When Spiritual Discipline is Tough

Let's put on our humanity for a second and agree that sticking with Spiritual Discipline can be tough. What I call Spiritual Discipline, you may call quiet time. You also may call it devotional. Whatever the label, making it a habit is challenging.  

What is the secret of the super saints? You and I know there are those among us who never fail at their Spiritual Discipline habit. Or so we think.

Everyone gets discouraged: Moses got mad. Elijah hid. Esther hesitated in doing what God called her to do. Peter and the disciples fell asleep at the top of the mountain. Ops!

We also have examples of people who did great. They remind us of what is possible. Daniel prayed three times a day. Jesus prayed early in the morning. John Wesley's mom kept the prayer habit going while mothering and homeschooling 17 children.

So what is the secret of sticking with Godly habits day in and day out? I'd say try a couple of things but do not fail to start with this:

1. Ask God to help you. I'm not sure if a lot of us who are trying to connect with God, ask Him for help. God will speak to you and He will give you the strategy you need to make this work. 

2. Start small. Everyone has a spiritual superhero. The one I admire prays for 4 hours a day. I can't begin to tell you that I would love to do that but right now, I'm working full-time, I have a business of my own and I have a husband and kids. These are not excuses, these are facts of life. Starting small means starting where I am. Praying before everyone wakes up. Once the kids are grown, I bet I'll be able to carve more and more time to pray. Will I start at 4 hours? I'm sure it would be wonderful. Starting small is also a wonderful thing to do. God does look at the heart, not at the number of hours we are trying to pile up in prayer. 

3. Ask a friend you admire how they make it work. I often ask like-minded people about their devotional life. I ask my mentors questions. They tell me how they made time for God when their kids were little. I learn a lot from my friends, family, and mentors. I'm here to tell you that there are people out there who are seeking God and pressing on to know Him. Ask them questions. 

4. Got interruption from kids? Ask them to join you! I never forgot about the story of John Wesley's mom. She trained her kids to know that when she had her apron on top of her head, they were to give her some space because she was praying. She was also hands-on with their Christian education. If you find that your kids are interrupting you, ask them to join you. The word of God is for everyone. The spirit receives it with joy. There is nothing wrong with exposing kids to what you read in the Bible as well as letting them hear your prayers. Thank God I heard the prayers of my mother. I'm seeing the answers right now. How would I know unless she involved me in her devotional life? 

5. Set an alarm. If you have a problem remembering to set aside time for God, set an alarm as a reminder. When that alarm sounds, grab your Bible, get on your knees, get in the presence of God. Soon, this will become a habit and you will not need the alarm. 

6. Start with 5 minutes and increase the amount of time slowly. If spending time in Spiritual Discipline is a foreign concept to you, start with praying and reading your Bible for 5 minutes then increase the amount of time slowly. The goal is to slowly "taste and see that the Lord is good." 

7. Join a group - When I want encouragement, I join a group. When I joined a Bible study group, I was encouraged to study the Bible on my own. I was also surrounded by people who like me, wanted to spend time with God on a regular basis. The group can't do Spiritual Discipline for you but they can encourage you to do it. 

8. Read a book - There are wonderful books about studying the Bible, prayer, and fasting out there. I often read books related to each discipline. Celebration of Discipline by Richard J. Foster covers them all and he will stretch your thinking too. If you want other book recommendations, send me a message and I will give you some solid books to read. The books I read are recommended by my mentors. These books really helped me pursue God with more passion and joy. These books are simply a tool. The Bible is my main book. God is the One I seek to know, worship, and serve with joy. 

9. Teach what you learn - The best way to master a subject is to teach what you learn. If you have kids, teach them. If you have friends, tell them about what you are learning. If you are a Sunday School teacher, teach your students. I know you have a lesson plan. You can enhance that lesson with the things you are learning from God as you practice Spiritual Discipline. Our faith in Jesus is active. Jesus always taught many things. We need to teach others too. It doesn't take a degree or an actual classroom. We are called to spread the good news of Jesus by simply teaching what we learn. Teaching can be as simple as a conversation with a friend who is feeling stuck in her devotional life. "Have you thought about reading the Bible?" is something I often ask. Then I tell her the why (if you want to know God, you need to read His Book) and how (I recommend a 15-minute Bible reading plan). I'm encouraging you to teach what you learn my friend. 

10. Don't let yourself get lazy - As a Bible lover and teacher, I hear people sometimes say they get lazy with their Spiritual Discipline. Getting lazy is the same thing as knowing you have to sweep a room and you don't quite do it well. There's dirt in the corners. The broom did not cover every square inch available. Just a lazy type of job! Getting lazy is different than getting discouraged. The lazy person will crack their Bible open. They'll check the reading on her to-do list. They will go to Bible Study and complain that the reading is boring. The solution is not to let yourself get stuck in that place. When you feel yourself getting there, ask God to help you. Tell Him how your heart feels. You basically say, "restore unto me, the joy of thy salvation." God will answer your prayer and give you Divine direction. Reading the Bible is not supposed to feel like an amusement park ride daily. It is also not meant to be boring. As you ask God for direction, He promises to lead you and guide you in the way you should go. God will challenge your mind and your understanding of His word. He will take you deeper than before. It is up to you not to let yourself get lazy and continue in the most rewarding journey you can have on this side of life. 

I sincerely hope these tips can help you be encouraged in your Spiritual Discipline. Let me know if you try any of these and what you discover. One thing I know for sure, God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. He will be found by you my friend. 

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Vamos continuar confiando em Deus

Oi amigos e amigas! Faz tempo que não escrevo em Português então aqui vai uma retrospectiva. Em Janeiro, eu e meu esposo completamos a maratona e a meia maratona de Houston. Essa corrida é sempre emocionante e muito prazerosa. O comprisso de treinar por 30 semanas é imenso mas vale apena. Esse ano estava quente demais, então eu corri devagar e terminei bem com a graça de Deus. 

Deus me abençoou com uma bolsa de estudo para uma aula na Faculdade de Estudos Bíblicos aqui em Houston. Estou na aula de Métodos de Estudo Bíblico e estou gostando demais. Essa aula simplismente te ensina a estudar a Bíblia melhor. Estou aprendendo muito e amando muito mais a Palavra de Deus. 

Outra bênção grande foi a oportunidade que eu e meu esposo tivemos de particpar de um acampamento de juvenis de inverno. Eu fui a preletora e ele foi o ministro de louvor. Eu sempre fui involvida com ministério com adolescentes mas essa foi a minha primeira vez como preletora. Deus foi fiel conosco e todos nós tivemos um final-de-semana de renovo na presença de Deus. 

Nós e alguns dos juvenis

O acampamento foi na Carolina do Norte. Fazem quase 6 anos que nos mudamos de lá, então foi um prazer voltar pra visitar. Fiquei felicíssima de reecontrar muitos amigos/as e irmãos/irmãs.

Aí no Brasil o Carnaval veio e foi, e eu aqui no norte de vocês nem senti a diferença. O interessante da cultura aqui é que na quarta-feira de cinzas muita gente comemora a quaresma. Nesses últimos 18 anos eu tenho observado muito esse costume do povo e é bem interessante. Eu não faço o que eles fazem, mas fico feliz por tanta gente se concentrar em Jesus e no sacrifício dEle pra nos salvar. Esse ano eu resolvi que esses 40 dias (sem contar os domingos) até a Páscoa é um ótimo tempo pra Jejuar, Orar e ler a Bíblia. Eu sempre tive o objetivo de jejuar mais e formar esse hábito. Já que o povo está todo animado com Jesus, me juntei a eles mas do meu jeito. Também tenho pensado que Deus é tão bom que Ele não precisa do meu jejum pra ser bom pra mim. Eu sirvo um Deus que é bom e generoso o tempo todo. Gente, eu acho que essa é a melhor notícia do dia. Eu não preciso de "manipulá-lo" pra fazer nada pra mim porque Ele já deu o Seu melhor na crus através de Jesus. Isso não quer dizer que não vou fazer minha parte, mas certamente muda a minha perspectiva.

Estou orando pra Deus me ajudar a visitar o Brazil. Acho que fazem uns 9 anos que não vou. Tenho saudade e certeza de que no tempo de Deus nós vamos e vamos aproveitar muito.

Um beijão pra vocês. Se tiverem sugestões do que querem que eu escreva, me mandem, OK? Até a próxima e vamos continuar confiando em Deus. 

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The Cute Dress

The dress looked cute. Not too conservative, not too contemporary. It was going to be the right one for my first job interview in 10 years. I was going to choose some happy, colorful summer pants and a black shirt but I thought I needed to look extra professional. After Facetiming with my husband I made the final decision on the cute dress. To make matters better, it was $10 cheaper than the sale price.

I took the dress home and my almost kindergartner thought it was a night gown. One of the old school ones that Mama Walton wore right before she said “Good night John Boy!” I told her it was a great observation, but that was my new, cute dress. I hung the dress in my closet, relieved that I was closer to getting done with that job interview.

The following morning I drank two cups of dark roast coffee with almond milk. There was no time for breakfast. I didn’t want a heavy meal to be seen under that cute interview dress. My idea of an outfit worked: low shoes, the necklace I got for under $2 at the Goodwill and bracelets that different friends gave me. I felt as if I was carrying a little piece of each friend with me as I accessorized my cute dress. Off we went. It took me a whole Podcast to get there and I was feeling excited. I proceeded to get out of the parking garage just to find out I was lost. I got back in my car after asking for directions and found the right place.

It felt good to be there. Almost as if I belonged. I proceeded to find the reception area. I saw a lot of different people there waiting to be helped. The whole place was under construction and there was  an impecunious vibe about it. I know hopelessness when I see it and I pray that feeling changed once those sweet people got to the other side of that waiting room.

I made it to the receptionist who tried to find the person with whom I had the appointment. I was told to wait. After a few minutes she passed by the reception area with an opulent air about herself. She gave me the feeble hand shake, the one you give when you’re really not trying to touch someone. She looked at me up and down with a demeaning look. She glanced at the cute dress but she could not belittle me: I’m allergic to pretentiousness, mostly due to my acceptance in the Beloved.

She proceeded to explain I made an error, all with a defensive tone. I joyfully reminded her of the unanswered email and phone call from the day before. She paused, a dry apology followed. I received it with the joy of the Lord. I was looking her in the eyes and I had appreciation. She told me they had moved on to other candidates. Before she breathed again, I said “that’s what I came here to hear, thank you for your time and have a blessed day.”

I didn’t feel my cute dress on the way home. That feeling of newness and expectation stayed in that waiting room, with those people without hope. All I could feel was my heart beating underneath the cute dress and my vision opening up like never before.

I got back to my senses when a friend led me to pray and thank God for answering prayers. All I could do was agree and say Amen. I hung my dress backwards in my bathroom and I put on my t-shirt and comfortable pants. The dress still looks cute and the woman who owns it is a little bit stronger after accepting that a big No is God’s way of telling her the greater Yes He has in mind is the best way to go.

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Eleições 2014 no Exterior: Votando pela Primeira Vez

Vou votar pela primeira vez! Moro nos Estados Unidos por 16 anos (como o tempo voou!) e esse ano eu serei habilitada pra votar aqui. Nos anos anteriores eu não estava morando perto de uma embaixada. Esse é o e-mail que recebi do Consulado:

"Apenas estarão habilitados a votar no exterior, nas próximas eleições presidenciais, os eleitores que tenham cadastrado préviamente seu domicílio eleitoral no exterior junto à Justiça Eleitoral. Caso a sua situação eleitoral esteja em dia (verificar em: www.tse.jus.br - certidão eleitoral) e o seu domicílio eleitoral seja na jurisdição deste Consulado-Geral o(a) Sr.(a) poderá votar em Houston. Será necessário apresentar o título eleitoral e um documento brasileiro original de identificação, com foto (passaporte, carteira de identidade, etc). Os títulos eleitorais que ainda se encontram no Consulado poderão ser retirados também no dia 05 de outubro, diretamente no local da votação. Datas e o horário da votação: -1º turno: dia 05.10.2014, das 8h às 17h; -2º turno (se houver): dia 26.10.2014, das 8h às 17h. Para maiores informações ou dúvidas, contactar o Consulado do Brasil em Houston pelo e-mail: eleicoes.houston@itamaraty.gov.br"

Apesar da distância eu tenho orado pelo meu país. Eu acho que com a ajuda de Deus eu vou fazer a decisão certa. Quanto mais penso nessa eleição, mais me lembro de como o voto é importante pra quem mora no exterior. A decisão das urnas é refletida na vida dos brasileiros que moram em todos os lugares do mundo. Não moro no Brasil mas sou Brasileira e os meus filhos também são. 

O meu desafio de agora até o domingo é de orar pelo Brasil. Orar por todos os candidatos, pelas suas famílias e pelos seus amigos. O meu dever como cristã é de orar porque feliz é a nação cujo Deus é o Senhor (Salmos 33:12). Sou chamada pra ser bênção pro meu país e isso acontece através da oração. 

Queridos amigos, vamos votar com gratidão por esse direito que temos e vamos orar para que Deus traga paz, justiça e bênção pro nosso querido Brasil. 

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Conselho Bom: Perda de Peso pós-Gravidez

Um dos melhores conselhos que ganhei de uma enfermeira foi o seguinte: "levam 9 meses pra ganhar peso durante a gravidez e 9 mesos pra perder." Apesar disso não acontecer com todo mundo (tem gente que perde peso rápido, outras ganham mais peso ainda depois de ter filhos), faz muito sentido.

Eu ficava ansiosa pra perder peso rápido quando tive meu primeiro filho. A cultura em que vivo não ajuda muito: aqui nos EUA a mídia sempre mostra artistas de biquini 2 semanas depois de ter tido filhos. Alguns levam mais tempo, mas o que a gente não vê são os cirurgiões, chefes, treinadores e todo o auxílio que artistas tem pra ajudar a perder peso. Dizer que a amamentação foi responsável pela perda de peso é bonito mas difícil de acreditar: preciso de um exemplo real.
Uma pastora da minha igreja na Carolina do Norte me disse que no decorrer da vida de uma mulher, o peso sobe e desce várias vezes. Aprendi que o importante é não depender da balança pra obter felicidade. Nos últimos 4 anos por exemplo eu estive grávida 3 vezes. Essa é uma colagem da minha perda de peso depois do nascimento da minha segunda filha:

1 ano em fotos: Perda de Peso

Perdi peso e ganhei de novo, 3 vezes. Aprendi que o que vale a pena é estar saudável pra cuidar bem da minha família. Esse é o melhor conselho que recebi.   

PERGUNTA: Qual foi o melhor conselho que te deram em relação a perda de peso?

• Perdendo Peso com Saúde

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3 Qualidades de Bons Conselheiros

O livro de Provérbios é um livro que "nos ajudam a dar valor a sabedoria e aos bons conselhos e a entender os pensamentos mais profundos. Eles nos ensinam a vivermos de maneira inteligente e a sermos corretos, justos e honestos." (Provérbios 1:2-3 Tradução da Linguagem de Hoje) 

Uma das coisas que esse livro nos ensina é o valor de ter bons conselheiros. Conselho todo mundo tem, mas quais são as características de um bom conselheiro? Creio que um bom conselheiro tem que ter: 

Experiência de Vida • Os melhores conselheiros podem te ensinar não só a teoria mas a prática. Algo fantástico acontece quando conselheiros não somente vivem o que ensinam, mas compartilham as lições aprendidas. A gente pode se relacionar melhor com quem andou por onde estamos andando. O conselheiro também pode te assegurar que há uma luz no fim do túnel. 

Humildade • Conselheiros bons não tem vergonha de compartilhar erros, mas os usam como lições. Eles não tem dão a impressão de serem 'sabe-tudo', mas tem uma singeleza de quem já foi quebrantado e adquiriu a sabedoria. Arrogância não é uma característica de um conselheiro bom, então procure por sinais de humildade. 

Bom Ouvido • a bíblia nos diz que devemos ser prontos pra ouvir e um bom conselheiro segue esse mandamento. Através da boa audição, os bons conselheiros conseguem ver o coração e saber guiar de acordo com esse discernimento. 

Creio que bons conselheiros são necessários em todos os momentos da vida. Um bom conselheiro não somente te guia, mas como disse minha amiga Nice, "um bom conselheiro enxerga além da nossa visão."

Provérbios 19:20 diz "Ouça conselhos e aceite instruções, e acabará sendo sábio".  Provérbios 12:15 diz que "O tolo pensa que sempre está certo mas os sábios aceitam conselhos". 

Oro pra que você tenha conselheiros ótimos na sua vida.

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Não vos Impeçais

"Respondeu-lhe Jesus: Eu sou o caminho, e a verdade, e a vida; ninguém vem ao Pai, senão por mim." João 14:6 

Eu cresci num lar cristão e meus filhos estão sendo criados por pais que tem a Jesus como Senhor e Salvador. Todos os dias nós falamos de Jesus e falamos com Jesus. Antes de nascer meus filhos já ouviam falar e cantar  sobre Jesus. Várias vezes por dia nós oramos. Todos os domingos {e algumas vezes na semana} nós levamos nossos filhos na igreja. Em vez do chá de bebê tradicional nós fizemos um culto de ações de graça e oração pelos nossos filhos. Nós também os apresentamos na igreja. Nossa vida é consagrada a Deus e totalmente dedicada a Jesus. 

Nossa oração é que os nossos filhos aceitem a Jesus em uma tenra idade. Nunca é muito cedo (ou tarde) pra aceitar a Jesus. Jesus mesmo disse: "Deixai as crianças e não as impeçais de virem a mim, porque de tais é o reino dos céus" Mateus 19:14. Crianças novinhas que nem as minhas não podem pegar um ônibus e ir pra igreja ou pegar a Bíblia e ler. O jeito que eu deixo meus filhos 'irem a Jesus sem impedí-los' é guiando-os nos caminhos de Deus. A Bíblia diz: "Instrui o menino no caminho em que deve andar, e até quando envelhecer não se desviará dele." Provérbios 22:6 

Creio que na cultura em que vivo, os pais tem de 16 a 17 anos pra instruir os filhos nos caminhos de Deus. Depois disso é só confiar em Deus mesmo. Sempre acreditei que não tenho muito tempo pra dedicar a contos de fadas. Meus filhos precisam de saber da verdade que existe na palavra de Deus. Não sou contra lendas, mas creio que há uma verdade que é escudo e broquel (Salmo 91:4). É nessa verdade que dedico a maioria dos ensinamentos que dou a meus filhos diariamente. 

Quando eu vim pra essa terra há 12 anos atrás eu vi que a palavra de Deus não falha, principalmente quando pude ver o Pentagon da minha janela nos ataques terroristas de 11 de Setembro de 2001. Saci Pererê não importava naquela hora, Super Homem não veio me salvar. O Deus que prometeu "mil cairão ao teu lado e dez mil a tua direita mas tú não serás atingido" foi fiel a mim naquele dia e sempre será.

Minha infância foi muito feliz porque conheci a Jesus através dos meus pais, avós e demais familiares além das maravilhosas professoras de Escola Dominical que tive.

Agora é minha vez de levar os meus pequeninos a Jesus. Se eu não viver uma vida Cristã, estarei impedindo-os de chegar perto de Jesus. Se eu não servir de exemplo pra eles, servirei de impecilho. Minha prioridade é buscar primeiro o reino de Deus e a sua justiça todos os dias. Creio em Deus que ele acrescentará todas as outras coisas. A graça (poder) de Deus me basta porque o seu poder se aperfeiçoa na minha fraqueza. 

Leve os seus filhos a Jesus no dia de hoje queridos e queridas. Que Deus abençoe e enriqueça a sua vida!

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Help Ajuda

I need your help! I'm trying to attend the Type-A Mom Conference this month and I need your vote to get free tickets. Here's where you go to vote once a day til September 7th. I appreciate you! Here's the link, I'm the second one "@SimplyCintia" you can see an image of the screen at the bottom. Thanks again friends! VOTE HERE

Eu preciso da sua ajuda! Quero ir a Type-A Mom Conference esse mês e eu preciso do seu voto pra ganhar o ingresso. Você entrar aqui pra votar e pode votar uma vez por dia até o dia 7 de Setembro. Eu sou a segunda pessoa: "@SimplyCintia" dá pra ver como votar nessa fotinho aqui em baixo. Obrigada amigos/as! VOTE AQUI

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Eu, ele e a R.A.

Eu e ele estamos fazendo redução alimentar (R.A.) e exercícios. No passado eu já fiquei muito frustrada por ele não fazer R.A. O que eu aprendi é que por mais que eu o ame, não é sábio forçá-lo a mudar só pela minha vontade. A inspiração pra mudar tem que ser iniciada dentro dele mesmo. Essa é a única maneira dessa mudança durar. 

O bom de nós estarmos fazendo isso juntos é que ganhamos mais uma coisa em comum. Quando eu estava fazendo a R.A. sózinha eu ganhei muita perseverança e também desenvolvi um respeito muito grande pelas escolhas dele. Aprendi a continuar na minha jornada sem precisar de ter uma "muleta".

Mudança tem vindo com tempo e paciência. Cada casal vive de uma forma. O bom é que concordamos que queremos ser uma família mais saudável e a minha oração é pra que meus filhos sigam o nossos passos e ultrapassem a nossa vontade de ter uma vida abundante. 

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Type-A Mom: the Reasons Why

I simply would love the opportunity to attend Type-A Mom Conference. The conference starts roughly 2 months after the birth of my second child. It also starts 6 years after I typed my first post. Through different phases of life I have blogged. Everyone needs a chance to renew and refresh. This chance could be mine. 

Type-A Mom Conference is the best blog gathering for me because:

• It will help me to increase my knowledge of blogging;

• It will give me a much needed refresher course in marketing and social media;

• It will help me be connected with other bloggers. 

I have researched other blogging conferences out there and I am very impressed at how diverse Type-A Mom conference already is. I am a blogger of color and I am so thrilled about that option as a tribe.

If I am chosen to attend Type-A Mom, it will be my very first blog conference. I hope to share what I learned with local bloggers who won't get a chance to go as well as with my readers. 

The conference will make me a better blogger but my goal is to produce content that will make the lives of others better.


• Here's the link to this giveaway at Blog Conference Newbie!

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Entrevista com a Lu Francesa

Lu Francesa é uma web designer que vive na França. Uma celebridade entre as blogueiras light, ela já apareceu na Folha de São Paulo, Revista Boa Forma, no livro Emagreci Fazendo um Blog entre outros. 

Essa é uma entrevista que fiz com perguntas sobre a experiência dela de Redução Alimentar além de outras curiosidades. 

O que muita gente não sabe é que ela é minha amiga de infância e a razão pela qual comecei esse blog. Obrigada amiga. Pra acompanhar a jornada de sucesso dela, veja: 

• Blog da Lu Francesa aqui

• Desafio Desistir Jamais aqui

SC • Quantos anos você tem o seu blog? Conte como resolveu começar.

Meu blog tem 6 anos e meio :) , eu já tinha um blog pessoal, quando conheci o blog de uma moça que fazia Vigilantes do peso e resolvi fazer um para mim tb.

SC • A sua história se tornou famosa no mundo inteiro através do seu blog. Me conte se isso te ajudou no processo da redução alimentar.

Com certeza ajudou, me incentivou e incentiva ainda hoje.

SC • Nos dê 3 dicas suas pra começar uma RA de sucesso.

Ter em mente que você é capaz, acreditar nisso, mesmo que pareça difícil, segundo, devemos começar com calma, diminuindo aos poucos e não ser radical e cortar tudo, terceiro, beber aguá, tentar consumir 2l d'água por dia.

SC • O que é o mais difícil: perder peso ou manter? Por quê?

Começar é difícil, depois se torna até "fácil", o mais complicado é manter, pq achamos que já estamos nos controle, que um diazinho que deixamos de nos controlar não fará mal, e as vezes isso se segue por muitos dias e ...já viu! E a motivação acaba sendo menor, já que não se tem mais o que emagrecer (ou quase nada).

SC • O fato de morar fora do Brasil dificulta ou facilita a sua RA? Explique.

Acho que não faz diferença, aqui tem tentações como no Brasil, tudo depende da nossa cabeça, da nossa motivação.

SC • O seu marido te apoia na sua RA? Quão importante é o apoio da sua família nesse processo?

Sim, se ele pode fazer algo para ajuda ele sempre o faz, como descascar legumes :D , é muito importante ter ajuda da família e das pessoas próximas a você.

SC • Sei que você começou sua RA com os Vigiliantes do Peso mas agora está usando um programa novo. Por que mudou? Explique a diferença.

Mudei pq precisava de algo novo e gostei do sistema de cadastro dos pontos no site deles, para mim anotar o que se come ajuda ter controle, o que é essencial para emagrecer e manter o peso. A diferença básica é que ao somar os pontos não é levado em consideração a quantidade de fibras como no VP.

SC • Quais são os 3 lugares do mundo que você sonha em conhecer?

Japão, Chile e Austrália (escolhi países não europeus)

SC • Qual foi o último livro que leu e recomenda?

Adeus China, o último bailarino de Mao, MUITO bom!

SC • Ofereça palavras de ânimo pra alguém que está começando a perder peso com saúde agora mas ainda tem muito a perder.

Não tenha pensamentos como : “Ah, eu sou fraca, não tenho força de vontade, não vou conseguir nada!” e jamais desista pq tropeçou uma, duas,três vezes... O importante são os progressos ao longo do tempo, mesmo que nem sempre eles apareçam na balança.

Desistir? JAMAIS!!!

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Pregnancy Side Effects: Coping

One of the first things a nurse in my clinic told me when I went for my first pregnancy appointment is that pregnancy is hard on the body. I didn’t want to believe it but now I totally do. Now that we are getting to the end of our second journey, we are often asked how do you do pregnancy and the other kid at the same time. I have found a few ways to cope with the side effects of this wonderful season as we get close to birth day:

First Trimester: During my first pregnancy the major thing was being tired. I would sleep sometimes but not often. This time around not only was I tired but I had all day nausea. I quickly learned to sleep when baby sleeps and I asked for meds. I just could not feel sick a whole day and properly care for my son who was 7 months at the time. The important thing is to find a soothing solution.

Second Trimester: It felt like a honeymoon the first time I got pregnant. I looked great, felt great and I was exercising a lot. This time I felt like I just came out of the dessert and found relief. If we had major projects such as getting the nursery ready, we tackled them during the second trimester. I heard that waiting til the end to paint and do other major repairs can be tough though many have done it. I enjoyed this season because I didn’t know what the next 3 months would bring.

Third Trimester: I nicknamed these last months as 'the third trial master.' It’s been tough! During my first pregnancy I worked full-time and did consulting work until week 37. I guess I was so focused on work that the time just flew by. Time is not dragging this time but my current circumstances are mixed with pregnancy side effects. Heartburn has been the main one this time around. Last time it was hemorrhoids (not glamorous, I know but very true). It’s been easy to manage the heartburn with meds. A lot of rest is needed now. Some days I feel like I could sleep all the time. Pair that with an extremely positive attitude. Pregnancy is definitely not the best I’ve ever felt (It’s hard to feel good about nausea and hemorrhoids) but it is one of the happiest seasons of expectation.

Here are other tips that work every season:

• After two totally different pregnancies I must recognize that fit is better. The fitter you are, the easier it is to go through 9 awesome months of body and mind change. I told my husband that next time I’ll do better in that department.

• Choose a recovery day. When I was working full-time Saturday was it. Now that I’m working at home, we chose Mondays as our recovery day. We stay in, rest and get our nap/rest routines back together after a busy weekend. Make it your personal Sabbath if you will.

• Eating clean helps any mother and child. Your baby benefits from fruits and veggies however you can get them. Sometimes it works for me to get a lot of fresh ingredients. Other times the best we can do is get canned black beans, rice and frozen broccolis. It’s alright, as long as we are mindful of what we are eating. It’s never too early to give those little taste buds a flavor of health

• Talk to your baby. I felt weird at first and it’s even weirder when other people do it (even through e-mail of messages on my pregnant pics). They know your voice and respond to you. Once they are born, I miss the closeness, the movement and the fact that I am the only one to nurture her that way. Words can nurture as well.

• Stay away from stress. This is not the season to be worried about things. Stress can affect your pregnancy in the worse manner and you don’t want that. Practice contentment, laying your cares on Jesus for He cares for you. Learn also that there is a time and season for everything and worrying won’t change that. Take the healthier, peaceful pathway. Learn what makes you relax: a pedicure? A short walk? Watching a comedy? Pursue peace.

I don’t think it’s taboo to be real about what women go through. I think it’s healthy to be honest but honesty is better with hope. I cling to God, my source of joy and strength. If my mind is not focused on things above, life would be miserable. Change your mind to God’s plan and what He’s trying to teach you. At times I think that millions of women have been where I am but for some reason the thought does not help me at all. Only God’s words and having a rested mind to receive His love helps me.

I pray that you have an awesome pregnancy. I believe yours will be better than mine. Be sure to live your own happy experience!

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Dia das Mulheres Women's Day

Hoje é um dia muito especial para nós mulheres! Uma coisa que reparei nesses últimos 12 anos é que aqui na América do Norte as mulheres nem ligam muito pra esse dia. Aqui em casa nós lembramos e celebramos todas as mulheres nas nossas vidas. 

Esse ano é especial porque estou esperando uma mulher nascer :) Feliz dia internacional das mulheres para todas as mulheres fenomenais que conheço e para as que ainda ei de conhecer! 

Phenomenal Woman
Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
- by Maya Angelou

Today is a very especial day for all women. I noticed during the 12 years I've been living in the States that many women don't really care about today's date. My family remembers the date and celebrates all women who are part of our lives. 

This year is a especial one because I am expecting a woman :) Happy International Women's Day to all phenomenal women I know and the ones I am yet to meet! Enjoy your day! 

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The Bug

It was a ride of a week/end but we arrived thanks to God's grace and mercy! We all got sick, the pregnant lady got started first. The Little Prince was fighting the symptoms of a virus before any of this started but we thought he was on the mend. I actually think he had a combination of several different childhood things going (the little but, teething, etc). After my husband and I were over with our symptoms, the baby was not acting like himself. We took him to the pediatrician and come to find out he had an ear infection. 

The crazy thing about being a first time parent is that you don't really know what to look for or what to expect when it comes to common infant issues such as this but we are getting plenty on the job training. 

LP is doing much better and we do appreciate your prayers for a speedy recovery. I am also praying that this will be our last encounter with that vicious virus a.k.a. 'stomach bug.' 

When I was recovering, I walked by a mirror and looked at how crazy my hair looked and I thought 'I look just like the bug!' LOL! It was actually funny. 

We had other health challenges with our extended family that week but everyone seems to be doing better. 

A very happy and sweet thing that happened to us was an OBGYN visit in the midst of all of those things. My 24-hour urine exam came back normal, all blood work was normal, thank God. Little Baby is doing great, I heard the heart beat and I am thankful that LB is sheltered from all those symptoms that came and went. An exciting thing that happened to us was that we get to go for an anatomy ultrasound sooner than I expected! Of course we'll post it here so you will know what LB's gender is. 

That's all for now. I appreciate prayers for healing and prayers for joy. The joy of the Lord is my strength and this is exactly what I need from day to day. Much love!

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Nice Update

I’m so happy that after deciding it was time to get back to healthier habits I lost 2 pounds! I wasn’t super dedicated the whole week as I have been in the past. By day 4 I was wondering what’s the use of sticking with it: there was no time to think about calorie content so the best I could do is read labels. There was no time to prepare meals at times so I did go to fast food twice. I made the time to walk which was 3 out of the ideal 5 times I wanted to get out there and thank God, it still worked! If I could focus on 3 things instead of 30, I would focus on portions, exercise and adding more fruits and veggies. I also started taking my vitamins. It’s a good start and I’m happy and thankful to God for the results. I do plan on keep doing what I’m not doing and not making it hard for myself.

Today I introduced sweet potatoes to the baby. I bought one of those baby food jars in the store and yes, I read the label. I noticed the amount of crazy ingredients they add in some baby food. It’s sad but that’s what it takes to make food have a shelf life that is due in forever and a day. I bought a butternut squash to make so he can try next week. This whole thing about introducing new foods is fun. It will be interesting to see when he’s ready to start with table foods. I’m looking forward to giving him rice and beans (a favorite around here).

If you look in the previous post you’ll notice we gave the Little Prince a haircut. We knew the time was coming so we went ahead and did it. You can see his beautiful face better. It’s definitely easier to keep up with this hairstyle because I don’t use the brush as often as I did before. It requires way less shampoo (I was using my own because the baby shampoo was doing nothing for him) as well.

There’s a huge consignment sale coming to our town and I am looking forward to buying new clothes. We go enough to cover us for most of his first year but we have winter coming. I also need clothes for 9 months and on. I don’t sell things on consignment yet because we are definitely having more children so it’s not wise to give everything away right now.

We went for a walk around the neighborhood today, it was such a lovely one! The baby loved riding in the front carrier and I enjoyed the extra weight on me, which added a lot to the exercise. Let’s see if the weather will permit us to do that again this week. That’s all for now friends! Have an awesome week!

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Weight Loss Plan: Gradual

I was looking at my e-mail and I got a great article from WebMD's Weight Loss Wisdom Newsletter called 8 tips for losing weight after pregnancy. You can read the whole thing here. 

My Highlights:

* Be patient with yourself and don't compare yourself to celebrities - I've blogged several times about that. Celebrities do things that normal people can't afford because their bodies are their money maker and they have tons of help from trainers, plastic surgery, chefs, you name it. Some say that patience is a virtue, I say that patience is developed (patience is part of the fruit of the Spirit). We all have it, some like me need to develop it more than others. 

* Go back to eating healthy and eating for hunger - I was thinking about this today! I've been so tired that I confuse that feeling with hunger and they are not the same. My feeling of hunger changed with pregnancy but now it's back to normal. I just need to be aware of it during these first weeks of adjustment before I can really tackle my old habits of tracking food and exercise.

* Exercise, drink water, get some rest - There's not that many new concepts in weight loss regardless if you just had a baby or not. The results will come the same way: eat less calories which have great nutrition and move your body. Drinking water is very important as well. I've been doing that and I'm thankful to God the good habit has been established for a while. 

Weight loss after baby number one has been gradual and will continue to be. I lost weight gradually before and it really worked for me. I learned a lot the first time around and I'm looking forward to learning more now. I have a friend who keeps saying 'give up (on weight management)? Never!' and I totally agree. 

Patience has been my number one friend right now in various areas of life, weight management included. During this season I can see what concepts have stayed with me and where do I need to improve. Do I need to work on portion control? Do I have the exercise thing going and working for me in my new season of life? Am I able to enjoy where I am on the way to where I am going? What's the use of being unhappy and miserable because my pre-pregnancy body is not back? It won't be back exactly as it was. I had a c-section, my belly stretched like never before... I kind of have a new body and it's okay, I have a healthy and blessed child who came into the world through it.

I plan on competing on a 5K in a few months and I'm looking forward to starting to train again. This is the season for races and there are plenty to choose from. I believe that competing will also help me with my goal and it will give me a great sense of accomplishment. And to think that LP was in my belly during my first 5K... Wow.

I have on my thinking cap today and I want to rely on patience while I get to my pre-pregnancy weight and keep going down - yep, sister girl is ambitious about her health. 

I start walking again next week. I feel like it's time. I won't run for a while but I look forward to start walking again. 

Totally unrelated note: I'm digging Luther Vandross songs today. I like them every day but today is Luther day at the house :) here are a few of my favs: 

Have an awesome weekend everyone!

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Toda Palavra que sai da Boca de Deus

“Sim, ele te humilhou, e te deixou ter fome, e te sustentou com o maná, que nem tu nem teus pais conhecíeis; para te dar a entender que o homem não vive só de pão, mas de tudo o que sai da boca do Senhor, disso vive o homem.” Deuteronômio 8:3 (João Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada)

“Mas Jesus lhe respondeu: Está escrito: Nem só de pão viverá o homem, mas de toda palavra que sai da boca de Deus.” Mateus 4:4 (João Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada)

Esses dias tenho meditado muito no poder das palavras que falo. Acabei de ler o livro Commanding your Morning (Ordene a sua manha) da Cindy Trimm, que nos ensina a tomar posse do nosso dia com as palavras de Deus. Palavras de Deus refletem os pensamentos que estao na nossa mente. Eu e vc nao podemos ser vitimas das nossas circunstancias, a palavra de Deus nao volta vazia:

"assim será a palavra que sair da minha boca: ela não voltará para mim vazia, antes fará o que me apraz, e prosperará naquilo para que a enviei." Isaías 55:11 (João Ferreira de Almeida Atualizada)

Entao nos temos que tomar posse e declarar a palavra de Deus sobre a nossa situacao e o nosso dia.

Quando eu estava perdendo peso sempre declarava a palavra de Deus sobre minha vida e saude. Hoje continuo declarando a palavra de Deus sobre minha vida, minha familia e etc. Faca uma pesquisa e descubra quais sao os planos de Deus pra sua vida e saude e declare. Muita gente procura motivacao e motivacao humana acaba tao rapidamente como comeca. As palavras de Deus sao eternas, sempre prosperam e sempre funcionam.

Nao importa o quao dificil o seu dia seja, declare as palavras de Deus. Diga “tudo coopera para o bem de quem ama a Deus. Meu problema vai se tornar o meu louvor a Deus.”
“Posso todas as coisas em Cristo que me fortalice. Deus me deu esse emprego e eu posso termina-lo com a ajuda e a forca de Deus. Eu sou forte, eu sou mais que vencedora em Cristo.”

Me faz ate bem declarar a palavra de Deus. A palavra de Deus me da paz e tranquilidade. Entre em contato com o poder da palavra de Deus, o que e uma das formas de estar em comunhao com o nosso Pai celeste. Ordene, comande o seu dia e nao deixe que as situacoes dessa vida te facam sentir como perdedor, voce e mais que vencedor em Cristo!

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Counting Calories while Pregnant?

We’re still on cloud 9. A son! What a privilege it is to be carrying a son. It makes all my efforts come to perspective, they become more personal. I’m eating well and working out so my son can have a great start in life. How exciting!
I’m a healthy pregnant woman carrying a son who is much, much loved. We spread the news to friends and family and I also went ahead and worked on my registry some more. I was all excited about being pregnant and forgot I didn’t know the gender, so I had to stop my registry half way through.
THANK GOD my health is GREAT. This previous years of preparation for pregnancy have given me a great start. I know to exercise most days of the week, I know what to eat and what brings the best nutrition to me and the baby, we know how much water to drink and we know to rest. All we need to do is to practice. The past month hasn’t been perfect. A month ago I went to the gym only twice. The following week the same happened so I decided to increase my number of visits to the gym. I went 3 times last week and this week so far I’ve been there 3 times. I told my husband my challenge is to go tomorrow and if I go Friday, that would be HUGE because I haven’t worked out a whole week for a while. I’m excited. My prayer has been that the Lord will bless me to continue to go to the gym as long as I can and after the birth of my son, that I may go 3 times a week at least. They have child care at the gym (what a perk!) and I’ve been talking to my husband about going early in the morning before he leaves for work so I can get an early start. I enjoy working out in the am when I can, lately I’ve been getting there in unpredictable hours but the goal is to meet the 4 times a week goal of working out.
I’ve been going to different Christmas parties. I did well on the first one (I ate before I got there) but the second one sucked. I was really hungry when I got there (I failed to eat before I went) and I just ate a lot more than I was supposed to. I don’t like to eat large dinner because it’s hard to sleep with a full stomach. It seems that at this point, I’m hungry when I wake up, around lunch time and around 3 or 4 p.m. after that, I’m okay to just snack very lightly.
I’ve been paying attention to hunger signals from my body during this pregnancy. Of course I come to work armed with snacks and lunch for the whole day, even a light dinner if I have that need. The thing I quit doing is counting everything like a crazy chick.
I heard of people who say they want to count things while they’re pregnant but I just don’t have the time. The counting I did before was temporary, I don’t plan to spend my whole life counting portions and calories, I see it as bondage. I believe in counting and watching til I learn to walk in self-control. I don’t believe in perfection when it comes to eating but I also don’t believe in being bound to calorie counting.
I have more to say but I’m gonna have to stop here. Talk to you later on this week.

Goals for the week:

{1} Go to the gym at least 4 times (1 out of 4 to go!);

{2} Snack before going to holiday parties;

{3} Drink at least 32 oz of H2O per day;

{4} Treat myself to a mani or/and pedi;

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Cozinhando

So passando pra dizer ola rapidinho :) Estou cozinhando hoje. Amanha e o dia de Acoes de Graca aqui nos States, estao pela primeira vez estou cozinhando o meu jantar. Comprei um  peru mas aqui nao vem temperado, entao vc que tem que temperar. Ja temperei e esta na geladeira. Depois coloco as fotos de tudo aqui. Um grande beijo!

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Voce pode Mudar! You can Change!

O que eu aprendi ate agora...

What I've learned so far...
* Mude devagar so assim as mudancas vao durar mais. Perder 50 quilos em 5 semanas e um exagero. O pior e que muita gente ganha o peso todo de novo e muito mais.

* Change slowly so that your changes will last. To lose 100 pounds in 5 weeks is challenging. Many people not only put on the weight back and plus.

* Mude a sua mente primeiro, e depois o seu corpo. Descubra a razao porque vc come muito. E stress? Falta do que fazer? Uma tristeza que vc tem por anos? Medo? Solidao? Se vc nao resolver a raiz do problema, o problema vai voltar.

* Change your mind first, then your body. Learn the reasons why you overeat. Is it stress? Boredom? A sadness you've had for years? Fear? Loneliness? If you don't cut the root of the problem it will surely return.

* Aprenda a gostar de exercisios. Ache um exercisio que vc goste. Pra que remar se nao tem lago perto da sua casa? Faca algo que e facil pra vc e que vc goste.

* Learn to enjoy exercises. Find something you like. Why take on rowing if there are no lakes close to your house? Find something accessible that you like.
* Nao pense no que vc estara perdendo quando mudar o seu estilo de alimentacao e sim no que vc vai ganhar. Muita gente se apaixona por doces em vez de pensar que frutas sao deliciosas, doces e tem muitos nutrientes.
* Don't think about what you are losing when you change your lifestyle but think about what you are going to gain. Many people are blindly in love with sweets that they don't see that fruits are not only delicious but they have tons of nutrients.

* Aceite os seus erros. Ninguem e perfeito, entao querer que todo dia seja perfeito e a receita pro desanimo. Perdoe a si mesma. Recomece no proximo dia, ou na proxima refeicao.
* Accept your mistakes. No one is perfect so to have perfect days always are perfect recepis for lack of motivation. Forgive yourself. Give it another try the next day or better, during the next meal.

* Aprenda com os seus erros. Vc nao erra porque e mau, vc erra pra aprender. Eu ja errei muito em feriados. Hoje eu sei o que devo e o que nao devo fazer.
* Learn with your mistakes. You don't make mistakes because you are bad, you make mistakes to learn. I have made many mistakes during holidays. Today I know what not to do.
* Pare de se comparar com os outros. Nao se sinta mal porque alguem esta perdendo peso mais rapido do que vc. Cada um tem o seu proprio caminho a seguir. Vc e um individuo unico, nao ha um corpo que funciona igual ao seu. Trate a si mesmo como a raridade que vc e. Tenha paciencia com si mesmo e veja o quanto vc vai aprender.

* Stop comparing yourself with others. Don't feel bad if someone is losing weight faster than you are. Each one of us have a jorney to follow. You are an unique individual, there is no other body who functions just like yours. Remember that you are special and rare. Have patience with yourself and see how much you'll learn.
* Nao tenha vergonha da sua aparencia. Deus te ama, e te deu a capacidade de mudar. Tire fotos do seu comeco porque vc vai terminar muito diferente por dentro e por fora.
* Don't be ashamed of your appearance. God loves you and He has given you the ability to change. Take lots of before pictures because you will be a different person inside and out at the end of your journey.
* Aprenda a relaxar e aproveitar a vida. A vida e muito mais do que comida e bebida (ou o limite deles). Um dos objetivos de mudar o seu estilo de vida e pra que vc seja mais saudavel e viva uma vida abundante. Nao espere ate que vc perca peso pra aproveitar a vida. Lembre-se que o tempo nao para.
* Learn how to relax and enjoy life. Life is more than food and drinks (or the limiting of them). One of the reasons why we change our lifestyle is so that we can live a healthier, more abundant life. Don't wait until you lose weight to enjoy life. Remember that time doesn't stop.

Goals

{1} To burn at least 2,000 calories (15.8 to go out of 26 miles; 1 training for 5K out of 3)
{2} To get protein and dairy daily in my diet.
{3} Focus on behavior change, not on the numbers on the scale. Haven't touched the scale for 8 days, 13 more to go.

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