of use yet) and Reagan #2 (a gift basket for a friend)

Reagan and I had a great time.  Norah fell asleep.

To be busy at home

Titus 2:3-5 says "teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God."    In our home, I'm the older woman to my daughter-in-law, Reagan.  I have the 'not addicted to much wine' part down, but have a long way to go in the reverent living category.  Reagan, on the other hand is self-controlled, busy at home, and a loving wife and mother.  After living together for the past nine months I suspect I'm learning more from her than she is learning from me.  She is strong in her convictions and has amazing self-discipline as she strives towards her goal of having a home of their own. 

This fall, Reagan offered to remove the wallpaper I've always disliked in the kitchen.  She helped me to choose colors using this Carl Larson picture that is my 'inspiration piece' and by creating an idea board made out of magazine pictures and paint chips that I liked.  Brett and Brian threw a wrench into her plans by launching a kitchen remodeling project (that's a whole 'nother story), but as of yesterday she has been able to complete a significant amount of painting in our living room (formerly the dining room) and kitchen.  I love the colors and I love my daughter-in-law.

The inspiration piece:

Looking from the kitchen to the living room through our new passthrough

 From the living room to the kitchen, again looking through the newly constructed passthrough

The entire Dregge family - and a view from blue kitchen to green living room to yellow dining room.

Numbered Hairs

Brian's been wanting a haircut for awhile now, so we decided to do it between games of 500 with Brett and Reagan.  Turns out Brett's been wanting a haircut too, so we quickly set up shop.  Norah didn't want to miss out on the fun, so she asked for a haircut too.  This was her very first haircut.

According to Matthew 10: 30, God knows exactly how many hairs are on our heads.  He was telling the disciplines that hard times were coming, but they need not be afraid, because God cared and would be there with them.

Our Hands

Brian's hands are folded as he waits for our game night to begin. 

My hands are busy taking pictures.

Brett's hands shuffle the cards for our game of 500.

Reagan's hands search out pomegranate seeds for a juicy game night snack.

 Norah's hands provide comfort as she watches 'Beauty and the Beast'.

God's hands sustain me.

"In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)



Surrounded with Songs of Deliverance

We had ReaLife tonight.  ReaLife is a Young Life group for at-risk kids.  Most of the kids who come are from the Alternative Learning Center and/or a foster home in town that sends them.  We had a smaller group - 8 kids - there tonight.  Of the 5 girls there, 3 are pregnant - 1 for the second time.  Most are unsure about God, but they come because it's a fun, safe place and they get a good meal.  We share our stories with them and listen to their stories.  Christ has given us a true love for them and I know they can feel that, even though they question the source.  We send extra food home with them, and they are happy to have food to share with their family - those that have families, anyway.  They have experienced so much in their lives - really tough situations - and they are still kids.  I don't know what to say or do to help make their lives better - it's too big a job for me, so I'm glad that God is in charge.  I would appreciate any prayers that you could send up for them. 

We asked a couple of the girls about their big purses.  Someone asked if they carried a dog in there.  It turns out, one of them did have a dog.  His name is Pedro.  He is injured, so he wears a sparkly band-aid.

Tracy shared her story tonight.  It was a story of forgiveness - God's forgiveness.  Psalm 32:1-7 is one of David's Psalm - David's story is also one of forgiveness.

Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sines are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, "I will confess my trangressions to the Lord"-and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.
You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance

Honor widows

I Timothy 5: 3-8

"Honor widows who are truly widows.  But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.  She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives.  Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach.  But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."

I don't think I've ever heard a sermon about widows.  I knew my father would probably die someday, but I never gave much thought to my mother as a widow.   As I spend time with my mom, I learn so much - and think often of the day that I will need help from my children.  Reading this passage, I realize that this is part of God's plan for us.