Listening and Seeing

It is time for me to close out this blog for a while. I have never really had the time, energy, or focus to really dedicate to this thing called a blog. I recently saw a post at rocks in the dryer about blogging: finding your voice, posting often, committing on other people's blogs consistently, etc. etc. I just don't have the heart for all that. I am trying to be still more and listen to God. To focus more on Him and learn. This blog is taking away from all that. It is a hindrance. I have always loved to journal in a notebook, in private, alone this is where my passion lies because I can be my self in those tablets- not here. Here I was too worried about finding my voice, has anyone visited?, does any one like me? and that is not the point.

There are beautiful blogs out there. Blogs that make me laugh, blogs that make me cry, blogs that inspire me, and blogs that challenge me. I will still visit those but not as often because just like this blog they are distractions from what is really important: The Lord, My Husband, My Boys, and working on Me. Maybe I will come back someday when time isn't so precious but right now some things have to go and this is one of them.

Still counting each blessing, sorrow, and joy! Seeing life through new eyes.......Me

A Long One About Me and My Weight

I never wanted to be "One of those" girls who are obsessed with food and what they are eating. You know the girls who blot grease off their pizza(if they eat pizza at all) or they can tell you how much fat and calories are in any random piece of food. I just don't want to be that way but.....

last November I joined Weight Watchers. I have been fairly successful at it, losing 25 pounds and going down several clothing sizes. I have made their high end goal weight(even though it is their goal MY goal is to lose 10 more pounds) and I am a life time member (meaning I maintained the goal weight for six weeks). If you don't know much about WW here is a little about it:

Flex Plan: Every food has a points value. You are given a set amount of points that you can eat per day with an extra 35 points to use through out the week. You write down everything you eat and subtract the points from your daily amount. This is how I lost my weight, it does work but I feel like I can get a little obssessive about it.

Core: I don't know much about this except that you don't write anything down, you eat a lot healthier foods that are not processed. I thought I would try this but it takes a lot of preparation and planning which I am not good at. Also, since I wasn't keeping track of anything it was a lot easier to cheat.

Anyway, basically for the last few weeks I have done abosulutely nothing as far as journaling my food and exercising. I have been gaining a little here and a little there. What I am saying is that even though I don't want to be "that girl", I think I have to be. I wish I didn't have to be but obviously I don't have a handle on my relationship with food. I eat when I am happy, sad, bored, mad, when I am try to suppress my emotions, or just to be social. I want to have a normal relationship with food and for me that means that I need to be conscious of what I am eating and keep track of the points. It would be really stupid to have paid all of that money and then end up back where I was at last year at this time. So I am stating my goals right here for all to see.

Here goes:

1. Journal my food choices and keep track of my points.

2. Measure my portions.

3. Exercise at least 4 times a week.

4. Drink 6 glasses of water every day.

I guess I am just a girl who wants to be better even if it means being "that girl"who blots her pizza and tell you points for random foods.

July 2007

June 2008

If this isn't motivation, I don't know what is!

Monday, Monday.....

(this is an old image please use link below)


Good morning everyone! Here is a quick run down of the menu for the week. Check out other great menus and plans at the Organizing Junkie.

Monday- chicken and dumplings, mashed potatoes, corn
Tuesday- tuna casserole, invite mom for dinner
Wednesday- grilled pork chops
Thursday- meatloaf, carrots, and potatoes in the crock pot
Friday- homemade pizza
Saturday- we are going to a Wedding, so something easy for the boys spaghetti or leftovers.
Sunday- grilled chicken

This week we are having pretty simple things. Simple comfort foods are good sometimes. Last week we tried two new recipes the bourbon chicken and best ever new potatoes and green beans. Both were great! We all liked the chicken. Next time I make the potatoes and green beans I might just make the beans, the boys aren't into mixing their foods right now. Well, I better get a move on, I have a lot to do today. Have a good one and stay cool!

Twenty sounds or words that bring me JOY.....

1. Birdsong
2. The coffee maker in the morning.
3. My two boys playing and talking together. It happens sometimes and when it does it is so sweet. Jackson is so patient and kind with Carson and Carson so looks up to his older brother.
4. Laughter- my children's giggles of delight, a person's pure joy over something, these make my heart sing.
5. The ocean, wish I could hear it more.
6. Jackson reading. I love to read and I feel like I have passed this love on to him.
7. A soft rain on a lazy afternoon.
8. The phone ringing and it is Marc saying he is on his way home from work.
9. Marc arriving home and saying "I am home!"
10. "I love you!"
11. Our prayers at dinnertime, Carson always says his own prayer along with whoever is praying. The prayer usually include: "My mommy, my daddy" But last night I am pretty sure I heard the words "Argh, matey", thanking the Lord for pirates, I guess!
12. Wind chimes.
13. Frogs croaking at night. This is a sound that reminds me of summer and my childhood.
14. Carson singing and beat boxing.
15. Chris Tomlin music. Especially the songs Amazing Grace and Your Grace is Enough, both remind me of when Marc and I went to see him in concert which was a fun time and I felt pure joy and freedom in my heart.
16. The whirl of humming bird wings.
17. The purr of a kitten. Too bad I am allergic to cats, we would have one just like that!
18. A waterfall on a sunny day.
19. Conversations between children. I love to hear their innocence, logic, and view on the world! Funny, sweet, and eye opening.
20. Worship time at church or at a concert or in a large crowd. I love to close my eyes, focus on the Lord, and hear the collective body doing the same. AWESOME!

What sounds bring you JOY?

Happy Friday, make it a good one!

Menu Plan Monday on Tuesday or Better Late Than Never

Well, I had this menu plan done on Sunday but didn't have time to put it on here until now. I am trying some new recipes this week. Some are Weight Watchers Core recipes. If anyone wants any of the recipes let me know. Next week I will get this posted on Monday (this is a goal since I can do this now since school is out). Happy Tuesday! Check out Menu Plan Monday at the Organized Junkie.

Sunday- Hamburgers, fries, corn on the cob

Monday- Sandwiches, chips, apples eaten the car on the way to a 5:30 b-ball game(better than McDonald's).

Tuesday- Hot dogs, mac&cheese, carrots

Wednesday- Bourbon Chicken*, brown rice, broccoli

Thursday- Garlic&Tomato Tilapia*, Best ever new potatoes and green beans*

Friday-Pizza Picasso(make your own masterpiece pizza)

Saturday- Tacos

Sunday- Meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas

*New recipes

It is a rainy day here today. Means we will be inside most of the day. I need to clean a little. It would be a fun day to make tents inside too. Also, if any one has any suggestions as what to do for a three year old who likes to randomly hit, please leave me a message! Carson thinks it is funny to do this. We have tried time outs, spankings, etc., he even knows that the sixth commandment is "Never hurt anyone"but he continues to do it any way. I just keep trying to be consistent in what I do but oh boy it is tiring....Have a good one everyone!

Whip It Good

Alrighty, everyone(me I mean me!, I don't think anyone reads my blog) today is the official first day of summer break......yay, woo-hoo. I have one day before Jackson is out of school to get everything in shape around here. For some reason the song "Whip it" keeps running through my head ("Crack that whip"). Don't get me wrong, I want us to have some fun around here but I also want some structure too. Maybe it is the teacher in me but I cannot tolerate another summer of just watching cartoons and playing video games and being on the computer(how ironic because I am on the computer RIGHT NOW). Here is my to do list today:

• Laundry

-wash

-dry

-put away

• Dishes
• Pick up this house.
• Make rules and routines(summer and yes we have rules around here anyway, I just want to revisit them)
• Clean out fridge, I could save this for tomorrow as a science experiment to kick off summer but no....
• Make a list of meals and plan them out.

I better get busy.....crackin that whip!

Oh, also BooMama is giving away some cds but hurry she is closing comments soon......

New style, sickness, busyness...

Well, I am home today for the second day in a row. I will talk about that in a few. First, if you haven't noticed(which is funny I am talking like someone will be actually reading this, oh well) anyway, I changed some stuff around. The name for one because that is me, learning to see it ALL as JOY. Yes, my boys are still monkey see monkey do but it is not my whole life. My whole life is HIM even though I may not do a very good job of focusing on HIM all the time. I am learning what to do and how to do it every single day which is what I want-- to be a life long learner. Also, I just got sick of the blue it seemed to be a downer, also those winter pictures are nice in February not in May. The flower picture was taken by my hubby who I think takes great pictures! But is it too huge (the picture, that it).

The stomach flu has hit our home. Poor Carson he started throwing up Monday evening and was up most of that night with it. Marc stayed home Tuesday with him. Then yesterday, he seemed to be on the mend but then had another episode yesterday afternoon. Daycare has a 24 hour no puke policy so I am home today with him and Marc (who started his own puke fest last night). So far Carson seems much better but that is how it seemed yesterday too. I just hope Jackson and I can stay clear of it. I have to say of all of the sickness I am the worst of handling this one. Ah the Joy of Motherhood.

Worst yet is that tomorrow we have an all school field trip to the zoo, can not be sick. I haven't been able to go to the store for groceries plus we are celebrating double birthdays on Saturday for Jackson and Alex. Do I have a cake ordered? Well no, I have to be able to leave the house to do that. I am hoping to pick up Jackson after school and be able to do that today before baseball practice tonight.

Speaking of practice, this is such a busy time right now. Birthdays, Anniversaries, practices, games, work, etc etc etc. right now life is BUSY! I hate it because the busier I become the less focused I am on Him. This is an area I need to work on. Balance. If anyone actually reads this and has some suggestions I would welcome them gladly. I do know this, I am grateful and thankful for these celebrations of life and love even in busyness they are blessings. Maybe I am learning a little bit at a time to count it ALL!