It's Monday Already?

I don't know about you, but our weekends seems to FLY by!  I worked both Friday and Saturday so I think that had something to do with it going by even more quickly.  The weekend was busier than normal (which I both love and hate).  Friday I worked until 6 pm then headed to the girls' elementary school for the Spring Fling and didn't get home until after 8 pm.  I woke up bright and early on Saturday and took the girls to my MIL's (mother-in-law's) house.  She had asked if she could take all three kids shopping...yes, she is a brave woman!  After dropping them off (Evan had spent the night at a friend's house and was being dropped off at my MIL's), I headed to work.  I worked until 3, then changed into my running clothes and met Jenny at our local Rails-To-Trails for our 9-Miler.  I must tell you that I was NOT looking forward to running it.  I had so many other things I would rather have been doing!  But it must be done, so I did it.  Midway through the run I started getting indigestion and having a hard time breathing properly due to the lunch I ate that apparently had not digested fully.  So I struggled through the last half.  And Jenny's hip started hurting.  So it was just one of those runs that we would consider as "crappy."  (Yes, I think that is a technical term...)  On a positive note, the weather was perfect.  It was overcast, but in the high to low 50's and it was perfect to run in!

After my run, I went through McD's to buy a chocolate milk (and yes, I hate paying $1 for a TINY little bottle of milk, but I was stupid desperate) for my post-run fuel and then to my MIL's to pick up the kiddos.  I visited for awhile and headed home (after getting milk and filling the tank with gas).  So I didn't get home until after 7 pm.  

Yesterday I woke up and begged persuaded my neighbor to go on a walk with me and we ended up doing 4 miles.  It was nice to get some exercise and catch up on happenings in each other's lives.  I came home and off we went to church.  Our church is doing a series right now called My Story and it's just downright awesome.  Each week features different people in our church who share their story and how God has changed them and worked through them.  I just love it!  

Here are the links if you'd like to watch them for yourself!

http://www.nhloud.com/sermons/nicole-maclean-from-death-to-life/

http://www.nhloud.com/sermons/ashley-and-kyle-ludwig-from-control-to-trust/

After church we did a bit of shopping in town mainly to kill time because we didn't need to be at my FIL's house until 2 for a late lunch.  After that we came home and I totally vegged out.  I wasn't feeling the best and just need to relax after such a crazy weekend!

This morning I'm on a roll!  I got up and started making cookies for Allie's class snack today.  I will share the recipe for my Whole Wheat PB Chocolate Chip Coookies in my next post!  

I also got on the scale.  174.  OUCH.  HOWEVER, I know why.  And I am totally to blame.  It's called PIE.  Yep.  Remember that Raspberry Cream Cheese Pie we brought home from the Amish Bakery?  Well, I've indulged in a piece of it every single night since then.  I didn't want it to go to waste!  Well, I am done with pie....even though there are 2 pieces still left in the fridge.  No more pie for me!  Desperate times call for desperate measures...I am starting to count calories this week.  I hate counting calories, however I bought a cute little notebook at Family Dollar yesterday for a buck and now I'm all motivated to use it as my food journal... 

Isn't it cute?

It's amazing how strong of a motivator polka dots can be!  

I am also using My Fitness Pal to help me calculate what my daily calorie intake should be and how many calories are in the foods I eat.  It's been an eye-opening experience!  I was figuring up how many were in my favorite Chocolate PB Banana Smoothie and it shocked me!  So I made some adjustments (because I hate consumed it yet) to cut the cals down a bit.  Right now my daily intake is set for 1550, although I'm thinking that might be too high.  I figure I'll try it for a week and see how much I lose and then adjust it accordingly.  I've set my goal to lose 1 lb per week.  

Happy Monday!

Hello Routine!

I have mixed emotions.  Spring Break is over and my kiddos go back to school today.  And although I was totally stressed out and frustrated by all the fighting at the beginning of the the break, they actually started getting along better towards the end and I was really starting to enjoy them being home.  However, I also like the freedom to get some major things accomplished here without the distractions they sometimes provide.   And, I'm not going to lie, the peace and quiet of my house is pretty enjoyable most days too.  But we are all ready for a routine.  My son (who is 12) even told me (4 days into spring break) that he was so ready to go back to school and see different people because he was tired of seeing us all the time.  Thanks buddy...love you too!

So what will I do today?  

* I postponed yesterday's 3-miler until today, so that's a priority.  I would also like to incorporate some extra cardio and/or strength training.  The weight that I lost over the past couple of weeks has returned (thanks to my consumption of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs and any other chocolate I could get my hands on)...so I'm back to square one.  Bleck.  But as Jimmy Buffet says, It's my own dang fault.  I've read that weight loss is about 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.  So I am going to focus more on what I'm eating but also try to ramp up my workouts a bit.  I want to see the 160's soooooo badly!

* Make a menu for this week & plan my grocery shopping list.  K has gymnastics tonight so I will be doing some shopping during her 2 hour practice.  You spend way less money and time when you have a menu plan and stick to it!

* Get caught up on some bookkeeping for hubby's business.  

* Laundry.  Lots of laundry.  I got a bit done yesterday but it's as if it's multiplying.  Or my kids changed their clothes like 20 times each day.  There's dirty laundry everywhere!  

Well, that should keep me busy most of the day!  I will let you know about today's workout in my next post. Right now, I must be going...time to get the girls up for school...Hello, Routine!

How My Morning Got Started With a Bang

Wow...what a morning it has been!  I was able to sleep in a bit, which was wonderful.  And woke up to everything covered in snow...which was semi-wonderful.  It looked absolutely beautiful, however I'm really sick of snow and just ready for some SPRING!  But knowing that this will most likely be the last snow of the season, it makes me enjoy it a wee bit more.  

After waking up and getting everyone breakfast and breaking up the usual fights among siblings and posting everyone's daily chores on the chore board, I retreated to my bedroom to start Beth Moore's study on Esther and soak up a few minutes of solitude and QUIET.  Or so I thought.  Approximate 10 mins into my study, I hear a tremendous crashing of what sounded like a lot of glass breaking in the kitchen.  I hurried to the kitchen to find glass shards everywhere and my oldest daughter sitting on the kitchen counter holding her head and crying.  One of her chores was to unload the dishwasher. I guess she was putting away some dishes and had climbed onto the counter top to reach the upper cabinets and whatever she did caused the entire top shelf to give away and all of its contents to come crashing to the ground.  Thankfully she wasn't hurt badly except for a bit of a goose egg on top of her head.  This particular shelf housed all of our wine glasses, soup bowls, and dessert dishes.  My crock pot lid was on the counter under the shelf, so it also perished.

Here's what the pile of broken glass looked like...

 The shelf housed approximately 12 wine glasses, 8 soup bowls, and 7 dessert dishes.  

Here is what miraculously survived the fall....

All swept up and ready to head to the dumpster.  

Good-bye beloved dishes.  You have served our family well.  

The funny thing about this whole situation was that last week as I was spring cleaning, I walked past this cupboard (that has clear doors so you can see the contents inside).  I was on a "we have too much junk and I need to pack it all up and send it to Goodwill!" rampage and thought this cupboard needed some purging too!  Well, I'm not sure I would have purged it down to only 3 soup bowls, dessert bowls, and 3 wine glasses, but now my cupboard has an almost empty shelf!   

Why My Morning Got Off To A Bad Start

Remember my last post?  I was bragging profusely about how great my morning was going despite it being Monday and the recent time change.  

Well, this morning was a completely different story.  It all started with my alarm...and the fact that I succumbed to my inner whiner and decided to sleep in.  My son is 12 and he is fully capable to get himself up and off for school without my help.  And some mornings it's all too easy to let him do just that.  Today was one of those mornings.  I had to get him up (he hasn't reset his alarm clock time or set his clock this week...grr) and then I went back to bed and set my alarm for 7:15 for an extra hour of sleep.  Or at least I THINK I would be able to sleep.  After almost 34 years of living with myself you'd think I'd finally realize that once I've awakened in the morning it's ultra hard for me to fall back to sleep.  So I laid there sort of hovering between the Land of Nod and the Land of Reality.  I think I finally did fall asleep just before my alarm went off.  The alarm goes off.  I get up.  And start round 2 of the morning routine.  I get the girls up and found myself so frustrated.  I was grumpy with the girls, short tempered, and feeling a bit foggy.  Once I finally got them on the bus, I still was frustrated because my kitchen was messy looking and I still needed to do my devotions and work out.  And a customer decided to stop by...before hubby was up....before I could get out my jammies....before I could put a bra on...you catch my drift.  So I get my hubby up and I decide that I'm going to work out.  Now I'm feeling better thanks to my workout high.  

THAT was my morning.  While I was working out I realized that when I sleep in, it messes up my whole morning!  I'm groggy and foggy and grumpy!  And I feel rushed to get through devotions and my workout because I don't want it to take up the whole morning.  And I'm frustrated because when I get up earlier I get the dishwasher unloaded and loaded, breakfast made, and general tidying done.  So here it is 9:48 and I still need to get a shower and tidy up around here. And today I am volunteering in Allie's class this afternoon and leaving straight from there to take Kailyn to gymnastics....which means I need to have some sort of plan for dinner.  Are you feeling my pain?  I hope so.  

SO...tomorrow I will get up early.  Maybe I will even set my alarm just a few minutes earlier each day with the goal of getting up at 5 or 5:30am instead of 6 to streamline my mornings even more.

On a good note, I did get in a workout that got me sweating!  I found this workout on Peanut Butter Fingers' Blog.  (BTW - this blog is one of my newest faves, so be sure to check it out!)  The workout says to repeat it once, but I only did it once and it took me 20 mins.  Afterwards, I did some stretching and a few ab exercises.  My legs feel a bit weak today so I bet I will be sore tomorrow!  And FYI - my arm workout rocked yesterday...I'm sore in all the right places!  

So what time do you get up in the mornings?  I'd love to hear how you tame morning stress!

10 Things You Probably Don't Know About Me...

If you ever meet me in person, you'd probably notice that I'm a bit quirky.  (Aren't we all though?)  Sometimes in conversations with people when I bring up something about myself, I get a weird look and a "Really?".  In an attempt for you to get to know me better, I thought I'd share some things with you that you probably don't know about me.  Don't you feel special?  You should.

1.  I don't like to run.  Yes, I am a runner.  But that doesn't mean that I like it.  Would I rather do something less strenuous?  Sure!  I run because I can.  And when I run I thank God that I am healthy enough to run.  Running keeps me amazed at my body.  It's not perfect by any means, but it's strong and I like the feeling of accomplishment after my run is over.

2.  I grind my own flour.  Now, if you'd been to my house, I am sure you have probably noticed the big red flour mill in my kitchen and already know this fact about moi.  Feel free to skip to #3.  I won't be a hater.  About 3 years ago I started learning about how nutritionally void white flour is and how your body essentially treats it as sugar and decided to grind my own whole wheat flour.  I really like it and my family and I have transitioned well.  Now, don't get me wrong, once in a while when I'm in a pinch I buy a bag of white flour, but I use it sparingly.  And feel horribly guilty about it.  No lie.

3.  I also don't use white sugar.  I use sucanat in place of brown sugar and evaporated cane juice in place of white sugar.  Does that mean I would turn down a piece of cheesecake because it has white sugar in it?  Heck no!  But I choose not to cook with it.  

4.  I am very intrigued with the idea of raw food diets or Paleo diets.  I'm just a bit too scared to make the change for fear I might diet of starvation or something.  Mainly because I don't like veggies all that much, so I wouldn't eat, and then I would starve.  I would love to just go Paleo 100% for a month or so (ok, maybe a week) and see what effects I see/feel.  I bet I would be amazed...but until I overcome my fear, I will just envy people who have.

5.  I am blind.  Not really, but if someone stole my glasses and contacts from me, I would freak because I would not be able to see anything and have an extreme panic attack.  Don't get any ideas...

6.  I am a bit of a control freak.  I am slowly recognizing this and its effect on people around me, so I am trying to work on it.  And because of my control issue, I let fear of the unknown/new things get the best of me...and in turn I miss out on some of the best experiences of my life.  I'm a work in progress!

7.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of being self-sufficient.  I LOVE growing my own food in my garden and berry patches.  I LOVE collecting eggs from the chicken coop. I LOVE baking my own bread...and having it taste awesome.   In an ideal world, I would live on 100+ acres, grow/raise all of my own food, and build a house with my bare hands (ok, with my hubby's bare hands).  Oh yeah, and have solar panels and a wood cook stove and a windmill.  I long for a simpler life instead of the hustle and bustle work I currently live in.

8.  I sometimes regret getting a tubal after my youngest was born.  At the time it seemed like a great idea (pregnancy and me don't really get along and I'm miserable by the time that 40th week comes along), but I now think it would have been awesome to have a houseful of kids.  I think it's because my kids fight so much and families with lots of children seem to have better relationships with their siblings.  I just think big families are so cool!  

9.  I struggle with insecurity BIG TIME in most every area of my life.  I constantly battle feelings of not feeling good enough, being good enough, looking good enough.  I know that I should be grounded in what God thinks of me and I am trying to renew my mind in that way, but I still struggle.

10.  I long for real friends.  Friends who are willing to risk being authentic with me.  Friends who are willing to give me hard core advice that sometimes hurts.  Friends who will pray for me.  Friends who will encourage me. I do have a few, but many times I have had friends who I am authentic with, but they didn't return the favor.  And that hurts.  If you can't be real with me, then we aren't true friends.  Amen.

This Week's Hit List

Here's how I did on last week's Hit List:

1.  Run/Walk 3x and strength train 2x:
Well, I got the 3 run/walks in, but didn't nothing for strength training.  HOWEVER, I did make up a few strength training workouts and a schedule of when to do them over the weekend and I'm hoping to start it tonight when I get home from work!

2.  Start Tax Prep:
I did fill out a few papers from the accountant, but didn't get as much done as I was hoping.

3.  Organize the kid's clothes:
Not sure what happened, but this what sure didn't.  It's still on my list of things to do!

4.  Take down Christmas decor:
Check!

5.  Plan a girl's night out:
I did text my friends to see when would work for them, however we don't have an official date set yet.  So this one gets a check mark anyways in my book.

6.  Pack up 2012 papers:
This one got partially done.   The house papers are packed up however the box hasn't made it to the garage yet.

Now, for this week's Hit List.  I'm not expecting much this week because I only have one day off (two if you count Saturday).  Usually when I work this much I don't get much of anything done.

1.  Run/walk 3x & strength train 3x

2.  Pay sales tax for the business.

3.  Organize the menu for this Sunday's small group gathering at my house.

4.  Plan a menu for this week.

Honestly, I think that's enough for now!  If I accomplish anything more it will be a bonus!

What are your goals for this week?  

This Week's Hit List

Now that the holidays are over and life has slowed down a bit, I thought I should get back to posting some weekly goals...known as my Hit List. I'm such a list person (as long as I don't lose my list) and I love love LOVE crossing something off that list!

In addition to my Hit List, I will TRY to post my current weight each week.  The scale said 171 lbs this morning.  Not too shabby for not working out much AND dealing with all the holiday food.  I'm hoping to be down to 165 by the first Monday in Feb.  So, wish me luck!

Here's what I would like to accomplish this week:

1.  Plan my meals for the week as well as put together a grocery list.  I've been slacking on this royally...which means I've been spending too much on groceries AND not serving the healthiest of meals.  Shame on me!

2.  Run/Walk 3 times this week and strength train 2 times.  Again, been slacking on this one.  Although in my defense I was SUPER busy at work and subbing at school most of December.  And once things slowed down I was hit with Influenza and was down for a good week.  But before that, I just lost my running mojo.  But today I think I found it!  I headed out bright and early for a 3.75 mile walk/run and it felt awesome!  Since I've slacked off on working out in general, I'm feeling a bit flabbalicious...and that's never a good thing!

3.  Get a jump-start on tax-prep for the business.  I want to get our taxes filed asap, so I'd like to use my days off to spend some time in the garage catching up on bookkeeping so when our accountant asks about our info, I'll be ready!

4.  Organize the kids' clothes.  They have too many and their clothes are out of control.  Time to purge and find the off-season keepers a home.  I'm envisioning pretty labels too...

5.  Pack up all 2012 papers and store them.  Who doesn't love less papers hanging around their house?  Nuff said!

6.  Plan a Girl's Night Out for sometime this month.  I need me some girl time!

7.  Pack up Christmas tree/decorations.  I've totally been slacking on this one...everything is usually put away before Jan 1st!

Hmm...I imagine that's enough for now.  Don't want to overdo it...I would much rather cross everything off a short list than to cross only a few things off a long list.  I think I will keep a running list of projects/tasks I want to accomplish this year and then I can use that list when deciding what my weekly goals are.

Hope you have a great productive week too! :)

A New Year, A New Me

I absolutely cannot believe that today is the last day of 2012!  I am asking myself, Where on earth has the time gone?  Wasn't it just a couple of months ago when I posted my goals for 2012? And most importantly, Did I make 2012 as great as I'd hoped it would be?  

I can answer the last one easily:  nope.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't terrible, or even bad.  I just don't feel satisfied that I made the most of my time, you know?  This year I want to do better, to be better.  I want to hold on to my goals for this upcoming year and make sure I achieve them....not just dream about them every January.  

This year I want to BE different.  I want to be ME.  

Not what other people want me to be, or think I should say or do.  I want to be truly and whole-heartedly ME.  The ME that God created me to be.  And the best version of that ME that I can be.  And once again that means losing this darned extra weight that has seemed to have plagued me for life.

And despite my strong determination, I realize I have my work cut out for me.

You see, I feel like a failure in so many ways in my life.  

There are so many times that I don't meet up to my own expectations as a wife, mother, friend, daughter, sister, housekeeper, and employee and I feel like a complete and utter failure.  And each time I come home to a cluttered messy house, or my kids talk back to me I'm reminded of the fact that I've failed.  

You probably are thinking that I'm being too hard on myself, and you're probably right.  The thing that concerns me the most is that I listen to those voices in my head.  Those conversations with myself where I hear, "You're not good enough."  or "You'll never reach that goal." or whatever it may be that day.  I listen to them and the worst part is that I believe them.  I have no clue who I really am...who I am in Christ.  Why is it that I also hear negative voices in my head?  Do I ever hear "You are a child of the most high God" ?  Nope.  And I'd have to admit that if I did, I'd probably laugh at it.  

This is what bothers me.  I want to be confident in who God has created me to be.  And not apologize for His handiwork.  Or feel embarrassed.  Or not good enough.  

It all starts with God.  I need to surround myself with Him and His infinite wisdom.  I need to read about his love for me and picture His loving arms around me.  And I need to believe it.  I am ashamed to admit that my spiritual life is zilch right now.  No devotions.  No Bible reading.  Hardly any praying except for those "flare" prayers I send up in great times of need.  And I firmly believed this happened because of those voices.  I listened to them.  And with each statement I heard and believed, it's like I took a step away from God.  And another step.  And another.  And now I feel like He is so far out of reach that I can't see Him, or hear Him, or feel His presence.  It's time to realign myself with my spiritual compass and head towards my True North.    

Please keep me in your prayers while I am on this journey.  I know it won't be an easy one, but I know it will be worth the hard work and dedication.

Tomorrow I am hoping to post some goals for 2013 and recap on my goals for 2012 and how I did at achieving them.

I hope you all have a blessed New Year!
  

      

3 Month Recap

Yes, I am still among the living!  I knew you were worried where on earth I was since by looking at my blog posts, it seems as if I've spent the past couple of months reading books and posting reviews!  I'm sorry friends!  Life got extremely busy and stressful all of a sudden and I just didn't have or take the time to blog.  Will you forgive me?  You will?  Great!  Now here is why I haven't blogged in such a LOOONG time...

The main reason why is because I got a job!  Yeah, I know...it surprised me too!  I actually have had quite a few job opportunities this fall/winter and it rocked my world.  It gave me a renewed sense of confidence that I haven't had for awhile...namely 6 or so years since I'd last worked a real job.  Not that being a mom isn't a REAL job...but you just don't get paid, you know?  Anyhoo, my dream job became available and came out of nowhere.  I went have a degree in Floral Design & Marketing and have wanted to get my hands on some fresh flowers for awhile and just be creative.  A friend of mine who also went to college for floral design and I were chatting it up at our 15 yr high school reunion (I'll save you the math...I'm 33...lol) and she was saying that it would be so awesome if I could work at the flower shop with her again.  We used to work together there in college and then I took a job at a different flower shop and she stayed there.  Long story short, 2 days later she called me and told me that one of their designers was leaving and they had a position open.  3 days later the manager called me to ask if I would come in for an interview and was offered the job that night.  In the midst of this I had another interview with the local school system and later was offered a different job there.  I had a LOT of decisions to make!  Through much stressing and praying I decided to take the job at the flower shop.  And I love it.   

On top of working an actual job, I've been subbing for the school too.  Between the two I've been working full-time.  The extra money has been nice and we've been really good about sticking that money into savings instead of spending it like everyone said we would!  We're working towards our 3-6 months of living expenses in savings and after that we're going to pay down on our mortgage!  (That makes me super excited!)  

So that is why I haven't written.  I've been working so much and not working out or running, and trying to manage life as a working mom.  I still don't have it all figured out!  I"m just taking it one day at a time.  

Now that I've got the working thing figured out, I'm going to start focusing on my weight loss once again.  I'm so tired of letting these extra pounds consume my thoughts and it's time to do what it takes to lose the weight and get on with my life.  

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!

It's Tuesday Already?

Well, so much for posting my goals on Monday...it's Tuesday!  And after looking over last week's goals, I don't think I can cross anything off of it!  It was just a busy, crazy week.  On Tuesday morning I got the call that my grandma had passed away and we had her services on Friday.  And the weekend was even busier with 2 football games, a 5K race, small group, and a 15 yr class reunion!  Oh yeah, and my daughter was sick Wednesday and Thursday and was home from school!  Then I started feeling a bit icky in the tummy area for a few days following her illness.  After typing all of that, I suddenly feel much better about my failing miserably at my to-do list...I had viable excuses!  

I've been thinking about this week's goals and what they should be and I've decided to forgo making any goals this week!  This week is another busy one (minus any illnesses and deaths...knock on wood).  I had to run some errands yesterday and take K to gymnastics.  Today I have a dentist appt and am taking a meal to a friend who just got out of the hospital.  Tomorrow I have to take the girls to the dentist in Columbus (which is 1.5 hrs one way!).  Thursday I have a friend coming over to visit while hubby fixes her car.  And Friday...who knows what Friday will bring (hopefully REST)!  Saturday we have a football game, and Sunday I'm running a 5K Race (I somehow unknowingly signed up for 3 5K races in 3 weeks!  YIKE!) and also a family lunch.  At our house. I also have applied for a job at our local school district and the application deadline was yesterday...so I'm expecting they will be calling to set up an interview at some point this week.  So my goal is to survive all those days and still be sane by next Monday! 

What are your goals for this week?

A Lesson Learned

Ok, it's confession time.  I am HUMAN!  And I make mistakes.  Alot.  And I learned a valuable lesson in friendship this week.  

It all started with a text to a friend that I hadn't talked in awhile.  I just wanted to check in and say Hi.  We chatted a bit and I mentioned maybe running a race that she and another friend were running.  And I didn't get a reply.  I started thinking that the reason why I didn't get a reply was because she didn't want me running the race with her.  That, my friends it where it all started plummeting downhill.  Then I started analyzing everything she did or how she acted.  And before I knew it I had come to the conclusion that she must be mad at me, or worse, she just didn't like me.  And to add fuel to the fire she was training with MY running buddy (like I own her or something...lol) which means I didn't get to run with her as much (not that I could anyways with football practice going on and me being at home with the girls).  It started eating away at me.  Big Time.  

Yesterday I decided to put a stop to the insanity and find out if she was in fact upset with me.  I called her and flat out asked if I had done something to upset her.  She said No.  And I thought to myself WHAT?  She of course asked why I thought that I told her of the text (which, by the way, sounded really stupid saying it out loud).  And get this...she didn't even remember the text!  She said she actually had been thinking she needed to text me or email or something, but she just hadn't gotten to it.  So what was becoming this big thing in my life was really nothing.  NOTHING.  Yet this false issue we had (or shall I say I had) was causing such turmoil in my life.  And could have potentially cost me her friendship.    

I've been thinking alot about it since that phone call.  How many fights get started and relationships get severed this very same way?  By reading too much (or not enough) into a comment, text, email, action, etc.  That little bit of anger, frustration, jealousy, or bitterness plants a seed in your heart and before you know it, the fire spreads inside you.  Sometimes it spreads so much that the person can't put it out.  Humility is a powerful thing.  By humbling myself enough to make the call, the fire was put out. Immediately.  I did it because I couldn't stand feeling that fire any longer and it was time to face the facts...which I found out really weren't facts at all.  God calls us to reconcile with those who we think have wronged us or those whom we have wronged.  Imagine how different our world would be if more people put that into practice in their lives?  It would be revolutionary.  

So the moral of the story is...value your friendships enough to be real and humble with your friends.  Yes, I tend to err on the side of telling my friends too much about me (and I love ya for putting up with me, by the way!), but I want them to know that I value them enough to be authentic with them.  I'm not trying to be someone I'm not and I'm not trying to hold anything back from them.  And I expect the same from them.  That's what true friendship is.  So to my "bad" friend who didn't reply to my text (you know who you are!)...I love ya girl and I'm so glad we aren't "fighting" anymore!  :)      

A New Chapter

Now that reality is setting in that all 3 of my kiddos will be in school full-time starting next Wednesday and I will be sitting here in a quiet, empty house all day, I have been thinking about the future.  What does the life of a stay-at-home-mom that has no kids at home look like?  I will no longer be needed during the day except on those days when someone is sick and home from school, or during school vacations and holidays.  It makes me sad.  But a part of me is hopeful.  You see, during the past 11 years of being a SAHM (with the exception of about 2.5 yrs of working part time), I've lost myself.  No longer was I Jen...I was mom.  And with the title of Mom comes a lot of responsibilities.  A LOT.  I lost myself in the midst of changing diapers, wiping running noses, breaking up fights, saying No, and dishing out snacks.  My husband recently asked me what I enjoy doing.  And I really couldn't think of anything.  Where is the fun, bubbly Jen who loved to draw and dream?  The Jen who had some self-worth and self-confidence? 

It's time to find her again.

So I applied for a job.  A full-time job.  And today I had an interview.  A 2 hour interview.  With an actual test to take too!  I learned some things about myself today.  I learned that I need to believe in myself again and recognize that I DO have skills and abilities and gifting.  I was so NOT confident after taking that test and, after telling my interviewer that, she said, "Well, you need to be confident.  Let's grade it right now and see how you did."  I think I only missed 2 questions, which gave me an 89%.  We were both surprised!  I walked into that interview nervous and anxious and feeling totally under-qualified.  And I left there with a bit of spring in my step.  Not because the interview went well (which I think it did), but that I did it!  I went in there and showed the true Jen and it went well!  

I can't say whether I will accept the job if it's offered to me, however I feel as if I have some self-worth again.  I realize that it's OK for me to say that I am organized, or friendly, or self-motivated without having to feel guilty about it....like I'm boasting or proud.  And it's OK for me to pick and choose what I will and won't do according to how it will affect my family and I.  Freedom is a powerful thing.  Hear me roar!  lol     

Fair Time!

This week has been such a blur!  But it was to be expected.  This week was our local county fair.  And if you have a son or daughter in 4-H, so you know what that means...you will be BUSY BUSY BUSY.  We have been there at least twice a day to feed our piggy and clean out his pen, along with showing him, getting him judged, and selling him.  This momma is TIRED.  My house looks like it imploded and my garden is overflowing with produce that needs, picked, washed, snapped, and canned!  But I haven't been home more than a few hours at a time, so I have accomplished very little.  I am beginning to see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel since today is the last day of the fair, so as Martha says, "That's a good thing!"

With that being said, 4-H and have market projects at the fair is a great experience for kids.  They learn to take care of an animal and raise it until it's of selling age.  They learn to feed, water, and wash the animal.  And they get to sell it at an awesome price, thanks to area businesses.  My son sold his pig for $5 a pound this year!  Last year's price was $2.70/lb.  He literally made $1,000 on his pig this year.  In the auction barn, I literally had tears in my eyes when I heard the final price...I was so overwhelmed by the generosity of the area business that purchased it.  When my son gets his check next month, he will keep 10% to spend and put the rest in his bank account.  That money will be there to fund next year's projects.  It's a great way for your children to build up their savings accounts and learn responsibility at the same time. 

Today is also a sad day.  We have to say good-bye to our beloved pig that we've cared for for the past 3 months.  Not sure how it's possible to love a stinky, muddy, stubborn pig, but when they look at you with their long eye-lashes and they are wagging their tail back and forth while you scratch them behind the ears, it's hard not to like them!  I mean, look at those adorably floppy ears!!I keep telling my son that we gave that piggy a better life than it would have had at the farm where it was born.  No one there would take the time to wash him or scratch him behind the ears.  But it still makes me sad!  I'm just glad we don't have to eat him even though someone else will.  The pig we butchered this year (we always raise a 2nd pig as a back-up in case the other gets sick and dies and can't be taken to the fair) was a royal pain.  And he wasn't cute either.  And boy, was he stubborn!  I was glad to sink my teeth into that sausage sandwich last night for dinner! 

So, my extreme busy-ness this past week is why you haven't heard from me!  And I just realized that I didn't even get a change to post my Monday weigh-in either!  I did weigh in, however I can't remember what the scale said...don't think it was necessarily a good number (or I would have remembered it for sure!)  But his was also what my hubby calls "hell week", where I'm a raving mad women with out of control emotions who is carrying around an extra 5 lbs of water weight!  (Gotta love husbands and their humor!)  I can't say this Monday's weigh-in will be great either.  I haven't eaten all that healthy anything healthy (can you say Stromboli?) and I haven't worked out once unless you count shoveling out the pig pen once a day and walking to and from the fair from the parking lot. 

Who knows...maybe the scale will surprise me.

A New Me

I'm ready for a change.  I know, I know, I've said it a MILLION times.  I have slacked off somewhat with my exercising (not working out as often or at as high of an intensity) and I've pretty much eaten whatever I wanted.  But the number on the scale is going up...only a few pounds, but UP on the scale is NEVER a good thing...unless of course you weight 100 lbs. 

In November of 2009 I decided to make a change.  I was 185 lbs...and the thought of eventually reaching 200 lbs what terrifying!  I decided to lose weight and get healthy.  And by summer of 2010 I had lost 15 lbs.  And I felt great.  Then I'm not sure what happened.  I started training for a half marathon and then another and here I am 2 yrs later and at 180 lbs.  THAT was not in my plan!  So now I have to take a good look at my eating and exercising and figure out where I need to make adjustments in order to get back on track.

I chatted briefly today with a lady I used to go to church with about her recent weight loss.  She decided in January that she wanted to lose 50 lbs..and as of today, she's lost 36!  Yes, I'm envious.  It's so humbling to hear of someone who has succeeded at losing more weight than me in a way shorter amount of time.  I always think to myself, "Wow.  Had I just buckled down and given it my all, I should have already reached my goal weight and I wouldn't be stressing about the scale right now and feeling defeated."  Anyways, I asked this friend what changes she has been making regarding her eating.  She said she had a friend (who runs marathons!) who became her accountability partner.  They exchanged passwords for myfitnesspal.com...now that's serious!  Anyways, her friend challenged her to not eat any bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes for 2 weeks.  So she took the challenge and did it.  And she said after that she never looked back.  And now, 6 months later, she is drawn to those fruits and veggies and lean meats.  That's what I want.  To naturally crave something other than a cookie or chips or bread!

Her story and success has inspired me to take a look at my own life.  Thinking back to when I had lost that 15 lbs, my strategy in regards to eating is unclear.  I do remember that I worked out.  I remember walking...alot.  Then eventually running.  The one thing that sticks out in my mind back then was DETERMINATION.  I was DETERMINED to reach this goal.  And I got almost halfway there...then I became complacent I guess.

With that being said, today is a new day.  I'm going to start counting calories again.  I am going to TRY to weigh in and post my weight each Monday so you can keep up with my progress.  And I would ideally like to post what I'm eating and my calorie intake for the day and my workouts, etc.  I say TRY because I don't want it to be a daunting task..and I don't want to feel like a failure if I don't get it posted.  I also think I'm going to give my accountibility partner my password to myfitnesspal.com so she can see exactly what I've been eating.  We check in nightly and let each other know our failures and successes for the day, but this will allow her to see exactly what I'm eating each day.  (YIKES)  I'm also going to think ahead with my eating and have a plan.  For example, tonight I know my family is going out for pizza.  So I need to have a plan of how many pieces I will eat...and how many calories that will be.  And if I'm going to go over my intake for the day, then I need to make sure I do some extra working out today.  I also need to be aware of temptations.  I kid you not, as I started typing this blog, I see my hubby carrying a box from the garage and I know it's a box from the local parts store.  A thank you gift for buying parts.  It's a box of doughnuts.  I have a choice to make.  I could either say "Yay! Doughnuts!"  and indulge without another thought.  Or I could look up the calorie content of just one doughnut...then decide against having one...especially since I'm not hungry right now.  (I'm picking Choice #2 by the way)

So...here's what I need you to do...keep me accountable!  Send me an email or a text and ask me how I'm doing, if I've exercised today, etc.  I don't mind, I promise!  And most importantly, pray for me.  This has been a struggle of mine for the past 10 years and I'd love to overcome it once and for all.  Pray that I have strength to overcome temptations, wisdom to make good choices, and that depression would not present itself to me (like it has this week) and fill my head with self-destructing thoughts.  Pray that I will lean on God when I feel the urge to overeat or not workout.  Pray that God would show me balance regarding this weight loss so it doesn't become an idol in my life.  Pray that my success story and even this blog can help others who are struggling so they too can experience true freedom and self-control in Christ!  Can you do that for me?  I knew I could count on you.

The Future

This summer marked the beginning of changes.  My oldest goes off too middle school in the fall, which means he will be in a school 6th, 7th, & 8th graders.  That thought alone scares me.  He will also be in a completely different building located 15 mins away from his former school (and where his sisters will be).  He will also get on the bus before 7am.  Did you get that?         7 AM.  That is itself should be a crime!  (Mainly because that means I will be getting up by AT LEAST 6 am...and probably before that if I want to have any quiet time for devotions, a shower, or well, just quietness.  He will also get home earlier, around 3pm.  On a good note, getting home 1.5 hrs before his sister do will probably be good for him.  He'll have time to unwind without them.  He could get his homework done and be free to help his sisters do theirs.  He could even start dinner.  Yeah, I know...I'm going overboard.

Change #2 is that my BABY will go to kindergarten.  So by 8:10am I will be a free woman!  (That, my friends, is Change #3).  I've never had that much free time on my hands.

Which leaves me wondering...what does my future look like? 

And I'll be honest...I have no clue. 

A part of me has always had in the back of my mind that I would go to work once all the kids were in school.  And I can picture myself spending time with friends or family, organizing my entire house, and making lavish meals for dinner.  But I also feel a twinge of lonliness when I think those thoughts.  I will be alone.  Yes, hubby will be here, however he will be working...which leads me to another thought:  Will I be spending my free-time in the garage helping him with the business?  Honestly, I hope not.  I don't mind helping some throughout the day, but I don't want to do that full-time. 

So many possibilities have run through my mind....getting a job.  Full-time or part-time?  If I did that I would be away from my kids in the summertime and on days where there is no school.  Go back to school?  I have always wanted to learn graphic design.  I had planned to go to college for it, but, due to lack of funds, I had to settle for commuting to a local college and earning a degree in floral design.  Don't get me wrong, I love floral design!  I just don't see many opportunities in that field at this time.  I could start my own business, but honestly we're so stressed with the one we have right now, how on earth could we handle another? 

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now.  I feel like I need a plan or come August 22nd, I will be found in the house eating cupcakes and crying because my life sort of sped up before my eyes and here I am left as a homemaker and stay-at-home mom...however I'm not as "needed" as I once was.  

One thing that gives me encouragement are the words of Jeremiah 29:11:

“I know what I’m doing.  I have it all planned out–plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

 

I'm glad God's got it planned out, because I know I sure don't!

Day 1 Recap

Well, I'm not sure if today was a success or not.  It was one CRAZY day.  I woke up feeling icky.  Not sure why, but my lower back and lower abdomen were achy until after lunchtime.  I ate some Cream of Wheat with some apple butter stirred in and a scrambled egg-potato mixture leftover from camping.  After that I headed to a fruit farm to pick strawberries so I could make some jam.  I made some a couple of months ago, but I made it the healthy way with very little sugar and it turned out really runny and didn't taste all that great either.  So this time I'm going to make it the normal sugar-laden way (I know...shame on me).  Anyways, I got there and I had two options for picking...one was to pick in the patch where there were lots of berries, but they were all small, but very sweet...and the other was to pick in the patch where the berries were bigger, but very scarce and not as sweet.  Since I let my helpers sleep in and I was picking solo, I opted for the smaller berries.  I started picking.  And picking.  And kept picking.  And still hadn't filled the containers I had brought!  I think I picked for 2.5 hrs and only picked 11 qts.  I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable and finally just gave up.  I wasn't in the mood for a strawberry treasure hunt and my back was killing me.  While I was at the fruit farm, I bought two blueberry bushes and 2 red raspberry bushes. 

After I left the berry patch I had my mid-morning snack.  I actually planned ahead and brought my carb & protein snack of pretzel rods and a slice of cheese.  Didn't get the chance to figure up the calorie count for my snack, but you'll understand why when you're done with this post, so keep reading.  I was just starting to get hungry and I was actually an hour past snack time (10:30...4 hrs after breakfast), so my cream of wheat held me over better than expected! 

Then I headed to the Nickles Thrift Store Bakery to pick up some bread.  If you've never been there, it's wonderful!  I used to go there and spend about $13 for enough bread, buns, english muffins, and bagels for a month and stick them in the freezer until I needed them.  I haven't been to Wooster (where the store is located) very often lately, so I jumped at the thought to stop by.  I was able to pick up 5 loaves of 12 grain and whole wheat bread for just under $6...and I filled up my punch card and was able to snag a package of cherry donut thingies for free! 

Next stop was Aldi to pick up some produce and just look around.  I hadn't been to an Aldi store for awhile and have been contemplating going there to get groceries since it seems that I spend more at Stuff Mart...and their prices just keep increasing.  I was able to pick up 3 boxes of cereal, a container of yogurt, 2 pkgs of mushrooms, 1 pkg of tomatoes, 1 bag of baby carrots, 4 cans of cream-of-whatever soup, a bag of chex mix, and a bag of apples along with some other things I'm sure I'm forgetting for around $24.  Oh yeah, and I got a pineapple.  They had phenomenal prices of produce!  I got the mushrooms for .59ish each and the pineapple for $1.29 and it was Dole!  I was excited to grab some good deals and check out their prices on other items for future shopping reference.  

After I left Aldi, I stopped by a children's clothing consignment store.  I had dropped off some kid's clothes probably 6 months ago and never found out how much of a credit I received.  The owner told me I had a $19 credit!  So I was able to pick up 2 pairs of swimming trunks for Evan, a pair of pants and a shirt for Kailyn, and a pair of jeans and a shirt for Allie. Both of the girl's outfits can be used for school this fall. I also got a pair of Sketchers for Kailyn that looked brand new!  Just before I went to the counter to check out, the computer shut down and she couldn't do the transaction.  I told her to call me if it the problem was resolved soon since I would be in town for a little while longer and if not, I would pick them up next Wed when I take Kailyn for her physical.  She literally called me 5 mins later as I was pulling into the next store's parking lot and said it was working again.

I went to Kohl's to use my $10 off and $20 Kohl's Cash.  I found a pair of nice jeans for Evan for under $9 and a shirt and cami for me and after my credits, I spent just $4.68.  While I was there and attempting to exit the fitting room, I pinched my thumb and it started bleeding.  That was definitely a highlight.  (not)

Then I headed to Elder Beerman to exchange a pair of shorts for Evan.  Then back to the clothing store to complete the transaction.  When I got there, there was a note on the door saying the owner would be back in 20 mins.  So as I waited I ate 2 of the cherry rolls for my lunch and vowed that I wouldn't eat anything else for lunch when I got home.  The clerk came back and after my $19 credit, I owed $2.70 out of pocket!  Not too shabby!

Then I headed to Millersburg to Stuff Mart to pick up a rx for hubby and drop off the deposit at the bank. I also picked up some items to make my chore chart that I'd devised for the kids.  As always, I spent too much there.  

When it was all said and done, I didn't get home until 3:30...and I was planning to be home by noon!  It seemed as if everything took longer than normal and I was just mentally worn out.  

So I was tired and stressed.  And when I get tired and stressed, I get lazy.  When I get lazy, I just eat out of boredom without any thought as to what I'm eating.  So I did good eating wise today until I got home and that's where it ended.  Not that I ate horrible things...just too much I think.  And I never did get a workout in.  I put away all my goods I bought today, made the chore chart, and made dinner.  Afterwards, Allie and I weeded the mint patch, and planted the blueberry and raspberry bushes.  It wasn't a horrible day, but just taxing, but I was able to realize what triggers me to eat, so hopefully I can avoid those things tomorrow!      

LIFE Update

The last couple of weeks have been quite eventful!  The chaos started when I had to take my son to the doctor because he was complaining for a sore throat...and tested positive for strep.  That very night my daughters started saying that their throats hurt too.  So back to the doctor we went the very next day.  One daughter tested positive and one negative.  Afterwards we headed to Stuff Mart to pick up their prescription.  When we got there, they had no record of it, but the pharmacy worker assured me that was normal and to check back in 10 mins.  I checked back 3 more times (or maybe 4)...and after 50 mins of waiting for the prescription to show up on their computer (and our shopping trip becoming more and more expensive with the things we were throwing in the cart, I made a call to the doctor's office.  When the doctor told me he was sending the Rx to Stuff Mart he apparently didn't mean the local one...but the one 40 mins away (but also closer to my home).  So our Rx was in the neighboring town, and off we went.  Luckily we were able to get the Rx fairly quickly.  

Little did I know that our medical issues wouldn't stop there.  A few days later my son called my husband (I was in town getting groceries, etc) to tell him he had fallen in gym class and hit his head.   I stopped by the school on my way home to check in on him.  As he was telling me the story of how he hit his head, and then "woke up", it was evident that we were going to be heading to seek some more medical attention!  So off to the ER we went, and after being checked out and having a CT scan, the doctor concluded that he did in fact have a concussion, but there was not bruising or bleeding on his brain. (Thank you Lord!)  He was home from school for 2 days to recover.  This whole experience opened my eyes to how serious concussions can be.  We were told to follow up with our pediatrician, which we did a week later.  He explained what happens when you hit your head hard in a bit more detail so we could understand it.  More or less, our brain cells are not connected to its neighboring brain cells.  There is a gap between them...sort of like a spark plug gap.  When the head suffers trauma, it causes everything to shift which can throw off the spacing of the gap.  The effects of that gap being off are the inability to focus, see, dizziness, etc.  Evan had all the symptoms on the list except for seizures (Again, thank you, Lord!)  After I had picked him up from school that day, he was telling me that he was having a hard time focusing on anything.  When he would read in his school book, he would see one word, but not others.  Anyhoo...the pediatrician said that it usually takes 2-4 weeks for people with concussions to fully recover and not experience anymore symptoms! 

So that concludes our medical emergencies saga...stay tuned for more...because with kids they seem to always pop up!  Just today, I saw a bump near Allie's armpit that looks suspiciously like a chicken pox.  So we are going to wait this one out and see what happens....

This week I'm trying not to freak out.  This is one BUSY week!  I woke up this morning, did my devo, then started filling in my daily-to-do list (I will post more of this later, but I think it's going to revolutionize my life!) and realized that something has got to give OR I am going to need to be extremely organized in order to survive this week!  So I skipped the gym this morning since I feel like once I drive the 20 mins there, workout for 1.5 hrs, head to Stuff Mart to drop the deposit off at the bank and get groceries (before even having a meal plan worked out!  Bad idea, by the way...) it's almost noon by the time I get home.  So that gives me enough time to take a shower and eat lunch before Allie gets off the bus.  Then I have to head out to the garage to get some bookkeeping done for hubby's business.  And the rest of the day flies by in an haphazard fashion.  It gets old real quick.  Where was I?  Oh yeah...I skipped the gym and decided to go for a solo 2-mile run after I got Allie on the bus.  It was nice.  I had a great pace, ran all the hills without walking, and worked up a sweat...all in 20 mins!  I got something accomplished and saved time...it's a win-win!  So I still have half of my morning left to do whatever!  Not really whatever...but something on my to-do list!  I love feeling organized! 

This weekend is the Cap City Half Marathon in Columbus, which is one HUGE reason why I'm feeling a bit stressed.  There is lots of packing, researching (parking, directions, etc), and planning to do before we leave on Friday afternoon.  But I will write about my training experience this week (hopefully!) now that I'm not spending every waking moment running in order to get ready for it!

With that being said, I need to get off this computer and get my shower done! 

My Full Brain

I feel the need to vent.  Not in a bad way, but sort of in a I-need-to-unload-my-brain-before-I-go-to-bed sort of vent.  Feel free to not read on...really, I don't mind, because I can't promise you that it will be enlightening.  Or even enjoyable for that matter.

I think of this blog as a good friend.  Someone I can just tell all my feelings to and not get judged.  Someone who loves me just the way I am because I'm...well, ME.  I feel as if I have all these thoughts and ideas in my head and I just need to unload and tell you about what's going on in my life. 

First of all, I'm overwhelmed.  I feel as if I'm pulled in so many directions sometimes.  I feel as if I wear many, many hats.  And the hats that should be all stacked neatly upon on my head (and in alphabetical order) are starting to tumble to the floor.  Let me say that I no longer am a people-pleaser, so it's not like I say Yes to a ton of different tasks/people, therefore explaining the many hats.  No...these hats are just from the everyday departments of my life.  You know...the cook, the taxi driver, the housekeeper, the bookkeeper, the book reviewer, the runner, the financial manager, the small group leader, the wife, the mom, the friend, the daughter, the granddaughter, and the sister.  I am just plain overwhelmed.  And there's a lot of time lately where I just want to sit down and have a good old-fashioned cry.  I feel as if I'm doing so many things...however not doing many of them very well.  And I don't like this feeling.  Not that I want to be perfect in all areas...but I just want to feel satisfied with my accomplishments.  And that's not happening right now in the least. 

I think one of main problems is that I don't have a daily routine.  I try, but honestly, I'm terrible at consistency.  And it makes me so frustrated.  I set goals and then don't follow through.  I print out daily to-do lists to keep me on task, and only follow it for one day.  I just can't seem to find a routine that I can easily stick to. 

The Runner Hat is stressing me out because the training is getting more intense and time-consuming.  I find myself thinking, "Why did I ever decide to do another half marathon?"  When I was training for the half last year, it was exciting because it was my first half.  The excitement is gone this time around because I've already achieved my goal to run one.  Each training one is becoming a chore to me, and more difficult to fit into my already busy schedule.  Throughout this training, I haven't given up on my gym workouts either.  So some days I do a double workout...one at the gym and one running.  It's just getting intense and I'm getting tired.  Here is my workout/running schedule for this week:

Monday:  Gym 1.25 hrs & 5 mile run

Tuesday:  Rest (I live for this day!!)

Wednesday:  Gym 1 hr & 5 mile run

Thursday:  Gym 1 hr & 3 mile run

Friday:  Gym 1.25 hrs

Saturday:  9 mile run

Sunday:  Rest (thank goodness!)

And throughout this crazy workout regimen, I haven't lost any weight at all. Talk about frustrating!  So I've contemplated giving up some of the gym workouts in order to focus on the training runs more, but I'm afraid that I will gain weight.  I have only 3 more weeks of training until Race Day, so I'm going to ride it out with this hectic schedule and then lighten up my running.  I did use the money I received for my birthday to buy a Garmin watch so I can track my pace, distance, and such while running.  I'm stoked to get it and hoping it will help me run faster and longer!

My Cook Hat is stressing me out too.  I used to plan my meals ahead of time and then make my shopping list.  Now, I'm lucky to even get a menu planned at all...and it's usually after I've been to the store, which isn't great for the wallet...or your menu.  My whole meal planning routine (or lack thereof) is just very unorganized.  I also have a TON of recipes that I'd love to try, but never get to because I'm not organized enough with my planning. 

My Housekeeper Hat is stressing me out.  I feel like my life is an endless chore right now.  There is always some mess to clean up or some clothes to wash.  It just seems like it's an unattainable task right now.  Luckily we have small group at our house twice a month, so the downstairs does get cleaned prior to our group meetings.  But this is an area in which I think a cleaning routine would be helpful.  I need to do more research into setting one up.

The rest of my hats are stressing me out too.  The best way I can describe it is that I feel like I'm at a party this 10 of my best friends.  I would love to give them each ALL of my attention so that no one is neglected, however when I turn my conversation to one, the others start to increase their need for attention.  It just seems impossible to fulfill all of my roles and to do it well.  Seriously...I'm perplexed about it.  I just can't seem to get my act together...and in turn, I feel like a failure.  I'm know God doesn't want me to feel this way, yet I can't seem to figure out how on earth I can get it all done and be content.  Maybe I need to just be content with what I DO get accomplished and not focus on the unfinished/neglected areas.  I just know that I'm not enjoying life right now.  My joy is gone and I need to make a change and find my joy once again. 

Alright...I'm yawning...so I think that means I've gotten enough off of my chest for right now and it's time for bed!  Bedtime has become my favorite time of the day.  Pathetic, huh? 

With that said, I would love to hear if any of you have a daily or weekly routine/schedule that works for you! 

What's Been Going On In My Neck Of The Woods

Did you miss me?  I seem to be going on one blogging hiatus after another these days!  And I'm not really sure why.  I think it may have something to do with the spring weather that hit us, so I find myself outdoors most days.  And since it would be quite bulky (and extremely frustrating) to bring my desktop computer outside with me in order to blog, I just didn't blog.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it! 

So what has been going on in my neck of the woods?  A lot, yet nothing too terribly exciting.  The regular mundane stuff...housework, laundry, meal after meal, bookkeeping for my hubby's auto repair business, going to the gym...yada yada. 

One thing that may be extremely exciting to you (ok, I know it won't, but just try to look excited, ok?)...is that I have an incubator full of eggs!  I wasn't going to hatch any out this year.  But a customer of ours dropped by with 6 fertilized eggs from her hens...so I had to start up the incubator.  And if I'm going to start it up, I may as well fill it up too!  I did offer to hatch some eggs for another customer of ours, so counting his 9 eggs I had 46 eggs a'cookin'!  They are on day 10 right now and due to hatch out the 16th.  I candled them this week and it was so cool!  You can actually see them swimming around in there!  And wouldn't you know that those 6 eggs that started this whole thing never developed.  Such is life, right? 

The chicken craze doesn't stop there....

I saw someone from my town offering up free fertilized barred rock eggs on Facebook.  My dilemma was that I didn't have enough room for them in my incubator.  So I emailed a friend who has that breed to see if she would be interested in them.  She wasn't...however she offered to let me use her incubator to hatch out some.  So...I got 3 dozen from the lady that had them and filled the empty spots with my own eggs.  I don't know how many there are in there...I"m guessing 42ish.  Granted, not all of them will hatch, but it always seems that when you don't particularly want a ton to hatch, they all do.  So I very well may have the following flock:

13 hens

1 rooster

12 chicks that I purchased from TSC

and 71 possible babies from the incubator!! 

YIKES.

The good news is that I can take the extras to the auction and get decent money for them this time of year.  The bad news is that's a lot of chicken beaks to feed!  And that's a LOT of poop!  What have I gotten myself into?  I've become a chicken hoarder.

What else have I been doing?  Well, a few weeks ago I moved our raspberry patch from the backyard (where the goats did a great job of munching every leave off of them) to WAAAAY out to the other end of our property on a triangular piece of land that we have only every mowed and it's really good for anything else.  It's far enough away from the goats and the chickens...but far enough away that other wildlife may consume them...but time will tell.  I have a friend who has beautiful red raspberry bushes that produce a ton of berries each year.  And she offered some plant starts to me and I eagerly accepted!  So hubby tilled up a long patch (maybe 15 ft long by 4 ft wide?) and I planted them.  They don't seem to be growing as well as I'd liked, but our weather has been cold one week, warm the next so they are probably in shock like the rest of us!  I also dug up all the strawberry plants from my patch in the backyard (the chickens love to dust themselves in the dirt there...and in the process uproot my plants) to one long row in my garden.  They seem to be doing pretty well there and I think I will get a better yield because they will get more sunshine.  Hopefully later this year I will be up to my ears in raspberries and strawberries!  (I'll be sure to get a pic if that's the case!!)

I also was able to spend some time in the flowerbeds pulling weeds, taking out the dead leaves and such from my perennials, and mulching.  This week I finished up cutting down all the dead leaves from my many bunches of ornamental grasses I have planted around our yard.  That is a big job!  But things look really nice!

I probably haven't mentioned her on here, but last spring we got a puppy.  She is part Blue Tick Houndog and Chocolate Lab..and she is awesome.  She is so lazy and laid-back and loving.  But 2 weeks ago she came into heat.  This was our first experience with a female dog...and what a nightmare!  First of all I didn't realize that they are in heat for 3 WEEKS!  And that she would need to be penned up for that long.  Long story short, she escaped from ALL of the containment measures we took to keep her from becoming a victim of the many male dogs roaming around our neighborhood.  So that was a daily struggle and stressor!  But luckily she is now done (or will be in the next couple of days)..and she will promptly be going to the vet to get fixed asap!  And I thought having a period for 5-7 days was bad!!

I just realized another reason I haven't been blogging!!!  My sister loaned me her Kindle to try out because she upgraded to a Kindle Fire.  I was hesitant because I didn't think I'd like it at all.  Then I came in contact with a trilogy she had on it called The Hunger Games.  Yeah, it's good.  So most of my downtime was spent plowing through those three books!  Now that I'm finished, I have a life again!  

I am still going to the gym 3 days a week and running.  We only have a month left of training before race day!  I think I'm getting burned out from it all.  I haven't noticed much change in my body recently even though I'm busting my tail and I'm starting to lose hope that this weight will ever leave my body.  It's so frustrating.  I am guessing my eating is the culprit, so this week I picked up a protein powder to have after my workouts or in place of a meal a day.  Hopefully that will help.  I just so badly want this extra weight off of my body!!

This week has been weird.  Mainly just the way I've been feeling.  I think I'm hormonal or something.  I'm happy but could totally cry at the same time.  It's just too much.  I'm reading a book right now (that I will post a review of soon!) and the very first chapter has rocked my world and opened my eyes to my life and how I'm living it.  I guess it confirmed what my thoughts were already.  It's hard to explain, but all I can say is that I need to spend lots of time in prayer and that God seems to be doing something sort of big in my life right now.  So today I felt the need to escape the real world and have me some retail therapy time...just me, myself, and I.  And it felt great.  Sometimes I feel as if my life is full of noise.  Phone noise, kid noise, hubby noise, etc.  It felt good to not talk and to just have some quiet time.  I shopped, but didn't spend a ton of money and came back feeling refreshed.  

With that being said, I need to get off of this computer, change into my workout clothes, and hit the road for a 3 mile training run.  I really want to just take a nap.  I know I will feel a ton better when I'm done though and that's what keeps me going.  

So there you have it...the last month of my life in a nutshell.  I told you it was exciting!  NOT.

Until next time, my friend!

   

Will you take the challenge with me?

I came across a free ebook this morning that intrigued me.  I am a bit of an ebook hoarder.  (I'm a bit of a paperback book hoarder also.)  I've been "collecting" these ebooks over the past few months when I come across the opportunity to acquire a free one.  However, I haven't read any of them.  Until now. 

The one I came across this morning is titled, From Frumps to Pumps by Sarah Mae (you can read more about her on her blog HERE.)  It talks about, and challenges readers, to get dressed each morning.  Sounds simple, right?  This was something I didn't really even think I had a problem with, honestly.  I get dressed on most mornings.  I just don't make it as much of a priority as it should be.  I thought back to earlier this morning when I my wardrobe consisted of my over sized t-shirt/nightgown (yes, I need to revamp my bedtime wardrobe...but they are just sooo comfy!) and a pair of blue short with stars on them.  Add to that hair that would put Medusa to shame.  Yes, I was the epitome of blah.  I usually wait until I get the older kids on the bus before getting my shower and getting dressed, but now I'm inspired to get up a bit earlier to get myself dressed and presentable before anyone else is up.  Yeah, that means a few less minutes of sleep...but it also means a few more minutes of quiet time and a nice hot shower! (Since no one will have taken one before me!) 

Of course by the time I started reading the ebook, the older kids were already on the bus.  But I was inspired to get into the shower asap and get out of my pjs!  So I did.  And even blow-dried my hair and put my makeup on.  When I am dressed and presentable, I am more productive.  And I don't have to worry about a customer coming to our house and finding me in my pjs with Medusa hair!  It's a great feeling.

So I'm going to challenge myself to get up earlier and get dressed.  Will you join me in the challenge?  Here's the cool part:  Sarah is giving away a FREE copy of her ebook to anyone who signs up for her email and/or RSS feed!  So sign up, and download yourself a copy!  The neat thing about her book is it is what she calls a "motivotional" which is a motivational plus a devotional too!  So each day (Mon - Fri) there is a reading/challenge for us.  I'm excited to see what changes we will notices by doing something so simple as getting dressed a bit earlier each day and choosing not to live in our pjs!!