New Year's Resolution 2--Nutrition & Exercise!

Firstly exercise..

I've always strived for fitness for a variety of reasons...Thank the Lord, I made it
a pretty firm habit to gym regularly last year(on average, minimum of 4 times per week, maximum of 6), with a balance of resistance & cardiovascular training...I've committed to the same this year (it's life-long really, but the thot of gyming 4 the rest of my life scares the "bejeez" out of me...i just trick myself into goals of "1 yr. @ a time"..)

Here r some of the benefits of good cardiovascular exercise & resistance training taken from research published in a recent magazine by the Family International:

Benefits of resistance (weight) training:

* Increased bone density, as well as stronger tendons & muscles, which are harder to injure & recover more quickly & easily.

* Improved balance & shock absorption, making it less likely you'll fall, or less likely to get hurt if you do fall.

* Improves your posture

* Improved ratio of muscle to fat makes it easier to maintain a proper weight; also makes your cardiovascular exercise yield faster results in weight loss.

* As people get older (for any of you who are aging), muscle mass is naturally lost, making it harder to perform even everyday duties. Weight training helps overcome this if already set in, or helps avoid it if it hasn't.

(note: this doesn't necessarily mean lifting huge weights. This is resistance training, not bodybuilding)


Benefits of any exercise:

-- Improves metabolism

-- Improves blood pressure

-- Aids in hypertension

-- Reduces body fat

-- Controls cholesterol

Sounds good to me...I think I'll stick to this resolution...


A few more benefits of exercise:

builds muscle, tendon & ligament strength; strengthens your heart & respiratory system; builds endurance; cardiovascular exercise increases blood flow & the ability of the blood to carry oxygen; increases the body's ability to use oxygen; lowers risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and many other diseases; improves your immune system; helps you sleep better...

Benefits of eating healthy coming up...

New year's resolution 1--Wear my "Praise Glasses".

On the last day of 2007, about 2 hours before the countdown, I had prayed that the Lord would help me be more positive & praise Him for everything this year...

Here's a message from Jesus I read this morning that I believe will help me & all others with my same prayer to do just that...


You are special, created by My hand. You are unique, one of a kind. There's only one you, and I made you to perfectly fit the role and purpose I had in mind for you. You have special talents & qualities that I know you need for the job & calling I have for you, and you have liabilities that help balance you out, and keep you humble & close to Me.
The secret to finding My peace and contentment in your heart & mind is to thank Me for making you the way you are, flaws & all, and letting Me live through you. Praise Me for your weaknesses, which make you dependant on My strength. Glory in your infirmities (2 Corinthians 12:9) and in times of sadness which deepen your life and make you cling to Me more fervently. Be happy in the sad times, knowing that they are working in you a far greater eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
When you come to Me at the end of your days, I will gather you into eternal glory, where all tears will cease, and where there will be constant joy & happiness forever. I have some wonderful surprises for you up here that you will be deligthed with. I can't wait to have you here, but in the meantime, I will be with you in your heart, whispering to your spirit, and helping you through each day. I love you so much, and I love it whenever you think about Me and acknowledge My presence.
Thank Me for everything! Thank Me for the little things I do for you throughout the day. Thank Me for the loved ones I put along your path, and revel in My joy & prescence. This will keep you happy till you come to be with Me here. I love you.


--From Jesus with Love, Link, Issue 30, January 2008

Yankari/8-year-Africa anniversary 10th Jan, 2008!

pic by Ikumi

we just got back yesterday from a 3-day holiday with the other homes here at the National Game Reserve in Yankari, Bauchi state, north of Nigeria...

It was great! I had a blast! Being in nothing but God's creation, surrounded by nature & wildlife, enjoying hot springs, BBQs, fellowship & safari trips was just the vacation the doctor ordered...truly refreshing. Getting back to work is gonna be tough, but I know I'm gonna enjoy that too as I get back in the groove. Let Adventure 2008 begin!

It's also my 8 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN AFRICA TODAY.--I was so busy cooking that I forgot to tell me home...8 years ago today, Josh & my sister, Phebe picked me up at the airport in Lagos. I remember it like it was yesterday. Landing in Lagos, was like visiting a foreign planet...without telling you my whole life story, I'll just let you enjoy the Safari pics...(I would post the whole remembering-my-time-in-Africa pictorial, but it already takes me half a day to post a review of one year, or one place I've been...8 years would probably take me just that...)

Have a good one!

P.S. All pics taken by me, unless otherwise noted (copyrights apply...;) )


7:00 sunrise on the way to early morning Safari...


by the river where we saw Crocs, Egrets, Herons & later that day Hippos..


I had the privelege of going on 4 Safaris in 3 days ("How?", you may ask..). Here's what I saw between the 4:

Baboons, Bushbuck, "Brown-Shoebill-Bird-Thingie", Crocodile, Elephants, Egrets, Guinea Fowl, Hippo, Kingfisher (the most brightly colored bird you ever saw...but they're so shy & fly away quickly.."I neva snap am") Vulture, Waterbuck, Water Buffalo, Wart Hog, Western Hartebeest, another kinda monkey...forgot the name..and a few more animals whose names I can't pronounce..if I could remember them...



Mother & baby elephant I "snapped" on "Safari 3"...

On "Safari 4" we got up at 5 a.m. to go & find Lions...ended up being a "wild Lion chase...but we did see elephant, Bushbuck & a couple monkeys, and riding in the trunk of our pickup (the only Safari I went on with our own vehicle) with dust in my eyes, getting stuck in the sand & eating Safari snacks (literal name) was all part of the adventure...


All of group 2 during Safari 2 (go figure) in front of about half the herd of Elephant that we found just near the water front at a certain spot where the ground is phosphorous & they dig for salt/minerals & kick dust everywhere...about 3 of the males charged us (bluff charges, TTL)...should have brought our camcorder...


Practicing my monkey communication skills.. pic by Ikumi


enjoying BBQ with Mark & Jenny (& everyone else not pictured)
pic by Simon


Wikki warm Springs

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I prayed for you all today that the Lord will give you a wonderful 2008 & that this year will be better than the last.












my very first 2008 "snap"...




As typically done every year around the world among missionaries of the Family International, we took sometime last night to reflect on last year, thank God for what He did in each of our lives, as well as state our goals, desires, vision, verse/scripture for the New Year ahead.--A wonderful time of reflection & a great way to enter another year--with faith & purpose for what lies ahead.

I thanked God for my family, friends, learning experiences, new challenges, health, happiness, travels, etc.


My goals for this year are:

--2 be a more consistent & active prayer warrior. This year is particularly important to all of us in the Family & I want to accomplish everything that I can, but I know that it can only be done through the power of God working via prayer, our spirit helpers, the keys of the Kingdom, etc.

--I also want to speak His words to others & use prophecy more in my life, to both benefit my own life/spiritual walk, but also to encourage & strengthen others...



My prayer for the New Year:

That I will continuously praise this year & see my life thru the "glasses of positiveness" every day. Rather than thinking about what I don't have, I've determined that 2008 will be a time to thank God for everything He's already given me.--which is so, so much!



Below are a few selective shots I took throughout 2007...enjoy....





Robert, Arturo, Ayla, Mary & Anisa, Ayla's B'day, Oct, O7



Ronald Reagan building, Washington DC, April, 2007



Jasmine during outdoor class, FDTP, South Africa, July, 07



Neighbor kid and friend at his B'day party, September, 07




Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, Alabama, April, 2007