So, this is my year on purpose. One of the things I want to be more intentional about is my health and the health of my family. Don't worry I am by no means getting carried away with any of this. I like sugar and chocolate way too much to go off the deep end. But I do see the need to take my health more seriously. After all, I am not 22 anymore. And for those who might see a picture of me and mistake skinny for healthy let me burst your bubble by letting you know I can't make it up a flight of stairs without getting winded. (This is assuming I even take the stairs, I mean we do have elevators for a reason, right?)

So what does my family's foray into being more healthy look like?

1. We switched to whole grains. (Small beginnings are okay.)

2. We eat less beef. (Picture the "Eat more Chikin" cows here.)

3. We eat more vegetables. (My kids aren't on board with this one.)

4. I buy my kids snacks with less sugar and dyes. (Outshine brand popsicles are miracles on little wooden sticks.)

5. I try to drink water. (Try being the operative word, and I flavor it. Water bores me.)

6. We are all excercising more.

Let me take a minute on that last one. Excercise isn't a thing I find fun. I used to. I used to do yoga every day. (Never in a spot like the above picture, always in sweats in my living room but a girl can dream.) Through my entire first pregnancy I never missed my daily regimen. (If you need a laugh picture a fully pregnant lady doing a one legged squat thingy when her center of gravity has been completely altered. It's okay, it's funny. I laughed at myself. And then I prayed my water wouldn't break from the mix of yoga and laughing.) But now I just can't bring myself to work out on any sort of regular basis. I. Just. Can't.

But I have goals for this year and I am trying to be purposeful with setting them and keeping them. So, since leaving my house isn't something I enjoy most days, I decided against a gym membership and signed up for Beachbody on Demand. (Well, the 30 day free trial, because I need to see how this goes.) My husband has done a routine everyday since I signed up about a week ago. I have done one. For my first session I wanted somethng short and yoga-like so I could ease myself back into things. I chose...Are you ready for this?? Yoga Booty Ballet's 10 minute Booty Blaster.

You read that right.

I don't know what possessed me to hit that button, but I did, and my booty was blasted. Like that thing was for real. It was two days ago and my bum still hurts. (Again, it's okay to laugh, I laughed at myself, and so did my husband who watched the hilarity in action.) I learned that I may need to do more easing and less blasting to begin with, and that I will no longer work out in front of my husband.

Why am I sharing all of this with you? Because our health is important.

Really lean in for a second, this has nothing to do with your weight. Now, if your weight is making you unhealthy then losing some pounds is a good thing but this isn't about having a picture perfect physique. This is about being a good steward of all that God has given us.

We tend to think of stewardship in terms of money. It definitely applies there. But God has given us more than cash to manage and He expects us to manage it all well. This includes our bodies. After all, we can't do the work of the Kingdom if we don't have the energy to get off our sofas.

God has things for you to do. He has a purpose for you and I would hate for you to miss out on any, or all, of it because you didn't take the time to be well. You don't have to worry about paleo and P90X to be healthier. This isn't about extremism, it's about making small changes that we can stick with to create a lifestyle that is healthier. When our bodies are healthier we have energy to do more of the things God has planned for us to do, and we will probably enjoy them more.

Colossians 3:23 ESV

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men

1 Corinthians 3:16-17The Message (MSG)

16-17 You realize, don’t you, that you are the temple of God, and God himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God’s temple, you can be sure of that. God’s temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.

Our physical health is also tied, at least in part, to our spiritual health. When we are disciplined physically we usually have an easier time being disciplined spiritually. (I heard a speaker talk about that once, I know there are exceptions but there is truth to the idea that learning to discipline ourselves in one area will roll over into others.)

So, as I challenge myself to get off my couch and get in gear so that I can have the energy and the peace and the discipline to do what God has chosen for me to do I hope that you will do the same. You don't have to follow my list. Be free to start small and remember the goal isn't really the exterior, it's pleasing God with all parts of our lives including our health.

PS: And sometimes you just need to eat ice cream. Remember that too.