Perspective

As I am struggling to loose this last 10 pounds I have been doing much evaluating of my exercise routine and eating. I don't know about you, but I love watching The Biggest Loser. I don't however love the fact that they can lose 3% or more of their body weight in just one week. I find myself jealous.


Anyway, last week on the show they talked a lot about their specific calorie burn targets and food intake calorie targets. They mentioned that their target burn was 6000 calories per day and their goal intake was 1400 calories per day. WOW. Crap. Really? Ah, NO wonder!


So now for the perspective in Weight Watcher Language:

Approximate Points Eaten per day: 22
Approximate Activity Points earned per day: 46


In conclusion, I think I will stick with saying good bye to my unwanted weight one tenth of a pound at a time! (Unless someone wants to volunteer to be my maid, nanny, and personal chef? Then, I might could spend enough time in the gym to burn 6000 calories per day!)

Also, after watching tonight's episode I have to say that I am excited to finally see someone on TV that professes to be a Christian AND at the same time HE ACTED LIKE IT TOO! Thank you.

What are your thoughts?

Balsamic Chicken

Last night at Bible Study we had a little potluck. I decided to make something that is one of my family's favorite dishes. Everyone seemed to love it and some even requested the recipe, so here it is for all of you!

Balsamic Chicken

marinade:
2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup Newman's Own Balsamic Vinegar
granulated garlic
dried onion flakes
fresh cracked black pepper
pinch red pepper flakes

Cut chicken breast into large bite size pieces and put into gallon size baggie with marinade. "Smush" around until all of chicken is covered. Let marinade in the refrigerator for at least 30 min.

cooking instructions:
Bring non-stick skillet up to heat.
Add chicken to pan. Add salt to taste.
Brown in batches until chicken has nice brown color on both sides.

Sauce:
1 can low sodium chicken stock
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Bring to boil and allow to reduce down while cooking chicken.

When all of chicken is done and sauce is reduced, put chicken back in pan and pour sauce over chicken and simmer for a few minutes.

Enjoy!
My family loves this chicken and sauce served over whole wheat cous cous with green beans.

Waiting...

Lord, please give me patience... AND HURRY!

I feel like I am in a current or perpetual state of waiting.

My mom had a nuclear stress test done yesterday. Now we are waiting on the doctor to call with results. The good news is that they didn't rush her up for immediate surgery! But, we are still waiting on all of the results.

***UPDATE: Mom talked to the nurse and there is NO sign of blockage and her heart is in good condition! I am working on her right now and she says she will dig back out her weight watcher materials because I feel like her blood pressure will come down naturally if she will just loose a little more weight. Until then, they have her on a new blood pressure medicine that should do the trick. PRAISE THE LORD!!!***

On Tuesday I weighed in at exactly 10 lbs from goal. (I have been weighing "heavier" this time around on Tuesdays because I am going to my body pump class at 5:30am, then eating breakfast, drinking lots of coffee, and then weighing in!) Anyway, when my leader Kim saw this she handed me a piece of paper asking me to apply for a job with Weight Watchers. Since I am within 10 lbs of goal I can get a job as a Weigherinnerlady, aka Receptionist. When I am within 2 lbs of goal I can apply to get my own meeting. Anyway, I submitted my application and resume. They emailed me with a link for a "personality" test. I took it. Now I am waiting to hear from them again.

I think filling out the application may be just what I need to get out of this state of maintaining (which I view as a major accomplishment) on toward my goal! Already this week I have thought twice about what I put in my mouth because I have no wiggle room. I can't even gain 0.2! I must stay where I am or go down!!! Cheer me on will ya!

Okay, so for now I am waiting. What are you doing???

Featured!

Have you checked out the Tip Junkie? I love that she collects the creativity from around blog land and puts it all in one place for me!

Oh and guess what?!?!?


She featured me earlier this summer too but for some reason I never got around to telling you!

Balanced vs. Healthy

Well, so far we have been in public school for two days and Kirstyn and I have had to have several conversations about the difference between a "Balanced" meal and a "Healthy" meal. Just to be clear, the school serves "Balanced" meals to the children. Kirstyn has been taking her lunch and it is a "Healthy" meal.

On day one our conversation went like this:

Me: Kirstyn, how was your first day of Kindergarten?

K: Mommy, they serve gravy for lunch! And the gravy came with chicken. Not like we make but the kind that Daddy gets at 'chickalay'!

Me: Kirstyn, remember that is not healthy to eat gravy. That is a food you get to eat sometimes when you go to Dee Dee's house.

K: I know Mommy, but they said it is a "good" meal....a...ummm, a ummm, not messed up, no, not crooked.... um. Do you know what I'm saying?

Me: Did they call it a "balanced" meal.

K: Yes. Does that not mean healthy?

Me: It should, but apparently it doesn't.

And then today on day two:

K: Mommy, today I saw gravy at breakfast time.

Me: What else did they have with the gravy.

K: Scrambled eggs...but I can't eat those.

Me: Right. Good thing you ate a good breakfast at home this morning.

K: Yeah, Mommy, thanks.

To compromise we are going to look at the school menu and I am going to let her buy her lunch sometimes. I will let her decide... I don't want to dictate and control her decisions but I do want to POSITIVELY influence them. After all, I was very overweight in elementary school and I don't want her to suffer the same fate.


Any suggestions for me?

Kindergarten and more...

It seems like just yesterday we were sending her off for her first day of mother's day out and now my BABY is a mature KINDERGARTNER!

This morning went very smooth. James took it upon himself to wake Kirstyn up. I heard him come out of his room and then David went to look for him. He was no where to be found. I told David to check Kirstyn's room.... and there he was! He was in her bed under the covers with her telling her "no tool sissy, no tool". Apparently all of our talk about her going to school worried James. Anyway, she was patting his hair and telling him she was going to love Kindergarten and that he would love preschool at her old school. So grown up and so sweet. David and I thought we might have to have her give us a pep talk too.


After breakfast, Kirstyn wanted to pose by the front door with Daddy. Then we sat together and prayed that she would have a great day.



David took Kirstyn to school. She was very excited. When her teacher asked her to come in the classroom and sit on the letter mat. Kirstyn made sure she sat on the "K".... the best letter, of course.




We took these pictures at "Meet the Teacher". Kirstyn was very excited about having her very own grown up locker. She was also excited to find this pink scarf in the home center and was even more pleased that her teacher wanted to wear it too! We love her teacher and KNOW that she is going to have a fabulous year!





I picked Kirstyn up from school this afternoon and she was super excited about her GREAT day! One of her friends from the gym childcare was even in her class..... I am excited about that because I have been getting to know her mom! Yeah for new friends for both of us!!!

We have a tradition of going for ice cream at Braum's after her first day of school. This was our 4th ice cream date since she did 3 years of mother's day out. We had a great time talking about her day and her many new friends. Yes, I enjoyed my favorite low fat frozen yogurt... cappuccino chunky chocolate! Yum.



In other news, my mom's doctor appointment went well. He did an ultrasound of her heart and said it looks good. He thinks that her blood pressure medicine caused the problem and he is changing that. To be safe she will be doing a stress test with contrast as soon as they can get it scheduled. She plans to return to work tomorrow. Please continue to pray for her.



Tomorrow we have James' "Meet the Teacher". He wants to go to "tool" but he really wants to go to "sissy's tool" so hopefully he will be happy with going to the preschool that Kirstyn loved for the past 2 years!

Pending Nervous Breakdown

So, here I am again telling you about the craziness that is my life!

The biggest recent highlight was that my nephew, Logan, asked Jesus into his heart and was baptised today! We were able to go to my sister's church to watch and then back to her house to celebrate over lunch. And because I am working very hard to be the best aunt ever I got him a cool shirt!

My mom and dad were not able to come down however because my mom is at home "resting". Last Wednesday on her first day back to school with kids there, her blood pressure bottomed out and the school nurses sent her to the hospital. They are in a very small town and medical things are limited but she is seeing a doctor tomorrow that we are expecting to run more tests to find out what happened. My sister and I being college educated with access to WebMD are pretty sure she had a minor stroke but will have to wait and see what the real doctors say...

Also, tomorrow is Kirstyn's first day of Kindergarten! We met her teacher last Thursday and LOVED her! Tomorrow night David also goes to school for his last semester of work on his MBA (he will be taking 2 graduate classes this semester!). Then later in the week James will start 2 day a week preschool. I will be the only one NOT in school but will be the one doing the most work with the most stress! Ah, the life of MOM.

Hopefully all of these changes will help us get into a good routine and will allow me to get back to my Weight Watcher meetings and a regular blogging schedule.... we'll see. Wish me luck!

Movie Grill

So I realize that the blog has been a little James heavy lately so that seems like the perfect reason to tell you about Miss Kirstyn!

Last night and early this morning Kirstyn (with a little 'forced' labor from James) has been setting up our dining room for a "Breakfast Show". She had puppets and stuffed animals all over in a very organized chaos.

My special chair was right beside her stuffed dog Kia. Notice Kia is sitting at a table with a drink. Yes, Kirstyn worked very hard to make her show much like the Studio Movie Grill where she and I often go on dates! I though this was a very smart set up!

Her puppet show was fabulous and James was in stitches! David and I were laughing too but more at James and his reaction to his sister's puppet show! And we kept noticing more and more details all around the room! Her cabbage patch had a bowl and bottle... and many more!

Speaking of Movie Grill time... I am so excited to be going tonight with some ladies from my Sunday school class to see the new movie Julie & Julia! I won't be eating there because my weight is steadily going in the right direction right now, but I think a Girl's Night Out is just what I need!

Are you excited about this movie too? I mean food + blogger = perfect subject matter for me!!!

Have a fabulous weekend!

Our Interesting Airplane

Usually our short drive to church is pretty routine but yesterday was HILARIOUS!


James was making his usual boy noises "vrrrrrmmm, vvvvrrrmmm, bumbumbum, veroooom..."

James still making noises "sssssssssssstttt... oh, ti ti! yeah ti ti. ssssssssstttttt."

Then more "vvvrrrrmmmm, bumbumbum, veroooom!"

David asks, "does he need to potty?"

Me, "I don't know... James, do you need to potty?"

James, "NO MOMMA" (yes, we are very much TWO!)

Then, he did it again, "sssst...yeah, ti ti... ssssssssttt".

And Kirstyn speaks up (must be said with sarcastic all knowing big sister voice!), "Bubby... your airplane DOES NOT have a PENIS!"

WHAT?!?!?!?!

James, "uh hu sissy.... LOOK!"

All I can say is... he has a point! ***snicker***

I swear... this boy keeps me busy... and laughing!!!

I'm Worth It

Because I am worth it...

• I am going to make even more of an effort to get into a "healthy weight range".
• I am going to continue to work out.
• I am going to treat my body like the Temple of God that it is.
• I am going to remember that this is a lifestyle, not a quick fix.
• I am going to be PROUD of my progress.
• I am going to use these pictures to remind me why I have worked so hard over the last two years! (These pictures were taken exactly two years apart.)

Kirstyn, James and ME riding the ferry. This is special to me because it is something that my sister and I loved to do as kids with my PawPaw!


Our family picture attempts on the beach...
Maybe by next year I will be happy with the way I look in a swim suit and I will have learned enough about my camera to be able to teach my mom or dad how to take a GOOD family picture... who am I kidding, I am going to pray for some good camera luck next year!

See, I have made progress! Major progress. The person in the pictures on the left no longer exists. She is stronger, more self confident, more educated about food, and headed in the direction of being a FIT MOM!

I am hesitant to set pound goals on here and blog about my up and down battle with a few pounds but I also need the accountability! So, here I go again, again. Help me, are there any challenges out there I should join up with? I want to lose 15 lbs in the next 10 weeks...do you think I can do it? I guess the important question is "do I think I can do it?"

I'll let you know...

And these pictures are just for fun because I love them! After we got up out of the sand from attempting the family picture we were covered in mud and went ahead and had a big ole mud fight that James started! My mom just kept taking pictures and I am so glad she did. It is rare for me to have a picture of me playing with my kids!

Thanks again for all of the support on this journey toward better health!

A Wordful Wednesday for sure!!!

Overwhelmed

I have to say that I am so thankful for my loyal computer friends! I have been pretty sporadic with my blogging and I appreciate that you are still out there reading.

Last week was a great but overwhelming week for David and I. On Sunday my mom and dad stopped by for a visit and James insisted on going home with his Pappy. When my parents agreed or gave in to his insistence, I quickly packed the kids and they were off to Arkansas for the week.

David and I were then left with some time to ourselves. We went to the gym together, did some work at the office together, went to the movies...twice, went out to dinner, went to a comedy club and all in all had a good week.

Then on Thursday night received some very sad news. One of David's friends had lost his wife to suicide. We held each other tight and cried for our friend and his overwhelming loss. We made phone calls to notify other friends and spent much time in prayer. I am very sad because I was just beginning to get to know her via facebook.... she was becoming one of you.... one of my computer friends that mean so much to me!

Please know that I care about each and every one of you. Please know that no matter how you are feeling, Jesus understands and he cares too.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

If you have a minute, please pray for our friend as he deals with this overwhelming loss.

Texas Temps

This post is for my Canadian friends!

Last week we were having record high temperatures and heat advisories. For those of you who don't know, a 'heat advisory' is our weather man's way of saying you should probably just stay inside with your kids and your animals because Hell is not even this hot!

I have proof... I got in my car around 2:30 one afternoon and the temperature read 113'F! Friends, that is HOT and the a/c has to work over time to keep you from dying never mind trying to keep you cool.


Well this week has been a major relief. Even my a/c unit sent me a thank you card! Seriously, it is loving that it gets to come on, do its job, and turn off for an occasional rest. It has been misting/sprinkling for two days now and yesterday around noon my car said it was only 78'F outside. Still VERY humid but what a relief!

So tell me, what is the weather like where you live?

Peace, Prayer, and People

I mentioned before that I am currently participating in a ladies Bible Study. We are currently working through the study "the Frazzled Female, Finding Peace in the Midst of Daily Life" by Cindi Wood. I have really been enjoying the study. God has really been teaching me. It was kind of funny last week that while I was on vacation the focus of the study was living at peace with other people.

Romans 12:18 says "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone."

I really felt like that I was and have been doing that. On day 3 I couldn't even think of anyone that was driving me nuts that I need to be praying for! Well, I kept praying about that and God showed me someone this week! I'm really glad I did this study last week and had some time to pray about it before I got annoyed! Apparently God knew that I needed processing time in order to be able to control my mouth!

At the gym there is this woman (I need to learn her name), that drives me crazy! In the group fitness room there are two big fans in the front right and left corners and above the fans are where the sound speakers are mounted. This woman always sets up right in front of the fans. I think she thinks that they are specifically there for just her. I always think, if you would wear something other than sweat pants and maybe put your hair up then you wouldn't have to set up just short of actually getting INTO the fan!

Okay, I know you are thinking....seriously, why does this bother you? Well, my problem comes in with her NON-stop complaining to the instructors about the volume of the music. HELLO, LADY, if you weren't on top of the fan then you wouldn't be standing there with your ear practically against the SPEAKER!

I know, still not enough? Apparently I forgot to mention that she always smokes a cigarette or twelve before she comes into the gym to work out. And then by setting up on top of the fan then fills the room with the secondary smoke on her clothes! I mean, I understand that everyone needs a way to die, mine will probably be saturated fats that kill me, others are clean eaters that are uber fit but they tan so skin cancer will kill them, and smoking will probably kill her. But my point is that I DON'T WANT TO SMELL YOUR SMOKE! I can handle her being a fan hog, I can tolerate the unnecessary complaining about the volume, but my sinuses get irritated every time I accidentally end up on your half of the room!

I know you are thinking, just set up on the other half of the room. Yeah, that would be great except she is usually a little late (probably because she is getting in one last cigarette!) and I never know which side of the room she will choose! I would hate to be THAT obvious as to pick up my step and move to the other half of the room!

I am praying for her so that I can adjust my attitude. I need to learn her name and I need to make sure that I don't end up saying something tacky to her. Who do you need to be praying for? Oh and please tell me that you have a gym pet peeve too!

Learning

So, here I am again with a huge gap in my blogging. We have been on vacation and recovering from vacation.

We spent 2 nights in San Antonio, then 7 nights in a condo on the beach in Port Aransas, then one night with my aunt in Corpus Christi, and then we drove home with a stop in Johnson City to see my uncle. Whew. Exhausting at times but worth every. single. minute!

While I was on vacation I had big plans that included books to read but the truth is when I had a little down time I was playing with my camera. I so wish I had taken my camera book with me to help me out. Here's hoping I have time to take a photography class or two before next year's vacation.

I thought this picture was kind of fun. I was standing on the condo balcony with James waiting on some sea gulls to fly over the roof so I could get a cool picture (never happened when I was ready...) Anyway, I turned around and saw a fun opportunity to capture me in the window with the ocean in the background. I even managed to snap one when James can be seen too!

There was a full moon a couple of nights so I was really wishing that I had a tripod to capture a better night shot... I am still pretty proud of these shots though. It was gorgeous in person and these pictures do not do it justice at all!

Then one morning we were down on the beach in time for sunrise! WOW. God's creation is amazing!

So, any photography tips for me? Or maybe blogs that will help me learn to get along with my camera even better?

Momma, hellll me... PWEESE!

So, I have to know.... Do any of you have this little Rotten Ronnie's Happy Meal toy? (Thanks Kami....thanks to you that is what David and I have been calling McD's for a while now!)


I know, I really have all but banned fast food, but last week my kids had happy meals, not once but twice! Agh, it adds to my ongoing case of Mommy guilt. Anyway, it was a hard week with VBS in the mornings and David's dad having what was supposed to be day surgery on Thursday but turned out to be much more extensive than planned. He actually got out of the hospital today but your continued prayer is appreciated.


Anyway, thanks to one of those happy meals, this little guy joined our family. He is one of my favorite characters from Ice Age and James just loves him. I am, however, not as in love with the little guy.


These pictures are not the best because I was too lazy to get my real camera took them with my iPhone. But can't you just see the love that James has for him in this first picture?

Oh and in the second picture can you see the drool running down James' chin? That is because he is making a noise that sounds like "shhhhh shhhhh shhhhhhhhkkkkk" right before he fires the acorn at me! You see, he has a tiny button on his butt that makes him shoot his acorn across the room! James is grinning at the thought of inflicting pain on me! Good thing it doesn't actually hurt because James has gotten very good at shooting it across the room with precision!



What I love about the toy is the endless amounts of laughter that James has enjoyed because of this little squirrel and his "nut nut".

What I loath about this little toy are the 546 times yesterday afternoon that I heard "Momma, helllllllll me." Because they made this little guy very difficult to reload. James is getting better at it, but still today ALL DAY I have been hearing, "Sissy, hel pweese", "nut nut, oh nooooo, nut nut", and "Momma, helllllll me".

I wouldn't trade the deep belly laughs coming from my kids for ANYTHING right now, no matter how poorly designed the toy is!

So, what toy is in your house that your kiddo loves so much that you can't bring yourself to get rid of it but don't feel too bad about hiding it on occasion either?!?!?!?

Roots

You know, the last few weeks there has been much going on in our little part of the world. We have had a friend diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, a friend several friends dealing with crumbling marriages, a friend preparing to move to another state, a friend working toward reconciling friendships after 10 years, a friend opening his own business and yet another friend getting married. Oh and David's dad had another heart surgery! Quite frankly I am thankful to be participating in a ladies Bible Study called "The Frazzled Female, Finding Peace in the Midst of Daily Life"!


If you are wondering about my weight loss, there is nothing new to report.... and with all that is going on, I have to say that I am VERY proud of that! I may not be dropping weight but I am still working out and I am not gaining weight!





Well, as you can imagine, on the list of all that is going on right now, the most fun was the wedding that I mentioned. Last Saturday David and I got to get all dressed up to go to Jonathan's wedding! We were so excited to be seeing lots of our college friends all in one place. I was reminded of how special all of these people are to me!





See, when I moved from a tiny town in Arkansas to the DFW Metroplex in Texas to go to college, I never imagined that I would find a HOME and a family away from home. These college friends became my family. They taught me what it meant to be a brother and sister in Christ. They loved me and encouraged me and helped me learn about myself.








I met all of these guys plus several more at LABC when I joined the college department. They welcomed me with open arms and made me a part of their family! I discovered this church and this family because Jonathan (the groom!) was being obedient to the calling that Christ had put on his life to be set apart on his college campus.




See, Jonathan had spent a year praying for a Christian friend for his college campus that would help him grow the Baptist Student Ministries on campus. God chose me. He prepared me. He provided scholarships and then the much needed courage for me to move away from everything familiar. I was also praying for Christian friends and was seeking a closer relationship with my Jesus. I had to choose to be obedient. Then, another year later my friend Carey (pictured above holding the baby) was obedient in one of her college classes and invited a couple of guys to come visit our college group Bible Study. One of those guys was MY David.





One of the things I will forever be grateful to Jonathan and his family for is how they taught me about prayer and its POWER! (In the picture is me between Jonathan's sisters...Deborah and Liz). His mom Candy is what I would call a prayer warrior. I admire her dedication to other people's prayer requests. I also admire her ability to have a conversation with our Savior about all the little details of her day. She understands and practices the scripture 1 Thessalonians 5:17 where we are told to "pray continuously." Even at the wedding she was praying for her granddaughter to continue behaving nicely even though she had missed her nap. (Something I probably would have been worrying about rather than praying about. Convicted? Yes.... Lesson learned? I hope so!)




I think it is pretty fabulous how everything always comes together. This week in our Bible Study we were told to make our "to-do" list for the day and then take a moment and pray over each and every item on the list. Yes, even the laundry (This brings a smile to my face because I think of Candy, Jonathan's mom, praying aloud for focus and direction as she searches through a pile of mail for a specific piece of paper... I remember how at first her doing that made me uncomfortable and then how I learned that God really does care about my 'little' things). It has been a great way to remember that I should be thankful for clothes to wash and a washing machine to do the washing rather than being annoyed that my family can't seem to find the dirty clothes hamper! It has helped my attitude and has helped me keep my eyes focused on Jesus rather than my circumstances.




All of that to say, that I am thankful to have been reminded that this is home and I am where I am supposed to be. And well, I have been at our church for more than 10 years, I met my husband there and I am especially thankful that as I am growing as a Christian that I have ROOTS!