Being Thankful - Day Sixteen

Today, I am thankful that someone is HOME.

After a raging MRSA infection, 1 in 5 chances of survival, 102 days in the hospital, and countless hours of PT and OT (that will be ongoing), my Uncle John walked into his own home today!  His left leg isn't yet what he wants it to be, and he still has a long way to go to get back to "fine", but he is home.  And my dear aunt who has been by his side this whole time gets to have her husband back home where he belongs.

We give God all the praise for this, because we know that His will intended for Uncle John to beat this infection, and He answered our prayers for John's survival in such a glorious way.

Uncle John, we love you!  Keep getting better each and every day and take time to look back to remember how far you've come already!

Being Thankful - Day Fourteen And Fifteen

Today, I'm thankful for two things:  my home state and the freedom it affords us with regard to homeschooling and homeschooling in general.  In the admittedly silly effort to maintain some anonymity (when am I going to give that up?), I won't list the state.  But, thankfully, there are enough responsible, freedom-loving people in our state government that feel strongly about homeschooling freedom.  We may not be Texas, but we are awfully close with regard to the openness of our homeschooling laws.  It's simple to express intent to do it.  There aren't cumbersome tests to take that prohibit parents from choosing the best curriculum for their kids.  There aren't pesky requirements about paperwork and the like, which means I don't have to spend precious time filling out forms or turning in information that no one is really going to look at anyway.  It frees me up to educate the way I need to without burdening me with rules that accomplish nothing.  We have a wonderful state!

And I'm grateful that we are on this homeschooling journey.  It's hard, it's confusing, it's overwhelming at times.  Many days I wonder if I'm doing the best I can for the kids.  Many days I look in the future years and Flat Out Panic.  But, I see the development in the kids that inspires me to keep going.  I know there is a connection between us that is just different.  I know that none of the kids are going to get labeled in order to explain their personality.  It's a blessing that we are able to do this thing for them.  It's not for every family.  Some days, I wish I could take a break from it so I could think a coherent thought.  But, when I have breakthrough moments with the kids, it lifts me up and reminds me that this is good for them.  Not perfect; it's good.  No school will be perfect.  No school has all the answers, including the one at our home.  But it's good, and any good in it is because the Lord has shown us mercy and given us grace.

Tonight, I'm thankful!

Being Thankful - Day Thirteen

Today, I am grateful for the $4 rotisserie chicken that you can walk into the grocery store and pick up at a moment's notice.

Oh, I know this is so not anywhere near the same "important things" list that I have been listing thus far.  But, tonight, it was this very thing that made our family life so easy.  And, truly, I'm thankful that I live in a place where I can walk into a small grocery store, go grab this really, really good chicken, feed everyone, and still have chicken left over for meals tomorrow.

We get home in shifts on Tuesday because of Poodle's ballet and a late co-op class for Tooter.  And, there was an additional hiccup in the schedule today which necessitated me making an extra trip to deliver a forgotten item that ultimately resulted in my getting home an hour later than expected.  I cut up a quick salad, made some pasta for the kids, heated up some hot dogs for the Boy who is still the world's pickiest eater Ev-AH and says he doesn't like chicken even though he likes the smell of it, make some garlic toast, and BAM.  Everyone has something to go with the chicken that they like, it's easy for me, and it's cheap.

I'm thankful to have it!

And, Mom, I saved the bones this time.  :-)  There will be homemade stock in the future, for sure.

Being Thankful - Day Twelve

Today I am so thankful for the times when the whole family is sitting at the table talking about things of God.  When Jmk reads from the Word and the children talk to him about it, I become so grateful that God allows us this time and that He blesses it.  We are nothing that He should give us anything, so when He blesses us for taking that time together, it's extraordinary.

No, we don't have family scripture study nearly as often as we should.  But, we are attempting to make this more of a habit and less of a novelty.  And nights like this evening remind me of the importance of that.  The fact is that there is a God who created the world.  The fact is that He communicated with His creation via what we call the Bible.  Having access to our Creator in this manner and through prayer is humbling.

Thank you, Lord, for being with our family!

Being Thankful - Day Eleven

Today (yesterday, actually), I am thankful for men and women who make a decision to do a big, huge thing.  Who make a decision to alter their thinking and change their bodies and leave their families and commit to something bigger than they are and risk everything they have.  Sometimes it is out of necessity.  Sometimes it is out of love for country.  But it always results in the same thing.  People who make sacrifices that result in our country being safer, our liberties being protected, and our sense of security given a foundation.

I am so grateful for our veterans, their families, our current members of our military, and their families for doing what they do.  For doing the hard stuff.  For doing something much harder than talking about freedom.  They defend it.  They do something oh-so-much harder than complaining about the other side of the political aisle.  They prevent others from coming here and taking away the freedom to complain.

And some give all, right down to their last breath on this earth, as they fulfill their commitment to their nation.  Their family lives with that heartbreaking honor.  For those men and women, simple gratitude is not enough.  It is our duty to continue to be a strong, hard-working people to honor those who defend with their lives our ability to work hard.  We are not "workers".  We are citizens.  This is our country, built on principles of honor and freedom and submission to our Creator.  And this nation was created because people gave their fortunes and their lives.  Live bravely and be strong and be humble to God for His blessings of this country of honor!

Being Thankful - Day Ten

Today, I am thankful for my friends.

They are everywhere!  From California to Florida.  From Connecticut to Texas.  England.  Africa.  Holland.  Germany.  The Lord has put so many people in my life that bless me in so many different ways.  I have friends who have known me for oh so long; they even knew me back when I was skinny!  (ha!)  And I have new friends who have only recently come into my life who have become practically family to me.

I've heard it say that friends are the family that you get to choose.  :-)  I'd start naming names, but you know I'd miss someone important.  I'm just so grateful for those relationships that nurture me, that teach me, that love me, and that encourage me.  Thank you, my friends, for loving me even when it's not easy to do so.  And thank you, Lord, for giving me the blessing of those friends.

Being Thankful - Day Nine

Today (okay, yesterday :-D), I am thankful for Kung Pao Friday!

Jmk and I don't do a lot of date nights.  We just don't.  There's babysitters (which means cleaning up the house and extra money) and scheduling and gotta get all spruced up after a long day and on and on and for a couple of homebodies like he and I are, all of that just sounds tiring.  We love being with each other, and we need that time together.  All couples need non-child time together.  I totally agree with that!

But why does that time hafta happen out of the house?

So, on Friday nights (or Saturday nights, or Monday nights, or whatever works into our schedule that week), the kids get a fun nacho night supper.  They get to pick whatever they want to eat AND they get to sit in the living room and watch a movie while they eat!  Major score!  Then, after everyone's gone to bed, my perfectly fabulous husband makes kung pao chicken while I go take a shower.  Then, we get to eat, together, on the couch, while we watch something on the DVR that only grownups should see.  And no one says "mommy" or "daddy" the whole time we're eating.  And it's really good, and no one complains about not liking it, and we watch NCIS or Last Man Standing or DIY network, and no one complains about wanting to watch My Little Ponies or Transformers.  And it's our chance to really exhale with each other.  ::exhaaaaaaale::

I'm so thankful that I married a man who likes to just hang out on the couch.  I'm so grateful that he likes to cook (and he's good at it) and that he likes to do wonderful, sweet things for me like have this wonderful supper made for us while I'm in the shower.  I'm so grateful that we have been blessed with the ability to talk with each other about anything and everything.  (Because that isn't easy for some people, and I am vividly aware of how precious of a blessing it is!)

Thank you, Lord, for the times that you give to me and Jmk to exhale and just be with each other!

Being Thankful - Day Eight

Today, I am grateful for the recent national election.

Hear me out.

I feel like there was a message sent to the nation; we've complained about this very thing for awhile.  But, I think, deep down, we didn't really believe it was true.  We're becoming a nation of poorly educated, uninformed people.  I do not mean that in 30 years, there will be a majority of the electorate that is poorly educated and uninformed and unable to envision a life where personal responsibility is paramount.  I mean that now, right now, there are more people who don't get it than there are people who do get it.  And, all signs point towards this trend only becoming more of a constant, rather than a fluke.

Here's what has been driven home to me in the past 48 hours.  I need to be sure our kids are getting an education that is rich in history, rich in economics, rich in Biblical knowledge, and rich in civics.  Jmk and I need to be sure that we are raising future leaders and future adults who insist on living a life of honor, with respect for elders and Biblical compassion for those in need.  We need to be sure that we are teaching them the importance of making their faith their own.  We need to make sure that this overwhelmingly burdensome societal need to avoid hurting hyper-delicate feelings does not cause them to make poor decisions or think irrationally.

Lest one think that I am referring to the national choices only, there were also some community choices that led me to have these same reactions.

But, I'm done with it.  It is astounding to me how ignorant so very many people are to simple, basic economic principles.  They truly do not understand them.  Our children are not going to follow down that pathway.  As I tell them all the time, "you may not like it, but you have to do it anyway".  There is a huge section of our country's population who need to hear that mantra a few times.  You may not like the fact that socialism doesn't work, has never worked, and will never work.  But you don't have to like it for it to be true.

I admit that this Being Thankful day is a therapy session for me.  In all honesty, I AM truly grateful to have been given this moment of clarity with regard to what the Lord expects of us as parents.  I'm not sure I would have gotten it so clearly if I hadn't seen the election numbers, both nationally and locally.  But I've got it now.  I don't expect my children to think just like me.  I expect them to be smarter, braver  and better Christians.  I pray for them to find spouses who are like-minded so that they may not be unequally yoked.  And I realize that no matter what Jmk and I do, they may make poor choices along their way.  But, it won't be for lack of effort on our parts.

Strength of character is waning in our nation.  But, God gives his children a spirit "of power, and of love, and of a sound mind".  I will cling to that as we look towards the future and work for the senatorial elections in 2 years.

Thank you, Father, for not giving up on me and continuing to teach me, even though I do not deserve one second of Your attention.  I am thankful.

Being Thankful - Day Seven

Today I am thankful for my church family.

Now, there are lots of different kinds of churches out there, and they all have their idiosyncrasies, of course, when it comes to their membership.  Our church is no different!  But, it is a precious body of people who have such a bond with each other.  Let's face it.  There aren't a whole lot of other Christians out there who believe exactly what we believe.  So, it's not like you can leave one Primitive Baptist church and find another one on the next corner.  I've been a part of other PB churches, but that was when I lived elsewhere!

There are people in my church who have known me since my age was still counted in weeks.  I watch a handsome 16 year old lead song service now who once was a little tow-headed sweet baby who stole everyone's heart. We've all been together for a long, long time.  And, even if you've only been a part of this church for mere months, once you decide to become a member, you may as well know that we consider you to have been here forever  as well.  We're family.

We don't have Sunday Schools or Small Groups.  We all worship together.  Every time.  Every body.  From the youngest (no nurseries either!) to the oldest, we're all together.  Young learns from old learns from young.  Sure, there are problems from time to time.  Once you get more than one human together, there will be problems at some point.  But unity is always our ultimate goal.  We are a body of sinners, and we know we are saved by the grace of our Lord.  We know we were chosen for that salvation through the mercy of our Lord.  We know that we believe these things because of that salvation.  We know that we are a part of a large body of sinners out of every nation, every tribe, and every tongue.  And we know that not a single one of those people who we will meet in Glory will be there because they believe on Jesus.  They believe on Jesus because they were chosen.  And that gives ALL the glory to the Lord, where it belongs.

Not very many in this world will profess this truth with their mouths.  So, our church family is precious to us because they do believe and profess these very things.  Thank you Father for the blessing of worshipping you, with like minded people, where the worship gives YOU all the glory!

Being Thankful - Day Six

I give thanks to God for the blessings of my in-love family.  Let's face it, when you get married, it's sort of hit and miss as to what kind of family you're going to get, right?  I lucked out.

I LIKE my husband's family.  I'd hang out with them even if I wasn't related by marriage.  Truly!  And they love me back and make me feel so welcome, so supported, and so loved.  I'm a blessed girl.

This past weekend, Jmk's family buried their matriarch, Jmk's grandmother.  Having everyone together, albeit for a difficult reason, was so nice.  I love them, and I like being with them.  My children love them and like being with them.  It is such a blessing to enjoy being with one's husband's family.

I love you wonderful in-loves!  Thank you, Father, for surrounding my life with family, both by blood and by marriage, who fill my heart with such joy.

Being Thankful - Day Five

Today, I thank my Lord for my parents and the family that they created for us.  I am blessed with two great brothers and one great sister.  I only live near one of them.  Yet all four of still hold a close bond with each other, even through the miles that separate us.  I suppose the fact that we have the blessing of instant communication has a lot to do with that.  But, the fact is that we want to keep the bonds of family strong, even though we are far apart, in different stages of life, or have different interests and ideas.  I love y'all, L, R, and D!

And I'm so thankful that I was blessed with two good, honest, hardworking parents.  Through easy times and hard times, I've always had them both actively a part of my life.  They were gifted with good health all of my growing up days.  And they parlayed that good health into devoting so much of themselves into their family.  My sweet father went through a most difficult heart surgery earlier this year and its accompanying difficult recuperation period, and he has approached even this incredible challenge with the same consistency, determination, and steadfast self discipline that he has used throughout his whole life.  A good sister at church, Charlotte, told us that heart surgery doesn't just happen to the patient.  The whole family goes through it.  That is very true for my mom.  Yet, she has figured out how to mentally organize the myriad of emotions that became her new constant companions.  Just as she organized four busy children's schedules, along with staying very much on top of their school work, and not missing a beat with her church responsibilities, she used those same skills to figure out this new world of worry and intense love that surrounds her and my dad.

I'm so grateful, so thankful, that they are both still with us.  And I'm so grateful for their strength and for the new chances to love them more and hopefully learn more from them.  I'm so thankful that they raised me in a home that recognized Jesus Christ as Lord.

I love you Mom and Dad!  And I'm so thankful that y'all are my parents.

Being Thankful - Day Three and Four

I had to miss yesterday so I'll do a combo post.  Today, I am thankful for my husband and my children.

There are so many cliches I could fall back on, and there is a reason for them.  They make an attempt to explain the blessing of the relationship of a good husband and the blessing of having children.  I'm not sure I can stay away from them entirely.

Jmk is the type of man that I would want my daughters to marry.  That's the most accurate description I can give of him.  He is loving.  Accepting.  Patient.  He forgives.  He trusts me, believes in me, leads me.  He provides for his family tirelessly both in a financial sense and in an emotional sense.  Sandwiches for supper because it's been an impossible day and I have absolutely nothing planned to cook?  He thinks it's great!  House is a disaster area, kids are all in their rooms being punished, and mama is considering running away to Tanzania come 5pm when he comes home?  Doesn't phase him, no matter how exhausting it is to walk into a war zone after having been at a stressful job all day.  He'll help with laundry, help get supper on the table.  He does the lion's share of grocery shopping so I don't have to schlep the kids out after a long day of school.  He doesn't look at the dust and gunk and grumble.  He tells me everything looks great.  He accepts the cluttered, oddly organized house because he embraces homeschooling.  He communicates with me, talks with me, about everything.

Being unconditionally loved by your husband, being able to wholeheartedly trust your husband, knowing that your husband has the family's best interests at heart is something for which I am humbled.  And Thankful.  Way down into the depths of my heart.  Because God put us together, and He made it happen in spite of all the dumb decisions I've made over my life.  I love you Jmk!!  (And he won't even get mad at me for posting all this even though he just hates this kind of thing!)

I'm also so very grateful for my children.  I'm so keenly aware of how much of a blessing it is to even have children.  So many of us take it for granted, I dare say.  And Jmk and I know how big of a blessing it is to get through a pregnancy.  But just to get pregnant is a miracle.  And for us to have been blessed with three children is such an enormous gift that we simply don't deserve.  But, I give all praise to the Lord for His mercy and His grace.  I don't do such a great job at mothering some days.  Let's be honest.  I get mad, lose my patience, drop the ball on SO many things.  But, yet, those precious children still love me, forgive me, come back to me every morning with hugs and and love and an honest desire to be with me.  What a blessing it is to be a parent!

Y'all, there are a lot of days that I don't feel up to the task of guiding a human being into adulthood.  Those are the times that I realize the the Spirit is handling things for me, because somehow these kids manage to learn something and manage to grow in their love for the Lord, even on the days that I'm about as personally effective as overcooked spaghetti.  For that, I am humbled.  Because let me assure you, I do not deserve that kind of grace.  But that's what grace is.  Getting something in spite of what we deserve.

As I've tried to type this out this morning, the littlest has already come up to me to read her something, and I've said "no".  But, as soon as I quit and go read to her, she'll be SO glad and happy and she'll think I'm just the best thing since they put the pocket in the pita.  Thank you Lord for the tender and loving hearts that you give to children!  And, thank you Father, for allowing me to be a parent.  My heart is heavy with gratitude and thankfulness for this family that you have given to me, in spite of me.

All praise and glory to God!

Being Thankful - Day Two

I'm going to need to change my planned post for today.  Instead, I'm going to be grateful for the life of a dear woman who had her homegoing today.  She raised 4 beautiful girls.  Had six beautiful grandkids.  Four beautiful great-grandkids.  She lived just over 91 years on this earth, and as I type this, she is seeing the face of her Lord.  She has finally seen her beloved husband who has been gone from her for so many years.

The past year of her life has been difficult; there is no doubt about that.  She has slowly declined every day over the past year.  It has been truly a labor of love for her daughters to not only spend so many nights away from their own homes, but also to watch the decline each day.  But they endured.  And tonight, Jmk's mom, along with her best friend in the whole world, were by Grandmother's side as she slipped away from the body that she no longer needed.

I'm so grateful that we were there today to see her.  I'm grateful that we took photos of the kids in her backyard this morning.  I'm so grateful that I was able to love on her and tell her that she was loved, that she was precious.  I'm so grateful that Jmk was able to hug her and love on her before we left today, not knowing that it would be the last time.  I'm so grateful to have had the chance to know her.  I'm grateful that my children were able to know who Grandmother is.

Tonight, I'm thankful for her life.

Please pray for Jmk and his family as they mourn her loss.

Being Thankful - Day One

My my.  July was it?  I knew it had been awhile, but I didn't realize I'd been gone quite that long.

I've seen many bloggers do this in recent years, and it's such a good idea.  Spending the time between November 1 and Thanksgiving Day spelling out each day something for which they are truly grateful.  Yesterday, Toot asked me what my favorite holiday was.  I told him Thanksgiving, although I'm sure he wouldn't understand why.  (He didn't ask.  He just said, "oh!  Okay, well mine....")  But, for me, while Christmas is such fun, Easter is precious for what it represents, Independence Day urges me to remember the courage and fortitude from which we came, Thanksgiving Day gets in my heart.  It's about family.  And love.  And, being human, there's abundant food involved.  But we are asked to remember our blessings and express gratitude for those things with which we are blessed, in spite of what we deserve.  That's all this day is about.

And that is precious, important, fun, wonderful and absolutely coram Deo.  Coram Deo - something Jmk and I hope to live out more consistently as the days and years go by.

So, with that in mind, today's entry as well as Thanksgiving Day's entry will be the same.  I am so grateful for the promise of life, given to the children of the Lord, even though we don't deserve it.  I'm so grateful to have been raised in a church that gives all the glory to God for that salvation.  I'm so grateful to know that my hope of salvation is not real because I believe on Jesus Christ.  Rather, my belief is simply evidence that my salvation was already purchased.  Praise GOD, I can't even take credit for my belief.  But what I do with what is in my heart IS up to me.  I can't ignore it; I can't say it doesn't exist because it's not convenient for me.  And, as I attempt to teach my children about this world that was created by God, I am being blessed with more understanding - a tiny bit more each day, even.  What a precious, valuable thing that is.  To be loved by the Creator of the Universe and to be allowed to learn a bit more about Him every day is something for which I am so very thankful.

Because of Singing School...

...and Sisters Patti and Hannah, this little two-almost-three year old can sing the books of the New Testament!  At the moment, the Corinthians are being called the Phillipians.  So, they're gonna just have to deal with that identity crisis until she figures it out.  And, she speed-sings the last half of the books.  'Cause that's how she rolls.  So listen close guys and gals.  :-D  But what I love so much (and it's hard to hear, because we were in a restaurant) is that before she starts, she goes "mmmmm".  Just like sweet Hannah did, in order to set the pitch, before she started singing to the little kids.  Melts my heart.  When she finishes figuring out the Old Testament, I'll post that too.  Enjoy!!! 

(Full disclosure - I finally learned all the books of the Bible in order this summer too.  Yay for Sister Patti and the Littles' Class!)

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Big Cut - Watch for Contact!

Big Man is playing baseball for the first time.  (yay!)  He's playing with the Y league, and it's a little 8 week season where they fit in about 10 games.  We're not even having practices any more; we're just having games.  And it's so cute - the kids stay at the plate until they actually make contact with the ball.  Even though it's coach-pitch, if they can't make contact, then someone will set up a T-stand so that the player can actually hit the ball.  Then they run to base.  There are no strikes or outs, etc.  Basically, it's a no rules beginning to baseball to get them used to the idea of the game.

It's a fun, gentle way to see if they enjoy the sport.

Tooter has really been enjoying it so far.  (yay again!)  I've mostly had my camera with me, but last night I  decided to take some videos.  He got to bat three times, and they are all sort of in a montage together.  Now, I didn't get the record button going fast enough, and he made contact on the first pitch, so the video starts literally AS he's hitting the ball.  (my bad)  Then, you'll see his second and third attempts at the plate!  Not the greatest video ever in the whole world.  I think the website I use to video-share sort of "cuts the quality" of the video to make it smaller.  (Which I can't complain about, especially since it's a free service!)  But for those folks who think he's cute, I figure they won't mind.  ::grin::  I can email the real videos to whomever might like to see them.

He's our big slugger.  ;-)

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C25K Week5 Day3! DONE!!!

Can I get a wahoooo??!!??


C25K is the nickname for the Couch to 5K program.  It's a nine week program that is designed to take a non-runner from no running at all to being able to run a 5K from start to finish.  (That's about 3.1 miles).  There are 3 runs each week, and each one is a combo of runs and walks with a warm-up and cool-down walk of 5 minutes each as book ends.  UNTIL the 3rd day of the 5th week.  This is the day where you have a 20 minute run, with zero recovery walks, in between the warm-up and cool-down.  And I did it!!!  Towanda!!  (Fried Green Tomatoes reference, y'all).  


Now, you know me.  I just gotta qualify everything.  So, let me qualify the above celebration by saying that 14 of these 15 runs so far have been on the treadmill in the garage.  (Yay, SueSue, for the treadmill!)  And they haven't been so much "runs" as they have been jogs.  And, if I'm being REALLY honest, some of those jogs have looked an awful lot like bouncy walks.  And, as I can attest from doing one of my runs "in the real world", treadmill running is way easier than real world running.  Mentally, it's harder, 'cause it's tee-totally boring.  But, physically, it's easier.  So, if I were to go outside this minute and try to run for 20 straight minutes, I'd likely not be able to finish it.  Why, then, am I doing all this on the treadmill?  Well, I have little kids.  One who still naps.  And I homeschool.  And my sweet husband leaves before the crack of dawn (literally) in the morning so that he can be home as close to 5 as possible, but still get in the 10-12 hours a day that his job entails.  So, I can't just up and take off around the neighborhood and leave the kiddos unattended.  Thus, the treadmill in the garage has been great!  And I'm blessed to be able to do that much, because I remember a time where finding 30 minutes to myself was absolutely not an option.


But, see, that's not The Point.  The Point is this is the first time in my whole life that I've ever run for 20 minutes straight in any form whatsoever!  Even my totally fit dancing/cheerleading days from high school, I couldn't run 20 minutes straight anywhere.  I have been dreading this day of the program since I started, and to finish it is heartening and exciting and motivating like you wouldn't believe!  So stinkin' excited.  I started singing "Eye of the Tiger" to Jmk when I came in from the garage.  Heehee!  (Rocky reference, y'all).


Now, I'll be honest.  I'm 4 lbs heavier than I was when I started all this.  My tummy isn't any smaller.  (I look 4 months pregnant without Spanx and 2 months preggo with it!)  So, I have GOT to actually do some diet modification and some extra exercising during the days I'm not running.  But, by george, I know for a fact now that my stamina is increasing.  And the muscle strength in my legs is increasing.  And getting to this point is just exhilarating for me!


I know there are an awful lot of exclamation points in this post, so I do beg your forgiveness.  :-)  I've got another 4 weeks to, which will eventually culminate in my running 30 straight minutes.  And, at that point, I'm supposed to sign up to actually run a 5K.  While I completely understand what I'm supposed to do, I think I'll wait until I can prove to myself on my neighborhood sidewalks that I actually CAN run 30 straight minutes in the real world.


But, after that, I'm gonna really do it!  The person who said she'd never run unless she was being chased by someone is going to run a 5K!  I have to do it before next January, you know.  ;-)


Want to give it a try yourself?  Here's a link to the explanation of the program.  And, this is the app that I bought for my iPhone that has been worth every penny.  (And I hate paying for apps). 


Praise God for a wonderful day at home (plans changed so that I didn't have to go anywhere!) today, lots of chores getting done, a last minute decision to exercise, and a date night on the couch tonight.  :-D  Today has been a rainy, nasty, perfectly fantastic day!

For Renae and Patty

All the things that I said I was going to do in that post from way back in January were truly sincere intentions at that time.  They were more than resolutions.  I did intend to post more often and exercise more and lose weight and be in a healthier place come January of 2013!  I had a plan, and I was excited.

What, then, derailed me so quickly?  Life.  Always life.  :-)  My dear father went through a heart attack, open heart surgery (triple bypass), extra return to the hospital, and then an ICD placement.  Most of that happened in January.  And while one would think that that very thing would be fodder for lots and lots of cathartic blogging, I just couldn't.  I can't really explain why, but I just couldn't put out there all the things that my mind was working on and all the places to where my emotional state was traveling.  There were highs and lows of all sorts.  And there was so much I wanted to learn:  about the heart and its function and treatments and surgeries and medicines and psychological issues and physical issues.  The little bit of computer time that I had during the day was spent on those things and not sharing via this venue.

Oh, make no mistake, I was venting and talking and sharing and "dealing" every single day.  My God-sent husband was my source of comfort, rationality, advice, and encouragement.  He took off So Much Time from work, staying home with the kids, so that I could be at the hospital with Dad.  (I should clarify.  He didn't take off that time.  He simply worked until late in the night from home to keep all his balls in the air).  I don't even know how hard that was for him.  I have no idea how busy his office was during that time.  He said that they "weren't all that busy", but he would have said that had they been completely slammed.  He did what he did because he puts family first.  And, I can not tell you how grateful I am for that!

So, I was getting all the "stuff" out of me and I didn't need to come here to do any of that.  But life kept happening, nonetheless.  I ran the first day of the Couch to 5K program early in January, and then I didn't come back to it until March.  MARCH.  But, I came back to it!  I've had some hiccups, but I've made it to the 4th week of this 9 week program.  To be in full disclosure, I started week 4 last week, and had to stop.  So, I'll begin anew this week!

The kids got an extra January break from school, and, yes, we're a bit "behind".  The thing is, with homeschooling, there really isn't a true "behind".  The schooling happens at any time.  I think most any parent knows what I mean.  Their kids come home from school, and then begins homework.  All parents homeschool to varying degrees.

I haven't lost any weight, because I haven't really been adjusting what I've been eating.  I did lose a little bit of weight during the hospital days, but I've since gained those pounds back.  However, I feel so much better just because I've been moving!  The splits are getting there, and my arabesque has gotten a little higher!

There has been progress.  :-)

I've actually been asked in the past few weeks, by two sweet friends, about the blog.  So, Renae and Patty, this post is for you!  Thank you for still checking in.  We all depend so much on the miniaturized Facebook snapshots of everyone's lives, that I practically don't even know how to blog any more!  The exercise of just spitting out this little bit of stuff has already reminded me how much my brain needs this exercise.

By the way, I've started a blog for my photography pursuits.  While it seems as though I'm attempting to start a business, I haven't really.  It's truly a simple pursuit.  It's a creative, yet technical, activity that feeds some hungry parts of me.  While I am absolutely open to holding appointments, at the same time I'm well aware of my limitations.  But even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then.  :-)  Since I'm still trying to maintain some anonymity on this blog (laughable endeavor, though it is), I won't list the address.  But, it's my first and last name then the word photography.blogspot.com.

If you're my FB friend, I'll eventually have the courage to put that address on there too.

I will not lie - the world rocked on its axis earlier this year.  But, the introspection that it caused has been valuable.  The deepening relationships that I've experienced have been nourishing to my heart and have taught me some necessary lessons about friendships.  There has been clarity, and there has been confusion, sometimes all at the same time.  But the Lord put the right people in my path to encourage and surround my entire family in prayer.

Daddy is improving a little bit every day.  If you were one of those prayer warriors, my heartfelt gratitude goes out to you.  And when you prayed for me?  You helped to carry me over the scary parts. I am uplifted by knowing the good that God does in those He chooses to use.  My desire for God and for Heaven has been strengthened during these past 4 months.  Praise Him that this world isn't all there is.

I love this.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Resolutions!

I recently saw a joke about how New Year's Resolutions are merely a to-do list for the first week of January.  ;-)

And, honestly, that has typically been what I've experienced with resolutions.  I'm so bad with them.  My intent is good, my spirit is willing...  then, I get half way through January, the shine and shimmer of the New Year has already begun to dull, and I'm back to my same old ways.  And my "resolutions" become just one more thing I didn't get to.  And, of course, THEN I feel guilty and unproductive for the rest of the year.  Stop The Insanity!!

SO!
I'm going to put it On The Line.  I'm putting it out there for all to see.  I'm going to put my goals, or resolutions if you will, on the blog.  Now, I will some accountability.  Hopefully, I haven't added undue pressure on myself.  We'll have to see how that pans out.  :-)  And, I'm going to blog more often, so that we can all keep up!

Whoops.  I guess the blogging more thing counts as a resolution, huh?  Hmmm.  Didn't think that one all the way through.  Well, this might mean blogs without pictures, because that tends to be what hangs me up.  I feel like every post should have some pictures to keep things interesting.  But I can't always get around to getting interesting pictures on there.  So I don't blog.  Turrible cycle, that.  Of course, blogging more than I did LAST year won't be hard.  I wasn't around much, eh?

So, my primary personal goal for 2012 pretty much revolves around improved health.  Here goes:
1)  Lose weight.

I know!!!  Stop yawning.  We ALL say it.  Every flippin' year, we say it.  And we really do mean it.  There are plenty of people who might recommend that I set a specific goal of X number of pounds.  Ehhh.  Maybe.  But I'm concerned that if I do that, I will get hung up on a number and won't focus on size.  Or, I will stop when I reach a certain number instead of continuing on.  OR, I will get disheartened because I slip up or plateau.  So, this time, next year, I will weigh less than I do now, which will be better for my joints and my spine and my overall energy level.  How much less isn't the issue.  I'm not going to have some enormous transformation by June or anything like that.  I'm just going to weigh less.

Y'all, I weigh more now than I ever have in my LIFE, except for when I was pregnant.  And, a great portion of that comes from a lack of the type of exercise that works for me.  Sooo.....

2)  Exercise more.

Yeah, you're yawning again.  That's okay.  This resolution glides very nicely right into the next one:

3)  Be able to do side splits and have at least a 90 degree arabesque again.

Ah HA!!  Now we're talking!  Now I'm getting specific.  It may take me a whole year, but I will get at least that much flexibility and strength back.  I will do different things to get to this point.  Stretching, exercise tapes, just doing barre exercises as I'm cooking tacos.  WhatEVer I can fit in around my particular schedule and needs.  I will do the best I can!

4)  Finally finish the Couch to 5K program.  I have started that program either 2 or 3 times, and I have stopped somewhere around week 4 almost every stinkin' time.  Why?  Am I scared of week 5?  Well..., yes.  Yes, I am.  But that's not why I stopped.  I let life get in the way every time.  Now, I will admit that it might take me all year to finish this 9 week program.  And that's okay.  I intend to have finished the program by this time next year.  That's all.

5)  Feel like I could dance with my brother at his wedding again.

No, no, my brother is very happily married and fully intends on staying that way.  But, if it WERE 2010, and he WAS getting married, I want to feel like I could manage to get through a swing with him without feeling like I needed to pass out just to feel better.  The C25K will help, but so will just dancing more.  I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to do that, but again, I'm going to work the details out as I go through the year.

One of the things that stops me in this typical January List Making is that I try to accommodate all the possible scenarios regarding planning exercise time around family, school, activities, etc.  It is impossible, my friends!  Not that I haven't tried to overplan in the past.  I have.  It's what I do.  So, I don't know how or when some of my exercising will happen, but I will figure something out.  No stress, no guilt, no beating myself up.  (That would be a great change for me right there!)

As much as I'd like to join the Y (and Jmk would be all behind it if I said we needed to), I really am unsure of the child care situation.  I'm not going to lie.  I'm worried about germs.  I'm not a germaphobe, really.  But, y'all, those places are breeding grounds for every single virus that is going around.  And when a kid gets sick around here, lots more than my "free time" gets put on hold.  Schooling tends to get put on hold.  And that throws all kinds of things off.  Bleh.  As flexible as homeschooling is, it also requires that I make decisions that support the home education lifestyle.  Right now, sick little kids would disrupt things in a significant way.  Sick older kids - not as much of a disruption.  But my babies are still little.  :-)  ::hug them!!::

So, ANYway, I really don't have concrete plans for dance related exercise right at this minute.  If I had access to a Mary Poppins, I'd go take (or maybe even start!) some adult ballet classes.  But I don't, so I won't.  However, now is not forever, and I don't know what kind of fun things the next year will hold!  As far as a diet plan goes, Jmk and I have decided to go with the well proven ELF diet.  Eat Less Food.  It works every time.  And, y'all, when you see me at a holiday function or one of my kids' birthdays and I'm having cake AND ice cream, remember that I said LESS food.  Not NO food.  ::grin::  Important, crucial difference.

Are there other resolutions that one would expect to be on a well rounded list?  Like, more time spent in God's Word, or building a photography portfolio, or learning a new language, or cleaning out clutter from the house, etc?  Well, of course, all those things (except the language thing - I'm so ambivalent about that for some reason.  Charlotte Mason would NOT be impressed with me) are certainly things that I strive to improve upon.  But, I've reached a point in my life where I feel like my health is important.  For me, yes.  But also for my husband.  For my children.  And it will be easier now to improve my eating habits, exercise habits, and strengthening habits than it will be even 5 years from now.  Thus, I'm going to focus on personal health for the next year.

As we travel through 2012, I hope to be more loving, more open, and more like the kid I used to be.  And, hopefully, there will be less of me in the process.

Oh, and apparently I'm going to be blogging more.  Fingers crossed on that one!