Its not quite 2013...but I wanted to do one last post before the clock turned.  It will be short and sweet.  My life is meant to give away!  I have been blessed with opportunities, and even tough circumstances so that I can share with others all that God is doing in my life.  I am looking forward to making a writing commitment to myself this year.  To share, to converse, to love on each person that God puts in my path.  I hope some of those people are through here, and I hope I get to shake hands, and hug others.




To make sure that what I am doing, what I am writing, and that what I give is bigger than me, I have teamed up with a large group of women called The Influence Network.  They all are fantastic!  There is no doubt each of them have a glimpse of life to share with you!  I hope you venture out to let their voices speak to your heart.  I certainly cannot wait to read, and explore and allow their words to soak in to my heart and allow God to speak to me through them.  Please also check this network out on Twitter @InfluenceNet #InfluenceNet and on Facebook.

Love to everyone for an amazing New Year!

Jamie

Life is good over here at the Thomas household, but it is even better when we are well.  What about you?  Sick kids, sick spouse, sick you...its no fun.  What I want to be clear about when I post on wellness, is that it is not about how to avoid getting sick or how to take that vitamin C well, NO...not at all, my passion and my heartbeat is to help folks from the INSIDE out be well.  That doesn't mean just weightloss or "fixing" a chronic illness through supplementation and organic eating, it actually means that we all need to THINK about what we are putting in our bodies both healthy and non-healthy things and have knowledge and confidence to make wise choices when it comes to wellness.

Throughout the course of our journey together you are going to hear me refer to the Bible or Scripture often. It is because that is what I believe is an authoritative book that holds the truth.  There is absolutely no question in my mind that it is true.  So, my perspectives are Biblical as well as my own life experiences, and since I am a woman, my point of view will come from that angle as well.

This picture is the perfect example of how I think about wellness.  It comes from Marquette University.   They call it the "Wellness Wheel"  Love it!

In regards to wellness, the Bible discusses the body quite a bit beginning in Genesis, and actually first and foremost God created the body and He created a woman's body to be enjoyed by a man.  I think this is important because it is part of the foundation of taking care of our bodies.  First we were created by a Creator who literally thought we were important enough to be created, and Secondly, He thought we should be beautiful enough for us to be enjoyed.  There is so much here!

To conclude my wellness thoughts so that I can get started on more specific wellness topics, I want you to know, I consider myself a wholistic thinker.  I like to think big picture.  I can see long term when others see short-term.  I encourage towards the long-term.  My knowledge and my expertise comes from a couple of places, my background, where I grew up with a sick mother.  Her drive to be well, encouraged me to pursue this for myself, for my family, and for others.  I am not apposed to medicine, my step-dad is a retired pediatrician, which means I have a complete personal MD at my finger tips!  My wholistic approach comes when I believe getting your body into its own natural rhythm before going the medication route unless of course your doctor advises you otherwise.  I am not a doctor, I don't claim to be.  However, I do hold fun degrees and certifications that allow me to discuss these things from a level that is intelligent and authoritative.

I love questions on this stuff, they drive me to be better at what I do here at home.  So please converse with me.  You may find I will tell you to talk to your doctor, and that might be because it is out of realm of expertise, but that's ok, ask anyway - and maybe we can come up with questions you should ask your doctor!    

Life is too short to not be well!  You have family, jobs, fun things going on in your life that require you to be well for a long time!  What are some fun topics on wellness, that you've always wondered about?  Energy?  Why take vitamins?  What?  Tell me.  I'm listening.

If you have read this long...you deserve a recipe!  Try this in the crockpot!  You will LOVE it, and its easy.  Please adjust the spice to the taste of your family.  Mine like it mild or none at all.

Found this one on Pinterest - I tweaked according to my family wellness style.  You can see the original here.

Crockpot Honey Sesame Chicken


4 boneless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)
Salt and pepper  (add in mixture)
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (this is where I adjusted for spice - this can be very spicy for kids)
4 teaspoons cornstarch
4c. brown Rice - or Quinoa  or even whole wheat Cous Cous
1/2 tablespoon (or more) sesame seeds

I think I am about to become extremely honest.  I am writing this and venturing out.  To pour out what I have been contemplating on for what seems like forever and to hopefully help and inspire others.  Here is a small and simple bite of my story, and after that I hope to communicate what I want this blog to be about going forward.  I am a writer, but not in the sense, that I work to write, I simply have always liked to write.  Since I was 10!  I have kept journals dating back to my preteen years with all kinds of crazy drama.  Not quite a Harlequin  but me being honest with God about my struggles, fears, happy places, etc.  My journal was my escape place.  Many of them are beautiful displays of how God communicates to me, and some are displays of God being completely silent with me.  But, they have all been this "thing" that God and I have going on with our relationship.

In 2007 I started a blog.  I thought this is a great way to do what I have been doing with a journal but hopefully, it will provide some hope if someone reads it as well.  It was a popular blog with quite a few readers.  Soon after I started it I became pregnant with my first son, Jacob.  So, I started writing to God, they were  prayers about my son, the man I wanted him to become, and God's protection over him.  Overnight, "life" over powered my joy, and we found out my son was going to die.  You can read about the story here.  I lost the passion to write.

Which leads me to the present, two more kids later, a little boy and little girl,  God has been knocking on my writing door since 2010!  I have constantly been shutting the idea of writing again down.  For me, I had no inspiration.  Then recently, this summer, I literally felt like I was being yelled at.  So, I kinda "yelled" back just asking what I was supposed to write about.  So, I began to work on somethings within myself.

• Who was I writing for?
• Why did I want to write?
• What do I write about?

I can't not start a blog and at least say hello!  This is supposed to be a conversation right?  Conversations are typically two ways BTW, so I expect that from you, please.  Why a conversation?  Because life is full of questions isn't it?  At least for me, there is not a day that goes by without lots of questions.  My prayer for you as you read, write your questions, etc.  That you will hear the tone in my writing that this is a place to converse.

Secondly, don't you have questions about wellness or health "stuff"?  All the time!  Especially when I'm in the grocery store, or meal planning for the week, or even when I'm at those "healthy conferences" you will see me talk about on here every now and again.  They are always full of information, that I always have questions about.  Even Dr. Oz leaves me with questions (which is probably why I still watch!)

Now on to being uniquely you...these are the questions, or at least for me they are, that I often don't share with folks unless they are "those people" that I know won't judge me.  I save them, for my journal, date nights with the hubs, or store them deep in my brain.  They are the questions like, why did God bless me with my pear figure?  Or...you will quickly find out about my OC tendencies...they are there, and unless you hang out with me or live with me, I tend to hide them and pretend I am a little more laid back than I actually am.  Thank God for my children who after having them turned my world upside down and introduced me to the word "flexibility" but my tendencies still come out (just ask my husband!).  What about you?  What are your questions?  About Life? About Wellness?  and That question about being uniquely you that has been stored up, that you would love to share with some girlfriends?

Ha...I almost did not do this for 2012.  Over the last month or so our personal life has been a bit of a whirlwind, so trying to catch up on "traditions" and trying to make them happen, well, I'm a little behind.  I apologize.  Really, I do.  Presents are going out late, and things that I have never been behind on, are just late.  I guess, I am asking for a little grace as we are still playing a little bit of catch up from our move out/move back in day.

2012 in review is hard to nail down some major events as there were quite a few.  Disney is probably the most memorable one.  We completely enjoyed going.  It was truly magical as the kids loved seeing the characters, riding the rides and ate in Cinderella's castle.  What fun!

We took my dad as a 60th birthday/Christmas present and enjoyed seeing him see the magic too.  It truly is like being a kid again.  You often catch yourself skipping through the streets or singing tunes, or even swaying from side to side when you go through "Its a Small World"

We are looking forward to going back in 2013 if we can!

Paige turned 4 this year!  My how the time flies.  She is reading, doing math, and drawing like crazy!  She loves crafts, and art, and I am amazed daily with her mind and how it works.  She is inspiring me to look and find joy in the littlest things.  She is always happy!  If she isn't happy she is usually sick and even then, she will hop in your lap, lay her head next to you and smile.  She finished up the 3 year old class in her preschool with one of her favorite people Ms. Ashley.  I can't say enough kind words for her hard work and dedication to all the children, but particularly Paige.  She invested so much in her.  Paige was fortunate to have her for two years in a row!

Summer quickly came upon us, and I love summer, the kids are home and we are on our time vs. the schools or meetings and such that I have going on.  We laughed and played together.  We went to the pool a lot!  The kids did some fun camps and we just enjoyed one another.

Zach has grown a ton this year!  Although, already a big boy it shouldn't surprise you that he surpassed Paige this year in weight!  He also started 2 year old preschool, which only puts him in class 2 days a week, but being the social bug that he is, it is just the right amount for him to come home talking non-stop about his day with his friends, on the playground, etc.  Zach has a love for Monster Trucks.  I am a very thankful mommy for growing up with a dad that introduced me to cars and some "boy things".  Although, still learning from my boy, the names of each small truck he has, at least I know the names of his hot wheels cars.  Especially when he says to me, mom this is a bug and this is a porche!  It makes me glad I can relate to his interests.  Zach just turned 3 a few days ago, and if you get to know him, or already know him, than you have not missed a chance for his sweet hugs!  Although, boy to the core of his being, he also has a heart of gold for others!  And...he absolutely adores his sister.  They are the bestest of friends, and I hope and pray they stay that way for a very long time.

Wayne has transitioned quite a bit this year as they were doing layoffs at his work at Maersk.  Which, leads me to our yearly theme or what God has been teaching us this year.  I think the first is prayer, the second has been to relentlessly trust Him, and the 3rd is perseverance   I couldn't pick one.  As we knew his job was coming to a close, we prayed without ceasing every night that God would provide him the right job, at the right time.  Even the kids would pray "for Daddy's new job".  We prayed at breakfast, lunch, dinner and bedtime.  I'm not kidding.  We prayed with hope, we prayed with trust, we prayed with peace that God would answer, at the right time.  And, at the 11th hour, which He often does with us, he answered.  He answered with a job application that Wayne had placed with Bank of America 6mos. before he knew he was going to lose his job!  Within two days he got a phone call, and was hired.  He has been blessed with a great opportunity there.  In fact, he just received an award for some programming he did on a project that just finished up.  I often don't really know what Wayne does at work, but as his wife, it is wonderful to see him in a place where what he does excites him.
Lastly, what am I up to???  Well, I am soaking up all of this precious time with my children.  They are growing WAY too fast.  It is sad, and glorious as I get to be a part of walking them through their questions about life.  I feel so far from being worthy of answering them.  But, I feel so blessed to be walking this journey with them.  I am beginning to grieve Paige going off to Kindergarten.  Although, we are unsure of her schooling situation yet (you can continue to pray for that), I am certain that she will thrive at whatever she does.  I have continued with my business.I did tackle a new passion towards it in Health/Nutrition/Wellness. I got two certifications this year, one in Nutrition, the other in Weightloss and I am also now able to conduct a DNA screening that allows me to customize plans for  Nutrition/Supplementation/Exercise based off of this test.  That has been the most exciting for me.  I am just passionate about putting good information in people's hands, educating, and helping others.  I helped a group of folks lose a combination of over 80lbs. in 12 weeks.  I have been blessed to help several ladies with chronic illness maintain a quality of life they haven't had in a while.  I have been educating, and doing some informal webinars.  Out of this passion and people who have asked me when I was going to write things down, I decided to turn this blog upside down and give it new meaning and new purpose.  I hope it will.  With conversations on life, wellness, and being uniquely made.  I am looking forward to sharing, conversing and "being" with other women in these areas.  If you haven't already please sign up to get it, I'm hoping to have guests join me in the discussion.  I hope God's purpose will be lit up all over this place.


I want to end here regarding our little family, but just as our family has prayed with trust, we have also tried to pray with perseverance   We have been trying to sell our house for about 2 1/2 years now.  We  have taken it on and off the market, switched Realtor a few times, but for some reason, it is not our time yet.  We thought it was in October, when our house had an offer on it that we excepted.  The first offer.  But, the buyers backed out a few days before closing and although still in shock we peacefully moved our stuff back in the house.  I say peacefully, because not one time did we feel anxious, angry or give up.  I think when Wayne and I got married, we knew life wasn't smooth, but we certainly have been delt a few bumps.  But, through the bumps we have never lost site of the God we trust with our lives.  He sees the bigger picture that we don't see.  In every trial we have gone through, although we don't have all the answers, we see God's purpose in the trial.  We grow, we stretch, and we cling tight as what is beyond the trial has ALWAYS without fail been far greater than we ever imagined.  It makes it a little  easier  to persevere through the storm when we KNOW that what lies ahead will only prosper us!  So here's to selling our house in 2013!  We await the showings with joy and I will try not to grumble as much ;)  

Life passes us by doesn't it?  I heard a verse today that I am hoping to live by and think about each day as I go into 2013 "and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."  Isiah 58:10  After all that has happened in the last week or so with the elementary school shooting, I can't forget ever...that Good will always win over evil.  Always.  The bible ends that way, it ends with the triumphant Almighty God rising above and winning this battle over all the bad that is in this world.  So, I hope our family in 2013 is spent using our gifts and talents giving back to others while we await His return. 

I am always amazed at the hope that lies in this little babe, that was born in a manger to save the world!  To God be the glory, have a very Merry Christmas!