In November Brandon and I traveled, along with our 7-week old son, Campbell, to Atlanta, GA where I spoke at the National Youth Worker's Convention. Below is an email I sent out to the many friends and family members who prayed for our trip many months prior. It was a refreshing, encouraging time and we are so grateful that the Lord worked it out for us to go.

Hey everyone! I can't believe the NYWC is finally over. It's amazing that it even happened when I think about everything we went through last week. When the boys got sick we kept asking ourselves, "Is this the Lord telling us we should not go, that our first priority is to our family?" or "Is this Satan doing everything he can to thwart our plans and keep us from getting the Lord's message out?" On Tues, Wed, Thurs I kept thinking I wasn't supposed to go.

However, during my middle of the night feedings early Friday morning, I had an overwhelming sense of peace that I was supposed to go. Then, something confirmed that thought. Thank you so much to my sweet friend, Kim. She came to my yoga class Friday morning and shared her devo with me (thank goodness she had already had her quiet time that day because while juggling sick kids and early morning feedings, I certainly had not!). :)  Her QT was on "feeding my sheep". She encouraged me that even in the madness of taking care of these kiddos I was feeding God's sheep. Her encouragement was a blessing and a confirmation that I was doing God's will.

Further confirmation came Sunday morning while talking with a Youth Specialties guy. He spoke on getting published and said that YS only publishes about 1% of the manuscripts it receives from new authors. Further confirmation that while this timing is not what I would have chosen, I am exactly where God wants me to be. Overall the trip to Atlanta was an awesome experience and I'm so humbled and glad I could be a part of it. Many of you have asked what we did there, so here's the recap:

Andy Stanley spoke Fri morning and Francis Chan spoke Fri night but we didn't get in until Friday night so we missed both speakers. But, we can download their talks, so that's a perk. We did get to hear Shane and Shane play. They have a new Christmas CD out which is really good. And we found out they went to A&M. Who knew?

On Saturday morning we heard Perry Noble speak. He is a senior pastor at New Spring Church in South Carolina (www.perrynoble.com) but has worked in youth ministry for 10 years. He was HILARIOUS! If you get a chance to download one of his sermons, I highly recommend it.

During the day on Saturday I participated in a thing called Open Space, which was like roundtable discussions with speakers and youth workers. Not my favorite part of the weekend. I participated in two different sessions. The first session was just a bunch of youth workers whining about things and not really offering solutions. The second group was just one other guy and me. The way it was set up, he chose the topic we were suppose to discuss and he chose, "How can students help save their parents' marriage?." WHOAH!!! Hold the phone! Did you just say what I think you said? He was pretty arrogant when we first started talking. he asked me, "Have you ever been married?" "YEAH, and I got three babies to prove it!" I wanted to shout, but the joy of the Lord is my strength. HA! I kept quiet and listened to his point of view for 20 minutes before politely interrupting and telling him he was wrong, that it is never the child's responsibility to save the parents' marriage. We debated for the next 45 minutes. Brandon came in at the tail end of our conversation, and being the peacemaker that he is, he steered the conversation in a more harmonious direction. By the end we were "friends" with slightly different points of view. This guy even came to hear me speak on Sunday (once Brandon told him about my curriculum and he realized I might actually know what I'm talking about). After the talk he told me, "Don't let stuffy men tell you 'no'." I'm assuming he was referring to himself. :)

Saturday night was AWESOME!!!  Two kids spoke who are literally changing our world. One was a young guy named Zach Hunter who started a ministry called Loose Change for Loosed Chains. He began championing against sex trafficking and child sex slavery when he was only 12 yrs old! You can check him out at www.zachhunter.wordpress.com and www.youthspecialties.com/zachhunter. Another girl was named Jaime Colman. She started a ministry called Barefoot Mile. Her goal was to raise 150 pairs of shoes to send to kids in Africa who had no shoes. By the end of her fundraiser she had raised 4500 pairs of shoes!

Jordan Foxworthy was supposed to be there as well, but she went on a last minute trip to Siberia! Her dad, Jeff Foxworthy (yes, the Redneck Jeff Foxworthy) came in her place. He was crude and funny, just like always, but it was cool to see he has a passionate heart for God and ministering to God's children. He has gone on several mission trips with his kids and is active with a ministry called 410 Bridge (www.410bridge.com).

One of the most moving times came that night when the Daraja Children's Choir performed. This group of 23 orphans from Kenya come to America for little less than a year and tour around the country raising awareness. Most of you know I'm not the most sentimental of people, but when those little ones, so alive in Christ, ran through the crowd and up on stage, I lost it! All I could think was "They have no parents and yet they are so full of JOY. There is no one to take care of them, and yet they trust that God will take care of them."  I will never forget the first song they sang and their words constantly play back in my mind, "Our God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save." They KNOW that their God WILL save them, not from poverty or from the violence in their country, but from the depravity of sin. BIG faith from LITTLE people. After their performance we had the chance to meet some of them, talk with them and just love on them. The amazing thing is that they are taught that when they come to America, they are to love on all of us! They were enamored with Campbell, so it was fun to share him with them. If you want to check out their video go tohttp://www.410bridge.com/daraja/darajavideo.php They also have a CD available that we bought. Highly recommend it!

Sunday morning we heard Donald Miller speak. We have read some of his books (Blue Like Jazz, To Own a Dragon), but have never heard him speak, so it was a real treat. In addition to his writing and speaking he has started a ministry to address the crisis of fatherlessness in our country. Check it out at www.thementoringproject.org. After he spoke Brandon and I talked with him and he expressed interest in my curriculum! He asked me to send him a copy and one to the pres. of his organization. He said it sounds like a resource they could really use. His goal is to have 1 million mentors mentoring young boys!

Donald's mentoring program also gave us some clarity about our own ministry, Project Restoration. For almost a year we have mentored a young married couple and know of many other young couples who could benefit from this type of discipleship. We're praying through this and asking God how PR can foster a mentoring program pairing married couples married less than 5 yrs with older/wiser married couples. In an age of so much dysfunction, we think this is one way we can help others strengthen their marriages and their relationships with Christ. Please be in prayer for us as we work out these details.

After DM spoke David Crowder Band played for Sunday morning worship. How funny that we traveled all the way to Atlanta to see DC*B play! They were awesome, of course, and we're praying that Campbell does not have permanent hearing damage from their "Rock Opera."

Sunday afternoon was game time. A little stressful as i had to feed Campbell about 5 minutes before I spoke. We had some technical difficulties, which was frustrating and the tech guy didn't get there in time for me to run through it, so that added to the stress. In the middle of the talk I also had a coughing fit, so that was pretty embarrassing. But keeps us humble, right? Overall the talk went well. I spoke for 1 hr and did Q&A for 30 minutes. People stayed after for another hour to ask more questions. These youth workers have some really difficult situations to deal with. I am so impressed with their desire to help these hurting kids and families.

Sunday night we were wiped out!  Reggie Joiner, a pastor at NorthPoint Community Church in Atlanta spoke. We were really tired, so we checked out early and went back to the hotel.

We were so ready to come home and see Carter and Clarey. Missed them tons and look forward to the long weekend and some family time. Thank you to all the grandparents who helped take care of our kiddos. It really does take a village, or at least a village of grandparents, to care for these kids. We could not have done this without your help!

And thank you to everyone who has prayed for us for so many months. Your prayers are the thing that kept me going when I kept asking myself, "How am I going to pull this off with a newborn and two little ones at home?" I am so grateful for all of you!

And also, thank you to my AWESOME husband who believes in me more than I believe in myself. He is an amazing cheerleader and I am so grateful God gave him to me.

Many blessings to you all and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Did you know that over 15 million people have tried yoga in the past year? Maybe you are one of them. Or maybe you want to try yoga, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you.

A body-mind-soul practice once reserved for meditation elitists, yoga is currently available in 60-85% of local gyms in the United States. In fact, several gyms in Waco offer yoga classes to suit every fitness level.

As a yoga instructor, people often ask me if they can do yoga without any prior experience. YES! People of all fitness levels can engage in yoga by using modifications for each yoga posture (asana).

So how can yoga help you? Let’s take a look at the many physical benefits yoga offers its participants.

Migraines are a neurological condition affecting 30 million Americans. I am a migraine sufferer. I began practicing yoga six years ago under a doctor’s recommendation. My migraines became so severe that I was hospitalized twice in less than six months. A self-described gym rat, I taught seven high-impact aerobics classes each week and logged numerous hours running on the treadmill. My doctor told me the high-impact exercise was exacerbating my condition. He limited my exercise routine to brisk walking, Pilates, and yoga.

While surrendering my hard-core exercise was difficult, both physically and emotionally, I soon fell in love with yoga. I often arrived at class with a low-grade migraine and left feeling refreshed and headache-free. I now teach two to three yoga classes per week and encourage anyone suffering from migraines or tension headaches to make yoga a part of their health and wellness routine.

Second, yoga increases the range of motion in the hips, which prevents lower back pain. Yoga is also beneficial in treating scoliosis and sciatica. (Recommended pose: pigeon (eka pada rajakapotasana).)

If you suffer from Crohn’s Disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome, you’ll want to know that yoga helps gastrointestinal functions normalize. Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga massages internal glands and organs, such as the colon and prostate. This wards off disease. Yogis also develop an awareness of their bodies so they immediately sense the first sign of infection or disease.

Yoga is also helpful in treating hormonal imbalances. Women experiencing hot flashes and/or menopause can benefit from yoga, as well as people dealing with depression, anxiety, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). (Recommended pose to decrease hot flashes: bridge (setu bandha sarvangasana).)

Patients suffering from chronic pain ailments such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and arthritis can also benefit from yoga.

In fact, Cathy Schneider, wife, mother of two, and devoted yogi has enjoyed improvements in her condition of fibromyalgia as a result of yoga.

“I have had chronic pain in my back for over two years,” Cathy says. “I have gone to physical therapy, taken several different medications, injections, etc. to try to help my pain. My doctor suggested, along with medication, that I should take yoga or Pilates classes to help strengthen my core and back. I began yoga classes and I instantly felt a difference! One, it helped relieve stress, which is a factor in fibromyalgia. It also helped me become more limber and strengthened my core and the muscles in my back.”

Cathy has now made yoga a part of her everyday life. “I try to do a little bit of yoga in the morning to get my day, and my back, off to a good start. My back pain has improved a lot and I notice that I hurt more when I do not do yoga consistently. It has taught me how to work and stretch each muscle group in my body.”

Yoga also helps those suffering from allergies, asthma, and chronic bronchitis because it improves the flow of sinuses, flushes out mucous from the lungs, and increases lung mobility. (Recommended poses: downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana) and camel (ustrasana).)

For those who want to lose pounds quickly and detoxify their systems, a recent trend of cleansing diets has emerged. Before you spend hundreds of dollars on a cleansing diet, you might want to know that yoga is a natural detoxification agent. It ensures that the optimum blood supply is released to the body, which helps flush out toxins and provides proper nourishment. Eliminating toxins also helps decrease the aging process, and improves energy levels; it balances out metabolism and helps it function with optimum efficiency.

Cindy Potts, wife, mother, grandmother, and member of the Waco Family YMCA, has been taking yoga for a year. As a woman in her 50’s, Cindy understands the importance of exercise. Her age-defying workout routine includes a weekly spin class, walking, strength training and two yoga classes per week.

“Yoga has really helped me become more flexible and I realize that exercise doesn't have to be ‘jumping up & down’ to work. It's nice to see that I can bend as well as some of the 20 & 30-somethings in class. Being in my 50's, I worry about balance and yoga has been great for that. Also, the breathing is beneficial in other exercise areas.” (Recommended pose to reverse the aging process: wheel (urdhva dhanurasananame).)

Weight-bearing exercise, such as yoga, also strengthens bones and helps prevent osteoporosis. Since yoga uses the body’s own weight, it is a gentle, low-impact way to incorporate weights into your exercise routine. Additionally, yoga’s ability to lower levels of cortisol may help retain calcium in the bones.

Age also brings on the threat of Azheimer’s Disease. However, a new study indicates that yoga can help elevate brain gamma-aminobutyric (GABA) levels. Low GABA levels are associated with the onset of Alzheimer’s. Meditation, like that practiced in yoga, has also been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Another condition affecting our society is obesity. As obesity rates in our country increase, so does the rate of Type II diabetes. Yoga reduces glucose levels and stress, but it also encourages insulin production in the pancreas, all of which prevents Type II Diabetes.

If you don’t suffer from any of the conditions described above, yoga can still help you. This practice is known to prevent diseases such as heart disease, which is the number one killer of women in America. Yoga reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, keeps off excess weight, and improves cardiovascular health, all of which reduce the risk of heart disease.

Maybe you are in great physical condition and think yoga is too mild a workout for you. Whether you are a novice or a serious athlete, yoga is an excellent addition to your workout regimen because it produces a strong core, which helps heal and reduce injuries. Plus, as in running or biking, athletes contract muscles. Yoga provides the opposing action: stretching and lengthening. Yoga also improves hand-eye coordination, reaction time, energy level, endurance, strength, posture, immunity, balance, flexibility and joint range of motion.

Other physical improvements include an increase in cardiovascular efficiency and a decrease in pulse rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. Mental improvements include memory, depth perception, learning efficiency and concentration. In fact, studies show that only eight weeks of yoga improves one’s concentration and motivation. Yoga also decreases stress, anxiety, pain, and depression.

As with any form of exercise, you should consult your doctor before taking a yoga class. After only a few times, you will enjoy the numerous physical benefits and be on the road to total health and wellness.

Waco Today - April 2009

It took me a few weeks, but I finally broke down and joined the millions of Facebook users who narcissistically post their "25 random things". Not that you asked, but here are mine . . .  

1) I eat almond butter, NOT peanut butter

2) I haven't had caffeine or chocolate in about 6 years.

3) My biggest regret in life (I know you're not supposed to live with regrets, but I do) is not majoring in English when I was in college.

4) I was in the Houston Ballet's production of the Nutcracker when I was in 6th grade. I was a clown . . . not much of a stretch.

5) My nickname in middle school was "motor mouth".

6) I stood 5 feet from a monkey in the jungles of Costa Rica.

7) I'm a Yankee - born in Toledo, OH and lived there till I was 8

8) I can shower in less than 2 minutes. If I wash my hair, less than 4.

9) I enjoy a good Duggar episode every now and then.

10) I've only taken one helicopter ride in my life, and I passed out from motion sickness. This was probably my last helicopter ride.

11) I have a brother who is four years older and a sister who is 20 years younger. Guess that makes me the middle child.

12) I've had Botox (for migraines, although vanity was an added perk)

13) I've had a nose job (for a fractured nose, although vanity was an added perk)

14) I never thought Motherhood would be so hard.

15) I never thought I'd live in a small town.

16) If I decide to give up the writing career, I want to become a personal organizer. I get a rush when I clean out closets!

17) I hate sleeping. If I could take a pill and never have to sleep, I would do it. I sleep only out of necessity, not enjoyment.

18) There was a warrant out for my arrest when I was 9 months pregnant with Carter. Let's just say I forgot to turn in some very important speeding ticket paperwork.

19) I once had a migraine for 6 months straight.

20) I constantly de-clutter.

21) I never pay retail.

22) I love tofu (as long as it's firm and not slimy).

23) I wish I lived in NYC (maybe not permanently, but for a season in life)

24) Crow is my favorite yoga pose.

25) I never had a cavity until I got married.

Am I the last person in the world to hear about the Ashley Madison Agency? While sitting in my dentist’s office today (forgive me if I get any of these minute details wrong, but like I said I was in the dentist’s office trying to listen to the TV above the sounds of phones ringing, drills buzzing, people talking, and toilets flushing), I saw a news clip about a commercial that was scheduled to air during the Superbowl. This ad was pulled in many states, but not in my home state of Texas. No, Siree! Here in the lonestar state, just about anything goes!

Ashley Madison is an online dating club. OK, nothing too shocking yet. I have several friends who have met their spouses on EHarmony or Match.com. “So what’s the big deal?” you ask. The big deal is that Ashley Madison is a dating site, not for singles, but for MARRIED people! The commercial was shocking and offensive. But maybe that’s the reaction they wanted.

Apparently I am the last person to hear about this agency because it has been discussed by many news and entertainment moguls, including Larry King, Ellen, Dr. Phil, Tyra Banks, Howard Stern and 20/20.

As I watched this story unfold, I asked myself several questions. Why would we intentionally try to destroy marriages? Why are we glorifying something (adultery) that is so clearly offensive to God? Why do people prey on other people’s families? 

This afternoon I decided to go to the Ashley Madison website to see if this thing was legit. Unfortunately, it is. The tag line on the top of their website reads, “Life is short. Have an affair.” This agency approaches adultery and deceit with such casualty and callousness that it makes me nauseous.

Unfortunately, adultery is nothing new. It might be more talked about and out in the open in today’s society, but adultery has existed for thousands of years. Abraham betrayed his marriage vows with Sarah by sleeping with Hagar. David had an affair with Bathsheba. Many men went to the temple and engaged in temple prostitution as an act of “worship” in Old Testament times. So adultery is not a new sin. The betrayal still exists, and so do the ramifications.

Exodus 20:14 is clear: “You shall not commit adultery.” “Living your best life” is a popular mantra today. Indeed, God does want us to live our best life. But living our best life means living in His will. And adultery is not God’s will for His children.

Adultery destroys so much. It destroys marriages, families, hope, love, and trust. But most of all, it destroys a covenant made between man and God. Proverbs 6:32 says, “But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.”

If you have committed adultery or feel trapped in an affair, I encourage you to seek wise counsel from your pastor. God always wants forgiveness and reconciliation. Come clean with your spouse and pray for forgiveness.

For everyone reading this, steer clear of the Ashley Madison Agency and any group which celebrates the destruction of marriage. I’ll get off my soapbox now, but not before I pray that the Lord will protect us all from such wolves in sheep’s clothing.

OK, I shamefully admit that I watch ABC’s, “The Bachelor.” If you don’t watch it, chances are you have heard of it. It’s that guilty pleasure in which one man courts 25 women to find true love. The 25 women live in one house as they vie for the attention and affection of one man . . . similar to an ancient king and his harem.

The bachelors and bachelorettes are different each season, but the story and the drama are the same. Boy meets girls. Boy dates girls. Boy finds a “connection” with one girl through process of elimination. Boy proposes to girl. Boy (or girl) breaks off engagement. New season begins and our hopes that two people will find true, everlasting love are restored. Thank you ABC!

This season we all watched bachelor, and single father, Jason choose between two women: Melissa and Molly. In the end he chose and proposed to Melissa only to break off the engagement and pursue Molly six weeks later.

Why the broken engagement? According to Jason, “after the show the chemistry changed.” I watched this painfully awkward breakup on national television feeling as if I was invasively watching a counseling session. I shouted at the TV, “Of course the chemistry changed! It’s called REAL LIFE! In the real world we don’t have the ABC intern delivering champagne and strawberries, arranging fantasy dates of bungee jumping (although that would not be my idea of a fantasy date), and whisking us off to New Zealand!”

In the real world relationships are defined by the mundane. Once the fireworks stop, once the magic ends, once the endorphins of the dating phase fade we’re forced to decide if this is the person with whom we can endure a lifetime of careers, cooking, laundry and later on diapers, little league, and homework. Can we survive the daily grind and still love each other at the end of the day?

Sometimes married life and parenthood can seem like Groundhog Day. But if we can find joy with our spouse in the monotony of it all, then we have found true love. If you are dating or engaged, I encourage you to ask yourself if you can survive and thrive in the tedious task of daily life with this person. If you are already married, I encourage you to find joy and contentment in the routine. Then those fantasy dates will not be expected, rather they will be icing on the cake!

I just got home after watching the new Reese Witherspoon/Vince Vaughn movie, “Four Christmases” and I feel like I just watched a commentary on my life. The premise: Kate’s (Witherspoon) and Brad’s (Vaughn) Christmas travel plans are delayed due to bad weather, so they are forced to spend Christmas day with their families. Did I mention that both their parents are divorced? So not only do they have to endure the awkwardness that plagues dysfunctional family holidays, but they must do it four times! This uncomfortable situation creates a plot that is humorous on the big screen, but not so funny in real life.

The first few minutes of the movie reveal the hurdle that Kate and Brad must overcome: their fear of repeating their parents’ mistakes . . . of divorcing . . . of hurting their own children. The next hour and a half exposes the challenges that adult children of divorce face as well as the long-term affects of divorce.

I must admit one of my guilty pleasures is watching The Biggest Loser. I love working out and always have, so I like watching the trainers push the contestants to their limits. I also appreciate the “Trainers’ Tips” from Bob and Jillian (BTW, if I were on TBL I would definitely want Bob for my trainer . . . I love meeting fellow yogis).

As my husband and I curl up on the couch and watch TBL (shamefully, we’re usually eating Blue Bell at the time), one thing I find interesting is the contestants’ personal stories. This season and last season both contained women who came from divorced families. They both said their weight gain and struggles with food were direct results from their parents’ divorce.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my first blog on the Project Restoration website! I’m really excited to have a forum where I can respond to our culture’s views on family issues. So let’s begin.

One thing I love to do on Sunday afternoons is read the paper. With two toddlers at home, this is one of the few relaxing things I enjoy each week. I lustfully browse the real estate ads as I long for more storage space, a playroom, and an office in my otherwise perfect home. I laugh at the comics (particularly Zits and Marvin), clip coupons, and skim through Parade magazine (I know, when did I get so old and boring, right?).