{fresh motivation}: Rise and Shine - best fitness motivation ever.

-Day 3 of my "fresh motivation" series-

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I've been watching this video almost daily.
It is awesome motivation for my fitness, health, and training goals.
On mornings I don't want to get up and do it...
this helps, for real.

Abigail loves it too.  She asks "can we watch Rise and Shine?!",
and will then take off running around our house - ha!

do you have some fitness goals?
weight to lose?
health to gain?
a race to train for?

then watch this.
over and over and over again.
every morning if you have to.



so when do you want to meet me at the gym?!
haha!
No but really, doesn't that make you want to move?
To throw away all those voices in your head that tell you you can't do it, for whatever reason?

my fresh motivation take-away:
just do it.
(it WAS a Nike commercial)
Put away the FEAR and self-doubt that i can't do it.
Build up to where I want and need to be.
Push through the lack of confidence.
It WILL be worth it.
it just will be.
JT music playing in my ears usually helps me move during a workout... :)
but when I hit that wall, I am motivated to do all that this video talks about.
and really...
losing an hour of sleep to meet my goals is going to be ok.
and worth it.

so Rise and Shine, y'all.

{fresh motivation}: "What the hell is water?"

Day 2 in my "fresh motivation" series.
(check out day 1 here, to enter an amazing giveaway
and spread love to Uganda)

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today?
watch this.
it'll be worth your time, I promise.
(and a word to the SAHM's, don't stop watching this when it starts talking about the 9-5 white collar worker.
Though that may not be you...
you (we) still have our OWN daily grind.
so just apply it to you.

good, right?
not my typical motivational thing,
and while I don't totally agree with every single word he said,
I thought this was mind-opening and thought-provoking.

so, my fresh motivation take-away?
CHOOSE to think differently, so as to not be pushed into the "default" thinking I can easily slip into in my daily grind.
don't judge.
Remember we most likely have NO idea what the other person's story is.
(I've actually written about this before...
about stepping back to consider someone's story before judging)

Wouldn't we want other people to consider US instead of using the default frustration?
Honestly just today, I had a little meltdown in my car, missing my Dad.
I passed an ambulance with paramedics taking a stretcher into a house,
and the memory of that with my Dad just 4 months ago came flooding back.
So as the tears came, my driving slowed, and I got passed by several cars.
Now, I'm not saying those people judged or were frustrated with me for suddenly driving slow,
but it wouldn't surprise me...
because I have been that driver that's been frustrated.

no more y'all.

It doesnt take a lot to CONSIDER someone else's situation.

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some great lines from this:

"the most obvious important realities are often the ones
that are hardest to see and talk about".

"it is my natural default setting...when I'm operating on the automatic, unconscious belief that I am the center of the world and that MY immediate needs are what should determine the world's priorities..."

"the thing is, there are totally different ways to think about these kinds of situations."

"it's hard. It takes will and effort"

"If you really learn how to think, how to pay attention, then you will know you have other options..."

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Did this move you at all?
I'd love to hear how!

{fresh motivation}: Uganda love

Today is the first day in my new little series,
Fresh Motivation.

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motivating me today?
Friends who follow the Lord's leading, no matter the cost.
and believe Him along the way for all that is needed.

My precious friend, Jami, who blogs at Call Me Blessed,
 is a real life friend now after our incredible girls trip together last year,
and is someone I talk to pretty much daily with all "my girls".
I've gotten to know her heart pretty well over the last year.
Her heart for doing whatever God leads for her family is awesome, inspiring and motivating.
Motivating to go when He says go, and to trust all the details to Him.

I want you to know her heart too.
and PS.
there's a pretty stinking awesome giveaway
and way for you to help spread some love to little ones in Uganda.
read on, friends. :)
(love you Jami!)

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today is the day! the day you get to see all the goodies up for grabs.
aaaand, i'm nervous. there i said it. i feel better already.

if you read my post from last week you know that hubby is part of a mission team going to uganda this summer.

we are thrilled to be able to participate and can not wait to see what the Lord does.

the team will be traveling with children of the nations spending time teaching and loving on children in group homes. they will also be visiting refugee camps, building a laundry facility and planting fruit trees.

the children they will be spending time with have been displaced by AIDS and war.

just the thought of it is heartbreaking to me. so many children with no parents and without a home. i long to look into their little faces. to tell them Jesus loves them. to tell them i love them.

for the time being, however,  i feel called to send my hubby off with as much support and prayer as possible.

will you pray for him and the entire team?
pray that everyone they come in contact with will see and feel the love they have come to bring.

we are also in need of financial support.
some wonderful friends have rallied behind me to make this fun giveaway possible.
i am beyond grateful for and humbled by their support.

please give what you can. a little. a lot.
every dollar is appreciated.

here are all the entry details:

*all of these items were donated by the shops and persons listed. this giveaway is open to US residents only. anyone of course, is free to give, however the gift sets will be shipped to US winners only. everyone can enter this giveaway once by leaving a comment with your name here and telling me that you shared this giveaway via twitter/facebook/instagram.

after that? $10 per comment/entry. click the "donate" button at the bottom of this post to donate through paypal. donate $20 leave 2 comments. donate $100 leave 10 comments. easy peasy right?

**please leave your email address with at least one of your donation comments so i can contact you if you win. the winners will be chosen using random.org and announced on monday, may 20th.

CLICK HERE to go enter the giveaway and donate!!

ok! let's get to the good good stuff.

there are 2 sets of prizes. so 2 winners! holla!

set #1

set #1 includes:
- color pop necklace, feather necklace & aqua vintage inspired earrings from happy days
- gray and white polka dot infinity scarf form lovelylittlewhimsy
- 1 necklace from heathers happys, winner's choice
- 2 prints from blossom&vine, winner's choice
- 10" teal wreath with fabric flowers from small town joy
- $20 target gift card


set #2

set #2 includes:

-2 necklaces & 1 needlepoint from hope homemade, winner's choice 

- 1 print from blossom&vine, winner's choice

-1 7" twig & flower wreath from florero

-1 necklace from heathers happys, winner's choice

-1 print from katygirl designs, winner's choice
- key necklace from salvage517

-$20 target gift card

bonus set
ok, a little bonus for you. because we are so grateful for everyone's support there will also be a winner of these fabulous items!

-a custom designed blog header from danielle burkleo worth $35.


  - a custom made clutch from jenni carlisle{@ragamuffinbeauties on instagram}

one more thing...

my dear friend carina has come up with another way you can support us.
for every arrow necklace purchased from her shop she will donate $10 to our uganda fund.
you can't really beat that.

well there you have it!

please visit all of these shops. these are some truly wonderful women.

and will you spread the word? tweet, facebook, instagram, blog about it? we would be super grateful.
thanks friends!


again, GO HERE to Jami's blog to donate and enter!

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fresh motivation (a new series coming)

It may just simply be the tougher season I have been in the last few months,
 or the big (and good!) things that are coming ahead
(like moving to a new house, and working through some business ideas with a friend)...
but lately I haven't been feeling much motivation for the things I usually do.

Mainly including blogging.
(in case you havent noticed. lol)

But not limited to or excluding folding laundry or cleaning my house.
ahem. cue a maid. ASAP.
and a cook.
please.

The one exception is that I have been working out and trying to get fit again. 
I am training for my third Triathlon...June 1st is go day...yikes!  
But a good friend is doing it with me, so that helps. (Thanks Kel! We're gonna rock it!)

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Because I think it's a good thing for everyone to do sometimes...

I'm gonna find some fresh motivation.
seek it out, encourage myself in new ways.

Because as much as I want to sit here and say that I can just talk myself into being motivated,
or that I can "pray enough" to get motivated,
or that I can just "look within", or look to the Lord,
sometimes we need to find some encouragement other than our normal ways.
(don't get all legalistic on me, folks.
I'm not saying look away from the Lord for motivation.
I just believe He can provide encouragement for us in new ways,
if we are willing to let Him move IN us!)

While the actual physical motivation hasn't been there,
the desire to be MOVED is stronger than ever.
So, here I am,
ready and willing to be motivated and moved and encouraged and stirred.

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So.

here's what I've decided to do.

Starting tomorrow... each day for the next week or two,

I am going to share something here

that is motivating or moving to me.
Consider it kindof like a motivation "series".
It might be a video, another blogger, a picture, a verse, anything.

It could be powerful, y'all.

And I invite you to share anything that is motivating you right now too.
(just leave it in the comments!)

It could be another blog post, a friend's adventures, an article, a you tube video, a song, a scripture, a fresh revelation from the Lord, or a conversation with a friend.

Just find it and be encouraged in a fresh way.

Find some motivation.

Fuel yourself.

Influence your thinking.

Move your body.

Stretch your brain.

Stir your heart.
Freshen your spirit.

they made me Mama

they made me Mama.

and i couldn't be prouder.

I really don't even have words.

just pure joy.

I pray all you Mamas will be filled with joy today too.

and please, whatever you read today...go read this post.

(you may grab some kleenex too)

Happy Mother's Day!

be blessed today.

and remember He made you their Mama for a special purpose.

take joy in that today.

Happy YOU day.