Medley Number 4 had his birthday in April and we're just now getting around to throwing him a party! Last day of school, early out, and a trip to 4Golf with a few buddies. They played golf and tag and … then we went for ice cream. Those boys are fabulous. 

​It's going to be a fun summer!

It's the last day of the 2020-2021 school year. If I had even an idea of what the year would hold, I would have taken more naps.

When the year started, I had a plan. I had signs printed, breakfast meals planned... I knew it was going to be tough, but I was ready. Or so I thought.

The Bible says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. ​Isaiah 55:8 and all year, I went back to God's word over and over. I clung to Job 42:2 and the promise that, the Lord can do all things, and that no purpose of His can be thwarted. In the chaos of the year and as a parent who fails daily, It was a comfort to know that the Lords plans will be accomplished - regardless.

These kids, and their mother, had no idea what awaited us throughout this year. 

From sports to band, strep throat to COVID, good choices and bad... having long haul COVID symptoms, Clayton's senior year being cut short, finding precancerous polyps that the doctor said saved his life. Read More about his journey New drivers, first jobs, canceled plans and short vacations - what a year it's been. Elated. Exhausted. 

I texted and asked them to send me last day photos. No cute signs. No poses. I wasn't prepared at all. They took their own photo once they got to school. But we survived the year - literally lived through it.
Our kids have all played ball and when they have a poor at bat or a swing and a miss situation, we tell them, "Next Pitch" There isn't a thing we can do about what's already happened. We can get focused and get ready for what's coming next. The game's not over. We also tell them that we win or we learn.

This year we learned a lot. We made it through together. Screeching to the finish line. Crawling. Disheveled. A little bloodied, but wiser and ready for the next battle.... I pray.

When I was pregnant with Clayton I read a book that encourage parents to allow others to give their kids nicknames. They said more names, more love. Those nicknames represented connections and relationships that will enhance your child's life experiences. 

Friends, coaches, and others have given Clay some names - Mr. Chisum, C-note, Clay Dogg, and others...

When others show favor to your kids, it gets your attention. It makes you proud.

Clay got his first graduation gift. It was from neighbors we had not even sent an announcement to. They just loved my kid.

I appreciated that so much. I was overwhelmed. It hit me big.

Our first and last band concert for #4. We heard the same beginning band songs we've heard for a few years with other kids in band. We laughed and reminisced about concerts in years past and enjoyed the last one with the last one.

Weathermen talked about the possibility of severe weather all day long. There was a tense feeling in the air, but nothing happened all day. We finished up the concert for 6th grade, cleared out of the auditorium to make room for the 7th grade parents, and went home to cook dinner. Then the sirens started blaring.
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We went to the cellar and waited. It didn't take long until we were in the clear, but the images from the storm were unbelievable. 

From David & Goliath to Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, the Word of God is brimming with examples of believers who heard instruction from God, acted upon them, and experienced great victory in the Lord.
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This is power and strength both you and I have access to– And that power, it applies to my weight loss journey too!

1. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. Proverbs 16:3 ESV
 
Let’s be real. Weight loss is often a self-centered pursuit and yet we hope that God will bless and strengthen our efforts. When we commit our goals, plans, and passing on the second cookie to Him, He will show up in a big way.
 
2. “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”  2 Chronicles 20:12b ESV
 
Weight loss and healthy eating can be confusing (to say the least). One expert tells us to eat whole grains while another says to avoid them like the plague. What is a girl to do? Our health is under attack but we are not in this battle on our own. When we don’t know what to do, we can seek direction from The One who does.
 
3. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3 ES
 
How many of your extra pounds are due to stress or anxiety that sends you to food for comfort and distraction? What would happen to the desire to eat outside of hunger if you had complete and total peace? We are served to not only seek peace but to pursue peace (Psalm 31:14).
 
4.  “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10c ESV
 
Much like peace preempts the need to eat, joy ministers strength to our spirits. What would it look like for you to intentionally add supernatural joy to your life? When joy fills our empty spaces, they cease to exist.
 
5. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV
 
If you have tried to lose weight and failed, it probably weighs on you. Maybe you are timid in your attempts to try yet again. It will serve you well to recognize that this is NOT the Spirit of God. Reject the faulty thinking and choose thoughts that align with God’s Word!
 
6. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6 ESV
 
If we are honest with ourselves, we know when we are listening to the voice of the flesh. We can try to justify our poor decisions but the end result of those choices are going to lead us somewhere that we do not want to go.
 
Rather than putting on blinders, seek the Holy Spirit’s perspective to guide you! We have no obligation to the flesh (Romans 8:12-13).
 
7. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16 ESV
 
The Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). When we eat food that is “alive” (not processed), we give life to our bodies. When we “ingest” the sustenance that the Bible contains by reading and thinking about what it says, we find true joy and satisfaction.
 
8. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35 ESV
 
The Bread of Life. If you struggle with moderating your food choices, then complete and total satiation probably sounds pretty dreamy to you. This verse promises that very thing to us!
 
When an unexpected urge to eat hits, consider how you can fill up on the True Bread.
 
 
9. But I discipline my body and keep it under control,[a] lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27  ESV
 
Changing habits isn’t easy but our mindset can make the switch more difficult or much easier– you get to choose! When you view saying “no” to your flesh as saying “yes” to the dreams God has in store for you, passing on the food goes from a drag to purposeful and invigorating.
 
10. So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV
 
And no compilation of Bible Verses for Weight Loss would be complete without this gem! This verse reminds us that every decision we make from food and drink to how we work and maintain our homes can be done for His glory.

Jaylon Smith says the Clear Eye View is the moto he lives by. He has a goal to leave a legacy.

When I lost 100 pounds I decided that I wanted to go get my lab work done to compare. I knew that they would be different than the labs I had draw in 2018. They just had to be. What I didn't anticipate was how drastically different EVERYTHING would be.

All my numbers were lower, better, and improved. I was stunned. When my sweet friend and PA went line by line through the comparison report, I just cried. She said they were link teenager scores. She never gets to tell people their labs are perfect, but I sure loved it when she told me! 

​It's incredible to see how what you fuel yourself with really changes everything. There are things that you know like, "Eat less. Move more." Easier said than done, but when you SEE the results, it's astounding. 

​Sure I wanted to loose weight, but being healthy - there's nothing better!

In our family we do birthdays big. I think everyone should be celebrated at least once a year. A day when everything is about you. When people notice the contributions you make. A day to be pampered and have all of your favorite things.

When it came time for our oldest to turn 16, I started asking early when he wanted to do for his 16th birthday. He told me, his mother, that he thought he would probably just go out to dinner with some friends. When I explained to him that idea didn't really work for me, we sort of walked away - and an idea was born.

​Surprises all day long.

With the help of some of his friends, we planned a parking lot party.

I designed a shirt for him and had his friends sign it.

We got him an old 1984 Dodge Ram Truck. It's so old it has a tape deck!

He was genuinely pleased.

We got him a few of his favorite things - just little things hidden around.

He said one of his favorite things about the day was wearing his birthday button around all day.

One of his dear friends help me by decorating his locker for us.

So we're an hour away from home running on 5 hours of terrible sleep a night and our 3rd movie of the trip. There are kids all over this bus, literally. Its starting to smell a little.

For those of you who have been ohh-ing and ahh-ing over the photo overload all week, here are a few things you need to know and going to camp as a sponsor:
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1. Arranging to go on the trip is just part of the adventure. Taking off work and making preparations for life to go on while you're at camp is a bit like being a ringmaster on the moon. Plan to take off an extra day to recover after camp. You'll thank us.

2. The twin bed life is exactly what you remember. 2 inch mattresses and bunk beds for adults is just as harrowing as you might imagine, especially in the morning when everything creaks and crackles and nothing works the way you expected.

3. Everything is up hill both ways in the snow at Glorietta. Even in July. Trust us.

4. Don't miss the morning leader meeting. It's good for your soul. They teach you and then you in turn teach it to your life group. It's always got some blessing inside that speaks to you.

4. Mornings can be an amazing 70 degrees until the second it is time for Rec and then the clouds roll back and it feels like the face of the sun. Pack sunscreen in your back pack and aloe in your suitcase.

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5. After Rec, it's free time. Take a nap. Trust us. Its that or don't plan to shut your eyes for prayers for the rest of the day.

My kid are really into YouTube. They love watching videos and subscribe to several channels. With so much time watching and listening to online content (in addition to our family rules about online content) I wanted to provide some intentional direction and give them suggestions on who to follow and types of content. 

You might like them too!

​Sadie Robertson https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl2vodgsQPqVhbZNGNyjUiQ
Katie Gregoire https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf9v3Id1nebmePy0MYF_18g
Heather Lindsey https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3eXhhNTYTPvFsGE20gxk-w 
Girl Defined https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCww9VDOBh5hfnsN6pPE6NpA 

​Clayton Jennings - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUaA... 
Joseph Solomon https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdF-...
Skit Guys https://www.youtube.com/user/theskitguys

​ReFitRev https://www.youtube.com/user/ReFitRev

​The Good Christian Music Blog https://www.youtube.com/user/TheGCMblog
Tyler Ward: https://www.youtube.com/TylerWardMusic https://www.youtube.com/TylerWardTV 
Jess Conte: https://www.youtube.com/bauerbirds https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCopN... 
Dee-1: https://www.youtube.com/user/Dee1music 
K-Love https://www.youtube.com/user/kloveradio
Hillsong United https://www.youtube.com/user/hillsongunitedTV
Jesus Culture https://www.youtube.com/user/jesusculture/featured