Thus Far.....

I have to keep reminding myself to keep my dates straight. With much going on in my personal family life, my thoughts are distracted at times. However, through God and proper living tools, I can remain "somewhat" grounded. The Visalus Program has been a tremendous outlet as my daughter was diagnosed with mental illness four days into signing as an ESS. I managed with the help of God and faithful friends to achieve "rising star" status in a week and am on target for Regional Director by the end of September. Where is the energy coming from to get up and continue as my daughter "battles her demons"? I know.  I immediately signed her up in the business the first week, knowing that Visalus would provide an outlet for her as she rebuilds her life with healthy, positive people and products to repair her brokeness.
We are now moving into the middle of September, I started drinking shakes almost one month ago, (Aug.16th) to lose a few pounds. Never to do the business. After five days of drinking shakes, I had more energy and the pounds were beginning to dissipate to the point that my pants were loose. I had a story to tell and I knew in my heart that many of my friends and family would benefit from Visalus. That's all it took for me to convince myself that there was a very productive opportunity waiting in the wings. I am hovering around the 10 pound weight loss mark and have lost 2 inches off my waist-line in 2 weeks. Now that's progress. I carry my weight around my middle, (the most dangerous for women). Today,  I feel very satisfied with my body as I continue to grow healthier with every shake and every vitamin I intake.  
I'm excited today even as my heartaches for my daughter. She too, will reach many goals within the company. Following guidance and direction from a loving God and family who loves her dearly, her mental and physical health will return, as all the proper tools are used; the rest will follow.
Peace and Blessings to ALL!

www.visalus.com

Gaining Momentum

Lodge at Red Pebble Plantation ~ Rebecca, GA. I had the privilege of decorating back in  2007

A view of one of the fish ponds on the property...

One of the dining areas in Great Room

The weekend has been filled once again with challenges and triumphs. We start a new week with hope and promise as I remember my blessings and thankful for all things..I celebrated my birthday on Sept. 9th in the beautiful quite surrounding of Red Pebble Plantation in Rebecca, GA www.redpebbleplantation.com with old and new friends. What would we do without our relationships? Here are some photo's of the landscape and beauty of this amazing paradise...

In the Woods, on the 3600 acres of God's Country.

A little Morning Inspiration...

Here I am again back at work at The Bus Station in Colquitt, GA  for part of the week and then on to Cordele and Ashburn for a Visalus Challenge Party.http://www.visalus.com/ tomorrow night..The craze is catching and the momentum is high so we are riding the wave. I'll have my friend, Glenda with me and my daughter Chandler and her friend, Karli along with my trusty husband, Billy. We are going to be staying in a beautiful lodge at Red Pebble Plantation...http://www.redpebbleplantation.com/. How much better can it get? Well, my birthday is tomorrow and so I'll be spending it with family and friends which makes for a good day even if it's not my birthday. Life this week seems more manageable, as I keep trusting. I hope y'all are having a good week and are enjoying the beginnings of Fall in the early morning.  I'll continue to pray this morning this inspiration prayer daily to remind myself of what's most important when my mind and body starts racing..

Blessings to Y'all! 
Lori

His Power Prevails as Always...

It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free. ~ Galations 5:1

Chandler 

After nearly two weeks of "not the norm", (but what is the norm?), life is still forever changing. We rode the waves, hanging on in the balance and then, calm prevailed. I've had my opportunity to "Let Go...Let God" plenty over the past 14 days and the freedom that phrase gives me is like nothing I can describe. Chandler, my daughter has had  a "bump in the road" as my Mother likes to say. I watched as my 20 year reached a  dark place and then triumphantly picked her head up and said to me "Trust God". Those two words were like music to my ears and snapping me back into the reality of what really IS! When I struggle with control issues at times, I sometimes forget, I am the helpless and powerless one; then poof, the realization and freedom comes; the same freedom that has been constant, unfailing and forever...Thank you God for your Power, Mercy and Grace and for your Faithfulness in Forgiveness. 

Seasons...

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest. A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to rebuild. A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance...Ecclesiastes 3: 1-4

August 31, 2010 ~ Panama City Beach, Sunset

Lost 10 in 2.....

My daughter, Chandler, at Thanksgiving 2009.

I started the Visalus on August 16th with a vengeance. I wanted to feel good and lose a few pounds. I'm 46 and didn't think that the 15 pounds I wanted to lose would ever come off. I thought I would have to "settle" for those pounds since I was beginning the stages of menopause. WRONG!!!!!I lost 10 pounds the first two weeks by being on shakes. Two a day and one regular meal. Can I really get down another 10 to reach my high school "fighting weight?" Yes I can with Visalus and the wonderful products they represent. I am using the share/care method and building a business as an added bonus. Thanks Visalus for the wonderful opportunity; being able to share health and wealth with the people I care about....

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Light at the End of the Tunnel....

Last Sunday evening..new church...new friends...filled with Hope and Promise....ONE PHONE CALL. Reliving the past week has been like a surreal dream for me. The episodes that filled the past seven days make me grateful for my foundation. A foundation that begins for me with the words..."Be  Still, And Know that I am God", Psalms 46:10. The ebb and flow of life as you hold on and then let go..listening to the urges of the gentle spirit inside, that whispers, until heard. Praying for intuitive thought and wisdom to know how to handle a situation that only you know God is capable of handling for you. Listening as your daughter asks, "why is this happening to me"?, and the answer being  ~ Trust God. And then pouring all the faith and trust you can muster into your answer and clinging to HOPE.  The stillness comes, the fog lifts, the light at the end of the tunnel appears and the trust strengthens. "Be Still and KNOW that I am GOD" becomes the order for the day, for the hour, for the minute.

  

Where would I be without my foundation? A foundation that definitely needs much improvement...A foundation that needs nurturing to grow. A foundation that requires daily attention to strengthen. What would my daughter think,  if when asked "Why Me?", I had no answer for her.

I can't explain why these moments happen, only that "Trust God" was the answer that made sense to she and I in a time of need. No explanation, no rationalizing, no analyzing, just "Trust God". As simple as the words are, the mind has trouble grasping the concept that when in crisis mode or any mode for that matter, it is as simple as "Trusting God".