My name is Kelly (Eli) Naas. I am 43 years old. I am married to a wonderful Christian man, Kevin Naas. We have three beautiful daughters, Hannah Marie (18), Alexandria Renay (16) and Emily Rose (13). Yes, that’s right, three teenage girls live in this house with another female (myself) who’s hormones are out of control. My husband, Kevin, will always accept your prayers 🙂
We live in Newburgh, Indiana and attend Crossroads Christian Church. We are all very involved in the children’s ministries and the girls are in the choir. We are so thankful to have been and still be able to attend church and worship freely, as well as surround our girls with great Christian role models. I am a respiratory therapist and sleep technologist, but currently do not work.
Why did I choose “Living Healthy by Serving” as the name of this blog? God has called us all to serve. We are all better able to serve when we are healthy and can live a long life. Recently I have come to the realization that not everything is about me. Hard to believe, I know. I am an only child! Haha!! I believe that by serving and encouraging others to lead healthy lives that we can be encouraged as well. I am learning to cook healthier meals for our family and trying to incorporate more activity as well. I also started volunteering to train a young boy who is overweight. He plays football and would like to lose weight to be a better athlete. I am so encouraged myself by encouraging him to keep on going when it gets hard.
This blog is about serving, encouraging and becoming healthy and physically fit. My personal goal is to lose 100 lbs. What is your goal?
MY PURPOSE: First and foremost I would like to thank my Almighty, wonderful counselor, friend, and Master of my life, God, for giving me the opportunity to struggle with something that so many others struggle with as well. I know now that even more than raising three beautiful girls I have been called to something so much bigger.
For many years I have struggled with the question, “Should I keep working, or is God calling me to stay home to take care of my family and others?”. I am a respiratory therapist and sleep technologist by trade, but no longer felt I was really making a difference. In April 2012 I attended another CIY BELIEVE conference in Anderson, IN with the Middle School Ministry at our church. I’d been to several over the years and every time I came home I felt convicted to quit my job. Why? To better serve God and y family
I continually struggled with how in the world we would ever be able to afford this. Raising children is so expensive ,worth it, but expensive. My husband and I had been praying and praying. I don’t always feel like I get clear answers from God, but as I left for work that morning I knew this would be the day. As I was leaving I remember Kevin saying, “God’s will, not yours”. On the way to work I heard a story about someone who had been going through a similar situation and she had been praying and praying with no clear answer from God. Then she said she heard a whisper, “I can’t open other doors for you until you close one”. Wow!!!! Really God?!?!
Not knowing how we would make ends meet I finally did it!!!! I remember telling my boss, who is also my best girlfriend and had been for the last 20 years. She was speechless at first, which is extremely out of character for both of us. Then she looked me in the eye and said, “You’re doing the right thing!”.
This is when it starts to get crazy! Over the summer I volunteered for VBS, which at our church ministers to 1000 elementary kids. I went to Middle School camp and to Atlanta on a mission trip with our High School Ministry. All were awesome experiences, but still I was not feeling like this is what I quit for.
I have struggled with my weight nearly my entire life. I was feeling like God was calling me to make a career out of becoming healthy. I love working with kids and I’m a former gymnastics coach. I would make a great personal trainer, right? Except that I am 5’2″ and weighed 223 pounds. Not your most appealing personal trainer. So I decided I needed help and auditioned for THE BIGGEST LOSER’s Season 14. I was sure this was it! This is what God wants for me. I know He wants me to get fit and healthy and start a program for the obese youth in our community. Well, not exactly.
First and foremost I would like to thank my Almighty, wonderful counselor, friend, and Master of my life, God, for giving me the opportunity to struggle with something that so many others struggle with as well. I know now that even more than raising three beautiful girls I have been called to something so much bigger.
For many years I have struggled with the question, “Should I keep working, or is God calling me to stay home to take care of my family and others?”. I am a respiratory therapist and sleep technologist by trade, but no longer felt I was really making a difference. In April 2012 I attended another CIY BELIEVE conference in Anderson, IN with the Middle School Ministry at our church. I’d been to several over the years and every time I came home I felt convicted to quit my job. Why? To better serve God and y family
I continually struggled with how in the world we would ever be able to afford this. Raising children is so expensive ,worth it, but expensive. My husband and I had been praying and praying. I don’t always feel like I get clear answers from God, but as I left for work that morning I knew this would be the day. As I was leaving I remember Kevin saying, “God’s will, not yours”. On the way to work I heard a story about someone who had been going through a similar situation and she had been praying and praying with no clear answer from God. Then she said she heard a whisper, “I can’t open other doors for you until you close one”. Wow!!!! Really God?!?!
Not knowing how we would make ends meet I finally did it!!!! I remember telling my boss, who is also my best girlfriend and had been for the last 20 years. She was speechless at first, which is extremely out of character for both of us. Then she looked me in the eye and said, “You’re doing the right thing!”.
This is when it starts to get crazy! Over the summer I volunteered for VBS, which at our church ministers to 1000 elementary kids. I went to Middle School camp and to Atlanta on a mission trip with our High School Ministry. All were awesome experiences, but still I was not feeling like this is what I quit for.
I have struggled with my weight nearly my entire life. I was feeling like God was calling me to make a career out of becoming healthy. I love working with kids and I’m a former gymnastics coach. I would make a great personal trainer, right? Except that I am 5’2″ and weighed 223 pounds. Not your most appealing personal trainer. So I decided I needed help and auditioned for THE BIGGEST LOSER’s Season 14. I was sure this was it! This is what God wants for me. I know He wants me to get fit and healthy and start a program for the obese youth in our community. Well, not exactly.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012: This brings me to the present. I am on a mission to lose 100 pounds. I undoubtedly feel called to share my weight loss and new healthy lifestyle with anyone and everyone who struggles with this as well. This is not just a weight loss journey though. This is gonna be the most amazing spiritual journey I have ever been on. Through my weight loss and new healthy living I know God wants to use me to bring people closer to Him. It’s not about me at all. It’s about HIM!!!!
I’m so excited to share Christ with everyone I meet and now I’ve been given this wonderful opportunity. Let’s get started………….
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012
Made breakfast for the family again this morning. Getting up at 6:00am is a relatively new thing for me, but I love it!!! Great walk this morning by the river. I’m not usually a friendly walker. I’m all business when exercising, but this morning I made sure I greeted everyone I saw with a smile and friendly, “Good morning!”. It’s amazing to me how that can make a difference. My heart is so full of joy and I loved the smiles I got back.
Verse of the day: Romans 12:2
(NIV) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(NLT) Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
livinghealthybyserving 