God Of Glory, Lord Of Love

Okay, I decided this weekend I needed to be over my bah-humbug stage. I didn't have to do anything this year that I felt obligated to and I am looking forward to giving all the gifts I have for everyone this year. I didn't run around crazy or fret or become too busy to enjoy life over the holidays, so I need to ENJOY the holidays.

I can't stand Santa stuff, but instead of dwelling on someone that doesn't exist, I decided to start dwelling who DOES exist. And He, my friends, is My Wonderful Savior Jesus, His Comforter Side-Kick the Holy Spirit, and My Perfect Father in Heaven, Jehovah Jireh - My Provider.

I've had more blessings this year than I can begin to count justwith beginning my powerlifting training alone and none of it would have been possible if the Lord hadn't been taking care of me and guiding each step. I have been provided for completely financially all year. I have found a trainer that fits me more perfectly than I could have even begun to ask for. (That's biblical, ya know? He's able to do more than we can ask or imagine. Ephesians 3:14-21) And I've been blessed with My Cousin, Jack, taking care and watching over me all year with my massages. Along with the support of so many friends and family, and much more given to me other than financially...things provided for me voluntarily any time I was in need.

Christmas services are my very favorite church services to attend. There are wonderful hymns sang that contain such reverance to God that I think we're lacking most of the time throughout the year. The services leave me in a state of wonder for all the miracles that we have all year, and simply refuse to acknowledge or simply ignore. And I go to my church every Christmas Eve and get prayed over for the coming year and take communion. It's a very personal, reverant time that I truly love that I get to have.

And THAT is what Christmas is for. He doesn't change, and He doesn't leave. He doesn't cease to exist just because someone says He does. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is the Beginning and the End. He is the Author and the Finisher. That means He's there always. He is not a lie that parents tell their children to make life more exciting. He is there every year and HE provides the 'Christmas' gifts, all year round.


Okay. I'm done. :-) Great day today. We're starting my cycle over, I'm pretty sure. Although, Brian did raise my dumbbell weight today from last week, we didn't stay the same on that. My bench was AWESOME. It felt great and I placed it right. Probably a combination of a better day and starting drills back up w/ the bands hanging. Here's the workout:

Bench - Warmup, 95 lbs., 1 set of 10. I do this most of the time, and I just don't add it in. I probably should, I don't really count it though. 135 lbs., 5. Then Brian changed the weights twice, each for a set of 5, but I don't know what weights they were. And my last set was 170 lbs. for 5 :)

Decline Dumbbell Press - 40 lbs., 10. 45 lbs., 10. 50 lbs., 2 sets of 10.
Skullcrushers - Again, I didn't check to see what weight he put on this bar. But, he had to take it down a bit today. My elbows were bothering me a lot...both of them. Then, we switched grips. It was funny. Last week we tried a grip and it hurt my elbows so we switched. This week we started with the grip that worked last week and this week it hurt my elbows. So we switched to the opposite one, the one that hurt last week, and it didn't hurt anymore! lol.

Front Raises were absolutely amazing today!!!!!!! I sat face into the seat so that when I raised my arms my body was pushing against the seat instead of into nothing or into my straps. Brian starpped me once lower around my waist to keep me from scooting myself back. It worked SO well. I felt it a lot more in my shoulders and my abs didn't have to do near as much work. I actually am unsure of the weight...don't know if it was 15 lbs. or 20, but I'd venture to guess 15. 3 sets of 12.
Shoulder Horn - 10 lbs., 2 sets of 25.
Abs on that half round thing. :) 2 sets, one of 12 and one of 11. They're pretty tough! But, it works really well.

And Stretching!! :-D

Was up two pounds today when I went to get weighed :( Not sure why or what the difference was. I guess it'll come off eventually. I'm at 125 and I need to get to 118.