Thank God, It's MONDAY!!

Thursday, chorus moms meeting. Friday, up at 4:30AM to be at a church parking lot at 5:30AM to accompany Lilly on her chorus trip. I had not seen 4:30AM in a long time. She still looks the same, fresh and unhampered by daylight. I don't plan to see her again for a LONG time. Our bus driver had overslept and our bus ran a bit late. I could have slept another 20 minutes!! That's okay though, I got to sleep on the bus and he did not. Then we made the trip to Louisville where Lilly and the other children in her chorus performed for music teachers. They actually served as a 'teaching prop' for Dr. A as he taught music educators how to develop the singing voices of children. It was a really neat class and based on the tons of people approaching him after the class, I think it was a success.

Then we were back to the hotel for a bit and then off to sup at the Spaghetti Factory. After returning to our room, I did something I have never done before. I worked out in the hotel exercise room. Without shoes because I did not PLAN on working out. It was good though, since I could not make my Saturday aerobics class. I don't want to lose any progress I have made. Still on track. I mostly followed my diet on the trip. I had a few more carbs than usual but it was unavoidable due to the pre-ordered meals. I also walked a ton more than usual so I neither gained or lost.

The only bad part of the trip was the bus ride home...either being scrunched in a seat or just all of the extra steps catching up with me made me almost unable to walk when we returned. BOTH knees and one of my ankles were sore. I unloaded the car and then I propped my feet in the recliner and remained mostly immobile. I did the same the next day as well. I look forward to the day when extra exercise doesn't just do me in. It took me 14 years to get into this poor shape and it will be a long process to get out of it. I just wish I could snap my fingers.

Today is a busy day!! EARLY this morning, Kayla went to the dentist and got her palate spreader taken out. She is so happy to have it gone. It took up most of the roof of her mouth, so eating was really slow going. NEXT. writing class, 4H, and then the BOOK FAIR!!! I am so excited about this event. My kids have all three done a really good job on their dioramas (shadow boxes). I look forward to seeing what all the kids will come up with. I love activities that make reading more fun.

Make the most of this lovely fresh Monday. I think I smell snow...

To Ponder

I have a question for those of you in the blogosphere. Especially those of you with children, no matter the age.

Why is it that once soap gets soft and squishy, someone is compelled to 'carve' into it?

Just curious.

My first grade picture. Isn't she lovely. Why didn't someone help me part my hair? It was picture day for goodness sakes!

Jeepers!

Wow, golly, gee, this month sure has filled up quickly with lots of stuff. I think we all think the same thing...hmmm, what's a good month to plan something?-Feb, nobody really makes plans for Feb. The next thing you know, there it is, a very full short month.

Adding in aerobics 3 times a week has really been difficult, but totally worth it. I can tell it is helping me to cope with mood swings, hormones and all that other fun girl stuff. I think this month would have me paralyzed if not for the fact that I have a physical outlet.

Last night, at my mothers of daughters Bible study, we talked about self worth. We each had to list three of our best qualities without being critical. Why is it so hard to say something good about yourself without adding a disclaimer. "I'm really good at ____, at least when I have the time to do it well, which I don't, so I guess I am not always..." After we got over the hurdle though, we all listed qualities that I think we see in each other. It is so easy to list good qualities in others. The gist of the study was that if we have such a hard time, how can we expect that our daughters won't struggle with it. I'm really going to be actively looking for ways to boost my daughters abilities to know their strengths and feel good about them. It helps that they aren't being deflated every day in middle school . Although, I am sure I have my deflationary moments with them. (Did I make that word up? )

Well I am off to finish planning a wonderful PATCH meeting for tonight. (I hope.) (Oop, there it is, disclaimer.)

The Road to Fitness

Here is a quick update on how things are going for me. It has been a bad week as far as eating goes. Not terrible and compared to old Janjanmom eating-stellar. But I have not been hitting all the food groups like I am supposed to. Often this is because I am full and it makes no sense to me to eat 'a little more' when I am full. Also, wedding cake-it was awesome. This was a planned splurge, but really not the best choice. AND THEN, last night it was all I could do not to stop and get a candy bar while I was out. Or an apple pie, or a sundae, or a Frosty. I made it home by the power of God and ate 6 chocolate chips. It was enough to calm the savage beast.

This week, I will hit all the food groups because I am not a strong woman when it comes to willpower. I can't fight cravings like that every day. Better to just do what it takes to keep them at bay...a few more fruits and veggies.

On the exercising front, all is well. I could not exercise Saturday, so I added Thursday. I will pay for that today and tomorrow but 3 times a week is a commitment for me. AND, I can see a TINY bit of definition in my arms. WOO HOO! There is still lots of flab too, but the muscles are there and they are making a place for themselves.

Small victories are what's keeping me going!

A Book Review

Living Life In The Zone

by Kyle Rote Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew

Here am I, a female, daring to review a book for the fellas. Not just any book either-a Bible study for small groups of men. I'll admit it, I have no frame of reference. HOWEVER, this IS a Bible study I would benefit from my hubby participating in. I especially like the section on Finding the zone in your relationship with your wife. There is a set of bullets that feature what Satan wants you to believe VERSUS What God wants you to know. I particularly LOVE this one:

• "What Satan wants you to believe: What I think doesn't matter as long as I don't act on it.
• What God wants you to know: Our thoughts often become our actions."

Those are direct quotes from a book for men written by two men, but I gotta say, that one applies to all of us! It is straight from the word too, Proverbs 23:7 "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he." Granted, it is a bit out of context, but the gist is the same. In this scripture, a selfish man is giving a meal to someone and since he is selfish all he is thinking about is how much the meal he is giving costs. So, since all he thinks on is costs, there is nothing true about his generosity. Same is true with lots of other things, like porn. In this day and age, it's everywhere. If someone keeps their head filled up with images of other women(as a man thinketh in his heart), the marriage bed is also tainted with those thoughts(so is he). Very challenging!

Back to the book. It is a 40 day study. Each day starts with a thought and some coaching. Then a game plan is mapped out. Next, examples using mostly sports guys, are given of people who accomplish the plan. Time out is called-to reflect on some deeply personal questions and then you move on to today's assignment. The last section is a spot to record praises and prayers.

The topics run the gamut, just like life. The main topics: one on one time with God, loving your kids, loving your wife, loving your wife's family, stress, creating a legacy, being a good friend, setting priorities, success. At the end, the goal is to make the decision to be a better man AND then BE A BETTER MAN.

I can't say enough good things about this book and I wish every man I know (but especially one)would delve right into it. And Ladies? We could benefit by putting a lot of it into practice as well.

Sunday Sun

The sun came out today and pretty much melted all of the snow on the roads. Fine with me. I love to see it come AND I love to see it melt away. I am ready for it to go away. Tired of all the tracking in and also the snow gets into my mules pretty bad...those are about the only kind of shoes I wear and in 4 inches of snow, they don't cut it.

I am playing hooky from church tonight but my family isn't. Call me terrible if you want, but I am loving being home alone. I am NEVER home alone. I am always jealous of all the time Erik gets to spend at home by himself...well of all the time he gets to himself in general. The hardest part of the stay-at-home/homeschool thing is the lack of down time. There just isn't any. Don't get me wrong, I am happy to be doing what I do. I knew of the sacrifice it would require of me. I just think I need to start carving out some more time for myself. Lord knows the kids need breaks from me too!!

So, my birthday is creeping up this week and I will be an even number, 38. I've been odd all year and now it's time to get even...heehee.

It is a VERY busy week. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are somewhat full. Thursday, Friday and Saturday will be absolutely jam packed. I wish I could pare back our schedules and slow things down a bit-but it just isn't possible anymore. I'm just glad to have had a couple of lazy days of gearing down before gearing up!! A weekend reprieve.

I am getting off of here to savor the quiet for another hour or so. Silence is golden.

Wowee!

We have snow. Not just a little dab, but a LOT. 4" of snowy goodness. It started Friday afternoon despite being predicted for Thurs. just after midnight. All the schools in the area except a couple cancelled school based on that prediction. AND THERE WAS NO SNOW until well after lunch. In case you don't know, schools that cancel after lunch still get to count the full day of school. It shouldn't irk me so much as I am totally unaffected, but it does.

ANYWAY, Lilly has enjoyed the snow like nobody's business. She would be in and out all day if I allowed it. I limit her to about four outings with warm ups in-between. We have to make her come in to warm up. she loves to play outside, especially in snow. Erika went out for a while too. Kayla just does not play in it anymore. That makes me really sad-I just stopped going out and playing in it a couple of years ago because I lack the proper winter outfitting gear-boots, mostly. She is far too young, in my opinion, to give it up. However, I say nothing and hope this passes.

Tonight we have a wedding to attend and I am excited and hopeful they will have a big crowd despite the condition of the roads. The bride is the daughter of one of our favorite couples at church. I know it will just be beautiful. I love weddings almost as much as snow-so putting the two together makes me a really happy camper.

A toast: to marriage, young or old-be committed to making it work and it will. For better or worse for always. Never forget marriages are like life-they have high peaks and miserable valleys. The valleys make you cling tighter(eventually) and the peaks give you something to look forward to.