Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Still Raining....
So the day after the gas pump went out in the son's car, the husband's truck died in the driveway of our new home. That was Thursday. Also found out we wouldn't be able to get Intermountain Gas turned on until Monday (no hot water). When the city came over and turned the water on we found out we had a broken water line (the joys of buying a repo)and that the water hadn't been on at the property for over a year (thus the dead lawn). He did give us a tip on a good mechanic in town though.
We drove down the main road to find the repair shop and couldn't find it so went to the auto parts store in town and they also said that guy was a good one and gave us better directions. When we got there we were surprised to find a kid (well he's grown up now) who lived down the road from us when our kids were in grade school. We were good friends with their family and our kids all played together. It was strange, but good knowing it was someone we know. We caught up on family talk and he is going to fix the truck on Monday.... the money pit truck. ugh.
Spent all of Friday and Saturday painting and moving things from the storage shed. New carpet gets installed Monday. Our cable/internet guy (nice kid) came Friday night, but had to come back Saturday morning to finish the install. Friday he mentioned he had a reception to go to Saturday, so when he seemed in a hurry Saturday morning I told him he could just come back Monday if he needed to get to the reception. He said, "well my wife doesn't want me to be late." I smiled and asked where it was at. He said, "Well we had one in Washington, but we're having one here too." It was his reception!!!! I told him he needed to get out of here and come back Monday. He said he was about done anyway and hurried and finished. However..... when we went to check the internet connection... he had installed the cable TV, but no internet modem, etc. :D :D We understood. He has more important things. We can wait till Monday.
The husband and I painted till wee hours Friday and the house is already looking so much better. It was all quiet and empty as we painted though. Saturday morning the calvary showed up in the form of my two sons and their families. They unloaded the first load from the storage unit and we all went to breakfast at Sunrise Cafe in Middleton. Great breakfast! Some breakfast memories..... Baby Maddi spewing water from her straw at Baby Jilly who was sitting in a matching high chair next to her. How cute! Bry Bry putting syrup on ALL of his food and declaring he now liked everything. Anne asking the waitress what kind of fruit they had and the waitress saying, "Fresh fruit." Yes.... she was blonde. Jeremy's huge cinnamon roll that became the community cinnamon roll. Mostly though...just looking around at my family and being so thankful.
As we returned to the house and started unloading more stuff and painting again I realized that it was finally our new home because it was filled with the sounds of my children and grandchildren laughing and visiting. It's not the paint or furniture that make it special. Speaking of paint.... I had Daisha (6) and Bry Bry (3) help me paint on the bedrooms. I showed them how to remove the electrical outlets and they were delighted to have their own little flathead screwdrivers. They removed all of them while I taped. One outlet needed a Phillips screwdriver so I explained what that was and sent the 6 year old to the garage to find one. She found 5-- all Phillips. I was so proud. Their painting (yes, I let them paint with me) was a little on the wild side (Bry Bry kept asking me to look at his dinosaur), but it was fun and eventually.... we did finish. :D We also encountered a few tiny spiders and the first time I nailed one with the blue paint tape, they were both horrifed. Then I let them do it and was funny to watch them chase it around the room squealing when it jumped off the tape because they didn't also squish the spider. They were quite proud when the finally got it. I told them only to do that to really small ones. I don't think that'll be a problem.
After the families left and it was just the husband and I we ran out to see the recovering daughter and I removed all her bandaging from her 14 incisions. I am now deaf from the screaming. That is all I will say except that..... mission accomplished. We brought Rello back with us to spend the night and play with his cousins. He loves going to Uncle Jeremy's house. We then went and finished off two more bedrooms. However, the husband decided to use the sprayer for one of the bedrooms and when he emerged an hour later, he was covered in paint... even up his nose. Didn't wear or mask or anything. Typical man. He looked like a 6'4" yellow oompa-loompa. Not doing that again. When we went to pick Rello up (at midnight) all of Stacy and Jeremy's kids were on their little blankets in Jer's bedroom fast asleep where they had been watching a movie. Rello and Tucker's heads were sharing the same pillow. Jeremy and Stacy... thank you so much for all your help and for letting Rello come over. He loves being there.
Jas is recovering this morning from neck and head wounds suffered during yesterday's u-haul unloading/loading episode and he was horrified to learn that his organization in our garage went south after he departed. Thanks Jas and Anne for all your help too and for letting us live with you while we make this transition. Did I mention Baby Maddi got her first pig-tail today. So stinkin' cute! I will post pics tomorrow... or Tuesday. Life's a bit crazy right now!
We drove down the main road to find the repair shop and couldn't find it so went to the auto parts store in town and they also said that guy was a good one and gave us better directions. When we got there we were surprised to find a kid (well he's grown up now) who lived down the road from us when our kids were in grade school. We were good friends with their family and our kids all played together. It was strange, but good knowing it was someone we know. We caught up on family talk and he is going to fix the truck on Monday.... the money pit truck. ugh.
Spent all of Friday and Saturday painting and moving things from the storage shed. New carpet gets installed Monday. Our cable/internet guy (nice kid) came Friday night, but had to come back Saturday morning to finish the install. Friday he mentioned he had a reception to go to Saturday, so when he seemed in a hurry Saturday morning I told him he could just come back Monday if he needed to get to the reception. He said, "well my wife doesn't want me to be late." I smiled and asked where it was at. He said, "Well we had one in Washington, but we're having one here too." It was his reception!!!! I told him he needed to get out of here and come back Monday. He said he was about done anyway and hurried and finished. However..... when we went to check the internet connection... he had installed the cable TV, but no internet modem, etc. :D :D We understood. He has more important things. We can wait till Monday.
The husband and I painted till wee hours Friday and the house is already looking so much better. It was all quiet and empty as we painted though. Saturday morning the calvary showed up in the form of my two sons and their families. They unloaded the first load from the storage unit and we all went to breakfast at Sunrise Cafe in Middleton. Great breakfast! Some breakfast memories..... Baby Maddi spewing water from her straw at Baby Jilly who was sitting in a matching high chair next to her. How cute! Bry Bry putting syrup on ALL of his food and declaring he now liked everything. Anne asking the waitress what kind of fruit they had and the waitress saying, "Fresh fruit." Yes.... she was blonde. Jeremy's huge cinnamon roll that became the community cinnamon roll. Mostly though...just looking around at my family and being so thankful.
As we returned to the house and started unloading more stuff and painting again I realized that it was finally our new home because it was filled with the sounds of my children and grandchildren laughing and visiting. It's not the paint or furniture that make it special. Speaking of paint.... I had Daisha (6) and Bry Bry (3) help me paint on the bedrooms. I showed them how to remove the electrical outlets and they were delighted to have their own little flathead screwdrivers. They removed all of them while I taped. One outlet needed a Phillips screwdriver so I explained what that was and sent the 6 year old to the garage to find one. She found 5-- all Phillips. I was so proud. Their painting (yes, I let them paint with me) was a little on the wild side (Bry Bry kept asking me to look at his dinosaur), but it was fun and eventually.... we did finish. :D We also encountered a few tiny spiders and the first time I nailed one with the blue paint tape, they were both horrifed. Then I let them do it and was funny to watch them chase it around the room squealing when it jumped off the tape because they didn't also squish the spider. They were quite proud when the finally got it. I told them only to do that to really small ones. I don't think that'll be a problem.
After the families left and it was just the husband and I we ran out to see the recovering daughter and I removed all her bandaging from her 14 incisions. I am now deaf from the screaming. That is all I will say except that..... mission accomplished. We brought Rello back with us to spend the night and play with his cousins. He loves going to Uncle Jeremy's house. We then went and finished off two more bedrooms. However, the husband decided to use the sprayer for one of the bedrooms and when he emerged an hour later, he was covered in paint... even up his nose. Didn't wear or mask or anything. Typical man. He looked like a 6'4" yellow oompa-loompa. Not doing that again. When we went to pick Rello up (at midnight) all of Stacy and Jeremy's kids were on their little blankets in Jer's bedroom fast asleep where they had been watching a movie. Rello and Tucker's heads were sharing the same pillow. Jeremy and Stacy... thank you so much for all your help and for letting Rello come over. He loves being there.
Jas is recovering this morning from neck and head wounds suffered during yesterday's u-haul unloading/loading episode and he was horrified to learn that his organization in our garage went south after he departed. Thanks Jas and Anne for all your help too and for letting us live with you while we make this transition. Did I mention Baby Maddi got her first pig-tail today. So stinkin' cute! I will post pics tomorrow... or Tuesday. Life's a bit crazy right now!
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
When it rains... it pours
My daughter had surgery yesterday to remove 14 golf ball size cysts from her arms. It was my first day with students so I was feeling guilty for not being at the hospital with my baby even though she's 24. My dad, who's a paramedic, went with her so her husband could stay home with the kids. I went over and cooked them all dinner when she got home (it was outpatient surgery), but had to come home last night and prepare for work. She was feeling pretty good last night but I knew she'd be really sore today.... and she was.
The first day with students went really well yesterday and it was nice to see my students from last year as they kept popping in all day to say hi. It's amazing how much the grow up between their freshmen and sophomore year. Today was more normal or "real" as I actually gave an assignment and went over the syllabus and expectations, etc. I also had our first drama club meeting and my daughter came in at lunch. After school I picked her kids up and brought them to the title company with me where we finally signed the closing papers on our house. My daughter is one of those "coupon queens" who teaches mass classes of couponing and she insisted on keeping her scheduled class for tonight. Her husband has helped her with them before so he drove her and helped her so she didn't have to use her arms and we kept the kids. I don't know how people juggle everything in their lives without family. We also had our x-brother-in-law come and give us an estimate for some carpentry work on our new (well it's actually old) house.
Despite all that went down today... I don't feel like I accomplished much more than pre-testing my students. It's going to be a little crazy for the next week as we try to juggle all the remodeling, painting, and installations, etc. on our new house with my husband supervising games, me attending evening functions at my school as well, checking on the daughter, and just trying to get moved in and back in the flow of the school year. And we need to make time for the grandkids-- especially since they're in a routine! :D
The good news.... I'm burning calories and have little time to impulse eat! Even through the stress I remember to start my day with good fiber, eat some fruit and veggies, and end my day with 50 crunches and a prayer of gratitude for the man upstairs. Even when we're busy, we can at least do that much to keep our bodies and spirits healthy. And despite all the craziness, I still feel very blessed.... because I am. :D
The first day with students went really well yesterday and it was nice to see my students from last year as they kept popping in all day to say hi. It's amazing how much the grow up between their freshmen and sophomore year. Today was more normal or "real" as I actually gave an assignment and went over the syllabus and expectations, etc. I also had our first drama club meeting and my daughter came in at lunch. After school I picked her kids up and brought them to the title company with me where we finally signed the closing papers on our house. My daughter is one of those "coupon queens" who teaches mass classes of couponing and she insisted on keeping her scheduled class for tonight. Her husband has helped her with them before so he drove her and helped her so she didn't have to use her arms and we kept the kids. I don't know how people juggle everything in their lives without family. We also had our x-brother-in-law come and give us an estimate for some carpentry work on our new (well it's actually old) house.
Despite all that went down today... I don't feel like I accomplished much more than pre-testing my students. It's going to be a little crazy for the next week as we try to juggle all the remodeling, painting, and installations, etc. on our new house with my husband supervising games, me attending evening functions at my school as well, checking on the daughter, and just trying to get moved in and back in the flow of the school year. And we need to make time for the grandkids-- especially since they're in a routine! :D
The good news.... I'm burning calories and have little time to impulse eat! Even through the stress I remember to start my day with good fiber, eat some fruit and veggies, and end my day with 50 crunches and a prayer of gratitude for the man upstairs. Even when we're busy, we can at least do that much to keep our bodies and spirits healthy. And despite all the craziness, I still feel very blessed.... because I am. :D
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Saying Goodbye
It's that time of year when school starts and summer ends. It's goodbye to summer life and hello to a new year-- a new journey-- with amazing students and lots of ups and downs. Mostly ups though. It's goodbye to those kids who are headed off to college and it makes your heart both proud and sad at the same time. Sad that you won't see them for a while, but proud that they're continuing their educational journey and starting a new chapter in their life. One of my former players/students went to cosmetology school at ISU and not only is she married, she has already opened her own salon. Wow! Erica, I am so proud of you and amazed by your drive and work ethic. She was the same as a player. So much energy and so amazingly fast. Such a sweet person inside too.
Goodbye to one town and hello to another as we move into a new little house in Middleton next week. Goodbye to the good people in the church I attended last year. They were so wonderful that I hope we will be able to land there some day. Goodbye to my brother who left Friday. His unit is being deployed. Hello to new worries until he returns safely. Goodbye to all our grandkids being "babies" as our oldest starts first grade on Wednesday. Hello to another grandbaby in about 6 more months! :D Goodbye to my freshmen from last year (they really were a special class) and hello to a new group of freshmen. They have a lot to live up to after last year's freshmen!
Went out to visit Grandma Shorty last night and took her a little photo book I put together plus a book on the Grand Ole Opry that I bought. She gave me a garden pick (metal) that has a clear butterfly on top of it and it's solar powered so when the sun goes down, it glows different colors. It's very cool. She LOVES butterflies and has them all over her house-- inside and out-- so we will think of her every time we see it. As we were leaving we talked about how we'd put it in front of our new house and put a frog next to it (to remind us of his Grandma Byington) and plant a tiger lily by it (to remind us of my Grandma Tucker) and that's when I realized.... a new house always means... a new journey. I know I will meet people who will help me grow as a person and who will make me a better person for knowing them.
The biggest hello and goodbye as I start this new school year though is.... goodbye to being on the opposite side of the state from my sweetheart/husband and hello to being on the same side of the state, in the same house again and once again... my life is balanced and the world is right.
Goodbye to one town and hello to another as we move into a new little house in Middleton next week. Goodbye to the good people in the church I attended last year. They were so wonderful that I hope we will be able to land there some day. Goodbye to my brother who left Friday. His unit is being deployed. Hello to new worries until he returns safely. Goodbye to all our grandkids being "babies" as our oldest starts first grade on Wednesday. Hello to another grandbaby in about 6 more months! :D Goodbye to my freshmen from last year (they really were a special class) and hello to a new group of freshmen. They have a lot to live up to after last year's freshmen!
Went out to visit Grandma Shorty last night and took her a little photo book I put together plus a book on the Grand Ole Opry that I bought. She gave me a garden pick (metal) that has a clear butterfly on top of it and it's solar powered so when the sun goes down, it glows different colors. It's very cool. She LOVES butterflies and has them all over her house-- inside and out-- so we will think of her every time we see it. As we were leaving we talked about how we'd put it in front of our new house and put a frog next to it (to remind us of his Grandma Byington) and plant a tiger lily by it (to remind us of my Grandma Tucker) and that's when I realized.... a new house always means... a new journey. I know I will meet people who will help me grow as a person and who will make me a better person for knowing them.
The biggest hello and goodbye as I start this new school year though is.... goodbye to being on the opposite side of the state from my sweetheart/husband and hello to being on the same side of the state, in the same house again and once again... my life is balanced and the world is right.
Friday, August 20, 2010
All Aboard
So who knew that today would end with a train ride. After my first day back to school with staff meetings and.... my first day back.... it was a nice way to do something to remind me that just because work is starting again, doesn't mean that grandma's summer time fun has to stop. Thank you sweetie for thinking of it. And it's another checkmark on my bucket list. I have finally ridden a train.
If you haven't been on the train ride at Horseshoe Bend.... it's a great date. Rello loves trains so much that I had to be a date crasher and ask the husband if he couldn't come along too. I think papa can definitely say that it made Rello's day and was well worth giving up some of the romance to share it with Rello. Sitting in the outside, open cars was his favorite-- next to the whistle blowing of course. It was my favorite too-- especially on the way back with the cooler weather and the full moon reflecting on the river. The moon is so magical to a child. Rello followed it as it peaked behind the mountains then reappeared. The moon is magical when you're 48 too. Reminds us of how beautiful life is when we take the time to slow down and enjoy it.
So it was a pretty awesome ride and a great way to end my last week of summer break.
If you haven't been on the train ride at Horseshoe Bend.... it's a great date. Rello loves trains so much that I had to be a date crasher and ask the husband if he couldn't come along too. I think papa can definitely say that it made Rello's day and was well worth giving up some of the romance to share it with Rello. Sitting in the outside, open cars was his favorite-- next to the whistle blowing of course. It was my favorite too-- especially on the way back with the cooler weather and the full moon reflecting on the river. The moon is so magical to a child. Rello followed it as it peaked behind the mountains then reappeared. The moon is magical when you're 48 too. Reminds us of how beautiful life is when we take the time to slow down and enjoy it.
So it was a pretty awesome ride and a great way to end my last week of summer break.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Life Without Coaching
I had a horrible thought this morning.... what would my life have been like without coaching?
I have been very reflective these last couple of days about all the kids I have coached over the years and am I ready to give up coaching and go into administration. I was so close to going into administration just a few weeks ago and I honestly broke into a sweat... almost panic... thinking about giving up coaching. Am I ready? Well, I only came in #2 on their list (admin. interview) and I don't have to find out now, but it has caused me to reflect a lot on what I want out of my time and my career and life in general. I think of all the kids who have enriched my life and made me a better person and a more blessed person because they have allowed me into their world and I am just so thankful for that. I am so thankful for the memories and for the continued relationships I have with so many of my players even years after they graduate. So for now, I am glad that I have one more year. I have a few different options for coaching this year and I am still undecided about which route to go, but leaning heavily toward one direction. The good news is.... I am going to coach younger kids one more year. :D
Speaking of kids who have touched my life..... Congrats to Jac on getting engaged and I will definitely be going to watch her and Ky (another former player) when ISU volleyball plays BSU Oct. 5th. And I also need to go watch Sheryl since she'll be playing for ISU's bball team this year. It seriously seems like just a couple years ago that I had Kylee and Sheryl as freshmen on my varsity team. I can't believe they are in college already.... and Jac's getting married. And Whitney's been married three years! Really? Speaking of Whit... I love it when they do their own blog so I can go on and see all their pictures and read of all their adventures. Blogs are a lot more personal than facebook postings. I loved your pics Whit. :D
And I can't forget Kali. Bless Kali. She tried to teach me how to play tennis last night...... I stink! In my mind I am still young and quick.... not so much. And I can't get past "just kill the ball" mentality. So... she tried using terms I could relate to like... Don't be choppy, be fluid like a freethrow. Or... you have to close out on the ball (I thought it was more like a jump stop too, but she said no). At any rate... she got a great running workout last night chasing after all my wild hits. I really did learn a ton. I need to keep doing it so when she comes back from college I can show her that I've at least been practicing. Nowhere to go but up with my tennis skills! Thank you for being patient with this old coach Kali. We both burned off some calories. :D And fed 1/2 the mosquito population of Parma. :D
So today I'm making a little photo book for Grandma Shorty. Took Maddi for a walk this morning. She is so stinkin' cute! What a treat to see her every day and she's growing so fast. She'll be crawling any day now. We also have some painting to do... so I guess I better get crackin'. I feel the urge to say peace out (comes from living wth Jason), but I won't.
I have been very reflective these last couple of days about all the kids I have coached over the years and am I ready to give up coaching and go into administration. I was so close to going into administration just a few weeks ago and I honestly broke into a sweat... almost panic... thinking about giving up coaching. Am I ready? Well, I only came in #2 on their list (admin. interview) and I don't have to find out now, but it has caused me to reflect a lot on what I want out of my time and my career and life in general. I think of all the kids who have enriched my life and made me a better person and a more blessed person because they have allowed me into their world and I am just so thankful for that. I am so thankful for the memories and for the continued relationships I have with so many of my players even years after they graduate. So for now, I am glad that I have one more year. I have a few different options for coaching this year and I am still undecided about which route to go, but leaning heavily toward one direction. The good news is.... I am going to coach younger kids one more year. :D
Speaking of kids who have touched my life..... Congrats to Jac on getting engaged and I will definitely be going to watch her and Ky (another former player) when ISU volleyball plays BSU Oct. 5th. And I also need to go watch Sheryl since she'll be playing for ISU's bball team this year. It seriously seems like just a couple years ago that I had Kylee and Sheryl as freshmen on my varsity team. I can't believe they are in college already.... and Jac's getting married. And Whitney's been married three years! Really? Speaking of Whit... I love it when they do their own blog so I can go on and see all their pictures and read of all their adventures. Blogs are a lot more personal than facebook postings. I loved your pics Whit. :D
And I can't forget Kali. Bless Kali. She tried to teach me how to play tennis last night...... I stink! In my mind I am still young and quick.... not so much. And I can't get past "just kill the ball" mentality. So... she tried using terms I could relate to like... Don't be choppy, be fluid like a freethrow. Or... you have to close out on the ball (I thought it was more like a jump stop too, but she said no). At any rate... she got a great running workout last night chasing after all my wild hits. I really did learn a ton. I need to keep doing it so when she comes back from college I can show her that I've at least been practicing. Nowhere to go but up with my tennis skills! Thank you for being patient with this old coach Kali. We both burned off some calories. :D And fed 1/2 the mosquito population of Parma. :D
So today I'm making a little photo book for Grandma Shorty. Took Maddi for a walk this morning. She is so stinkin' cute! What a treat to see her every day and she's growing so fast. She'll be crawling any day now. We also have some painting to do... so I guess I better get crackin'. I feel the urge to say peace out (comes from living wth Jason), but I won't.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Back to School
Jason started back to school (teaching at Skyview) this week and the husband has been back since the first so thought we'd better get Daisha's school shopping done this week since I start back on Friday. It's been a long time since I took a child school shopping. Their supply list has some interesting, new items on it..... like ziploc bags. Plus they WANT a first grader to have "pointed" scissors and not rounded ones???? She also had to have 24 pencils. I guess with so many budget cuts (which, being a teacher I totally understand)her teacher is thinking ahead for the whole year. She also had to have four boxes of kleenex. I should have a supply list for my highschoolers. They need to bring four boxes of kleenex each too! They act flabbergasted every time I run out (like I'm their mom or the school owes them kleenex).
Once we got past all the basic supplies she needed a few new shirts.... yes "needed". Every girl "needs" a few new shirts even if grandma buys them shirts every month. :D Plus I let her get a Hannah Montana outfit that she was drooling over. Minus H.M. it was actually cute. Of course the boys each had to have a shirt because sister got one (Rello was with us too) so Tucker got a Star Wars and the two younger ones got one with Incredible Hulk and other superheroes. You will be proud to know that I did NOT stop at McDonalds with the grandkids today. We did pick up some food at Albertsons to eat in the car and it did include things like bananas (oh and animal cookies). :D I had some cole slaw with my banana and animal cookies.... I know... weird.
Well yesterday when I went to D.I. to see if they had any used light fixtures for the house we're fixing up to buy I remembered that back in the day when we were young and poor and we lived over here, I used to go to Razzle Dazzle Hair College and get my hair cut for a few bucks. My hair's been bothering me every since machette momma got ahold of it and gave me a 70's shag, so I've been wanting to get it cut shorter to fix the mutalated layers. I always said when I wasn't poor anymore I'd still go back to Razzle Dazzle to support the business and students and so.... I did. This short (like I'm not sure she was 5' even for real) girl comes out and calls my name and I think she's someone's teenager helping out but no.... she's the girl who's going to "fix" my haircut. Yikes! Luckily, she was very sweet and careful and she had an instructor helping her through it. So, for five bucks (plus a tip) I got a hair cut yesterday and my hair is quite a bit shorter and much healthier feeling already.
Well I'm watching baby Kayson in the morning so Rello can have some one-on-one fun time with his mom and dad, so I'm getting to bed earlier tonight. I also need my rest and strength for tennis with Kali tomorrow night. Pray for me! Or maybe for her. :D Plus... I'm decorating the husband's office tomorrow and I get to go meet some players I'll be helping with this season. It all feels like school is here again. It gives me the same feeling as hot chocolate on a winter day. Odd... isn't it.
Once we got past all the basic supplies she needed a few new shirts.... yes "needed". Every girl "needs" a few new shirts even if grandma buys them shirts every month. :D Plus I let her get a Hannah Montana outfit that she was drooling over. Minus H.M. it was actually cute. Of course the boys each had to have a shirt because sister got one (Rello was with us too) so Tucker got a Star Wars and the two younger ones got one with Incredible Hulk and other superheroes. You will be proud to know that I did NOT stop at McDonalds with the grandkids today. We did pick up some food at Albertsons to eat in the car and it did include things like bananas (oh and animal cookies). :D I had some cole slaw with my banana and animal cookies.... I know... weird.
Well yesterday when I went to D.I. to see if they had any used light fixtures for the house we're fixing up to buy I remembered that back in the day when we were young and poor and we lived over here, I used to go to Razzle Dazzle Hair College and get my hair cut for a few bucks. My hair's been bothering me every since machette momma got ahold of it and gave me a 70's shag, so I've been wanting to get it cut shorter to fix the mutalated layers. I always said when I wasn't poor anymore I'd still go back to Razzle Dazzle to support the business and students and so.... I did. This short (like I'm not sure she was 5' even for real) girl comes out and calls my name and I think she's someone's teenager helping out but no.... she's the girl who's going to "fix" my haircut. Yikes! Luckily, she was very sweet and careful and she had an instructor helping her through it. So, for five bucks (plus a tip) I got a hair cut yesterday and my hair is quite a bit shorter and much healthier feeling already.
Well I'm watching baby Kayson in the morning so Rello can have some one-on-one fun time with his mom and dad, so I'm getting to bed earlier tonight. I also need my rest and strength for tennis with Kali tomorrow night. Pray for me! Or maybe for her. :D Plus... I'm decorating the husband's office tomorrow and I get to go meet some players I'll be helping with this season. It all feels like school is here again. It gives me the same feeling as hot chocolate on a winter day. Odd... isn't it.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Christian Lady Rapping- It's Cool
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150208006915385&ref=mf
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Survival v. Living
I've been very reflective this past week and one of the conclusions that I have come to is that if we're not careful.... we can spend too much of our time in "survival" mode and not enough time in "living" mode. What's the difference? Do you have every day planned and feel the need to even plan your days off? Do you have to "plan" relaxation time? If you answered yes to any or all of this.... you must be American... because that's our society. We are in constant survival mode. Not healthy.
It is good to plan and be organized, but not about every detail of our lives and not every minute or even every day of our life. I have been thinking this whole time that I have to find balance, but if I'm "planning" balance, is that really balance? I think I can be organized, but I think the real trick is just learning to enjoy life at a slower pace. I need to rev up from time to time, but we always have a million goals and a million projects and it seems a fire is always burning.... but it's not a camp fire. We've had a lot of fun times with our grandkids this summer... some planned... some not. I need to try a day of "nothing" this week to really wind down my last week off before school starts. Funny... I just thought to myself "hmmmm.... what day should I do nothing.... I have this on this day and that on that day...." My point exactly.
So what would a zen day look like? I think it's kind of like the perfect date. Some people will have similar elements as other people, but each person has different needs and different things that relax them. Laying in bed all day is not Zen for me. Watching TV all day.... not zen. A puzzle and some waffles... now we're talking. A drive or quiet picnic (that I did not have to plan).... lunch with a girlfriend.... catching fireflies in a jar with my grandkids.... wait..... I think I will just go with whatever I get the urge to do that day.... I'll have to savor it too because the weeks to follow will have few zen day opportunities with the "project" house we just bought and the new school year starting.
It's not healthy to be in survival mode constantly. You will always have bills. You will always have trials. You will always have a desire to have or do something you can't afford to. You will always feel like you have flaws... and you do. All of this is called life and it's normal. Stop surviving life and start enjoying life. Accept the things that will not change and work on the things you can, but most importantly... take time to smell the waffles, snuggle the babies, and catch the fireflies. It's why we're here.
It is good to plan and be organized, but not about every detail of our lives and not every minute or even every day of our life. I have been thinking this whole time that I have to find balance, but if I'm "planning" balance, is that really balance? I think I can be organized, but I think the real trick is just learning to enjoy life at a slower pace. I need to rev up from time to time, but we always have a million goals and a million projects and it seems a fire is always burning.... but it's not a camp fire. We've had a lot of fun times with our grandkids this summer... some planned... some not. I need to try a day of "nothing" this week to really wind down my last week off before school starts. Funny... I just thought to myself "hmmmm.... what day should I do nothing.... I have this on this day and that on that day...." My point exactly.
So what would a zen day look like? I think it's kind of like the perfect date. Some people will have similar elements as other people, but each person has different needs and different things that relax them. Laying in bed all day is not Zen for me. Watching TV all day.... not zen. A puzzle and some waffles... now we're talking. A drive or quiet picnic (that I did not have to plan).... lunch with a girlfriend.... catching fireflies in a jar with my grandkids.... wait..... I think I will just go with whatever I get the urge to do that day.... I'll have to savor it too because the weeks to follow will have few zen day opportunities with the "project" house we just bought and the new school year starting.
It's not healthy to be in survival mode constantly. You will always have bills. You will always have trials. You will always have a desire to have or do something you can't afford to. You will always feel like you have flaws... and you do. All of this is called life and it's normal. Stop surviving life and start enjoying life. Accept the things that will not change and work on the things you can, but most importantly... take time to smell the waffles, snuggle the babies, and catch the fireflies. It's why we're here.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Roll That Beautiful Bean Footage
I have come to the conclusion that the only healthy and painless way to make sure you get enough fiber.... is to do it naturally through the food. In the past I have tried Metamucil and Fibercon and whatever else..... nothing but bloating and wasted calories. Yes, that stuff has calories. So this week I have had a Fiber One bar twice and..... bloating twice with very unpleasant gas. Well, I guess all gas is unpleasant, but holy cow... if you have a sensitive stomach at all.... I do not recommend Fiber One bars. Bottom line is, just get your fiber through eating real food.... tasty food that's not disguised. Cereal, fruits, and beans are all real and tasty. Just had to put in my two cents on manufactured fiber.
So the past two weeks I have been stressing about gaining back my weight. We have been on the go a lot and we have a bazillion birthdays = birthday parties= in July and August. All of that and moving equals a lot of unplanned and unbalanced eating combined with "happy food" as well. I have been dreading getting on a scale and as you know if you've been following my blog.... I've never owned one so it's easy to avoid getting on one. Well today I went to the doctor to make sure my sore throat isn't something that will get the grandbabies sick and of course the first thing they do is weigh you. I had psyched myself out so that if the scale said 150 (I was 143 the end of June), then I would just work to maintain my weight through the stress of closing on our house, then I'd get back to eating healthier again. Well, I don't know how it's possible, but I still weigh 143! After that it just didn't seem a big deal that I feel like I'm swallowing porcupine balls every time I eat or drink. Who cares.... I'm still skinny. Okay..... 143 may not be skinny to other people who are 5'8", but to me..... I'm happy with that. 140 Would be ideal, but considering how crazy life has been these past two months.... I am SO happy to see that number. I totally credit the grandkids for keeping me so active and physically going.
If you haven't clicked on one of the category topics at the top of my blog (recipes, fiber, cholesterol, etc.) be sure and do that if you're trying to eat healthier. Tomorrow is the last day of summer school then I get a week off before regular school starts. I still need to get a hair cut, tennis lesson from Kali, and night out camping. Tonight though, I just need to finish grading papers and go throw away that box of Fiber One bars. I think my husband might have done it for me. :D
So the past two weeks I have been stressing about gaining back my weight. We have been on the go a lot and we have a bazillion birthdays = birthday parties= in July and August. All of that and moving equals a lot of unplanned and unbalanced eating combined with "happy food" as well. I have been dreading getting on a scale and as you know if you've been following my blog.... I've never owned one so it's easy to avoid getting on one. Well today I went to the doctor to make sure my sore throat isn't something that will get the grandbabies sick and of course the first thing they do is weigh you. I had psyched myself out so that if the scale said 150 (I was 143 the end of June), then I would just work to maintain my weight through the stress of closing on our house, then I'd get back to eating healthier again. Well, I don't know how it's possible, but I still weigh 143! After that it just didn't seem a big deal that I feel like I'm swallowing porcupine balls every time I eat or drink. Who cares.... I'm still skinny. Okay..... 143 may not be skinny to other people who are 5'8", but to me..... I'm happy with that. 140 Would be ideal, but considering how crazy life has been these past two months.... I am SO happy to see that number. I totally credit the grandkids for keeping me so active and physically going.
If you haven't clicked on one of the category topics at the top of my blog (recipes, fiber, cholesterol, etc.) be sure and do that if you're trying to eat healthier. Tomorrow is the last day of summer school then I get a week off before regular school starts. I still need to get a hair cut, tennis lesson from Kali, and night out camping. Tonight though, I just need to finish grading papers and go throw away that box of Fiber One bars. I think my husband might have done it for me. :D
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Eating Journal 8/10/10
I have to record my eating again. I'm far more accountable and careful when I record it. Also, please notice the pages I've added under the blog heading above. The topics are all relative to either health or basketball and have great info, so check them out by clicking above on a topic.
BREAKFAST- Frosted Mini-Wheats (230)
SNACK: Banana (80)
LUNCH: 1 cup of chicken noodle soup (160), 3 raw mini carrots, 2 bites of watermelon, key lime Fiber One yogurt (50)- Total lunch= 250
SNACK: Plum (30) and small bagel (110)
DINNER: 1 cup angel hair pasta (200), 1 hotdog (no bun) 120, 2 sm. corn on the cob (120), pumpkin pie (no shell) 120
Total Calories today= 1300
BREAKFAST- Frosted Mini-Wheats (230)
SNACK: Banana (80)
LUNCH: 1 cup of chicken noodle soup (160), 3 raw mini carrots, 2 bites of watermelon, key lime Fiber One yogurt (50)- Total lunch= 250
SNACK: Plum (30) and small bagel (110)
DINNER: 1 cup angel hair pasta (200), 1 hotdog (no bun) 120, 2 sm. corn on the cob (120), pumpkin pie (no shell) 120
Total Calories today= 1300
Monday, August 9, 2010
Turning 48
I'm teaching summer school and the kids are grades 5-8 so to them 48 is pretty much the same as 80. They were cute to bring me flowers from the school flower garden and to sing happy birthday to me, but they couldn't believe how "old" I was. I can't either. I remember throwing my mom a "wake" (a.k.a. funeral party) when she turned 50 and thinking how old that was. Now I'm thinking.... "What was I thinking?!"
Mandy came to school and brought baby Kayson and Rello to have lunch with me. They brought me some yogurt parfait and Mandy gave me a gift basket with all the goodies (healthy ones) that she knows I like. I put most of them in my desk so I will have healthy snacks again. She had already given me a weekend at Wolf Creek Resort last month and she always knows what I like. She knows me. I appreciated all the birthday messages from my brother and sisters and my mom. Jackie brought up a great fact.... my birthday is 8-9-10. Thanks for pointing that out Miss Jackie. I share my birthday with my sister (who was a preemie) who is exactly one year older than I am. For the longest time growing up we always got the same thing-- different color-- matching outfits, etc. for our birthdays. You would have thought we were twins except she has red hair and is short. I have brown hair and I'm tall. Oddly, she had her son on our birthday. Kind of hard to top that gift.
Enjoyed the family bbq at Jason and Anne's. Stacy and Jeremy brought me a "Grandkids" photo frame with a different grandkid in each letter and a cute message for the 8th letter that said something like reserved for #8 (which will be here in about 6 more months). Another very thoughtful gift. What can be cuter than looking up and see a row of your grandkids faces during your busy work day... yes, I'm hanging it up at work. I'll hang it next to Rello's homemade b-day card with his little handprints traced on it and Daisha's homemade card that says "I love you mem." My children are far from perfect, like me, but they are caring and thoughtful. That is a gift in itself. I hope they always show charity and compassion and hope they are never stingy with their time or their talents or their material possessions. The more we bless others... the more we are blessed. I have seen it in my own life many times. OH, I just heard another birthday gift..... rain. We need it to clean out all the smoke from the fires and to cool things down from weeks of heat.
The electric knife my husband bought me tonight.... 18.88 (Wal-mart). The love of my family..... priceless.
Mandy came to school and brought baby Kayson and Rello to have lunch with me. They brought me some yogurt parfait and Mandy gave me a gift basket with all the goodies (healthy ones) that she knows I like. I put most of them in my desk so I will have healthy snacks again. She had already given me a weekend at Wolf Creek Resort last month and she always knows what I like. She knows me. I appreciated all the birthday messages from my brother and sisters and my mom. Jackie brought up a great fact.... my birthday is 8-9-10. Thanks for pointing that out Miss Jackie. I share my birthday with my sister (who was a preemie) who is exactly one year older than I am. For the longest time growing up we always got the same thing-- different color-- matching outfits, etc. for our birthdays. You would have thought we were twins except she has red hair and is short. I have brown hair and I'm tall. Oddly, she had her son on our birthday. Kind of hard to top that gift.
Enjoyed the family bbq at Jason and Anne's. Stacy and Jeremy brought me a "Grandkids" photo frame with a different grandkid in each letter and a cute message for the 8th letter that said something like reserved for #8 (which will be here in about 6 more months). Another very thoughtful gift. What can be cuter than looking up and see a row of your grandkids faces during your busy work day... yes, I'm hanging it up at work. I'll hang it next to Rello's homemade b-day card with his little handprints traced on it and Daisha's homemade card that says "I love you mem." My children are far from perfect, like me, but they are caring and thoughtful. That is a gift in itself. I hope they always show charity and compassion and hope they are never stingy with their time or their talents or their material possessions. The more we bless others... the more we are blessed. I have seen it in my own life many times. OH, I just heard another birthday gift..... rain. We need it to clean out all the smoke from the fires and to cool things down from weeks of heat.
The electric knife my husband bought me tonight.... 18.88 (Wal-mart). The love of my family..... priceless.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Cars and Marriages
I don't know why I think in metaphors and analogies. It seems to worsen with age. So I was driving down the road thinking I needed to clean my car. With all my transitions this past year, my car has sort of been one of my constants (like my love for my husband). I've almost lived in it at times going back and forth across the state to visit the spouse, and changing my living arrangements, and hauling clothes, furniture, books, and odds and ends (including grandchildren) from point A to point B. In the process.... it could really use a cleaning. But... I make sure I drive it carefully. I don't like to goose it or get it past 3rpms. I like my tires checked and I keep it serviced. I have hardly had any problems with it. So... it may not always look as spotless in appearance, but I don't put cheap gas in it, I allow the grandkids to eat and breath in it, and I take care of the important stuff. So what's my point? I'd like my car to look nice, but more importantly, I'd like it to get me from point A to point B and do it without me stressing about a smudge on the window or a small spot on the seat. I want to enjoy my journeys.
But..... I'd like it to run well. If I was on top of things, it'd run well and look good... but with all my transitions right now... not happening. That's why it takes teamwork. We did take it through the car wash, but it's hauled a lot of grandkids this summer so it needs a good cleaning and a good tune-up so it'll keep taking care of me. Marriage is like that. Plus... some people have these nice (sometimes non-functional) cars but no one is allowed to eat, breathe, or sometimes even ride in them... they're strictly for show and for making the driver look good. Some people have marriages like that-- they appear one way and really they're another. Some people go extreme the other way and never take care of their car at all and it's always breaking down. Some marriages are like that. They don't understand that you have to do upkeep and you have to take care in how you treat it. Then there are those who keep the looks of the car up, but either don't care or don't have a clue about how to keep the car running right either. Those are the people who want the marriage, but don't want to do the work to keep the marriage running right.
See... cars ARE like marriage. I've decided I have a very down to earth marriage. Much like my practical car. The car gets messy at times because we use it so much, but we take care of it and we work on the upkeep of it together. I feel safe in my car too. My husband takes care of me and even though we make each other crazy here and there over the past 30 years... there has never been a doubt about our endless love for each other. We could probably be better about some things, but we love life and actually living it. We are just real people. We are best friends. I'm going to clean my car out tomorrow (ran it through the car wash this weekend), but if you see it getting dirty, don't think it's because I don't take care of it... I just live in it. :D And no, I'm not saying it's okay to be slobs... just don't get too hung up on material things at the expense of spiritual things. And... if it breaks down, figure out a way to fix it together. And.... if the fixing is complicated, take it to a third party professional (counseling) to get it fixed. Sometimes, do-it-yourself fixes to save money end up costing you more in the long run. But most importantly, just do the little things to take care of it along the way and you'll have fewer problems and get more out of your car/marriage.
But..... I'd like it to run well. If I was on top of things, it'd run well and look good... but with all my transitions right now... not happening. That's why it takes teamwork. We did take it through the car wash, but it's hauled a lot of grandkids this summer so it needs a good cleaning and a good tune-up so it'll keep taking care of me. Marriage is like that. Plus... some people have these nice (sometimes non-functional) cars but no one is allowed to eat, breathe, or sometimes even ride in them... they're strictly for show and for making the driver look good. Some people have marriages like that-- they appear one way and really they're another. Some people go extreme the other way and never take care of their car at all and it's always breaking down. Some marriages are like that. They don't understand that you have to do upkeep and you have to take care in how you treat it. Then there are those who keep the looks of the car up, but either don't care or don't have a clue about how to keep the car running right either. Those are the people who want the marriage, but don't want to do the work to keep the marriage running right.
See... cars ARE like marriage. I've decided I have a very down to earth marriage. Much like my practical car. The car gets messy at times because we use it so much, but we take care of it and we work on the upkeep of it together. I feel safe in my car too. My husband takes care of me and even though we make each other crazy here and there over the past 30 years... there has never been a doubt about our endless love for each other. We could probably be better about some things, but we love life and actually living it. We are just real people. We are best friends. I'm going to clean my car out tomorrow (ran it through the car wash this weekend), but if you see it getting dirty, don't think it's because I don't take care of it... I just live in it. :D And no, I'm not saying it's okay to be slobs... just don't get too hung up on material things at the expense of spiritual things. And... if it breaks down, figure out a way to fix it together. And.... if the fixing is complicated, take it to a third party professional (counseling) to get it fixed. Sometimes, do-it-yourself fixes to save money end up costing you more in the long run. But most importantly, just do the little things to take care of it along the way and you'll have fewer problems and get more out of your car/marriage.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Almost Camping
Well if you take away the tents, the mountains, and the campfire, you have the people and the animals. We saw that there was a storm heading in tonight (and for once they were right) so we decided to modify our camping plans with the grandkids. Instead we started the day by making scones for them at Jeremy and Stacy's house, then we loaded them up and headed to the zoo. Jason and Anne and baby Maddi came too. I saw the paddle boats on our way there and knew we had to go there first. It brought back good memories of our own children. It was so hot today it was quite the exercise workout. Daisha was the driver of my paddle boat. Bryton drove papa's and Tucker helped Jas and Anne drive their's. Maddi loved the ducks, but Baby Jilly did not.
The zoo was great. The best monkeys were the grandkids though. I will post pictures tomorrow when we get home. Jas and Anne took the kids back with them and we stayed in the big city. Papa's idea of camping is a nice hotel. We just had a nice dinner and we already did our puzzles and re recupperated from the heat. It's been a great day. Pics tomorrow.
The zoo was great. The best monkeys were the grandkids though. I will post pictures tomorrow when we get home. Jas and Anne took the kids back with them and we stayed in the big city. Papa's idea of camping is a nice hotel. We just had a nice dinner and we already did our puzzles and re recupperated from the heat. It's been a great day. Pics tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Time to Go Camping
It always seems that the last two weeks before school starts get a little stir-crazy... especially when you're in a family of teachers. Camping is a great cure for stir-crazidness. I want to go camping. I don't know if we'll have to be around Friday for paperwork on the house we're buying , but if we do, hopefully we can do it in the morning and head to the hills where it's cooler and where we have no distractions or restraints... just nature and family. Even if it just ends up being the husband and I.... I'm going camping. Even if it just ends up being Kali and I.... I'm going camping. Even if it's just in the backyard with the grandkids.... wait... the backyard in the city is way scarier (and probably more dangerous) than camping in the wild. Whatever happens... I need to get out and enjoy one of our last weekends.
Today Grandma Trish came to visit. It was good to see her and it's obvious she could use a break from the stir-crazidness of life too! She's working too hard. Time to slow down. It was good to visit with her and she was surprised how big all the kids are getting (her great-grandkids). We all had dinner at Stacy and Jeremy's and Daisha showed Grandma how she can ride a bike with no training wheels now. I had picked up Rello after school so he was going crazy with the cousins as well. Mandy showed up with baby Kayson, but we're no longer going to call him baby Kayson. Beast Boy Kayson maybe... not baby. What baby is 16lbs at barely over 2 months! The child wears the same size hat as I do! Good luck holding up that head to crawl. We didn't think it was possible to have a larger child than Rello the Hut. We were wrong! Those boys are definitely football players. Of course they could pretty much dominate the key in basketball too, so it's all good.
Have to throw in a food for thought-- Key Lime Fiber One Yogurt. If you like Key Lime, you have to try it. It's 5g of fiber and only 50 calories. It's a great snack. Also, remember that one of the biggest places you can save calories is by only drinking water with all your meals. Skim milk on my cereal is pretty much it for me besides water. Sometimes I have cranberry juice for my bladder, but mostly... I drink water. That's a biggie if you're looking to lose weight. Another place you can cut some easy calories-- condiments. Check the calories on your dips, sauces, dressings, etc. You might be surprised.
Do your crunches. It's not hard. Lay on the bed and do them. I'm going to go do some right now.
Today Grandma Trish came to visit. It was good to see her and it's obvious she could use a break from the stir-crazidness of life too! She's working too hard. Time to slow down. It was good to visit with her and she was surprised how big all the kids are getting (her great-grandkids). We all had dinner at Stacy and Jeremy's and Daisha showed Grandma how she can ride a bike with no training wheels now. I had picked up Rello after school so he was going crazy with the cousins as well. Mandy showed up with baby Kayson, but we're no longer going to call him baby Kayson. Beast Boy Kayson maybe... not baby. What baby is 16lbs at barely over 2 months! The child wears the same size hat as I do! Good luck holding up that head to crawl. We didn't think it was possible to have a larger child than Rello the Hut. We were wrong! Those boys are definitely football players. Of course they could pretty much dominate the key in basketball too, so it's all good.
Have to throw in a food for thought-- Key Lime Fiber One Yogurt. If you like Key Lime, you have to try it. It's 5g of fiber and only 50 calories. It's a great snack. Also, remember that one of the biggest places you can save calories is by only drinking water with all your meals. Skim milk on my cereal is pretty much it for me besides water. Sometimes I have cranberry juice for my bladder, but mostly... I drink water. That's a biggie if you're looking to lose weight. Another place you can cut some easy calories-- condiments. Check the calories on your dips, sauces, dressings, etc. You might be surprised.
Do your crunches. It's not hard. Lay on the bed and do them. I'm going to go do some right now.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The Battle of the Bulge
This is definitely a lot harder without journaling my calories. It's just too easy to overlook calories when you're not writing them down. However, I can still add them up and tell them to someone (like the husband) and try to be more accountable. I told him he needed to help me eat healthier. So.... I'm trying that accountability route until school starts. Once school starts my healthy food freaks-- Kelli and Linda-- will help me stay back on track. Of course my biggest healthy food freak-- Kali-- is running off to college to start her own life. Hopefully she will find time to teach me the real rules of tennis before she leaves.
So yesterday I got a call from one of my former players. Her boyfriend proposed to her up in the mountains. She was very excited and I wanted to be just as excited-- and I was happy for her-- but I was also a little sad. I'm not ready for her to be married. She won't come over and eat Fruit Loops at my house or text me from another country or just come see me by herself now. Okay.... that's selfish. She is obviously very much in love and very happy. Any guy who can make her happier than her sports has to be the one. I'm sure her college coach is happy about the distraction. :D Her boyfriend is a good guy and he treats her like she deserves to be treated-- like the most important person in his world.
Marriage isn't easy. It's a 24-7 job and some days it seems like way more work than you should have to do, but..... when real love and trust are built up... the walls can weather quite a few storms. They also will have God as third party to their marriage, so they stand a good chance of finding a life time of happiness. So why is part of me sad....???? It's the mom in me. It's always bittersweet when your children marry. And all you want is that they'll be treated right, loved always, and that they'll give you oodles of grandkids.
So back to beating the battle of putting back on weight after you lose it.
#1- You have to have a partner in crime who will be firm and who sees you daily
#2- Count your calories even if it's just in your head (and report them to your partner)
#3- If you sit around--- GET UP-- Walk and/or do leg lifts while you're sitting in the chair or crunches when you're laying in bed.
#4- Drink lots of water every day
#5- Start your day with Fiber and Fruit
#6- Eat a green veggie every day
#7- The longest time we go without eating is when we sleep..... so SLEEP!
#8- Mental battles cause bad eating habits so figure out what's stressing you and talk about it with someone who HELPS you feel better. Mostly though... BE THANKFUL and take quiet time for yourself to reflect at some point in the day
#9- BALANCE- Balance family, friends, food, and work
#10- PLAN..... If you don't plan..... what you eat... what you're doing with your life.... how you will get out of debt.... how you will sneak in R&R..... YOU WON'T DO IT and you will make a lot of poor choices that will affect the way you look and feel.
Since I started eating healthier a year ago I have not had to take my pain medicines for my neck injuries or my muscle relaxers for my TMJ. I attribute that to the food choices and to my nightly small and simple core exercises. September 1st I am going to start a food journal with more research into both food and simple exercise that's sustainable as I get older. We had our offer on a house accepted today, so we will be closing on it the end of this month and my goal is not to stress eat between now and then. Wish me luck and don't bring me any sweets!!!
So yesterday I got a call from one of my former players. Her boyfriend proposed to her up in the mountains. She was very excited and I wanted to be just as excited-- and I was happy for her-- but I was also a little sad. I'm not ready for her to be married. She won't come over and eat Fruit Loops at my house or text me from another country or just come see me by herself now. Okay.... that's selfish. She is obviously very much in love and very happy. Any guy who can make her happier than her sports has to be the one. I'm sure her college coach is happy about the distraction. :D Her boyfriend is a good guy and he treats her like she deserves to be treated-- like the most important person in his world.
Marriage isn't easy. It's a 24-7 job and some days it seems like way more work than you should have to do, but..... when real love and trust are built up... the walls can weather quite a few storms. They also will have God as third party to their marriage, so they stand a good chance of finding a life time of happiness. So why is part of me sad....???? It's the mom in me. It's always bittersweet when your children marry. And all you want is that they'll be treated right, loved always, and that they'll give you oodles of grandkids.
So back to beating the battle of putting back on weight after you lose it.
#1- You have to have a partner in crime who will be firm and who sees you daily
#2- Count your calories even if it's just in your head (and report them to your partner)
#3- If you sit around--- GET UP-- Walk and/or do leg lifts while you're sitting in the chair or crunches when you're laying in bed.
#4- Drink lots of water every day
#5- Start your day with Fiber and Fruit
#6- Eat a green veggie every day
#7- The longest time we go without eating is when we sleep..... so SLEEP!
#8- Mental battles cause bad eating habits so figure out what's stressing you and talk about it with someone who HELPS you feel better. Mostly though... BE THANKFUL and take quiet time for yourself to reflect at some point in the day
#9- BALANCE- Balance family, friends, food, and work
#10- PLAN..... If you don't plan..... what you eat... what you're doing with your life.... how you will get out of debt.... how you will sneak in R&R..... YOU WON'T DO IT and you will make a lot of poor choices that will affect the way you look and feel.
Since I started eating healthier a year ago I have not had to take my pain medicines for my neck injuries or my muscle relaxers for my TMJ. I attribute that to the food choices and to my nightly small and simple core exercises. September 1st I am going to start a food journal with more research into both food and simple exercise that's sustainable as I get older. We had our offer on a house accepted today, so we will be closing on it the end of this month and my goal is not to stress eat between now and then. Wish me luck and don't bring me any sweets!!!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Sundays With The Family
If you didn't read the "Leave it to a child" post a couple before this post, and you want to smile, be sure to go back and read it. Today was Stacy's birthday (my daughter-in-law) but the kids gave her her purple frosting cake yesterday. Still we went over there after church and had dinner with them. I made some potato salad and chicken and corn on the cob. There was still purple frosting cake left. I am always amazed each time I look at their family. Four little ones with number five on the way. They are richer than anyone right now. No amount of money can buy what you feel sitting around a table with their cute little faces smiling at you.
We played a little pinochle then Stacy's parents came over so we decided to go for a Sunday drive. We tested the driving route from Middleton to Parma and from Caldwell to Middleton to get time estimates. We find out tomorrow if our offer on the house in Middleton is accepted. We also went to church with the boys and their families today. That is always a gratifying experience as a mother to watch your grown children partake of the sacrament and sit with their wives and children. I'm so grateful the grandkids/cousins are growing up with each other. I am also grateful they are growing up with an understanding of the gospel and who Jesus Christ is and the blessings of living a Christian life.
After our Sunday drive we came home and played some cards with Jas and Anne and went on an evening walk with them and baby Maddi. We also enjoyed Greg's usual Sunday cookies. Homemade chocolate chip. I know it's not a very healthy Sunday dinner, but we eat lunch so late on Sundays that the dessert ends up being dinner. Isn't that terrible..... :D We walked off at least one of the cookies..... Tomorrow it's back to work in summer school and hopefully some good news on the house. And hopefully I'll figure out how to change the font on my recipe sections and comments under my posts so you can actually see them! If anyone knows how to do that.... please let me know. :D
We played a little pinochle then Stacy's parents came over so we decided to go for a Sunday drive. We tested the driving route from Middleton to Parma and from Caldwell to Middleton to get time estimates. We find out tomorrow if our offer on the house in Middleton is accepted. We also went to church with the boys and their families today. That is always a gratifying experience as a mother to watch your grown children partake of the sacrament and sit with their wives and children. I'm so grateful the grandkids/cousins are growing up with each other. I am also grateful they are growing up with an understanding of the gospel and who Jesus Christ is and the blessings of living a Christian life.
After our Sunday drive we came home and played some cards with Jas and Anne and went on an evening walk with them and baby Maddi. We also enjoyed Greg's usual Sunday cookies. Homemade chocolate chip. I know it's not a very healthy Sunday dinner, but we eat lunch so late on Sundays that the dessert ends up being dinner. Isn't that terrible..... :D We walked off at least one of the cookies..... Tomorrow it's back to work in summer school and hopefully some good news on the house. And hopefully I'll figure out how to change the font on my recipe sections and comments under my posts so you can actually see them! If anyone knows how to do that.... please let me know. :D
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