March 21, 2012

Still not a lot of news about my car. There was a preliminary assessment done today and it looks painful for my bank account. Humph. I'm not even sure how long it will take to be repaired. A while, by the sounds of it. We'll see when they begin to take it apart. It's frustrating, because that is what insurance is for, but it's also going up as it helps.

The weather has been unseasonably warm. I am resisting the urge to go out and plant things. March came in like a beautiful, sweet lamb, so it is most surely going out like a roaring, raving lion! Whether we'll get more frost, I'm not sure. The skunks don't seem to think so, and neither do the bluebirds.

The Potato Peel Society book is starting a bit slow, which is what I thought the last time I tried it, stopping on page nine, but this time I think I see a glimmer of potential. I will keep you posted.

I have heard owls in the woods behind my house for the first time since I have lived here (almost 12 years). I went out with a camera a few days ago, but I'm sure they heard me crashing around among the leaves, trying to avoid the large puddles. They didn't hoot anymore and I couldn't find them for pictures. I'm sure the neighbors wondered what on earth I was doing!

I have continued to write notes to people via facebook messages, but yesterday's was sad. My brother's beloved dog had died yesterday morning, so my note was to them, thinking of them and their sadness.

I hope you have been well, Reader!

March 18, 2012 part 3

After this, my amount of posts will be back on track! :) They won't have all been on their correct days, but I could get to 31 posts in March. :)

We didn't have our traditional St. Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage yesterday. I meant to pick it up on my way home Friday, but with all the car crashing excitement I didn't get to it. We just had leftovers, which was cheaper anyway, although not very Irish. :)

Yesterday, I saw this post by Lisa Leonard about being lucky and wanted to post something similar.

I am blessed and lucky:
*To have a wonderful husband and two truly terrific teen daughters
*To have a home I love, and a garden I can get my hands into-and a sunny day to get my hands dirty in the garden! {I spent some time yesterday pulling out old plants, trimming things and turning up the garden!}
*To have many trees in my backyard-a lot of folks in our development have a puny tree or two, but we back up to houses with big yards that have been here a while and have big trees.
*I am blessed to have been in a parking lot when I had my car accident-not on the highway, no one was injured, no one else's car was crushed-just mine, and I am lucky to have such a caring, helpful staff who were there for me on Friday.
*I feel lucky to be able to run and relieve my worries-yesterday was supposed to be a shorter distance, since 9 was the week before. I ran 5 and it was a beautiful day to do so.
*I am thankful to have friends who, even though I don't see them often enough, are still part of my life, and know I think of them often.
*I am thankful we have food, and can afford good meals.
*I am thankful and blessed to have my faith, my God who grants grace.
*I am truly blessed to have my job-I love teaching the same students each day, and for all the new things they teach me, too!
*I am very thankful for you, Reader-for all the consistent readers of this blog, and the new ones, too! :)

What are you thankful, blessed or lucky for? :)

March 18 2012 part 2

I did get some "fun" reading in this weekend. I mentioned last that I was reading Loving Frank. I had heard it was an interesting book. As I read, I learned it was about a woman who has an affair with Frank Lloyd Wright. They both are married with children. At first the writing seemed like it would carry the book. But, after about a quarter of the book I was disturbed at the whole situation-how could this end? How could it end well? So, I did something I NEVER do-I skipped to almost the end. I wanted to glimpse who she ended up with-was it worth wading through this story to find she made it back to her kind husband? And what I found in the end was worse! *Spoiler alert* She and her children are attacked by a crazy man and she dies!! It was enough for me to do something I also rarely do: stop reading the book and be done with it.

I am moving on to a book I once started, but didn't get into, so I set it aside. I am going to read The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Hopefully it's a lovely book?! :)

March 18 2012

I was doing so well, and then halfway through March I missed a post, and then another.

Friday wasn't a great day. All was going normally until I got to school. I pulled into the lot, drove slow, since children would soon be coming out for recess, as always. I saw a teacher with her hands full, still traveling slowly. I pulled into my usual spot on the left, being careful not to hit the car parked on my left. I inched forward, then, I'm still not quite sure what happened. My foot went from the break to the gas-just slipped, as if my shoes were wet on slippery pavement. But I didn't realize what was happening until my car had lurched forward with great force and speed. My van rammed into a big cement culvert/planter thing. Of course the heavy cement thing didn't move, no give at all. My car crunched and my stomach lurched. I got out and at first glance it looked as if just the bumper was effected... Then a blue, funny smelling liquid started leaking out. It was coolant. I had severely damaged the radiator, and probably other things.

I shakily called my husband. He was calm and helpful-as I burst into tears, with shaky hands and racing heart. A male teacher arrived, looked in the car and helpfully called AAA to come tow my car. Then I cried some more. It is at the dealer, awaiting an appointment. The probably won't get to it until Monday evening at the earliest, and it will likely cost a LOT of $. So frustrating. I said I still couldn't figure out what happened. My coworker said, "That's why they call it an accident." :)

My husband came and got me from work, which delighted the students to get to see him. Then my oldest daughter and I went to a ladies' night of worship at our church together. She was so excited to go and I was glad for that.

So, Friday was no running, no ab exercises, no blogging... just tears and Bible. :)

I hope your weekend started better than mine, Dear Reader! :)

March 15, 2012

Busy day ahead:
School newsletter notes to send in
laundry to do (isn't there always? :))
a run, ab exercises and a shower to get in before school
grading and notes for school today, including making a study guide.


I did read the Bible: “then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”” Acts 4:10,12 NIV
I have always had trouble connecting with Acts, but I like this.

I have also read a couple pages in Loving Frank and sent a note to a friend.So, 4/5 of my daily habits complete!
I've also eaten a healthy breakfast and logged it on The Daily Plate.

I listened to some new podcasts yesterday. I had read an article about Michael Pollan, author of In Defense of Food and Omnivore's Dilemma, and I decided to see if there were any podcasts including him. There were and I listened to 1 1/2 of them yesterday. He has such great ideas about food-food changes we need to make here in the U.S.

Did you know you don't have to have an ipod or itunes to listen to podcasts? Often you can play them right from your computer. It's wonderful. I've listened to some terrific podcasts from NPR, American Museums, Metropolitan Museum of Art, it's been great fun! :)

Do you listen to any good podcasts? I hope your week has been wonderful thus far, Reader! :)

March 14 2012

Another sleepy post...
I finished my mystery, which followed along just as I suspectected, I started "Loving Frank" which I heard was good, but haven't read. Did you read it? Was it a good read?
I read my Bible, did ab exercises, ran, and wrote a note to a friend, via Facebook messages.
I did eat great throughout the day, although I snacked and had wine this evening.
I smiled throughout the day-
it was a beautiful, sunny day.
I had a wonderful run and a lovely evening with my husband.

Hopefully more productive tomorrow!

March 13, 2012

Tuesday is complete, almost.
I haven't blogged. :)
Today I finished my mystery book-good, but followed the same pattern as they always do.
I wrote a note to a teacher friend who was having some family trouble.
I ran in the warm, spring weather. It was lovely. :)
I read a verse I was familiar with, and like very much: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NIV
I filled out my March Madness bracket, although I went with my heart instead of my head... which doesn't usually work out.

I worked on eating better today-all day. Water instead of wine and snacks tonight. As for yesterday's post: Thank you Thimbleanna. Your compliment and encouragement meant a great deal! :) I truly appreciated it! :))

I have downloaded some new podcasts that I haven't listened to before. I did a search for Michael Pollan-The Omnivore's Dilemma author, and In the Defense of Food author. I hope they are interesting. I normally listen to a variety, but wanted something a little different.

Well, off to sleep. Hope you are having a good week!

March 12, 2012

It's interesting. When I was young, I didn't think about what I ate or how much I exercised. When I was little I was outside as much as possible. I loved running around my grandpa's property and playing the creek. Even as I got older, I started running in 1989, and I was active. I burned calories so fast that my parents encouraged me to eat a bowl of ice cream (Homemade Brand Mint Chocolate Chip or Homemade Brand Cherry Cordial were my favorites) or my mom would make me Mounds brownies. Those empty calories still disappeared. I was so thin. Even in college, when sometimes I would snack by pouring M & Ms into peanut butter jars and eating them out with a spoon, capping it off with a glass of milk, I didn't keep weight on. I had two daughters, still not gaining weight. In fact, at one point my grandmother said I looked too thin.

Only in the last three years or so did I start to realize I'm putting on weight, even as much as I run. I think about it often, now. I do run, 5 days a week, usually, but I do have bad eating habits. I haven't stuck with my Lenten goal of no snacks or wine in the evenings. Habits are hard to break. I get more and more frustrated, as I wore a short sleeved shirt yesterday and saw my arms bigger than ever before...It is hard. In my last job I was walking all around the school, I was moving a lot, all day, so that helped then. Now I sit at my desk and grade or plan, and then I head to school. I stand and move about the classroom, but not enough in other parts of the day. I get home and head for my desk and computer until my husband is ready for some tv time together, where I go and...sit...and sometimes eat crappy food.

What kind of example am I to my girls if I continue to eat poorly, snack and spend money on things that aren't good for me. We honestly didn't do that as a family until the last 5 years or so.

However... I've run marathons-pushing my body past exhausted, and half marathons leaving my body aching. I've had two daughters with no epidural. ;) My oldest-the actual pushing labor-was 18 hours and a cracked tailbone. And, yet, I did it. So, can I beat this food/weight issue? I think so. I'm still small by the average person's standards, but I'm not fit anymore. I had to buy another pair of pants this week because I didn't have very many that fit me. This lowers my self esteem. Blech. I don't like feeling like that. My family has a history of heart and weight problems, too. Something I need to tackle now.

This week's menu has been planned and most meals are pretty healthy. But I can't just eat healthier, I have to keep exercising and actually get some calories burned.

I saw a great blog here that had some good eating ideas I need to incorporate. I loved Cathy's More More Eat Less and More More Eat Well posts.

Now that I'm done sharing what is on my mind/heart, what's on yours Reader? Do you have struggles like this? Or are you finding you're in just the right spot?

March 11, 2012

Another busy weekend has flown by. It's funny, I look forward to long weekends and getting many things accomplished. I never get as much as I thought I would crossed off that list, but I did get a few things done. For the first week in a while, I have planned the week's menu and then went grocery shopping-I used sale ads and coupons and saved almost 40 dollars. I'm not an extreme couponer, nor do I buy things I won't use or need. I just buy what I normally would-like Tide. It's the laundry detergent I use all the time, I like it's smell and that it works in my washer. It was on sale and I had a coupon. I have one in the laundry room, now, but it couldn't hurt to save money when I can.

I read from my mystery, rested from exercise today-I was sore from yesterday, still-and I enjoyed church, as well. We read and talked about the Christmas story in Matthew. It was interesting to hear it at a non-Christmas season time, to get us to really think about the story. I talked with my grandpa and mom online and will consider that a note. :) I am now blogging.

Now I'm off to spend time with my husband before our weekend has concluded. How was your weekend, Dear Reader? I hope it was well and enjoyable!

March 10, 2012

I read my Bible-verses about marriage. I sought them out after squabbling with my husband. I was feeling very helpless and angry. So, I looked up "marriage" in the Bible. Here are two that spoke to me:
Colossians 3:18-19
18 Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.

1 Peter 3:1,7

1 Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives.

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

I read my mystery book for fun, I ran 9 miles, walked 1.5 and am blogging. I have only written an email to send to my husband telling him I was thinking of him while I read the above verses. All will be fine. Just have to slog through disagreements, sometimes.

March 9, 2012

Today is my wonderful mom's birthday. She is really a great lady.
She has a heart to help people and is always kind and thoughtful.
She quilts, used to cross stitch a lot, but now is more into quilting. She can look at any craft with sewing involved and create her own pattern for it. She is a great baker, too. She loves to craft with her granddaughters. (Does sewing successfully skip a generation? ;)) She is one of those people that everyone says, "She is so sweet and nice" about. Some of my family members call her "Switzerland" because she's always a peace maker. :) She works hard at the job she is doing-I remember she was a tomato planter for a while, as a second job, I think. I remember her coming home sunburned and tired, but having worked hard all day long, all season. She's worked in a number of different places. She's a great lady and I admire her greatly. :)


Note: only blogged and read for fun so far today, plan on getting a lot done on this "work at home" day! Off to work!

Who is someone you admire? Have a great Friday, Dear Reader!

March 8, 2012

It is hard to believe Thursday is almost over.
My check in: no ab exercises, yet.
I didn't run, but I did go walking with my husband. It's rainy here, which I don't mind, but the 27 mile per hour winds would not be fun, and walking with my husband was. :) I wrote an email to our music teacher today, telling her how much I appreciated her-our students are practicing for the spring musical and they have come a long way, already. They have until May-she has done such a great job with them already, so I emailed and told her so. I also emailed my niece some interesting information about weedy sea dragons and seahorses on the National Geographic site, which was very informative!
I read my mystery for fun today and am about 2/3 of the way through. I also read Ephesians 1:3-6: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[a] predestined us for adoption to sonship[b] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.
Had an early release today where the students are out an hour early and we meet as teachers. We talked, planned and worked on a project-pictures to be posted soon! Fun was had by all. :)
We don't have school tomorrow, either, so grading, planning and preparing a field trip are on schedule for me tomorrow (as well as a breakfast out with my husband! :)) When I take a break from those things I will need to do laundry and clean house, so a long to do list. :)

What's on your to do list? Hope you are well, Dear Reader!

March 7, 2012

Well, I missed the abs yesterday, but my meals were delightfully healthy. Until some tortilla chips in the evening.
Well, today was a new day, right?
I read for fun, I'm blogging now, I wrote my mom a birthday card, I read the Bible {Philippians 12-18} and still, no ab exercises.

Sometimes things frustrate me..
Frustrating: making a mistake, fretting and sweating about it
Better: When the husband says don't worry about it...
In the end: the situation worked itself out-not perfectly, I had made a mistake, after all, but positively, I think.

Frustrating: when middle school students don't show respect
Better: when they show improvement and you can see you're making a real difference
In the end: I appreciate my job and these great kids-the opportunity to continue to encourage them to be wonderful people

Frustrating: dog having seizures
Better: seeing him feel better
In the end: he's back to his normal pest-self, trying to snag someone's food, barking like a crazy thing, and giving our other dog a hard time, but he isn't shaking and looking too old

Frustrating: the wind
Better: barreling through it on a run
In the end: being happy I got out there, even if it was shorter than I like

I think that's all for now... anything frustrating, or better for you?

March 6, 2012

I have read the Bible, more Philemon, actually. I wrote a letter/an email to someone I hadn't chatted with in a while and saw in the voting place, today, as I voted for our school levy. I read my mystery, briefly, I'm blogging now...
However, haven't done the ab exercises, yet, nor did I run today. We had a friend not realize that school was out today until dinner time last night. So, he brought his delightful girl over. Plus waiting at the voting place and taking my youngest quite a way to her basketball practice. Time disappeared. I guess that's life, isn't it? I have to learn to not fret over times like that with no run.

Today I was glad to be off facebook. I heard there are many people posting about the school levy-we truly are a city divided. It's sad and I am worried about the future here. Fingers crossed, since my oldest will be a senior next year, when a lot of the cuts, if there need to be any, will be happening, and my youngest who will be in high school in two years.

March 5 2012

Hello, Friendly Readers! :) I hope this post finds you happy and healthy at the start of this new week!

I have finished all my 5 daily habits for today: I read my Bible: Philemon 1:4-7 4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

I wrote a dear friend a note in a card. I haven't heard from her in a while and she's been on my mind, as well as in my prayers.

I did my ab exercises today, which I also completed yesterday.

I read for fun, too, and now I'm blogging. Yay! :) (Yes, I do know we're only 5 days in. ;))

As I thought about these daily habits, this morning, I thought about why I am doing them. How will they "change my life"?
I wanted to incorporate them into my day because I want them to be regular habits. I want to have them be a part of everyday... but why? Well, I feel the Bible reading is good for my mind and soul, my relationship with God and my faith. I truly feel that should be part of my everyday. Ab exercises, well I may not feel like doing them everyday all year, but they will help me reach my fitness goal that I can hopefully maintain. Too, one of the three exercises is a yoga pose, and any yoga in my daily schedule would be welcome and wonderful. Writing letters/emails, etc, I may not do that everyday, but it causes me to put my mind, prayers and heart on someone important in my life and let them know it-a weekly tradition in months to come would be great!
Reading for fun-that is so important to me because I love to read, it is great to know I have worked with my brain :) and I have missed it. I feel like after this month, these daily challenges, it will be sliding a little again, because I will be deep into my class I'm taking to renew my license. Blogging-I love to blog-I love to read the posts from the "regulars". Molly-thank you, 8 miles was a long distance for me right now. How is your daughter's running coming along? I didn't know Dr. Suess's widow had been involved in the movie! Thimbleanna, thank you for the encouragement, too! The run was long! :)

Oh, I did see the Lorax and it made my eyes misty, it stays true to the book's message, while bringing it into the "now". Loved it. :)

Hope your week is off to a great, running start!! :)

March 4 2012

Last night I didn't sleep very well. The soreness in my legs was unusually prominent. I had run quite hard. It was so windy and my legs felt like lead. Usually I am so proud that I have made the goal distance. Yesterday I was unhappy with my body. At one point I would look at my pace and it was good-then the wind would gust. I would be running hard, pumping the arms and I would be at lease thirty seconds slower. My body didn't like yesterday's run. My mind did, and it will help as I increase distances, but it wore me out. I'm still a bit sore today.

I read this verse today for my Bible reading: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”” Joshua 1:9 NIV I am reminded of my one little word-Brave. I haven't been lately, in fact-unless you count my leaving Facebook ;)-I've done nothing out of the ordinary lately. Just sitting in my lukewarm comfort zone.

Got my letter emailed out today, read for fun, am blogging now and will do the ab exercises a little later.

Looking forward to going and seeing the Lorax as a family in the next few minutes. I read that book to our oldest while we were expecting her and then to both girls as they grew-trying to encourage environmental awareness. :) Hope the movie carries the message to many other kids, the way the book does.

March 3 2012

We had a busy day.
I ran 8 miles, the longest I've ran in a while. Ouch. :) But so glad I did it.
We had friends over for dinner. We made white chili, cornbread muffins, jello cups and broccoli slaw. They brought dessert.
It was a wonderful way to spend our evening!
We also played catch phrase and sounds like a plan.
I did all my 5 new habits:
read the Bible-James 2:12 and James 3:2
Wrote a birthday card/letter.
Read for fun, and now blogging.
Didn't work on specific ab exercises, but ran 8 miles. Tomorrow's schedule is no exercises, so I thought I'd do today's tomorrow.
Hope the weekend is going well, Reader!

March 2012

Here I am, day two.
I did all 5 daily habits yesterday and am halfway through today. Wow, those ab exercises hurt-the push-ups were terrible! :)

I did slip and have some wine and popcorn, after several days of no evening snacks and three days of no wine. Wine is just empty calories. We had gone to a store that sold alcohols and they had a great section of Chardonnays. They listed them from little or no oak to heavy oak. I like the more oak taste to the wine. I used my phone, took a picture of the display, and have been looking for the wines that were on the more heavily oaked end from the picture. I found one I liked and we had some of that last night.

I rearranged and cleaned my office this week. I know, it seems like I'm always doing that. I'm looking for a good way to keep it organized, with home office, craft and teaching items, something always gets messy. I can't work or think in cluttered.

I just checked out my report thus far and I have run 98 miles so far in 2012-and I haven't gotten today's run in yet. My Garmin watch keeps track of all of the details and I can get a report when I'd like.

Lots of grading to do, so I must go. Here is a quote to leave you with, by Dr. Seuss since today would have been his birthday:
Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened. - Dr. Seuss

Life List

I mentioned Jenny Meyerson earlier today. She is pretty amazing. She created a life list during chemotherapy-and gives tips on starting yours.
Now her husband and kids are starting lists, too. What a great idea. I think I will start one, but, wow, where to start? :)
What would be on your list?

New Daily Habits

Hello! I hope this post finds you doing great! :)

Lenten Challenges are doing ok. Not great, not poorly. I checked Facebook, but have considered allowing myself to do so on Saturdays. Is that cheating? I am honestly feeling no. My grandpa and I talk via the message system on Facebook. He is not fond of the phone but enjoys saying hello on Facebook. I popped on Saturday and sent him a note. I also have a friend in Australia who is going through a tough time-health and life. We tried texting via cell phones, but it can get quite costly, quite quickly. I feel like I gave up Facebook because it was a detrimental time waster, and I wanted to use daily time to work on time in prayer. I feel like these two people are good reasons to pop on briefly-if that is my only, weekly, intension when I get on. I'm not playing the games I used to, I'm not "liking" or reading other people's items, I'm not commenting on anything or posting anything, either.

I haven't been snacking after dinner, in fact, I have gone to bed a bit earlier the last three nights. The first two I didn't sleep well, but last night I slept wonderfully.

I am running and feeling good about it-ran the suggested 7 miles for my training run. Still on track to do my first spring half marathon, knock on wood! :)

Today I begin a new habit challenge. I have been reading a wonderful blog-a blog about Jenny Meyerson. She is an amazing lady. Anyway, a recent post of hers was about her trying new habits-5 new habits for 30 days. It wasn't a life long commitment, as we all know life can be too challenging for that. ;) But, it was a goal. So, I have decided to do the same. I am challenging myself for 30 days in March. (last day is a freebie? To recover if I slip? :))

My 5 goals for March:
*Read the Bible more (yes, this is a Lenten goal and a New Year's goal, but it can't hurt to overlap! :))
*Stomach or ab exercises (I am running, but my diet still needs some work... there is poundage hanging on around my middle that needs some specific attention. I found a calendar/chart with exercises online that will work great!)
*Write one note, email, letter daily (regular readers know I love to do that, but I slip and don't do it.)
*read for fun (I have been working on it! I'm almost done with the scrapbook mystery I'm reading! A little each day would be so good for me!)
*blog (also something I enjoy, but "don't have time" to sometimes)

I was listening to a Vicky and Jen podcast about being happy. There were some great tidbits. One was about flexing our willpower muscles, which are like any other muscle. :) It was a great podcast with simple things we can do to think differently about our lives. One other tidbit I loved talked about our "bucket list" and how sometimes those include big things we want to do like go visit other countries, or climb mountains. Other bucket lists... those things we would want to do if we knew we only had 6 months to live... drive our kids in carpool every chance we got... thinking about that kind of list makes your perspective change. It did mine, at least. :) I really enjoyed it and I hope you get a chance to check it out, too.

I hope you have a wonderful day, too, Reader!