I finally got my test results back for my cholesterol today! I was waiting since last week Wednesday. I needed the results for the reward program for my insurance. I would like to wait a year each time I have this test read, but I needed the results and I was super excited to know if I had improvement with all the exercise and healthy eating I have been doing.
You may remember my blog post about my October results. I was quite upset, because they weren't what I had hoped for. I was working out for almost 5 months and...ONLY eating well for 2 months. The numbers truly reflecting eating poorly for a year and the damage was done. It also reflected a lack of activity. Since June of 2013, I have changed my activity level to working out to an average of 5-6 days a week. Sometimes I do hit 7 days a week! Since September of 2013 I really cut out sweets quite well. Some months were very effective! I share these numbers with you, because this all really does matter. I am doing this naturally. High cholesterol runs in my family, both skinny and overweight people alike. I want to fight the odds, as well as the heart disease that runs in my familyl. More than that, it feels good to be healthy and fit on my own. Good old fashion hard work and discipline got me here. I also share these numbers, so you know you can do it too! My numbers! HDL - good Cholesterol; LDL - bad 7-2-14 Cholesterol (0-199) 159, HDL (40-59) 47, LDL (0-99) 100 Triglyceride (0-149) 47 ~My cholesterol is down 5, my HDL up 13, LDL down 14, and down 20 for triglyceride. 10-21-13 Cholesterol 164, HDL 34, LDL 114 Triglyceride 79 3-19-12 Cholesterol 158, HDL 35, LDL 94 Triglyceride 158
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One of my favorite ways to worship my Lord is through song, whether it be in my car with the radio as I sing along or in church at Mass as we sing prayers, hymns, and songs. It is always a tad bit different when you visit another church, even if it is still the same christian denomination. But the beauty of the Catholic Mass is that I could go anywhere in the world and the Mass (form) would still be the same. So, this morning, it only took me a little bit to figure out the melody of some of the prayers we were singing. The surprise came later... I tell the young people, and encourage them, to sing because God doesn't care what your voice sounds like! You are worshiping Him! After all, he created your voice, so let Him hear it. How beautiful it is, different but alike as Christians, coming together to worship and thank our Lord. How little it really is what our voice sounds like. Have you really focused on the words you are singing and praising God for? Have you realized so much of it comes straight from the Bible? It is amazing! I am challenged by words in songs. I want to remember lines from songs forever. FOREVER! "Fire my heart with your love," is just an example. Just beautiful. My spirit comes alive as I hear what I am singing, meditating on, and praise my Lord with! Yes, I've cried through songs in my car, in church, and in many places. If you are just singing along without paying any mind to what you are singing, you are missing out. I encourage you, especially while at church, to totally be present in every part...and if you feel called, start with the music and then move onto the next. (The Eucharist is the most important in the Catholic Mass...everything else is preparing us for that.) So, today in church, we naturally sang the prayers and songs that are to be sung. As we sang, an older girl in the pew behind me to the right, who appeared to have Down Syndrome, joined in. I couldn't make out much of what she was saying. Much of what came out was loud, staggered tones. I am not going to lie, it was alarming at first. It caught me off guard. My heart hurt for the pain the girl and the family may have endured. People can be so mean. Then as she sang, she was so eager to sing, "God," in the prayers and songs. It was truly amazing! I could recognize a few other words. How my heart leaped for joy right then and there for her! How much our Lord loved to hear her and from her. It didn't matter what she sounded like. My mind flashed back to when I worked at Sacred Heart. There was an adult man that would come to church and stay in the Narthex area in his wheel chair. He would make loud grunting noises throughout the Mass. People actually complained about him. The staff and I talked about this. He was welcome. Jesus welcomed everyone! So, my heart hurt for this girl today. I didn't want anyone to complain, especially to the family. Why would anyone want to stand in the way of someone worshiping God and receiving Jesus? During Mass I prayed that no one would talk negatively about this girl. I thought about what I would say if I needed to. I so didn't want to break out my, "But Jesus welcomed everyone and he spent his time with..." speech to hopefully soften hearts. I was blessed with a wonderful response after Mass, and my heart leaped for joy again! Many thoughts went through my mind during Mass. The strength it must take for parents to break the norm of what is acceptable at Mass (whatever that is) and bring their daughter...to face everyone hoping for nothing but love in return when that should be all they receive in the house of the Lord. We all know that doesn't always happen...sadly. The strength it must take when they face their first obstacle against their daughter in a Christian setting or any. Double guessing yourself wondering if you made the right choice for various reasons. Then hopefully holding onto their faith tight enough to know what's right for them and their daughter. Finally, I pray for the blessings in their lives. They are brave! Not everyone would be bringing their daughter to church. What a beautiful testimony of love between a child and Jesus and the parents provided that for their child. Chris Tomlin in "Our God, " a perfect song for this story! Check it out! |
So this is me...I am a woman who lives with passion, self-reflection, and a desire to do God's will.
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