This Blessed Little Life

Ahh! It is hard to believe that today marks the LAST day of 2014!  To say that this year has been life-changing would be a bit of an understatement.  It is kind of overwhelming when I reflect on all that God has done over the past 12 months. I have worked at 3 different jobs this year, lived in 4 different homes, changed my last name, and moved to the opposite side of the country! I am the type of person that does best with routine so you can imagine with all the changes that have occurred how insecure I felt at times.  But the amazing thing about it all is that when God has the reins of your life there is a profound peace that accompanies the journey.  I n my times of doubt, t he miracles (however big or small) that have been performed  have always led me back to the conclusion that we are where God would have us to be at this stage. In this post, I'd like to highlight some of the most memorable occasions of this year.... 1. God's Protection My husband and ...

This coming March will be two years since I started running. It was quite life changing for me, because after several years of struggling to lose 20 pounds, it was {finally} the solution that would jumpstart my health and fitness journey. A program I would recommend for anyone insterested in taking up running would be Couch 2 5K. I also started a running group on Facebook called Let's Run that has many expierenced runners that I've been able to learn from. I have enjoyed being able to run with my husband, and it had helped us not gain that dreaded "newlywed weight" that sometimes comes with the first year of marriage. :) I love the challenge that running is. It is just as hard mentally as it is physically, if not more so! There are times when I am miserable in the middle of a run, but the feeling afterward makes it beyond worth it every time. I also love the fact that to be a runner requires no talent. ANYONE can do it- from kids to grandparents. The key is being ...

Next month, on January 9, it will be the 18th "anniversary" since an accident that changed my life forever. One wrong choice that I made as a child almost cost me my life, and I still tell the story today in hopes that someone will think twice before they choose wrong over right. At the risk of over-dramatizing this, I'd like to share my account with you.... It was a cold, snowy day in Northern Indiana on the morning of January 9th, 1997. I was a first grader at Jefferson Elementary which was right across the street from our house. My mom worked nights at that time, and my dad was a volunteer firefighter at the fire station which was also across the street on the other side of our house. He was at his day job, and my mom was getting me and my older siblings ready for school. I woke up in a cranky mood and was having a hard time finding something to wear. My mom told me to hurry because we were running late, but I was dragging my feet. I requested pancakes for breakfast,...

I don't think many of my friends (and maybe even some family members) know the background story of how God led my hubby and me together. Some of the story may surprise you, but with us coming upon 8 months of marriage I can without a doubt say that we were God's "intended" for each other. :) So there I was, in my senior year of college and still no man in my life, let alone an engagement ring on my finger! I had started praying for the man that I would one day marry, way back in junior high and had made a promise to God that I would wait for him. I dated several guys throughout college, but had NEVER felt a complete peace in my heart about any of them. Now I'll admit that there were times when I would let my emotions guide me instead of the Holy Spirit's leading. I didn't want to end up alone so I held on to some relationships longer than I should've. That got me into trouble on a few occasions, and my actions hurt some people emotionally. It took me...

There is a certain measure of respect and admiration that I have for the kind of person who is "fearless". Nothing holds them back from doing what they want to do and they're the first to try new things. They live in the moment and their mantra may be "YOLO"... Lol By nature, I am a fearful or worrisome person. I have been able to conquer some of my fears like stage fright, heights, and trying new foods, but emotionally and spiritually there are 3 fears that I am still working on. Some of them might resonate with you too. 1. The Fear of the Unknown The older I get, the more this one seems to increase. I lay in bed at night and sometimes worry over what the future may hold and if I will be strong enough spiritually to handle it. All the "what ifs?" of life  can overwhelm me if I think about it long enough.  This fear can become very irrational. 2. The Fear of Failure With all of the responsibilities of life, there are a lot of people that are de...

The holidays are officially here, and with that comes lots and LOTS of parties, work carry-ins, church programs and many other opportunities to EAT, EAT, EAT! This time of year can prove to be the pitfall of many faithful "dieters" or healthy eaters who have done well with their diet and exercise habits the previous 10 months of the year. A few years ago, I would have definitely been one of those people who gained back what I had lost and then some during the holiday season. I would then make the same New Year's resolution to lose that extra weight...and the cycle continued... So I am following most, if not ALL of these tips to prevent the scale and my skirt size from going up: 1. Have a Plan I already know that I am going to eat all of the Thanksgiving fixings that I have waited all year to have, but I have set guidelines for myself to follow. For instance, I will have one serving of everything that I like, but I will only have seconds of ONE item. I will have my d...

Where to start.... I grew up in cornfield country- good ole Indiana. I am the 4th out of 5 children who happen to all be red-headed (except muah). Lol My parents raised us in a Christian home for which I am very thankful. We were a very tight knit family, and now that we're all grown up, my siblings are my closest friends. I have been going to and involved in church since I was about 4. I had my first job at 16 at a local grocery store and then as a camp counselor for several summers before I headed off to college. After 4.5 years (and several switched majors), I graduated from Hyles-Anderson College in Dec. 2012 with my Secondary Education degree in English and Home Economics and BEST of all, found the man I would eventually marry. :) I worked at a daycare for two years and then became Mrs. Lambert this past Spring! We lived in an apartment in Highland, IN for a few months while my husband worked on a dock, and I worked in the men's department at Carson's. Some of my fa...

Hi Everyone! Yes, I decided to start a blog!  The purpose of it is really more for my sake than anything else. I have been wanting an outlet where I could record experiences that mean something to me, but also I hope that some of the posts ahead will help someone else. So here it goes! My first post will be an "All About Me" to introduce myself, but from there they should get a little more interesting! ;) ~Stephanie