winding down....

so, i am thinking i am done blogging... it seems most of what we blog about is already on facebook....  hmm.  will decide soon and shut this down if so.   but a couple updates....

I am running again!!  woohooo.  

And, I did lost the 10 pounds so back to my goal.. now considering shooting for 5 more pounds.. though this past weekend did not help with that! :) nor the three cookies i just consumed.

New Years Resolutions

I am not trying to make a bunch of resolutions I will not follow through on..  nor do I think it is worthwhile to wait til Jan 1 to make necessary changes..  however, sometimes we all need a fresh start, a new day if you will... and why not make January 1 that day.    It seems for many of us, we use the new year to start off with newer habits.  Out with the old, in with the new.....

Regardless of January 1, here are some things I am committed to working on or doing this year...

1.  Patience.  I want to continue to grow more of this.  Lots more.   There is no reason to let impatience color your attitude or relationships.   At times, I feel that I am not patient enough with my children... I want to let the little things go and keep the meaningful things in perspective.   It does not matter that Shannon wants to pick out her own clothes and that she wears a ballet dance outfit everyone. What matters is that she is learning to be herself.... I need to be patient and give her choices and opportunities to figure this out.. even if it means wearing a ballet outfit every day.

2.  Exercise.  I want to go further with my fitness. I reached a level that is comfortable, and then have gotten lazy. I need to shed these extra pounds that have stopped by for a visit, and I want to push myself  to see what I can do.   The Mac Tri, the CLR.... these will help.   But also, in my daily workouts.

3.  My home.  I want to do some redecorating..  at the same time, I do not want to spend a ton of money on frivolous things.  So, i want to be creative and frugal.  

4.  Photography. I want to gain more skills and confidence both in shooting pictures, but also in editing them in PSE.  I will finish the class on PSE and try to do another photo class .

5.  Family.  I want to visit my family more.  More than anything, I want to help and encourage my brother (and sisters) to make choices they are proud of and that brings them peace, love and happiness.  It seems I lead a very comfortable, loving, peaceful life right now..yet, my siblings do not.  It makes me sad.  Life is too short to spend it on drama and poor choices.

I could go on and on... but these are the main ones for me this year... now, to start going.  :)

Getting it all out there.

The past few months with no running has been strange for me.   I still go to the gym, and often get a good workout it.. but it has not been the same.  I have not pushed myself as hard.  I have given myself room to slack.   And, to make matters worse, when I am not as disciplined at the gym, I am not as disciplined at nutrition and eating either...   yuck.  So, now, I am up in weight.    This is hard for me to admit, but I fear if I do not put it in writing and face it, I will not deal with it  and shed these pounds before they multiply.  They have a tendency to do that, you know.  Multiply.   Grow.  Get bigger.  

Gosh, it seems so cliche to be talking about losing weight in January... but then again, it is the beginning of the year, so a perfect time to set goals.  I will set other goals, too.. but will get to that later.

So, here it is.  10 pounds.  My goal.  Down, not up.  I was comfortable at my previous weight, even if I still could have used to shed a few more pounds.  And, for the most part, it was easy to maintain.  Until the past 6 months.  So, time to get back.   I will report regularly in January as my accountability check.   No before or after pics of my in my sports bra, though. : )    even after 10 pounds, that is not something I can do. ;)  heheheh.  I have never had that six pack, or even a two pack... So, I will just document my progress. :)

Oh, and I am big on setting goals, and then having a plan to achieve them.  So, in order to accomplish this... I am going to...

 1.  food and fitness journal.  I will journal daily my food, water and fitness. I  use my fitness pal.  This makes it so easy.
2.  Calorie watch.  I will not exceed daily calories, nor will i go under too far.  
3.  Alcohol consumption will be limited to once a week.
4.  Coffee with creamer will be reduced to 2 times a week, and only 2 cups each time.. or even less. I may just stop buying the creamer.
5.   I will get in a 60-90 min workout 5 times a week.

My reward.   Simple.   back to 155.   Feeling better.   Oh, and I will buy myself those cute Silver Suki's I have been checking out....

Home

For those who have been there....  Do you miss it? 

For those who are still there, probably not.  For me, right now, Yes.

I miss it.  The calm.  The snow.  The cold.  The mountains.  The snow.

Homesick.  

Advent

This year, December has once again creeped up on us.... Where did November go?  

As sneaky as it was, I was ready!   The past two years I have gotten out my advent calendar a couple days late.. not this year.  It was out and hung up 3 days early (note to self, do not do that again.. pure torture for children).

And, this year I made an advent candle wreath with my moms group.  I love it and the children love lighting the candles each Sunday and talking about the promises God made that led up to Jesus' birth!  So exciting for them.

Tonight as we were lighting the candles, I was sitting across from my youngest and I could see the glimmer in her eyes.. Not the glimmer reflecting from the candles, but the glimmer reflecting from pure joy and excitement as we lit the candles and talked about Christmas coming...  

We have been talking a lot about presents, and the greatest gift of all .. Jesus, given to us to be our Savior....  and how each time we see a present under a tree, we are reminded of this gift... and are to say a prayer of Thanksgiving!!  

I am amazed at the depth to which my children can show God's love during this time.. they are so young and innocent, they remind us to stop and enjoy each moment, each Christmas decoration, every light and ornament... they are all reminders to us of the true Spirit and Wonder of Christmas.

Angel Food Candy

In honor of my grandma, I decided to make Angel Food Candy on the day of her funeral (since I was not able to go).   Now, my grandma and grandpa used to make hundreds of pounds of candy each holiday season and sell it...  but the Angel food candy was my favorite...

So, I decided to make some.  On the day of her funeral, I realized I was missing the main ingredient..  Sun.  You see, my grandma always says it has to be a clear day to make it... So, I waited til Wed.

Then, the fun began..

You take the above ingredients and cook them..

 Til they are 300 degrees...

Then you add Baking soda and watch it bubble like a magic potion!!

 Pour it in a pan..

Check out the bubbles. Now, hope they stay... often, it falls flat....

Oops.. it fell.  :(  so sad.

I cut into it, but something was off.. to dense.  will have to try again.

Sorry Grandma...

Goodbye Grandma

It is never easy to lose a loved one.  Yesterday, my grandmother passed away.  In many ways, I am rejoicing.  She is with God now, and with my grandpa.  She is no longer in pain, and can run around and enjoy the blessings of heaven and all its glory.

However, still there is sadness.  For me, it is a unique sadness.   You see, my relationship with my grandmother is hard to describe.  She loved me, and I loved her.  That is true.  It is also true that we really did not know each other well.  You see, she lived in Wisconsin, and due to the realities of my youth (too long to go into), I did not see her often.  As a matter of fact, it was not until I was in college that I really spent any time with her and Grandpa.

In college, I got involved in student affairs as an RA then an RD.   Each year, there is a large professional recruitment conference in Osh Kosh Wisconsin.   So, I started attending each year.   It was during these trips that I was able to extend my days so that I could spend time with my grandparents.      Her and grandpa surprised me by showing up to my college graduation when I received my masters degree at OSU.  I was thrilled they were there, and was humbled by how proud they were.   They were hard working, honest, simple, loving people.   My grandmother knew how to take care of her family and loved to do so... One of the ways she showed her love was through letters.  She was great at writing letters.  I remember once during college the shock I had when I checked my email and had an email from my Grandma!!  She was using her neighbors computer, and it made her so nervous, she wrote out the letter by hand first, then went over and typed it word for word.   :)  Another way she showed her love was through cooking.   She loved to have her family at her home and cooked large meals to celebrate.  Her and grandma were also well known for their candy they made every holiday season.    

I am sad that she is gone from this earth.  I am sad that we did not see each other often.  I am sad she never met my children,  (she even shares a birthday with Allison).   And I am thankful she is with God and grandpa and that some day we will meet again.  

Rest in peace, Grandma.