Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I am Thankful for my salvation! My husband that he chooses me and all the responsibilities of a family everyday. My family! My wonderful friends who have prayed fervently for my father. The fact I still have one grandmother still alive. My children are all saved, healthy and good hearted kids not to mention smart. My husband's job that allows me to stay home with the kids. All that Beachbody has taught me about myself. I am thankful for forgiveness and mercy and grace that comes from God and is demonstrated so well in my family. I am thankful for a safe neighborhood, community and area that I live in. And last but definitely not least or all but I am thankful for all the times God has "kept" me. Kept me from the accident or bad decisions or the person with bad intentions. Kept me safe. Kept me in his hand. I have been blessed and I am thankful and I pray God blesses each one of you greatly!!

"The Lord bless you and keep you; 

The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26

This little light of mine

2 Corinthians 4:6 days For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

Is your light like a candle flickering in the wind or like a lighthouse up on a hill guiding people to safety? 

There is a world out there that is lost, scared, drifting in the ocean called life looking for a lighthouse to guide them home. A lot of times people are so far out there they can't hear your offers to help but they can see your light from afar if it is big enough. 

Shine Bright!!!!

Make sure you are always casting a light out into this lost and dying world. You may be the only Jesus this world sees.

.

Strength from trials....

Do you allow trials to make your faith strong?  Do trials draw you closer to God or farther away? I would love to say more and closer every time but to be honest sometimes I am not so sure. The struggle is real. The struggle to believe God is sovereign and that he has a great plan for your life. The struggle to make sense of how great godly people get sick while people who by our standards deserve so much worse are walking around enjoying their lives. So what do I do in a world that seems so unfair?? I remember that my God suffered the most horrific most unfair loss imaginable.... The loss of a child. His child. His only child. And not to a disease, or a car wreck, or an overdose or any other random accident but a well thought out, purposeful sacrifice for everybody. For you and me. People who were not born yet, who had not even done any right or wrong. People who God knew would need Jesus because Why?? Because He. Is. Sovereign. Because he knows what we will need before we were even born. And that my friend is what I put my faith in. That sovereignty. That amazing grace that planned for my arrival, for my mistakes and for my needs. So do trials always make me have more faith or get closer to God maybe not at first but again God is sovereign. He knows that faith is like a muscle and without constant exercise it will be weak and useless. If you are in a trial, know God is the trainer working your faith muscle. Believe in his Sovereignty.  Draw close to him and he will make you strong.

Beachbody November Sales

Do you want to try Beachbody or have someone on your Christmas list who loves to workout? Beachbody is putting out their Black Friday Sale list for tomorrow. Message me and I will send you a list of items. Sale prices run any where between Free Shipping to 83% off!!!

November Challenge Pack Specials

The new PiYo® Kickstart Challenge Pack 

The PiYo® Challenge Pack 

The Ultimate Reset® 

The LES MILLS COMBAT® Challenge Pack plus a free small pair of gloves.

The LES MILLS PUMP® Challenge Pack 

Link to all Sale items  

(Sale starts Tuesday November 25th)

https://www.TeamBeachbody.com/Shop/HolidaySpecials?referringRepId=334576

TurboFire® Original Kit

http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/TurboFireOffer?referringRepId=334576

TurboFire® Deluxe DVDs + Journal http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/TRDlxDVDsOffer?referringRepId=334576

P90X® + FREE P90X Plus http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/P90XOfferEN?referringRepId=334576

P90X2® + FREE P90X Plus http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/X2Offer?referringRepId=334576

P90X3® + FREE P90X Plus http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/X3Offer?referringRepId=334576

LES MILLS PUMP http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/LMPOffer?referringRepId=334576

LES MILLS COMBAT + FREE COMBAT Gloves http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/LMCOffer?referringRepId=334576

Slim Series® http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/SL6Offer?referringRepId=334576

INSANITY: THE ASYLUM® Vol. 1 http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/AsylumOffer?referringRepId=334576

Hip Hop Abs® Dance Party Series - Rockin' Abs/Hard Body DVD http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/HHAS8DVDOffer?referringRepId=334576

Barbell Weights http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/WeightOffer?referringRepId=334576

LES MILLS COMBAT Gloves http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/LMCGLOVEOffer?referringRepId=334576

Barbell with Speed Safety Clips http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BarbellOffer?referringRepId=334576

Ultimate Reset Dry Brush http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BBURBrushOffer?referringRepId=334576

Beachbody® Jump Mat http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BBJumpMatOffer?referringRepId=334576

Stability Ball + Medicine Ball Combo Pack http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/StbMedBallOffer?referringRepId=334576

Step with 4 Risers http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BBStepOffer?referringRepId=334576

Salt Dough Ornaments

We decided to make ornaments this weekend.

1/2 Cup of Flour

1/2 Cup of Salt

1/4 Cup of Water

Mix 

Knead

Roll Out

Press Hand Print

Cut Out

Make sure you put a hole in it if you want to hangs it before you bake it!!

Bake

Regular table salt is the best. We had to improvise and use Kosher Salt so the texture of Chloe and Paige's is a little well not smooth.

The girls said they did these at school and you don't have to bake them just leave them out. But they also said the ones at school were fragile.

We plan on painting these or something but as of right now I have not decided how. Here is one idea from www.listia.com/auction/6646883-recipie-salt-dough-hand-ornament-easy-as. 

Feel free to send me your ideas.

Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal

Blueberry Cheesecake Oatmeal

Ingredients

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup water, unsweetened almond milk, or skim milk

1/2 mashed medium banana

Splash of vanilla

2 tablespoons cream cheese (softened for 5 second in microwave)

1 teaspoon powdered sugar (more or less to taste)

Squeeze of lemon juice (optional)

1 tablespoon blueberries

Pinch of sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine oats, water or milk, banana, and vanilla and pour into nonstick sprayed baking dish.

2. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon juice. Fold in blueberries. Place mixture in the middle of the oatmeal.

3. Drag knife up and down through lines to create a swirl. Bake for 20 minutes. Enjoy!

Homemade Dishwasher Tabs

1 cup washing powder 

1 cup borax

1/2 cup Kosher Salt

3/4 cup Lime juice

Mix the dry

Then add the liquid

Put in ice cube trays and let dry approximately 3 hours.

Once dry....

dump them and store them. 

I add vinegar to my rinse compartment in my dishwasher.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Here is a twist to your plain oatmeal. This was my first time making it and it was pretty good. My substitutes to the recipe are listed at the bottom. I hope you enjoy.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

Ingredients

1/2 cup old-fashioned oats 

1/2 cup skim milk 

1 ripe banana (sliced)

 1/4 cup pureed canned pumpkin 

1 dash ground cloves

2 dashes cinnamon

1 dash ground nutmeg 

Handful frozen blueberries (optional)

Directions

1. Put the oats, milk, sliced banana, and cinnamon into a small pot on the stove.

2. Stir continuously over medium high heat for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture gets thick and creamy (and starts bubbling). Stir in the frozen blueberries now, if you like. 

3. Turn down heat to medium low and add the canned pumpkin and a dash each of ground cloves and ground nutmeg.

4. Serve hot and enjoy!

I used coconut/almond milk instead of skim and add a touch of brown sugar to the end. I also used about a 1/4 of skim milk on top to make it like cereal. 

I don't want to miss a blessing....

The other day I was riding down the road and the traffic was heavy. As I inched forward I came to an entrance to a fast food restaurant where this lady was trying to pull out. I stopped and motioned for her to go ahead but I realized she was not looking at me. She was looking at her phone so I sat there and I sat there and I sat there and she never looked up so the traffic moved and I went on because I didn't hold everybody else up.

At that moment I thought I wonder if that is what we are like with God's blessings.

Those everyday graces he sends our way but we miss them for some reason or another. 

That woman was either distracted or just didn't believe she was going to ever get out so she had kinda of given up for a while.

That happens to me a lot. I pray and ask God for help but then I get busy or distracted. He sends the answer and I miss it. Or I get frustrated by his timing and the answers come and my head is down in defeat.

No matter what the reasons are.........I still miss things just like that lady missed her chance to pull out in traffic.

I don't want to miss any of God's blessings.

I pray.....

Lord,

Keep my mind focused on you. Keep me diligent in moving in your will and always aware that you are working for my good. Strengthen my faith so when I ask something of you I immediately start looking for that answer. Protect me from the time wasting activities that steal those precious moments I could be spending with you. Keep my eyes moving and my head up because that is the way I will see blessing the easiest. Make me a person who lives in anticipation of what you are going to send next. 

Bless me, my family and my friends. 

Lord, Bless even those who don't know you so that maybe their hearts will be won over. 

Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

1 Chronicles 4:10

Did you just push me???

"Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:29

Does anybody ever wonder if Peter was pushed? 

When I was walking this morning I was thinking about how Peter could have possibly been pushed out of the boat. Maybe not but... I kind of had a picture of the kid on the side of the pool. You know with the fear it is going to be cold. The guy that would've went on his own but his friends thought that they needed a little bit of a shove. Doesn't mean his was not going to get in just means that he was a little scared and taking longer than they thought he should.

So what if Peter got a little shove from his buddies and when he stepped out there he said Hum... That's not that bad. I can do this. 

Recently some things were brought to my attention in a harsh way. Kinda like being shoved out of the boat. I was going to get out of the boat. I could see Jesus. I could hear him saying, "Come. Get out of the boat. Come and I will give you rest." But the waves were too rough, what I stood to lose was too much. I was scared. But when this set of circumstances happened it was like I was shoved straight out into the water. Now it is sink or swim. Well without Jesus, a place to put my trust, a safe place other than self reliance, I was sure to sink. 

So I took a deep breath closed my eyes and started to walk. And guess what I am walking. I am walking on water straight to Jesus. 

I will admit in the beginning I was not to happy about it. But I think  I am growing to love this facing my fears thing I am going through. The more fears I face the more I have to rely on God and the more I have to rely God the more power I have in my life. 

Now just like Peter whether he was shoved or not I am currently walking on the water. Sights set on Jesus. Every now and again I start looking left and right at all the waves and I get nervous and I start to sink. 

At that moment I go back to my knees. I go back to praying. I go back to focusing on Jesus.

Right now all I am getting done is the important stuff. Mainly talking to God and getting encouragement from His word. My house is a mess, my laundry is behind but I am at peace, my children are happier, I am starting to feel like a mom again. 

I am focused on God.

I am prioritizing my life with God's will.

I am making the devil frustrated at every second.

And I must say it all feels good.

My peace is returning because I have less to worry about. 

All the little things that I did that were for nothing that consumed my day because of fear and worry are gone and I have so much more time and patience with the world.

So for all of you out there...

GET OUT OF THE BOAT!!!

And if someone close to you tells you something you needed to hear. Don't focus on the hurt or pain that it cause when you heard it. 

Don't focus on how they said it.

Don't focus on their intentions.

Focus on the truth.

Pray about it.

Decide if it is from God and if so....

Start walking on water!!!

I want to be a Mary!!!

The Bible says take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalms 37:4

Today I'm dealing with conquering my fear that causes me to try to control.

God is always there, he is a constant. He cannot be stolen, lost, no one can keep him for me. God will never turn me down. He never has a bad day or is too tired to listen. God is trustworthy and will never let me down. God will never steer me wrong. God will never let anyone hurt me without coming to my rescue. There's no fear of loss and putting my faith in God because he will never leave me. Fear brings about the need to control...There is peace not fear when I put my faith in God. There is no need for control and manipulation when you are with God because he is in control.

What do I need to control when God is in charge?

Nothing! 

What do I have control over?

Nothing, except how much time and faith I give to God....

Ironically, my relationship with God is the only thing I really have control over but yet right now in my life it seems to be the only thing I'm not trying to control. 

So if I make my relationship with God the most important thing to me, not myself and protecting myself from pain, 

not my spouse or the worry my marriage will fail, 

not my kids and my fear I will lose them somehow, 

but God, El Roi (the one who sees), Jehovah Rohi ( the Lord my shepherd), Jehovah-Elohim ( the majestic, omnipotent God), my protector and who has my best interest at heart, the one who before I was born knew me and approved of me (Jer 1:5), and the one who knows the plans he has for me and THEY ARE GOOD PLANS ( Jer 29:11).

If I make God the most important then as long as I have him I will be okay. I can have peace in the fact that I will never lose him and if I delight in him he will give me the desires of my heart. My desires are not to be free of trials and difficulties because those are what keep me at the feet of Jesus what is my desire is to learn, grow and help others with the knowledge I have gotten from those trails so that those things I went through will not be in vain.  

Trials are there to remind me that I'm a Mary not a Martha. Sometimes I try to be Martha because the world tries to make me feel guilty for not being busy, productive, thirty, efficient but my true peace and comfort comes from being at Jesus' feet. My true Comfort comes in being the person that God designed me to be.

So I prayed this morning.

God,

Make my relationship with you the most important thing to me. Make me disciplined to spend time with you all the time. Make my need for you more than my husband, my kids, my family, my service, my housework. Make me a Mary because my heart is to be a Mary. This world tries to make me be a Martha, but I'm at Mary. When I try to become Martha, I'm irritable, unfocused, unpeaceful, controlling, and fearful because I am not your feet. Teach me that at your feet there is peace, not fear. At your feet, I can lay down my fears and know that because I'm there giving my whole heart to You, You will give me the desires of my heart. I am sorry for choosing what the world wanted which is a Martha. I want to be a Mary.

God, I am sorry...

I am sorry because....

I'm arrogant because I believe somehow I can prevent bad things from happening to myself, my family and my friends. 

I'm arrogant because I believe my way is better, but my way is not better.

My way just makes me feel more peaceful. 

My way makes me feel better because I'm arrogant because I believe somehow I can prevent bad things from happening to myself, my family and my friends. 

That belief is false because I am not God, I am not sovereign, I do not know the plans for my life, I do not have control of my circumstances. The lack of control leaves me with the fear of the unknown, a fear of the pain and loss of the bad things that will inevitably happen.

That fear is evidence that I do not have strong faith in God because fear is the opposite of faith.

Fear is not of God but faith is of God. 

Anything not of God is a sin.

Sin separates me from God.

Sin hinders my prayers being answered.

God will forgive my confessed sin.

God, I'm confessing my arrogance and my lack of faith that feeds my need to control.

Please forgive me for my lack of faith, teach me to focus on your Sovereignty. 

Teach me to speak less and pray more, to complain less and boast more. 

Give me the peace that passes all understanding because you were in control. Thank you for the trials that have made me humble and I pray you will always keep me on my knees because that is where I do my best work in protecting the ones that I love. 

Lord, I pray that you will restore what my arrogance has broken. Please give the people I have hurt the grace to forgive me so I can restore our relationship. Thank you for loving me unconditionally and setting the example of how to live. 

Thank you for forgiving me when I fall so short from your glory. 

Thank you for all you do and are going to do. 

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Results from 3 day refresh

So here are my measurements....

Before 3 day refresh....

Left Thigh 24.5

Right thigh 24.5

Hips 42

Waist 33

Chest 35

L Arm 12

R Arm 12

After 3 day refresh....

Chest 36

Stomach 33.5

Hips 41.25

Left thigh 24

Right thigh 24

Left arm 11.5

Right arm 11.5

Difference in 3 days....

Left thigh .5

right thigh .5 

hips .75 

waist + .5

chest + 1

left arm .5 

right arm .5

Total inches lost 1.25

I did not workout with this refresh although it said mild to moderate workout was ok. I did not feel ok in working out with so few calories. I did walk around the neighborhood with the family which may have counted as some exercise. 

There are a few female considerations for my results which if you PM I will be glad to discuss. 

Overall I am neutral on my opinion of the refresh. I did lose some inches and I know I flushed a lot of toxins and junk from my body but it is not something I would want to do again for a while. 

I am proud of myself for putting my big girl pants and pushing through. 

3 day refresh Day 2

Day 2

Today was about the same as yesterday. Woke up great.... A little more hungry and tired than yesterday but still no gas issues. The fiber drink was a little harder to drink today and I am really glad that will be over tomorrow. I think I mixed it wrong cause it was a little chunky. The only thing I did different today was I changed my dinner meal. I ate the cucumber and tomato salad. One day left and I will be honest I am excited to be almost finished. Can't wait to see my results.

3 day refresh Day 1

Day 1

I got up and drink my first 12 ounces of water it says 8 to 10 ounces but I went with 12 because I figure if I have to drink 75 oz today why not squeeze in a few extra right off the bat.

I proceeded to make myself a chocolate and banana shake with my chocolate Shakeology.

I skipped the Morning tea because I just don't like unsweet tea.

Next came the Fiber sweep which when I mixed it up I thought it resembled wet sand but my first drink was really not that bad. It seemed to have an orange taste and the texture was actually very smooth. Now I will be honest here.... As I continued to drink it.... It got harder to drink. I was definitely thankful I only had to do that once a day and I dread it tomorrow. I am a big girl though and it was worth those few minutes it took me to drink it for my health. 

Now onto the better stuff.... 

Next came the vanilla fresh which I put a banana in my shake and drank it for "dessert". Before I drank it I had a mix of veggies with some Hummus for lunch.

My afternoon snack was celery and almond butter.

Again I skipped the tea.

For dinner which I will say I was excited to get to eat was a spinach salad. Plus veggie broth and for the"dessert" I am drinking the last Vanilla Fresh shake.

Thoughts:

My overall hungry was minimal. I definitely knew when it was time to eat again though. Gas so far has not been an issue and I feel pretty good. 

Stay tuned tomorrow and we will see how it changes.

How to Line Dance to Cotton Eye Joe | Line Dancing

Here is the song to practice...
.

Team Gained in weight/Team Lost in Inches

My results are not what I expected......

(and to be honest if I was a scale girl I would be a little sad!!!)

Luckily, I love pictures 
and 
how my clothes fit
and
I measure results with a tape measure!!

Don't!!!!!

Measure

Success

with 

A

Scale!!!!

I lost a total of 6 inches...

would have been 7 but I gained 1 in my chest.

My total weight loss from the beginning was 0 and I actually gained

.3lbs from the start...

Tip:

Take pictures along the way....

your brain can't remember what you looked like from the beginning. 

It will help you stay motivated to be able to see your progress.

Follow me at Jill Francis - Health and Fitness Coach

Day 40 photos

These are my Day 40 photos....

I have been putting my ADD to go use...

Les Mills Combat, P90X, Brazilian Butt Lift as well as a little walking/running with the kids....

whatever I feel like at the time while considering what muscle groups I worked the day before. 

I add modifications when needed and maybe add in an extra day of rest. 

But I don't quit 

and 

if I cheat then I 

get 

right 

back 

on

 it. 

I am eating healthy and drinking Shakeology.

My shakeology page!!

 I have a day once a week where I eat whatever I want for dinner and breakfast and lunch the next day. 

So it feels like two days I get to cheat. 

And again I have a huge support system. My family, friends and all the coaches at Beachbody make it so much easier to push through a bad day. If you would like that kind of support contact me

@ My Beachbody website!!!

I feel so much better about myself and I have so much more energy to be a better  person, wife and mother. Don't wait until it is too late to get into shape. 

Your life depends on it. 

If you don't take care of yourself you can't take care of anyone else!!!!

Follow me on

My Health and Fitness page

for more health and fitness tips!

DIY Barbie to Avengers ATV

We have two ATVs that we bought my first two girls when they were little. Well they are in great condition. I now have another two children but the problem is my youngest is a boy!!!! You just can't have your boy riding a hot pink Barbie ATV. Sooooo daddy to the rescue. This how it originally looked minus the Hello Kitty tape we put on the seat so my girl felt like she had something new.

We covered the seat with Avengers duck tape.

Then my husband covered the whole thing in satin spray paint for plastic in a little sand colored brown.

He took little leaves and queen palm fronds to hold in front of the spray to give it the camo look.

Gloves help to not get paint all over your hands.

For that layer we used a green spray paint.

The paint we used was leftover from when my husband camouflaged his boat so we purchased a new can of plastic paint and the duck tape for this project. 

We put another leaf layer on with the same leaves but using a lighter brown than the base coat.

Then we went back over the light layer with another green layer.

He did the wheels a tan solid color. They were originally white.

And here he is with his finished project....

Pretty inexpensive project to make a boy proud. We love Daddy!!! He rocks!!!!