Week 2 of the 100 Push-ups Challenge

Ok, so today starts week 2 of the 100 push-up challenge (read the previous post if you have no idea what I am referring to). Week 1 wasn't really that bad - or so I thought. I initially could only max out with 10 push-ups and that was literally ALL I could do. Week 1 worked me up from there to maxing out with 15 - after doing a set of 10, resting 120 seconds, a set of 8, resting 120 seconds, a set of 8, resting 120 seconds, and a set of 5, then resting 120 seconds. So all together I did 46 push-ups! 46! That's 4 times what I could do at one time when I started. I'm excited to see what week 2 does for me. Oh, and Randy is doing this with me and he maxed out with 25 (I think) after doing a set of 15, resting, a set of 13, resting, a set of 10, resting, and a set of 10, then resting. So he did 73! Wow!

And yes, to those who were wondering - I am sore today. I didn't have much soreness last week, but on Saturday night we played Wii Boxing with friends. Let's just say, I'm extra sore today! Here's to week 2!

Randy's Birthday

Just so you all don't think I forgot Randy's birthday, I didn't. I've actually just been too busy to stop and blog about it. For July 4th weekend, we went to OK to visit my parents. We had a 3 day weekend, so we headed up on Thursday night to take full advantage of being off. Friday, Randy & Daniel went mountain biking at Lake Murray. Mom and I cleaned the house and hung out. Friday evening, we all went to my aunt and uncle's for a July 4th BBQ. The whole family was there - which is hard to do now, since we are all so busy. We ate, played hillbilly golf (not sure if this is the right name for it), and got to see some great fireworks at Camp Sweeney (thanks Josh, Tiff, and Brent!).

Saturday, we went to Gawbaw's funeral. Randy lived with Gawbaw when he lived in Oklahoma and we both were close to her. She was 93 years old. Saturday afternoon, I had planned a surprise birthday party for Randy with our Oklahoma friends. We had cake, ice cream and a fun game of "Nertz." The newly-engaged couple won. Congrats Jereme & Kathleen! Sunday we went to church with my family and then just relaxed on Sunday afternoon. The long weekend was nice, I just didn't want to go back to work on Monday morning!

Randy's actual birthday was last Saturday and we got to spend the day as just the two of us. We slept in late (always nice), and I made blueberry pancakes for breakfast. We didn't really have anything planned so we decided to go see Journey to the Center of the Earth in 3D. It was definitely worth the drive. Yes, it is a kids movie, so some parts are cheesy, but overall it was a fun and entertaining movie. This was the 2nd movie I had seen in 3D and I still couldn't help but jump when it looked like water was falling on me!

Here are some pics from our July 4th weekend. The birthday boy wouldn't let me take any pics on his actual birthday. I guess I'll have to try to get some this weekend at his 3rd birthday celebration with our community group!

Dad and Charlie playing the golf game

Yes, folks, that is my husband. :)

Ah, that's better. Now why did I look away?

April & Daniel

Mom took this picture. I just love it! The power pole looks like a cross in the corner.

Randy with his cakes. How do I always get silly pictures?

The whole gang, minus Mom & Dad.

100 Pushups

So you might be wondering why I'm posting about 100 pushups. Well it is this cool workout program I found online, Hundred Pushup Challenge. I was reading a blog I just started following, Take Your Vitamin Z, and the author recently started the Hundred Pushup Challenge himself. I thought it looked interesting so I went to the website and started reading. Basically this is a 6 week work out plan that is designed so at the end you can do 100 pushups. Not bad, huh? Well, along the way you get the benefits of strength building, defining your core, and overall becoming more healthy. So I printed out the plan and decided I would try it.

Let me just pause right here and say, I'm not the type of person to work out regularly (bad, I know). I was in athletics in middle school (so glad that is in the past), then in high school I usually rode my bike or walked with my mom. In college I tried to get into working out consistently, but it wasn't until my senior year when I joined a Ball Class that I really stuck with it. For some reason the ball class was fun and I didn't dread it. Then I moved out on my own. I would walk on the treadmill or eliptical but I might go 2 weeks at a time doing nothing. So now I'm married. Randy rides his bike pretty often. By the time I get home from work, I just prefer to stay in and hang out with Randy. Randy wants to get me a bike, but we haven't found the right one yet, so currently I was doing nothing as regular exercise.

Enter the Hundred Pushup Challenge. I've always wanted to work out more often, to build up strength, and to be more healthy. This challenge, as strange as it may seem, is something I think I can do. It starts off where I am now and builds up to the 100 pushups at the end of 6 weeks. And the great thing is it requires no equipment, skill or huge chunks of my time! My perfect plan! I did the first day's workout last night, and it was tough (for my scrawny arms). I'm not too sore today, yet. I rest today and do the next workout tomorrow. Randy is doing this with me so I can't wait to see where we are in 6 weeks!

Oh, and some of our other friends have said they are going to join us in the challenge. I'm not going to post who they are, but I'd love to know how you are doing! Email me if you decide to take the challenge so we can encourage each other.

For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Celebrate Freedom 2008

So Daniel, April and I went to Celebrate Freedom this weekend. For those who may not be familiar, Celebrate Freedom is a huge outdoor, free concert celebrating the 4th of July. It is put on by 94.9 KLTY, a Christian Radio Station in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Although Daniel, April, Randy & myself are all 89.7 Power FM fans, we decided to attend anyway to see some of our all-time favorite Christian Artists. We actually missed 3 of our top favs on Friday night (David Crowder Band, Shane & Shane, and Dizmas), but we weren't deterred. Saturday morning we left our apartment and headed north.

We spent all afternoon (in the heat) listening to great Christian music (both contemporary and rock) and hanging out. There was an issue with the water but you'll have to ask me about that outside of this blog! :) Some of the artists we saw included Mandisa (awesome, btw!), Fee, Addison Road (so worth the heat!), Salvador, Jaci Velazquez, Anthony Evans and Meredith Andrews. We were just about to see Lincoln Brewster, Skillet and Kirk Franklin when the concert was canceled due to the storms and lightning in the area. We headed home and enjoyed some quality bonding time asking questions and laughing at each other.

It was so good to get to spend time with my little brother and one of my best friends (who by the way is Daniel's sweet girlfriend!). I love them both and am so glad we can hang out and have fun together. We all went to church together (minus Randy) on Sunday. Randy had a 24 hour clinical on Saturday so he had to miss out on most of the fun this weekend. Maybe next time, honey! Here are some pictures from Saturday:
Addison Road - Rocking out
What Daniel was doing during one point in the afternoon.
Doesn't he look comfy?
Oh, wait! He's not asleep!
What April & I were doing
And finally - the cute couple! Awww..

Countdown Clocks at WishAFriend.com

Bella's Dedication & Mother's Day

For Mother's Day this year, we went to Tyler with Randy's mom, Sonia, to celebrate Bella's Baby Dedication at church. We left early Saturday morning after Randy worked a 12 hour overnight shift at the ER. Needless to say, I drove and he slept. Saturday we went to the mall and hung out with Andrew, Kristi, & Bella. Bella is growing so much! She isn't crawling yet, but rolls over everywhere and scoots around on her belly. That girl has some thighs! They are so cute though, this is probably the only time in her life people will think chubby thighs are cute. Here are some pictures of our weekend:

Prayers for the Chapmans

Last night I sat down at the computer to check my blog reader before I went to bed. That is when I read about Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria, who died yesterday in an accident at her home. You can read more about it and leave comments and condolences at www.stevencurtischapman.com.

Maria was the youngest of the 6 Chapman kids and youngest of their 3 adopted daughters. I can't imagine the grief and pain they are going through. I laid in bed last night praying for them, especially their son. He was driving the vehicle involved in the accident. I know God is in control of all of this. He has a plan and while he didn't cause the accident, he will hold this family together through it. It really made me stop and think that no one is immuned from bad things happening in their lives. And bad things happen to good people. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." It doesn't say he caused the accident, but he will work it out for their good.

That concept is hard to explain to an unbelieving world. I think about all the tragedies that have happened recently - the cyclone in Mynamar, the earthquake in China, Ted Kennedy's diagnosis of a brain tumor, now Maria's death. Tragedies happen all the time - we live in a fallen world. But in every tragedy, an opportunity for God to move is present. We just have to be willing.

Please keep the Chapman family in your prayers in the coming days and weeks. You may not ever meet them face to face, but we will meet someday in heaven. That is a promise we can hold to.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" Revelation 21:1-4