Happy Thanksgiving

I have so many things for which I am thankful.  Here are a few:
1. Jesus - my Savior
2. My family - I have the best family! We are getting together for a gathering in a few hours (minus one).
3. My church family - The people of Gateway Baptist Church have truly been a blessing in my life.
4. My Sunday school class - I have three little girls in my class and each of them bring so much life to my class.
5. My work family - I have worked in a few places and most places have not had the family vibe as Detherage Family Care. 
6. My REFIT® tribe.  I am so thankful for Teresa joining forces with me this year.  She is such a blessing and her tribe she brought with her are fantastic.
7. I'm thankful that I am not too far behind in my reading through the Bible this year.  I have struggled in the past, but this year I am doing much better than in the past.
8. My job. I'm thankful that God led me to KDMC in 2009 and began working with them in 2010.  It hasn't been the easiest road along the way, but God led me here to be of service and I'm thankful that I get to do this thing called work.

The Joy of My REFIT® Classes

I love my  REFIT® participants.  Each of them that come to class bring something special. That being said, I want to highlight one of them for this coming Valentine's Day. 

Celebrating Trevor's 18th Birthday

I asked my participant Angel if I could write a blog about her son.  He is such an inspiration to me and to the other participants, that I wanted to share with you all. His name is Trevor.  I met Trevor when his mom (a former classmate of mine) started coming to another fitness class that I taught. He was 17th at the time. Trevor celebrated his 18th birthday with us.  He got to pick some of his favorite songs that we do for his class. As our class grew, Trevor had even more fun at class. He likes when we have big classes because he enjoys the energy, and when there are only a few of us here, he will ask "where is everybody?"

One of my participants is from the school district from where Trevor graduated.  She brought his diploma and presented it to him after class one night.  He was so proud of getting his diploma.  It was such a pleasure for me to be able to be there and take his picture with his diploma.

Trevor enjoys the fun nights we celebrate, such as dressing up for Halloween.  One time he came as as a minion and another time he came as Nacho Libre. That was one of my favorites.  I try to make these classes about having a good time and getting to know each other better.  Getting the "community" aspect of our mission.

We try to participate in the Ironton Christmas Parade.  This is usually on a class night, but we do this instead of class to show up in the local community and get them to notice REFIT®.

Trevor enjoys this event as well.  He loves walking the parade route and handing out candy canes, or peppermint candy to the people standing along the route.

In last week's class, I had to leave the room for a few minutes and "Chainsaw" by Family Force 5 began to play.  He absolutely loves this song, but usually doesn't do this unless another participant is standing with him, but tonight he did it on his own.  When the song says "crank it, crank it, crank it like a chainsaw..." he did his "chainsaw sound."  I couldn't help but smile when I heard him do this.  Because I knew he felt comfortable and at home (which is what we want our participants at REFIT® to feel...at home). He also loves "Can't Stop the Feeling" by Justin Timberlake. He will do the moves to it and sing.  When we walk with a little hop in our step, he will hop like a rabbit across the floor.

The most important thing I want to share about Trevor is that he knows Jesus.  His favorite songs that we play in class are the songs he hears on KLOVE radio.  He will sing along to these songs while working out.  The other night my heart grew really big.  We did Mandisa song "Unfinished" and he was singing along to it, at the top of his lungs -- "He started something good and I'm gonna believe it, He started something and He's gonna complete it...I'm just unfinished."  Then we did "Storyteller" as our cool down.  He began saying "It's my story, It is well with my soul.  Jesus loves me." Trevor loves to sing at church, but he loves to sing at REFIT® too.

I truly love Trevor and I'm so thankful that his mom feels comfortable to bring him and let him have a great time working out to clean music.  REFIT® is a fitness program that you can bring your children to and not worry about bad lyrics or inappropriate moves.  It's a place that children can join in if they want to.  When I first made the move to REFIT®, Trevor had a hard time calling it that.  I encouraged his mom to look up YouTube videos to help him to see what it was about...now he loves it.

I want to thank Angela, Catherine and Emily for creating this amazing program and focusing on the heart as a soul and a muscle.  And for encouraging us to build community.  Because of that focus, I have met an AMAZING young man, who is going to impact the world, just like he impacted mine.

Top Two Priorities

Well, we have almost completed the month of January, so I wanted to write a blog about my top two priorities for 2018.

My word for the year of 2018 is to be "deliberate." I want to be deliberate in my life this year. I want to be deliberate when reading my Bible, when working on my diet, while working on my REFIT® class, when witnessing to others, when teaching my Sunday school class.  In all areas of my class, I want to be deliberate.

The definition of Deliberate is "done consciously and intentionally." I want to do the things in my life consciously and intentionally.  It is one thing to go through the motions, it's another thing to think and act intentionally and consciously.  I'm thankful for this word for 2018. 

Through this first month of the year, I have began a one year bible reading plan. I have been trying to be deliberate to read the Bible in a read. My First priority is Reading the Bible in a year.  I am using the OWNit365 Whole Bible Plan this year. I am thankful to have a friend going through this with me.  I want to be able to complete this for 2018. I want to be intentional to reading this plan.  I want it to change me.

My second priority is track my food each day. I have recently been diagnosed with diabetes. I bought a Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet book and journal to begin in February. I want to be intentional in writing down what I'm eating.  I want to be conscious in my food choices.

These a simple changes to make in being deliberate, but simple changes can lead to more changes.  Hope your 2018 will be amazing and that you will find "your word" to help you this year.

The Greatest Showman - This Is Me [Official Lyric Video]

This is a song from the movie "The Greatest Showman." I haven't yet seen this movie, but this song was introduced to me through my REFIT® Family.  A lot of them have called it our anthem of 2018.

I'm not a stranger to the dark

"Hide away," they say 

"Cause we don't want your broken parts"

I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars

"Run away," they say

"No one will love you as you are"

But I won't let them break me down to dust

I know that there's a place for us

For we are glorious

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

I am brace, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

Another round of bullets hits my skin

Well, fire away 'cause today, I won't let the shame sink in

We are bursting through the barricades

And reaching for the sun (we are warriors)

Yeah, that's what we've become

I won't let them break me down to dust

I know there's a place for us

For we are glorious!

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

I am brave, I am bruised

I am who I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum

I'm not scared to be seen

I make no apologies, this is me

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh-oh

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

This is me

Oh-oh-oh-oh

And I know that I deserve your love

Oh-oh-oh-oh

'Cause there's nothing I'm not worthy of

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

When the sharpest words wanna cut me down

I'm gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out

This is brave, this is bruised

This is whom I'm meant to be, this is me

Look out 'cause here I come (look out 'cause here I come)

And I'm marching on to the beat I drum (marching on, marching, marching on)

I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me

Whenever the words wanna cut me down

I'll send a flood to drown them out

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, this is me.

Songwriters: Justin Paul / Benj Pasek

I teach fitness classes with a company called REFIT® Revolution.  One of our biggest guidelines involves building community.  Making sure EVERYBODY feels welcomed.  All fitness levels are welcomed...it doesn't matter from where you came...it doesn't matter if you don't believe the way I do...EVERY BODY IS WELCOMED!

In our REFIT® community, this song has become an unofficial anthem song for us.  WE want those who are involved in our classes that they are glorious warriors.  And when the worlds words wanna cut them down, we'll send a flood to drown them out. 

Now I see this song as an introduction for me to point those to our creator God who created each of us.  He designed us in the image of Him.  If we begin to cut each other down, we are actually hurting the very creation of God.  We should be building, encouraging, loving each other.

For the past four weeks, my pastor has spoken from I Corinthians 13.  Teaching us what love really is.  I know I was challenged because my love didn't look like that chapter.  Let us challenge ourselves to look at our lives and help us to love others...as God calls us to. 

If I speak human or angelic languages but do not have love, 

I am a sounding gone or a clanging cymbal. 

If I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and if I have all faith so I can move mountains but do not have love, 

I am nothing.

And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor 

and if I give my body in order to boast,

but do not have love I gain nothing.

Love is patient, 

love is kind.

Love does not envy, 

is not boastful, 

is not conceited, 

does not act improperly, 

is not selfish, 

is not provoked, 

and does not keep a record of wrongs.

Love finds no joy in unrighteousness 

but rejoices in the truth. 

It bears all things, 

believes all things, 

hopes all things, 

endures all things. 

Love never ends. 

But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; 

as for languages, they will cease; 

as for knowledge, it will come to an end. 

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

But when the perfect comes, the partial will come to an end. 

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, 

I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. 

When I became a man, I put aside childish things. 

For now we see indistinctly, as in a mirror, 

but then face to face. 

Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, 

as I am fully known. 

Now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love.

Storyteller

A few weeks ago, I asked my REFIT® to be thinking about their favorite movie/book. I wanted to use this as part of my HeartWork. When it came time to share, we had a variety of titles.  It was fun because we even discovered new things about each other. (Community)

That night I used the song "Storyteller" as my cool down. I like using cool down songs as a way to enter the HeartWork.  I went onto tell them, God has placed us on this earth to tell a story. We go in and out of the lives of others for a reason.  When we are able to surrender to be used by God, we are able to bring kindness, encourage and love one another.

The lyrics to the song Storyteller shed light to being a storyteller to others in our life

On a Sunday evening I'm

looking back over all the years

And where I've been

Looking at old photographs

I'm remembering 

you were right there 

And You have been ever since

With every page that turns

I see Your faithfulness

Oh the mountain where I climb

The valley where I fell

You were there all along

That's the story I'll tell

You brought the pieces together

Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That's the story I'll tell

There were some nights that felt like

They would last forever 

But You kept me breathing

You were with me right then

And all that You have done for me

I could never hold it in

So here's to me telling this story

Over and over again

Oh the mountain where I climb

The valley where I fell

You were there all along

That's the story I'll tell

You brought the pieces together

Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That's the story I'll tell

You hold the broken

You hear my every cry, every cry

My eyes are open

I know that it is well, it is well

Oh, the mountain where I climb

The valley where I fell

You were there all along

That's the story I'll tell

You brought the pieces togehter

Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That's the story I'll tell

That's the story I'll tell

For years and years I'll tell

That's the story I'll tell

This past week, I was reading from Genesis when Joseph's brother sold him to the travelers to Egypt.  He first prospered, but after his boss' wife gets upset because he won't be with her, she lies about it and his boss sends him to jail.  Later in this story, Joseph's brothers end up coming to Egypt and are not aware of who Joseph is, but when they realize it's their brother, they are afraid of what Joseph may do to them.  Joseph replies, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present results -- the survival of many people." Genesis 50:19-20. I want to be like Joseph...when my life doesn't go my way, I keep focusing on the goal of bringing glory to God. Because whatever I do go through in my life, I'm able to point people to Jesus and His salvation gift.  

May we be storytellers until Jesus comes back...

Week 3 of the 21 day #FatDemon Challenge

WEEK 1 – Listen to Your Life

• Day 1 – Water when you wake
• Day 2 – Wake up a little earlier.
• Day 3 – What’s your why?
• Day 4 – “We”… touch base with “your person”
• Day 5 – Water for half of your weight.
• Day 6 – Wind down and rest.
• Day 7 – Walk (for at least 15 minutes)

WEEK 2 – Look at Your Life

• Day 8 – Log your meals
• Day 9 – Look at your snacks.
• Day 10 – Learn to like the green (Choose salad or the veggies)
• Day 11 – Lug Your water…. only water.
• Day 12 – List your meals and your movement. 
• Day 13 – Lose the fast and/or fried food.
• Day 14 – Lose the sugar.

WEEK 3 – Love Your Life

• Day 15 through Day 21 – Practice and Repeat Days 1-14

Here’s some other fun things to do while you fight the #FATDEMON this week!

• Day 15 – Share a scripture that helps keeps you focused.
• Day 16 – Share a motivational quote that helps keeps you focused.
• Day 17 – Share a screenshot of a song that helps keeps you focused.
• Day 18 – Share with ME! Finish this sentence… I loved this challenge because…
• Day 19 – Think about your exit/maintenance plan.
• Day 20 – Write down your exit/maintenance plan.
• Day 21 – Share your exit/maintenance plan with “your person”.

Day 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7

Well, it's been a hectic week, but I have been posting about my daily accomplishment on my REFIT with DeeJay Facebook Page.

Day 03 

🙌 Drink water first thing

🙌 Wake up 10-15 minutes early to read, meditate, stretch

🙌 What is your "Why?" Why are you doing this challenge

Day 4 

🙌 Drink water first thing

🙌 Wake up 10-15 minutes to read, meditate, stretch

🙌 Remember your why

🙌 We are in this together (who is your we?) Accountability partner

Day 5

🙌 Drink water first thing

🙌 Wake up 10-15 minutes earlier

🙌 Remember your why

🙌 Report to your we

🙈 Drink half your body weight in ounces (I struggled with this...)

Day 6

🙌 Drink water first thing

🙌 Wake up 10-15 minutes earlier

🙌 Remember your why

🙌 Report to your we

🙈 Drink half your body weight in ounces

🙌 wind down (had a great time laughing before I went to bed)

Day 7 

🙌 Drink water first thing

🙈 Wake up 10-15 minutes earlier (not on Saturday)

🙌 Remember your why

🙌 Report to your we

🙈 Drink half your body weight in ounces

🙌wind down

🙈 walk for 15 minutes (I wasn't able to do my walk, but I did do some laps while cleaning church this morning.