Home Again

I never exactly posted (on Facebook, that I recall) that I was working a temporary job at our church as a "ministry coordinator".  I started the first week in January and just finished my last day today.  My hours ranged from 25-32 hours over the past 12 weeks.  When I first accepted the job, it was to work 16 hours a week, but some things changed, and they asked me if I could do 30/week instead. While I really didn't WANT to work 30 hours a week, Scott and I decided that because this was a temporary "gig", that I should go ahead and take the assignment.   


There are a few things that I learned during while I worked:

1. I like doing administrative work.
2. Laundry does not fold itself.
3. Pastors are human (and that's not a bad thing).
4. I really like working at my church.
5. Toilets and floors don't clean themselves.
6. I like doing administrative work.
7. It doesn't work to start a diet and a new job at the same time.
8. I'm still pretty proficient at the computer.
9. Working 30+ hours a week leaves little time to exercise.
10. I like doing administrative work.
11. Groceries don't buy themselves and make meals on their own.
12. At work, I can be someone other than "Mom".
13. Did I mention that I really like administrative work?

Anyway, there are MANY more things that I learned, but one thing I know is that as much as I enjoyed working there, the timing is just not right for me to go "back to work".  The extra cash was nice, but God provides and I trust HIM.


I am happy to be home. My kids are happy that I am home.  My husband is VERY happy that I am home. Does that mean that I'm going to be "Little Miss Perfect Homemaker"?  I would love to say yes, but after 16 years of being home full-time, I still don't have it mastered.


Through God's grace, I will continue to strive to the be woman of God that he desires for me to be––and that's creating home for my family.

12 hours of Sebring

Today I sent Scott off to a get-away with his dad. They are going to go to a race "12 hours of Sebring". I'm so excited for him to get some "guy-time" with his dad.


Scott loves cars––he got that from his dad. So I'm happy for him to have the opportunity to have a whole weekend to watch cars go whizzing by. This is not your typical red-neck NASCAR, either this is the ALMS (American Le Mans Series). http://sebringraceway.com/faqs.lasso  Now, I don't mind racing, and I don't mind watching a race or two, but I don't get excited about it, like Scott does.  So, this weekend, what could be better for a guy than spending time with your "Pops" watching noisy cars go round and round??


There was a time when I would have been upset and selfish about him leaving me for a few days to have fun. Will I miss him? You bet. Would it be easier if he were home? You bet. But I have learned that both of us need time away, once in a while. It's funny how just being away for a couple of days can rejuvenate a relationship. Even though we are perfect for each other, we can't always fill each other's needs. 



Whoop it up!!

Week 4 - 12 Week Boot Camp

Last week's challenge was to "make our way" to the new Twins stadium any way we could traveling 21.5 miles in 3 days or less. We needed to use at least 3 different modes of transportation. This is how I did it:

Tuesday - 3.5 Elliptical, 5.5 bike
Wednesday - 4 mile bike (ride with the kids to the library and back)
Thursday - 2 mile run, 3.5 bike, 3 mile hike (the hike was with the girls from church)

This actually was easier than I thought it would be and made me realize that miles shouldn't scare me that much.

This morning I woke up a little before 4 a.m. feeling a little cramp-y but then it grew into excruciating pain. I thought maybe I was going to NEED to use the bathroom so i went in there, but nothing happened except more pain and then the nausea happened and then i almost passed out. I called Scott and I eventually crawled back into bed and dealt with pain til morning. I was supposed to have my work-out class at 8 a.m. I don't like being a wuss, but didn't think it was smart for me to go, so i text-ed both Andrew and Michele to say i wasn't going to make it. After speaking with a nurse, she encouraged me to go to Urgent Care, so I did.

Long story short, I have a cyst on my right ovary that apparently has ruptured and that's why the pain has spread. Now I'm fine, but have residual pain and bloating. Scott is going to take the boys to my brothers and I'm going to stay home and recoup. The 4 hour drive and sleeping on an air-mattress in a tent, doesn't sound so good to me right now.

As for the recovery, i just need to lay low for a few days. The 12-week boot camp challenge this week is to go 21.5 miles. Run, Bike, Walk or Elliptical at least 3 different methods, minimum 2 miles a method - all within 3 days of starting. I'm hoping i feel well enough to get this done.

Week 3 - 12 Week Boot Camp

This weeks challenge: Cardio Blender I finished it in 1:36:27. The only change we did, was to knock down the bicycle to 5 miles instead of 10. All four of us decided that.

It was hard! But it was so good to be with the girls, otherwise I probably would have given up! My cool Polar watch (that I got from my girlfriends for my 40th birthday) said I burned 1221 calories. Whew.

Now, not to sabotage my workout with my dinner!

So last night i ran the south park loop - 1.83 miles. i kicked it in 20:20. That's my best time so far. only thing is that i am starting to feel the shin splints again - especially my left leg. Hopefully I'll just work through that. The scale is starting to move - the right way!!!

Week 2 - 12 Week Boot Camp

Just got back from my 2nd weekly challenge - "Tri-this Modified" INSANE! My official time was 1:07:13. I burned a whopping 934 calories. This is Andrew's "modified triathlon" - Run 2 miles, do 3 exercises, Bike 15 minutes, do 3 more exercises, the Elliptical - at level 12 at 60+ mph, 3 more exercises.

The first "leg" of the challenge was to run 2 miles - I thought, no biggie, I can get that done in 23 minutes or so. I forgot I had to set the treadmill at 5% incline - Oh my word - that was so difficult. So instead of running at 5.3-6.0, I could only run 4.5-4.7, with some walking here and there. Who knew what a little hill would do.

My legs are pretty stiff with all the running, walking and exercising I've been doing. I have been trying to stretch as much as I can.

Any way, I made it. Again, that was nuts. I'm assuming that I'll get a migraine today, since my workout was so hard. I usually do. however, I'm out of my Zomig and the prescription is expired, so we'll see if they refill.

The food is going OKAY, not perfect, but I think I'm doing better than normal. I'm journalling on DailyBurn.com, and have dropped the Mountain Dew. My iced tea content is up, that thats okay, too. I sure hope I start seeing results soon.

12 week challenge

I've been thinking about this blog thing - that i really am not a blogger, that i should just delete the whole account and let it be. But then I just thought, why don't i use it to journal the next 12 weeks?

for the past year and a half or so, a group of 4 of us have been getting together with a personal trainer (Andrew). This has been good, and I'm definitely in better shape than when i started, but I'm not where i want to be yet - I just haven't "stuck to it".

Andrew has started us on this 12-week boot camp. Along with weekly challenges, points for exercise, food journals and more. Can I really make this work for me? We'll see if i can make some real progress.

So today, I completed the challenge - Kelli's revenge.

I dont have time to blog, but need to get this off my chest

I'm feeling behind in life. There is so much to do, and I'm not even working a consistent job (that's another story). I'm not very good at prioritizing my "mom" and "wife" jobs.

So, what brings me to this blog tonight, is: DINNER.

What's for dinner?????? ugh. The dreaded words. I DON'T KNOW! I should.

I've had this road block now since Eli was born (or so it seems, i've had some great periods of organization, but this is not the norm).

I've pulled my thoughts together many times, but then my calendar of meals really doesn't work. So I guess i need to schedule in FLEXIBILITY. Things that contribute to the ROADBLOCK: time, money, diet, and kid's dislikes.

I've been trying to "get it together" now for weeks. I thought once school started I would get this together, but alas, I have not taken the time to sit down and plan.

We're having spaghetti tonight. I have one REALLY happy kid, but one equally UNHAPPY kid ("I'm TIRED of spaghetti, I don't even like it any more!").

So there you go.

I need to re-read Audrey Thomas' book "What's for dinner" She's got great ideas. I just need to tailor it to our family.

Any ideas?

Corn in my lint-trap

Yes it is true, there is corn in my lint trap. How? you may ask? Well let me tell you -- it is not pretty.

It all starts with dinner. I decided to go with a "kid friendly" dinner last night. Lucas mentions at the table that his stomach doesn't feel so well - and coming from him, I have to believe him, yet i try to ignore it at the same time. He eats a chicken nugget, some mac and cheese and some frozen corn. not much, but enough to satisfy the dinner police.

Scott and I went out for the evening and returned around 10pm. Lucas was up telling me he had a stinky bottom (and it hurt). Well needless to say, he had been in the bathroom quite a bit while we were gone, and it wasn't looking good. We plopped him into the tub for a bit, got his PJs back on and got him back in bed.

About 30 minutes later, he comes back down and tells me he threw up. Lucas has never been one to make it to the bathroom when he's throwing up, or even a bucket if it was near (in this case it wasn't). He tried to tell me he didn't throw up in bed, but on the floor - this is only semi-accurate. yes it was on the floor, but it was also everywhere else.

Scott and I went to work in cleaning up the carpet (and the wall!?) and i grabbed the sheets from the bed - and got them in the wash right away.

This morning i put the sheets into the dryer and afterward when I cleaned the lint trap for the next load and what did i find? Corn. Now this corn was not whole kernel corn. At least not any more, mostly just the hulls of the kernel. After going through the dryer, they were actually crispy. Yum.

So, that is how I got corn in my lint trap.

Is this the year?

I long to have my body back to the point it was between my two sets of kids. I had lost 20 pounds, plus i worked out and I'd have to say I looked pretty good! I know that was almost 10 years ago, now, and my body most likely not get there, but I still want it. Now we're looking at at LEAST 40 pounds.

The past few years I think, "Oh this summer I'll finally be thin", only to have the months fade away, and I'm still not where I want to be. my baby will be 7 in May, so its hard to blame it on that!

The hard part is that I love to eat. I can exercise pretty consistently, but i just sabotage it with my food. It's like my body knows that there is going to be some sort of change soon, and I go into food mode and eat more, even stuff i wouldn't normally eat.

I have given up soda for now, but even once in a while i "fall off the wagon" on that. Plus, i think that i am substituting with other foods. Anyway, why is it such a battle?

I was ready to sign up for this class at Anytime Fitness that met 2x a week with weight and fat% check-ins for the next 3 months. Normally I wouldn't consider spending the $$, but I decided this would be a good birthday present and worked out the details. now they've changed the class to 1x a week, and I'm concerned that it wont be enough - ugh. I hate it when you've got something all worked out and then the rug gets pulled out. I totally know that God works everything out for good, so i understand that this is one of those occasions that I'll just have to trust him.

If only i could REALLY trust him with my food in-take, then maybe this really will be the year.

I'm a native Minnesotan, so the weather in general doesn't get me "riled up". But, I am tired of the COLD this season. Mostly because even though we live within two blocks of the school, I am forced to make a decision whether or not I need to drive my kids to school. I RARELY got a ride to school growing up (and, no, I didn't walk up hill, both ways, barefoot). Even my older two boys rarely got rides to school. But for some reason this year, the younger two boys have "lucked out" and gotten rides almost everyday this new year. There are also 200 other parents doing the same thing for their kids so traffic is always fun dropping off at the school. I have held my ground, though, and have made walk home most everyday.

Can't wait until the warm up.

I decided not to do Tuesday Morning Bible Study this Winter/Spring. Where it has been something that is just a given, I feel like its not something I HAVE to do. So, this morning, instead, I volunteered at the school library. I have been doing that most Friday afternoons - helping shelve books, check in and out books for students. Today was fun, because it was very busy. I learned a lot and i LOVED it. Who knew that being a LIBRARIAN could be fun??????

Discontent

I find it interesting that once you get a feeling of discontentment with a job, problems and issues seems to multiply. I am an independent contractor for a major bookseller, serving as a customer service agent out of my home. For the most part I've really enjoyed it, been doing it for a little over a year. But alas, it gets old, and i feel limited on what i can do. Why does it seem to compound, and in such a short time? I can't wait to be done, and I dread working. But I know i need to be patient and wait until the next opportunity.

Then there is an element of excitement for something new, along with the fear of something new.

Its hard to know what's the right thing for me. I know God has it in His hands and need to trust in His wisdom.

*Sigh*

Pizza - its Friday night - great pizza night- Eli's not here, so we aren't limited to just cheese pizza. Yay! So, i sit here - scouring my coupons for the best deal on a great pizza. It's already 6pm - so its going to be late by the time i actually decide. Scott's not home yet, so i guess i have time. TGIF!

i'm going to try quick blog posts.

Its "Chirstmastime"

Yay, I'm ready!

I'm going to make cookies and decorate, and I'm excited about it!

This is the first year in a while that I have acutally been "excited" about getting ready for christmas and enjoying the process.

The boys are excited about decorating the FREE tree we got today (Thanks to my mom's Realtor). They are at the monster truck rally tonight, so i'm going to get the house in order and maybe get a couple of batches done.

Ah....let the season begin.

Just throw it away, already.....update

Well, THIS is why i didnt throw it away....see!

Just throw it away, already!

I'm cleaning my unfinished basement. Why is it that I have a difficult time throwing the most insignificant thing away? I found a small refillable binder (2x3?) the paper in it is yellow. I took it from my mom's when she was cleaning -- maybe i can use it for something. You know what? since i took it, i havent used it! it went in the garbage, it came out. Its sitting by the garbage....oh, what to do, what to do.

Not my plan...

Well, Lucas got me sick, although a variation, but I'm sick. I woke up feeling horrible, i had a load of things on my list, but had to whittle it down. I felt so horrible last night, and Scott was out for the evening with friends.

Things that stayed on the list:
--Chiropractor
--"weigh-in" at the club (lost 2.5 pounds this week!)
--crawling into bed at 2pm, getting up at 4:30
--pkg to UPS for my in-laws
--crawling in bed at 8pm

Things that came off the list:
--Volunteering at the school library
--Hair cut
--Feeling good, and enjoying the evening with the boys.

Scott ended up coming home for a while - he was with friends watching the first Daniel Craig James Bond movie, then they went to the later showing of the new "Quantum of Solace", he came home to help get the little guys in bed, but then joined the guys at the theater. Boy I was crabby and lethargic.

Today, Scott had planned to take all the boys to stay at his parents house (they're still out of town), so I can have some time at home to focus on organizing. they're still going to go, but I'm afraid I'm not going to have quite the energy and accomplish as much as i wanted to. Oh well.

I'm feeling a little better, just achy. Time to get organizing.