Healthy Kids

Abi and I are extremely busy parents with four kids; protein shakes and eating right are a big part of our day. If you have kids in this day and age, you know the drill well. They are constantly on the go and as a result, so are we! Whether they are getting ready for school or only have 5 minutes to get out the door to soccer practice, music lessons or dance class, quick and healthy shakes are a great nutritious option.

Mornings in our household can get pretty crazy. Four kids going to 2 different schools at 2 different times, need I say more? My wife, Abi does an excellent job delegating what needs to get done. She takes pride in making the best balanced breakfast consisting of High protein, Carbs and fat, but sometimes my two youngest children just want a quick protein shake.

Here is a great shake for kids who need quick nutrition and are in a hurry in the morning.

• 1 cup of milk
• 1 cup of strawberries
• ½ cup of blueberries
• 1 scoop of protein mix (we use SFH whey protein)
• Handful of cashews (or fish oil, if you favor which I do. It is healthy, brain –supporting fats! I use SFH fish oil. I promise you would never know it is fish oil)

This is a great-tasting shake that will supply your kids with energy and nutrition. When my kids are feeling sluggish they beg for a shake. You can replace the milk with coconut milk, coconut water or simply water. Be creative with your shakes and rely on your protein powder and fat (fish oil, cashews). I don’t think there is anything healthier that you can send your child out the door with.

Staying Motivated

One of the toughest things in my journey is the ability to stay motivated. In the past, one of my biggest downfalls when I had reached my original goal had been my attitude that I am finished. In those moments, I failed to realize that without motivation and new goals, I would soon return to my previous state.

So how do I stay motivated?

I have learned to find ways to compete with myself and others in order to carry on my motivation. After winning the “Paleo Challenge III” our box promotes, I knew I needed to do more. NEW GOALS SET! I got certified to become a trainer and began to help others reach their fitness goals just like I had. As a trainer, bars and expectations are set up higher than the rest. I knew I needed to do more. NEW GOAL SET! I trained and competed in my first Crossfit competition (NLI Iron Will II) and now plan to do several of these. I‘m currently training (hard) to compete on August 11 (NLI Warrior Soul 1) and expect to do better each time I compete. I may not be the fastest or the strongest but I like it! And it keeps me focus and pushing harder every single day. I search and find events or challenges to keep motivated and that’s part of my drive to keep me focus on my goal. This is what I love about the Crossfit Community. If you are looking for answers, ways to be inspired or motivated, this is the place to go. You can jump on-line, talk to coaches and get any kind of help you need.

Recently I looked for help thru an outstanding athlete, Jeremy Kinnick. Jeremy is a 4x Crossfit Veteran and strong Christian broda. The awe-inspiring thing is that he gave me advice and wasn’t hesitant in telling me what I needed to do. There are no secrets; He didn’t ask for anything in return, He just wanted to help. We all want others to succeed and I’m very grateful for that. http://jeremykinnick.wordpress.com/2012/06/13/ask-jeremy-5/#comments

The main piece of my motivation is my family, wife and kids. I’m focus because I want to be better for them. I love them and they love me and we want nothing but the best for each other.

My journey allows me to be an example for my family and friends. It keeps me accountable and gives me that extra push.

The coaches at the box, the blog and whiteboard motivate me to reach my goals. Having a way to compare my fitness level against some awesome athletes helps me to measure my progress and keeps me on my toes.

We get so occupy with our daily “to do list” and worry about the problems we face every day; we just don’t feel like coming in and “GET IT DONE”. But when we do and hit that new PR or get a faster time on that workout is all worth it.

If you are having difficulty getting inspired and motivated, come and join me at Temescal Valley CrossFit

Fatherhood is worth it!!!

Sunday was Father’s Day and my kids surprised me on Saturday with gifts, cards and dinner. They wanted to celebrate the day before so we can have the entire day to ourselves. They totally made my day and I trully enjoyed the time God had given me with my beautiful wife and children. I tried to do as little parenting as I possibly could, but you know how that goes. I’m 12 years into fatherhood and I have many thoughts on the subject. Most fathers do because it makes us feel important, even if we’ve only been into it for a month or 20 years where we forgotten most of our experiences. Our family seek in us security, being a provider, an encourager, the approval, affection and love.

Does Fatherhood changes your life?

“Yes, fatherhood changes your life” and “Yes, it’s worth it”. I believe raising kids has the potential to bring us to a higher level of living. We teach them and we learn from them. If I’m truly honest; I know that sometimes things aren’t so rosy. It’s hard to see how beautiful and endlessly pleasing your children are when you have to provide for them day after day, but no matter what happens I still loved them, and they still love me. This is an absolute truth that could not be broken by anything. I know because this is the same relationship I had with my father.

Take it from me. Every thoughtful person will have regrets. They might regret working too hard or working too little. They might regret wasting their time on sports fandom or facebook. There are hundreds of little regrets everyone deals with every day. But you’ll never regret spending time with your family and living a life with loving people around you, no matter where you are.

My father never shied away from telling me he loved me, because he did unconditionally. He had a great sense of humor, did everything he could in his life to help the people he loved, and did countless things to help raise me to be the man I am today. As he grew older and health issues took their toll, much of our time with him was spent at doctor offices. One thing I know, He was proud of me, because that’s what fathers feel for their children. They don’t think about their own problems and concerns — instead, they focus on their children’s well-being and want everyone to know when their kids are doing well.

I can guarantee I’ll be doing the same thing as my kids grow up. With every accomplishment of thers, from there first step to there college diploma, I will express my pride in them often, probably to the point where they’re embarrassed.

Because that’s what fathers do.

Standing On Your Tiptoes

Am I Growing?

Recently I ran into some old friends of ours and realize how big their kids are and how fast time flies. The conversation between my wife and I about Nehemiah (our 12 year old) is all-too-typical. “Is he growing? Is he getting bigger? Why is he still so little?”

He stand next to his 10 year old sister, which stands about 3 inches taller than him and stands next to his 8 year old younger brother who stands an inch smaller than him. One day he stood next to them both and he stood up straight to make himself taller. Then he stood up on his tiptoes and says “see I am taller”

 We reply with, “Don’t worry buddy. You’re growing even though you can’t tell. One day you’ll just burst and grow to be tall like your daddy or your uncles. You have to eat more and get plenty of sleep” 

Why Am I Still Struggling?

Although I’m his father, and he doesn’t complain much about it, I can still see what he feels and understand this little guy’s concerns. In fact, there are times when I’m just like him; both spiritually and physically. I’m a certified trainer and have been involved in the fitness field for a while now and I look around at others and see them explode off the gate. In the same way, I’ve been a Christian for 20+ years now and I still look around at other believers and wonder, “Am I growing? Will I ever get big? How come he/she’s so spiritual and I’m still struggling?” I look at my life and then I look at theirs and I think, “Will I ever grow?”

“If God has justified me, he certainly won’t condemn me. Why would I condemn myself?”

Then sometimes, when I’m at my lowest, I start searching through my “good deeds,” the stuff I’m good at and trying to stand on my tiptoes so that I can feel happy about myself. I so want to know that I’m doing better. I really do want to approve myself, but the more that I try to detect growth in my heart, the more discouraged I become. Others are growing and changing. I’m still fighting with the same weaknesses. Sure, some of the outer obvious stuff is gone but my heart, oh my heart, is still so weak, so selfish, so unloving. So I find myself back at the Wall of Self-Approval, failing miserably. I know I need to refuse to be enticed by self-improvement’s allurements, but when I realize that I’ve been at the wall again, I feel even worse.

Our God Comforts

What do I need to hear? How does the Spirit speak to me? Like my loving wife and I, the Spirit continually reassures me, “You’re growing, because I’m at work. I’ve got this all well in hand and even your sin, your weakness, the failures that make you think you’re shrinking, are the products of a soul that is being fit for heaven. After all I’ve done to make you my own, would I leave you now?”

Here’s how Paul finds a way to encourage our timid little hearts: If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

If he would do that, wouldn’t it make sense that he will grow me in the way I need to be grown, when I need to be grown? He’s already graciously given me everything I need to be pleasing in his sight. So I can rest in his work and wait for the fruit of it to appear in its season, in his time.  I can trust that even when I fail he’s using my failure to make me more like him–more humble, more dependent, stronger, and more thankful for grace.

“God has already graciously given me everything I need to be pleasing in his sight.”

Who is going to bring any charge against me? If God has justified me, he certainly won’t condemn me. Why would I condemn myself? Is my opinion more important than his? And then, when I’m tempted to run to the wall, here’s where I really need to focus: Christ Jesus is the one who died, who was made small in the human form and even smaller in the crucifixion. Then he was raised and sits now at the right hand of God, interceding for me. He’s there for me. Now!

Do I Still Struggle?

Do I struggle in my growth? Yes, all the time. Further, the sad truth is that sometimes I want to grow so that I can be like Nehemiah and be happy about my growth as I compete with my siblings.

“The desire to grow is a good thing but our motives are frequently so sinful.” ~Pastor Josh

 But even then, even when my motives to please him are wrong, I can rest because he’s interceding for me. Right then, in my unbelief and pride, in my desire to save myself and avoid being little (a weak, unbelieving sinner), he’s praying for me.

So, let’s put our pencils and rulers away and rest in his promise to complete the work he’s begun in us. And then, on the days when we pick them up again, let’s remember that he is interceding for us at the right hand of the Father who gave all so we would be his. We don’t need to stand on our tiptoes any more. We’re standing in his righteousness.

Father Daughter Date Night

I take Nalani, my 10 year old little girl, on a special date every year and recently started going out once or twice a month. I’ve been doing this since she was 7 years old and I plan on doing it until Jesus takes me off of this planet.

WHY FATHER DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT?

It’s important for me to be a major influence in my daughter’s life. I want her to feel connected, loved, safe and special to me. I want her to feel like she can talk to me, even though I know she will choose not to at times and the only way I can do that is by investing as much time into her as I can right now .I want her to grow up and look back and see that I’ve always desired to spend time with her no matter how crazy or hectic our lives were, I always made time to spend with just her.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

Before anything else, make the time a priority. Dads, if you are not intentional about it then it will never happen. No father accidently spends time with their kids.

1)      Nalani is now 10 it’s just now getting to where it isn’t weird. It is a little awkward to sit with them and watch them eat when you’re out. You have no idea what to talk about, you have no idea what is going on in their minds, you can’t discuss current events with them. It’s weird. But it’s really worth pushing through the weirdness because one day, when they are able to have a conversation, you won’t be a stranger because you’ve always been there.

2)      When Nalani and I are out and about and spending time together, that’s what we do, spend time together. Don’t allow people to corner you and begin talking to you about the “good old days” or get caught up with hanging out with the boys. Be a soldier when it comes to protecting the time with your daughter and I do not ever want her to feel second place to anything or anyone else. One more thing on this…we always speak to people on our date if they chat with us. I want to teach Nalani how to meet new people and be kind.

3)      No cell phone. Dads, sitting in a restaurant with your kid and talking on a cell phone, texting or being on facebook/twitter is not spending time with them!

Just a few of the why’s and how’s that have worked for me. I am nowhere near being the perfect dad; On most days I struggle in my mind with whether or not I am doing a good job. But God’s call on my life is to be a follower of Him, a husband, and a dad – in that order.

Dad’s… Don’t waste those early years with your kids! Take hold of them!