Where have all the Strong Women Gone?

Our culture is constantly bombarding women with this message:  "Women are better than men."  It has become a bad thing to be a man in this day and age.  With all the sexual misconduct allegations against pretty much all the men in powerful positions, I wonder if we should just acknowledge that every man who has ever talked to a woman is a sexual predator.  (kidding...I'm kidding...seriously!)  I fear for my boys growing up in a society where chivalry is looked at as sexism, and where they are seen as bad simply because they are male.  I fear for my girls growing up in a society where staying at home and being a wife and mother is scorned.

You don't have to be feminist to be a strong woman.  It takes strength to go against the grain.  It takes strength to submit to the man you married.  It takes strength to stay at home with small children, teaching them, and guiding them in the right way.

All I see in movies, in commercials, in the news, is this message that women have been opressed for SO LONG, we need to push for our rights as women!  What rights don't we have?  Oh...yeah... the "right" to kill our children...to rip the babies out of our wombs.  Yeah, that is so worth fighting for...NOT!  How insane is that?!  We have thousands of women marching for the "right" to murder their babies.  I'm ashamed for my fellow women.  I am angry.  I am sick.  It's disgusting.  You know what...you didn't make that baby on your own.  You needed...oh, that's right...a MAN!

Why should women want to be wives and mothers? Why should wives submit to their husbands?  Why should we love and protect our unborn children's lives?

Because God says so.
  
Strong women are those who love their God with all their hearts, minds, and souls and obey Him.  Strong women are those who love their husbands and children.  Strong women are those who stand up for their beliefs and are not swayed by trends or ungodly paths.  

"She dresses herself with strength...Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." Proverbs 31:17a, 25
 

Focus on Fitness

Lately, I have decided to focus on my Health and Fitness.   I still have about 20lbs. to lose to reach my goal.  I follow Trim Healthy Mama, and have just recently created a workout schedule for myself.  Exercise is greatly encouraged on THM, despite many, many mama's touting impressive weight loss numbers without working out.

 
My weekly workout schedule looks something like this:

Sunday:  Rest Day
Monday:  Run (2 miles or more)
Tuesday:  PiYo (30 minutes or more)
Wednesday:  Run (2 mi.+)
Thursday:  RIPPED class (55 min.)
Friday:  Run (2 mi.+)
Saturday:  Kickboxing/PiYo/Zumba (basically whatever I want)

Occasionally, the Y will have a special RIPPED class on Friday night or Saturday morning.  If Bram is working second shift, I occasionally attend the morning RIPPED classes on Monday and Wednesday.

Sometimes, I know some ladies wonder how to work out and stay modest.  When I am running or going to the Y, I typically wear a racerback tank (preferably high-neckline), somewhat long to cover my butt.  Bottoms are normal, workout bottoms such as Under Armour capris, or in fall/winter...leggings.  In the summer, I wear workout shorts, but make sure to either wear the 2-layer shorts or long shorts.  Everyone has their own standard of modesty.  Before I go or do any kind of workout, I do ask my husband what he thinks of my clothes.  I've had him say "No." to numerous items.  I also try the "plank test" with my tops...if you can see my breasts when I'm in plank...that top is OUT!  My favorite brands for workout clothes are Under Armour, Victoria Sport (formerly Victoria Secret Sport, or VSX), and Old Navy Active.

Workout bras are a MUST, seriously!  I only wear Victoria Sport bras.  They have all kinds of different styles and supports.  They are just so comfortable, and they work so well to hold you in and close while jostling around!   

 

My workout shoes are either trail running shoes, or training shoes.  My favorite brands are Under Armour, Asics, Salomon, New Balance and Fila.  I have a problem with my shoes slipping around when at the Y due to the waxed gym floor...so I try to use my training shoes for the gym.  Trail-running shoes do NOT do well indoors!

You can buy dumbbells at Walmart, Target, Dicks, and Scheels. Start with 2s or 3s...then work your way up to whatever you can handle SAFELY.  You're not trying to prove anything to anyone, so be careful!  I started my Y classes with my 3 pounders and am just about able to go up to 7....and I've been doing classes on and off for about 1.5 years.

  

 So, I encourage everyone to start some kind of exercise routine for themselves.  I know that as a mom, there are precious few times to workout, but if you make it a priority...it will happen.  Fitness is very important to my husband and I, so we make it a priority.  I always tell myself this when I don't feel like working out and start to come up with all of the excuses...

"No one has ever finished a workout, and regretted it."  

WCW: Women of Faith Series #2

Today we are going to be learning about Idelette Calvin, wife of reformer John Calvin.

Idelette married Calvin after becoming a widow. He asked friends to find him a wife who was, "chaste, obliging, not fastidious, economical, patient, and careful for (his) health".  She bore a son and a few daughters but they all died in infancy.  She was instrumental in tending to his many illnesses so that he could further his reforming work in the church.  She tended the sick and welcomed those running for their lives because of their faith into her home.  She survived the Plague, but died after enduring a long illness in 1549.  She praised her Lord and Savior on her deathbed.  She said,"O God of Abraham, and of all our fathers, in thee have the faithful trusted during so many past ages, and none of them have trusted in vain. I also will hope".

*Quotes come from this website:  Christian Classics Ethereal Library