Don't live a little, live on fire

Don't live a little, live on fire.
This is my thought for today. Why live life "a little" live like your are on fire. Live life to the fullest and do not take those you love for granted. Tell them every day that you care about them. You never know when it will be the last time you see or speak to them.

Your Life Can Change in a Moment

Yesterday was one of those days. We started our morning out normally and school was going well for both children. I received a phone call from a friend who wanted to take the kids and I for a hike after we had finished. This was a pleasant surprise and I was happy for the invitation. After we finished school we took the thirty minuet drive to Quail Hollow State Park and walked in the after noon sun. It was a beautiful day for hiking and we all enjoyed the time in the woods.
Life felt good. We had an enjoyable time. Our evening was quiet nothing out of the ordinary. We were getting ready to go to bed when the phone rang. It was around 11:30 pm. When this happened my nine year old said this can't be good if someone is calling this late. It was was my best friend. She had just found out her brother had died. Life can change in a moment. My heart sank for her.
A few weeks ago it was the middle of the night the phone rings at 1 am. I race to grab the phone. It was my mother in law. Her brother and his wife had been in a car accident. His wife died at the scene of the accident. Your life can change in a moment.
Just a few short years ago I got a phone call at 8:10 pm on a Thursday night. My father had passed. I had just spoke to him 15 maybe 20 minuets earlier. How could he be gone. Your life can change in a moment
When events like this happen it causes you to stop and take a long look at your own life. Am I ready if my life takes a unexpected change? Not sure you can ever be totally ready.
Our lives can change in moments time. My heart is with you Lynn as you are going through this difficult time.

Where has the year gone?

It is amazing how fast a year can go by. We are a busy family. With two kids at home, our son is involved with the Boy Scouts and our daughter involved with Girl Scout time slipped away and I have neglected my blog.
I have been working at home selling cruises for Cruises Inc.
Last fall was a sad time for our family. The children lost their beloved grandmother to cancer. Such a difficult life experience for them. Time heals and in time the bitter sting of loss will not be as sharp and fond memories of her will remain.
The winter was long and cold in our neck of the woods and we were grateful to see signs of spring when the first crocuses came popping up through the ground.
Another school year ended and the kids did well.
Summer brought the new experience of Boy Scout camp for my son and my husband. A week away in the woods sleeping in tents. A young boy delight and exhaustion for his dad.
This summer also has brought a new love into our lives. The kids have had the honor to meet work with and fall in love with two lovely horses, Chica the Paint Princess
and Storm.
A new school year has started and the kids are once again busy with scouts and all the many activities that brings into our lives.

2008 Olympics

I have been deeply involved in watching the summer Olympics. I have been fascinated with the women gymnasts. Wow such strength to be able to do what they do. I was in awe of the womens vaults. Wow is all I can say.
I have never been one to watch the swimming events, but this year I watched all that I could and felt honored to see Michael Phelps win the gold over and over and over. Eight golds is amazing.

I can not even begin to imagine the hours upon hours they put into training. Then I think of how much they do and how hard it is for me to do just a little in comparison. I am in awe of their dedication.

I remember being a little girl and the big gymnast of that Olympics was Olga Korbut. I remember being in awe of her and wanting to be a gymnast, no it never happened but seeing her had a big influence in my life. Now I wonder how many kids will have watched this Olympics and saw such great athletes and maybe just maybe had a good influence on them.

Where Has The Summer Gone.

It has been an incredibly busy two weeks. We are preparing to start our fall classes. I have come up with a great recording schedule that will get us through school. I am really disappointed that HomeSat will no longer be available to homeschooling families after this school year. It has been a blessing to us and I know without Homesat we could not have afforded the education that my children have received. This will be huge loss to families that are educating more than one child.
We have spent the past few days setting up class rooms for the kids. Son and Sissy are both delighted to have their school rooms down stairs and not up in their bed rooms anymore. My biggest concern is, am I going to be able to keep the house looking presentable. I have decided that the kids will have to clean their school room each day so it looks presentable.

My exercise is going well. I am walking each and every day at least three times a day. I am averaging around 4.5 miles to 6 miles a day. I am thoroughly impressed with my family. My husband has stepped up to the plate and is waking and walking with me at 7 am before he heads to work. This is a real pleasant surprise.
I can not say my kids are enjoying walking as much as they are but I can say they are not fighting me over it. Never do they ask for me not to go. They have really been good cheer leaders for me. I truly appreciate their support.

I am beginning to look forward to our vacation planned for September. Now I just have to find clothes that fit. I have shrunk out of them. This is a good problem to have.

Choices are Not Alway Easy.

I think one of the things I am loving the most about our nightly family exercise routine is the beautiful sunsets. They are awe inspiring.
Over the weekend we walked, jogged and biked together. It was a wonderful family time.

I am desperately trying to teach me children good choices. I have come to realize that the best way to teach is to live what your teaching. How can I expect my children to make healthy food choices if I am putting unhealthy food on their plates. How can I expect my child to only eat one healthy portion of food if I am eating two or three portions.

This weekend I made and cooked a very balanced meal for my family. My children wanted junk food. No way was I going to let that happen. The kids were not happy but I know I made the right choice. Parenting is not always fun but making the right choice is important.
I am trying to make the right choices for myself and my children. I want to be healthy for my children, they deserve a mother who is healthy enough to run and play with them. Choices are not alway easy.

A Very Busy Week in Review.

It has a been a very busy week for me. I had my big follow up with the doctor who did my colonoscopy. The best news was the biopsy came back clear. YEAH!! I am very happy about that.
It also has been a very good week for my exercise program. My daughter and I have logged 31 miles for our exercise for the week. I am only going three miles today to give my knee some rest. I have felts some pinching in my right knee. Not sure what that is.
I went and bought myself a good pair of running shoes to help with the blisters that formed on my feet from wearing the wrong shoes. I never before put much thought in to the health of my feet. I do now.
I am gearing up for the new school year that looms ahead of us. School will start broadcasting in less than three weeks. I have to know what classes that have to be recorded and what books need to be bought. Where has our summer gone.
Son is loving working at the family store. He has shown so much maturity working with the public. It is a pleasure to watch him turn into a young man.
Sissy has become my constant companion since son has decided to spend his summer working with Dad. Sissy is witty and a delight. Very seldom does she have a bad mood always quick to see the good side of every situation. It has been a good summer so far.

The Feel Good Effect of the Sun

The Feel Good Effect of the Sun.

I keep pondering the thoughts of why now; why this time does becoming physically fit feels so much better. Why do I know deep down this time it truly is going to work. This is the conclusion I have come up with.

Back during the winter I moved my computer and later I set up a new office in the sunroom of our home. I started using the sunroom back during the winter. I did notice that this past winter I was not plagued with SAD “Seasonal Affective Disorder” that I sometimes would get during the winter. Matter of fact I loved sitting in the sunroom and could not get enough of the sunlight coming in to the room. Hence I moved my whole office and took over the sunroom as my space.

I started looking up information on the benefits of natural sunlight and here is some of the information I have found.

Sunlight triggers an increase in the feel-good brain chemical serotonin.

Serotonin lifts your mood and wards off depression.

I know that now when I am out walking in the fresh air and sunlight I love how I feel. It is something I have not experienced since I was a young child running and playing out side. It is a great feeling and right now I am craving going out walking in the sun.

My Week In Review.

This past week has been a great one in review. I have been able to keep my eating habits under control and I have kept my walking routine up. I truly feel good about all the effort that I have been able to put forth.

On Wednesday the children and I were able to exercise three laps around the hiking trail. We were to go again after Wednesday night Bible class, but a storm came and it was not possible.

On Thursday my daughter and made four laps around the park and by the evening I had a blister. This is not good. I really think it is my socks rather than my shoes. So I am making sure the socks are fitting me well. The health of my feet are very important.

On Friday my husband wakes me up and he wants to go walking with us first thing in the morning before going to work. This is a pleasant and good surprise to me. It was the perfect morning to walk. Driving to the trails we see several of the men that he went to school with out walking and biking at 7:30am. He was surprised and I think it made him think that it is important to keep up with your health. We are not young anymore he is 50 and I am 47. We need to keep this routine up.

Then this morning 7:30am the whole family was out the door and we walked and jogged as a family. It feels good that as a family unit we are working together. I will lose this unwanted weight. I will become healthy.

So if I am counting miles I have logged about 27 miles this week. I feel great about this achievement.

Why Does This Time Feel Different?

I am trying to determine what exactly is the difference this time in trying to establish an exercise routine compared to all the other times I have started and stopped. I am guessing it has to do with an article that I read a while back. It was about habits. Basically it said that it takes three weeks of doing something consistently to establish a habit. I really thought about this concept, and I thought if you can establish a bad habit in three weeks why no establish a good habit in three weeks. I knew that I could try something with the idea of three weeks and try it. So I did and during the winter I started riding my bike every day, even if it was just for 10 min. and I did it faithfully for three weeks. By the end of the three weeks it was easy to take the time to do it. I increased my time from ten minutes to twenty minutes. Then when the weather got nice I kept thinking of walking out in the fresh air and the idea became appealing. So the idea of doing something appealing is a lot easier to grasp than doing something unappealing. I am trying real hard not to lose faith that I can become a healthy person. I do have a doctor’s appointment on the 31st of July. I know what I weighed back on July 1^st my last appointment. I am excited to see if I have lost any weight or not.

The Exercise Is Becoming Addictive.

The exercise is becoming addictive. My friend who I normally walk with called this morning and she had three friends that wanted to go walking with us at nine am. I do have to say that two of her friends are very fit and bike ten or more miles a day. I managed to go two rounds this morning. This is my personal best for that early in the day. YEAH

We have already gone again today so we have a total of three rounds on the trails so far. I feel invigorated and I like how I feel after I have completed the trail. If the weather holds out I would like to go again after the sun starts to set.

Work has not totally gone to the sidelines. I did have a customer today that I had to get a cruise quote for but have not heard from her since I left her a message on her phone.
I also have been applying for everything that I feel I am qualified for.

I have started trying to plan a head on my meals. I have always done this to some degree, but with the cost of gas I only want to have to go shopping once in a week. This will take some planning on my part but I feel it is a very do able task. I just have to be more focused and plan my shopping trips better.

The Exercise Continues.

Yesterday was really a great exercise day. Our morning started with the children and I walking the trail once. The weather was perfect. We were able to make our round before the midday heat.
I was also able to invite a friend who I have not see in at least a year. She was somewhat surprised in my weight loss. Made me smile when she notice.
Then in the after noon my normal walking buddy called and the kids and I went again. YEAH. I had done my twice a day and I was happy.
Well low and behold when my husband got home he wanted to go. So we went for are third trip around the trails. Sissy Lou and I did 6 miles yesterday. YEAH The is my personal best. I was feeling the muscle tightening by evening.

Today has not been as good. I had appointments first thing in the morning and they did not end till 4 pm. Well we tried to walk and the heat was to much. We made one mile and had to stop. We will go tonight when Dan gets home and the sun is down. It was nearly 98 today. Too hot to walk.

My schedule is working really well. Being able to know that I have a designated time to exercise has been life changing. Know that I have allotted time for me has been wonderful. I am worth the time. My health is worth the time. I need to take this time to be a healthy person.

Another Great Exercise Day

Already this morning the kids and I were up and out the door early to get in a morning walk. It is suppose to be a very hot day here today so I was glad to get my exercise in before the mid day heat sets in.

Yesterday I was out working in my yard when I hear a buzzing sound. It took me a little time to locate it and it was my Mountain Laural bush, it was covered with bees. It was a sight to see.
There were hundreds of these bees all over the bush. Very interesting.

Spontaneity

Spontaneity has never been part of my life.
I have always been the planner. Even as a child I would plan every thing out so I was never surprised and taken off guard.
Well as I have gotten older I have really tried to roll with the flow of the day and not panic if things do not go exactly as planned. It has gotten better since the kids are older too.
Last night supper was made the kids an I had eaten and we were waiting for Dan to get home from work when my friend called. I asked if she wanted to go for a walk, (me being spontaneous is huge). She of course was happy to go, so we went. I am so glad and I was able to take some really nice pictures too.
Yesterday ended up being a really great exercise
day. With the bike ride in the morning and
our evening walk last night I believe our mileage
for the day was around five or six miles.
I feel really good about that.

I Will MOVE My Body.

Today the kids and I loaded the bike rack on the car and we went biking. Actually I was very proud of my son. He helped me figure out how to attach the bike rack to the car, and he helped me load the bikes to the rack and we went biking.

No huge mileage but we went. We were able to make two and half rounds on the trail before we were tired. Actually Sissy Lou was the one to ask if we were finished or not. I forget that her little legs are not as long as mine so she is really peddling to keep up with us.

That actually is the longest bike ride I have taken in YEARS, and it felt good. The worst thing about the whole biking experience was loading the bikes. The rack is heavy and lifting the bikes is heavy. I could not have done it with out Son.

We had a good weekend. Dan took Son to work with him on Saturday and Sissy Lou and I had a girls day at home. On Sunday we went to Church and then spent the day at home preparing the kids room for the new school year that starts next month. We packed away last years curriculum and I now have to do inventory on what new books we need to buy and what classes we have recorded and what classes we need to record in the fall.

A good weekend and a good start to a new week. I will move my body, I want to be a healthy person, I will work on being a healthy person.

Summer Fun

Today was a beautiful day here and the kids could not wait to get out an play in the water. It was a lot of fun watching them play on their slip and slide. It gave me a lot of memories of when I was young playing on our homemade slip and slide. Lots of summer fun today.

Determination

I am determined that I am going to be in control of my health. I do not want to go into my old age already unhealthy.
Today I got up. I rallied the kids and off we went on our morning walk. We walked the whole trail once and then we walked the first half again. No huge feat, but we are increasing our miles. This is great and I feel better too.

I am determined to help with the money income. Losing my main source of income last month hurt. That was our play money. The money that paid for vacations and going out to eat. It also paid for those extra visits to the Dr. or unexpected visits to the er. I am determined to find another source of income.

I am determined to make healthy food choices. I pulled out the George Foreman grill and am trying to cook healthier. I am trying to cut the fat from the diet. Son is loving cooking on it.

I am determined to being a better person in general. I am trying to think before I speak. Trying not to speak in the heat of the moment. Trying to look at the bigger picture. Angry words can hurt for a long time.

I am determined to be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

It Has Been A Good Day.

It really has been a good day. I received a lead for a cruise first thing this morning. So I spent the better part of the morning looking up prices and getting the customer their quote.
In the after noon my friend came over she too had gotten a lead and we worked on getting her quote out too.
Son went to work with his father and that gave Sissy and I a girls day to hang out and be together.
I feel pretty good after yesterdays colonoscopy. I was amazed how loopy the anesthesia made you feel even hours after it was over. I glad to crawl into bed last night.
I am planning to get back into my exercise routine tomorrow. It was interrupted with the prep and the colonoscopy yesterday. I can not believe I am even saying this but I have missed the daily walks, the past two days.
I spent so much time today looking up quotes for cruises I did not take the time to look for new opportunities posted on craigslist and monster.com
So once again I am looking at my schedule tomorrow and adjusting it accordingly to make up for what have missed today. Top of the list, exercise and job searching.

Reality TV

Several years ago I was speaking to a friend and she tells me that she was looking forward to the season finale of the Bachelor that night. I kind of snickered to myself, wondering how any one could get that wrapped up into a dating show.

Fast forward two years to yesterday and I am rushing around trying to get all of my work done so that I would not have anything interrupt me when the "Bachelorette season finale was on"
Oh how my opinion has changed in the last two years.

I can not explain how I became so emotionally invested in whether DeAnna picked Jason or Jesse. Oh how my heart sunk when Jason got down on one knee and DeAnna had to tell her she was "in love" with Jesse. Then on the after show when Jason said he was happy for DeAnna, my heart melted. Jason was just such a good guy through out the whole show. I hope he finds the right person to "complete his family."

As for DeAnna and Jesse I do hope they are very happy for a life time.

Now I am in Reality TV withdrawal. One of the things I do like about reality tv is that there is a conclusion and it does not drag on for years on end. But what I dislike about reality tv is it end quickly..

Nice Family Weekend.

We had a really nice holiday weekend. Nothing exciting but it was just nice being together as a family. Dan had to work on Saturday but was home early. I spent a good portion of the weekend mowing the apple orchard while J and Dan trimmed the apple trees. This was a much needed chore that we had been putting off. It looks so nice now that it is done.
The picture are two that I took this spring when our flowers were just blooming.