Joan Falldine

Book Progress

2011-10-31T08:34:00.000-04:00

Good Monday Morning!

Just a little Free to be Fit update. I have spent quite a few hours lately, doing the third read-and-edit. I finished the first part, which is 12 chapters and about 150 pages (draft format). So funny how God sends confirmations to me. I spent this week focused on the topics of "change" and "transformation". Yesterday in Sunday school, what is on the board? "Transformation" vs "Conforming". Cool. Then the man behind the pulpit starts in with his topic: The absence of the wrong thing does not = the right thing. In other words, you gotta stop the bad habit and REPLACE it with the good one. That's something else I gave thought to this week. Joel Southerland did a superb job of communicating difficult concept and it clarified so many things for me.

This week, I'm reading thru the third read-and-edit of part 1, then it will go out to a team of "readers" for comments and impressions. Part 2's second read-and-edit will commence as soon as the sendout is finished.

On another note: George and my "baby" girl turned 20 last week. Know what that means? WE SURVIVED!!!!! We made it through all three teenagers unscathed!! Ha Ha. It is so hard to believe it's been 25 years of child-rearing. I could not be any prouder of my kids. My goal for them, from Day One has been very simple: That they each would be right in the center of God's will for them. It has never changed. Amen, Lord, Amen.

Gotta run....Have a wonderful day!

SO, AM I DOING THIS THING--OR NOT?

2011-08-24T09:57:00.000-04:00

Truth is, it's been a terrific struggle. First one thing, then another. Distractions. Catastrastrokes (as my dad calls them). Crashes. All sorts of various and sundry distractions. The answer is: YES. I'm going to do this thing! Which thing? My book. It's not going to remain unfinished. I'm sooo close, but it's not done 'til it's done.

I've not been doing nothing in the meantime. God is showing me a lesson Mr. Miagi taught Daniel in "The Karate Kid". Karate yes--ok. Karate no--ok. Karate--maybe? Get squash like bug. I've learned that God has A--ONE--SPECIFIC purpose for me. It has been there developing ever since I can remember. I can look back and see how He is using my natural abilities and talents toward the purpose. And it's something I enjoy.

I can be "good" at a lot of things. I've done a lot of things that have come out great. I'm not going to list all the things I've accomplished, but I suppose it would be impressive. I have a reputation of getting things done right. So it only makes sense that when there is a job to be done and a volunteer is needed to do it, people will ask me to help. It's nice when people ask you to do things. They are demonstrating confidence in you and your ability. The end result of this is a life of very little focus. The big things never get accomplished or even attempted because I'm so busy doing all these little things. So, God has shown me that I need to find out what it is that He wants me to do...and FOCUS on that.

I asked Him. And He answered. My job (at this point in my life) is to educate people on how they can be physically fit (read prepared and able) so they can accomplish their life's work and purpose. I am an educator. And encourager. And motivator. I know it doesn't seem that important, but it is. If people's bodies are so out of shape that they can't even walk to the mailbox without huffing and puffing, how are THEY going to get out there and do their lives? When your body is fit and you have stamina and energy, life is so much more pleasant! You feel better, think better, do better and live better!

How am I going to do this? Well, I had this idea that I could start my own little exercise program for a couple of nights a week. I thought Monday and Thursday nights would work well. I contacted my home church about using their facility for it, but they weren't quite keen on the idea just then. THEN, during a phone call to schedule my CPR re-certification, the guy on the phone asked me if I would be available to teach fitness classes on Monday and Thursday evenings. It is a program he started a year or so ago (at the time) and a job change was going to prevent him from continuing. And there it was!! An opportunity.

That was nearly a year ago. The program is called Body.Work. The "guy" on the phone is Brett Moore and he's still around, but only teaches one class a month on a Saturday morning. I teach the Monday and Thursday classes. You can check it out over there >>>>>> on my Facebook page.

The key for me now is to stay focused. If people ask me to teach Sunday school, my answer is "no, thank you, my plate is full." If people ask me to help paint the ( ) room, the answer is, "no thanks, I can't make it." If the request doesn't somehow fit with God's plan, I decline. Right now, the plan is to teach at Body.Work. (and grow that) and to arrange my life so that I am working on my book consistently. I'm trying very hard to stick to it.

ISRAEL

2010-10-27T09:01:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness!! It has been WAY too long since I've written. I have so much to report, but honestly can't take the time necessary for a full update now. I hesitate to do this, but I "promise" a complete report when I return from Israel. I am leaving tomorrow to spend 10 days with Global Missions Project. I am traveling with 40 other musicians and we're going to play free concerts under the baton of Camp Kirkland. I am about half packed. Yesterday I took care of several appointments. You know, the important stuff like manicure, pedicure, hair cut, therapeutic massage, dentist, bike store! It was a pretty cushy day. I attempted to watch an episode of The Closer before bed, but I don't remember anything but the intro. Sleep took over. I really need to scurry. I have one fitness class to conduct, then home to iron clothes and finish the packing. After that, I'm going to put my feet up and watch that Closer episode. Later then! In HIS Service,

The Countdown Has Begun--One Week

2010-07-22T15:12:00.000-04:00

One week from today, I will be somewhere in northern Ohio, riding in my first Pan Ohio Hope Ride. My training has been going well; I'm riding close to 200 miles/week right now, which is just right. I thoroughly enjoyed a 60-miler this morning with three cycling buddies. Next week, if all goes as planned, I will ride from Cleveland to Cincy in four days. The total distance is 328 miles and it's fairly evenly divided over the four days. One day is a century and another day there is a 5 mile stretch of hill, which should be interesting for me. I started my fundraising with a goal of $2500.00 and I am almost there. Just about $300 short and I am still hoping it comes in. I am riding in memory of my mother, Julia and sister, Jana...the funds go toward Hope Lodges in Ohio, where family members of cancer patients can stay while their loved ones are in hospital. I am very grateful to my family for their incredible encouragement and support. They have been nothing but cheerleaders when I leave the house for yet another training ride. If you would like to support my ride financially, you can do that by going to:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jbfalldine

If you don't care to support in that way, please just pray for me: safety, strength, strong mind, sleep well and that I would represent Christ effectively. I'll be updating my Facebook page throughout the week via my phone, so check in and leave me a word of encouragement.
Thanks So Much! God bless you,

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T16:08:00.002-04:00

This is my second mother's day where I wished my mother a happy day only in my heart and prayers. Last year was brutal. Jana had just died, and I was still reeling in grief from Mom's death 6 months earlier. I feel so much better this year. My, how time can change one's perspective. How time can heal deep wounds. I thought to myself, "this too shall pass" and it did. The intense presence of their absence really did pass. I still miss them, but it's a different kind of "miss" now. Thank you, Jesus.

As I was preparing to teach Sunday school this morning, I wanted to speak something special to the ladies in my class. Not all are mothers, so I needed a Word that could apply to all of us. Proverbs 14:1 popped into my head.

A wise woman builds her house,

but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

I did a word study on every single word and what I found was both surprising and encouraging. The verse applies to every single woman; not one escapes the admonition. "Build" is both literal and figurative. It means repair, set up, make and build. Similarly ,"House" is a broad word that can be applied literally and figuratively. It can mean a house, palace, temple, dungeon, prison, summer estate or home. In addition, it can mean your family, your lineage. When I combined as many of the possible variation of "builds her house" I found all sorts of hidden treasure. Gosh, I am glad I am a woman; we get to do so many things and have so many opportunities! When something is broken at home, whether it be a faucet or a child's arm or a teenager's heart, we have the privilege of building it back up, repairing it, mending it. Who but a woman can do such varied tasks?

Then I thought about our physical bodies; they are houses, aren't they? You better believe it! And we are wise to build them up, and fools to beat them down and pluck them apart with our own hands.

There is the next word that was interesting: "hands." Here we go again with a delicious word that has broad applications. This "hand" is her power, authority, influence, means and direction. See how these can all work together: The wise woman encourages and builds up the people in her family, but a foolish one uses her God-given power and influence to pick them apart, piece by piece. What a horrible picture! Remember, this admonition applies to EVERY woman. We all have family/houses that need building and repair. I would guess the building process doesn't come naturally; it's the picking apart that comes so easily. There have been times when I have nit-picked my children to absolute frustration, totally unintentionally. They would feel like there was no way they would every be good enough for me. I know I've done the same thing to my husband.

As I sit here at my desk (in the new chair I received as a gift today), I can think of so many scenarios that the scripture can apply to. I'm sure you can think of some, too.

This mother's day is particularly special because I am blessed with great kids who love me despite all the mistakes I've made. There is no greater joy in a mother's life than children that love the Lord. I really do rejoice in the children that God gave me. There's no better gift...however, I am keeping the chair!

Proverbs 23:25

Let your father and your mother be glad,

and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

LATELY AROUND THESE PARTS

2010-05-04T19:59:00.000-04:00

The last few months have been full and slightly topsy-turvy. It seems impossible that Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow....Happy Birthday, Monique! I have been doing some traveling: Spent a week in Springfield, Ohio with my dad in April. We had a blast hanging out together. One of the highlights of the trip was delivering Black Beauty (my first Trek FX bicycle) to her new home with my sister, Jolyn, who instantly fell in love with the wind in her hair and on her face as she learned how to "do the gears." She said, "Are you sure this counts as exercise? It seems so effortless." I said, "Now you know why I like all those gears." Maybe some day Jolyn will ride the Pan Ohio with me?

I spent the following long weekend in Lynchburg visiting David and Chris (and Nick and Brett and Andrea) and George! We celebrated our 27th anniversary on April 23rd. George gave me beautiful gifts, but the best one was the hotel room and time to put my feet up and read a good book. (I read "The Last Song." It was recommended by a dear friend who suggested I read it with Grace.) Christian did the majority of the driving on the Lynchburg trip and spending 20 hours alone with him in the car was wonderful. We don't take the time to sit and converse at home, so we took advantage of the uninterrupted hours in the car. He's an interesting young man--few words, but thoughtfully spoken.

I have been very undisciplined about time spent working on "Free to be Fit" or whatever my book will be titled. I did take one giant step by sending three chapters to the artist that is going to do the page layout and covers. It really bothers me that this project continues to be so neglected by me. I find it very difficult to make myself be still and work. The projects around the house are so much more fun and I can instantly see progress when I am doing them. I'm talking about things ike painting trim, re-arranging furniture and organizing closets. I have been such a big talker about publishing it; now it's way past time to put feet to my words.

As you know, two trips are in my future, Lord willing. First in July/August the Pan Ohio Hope Ride and then in October/November, the mission trip to Israel. Interesting thing: I have been putting links to financially support each of these trips in e-mails and on Facebook. In the past few days, I have raised over $600 for the American Cancer Society Hope Lodges in Ohio and ZIP ZERO NADA NOTHING for Global Missions Project for my trip to Israel. Cancer is a very "present" threat in so many lives and the need there resonates with nearly everyone. Can you think of a single person whose life hasn't been touched by cancer in some way? However, the ministry trip to Israel is just as far-reaching, but people don't seem to recognize that. I am not going to lie; the thought of traveling to Israel is both exciting and scary. I will get to play my flute along with other Christian musicians in an orchestra under the baton of Camp Kirkland, a church music hero of mine. That is thrilling enough. But the added joy of knowing that I will be serving in ministry--literally spreading the truth of the Gospel--is thrilling to me. I have never been on a for-real mission trip, especially one that is out of the USA. Both of my sons have been to several countries outside the States, but I've been nowhere except Canada and that was when I was a kid. (Dad was USAF...we were stationed at Goose Air Base, Labrador Canada for two tours of duty.) So, this trip to Israel is huge to me. I keep telling George that the LORD will provide...I have no doubt He has "orchestrated" this trip for me.

That's about it from here. I have so many things to enjoy: Riding my bike as much as possible to prepare for the Pan Ohio. Working on raising funds for Israel. Preparing for David to be home for the Summer. Working on my book. Rejoicing in God's abundance of blessings. Thanks for reading. God bless you.

PAN OHIO HOPE RIDE

2010-04-24T14:21:00.000-04:00

Dear Friends and Family,

You may be aware that our family recently lost both my mother and sister to cancer. Even now one of my precious nieces is battling cancer of the breast, brain, spine, ovaries. She is a young mother of three little boys and is one of the most amazing people you would ever know. In addition, two of my girlfriends from church are also battling cancer. I am personally motivated to do anything in my power to support research for cancer prevention, treatment and survival. Please consider supporting me on this event.

This year, I am helping save lives from cancer by taking part in the American Cancer Society Pan Ohio Hope Ride, and I’m hoping you will support me.

I’m riding from Cleveland to Cincinnati to save lives and help cancer patients celebrate more birthdays. One way your donations help cancer patients get well is by supporting the Society’s Hope Lodges. Ohio is home to two of the 28 lodges that provide a free home-away-from-home for those who must travel far from home for treatment.

Please support me in my efforts by visiting my personal web page to make a secure, tax-deductible online donation.

Every donation really does make a difference. I know that times are tighter than normal for many of us, but any amount you can give truly can help save lives.

You see, thanks to your support, the American Cancer Society can:

Help people stay well by helping people everywhere take steps to prevent cancer or detect it early, when it’s most treatable
Help people get well by being in their corner around the clock to guide them through every step of their cancer experience
Find cures by funding groundbreaking research that helps us understand cancer’s causes, determine how best to prevent it, and discover new ways to cure it
Fight back by working with lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and rally communities worldwide to join the fight

Each of us has our own reasons for caring about the fight against cancer - whatever your reasons, I hope you’ll choose to make a difference by making a donation online to support my efforts. I’m so grateful to have great people like you in my life who want to see an end to cancer in our lifetime. Together we can save lives.

Thank you! I will keep you updated on my progress.

To learn more about the Pan Ohio Hope Ride, please visit www.panohiohoperide.org.

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 2

May God be Glorified!

On to Chapter 3--A Bookcase--Bahamas!

2010-02-12T21:46:00.000-05:00

I am happy to report that my postponed mall trip resulted in the completion of Chapter 2's revision. I am pleased with the work and thank Jan Leary for her assistance! I am well in to Chapter 3 and it is coming together nicely.

The things I am writing about have changed my life and I know God can use this information to change other lives, too. When you step out in obedience to a God-assignment, expect opposition. The distractions, interruptions and preoccupations are probably deliberate attempts to get you to stop. That's where a consistent prayer life will be your most powerful weapon.

Valentine's Day is the day after tomorrow...George bought me a bookcase for my office to help contain some of the visual clutter that distracts me. I put it together in about an hour and then re-organized the stuff in my office and I already feel better. I really have a disdain for clutter! Not yours, so don't hesitate to have me over for a cup of coffee; it's just my clutter that drives me crazy. Thank you, honey, I love you!

The youth from 2nd Baptist in Warner Robins, GA are out of school next week. Their winter break got an early start today as schools were closed due to SNOW! The last time it snowed here was in the 80's. There was a lightness in the air today as everyone felt a little bit of "child" at the sight of the huge white flakes falling from the sky. It really was beautiful. The youth are going to spend their winter break on a cruise to the Bahamas next week. The winter retreat typically was a ski trip, but Pastor Mike Dorough chose a more unconventional destination this time! Due to difficult circumstances for one of the chaperones, I was offered the opportunity to go in her place. You know, I had an inkling that I might get to go on this trip. I can't tell you why...I just had an inkling. I am so sorry for the circumstance, but I am very excited to be heading out on the Monarch of the Seas on Monday.

Can you believe it? I am going on a cruise! Yippee!

Frustration Mounts

2010-02-11T11:58:00.000-05:00

I am not going to pretend to be what I am not. For the life of me, I can't figure out why it is so darn hard to sit myself at the keyboard and write! Once I get into the manuscript, I have a great time. These days I just have a knot in my stomach. I was comforted by another author who said something to the effect that she, too, has pondered thoughts of inadequacy with every single project she has written. People ask me frequently where they can buy my book and it's getting old to say, "Well, it's not out there yet.....but it's coming." I have taken to my knees on this; I am asking the Lord to help!! I have the time, but I dither it away with one thing or another. I have a perfectionistic streak in me that wants everything in my house in order before I sit to concentrate. I look around and see bathrooms that need tending to, laundry that should go in, vacuuming waiting to be finished and paper that needs to be dispatched to its places. Ahhhhh! Today? Well, today I have time, but I am not sure. I had planned to drive to Macon to return clothes that didn't fit. That would take 2-3 hours minimum. Or I could get a cup of coffee, ignore the visual noise, and open the folder that is just within my sight to the right. (I glance over to see if it's looking back at me....) OK, OK, I am going to get the coffee and open the folder. God, help! I don't like this part.

Mission to Israel -- October 2010

2010-01-28T11:11:00.002-05:00

Exciting News Today: I am going to travel to Israel with Global Missions Project in October of this year. Global Missions Project began in 2003and is an interdenominational mission organization committed to leading Christian musicians in sharing Jesus Christ with the world, encouraging believers, and ministering to people through music. I will travel with one of my dearest friends, Monique Gatton, and church music maestro Camp Kirkland! This will be my very first missions trip and I am very excited about it. Please consider contributing toward my trip via the GLOBAL MISSIONS PROJECT LINK TO THE RIGHT. Just put my name in the "Participant Name" box. Thank you!

Looking Up

2010-01-13T16:55:00.002-05:00

Psalm 3:3
But Thou, O LORD, art a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Last week at orchestra rehearsal, Dawson Hull (our orchestra conductor) shared a brief word. I can't get it out of my head and it has nagged me all week. Job had it right when he said that "Man, who is born of woman, is of few days and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Life has trouble and that's just the way it is. Even knowing the nearness of God in the times of trouble, sometimes discouragement and disappointment can sneak up on you. I love the chorus: Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will go strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace. The psalmist kept his eyes on the Lord and God plucked him out of his trouble. (Psalm 25:15) The thing is, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. It's when the noise of life storms draws our attention away that we forget just how big and able God is. It's easy to turn your attention from God to whatever it is that's going wrong just now. Troubles grow, faith dissipates, and our heads follow our gaze. That's when the LORD takes His hand under your chin and lifts it for you, bringing your eyes to meet His. He is the One who will lift your head, even when you can't muster the strength. What a gentle thought.

Back to It

2010-01-07T08:07:00.000-05:00

I can hardly believe the time that has passed by since my last post. Christmas was VERY hard this year. It was our first Christmas without my mother and sister. People tell me that grieving the loss of family members (even when you are assured that they are in Heaven) takes time. It seems like forever. Sorry to say that I am glad the Christmas season is over. What a horrible thing to say, I know.

We traveled to Ohio to spend Christmas Day with my father and sibs. It was a wonderful family time. There were lonely moments; Mom and Jana's absence was palpable, but there is a comfort that only your family can provide and we comforted one another just by being there. The car trip was just too much for my ailing back to take. In November we traveled all the way to Michigan by car and my back never really recovered from that trip before it was time to drive to Ohio. On the return trip, my legs ached continually. About 2 weeks ago my back said, "I quit." Several visits to Butler Chiropractic (where I saw Dr. Chris Jackson) helped to get me up on my feet. This past Monday, however, I dropped something on the floor, and without even thinking about it, I bent right over to pick it up and BAM! it did "it" again. So I have done nothing much in the house for these past two weeks except watch some TV and study my Bible. This week it was actually kinda nice because I watched all of the Passion 2010 conference main sessions online.

I have a few news items to report: First of all, George bought me a new bicycle for Christmas. It is being built at The Bike Store and is probably ready to pick up. It is another Trek hybrid but this time it's the Rolls-Royce version. Trek says this bike "eats hills." Ha Ha! I cannot wait to ride it; I am so excited to get it home. I couldn't ride it even if it was here, but I am inclined to put it in my living room so I can at least look at it until I can take it out. (The weather has been incredibly cold, especially for Georgia--snow is a possibility today. I doubt I would be riding even if I could.) Second, I am going to get to go to Israel in Oct/Nov of this year! I will be going with Global Missions to play flute in an orchestra conducted by church music maestro, Camp Kirkland! Third, it's a bittersweet thing that my son, David, will be leaving for Liberty University in 6 days. God called him to vocational ministry several years ago and he has been taking classes online for two years. It's time to be a resident and I am so happy for him. He is going to love it there. I sure am going to miss him around here, though!

I haven't worked on my book for weeks and I am itching to get back on track with it! I am not going to lie; this last two weeks has been terribly discouraging and I haven't felt like doing anything. I was so emotionally spent during Christmas holidays that I had no desire at all. I woke up feeling encouraged today--for the first time in a long while--thank You, Father God, for restoring my hope.

That's all for now....have faith in God!

His Voice -- Chill Is In the AirI

2009-11-20T08:27:00.001-05:00

His Voice is an encouraging, FREE, informative local newspaper. You can pick one up all over town at various locations. I wrote a column for the December issue with practical tips on how to maintain your outdoor fitness regimen over the cold months of the season. If you are a runner, jogger, walker or cyclist, you'll be interested in how you can keep the cold weather from hindering your workouts! It will hit the news stands in about a week, so look for it!

F2BF Today - Taking Steps

2009-11-17T10:14:00.000-05:00

Just a few words this morning as I am on the "go" with several household necessities. I have barely made it to my office over the last week; I'm telling you, it's HARD to find blocks of time to sit and write. Chapter 3 is with my editor friend and she is liking it. That makes me feel good, but it also lights my desire to work on Chapter 4. So my update is: not much progress, but tons of desire. There was a time when I didn't even have the desire to write. That season is over.
I am working on an article for a local Christian newspaper, "His Voice." I need to finish that today along with painting a bathroom and hanging kitchen lights after a ceiling repair. My big accomplishment yesterday was getting my dogs to the vet for nail trimming. Does anyone else find that life's interruptions are frustrating? I am taking steps to seeing my book in your hands. Though they are small, they still count. Steps are steps. The key is to START. If you don't take that first step, then there is no way the second step will come. So, whatever it is that you need to START, take the step! In Christ,

Century Cycling in Claxton, GA

2009-11-14T20:42:00.003-05:00

Very pleased to report that the Claxton, GA Cruisin' in the Country Century was a blast! The LORD provided the best possible weather and the day was a gift from Him! I performed very well, thanks again to Him. How about some pictures? OK, here they come.

Leaving the hotel enroute to Claxton.

Ready, Set, Go!

This is where I first began to sense fatigue.

This church hosted a rest stop!

There she blows!! 100 Miles! Trouble was that my van was 5 miles away. Lovely.

Back at the van, very grateful and happy. And DIRTY! If I only had a shower!

Glory Be!!!! The SBC's shower truck was onsite!!!! Hallelujah!!!!

All cleaned up and feeling very accomplished! Let's go home!!

It was a perfect cycling day, very light wind, highs in the 70's and the terrain was wonderful. This was my last event for the year. Next Century probably Dublin, GA in March 2010. Right now, I just want to climb into my bed.

Finding The Time

2009-11-12T09:11:00.001-05:00

I am in disbelief that today is Thursday. I had so many plans for this week, a list of things to complete before leaving for Claxton on Friday (where I will ride in my 2nd Century--see previous post). I barely scratched the surface in terms of my writing. It's just plain hard to find uninterrupted blocks of time. My house is busy! Kids going in all directions, pets to tend to and the mundane cleaning and maintaining. If everyone would just be quiet for a day so that I can sit in my office and let the words flow! It isn't going to happen. I have to learn to close the door and block out the world on the other side.

I am going to try to get some writing done today, but I have several big errands to deal with in between. I have been up for nearly two hours and have managed to drink 2 cups of coffee and eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich while I caught a few minutes of Fox and Friends. I'll need to focus intently to ignore the guys who are tending to the yard today and the other guys that are repairing two drywall ceilings and the dogs that are whining because they are afraid of both sets of guys. We'll see.

The ONLY way any of my day will make sense is if I stop right now and spend some time "alone" with my Master! I want what He wants for me today. It is futile to try to accomplish anything until I have met with Him to see what is on my "To Do" list. I can't add hours to this day, especially to the part that has already entered history. I wish I could go back to 730 and start over. It doesn't work that way. My only option is to STOP and REGROUP!

(Ahhhhhh.....one of the cats just escaped! Here kitty kitty......)

Hope your day is exciting and blessed!

May I Pray for You?

2009-11-10T21:47:00.000-05:00

I have asked you to pray for me. If you would even just mention my name to the LORD, He will know what my greatest need is and meet it. I would be ever so grateful. I would be honored to mention your name to the Father. You'll find a place to leave your request over to the right, near the bottom of the page.

How is the book coming?

2009-11-10T10:37:00.001-05:00

I finished Chapter 3 last evening, and took a look at Chapter 4. I am not settled on how to title Chapter 4. I had called it "The Truth," but that sounds too arrogant, like I have the corner on the truth, which I don't. Then I thought about calling it "The Bottom Line." That doesn't fit, either. It's a chapter that discusses the purpose of food: what it is for and what it is not for. For example, food is not your friend; food is fuel. That's the idea. I would love to go directly to the writing now, but other things come first today....I have a house to clean and chauffeuring duties, too. I think it's time to put on some loud praise music and whirl through this house with my dust rag. Then, I can sit at my desk and watch the Chapter 4 revision unfold.

Thank you for taking the time to read...again, please pray for me. I am charting unfamiliar ground.

Chapter 3 Close

2009-11-09T17:03:00.002-05:00

Nothing major to report. I am very close to having Chapter 3: The Battle for the Mind, complete. My editor tells me that she is finished with Chapter 2. I am going to spend some time writing right now, so maybe I'll be able to come back later and report that I'm working on Chapter 4: The Bottom Line. Please pray for me.

Free To Be Fit Progress Report

2009-11-06T21:48:00.002-05:00

I was up until after midnight on Wednesday evening revising Chapter 2: Stubborness has Virtue. "Stubborn" has such a negative connotation and is always viewed as a character flaw. I turned it around and looked at it from a positive perspective.

Yesterday flew by with no time at all to write. I got up at my usual hour and felt the loss of sleep all day long.

Today was unusually full and wearisome. I plopped down on the couch in front of the television and watched about 15 minutes of Andy Griffith, but it just couldn't hold my interest. I kept thinking about how close I was to finishing Chapter 2. I climbed the stairs to my office and that's where I've been since. Chapter 2 is finished and Chapter 3: The Battle for the Mind, is about 75% done. I've been writing about obsession, idolatry and fear. God's Word has tons to say on this and I have had a blast!

Do you remember the TV commercial from a while back...the background music was the song "You're Always On My Mind." The ad was for a weight loss product and the picture showed various women involved in their normal lives, but with a bathroom scale chained to their ankle, ball and chain style. What an accurate image of the preoccupation that some people have with their body weight.

Chapter 4: (no title yet) is where the motivation to be physically fit comes from. It's my favorite topic, but it's one that is hard to find words for. It will be interesting to see how God puts just the right words in my head.

One more thing before I click "publish post." The LORD has provided a very talented graphic artist to design the cover and pages of Free To Be Fit. He is a friend of Christian's (my oldest son). He and Christian were dorm mates while they were in school at Liberty University. You can see Nate's work at www.natevanderende.com. God is good!

Thanks for stopping by,

Joan

Training for A Century

2009-11-04T12:15:00.011-05:00

Good Morning! The weather is absolutely beautiful this morning. I met a cycling friend and we logged 40 miles, average speed about 15mph. Not very fast, but not turtle-pace either. My goal is to ride consistently at 16-18 mph average. Last weekend I hit my top speed EVER on my bike which was 38.8 mph! It was right before one of the biggest climbs I've ever done. I was with The Bike Store group, so I was following along and don't know where in the world we were. This particular climb is nicknamed "Ammo Hill." It nearly shot me down!!

Heather, Me and Jenn, ready to head out!

I'm training for my second Century. In the cycling world, a Century is a 100-mile bike ride. My first was back in September. Two of my best cycling pals and I rode together. It was the first for all three of us. We rode out of Albany, GA then to Plains (where President Jimmy Carter lives) and back. At the 50, I walked into the Plains, GA Welcome Center which was a scheduled lunch break. I grabbed a sandwich and Coke, then went inside to look around. There was a life-size poster of President Carter so I asked my friend to take a picture of me beside it.

"President Carter" and Me

I was standing there, smiling toward the camera and out of the corner of my eye I noticed that a couple of women were watching. I wondered, "What are they doing? Do they think this cardboard thing is real? Why are they smiling at me?" All of these thoughts flashed through my mind simultaneously and a split second later I recognized two of my girlfriends' faces! Jan and Monique drove all the way to Plains and "just happened" to find me at the halfway point. I was in shock. I could not believe they were there. They had no idea when exactly I would be there; they just tried to figure it out and God worked it out so that we were all there at exactly the right time. They held up a poster "Go Joan Falldine!" I don't think I've ever been so completely and pleasantly surprised!

I finished that Century in 6 hours and 50 minutes. Not bad for my first go! I felt like I had conquered the world when it was over. That is, until I went to my van and it had a flat tire! I don't know what the purpose was in the flat tire, but I thanked God for it anyway.

I'm training now for a Century in Claxton, GA on November 14th. I'd like to ride it in 6 hours or less. That's a do-able goal; it all depends on the wind. I'm hoping for about 60 degrees and calm with some sunshine. To be ready I will need to ride another 40 on Friday and Saturday. I'll try to get a ride in on Sunday, but it will be short 20 or 25. Monday I'll be teaching aerobics at Second Baptist. Tuesday and Wednesday will be my last training rides. Starting on Thursday I will rest and eat, eat, eat! That's probably the best part of a Century, except for the end.

You know what the Bible says, "The end of a matter is better than its beginning." Ecclesiastes 7:8a!
Joan

Nerves Galore!

2009-11-03T08:56:00.002-05:00

I can't even begin to describe the butterflies in my stomach, sitting here at my laptop this morning. My belly is aflutter with excitement and trepidation. I am starting a journey here that is going to hold my feet to the fire. Until now, only a select few have known that I am writing a book. There's been relatively little pressure as I have quietly worked on it for the past 10 years or so. I honestly don't remember the date, but I clearly remember the moment, when God birthed this project as a fleeting thought. I was in a church, listening to Iris Blue talk about her experiences as a severely abused little girl, and how God used those horrid circumstances to bring her to her ministry to women. I was spellbound by her story. She experienced incredible abuses and she spoke from what she knew to encourage the women in the audience. It was an epiphany as I realized that I could do the same thing, but from a different set of experiences.

I have knowledge and experience in physical fitness, healthy living, weight management and nutrition. I have experienced the benefits of consistent exercise and eating well for decades and I want you to know that it's not as hard as you might think! It's totally worth the effort. If you could just feel for a day, what it's like to be fit and healthy, you'd have the motivation to live that way, too. I hear women (mostly, but sometimes men) constantly pre-occupied with their weight, clothing size and diet. They're always evaluating, comparing and examining. I can't say that I have met more than a few women who will say that they are happy with their bodies. I confess that there have been many times when I, too, have fallen to complaining about a body that isn't perfect and doesn't look the way I wish it did. However, there have been many times where I can look in the mirror and say, "You're lookin' good, Falldine!"

I tell people that I have lost 160 pounds and technically, that is true. Your eyes probably zoomed right over to the picture of me with my bike. You're thinking, "No way did she lose 160 lbs! How did she do it? She doesn't look like she could have ever been that big!" Relax, y'all. I didn't really lose 160 pounds all at once. But I have lost 40 pounds, four times.

I first lost 40 pounds back around 1983 when I met my future husband. George's love for me taught me to love myself, which was a totally new concept. That was all the motivation I needed to finally pay attention to what I was eating, enough to actually drop weight permanently. Until then I exercised like a maniac, but never really learned to feed myself a diet consistent with loosing weight and maintaining the loss. George was the first one to help me know what amount of food "normal" people ate.

The second, third and fourth times that I lost 40 pounds were in 1986, 1989 and 1991. I gained about 40 pounds with each of my pregnancies and lost it all shortly after each of my children were born. Here it is 2009 and I weigh about what I weighed in 1983 when I got married. My weight has fluctuated about 10 pounds up or down this entire time. Yeah, I like it better when it's a little on the down, but even when it's on the up, I am not miserable. (Right now it's a little on the "up" end and I am motivated to pay attention to what I'm putting in my mouth.)

I know what it takes and I'm putting it all down in Free To Be Fit. I have to tell you one more thing, and then I need to step aside from my computer and get my day in gear!

The foundation of my life is my relationship with Jesus Christ. He is everything to me. He is my motivation, my strength, my creativity, my reason, my very life. I cannot live a day without talking to Him. I am fueled by His power and apart from Him I collapse into a heap of mere flesh and bones.

The Bible has everything to say and instruct when it comes to how to live a healthy and productive life. The very foundation of Free To Be Fit is Galatians 5:1. It says this: It was for freedom that Christ set you free, therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject to a yoke of slavery again! I see too many people living like prisoners in their own bodies, victims of their own bad choices. Free To Be Fit teaches you HOW to get free and stay free.

Next time I sit here to write, I want to tell you where I am in the process of getting Free To Be Fit in your hands. I've got a long, long way to go, but you can help if you would pray for me. Deal?

Until then, have a great day in the Lord,

Joan