The Woelke's World

Silly girl...

2011-10-26T14:58:00.002-04:00

Most of you know I'm a very routined person. So, my mornings begin at 5:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee in hand, Bible on my lap, sitting on the couch.

Most of you also know that Emily is an E.A.R.L.Y bird! She has always been one to crash early at night and get up early in the morning. It's worked out fine for our family...we just let her get up at 6 a.m. on school days to do her devotion and then read in her room until 6:30 a.m. Then she can get up to do her morning chores and come down.

Lately, Em wakes up and comes down for a little cuddle before reading...which is a.ok by me....love our quiet little snuggles. As I see her head down the stairs I put my coffee cup on the coaster, my Bible on the next couch cushion over, and wait for her to curl up (mostly...tall girl) on my lap. Some days she's groggy, but most days she smiles brightly, giggles, gives me smooches, and talks incessantly (have no idea where she gets that from? ). The other day she was trying to make me laugh, which wasn't hard when this is what I was looking at. Plus, have YOU ever tried not to laugh when you're supposed to be quiet? Impossible right? HA!

Anyway, this silly girl also had me in stitches last night at dinner. She looked at me and asked, "Hey Mom, Big Bill is in France right?"

Me: "Who?"

Em: "You know, the big clock"

Yep, she meant Big BEN and no, Emily...he's in London! Hahahahahaha!

Little Funnies...

2011-10-05T14:26:00.006-04:00

You know how it is, kids say the funniest little things. Case started our day by dipping his dry (no milk) Life cereal into his cup of yogurt. Once he realized he could dip it as much as he wanted b/c it was his own little cup, he began saying, "I can double dip (followed by dip two), I can triple dip (followed by dip three), and I can FIPPLE dip (yep, followed by...what else?...dip Four)!" Ha!

Then in the evening it was just Em and I for dinner and out of nowhere she says,"Mom, I can scream like a little girl."

Me: I would hope so, you ARE a little girl.

E: Mom. I am NOT a little girl.

Me: Oh, are you a little BOY?

E: No. Duh, I'm a BIG girl.

Me: Oh, pardon me...and at what point does one become a BIG girl?

E: 6.

Me: Oh, and what comes after being a big girl?

E: A big, BIG girl.

Me: And at what age does that happen?

E: 27.

Me: Do you mean to tell me that Miss Molly is about to become a big, BIG girl on her birthday?

E: (at this point she realizes the hilarity of it all and begins to chuckle) Yes!

Me: Ok, so what comes after big, BIG girl?

E: Old Lady.

Me: Are you calling me an Old Lady?

E: NO. You are a big, BIG girl. You don't become an old lady until you are like 80.

Me: (laughing hysterically) Whew!

Case's creations

2011-06-19T17:22:00.004-04:00

Case has always been a creative, innovative, and very good at entertaining himself when he wants to. Whether he is throwing something up and catching it repeatedly, or making believe that a whole scene is unfolding around him with only a small pile of ordinary household items...the boy gets props for being imaginative. His latest endeavor involved an afternoon snack of Fiber One cereal dry (his choice...just in case you wanted to judge me for being a crappy snack-giver to my children). Meet Mr. and Mrs. Fiber One...a match made in, eh, well...my kitchen?!?

Jump for Joy

2011-06-19T16:44:00.003-04:00

I've meant to tell the story of Emily's jump rope team tryouts for quite a while now. It's worth noting for many reasons, not the least of which is so that I can remember it later:)

Jump roping at Em's school is a big deal. They have a 3 teams and a club. I always thought it might be something Em would be interested in and even good at, but she got plugged in to Bible club and decided that was enough for the time being. Then Spring Break came along and the students were challenged with preparing to jump rope to raise money for a great cause once they returned to school. Leading up to the break, the used P.E. time to practice. Em started pulling out her jump rope at home, as a result, and worked REALLY hard at it so that, in her words, "she wouldn't be embarrassed on the day they jump roped at school. Much to her surprise, she totally enjoyed it and was good at it. She taught herself tricks and pushed to get better and better.

So, when they offered a jump rope clinic in April in hopes of preparing students for tryouts, she decided she wanted to do it. I couldn't believe all they expected them to do during tryouts (jump in on double dutch, jump in on a single turning rope, and jump rope individually for a minute as best they could). I was nervous.

Then the results day arrived...the day where they were going to post who made the teams. I was assured (I thought) that everyone would at least get to be in the club (since that wasn't tryout oriented). I thought she do one better than that, though, and be on the beginner team.

So, I picked her up from school and this is how the convo went down:

Me: "Hey, how was your day?"

E: "Well, not great. I wasn't on the list."

Me: "Seriously? I'm so sorry, Em. I know you must be disappointed. Are you SURE?"

E: "Yes, I even had my teacher look and I wasn't on there. But, it's ok. I won't give up. I'll try out again next year."

Me: (almost near tears b/c out of disappointment AND pride) "Wow, Em. That's a great attitude. I'm just a little confused, though, b/c I thought everyone at least got to be in the club, no?"

E: "I don't know."

So, I decided I couldn't live with this all weekend. I turned the car around and headed back to school. Not that I wanted to get her on the team, but I just wanted to encourage her that she could be in the club. B/c it was Friday, though, no one was really around to help me. So I asked Em if I could go look at the lists.

As we stood there, I couldn't help but come to the same conclusion...her name was not on the club or the beginner list. Another mom was looking the list over and gave me a slight nod to acknowledge the hard Mom-moment that she was witnessing. I asked if her child had made a team and she said "yes" and pointed to his name on the intermediate team roster. As I followed her finger, there before my eyes, right under her son's name was Emily's name. Yes....that sweet girl had gone all day thinking she didn't make the cut. She never thought (nor did I) to look with hope at one of the more advanced teams. And had she, we would have never seen such humility and grace pour out of her precious heart. I'm so thankful for that. But, I'm also super thankful for that moment when I turned to her with tears in my eyes and the biggest darn grin on my face to tell her that she DID in fact make the team....a team she never dreamed of being on! Pure JOY!!!

That was then, and this in now...

2011-06-19T16:23:00.003-04:00

So much catching up to do...again. I stink at this blogging thing! Ha! Oh well. Got to try. Got to start somewhere. So here are the kiddos' pictures from their 1st day of school and then their last!

They both had GREAT years!

Case never moved his "Cat off the Mat" (behavior chart), and he was noted as a "eager to please his teachers", "kind to other students", and "very bright". I'm most proud though, that he was truly respectful to his teachers, and loving to his friends.

Emily received all E's, all A's, achieved an outstanding amount of points in her AR (accelerated reading) program, and never moved her clip (behavior chart). She was noted as being "hard-working", "servant-hearted", "a great friend", "a gifted student". I'm most proud though of the P.E. award she received. It was not for the students who were most athletic (which is NOT her strong suit), but rather for the students who always tried, always encouraged others to try, and was the best encourager and team player. What a legacy to leave 1st grade with!

CALL TO ACTION!!!

2011-03-08T21:37:00.002-05:00

I have yet to meet my newest niece or nephew. He/She is an Ethiopian orphan awaiting placement in his/her forever home. Unfortunately, due to corruption w/i the adoption processes in their country they are taking "unnecessary and disproportionate" measures that will in essence cut adoptions back by 90%!!!

This requires a CALL TO ACTION!

Please take a brief moment to sign a petition that will be sent to the Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi. It could mean the difference between children "languishing in poverty" or possibly not receiving the care they need to survive. PLEASE give just a minute of your time by clicking here in the hopes of saving many, many children...including my sweet nephew/niece. Thank you!!!

March 7, 2011
Statement on the Pending Reduction of Intercountry Adoption in Ethiopia
Last week the Ethiopian Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs announced their intention to reduce intercountry adoptions by 90% beginning March 10, 2011. The Ministry’s plan for a dramatic reduction is apparently based on two primary issues; 1) the assumption that corruption in intercountry adoption is systemic and rampant and 2) the Ministry’s resources should be focused on the children for whom intercountry adoption is not an option. Without further announcements by the Government of Ethiopia, it is our understanding that the Ministry’s plan will be initiated this week.
The Ministry’s plan is a tragic, unnecessary and disproportionate reaction to concerns of isolated abuses in the adoption process and fails to reflect the overwhelmingly positive, ethical and legal services provided to children and families through intercountry adoption. Rather than eliminate the right of Ethiopian children to a permanent family, we encourage the Ministry to accept the partnerships offered by governments, NGOs, and foundations. Such partnerships could increase the Ministry’s capacity to regulate service providers and further ensure ethical adoptions.
The Ministry’s plan, which calls for the processing of only five adoption cases per work day, will result not only in systemic and lasting damage to a large sector of social services, but will have an immediate impact on the lives and futures of children. Moving from over 4,000 adoptions per year to less than 500 will result in thousands of children languishing in under-regulated and poorly resourced institutions for years. For those children who are currently institutionalized and legally available for adoption, the Ministry’s plan will increase their time languishing in institutions for up to 7-years.
Joint Council respectfully urges the Ministry of Women’s, Children’s and Youth Affairs to reconsider their plan and to partner with governments, NGOs and foundations to achieve their goals and avoid the coming tragedy for children and families.

Veggin' Out

2011-02-28T12:17:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I'm going to start another aspect of my health journey....transitioning to more of a plant-based/vegetarian diet. My family and I have made the move to mostly chicken with the occasional pork, turkey, and fish mixed in. I think it's been a stretch for my meat-eating husband, but the kids don't mind at all as they are not huge fans of meat anyway.

For Christmas I got a juicer and have LOVED the ability to get in more veggies that way. I naturally love veggies, but find that eating more would be challenging w/o juicing and/or subbing them in place of other foods. Hence the move to eating more of a plant-based diet. My plan is to work this in to my day, minus dinner, since I still want to feed the husband's appetite. Maybe in time I'll convince him.

So, far I've been pulling most of my ideas from www.peasandthankyou.com, a great blog! This week we made her black bean burgers, carrot fries, and roasted chick peas! All were a HIT with me and the kids. Chad liked each of them "fine" or "okay", so I think he'd get used to it over time. I think he truly liked the chick peas, which make a great snack, salad topper, or addition to any dish for texture and flavor purposes.

Here are a few pics:

This was lunch today. Juice: spinach, carrots, and apple. Salad: romaine, cucumber, cilantro, and garlic/herb dressing. Veggie Bowl: mushrooms, cabbage, onion, and roasted chick peas.

Here are the Lemon Rosemary roasted chick peas right after they cooked.

And this was lunch from a few days ago...black bean burger w/a little swiss and mushrooms, edaname beans, and carrot fries.

Curly Q

2011-02-23T14:29:00.002-05:00

So, one of Emily's new vanities is that she really wishes her hair was curly! What? She's 6 and already she's wanting to look different than she does. Ugh!

Anyway, she asks me A LOT to braid her hair while its still wet from the shower so that she can sleep on it and wake up to curly hair. Problem is, Daddy does NOT like the crimped look on her. So, we waited until Dad was traveling for business to tickle her fancy:)

In the morning when she took out the braids, Case said, "Wow. You look like Aunt Mel"! Ha! Kind of does...and that's a good thing cause she's a looker!

So, here is Em's "preferred" look. At least for now. Heaven help me when she's 13!

Target practice

2011-02-21T15:26:00.002-05:00

While I'm ready for Spring, I'm thankful for the fun snow-filled days we've had. My kids were too little to remember their previous experience in KY, and FL offered none. So, we've tried to make the most of them here. My only regret this year was not sledding. But, I feel very prepared for next year after finding the scoop on some great hills:)

During our last snow, Daddy decided to take target practice to a whole new level. You can see that he definitely left his mark....and with quite a windup I might add:) I was sitting in the chair by the window and I think I jumped EVERY time one hit! Whew!

Take the bull by the horns

2011-02-21T15:22:00.003-05:00

We scored some groupon tickets to a show at a local theater here to see Ferdinand the Bull. (It's the book that Leanne Tuohy (played by Sandra Bullock read to Michael Ohr in the movie the Blindside.) The two highlights were that the the real Leanne Tuohy read the book on stage before hand, and that we sat in the balcony! Such a fun experience for the kiddos!

So...a needle pulling thread.

2011-02-21T15:05:00.004-05:00

I'm so thankful to the Lord for a recent prayer time. I was praying through my mom-anxiety about whether I should put my kids into activities, how many, which ones, etc. I just want to give them opportunities to learn new things and be ready to be whoever it and whatever God has planned for them. The world tells you that to be a good parent you have to be maxed out, driving to and from, and expose them to everything so that they eventually can excel at something. Then there are those circles that say contrary...that activities are the enemy and take away from family time. As usual, I live some where in the middle....trying to take the best of both sides. I DO want to expose my children to different things so that they can learn skills and also build confidence, team building, etc. I DO want to protect our family time and use it wisely to disciple them while they are still young. But what is the balance? Some families have struck that balance by saying one activity at a time or one per child at a time. It's different for everyone, and I don't think that there is a "wrong" way to do it. But, I do think that the Lord cares EVEN about this detail. And if we seek Him as parents (or guilt and anxiety ridden mothers...just being honest), we will find that He does have a plan.

Anyway, this prayer time where I was confessing to the Lord that I really needed Him to lead led me to really desire a way for my kiddos to learn transferrable life skills....cooking, sewing, etc. Things that are most definitely learned abilities, but are useful. Emily asked me the other day if she would take a class in college to learn how to cook like me. Precious, but no. That is my privilege as a parent...to pass on any giftings/skills I may have, but also to introduce them to others that I don't. I am blessed to live in the same city as dear family, one of which is my mother-in-love (yes, love...a term I picked up from a friend). Nana sews! I thought, this is great...Em can learn to sew AND spend time with one of the most amazing, servant-hearted, wise, and loving women I know....her Nana. I'm thankful that Nana said "yes"...and not just half-heartedly, but joyfully. She loves her grands. She pours into them each and loves them each (all 5, soon to be 6) for who they are individually. She prays over them, pursues them, and knows them inside and out. And they ADORE her for it!

At any rate, a few weeks ago the sewing session began. At the very first one, Emily didn't want to quit even after about 4 hours of work!!! Some of that is her incredible work ethic, but some of it is her high need for closure (have no idea where she gets that from:)). Since then, they've enjoyed several sewing sessions where Em has made a blanket for herself and dolls, a pin cushion, and several tooth fairy pillows for herself, brother, and cousins. I think she is hoping to make a blanket for our sweet Ethiopian niece/nephew next....the one we are so prayerfully hoping will join us soon.

Here are some pics of her at work.....

Just a swingin'

2011-02-21T14:58:00.002-05:00

We've SOOO enjoyed the nice warm weather we've been having. There are tons of trails and greenways right outside our neighborhood. So, we've been using this time to explore. Here's a shoot off from a trail that leads to a river bank full of sand and a homemade rope/wood swing! So fun!

2011-01-28T07:31:00.003-05:00

I don't usually use this blog for anything except sharing the news of our family for those few family members who want to keep up from a far, but today I want to tell you a story.

This little girl I know, was adopted when she was a 9th grader. She actually wasn't an orphan. She had two parents who loved her. She knew her Adopter (who I'll refer to as "A") pretty well, in that she knew who "A" was and knew some basics about "A". But she had NO idea that "A" was longing to have her as a child, a daughter. "A" longed to give her a better life, one she couldn't have otherwise. But more than that...."A" longed to be connected to the little girl, and vice versa....to become family. That day in 9th grade, was all "A" ever had wanted. It was their "gotcha day". "A" was so excited to call the little girl daughter. "A" wanted to bond, become attached, and help the little girl heal from any past wounds...to rescue her. And really the past no longer mattered....all "A" wanted was to give this little girl a future full of hope and love.

That little girl was me. And it was on that day in 9th grade that Abba looked at me and said, "You are my daughter; today I have become your Father" (Ps. 2:7).

Snow Day-Part II

2011-01-10T14:16:00.000-05:00

Digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

SNOW DAY!!!

2011-01-10T08:11:00.002-05:00

Countdown to Christmas

2010-12-02T22:44:00.002-05:00

This isn't your typical countdown (just don't say I didn't warn you). I thought of writing this post out to the 12 days of Christmas, but I'll spare you.

So, we've had our Christmas decorations up for exactly 5 days.

Day one, Case broke the Mickey & Minnie snow globe that I lovingly and trustingly (read stupidly) put on the shelved mirror in their bathroom. How'd he do it? By twirling with arms spread wide while brushing his teeth. When I put it in there I jokingly asked Chad to hedge a bet on how long it would last before Case broke it (he's notorious for such irresponsibility and destruction). Chad generously bid a week. Should have put money on that b/c I would have gone WAY less.

Day two, Case decided to walk past the Christmas tree and "bounce" a ball ornament up and down on a branch. It shattered. I actually felt bad for the kid since he'd just been lectured a mere 24 hours previously on making wise and responsible choices and not just going with his instinct w/o thinking. He stood there with his hands on his head, tears streaming down his face and said, "Oh no! I did it again!" Poor guy! I'm sad to say, though, that said ornament was not a replaceable one. It was one my parents brought back from a cruise for me b/c it had a turtle on it and that was my sorority mascot. I got a little choked up.

Day three, Case decided to try to open the door on the Noah's ark ornament on the kid tree in the upstairs bathroom. (Does this kid EVER learn?) The ornament came crashing down, and a pair of elephants and zebras went overboard. Fortunately, they no animals were harmed during the making of this tragedy and can readily be reglued back into the ark.

Day four passed rather peacefully (I think).

But no worries, we made up for our uneventful day today. I left to pick up Em from an afterschool club. Case decided to stay home while I ran to get her (Chad works from home, people, so don't be calling DCS on me). As I'm driving the mile route back home, Chad calls and says, "We have another Christmas casualty". Me: "What happened (sigh, eye roll, sigh)." Chad: "Pound Puppy was taking rides on the banister and landed on the wrong side. The Christmas tree side. He broke another ornament." Me: (laughing on the inside b/c of how Chad's deflected all responsibility to my childhood stuffed toy that Case has now hijacked as his own. poor pound puppy. who can be ticked at him?) "Which ornament?" Chad: "Your UNC ball". Me: "Seriously? Why couldn't it have been one of the generic stupid snowman that I'll probably pitch after this year anyway? Ugh! Another non-replaceable one.

But that's not the end people....

So, after dinner the kids are be wild....running around the house. And Emily is chasing Case with her stuffed kitty cat, complete with leash. The leash whips around as she is flying through the family room, and CRASH....the angel Gabriel lost his wings. I cried a little. Chad picked up the pieces. Emily profusely apologized. And I have to believe Case was feeling a little relieved (I know I would have been if I was him). In a small and maybe weird way I was glad Em broke something. She can be slightly prideful and just earlier today when Chad had called to warn my of Pound Puppy's destruction, Emily piped up when I hung up the phone and said, "I bet I know what happened." Me: "Emily, it is not your concern or business. Please don't stick your nose in this (trying to protect poor Case, I mean Pound Puppy)". Emily: "I'm just saying, I bet Case broke something else (poor guy does have a reputation). Well, Miss High and Mighty (I love the girl, but she can be such a nudge)....I'm sure Case will strike again, but just remember YOU went after one of God's angels! Yikes! :)

What not to wear...

2010-11-19T15:07:00.002-05:00

Where are Stacy and Clinton when you need them? I sleep in for few hours on Saturday morning and I wake to find this....

To my horror, I discover that not only has Daddy said she could wear this, but that he also allowed her to go out in public! WHAT? Let's just say that I'm thankful we had a party to go to later that day that required dressing up....whew!

And please take note of how my husband is dressed while cooking breakfast in the background. Yes, he HATES winter and yet is too cheap (I mean frugal, honey, if you are reading this) to crank up the heat. So, instead he wears this to cook. Oh how I love that man!

A Long, long time ago in a galaxy far away....

2010-11-19T14:54:00.002-05:00

So, we kept it simple for Case's party. We had it at the park in our neighborhood, a super cool one. We did pizza and cake and just let the kiddos play. The adults got to hang out, the girls climbed and slid, and the boys played Star Wars (which as the party theme).

Here are some pics....

Case and his "best friend in the universe", Jack! Jack is the son of our dear friends Shad and Veronica. It's so great to have little boys in Case's life that are fun and come from families who love Jesus!

Jack, Case, and Austin eating cake and making disgusting boy jokes! What is it about little boys being together that brings out the wildness? Ha! They were great! Austin is my precious nephew. He is such a neat little guy....great character, smart as a whip, and a total goofball! Case canNOT get enough of him. You would think that they would tire of seeing one another, but every time is like the first time!

Here is my attempt at the Death Star cake. Ask Erin for the story on this one...she had me convinced that it was the easiest cake to make (she made it last year for Austin's birthday), so I went for it. About 5 minutes in I wanted to cuss. Come to find out that she is WAY more talented than me (which is NOT news), and her skill combined with her hubs' artistic ability is why it felt easy. I should have let her make it when she offered....next year, E, it's all you, kay? Love you!

Case and Austin dueling. Case is Luke (hence the blue light saber, apparently), and Austin is Darth Vader (which requires a red light saber for those of you that are Star Wars ignorant)! Ha!

Emily as Padme and Case as Luke. Emily's costume was a total throw together at the last minute. She loved it, though, so much so that she ended up ditching the idea of being Belle for Halloween and went as Padme. Gotta love that!

Case's Birthday

2010-11-19T14:38:00.003-05:00

So, since last month we've celebrated Case's 5th Birthday. He's such a funny, charming, smart little fella. He truly is my shadow ALL day long, but he can play so well on his own and with others when asked. We started his day with "hat day" at school. He was the "Star of the Day" for his birthday, which means he got to bring the book for story time and also a special treat for snack time. He chose to bring "My Lucky Day", which is a favorite of ours to read and he chose a cookie cake for his treat.

We then celebrated by making him the guest of honor at dinner, where he got to choose what we had. He chose hamburgers (and a hotdog for Emily), rosemary and garlic baked new potatoes, and caesar salad. Thanks to Nana, we then enjoyed yummy cupcakes from a local bakery for dessert!!!

Over the weekend we had a party for him as well...those pictures to come....

Friday funnies....

2010-11-19T14:30:00.002-05:00

Has it really almost been a month since I posted...ugh! As much as I want to capture life and all that is happening, I stink at it. Sorry!

Okay, so funnies from the mouths of my babes..

1. Emily was asking about something that Nana and I did together, but I missed the first part of her question so I said, "who?" She replied, "Nana, you know your assistant mom." (a.k.a Mother-in-Law).

2. While reading with Case I try to remind him when a vowel makes a short or a long sound in the word he's trying to sound out. So, I said, "Case, this one is a long E." And so he proceeds by saying, "eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. was that long enough, Mom?"

3. While driving, especially to church each Sunday, Case often asks, "Mom, is this the short cut or the long cut?"

4. Emily while playing a game with Nana one night after dinner at our house says, "I"m so tired I could pass out."

OKay, so that's all that come to mind....but I'm sure there are more b/c these two keep me in stitches. Stay tuned for some photo updates...

Fall break

2010-10-23T10:46:00.003-04:00

Fall break has been fun. laid back and fun. day one we went to the library and out to lunch at Chick-fil-a. day two we went to the the play area at our botanical gardens (where the kids love to dress up and pretend in the outdoors...see picture) with Nana and the Crenshaw girl cousins (Livi and Elle Belle). day three we had a picnic at the park and loaded up to drive to Arkansas for the rest of the week to see my sis and her fam (hopefully more pictures to come of our time there...counting on Mel for those). Anywho..it's been lovely here....campfire by night, walks in the woods in the day, cousins playing anything and everything, adults playing Catan, watching a movie in bed with my sister, breakfast each day prepared by my b.i.l (his specialties), and then men even preparing a mexican feast for us gals last night! i've LOVED it. I know that so many people feel like the time with their kids at home (on breaks from school) are stressful...but I feel just the opposite. there is no schedule, so nothing HAS to be planned. we can just roll. love it!

Photo Diary-Cookies with Case

2010-10-11T15:32:00.002-04:00

Now that we are living near Nana, we are always kept in the know of all the local happenings, deals, etc...she's the BEST!

So, here are some shots of Case and I enjoying Free Cookie Friday...

Photo Diary-Case at play

2010-10-11T15:28:00.002-04:00

I'm trying to enjoy each day that I have with Case, as I know that I will miss him terribly next year when he goes to school for Kindergarten. As it is, this year's been a HUGE transition with him gone to school two days and with Nana to Bible study another day. On our two days together I try to take him to parks, on playdates, or try to be intentional to play with him at home. It doesn't always work out, but we've had a lot of fun when it does. One of our new favorite outings is to the botanic gardens where they have a play area just for kids...it's so super creative and since we go with Aunt E and the girls (Elle Belle and Liv) we always feel like its a treat!

Here is Case in one of his favorite areas...the walking creek.

Photo Diary-Emily's Muffins with Mom

2010-10-11T15:19:00.002-04:00

Emily's school hosts a Muffins with Mom. So, true to Woelke form Emily picked the Double Chocolate Muffin! I do NOT understand how you people can eat chocolate so early in the morning! My! But, she LOVED it. We got there pretty early, so we had our muffins (and thankfully coffee) and then played on the playground before school started. Here are a few of Em scarfing down her daily dose of chocolate and then playing...

Photo Diary-Case's accomplishments

2010-10-11T15:11:00.002-04:00

Okay, so Case may NOT know how to tie his shoes, cut food with a knife, or even say his "L"s exactly right yet....but he has mastered the art of crossing his eyes. We are ever the proud parents!

Photo Diary-Case's fuel belt

2010-10-11T14:50:00.003-04:00

Okay, so clearly I can't keep up with the blog these days. I WANT to. I WANT to keep track of all the funny things the kids do and say. I WANT to log all our fun family adventures, but I'm surrendering it. I won't say that I'm quitting, but I'm surrendering what I had hoped it could be and allowing it to just to be what it can. That might mean more posts like this...with a little picture and a story, but I figure that's okay by all of you...who wants to hear my ramblings anyway, right? Ha!

So, I'm apparently CRAZY enough to train for another 1/2 marathon. This one is still a few months away, but I'm already incorporating a few long runs into my week. As such, it's been hot and I've needed more water than normal. So, I've been taking my "fuel belt" along with me....you know, the belts that go around runner's waists and hold water bottles.

Well, the other day while Case and I were in the kitchen (where my fuel belt bottles were drying in the dish rack), Case grabbed one and in an attempt to mimic me he put it down his pants and ran in place! The placement was HILARIOUS, but so was his running (if only I had thought to capture that for your enjoyment)! HA!

First Day of School

2010-09-12T22:25:00.002-04:00

Okay, it's catch up time....here are the kiddos on their first days of school. Em started first grade and transitioned beautifully. She was such a great student in Kindergarten, and thus far has continued on in like fashion. Here she is on her first day in front of our new home and then with her teacher, Mrs. Buchholz!

Case began preschool (his first schooling ever) this year. He goes to a 2 day/wk. program at a local church. I was nervously praying for him all summer, as he's my kiddo who doesn't always take to transition so well. When the day arrived, he was SOOO excited that he kept asking when it would be time to leave. He was actually driving me BATTY so I set the timer in the kitchen for him. The sweet boy literally sat at watched the time tick by, ever-so-often calling out a time update for me. Needless to say he waltzed right into his classroom and the rest is history. Here he is on his first day (notice the totally Case pose) and then one with his teachers, Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Bailey.

Uncomfortable

2010-08-24T22:03:00.004-04:00

so, we've moved. we jammed all that we could into one last summer as residents on our sacred island, sadly kissed my daddy (and for that matter an entire chapter of our lives) goodbye, and moved.

now, understand this...i am a moving expert. i moved a TON as a child. i welcomed it, made the best of it, embraced it, and often began to look forward to the next one. it always rang of clean slates, new friends, and yet another place to return to and claim a stake on.

this time...it's different. the change has been great for sure...family, an AWESOME church, returning to old friendships that are both fun and sharpening, etc. and just like always, the boxes were promptly unpacked in a matter of days (although at 34 I also FELT it like never before...sore back and dehydration...ugh). but that's when it all went south.

i am a type A (bold, underlined, and capitalized). so once the boxes were unpacked, i didn't know what to do. maybe it's because there's too much on the list that i want to see done and don't know where to begin? maybe it's because i'm not sure whether to connect with people, paint a room, or find an gym and instructing position? i don't know exactly why i was so stumped, overwhelmed, and paralyzed but, well, i was.

so, i opted to work in the yard. it seemed logical to me at the time. i knew that all the beds needed to be weeded, pruned, watered, treated, etc and unlike paint i couldn't go wrong. it's formulaic...pull weeds+water+treat=done. was it hot? yes....like as in wring out your shirt when your done, hot. and apparently, we have poison ivy in our yard....EVERYWHERE. So, by day 2 or 3 i was covered in rashes.

now, i've never had poison ivy before that i can remember...and after this bout, i think i would have remembered having had it before. it stinks! i was plumb UNCOMFORTABLE. i was itchy. i was hot in my long attire. and now i didn't know what to do with my time. to top it off, i finally went to the doctor for an eye issue i'd been battling unsuccessfully for about a month, only to determine that i was on the brink of blindness. okay, not really, but he did scare me...something about dead spots on my cornea and all....ugh! remedy? no contacts for two weeks and drops in the eye 4x/day. now, you may not know me but i am a sweater, and I don't mean clothing. i get DRENCHED quickly in heat and during activity. my nephew, Jack, would tell you its "unlady like to perspire", but that's just the way the good Lord made me. and not only that, but i sweat from my head. as a cheerleader at high school football games you could see steam coming off my head...true story. but i digress....

so, wearing glasses outside (which is where i wanted to be to work at the one thing i felt i COULD tackle...in the yard) was UNCOMFORTABLE. wearing glasses to run or work out is also UNCOMFORTABLE. are you seeing a theme.

yes, this transition and all that has come with it...the lack of routine, the physical ailments, etc...have made me UNCOMFORTABLE.

but thanks be to GOD for His timely word in my Bible reading one morning...that being uncomfortable is exactly where He has me and wants me. metaphorically, its like my time in the yard. He wants to weed out the idols, the lukewarmness, the bad habits and all in my heart. He wants to water it with this abundance of great teaching and community we've been blessed with. He wants to treat it with the fellowship of family and friends who care enough to walk the deep road with me. And, He wants to leave behind a remnant with which to begin to tend and grow anew. peeps, i need that. i've been in drought and overgrowth for quite a while now. blame it on the grieving process, the lack of a church home that we felt connected to, or just my plain ol' sin. but, i can tell you this....i will take being UNCOMFORTABLE any day of the week if it means further refinement for His use and glory. amen? AMEN and AMEN!

Pony Camp

2010-07-20T13:42:00.002-04:00

Poppy gave Emily and Ella-Kathryn two days at Pony Camp for their birthdays. They got to brush the horses, clean the horseshoes, take a tour of the stable, learn all about horses, saddle them, and then ride. The first day they rode on a pony with a lead, and then today they rode on a big horse alone. They had a BLAST! They loved going and especially going together.

Here is a picture of Emily all dressed and ready to go!

Happy 6th Birthday, Emily!

2010-07-20T13:10:00.003-04:00

I can hardly believe I'm the mom of a 6 year old! Unbelievable. Not that it is about me, but it just puts it all in perspective for me. I can still remember lying in my bed pregnant, looking across the hall to that closet full of little tiny clothes, thinking are we really going to have a little person who will fit in those? Oh my!

We celebrated kind of mildly this year. I have to say that Em's birthday was not high on my list with 14 other people here visiting, saying goodbyes, packing, and all that comes with moving. It's not that SHE's not important, but I just kept putting off the planning. So, at the last minute I decided that our family would bring her gifts to the Boardwalk Bash on Friday night (her actual birthday) and that she could spend the night at Aunt Lala's along with her cousin, Ella-Kathryn. On Saturday Aunt Lala took the girls shopping, had their nails done, took them out to lunch, and to the pool. We met them there later for a pool party for Emily. She wanted Tinkerbell, a few friends, all of our family, and pizza. Easy peasy! So thankful she didn't need/want anything extravagant...as I probably couldn't have produced it this year. Ha!

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the pool party...

Ava, Halle, Emily, and Will eating pizza.

Maribel and Pete

Aunt Lala, Aunt Melanie, Ryan, Jack, and Gran

Case and Ella-Kathryn

We're planning on doing a little more celebrating with our family in Memphis once we arrive and get settled.

As for Emily...where to start? Emily is outgoing, dramatic, strong-willed, and stubborn (no idea where she gets it). She's organized, scheduled, diligent, and bright. She likes to lead, but still doesn't quite know how to do it appropriately and in the best manner that others will follow (i.e. she can be bossy). She likes to be in the know (i.e. nosy), helpful, and she always wants to be around people. She loves to read, swim, sing, do dance and gymnastics, go shopping and watch movies. She's 6 going on 16 in appearance, behavior and attitude. My oh my what will next year be like? Love that sweet girl! Happy Birthday, Em!

The Simpson

2010-07-20T12:55:00.004-04:00

We've been enjoying the Simpsons (my sis and her fam) for the past 2 weeks or so. We've hit the beach, the Y, the pool, the boardwalk bash, and have had so much fun. We've only got a day or so left before they head out, and CLEARLY I'm going to need to take some more pictures than this. I'm pathetic, eh? But, here are few keepers for sure...

My nephew, Will, sporting the worker goggles and underware. Not a look many can get away with, right?

My nephew, Ryan asleep in the chair next to his momma. Poor fella...he was so tuckered out from a cold and benedryl.

And here's another of Will with a sweaty head at the boardwalk bash....it reminds me of those gnome/troll pencils that you would twist the hair on top! Ha!

Okay, hopefully more to come....

My two little loves...

2010-07-20T09:20:00.003-04:00

I have to admit. Parenting has been a HUGE challenge for me this summer. I mean, I LOVE my children...but sometimes I've struggled in these days to truly LIKE them. Is that terrible? Just keepin' it real!

Anyway, I really believe that the struggle stems more from me....me being stressed from our current circumstances, not walking in the Spirit, and just being plum worn out. Yes, Emily and Case aren't completely without fault, but I feel that if only I could handle myself differently then we'd be that much closer to success, ya know?

Ah, in a perfect world!

Having said all that, here we are in one of our better moments. Watching the parade on the 4th....all squeezed together on Mommy's lap, me being the chair that we forgot to bring.

I do love my kiddos, and I even like them most of the time....I suppose its more about me not liking me. I'm just thankful that their memories are short, that the Lord's mercies are new each morning, and that I get to be their Mommy!

Saving the world one rat at time....

2010-07-20T08:32:00.002-04:00

Our most interesting visitor this summer would most definitely be THE RAT!

It all began when I opened the kitchen trashcan (yes, you read that correctly), and saw movement. Out JUMP a RAT! Instead of closing the trashcan or doing anything logical to solve our problem, I ran away and screamed like a little girl. Chad promptly ignored me because he says, "I always hear screaming downstairs". Thanks for that! Fortunately, we still live with my Dad and HE came running. The next SEVERAL days were filled with rat catching escapades. It began with Dad making this homemade rat trap, which required lying on the floor, waiting for the rat to make noise, and then trapping him. I guess Chad decided to join him for moral support? Not sure, but I know it went on until 3 a.m. and there was no prisoner in the morning.

Poppy then blocked off all cabinet spaces that appeared "open" in the kitchen. So, logically the rat then next appeared in his bathroom. After closing off those, the rat then showed up in the pantry. At this point we added rat traps, real ones, no longer caring to be humane to this ridiculous creature:)

Well, all seemed quiet in the house for a day or so....so we assumed the rat had moved on.

Then one night I went to bed, Dad went to bed, and Chad stayed up working in the family room. I got a call on my cell phone, after having been asleep, and it was Chad. In hushed tones he said, "hey, I'm in the family room and I have the rat cornered." WHAT? Is this a dream? No, perhaps a nightmare, but not a dream.

So, I do what any good, tired wife does...I got up, opened the door, rolled my eyes and sighed heavily, and then proceeded to help Chad capture he and Dad's nemesis. The rat was cornered under a bookshelf that was near the back porch door. Chad got a flashlight and corned him in its beam. I remembered that Dad had said that if we could ever get it to run out the door that would be the best option. I also remembered that he said that they don't run across open expanses, but rather will stick along the wall. So, we proceeded to build a corral from the bookshelf to the back porch door...using the moving boxes and tubs that were stacked on the wall all ready for our move to Memphis in 2 weeks. Once the corral was constructed, Chad poked and prodded the rat with a rake and out he flew....down the corral, out on the porch, and out the back door! It worked! After a high five and a little clean-up of boxes, we were all able to sleep more soundly.

I think the thing that gets me the most, and there is so much material here to choose from, is that the thing was living with us for a whole week and we didn't even know it. Ick! Maybe it wasn't the same fella...I asked Dad if he thought it was and he said, "I don't know, Karen, I didn't ask his name." ha! Even so, to think of that gives me the heebie jeebies. Ya know? Alas, all is safe in the world now!

The Crenshaws

2010-07-20T08:23:00.002-04:00

We've had the privilege of having some of our dearest friends and family here with us this summer. Chad's sister, Erin, and her family came at the end of June and I have NOTHING to show for it in terms of pictures! Ugh! Why do I do that? Here is the only one I can find, and fortunately Erin took some as well and posted them on her blog, so check them out too!

I can't begin to say enough about this family and what they mean to us. They aren't just in our lives because of being family....they are some of our best friends. They challenge us, love us, and sharpen us and we are so thankful to be able to walk this life with them.

Thank you for taking the time and resources to come see us this summer, Crenshaws! We loved having you and feel so blessed to have had that time with you. Can't wait to do daily life with you in Memphis VERY SOON!

My three favorite peeps...

2010-07-20T08:18:00.002-04:00

So, I've not done a great job of keeping up this summer AT ALL! So this will be my attempt to cover our summer all in one sitting. Be sure and check out all the new posts, as I'll do them all separately for my own benefit:)

Here are my three favorite peeps in a few of our rare moments of downtime this summer. They're all so nice and brown, eh?

4th of July

2010-07-13T08:10:00.002-04:00

We've had such a busy summer...lots of visitors, packing, working, etc....etc! We've been enjoying each day for what it offers, but it is quickly coming to a close. Only 10 more days of family, beach, pool, and this beautiful island. Then we're off to our new home (which I still haven't see with my own eyes...ha!).

Anyway, here are a few shots of our time at the parade with Gran and Lala. It was a gorgeous night for fireworks and a parade.

2010-06-12T08:27:00.003-04:00

So it's been a LONG time since I've posted anything health related, eh? My journey hasn't halted, but I just neglected to write about it on here.

When I began, I intended to lose 61 lbs., get healthy and strong, and gradually implement changes that would affect my family in a positive way as well. I also knew that I needed goals outside of just seeing numbers going down on the scale, though. So, I challenged myself to get certified to teach group fitness classes, run a 1/2 marathon, lift more weights, run faster, do more pushups (or atleast one...ha!), etc. Having a wide variety of goals helped to remind me that it was about the big picture rather than just about being skinnier, ya know?

So, where am I now? Well, in terms of numbers I've lost 40 lbs., I can actually do several pushups, I'm challenging myself to run faster for longer, etc. I'm also back to investigating more about nutrition...what things are better to buy organically (i.e. that are cleaner), what additional healthy changes I can make by removing certain food and adding in others, etc. I'm teaching aqua aerobics now, and love it. I look forward to teaching other classes in the near future too. I'm in a boot camp style group training, just trying to spice it up a bit and trick my body into pushing itself past what's comfortable and expected.

Having said all that, I thought it might be fun to you to see a picture from when I started....when I was at my heaviest (and saddest, I might add), and then a current one of me in process. It pains me to look at the "before" picture. Why did no one tell me I looked like someone had inflated me to be a balloon in the Macy's Day parade? Ugh! I just can't believe it. Anyway, here goes...

Oh to be "Young"...

2010-06-11T18:27:00.003-04:00

So, our dear friends the Youngs were here for a visit this week. Marilyn and I went to college together at UNC-Chapel Hill, but really became close after college when we roomed together. I can hardly believe that was 12 years ago. Oh my!

Marilyn blesses me. She is hilarious, easy-going, and incredibly wise. We have so many similar ideas and interests...it's just so life-giving to be around her.

I have LOVED getting to know her precious children, Tucker and Hannah. They are bright, funny, beautiful children and my kiddos said, "I miss them already" as they drove down the block. Tonight at dinner they Emily prayed for them to come back too! It's such sweetness to have your kiddos love those that you love!!!

So, here are a few shots of our week. We get another night with them and the bonus of having Matt here as well. Can't wait!

Pensive bike rider Case

Case, Tucker, Emily, and Hannah watching a movie (our attempt at a chill night). Notice the blank stares on our boys and the DRAMA on the faces of the chicas! Hilarious and VERY telling!

Our bathing beauties....mine is the brown one! Ha!

Em, Case, and Tucker in the tide pool finding fish and hermit crabs. Good times!

Case, Tucker, Hannah, and Emily enjoying some Shake's Frozen Custard, care of Poppy!

Grrrrrr..

2010-06-11T16:57:00.002-04:00

So, we said goodbye to our dear friends, Leslie and Andrew (affectionately known as Tiger to my children b/c he growls and chases them (see picture below)). They have been such a joy to do life with, and will sorely be missed both here on the island and just in our daily life.

Here are a few shots from our time at B.J.'s for their goodbye dinner....

Endings...

2010-06-07T15:13:00.003-04:00

Oh, I really do NOT like endings. I can see more and more how God never really intended for us to love endings, hence eternity! As the school year ends we are saying goodbye to quite a few friends that are moving, and also to people at school that we won't see next year since we are moving. Very sad!

Anyway, today was Emily's end of the year party. They played in the water outside, had pizza, Poppy came and served ice cream, and then they handed out awards. They were thoughtful awards, meant to encourage and spotlight each child. Emily was given the "Little Einstein" award alongside her buddy Luke, a friend she first met in preschool. The award was given in honor of Emily and Luke's smart little brains. I'm so thankful for her intelligence, but more importantly...I'm so proud of how hard she works, her love of learning, and her ability to not take it all so seriously. I hope she continues to strike that beautiful balance in the many years of school that lie ahead!

Emily receiving her award from Mrs. Robbins....

Seriously, I wasn't kidding people...

2010-06-03T17:04:00.003-04:00

I grabbed a quick shower yesterday and when I came out it was suspiciously quiet in the house. I noticed that Em's door was closed. When I opened it, I found Emily in her reading chair and Case at the craft table. Both were intensely working with a marker and piece of paper. When I inquired about what they were up to, they both PROUDLY displayed the following and started spurting out stories of how the other person hurt their feelings! Oh my! Pray for me!! Ha!

My charming lunch date....

2010-06-02T19:23:00.001-04:00

Siblings in the summertime

2010-06-01T08:26:00.002-04:00

So, Case has joined the ranks of being on Emily's "I'm not happy with you" list! Ha! I'm surprised it took him this long to be added. I'll tell you, though....this does NOT bode well for us as the summer (a.k.a spend every waking moment together for 2 months) is upon us. Recently they've been AT EACH OTHER! I have GOT to spend a few minutes preparing for the days ahead, both in prayer and preparation, so that we can look back and see this time as a blessing rather than a stress. I don't want to be one of those moms who is dying for school to start and dreading its ending. I want to be looking forward to summer as precious time together with one another, ya know? Any ideas and suggestions???

Bird Island

2010-05-30T07:58:00.005-04:00

So on Saturday we went out with Poppy on the boat. We rode for about 30-45 minutes out to this place called Bird Island (no, not where Clifford the Big Red Dog lives....although, when I assured Em that there could be more than one Bird Island she said, "Well, you just never know. We'll have to look around for him". Ha!)

Anyway, once we anchored the boat we explores tons of pools of water, hunted for sand dollars, played bocce ball, and walked the island. It was a GLORIOUS day!!! I will SOOOO miss living here, in paradise!

Mommy and Daddy's self-portrait....yes, we are wearing suits:) Ha!

Our little sunlover, Em!

Muscle man, Case!

Em playing Bocce Ball.

Case playing Bocce Ball.

Poppy, Case, Daddy, and Em playing Bocce Ball.

Friday nights...

2010-05-30T07:48:00.002-04:00

It's that time of year....when we head down to The Boardwalk Bash on Friday nights. Free popcorn, dollar drafts, and a live music. We get to see lot of friends, feed the turtles and fish in the pond, and sometimes even happen upon other fun things like pirates, RC boat races on the pond, etc. It's a great time at the end of the week, and heck...I get out of cooking! Yay!

Em rockin' the night away.

Em and Case were perched on this bench watching the RC boats zoom around the pond.

My handsome little devil.

Daddy and Emily lounging.

Jesus Loves Me....

2010-05-28T09:50:00.002-04:00

We have just come to the end of another year of AWANA. This year Emily was in Sparks and Case was in Cubbies for a second year (all of that is based on age and grade).

We have been SOOO blessed by this program, and in particular by their teachers. For those of you that are unfamiliar with the program....it kind of reminds me of a Christian version of Scouts. They have vests to display patches, jewels, and other rewards they earn for learning Scripture. They study a lesson at home each week and then review it several different ways during the weekly meeting...songs, stories, games, etc.

Em is such a diligent student, and was so motivated to earn jewels that she finished her whole book half way through the year. As a result, she spent the second half of the year reviewing it. She got a special reward for having done both.

Even though this was Case's second year as a Cubbie, it was a different book. I saw SUCH a HUGE difference in his ability and desire to learn from last year to this year. He looked forward to the book work, memorized verses so readily and with ease, and was one of Miss Tammy's stars in regards to behavior in her ALL BOY class (God bless that woman)!

They both have LOVED going. I initially did it b/c we didn't have a church home here, and therefore they weren't getting Sunday School teaching of any kind. Now that we are moving to a place where we know we'll have a church, will we still pursue being in an AWANA club? I don't know...but I know that my children have learned such valuable lessons and have had a blast. They most certainly know the fundamentals of the gospel in a more solidified way, and know that Jesus LOVES them! I've seen this overflow out of them as Em has shared her faith with friends, and as Case has quoted a lesson he learned from scripture in the midst of an argument with his sister saying, "Emily, the Bible says we shouldn't hurt others back when they hurt us." (Yes, that truly did happen over Spring Break...Chad and I couldn't stop laughing!).

Anyway, here are a few pictures from our AWANA closing night program and party....

Emily with her her fellow Sparks (I'll try to post the video of them singing their songs soon too).

Case with his second year ribbon award (not sure about that silly face.)

Case opted to NOT take a plate, but instead double fisted goodies w/ a soda tucked under the arm (like father, like son eh? Again with the goofy grin???).

My two little piggies. When asked what their favorite part of AWANA each week was, they both would reply snack-time. What a surprise!

And just thought I'd throw this one in for a good laugh. Case asked me, "Mom, why do you and Daddy always take pictures of us. Can't I take one of you?" And my new answer to his question would be....well, just look at that picture and you'll know. Ha!

Stayin' alive...

2010-05-28T09:25:00.003-04:00

So, I don't currently have any pictures of Em in her dance recital attire, but here are a few pictures from afterwords...make-up and hair still "done". She tapped to "Stayin' alive" and did ballet to "You've Got a Friend" (from Toy Story). The theme for the whole Showcase was "A Night at the Movies".

Daddy bought her flowers, on his own, and I thought it was so thoughtful that he got her ones to match her costume (yellow, white and black). He's such a great dad!

These were her first flowers....and BOY HOWDY did she LOVE getting them. She didn't overreact when they were given to her, but she proceeded to carry them around the rest of the day into the restaurant and even into Wal-Mart when shopping later. I told Chad that those flowers were bound to be the highlight of the whole day for her, and they most certainly were!

She also got such a kick out of the fact that she was still "done-up" while in Wal-Mart....she's so aware of that kind of thing...it amazes me!

Another one "bites" the dust

2010-05-26T22:18:00.002-04:00

Em came home from school the other day missing tooth number 2! I happened to be at the Y in boot camp when she came home, so she asked Daddy for paper to write me a note. The note says, "I lost my tooth at school. I was eating my shirt on the the carpet. By Emily"! Hilarious! Her sweet teachers put it in a baggy for her to bring home. As soon as I read the note and saw Em she promptly put it into her tooth fairy pillow.

For her first tooth she got $5...apparently a tradition in the hubs' family. For tooth number 2...a silly band! Are your kiddos into these? They are rubber bands shaped like animals, instruments, etc that kids are wearing around like bracelets. The big thing is to trade with others for silly bands you like. Too funny! They are such a treasured possession around our house that I've begun to use them as a means of rewarding good behavior and as consequences for bad (taking them away). You should have seen the tears tonight when they had to surrender them ALL to me for their ongoing terrible behavior.

Anyway, on another tangent....we don't really even do the tooth fairy. I know there are wildly varying opinions on this topic, but for us we chose to make it fun but keep it real. They still tuck it under their pillow, they still get a fun treat/money, but they know that it's us that is doing it because we want their teeth as precious memories. They also know that they are NOT to tell other children that the tooth fairy is not real....because everyone's family does it different.

Okay, I've rambled enough...nite!

Survival techniques with napkins???

2010-05-21T16:46:00.003-04:00

One of our favorite places to go out to eat as a family is "chips-n-dip dip", a.k.a the local mexican restaurant:) We can get pretty excited over it, and we do it often!

The other night after Em's dress rehearsal we opted to stop in for a bite. Em was cold and I had NOTHING to offer her clothes-wise, so I put a napkin on her lap and shoulders. Well, they thought that was just HILARIOUS (doesn't take much around here, people). So, the napkin fun began....

Ahhhh...

2010-05-20T19:35:00.002-04:00

This meal can only happen when its 1. Summer and the Farmer's Market has an amazing selection of yummy goods, and 2. Because both Poppy and the hubs were not around and I fed the kids something else (although they probably would like most of it). I was in heaven! I even had the cucumber/tomato salad and the beans again tonight but replaced the wrap with sauteed mushrooms, peppers, and onion! Ahhh....

Life Lessons

2010-05-19T11:05:00.003-04:00

So, Em is approaching her first dance recital (showcase, as it's called at this studio)....it's this Saturday.

When we started dance in the Fall it was because Em had been asking for 2 years if she could take it. We finally decided to dig deep in our pockets and make it happen because she'd been patient, understanding, and because honestly...we felt that 5 was a good age to begin.

We signed her up for a combo class so that she would have maximum exposure and be able to figure out what she enjoys and is good at. It was a Ballet/Tap/Tumble class. Well, she LOVES the tumble, likes the ballet, and doesn't care for tap a bit.

Well, with the turn of the new year, the classes really begin to focus on the Showcase routines, which just happen to be ballet and tap. Once Em began to realize that was the case, she lost interest in going and one week had a MAJOR melt down at the studio just before class. This was one of those that left me wondering who the child was that I was football carrying out to the car screaming and crying! She is dramatic, but not in that way...it was UNBELIEVABLE!!!

That night I put her straight to bed at 5:30 p.m., but not before I had a long talk with her about finishing what you start. She agreed to see it through to the Showcase. Whew!

Since that time, she's really not said another word about it all. So, I thought she might have changed her mind and was enjoying herself. Well, the other day someone asked her if she was excited for the Showcase this weekend and she said, "No, not really. Well, actually yes....because that means I've finished what I started and am done with dance!" Hilarious! I guess we'll start looking for gymnastics for her, eh? Ha!

Anyway, here was my attempt to put her short hair in a bun for dress rehearsal the other night.

Not bad, right?

And here she is all made up (to studio requirements for lighting). She's a beautiful little girl, but this is so scary to me...1. because she looks all grown up, but 2. because I don't want her to think this makes her pretty. Oh gracious the battles that lie ahead, eh? Whew!

"See"ing is believing....

2010-05-16T20:18:00.003-04:00

Our dear friends The Sees are packing up and leaving us for the beautiful mountains of Colorado in just a matter of days. They came into our lives as a gift....at just a time when we most needed friendship. We have spent countless days at the beach, the pool, playing games, going to Disney, working out, having dinner, and just doing life together. They have taught us so many things...little things like how to find shark's teeth, play Power Grid, operate a Mac and iPhone....and they have taught us big things like how by loving our children you love us, how to gracefully and honestly walk through challenging times, and how being thoughtful and generous with those you come in contact with is never a sacrifice but always a joy. We will truly miss them and as they leave here I can honestly say that they leave us changed for the better!

We were blessed to have Leslie take our family pictures one last time before she heads west:) Just another tangible way that she has loved us and blessed us. The photo up top is one from the shoot, and please go check out her work at www.lesliesee.com. She is amazing!

We love you Leslie and Tiger!

The Johnsons

2010-05-16T19:56:00.004-04:00

We had some good friends come for a visit this weekend...The Johnson Family. They are so fun and easy to be around, and our kiddos LOVE one another!

Here are the boys (Ryan, Case, and Pace) at bedtime on Friday night, gathered around "Mr. Jeremy" as he read them a Bible story.

And here is Em with all the boys as we read other bedtime stories. Amazingly, sweet Kennedy never made it into a picture, so I'll be sure and include one of her on the beach.

And here are a few of our first official day at the beach this summer! It was a GLORIOUS day!

Kennedy

Case

Emily

"X" marks the spot

2010-05-11T08:20:00.002-04:00

I've been meaning to share this one for quite some time.

Em is such a precocious child. She always has been. She's also highly emotional and a bit dramatic. I have NO idea where she gets it from:)

So, one day after sending her to her room for a "time out" of sorts, she came out and slapped down a piece of paper with my name on it. Below my name was a bunch of smiley faces and one had an "X" marked over it.

Me: What's this?

Emily: Every time you put me in time out or do something I don't like I'm going to mark off one of you happy faces because it makes me sad or mad.

Me: (In my head I'm DYING laughing). Hmmm. Well, I guess you'd better draw some more happy faces and get your pen ready....

Ha!

Can you believe that child? She cracks me up!

Well, over the weeks and months that followed she forgot about it and then one day she came out with this (see picture below):

Yes, I'm still in the lead....but it's good to know that even POPPY can make her pull out that pen! Ha! When I asked her why Poppy got marked off she said, "When you and Daddy went out of town for the weekend and Poppy watched us he had to "talk" to us two times and I didn't like it." Oh my! And what about Daddy's "X"....I'm not sure she even remembered, but you'd better believe that the hubs was eating up the fact that he's the good guy right now. Oh brother!

You people see what I have to put up with?

Spring update...

2010-04-30T11:58:00.006-04:00

Wow...have I ever taken a hiatus, eh? Whew! Well, here are a few pics from the precious weeks...

First off...we have decided to move to Memphis. There's much more to that story, but for now I'll just say that we've have a contract on a house, are negotiating inspections, hope to close mid-June and move at the end of July. Whew! Chad did all the house hunting solo, and took Case up with him for a visit with the fam. Yes, he picked out the house and I whole-heartedly approved via pictures. Am I crazy? No, I just know that he knows what we like, has an eye for a bargain, and an eye for detail. I can't wait to see it!

Anyway, here are a few pics from their time in Memphis....

Case buttering up Nana and Pa for something, I'm sure....

Olivia, Eliana, and Case....such dear cousins! He actually told me at the end of his time there that he wanted to stay because he "loved them better". I know it should make my mommy-heart break, but I'm just so stinkin' thankful that he's secure enough in my love to say it and that he loves the rest of his family sOOOO much:)

Back on the homefront, Case's baseball season wrapped up. Chad was a great coach, and despite many league challenges, we had a blast. Of course, the trophy was the highlight for all the kiddos.

Case had a mishap in the backyard while gardening with Poppy. He carelessly (shock. shock.) jumped off a walled-in enclosure surrounding the firewood and literally scraped his legs from bottom to top. We wrapped them to help stop the bleeding and stinging, and gave him a sucker to try and calm down the crying. As you can tell, the sucker did NOT work! Hence the need to pull out the camera (am I sick for doing that?) to capture the dramatic scene! Ha!

This is picture from last night's Shrimp Festival Parade. This right here is why I LOVE living in a small town on an island. EVERYONE was there and it was SOOOO fun! We got lots of candy loot, beads (from the Pirates...a tradition here), and enjoyed a picnic dinner while watching friends march by! Tonight the pirates invade from a ship and there are fireworks. Amazing, right? Then tomorrow and Sunday are an all day festival that I'll kick off with a 5K race. Love this place:)

And to bring you TOTALLY up-to-speed...this is today. Em had pirate day at school, and this was her getup. Isn't she the cutest stinkin' pirate around? Arrrggh!

Weekend plans..

2010-03-24T14:58:00.003-04:00

Well, the hubs and I decided to get out of town for a weekend for a belated birthday/anniversary celebration. It was such an amazing time....great B&B, awesome weather, and fun sights. Chad didn't have a ton of success with yummy meals, but we joke that he's always a terrible orderer:) He MIGHT have a slightly high standard when it comes to food too, but don't tell him I said that or I'll be in BIG trouble! Ha!

Anyway, here are few pics from our trip...climbing 219 stairs up the lighthouse, the view from up top, lunch by the fort, and our private balcony view at the B&B!

While we were away, my Dad (Poppy) was kind enough to keep the kiddos. Fortunately the weather was awesome and there was lots of fun kid-friendly stuff going on around the island, so he was set! He apparently told Em and Case what all they were going to do, so Emily....being MY daughter and a girl after my own heart....opted to make a list of their plans! HILARIOUS! Dad said she not only made the list, but also carried it with them and kept them on task. LOVE IT! Here's her list with my translation.....

Farmers market, parade, face painting, jumpy thing, putt putt
Things to do today.
For Poppy.
From Emily.
Sorry Emmalo (her nickname...Case and she have a secret little world in which she's Emilo and he's Caselo, etc...).

U never know

2010-03-15T18:21:00.003-04:00

So as I was flipping through eWe's graded school work that came home this week, I discovered a sheet of construction paper. It was folded in the middle and titled, "words with u" on one side and "words with c" on the other. Clearly, they were supposed to cut pictures of out a magazine that met the above stated criteria. So, here is what eWe turned in:

So, you have to imagine that her teachers were thinking...."Umm...how does this have a "u" in it?" Boy? nope, no "u". Man? no. Kid? no again.

Now, eWe is a very bright kiddo and a great student....they would most likely be shocked that she couldn't get this assignment completed correctly. I love that about them by the way...always assume the best! Anyway, so instead of marking it as wrong they simply asked her. Her response? Well, see for yourself....

Oh, of course....why didn't I think of that? What????? I'm not sure whether I should be proud for her unique mind, creativity and intelligence or be appalled by the length that she might have went to make a picture fit the criteria so that she could be finished. Okay, I'm going with proud but I'm still laughing at it! This one is going to be a keeper:)

Mohawks are so....yesterday.....

2010-03-09T17:23:00.002-05:00

Well, that didn't last long:)

I told Lil' C to go get his sweatshirt on this morning as we were preparing to leave for the Y. He came out of his room calling, "Mom, I don't want this on!" I replied, "Buddy, it's cold outside. You HAVE to wear it." And then he came around the corner and said, "No, Mom. Not my sweatshirt, my mohawk." Ha!

Well, I needed to leave like 5 minutes ago, but the Hubs walked in as we were discussing cutting it off later and said, "I'll do it right now. It will take like 3 seconds." And he did it and we were on our way.

Yes, he does look a bit skinned...but before we know it we'll be lining him up for another haircut:)

Lil' Dude

2010-03-09T08:03:00.002-05:00

So the other night I asked the hubs to cut Lil' C's hair...you know, just trim it up. As C was headed into the Woelke Barber Shop, his sister chimed in with her fashion suggestion....a mohawk. Well, Lil' C is so "go with the flow" and he idolizes his sissy so here's what we ended up with....

He had haircut remorse the next morning as he thought through all the attention he might receive at the Y (he's not one for attention, good or bad). But, in the end he actually liked the attention. So, we'll let him keep it for a week or so before trimming it off and returning him to the preppy little guy that his Nana loves (she did NOT like the new do...thought we'd fallen off our rockers to have cut it as such...HA!).

Spring Watch Week

2010-03-05T17:14:00.004-05:00

eWe's dance studio has a "watch week" where parents and grandparents can come to class. It was fun to see eWe's progress from the Fall's Watch Week. Dance hasn't been her favorite thing lately. She takes a Ballet, Tap, and Tumble combo class and I think that the Spring has been mostly Ballet and Tap as they prepare for the Showcase in May. Unfortunately, Tumble has proven to be eWe's favorite. I'm guessing gymnastics might be in our near future???

Anyway, here are some fun shots of her doing her thing...

My favorite action shot.....

Nice, eWe, nice! Ha!

Firsts.....

2010-03-05T16:43:00.002-05:00

eWe's new "big girl" haircut

"first missing tooth" smile:)

Lil' C's first baseball uniform! Daddy is co-coaching and Mommy is the Team Mom (a.k.a. Biggest sucker around). Go REDS!

You say potatoe, I say pah-ta-to

2010-02-27T17:42:00.002-05:00

So, apparently misusing similar words must be genetic? I still get ridiculed by my immediately family for misreading the word, "pedestrian" as "presbyterian". It was quite humorous since we were playing a game and I was asking a question about a "Presbyterian crossing the road". Ha!

The other night at dinner, this was our conversation....

eWe: Hey, Poppy...I'm doing an enrichment program at school.

Poppy: Oh wow! Who is teaching/running it?

Me: Well, the old librarian used to do it, but she left. Now a group of parents took it on.

Poppy: Karen, they don't call them "Librarians" anymore. It's "Media Specialist".

Me: Oh geez. Gimme a break. Hey eWe, what do you call Ms. Belle (the old librarian).

eWe: What do you mean?

Me: You know, what does she DO?

eWe: Well, she doesn't do anything any more. She left. Ya know, she's too tired.

Me: Ha! You mean RETIRED? Hahahahahhaahaha.

Well, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, eh? Besides, the way I see it Ms. Belle might have actually left because she WAS too tired. I would be if I was a LIBRARIAN (not Media Specialist) in an elementary school.

Weave it to me.

2010-02-21T16:53:00.002-05:00

So, eWe is sporting her new dress from Nicaragua that Poppy brought home for her. It is so precious. He took a few full length pictures of her that I'll try to post later. She is also doing one of my most favorite activities from childhood...weaving potholders. Seriously, I might have to do one of my own one night after she's in bed:) Ha!

She got this from Nana and Pa for Valentine's Day, so she's already decided that they will be the lucky recipients of her first masterpiece!

Portrait II

2010-02-17T14:53:00.003-05:00

Okay, so here's Lil' C's painting of me. He wanted to be sure that I understood that I had a dress on. I'm okay with that, but where are my stinkin' legs? Okay, okay I could complain but do you see that circle above my head? I can only assume that he intended for that to be a halo b/c he thinks I'm a precious angel of a mommy, right? Let's put it this way...if you disagree, keep it to yourself! Ha!

Portrait

2010-02-16T11:55:00.002-05:00

So, you never know how others view you, right? Well, recently eWe learned how to draw girl people from her friend at school. She was excited to show me her version of me. What do you think? Lil' C also painted me recently. I'll have to take a picture of that and post it as well.

Another year...

2010-02-16T07:07:00.003-05:00

So yesterday was my 34th birthday! Whew! On one hand, I LOVE birthdays. It's a day to feel extra special and do fun things with people you love. On the other hand, I struggle with turning older. Ugh!

At any rate, it was a really great day. We were traveling and had spent the night with the hub's Aunt Jan (a.k.a Nitty) and cousin, Morgan. I got to sleep in a bit, and then Nitty made me an awesome breakfast omelet. After that Morgan and I logged some miles running up to meet the rest of the group on the main street through town.....which has shopping, eats, etc. We strolled for a bit and then I ran home, grabbed a shower, and we headed to Pei Wei for lunch....one of my FAVS!!!! Afterwords, Morgan treated me to the best replacement-for-a-birthday cake ever...Gurtzberry's. Have you ever had it? Oh my...it is AMAZING natural frozen yogurt. I had raspberry mixed with green tea and original and then topped it with granola, mango, and kiwi. Heaven!!! I totally recommend trying it out!

So, then we headed home via the local running store so that I could get fitted for a new pair of shoes. This was a new experience for me, and it was interesting to learn about the way that I am balanced, striking, running, etc. I got a pair of shoes, and will be interested to see how they work for me as my training progresses. I'll keep you posted.

Anyway, for the past several years my b.i.l, Brian (a.k.a Bdog) has come up with themes or mottos for our age, since he and I are the same age (okay, okay, he's a few months younger). I think it started with "twenty-fine" for 29! Ha! So, what should this year's motto be? Last year was "33, being free!, being me!" What rhymes with 34? bore, core, door, floor, gore, lure, more, pour, poor, roar, soar store, sure, tour, tore, your, whore (kidding).....no really, what should it be? I'll be thinking of it, but if you have any suggestions give me a shout...especially you, Bdog (Erin will have to ask you since I'm sure you don't read this ridiculous blog).

So, once I have my motto then I can begin thinking through my new goals for the year.....I don't know if I can come up with 34, but I'd like to try. Any suggestions?

Okay, so you have your homework....help!

One of my favorites....

2010-02-12T15:17:00.004-05:00

Okay moms.....

Easter is coming and so is warmer weather! If you are looking for some PRECIOUS outfits for your toddler girls, please check out my friend Marilyn's clothing line called "Oh, Hannah!" . You will NOT be disappointed.

Here are a few pictures of her newer items! Happy shopping...

The Simpsons

2010-02-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

Well, I just got back from an awesome visit with my sister and her family. The winter storm made travel a bit precarious, but I got there and back without a glitch. My oldest nephew, Jack, and my niece Ella-Kathryn both had a snow day on Friday too, so we had extra fun time together with the whole family.

Mel and I spent Thursday alone together, thanks to Jeff. We had lunch, shopped a bit, and grabbed coffee. If I haven't said this before...I LOVE MY SISTER! She is so real, so precious-hearted, and hilarious as all get out. I love being with her:)

The rest of our time was spent eating too much junk and candy, watching Tim Hawkins comedy, playing Band Hero (so addictive, especially the drums for me), watching movies, playing games, and just hanging out. It was great. I was so sad to have to leave!

Here are a few pics...

This one is my precious nephew Ryan! It's the first time I actually got to meet him face-to-face and hold him. He is quite a miracle. What a chunk-a-munk. He is also one of the happiest babies ever. If you even glance in his general direction, he's ALL smiles. He's got a laugh that would melt your heart. I could just eat him up!

This is my niece, Ella-Kathryn. She informed me that she now wants to be called "EK", but if your family you can still call her Ella-Kathryn. Hilarious! She is so dear. We played checkers, she read to me, she showed me her how she gives her horse a bath, and did a puzzle for me.

This is my HUGE nephew Jack. He's the first kiddo to make me an aunt:) I can't believe how tall he is. I am so proud of him, too. He's continues to mature, and I can see his faith coming out in his actions. I watched as he tolerated his "annoying" littler siblings, put them first often, was quick to make right any wrong behavior towards his parents, and just was simply engaging with me which I loved. We played checkers, watch a comedian while snuggling and laughing, and he showed me all his cool stuff like his knife from Poppy and his new bow and arrow (from us). He's such a creative one....truly thinks outside of the box. I am loving watching the Lord take him and mold him. He's into hunting, motorcross, and pretty much anything his Daddy is into. Here he is getting ready to go out and play in the snow.

Last, but certainly NOT least is Will! This is his attempt to smile for "K.K." as he now calls me. I suppose that's better than "Aunt Chewy" (which is the name of their dog! Ha!). He is ALL personality ALL the time. Like Mel said, he's either hot or cold. The hot side of him is loveable, cuddly, and HA-Larious! He'll say things like, "aww, shoot", "man", "dude", and other precious expressions. He keeps me rollin'. But boy, when he's cold...watch out! He's a screamer and is going through a bit of a "me" phase. He's been known to attack his siblings with any means necessary. It makes me laugh, but that's just because I'm not his mama...I get to just be Aunt K.K:)

And here is my band! We had them jammin' out to music and Band Hero. I was also dressed accordingly, but I'll spare you that picture. I taught them all my moves...hammer, roger rabbit, the cabbage patch, sprinkler, etc. Yea, you know your jealous! Ha! They are SOOOO fun and funny.

Thanks, Simpsons....I love you all so much! Missing you already!

I'm BAAAACCCCKKKK....

2010-01-25T07:23:00.003-05:00

Boy have I been absent. Not just from here, but from my life. I came down with bronchitis that was borderline pnemonia and I have been OUT OF COMMISSION for about 2 1/2 weeks now. UGH!

Anyway, I'll hopefully get back in the game now. I'll just share one little "Wee Woelke Words of Wisdom". It came out of the mouth of my very mature and tender-hearted 5 year old daughter....

eWe: "Mom, thanks for all the great things you do for us!"

Me: "Geez, eWe, you're welcome. What an encouraging thing to say. Thank you for that encouragement"

eWe: "Well, you're welcome, but it wasn't encouragement. It was a compliment."

I stand corrected! But seriously...I don't think I had the selflessness to thank my parents until I was in college. Sweet eWe.

Tangents....

2010-01-07T07:43:00.004-05:00

I'm not sure how to explain my absence. Not that any of you really probably even noticed or lost sleep over it. Maybe you just assumed it was the holidays. But in reality it's just that I get to this point in my blogging mind where there is so much I want to say, but none of it connects so it would mean blogging like 100 posts in a matter of days and well, you all do NOT deserve that type of torture. I also tend to dream and think while running, and since I'm currently training for a 1/2 I have a lot more time to dream and think.

At any rate, I read my sister's blog the other day where she did a post of tangents....I suppose that's as good a way as any to put all my randomness into one post. Thanks, Mel! So here goes...

Tangent 1: We had a fabulous Christmas. We went down to Ft. Lauderdale to be with the hub's side of the family. The hubs was sick most of the week, which was a bummer, but other than that we so enjoyed the activities, the weather, and most of all the family.

Tangent 2: Running. It's not something I ever thought I'd be able to do or even like. I was telling a friend the other day, though, that for some reason I really think of running as a hallmark of health and fitness. So, it was important for me to try it out as I journey to become the fittest me I can be. I can remember a little over a year ago not even being able to run to the corner of the block...seriously. I hated every step too. But, I was determined to continue trying. The iPod helped...just being able to focus elsewhere took my mind off the mental challenge to some degree. I also knew that the only way to get better at running was to run. So, I'd fit in a little here or there and before I knew it I was running a mile (one loop in the neighborhood). Then one day I decided to try for a second loop. I didn't make it at first, but I kept trying. Then I added another little loop. Now, I know that most people ramp up their running by doing the run/walk method. Totally professional. I'm just too stubborn. I won't give myself credit if I walk and well....I was determined each time to run further than I had the previous time. By the time November rolled around I was running over 3 miles on a typical day. So, when I heard about the 10K I thought it would be a stretch, but a good challenge. I tried running 5 and did it! It hurt, but I knew that if I could do it I would be able to run the race. I joined our running group and did the last long run with them, and then did the race. Yea! The running group was going to continue to train for an upcoming 15K and I thought...what the heck. Unfortunately it falls on a date that I'll be out of town. So, I opted to push a little further and do a 1/2. Who would have thunk it? So, here's what I have to say to all of you who where me a year ago.....1.) Running isn't a hallmark of health. You can do many other things that may even be better for your body in the long run. But, if it's important to you to try...then do it. It is one of the most challenging, and thus rewarding things you can strive for. 2.) If I can run, so can you. I would reccomend ramping up with the run/walk method rather than what I did (I'm so hard headed), but before you know it you'll be setting new goals. 3.) If I can enjoy running, so can you. That's not to say that I have days where it is harder than others to grind it out, but for the most part I really enjoy that time. I always run outside...no matter how rainy or cold. I just like the scenery. I also always run with music. It SERIOUSLY helps! It is actually such a worshipful time for me. The other day I was running down a back street, fortunately, with my arms raised praising the Lord as I went. Ha! Okay, so if you are out there wanting to run....let me know how I can help or encourage you to get started with a plan.

Tangent 3: Clean eating. I've not really update much since I began, I don't think. But, it does work. I know because of the scale. I know because I wake up hungry ready to eat break-fast, which is how it should be. I know because I'm never really left craving anything in the evenings which used to be my time of biggest temptation (that's AMAZING). I know because I'm regular (T.M.I? Sorry.). I know because when I allowed myself to venture out and eat "other" foods I felt sick, bloated, and instantly regretted the decision. I've not been as strict as the book would recommend, but I follow the principles. Here they are once again in case you are interested:
1. Eat 6 smaller meals/day
2. Each meal needs to consist of a lean protein and a complex carbohydrate
3. Portion size is VITAL.
4. Elimate all processed food....i.e. no lunchmeats, no store bought dressings, etc. It can be done!
5. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. 16 ozs in b/f you eat anything in the a.m., and then keeping pumping the water ALL day until dinner in done.

I've fallen off the wagon some with the holidays and then with PMS to follow (Ha!), but I'm tightening the reins once again, so I'll let you know more as I go.

Tangent 4: I've been trying out some new recipes on the fam. Fortunately I have a very supporting husband who doesn't demand meat and potatos at every meal. I also have kiddos who are willing to try new things and like a lot of healthy foods. They mostly have a hard time with meats, and for that there is always ranch to use as dip:)

So, one of the new recipes I thought I might pass on is from Real Simple , the January eddition. It was called coucous-stuffed peppers.

Brown 1/2 lb. ground beef (I used lean ground turkey). Cook 1/2 C. couscous according to the package directions (you can also use bulgar wheat blends for a healthier choice). Mix the meat, couscous, 4 scallions (I omitted on the hubs b/c he doesn't like onions), 1 C. crumbled Feta (I used Light Lauging Cow cheese, garlic and herb, b/c it's all I had...but I think reduced fat Feta would have been better), and 1/2 C. chopped dried apricots (I omitted b/c I didn't have it and couldn't imagine really like that...maybe next time?). Season with salt and pepper. Stuff into 4 hollowed-out bell peppers and bake at 400 , covered, until tender, 45-50 minutes.

I paired it with a mixed green salad that had toasted almonds, fresh cilantro, and then a homemade dressing made of balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, and garlic. YUM! It was a hit with all of the them! The kids especially thought it was SO cool that the pepper was like a bowl. eWe actually helped me cook this one too by doing the mixing and stuffing. Okay, so below it a picture of the results in case you are visual! Enjoy!

I still have a bunch more posts rolling around in my brain, but I've got to get going for now. More later! By the way...if there are health and fitness questions that you'd like to see address, please let me know. I'm sure you aren't the only one and I'd like to try to supply you all with answers, even if I have to ask elsewhere:)

Father and Son

2009-12-17T13:07:00.002-05:00

Lil' C is such a tender-hearted little guy. Yes, he's more readily known as a clown...but he's got such a sweet spirit about him. The people in his life are very important to him. He wants to know where everyone is whether its Daddy or Poppy, or Miss Leslie at the Y. He will greet you like he's not seen you in a year, each and every morning. I just love this little guy!

When I tuck him in he always asks me for a kiss, a hug, and then he wants to kiss each hand and hug my arms. Who knows? But it is our little routine and so it's precious to me! He also says the same thing as you leave the room, "Goodnite, see you in the morning, I love you." If you don't say anything back to him, he'll say it all over again:)

Well, he is a bit of a mama's boy....not in that he's not tough and into all boy things, because nothing could be more true. But more so that he prefers me over any other person in this world. Normal, no?

But, my sweet hubs is such an amazing Daddy! He puts so much into his relationship with Lil' C...all in an attempt to build a bond between father and son. I love it!

On that note, one of the things the little guy asks for consistently is for Daddy to come in and "sleep" with him. He's not afraid or too awake to fall asleep....he just knows deep down that its a special thing and so he asks for that time with his daddy.

Often, much time will pass and I'll wonder where the hubs is before realizing he has actually fallen asleep in there! I recently went looking for him on just such a night and this is what I found. I just had to take a picture. They looked like they were mirror images. I love both of them so much...my big-hearted guys all tuckered out!

Happy Birthday, Jesus....a wee bit early....

2009-12-17T12:53:00.005-05:00

Today we are celebrating Christmas with our family, including Poppy, before we all head in different directions for holiday visits to other family. So in case I don't get back on here before we return....

MERRY CHRISTMAS.....

...AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.....

Ready to run.....

2009-12-13T16:49:00.002-05:00

So on this journey of health and fitness, I decided I needed some goals. First came my teaching certification. Check. Next I decided to run a race longer than I had before, and this past weekend afforded me with that opportunity. It was the Reindeer Run here on the island...a 10K. All I knew was that I wanted to finish and I wanted to do it in one hour and 10 minutes. Well, check.

Here is a picture of our running group from the Y. Les and I actually jumped in on the running group at the last minute, but they were gracious to receive us as their own:) Les is the one down in front of me on the end, and Pattee is the one next to her with Reindeer antlers. Pattee is my instructor for Flexx it and Step, and the one who encouraged me to get certified. She's an AWESOME teacher, a great encourager and motivator, and I'm proud to call her a friend!

Here is a picture that Pattee snapped on her iPhone of me while I was running! Ha!

So, if all continues to go well with my old foot injury, I'd like to prepare to run another race in March that is a 15K. That's the next "goal". I'll keep you posted:)

Coming clean

2009-12-03T11:58:00.002-05:00

Okay so back to food.....

I mentioned in previous posts that I've been trying to make changes slowly so that they would stick. The best example is drinking my coffee black rather than loaded down with sugar (artificial or real) and creamer. I know, I know...I probably should give up the java all together, but I'm not quite there (and not sure I'll ever be).

My diet for the past year has been quite consistently the following...

Breakfast: coffee, one egg, and either 2 whole grain low fat waffles OR 1 alternative bagel with 1/3 less fat cream cheese. Sometimes I'd vary and make an egg, cheese, and bagel sandwich...but you get the idea.

Lunch: veggies (peppers, mushrooms) on a Joseph's pita, on a alternative bagel, maybe with cheese OR soup OR salad with some tuna.

Afternoon snack: typically 5 ak-mak crackers with a Diet Coke

Dinner: usually a grilled meat, a salad, and a hot veggie (green beans, eggplant, asparagus, califlower, broccoli). Sometimes I'd sub in another side like couscous, red potatoes baked like fries, baked potato, sweet potato fries, whole grain rice, etc. And I usually have a glass (or two) of wine with dinner or while preparing.

After dinner snack: bag of 94% FF popcorn OR baked tostidos and salsa

From what I've encountered, most people would say I'm a healthy eater, right? But, I feel like I could still make a TON of changes. I need to be eating "cleaner". I need to be eating on a different schedule (i.e. more frequently and having breakfast be my biggest meal). I need to stop snacking after dinner. I need to cut out soda (even though it's diet) and wine. And on, and on, and on.....

So, I've decided to ramp up and make some more changes. I need to because I've really hit a plateau on the scale. I'm sure that I'm still losing inches and changing unseeable things like BMI, but I need and want to see more progress on the scale too.

I had my body composition done the other day and I chatted with the fitness director afterwords. She suggested/reccommeded reading "The Eat-Clean Diet" by Tosca Reno. I went out and bought it and have made it through 3 chapters so far. Most of what she's covering is not new to me, and in theory it's what I've been trying to accomplish in this past year. But, she ramps it up a bit and so it is helping me see some areas in which I can make subtle changes.

So far this is what I'm gathering:

6 smaller meals/day (each consisting of lean protein and complex carbs, ever 2-3 hours)
make breakfast your biggest meal, and never skip it
drink more water and be sure to start the day with 16 oz. before eating
eat only "clean" foods....nothing that man has had a hand in making other than to plant or slaughter (sorry, maybe too graphic for some of you).

And as a result here are the changes to my diet so far:

Breakfast: 16 oz. H2O first. Then coffee, 2 egg whites (sometimes with veggies if scrambled) and a bowl of oatmeal with fruit in it. This is actually equivalent to what I was having before in terms of points/calories, but it is "cleaner"....less fat, cholestrol, and processing (like what happens with the bagels and waffles when they are made). It's adding more fiber (which satiates better), leaner protein (without the added fat of the egg yolk), and complex carbs from the fruit.

Mid-late a.m.: Water. Joseph's pita with lettuce, slice of turkey, and cucumbers OR apple with 1/2 Tbsp. of almond butter. I still need to investigate turkey's "cleanness" in terms of lunchmeat. I also need to investigate Joseph's pitas vs. Ezekial products, which are what Tosca reccommends. In addition, since I just started I don't have EVERYTHING I want to use in the pantry and am making due...I'd like to get flaxseed and wheatgerm to add to the oatmeal at bfast and almonds for a snack. I'm sure I'll keep figuring out new things to add in as time continues.

"Lunch": Water. Since I'm trying to eat more often, lunch is more aptly named meal 3 because it doesn't happen exactly at the "normal" lunch time. I've been doing salad with tuna, and soups that have veggies and lean meats. I'm going to have to figure out adding the protein in more...maybe doing a protein smoothie (which is something she reccommends...as long as there aren't alot of other additives).

Afternoon: Water. carrots (or other veggie), fruit, and almonds, OR yogurt (which can contain protein). Again, I have to work on this. And I'm going to have to work on giving up diet coke...ugh. I really LOVE that one/day, but I know that I would be SO much better off without the artificial sweetner and since it's proven to make you crave more sweets I really need to ditch it.

Dinner: Water. since we eat dinner so early (due to the kiddos) I feel like I can fit one more small meal in by the end of the day. Dinner will mostly likely stay the same but maybe watch portions a little more and try to cut down or out the wine.

After dinner: stop the water so I don't have to get up ALL night:) I've yet to figure this one out...maybe it will help to keep reading the book, eh?

Okay, so that's just to give you an update, maybe help you see someone else's day, and more importantly put it out there so that some of you can give me some input on other ideas and changes...help!

I'll have to let you know how it goes!

Thanksgiving

2009-12-02T11:39:00.003-05:00

Well, we did Thanksgiving a little different this year....not very traditional at all....we went to Disney! Ha! It was a blast though, honestly. We had Poppy, Nana and Pa, and our dear friend's Leslie and Andrew (a.k.a Tiger) along for the chaos too! Once I sort though the pictures I'll post them in the slide show, but for now I thought I'd share eWe's list of things she was thankful for....

In case you can't read it...." My Bubba, telling Hook(her Pa was telling her the story of Hook at bedtime each night), family, Jesus, and friends".

We are so thankful for so many things this year, and look forward to the blessings and trials that will be ours in the year ahead!

Dance, Dance, Dance

2009-11-17T14:23:00.002-05:00

eWe is still LOVING dance. She prefers tumble and ballet over tap, and I think she truly excels most at tumble. They had "Watch Week" where the parents, siblings, grandparents, etc could come in and watch them take their class. It was fun to see her interact with her teacher and the other little girls. Here is a shot of three of them....there is another girl too who was absent that night. I know the hubs took some video, but I need to weed through them and pick one to show. Maybe in a few days:)

Lil' C's Bday Party

2009-11-04T09:34:00.005-05:00

I didn't want to cheat the little guy out of having cake and a party, I mean look at this face...how can you resist it, right? Even so, he did get to go to Disney on his actual birthday for Pete's sake! But, I'm a sucker for any reason to throw a party, so....I did.

He really wanted cupcakes, just like last year. Somehow I conned him into carrot cake ones. Good thing he can read yet, otherwise the word "carrot" on the box would have definitely gotten a turned up nose. Anyway, I grabbed some Star Wars plates, made some dips, and grilled some burgers and viola....we had a party!

Here he is preparing to dive into his cupcake

Opening his presents...

And then at some point eWe was given artistic control of the party. I think Ms. Leslie had to use the restroom and thought, "Hey, I know, I'll give the camera to the 5 year old so that we don't miss any coverage while I'm gone." ha! Well, it turned out to be a good call for the most part. eWe was so excited about her "job" that she took about 100 pictures, used up all the batteries, got a ton of shots of people from the waist down, and took some very interesting still pictures of our lamps and whatnot....but she also got quite creative. I heard her saying to Lil' C, "So, show me your gift" and when he'd hold it up she'd take a shot. It was like she was running her own birthday photo shoot. Too funny! One of her most creative ideas was having us all stand back to back. Here they are:)

Daddy and Mommy

Ms. Maribel and Mr. Pete (they are long time family friends that live down the street from us. I think we figured out the other night that I've known them since I was 8 year old. They are truly like family to us!!!)

And here is my Dad and dear friend, Ms. Leslie. I think when eWe paired them up we collectively sighed because while it was clear that Ms. Leslie's picture partner (Mr. Andrew, a.k.a Tiger) wasn't there because he was traveling for work....it was also glaringly obvious that Dad didn't have a picture partner. These moments are hard for all of us, but I'm sure especially my Dad. He's so amazing, though. I'm so very proud of the honesty of his grief, his strength to put one foot in front of the other, his faith in the Lord to carry him through, and that he lives a life of hope based on things eternal.

a few more Halloween tidbits....

2009-11-04T08:59:00.005-05:00

More of our Halloween day...

Dad and the hubs went golfing in the a.m., so the kids and I decided to don our festive colors and run errands. Here they are on our way out the door.

Later in the day, eWe conned Poppy into playing a mean game of "Guess Who". She gets to sit in this special spot, up on the windowsill, when she plays games with Poppy. As you can tell, though, she was already dressed and ready to go trick-or-treating (like 2 hours ahead of time). But, on a side note, this is one of the many things I L-O-V-E about living with my dad...that they can do fun stuff together at the drop of a hat. They adore their Poppy!

Here is a better shot of the princess perched on her throne. Doesn't everyone play games dressed like this? Ha!

And last but not least...here they are in all their glory as Sleeping Beauty and Luke Skywalker. They lasted about two blocks before the complaining began...."I'm hot", "I'm tired of walking", "My basket is too heavy to carry". I SO do not remember feeling this way as a kid. We loved going out trick-or-treating because it meant candy and staying up late. I told the hubs that next year we were going to wise up and do it the way my parents used to.....the moms stayed home to hand out candy and the dads hauled a wagon with a cooler of ice and beer around as they took the kids trick-or-treating. It's a win-win....the women can chill at home, the kids can occasionally rest in the wagon, and the men can have a brewsky to make the whining less painful! Ha! Well thoughtout, I'd say! Ha!

My little girl's heart for God

2009-10-31T14:22:00.005-04:00

eWe has such an amazing little brain, and can memorize and remember things so well. This has truly served her well at AWANA, a kids program that she and Lil' C go to at a local baptist church on Wednesday nights. They LOVE it!

Poppy generously takes them each and every week, which they also love. This gives the hubs and I a date night, which we truly cherish.

Anyway, here is eWe reciting her first verse from this year, John 3:16. This one was a big accomplishment for her since it was her first "longer" one, and for some reason it has stuck with her more than the others.

It is such a precious, precious thing for me to see them learning God's word and truly storing it up in their hearts. I know that it means something to her and isn't just head knowledge because I see her burdened already, at age 5, to share the good news with others.

In fact, many of you already know the story of how she shared Christ with her good friend on the way home from school one day last year. The little girl said that she didn't know God, and eWe proceeded to share with her how she could. It was so dear, and a pretty spot on gospel presentation. This summer they talked about it again and the little girl said that she went home and asked her mommy to help her pray to ask Jesus into her heart. I pray for this little girl regularly, and her family....

Along those same lines, eWe has taken to copying books. It's quite interesting. She actually will rewrite a whole book, and says she is doing it to give to a friend. Well, yesterday she decided to start copying a book about Jesus and the disciples so that she could give it to the same little girl she shared her faith with. She said, "I thought this book would be good to copy for her since she doesn't know Jesus all that well." I replied with a tear in my eye, "Yes, yes...I think that would be lovely."

And on a final note....yesterday she was working on her homework. She was to fill in the blank on a turkey feather made of construction paper that will go on her classroom turkey at school. It read, "I am thankful for____". Well, she came out of her room and handed it to me after writing on the blank and decorating the feather. Her's read, "I am thankful for God and Jesus."

And for that I am thankful!

Boo!

2009-10-31T13:52:00.006-04:00

Happy Halloween, everyone!

We started our festivities with eWe's Fall Parade at school yesterday. Here's a picture of her class. She's in the middle toward the end dressed as Minnie Mouse.

Here is her class parading by. As you watch the video, you'll hear me trying to get her attention. She actually looks like she sees me, but not so much. When she finally does see me, well, just watch and see and be sure and listen for my *sigh* at the end! Ha!

Daddy took over and continued the Halloween fun by taking the kids to a Fall festival called BethleHEM Marketplace (apparently I say "ham" and that is SOOOO wrong in the eyes of my hubs). Ha!

This morning I awoke to the great carving of the pumpkins. The kids each got to pick the design of their choice, and Daddy got to do all the work! Both of them thought it was too gross....what? Are you my children? I LOVE getting slimy and dirty...

eWe picked the ever traditional look.

Lil' C on the other hand opted for a more modern twist of the traditional look...and if you look at his face, I think he's trying to match his new friend!

Stay-cation Day 4 & 5

2009-10-29T09:30:00.004-04:00

Well, we wrapped up our stay-cation with a Tuesday full of bowling, lunch at Chick-fil-a, a hike, and playing at the park. Then on Wednesday we took eWe out of school in order to go and celebrate Lil' C's 4th birthday at Disney.

We were out the door by 6 a.m. and in the park (after driving, parking, riding the bus in, etc) by 10 a.m. ish. The birthday boy got to pick the park, and he chose Magic Kingdom. When I asked him why he said, "Because it has It's a Small World and that's my sister's favorite ride." How precious! And that he is. He is such a pure hearted little guy.

We had a great day! We left the park at 5 p.m., stopped for a quick dinner in Orlando, and then headed home with them both asleep in the car. Whew! What a fun whirlwind of a day.

Today we are decompressing.

I will stay, though, our first stay-cation was a hit. We did tons of different stuff, got a good mix of rest and play, and ended up only spending about $17/person/day for the whole 5 days. Not bad!

But, before I end today I just want to say a little Happy Birthday to my little man. He's one of the funniest kiddos I know....such a clown. He's giving, he's high energy, he sweet, and he's all boy. He is a joy to parent, and seemingly will charm all he meets. Yes, his implusive thoughlessness of his actions can sometimes drive me insane.....but, it seems a small price to pay for the priveledge of having him in my life. I need the joy and simplicity that he offers...it's good for me! Happy Birthday, buddy!

Family Pics

2009-10-27T14:58:00.001-04:00

As I mentioned a few days ago, we had our family pictures done by our dear friend, Leslie. She has just ventured out on her own in business, and is so talented. I can't wait to see how both she and her business grow!

With the start of her own business, she also started a blog. Today, she featured some of our family's shots. If you care to check them out, you can at the Leslie See Photography blog.

Can't wait to see the rest! Great work, Les!

Stay-cation Day Three

2009-10-26T17:36:00.015-04:00

Whew, I'm exhausted! We lounged around this morning, but then headed out right around lunch.

First we hit Five Guys for some of the best burgers and of course the fun peanuts!

Then we headed to the Zoo! We've not been to our local zoo yet, so it was a fun outing. Here are some of the highlights...

Strolling through.

Posing with the pumpkins.

Up close with stingrays in the stingray encounter exhibit.

Hanging with the elephants.

Sissy and Bubby in the bamboo garden.

Riding on the gorilla.

This was a funny one. Daddy didn't tell Lil' C that the snake wasn't real. He just said, "Hey, look! Do you want to pet it?", as he lifted him up. Lil' C started FREAKING out because he thought it was real. Okay, so maybe torturing your children shouldn't be fun...but what can I say?

Lounging with the Komodo dragon.

And last but not least....playing at the play park! A great day! Wonder what tomorrow will hold????

Stay-cation

2009-10-26T08:38:00.006-04:00

eWe has off for two days which means a long weekend. We had tried and tried to come up with a fun getaway for us, but nothing struck us just right. So, we decided to put a fun thing on the calendar for each day and turn it into a a mini stay-cation! So far, it's been fun. A good mix of relaxation and fun adventures.

Saturday we headed out on Poppy's boat with Poppy and our dear friends, Leslie and Andrew (affectionately known to my kiddos as "Tiger"). We rode up to a nearby town, docked, ate lunch and strolled around.

Somehow we also squeezed in a family photo shoot later that day, in preparation for Christmas cards, etc. Leslie is a photographer, and a great one at that. She took us down to the beach for the shoot. We haven't seen the pictures yet, but I'm so excited! Check out her other work at Leslie See Photography when you get a chance! You won't regret the detour. So, that was Saturday, day one of our stay-cation.

Sunday we went to church, grabbed lunch at home, and then headed out to the Northeast Florida Fair. In order to get in the spirit of the day, I had the kids get into their overalls. They thought it was SO fun to match one another. They kept saying, "Happy Farmer Day". I have no idea where they got that from, but it cracked me up.

Since it was the last day of the fair, we missed a lot of the livestock shows, etc. But, we enjoyed some cotton candy and soda (the treat the kids chose), games, and a few rides.

It was a nice afternoon. We came home, had dinner, and crashed. So ended day two of our stay-cation.

Health: Tasty tips

2009-10-23T14:42:00.002-04:00

I don't know how many posts are in my head about this topic, but I'm certain it's a zillion since it's such a part of my life right now.

I was frustrated this week because I felt like I was really making an effort to add food tracking back in to my world and some how it failed me a a bit. Well, I guess technically it didn't fail me, but I failed myself. I got my spreadsheet opened each day. I entered most everything from morning until dinner, and sometimes through dinner, and sometimes until bed. I entered all my calories burned from workouts (thanks to my Polar heartrate monitor). I even reverted back to some of my tried and true recipes that help keep me feeling satisfied and within points range for the day. But, I still failed.

Failures come in many shapes and forms. But no matter how they come, they are tough for me. I set a pretty high standard for myself and don't give myself a lot of latitude for screw ups. Plus, as I mentioned before, I'm such an all or nothing person. If I mess up during the day, I have a tendency to believe that it was all for nothing. I'm learning though...slowly. I even told myself as I looked back over my spreadsheet...."at least your opening it"..."at least you tracked most of your day"...."at least you are trying to make wise choices"...etc. Everything is a process and so any movement in the right direction is a good thing, right?

Anyway, specific struggles? Well, there is ALWAYS something that is going to be there to "mess up" your day. It might be lunch with a friend. Donuts brought to the office by a co-worker. Someone's birthday which means a party, dinner out, and cake (gasp). It's tough. How do you navigate through all of that and still make wise choices...especially when you really don't want the side salad...you want FRIES! Ha!

As I thought through tips to share I began to realize that it basically boils down to two larger categories: plan ahead and stay satisfied. Within these broader categories, though, I can think of a ton of little examples and tips. I'll try to share some as a reminder to myself, and in hopes that maybe you can get something from it as well.

Plan ahead.

Examples and Tips?

Know what you are going to do that day and think through your food accordingly. Anticipate what might "mess you up" and have a plan of action.

Pastries used to show up at my all female office that I worked in before having kiddos. I knew they would be there, especially on certain days. So, on those days I began bringing part of my breakfast to eat while at work so that I could occupy my mouth and hands with something better while others indulged in the goodies.

When we used to live near family, we'd do a Sunday night dinner all together. I never was in charge of the menu (thank you mamacita) and therefore could never predict what options I might have. As such, I used to eat a big can of green beans, a salad, or something like that before heading over. This allowed me to eat less of what was offered, if it wasn't healthy. I also traveled with my own diet coke and bag of microwave popcorn so that I would have a healthy snack while we played games and munched on goodies that weren't great options for me.

Whenever we go out to eat I always try to peruse the restaraunt's menu online before hand. A lot of times they offer the nutritional information. There is also a great website that has calulated the W.W. points at hundreds of restaraunts already. Check it out at www.dwlz.com. Anyway, doing this ahead of time enables me to be ready to make the right choice.

Stay satisfied.

Examples and tips?

Know what food items are anytime foods (better known as zero point foods if you do W.W.) and snack on those in between your other planned items if you need to. If you are satisfied you won't be tempted quite as much and might also be able to resist.

Drink a glass of water before each meal.

Don't cheat yourself of something you really desire, but be sure and control the portion of it and count it on your spreadsheet. If you feel cheated you will cheat.

I guess that's all I can muster up for now. There are two more things that are swimming in my head....

First, I know that if I indulge in something because if feels right or good or is what I wanted at that moment it is fleeting. I will inevitably regret it later when I have to log it in the spreadsheet, don't see the numbers moving on the scale, or when my clothes aren't getting any looser. On the flip side...I know that if I walk away from the tempting item and don't indulge I will feel more powerful, proud, and inspired to keep making such choices. And, the clothes and scale will reflect the wisdom of my choice. So, again...why it that so hard?

Second, I realized this week that I often reward my kiddos with "treats". Nothing wrong with that, especially since they are wonderful eaters...such healthy palates. But, I don't want to create that in them. What brought this to my attention was that Poppy went with eWe to lunch at school one day. She invited a friend to eat with them, and that friend had a little candy bar as part of her packed lunch. Poppy said that eWe harassed the poor girl into giving her 1/2 of it. Poppy then mentioned to me that perhaps her actions stemmed from it being "the forbidden fruit". I don't know. We allow our kids to have a piece of candy after lunch each day, and ice cream from Poppy's store each night after dinner. They aren't restricted really. But, then Poppy said, "well, maybe it stems back to it being a big deal...like when they were rewarded during potty training with M-n-Ms". Hmmm. Could it be? I don't know. I won't lose sleep over this, that's for sure. But, it was just another reminder that our culture is centered on food (as I mentioned in a previous post) and that we often reward with food. I just want to be careful not to create a relationship with food in my children, like I've had. I want them to see food as food and not have to fuss with the rest.

Okay, so now that I've spent all this time writing about food, I'm hungry (truly). I've got to go grab a snack:)

2009-10-22T15:50:00.003-04:00

We just got a Flip and I wanted to try it out. Here's one that makes me giggle. It's Lil' C doing his signature dance move, The Hula Hoop! Enjoy!

Health: If the Truth be told

2009-10-17T09:51:00.006-04:00

First, let me say that the last two food days have been better for me. I am tracking what I eat once again, and trying to stay within my limitations. Wouldn't you know that already I'm seeing a difference on the scale? I shouldn't be surprised. It's not rocket science. And you would think that having seen this as a result before would be enough to keep me motivated. So many feel like they don't know how to make the numbers move and that's why they don't keep at it. I do know how to make the numbers move and just don't do what I need to do. Crazy, eh?

Well, like I said in my last post...while you can boil it all down to an equation there is so much more under the surface. I'm certain that it is no coincidence that my last few good food days have also been better days for me in terms of claiming and walking in the Truth. After writing that post I realized that I needed to stop being a pawn for the enemy and overwhelm him with the Truth, by overwhelming myself with the Truth. I listened to worship music (which is typical for me), downloaded some sermons to my iPod, began reading a new book related to my struggles, etc. It's been so effective, which again should really be no surprise. The Lord has graciously met me at every turn and has been reaffirming Truth regarding who I am in Him, who He is, and how my own sin has kept me from experiencing that Truth lately. It's so sad to me that I get in my own way within my relationship with the Lord. But, that seems to be the pattern....I have all that I need in Christ and yet I rely on myself and fail. And then I have the audacity to blame it on Him directly or indirectly by not taking the responsibility myself. Oy! Father, forgive me!

Well, the sermons I listened to were about Joy. I feel like joy has eluded me for quite sometime now, so the sermons were enticing. They were also given by one of my favorite teachers, Dr. Crawford Loritts. The essence of what Dr. Loritts communicated was in two parts. First:

Joy IS happiness. So often we seem to separate those based on the fact that happiness is related to our happenings and joy is something is deeper. Well, he argued that that is not what Scripture says, but rather that joy is a deep, soul-nourishing happiness. He also said that every time the Word teaches of joy it can fit into two broad categories; happiness or confidence. And additionally, that the Bible presents joy within a template that includes a state, a condition, and then a purpose or a promise.

The second thing Dr. Loritts spoke of was:

That joy is experienced when you live a life that is surrendered, a life that knows the source, and a life of submission.

None of this may seem eye opening at first glance, but it was for me this week. It revealed to me that my problem wasn't a joy problem in terms of happiness, but rather confidence. I clearly have not been living a life of daily submission because I've not been confident in the Truth because I've not been well connected to the Source. Seriously, Woelke...get in the game! Honestly, I don't know how I got to this place. I know it wasn't overnight. I know that I've slowly been buying into lies and BOOM, here I am.

Having said that, the book that I'm reading is, "Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free”. I’m sure so many of you have read it before. I’ve been to a conference where Nancy Leigh DeMoss spoke on it, but never read the book through. For obvious reasons I thought now would be a good time.

She begins the book by covering the most basic lies that women believe about God. They are: 1.) God is not really good, 2.) God doesn’t love me, 3.) God is just like my father, 4.) God is not really enough, 5.) God’s ways are too restrictive, and 6.) God should fix my problems. I don’t know about you, but even if I would never say that I actually believe these to be true statements, I’m certain that I’ve lived in such a way that says I do. The ones that really hits home for me currently are #4 and #5. And this ties back into my series on health.

When I turn to food (or anything really) to satisfy something else in me, I’m communicating that He is not enough. Nancy says that it’s like we are saying,“Sure I need God. But I need Him plus close friends; I need Him plus good health; I need Him plus a husband; I need Him plus children; I need Him plus a job that pays enough; I need Him plus a house with a microwave, a washer/dryer, a garage, and a fresh paint job…”. So for me it would be like saying, “Sure I need God. But I need Him plus food”. Ick! HE IS ENOUGH!!!

As for lie #5…I’ll share with you what Nancy wrote because it is so fitting and honestly made me laugh (in a sad way). She writes,“I have often wondered why food is such an issue with so many women. I’m convinced it has something to do with Genesis 3. After all, what was the very first sin? It was the sin of overeating. The single restriction God put on her diet was one too many for Eve….So (like Eve) we throw off the restrictions, determined to “have it our way.” We are free to choose our own way, just as Eve was free to eat the forbidden fruit. But there is one thing we are not free to choose, and that is the consequences.” And while it may seem that by being able to do (or eat) whatever we want, whenever we want, and in whatever quantities we want we are free…we aren’t free at all. We end up being in bondage to food, overweight, and depressed. Freedom comes from obedience. Obedience to the Truth that God IS enough and His ways are for my good.

So, what’s my current next step? To continue to overwhelm myself with His truths, confess and repent of that which has kept me from living in submission to Him, and thus become confident in who He is, who I am in Him, and thus experiencing freedom and joy in ALL areas of my life….food included. I can already feel the wind in my hair:)

Lord, grant that I may pay much closer attention to what I have heard, lest I drift away from it, Hebrews 2:1(ESV) and may hold fast to what has been preached to me, and may not believe in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:2(ESV)

Health: Mapping the way

2009-10-15T13:34:00.002-04:00

So, food continues to be my "frienemy". I've been desiring, as I think I mentioned previously, to get back on target with tracking my food. But, I've done a poor job. I know why, though. Not that this is meant as an excuse. Merely an explanation as part of my learning process.

I'm blue. I've been struggling for about 3 weeks now pretty intensely. This year or so has been characterized by more dramatic "downs" than I've ever experienced before, but this has definitely been the worst of it. I think it's a culmination of a lot of things that each deserve a little attention, so here goes..

1. Sadness. Year one without Mom represented a time of just trying to get my head around the fact that she was gone and loving those around me in their time of grief. But now? Well, now I get that she is gone, but I miss her.

2. Weariness. I've traveled quite a bit due to family emergencies, packing up the house, and some for fun family trips or visits from others. But, all totaled makes me tired. Maybe more accurately and positively put...they've been a good distraction and now I just see this vastness that lies ahead of me until the holidays.

3. Hopelessness. Yes, it may seem dramatic but that's how I've felt regarding whether we'll EVER be able to make a decision about where we are supposed to be geographically speaking. I've also felt that way about finding a church home, and thus friends (thank goodness for the See's). Nothing has seemed to "fit" us.

4. Defeatedness. The enemy has come on strong this year. I was reading on a blog that I follow and she shared a quote that her friend sent her about Satan. She said,
"Satan is no gentleman for sure, he doesn't back off when we are hurting or when the unimaginable has happened to us-he came at me with everything he had, with lie after lie...he tried to get me to believe that my life was over, that we wouldn't have happieness again...Thankfully, our great God pursued me even harder."
How true, How true. That pretty much sums it up for me. My vulnerabilities have been exposed this year in a whole new way. I've been walking through the loss of my Mom, a woman with whom a lot of my identitity stems from genetically, via nurturing, etc. As such, I've questioned many times what she thought about me....was she proud of me....it what ways am I like her....and on and on. So, in many ways I allowed myself to be open to the answers. And wouldn't you know that the enemy has jumped all over that opportunity. He has whispered in my ear that not only was my Mom not proud of me, didn't like me, etc....but that those are things that all the people in my life and even the Lord think of me too. That I have no value. That I am not loveable. You name it. And you know what it so sad about that? I BELIEVED him! ugh! It makes me so sick to think that I was scammed by him. I feel ashamed. I take comfort, though, that I've finally begun to see his attack for what it is...a lame attempt to make me ineffective in my life, the lives of those around me, and for the Lord. And just like that quote said earlier, my realization has only come because, "our great God pursued me even harder." Whew! Thank you, Jesus!

Now, having said that, I'm not quite out of this pit.....but I am on my way up.

Okay, so if you began reading this post because you were interested in what I had to say about food....sorry. My simple point is that food still has an unhealthy place in my life. But I've realized something new even just during these past few weeks. It's not just that food substitutes other things for me, but when I am overwhelmed with other things in my life I don't have the energy to deal with food appropriately. Thus, the old habits come right back into play. I eat without any thought for what I'm putting in my mouth or how much. During stressful times I apparently act on the basis that I am entitled to not have to think about food because there is too much else going on. That would be fine if all my old habits had been slayed and buried and new ones had been erected firmly in their places. But, I'm not there yet. I've not earned the right to be lacksidasical about food, and thus have no business ignoring it when the going gets tough in other areas.

Now that I have my own brow beating out of the way, let me just share one other little nugget that I've learned along the way so that I can end on a more encouraging note. When you make a mistake with you diet, or get off track with your exercise plan....the best time to get back to the plan is immediately upon realization. Don't wait until you get back from that trip, or finish that project, or attend that party, or even until you wake up the next day. Start with the next bite (or lack of one if necessary). We will all make mistakes. But, it is not an all or nothing thing (which is SOOOO my character). One mistake does NOT make it all for naught. Nor do several mistakes. What is important is that you recognize that you are off course and upon recognition, redirect. And that is where I am today. It's where I was yesterday and the day before too. My dietary navigational system is pretty stubborn right now. I've continued going the way I know that I should go, but my old GPS is screaming, "As soon as possible, make a U-turn." Well, not today, little missy, not today!

Health: Establishing a track record....

2009-10-09T08:36:00.003-04:00

Okay, so on to the practical side of what I've learned about food....

No matter how much I wanted to believe otherwise, it does come down to basic math. The energy balance equation states that if energy consumed equals energy output you will maintain you current weight. In the same manner, if your energy consumed is greater than you energy output you will gain weight. And, yes, if your energy consumed is less that your energy output you will lose weight.

I used to find myself saying that I'd tried everything and it wasn't' working. I felt like I would watch what I ate and nothing would happen. I felt like I would start exercising and nothing would happen. I blamed it on God at times....that He must have made me "broken" (I know, a bit blasphemous...forgive me, Lord). I blamed it on my bad genes and thyroid problem. I blamed it on everything else. But, truly I know now that it really does come back to a basic math equation. Yes, there will be a variation in how the math plays out in a life, but the same principle is at work.

So, with that disclaimer aside....for me I began with choosing a method by which to track, journal, or record my daily energy consumption. I tried an actual journal b/c I believed that it would be helpful to carry with me at all times. But I didn't love the difficulty of finding an item I'd consumed before in order to copy it's information onto a new day. I tried the computer post-it note method, but didn't like that there was no record of the day before since I had to trash them or become post-it note cluttered each day. But, these might work for others. Would love to hear from you all if you have something that you love. For me, it has been an excel spreadsheet diary. I configured it to include each month, each day of the month, and a column for food names and their associated value. That way it calculates it for me and I can constantly be looking to see where I am throughout the day. The down side is that I don't bring my computer with me everywhere so I have to be sure to either remember everything I put in my mouth or jot it down and transfer it over later. But despite the down side, I love this method. Besides making it easier to copy common foods from one day to the next, it also gives me a better look at the big picture. I can evaluate where I'm failing and make changes. So, just find something that works for you. Again, if it doesn't work you will NOT stick with it. Oh, and if any of you want my excel journal to use for yourself, just email me and I'll send it to you read to use.

Once I decided on where and how I'd track my food, I had to decided what value I was going to assign to food. Because I had done W.W. in the past and knew the points system so well, I opted to go this route. For a friend of mine, it was easier to determine how many calories she should be consuming in a day and do it that way. What I like about the W.W. method is that because of their equation, you are often choosing foods that are lower in fat and higher in fiber in order to feel satisfied and use your points for the day. What I like about the straight calorie method is that it doesn't require any additional material, tools, training. It's so organic that you can use it wherever you find yourself. So, again it comes down to what makes it easier for you. I will say, that I've tried to become more aware of the calories associated with the points system this year so that I'm not just doing something easier, but also learning how to do it on my own should I ever need to. And if any of you opt to do the W.W. method but would like to know more about their equation and additional (free) tools out there to help you, let me know.

So, I mentioned a few posts ago that I began working out last September without tracking food. I barely lost even though I thought I was watching my food choices more closely. The problem is...no matter how good you think you are doing with food, you won't know until you write it down and see it on paper. It's much like budgeting your money. A little there and a little here adds up and all of a sudden you're wondering where all the money went! So, in the end of October I began tracking my food and staying within the right range, and guess what? Yep, it fell off me. I lost 25 lbs. by mid December!

Now, I knew from previous experience that if I tracked my food I'd lose weight. And I knew that the previous time I wasn't even working out and I lost a bunch of weight. But, like I said...I didn't just want to lose weight this time. I wanted to get healthier and more fit. So, I didn't give up going to the gym once I recognized that the food part was a lot more of the equation for me. And boy am I glad.

See, getting out of our habits is bound to happen. Life gets in the way as we attempt to form new habits. My prayer is that eventually my new habits won't be changed by life's happenings, though, as they become more ingrained in me. But, for now I struggle to keep them in place. And sure enough I got off track in the new year. But this time instead of gaining weight, I maintained because even though my food tracking had been thrown for a loop, my exercise habit stuck! Yea! A small victory. In fact, I've struggled most of this year with my food tracking, but my exercise has kept my weight steady. I don't say that with complete pride, as I'd rather be able to tell you that both have been formed as new habits and I'm at my goal weight...but not yet. And that's okay. I'm still heading there, still in process, and am prepared to keep at it no matter how long it takes. In the meantime, my body is still appearing slimmer because it's reshaping as I continue to tone it through exercise. People keep telling me they think I've lost a lot more since they last saw me, but I know that it's all muscle and not the numbers on the scale. Which is a great thing!

So, my new goal....it to get back to tracking my food and really making a commitment to it...again:) It fell away because there are so many new balls (habits) taking shape in my life and I couldn't keep them all in the air. But, I feel good about the ones that have taken route and now want to add on to those.

Some changes I've made in food this past year are small and some are big. Some are more personal goals of mine and some are general rules of thumb. I thought I'd log some of them here either way...

learning to drink my coffee black so as to avoid extra calories from creamer/sugar and to cut out artificial sweetener.
having protein as a part of my breakfast each day so that I feel fuller and have more energy for workouts
drinking 64 oz. of H2O/day
limiting myself to one diet coke/day (I'd like to cut this out completely b/c I believe I could do w/o the artificial sweetener and caffeine. But, I'm not in a rush do make this move b/c right now it is a good pick-up in the afternoon, it curbs my desire for something sweet, etc.)
switching to breads and pastas that are higher in fiber. I love the Ronzoni Smart Taste pastas. They taste like real pasta but have 3x as much fiber...even more so than a lot of the wheat pastas. And for breads I love The Alternative Bagel made by Western Bagel. I can only find them at Publix here, but they are worth every penny. I LOVE bagels and yet know that most bagels are either high in calories or they taste like cardboard. This one has 110 calories and 7g of fiber! I love their roasted onion bagel the most b/c I can use it for breakfast and even for sandwhiches at lunch. Oh, I'll also mention the Jospeh's pita bread. They are 60 calories and 5 g of fiber. I use them at lunch time and spread them with light laughing cow, cucumbers, lettuce, etc. for a delicious veggie sandwhich. Or I also use them in the afternoon with a little smear of almond butter and sliced apple. Very good.
leaving casseroles off the dinner menu. I've tried to make our dinners consist of a meat, and two veggie sides. Sometimes I'll sub in potatoes, couscous, or whole grain rice for a change. But a lot of times we grill a meat and have one hot veggie and then a salad. I just find that I can control my intake a lot more because I'm not bogged down in determining how many calories each ingredient in a casserole is, dividing it by serving size, etc. Yes, it does mean we have a lot less of our "favorite" home cooked meals...but we're getting by. We do still do them occasionally and everyone seems okay with that. But even with the old favorties we are trying to make changes that make them healthier...like using leaner meats, more veggies, less starch and cheese.

So, those are some of the changes we HAVE made. Some of the things I need to do better on...

seeking out more variety in meal planning and reworking old recipes even more so we don't feel "cheated".
learning how to prepare new veggies....in other words expanding our palates and abilities.
cutting down on alcohol. We often have wine with dinner, and I enjoy that, but I find that sometimes that leads to another glass or two after dinner which isn't necessary. I mean there's nothing wrong with it outside of the fact that it is empty calories that I don't need. I like to consider 2 the max at all times, and really maybe only do it a few times a week at most. Just a good place to cut calories.
stop snacking after dinner. Because I eat lightly all day, I'm often hungrier at night. I'd like to implement two day time snacks and then be done with eating once dinner is over. One problem I have here is that with kiddos we eat super early...like around 5-5:30. So, there is a huge stretch of evening with which I have to contend with. I know I should probably make myself a cup of hot tea and find something to occupy my time better than t.v., but there has to be a balance. I've thought of taking a walk after the kids are in bed (if the hubs is home), scrapbooking (if I can get motivated), or just limiting myself to one small snack before 8 p.m. I don't know quite what is realistic for me, but I'm open to suggestions:)

Okay, I guess I'll wrap it up for today.

Health: Hungry for more

2009-10-06T07:37:00.006-04:00

Okay, so on to the topic of food. I've decided that the topic of food is going to have to be covered in several posts because to be honest there are many facets of it...at least from where I stand. So be patient with me.

To some of us, food is a dear friend. To others of us, food is an enemy. And there are those of us that may feel that it can be both. But, the problem is....it really should be neither. I feel like this past year has been a process (and I emphasize that word, as I've not arrived) of removing food from the category of things that I have a "relationship" with. Does that make sense? What I mean is...food is not supposed to be friend or an enemy. It is nothing more than a means of nutrition, health, and yes...it can (and maybe should) be enjoyable...but it is not something that I should turn to for more than that. Not for comfort, for something to do when I'm bored, or on the flip side...it's not something to control when my world is chaotic (which is what many people with eating disorders struggle with). It's just FOOD. If I can ever really learn that truth, I feel like I'll be able to treat it appropriately and not give it a place in my life that it doesn't deserve. A friend reminded me of that ever so fitting quote, "Eat to live, don't live to eat".

So, as I'm sure you gathered...I suppose that somewhere along the way I allowed myself to enter into a relationship with food. I'm not sure when it happened, or how. Did we have a D.T.R talk? Was it love at first sight? Did I see others having a relationship with it (i.e. it was modeled) and assume I too was supposed to have a relationship with it? I don't honestly know.

I do know, though, and agree with an anthropologist friend of mine who once said to me, "Food is at the center of all that we do as a culture". Meaning, we celebrate around food (cakes, party trays), we mourn around food (casseroles, pints of ice cream), we socialize around food (going out to dinner)....you get the idea. So, it's no wonder that we begin to move food from the category of necessity to relationship. We slowly make associations between food and feelings/emotions. We do the same thing with other senses besides taste too, like sound and smells. Think about it....if I played, "Cold Hearted Snake" by Paula Abdul (sorry, couldn't think of anything else off hand) it probably takes you back to a season in your life, whether generally or specifically. This time of year, I can smell leaves burning and am immediately whisked away to camping with my family as a child. It brings a huge smile to my face. So, taste is wired the same way. We become attached to certain foods because they remind us of home, or grandma, or college, a certain season, etc. And before you know it, we have associations with food that are more about comfort, nostalgia, tradition, and passing time with friends and family. It's not that this isn't an okay aspect of food. And, to be honest if we were able to keep these associations as just that, associations, it wouldn't be all that bad. But somewhere along the way they move from associations to substitutes. They no longer remind us of a time, person, or place that we once enjoyed....they take the place (or attempt to) of that time, person, or place...filling a void that can't be filled no matter how much pumpkin pie you eat. Can I get an amen? Ha!

Some may think all of this psychological hubbub doesn't matter. Or maybe you might be saying, "Yeah, yeah, I get it. But, just get to the practical stuff that I can actually DO to make changes in the way I eat". But, I am learning that if you don't first see food for what it is intended to be, examine what you've allowed it to become and why....the practical stuff will be for naught. Yeah, it might work for a while....but you'll yo-yo...promise.

So, this has been part of my process this past year too....determining why I eat (hunger/energy vs. other reasons), and determining why I eat the foods that I do (especially if I know it's going to sabotage my efforts to be a healthier me). But, this is just the beginning.

Like I said, food is not only a part of our culture, but truly at the center of our culture. So, working on changing my unhealthy relationship with food is challenging. I obviously can't just sever the relationship all together like others who struggle with alcohol or drugs might do. I HAVE to eat. Perhaps I can sever the ties with certain foods that I know are triggers for me to overeat, or eat unhealthily, etc...at least until I can am confident I can handle myself and those foods with self-control. But, people are still going to throw parties, ask me to dinner, etc. So, what's a girl to do?

For me it's a combination of things that allow me to be more successful. Sure, some of it is simply making better choices about what and how much I eat. But, a lot of it is asking the Lord to show me and teach me about the heart behind why I misuse food. I want to get at these areas and deal with them appropriately. And, in the meantime, I'm also trying to change the culture of my marriage, family, and maybe even some of my friendships so that I don't have to struggle quite as much day-to-day.

Okay, so I'm sure the all that I spewed out today will be revisited in some of the other upcoming food posts since it's so interconnected....so I'll just leave it at that. But, you can pray for me...that I would break up with food once and for all. It's not poor food's fault, it's mine.....I've abused him and misused him, and asked him to be more to me than he was able to. And now it's time to say goodbye to our relationship and allow him to simply be what he was intended to be....FOOD.

Health: Working it out

2009-10-01T13:18:00.006-04:00

As I mentioned last time, my journey of becoming fit began a year ago. The first real step was that we joined the Y as a family and I began going to classes. It was therapeutic for me emotionally, it was challenging for me physically, and it really was my connecting point socially since we had just moved to a new area.

I didn't follow my own advice, the advice that I would now give, and I jumped right in. I took a Zumba class on Mondays and Fridays, followed by a body sculpting class. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I took Flexx it (muscle building) and Step. Wednesdays were my "off" day, but often I would run. I would even try to get a work out in on Saturday and maybe a run on Sunday. Whew! What was I thinking? Ha!

I saw very minimal weight loss in the first month or two and was quite discouraged. I could tell my body was working hard, why was it not showing any results?

I was told that my body was building muscle and that muscle weighed more than fat and thus often the scales wouldn't reflect the changes that were occurring. Honestly, that gave me little to no comfort. And so, I faced my first decision....should I just quit exercising. My body hurt, my schedule was full, and it wasn't working.

This is where the important points from my last blog entry come in. This is where I realized that this was going to be a process of time, trial and error of what would work for me, and that I needed to be in it for the right reasons. So, I prayed.

And from that I had a renewed vision. I knew why I wanted to lose the weight. I want to be an example to my children of healthy living. I want to take care of the body the Lord gave me and treat His temple with respect. I want to remove the obstacle of low self-worth so that I am freed up to be all that He has planned for me to be. I want to be strong, fit, and healthy so that I can encourage other women who struggle with these issues. And I decided that I wanted to do it all in my Mom's honor, as she too struggled with weight. This gave me purpose, inspiration, and above all it gave me a bunch of reasons that I could NEVER quit.

So, I pressed on (literally and figuratively)! Had I just continued to exercise without making any changes to my diet, I most certainly would have see changes. It would have showed up in inches...the shape of my body changing as I built more muscle, etc. But, I did add in dietary changes, which I'll address in my next post. But for now I wanted to pass on some nuggets of insight that I gathered along the way. Some may be obvious and may be things you've all heard before, but I still think they are important enough to repeat (if not for you than for me:)). I'll also share some personal examples but feel free to skip those and just read the 3 bullets if you want. I'll also sum it all up at the end if you just want an overview.

You do NOT have to be at a certain level of fitness to walk into a gym or begin exercise. That's like saying you have to be clean to get a bath...ridiculous! Fitness centers and their employees are there to promote fitness at all levels, from the beginners all the way to the gym rats. So, do NOT let your current fitness level keep you away. There is something for everyone. And if you are fearful of what others might think, I hear you. But, do NOT let them stand in your way. They don't have to live in your body, and therefore should not have that much control over it.

example: When I first started working out I couldn't run for a minute. I could barely make it through a class at the lowest impact level. I was the heaviest one around and could only imagine that people were looking at me with daggers of judgment and ridicule. But, I want you to know that now....now I have people that I don't even know coming up to me saying, "You look great! You have come such a long way! How have you done it? I need help. Etc." They have watched me from a far as I have journeyed, and they are inspired. THAT is what I'm talking about! Whether they judged me or not in the beginning I'll never know. Maybe that was just my own insecurities, right? But I know now that want to come on the journey with me...how exciting!

Don't shy away from trying new forms of exercise. You might be surprised at what you really like and don't like. Finding something that you LOVE to do for exercise is so super important. If you don't like it, or if you don't have enough variety you WILL burn out and lose interest. It's also important to cross-train so that you gain a variety of skill and also challenge your body wholly.

example: I got into my routine and thought I was happy with doing it over and over. But, I did notice that I was losing some excitement. So, I added in a day of machines, tried pilates, spinning, yoga, went running, etc. Now I try to stay away from having too much routine because I go with what I feel like doing that day instead. If it is a beautiful day, I hit the pavement for a run. I have noticed that I LOVE doing step. So, I faithfully go to those classes because they energize me. I didn't love spinning or yoga, but I'll probably try them again soon...maybe I just wasn't in good enough shape to enjoy them. Or maybe I really won't like them and that's fine. I did like pilates when I tried it, but I was NOT in good enough shape to do it then. So, maybe I'll try it again. Find what you like, no LOVE. You'll need that on days that you just don't want to work out.

example: Also, it's important to note that even if you work out for 2 hours/day 5 days/week doing classes (like I was), you might not be able to go out and run a mile (like I wasn't). Why? Because of what is know as the S.A.I.D principle. Specfic Adaptation to Imposed Demands. That principle states that if you want to train for a marathon you are going to have to run. Swimming or biking will improve your cardio health, but it will not enable you the exact cardio tools that you will need to run. Make sense? Running was something that represented fitness to me. I don't know why, but it did. Therefore it was really important that I be able to do it. I never liked running previously, so I wasn't hopeful that anything would change. But, interestingly enough I opted to stick with it as a personal goal of mine. I can remember walking most of the 1.5 mile loop that I would follow at first. As I did lose weight and get more fit through the use of classes I was able to do a little better. I had more muscle to power with in my legs. My heart could take more cardio-wise. But, I was still struggling to run. So, I kept at it and little by little I gained ground, literally. Now, I can run 2 or 3 of those loops with no problem. I'd probably be able to do more if it weren't for an old foot injury, but that's not important. All that to say, don't be discourged if your fitness level doesn't seem to be up to par when you try new things. But try them and use them as ways to improve your over all health. My plan now is to add in swimming. I tried doing laps and was exhausted! It works something different and so it would be a good change for me occasionally. And that brings me to my next example....

example: On the flip side of that same example....Your body will adjust and adapt to what you most often do. Your muscles and cardio system have a memory. So, if you do the same thing all the time your body will get used to it and won't be challenged. So, do the treadmill instead of the eliptical every now and again. Also, don't stay at the same level on the machine...dial it down and go really fast for a minute and then dial it up and power slowly.

Last but not least, for now....do get yourself exercise gear. You will feel so much better about being in front of a million mirrors in a classroom if you have something on that you think is cute, fits you right, and is proper for exercise. This includes shoes, headwear, and water bottles too. Oh, and please allow me to plug the Polar heart rate monitor watches. They have a band that you put around your chest and it communicates to the watch. You'll be able to see if you are in your target heart rate range, monitor the amount of calories you burned, log your workouts for the week, and all sorts of cool stuff. I have LOVED mine. I use it to be sure I'm challenging myself during workouts, track my calories burned each day, and other cool stuff. LOVE IT!

Okay, so there you have my basics on getting started on working out. To sum it up....don't let anything stop you from starting to exercise. Start slow. Find what you love. Try new things to avoid burnout, injury, and underchallenging yourself. Don't get discouraged if you level of fitness doesn't translate to new activities, but rather work at that activity to further your level of fitness. And find the right tools/gear that make you feel good and help you succeed.

Next time I'll try to post more about food.

Health: Weighing your options

2009-10-01T08:00:00.006-04:00

I know I'm not the only one who has struggled with their weight, even if I feel that way at times. I have some friends and family that also battle it. Recently one of those friends and I were talking about options for weight loss. In particular she was asking me what I thought of Medifast and others like it. Not that I am a nutritionist or dietitian...heck, I'm not even certified to teach fitness classes yet:) But, I do have an opinion....one that comes from personal experience.

I think that the plans that offer their own food do serve a purpose. I think they are a great way for someone who knows they have little to no self control, no idea of portion control, feel too busy to think through their food for the day, etc. I also think that it is an "easy" way to start on the road to health because you really don't have to put a lot of thought into it. You just order your meals, eat the recommended amount, and possibly work in a little exercise to start out. Typically, this is also a good way to start because you'll see results and be encouraged to keep going.

Now, for those that have more self-control, know portion size, know what healthy eating requires, and/or have a little more time to devote to meal preparation I would say there are better ways. I've always been a big fan of Weight Watchers and programs like them that require you to eat "real" food, don't put anything off limits per say, make you track your food, and give you group support/accountability. And ultimately, I think it is important for those that start with the ready made meal programs to switch over to something more realistic. If you are serious about health and fitness, and changing your life, you're going to have to learn to do it in the "real world".

I've tried a lot of things in the past....programs that fit into both categories above. I've yo-yoed in my life. This time, though, I'm determined to terminate the yo-yoing. So, with that in mind I've come to realize things that you might hear all the time, but are solid truths that are helping me to tackle this more effectively....

1. It is a process (like anything), and you can't put a time limit on it. You are making a change that you want to last a lifetime. It will not happen overnight, and if it did, it probably wouldn't stick.
2. You need to be in it for the right reasons. Yes, you can want to look different, fit into your "skinny" clothes, etc...but ultimately you need to do it for something that is more lasting...to be healthy, to be your best self, etc.
3. Not only is it a process in terms of the amount of time that it may take, but changing your habits (eating and exercise) are often going to stay with you more if you do them gradually. Now, I realize that with some people sudden and drastic changes are often necessary due to severe health issues, and with that I say go for broke. But, for those that are not that at risk...you have to work things in and out of your day with ease. For example, if you start up with a rigorous fitness routine you may get injured, burn out quickly, or even be so sore that you just simply don't want to do it the next time and that leads to the next time, and the next time, and so on and so forth. All of sudden you're back to where you began. The same is true with dietary changes.

Having said that, I did lose a lot of weight about 6 years ago. I actually reached my goal weight on the day that I found out I was preggers with sweet eWe! Ugh! That time I did W.W., but didn't exercise at all until I lost most of the weight. I did begin to run and walk, but that was about it. It felt great to be skinny me, but it didn't last due to pregnancy and I certainly wasn't fit.

Of course, once I had eWe I thought I'd get back on track. I started to lose some of the weight, but when eWe was 6 months old, I found out I was preggers with Lil' C. Here we go again. And honestly, from there the yo-yoing stopped....and not for the better. Post delivery I was up to my eyeballs in having 2 so close in age (at least that was my excuse). I opted for unhealthy convenience foods, and rarely found time for any real exercise. I had bouts of times where I'd try to start W.W. back up again, start walking or going to the gym, but nothing stuck. I was to tired and it took too much of me. In hindsight, this would have been a good time for me to do the mail-order food deals....wish I had thought of that then. Alas!

Anyway, once I cleared the baby stage I thought I'd really get back on track (yea right!), but then my mom got sick and I kind of used food as a comfort (or at least it seems). And with her death I turned to food even more. I have a picture of me from that time that I will one day post as my before...be certain of that!

So, here I am today. I set out on this journey last September about this time and want to blog a little about it as I reflect on it. I figured it could help others, but at the very least it will be a way for me to review where I am and evaluate where I want to go next. So, look for that to come...

Nanofied

2009-09-23T07:02:00.003-04:00

The other night the hubs and I went out for our date night. We headed to the big city for dinner b/c there was something that he wanted to do in that area afterwords. Turns out that he wanted to get me a new ipod to replace the one I was given for free as a hand-me-down...b/c it went kaput:( Very sweet of the hubs, and quite a surprise to me.

So we walk into the Apple store and he informs me that he thinks that I would want to get the nano....he explains the benefits, etc...then tells me that I need to simply pick out the color I want.

Hold the phone. I have to make a decision here? Ugh!

Now, it's not that I can't make decisions....I'm actually quite decisive when I want to be. But we had just spent the better part of our dinner talking through a bunch of decisions...like where to spend the holidays, what to do with investments, and yes....where we might live. And now I was going to be forced to pick out a color on my ipod. Oh boy! I was immediately under-the-pile.

There they all were...shiny, useful, beautiful little delights...and somehow I had to decide which color might best represent me, might be exciting to select, and yet classic enough that I would not get tired of it. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, silver, black, and pink.

I began the rationalization filtering process and would have it down to one or two. Then I would come up with some asinine reason to bring that color back into the mix. "It looks to0 flashy", "It is too boring", "I just had a phone that color", "It reminds me of such and such a football team", or "It looks like a pack of gum". What???????? Ahhhh???????

It was at about this point I asked the hubs, "Can I phone a friend?"

He says, "No, goofball. Just pick what you like and go with it."

I'm all, "Uhhh, okay." And with that he, being fed up with my reasoning and utter panic, walks away to look at Macs. So, I excuse myself to the restroom and come out phone in hand desperately trying to get my sister on the phone. But much to my dismay this is the ONE time she opts to not take my call b/c she is feeding her family, nursing her baby, blah...blah...blah. Doesn't she know that I have an important decision to make? AHHHHHHHHHHHH!

So, the hubs is shaking his head at me from across the store and I return to my position front and center in front of the nanos who are now beginning to taunt me to the rhythm of the clock ticking towards store closing time.

Okay, I'm pulling the trigger and going with green, no red, no blue. Yes, blue. And BLUE it is. I figure it's a fun color, not a typical choice for me (I'm a green girl), but it's classic. Phew! That is behind me. Well, I do hesitate several times between the nanos and the counter, but somehow I make it without fully changing my mind.

Then, as we get back in the car to head home the hubs points out that this is similar to our decision on where to live. That they are all great options. We know so much about each area that it is easy to identify the pros and cons. And, we aren't being forced by someone else's hand and so it's truly up to us. And ultimately, though it's important to put ourselves in the process, we are going to end up with a choice that will make us happy. Someday we might wonder, "What if I had chosen green", but most of the time we'll be able to remember why blue was the better choice for us.

So, I guess I was supposed to feel comforted by this analogy. However, instead I was left thinking....ummmm, did you see me struggle in there? I AM NOT capable of making this choice, CLEARLY! It feels arbitrary, and at times I was tempted to do "Eeeny, Meeny, Miney, Mo" just to get it over with. Oh boy! What in the world! Pray for us! Ha!

Funnies for your Friday

2009-09-17T07:30:00.003-04:00

You know how it is...kids say the cutest things, right. Well, here are a few of our recent quips...

As I was dropping off eWe at school the other morning she asked, "Mom, why does my brother sleep all the time? He's still asleep when I leave for school and he's taking a nap when I get home! I never get to see him any more. All we do is eat dinner together." I thought this was just precious and priceless....she was really missing him. See, he IS such a sleeper. Especially lately. My Mom would say it's a growth spurt:) Maybe it is. Anyway, the hubs works from home so I can just leave him sleeping while I run her to school. Nice perk for all of us. Maybe they'll be friends again after all. I was beginning to think otherwise by the end of summer!

As you know we're at a crossroad in our life regarding "where to live". We actually don't talk about it all that much except on dates, etc. But out of nowhere the other night at dinner Lil C' says, "So guys, what do you think about where we should live?" Too funny coming from a not-quite-4 year old!

After having seen the broadway production of Wicked earlier this year, my friend bought me the CD. After playing it in the car with my kiddos, they quickly became fond of #7, "Popular". Hilarious! So, one day after school eWe comes home and says,

"Mom, guess what I told my teacher today. I told her she was popular!"

Through controlled giggles I said, "you did? And what did Mrs. Robbins think of that?"

"Well", eWe replied, "she just laughed and gave me a hug."

"Oh", I said, "well eWe, do you even know what that means?"

"Yes, Mom", she said with complete exasperation, "it means well-liked! And she is popular with me!"

(take that Mom! she may only be 5, but she KNOWS!)

While eWe was talking on the phone with Nana the other day she asked to talk to Pa. Nana quickly told her Pa was traveling on business in Texas. Well, to that eWe asked, "Nana, what language do they speak in Texas?" Ha!

While eWe was talking on the phone with Nana today to wish her a happy birthday, she asked Nana how old she was going to be. Little did she know the inappropriateness of such a question:) Nana told her and eWe's response was, "Wow, that's almost one hundred!" Poor Nana!

Change is in the hair....I mean, air!

2009-09-14T08:00:00.005-04:00

So, many of you know that I have become a bit of a fitness junkie this past year or so. It all began with a Y membership that we purchased so that our kiddos could be exposed to different activities and decide what they liked best. I also had a goal to lose a bunch of weight (about 61 lbs...in honor of each year that my Mom lived...which I wrote about in a previous post). I am still on my weight loss journey. I'm over half way there, but still have a long way to go. I've had several setbacks...leg injury, shingles, foot injury, travel, travel, and more travel! Not excuses, but a meager explanation.

Anyway, I decided, with some encouragement from my Y instructor to get certified to teach. So, after 3 months of preparation and studying, I took my exam...this past Friday. I feel like I was prepared and wasn't surprised by anything. And I felt totally encouraged and prayed for by those around me.

My sweet friends and family texted me all day, sent me off with notes of encouragement, and even bought me a step to practice on in the future! This is a picture of Les' card (the one who got me the step) and sweet Nicole's notes.....she actually cut out hearts (from a Target baby registry she printed off for a shower) and wrote encouraging things on the back....PRECIOUS!

But what was hilarious was my arrival back home. I am gone for 9 hours and as I walk through the door I was shocked to find that my husband had dyed his hair (in order to lighten it...picture copperish), and my Dad shaved his mustache. WHAT???? The hubs won't allow me to show you his beauty venture, but here's Dad's...

Balancing act

2009-09-14T07:09:00.002-04:00

So eWe is into her second week of dance. She's taking ballet, tap, and tumbling all wrapped up into one, one hour class. We held off for so long b/c we just didn't know how we felt about the balance of spending time as a family & not running around every night vs. giving our kiddos opportunities to learn and to do fun things.

Five years old seemed a reasonable time to start, as it had given her one year of school (preschool) to get adjusted to that as a portion of her schedule. Too, it really gave her time to consider what one thing she'd really like to do. She thought through options of soccer, gymnastics, dance, etc. She even tried a free class here or there at the Y to get a taste (which was the entire reason we originally joined....who knew I'd become a fitness junkie and test for my certification as an instructor?!?). But in the end, eWe consistenly asked us if and when she could take "ballet". So, we are officially enrolled and are paying what we consider to be a ridiculous amount of money for her to take dance.

But, to hear her excitement...to see her dressed and ready hours before class each week....and to have her cry in the car when leaving b/c waiting a whole other week seems so cruel...is priceless. She LOVES it!

It will be interesting to see if this is what she sticks with, what part of her class she likes best, and whatnot. The other night she was showing us what she was learning....crab walks, backwards rolls, cartwheels, bridges, etc. She demonstrated to the best of her ability, and before you could say "boo" we were all on the ground (yes, the hubs, poppy, lil' C, and I) attempting to do bridges to see if we still could. We weren't sure if they required flexibility or arm strength or both? But, I have to proudly announce...I still got it. The menfolk, were a sight. None of them could push up into positition. It was hilarious! I can't wait to see what we'll all be trying next week! Ha!

Seriously?

2009-09-02T10:24:00.004-04:00

So a few weeks ago we visited a new church. It's not one we actually consider going to because it's so very far away, but on that particular day we had some errands to take care of in that area and thus opted to do something different.

The morning began a little rocky, though. I woke up feeling a dark cloud hovering over my head. It must have been obvious to my sweet hubs, because he made it clear that he wanted me to perch on the barstool, read my email and blogs (or whatever it is I do), and he would serve me coffee and breakfast. Very sweet. However, in his attempt at ministering he may have taken it a little too far. I asked him what time we would need to leave to get there on time. He said 9:45 a.m. That meant I had about 15 minutes until "go-time". Now this man knows that I despise being rushed, and I equally despise being tardy so while I recognized he'd sacrificed one on the alter of my foul mood, I took him at his word on the other. So, we were all loaded up and pulling out and I plugged the address for the church into the GPS....and "Garmina" slowly calculated me further into my funk. Yes, we would NOT be arriving on time. We would be arriving to this new church promptly 5 minutes+ after it began, and would have to find the kid's classrooms and whatnot. Oh, brother.

So, as you can imagine I was a bit testy. As such, the kiddos kept getting louder, and louder,and louder (at least it seemed so to me). See we have two talkers (they come by it honestly from their mamacita), and so the incessently also asked questions, made music requests, etc. I finally turned around and said, "Please, no more talking until we arrive!" eWe, in typical fashion, proceeded with boldness to ask yet another question to which I did not reply. Then I hear soft whimpering followed by her wailing, "You won't talk to me!!!!!!!!" This is a dreaded thing in our family. I have to say that I get it. I cannot stand "non-responders". Just ask my parents, my old roommate/dear friend KB, and my hubs. So I DO get it. But I had nothing left in the tank. So I calmly said to eWe, "Honey, no. I'm not going to talk. Sorry." Ha...it sounds so hilarious now!

Anywho, we arrive at our destination and the hubs as apologized profusely, poor fella. He even tells me to go on and find a seat and he'll take care of the kiddos and meet me in there. So precious.

Then the icing on the cake.....we go to pick the kids up from one of the coolest children's ministry places I've ever seen, by the way, and eWe hands me a piece of paper that she was working on while sitting next to the volunteer (this will pack a punch in a moment, promise...just wait for it) She also had a beamingly proud face, I might add. So, I took the sheet and looked at it and just CRACKED UP! (and then wished there was a corner to hide in, mind you).
Here is what she drew and wrote:

In case you can't interpret her NOT-AT-ALL abstract art....that is her and I (she's the one who is 5, as you can note, and I am the one who looks like a crazy person). And her writing says it all, "My Mommy made me mad!" Well, at least I can be thankful for a few things:

1. That church isn't close enough to go to again and no one from there will likely cross my path again.
2. eWe is not an emotional bottler. She may not have been able to talk to me in the car with her words, but you can be sure she'll be heard. I'll never have to guess what's going on in that head and heart of hers.
3. And, well, she's a good speller for just having turned 5....that's gotta count for something, right?

I could just kiss her brain

2009-09-02T10:01:00.003-04:00

So, as you know, sweet eWe started Kindergarten. She's such a bright little one that I worry she might be bored. Her teachers are great, though, and I'm so thankful she ended up in the class that she did. I certainly poured my heart out to the Lord over the summer...that He would place her exactly where she needed to be. So, I take great rest in that. eWe told me that her teacher, "kisses her brain" (kisses her own two fingers and then put them on eWe's forehead)....I think that is so cute! I've had that "emotion" so often as I've watched eWe take on new information, but have never known how to communicate what I was feeling....now I do!

Here she is as she was leaving the first morning...I can't believe how big she looks and yet her backpack seems to swallow her!

When I picked her up and peppered her with questions, like any Mom would do (right?), she took a deep breath with eyes glazed over and said, "Mom, please don't ask me any more questions. I don't feel like talking. I've had a long day." Ha! As my friend, Les said, "She went in as a Kindergartner and came out a high school student!" Oh my!

After we got her home, fed her the rest of the lunch she'd been unable to finish (perhaps b/c I sent her with enough food to feed all the hungry children she'd encounter), she was ready to call her extended family and share about her first day. The way she talks on the phone is so teenager-like too, and is also so much like her Daddy. She paces, walks through the house, and then lounges. Too funny! Here is where she landed during her conversation with Pa.
So, I will continue to pray that she will be challenged and yet not be forced to grow up too quickly. I never knew how delicate of a balance this was. It makes sense to me now why so many kids either end up feeling pushed too hard by the parents and perhaps like they could never be good enough, and still others feel like their parents didn't care. Lord, help us to be balanced parents. I pray that eWe would know that what matters most to us is her heart. I pray that she would know that her value is not in how she behaves, what she knows, etc....but rather in who she is as a daughter of the King of kings. Amen!

catch-up

2009-08-27T13:46:00.002-04:00

I'm in my usual afternoon groove...diet coke and random acts of catch up. after having traveled on and off for several weeks now, though, i am fluctuating between just wanting to plop down and do nothing and run around and get it all done immediately. i have a few little updates for those of you that care...

the KY house is packed and ready to be loaded by the hubs tomorrow and put in storage. if all goes as planned, we should be closing next week.
Ryan Kemp Simpson (my sweet nephew) is off all "helps" and is scheduled to have a circumcision tomorrow a.m. followed by his official discharge to go home! Praise God, The Healer! I'm so proud of my family, by the way. Mel is a rock, even though she doesn't see that in her self that way. She is stronger and more faithful than she gives herself credit for. My sweet Dad is such a servant. He's been there for 3 weeks serving, trying to stay out of the way, and fill in the gaps. He's weary and yet committed. And then there is my hubs, in-laws, kiddos, and friends. They all pitched in, sucked it up, and worked it out so that I could be present as well. My family ROCKS!
Sweet eWe started Kindergarten today. She thought she might feel shy, but when I pulled the lunchbox out this morning she couldn't stand it. She said, "Boy, this is so exciting!" Sweet girl. She's just like her mama...she loves any bag, contraption, etc that will help her organize her life. She did great! Her teacher was the one who walked her to the pick up line today and said, "She had a great first day, Mom. She is such a bright little girl."

Okay, so does that sum it up?

I have some other random thoughts mulling about in my head, but i'll save those for another post.

Family ties....

2009-08-09T09:40:00.005-04:00

This week has come and gone in a blur. It began with an offer on our home in KY....could this be the one? We still have several hurdles such as inspection on Tuesday (if you think to pray), but we'll see.

Next, came the saga of the mysterious rash that covers my upper back, chest, arms, and legs. I've been to two docs in two states and have had both a steriod pack and shot....maybe it's getting better? It's hard to say. Besides, they still have no clue what in the world caused it. But I do love how my friend, Les said that at least by taking steriods to heal I might also get buff! Love that!

And last but not least...my sweet nephew who was due to arrive 9.9.09 came 5 weeks early. My sister, Mel, went in for a normal appointment and found out her fluid was way low, and the baby had the cord wrapped twice. So, about 2 hours later they welcomed Ryan Kemp Simpson into the world via c-section. Due to his premature arrival, he was taken to a different hospital to a NICU because his lungs are not fully developed and because he has an infection. He's stable on the respirator currently, but they are hoping for a clear chest xray in order to proceed in weaning him off oxygen and getting him stronger. His heart has also been a bit of a concern, but we'll know more on that later.

Meanwhile, back at the beach Dad and I packed up and headed to NW AR to be with them. 17 hours later we arrived. Dad got to go in and meet Ryan, but I still haven't had the chance (only parents and grandparents are allowed in the NICU). I did stay with Mel overnight in the hospital, and we got to bring her home the following morning. Since then we've just been juggling the 3 other kids, meals, trips to the NICU, laundry and housekeeping, etc.

My precious hubs kept my two kiddos for two days at home while he worked, and then drove 12 hours to be with his family in Memphis. It will be crowded at his Mom and Dad's too because The Crenshaw recently sold their house and have moved in with Mom and Dad while waiting for their new home to be built.

I have been struck by how some people have communicated that they can't believe we'd come all this way...stay for extended time....how the hubs' family could tolerate all those people in the same house...etc. REALLY? Isn't that what family does/is? I know that I am blessed to be in a family (on both sides) that truly walks with the Lord and loves one another. I guess that's not the norm, but I can't imagine having it any other way. I'm so thankful for that! I feel so blessed! Thank you Lord! And thank you sweet family....for always being there to fill in the gaps in one another lives...what a picture of Christ you are to me and to all those who watch you in action!

Okay, last but not least....check out the pictures of the newest addition to our sweet family, Ryan Kemp Simpson. Please continue praying for his little life! Thank you! Oh, and if you want to link into Mel's blog just go to http://www.5simpsons.blogspot.com .