3 Years...

Three years have now passed since we started the adoption process.  While we have many wonderful memories from the last 3 years, getting a referral, traveling to ET, meeting our children and bringing them home are not a part of our memory of the last 3 years as we would have thought.  I'm not going to lie, it is kinda depressing.  We do have hope that this is the year in which we will make these memories.

Over the last 3 years, the Lord has been so faithful to send me encouragement through many avenues, but He often speaks to me through songs while I'm in the car and praying about our adoption or for our boys while I drive.  A song by Plumb recently came out that really expresses my recent attitude towards this long journey we are on towards our forever family.

"Need You Now (How Many Times)"

Well, everybody's got a story to tell
And everybody's got a wound to be healed
I want to believe there's beauty here
'Cause oh, I get so tired of holding on
I can't let go, I can't move on
I want to believe there's meaning here

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Standing on a road I didn't plan
Wondering how I got to where I am
I'm trying to hear that still small voice
I'm trying to hear above the noise

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

Though I walk,
Though I walk through the shadows
And I, I am so afraid
Please stay, please stay right beside me
With every single step I take

How many times have you heard me cry out?
And how many times have you given me strength?

How many times have you heard me cry out
"God please take this"?
How many times have you given me strength to
Just keep breathing?
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.

I need you now
Oh I need you
God, I need you now.
I need you now
I need you now

Looking forward to seeing how our story unfolds and God knits our family together.  We are ready to bring our babies home.

Arbonne 30- Day Detox Week #1

In an effort to get healthier this year, I jumped on board with the Arbonne 30-day Detox Plan.  

(Disclaimer: I'm not an Arbonne representative, just a consumer.  My friend Megan introduced me to this healthy eating plan.  I'm blogging about the plan because I found very few consumer reviews online and if this plan works, I'd like to share my experience.  The science behind the plan made perfect sense to me on paper-we'll see how it translates to real life!)  

The plan is basically two protein shakes per day instead of breakfast and lunch with added fiber, two snacks consisting of fit chews and energy fizz drinks, two Metabolism Boosts supplements per day, and detox tea.  I am eating a healthy, sensible dinner nightly.  The first week I completed the 7-day Body Cleanse in addition to the rest of the products to jump-start the detox and weight loss.

At the end of Week #1, I am down 2.5 pounds.  I do feel like I have more energy especially in the afternoons when I am usually ready for a nap after lunch.  I've also been able to increase my weights during high-repetition weight training workouts from 5 to 8 lbs.  Overall, I feel great and looking forward to seeing more results in the next 3-4 weeks.

In addition to the Arbonne plan, I've been rereading through Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst and going through the devotional with the accountability of a close friend.  I have always been an emotional eater, and I know that I need to take those emotions to the Lord instead of drowning my sorrows in a bowl of ice cream, or whatever my craving is that particular day.  Overeating is a spiritual battle for me, it's not just about the calories consumed or the number on the scale or what size I wear.  Although, I do desire to be a skinny Jesus-loving girl!