Category Archives: Faith

Week 7, the gym is FINALLY thinning out..thank GOODNESS!!

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Here it is, Week 7.  Ta Da!!  Drum roll please!!

First of all.  The GREAT news….my laptop is back. Mostly.  Still need to reload some software, but, Praise the LORD, “my precious” is back up and running.  I love the Geek Squad.  And my husband.  Since he is the one who basically did all the running around and back and forth to get it taken care of.  I hate that crap.  Anyhoo….Coming soon…a photo upload of missing stuff.  Tonight I just want to get in bed and read the Hunger Games.  I just started book one and I am GLAD tomorrow is a cardio day because it will be just me and the kindle on the treadmill, I should get LOTS read.  Provided I get out of bed in the morning.  That’s always the hard part, isn’t it?

Progress update:

Quiet time:  coming along.  Seems my time without “my precious” as well as my new book is helping me to focus my prayer time and Readings a little more, therefore….a solid MAKING FORWARD PROGRESS in that column.  Woop!  Woop!!

Finances:  in progress.  I wouldn’t say any major progress has been made other than just the awareness of what is being spent instead of guessing.  Hubby and I are on the same page with the same goals.  That says something.  Still working on putting it all in one space, something is ALWAYS going on during the weekends.  However, it will get there.  Being aware is certainly an important first step anyway.

Finally.  Fitness/Health:  Week 7.  Still at it.  Gym and weight work 2-3 times a week.  Walking for 30-45 minutes 2-3 times a week.  Snacking FAR less.  Healthier choices.  Still lots of room for improvement (always is, right?) BUT….my arms are beginning to possibly show some muscle and my legs are definitely gaining strength, especially in my poor atrophied right knee and quads (surgery x 4…long story, perhaps another blog post) and best of all, my jeans were COMFORTABLE this weekend.  Now, sadly the scale shows ZERO change.  Tomorrow I see my MD for my annual check up and I’m sure she and I will have a chat as I am certainly up about 10# from last year…but I can look her in the eye and honestly give a good account for this  past 7 weeks!  We’ll see how it goes from there, but for now…I’ll keep on keepin’ on, because something HAS to give.  Eventually.  I just can’t buy this Over 40 nonsense…I feel like something is going to kick in at any moment if I just.  stick.  with.  it.

Carry on!!  God is good and thank goodness His ways are NOT my ways!

 

 

Marriage. Real life.

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I’ve been thinking a lot about marriage vows and the reality of marriage.  What better day to “discuss” it than Valentine’s Day!

I thought I’d share my perspective on marriage and wedding vows and real life.  I chose the traditional vows that we so easily parrot during our wedding ceremony, but rarely contemplate the gravity of until later in marriage, sometimes too late.   (perhaps this is why people write their own vows, they put more thought into them…but when you are 24….it’s hard to come up with something so incredibly meaningful.  at least it was for us.  maybe you are different.  good for you.  <clap, clap>  we went with the “why re-invent the wheel” attitude).  Either way, there are the vows and then there is life AFTER the vows.

  • I, (name), take you, (name), to be my [opt: lawfully wedded] (husband/wife), my constant friend  FRIEND.  We are to be each other’s friend.  Sharing in daily comings and goings, joys and sorrows, hopes and dreams, laughing together and holding each other up on the down days.  It doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy girl’s night out or boy’s golf day, just make sure you are each other’s friend in the process.   It’s a two way street it takes effort otherwise you’ll end up roommates in no time flat.  Because guess what?  You WILL grow apart.  You WILL have different interests and opinions.  And that’s OK.  Look at Mary Matalin and James Carville for crying out loud, they mix politics and marriage.  Loudly.  And they make it work.  Respect each other’s opinions and differences and that friendship will blossom. And it is GOOD. 
  • my faithful partner and my love from this day forward.   FAITHFUL.  LOVE.  Unless you are a polygamist (which by the way is against the law), when  you took the step to be married to ONE person, it doesn’t mean feel free to shop around at work, the gym, the grocery store, etc.  Again, like the friendship vow, it’s a two way street.  Communicate, cultivate and protect that love, don’t put yourself in situations that may tempt your faithfulness and if you aren’t sure you can stay faithful then don’t take the walk down the aisle.  Better some disappointed parents and friends than a miserable marriage and divorce.  Bottom line, it takes effort.  Remember that you loved each other to become husband and wife and that is important to remember when you don’t see eye to eye and the grass starts to look a little greener on the other side. and from time to time, it will.  true words.
  • In the presence of God, our family and friends, I offer you my solemn vow to be your faithful partner in sickness and in health,   Yup, right there in FRONT OF GOD and everyone, you are PROMISING to take care of each OTHER.   You don’t live at home anymore, so don’t be expecting Mama to come over and soothe your issues. Fact is:  Sickness comes.  Flu.  Broken bones.  Slipped discs.  Knee surgery.  Addictions.  Weight gain.  Migraines.  Fatigue.  Depression. Cancer.  You name it. It’s out there.  Some of us are born caregivers, some of us are wimpy sick people.  Be loving.  Be kind.  No one is exempt.  It’s life and when it’s your turn to be sick you  will want to be loved and gently cared for.  Lead by example.  Lead in hope that good things come back around.  You know what they say about Karma.  
  • in good times and in bad,  We all have good days and bad days. Shiz happens.  It’s great to have a sounding board to come home to.  Someone to bounce your stuff to and who can give some outside views on what’s happening.  For me, my husband has great insight into my work drama/friend dilemmas/issues I’m struggling with and how to better handle things..not that I always agree in the heat of the venting session, but there is always food for thought.  He keeps me grounded.  When it’s good, it’s so very, very good and when you can share goodness it multiplies.  
  • and in joy as well as in sorrow.  There is balance in everything.  Sadness is inevitable and joy comes in return.  We all mourn differently and there’s a learning curve in dealing with emotional difficulties.  Just breathe.  In and out. Some of the most amazing marriages I know have weathered immense sorrow. together.  lean on me.  when you’re not strong.  
  • I promise to love you unconditionally,   No strings attached.  Not if you do “this” for me or buy me “this” or take me “here”.  Unconditional.  Good bad and ugly.  And there is ugly.  Especially with morning breath and bedhead.  
  • to support you in your goals,  Even if those goals aren’t your goals.  Even if that means you give up some nights or weekends while striving for those goals.  Even if you have to cut back on some vacations and luxury items to meet those goals.  Teamwork pays off.  
  • to honor and respect you,   to listen when you speak.  to look you in the eyes.  to look into your heart.  to stand up for you when you are badmouthed.  to applaud your accomplishments.
  • to laugh with you and cry with you, laughter makes the heart grow fonder and sharing tears splits the sorrow down the middle.  it strengthens your relationship when you can share life together and come out the other side.  ALL of it.
  • and to cherish you for as long as we both shall live.  and maybe you will be like one of my many patients who boast of 63 year marriages, 74 year marriages, 52 year marriages.  as they walk out hand in hand.  walker to walker.  unhurried.  in love.  after all those years.  What a blessing when I come across them.
Marriage is hard.  Every day is a journey.  Pick the right “one” and you are blessed.  It ain’t for the faint of heart, so dig in, grab on and hold on.  It’s a crazy life out there and it’s way more fun when you can share it with someone you live your vows with.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Week 6! It’s here, it’s here!!

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“Six weeks is a critical time to acclimate to any new exercise regimen so that you can set long-term fitness goals,” says exercise physiologist Dr. Robert Lampman, Ph.D.

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/134939-6-week-work-out-plans/#ixzz1lmtIUjcf

My girlfriends and I have been keeping it fo’ realz ya’ll with our workouts and food choices (at work, anyway) and we have been looking forward to this:  WEEK 6.  Something about, HOLY COW!  Are you serious??? We’ve been doing this regularly for 6 WHOLE.  WEEKS?!?!  Methinks I see a  little muscle in my arm.  Oh, snap.  Lookout, Mama’s got guns.  Sorta.  C’mon, use your imagination here, K?

And this week, is a crazy week.  My normal lunch time workouts are challenged with our oldest daughter’s birthday at the end of this week and my mom in town at the beginning.  Life is getting in the way.  Move over bacon, here comes Sizzlean…I have a Plan!  That plan is:  I’ve had to resort to the dreaded 5 a.m. workouts.  Ugh.  Ugh.  Ugh.  Once I’m there it’s “fine”, but crawling out of my cozy bed?  Not so “fine”.  However, as I type, I’m all  jacked up on the adrenaline rush, so YAY 5 a.m.!!  Plus, what with all the “New Year’s Resolution” people—ahem, me, too….the crowds are huge in the afternoon.  Probably because they are all still sleeping at 5 a.m.  Either way…2 days down, 2 to go. And I’m getting my walks in also.  ShaZAM!!  (good thing since the Girl Scout cookies came yesterday…hey,  you’ve got to live right?)

Progress on other goals:

Finances:  going well.  ish.  on task, anyway.  baby steps, baby steps, baby steps.  The silver lining is it won’t always be this way and every step forward is just that…FORWARD!  Onward, ho!!

Quiet time.  If you read yesterday’s blog post you will see my laptop is currently out of commission, so my Quiet time has seriously improved this past week, although steady climb in the right direction over the past 6 weeks.  Yay, God! 

Time to wake the house and get this party started.  Blessings to you all for a “forward motion”  kind of day!

**Still no pictures due to laptop down and stubborn will joining forces..carry on with your imagination, but seriously, you wouldn’t want a picture of my 5 a.m. bedhead anyway.

On goals and progress..

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Week three is generally a pretty good waning time.  The thrill of new “goals” has subsided, the work portion is showing its necessity and the motivation is taking a vacation as the mind processes what in the world is involved in attaining goals.

True.  True.  True.  Sort of.  Though my “get healthier” goals are not showing progress as I would like–since I DO love instant gratification–I am finding my new groove and routine in regular gym attendance and walking.  And it feels GOOD!  I am sore.  Right where I should be.  And I am making better choices during the day as to what goes in my mouth and this week I started tracking to see where I can make improvements.  (yes, the brownies I made last night are one of those….but it’s all about moderation and living life, right?).  Today, again, I will pack my lunch and snacks for the day, my gym bag for lunch and my notebook for tracking.  (Sparkpeople is a good motivator, however, it requires online time and when I get home I just prefer to hang with my family, so time will tell where that goes….).  One day at a time.

Quiet time.  Today I added in some reading after my daily Readings.  5 Conversations you must have with your daughter by Vicki Courtney.  The first chapter is on body issues and how society has completely changed how women/girls have gone from worrying about virtue and inner beauty to vanity and Photoshop perfection.  Oh how timely a chapter.  Followed by todays Old Testament reading from 1 Samuel on David’s battle with Goliath.    Oh how timely a chapter.  I am beginning to see a pattern here.  There is nothing too big for God.  Personal body issues.  Societal expectations.  Food for thought.  I think I’ll be chewing on that all day.

Finally, finances.  Plugging along.  Cash is king.  blah, blah, blah.  With the exception of a major car repair last week, we are doing well.  Again with the baby steps.  Rome wasn’t built-in a day and with a goal in sight, we will get there.  It’s a marathon not a sprint.

Carry on, people.  Keep your eye on the prize!

Mama got her cardio today!! The bright side of a breakdown…..

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I came home for lunch yesterday for a Skype meeting (more on that later, but it was AWESOME) and after the meeting was over I left to go back to work.  Or so I thought.  I got in the car and vroo…nothing.  vrooo…nothing.  vrooooo….NOTHING.  UGH!  After calling my step-dad to come over and jumpstart me, because surely THAT’S the problem, still….nothing.  Grrrrrrr.

Suddenly remembering that AAA had been sending me renewal stuff and hoping , HOPING, that only meant they were merely beginning their four-month-early renewal routine and that my card was still in effect.  Checking my number online and….PHEW…still in effect, (apparently I had not put the updated card in my wallet for some reason).

30 minutes later, my friendly tow truck driver arrives and my baby was put on the flatbed.  Fortunately, I realized that the likelihood of the truck actually being fixed today was low, so I put my bike on the back of the truck for later transpo..

Then the flurry of texting and phone calls to arrange pick up for the kiddos since hubby was working late and then back to work where now my poor friend is knee-deep in alligators since I took the three-hour tour at lunch!

Riding my bike home from work (thankfully I live close!) I was trying to look at the bright side that at least I was getting in my 30 minutes of cardio, right?!?!  Once home,  our youngest son asked me to walk the neighbor’s dog with him (and who am I to turn down a little quality time with my boy?!?)….after our walk he wanted to get in his “off day” run for his football homework and asked me to ride my bike with him since it was getting dark (again with the QT)….he wrapped up his two laps (a mile)–at a good pace, mind you–and as I pulled in to the driveway he decided to go for a third lap–since he  was feeling so good–at this point my rear end had to draw the line.  “Have a good run, bud!  Be safe and I’ll see you in a few.”  Mother-0f-the-year.  I know.  Don’t judge.  He’s a smart boy and he made it home safe and I helped him stretch afterward……

Hopefully we get the green machine back today.  However, God’s timing is perfect.  Sometimes He reveals to me WHY stuff happens and sometimes not so much, but at least the timing was pretty good for a “breakdown”:  Lunchtime.  Not on the way to school/work OR on the way home.  Hubby is working from home today so he can taxi us all around until the truck is finished.  Our little life is a 4 mile radius, which is do-able.  Why complain?  I just laughed.  It’s always something.  It makes life spicy.  and hey, it’s only money, right?  This too, will pass and it’s not the end of the world.  It’s just a little soreness on my posterior which means I need to mix in the bike for some cardio and toughen up!

Have a great weekend!

1 Thessalonians 5:18   give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.