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Netflix and…get healthy?

~ Anna-Marie ~ 2 Comments

Do you have health-related goals for the new year? You’re not alone. Over half of people each January make a resolution to improve their health. Netflix is notorious for binging goodness. We have all spent more time that we want to admit watching shows online. Netflix, Hulu, Amazon video, YouTube,

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Disney—all these and more are vying for our time and attention. Its so easy to plop down in front of a screen to veg out, but did you know that you can use those streaming service’s powers for good and not for evil? Here are some ways you can get healthy–or at least healthier–this year.

  1. Use it as a reward. Only watch after you have worked out.
  2. Play a healthy version of a “drinking game.” Set triggers for exercise, e.g., every time the scene changes you have to do 5 push ups, or every time a particular word is said you do 5 sit ups. Or you can run in place until the scene changes. You can also use these triggers to take a sip of water or other healthy drink.
  3. Watch documentaries. You can watch docs about diet, nutrition, exercise, inspiration from history and more to educate yourself.
  4. Work out while it is on. Don’t turn on the streaming service unless you are going to exercise.
  5. Use it to time your workout. Choose episodes that are as long as you want to exercise.
  6. Find new workouts on YouTube or another service to keep things interesting and challenging.

BONUS TIPS:

  • Refuse to watch while in bed. The electronic light from the screen can affect your ability to fall asleep.
  • Refuse to eat while watching a screen. Mindless eating can sabotage your health and wellness goals.

Word of the Year 2020

~ Anna-Marie ~ 2 Comments

I have participated in developing a word of the year (WOTY) for many years now. It is a great exercise that helps me set my frame of mind for the year. I think it is scriptural to give a word a theme. It’s not that I am predicting the future, it is more that I am striving to live the year with a certain intention or frame of mind.

Some years I have put much prayer and thought into my word and it has been a sort of struggle to land on the word that just felt…right. 2018 was “consistency.” Last year my word was “grit.” This year choosing my word was relatively easy. I have a lot of things I want to accomplish in 2020 and I cannot get them done if I am not consistent in my actions.

Let’s do a short word study on my word for this year: EXECUTE.

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Let’s do a word study on my word for this year:

Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines execute as: “Literally, to follow out or through. Hence, to perform; to do; to effect; to carry into complete effect; to complete; to finish. We execute a purpose, a plan, design or scheme; we execute a work undertaken, that is, we pursue it to the end.”

Key words from this definition that are defined:

C̵OMPLE´TE, v. t. To finish; to end; to perfect; as, to complete a bridge, or an edifice; to complete an education.

  1. To fill; to accomplish; as, to complete hopes or desires.
  2. To fulfil; to accomplish; to perform; as, the prophecy of Daniel is completed.

PERFORM´, v. t. [L. per and formo, to make.]

  1. To do; to execute; to accomplish; as, to perform two days’ labor in one day; to perform a noble deed or achievement.
  2. To execute; to discharge; as, to perform a duty or office.
  3. To fulfill; as, to perform a covenant, promise or contract; to perform a vow.
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FIN´ISH, v. t. [Arm. finiçza; Fr. finir; L. finio, from finis, an end, Ir. fuin, W. fin. Class Bn. No. 23.]

  1. To arrive at the end of, in performance; to complete; as, to finish a house; to finish a journey.
    Thus the heavens and the earth were finished. Gen. 2.
  2. To make perfect.
    Episodes, taken separately, finish nothing. Broome.
  3. To bring to an end; to end; to put an end to.
    Seventy weeks are determined on thy people, and on thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and make an end of sins. Dan. 9.
  4. To perfect; to accomplish; to polish to the degree of excellence intended. In this sense it is frequently used in the participle of the perfect tense as an adjective. It is a finished performance. He is a finished scholar.

PURSŪE, v. t. [Fr. poursuivre; pour and suivre, to follow, L. sequor; prosequor, or persequor. See Seek.]

  1. To follow; to go or proceed after or in a like direction. The captain pursued the same course as former navigators have taken. A subsequent legislature pursued the course of their predecessors.
  2. To take and proceed in, without following another. Captain Cook pursued a new and unexplored course. New circumstances often compel us to pursue new expedients and untried courses. What course shall we pursue?
  3. To follow with a view to overtake; to follow with haste; to chase; as, to pursue a hare; to pursue an enemy.
  4. To seek; to use measures to obtain; as, to pursue a remedy at law.
  5. To prosecute; to continue. A stream proceeds from a lake and pursues a southerly course to the ocean.
    He that pursueth evil, pursueth it to his own death. Prov. 11.
  6. To follow as an example; to imitate.
    The fame of ancient matrons you pursue. Dryden.
  7. To endeavor to attain to; to strive to reach or gain. We happiness pursue; we fly from pain.

Scriptures that apply

Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. 2 Cor. 8:6

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Gen 2:2,3

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24

My definition

Execute: the act of bringing a thing to conclusion or completion using a deliberate plan of action.

Biblical principle at work: Principle of Christian character

In a future post I will share some outstanding resources that are going to help me get to the finish line at the end of 2020. I plan to share monthly the progress (or lack thereof) on a few of my goals.

Have you ever created your word for the year? Do you have one for 2020? Leave a comment and share it!

PrincipledMom 2.0

~ Anna-Marie

This blog started in 2005 as an outlet for all my ambition regarding home education and the Biblical Principle Approach. So much has changed since then!

I am refocusing and reconnecting with sweet women everywhere. PMom 2.0 is all about timely encouragement, loving challenges and a few recipes and lifestyle ideas too. Please visit often and subscribe so you don’t miss any of the action!

2014 word

~ Anna-Marie

A few years back I started coming up with a word to encapsulate the coming year. It is usually something I want to develop or a character trait I desire. See the past years here here and here.

This year was especially challenging. It wasn’t easy but the more I considered it one word came into focus. Then I received a book that sealed the deal for me. The word is

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Concise and to the point. It invokes a couple of different images for me. One is that of, well, growing. Duh I know. I picture my little self maturing and bearing fruit. The other is that of a seed. It must die and be planted if it is to grow. I must die to myself a lot this coming year. I will be stretched and challenged beyond anything I have experienced to this point. And that takes some dying. Dying to grow.

I will be sharing more on this in upcoming posts. Please leave a comment on your word for the year if you have one, or on your thoughts regarding mine. I look forward to chatting!

hello again!

~ Anna-Marie

Life is full of surprises–some good and some simply awful not so good. The last six months have been challenging and honestly something I’m not quite ready to write about here. Needless to say most everything is not the same as it was in my last post. I am not able to home educate in this season of my life. I haven’t been sure what to do with my little corner of the web so I have been prayerfully considering what to do next.

That being said, I have truly missed blogging but I have spent time wondering if it’s needed. There are millions of wonderful blogs in the online universe, so why is this necessary at all? The answer is simple–relationship.

I have made wonderful connections with women I never have met in person. We have shared burdens, prayed in faith, done happy dances and challenged in love. It’s made me a better person and I want to continue to cultivate that with more and more people.

The new tag line sums up the fresh focus: crafting a beautiful life. As women we touch so many areas and this blog intends to address a variety of areas in an easy way. Beauty inside and out (with a crafty twist) is the order of the day.

10 things you may not know about me

~ Anna-Marie

I’m getting back to the BPA alphabet I promise. But here are a few random things you might not know about me. Share any of these?

  1. In another life I would be an archaeologist. Digging up the past is simply fascinating.
  2. I adore tiny homes. Oh my goodness they are so compact and efficient and cozy.
  3. I can play the drums. I taught myself when I was in nursing school. I never play anymore though.
  4. Light blue is my favorite color. it has been for years. I can’t get enough of it!
  5. I hate being cold. I never complain about summer heat because I despise winter’s cold so much.
  6. Cleaning out the fridge is my least favorite chore. Ugh. Enough said.
  7. I am left-handed. Most things I do as a leftie, especially things the are precise like writing, shooting and using a knife. I bowl right-handed though.
  8. When I was growing up I wanted 7 children. I’m not sure why but it sounded like the perfect number. I have four children and I’m perfectly okay with that even number.
  9. I am an introvert. Being alone re-energizes me. I enjoy people but crowds really sap my energy.
  10. I enjoy singing. Especially in choirs and ensembles. Harmonizing is really fun and I have an ear for it.

Do you have a similar list? leave a link in the comments!

I is for…individuality

~ Anna-Marie

The next letter in our alphabet is fundamental, not just to biblical principles or to home education, but to all of life.

Individuality is where it’s at. It’s our relationship with God. It’s the biblical principle from which at the others spring. It is what gives us liberty in home education and in life. Independently dependent upon God. As we understand individuality as God intends it our relationships flourish, our liberty grows and our faith deepens.

Once we are able to truly be what God designed all the masks come off. Once we shake off conformity to the world and embrace independence in Christ we can enjoy life as God intended. It is not easy but it is immensely rewarding.

This doesn’t mean we don’t lean on others or seek relationships or guidance. Far from it! God’s Principle of Individuality helps us form tight bonds. Embracing others in their uniqueness and pulling on their strengths only serves to benefit a relationship. We add to one another and we celebrate the differences.

G is for…GACE

~ Anna-Marie

I’m so happy to come to this letter! GACE, or the Guide to American Christian Education by James Rose is my favorite go-to reference for BPA. It is chock full of almost everything you need to get started and stay going. I can hardly begin to list all of what’s in it. It addresses BPA in the home and in home education. There is help planning lessons, basic 4R’ing and other foundational concepts and disciplines. He addresses core subjects, enrichment and some subjects that are hard to come by in any other BPA materials–namely Kindergarten year full lesson outlines, economics and Anatomy/physiology. There are contributions from Katherine Dang and Mrs Ruth Smith, among others. (Did I mention how much I adore this book?)

It is inspirational and challenging, practical and comprehensive. We have a GACE study group on Yahoo! that goes through Mr. Rose’s study that is comparable to the Self-directed Study from FACE.