Weight loss

 

The photo on the left is me about a year and four months ago at a whopping 230lbs!  No, I am not pregnant...baby Beckles is in the photo with me at a antiques sale. The latter is me in the 160's club!  If you have never heard of the trim healthy mama way of eating, let me introduce it to you! CLICK HERE! My husband bought the book for me because I was discouraged about my weight.  I would gain 40 - 60 pounds with each pregnancy (3) and I would work hard for about a year just to loose all but about 10 pounds before I became pregnant again.  We would like to have as large a family as the Lord allows...I'm  thinking 8 to 10 kiddos...but I just can't imagine what would have happened to me at the aforementioned rate of weight gain. I am SO thankful for this knew knowledge about food and health.  Should you choose to try it, Remember to keep it simple!!!  We have a VERY limited budget. (My husband is the pastor of a small church and works part-time at Wal-Mart to make ends meet.) I mention our budget because there are a lot of things recommended, but not necessary to follow this eating plan. I follow the principles taught by Serene and Pearl and add the "extra" or "special" things as I am able.  Thank you Lord (and Serene and Pearl... and their families who sacrificed time with them for our benefit!)  for helping me to get control of my weight!!!

Until Next Time,
 

Pant-Skirt Transformation

It is often SO hard to find good skirts for my girls to wear that I finally decided to learn to make these.  Let me tell you...I am Very glad I did!  The whole process takes me (very important) about two hours to do.  I am not a perfectionist or a professional...but I get is done!!!  If I can do it, you can too.
A photo journal of my crafting project...

From this...

to this!

 

 

 

 

I needed to add elastic in the waist so I took out the elastic from the old and faded yellow skirt pictured above and added it to this one.

 

 

Cut excess, then cut seam in the front up to the zipper.

 

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Repeated the necessary steps for the front then hemmed it up.

Added decorative stitch on hem.

I still have more to do...but I am excited to do them!
 

 Continue reading at your own risk.

Some of you may be thinking...why bother.  Well, in our family we have decided that I and my girls will only wear skirts.  I decided to stop wearing pants when I was 12 years old.  One day after I arrived back home from a youth conference I threw all my pants away. I don't remember anyone preaching specifically on this topic, but I noticed it was in the handbook for the permitted dress code...so I thought that was how Christians ladies were supposed to dress. My mom thought I was CRAZY!  I only had two dresses and a skirt at the time, but the Lord provided and she had to permit it since she wasn't home when I dumped them in the dumpster...on trash day. A few weeks later I won a contest in Sunday School and my teacher took me shopping for another Sunday dress (Thanks Mrs. Whittington!).  Also, one of my public school teachers (Thanks, Mrs. Brown!) gave me two other dresses to wear. When the next school semester rolled around Mama took me shopping for more skirts and dresses.

What do I think now and why am I forcing this on my daughters?

Because it's feminine and it is one of the easiest ways for us as ladies (young and old) to identify with Christ.  Believe me, it's not always the easiest route.  One of my daughters is very alert to fashion. " In fact I have had to "up my game". We have had many discussions about this and she is only five - so I am sure we will be having more "discussions".
 One day I put on a new and more fashionable dress and she said to me, "Wow Mama, you look like Sister ... " I thanked her and decided to do better at showing her that just because I wear only dresses and skirts, doesn't mean I can't look pretty and up to date. Also, I try to tell her that when people see a young lady in a dress out in public they automatically associate her with church, religion, and/or Christ. Whether the girl is a Christian or not ...it's true.  What we wear may speak louder that what we say.    

(I'm not meaning for this to be a sermon...but rather a testimony...my testimony.)
Whether this is your practice or not, I hope this post is a blessing.

Until Next Time,

The Tooth Fairy pays a visit

Wow!!! has it really been six months since I last posted here? Time flies when you're having fun....or just plain busy.  Life with three is REALLY different....especially when the youngest is a boy who likes to jump off tables and help mama clean out all the drawers in the bathroom! They keep me on my toes.  That being said....
I love spending time with my family!  Here are a few snapshots from our life in the month of February.

Aaliyah's tooth fell out at church and she lost it before she got home.  She put this under her pillow instead and hoped for the best.  Of course, Daddy and Mommy obliged.

Cassidy loves to play on the computer at the library and doing puzzles.

Say cheese.... he signs it instead.  lil' Raymond signs more than  both my girls did at this age (18 months).

Until next time, 

Family update

So...what have the Beckles been up to...
1.  Gardening

 

 

 2. Trying out new hair do's

 3.  Trying on my wedding dress!

 

 5.   and Celebrating Birthday's

 

Until next time,

Lead by Example

One lady that I have a lot of admiration and respect for came to visit us a few weeks back.  For  three years I was able to observe Mrs. Theresa Lucas in action.  Her husband, Leon Lucas, was our pastor when we lived in North Carolina.  A more diligent, thankful, and sweet woman you will never find; but the characteristic or attribute I want to thank her for demonstrating to me is in the area of prayer.  Proverbs 8:17 says -  I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
 Mrs. Lucas always encouraged everyone around her to pray before you began anything...and I mean anything and everything.  Before we began any activity- she prayed, before she turned the car engine on to travel anywhere -she prayed, before we began to practice for a song- she prayed, before she began to cook dinner- she prayed. 

I don't know if it's just my personality, or pride, or what; but I tend to dive into things that I think I am capable of handling without prayer; forgetting that the scriptures tell us that ...."I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5
Thank you Mrs. Lucas for the reminder!
Until next time,

 

 

My Teacher- the elephant

 My teacher…the Elephant

The other day when I was reading a book about amazing animals to the girls, the animal of the day was the elephant. My Grandmother was a lover of elephants.  I have no idea why, but I know that she did.  In 1998 I was privileged to take a missions trip to Ivory Coast, West Africa and I brought back  “elephant gifts” for her.  Unfortunately I didn’t realize it was illegal to bring back ivory so I proudly and  unwisely listed my family of ivory elephants on the customs report on the plane. Of course they were confiscated -  but, I had forgotten about an Ivory plaque of elephants that I also bought so I didn’t list them on my custom’s report sheet and they were not confiscated.  My Grandma LOVED her gift. 

Since that time I have learned more about elephants and grown to appreciate them as well.

From our friend the elephant I have learned the following:

1.       It takes a village…not really; (P.S.  I have heard friends recite that quote; but do you know exactly what that refers to.  I will give you a hint- it was made famous by Hillary Clinton) but sometimes we do need a little help.  When in a tribe of elephants two mothers bare calves (baby elephants) around the same time they partner together to raise them.

2.       Our children can help us with their siblings.  When an elephant reaches the age of four or five it begins to help take care of the younger calf while the mother elephant is getting food, etc.  One thing that my girls LOVE to do is to get into the crib with DeSean and play with him while I cook dinner. Also, Aaliyah is responsible for getting diapers for her brother and Cassidy is responsible for throwing them away. When I do either of these things they get upset with me and feel like I cheated them out of their jobs!

3.       Elephant trunks are strong enough to pick up tree trunks and heavy branches; but they are also used to gently rub, and pet their little darlings.  What a beautiful picture of motherhood!  Sometimes we have to be strong and tough, and other times gentle and kind.

4.       Baby elephants get spankings when they step out of line!   Nough said!

 

Now that I have shared this elephant knowledge with you, you might think of me the next time you see and elephant at the zoo or circus…and that’s ok I guess; but I do hope a prettier and slimmer animal causes my children and grandchildren to remember me! On second thought, maybe the next post will be about a tigeress, or gazelle or something.

Until next time,

Teaching Stewardship

Teaching Stewardship

I was at a book sale at the library last year and I picked up a little book about teaching children about banking and finances.  I also have and cherish Dave Ramsey’s little book entitled “priceless” which someone gave to me while I was in college.  (I wish I had studied it then!!!) We decided to start giving the children a small amount of money every Saturday.  Aaliyah and Cassidy both have two jars.  They colored pictures to put on the jars and then we taped the picture to the jar.  One has the word “Save” and the other reads, “Give”.  I divide the money up into change if necessary and they put %10 in the special pocket of their purse for church on Sunday as their tithe.  They put another %10 percent in their giving jar, %10 in their saving jar and the rest they can put in their purse to spend.  Cassidy does not yet understand or care anything about this process at present; but Aaliyah is learning well. 

When we leave the house she makes sure she has her purse just in case we go to the store.  (I stopped reminding her after about two weeks. If she forgets her purse she does not get to buy anything).

I remember the first time she had to give her tithe.   We used to give her money to put in the missions jar at church every week.  If for some reason we would forget or be too busy (me at the piano and dad at the pulpit) someone always gave them change to put in the missions jar. 

The first week she had money from her allowance plus Grandma sent her money because she lost two teeth.  Offering time came and she hesitated to go forward and give; then she began to cry.  Not the silent tears; but the big huge crocodile tears.  She said, “Will Jesus give me my money back?”.  We told her that God always gives us back more than we give to Him.  She gave it; but was a little hesitant.  Two days later she went with her dad to invite people to church and a man off the street walked up to her and gave her $10!  Talk about God giving back to you!  She has never had a problem giving to Jesus since. She has since asked me if it was ok if she gave Jesus dollars  instead of just change. Last week she put a couple of dollars in her purse to give to Jesus above her tithe. 

I also remember the first unwise purchase she made.  We were at the store and there was one of those “toy drop” machines outside.  She was determined to play it so that she could win one of the toys.  It looked so easy.  I warned her that playing the game might be a foolish way instead of a wise way to spend her money (I used those words exactly.  I believe it is important to use Bible words with our children).  She just had to play…so I let her.  It took $1, then $2, then $3 – she is her mother’s daughter, therefore she knew she could win if she just kept trying (LOL). By dollar number three she was crying and her father said enough was enough. 

Here we are about two months later.  She has passed many “toy drop machines” and has NEVER asked to play again.  I try to remind her about her experience as we watch other foolish children spend their parent’s money in those machines.  By the way…We have yet to see one win.

I am so proud of the little ones God has given us!

Until next time,