Over the past four years or so I've had a growing interest in being an educated and thoughtful consumer. I've tried to learn more about our food and where it comes from. I've worked to reduce our waste. We've crafted a budget and work hard to stay within it. We get most of our clothes secondhand. This purposefulness in how we spend our time and money has spread into other areas in my life as well. I am finding that I don't want life to happen to me, I want to determine the best path and take it. Two areas that I want to keep focused on are my health and the way I interact with my kids.
I have struggled with my weight for years and two and a half years ago I decided to get serious about getting healthy. I started running and working out regularly. I found a way to work it into our busy family schedule. I've had injuries that have slowed me down but I am determined to be healthy and set a good example for my children.
My kids are such interesting, kind little people. They deserve the best from me and often I find myself grumping at them, wishing for a little peace and quiet. I don't want to forget that the job I have is a God-given, sacred job. I want to be purposeful in the way we raise them. Of course for the big things, but the small, everyday stuff as well. Yesterday, in a Father's Day message, one of our pastors shared this verse and it reminded me about what we're striving and living for. It's not to be part of the pack, it's to win the race! It's to bring every part of our lives into allignment with our purpose!
1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
My grandma made a black bean salad when we visited one summer when I was a kid. I loved it so much that she gave me the recipe. It was the first recipe that belonged to me (I think I was about 11) and I still love to make and eat her black bean salad in the summer! 
