RESULTS Week 5 (Pray/Meditate)

First of all, WAY TO GO!! I am so glad you are all taking this seriously and am still so impressed that you are progressing and chiming in each week! Thanks for doing this together!! I hope you really enjoyed prayer week. It was a really hard and special week for me. I pray for you each day and hope you are getting what you need from this challenge. I love doing this!! 

Second- I messed up on the survey when I listed each of the daily challenges, to help you total your points! I accidentally wrote "Sleep 7 hours per night" but that is NOT one of our daily challenges anymore (even though I hope you are still doing that!) It should have been "Exercise daily!" That IS one of our daily challenges this whole 12 weeks.(Thanks Karin for catching that). And remember, from here on out we will add "Pray 2x daily" to our daily list of challenges. So it will be:

* PRAY 2x daily

* Exercise daily

* Read from uplifting book daily

* No sugary treats daily

* Your Personal Challenge

* Weekly rotating Challenge (this week's is EAT NATURE- fruits and veggies)

* Mystery Bonus points (3 gifted from on high if you happened to do the action revealed to us at the end of the week)

THAT IS A MAX OF 45 points per week here on out!

Ok.... drum roll please....  Let's see how y'all did!

Carolyn Ricker
Really Serious	34
Hillarie	27
David Atkinson	22
Fawn	38
rhonda	21
Maryjane	38
vicky Manning	33
WenD	31
Jenny Robinson	33
Marsha	😜
Rich	38
Carrie
Cam	30
Lisa Jones	29
Christie	21
Mary Anne Koski	38
Karin	31
Dannette	35
Val Van Haren	21
Sarah	30
Bill	26

Krystal	20
Jamie
Darci	29

 

WOW YOU GUYS!! That was a tough week with Halloween in there!! 

I must admit, I am in the red wedge! I struggled this week! Maybe i am giving it the same effort but life just got harder. Anyways- Most of you said you are giving it the same amount of effort and since you seem to mostly be doing really well, maybe that means you started out strong and are keepin' on strong!! WOOT WOOT!! 

Only a few were struggling and most of you are really looking up and getting closer to heaven. Apparently no one's mind was totally blown! Haha! Just you wait... remember, we are carrying this challenge on the rest of the time now!!

And the winner is... NO SUGARY TREATS!! Followed by SLEEP, and a three way tie for Read, Pray, and Music! So interesting!! I have to say that the MUSIC week was the week that FELT the best to my soul!! It was just so rich! 

I found this one so fascinating! TIME seems to be the biggest barrier! Maybe we need to declutter more? Ha! Followed by a mental block of some sort. We will have to delve more into what types of mental blocks. I'm glad that 10% of you are not struggling with any big barriers! Sweet!!

What is one thing you learned about PRAYER/MEDITATION this week?

I need to make time to meditate

It helped me to be more thoughtful and to write down concerns and goals. I loved the 2 videos.

My prayers and thoughts are not organized or with specific intent. It has been a struggle trying to change that.

Saying prayers out loud is hard to do when I am used to saying silent prayers

Time spent in prayer and meditation is sooo worth it!!

I learned that I fall asleep so easily during my prayers, and I’m getting used to it! It has helped me be more mindful.

there is always room for improvement

I love having the conversations in my head with my Creator but actual "prayer" is much more fulfilling and has made my scripture reading so much better! I see God's love!!!

I learned to ask the Lord to guide and teach me in the type of learning that I am best with. I can ask for it to be that personal!

How important it is to center myself with both of these!

I need to have more of a variety, meditate prior to prayer, see myself as a son on a mission for the Lord with many assignments that need to be accounted for daily. Loves Amy’s podcast questions.

Honest answer - even though I KNOW I need to make this a priority daily, I don't always do that.

I loved hearing all the personal prayer stories!! What a boost!

I’m great at praying but not great at praying out loud.

I am really trying, but not comfortable with this part of the challenge.

Other people are hurting and need prayers in their behalf. They are not afraid to ask for others prayers.

God is near

Prayer is a calming factor for me. This week was tonight, started out sleep deprived and filling in while granddaughter being born. At moments of feeling overwhelmed and unsettled, it was a calming force to help me regain focus and feel impressions for what I needed to do to get back on track.

I learned that the Lord even inspired my mother to fast and pray for me on the same day I asked friends to pray for me! We are being cared for even when we don't realize it!

Thanks so much for sharing and being so vulnerable with our group. It really means a LOT! I can't wait to talk with you all on ZOOM on Sunday at 3:00pm Mountain time! 

Also- thanks to those who shared their prayer experiences! Those have been really inspiring to our group!

What encouragement would you give to PUMP SOMEONE UP who is doing the challenge but struggling in an area (or more)?

You can do it! This is just one step at a time. It is worth the climb.

Give each challenge the best you can. You never know how or where it is creating movement. And then give yourself a smile. You’re worth it.

Everyday is a new day

Take it day by day. Know that you can change habits with slow, steady progress. We just have to be patient with ourselves and with the process.

Better late than never is a true statement! Any effort will be rewarded in some way. You just get to figure out how that is. Go team!

Its ok to mess up. Don't expect perfection, expect effort.

Every bit that you can do is worth it and will help with the others. They are all connected.

Stay consistent, if you do it will Broncos more habitual!

Write them down and get them visually out in front of you. Say them out loud daily using the present tense. I am …ing and it is worth it.

Don't compare yourself to anyone else and how they are doing. Ask yourself honestly, what 1 thing can I work towards making a small improvement daily on.

Just focus on one thing at a time! Baby steps will get you there.

Everything counts! Start small.

Remember even baby steps help us. Remember the bicyclist story.

Keep going. Accept yourself where you are and try again tomorrow. You can do this. It is worth it!

It is about choosing each day to act. You can't think of the challenge in terms of 12 weeks. That is overwhelming. But you can wake up each day and choose to try to hit all of the checks for the day.

Don’t give up. You’re worth it. Keep a visible challenge list where it is easily seen several times throughout day to motivate you and keep priorities on your well being.

You are stronger than you think you are! You got this! It's worth it and so are you!

Ahhhhh!!!! Such great encouragement! I really needed to hear these too! Thanks so much everyone! 

There was a mistake in the tracking chart last week, with no spot on it for the NO SUGARY TREATS part of the challenge, but I will fix that and add a NEW section for PRAY 2x DAILY and send that out today! FROM HERE ON OUT THERE ARE 45 POINTS AVAILABLE EACH WEEK!!! 

Excellent work, friends! Let's talk on Zoom and have some fun Sunday afternoon at 3:00pm mountain time! Set an alarm right now so you don't forget!!! 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89592935496

I love you! Keep up the hard work!!  And eat those fruits and veggies!! 

My Soul Prayer Story

  My Soul Prayer Story  

Here is one of my favorite PRAYER stories from my own life! So many prayers were answered in such neat, unique ways. Plus there is so much LOVE!! See if this touches your heart and helps you in your prayers. I made this really neat video for you! I hope you'll take the time to watch it because it's ABOUT YOU TOO!! 

To listen to the Audio on Sound Cloud, click HERE. 

KEEP PRAYING Daily for next 7 weeks!

Dear Friends, 

We are going to KEEP PRAYING for the next 7 weeks! It will carry on now (like No Sugary Treats did) as a new daily challenge. So NEXT WEEK there will be 45 points possible, instead of 38. Prayer/meditation will be one of the 4 daily challenges. Plus our weekly challenge (eat nature!) and your personal challenge and lastly, your mystery challenge! 

It will look like this:

Pray 2x daily (7 poss) 

No Sugary Treats (7 poss) 

Read uplifting book daily (7 poss) 

Exercise daily  (7 poss) 

Weekly rotating challenge - EAT NATURE  (7 poss) 

Personal Challenge  (7 poss)  

Bonus points (3 poss)

45 total possible at the end of WEEK 6 and on through 12~ 

THANKS AND LOVE YOU! 

Mystery Points, Survey Week 5 & Zoom link for NEXT SUNDAY!

 BONUS POINTS: If you watched/enjoyed a sunrise or a sunset last week give yourself 3 bonus points for the prayer week survey!!! 

​Here is your survey for WEEK 5 (Prayer)! Please take it by midnight Monday- but don't let the deadline deter you from taking it!! I would really love to hear your thoughts on these questions! 

https://forms.gle/XqjeA1VK1Y5byPGW7

SURVEY WEEK 5 (PRAYER) Answer these questions to let us know how you are doing? forms.gle



ALSO...

NEXT SUNDAY (Nov. 7) we will do another ZOOM MEETING!! This will be so fun!!

3:00pm AZ time (Pacific) 

I hope you can make it!!!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89592935496

WEEK 6: EAT NATURE!

 WELCOME TO NATURE WEEK! LET'S EAT NATURE! 

This week we will focus on eating our recommended daily allowance for FRUITS & VEGGIES! 

You will get 1 point every day this week that you:

* eat 1.5 cups of Fruit (2 cups for men)  AND

* 2 cups of Veggies (3 cups for men)

(you can drink them in juice or smoothies also)

Speaking of FRUIT- All physical principles have a spiritual component too. I painted this in 2015 and I put my heart and soul in it! I am picking the fruit of the Tree of Life, which represents the LOVE OF GOD! Many cultures throughout ancient history and modern times believe in a tree of life, and it goes by many names. It is generally considered the place where heaven and earth come together. The bird in the tree represents my baby sister, Liza, who passed away at age 21. She is always close and watching over me. The birds soaring in the sky are my prayers going heavenward. In my heart is a small tree of life, which I planted there with Faith, and I can take with me wherever I go. In my church there is a story of an ancient prophet who had a vision (his son did too) about the Tree of Life, and the fruit represented the love of God (something I hope we are all trying to feel throughout the challenge) so along the edge of the this path toward the tree, are the words to the scripture in 1 Nephi: 8:10 & 11,

"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree whose fruit was desirable to make one happy... it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy."

This week we are going to literally internalize all the good stuff nature has to offer us by EATING IT! (We will have a DRINK WATER week later). So get yourself to the grocery store and get yourself some fruit and veggies and FILL UP! Here is why it is so important: Listen to this INFO and then I'll be back with some details...

Just 1 in 10 adults meet the federal fruit or vegetable recommendations, according to a new study published today in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Depending on their age and sex federal guidelines recommend that adults eat at least 1½ to 2 cups per day of fruit and 2 to 3 cups per day of vegetables as part of a healthy eating pattern. Yet in 2015, just 9 percent of adults met the intake recommendations for vegetables, ranging from 6 percent in West Virginia to 12 percent in Alaska. Only 12 percent of adults met the recommendations for fruit, ranging from 7 percent in West Virginia to 16 percent in Washington, D.C. Results showed that consumption was lower among men, young adults, and adults living in poverty.

“This report highlights that very few Americans eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, putting them at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease,” said Seung Hee Lee Kwan, Ph.D., of CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity, lead author of the study. “As a result, we’re missing out on the essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that fruits and vegetables provide.”

Seven of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States are from chronic diseases. Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables daily can help reduce the risk of many leading causes of illness and death, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and obesity.

The findings indicate a need to identify and address barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption. Previous studies have found that high cost, limited availability and access, and perceived lack of cooking/preparation time can be barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption.

So, if you would like to LIVE LONGER and FEEL BETTER... eat LIVE FOOD...

 Eat NATURE! 

Here are some charts with amounts and ideas for fruits and veggies!

	Amount that counts as 1 cup of fruit
Apple	1 small or ½ large apple 1 cup, sliced or chopped, fresh ⅔ cup, baked ½ cup, dried
Applesauce	1 cup applesauce
Banana	1 large banana 1 cup, sliced ⅔ cup, mashed
Blueberries	1 cup, fresh or frozen ⅓ cup, dried
Cantaloupe	1 cup, diced or melon balls
Casaba melon	1 cup, diced or melon balls
Dates	10 dates ½ cup, whole or cut-up
Figs	5 figs, fresh 10 figs, dried
Grapes	22 seedless grapes 1 cup, whole or cut-up
Grapefruit	1 medium grapefruit 1 cup, sections
Guava	3 guavas 1 cup, sliced or chopped
Kiwi	2 to 3 kiwis 1 cup, sliced or chopped
Kumquats	10 kumquats 1 cup
Mango	7 slices or chunks, fresh or frozen 1 cup, fresh or frozen ⅓ cup, dried
Mixed fruit (fruit cocktail)	1 cup, diced or sliced, fresh or canned, drained
Orange	1 large orange 1 cup, sections
Orange, mandarin	1 cup, canned, drained
Papaya	1 small papaya 1 cup, sliced or chopped
Peach	1 large peach 1 cup, sliced or diced, fresh, cooked, frozen or canned, drained 2 halves, canned
Pear	1 medium pear 1 cup, sliced or diced, fresh cooked, or canned, drained
Pineapple	1 cup, chunks, sliced or crushed, fresh, cooked or canned, drained
Plum	3 medium or 2 large plums 1 cup, sliced, fresh or cooked ½ cup, dried (prunes)
Strawberries	About 8 large strawberries 1 cup, whole, halved, or sliced, fresh or frozen
Watermelon	1 small wedge or slice 1 cup, diced or melon balls
Dried fruit (raisins, prunes, apricots, figs, etc.)	½ cup dried fruit
100% fruit juice (orange, apple, grape, grapefruit, etc.)	1 cup

OK! HAPPY EATING!!! LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!

SARAH