My 9th Half Marathon

Hey there SuperStarrs, it’s Super Cool that I’m able to chat about My 9th Half Marathon!!! It’s hard to really tell ya the spiritual feeling I had holding my guitar bling, looking at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame Pyramid & realizing, what was once a Dream & Desire, just happened!!! This trip was so full of Awesomeness that I can’t possibly write about it all in one post. It started with me picking up my race packet as soon as we got to Cleveland, Ohio.

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The Arcade in Cleveland, Ohio

While there I found a cool coffee shop called Rising Star Coffee Roasters. Of Course I love coffee & being a Starr I had to check it out, even though I already had Starbucks in hand. LOL!!!

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Inside Entrance 

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Coffee Break

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SuperStarr Coffee

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Outside Entrance 

Then we headed to check out the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & meet up with my friend Cristy & her family!!!  I will make a future post with more from that visit because it’s gotta have it’s own. Such a cool place that every music lover should check out!!!

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Cristy & I With Our Munchkins!!!

We spent the entire day there before parting ways so they could head home & I could sleep. The next morning was the Half Marathon Race.  Now here’s some videos of this Amazing race!!!

 

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Start

 

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Finish

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Getting My Bling!!!

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Deborah Busy Bee!!!

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My Feet Hurt From Kicking My Own Butt!!!

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My 9th Half Marathon

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Miguel My Running Buddy This Race.

On the way home from the race we had to make a stop at A Christmas Story House . For years growing up I’ve spent every Christmas Eve watching this classic movie.  So when planning the trip to Cleveland, Ohio I knew this was a must stop.  It was AMAZING & the kids had so much fun.  I will post more of our visit on a later time closer to Christmas. Here is a few pics for now.

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Ralphie’s Red Ryder Rifle!!!

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A Major Award!!! Actually I’m Wearing Mine Around My Neck!!!

After having fun at the house we the headed home but stopped on the way to have dinner & ice cream @ Ducky’s Snowballs with Cristy & her family.

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Cristy & I

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Our Boys, Ethan & Kaleb w/ Melody!!!

It’s so Great that our kids get along so well & they never want to leave. So that was our time in Cleveland & we all agree that CLEVELAND ROCKS!!! 🙂

It’s AMAZING that my next race is gonna take me into double digits!!!  I will forever be able to say that I’ve ran 10 Half Marathons in 7 states in 3 years time!!!  And to think back that it all started with a Dream to finish just one.  God is so AMAZING!!!  Seriously SuperStarrs if He can take me from sitting on the couch doing movie marathons to running 9 half marathons, He can do anything for anyone who dares to dream!!!  I believe that the dreams inside us is there because He put them there!!!  So whatever you got stirring in you, start now going for it.  It’s Your life.  Believe in Your Dreams!!!  Ask God for help & put your faith in Him!!!

SuperStarrs What’s Your Dream???

What are ya doing to make it a reality???

Make Healthy Choices & Be Patience “In The Weighting”.

My 1st Belly Dance Performance!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!!  I’m so EXCITED to share all about the weekend I had at the Old English Faire!!! So I know y’all are used to me chatting with y’all about running & my races but, today I am chatting about something Super Cool!!! Belly Dancing!!!  I’m sharing how I got started & all about my 1st time dancing in front of audience.

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Here are our performances in the King’s tent at the Old English Fairie.

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Celtic 

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Persian Gypsy

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Chicky

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Chicky (sleeveless because it got HOT!!!)

 

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My Teacher Pava is BEAUTIFUL!!! She just turned 73!!!  She proves that by staying active & healthy, it’s the BEST anti-aging EVER!!! So instead of buying $100 anti wrinkle cream, take a dance class!!!

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All the Lovely Ladies that I got to dance & share the weekend with!!!

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SuperStarrs is there something that you’ve always wanted to try???

Why haven’t you yet???

Has fear stopped you from starting??

What steps can you take to get started???

How would having fun & learning something new help you to stay active & healthy???

Has fear stopped you from even trying???

Remember that YOU are a SuperStarr & get going!!!

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 8th Half Marathon

Hey SuperStarrs it so AMAZING to me that I have ran 8 Half Marathons in 5 different States!!!  How Super Cool is that!!!  This race was in the State of Tennessee.  The Rock N Roll Half Marathon Nashville.  April, 28th 2018.  Below is the videos of my start, finish & getting my bling on race day.  The last video is me sharing my race experience.  Enjoy!!!

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My 8th Half Marathon Start!!!

I am so Thankful for my family for getting up so early to cheer me on & for not complaining about how long they waited.  LOL!!!

 

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My Finish!!!

It was a very HOT run!!!  This race I didn’t run with my water belt.  I survived but was super thirsty & will probably never do that again, along with wearing all black!!!

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Getting My Bling!!!

My Amazing Husband did a great job filming from a tree to get these videos!!!

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My Race Experience

 

Is there someone or something slowing you down???

How can you correct that???

Are you using your time to your benefit???

What are your future health goals???

Remember You are a SuperStarr!!!

Be patient & make healthy choices while you are “In The Weighting“!!!

Top 10 Safety Tips For Running Outdoors!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!!  Today I’m sharing tips on how to stay safe while running outdoors.  I’ve been running outdoors now for over 2 years and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!  I LOVE the fresh air. I LOVE the sunshine.  I LOVE the scenery changing.  I LOVE being outside with the seasons changes.  I LOVE waving to people and seeing the neighborhood dogs. I LOVE seeing the flowers and trees blooming.  I LOVE early morning sunrise Summer runs.  I LOVE the falling leaves in the Fall. I LOVE crunching in fresh fallen snow.  However I know that with running outdoors can cause some fear in some people. Especially when just getting started.  That’s why I am sharing with y’all what I’ve experienced, so that you can shake off that fear.  When you have planned ahead & are aware then, you can lace up & getting going!!!

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I’ve heard people talk about being fearful to go out for a walk, run or ride by themselves.  It saddens me when I hear of anyone being controlled or held back by fear.  I totally believe that we should use wisdom like I shared in the video and probably not go running in the woods alone.  However I do think sometimes people don’t even realized they are being held back by fear and worry.  It make me think of in Proverbs where it talks about

“The sluggard says, “There’s a lion out there! If I go outside, I might be killed!” 22:13

“The lazy person claims “There’s a lion on the road! Yes I’m sure there’s a lion out there!” 26:13

So many times people can waste time worrying about things that will never happen.  Sometimes people like to find their excuse and then they feel better about staying the same.  When people think of the worst case scenario and allow that to be their reason for not making a positive change then, they are living in fear.  They are believing the lies of fear, rather than believing what God says.  2 Timothy 1:7 God tells us that He hasn’t given us a Spirit of fear but He gives us Power, Love and Self-Discipline!!!  I choose to believe and live in Power, Love and Self-Discipline!!! SuperStarrs I  pray that you want it too.  I believe if you are still reading then you do want it too!!! It’s up to YOU to go get it!!!

SuperStarrs, do you walk, run or ride outdoors alone???

If so, do you have any tips that you can share with the class???

What fears have been holding you back from taken your workouts outdoors???

How are you gonna live in Power, Love and Self-Discipline???

Be Patient & Make Healthy Choice while you are In The Weighting!!!

CrAzY With A Purpose!!!

Hey SuperStarrs, have you ever felt SUPER EXCITED about something and so you start to share it with someone hoping they will be just as stoked as you.  Instead you end up disappointed because not only are they not excited, but they look at you like you are CrAzY!!!  They not only are not excited. They don’t care at all!!!  I have experienced this a few times.  I know how disappointing it can be and the possibility of their words trying to talk you out of your dream.  That is why I knew I needed to share with y’all that it’s all good if people think you are CrAzY.  In fact I LOVE it now!!! Let me explain more.

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People with no passion will NEVER be able to get it.  To them they feel it’s obsessive.  They may even call you a fanatic or excessive about your exercising or commitment to eating healthy.  To someone who doesn’t care or has no interest, any amount seems too much or obsessive.  So they don’t see passion, they see obsessive.  Like I said I LOVE it now when people look at me like I’m CrAzY!!!  It reminds me that what I am doing and have already accomplished isn’t easy!!!  It’s been God, hard work & dedication, that has helped me run my 7 Half Marathon Races. Also, because I know that God has Super Cool things for me, when I listen & obey.  I know that I am CrAzY, but I’m CrAzY with a purpose!!!  I know this now, however when I first started on my In The Weighting Journey a few times I started to allow the dream killers words to make me question.  To start to question,

IF this could really happen???

WHY would God ever choose to help me???

WHAT would I have to give up???

WOULD it really be worth all the hard work it’d take to get there???

WHAT if I failed again???

The problem with all of the questions I had was each one was full of self doubt.  I quickly realized.  Was I gonna believe them or believe God???  I choose to fill my mind with life giving thoughts.  Thoughts of,

What would I look like when I got there???

How much more energy could I have after losing all this extra weight???

If God has helped other people achieve their dreams & goal, Why not me???

What it would feel like to receive my bling after running my 1st Half Marathon???

How would it feel to shop at those store again???

Who could I help encourage & pass hope to???

What a world of possibilities could I open up for myself, if I didn’t have all this extra weight???

How many different adventures could God take me on, if I’d just Trust & Believe Him???

I decided I wanted to Trust & Believe God.  Because He has promised me & you, that ALL things are possible with Him!!!  Jesus said, “What is impossible with man IS possible with God!!!” Luke 18:27  As I encountered different times of people saying things or simply looking at me like I’m CrAzY.  I quickly realized that if I allowed myself to meditate on their words, I could easily become discouraged, which could lead to me giving up.  I decided that it doesn’t matter what others think of me, I only care what God thinks of me!!!

I made a video called Choose Life, where I talked about choosing life when making food choices but, SuperStarrs we can choose life in our thoughts too.  We can choose to meditate on God’s Word, His Promises, and thoughts that give us peace, joy, & hope.

Remember SuperStarrs, that not everyone is gonna be stoked for you, but know that God always is!!!  He is cheering for you to do great!!! He is excited for all the good things He has for your future.  He declares, “For I know the plans I have for you.  They are plans for good, not harm, to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11  Know that I am also praying & cheering for you!!!  Surround yourself with as much love as you can!!!  Has there been a time in your past when God was there you for???  I’m talking like a healing, miracle, answered prayer or just a time you got a God wink.  You had a need, you ask God for help & you were taken care of.  Remember those times and use it to think about whenever you feel doubt or discouragement start to creep in.  Kill it then.  Say to yourself,

“God helped me before, He will do it again.”

“God’s helping me. I’m not doing this alone.”

“God has promised me a good future, so I’m working hard to get it!!!”

Kill those negative thoughts & doubts before they have a chance to kill your dream!!!  Replace them with God’s promises & dream about the AWESOME future God has for you!!!

SuperStarrs, have you ever had someone question your passion by calling you obsessive, fanatic or excessive???

How will you handle it the next time it happens???

What are you passionate about???

Are you putting Faith into Action???

Be Patient & make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting“!!!

2 Lacing Tips For Runners!!!

Hello SuperStarrs, I’m excited to share with you 2 Lacing tips for your Running shoes!!!  Both of them were very helpful to me & so I’m passing on the knowledge to y’all.  Watch the video below to hear them & I’ll show you how to do them both.

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So now that you know the Runners’ Lock you can lace up and get going 🙂  Whether you are a runner or walker it’s a helpful tip.  As the days are getting warmer & lighter it’s a reminder that Spring will be here soon!!! Spring & Fall weather is some of my favorite times of being outside.  Spring is great because it’s the season of new life and new beginnings!!!

SuperStarrs please let me know if you try them & if they have helped ya!!!

What is your favorite season of exercising outside???

How are you gonna create a new beginning this Spring???

Remember you are a SuperStarr!!!

Make Healthy choices while you are “In The Weighting“.

 

 

 

Purpose Of Winter!!!

Hey SuperStarrs, when I started getting healthy, I began saying “I want to wear out, not rust out!!!”.  Basically meaning I realized I wanted to age well & be able to use my body until I can’t anymore, rather than “rusting out” like the Tin Man.  Just sitting around until nothing works anymore.  I’ve seen many older people just sit around & then when they want to be able to do something physically, they can’t because they didn’t maintain their physical fitness.  While working in the salon, there were many woman who would come in to have their hair washed & styled each week, because their arms were too weak to do their own hair.  I learned then, that if we don’t use it, we loose it!!!  So that fired me up to keep my strength up & get moving.  However, God has been teaching me lately that it’s ALL about balance!!! In either direction it can be harmful.  Truth is I don’t want to wear out either!!!  I want to stay healthy & strong all the days of my life.  So if you have seen or heard me say before that “I want to wear out not rust out”.  I’m sorry & still on my Journey of “In The Weighting“.  As God teaches me along the way, I will continue to share & be real with y’all.  Watch video to hear me share more.

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Recently I had a day where I was just exhausted.  I was struggling to keep my eyes open. My Monday morning started off normal and so I went running off into the day checking things off my to-do list.  Kids off to school, Run done, Showered, House Cleaning done and then I realized that I could squeeze in a nap before the kids got home.  So as I was laying so thankful that I was blessed with this moment to rest, I started thinking of other things I could be doing if I didn’t nap & asking myself “Who naps in the middle of the day???  Really who does this???” realizing I hadn’t done this since the kids were little & still getting up thru out the night.  Just as I was starting to feel a bit guilty for taking a much needed rest, I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me ” Not everyone has ran 16+ miles, served at church, taken care of family members problems, encouraged others online, worked on a Baby Shower & Birthday party, all while still taking care of their own family by serving them by all that it takes being a Wife & Mom in the past 72 hours!!!”  I then realized I had earned & truly needed the rest my body was s l o w l y telling me to take.  The body can only take so much before it says “I’m done. Outta fuel. Battery empty”.  Isn’t funny SuperStarrs how we won’t let our cell phones run down until they die or allow our cars to run out of gas but we somehow allow it for ourselves.  That’s so not right because truth is we can buy another cell phone or car but we only have this one body, period.  No matter how advanced Science & Medicine gets, nothing will ever replace us!!!  We take time to refuel our cars when the low fuel light comes on.  We charge our cell phones nightly so that we will wake up to a fully charged battery for the day, but how many people don’t take the time to sleep to make sure they are fully charged for the day???   If the dirt, trees & flowers take time to rest & recharge, with only one job to do, then that should show us how much more we need it!!!  If you struggle with getting a good night’s rest check out “Where To Start” to hear more!!!

I hope to get ya to take some time to slow down where you can & purposely schedule rest for yourself.  Look at what you are doing & ask yourself if you really need to be doing that task.  Or can someone else help or take over???  There are things that only we can do but then there are other things we just do.  Where can you get help?  If you can hire it done great!!! I’m not talking like we can all afford maids & personal assistants.  However do you have a child you can train to take over the task while giving them a few bucks???  Even if it’s not done exactly how you’d like, a half swept floor is better than an unswept floor!!! Remember they are in training!!! How many years have you been doing it your way???  Ya never know they could surprise you with a better way!!! If you don’t have kids or they are grown, what about a niece or a neighbor kid??? What about where you serve? Are there others that you can train so that you can have a break sometimes???  Are there things you are doing simply because you have always done it but nobody even cares about it but you??? I’ve been totally guilty of this one!!!  There are certain traditions or decorating that my family doesn’t care about if they get done or not.  So if my chalkboard doesn’t get a new saying weekly or monthly 😉 there’s no real harm done.  They don’t even notice until it’s changed and even then they are not keeping track of when it was done last.  My point is that we sometimes just do more than what we really need to do.  That can add stress & anxiousness that steals our peace, joy & rest!!!

So SuperStarrs How are gonna purposely get rest???

Do you already practice rest??? If so please share any tips with us!!!

What are you gonna do differently with your schedule???

Who can you get to help you???

When are you gonna take time for your God Date???

Remember You are a SuperStarr!!!

Be patient & make healthy choices while you are “In The Weighting“!!!

You Can Ask

SuperStarrs, I want you to know that, You Can Ask God for whatever you are dreaming of!!!  Maybe you have Never heard that before and think it sounds selfish.  Maybe you have but you are just not asking.  In today’s video I am sharing all about asking and to keep asking!!!  This video is proof that God answers us if we take it to Him, ask and work towards what we are dreaming.  Us working towards it, is us showing Him our faith that we believe that He will help us to achieve it.   Whatever “It” is.

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God Loves You More than you could ever love yourself!!!  He wants you to do Great things. He wants you to have Peace, Love, Joy, & Success.  As I am putting this post all together I am being reminded of this truth!!! This video was recorded in July of this past Summer & as I was watching & editing it I realized that I am looking at the face of the old me. Even though it was just a few months ago I can totally see in my face that God is still moving me towards my end goal.  Step by Step, pound by pound. So incase you were watching this video & wondering if I have gained weight back, NO. I just had others that I wanted to share before posting this message.  However the Super Cool thing is that sometimes we can think that the progress we have made isn’t really making a difference. Then you see yourself in a video or picture & realize that progress is happening!!! I’m here to tell ya every bit is still progress & it IS making a difference.  Not just in your life but, in every person that is watching you!!!  Just the other day as I was going thru the Starbucks drive-thru, the baristas, two of them said “Girl you are shrinking so small. Your face is so different.”.  Of course it TOTALLY brighten my day, in fact today I’m still talking about it!!! 🙂  My point is that they see me every time I treat myself to delicious Starbucks. Which might be pretty frequent. 😉  They can tell that God is doing an Amazing Healing in me.  Another Super Cool experience of this happening was last year at Joyce Meyer Love Life Conference.  I’ll never forget talking with a couple ladies before a session & when they asked me my age.  I told them & they both responded with “Wow I though you were in your 20’s!!!”  That felt so Amazingly Super Cool!!! Especially since I’m 37 & getting closer to 40 than my 30’s. You can’t buy anything anti-aging like that!!!  An added bonus of losing weight slow & controlled is your skin has time to tighten up while it’s healing.  God used the healing of my skin to be able to show these ladies the benefits of drinking water, sleeping & eating from God’s garden.  That it’s not just weight loss, there is so much more to be able to enjoy on this journey!!! I was able to share with them my website & social media accounts so that they could continue hearing me share my story of healing.  While they all are watching this Determined Debbie do this Amazing transformation it opens the door for them to ask me how & what I am doing.  That’s when I am able to share Jesus with them.  Because I can’t share my story without sharing Jesus.  He Is my story!!!  My pray & hope is that they will be inspired of what God can do for them!!!  What God has done for me He can & wants to do for them too!!!  And for YOU!!!  Just start asking & He will lead & guide you where He wants to take you.  Who would of thought that God could use someone losing weight & getting healthy to share His message of Healing & Hope.  He did!!!

SuperStarrs Remember Matthew 7:7-12 Keep Asking, Keep Seeking, Keep Knocking!!!

What have you been wanting to ask God for???

When are you gonna start asking???

Who will be effected or inspired from watching you on your “In The Weighting” Journey???

SuperStarrs, what are you waiting for???

Ask, Seek & Knock.  God is waiting & listening.  Just ask!!!

Be patient & make healthy choices while you are “In The Weighting“!!!

It’s A Wonderful Life!!!

SuperStarrs, it Really is A Wonderful Life!!!  I think we all have days when we need reminded of all that we have to be Thankful!!!  In today’s video I’m sharing all of that and so much more.  It’s A Wonderful Life is one of my Favorite Holiday movies but it’s not just a Christmas Movie.  It’s so much more!!! Watch & Listen.

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Watching Jimmy Stewart in this movie reminds me so much of my Grandpa, Darrell Hawkins. He was tall, slender, handsome and dressed like Classic Hollywood Actor.  Grandpa always wore slacks, nice sweaters & hats.  He had a cool collection of hats!!! And I’m not talking about the beanies & stocking caps guys wear now because they are to lazy to comb their hair. Grandpa did always had a comb in his back pocket to fix his hair whenever he got caught in a wind storm.  However its not just about his appearance and the memories of watching this movie with him.  It’s more about the story of a man trying to do the right thing but somehow there’s always some new obstacle to overcome.  My Grandpa might not have had a lot of worldly riches but he did have the most important!!! He was rich in his Faith, Hope & Love!!!  He loved Jesus & his Family!!! My 1st memories of my Grandpa is driving me to Sunday School in the church bus.  He shared God’s love for everyone, with everyone, everywhere he went.  In fact it was just this Summer that I found out, he was written up a few times at work for sharing Jesus & praying with others at work.  He often left reading material in the men’s bathroom. This happened so frequently that the company encouraged him to retire early!!! I LOVE IT!!!  I just wonder how many guys were encouraged or learned for the 1st time of God’s love for them while reading during their bathroom break???  My Grandpa is now with Jesus, so he knows and I will be patient “In The Weighting” until I get there, to find out.  My Grandpa raised 7 boys… yes you read that right SEVEN BOYS!!!  My Grandparents tried & tried to have a girl, seven boys later decided it wasn’t happening for them but, then I was the 1st born Grandchild!!! 🙂  However that’s another story for another time.  My point is that My Grandpa’s Children carry on the Hawkins legacy & name.  In fact at our Hawkins Reunion every year, we make up over 2/3 of the people that attend.  If ever we all decided to stop going they’d only have a handful of people there.  I am the oldest of 18 Grandkids, there’s currently 18 Great Grandkids and another one on the way due in March.  Grandpa was the youngest of 6 in his family so he did come from a big family. He just really lived out the “be fruitful & multiply” verse found in Genesis 1:28.

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My Grandpa Darrell Hawkins on the left Jimmy Stewart on the right.

My point is My Grandpa was Awesome & I AM SO THANKFUL FOR MY HAWKINS FAMILY!!! We are not perfect & we have had our share of drama throughout the years. As with ALL families.  You can’t do life with this many people and not have had it!!!  We have all made a lot of great memories along the way.  We all live our own lives & do our own adventures but we also make time a few times a year, to get together to make more memories!!! We always know that we have each others back!!!  I know that is such a Blessing because not every family has what we Hawkins have!!! (Yes I know I’m a SuperStarr now but I’ll always be a Hawkins!!!)  Ya see what some people have and take for granted, others are praying for!!!

Even if you don’t like the house you live in, someone is praying for one.

Your job really sucks somedays, someone is praying to get hired where you work.

You son or daughter is being high maintenance this season, someone is praying to become a parent.

You’ve been frustrated with your spouse lately, someone single is praying to find their future spouse.

So SuperStarrs, we all have something to Thank God for.  Even if we are not where we want to be or have what we want, we can still be rich in Faith, Hope & Love!!!  It’s up to us everyday to continue choosing them!!!  We choose how rich in them we want to be.  No one is in control of our thinking or actions but us!!! No matter how others treat us, we can choose Faith, Hope & Love in Jesus!!!  The Greatest of these is Love!!! Love God, others & ourselves!!! When we keep it simple then, we can really see It IS A Wonderful Life!!!

SuperStarrs, I really want you to know that You matter & God’s got Great plans for YOU!!! There will never be another You!!! My Husband has identical twin. Even though they both look & act alike, they are both two totally different people. God is using both of them for different purposes that they can only do!!!  Bob builds & fixes with his hands.  Bernie plays drums & helps lead worship for his church.  Bernie can’t build a house & Bob can’t play the drums.  They are both irreplaceable for their purpose.  You can not be replaced!!! It’s so important for you to know this truth!!!  If you have believed a lie, then replace it with this Truth.  You are Loved & Irreplaceable!!! Having a healthy mind will help you to be successful on your journey.  Our thoughts become our actions. Our actions become our habits. Having healthy habits lead to having a healthy mind & body.  That’s the end goal!!!

Who are you Thankful for???

How is Your Life Wonderful???

What are you gonna start doing to choose Faith, Hope & Love daily???

Remember You are a SuperStarr!!!

Be Patient & Make Healthy Choices while You are “In The Weighting”!!!

 

 

Happy New Year’s SuperStarrs!!!

Today is New Year’s Eve and in just a few hours we will be in 2018!!!  A New Year brings fresh start and new Hopes & Dreams for the New Year!!!  That’s why we celebrate because no matter how horrible the year before was, we have Hope for the New Year!!!  That’s why everyone makes resolutions and dream of how we are gonna make it the Best Year yet.  In today’s video I’m sharing my 5 tips of making lasting New Year’s Resolutions!!!

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I also want to say

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

SUPERSTARRS, for following me on this Journey of “In The Weighting“!!!

Tonight is my 1 year Anniversary of me sharing my “In The Weighting” Journey!!! As I look back on this year of 2017 I am AMAZED at all the God has done!!! My goal was to run another 3 Half Marathons and I ran 4!!!  My goal was to have at least 50 videos on my YouTube Channel, I have 62!!! My goal was to have 100 followers on Instagram, I have over 200!!! God is so AWESOME!!!  As I continue to Dream, He continues to show me More!!!  So I will continue to Dream Big for 2018!!!  Won’t you join me???

Happy New Year’s SuperStarrs!!!

What goals are you making???

How are you gonna do them???

When are you gonna start???

What are you doing for New Year’s Eve???

CHEERS, to a SUPER COOL 2018 SuperStarrs!!!

Remember You are a SuperStarr!!! God made You to shine bright in the dark world!!!

Trust the process & be patient. Do what You can do and God will help you with the rest!!!

Make Healthy Choices while You are “In The Weighting“!!!

My 7th Half Marathon!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!! Today I am sharing all about My 7th Half Marathon!!!  I’m still Amazed that I can say that I’ve ran SEVEN Half Marathons!!!  GOD IS SUPER GREAT!!! Watch the video to hear all about my Loiusville, Kentucky Half Marathon Race, that I ran Sunday, November 12th, 2017.

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I can not say it enough that if you can Dream It, YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT!!!  God has placed those Dreams inside you for a purpose. Just start!!!  Do what you can do now and you will get stronger.  Then before you know it you will be able to do more. Someday you’ll look back on what seemed impossible once, you are now doing!!!  Or have done it SEVEN times!!!

Start Dreaming & Don’t Stop Believing!!!

What can you start doing today???

How can YOU change YOUR future???

Remember God Loves YOU and YOU ARE A SUPERSTARR!!!

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting“!!!

When Life Stinks!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!! How’s it going??? I pray you are in a sweet spot and life is great!!!  Somedays or seasons just stink, however don’t let it get ya down.  Watch the video to hear what really stinks!!!

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When we are in a stinky situation sometimes we know why it is so hard. Because we are cleaning up whatever mess we got ourselves into.  But sometimes we don’t always know what the purpose is or why we are going thru this stinky situation.  In those times we gotta go to Jesus to get the strength and energy we need to be able to continue on our journey.  Don’t get so overwhelmed thinking about all that you can’t do, just focus and do what you can do.  God only expects you to do what He has asked you to do.  If He asks you to do something then He has put in you what you need to do it. Keep on keeping on…even when it stinks!!! Then you will get to where you want to be and receive the blessings God has for you!!!

Remember, You are a SuperStarr!!!

Remember, You are Loved and God has Amazing plans for Your life!!!

Have you ever had to run on garbage day or another stinky situation???  Share with us your story!!!

Are you in a Stinky situation???

What can you do to improve your situation???

How can you help someone else who in going thru a stinky situation???

When you find yourself focusing on the negative, what is your plan to help you remember this is just a season???

Keep making Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

 

 

My 6th Half Marathon!!!

SuperStarrs, I pray you are having a Fabulous Fall!!!  I am so thankful for the cooler running weather.  The trees are changing colors and the sunsets are so colorful this time of year.  I have been just so grateful for all that God has been doing this season.  Especially the fact that I just completed My 6th Half Marathon!!! I can no longer count on one hand, how many Half Marathons I’ve ran.  🙂  I’m amazed that what I once felt was impossible for me to ever do, I’ve now done 6 Times!!!  And I’m not done. The next day I was online looking up my next race.  LOL!!!  God is So Great!!!  He helps us to get to where we want to be.  All we have to do is ask Him to help us & He is with us every step of the way!!! Then before we know it we are doing it, have done it & are working towards getting better, stronger, faster!!! Some days can be weary and we can feel like we might never get there but, if we keep on keeping on we will get there.

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For more pics from this race follow me on Instagram.

This race was the Whiskeydaddle in Peoria, IL & I ran The Bottle, which is the Half Marathon.  This race had perfect cool Fall weather which we were all thankful for.

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The morning started off like my other races before. Feeling a bit sleepy from not really sleeping well the night before. I am always nervous about sleeping thru my alarm and not making it to the race on time.  Adrenaline is pumping and I am having to keep a balance. So I have to remind myself to run fast while I’m fresh and not as tired but also not too fast where I am burnt out and have nothing left for the last part of the race.  I might feel super fast for a few miles but I have to run 13.1 to finish.  So after 3 miles in, a guy on the sidelines cheering for us says to me “I am proud of you!!! You are a role model!!!”.  I said “Thank You.” & smiled back. But for the next four miles his words were like on repeat in my mind.  Of course the whole time I am just thanking God for the transformation He has done for me in my life.

Ya see the day before I was with my best friends from grade school & high school, Andrea & Cristy. My dearest friend Cristy’s Grandpa had passed away.  So all of the family was gathering together to celebrate Grandpa Rasmussen’s Life.  Growing up I was a part of their family. Most nights I was gathered at their table for dinner & helped wash dishes afterward.  Whenever I wanted to stay the night I knew I just had to bake up some Texas Brownies for her Dad, Tony.  Her Mom, Rita taught me so much about being a Wife & Mom.  It was such a Blessings growing up with all of them. I will always be Thankful for them sharing all they had with me.  During those years I was so rebellious. I smoked, drank, cursed and anything else I could to tick people off.  I was always disrespecting any one who would try to control or rule over me. So of course that cause major problems for me in school and with a lot of kids & their parents.  Honestly I was a hurting kid who was just trying to hurt others but, mostly myself.  A role model I was not!!!  I was the poster child of angry teenager & who not to let you kid hang out with!!! Seriously, I really had other parents tell their kids that they couldn’t hang out with me.  Anyways, all thru the day of being together, we shared stories of the crazy stuff we did, and all the drama that we survived.  It was so funny hearing some of it from the parents point of view.  Her Dad questioning the guys we were into. “Why are they going to listen to him, That guy can’t even sing”. LOL!!!

All of those stories & who I had been, was fresh on my mind & heart, when that guy called me a “Role Model”.  The night before I had spent time thanking God that I was no longer that kid any more!!!  I thanked him for the friendships that became family. I thanked him for them showing me Jesus!!!  When I was hungry they feed me, when I was thirsty they gave me drink, when I was a stranger they invited me in.  Luckily I never ever did go to jail for anything. LOL!!! THANK GOD!!! But I know that if I had they would have loved me thru it!!!  When I moved to Mackinaw it was my 6th school move and we were beginning jr. high. Not a fun time to be trying to make new friends.  I was a stranger and they invited me into their family.  They always loved God & showed it by loving others.  They never preached to me, they showed me. They were Matthew 25:35-40 in action. I know I am where I am today because of The Rasmussen Family!!!

So as I am running I just continue to think about where I was and where I am now. How Awesome God is!!! That Jesus loved me thru all my junk. Thru all my hurts & He healed me thru so much. It’s been years since I smoked or acted like that angry teen. I know He has had Great plans for my life from the beginning.  I feel like I see now why the devil was working so hard to try and take me out.  If I’d kept smoking there is no way I’d be running now. I am just so grateful that He is choosing to use the opposite of what the devil wanted to & tried to take me out with.

God has given me Health & Energy. Smoking & partying was robbing me of my health & energy. They were only temporary highs, followed by a painful crash. I remember when I was trying to quit smoking, I thought it was impossible. Now it’s been 16 years!!! God has given me Peace & Joy!!! So much that I forgot how angry & hurt I once was!!!  The enemy constantly reminded me of my hurts which only kept stirring up my angry, making me bitter.  I do have some bad days, but nothing compared to what I used to have without Jesus!!! On my bad days I cry out to Jesus!!! He always helps me!!!

As I was meditating on all God has done for me and in me, it just fired me up to continue running my race, not just the one I was running but my “In The Weighting” Journey.  Being told I am a “Role Model”. WOW!!! SERIOUSLY, WOW!!! GOD IS SO AMAZING!!! So about this time I realize that I have been pacing back and forth with a lady & her dog.  He was Super Cute and I’m not prideful, but I wasn’t gonna be beat by a dog!!!  LOL!!! So I kicked it up and before I knew it I was Halfway, Mile 7!!! The added bonus was My Cheering section was there, Bob & the kids were waiting for me!!!

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This race really did seem to go by much faster than the others before, because it really was faster than any race before!!! As I continue to run I am more & more determined to PR this race.  So I kept pushing myself to keep up a faster pace. By the time I hit 10 miles I was getting tired but I kept going. I kept digging deep to keep myself from slowing down. When I hit Mile 12, I kicked it up and kept telling myself to “run hard”.  “I’m not tired yet”.  “I’ll rest when I’m done”.  “I’ve got just this last mile to run & make a difference of my time, after that I can do nothing the rest of the day”.  That last mile I past a lot of walkers and everyone who saw me knew I was on a mission. Determined Debbie Full Starr Power!!!

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The Rush when I cross that finish line is always Amazing!!! It’s the Highest High!!!  Even though I was tired & sore for a few days, it was a great reminder of how hard I worked & what I had done!!!  On that Sunday, I had ran a Half Marathon before most people were out of church or even out of bed!!!

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I Totally earned my Bling this race!!! I finished 2:56:37 Making this my 3rd race under 3 hours & 2 min & 8 secs faster than my Green Bay time in May!!!  Making this my Fastest race, so far!!!

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Check out My BLING!!!

I want to say Thank You SuperStarrs!!!  Thanks for reading my post, watching my videos, liking my pics & for every encouraging message & comment you write me!!! I love hearing from y’all!!!  I pray I am able to encourage you all to Dream Big Dreams!!!  Even if you think they are impossible, with God All Things Are Possible!!! Jesus said it & I Believe it, because I am living it everyday!!!

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SuperStarrs Remember that you are Loved!!!

Jesus thinks You are to die for!!!

Whatever Dream you have stirring in you, take it to God, & ask for His Help!!!

Believe & Trust God!!!

Be patient while you are “In The Weighting” & Make Healthy Choices!!!

 

What I Learned From Forrest Gump!!!

Hello SuperStarrs, as you can see from the title, today I’m sharing what I learned about myself while watching Forrest Gump!!!  Enjoy!!!
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SuperStarrs, I am here to encourage you to Believe in Yourself!!!  Don’t allow any negative thoughts & doubts to keep you from what you want to do.  PERIOD.  If you have ever thought, “I wish I could run.” or “It would be so cool to run a race.”, then START!!!  Start with walking and keep adding as you get stronger.  As long as you don’t quit, you will eventually be able to run.  You will eventually run that race!!!  If you quit or never start then,  you are guaranteed to never run. However when you become determined that no matter how long it takes you will run, you will run that race, then YOU WILL!!!  Also don’t get so caught up in having to run the whole race.  There are a lot of walkers & run/walkers completing races. Whether they are 5K’s or Marathons.  Run or Walk your own race!!!  Just because someone else did this or that, doesn’t mean you have too.  We are all running our own race at our own pace in this life.  I Love to hang out with other’s who are faster & stronger than me, because it allows me to Dream Bigger!!! I don’t allow it to discredit what I have done or what I am focusing on now!!!  There is a Big difference between inspiration & comparison. Comparison will easily fill you with pride or discourage you because, they will always be someone doing less or more than you.  So Please don’t let that become a distraction that sets you up to fail.  We are all SuperStarrs who shine differently!!!  Just Keep Shining!!!  Becoming inspired by those around you, will get you dreaming, you feel moved to do something, and it allows your creative juices to flow.  You hear & see what others have done & you dream of how you can do this or that, your way!!!  Discovering new ways to use your gifts & talents.  Staying inspired keeps your momentum up during your journey!!!
If you are currently dealing with an injury or weakness that needs to be strengthened, stay patient.  Know that if you allow your body to heal & properly treat your injury, then in time you will be back to 100%.  Keep lifting & doing those exercises!!!  Every lift is making you stronger!!!
SuperStarrs, have you ever Dreamed of crossing a finishline???
If so, What’s stopping You???
Are you working towards a Race now???
Be Patient & Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

Find What Makes You Get Up & Go!!!

SuperStarrs this video I took this past weekend when I was at the Love Life Women’s Conference in St. Louis, Missouri.  Which is always a great time of getting refueled and encouraged while hanging out with thousands of ladies!!!

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So if you are saying, “Debbie, I don’t have anything that make me want to get up & go.” Then guess what ya gotta find it!!!  You can start by remembering what you liked to do as a kid.  Did you dance, tumble, or play sports? Was it in a group setting or did you prefer going solo? Did you enjoy playing for fun or did competition help motivate you? Take some time to remember what you made you feel good, while having fun. Did you enjoy jumping rope, bike riding, swimming, or lifting weights? Do you like routine or constantly changing things up?  If you were never very active before you can start now.  Be adventurous!!!  Take a dance class or sign up for swim class at your local YMCA if you enjoy meeting new people. If working out alone is your thing, then stay home & push play on a workout DVD. Don’t have one, then YouTube whatever you looking for.  Anyone can grab your sneakers & music and get outside for a walk.  You’ll enjoy the fresh air, sunshine & be able to build up to miles.  Then someday start walk/run & then you’ll be running before ya know it!!!  The point is, just start with something. Try it, if you are not feeling it then move onto something else. Keep going until you find your thing!!! You will still be burning calories & sweating until you find it.

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You can check out more of my pics from St. Louis on my Instagram @debbierstarr!!!

For me I love to run for many reasons. Number one is I love to eat & I love to eat carbs!!! Running allows me to burn off & refuel with carbs!!! I also enjoy being outside, getting fresh air & sunshine all year round!!!  Smelling the lilacs in the Spring, getting some color on my skin in the Summer, watching the trees change colors & the welcomed cool weather in the Fall, & making footprints as I crunch in the snow in the Winter, all these changes keep my runs always fresh & new. It never gets boring & when I travel I get to actually see places that I wouldn’t if I was just driving. Another Love is I get to put music in my ears & drowned out the rest of the noise of the world.  This Mom needs her music & a break from the latest Disney Movie my Daughter is obsessed with. (Currently it is Moana.) Occasionally I’ll meet up with friends, but most of the time I run solo.  It works for me.  It’s my therapy a lot of days. Even on tough days, I’m able to run off stressed energy, while talking to God about what’s going on. I always feel better after my runs!!!  I’ve never regretted a run.

Whatever you choose, start by slowly adding that into your schedule. Start off slow and add as you can do more.  If you haven’t rode a bike in 15 years, don’t hop on and try to do a 10 mile ride.  The goal is to feel good afterwards, not struggling to walk for the next week. Even if you just did around the block, that progress from just sitting on the couch.  Remember to stretch & stay hydrated!!!

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This year was the last year to be held annually in St. Louis.  Next year it’s moving to Tampa, FL and then on from there.  With all change there is bittersweetness to it.  For the past eight years I’ve road tripped it down to St. Louis mostly with the same core group of ladies and one year solo. (I was prego with baby girl & knew it needed to be a solo trip so that I wouldn’t have to share a bed or bathroom & that I could nap & have quiet time when I needed it. True friends understand when you are honest about your needs & they’ll never try to make you feel bad.)  So this past weekend was a great time of reflection. Remembering where I was spiritually & physically when I First started coming & then where I am today.  It started with me healing spiritually then has progressed to physically.  Thinking back, I was so full of hurt & anger from things I was going through, but also past things I never dealt with.  Hurts & betrayal that I didn’t know what to do with.  Wounds that I never properly treated, so they never fully healed.  I didn’t know how to Love. I couldn’t Love others because I didn’t know how to even Love myself.  All that, created the storm inside me. I didn’t have peace or joy. I didn’t trust those who did. I felt if I couldn’t have it, then it wasn’t real & they were all fakers.  That’s where I was but, I also had this desire stirring inside me. That IF it was possible, IF it was available, IF others actually had Peace & Joy, then I was gonna do whatever & search out whatever until I found it & had it for myself.  So that’s what I continued to do on my spiritual journey.  I Loved Jesus & wanted to Love others the way He was asking me to but, I didn’t know how.  So I just kept asking God for help.  Asking Him to show me. Teach me.  Every year I’ve kept returning to St. Louis excited for whatever He had to teach me. Every years God would speak to me thru the Teachers about whatever I needed to focus on next. Then I’d go home & do it. One year was Love, another getting rid of angry, another finding Peace, another on living in balance, another Trusting God, another Discipline & on & on until now.  SuperStarrs  if you’ve been following me on my  “In The Weighting” Journey then you already know from My 1st Marathon post, that I was on the treadmill running, during a break at this conference, when the Holy Spirit told me, He would help me run a Half Marathon if I really wanted to do it. And the rest is Beautiful History of me sharing my story with SuperStarrs all over.  To give Hope & Encourage them to Start & Shine in their journey wherever God is taking them. To Dream Big Dreams & to know that God Loves them & has Awesome plans for them!!!  That’s YOU!!!  That’s this running ministry!!!  So Super Cool!!!  God is AMAZING!!!

That is why I had to share this all with y’all!!! I never want ya to think that I have it all together, it’s God who holds me together!!!  No mater where you are now, if you are not happy & want to make a change.  He will Help You!!! Just like He did me & you never know what God can do with your story!!!

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As I was eating at my favorite foods at my favorite restaurants, realizing this was the close of this season.  I was at peace & have joy for what’s to come.  Did ya hear that???  I HAVE PEACE & JOY!!! What I started searching for, I have today & have had for years. Just kinda forgot where I started, until this past weekend when God gently reminded me. I have unshakeable Peace & Joy now. So much that no matter what changes or losses come, I know in my heart, as long as I have Jesus, I will always have Peace & Joy!!! No one can take that away from me!!! 🙂 It IS Real & I’m not faking!!!

SuperStarrs if you don’t have the Peace & Joy of Jesus, I invite you to check out My Upper Management page for more info on how you can get it!!!

So what makes you want to Get Up & Go???

What adventure are you gonna go on???

Remember You are a SUPERSTARR!!!

Know that YOU are Love by God who has Amazing Blessings for YOU!!!

He is always there, waiting for You!!!

Be patient & make healthy choices while You are “In The Weighting”!!!

My 5th Half Marathon

Hello SuperStarrs!!!  Today is all about My 5th Half Marathon!!!  I’m still Amazed how far God has brought me on my journey of “In The Weighting”!!! I remember when I thought running one was impossible, but with God’s help, here I am having just finished my 5th!!! And I know He’s got so much more for me!!! So Dream BIG Dreams SuperStarrs and realize nothing is impossible with God!!! If he has put that Dream inside you, it’s for a purpose, a purpose that only you can do your way. In the Video below I share my story of what God taught me in this race.

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It’s so important who you surround yourself with!!!  Look around for other SuperStarrs who are shining brightly.  Learn what they are doing and how they got there.  It’s not about comparison, it’s about seeing what’s possible!!!  If it was possible with them, then it’s possible for YOU too!!!  You are the only one stopping you. We all will do things differently even within the same thing.  Think about music and musicians, even if two people sing & play the same song they each add their own flavor to it.  So remember that no one can do it the way you will do it. We all run our races differently and that’s why if God is stirring a dream inside you, Do It!!!  There is a reason and a purpose that He will reveal in time!!!

 

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Here’s my SuperStarrs Angie & Jodi who ran with me!!!

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I gotta give a HUGE Shout out to Shannon at Woulfer Photography for taken all the pics at the race and for the photo shoot we did while I was there!!!

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Here’s  my Fav but you’ll have to wait for the rest!!!

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Here is my BIG Finish!!! 2:59:57

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It was another Amazing Race!!!

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I want to say Thanks to all of YOU SuperStarrs!!!

Thank You for reading my blog & watching my videos!!!

Thanks for the encouragement along the way!!!

I Love Ya’ll!!!!

Have Patience & Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

Eclipse 2017

Hey Superstarrs, Where were you during the Eclipse 2017??? We were in Christian County, Kentucky, with our Starr Family.  We were Blessed to spend the weekend celebrating in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.  That was renamed Eclipseville. Here is pics & video of our adventure!!!

IMG_20170820_155617_531 My Sis-in-law Vickie Starr.

We spent Saturday afternoon Downtown Hopkinsville, Kentucky enjoying the festivities.  They had lots of Super Cool Food & Vender tents all over down there. My favorite one I visited was The Mixer, where they mixed me up a cool refreshing Casey Jones Eclipsarita.  I am definitely looking forward to visiting them, when they get their place open in early 2018!!!

20170819_155941While walking around Downtown we got to see a cool old theater called the Alhambra Theatre. Ever since working at a movie theater in High School, I love whenever I see old  theaters restored.  The glow of the neon is just so Awesome!!! I also loved the poster they had hanging up.

20170819_160610Street view, I had to get closer to see all the lights!!!

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20170819_160356The poster confirming  that we were in the Best place to see the Eclipse!!! We ended up having the longest & clearest view.  So glad we traveled to Kentucky instead of staying in Southern Illinois.  I felt so sorry for those in Carbondale, who had clouds blocking their view until the last 3 seconds.  Major Bummer!!!

You can check out more of my pics from this adventure on my Instagram!!!

Below are the videos I took before, during & after the Eclipse.

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Eclipse PaRtY!!!

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Total Eclipse of the Heart PaRtY!!!

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Eclipse PaRtY Ending!!!

It was Super Fun while it lasted.  I gotta give a HUGE shout out to My Super Cool Starr Family!!! BERNIE & VICKIE YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!  SERIOUSLY, Thanks so much for hosting us all weekend!!! Love ya guys!!!

SuperStarrs what was your experience???

If you have Awesome pics, please share below!!! I Love seeing all the different pics!!!

 

 

Stop Dreading & Complaining!!!

Hey SuperStarrs, do you ever dread or complain about workouts or eating healthy???  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! We all have days or will have days, where we will be tempted to have a bad attitude.  So I am here to encourage you on how to handle those days when they try to creep up on you.

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Have you ever noticed how easy it is to find the negative in things of life??? SuperStarrs In order to have a life of Peace & Joy, You will have to work for it!!! You will have to purposely choose Peace & Joy everyday!!!  It doesn’t just happen, we have to choose daily to have Joy & Peace.  If you are really struggling getting your workouts done, change it up.  Try something new or play a sport that you love.  Take a Dance class. Sign up for Martial Arts class.  Think of something that you’ve always wanted to do or used to be able to do, that you want to be able to do again. Like a pull up, the splits or a handstand. Maybe it’s a Real pushup or sit-up.  Whatever it is, if it’s something that you really want, you can keep working at until you are able to do it.  Have fun while you are getting healthy!!!

For added Bonus here is a funny out take video for ya’ll!!!

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What negative things are you gonna stop saying and thinking???

How are you gonna be more positive in your words and thoughts???

When you were younger, was there something you always wanted to do or a sport you enjoyed playing???

How are you gonna Have Fun???

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

 

Two Things You’ve Gotta Have!!!

SuperStarrs, I pray that y’all are having a Super Cool Summer!!!  Or at least being able to stay cool.  It’s been very HOT here in Illinois but it’s not stopping us from getting outside while we can.  I really want to share with y’all two things ya gotta have to have long term success.  Remember  your time “In The Weighting” is a Journey.  Not a quick fix, so that’s why I really wanted to share this message with y’all today.

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Proverbs 25:28 tells us having self control helps you keep Your protective “City Wall” up. That wall is there for protection, just like our self control helps to protect us.  If ever I have ate too much junk then I’ve had a Food Hangover.  Some of ya know what I’m talking about.  You are feeling uncomfortable, sometimes miserable from your food baby kicking in your belly.  Heartburn wakes you up and interrupts your sleep.  In the morning you regret overindulging the night before and maybe even make a empty promise to yourself to never eat or drink that much ever again.  That’s what happens when you eat too much Honey!!!  Thank God I have become wiser and don’t have hangovers any more. From Food or Drink.  I finally made good on my promise to myself, to not allow myself to overdo it. That’s Self Control!!!  There really can be too much of a good thing!!!

Endurance is powering thru difficult or unpleasant times. In The Weighting you will have unpleasant times.  It’s up to you to decided if you are gonna keep going and be productive, or give up and stay the same without any change.  You Decided!!!

SuperStarrs how are you gonna strengthen your Self Control???

What are you gonna do to keep your focussed and be able to Endure???

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

My Morning Routine!!!

Hey SuperStarrs, today I’m chatting with you on how important your morning routine can be in helping you to be able to get stuff done!!! Seriously when you are able to get your workout done 1st thing, then you feel so much better, you will have more energy to be able to get more stuff done!!!  So I’m sharing with ya’ll what works for me and hopefully you’ll find a few tips that will help you out in starting off your day.

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I pray that you are having a Fabulous Summer and able to enjoy your family & friends.  Get outside and enjoy this Amazing weather and get some Vitamin D from the Sunshine!!!

SuperStarrs, how do you start your day???

What will you add to your mornings???

When do you get your workouts and Jesus time in???

Where do you get away to be with Jesus and refill your cup…yourself and coffee cup???

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

My Life Verse

This is it!!!

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SuperStarrs I am so excited to share my story with you about my life verse.  I hope it encourages you wherever you are today and gets you Dreaming about Your Tomorrows!!!

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It’s Super Cool to be able to share this story with you while Bob and I are celebrating 12 years of marriage!!!

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GOD IS SO GREAT!!! He never leaves us and is with us throughout all the storms of life.  He has Great things planned for us, even when we don’t feel like He does or can’t understand what’s going on.  Trust God and Believe that you have Amazing things coming to you.  Things Bigger than we can Dream for ourselves!!!

SuperStarrs, Do you have a Life Verse???

If so, Please share with us!!!

What new promises have you discovered in the Word???

Do you remember a time when you were going through a storm and God brought you good out of the situation??? Trust that He WILL do it again!!!

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

 

 

Sparkle

This Last weekend I was so Blessed to be able to share with all my SuperStarrs at Sparkle, The Ladies Conference at RockChurch in East Peoria, IL.  RockChurch is our Home Church, where Bob and I met, and where we are raising our SuperStarrs in church!!! Our kids have been dedicated and Ethan baptized here. In fact years ago when I graduated High School and had no clue what I was gonna do with my life, it was the same day RockChurch was started. May 31st 1998. Only God knew that a few years later I’d be looking for Church, the same time they’d be looking for Hair and Make-up Artist for a T.V. Show they were taping called KDOT.  My first visit was in 2001 and it’s been my home ever since.  Friends have now become Family and our kids are doing life together.  So you can understand how Super Cool it was to be able to share at RockChurch!!! Added Bonus was to be able to do the Conference with SuperStarrs, Maureen Gray and Annette Tate.  Chuck and Annette Tate are the Pastors of RockChurch and Chuck Tate is the author of 41 Will Come.  We had such fun weekend together that went by so fast!!!

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Annette Tate, Maureen Gray, & Me!!!

For those of you who were not able to make it, You are in luck because we recorded it!!!  The full Sparkle Conference will be available on RockChurch’s website http://www.rcpeoria.org and the RockChurch app, that’s free and available thru your app stores on your mobile devices.  Here is my session SuperStarrs.  Enjoy, comment, like and share away!!!  More people need to know how AMAZING JESUS IS!!!

 

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Ya’ll know my Bestie Michelle!!!

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SuperStarrs Jessica, Me & Michelle!!! 

SuperStarrs What are you rooted in???

Do you need to change the soil and uproot where you are planted???

What changes are you going to make in order to be able to maintain your garden so that you can be as fruitful as possible???

Do you have a Church that you are rooted in and call your Home Church???

If you live in Central Illinois area, I want to invite you to come be a part of My Church Family!!!

SuperStarrs, make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

My 4th Half Marathon!!!

SuperStarrs, on May 21, 2017 I ran my 4th Half Marathon!!! What was so Super Cool about it was, I was running in Green Bay, WI at Lambeau Field.  The same place I had ran my very 1st Half Marathon a year ago!!!  What a difference it was in so many ways but, what really stuck out to me the most was that, I was so much more confident this year.  Last year I was struggling with a bit of doubt and anxiousness before the race. It’s so AMAZING what can happen in just ONE YEAR!!!  Last year was Super Hot and this year it started off with cold rain.

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This was the reason God had me running so much in the rain.  He knew this was the training I needed, so that I could be prepared for my running my race and that I would be able to have the endurance and finish STRONG!!!

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Running this year was still tough, it wasn’t easier, but I was stronger!!! This year I started in a wave faster than last year.  Last year I was in the very last wave, but not this year!!! I was able to keep going thru the cold wet feet, side cramps and my hip flaring up.  I was Determined Debbie this year!!! I was Determined to run the best I could and be able to say at the end I finished Strong and did better then before. I did and it was Awesome to see how much progress I made in a year. With running all the time it can feel like the few seconds faster doesn’t matter much but it totally does!!!  Those seconds add up to minutes. 15 Minutes for me!!!

While Running in Lambeau Field, I felt like such an athlete. It Amazing to think about all the Great athletes that have played on that field and I was running on it too!!!  I could always say I ran 2 Half Marathons there!!!  It’s so AWESOME to look up and see Starr. It’s for Bart Starr but still Super Cool to see your name on the stadium and hear your family and friends cheering from the bleachers!!! The other added Bonus was realizing later, when watching the video, that Wonder Woman beats Batgirl!!! 🙂

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After seeing Bob and the kids, I kept running out of the stadium and back out and up to the Finish line.  My feet were hurting, my lungs were burning but I was not slowing down I wanted to hit my goal. According to my Garmin watch I was gonna Hit it but I didn’t want slow down.  I knew I could rest when I was done so with the energy I had left I sprinted cross the finish line.

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I FINISHED!!!  Now time for my BLING…Once I knew I wasn’t gonna pass out and my breathing returned to normal.  The medic guy looked at me and said “Are you gonna be alright???”  I was like yeah now am I…now that I stopped running LOL!!! Getting the BLING feels so AWESOME because you know you earned it so I took a second to catch my breath so I could enjoy every second of it.

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I knew I had PR’d this race from last year, I just didn’t know it I had hit my goal yet so I got to ring my 1st PR Bell!!!

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After getting water and my delicious orange slices, THAT I LOVE!!!  I headed Straight to the results table to get my official time. Results were…

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I DID IT!!! I hit my goal of running under 3 hours!!! 2:58:29 You can tell by my Super Cheese that’s when the High kicked in!!! So I recorded this message to y’all!!!

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It was such an AMAZING Race!!!  Green Bay was a Blast and it was so Great to get to see friends who live in different States all over there!!! Runners are Super Cool!!!

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SuperStarrs that was Green Bay Half Marathon 2017!!!  My 4th Half Marathon in a year!!!

I hope I’ve inspired you to lace up and get out there!!!  Go for a walk outside in God’s Beautiful Creation!!!  When you are ready pick up the pace and run.  It’s not about being the fastest, it’s all about getting healthy and becoming stronger.  The best version of yourself.  You have to live in your body, if you are not happy where your health is.

YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE IT!!!

Just Start!!!

Remember You Are a SuperStarr!!!

Make Healthy Choices while You are “In The Weighting”.

Are You Feeling Drained???

Hello Superstarrs!!!  My family and I are heading back up to Green Bay, WI so that I can run my 4th Half Marathon!!! Here’s some encouragement I want to share with y’all!!!

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What’s so Super Cool is that, this was my First Half Marathon last year. So much has happened in only a year!!! BIG thing is this Blog!!! I had a Dream to succeed and then be able to encourage others, SuperStarrs that’s YOU!!!  I remember last year on my way up having an anxiety attack for the first time ever. I was so nervous and still having just a little doubt of IF I could actually finish. Today I am so confident because God has shown me that I Am Stronger than I thought I was!!! I’m returning already having done 3!!! In my video I shared how I fill myself up with God so that I can overflow onto others without draining myself. I also want to share with you that I L💛VE to read weight loss stories and follow other Christian Health Bloggers so that I am reminded of the opportunity of success available to me. If God has helped them succeed, I know He is gonna help me too!!! God doesn’t have favorites, He loves us all unconditionally. He wants to Bless us all with Health!!!

SuperStarrs Are you feeling drained???

How can you fill yourself up more with God???

What are you going to add to your daily routine so that more of God is flowing in your life???

SuperStarrs what do you do to overflow yourself to others???

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

 

May The 4th Be With You!!!

Hello SuperStarrs, Happy May The 4th, Star Wars Day!!!  In today’s video I share my Super Cool Star Wars Story.  What I learned from Yoda & Luke, in The Empire Strikes Back. Even if you are not a Star Wars fan, there’s an Awesome lesson to learn from my story.
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So in this scene, Luke gets distracted from his ship sinking in the swamp. Immediately he looses focus and has a bad attitude. He drops Yoda and says “Now we’ll never get it out now.” Notice the NEVER? How many times have you said or thought NEVER??? Yoda points out Luke’s negative thinking by asking “So, certain are you? Always with you it can not be done”. We all know people that are always negative or doubting. Some of us are that person. I know I’ve struggled with negative thinking in the past.  Luke defends his actions by saying “Master, moving stones around is one thing, this is Totally different!” Luke is only focused on how much Bigger the problem is, rather than the power he has, that he can use. Yoda again tells Luke, “NO, NO Different. Only different in your mind. You must unlearn what you have learned.” We all learned our negative thinking  and doubting from someone or somewhere.  No matter where we picked it up from, we need to unlearn it!!!  Our God is BIGGER than any problem or task we ever will face!!!  With the Holy Spirit in us, we have the Power in us, we just need to use it!!!  So when Luke responds with his half hearted “Alright I’ll give it a try.” He is still doubting that this is ever gonna work.  It’s totally half hearted, just like when ever someone says “I’ll try to make it to your party.” Ya know they probably are not coming. It’s a half hearted attempt. Whenever someone attempts anything half hearted, they truly don’t care or believe it’s possible.  Whenever we care or really want it to happen, we put forth effort to make it happen. We plan ahead, prepare, declutter our schedule, or cancel whatever is in the way of us getting what we want.  There is effort involved. Luke is already believing in his failure, before he even starts.  Then this is where Master Yoda says his famous line “Do or do not. There is no try.”
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You either put forth the effort and make it happen or you don’t.  So Luke “Tries” as soon as it gets tough, he quits and then says “I can’t, it’s too Big.” Justifying his quitting. How many times have we quit after only giving a half hearted attempt and then we justify our actions to make ourselves feel better about quitting???  Of course Luke says this to little Yoda, but Yoda replies “ Size matters not, look at me.”. Yoda goes on to tell Luke about the Power of the Force and that it is available for Luke to use. However, Luke still being full of doubt so much that he is not even really listening to Yoda.  He is just not getting it. You can feel it in his response “You want the impossible.” Luke then walks away.  R2 gets Luke’s attention. Luke comes back checks out the ship, no longer in the swamp. The impossible has become possible!!! SUPER COOL!!! He says to Yoda “I don’t believe it.” Yoda responds “That is why you fail.”
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So SuperStarrs, we gotta to believe that we can do whatever it is God has called us to do. Whatever we Dream or Desire to do, we can do it.
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit for help.  That’s our Force Jedi!!!
Believe that You can do it!!!
Then DO THE WORK!!! Ditch the word Try.
One day what was once impossible, you will prove to be POSSIBLE!!!
SuperStarrs, Do you celebrate May 4th, Star Wars day???
Are you a Star Wars fan???
Do you have a favorite character or movie???
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

What Are Your Triggers???

Hey SuperStarrs, How’s it going???  We are having an Awesome Spring here in Illinois. The weather has been warm already, so I’ve already got a some color on my skin.  Which is Awesome of this pale girl!!!  Just another reason I LOVE Running outside!!!  Today’s video I’m chatting about Triggers.  Maybe you already know yours and just need to know how to get a handle on them, or you have no idea what I’m talking about. Watch the video to find out why it’s so important to know you triggers and how to respond when they happen.
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I shared a few of My Triggers but here is more.
  1. Being Tired.
  2. Being Hungry.
  3. Under Caffeinated.
  4. Being Rushed.
  5. Unprepared.
  6. Change of Plans. (Especially last second when I have no time to prepare. How do you prepare for that???)
  7. Bored. (Yep I’m a hyper person. I like to be working, moving, learning, entertained, reading, doing SOMETHING other than just doing nothing.)
  8. Being Lied to.
  9. Being Hurt.
  10. Being Frustrated.
  11. Being Scared.
  12. Not Being Heard. (I’m sure most Mom’s can relate to having to repeat yourself over and over and over again, especially at Bedtime.)
  13. Stress/Feeling Overwhelmed.
  14. Having to Wait/ Feeling like something is taking FOREVER to happen.
After  you know your triggers you can be proactive by preparing as much as you can and not putting yourself in those situations as much as possible. Example, It’s late and you know you have to get up early and have a busy day, but you are tempted to watch just one more episode.  Knowing you are not the best you when you are tired, will help you to push stop before the seconds count down to automatically start the next episode on Netflix and go to bed. Then you can get a good night’s sleep and have a blessed productive day.  If something does come up, you will be more stable and able to handle it.  Being exhausted will only will only add to the stress of whatever is going on.
If you haven’t watched this video “You Do Have What It Takes!!!” check it out.
SuperStarrs, What are Your Triggers???
Please comment below and share with us, as you discover your Triggers.  You could help someone else learn that they too have the same trigger.
Have a Blessed Week!!!
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

Happy Easter!!!

SuperStarrs, I pray that you are able to have a Blessed Easter Weekend!!!

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If you don’t have a home church, this is the perfect Sunday to go check a place out.  Easter Sunday services are so Beautiful and the members are expecting you to visit.  You are Welcome, they are expecting YOU, and they have been working hard to prepare for YOUR visit.  There will be many visitors, so you don’t have to feel that you will be the only newbie.  So go celebrate with others!!!

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If you are not a Christian and have questions about what that is all about or who Jesus is,  Check out My Upper Management page.  It’s where I’ve got more info for you.

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I truly believe the reason why Reese’s eggs are so much better than Reese’s cups, is because there is more peanut butter to chocolate ratio!!! If you like M&M’s, then you’d LOVE Cadbury’s mini eggs because they are way better!!! There’s more creamy chocolate and the crunchy shells, make it the best of both worlds!!!  Creamy & Crunchy!!! SUPER YUMMY!!!

Do you have a favorite Easter Treat???

If so, what is it???

What is you favorite thing about Springtime???

Make Healthy Choices!!!

Choose Life!!!

Hello SuperStarrs, in this week’s video I am encouraging you to Choose Life!!!  In all things and every decision, we have a choice to choose life or death.  Even with eating, we have multiple choices throughout the day to Choose Life.
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We don’t have to make eating Healthy so complicated.  We don’t have to spend all day counting calories and figuring up points of what we are eating.  We didn’t get unhealthy from eating too many fruits and veggies.  It was from eating too much sugars, fats and processed foods.  If we are eating mostly good stuff then we have less room for the extra junk food.  To make it simple for my kids all foods go into two main categories.
  1. ALL THE TIME FOODS. Examples are Fruits, Veggies, Whole grains, Lean Meats, Dairy, Nuts, Beans, & Healthy Fats.
  2. SOMETIME FOODS. Examples are Cakes, Cookies, Pie, Ice Cream, Chips, White Breads, Fried Foods, Candy, Soda, Fruit Snacks, and all other Treat Foods.

Basically All The Time Foods, is just that.  They can be eaten all the time.  Even with healthy fats and dairy, they satisfy you and have health benefits to them.  Most people don’t want to drink  whole gallon of milk or a cup of olive oil. Naturally our bodies tell us when we have had enough, and are satisfied. However eating an entire bag of chips, box of cookies or any other process foods are different. The sugar can become addictive leaving you wanting more and more.  The foods have been engineered to keep you eating them, so that you will continue to buy more of their chips, soda, snack cakes etc. Also these foods are high in bad fats, sugar, salts and other chemicals that are artificial.  Because they are not natural, our bodies have a harder time processing them and knowing when we have had enough.  Which is exactly why they should be eaten only sometimes.

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God created an AMAZING Garden for us!!!  There are so many different choices and flavors to enjoy.  Have fun exploring.  My favorite ways to eat my veggies is in soups, salads, anything Mexican, Italian dishes and on Pizza!!!
Places you can study for more info.
In the New Testament, Acts 10:9-16 is where Peter has a vision from the Lord.
Mark 7:14-23 Jesus tells us it’s not about what we eat.  It’s all about what we put in our hearts.
What are you going to try???
What is your favorite ways to eat your Veggies???
What ways are you gonna Choose Life???
Remember you are a SuperStarr!!!
Choose Life & Make Healthy Choices while you are “In the Weighting”.

Noah’s Ark Encounter

Hello SuperStarrs!!!  For Spring Break this year we loaded the kids up in the van and road-tripped it to Kentucky to visit the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum.  I’m Super Excited to share with you my experience.  Check out the video below.
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Ark Encounter located in Williamstown, KY
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Now that’s a BIG boat!!!
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It’s a Super Cool experience to stand outside of it and take in how HUGE it is.
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 Even the pictures don’t show how really BIG it is!!!  This is my Beautiful Family!!!
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Then you go inside and spend the day walking all around with tons of people.  You realize how MASSIVE it is!!!  We are standing in front of the door.  Nobody noticed the cross on the door, until after the pics were taken.
Outside they have a Zoo!!! My Brave Girl wanted to ride all by herself!!!
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My Niece Olpie and & I took a ride too!!!
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SuperStarrs what do you feel God is asking of you to do???
How are you going to take action to be obedient???
Have you visited the Ark Encounter???
What was your take away???
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

BEWARE Of The Snakes!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!!  I am excited that you are working toward your Health Goals!!!  On you Journey you may encounter some Snakes.  Don’t worry or freak out if you do.  Watch this video, where I tell my Snake story and give you some advice of what to look out for.
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Here he is!!!
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You can see how BIG he is!!!
Unfortunately, we will always need to be on guard.  I still encounter snakes. (Check out some of the comments from last week’s video!!!)  Even if you don’t like snakes you don’t have to be afraid. Jesus has given us Authority over the enemy.
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Knowing God’s Truth helps us whenever we do encounter snakes, we know we don’t have to be afraid, because they are beneath us.  We can choose to use our Power in Christ to trample them!!!
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We can call out to Jesus and He will fight for us!!!  We don’t have to get upset and angry.  We don’t have to tell them off, defend ourselves or even respond.  We know the Truth, so we can shake it off, forgive them, and use our energy doing what God has called us to do, to get to where we are going on our health journey.  I share this with you SuperStarrs,  so that you don’t let the enemy rob you of one minute of your Peace and Joy!!!  Know that God loves you and will fight for you!!!  Arm yourself with God’s Word of Truth, and you won’t believe the lies of the snakes.
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LOL!!!
Do you have a snake story???
Do you have snakes in your life???
How are you going to handle your next snake encounter???
Have a Great week SuperStarrs!!!
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

What I Learned Watching, Leah Remini: Scientology And The Aftermath

Hello SuperStarrs, you are probably wondering why I am talking about Scientology today.  In the video below I explain my thoughts and the message of how our thoughts and beliefs effect our actions.

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What lies have you been believing???

What Truth replaces those lies???

Are you gonna use the Truth to fight against those lies???

Do you have a Broken Spirit???

Are you going to get help and allow the healing to begin???

Do you have a Cheerful mind???

Are you gonna fight to have a Cheerful mind???

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

Remember You are a SuperStarr!!!

 

4 Tips to Help You Get Your Workout Done!!!

Hello SuperStarrs, We are all gonna have days when we just want to stay in bed or on the couch.  I know because I have totally been there before.  This is where you have to press through until exercise becomes a habit. When you feel and see the benefits, then you will have exercise as your lifestyle, meaning you do it no matter what.  However you will still have days that you will want to talk yourself out of it before you even start.  Today’s video I am sharing what has helped me to keep going even when I’m having a off day.

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  1. Prepare the night before.  It saves time and frustration having everything ready to go. Keeping all your workout gear in one place helps you to always know where everything is.  Just remember to put it back where it belongs, when you return from you run or the gym.
  2. Use Caffeine as your friend.  When you need extra energy to get moving, drink some caffeine.  Don’t drink too much if you work out after work or evening, because it could back fire on you not being able to sleep later. So just have a cup of coffee, you don’t need a triple shot at 6 o’clock at night.
  3. Citrus. Whether you drink, eat it or just smell citrus, it wakes you up. I LOVE oranges!!!  Just peeling the orange smells SO GOOD!!!
  4. Create a Workout Jam. Create your soundtrack for getting healthy and feeling good!!!  Music motivates and moves our moods so much!!!  I’m sure you have experienced before, having a bad day and then your song comes on the Radio, Pandora, or Spotify and in just a few seconds of hearing your Jam, all is good in the world!!!  Music moves us, so use it to get yourself moving into the Healthy Strong Body that you want!!!

What is your favorite music to listen to when you work out???

What songs do you suggest that I add to my Workout Jam???

Who else still uses an iPod???

Share with me when you have made your Workout Jam, comment below DONE!!!

Make Healthy Choices while you are “In the Weighting”.

 

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Truth Bomb!!!

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Hey SuperStarrs!!!  Do y’all know we are friends and I love you??? And Because I love you, I am going to tell you the Truth.  It might sting a little, but I know you are tough enough to handle it!!!  Seriously, it’s so important for you to know this Truth in order for you to have REAL Success on your Journey. So if you can handle the the truth, then watch the video below and because I love ya, there in a Bonus Truth Bomb at the end!!! 😃
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If this is you, then you can move onto reading blogs and watching videos with someone else that only makes you feel good and doesn’t challenge you to actually make a change.  I’m not your Girl and that’s OK.  When ever you are ready to make a change, I will welcome you back with Open Arms.
If you just sang that “Open Arms” in your head and “Can Handle the Truth”, then we are gonna have fun hanging out together!!!  You will only have lasting changes when you are honest with what you are, and are not willing to do. You got to exercise to get healthy!!!  It will be different for each of us because we all have different needs and goals. In order to build strength, endurance, flexibility and burn up extra fat, you are gonna have to Get Moving!!!  You are gonna have to work for it!!!
The Truth Will Set You Free!!!
I encourage you to continue to always search for the Truth in God’s Word.
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The Truth is so important because it’s the Truth that will set you FREE!!!  Notice in this scripture it’s two parts.
  1. Jesus says if you hold His teachings. We hold onto what’s important to us, and what we don’t want to lose. Other translations says if we “Abide” and “Remain Faithful” in His teachings. Basically, we know and obey His teachings.
  2. Then, you will know the Truth and it will set you Free.

We got to do our part, so that He will be able to do His!!! The more time you spend time in God’s Word, the more you will learn about Jesus and the deeper your relationship will be with Him.  He will lead, guide and help you, with what you are to do.  Our relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we have in this life.

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Your Homework now is to take a good look at your calendar.
Decide when you are gonna get your workouts in and schedule them into your calendar, to NOT be interrupted. Protect this time. Our workouts is “Our Time” to work on our health.
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The first few times you have to say no to someone, is the hardest.  You don’t even have to tell them why that time does’t work for you.  You are just “unavailable” at that time.  After you have been faithful to your workouts, people will know that is your time, and that you are not going to move or cancel your workout.  Anyone trying to pressure you to miss a workout, is not supporting you on your goals of getting healthy.  People who love and support you, will encourage you to take that time for yourself.  Only dream killers discourage!!!
Alright SuperStarrs, go make Healthy Choices while you are “In the Weighting”.

Feed Yourself the Good Stuff!!!

Hello SuperStarrs!!! Today I’m chatting with you on the importance of feeding yourself the “Good Stuff”.  Watch the video below to where I share with you my thoughts on the “Good Stuff” and some tips that help me to keep feeding myself the “Good Stuff”.

 

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When I get home from the store and unpack everything, I put the veggies and fruit into the sink to rinse before putting them away.  Except berries.  We don’t rinse them until we are ready to eat them. If they sit in the fridge with any extra moisture, they will get fuzzy pretty quick.  I fill the sink full of clean water and about a half to a cup full of vinegar. I let them sit for a few minutes before wiping and rinsing them off.  Make sure they are good and dry before putting them away.  I let them air dry on a Kitchen towel or hand dry them if I’m in a hurry.

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Baked Eggs

I find it’s so much easier to bake eggs rather than boil them.  Here’s how I do it.

  1. Preheat oven to 350
  2. Place eggs in a muffin tin.
  3. Put them in oven to bake for 30 mins.

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4. Take eggs from oven and place in an ice bath for 10 mins. ( I just fill one side of the                 sink up with water to cover eggs and add ice.)

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5. Done.  Enjoy your eggs or stick them in fridge until you are ready to eat them.  They               will have a small brown spot from sitting in the muffing tin. It’s all good, just eat it               or cut it off when you peel them.

Feeding Your Spirit 

I LOVE this scripture so much that I had My Amazing Talented Husband put it into the Design when He redid our Kitchen.  I wanted everyone who came into our home and ate in our Kitchen to know that “The Lord Is Good” and to know that is why we are Blessed!!!  I want them to accept the invitation that Jesus offers to them.  I pray that their life will be changed and Blessed because of their relationship with Jesus!!!

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This is My Husbands Brilliance of creating this glass art piece above our pantry. He is just so Creative and Talented!!!  One of the many reasons I Married him!!!

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What can you do to help feed yourself the “Good Stuff”???

What changes are you going to make to help yourself to eat your veggies???

Is there a veggie you are gonna give another try???

When in your day are you going to feed yourself with the Truth found in God’s Word???

Are you going to start your day, have an afternoon pick up, or end your day in the Word???

Some days can you do all three???

Remember that every time you make a Healthy Choice you are Loving Yourself!!!

Continue making Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”!!!

Life Interruptions

By now you are getting into a workout routine, drinking more water and eating healthier and then a Life Interruption happens.  Instead of getting bummed out and discouraged, refocus and use this time to get other things done.  This video I share 5 things YOU CAN DO even if you can’t get your normal workout in.
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1) Do what YOU CAN DO!!!  If you really want to make a change, you will find a way to keep going!!!
2) Take This Time to Work on Projects or Meal Prep.  Most of us have projects we can work on. Organizing the closets, Decluttering the Kitchen or Bathroom cabinets, or shredding the paper clutter.  Not only will we feel great about getting stuff done but it will help make our environment more peaceful.  The kids can help too.  You can get them in the car, drive to the car wash, have them help clean up their mess and then drive them to finally cash in the free slushes or ice cream coupons they’ve gotten from school.  Added Bonus is when they know they are gonna be the ones wiping up the soda syrup from the cup holders.  They start remembering to throw their drinks away instead of leaving them there to leak!!! Your Welcome 😃
3) Use This Time to Research.  Anything that you want to know more information about research it!!!  Even if it something you are just curious about, check it out!!!  At least then you’ll know yah or nah.
4) Enjoy This Time With Your Kids/Family/Self!!!  God gave you a rest day. Enjoy it, don’t waste it fretting about not getting that one workout in. Enjoy today. We are not promised tomorrow!!!
5) Get Your Kids Involved With Your Workout.  One of the many reasons I wanted to get healthy is so I can do things with my kids without getting too tired to continue.  So get out there with them and see if they can keep up with you!!! 😉
So what are you gonna do this weekend or when the next Life Interruptions happens??? Comment below and share with the rest of the SuperStarrs!!!
Thanks SO much to each and everyone of you for watching my Videos, reading my Blog and following me on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Twitter and Pinterest!!!  It’s AMAZING being able to share my story with you. I pray you find encouragement, change your life and are able to share your story!!!
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting” SuperStarrs!!!

Running Stories

Today’s video I am sharing a few running stories with you.
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Along your Journey you will have those who Cheer you on!!!
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Some who will try to be a Dream Killer.
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Don’t get discourage by them.  Keep working hard and then you will also experience Super Cool times of seeing and feeling your progress.  Getting Stronger, Faster, Determined and Dedicated to reaching your Dreams!!!  Moving towards where you want to be.
I encourage you to find scripture in God’s Word that speaks life to you when you need it.  Write it down.  Memorize it.  Speak it out.  You will have tough days.  You will have things happen that try to distract you and to slow you down.  Prepare for them.  Then when it does happen it won’t take you out!!!  You can fight back with The Truth in The Word!!!
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This has been my life verse for years!!!  God gave me this in a really bad time in my life.  I felt hopeless, discouraged and worn out from trying to do right.  Struggling with feelings of wondering if doing good would ever really pay off.  I felt I had made too many mistakes to every have blessings in my life.  I felt no matter how hard I worked I’d never see a pay off.  I felt angry seeing others around me who weren’t even trying, get blessings.  I felt angry at people who weren’t appreciating what I was working so hard for.  Notice how I say “felt”.  I kept letting my “feelings” distract and discourage me.  Then one day while reading God’s Word I read this verse.  It spoke life and encouragement to me.  He was telling me that He knew my heart, where I was and where I had been.  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  His promise that I WILL reap a harvest  if I keep doing what I am supposed to do, don’t quit and keep a good attitude while I am waiting for it.  I wrote that verse down on notecards and taped it up all over my apartment and on the dashboard of my car.  I read it and spoke it out loud every time I needed the encouragement.  So I encourage you to read the Word.  Find YOUR life verse.  Until you do you are welcome to use this one too!!!   God’s promises is for everyone not just to me.  What He has done for me, He wants to do for you too!!!
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Life’s a Garden. Dig it!!!
Do you have a life verse???
If so share it below.
Make Healthy Choices while you are “IN the Weighting”.

You Do Have What It Takes!!!

If you have Jesus, YOU DO have what it takes to make healthy choices, get stronger and lose that extra weight.  Watch the video to hear more.  If you have questions about Jesus or the Holy Spirit, check out My Upper management page. “Who is this Jesus guy” & “Who is the Holy Spirit” for more information.
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I can feel like punching someone in the face, but when I don’t, I’m exercising Self Control.  Come on now, Don’t Judge!!!  We’ve ALL felt it before. If you say you haven’t, you need to repent because you are lying. Whenever we feel like doing something, we make a choice to do it or not.  Just because we feel something does not mean we have to go by our feelings.  Just because I feel like eating ice cream doesn’t mean ice cream is the boss of me and I have to eat it. Weird Al isn’t really serenading me… Eat it, Eat it, Eat it, Eat it.  Even if I’m thinking and feeling like he is LOL!!!
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You might feel like you don’t have what it takes to make lasting real changes, but YOU DO!!!  Here’s how I know because I once felt and thought that I was..
“Too old to start getting healthy,  I should’ve made healthier choices when I was younger.”
“No way I could run…I used to smoke, my lungs are shot.”
“Every woman loses their body after having kids.”
“I don’t have the time or money to workout.”
“My family won’t eat healthy meals that I cook.”
“Healthy food cost too much money.”
“I wasn’t raised with healthy habits.”
and on and on with so many hopeless excuses of why I could never be healthy or strong again.  So sad when I think about how much time I wasted being miserable and feeling hopeless.  But I am here to tell you that YOU CAN do all things through Christ who strengthens you!!! Philippians 4:13  I want to save you some time.  All alone we are weak but with Jesus WE ARE STRONG!!!  Through Jesus we have access to the Holy Spirit. The Powerful, Counselor and Helper to us.  When we have the Holy Spirit inside us we HAVE Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness & Self Control. All the fruits of the Spirit.  We just gotta use them to help us.
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The fruits of the Spirit, just like our muscles, we can use them and get stronger. Or not and they will just stay weak. God covered our skeleton with muscles for the purpose to assist us in moving and strength when we need it.  Because they are inside and covered, we kinda forget or don’t even know they are there until…we use them. They become sore and then we are reminded they are there. They have always been there all along. The same as the Holy Spirit.  Again like a muscle, the more you use it the stronger it gets and then other people notice you have it.  We all can think of people that we love and admire them because they are patient, peaceful, kind, joyful, good, gentle and have self control or Awesome ripped arms.
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The first time I saw Sarah Connor doing pull ups in Terminator 2, I knew that’s who I wanted to be when I grew up.  LOL!!!  Seriously though Sarah shows us from the 1st to the 2nd movie, how much you can change and strengthen yourself when you know your purpose.  Like protecting your son from a deadly Terminator!!!  Also just had to show you the arms I’m working to have.
OK back to those who have strong fruits of the Spirit.  We see it in their actions, their character…it’s who they are. They weren’t born that way. They choose everyday to continue to be that. They choose Joy!!! They choose Peace!!!  We can too!!!  They are not at an advantage over us.  We just have to choose to not go by our feelings.  We just have to choose to strengthen ourselves in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness and Self Control.  Not what we feel like doing, but what we know that we need to do. Over time we will grow strong and have fruits to show.  Just like a muscle, once you get it you still gotta work on maintaining it.  With doing what we should even when we don’t feel like it.  IT’S IN THE RESISTANCE THAT STRENGTH IS BUILT!!!
Remember to love yourself along the way!!!
I Choose Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, and Self Control!!!
What will you choose???
Make healthy choices, In The Weighting.

H2O

I don’t know about you but whenever I hear H2O, I think of the Adam Sandler movie Waterboy!!!  LOL!!!  Great movie!!!  Seriously though today I’m sharing with you the importance of getting your “High-quality H2O”.
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Here are some Signs of Dehydration to help you to know when you need more water.
-Thirst is the first sign to drink up!
-Headaches
-Muscle cramps
-Dark urine (Except your first pee of the day. Urine concentrates during the night.  Urine    should be clear with a slight yellow color.)
-Dry skin and lips
-Feeling tired and sleepy
I LOVE my coffee but I also always chase it with water. I know coffee is a diuretic and I don’t want it to dehydrate me.  My husband always makes fun of me because I always have two drinks at all times.  A hot one and a cold one.  Having the habit of always carrying water with me helps me to keep sipping throughout the day.
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Yummy La Croix!!!
Don’t forget to drink from the Living Water!!!   Just like H2O, we might be able to go sometime without it.  However after just a couple of days and you will feel the negative effects of going without!!!
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Do you drink enough water???
If so, what helps you to drink more water???
Who’s gonna watch Waterboy now???
Make healthy choices “In the Weighting”.

My 2nd half Marathon

This video I recorded right after my 2nd Half Marathon that I ran in Dubuque, Iowa on Labor Day 2016.  I didn’t know if I’d ever use it but now I am so glad I did record it!!!  Not only am I able to share with all my SuperStarrs, but I can totally see the difference in my face from then to now!!!  STARR POWER BABY!!!
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Here is my Finish, running with my Sweet Energetic Ethan!!! My two BIGGEST Cheerleaders, My Love Bob and my Daughter Melody cheering me on!!!  Also where you will see my buddy Jake encouraging me to finish strong!!!
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After race fun…feeling like Wonder Woman!!!  My Bestie Michelle bought me this cape for my Birthday after my 1st race.  She still continues to Bless me with all kinds of Wonder Woman things.  Makes me feel great that whenever she sees anything Wonder Woman she thinks of me.  She is always encouraging me even though she thinks I’m CrAzY for running as much as I do!!!  Michelle constantly speaks life to me and over my dreams, that’s why she is my Bestie!!! I am so Thankful that God crossed our paths years ago in Beauty School!!!
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What’s your favorite part of this story??? Please share below. I’d love to hear from you.
I pray that you will continue to make Healthy Choices while you are “In the Weighting”.

Love Yourself, Give Yourself Credit & Get Rid of Guilt!!!

Hello SuperStarrs,

Today’s video I share a few thoughts with you that will help you to have faster progress on your journey.  There is no much negativity in this World, we don’t need to be allowing it in our minds.  We shouldn’t be speaking negative things about ourselves.  We spend more time with ourselves then we do with anyone else so it’s important that we love and like ourselves.  We can’t love others properly if we are not loving ourselves.

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Matthew 22:36-40

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Our thoughts and words do have Power!!!

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Proverbs 23:7

Listen to what you are saying about yourself.  What is your heart speaking???

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Luke 6:45

What do you need to do to heal it???  What Truth do you need to fill your heart with???

Focus on what you are doing instead of beating yourself up for what you didn’t get done or what you didn’t do.  This journey is about progress not perfection!!! No one is perfect so if that’s all you focus on, you will be disappointed.  Give yourself credit for what you are doing!!!  Celebrate everything do SuperStarrs!!!

Don’t feel guilty for eating delicious food.  Just Thank God for it and enjoy!!!

Comment below if anything I shared helped you.  I pray you will make healthy choices in your thoughts and actions while you are “In the Weighting”.

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Where to Start???

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PSALMS 4:8
Today’s video I share what I feel is the First Step in making healthy changes for your future.
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I am not a Doctor, this is just my opinion of building a strong foundation for you. Always check with your doctor with what’s best for your health!!!
I pray that you will have sweet peaceful sleep.  Sometimes things come up and we have trouble getting there.

 

Here’s  few tips to help you get asleep.
Using lavender essential oils before bed can help you to fall asleep naturally.  You can massage them on skin, spray them on sheets or diffuse in the air.
Deep Breathing.
Yoga Stretches.
Use a fan or noise machine.
Avoid caffeine late in the day.
Drink some sleepy time or chamomile tea before bed.
Making the room a cooler temperature.
Use ear plugs and sleep mask to block out light and noise.
Make bedroom as dark as possible with use of black out curtains.
Keep bedding fresh and clean so that it’s more inviting.
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Proverbs 3:24-26
What helps you to fall asleep???  Share with us below.
Make Healthy Choices while you are “In The Weighting”.

My 1st Marathon

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Hello Superstarr!!!  I’m so excited you are here.  For my 1st post I feel like I gotta start with how my 1st Half Marathon came about.  I had been running off and on for a few years, started with walk/running enventualy worked up to running 5K races.  My pattern seemed to be after the race was over I went back to old habits then started training again before the next race.  My friend Angie got into running and then signed up for her 1st Half Marathon in Green Bay, WI at Lambeau Field, Home of the Packers. Angie asked if I would want to do the race with her. Being a Starr, My Husband Bob, was born and raised a Packer fan. So when I became a Starr, I become a Packer fan also. The thought of being able to run my first half marathon at Lambeau Field sounded AWESOME!!! However I really doubt it I could ever run 13.1 miles, at the same time, on the same day. But I continue to think about it and then within a few weeks I realized it was the same day as our oldest son’s graduation from High School. It gave me the excuse to say I was not able to do it. However, I continued to think about it off and on especially when running. So she ran the race did AWESOME  and sent me pictures of her new bling. Which of course was all Green Bay Packers theme. Again I started thinking how Awesome it would be to actually run and to get that bling. She continued to encourage me even though I totally doubted myself. That is the great friend she is!!!

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The time passed I continued running during the Summer. That Fall I went to a Women’s Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. While I was there, my friends decided to go take a nap in the afternoon but I had energy and I decided to go running. So I laced up my shoes headed down to the hotel gym, got on the treadmill and ran a 5K. While I was running I felt like the Holy Spirit told me that I could run a Half Marathon if I wanted to and He would help me. Even though I had Self Doubt I knew I couldn’t do it but I knew with God’s help I could do anything he asked me to do. I also knew that if I achieve this all glory would go to God. Everyone who knew me would also see that. So when I got off that treadmill that day I decided that I would be obedient and try. I would do the research, find out how to train, how to do it my way. With my schedule and be obedient and let God do a miracle in me.

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When I returned to the conference later that afternoon, I remember standing there looking around the arena, and thinking the next time I come back here I will have ran a half marathon!!!  I will be a half-marathon Runner!!!! I kept repeating it and speaking it so much to myself that I really truly believed it by the time I left the conference. I got EXCITED!!!  On the drive home, I told what happened on the treadmill to my friends and that when I got home I was going to sign up for my first half marathon. Of course when I got home I told Angie that I be running with her next year. She was super excited and as soon as the Green Bay registration was open I paid the money and signed up. I also continue to tell friends and family that I was going to do it. Talking about it with others would be helpful  hold me accountable. I knew they would ask me how it was or how it went. I would have to follow through and I couldn’t back out. For the most part I was so pumped that I really did believe that I was going to do it but it was just extra accountability, if I started to to think about quitting. Plus put down the money for the race I didn’t want to waste my money. So I signed up, starting my training, but I knew I couldn’t take my Husband, Bob up there to Lambeau Field to watch me run a race without taking him to a game first. That Christmas I got us tickets to a game and we went to Green Bay, Wisconsin and watched the Packers play the last game of the season.

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While we were there we toured the stadium and I remember just feeling this Super Cool feelings that the next time I was there on that field I would be running it and completing my first half marathon. While on the tour we were able to go through the tunnel and onto the field the same one that the Packers run through every game. I saw this plaque on the wall and it read “Proud generations of Green Bay Packer players, World Champions record 13 times, have run over this very concrete to Greatness.” The tour guide shared that chunk of concrete was moved from the old stadium into Lambeau Field when they moved into it. And that all the players high-fived it as they ran into the field before each game. I knew then that when I was running I would reach over and be high-fiving it as I ran onto the field achieving my greatness!!!

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I definitely left Lambeau Field and Green Bay, Wisconsin feeling like I had SuperStarr power. Returning home I continued on with my training with a renewed sense of energy. After being in Green Bay and seeing some of the roads I would actually be running on, being in the stadium, where my family would be cheering for me and on the field where I would be running about to complete my marathon, it all become real. It powered me running through snow and ice, spring rains, and aches and pains. I became Determined Debbie. Determined that I was going to run the entire race without stopping to walk, once.

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The race was on May 22nd 2016 just a few days before I would turn 36. As I was traveling up I was starting to feel some anxiety like I’ve never felt before.  I know and believe now that it was the enemy trying to discourage me, to confuse me, with self doubt again so that I wouldn’t do my race. As my husband was receiving a phone call my brother-in-law to wish me luck on my race, my hand started sweat crazy, my chest broke out in red hives and I was having difficulty breathing. Never ever had something like that happened before and it seemed like every time someone would mention me running the race or anything about the race my palms start sweating and my chest would break out in hives. I prayed for peace and prayed for my confidence to be in God. During the drive up I was reading a book that my friend and pastor, Chuck Tate wrote called 41 Will Come. And as I was reading one of my favorite chapters, Rawk Stance, God was reminding me that I had done the hard work already. I had trained and prepared. The racecourse before me was my giant but it was about to be defeated. Because I was going to slay it!!!  I decided to shake off the doubt and receive my pay off, which came in the form of really cool bling.  We made it to Green Bay back to Lambeau Field  where I picked up my race packet it all became VERY REAL!!!  Holding my number and my t-shirt  that said  “It’s Personal”  spoke exactly how this experience for training for my first race was. The night Before the Race all of us Runners met up at a restaurant. We were all fueling up for the race. As I sit around with all my friends while eating Apple Bacon Pancakes and Loaded Hashbrowns I realized, God has Me Right Where I Need to Be!!! I was with My people!!!  That’s one of the things that I love with running is that you are required to eat, to fuel yourself so that you have energy to run. Carbs are good, Not the devil LOL!!!

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The next morning I woke up and prayed and we headed down to the race start line.   I had some butterflies in my stomach.  It was just nervous energy, to get going, to move, to get running. I passed the time snapping pictures, posting stuff on Facebook that my race is about to begin.

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Just before the race begin I had to pee a bit but, I knew there was no way I was going miss the start. While Stretching they played a Prince song and just as the race started, Journey “Don’t Stop Believing” started playing. Even the music was my perfect soundtrack!!!

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The whole time while running, I just kept soaking up all that was happening…that I was actually running the half-marathon I had been training for. This dream was happening, God helped me and I realized he was showing me, that he can help me do anything!!! That he had placed those dreams in me for me to fulfill. During the race, I continue to run I never stopped. I ran the entire race!!!  I loved how all the locals had out there garden hoses to help cool us off as we ran by. Different garages had bands playing for us. There was kids handing out freezer pops and high-fives. I had to water bottles on me in preparation to not have to stop, even for water. The feeling of having to pee left me after a couple miles. I ran through the last two water stops because I was getting low and didn’t want to run out. It was a hot race even though we were up North. Definitely different than when I was there and it was the Frozen Tundra!!! Towards the end of the race there was a lady standing there with a sign that said “This hill is your B….!!!” It totally made me laugh and give me the extra energy to get up and over that Hill.  As I was running towards the stadium realizing that it was almost over but I was tired and ready to be done running. At the stadium there was a ton of people cheering and lots of energy.

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As I was running towards the tunnel to go out onto the field, I saw that they had that roped off where the sign was. They were directing traffic in an out from the stadium through that tunnel so I understood why. However, even with the security guard there, I didn’t care. I didn’t run that far to not high five THE SIGN when I go to it!!! I crossed the Rope,  he started to speak, I highfived the sign and quickly ducked back under the rope to my side again. He smiled and stepped back and I ran on past him with a bigger smile on my face!!!! I ran out into the field I looked up in the stadium and I saw the big name of Starr, for Bart Starr.  Even though I know it is for him, that day I felt that God had it there for me too!!! As I was running around on Lambeau Field, in the stadium looking for my family and friends I hadn’t seen them yet. I heard them and looked up…. and there they were!!!  How Super Cool that my biggest cheerleaders were there in the stands cheering for me!!!

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My husband Bob, my son Ethan, my daughter Melody in her cute little Green Bay Cheerleader outfit, and my friend Angie.  Who believed in me all along and encourage me to do it!!!  As I ran outside and looped around I came up towards the finish line I was just overwhelmed with this SUPER-COOL energy that I had. I was just about to finish what I had worked so hard for, there again was My Mom Deb(who thankfully saved the finish line spots) and Biggest fans cheering me on!!! It was an Amazing race!!! I can’t even put into words the feeling of accomplishment and strength that I hand when I received my BLING!!!

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As I was going walking through the end of the finish line this sweet old lady handed me some sliced oranges.  It was like she was sent from Heaven,  because those were the best tasting oranges I’ve ever had in my entire life!!!  They were cold,  super sweet and juicy. I was so hot and thirsty it was so was seriously the best oranges I’ve ever had in my entire life.  On the way home I was tired and sore but I felt amazing. I knew that I wanted to schedule another half marathon. I was hooked with running!!! I had found my thing!!! I’d found what I looked forward to do!!!  My therapy!!!  What energizes me!!! The workout that I missed if I didn’t get to do it!!! I booked my second Marathon in Dubuque Iowa on Labor Day so that I can run again and get more BLING!!! But that’s another story  that I’ll tell you about later. I pray that you would make healthy choices while you are “In the Weighting”.

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