I have a confession to make.....
Man....this is going to be hard......
I don't want to say it.....
You're going to be SOOOOOO disappointed in me......
Oh yes you are!!! I was VERY disappointed in me!!!!
I know....I know...just get it out.....
Well here it is.......
About two weeks ago......
(DEEP BREATH......)
I had a Nestle Plastic Bar......
There. I admitted it. BUT WAIT.... that's not all.... a couple of days ago....
I found some fun size Snickers bars in my freezer. Have NO idea how long they have been in there....
I ate TWO of them. UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I TOLD you you were going to be disappointed in me!!!
HOLD ON!!!! HOLD ON!!!!!! If you are not TOTALLY disgusted with me and you are still reading...let me say some things.
Many of you who have been following my weight loss journey, know that back in August of last year (WHOA!!!! It's been a whole YEAR!!!!) I decided to give up sweets. Because, you see, I am a sweets addict. Just like with any addiction, sweets had control of my life. That is why I weighed ### pounds. I knew that I could not eat ANY kind of sweets and get control of my life. And honestly, I did really well. I have turned down Krispy Kreme doughnuts (the food of angels, I'm convinced), I've turned down Nana's Banana Pudding (she's not really MY nana, but that what most people call her, and she makes THE BOMB banana pudding, which I am CERTAIN will be in heaven!!), and I have even turned down my daughter's wedding cake (which was white cake with REAL buttercream icing, which, once-upon-a-time I could have lived on for three meals a day!!). Even now, as I sit here typing this, my mouth is WATERING thinking about how those things USED to taste. And I gave it ALL up!!! I wouldn't even go for the fat-free/sugar-free yummy desserts my family members have made for different functions because I KNEW that would just make my body CRAVE the "real thing" all the more.
So, I'm pretty sure you are sitting there right now saying, "So WHHHHYYYY Kim???? WHHHHYYYY did you fall off the wagon???"
The simple, and most direct answer is...I have no clue. Let me go back to that day a few weeks ago. I'm not sure of the exact day (I think it was maybe a Saturday). I do remember being a little stressed for some reason, but that's not really unusual for me. I had to run out to Fred's to get something. And I was standing in line....and there it was....that hideous CANDY counter!! Those marketing guys REALLY know how to put it to ya in the check out line. I was waiting and waiting and the little boy at the register was taking FOR-EVER...and I had a LOT of time to think about which one of those delectable treats I wanted to grab. I used to always LOVE the Nestle Crunch bar. I have never been one for plain chocolate, but put some little crunchy things in it, and MAN oh MAN!! So, I grabbed it!! I threw it down on the conveyor belt and immediately started beating myself up!! It's not like I hadn't fought that SAME battle a THOUSAND times in the last year. Back in the day, it was IMPOSSIBLE for me to go to Walmart without getting a candy bar when I went through the check out line. I mean, it just DIDN'T happen!! So...here I was. Slipping back into my old life. I was SO upset with myself. Not upset enough to put that candy bar BACK on the shelf though!!
So...I get out in the van, and you KNOW what happened!! I tore into that candy bar like I had not eaten in 15 days!!! I ate about 1/3 of it in one bite. As I was swallowing it, I was thinking "this tastes like PLASTIC!!" But what did I do??? Kept eating of course!! I ate another 1/3 and thought " this REALLY does NOT taste good! Why am I eating it?" And you guessed it....I crammed the last bit of it in my mouth! I remember thinking as I swallowed the last of the candy " that tasted like chocolate covered plastic!". I experienced SEVERAL emotions on my drive home. I was VERY disappointed in myself because I fell off the wagon. I was VERY angry with myself, and I was really BUMMED that the candy bar tasted gross!! I mean, if I was going to backslide and eat something sweet, at least it should TASTE good!! But it didn't! So I beat myself up for a while over that episode. Then, I picked back up on the NO SWEETS FOR KIM way of life.
I need to add this thought here though, because I know there are SO many of my friends out there who are trying to lose weight or just eat healthier or whatever. I told you in my other posts, for ME, it was COLD TURKEY all the way on the sweets because those were my trigger foods. Those were the things I just couldn't get enough of. Those were the things I would eat until I literally made myself sick. So they had to GO. I have had SO many people tell me "I just can't do that." and my response?
"Oh but yes you CAN!!" Sweets are not like protein or water. Your body doesn't HAVE to have sweets. So YES, YOU CAN get rid of them!!!! HOWEVER IT IS HARD!!!!!!
And that brings me to this past Friday night. It was a quiet night. Kelly was at a volleyball tournament. Rog was out mowing the grass. I was just hangin out watching my Guy on DD&D. And I started CRAVING something sweet. I mean oooeeeyyy, gooey sweet. And then I remembered seeing them in the freezer. Snickers candy bars!!!! They were the little bitty ones, so I figured two would be ok. Again, I have NO IDEA how long those things had been in there! I had to microwave them for over a minute just to get them to where they wouldn't break my teeth off!! And then I ate them. Four bites. Gone. Again. Disappointment. At least this time they didn't taste like plastic! BUT...I think I paid mightily for that 15 second relapse. I was sick at my stomach ALL DAY Saturday!! I am convinced it was because of those two stupid little chunks of sweet poison!
Do I have a point here? Yes. Battling food addiction is TOUGH. It is just like any other addiction. You will have cravings. You will "fall off the wagon" occasionally. The key is....get back on. Learn from the misstep, and get back on! Two times in the last several weeks, I have failed. And I really beat myself up over it too. But you know what? I'm over it now...especially since I have had this cathartic conversation with you all!! Does that mean I am not thinking about those Double Stuff Oreos that are in the pantry right now? Ummmm...NOOOOOO. (Of course I really don't like the cookie part...I only eat the filling)Anyway!!!! What it means is that I have to REFOCUS and remember that my body CAN NOT handle sweets. I also have to constantly remind myself that those things simply DO NOT taste as delightful as they used to. And I am LOVIN the "new" me. I'm still only 50 pounds down, but can I just tell ya?? I HATED those 50 pounds and I NEVER, EVER, EVER want to see them again!!!!
So now... I am going to press on toward my goal with no guilt in my heart and no chocolate on my fingers.
Easy?? No way.
Worth it?? Absolutely!!!
Stay healthy my friends! and Press on!!! because remember "YES, YOU CAN!!!"
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
No. Teachers don't have a secret hand sanitizer fetish.
I love my job. I REALLY do. I have thought many times of changing careers, but when I sit down and think about what I would actually DO...I come up empty. There's nothing else I WANT to do in my life. I mean really...who WOULDN'T want to spend 168 or 170 or whatever it is this year, days with hormone ravaged 7th graders?? No two days are EVER the same. GEEZ...no two CLASSES are ever the same!! It's great!! I never get bored...that's for SURE!
With all that said...I REALLY dislike the beginning of school...no...not strong enough...I HATE the beginning of school. There are several reasons why.
First, I LOATHE mornings. You know how you always hear parents (including me) say "nothing good happens after midnight"? Well, nothing good happens before 9:00AM either!! My brain usually begins to function about then. I can definitely tell you my name by then, most of the time. Usually, I can make rational, logical decisions by 9:00AM. But before then? No promises. So for me to have to get up and be out of the house by 7:00AM??? That is CRAZY. SOMEBODY needs to come up with a second shift school. Maybe not even a real second shift. Maybe just one that starts at say, 10:00AM. That would be AWESOME!! I hate mornings. So that's reason #1.
Reason #2 is sorta related to #1. Mornings at my house are stressful. For the last six years, I have DREADED the beginning of school because two of my three girls are just like me. They hate mornings too! It was REALLY bad when Kerri was in school and we would have to be out of the house early. WHOA. Don't even want to THINK about those days! Now, it's just Kelly. She is not a morning person either. She also doesn't have a real good concept of time. Her 5 minutes and my 5 minutes are NOT the same 300 seconds. While SHE thinks she only needs about 20 minutes to get ready, in reality, it's more like 45 minutes. So I'm sitting in the van, ready to GO, and she's still brushing her teeth. And my ever chipper, nothing-wrong-with-mornings, let's-get-this-day-started, do-more-before-the-sun-comes-up-than-most-people-do-all-day hubby, doesn't understand ANY of this. And he gets frustrated with both of us! So...I hate the beginning of school because of all the STRESS I know it's going to bring.
Another reason I hate the beginning of school is because of all the MONEY involved! It is dang expensive to start school. Of course you have the obvious new clothes, shoes, and basic school supplies that every kid has to have. That's a WAD of cash right there. If your kid happens to be involved in any kind of school sports or activities, there are ALWAYS fees connected with that. (Almost $200 for volleyball, and that does NOT even count new shoes or anything! ) But...I want my kid to be able to play the sport she loves, so I'm gonna have to drop the cash. Simple as that.
But it doesn't stop there. There are parking fees, supply fees, and locker fees. That's another $60-$70.
(STOP!! INSERT SOUND OF SCREECHING BRAKES AND RED FLASHING LIGHTS!!!! I'm changing hats here. Taking off the "mom" hat and putting on the "teacher" hat. Ok...continue reading)
Now, since we're talking about money and school and stuff (well, I'M talking about...you are reading about it)...let's talk about those ridiculous supply fees that parents are asked to pay. I would venture to say that EVERY parent, at the beginning of EVERY school year, gets very aggravated at being asked to pay somewhere between $50-$75 for "supply fees" at their kids school, and then ALSO being given a teacher "supply list", none of which includes the student's personal supplies they have already bought. I know. I used to get aggravated too....until I became a teacher. I think a lot of the aggravation comes from lack of understanding of how things work in a classroom. So...I'm going to try to shed a little light on the subject. No, it's not going to make it any easier to write out that check, but maybe it will help someone out there at least understand why those fees are necessary.
Now remember, I am a middle school teacher, so I can ONLY speak from middle school experience. But I have LOTS of friends who are elementary teachers, and their situation is very much the same as ours.
Ok. here we go. Let's say your student is going to be in my 7th grade language arts class this year. He/she is in my homeroom, so I am going to be the one collecting his fees. The total amount of his fees will include locker, agenda, and FIVE classes. I don't remember the EXACT amount of our supply fee last year, but let's just say $50 for the sake of example. That $50 is broken down like this:
$15=locker fee (goes to school account for maintenance, upkeep, etc...)
$5= agenda (this is an EXTREMELY important tool for students AND parents. We use them every day!!)
$10= science (you know those cool labs that your student talks about...like the one with eggs and vinegar and stuff?? Those supplies for those labs don't just magically appear in the teacher's closet! They have to be purchased.)
$5=math
$5= language arts
$5=social studies
$5=connections
So what would, say, a language arts teacher need with that kind of money? Well, here are some things I could buy with my classroom money: colored paper (for MANY different projects I do throughout the year), scissors, glue, colored pencils, tape, staples, pencils, pens, supplemental reading books, computer software,educational posters, magazine subscriptions, website subscriptions...do I need to go on? There are a TON of things I could do with "that kind of money." But you have to remember, out of possibly 100 students, I MAY get 1/3 who actually pay ALL their fees. I might get $250 in supply money. But you know how expensive things are! That $250 doesn't go very far.
Here's something else I want to point out...actually two things: One-all of the above mentioned items are for STUDENTS. Anything I use my classroom money for is for STUDENTS in some way. It may not be something they put their hands on directly, but if I spend that money, there will be SOME connection to the students in the room.
The other thing I want to point out is that you should notice things like tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and individually wrapped candy are not on that list. We can not use class room money to but THOSE kinds of supplies. Now think with me...100+students in a room over the course of a day, in the middle of "cold" season...what's going to be happening? LOTS of sniffles...LOTS of sneezes...LOTS of germs! It is really NOT unheard of for me to go through a box of tissues every two days during the height of cold season. Does EVERY SINGLE STUDENT use a tissue EVERY day? Of course not. Are there some students who NEVER use a Kleenex from the box on my desk? Probably. Am I going to keep track of which students did and which did not bring in supplies at the beginning of the year and NOT let the ones who didn't bring in anything NOT have a tissue if they need one? PLEASE don't be RIDICULOUS!!! The point is...we go through a LOT of expendable supplies throughout the year. I, as a teacher, can not afford to keep a closet full of tissues. I just can't. That's why we ask for parent's help. White board markers get used up. What do we do when we run out of them? Kleenex get used up. What do I do when I don't have any tissues on my desk and I have a kid with a runny nose? I have to send that kid to the restroom to take care of business. If he/she is out of my room, he/she is missing something. I DON'T LIKE THAT!!! I don't want kids out of my room unless absolutely necessary!
Is this making sense? Do you understand that we teachers don't have a thing for hand sanitizer? We just want to have the best possible environment for YOUR student. That's all. And unfortunately, doing that costs money.
INSERT VERY DEEP BREATH HERE....
Whew!!! I've said a LOT....and it's mid-afternoon. I think I'm going to go enjoy my last few days of vacation before I have to start setting that wicked alarm clock!
CIAO friends!!
With all that said...I REALLY dislike the beginning of school...no...not strong enough...I HATE the beginning of school. There are several reasons why.
First, I LOATHE mornings. You know how you always hear parents (including me) say "nothing good happens after midnight"? Well, nothing good happens before 9:00AM either!! My brain usually begins to function about then. I can definitely tell you my name by then, most of the time. Usually, I can make rational, logical decisions by 9:00AM. But before then? No promises. So for me to have to get up and be out of the house by 7:00AM??? That is CRAZY. SOMEBODY needs to come up with a second shift school. Maybe not even a real second shift. Maybe just one that starts at say, 10:00AM. That would be AWESOME!! I hate mornings. So that's reason #1.
Reason #2 is sorta related to #1. Mornings at my house are stressful. For the last six years, I have DREADED the beginning of school because two of my three girls are just like me. They hate mornings too! It was REALLY bad when Kerri was in school and we would have to be out of the house early. WHOA. Don't even want to THINK about those days! Now, it's just Kelly. She is not a morning person either. She also doesn't have a real good concept of time. Her 5 minutes and my 5 minutes are NOT the same 300 seconds. While SHE thinks she only needs about 20 minutes to get ready, in reality, it's more like 45 minutes. So I'm sitting in the van, ready to GO, and she's still brushing her teeth. And my ever chipper, nothing-wrong-with-mornings, let's-get-this-day-started, do-more-before-the-sun-comes-up-than-most-people-do-all-day hubby, doesn't understand ANY of this. And he gets frustrated with both of us! So...I hate the beginning of school because of all the STRESS I know it's going to bring.
Another reason I hate the beginning of school is because of all the MONEY involved! It is dang expensive to start school. Of course you have the obvious new clothes, shoes, and basic school supplies that every kid has to have. That's a WAD of cash right there. If your kid happens to be involved in any kind of school sports or activities, there are ALWAYS fees connected with that. (Almost $200 for volleyball, and that does NOT even count new shoes or anything! ) But...I want my kid to be able to play the sport she loves, so I'm gonna have to drop the cash. Simple as that.
But it doesn't stop there. There are parking fees, supply fees, and locker fees. That's another $60-$70.
(STOP!! INSERT SOUND OF SCREECHING BRAKES AND RED FLASHING LIGHTS!!!! I'm changing hats here. Taking off the "mom" hat and putting on the "teacher" hat. Ok...continue reading)
Now, since we're talking about money and school and stuff (well, I'M talking about...you are reading about it)...let's talk about those ridiculous supply fees that parents are asked to pay. I would venture to say that EVERY parent, at the beginning of EVERY school year, gets very aggravated at being asked to pay somewhere between $50-$75 for "supply fees" at their kids school, and then ALSO being given a teacher "supply list", none of which includes the student's personal supplies they have already bought. I know. I used to get aggravated too....until I became a teacher. I think a lot of the aggravation comes from lack of understanding of how things work in a classroom. So...I'm going to try to shed a little light on the subject. No, it's not going to make it any easier to write out that check, but maybe it will help someone out there at least understand why those fees are necessary.
Now remember, I am a middle school teacher, so I can ONLY speak from middle school experience. But I have LOTS of friends who are elementary teachers, and their situation is very much the same as ours.
Ok. here we go. Let's say your student is going to be in my 7th grade language arts class this year. He/she is in my homeroom, so I am going to be the one collecting his fees. The total amount of his fees will include locker, agenda, and FIVE classes. I don't remember the EXACT amount of our supply fee last year, but let's just say $50 for the sake of example. That $50 is broken down like this:
$15=locker fee (goes to school account for maintenance, upkeep, etc...)
$5= agenda (this is an EXTREMELY important tool for students AND parents. We use them every day!!)
$10= science (you know those cool labs that your student talks about...like the one with eggs and vinegar and stuff?? Those supplies for those labs don't just magically appear in the teacher's closet! They have to be purchased.)
$5=math
$5= language arts
$5=social studies
$5=connections
So what would, say, a language arts teacher need with that kind of money? Well, here are some things I could buy with my classroom money: colored paper (for MANY different projects I do throughout the year), scissors, glue, colored pencils, tape, staples, pencils, pens, supplemental reading books, computer software,educational posters, magazine subscriptions, website subscriptions...do I need to go on? There are a TON of things I could do with "that kind of money." But you have to remember, out of possibly 100 students, I MAY get 1/3 who actually pay ALL their fees. I might get $250 in supply money. But you know how expensive things are! That $250 doesn't go very far.
Here's something else I want to point out...actually two things: One-all of the above mentioned items are for STUDENTS. Anything I use my classroom money for is for STUDENTS in some way. It may not be something they put their hands on directly, but if I spend that money, there will be SOME connection to the students in the room.
The other thing I want to point out is that you should notice things like tissues, paper towels, hand sanitizer, and individually wrapped candy are not on that list. We can not use class room money to but THOSE kinds of supplies. Now think with me...100+students in a room over the course of a day, in the middle of "cold" season...what's going to be happening? LOTS of sniffles...LOTS of sneezes...LOTS of germs! It is really NOT unheard of for me to go through a box of tissues every two days during the height of cold season. Does EVERY SINGLE STUDENT use a tissue EVERY day? Of course not. Are there some students who NEVER use a Kleenex from the box on my desk? Probably. Am I going to keep track of which students did and which did not bring in supplies at the beginning of the year and NOT let the ones who didn't bring in anything NOT have a tissue if they need one? PLEASE don't be RIDICULOUS!!! The point is...we go through a LOT of expendable supplies throughout the year. I, as a teacher, can not afford to keep a closet full of tissues. I just can't. That's why we ask for parent's help. White board markers get used up. What do we do when we run out of them? Kleenex get used up. What do I do when I don't have any tissues on my desk and I have a kid with a runny nose? I have to send that kid to the restroom to take care of business. If he/she is out of my room, he/she is missing something. I DON'T LIKE THAT!!! I don't want kids out of my room unless absolutely necessary!
Is this making sense? Do you understand that we teachers don't have a thing for hand sanitizer? We just want to have the best possible environment for YOUR student. That's all. And unfortunately, doing that costs money.
INSERT VERY DEEP BREATH HERE....
Whew!!! I've said a LOT....and it's mid-afternoon. I think I'm going to go enjoy my last few days of vacation before I have to start setting that wicked alarm clock!
CIAO friends!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
YOU can make a difference in the life of a child!
I have written about 15 or so blogs, but this is, without a doubt the MOST important thing I have EVER written.
Here's the basics: A sweet young couple at our church is in the process of adopting a precious little girl from Peru. As most of you know, the adoption process is VERY expensive. This couple has been working tirelessly to raise money. They have done bake sales, yard sales, and car washes. They have steadily chipped away at the HUGE cost. However, they still have a way to go.
The exciting thing that is happening now is something that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can be a part of! In obedience to the Biblical command to "care for widows and orphans", Jonathan and Michelle are partnering with the Both Hands Project. PLEASE watch this short video that describes the organization. You might want to have a tissue handy:
http://vimeo.com/31441061
Is that not an absolutely INCREDIBLE project???
To donate directly to Jonathan and Michelle's project, visit this link. You can donate online or you can mail a check to the address below.
http://bothhandsfoundation.org/walterhouse
Checks should be made payable to: Lifesong for Orphans
IMPORTANT!!!! in the memo line of your check MAKE SURE you put "Walterhouse #2944"
That will insure the funds get to where they are supposed to go.
Mail the check to P.O. Box40202 N. Ford Street
Gridley, IL 61744
Some of you will be receiving a letter from my daughter (Kelly Helton) asking for a sponsorship. I just want to make sure you understand this money is NOT for her at all. EVERY bit of the money will go to help Jonathan and Michelle bring Eden Grace home! Please don't feel like we are asking for a HUGE amount of money! If you can donate $5, that's great! If you can give $100, that's awesome too! The thing is, if LOTS of people send SOMETHING, Eden Grace can be home with her Forever Family (hopefully) by Christmas!!
I was thinking that some of you may have a Sunday School class, a group, a civic organization, or maybe a team at your work that might could help out with this project. If you have twenty people in your group and everybody throws in $1, Jonathan and Michelle are $20 closer to their goal!!What if everybody in the group threw in $5, $10, $20?? That may be the exact amount they need to finally meet their goal and give a baby girl a much richer life!!
Remember, it's hard for ONE person to do everything....but EVERY person can do SOMETHING!
If you have ever wanted to do something SIGNIFICANT, really make a DIFFERENCE in someone's life, this is your opportunity. PLEASE copy/print this blog post. Share it with your friends, family, and co-workers. Help make a difference in the life of a precious child.
If you have any questions, message me. If I don't know the answer, I'll do my best to find out the answer.
God Bless you richly as you reach out to bless someone else.
Kim
Here's the basics: A sweet young couple at our church is in the process of adopting a precious little girl from Peru. As most of you know, the adoption process is VERY expensive. This couple has been working tirelessly to raise money. They have done bake sales, yard sales, and car washes. They have steadily chipped away at the HUGE cost. However, they still have a way to go.
The exciting thing that is happening now is something that ANYONE, ANYWHERE can be a part of! In obedience to the Biblical command to "care for widows and orphans", Jonathan and Michelle are partnering with the Both Hands Project. PLEASE watch this short video that describes the organization. You might want to have a tissue handy:
http://vimeo.com/31441061
Is that not an absolutely INCREDIBLE project???
To donate directly to Jonathan and Michelle's project, visit this link. You can donate online or you can mail a check to the address below.
http://bothhandsfoundation.org/walterhouse
Checks should be made payable to: Lifesong for Orphans
IMPORTANT!!!! in the memo line of your check MAKE SURE you put "Walterhouse #2944"
That will insure the funds get to where they are supposed to go.
Mail the check to P.O. Box40202 N. Ford Street
Gridley, IL 61744
Some of you will be receiving a letter from my daughter (Kelly Helton) asking for a sponsorship. I just want to make sure you understand this money is NOT for her at all. EVERY bit of the money will go to help Jonathan and Michelle bring Eden Grace home! Please don't feel like we are asking for a HUGE amount of money! If you can donate $5, that's great! If you can give $100, that's awesome too! The thing is, if LOTS of people send SOMETHING, Eden Grace can be home with her Forever Family (hopefully) by Christmas!!
I was thinking that some of you may have a Sunday School class, a group, a civic organization, or maybe a team at your work that might could help out with this project. If you have twenty people in your group and everybody throws in $1, Jonathan and Michelle are $20 closer to their goal!!What if everybody in the group threw in $5, $10, $20?? That may be the exact amount they need to finally meet their goal and give a baby girl a much richer life!!
Remember, it's hard for ONE person to do everything....but EVERY person can do SOMETHING!
If you have ever wanted to do something SIGNIFICANT, really make a DIFFERENCE in someone's life, this is your opportunity. PLEASE copy/print this blog post. Share it with your friends, family, and co-workers. Help make a difference in the life of a precious child.
If you have any questions, message me. If I don't know the answer, I'll do my best to find out the answer.
God Bless you richly as you reach out to bless someone else.
Kim
Food, Family, Friends, and a FIERCE game of Corn Hole
(Preface: This blog is really just a journal about our recent trip to Ohio, and probably going to get pretty lengthy, so you might want to grab a Coke, or if you live north of the Mason-Dixon Line, get a pop...settle in to a comfy spot and enjoy my ramblings.)
Have you ever noticed how memories can be catagorized into three groups? MOST memories (and I am FULLY aware that there are some exceptions) fall in to one of three groups: food, family, or friends. Sometimes, those even overlap. I realized this little fact is very true when I started reminiscing about my recent trip to Ohio.
Ever heard of Dry Ridge, Kentucky? Probably not. With a population of 2,191, it's not exactly a booming metropolis. However, it is one of my husband's FAVORITE places. Know why? Because it is home to the FIRST Skyline restaurant between here and Cincinnati. We have stopped there SEVERAL times on our visits up north. This most recent trip was no exception. So what if it was 10:20 in the morning!!! There is NEVER a bad time for Skyline (according to Rog). For those of you who, like me until six years ago, have never even HEARD of Skyline, let me try to explain. Cincinnati style chili has meat in it, but no beans. It is more of a sauce consistency than what WE think of as chili, but no beans. It's also kinda sweet (it has cinnamon and some has chocolate in it). And it doesn't have beans in it!!! Crazy, right??? Anyway....that's not even the really weird part! What makes this chili a Cincinnati (and surrounding areas) icon, is what they put it ON. Are you ready for this? They put it on spaghetti!! Yeah...I know. Anyway. There are several restaurant chains that serve this concoction, but two are the real heavy hitters: Skyline and Gold Star. But let me tell you...there is a HUGE chasm between these two establishments. You are EITHER a Skyline fan OR a Gold Star fan. You can NOT like them both! I think there is some kind of unwritten law or something. As it happens, my husband's family is totally sold out to Skyline.
So what should one expect when one ventures into a Skyline for the first time? Let me try to give you the short version.
3-way=spaghetti, chili, and cheese ( a LOT of cheese, very finely shredded and PILED on top)
4 way= spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions OR beans (yeah...they don't put beans IN the chili, they put them on TOP of the chili....bizarre)
5 way=spaghetti, chili, cheese, onion AND beans
I've had it. I don't like it. If I remember correctly, the first time I had Skyline, Rog and I weren't married yet. When I announced that I wasn't a fan, I really wondered if our marriage was going to happen. The other really popular thing at Skyline is the coney (hot dog). It's just a hot dog...little mustard, chili sauce, and a MOUND of shredded cheese. I mean...it's a HOT DOG for goodness sake. I fixed hot dogs last night....they were MUCH better than Skyline...just sayin'.
So, our trip to Ohio was really on its way when we were able to stop in Dry Ridge and get Rog 3 little coneys for breakfast.
This trip was different from ones we have made in the past because this trip, we were going to Columbus (before Cincinnati). For those of you who don't know (and really don't care) about ANYTHING related to Big 10 athletics, Columbus is home to THE Ohio State University. Anyone who has been around my husband for longer than about three minutes KNOWS he is a die-hard, to-the-core, bleed scarlet and gray Ohio State fan. So this was a MUCH anticipated journey to the holy land for Rog. However, Columbus is also where Rog began in full time ministry MANY years ago. I figured out that I would have been in Rog's junior high group when he was a youth pastor. I know...that's weird. Anyway...this leg of our trip was going to be a little odd for me because this was the one area of Rog's life I had not yet seen. We were going to go to the church where he served, the Wednesday night we got in town. You know how it is in churches like that. Although Rog has been gone from there over 25 years, there would be people STILL there who would remember him. However, he was not married to me when he was there. Wasn't real sure how that was going to fly.
But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. The REALLY cool thing that happened was that a day or two before our trip, a group of his former teenagers threw together a meeting at one of the local pizza restaurants. Right around 15 of his core group showed up!!!It was SO awesome!! I got to see first hand how much Rog meant to these people. I know I had three or four of them come up to me and say " I don't know where I would be today without him." And seeing him interact with them...wow. SO cool!!! I had never met these people in my life, but I left that pizza place feeling like I had just spent an hour with friends. That hour and a half was SUPER special for lots of people. Talk about a memory!!
So why would I share that particular story on my blog? I share it because it shows the depth of the impact that investing in people's lives can have. So many tmes we get too busy doing stuff.. it may be important stuff...but it's still just stuff. What are we doing that is going to have any long term significance? There is a young married couple at our church (Josh and Michelle, LOVE you guys!!) who is doing this. They are investing in the lives of our young people. Doing things the kids like to do. Spending TIME with them. Developing a relationship with them. This investment is going to pay HIGH dividends some day! God used Rog to impact people's lives. That's stinkin' awesome!!
Ok. On with the trip. We went to church right after the meeting with the former teens. As I said earlier, this was the part of the trip I was MOST nervous about. I knew there were some Debbie fans in this church, and I, ummm, am NOT Debbie. So how was I going to be received? I am happy to say I was received very graciously. There might have been a few whispers going on behind my back, but to my face, everyone was very kind. This was another very cool thing for Rog.
The next morning, we met another of Roger's friends for breakfast at Bob Evans. For those of you who've never been...think Yankee version of Cracker Barrel. It was ok.
After breakfast, we began our trek to (angels begin singing)....THE Ohio State University campus. I have to admit, I was a TINY little bit excited. I mean, it's a COLLEGE campus....an institution of higher learning...lots of really smart people roam around college campuses. So I knew it was going to be kinda cool. We got to go to Conrads, the place for ANYTHING you could POSSIBLY want/need Ohio State. I got a few things for the Buckeye room. And then, we got to go to the stadium. I never dreamed we would get to go IN. But we did!! DANG that place is big!!!! Of course it doesn't hold the same allure for me as Bryant-Denny, but hey...that's ok. My big guy was a happy happy boy. That's what was important to me. Got to see some neat things....took some cool pictures. Good day.
But alas...it was time to head on to Cincy. Roast beef and mashed potatoes awaited....oh wait. I guess that should be Mom and Dad Miracle awaited... So here we go back to a food memory.
Now I gotta tell ya...my mom-in-law is a fantastic cook. So I figured her roast beef and mashed potatoes were probably going to be pretty good. OH. MY. WORD.
You know how when you're starving you could pour a little gravy on some shoe leather and it would taste good? But when you aren't SUPER hungry, but ready to eat, the food has to be really good to be, well... really good?THAT'S where I was. Not starving...but ready to eat. And MAN oh MAN oh MAN!!! Amanda threw DOWN some roast and potatoes!!!! It was amazing!!! And what did she make for dessert? ONLY my absolute FAVORITE thing in the world!! Homemade banana pudding!!! It. smelled. so. good. But, I didn't have any. Not a bite. At all. (****sigh****)
Saturday was really the main reason for our whole trip. And this is the third category of memories. It was Rog's family reunion/80th birthday celebration for his dad. Of course there was lots of great food (imagine that!), but this day was all about...family. Now remember, I've only been a part of this "Miraculous" group of people for six years. There were lots of people at the reunion I didn't know, but I was very happy that I knew a whole lot more this year than I did last year.
All of Rog's aunts and his uncle are all 70+ years old. They are absolutely precious!! Aunt Emma recently published a book detailing her battle with depression. Amazing woman.
Uncle Cecil, 90 years old and legally blind and Elsa, also 90 with a thick German accent, take care of each other so sweetly. And Aunt Betty still makes an unbelievable chocolate cake.
One of my favorite memories was Ralph's face when he saw the sign and the table with all the birthday celebration stuff on it. He is just the CUTEST!!!! I rigged his "birthday crown" so that it was attached to his ball cap. He wore it the WHOLE time we were there. How many 80th birthdays do we really get to celebrate? Not many...this is one I will certainly remember forever.
Then there are all the cousins...wow....I can't begin to name them all. They are just all so wonderful.
The entire day was just perfect. You know the "warm all over" feeling you get when you're with people you love? Well I had that.
After the reunion, we went back to Rog's parent's house. The family fun continued as all Rog's neices and nephews came in. That's when it began. What is "it", you ask? Well, "it" was a majorly intense Corn Hole tournament. Although I didn't play, it was a BLAST watching everyone get into the game. I can honestly say I have never seen anyone play Corn Hole. I didn't even know what the game was. Aparently, I have really been missing something.
After the "tourny" was over, Rog wanted to go to Skyline one last time. A couple of his nephews, one of his nieces and his son went with us. Rog made a comment on the way (talking to Jessica, his niece) that they were the only neices and nephews I would ever have. I had never really thought about that, but it's true. My sister and her husband have, for several reasons, chosen not to have children. So, my role as "aunt" is exclusively for Rog's neices and nephews. And what an AWESOME group of kids these guys are!! (I say kids...they range in age from 20-27 years old!!) I'm in a weird spot with them too though. I wasn't around when they were little. I wasn't a part of birthdays or graduations. So it's a little weird for them to call me "Aunt Kim".
But you know what? I am finding out that it really doesn't matter. I am in their family now. And I gotta tell ya...I REALLY like it when they call me "Aunt Kim".
This trip to Ohio was just fantastic. Lots of good food, great friends, and awesome family. It just doesn't get any better than that!
Have you ever noticed how memories can be catagorized into three groups? MOST memories (and I am FULLY aware that there are some exceptions) fall in to one of three groups: food, family, or friends. Sometimes, those even overlap. I realized this little fact is very true when I started reminiscing about my recent trip to Ohio.
Ever heard of Dry Ridge, Kentucky? Probably not. With a population of 2,191, it's not exactly a booming metropolis. However, it is one of my husband's FAVORITE places. Know why? Because it is home to the FIRST Skyline restaurant between here and Cincinnati. We have stopped there SEVERAL times on our visits up north. This most recent trip was no exception. So what if it was 10:20 in the morning!!! There is NEVER a bad time for Skyline (according to Rog). For those of you who, like me until six years ago, have never even HEARD of Skyline, let me try to explain. Cincinnati style chili has meat in it, but no beans. It is more of a sauce consistency than what WE think of as chili, but no beans. It's also kinda sweet (it has cinnamon and some has chocolate in it). And it doesn't have beans in it!!! Crazy, right??? Anyway....that's not even the really weird part! What makes this chili a Cincinnati (and surrounding areas) icon, is what they put it ON. Are you ready for this? They put it on spaghetti!! Yeah...I know. Anyway. There are several restaurant chains that serve this concoction, but two are the real heavy hitters: Skyline and Gold Star. But let me tell you...there is a HUGE chasm between these two establishments. You are EITHER a Skyline fan OR a Gold Star fan. You can NOT like them both! I think there is some kind of unwritten law or something. As it happens, my husband's family is totally sold out to Skyline.
So what should one expect when one ventures into a Skyline for the first time? Let me try to give you the short version.
3-way=spaghetti, chili, and cheese ( a LOT of cheese, very finely shredded and PILED on top)
4 way= spaghetti, chili, cheese, and onions OR beans (yeah...they don't put beans IN the chili, they put them on TOP of the chili....bizarre)
5 way=spaghetti, chili, cheese, onion AND beans
I've had it. I don't like it. If I remember correctly, the first time I had Skyline, Rog and I weren't married yet. When I announced that I wasn't a fan, I really wondered if our marriage was going to happen. The other really popular thing at Skyline is the coney (hot dog). It's just a hot dog...little mustard, chili sauce, and a MOUND of shredded cheese. I mean...it's a HOT DOG for goodness sake. I fixed hot dogs last night....they were MUCH better than Skyline...just sayin'.
So, our trip to Ohio was really on its way when we were able to stop in Dry Ridge and get Rog 3 little coneys for breakfast.
This trip was different from ones we have made in the past because this trip, we were going to Columbus (before Cincinnati). For those of you who don't know (and really don't care) about ANYTHING related to Big 10 athletics, Columbus is home to THE Ohio State University. Anyone who has been around my husband for longer than about three minutes KNOWS he is a die-hard, to-the-core, bleed scarlet and gray Ohio State fan. So this was a MUCH anticipated journey to the holy land for Rog. However, Columbus is also where Rog began in full time ministry MANY years ago. I figured out that I would have been in Rog's junior high group when he was a youth pastor. I know...that's weird. Anyway...this leg of our trip was going to be a little odd for me because this was the one area of Rog's life I had not yet seen. We were going to go to the church where he served, the Wednesday night we got in town. You know how it is in churches like that. Although Rog has been gone from there over 25 years, there would be people STILL there who would remember him. However, he was not married to me when he was there. Wasn't real sure how that was going to fly.
But I'm getting a little ahead of myself. The REALLY cool thing that happened was that a day or two before our trip, a group of his former teenagers threw together a meeting at one of the local pizza restaurants. Right around 15 of his core group showed up!!!It was SO awesome!! I got to see first hand how much Rog meant to these people. I know I had three or four of them come up to me and say " I don't know where I would be today without him." And seeing him interact with them...wow. SO cool!!! I had never met these people in my life, but I left that pizza place feeling like I had just spent an hour with friends. That hour and a half was SUPER special for lots of people. Talk about a memory!!
So why would I share that particular story on my blog? I share it because it shows the depth of the impact that investing in people's lives can have. So many tmes we get too busy doing stuff.. it may be important stuff...but it's still just stuff. What are we doing that is going to have any long term significance? There is a young married couple at our church (Josh and Michelle, LOVE you guys!!) who is doing this. They are investing in the lives of our young people. Doing things the kids like to do. Spending TIME with them. Developing a relationship with them. This investment is going to pay HIGH dividends some day! God used Rog to impact people's lives. That's stinkin' awesome!!
Ok. On with the trip. We went to church right after the meeting with the former teens. As I said earlier, this was the part of the trip I was MOST nervous about. I knew there were some Debbie fans in this church, and I, ummm, am NOT Debbie. So how was I going to be received? I am happy to say I was received very graciously. There might have been a few whispers going on behind my back, but to my face, everyone was very kind. This was another very cool thing for Rog.
The next morning, we met another of Roger's friends for breakfast at Bob Evans. For those of you who've never been...think Yankee version of Cracker Barrel. It was ok.
After breakfast, we began our trek to (angels begin singing)....THE Ohio State University campus. I have to admit, I was a TINY little bit excited. I mean, it's a COLLEGE campus....an institution of higher learning...lots of really smart people roam around college campuses. So I knew it was going to be kinda cool. We got to go to Conrads, the place for ANYTHING you could POSSIBLY want/need Ohio State. I got a few things for the Buckeye room. And then, we got to go to the stadium. I never dreamed we would get to go IN. But we did!! DANG that place is big!!!! Of course it doesn't hold the same allure for me as Bryant-Denny, but hey...that's ok. My big guy was a happy happy boy. That's what was important to me. Got to see some neat things....took some cool pictures. Good day.
But alas...it was time to head on to Cincy. Roast beef and mashed potatoes awaited....oh wait. I guess that should be Mom and Dad Miracle awaited... So here we go back to a food memory.
Now I gotta tell ya...my mom-in-law is a fantastic cook. So I figured her roast beef and mashed potatoes were probably going to be pretty good. OH. MY. WORD.
You know how when you're starving you could pour a little gravy on some shoe leather and it would taste good? But when you aren't SUPER hungry, but ready to eat, the food has to be really good to be, well... really good?THAT'S where I was. Not starving...but ready to eat. And MAN oh MAN oh MAN!!! Amanda threw DOWN some roast and potatoes!!!! It was amazing!!! And what did she make for dessert? ONLY my absolute FAVORITE thing in the world!! Homemade banana pudding!!! It. smelled. so. good. But, I didn't have any. Not a bite. At all. (****sigh****)
Saturday was really the main reason for our whole trip. And this is the third category of memories. It was Rog's family reunion/80th birthday celebration for his dad. Of course there was lots of great food (imagine that!), but this day was all about...family. Now remember, I've only been a part of this "Miraculous" group of people for six years. There were lots of people at the reunion I didn't know, but I was very happy that I knew a whole lot more this year than I did last year.
All of Rog's aunts and his uncle are all 70+ years old. They are absolutely precious!! Aunt Emma recently published a book detailing her battle with depression. Amazing woman.
Uncle Cecil, 90 years old and legally blind and Elsa, also 90 with a thick German accent, take care of each other so sweetly. And Aunt Betty still makes an unbelievable chocolate cake.
One of my favorite memories was Ralph's face when he saw the sign and the table with all the birthday celebration stuff on it. He is just the CUTEST!!!! I rigged his "birthday crown" so that it was attached to his ball cap. He wore it the WHOLE time we were there. How many 80th birthdays do we really get to celebrate? Not many...this is one I will certainly remember forever.
Then there are all the cousins...wow....I can't begin to name them all. They are just all so wonderful.
The entire day was just perfect. You know the "warm all over" feeling you get when you're with people you love? Well I had that.
After the reunion, we went back to Rog's parent's house. The family fun continued as all Rog's neices and nephews came in. That's when it began. What is "it", you ask? Well, "it" was a majorly intense Corn Hole tournament. Although I didn't play, it was a BLAST watching everyone get into the game. I can honestly say I have never seen anyone play Corn Hole. I didn't even know what the game was. Aparently, I have really been missing something.
After the "tourny" was over, Rog wanted to go to Skyline one last time. A couple of his nephews, one of his nieces and his son went with us. Rog made a comment on the way (talking to Jessica, his niece) that they were the only neices and nephews I would ever have. I had never really thought about that, but it's true. My sister and her husband have, for several reasons, chosen not to have children. So, my role as "aunt" is exclusively for Rog's neices and nephews. And what an AWESOME group of kids these guys are!! (I say kids...they range in age from 20-27 years old!!) I'm in a weird spot with them too though. I wasn't around when they were little. I wasn't a part of birthdays or graduations. So it's a little weird for them to call me "Aunt Kim".
But you know what? I am finding out that it really doesn't matter. I am in their family now. And I gotta tell ya...I REALLY like it when they call me "Aunt Kim".
This trip to Ohio was just fantastic. Lots of good food, great friends, and awesome family. It just doesn't get any better than that!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Magic Rog (not seen in theaters)
I have read in the last week two blogs from women I have never met that talk about the movie Magic Mike. Now, I'm not a movie fan, at ALL. I'm not sure I even remember the last movie I actually went to the theater to see. But I have heard the name of this one from several people on Facebook. I don't have to dig too deep to understand what the movie is about either. It's male strippers. Whatever the story line of the movie is doesn't really matter. The whole reason for going to the movie is to see Channing Tatum and Matthew McConaughey slither around on a stage mostly naked. And while some of you will say, "Well...YEAH...DUH!!" I have to say, "No thanks!!"
I know some people that read this will probably say, "Oh here she goes. Kim's getting on her pious, holy-roller soapbox." Nooooo....it's just as with all the other things I write, I am stating my humble, yet very valid opinion.
First of all, I will concede that Channing and Matthew are two attractive men. I mean, come on. I'm not BLIND!!! GEEZ!!! There are attractive people all around us, though, not just in the "unreality" of movies, but in our work places, at our churches, in our neighborhoods. God made some realllllly good lookin people (and then He cut a few corners on some of the rest of us!) . It's not realistic to think that a married person can go through life ignoring all the good lookin people around them. But here's the thing. You can't let that thought "Whoa! He's hott!!"start marinating in your mind. THAT'S when trouble sets in. And THAT'S the reason this movie is a bad thing for women, especially married women, especially especially Christian married women!!
Women in general and Christian women specifically, should be smart enough to know these two things:
1- Physical attraction is only a teeny, tiny part of what makes a relationship, because,as those of us who are getting on up there in age know, physical stuff changes. It doesn't take too many years for that six pack to become a keg. And after a couple of kids, that flat, sexy abdomen will look like a topographic map.
2-(probably most important) That little seed when planted in your mind and nurtured, will grow into something extremely dangerous. It's one of the biggest reasons why pornography is SO destructive. Unrealistic expectations are formed. You start measuring your mate up against what your mind has created, and bless their hearts, they just can't measure up. It doesn't matter that what your mind has created is COMPLETELY unrealistic. Before you know it, you are miserable with the man/woman who you once called your soul mate and you begin looking for someone who can live up to that "super hero" image you have convinced yourself you "need/deserve/want". Lives are crushed. Families are broken.
This is where some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, "Come onnnn Kim. You are WAY over reacting to this. It's a MOVIE. It's not real!!" And I come back with, "Dude. You are WAY underestimating the power of Satan! He can do a LOT of damage with this one movie. So if I can get one woman to THINK before she throws away not only her $10, but possibly her marriage...I'm willing to take a little flack."
This is the blog post that got me really starting to think about this stuff (If you haven't read it, you really should):
http://mrsgoresdiary.com/2012/07/08/magic-mike-who/
This young lady did a fabulous job, so I'm not going to rewrite what she said so eloquently. She gave a really long list of what "sexy" and "manly" look like. As I was reading that list, a smile came across my face because on the vast majority of them I thought "Rog does that" or "Yep. That's Rog".
I started thinking about all the things my precious husband does/has done for me:
*sending me flowers when we weren't together just because he was thinking about me
*warming my robe in the dryer before I got out of bed because that old house was SO cold
*going out at 3AM to get me a Diet Coke because I wanted one so bad
*washing dishes MANY nights because he knows how much I HATE doing it
*telling me I am the most beautiful woman in the world even on my worst "fat & ugly" days
*watering the plants that I LOVE to look at but HATE to tend to
*letting me spend a week in Florida (without him) because he knew I needed the down time
*taking me to dinner at Kanpai because he knows it's my FAVORITE (even though it's not his)
*holding me and soothing me when I have a snot-slingin' melt down because of one of the kids
*celebrating Valentine's Week instead of Valentine's Day (because one day isn't long enough)
and the list could really go on and on and on. THAT is what love and manliness is all about. Not some sleazy strip joint flick. So Hollywood can keep their Magic Mike. I don't believe in magic anyway. But I DO believe in Miracles!! And I have the BEST one of them all!
I know some people that read this will probably say, "Oh here she goes. Kim's getting on her pious, holy-roller soapbox." Nooooo....it's just as with all the other things I write, I am stating my humble, yet very valid opinion.
First of all, I will concede that Channing and Matthew are two attractive men. I mean, come on. I'm not BLIND!!! GEEZ!!! There are attractive people all around us, though, not just in the "unreality" of movies, but in our work places, at our churches, in our neighborhoods. God made some realllllly good lookin people (and then He cut a few corners on some of the rest of us!) . It's not realistic to think that a married person can go through life ignoring all the good lookin people around them. But here's the thing. You can't let that thought "Whoa! He's hott!!"start marinating in your mind. THAT'S when trouble sets in. And THAT'S the reason this movie is a bad thing for women, especially married women, especially especially Christian married women!!
Women in general and Christian women specifically, should be smart enough to know these two things:
1- Physical attraction is only a teeny, tiny part of what makes a relationship, because,as those of us who are getting on up there in age know, physical stuff changes. It doesn't take too many years for that six pack to become a keg. And after a couple of kids, that flat, sexy abdomen will look like a topographic map.
2-(probably most important) That little seed when planted in your mind and nurtured, will grow into something extremely dangerous. It's one of the biggest reasons why pornography is SO destructive. Unrealistic expectations are formed. You start measuring your mate up against what your mind has created, and bless their hearts, they just can't measure up. It doesn't matter that what your mind has created is COMPLETELY unrealistic. Before you know it, you are miserable with the man/woman who you once called your soul mate and you begin looking for someone who can live up to that "super hero" image you have convinced yourself you "need/deserve/want". Lives are crushed. Families are broken.
This is where some of you are rolling your eyes and saying, "Come onnnn Kim. You are WAY over reacting to this. It's a MOVIE. It's not real!!" And I come back with, "Dude. You are WAY underestimating the power of Satan! He can do a LOT of damage with this one movie. So if I can get one woman to THINK before she throws away not only her $10, but possibly her marriage...I'm willing to take a little flack."
This is the blog post that got me really starting to think about this stuff (If you haven't read it, you really should):
http://mrsgoresdiary.com/2012/07/08/magic-mike-who/
This young lady did a fabulous job, so I'm not going to rewrite what she said so eloquently. She gave a really long list of what "sexy" and "manly" look like. As I was reading that list, a smile came across my face because on the vast majority of them I thought "Rog does that" or "Yep. That's Rog".
I started thinking about all the things my precious husband does/has done for me:
*sending me flowers when we weren't together just because he was thinking about me
*warming my robe in the dryer before I got out of bed because that old house was SO cold
*going out at 3AM to get me a Diet Coke because I wanted one so bad
*washing dishes MANY nights because he knows how much I HATE doing it
*telling me I am the most beautiful woman in the world even on my worst "fat & ugly" days
*watering the plants that I LOVE to look at but HATE to tend to
*letting me spend a week in Florida (without him) because he knew I needed the down time
*taking me to dinner at Kanpai because he knows it's my FAVORITE (even though it's not his)
*holding me and soothing me when I have a snot-slingin' melt down because of one of the kids
*celebrating Valentine's Week instead of Valentine's Day (because one day isn't long enough)
and the list could really go on and on and on. THAT is what love and manliness is all about. Not some sleazy strip joint flick. So Hollywood can keep their Magic Mike. I don't believe in magic anyway. But I DO believe in Miracles!! And I have the BEST one of them all!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Spandex is from Satan: a discussion on modesty
I have never been a big fan of Spandex. I mean, it has its uses in certain undergarments. It IS nice to have a little help holding in the tummy every now and then. But wearing something that was meant to be used as an undergarment, out...by itself...in public? That's just wrong. And you know as well as I do that the very people that SHOULDN'T wear Spandex in public, are most often the very ones that DO wear it out in public!
I'm not going to address men wearing Spandex right now because that is disturbing on too many levels. (And before all you wrestlers and bikers get all bent out of shape, I KNOW your little singlets and bike riding outfits help you perform better at your sport....but it's still gross. Sorry.)
What gets me, is that some people really think that it is OK to wear Spandex out shopping, or out "on the town". Now I know occasionally, you will see a tiny little, super fit aerobics instructor type run into a Kangaroo or RaceTrac to grab a Gatorade on her way to class, and she will be wearing Spandex. But MOST OF THE TIME it's not the personal trainer types that are out flaunting their elastic. Most of you who are reading this post have been at Walmart at one time or another and have gotten behind a rather hefty lady wearing hot pink (or any other color) Spandex shorts (and usually a tank top). I know the thought that went through your mind because it is the same thought that goes through pretty much everybody's mind! "WHAT. WAS. SHE. THINKIN'?" Repeat after me: "Wearing anything that shows innocent bystanders ever wrinkle, crease, bump and bulge in ANY part of your body is NOT ok!"
But seeing the disturbing sights at Walmart, the mall, or Riverbend is not really the reason I think Spandex is from the Devil. (although those things do make a pretty good argument...)
So why am I so in a wad about Spandex? Because I have daughters, that's why!! A brief anecdote:
Several years ago, my daughter Karly came home talking about the horrendous color guard uniform that had been chosen for the group to wear. She said it looked like a clown suit, and it was tight. She went on and on about how horrible it was. I could not even imagine what in the world the thing looked like. Then. I saw it. It really was worse than what she had described. Now for those of you who know Karly, you know she is very tall and extremely slender. Some would even say she is just plain skinny! If anybody could get away with wearing a Spandex unitard, Karly could. When she tried it on for me, I was appalled. NOT that she looked bad IN it....the outfit itself was just hideous! It left absolutely NOTHING to the imagination concerning Karly's body. And my little girl was going to have to get out in front of hundreds of people every Friday night and dance around in this garb. Every time I thought about the boys (and grown men for that matter) that would be ogling at her and the other girls from the stands, I got more livid than I was before at the idiot who chose those outfits. Obviously, HE didn't have daughters, and HE didn't find anything wrong with prancing around in Spandex unitards, but I sure did!!! The other less important, but still serious issue was the fact that not all the girls on the color guard that year were Karly's size. There were some pretty big girls on the team. My heart just broke for them every week when they had to get out on the football field and dance around in their multicolored, skin tight, non-figure flattering uniform. You could almost hear the snickers and rude comments coming from the red necks in the stands.
So that was my first experience having one of my daughters have to wear Spandex in public. My other experience really just happened a couple of years ago and is kind of on-going. Kelly started playing volleyball when she was in the 8th grade. I had never watched a volleyball game in my life that I could remember. I don't remember it AS MUCH when she was in 8th grade, but when she started playing in the 9th grade, I was dumbfounded at some of the uniforms the girls on the other teams wore. Their Spandex shorts looked like underwear!! Some of them were about a 2" inseam!! I was shocked. (I do want to stop for a second right here and give MAJOR props to Kelly's then volleyball coaches, Becky Forkner and Brandi Womack. They did not let the girls get Spandex shorts for their uniform! And believe me, they got some back lash from the girls AND some of the girls' parents!! That's what I could NOT believe! There were some parents of girls on the team who WANTED the girls to wear the Spandex shorts!!!) Our girls wore a fantastic looking uniform that included blue athletic style shorts. They were VERY classy looking and did not inhibit the performance of the girls AT ALL!!
Now I KNOW that I'm not going to win any popularity contests from many volleyball players and some coaches. Thankfully though, I DON'T CARE!!! It's not about me being popular. It's about me being concerned about how my daughter presents herself in a public arena. BELIEVE me. Kelly and I went round and round about this last year, and I fully anticipate that we will battle it out again this year. When the girls are warming up and doing all those crazy stretches they have to do to prepare for the game, their butts are often in the air. And it's not JUST during warm ups. These girls are all over the floor during a game! When they are wearing skin tight shorts with a 2" or even a 3" inseam, a LOT more is visible to spectators than they should EVER see!! When you consider that a great many of those spectators are men and boys...naw baby naw.... I DO NOT want my daughter's body on display at a volleyball game (or any other time for that matter!!)! I want people noticing what an awesome serve she had, or what a great block she made, NOT that she has a really cute butt!!!
It is no secret that men/boys are very visual creatures. It does not take much to get their imaginations whirling. When a group of teen age girls, some with VERY well developed bodies, pour themselves into skin tight, SUPER short shorts, one can only IMAGINE where a man's mind can take off to! (Actually, I don't really WANT to imagine that, but you get my point!)
And please don't give me the argument that the Spandex shorts makes it easier to move around on the court. Have you ever noticed that most volleyball teams' shirts are long sleeved? The girls use their legs a LOT, but they use their arms even more. If something needed to be unencumbered, would you not think it would be their arms?? If that is the case, then ALL volleyball uniform shirts should be sleeveless!! But they aren't.
You know as well as I do that kids more often than not want to do what is accepted or cool. That is many times NOT the same as what is right or what makes the most sense. So as parents (or coaches) we need to stand up and say, "NO. Your body is NOT going to be put on display at this sporting event. Your athletic ability is." or "NO. You are NOT going to go to the mall dressed like a hooker." Whatever the case may be.
So bringing it all together here...is Spandex really from Satan? No. It's not. Mr. Sandquist and Mr. Shivers did a good thing way back there in 1959 when they created this weird material. It has some really great uses. However those uses DO NOT include, shopping attire (at Walmart or anywhere else!), date night attire (the movies, a restaurant, or Riverbend!) OR volleyball attire!
I'm not going to address men wearing Spandex right now because that is disturbing on too many levels. (And before all you wrestlers and bikers get all bent out of shape, I KNOW your little singlets and bike riding outfits help you perform better at your sport....but it's still gross. Sorry.)
What gets me, is that some people really think that it is OK to wear Spandex out shopping, or out "on the town". Now I know occasionally, you will see a tiny little, super fit aerobics instructor type run into a Kangaroo or RaceTrac to grab a Gatorade on her way to class, and she will be wearing Spandex. But MOST OF THE TIME it's not the personal trainer types that are out flaunting their elastic. Most of you who are reading this post have been at Walmart at one time or another and have gotten behind a rather hefty lady wearing hot pink (or any other color) Spandex shorts (and usually a tank top). I know the thought that went through your mind because it is the same thought that goes through pretty much everybody's mind! "WHAT. WAS. SHE. THINKIN'?" Repeat after me: "Wearing anything that shows innocent bystanders ever wrinkle, crease, bump and bulge in ANY part of your body is NOT ok!"
But seeing the disturbing sights at Walmart, the mall, or Riverbend is not really the reason I think Spandex is from the Devil. (although those things do make a pretty good argument...)
So why am I so in a wad about Spandex? Because I have daughters, that's why!! A brief anecdote:
Several years ago, my daughter Karly came home talking about the horrendous color guard uniform that had been chosen for the group to wear. She said it looked like a clown suit, and it was tight. She went on and on about how horrible it was. I could not even imagine what in the world the thing looked like. Then. I saw it. It really was worse than what she had described. Now for those of you who know Karly, you know she is very tall and extremely slender. Some would even say she is just plain skinny! If anybody could get away with wearing a Spandex unitard, Karly could. When she tried it on for me, I was appalled. NOT that she looked bad IN it....the outfit itself was just hideous! It left absolutely NOTHING to the imagination concerning Karly's body. And my little girl was going to have to get out in front of hundreds of people every Friday night and dance around in this garb. Every time I thought about the boys (and grown men for that matter) that would be ogling at her and the other girls from the stands, I got more livid than I was before at the idiot who chose those outfits. Obviously, HE didn't have daughters, and HE didn't find anything wrong with prancing around in Spandex unitards, but I sure did!!! The other less important, but still serious issue was the fact that not all the girls on the color guard that year were Karly's size. There were some pretty big girls on the team. My heart just broke for them every week when they had to get out on the football field and dance around in their multicolored, skin tight, non-figure flattering uniform. You could almost hear the snickers and rude comments coming from the red necks in the stands.
So that was my first experience having one of my daughters have to wear Spandex in public. My other experience really just happened a couple of years ago and is kind of on-going. Kelly started playing volleyball when she was in the 8th grade. I had never watched a volleyball game in my life that I could remember. I don't remember it AS MUCH when she was in 8th grade, but when she started playing in the 9th grade, I was dumbfounded at some of the uniforms the girls on the other teams wore. Their Spandex shorts looked like underwear!! Some of them were about a 2" inseam!! I was shocked. (I do want to stop for a second right here and give MAJOR props to Kelly's then volleyball coaches, Becky Forkner and Brandi Womack. They did not let the girls get Spandex shorts for their uniform! And believe me, they got some back lash from the girls AND some of the girls' parents!! That's what I could NOT believe! There were some parents of girls on the team who WANTED the girls to wear the Spandex shorts!!!) Our girls wore a fantastic looking uniform that included blue athletic style shorts. They were VERY classy looking and did not inhibit the performance of the girls AT ALL!!
Now I KNOW that I'm not going to win any popularity contests from many volleyball players and some coaches. Thankfully though, I DON'T CARE!!! It's not about me being popular. It's about me being concerned about how my daughter presents herself in a public arena. BELIEVE me. Kelly and I went round and round about this last year, and I fully anticipate that we will battle it out again this year. When the girls are warming up and doing all those crazy stretches they have to do to prepare for the game, their butts are often in the air. And it's not JUST during warm ups. These girls are all over the floor during a game! When they are wearing skin tight shorts with a 2" or even a 3" inseam, a LOT more is visible to spectators than they should EVER see!! When you consider that a great many of those spectators are men and boys...naw baby naw.... I DO NOT want my daughter's body on display at a volleyball game (or any other time for that matter!!)! I want people noticing what an awesome serve she had, or what a great block she made, NOT that she has a really cute butt!!!
It is no secret that men/boys are very visual creatures. It does not take much to get their imaginations whirling. When a group of teen age girls, some with VERY well developed bodies, pour themselves into skin tight, SUPER short shorts, one can only IMAGINE where a man's mind can take off to! (Actually, I don't really WANT to imagine that, but you get my point!)
And please don't give me the argument that the Spandex shorts makes it easier to move around on the court. Have you ever noticed that most volleyball teams' shirts are long sleeved? The girls use their legs a LOT, but they use their arms even more. If something needed to be unencumbered, would you not think it would be their arms?? If that is the case, then ALL volleyball uniform shirts should be sleeveless!! But they aren't.
You know as well as I do that kids more often than not want to do what is accepted or cool. That is many times NOT the same as what is right or what makes the most sense. So as parents (or coaches) we need to stand up and say, "NO. Your body is NOT going to be put on display at this sporting event. Your athletic ability is." or "NO. You are NOT going to go to the mall dressed like a hooker." Whatever the case may be.
So bringing it all together here...is Spandex really from Satan? No. It's not. Mr. Sandquist and Mr. Shivers did a good thing way back there in 1959 when they created this weird material. It has some really great uses. However those uses DO NOT include, shopping attire (at Walmart or anywhere else!), date night attire (the movies, a restaurant, or Riverbend!) OR volleyball attire!
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Before and the During....
I HATE being in pictures. I am totally NOT photogenic. I have a crooked nose, and weird teeth, and my eyes disappear when I smile. So I am not one to want to jump in front of a camera. The only thing I hate more than being in pictures is SHOWING people pictures of myself. ICKY!!!
However, that is exactly what I am goin to do in this blog. Now hear me REALLY clearly on this...the ONLY reason I am putting these two pics on this blog is to encourage anyone reading this who might possibly need to lose a little (or a lot!) of weight. I am a living breathing example of "if I can do it, ANYONE can do it!" So here goes...be prepared to gag, gasp, and giggle...
May 28, 2011 
May 26, 2012
However, that is exactly what I am goin to do in this blog. Now hear me REALLY clearly on this...the ONLY reason I am putting these two pics on this blog is to encourage anyone reading this who might possibly need to lose a little (or a lot!) of weight. I am a living breathing example of "if I can do it, ANYONE can do it!" So here goes...be prepared to gag, gasp, and giggle...
May 28, 2011 
May 26, 2012
Karly's graduation Kerri's wedding
I know, I know...it's gross. But that's where I was for a REALLY long time. When I look at those pictures, I literally gag. HOW did I allow myself to get in that shape?? It didn't happen over night, but it did happen. One (or more likely two) Little Debbie at a time. But I couldn't be THAT bad off...could I? I mean Rog told me all the time how beautiful I was. It was just part of life that I couldn't walk to the mailbox without getting winded. The idea of walking/jogging 4.25 miles (which is what I did this morning) was totally ridiculous.
But then, like I said in an earlier post, when Kerri told me in August, she was getting married in May, I KNEW I had to do something. And I did. As you can see, the second picture looks substantially different than the first. Fifty pounds DOES make a lot of difference. Please be aware, I have STILL not reached my goal yet. But I am working like a crazy person to get there.
If you are a person who is where I was back in May of 2011 and you feel like there is just NO WAY you can do this, PLEASE know YOU CAN!! I didn't join a gym. I didn't pay a ton of money to be on some special program. I did it the old fashioned way.
If you need encouragement or tips, message me. I'm by no means a pro, but I can maybe help you along the way.
I want everybody to feel the way I feel now. I have SO much more energy. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to be able to throw Frisbee with Kelly on the beach when we were in Florida last week! I can't WAIT to run my first 5K probably this fall. I want my pals to be able to do that stuff too!
Have a great week! and remember.. "YES, YOU CAN!!!!"
Thursday, June 7, 2012
A bucket list...really??
So today, one of my fellow teachers posted on Facebook that she was able to mark one more thing off her "Bucket List" because she ran a full 5k (way to go Beth!!) That got me thinking about this whole Bucket List thing again. My youngest daughter has one. I'm sure it's written down somewhere. She has all kinds of crazy stuff on hers. I shiver when I find out some of the things she has already marked off her list!
So I was wondering what people actually put on their lists. Where do you go when you want to find out something like that? Google, of course. I googled Bucket list and sure enough...there were thousands of entries. As I was perusing some of them, I asked myself the question "Why??" What would be a reason for wanting to make an actual list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket"? One of the websites I came across had some pretty good insight.
http://personalexcellence.co/blog/whats-on-your-bucket-list-101-things-to-do-before-you-die/
Quotes like “Every man dies – Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross
Whoa...that's pretty profound. Here's something else the author of the website says about bucket lists:
"Why have a bucket list? If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever feel your days are passing you by without any tangible output to speak of? What did you accomplish in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next – Do they mean anything to you if you are to die today?"
I started really thinking about what I want to DO in my life. Do I have goals? I have accomplished quite a few things in my life...nothing majorly huge, just life stuff. But what do I want to do NOW? What do I want to accomplish? So here it is...edition 1 of Kim's Bucket List (these things are in absolutely NO order. The randomness of the list is a good picture of the randomness of my brain!)
Kim's BUCKET LIST
1. Stay in a Suite in a fancy hotel in Chicago
2. Own a Ford Mustang
3. Lead someone to Christ
4. Take a photography class
5. Take a cake decorating class
6. Wear a size 6 (in something other than underwear)
7. Run a 5K
8. Run a 10K
9. Build a deck on my house
10. Write something that gets published (DONE!! 6/8/12!)
11. Have my own business
12. Help someone achieve his/her dream
13. Own a full blooded doberman
14. See my youngest grandchild graduate from college
15. Get my teeth fixed
16. Have Lasik eye surgery
17. Have 100% of my students pass the CRCT
18. Make someone laugh really hard
19. Take a vacation with just me and my hubby to Gulf Shores (or similar beach destination)
20. Buy my kids and grandkids whatever I want to buy them at Christmas
21. Visit Naomi and her family for a week or so
22. See all three of my girls graduate from college
23. Give a large sum of money to a missionary
24. Pay off my student loans
25. Take a carriage ride in St. Augustine with my hubby
26. Retire
27. Have a pool at my house
28. Meet (or at least see in person) Guy Fieri
29. Spend a week seeing the sights and eating the great food in Chicago
30. Take all the kids and grandkids to Disney World
31. Build something with my dad
32. Do an in depth topical Bible study
33. Memorize all the names of God
34. Learn how to can
35. Get my personal trainer certification
36. Teach an aerobics class
37. Take ball room dance lessons
38. Run an organized race with Kelly
39. Volunteer at a shelter on Thanksgiving or Christmas
40. Own a pair of Chacos
41. Eat at Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah
42. Plant a plum tree
43. Visit at LEAST 25 restaurants featured on DD&D
44. Have a photograph that I take, hanging (framed) on my wall in my house
45. Motivate someone to change their life
So there it is. One thing for every year of my life thus far. I'm sure there will be more additions to the list as I think about it. Now it's time for me to get off here and go plant a tree or somethin'!
So I was wondering what people actually put on their lists. Where do you go when you want to find out something like that? Google, of course. I googled Bucket list and sure enough...there were thousands of entries. As I was perusing some of them, I asked myself the question "Why??" What would be a reason for wanting to make an actual list of things you want to do before you "kick the bucket"? One of the websites I came across had some pretty good insight.
http://personalexcellence.co/blog/whats-on-your-bucket-list-101-things-to-do-before-you-die/
Quotes like “Every man dies – Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross
Whoa...that's pretty profound. Here's something else the author of the website says about bucket lists:
"Why have a bucket list? If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, chances are you spend most of your time caught up in a flurry of day-to-day activities. Ever feel your days are passing you by without any tangible output to speak of? What did you accomplish in the past 3 months? What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months? Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next – Do they mean anything to you if you are to die today?"
I started really thinking about what I want to DO in my life. Do I have goals? I have accomplished quite a few things in my life...nothing majorly huge, just life stuff. But what do I want to do NOW? What do I want to accomplish? So here it is...edition 1 of Kim's Bucket List (these things are in absolutely NO order. The randomness of the list is a good picture of the randomness of my brain!)
Kim's BUCKET LIST
1. Stay in a Suite in a fancy hotel in Chicago
2. Own a Ford Mustang
3. Lead someone to Christ
4. Take a photography class
5. Take a cake decorating class
6. Wear a size 6 (in something other than underwear)
7. Run a 5K
8. Run a 10K
9. Build a deck on my house
10. Write something that gets published (DONE!! 6/8/12!)
11. Have my own business
12. Help someone achieve his/her dream
13. Own a full blooded doberman
14. See my youngest grandchild graduate from college
15. Get my teeth fixed
16. Have Lasik eye surgery
17. Have 100% of my students pass the CRCT
18. Make someone laugh really hard
19. Take a vacation with just me and my hubby to Gulf Shores (or similar beach destination)
20. Buy my kids and grandkids whatever I want to buy them at Christmas
21. Visit Naomi and her family for a week or so
22. See all three of my girls graduate from college
23. Give a large sum of money to a missionary
24. Pay off my student loans
25. Take a carriage ride in St. Augustine with my hubby
26. Retire
27. Have a pool at my house
28. Meet (or at least see in person) Guy Fieri
29. Spend a week seeing the sights and eating the great food in Chicago
30. Take all the kids and grandkids to Disney World
31. Build something with my dad
32. Do an in depth topical Bible study
33. Memorize all the names of God
34. Learn how to can
35. Get my personal trainer certification
36. Teach an aerobics class
37. Take ball room dance lessons
38. Run an organized race with Kelly
39. Volunteer at a shelter on Thanksgiving or Christmas
40. Own a pair of Chacos
41. Eat at Paula Deen's restaurant in Savannah
42. Plant a plum tree
43. Visit at LEAST 25 restaurants featured on DD&D
44. Have a photograph that I take, hanging (framed) on my wall in my house
45. Motivate someone to change their life
So there it is. One thing for every year of my life thus far. I'm sure there will be more additions to the list as I think about it. Now it's time for me to get off here and go plant a tree or somethin'!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Why you should vote for Mike Helton for sheriff
Well Catoosa County residents, the end of an era is upon you. Sheriff Phil Summers is retiring after a long, successful career as Catoosa's Top Cop. There are several names that have been thrown into the hat as successors for Mr. Summers. A couple of the top contenders seem to have impressive credentials. However, I want give you three solid reasons why you need to vote for Mike Helton for sheriff of Catoosa County.
1. Experience- Through a conversation with someone at my school a few weeks ago, I realized that some people in Catoosa County only know Mike as "judge" or "county manager". They do not realize that he has sixteen years of law enforcement experience. The great thing about Mike's experience is that it is very inclusive. He has been a dispatcher, a street cop, an SRO, a detective, and captain of detectives. In other words, he has experienced law enforcement from the ground up. He understands the needs at every level of the department. Mike attended two state police academies AND the FBI National Academy. Mike knows law enforcement.
All that experience is great, but the other guys have experience too. What sets Mike apart? It is this. He has an in depth knowledge of the law because of his seven years as magistrate court judge AND he has a real understanding of the fiscal matters that the sheriff's department faces due to his five years as Catoosa County manager. His experience isn't one dimensional. It is very well rounded.
2. Proven leadership- All I have to say is April 27, 2011. Just the mention of that date sends chills through every resident of Catoosa County. It has a horrible day that turned this little county on its head. There were SO MANY people and agencies that sprang into action immediately following that horrible disaster. And Mike Helton was at the helm helping direct, guide, and coordinate all of the efforts to "right the ship" of Catoosa County. From the time the storm hit, he was in the middle of it all trying to assess what was happening, and what needed to be done. He worked constantly for days, weeks, and months afterwards to restore and rebuild Catoosa County. Mike knows how to lead in difficult times.
3. Integrity and Faith- Something that often plagues small counties such as Catoosa is the "good ole' boy", "you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours" modus operandi. Having known Mike for 26 years, I know how he detests that way of doing business. He is a man of the highest possible integrity. He does things by the book. That book will sometimes be a book of law, but it will always be the Bible. Mike has an extremely deep, life guiding faith. Now before some of you liberal thinking, "separation-of-church-and -state" people get all in a wad, please understand something. Mike would not go in thumping his Bible trying to proselytize the entire sheriff's office. What he does, is trust God to guide him in his decision making. (And I have to add...God does that. Mike doesn't do anything unless he firmly believes God is in it.) You have to admit, (even if YOU personally don't have a close relationship with God) having a man in leadership who has a close connection to God would be a VERY good thing! and Mike knows God!
So there you have it. I feel that these are three very solid reasons why Mike Helton needs to be the next sheriff of Catoosa County. Please be ready to vote on July 31!
Check out Mike's website for more information. http://mikeheltonforsheriff.com/
1. Experience- Through a conversation with someone at my school a few weeks ago, I realized that some people in Catoosa County only know Mike as "judge" or "county manager". They do not realize that he has sixteen years of law enforcement experience. The great thing about Mike's experience is that it is very inclusive. He has been a dispatcher, a street cop, an SRO, a detective, and captain of detectives. In other words, he has experienced law enforcement from the ground up. He understands the needs at every level of the department. Mike attended two state police academies AND the FBI National Academy. Mike knows law enforcement.
All that experience is great, but the other guys have experience too. What sets Mike apart? It is this. He has an in depth knowledge of the law because of his seven years as magistrate court judge AND he has a real understanding of the fiscal matters that the sheriff's department faces due to his five years as Catoosa County manager. His experience isn't one dimensional. It is very well rounded.
2. Proven leadership- All I have to say is April 27, 2011. Just the mention of that date sends chills through every resident of Catoosa County. It has a horrible day that turned this little county on its head. There were SO MANY people and agencies that sprang into action immediately following that horrible disaster. And Mike Helton was at the helm helping direct, guide, and coordinate all of the efforts to "right the ship" of Catoosa County. From the time the storm hit, he was in the middle of it all trying to assess what was happening, and what needed to be done. He worked constantly for days, weeks, and months afterwards to restore and rebuild Catoosa County. Mike knows how to lead in difficult times.
3. Integrity and Faith- Something that often plagues small counties such as Catoosa is the "good ole' boy", "you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours" modus operandi. Having known Mike for 26 years, I know how he detests that way of doing business. He is a man of the highest possible integrity. He does things by the book. That book will sometimes be a book of law, but it will always be the Bible. Mike has an extremely deep, life guiding faith. Now before some of you liberal thinking, "separation-of-church-and -state" people get all in a wad, please understand something. Mike would not go in thumping his Bible trying to proselytize the entire sheriff's office. What he does, is trust God to guide him in his decision making. (And I have to add...God does that. Mike doesn't do anything unless he firmly believes God is in it.) You have to admit, (even if YOU personally don't have a close relationship with God) having a man in leadership who has a close connection to God would be a VERY good thing! and Mike knows God!
So there you have it. I feel that these are three very solid reasons why Mike Helton needs to be the next sheriff of Catoosa County. Please be ready to vote on July 31!
Check out Mike's website for more information. http://mikeheltonforsheriff.com/
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Whole wheat bagels and smoothies..
I just re-read a little bit of my post from earlier and I realized I didn't go back and tell you about wht I learned from the nutrition guy at Center for Integrative Medicine. One of the things that he encouraged me to do was eat a breakfast high in protein. He suggested whole wheat bagels with peanut butter. I like bagels ok, so I thought that might work. He also suggested smoothies. I've never been much of a fan of smoothies, so I wasn't sure how that would go.
So I got my first pack of Lender's Wholewheat bagels, and that has become my breakfast of choice. Now I do change it up a little every other day or so. I toast it, spread peanut butter and then top it with some kind of fruit or fruit spread. I love slicing a banana to top it, but I have also found that Polaner sugar free apricot spread is YUMMO!! There are several different kinds of the sugar free spread. I do try to have a variety of them on hand so I don't get bored with it. This is a VERY filling breakfast.
When I first started eating the toasted bagels, I kind of figured I would get tired of them pretty quickly. I wanted to have another option on hand. A good friend of mine at school gave me a Special K protein drink. I have had SO MANY of those kind of things, and they are all gross. But THIS one was actually GOOD! I was surprised. (If you want a REALLY yummy treat, stick it in the freezer for a little bit. DELISH!!) Anyway...I was trying to come up with another high protein option for breakfast. Since those Special K drinks have about 10 grams per bottle, I decided to use it as a base for a smoothie. I then added some frozen strawberries and either a vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt. The Greek part is really important because of, again, the protein content. Add a little crushed ice, blend it up, and BAM...you have a delicious tasting, VERY filling breakfast. The GREAT thing about these smoothies is, you can make them SO MANY different ways. Change up the fruit options, change the Greek yogurt options, or you can even change the Special K drink options. They have chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla.
So having a tasty, protein rich breakfast has been one of the major lifestyle changes I've made.
And yes. It does keep me full til I eat lunch. Since my students go to lunch at 10:45, I'm NEVER hungry, so I eat a little 2x3 rectangle of cheese and a few pretzels. Then, when I have my planning at 1:10, I eat lunch. Lunch is usually whatever I fixed for dinner the night before, or if I don't have left overs, I'll eat a bowl of cereal or a Special K meal bar. (Those are really good too!) Then when I get home, I'll start dinner. My kids always give me grief about eating so EARLY, but the pros will tell you that it's not good to eat a large meal late. So, I TRY to have dinner ready at 5:30. That doesn't always happen, but I try hard to have dinner finished by 6:30. Then I'm done. No snacks before bed. Again, can I PLEASE stress that I'm not anal about stuff. So...if I feel myself getting a little hungry, I'll eat a few peanut butter crackers.
And that's it. Nothing really weird. Just changes. Changes in the way I run my eating habits. Not a program. Not a diet. It's just my life. And it seems to be workin out pretty good!!
So I got my first pack of Lender's Wholewheat bagels, and that has become my breakfast of choice. Now I do change it up a little every other day or so. I toast it, spread peanut butter and then top it with some kind of fruit or fruit spread. I love slicing a banana to top it, but I have also found that Polaner sugar free apricot spread is YUMMO!! There are several different kinds of the sugar free spread. I do try to have a variety of them on hand so I don't get bored with it. This is a VERY filling breakfast.
When I first started eating the toasted bagels, I kind of figured I would get tired of them pretty quickly. I wanted to have another option on hand. A good friend of mine at school gave me a Special K protein drink. I have had SO MANY of those kind of things, and they are all gross. But THIS one was actually GOOD! I was surprised. (If you want a REALLY yummy treat, stick it in the freezer for a little bit. DELISH!!) Anyway...I was trying to come up with another high protein option for breakfast. Since those Special K drinks have about 10 grams per bottle, I decided to use it as a base for a smoothie. I then added some frozen strawberries and either a vanilla or strawberry Greek yogurt. The Greek part is really important because of, again, the protein content. Add a little crushed ice, blend it up, and BAM...you have a delicious tasting, VERY filling breakfast. The GREAT thing about these smoothies is, you can make them SO MANY different ways. Change up the fruit options, change the Greek yogurt options, or you can even change the Special K drink options. They have chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla.
So having a tasty, protein rich breakfast has been one of the major lifestyle changes I've made.
And yes. It does keep me full til I eat lunch. Since my students go to lunch at 10:45, I'm NEVER hungry, so I eat a little 2x3 rectangle of cheese and a few pretzels. Then, when I have my planning at 1:10, I eat lunch. Lunch is usually whatever I fixed for dinner the night before, or if I don't have left overs, I'll eat a bowl of cereal or a Special K meal bar. (Those are really good too!) Then when I get home, I'll start dinner. My kids always give me grief about eating so EARLY, but the pros will tell you that it's not good to eat a large meal late. So, I TRY to have dinner ready at 5:30. That doesn't always happen, but I try hard to have dinner finished by 6:30. Then I'm done. No snacks before bed. Again, can I PLEASE stress that I'm not anal about stuff. So...if I feel myself getting a little hungry, I'll eat a few peanut butter crackers.
And that's it. Nothing really weird. Just changes. Changes in the way I run my eating habits. Not a program. Not a diet. It's just my life. And it seems to be workin out pretty good!!
Thursday, May 24, 2012
The Big 5-0 Part 4
Ok. So I've given up Diet Coke and sweets. Isn't that enough?? Well. No. It isn't. What is the other thing that those smart folks that know about this stuff say? It's the 'E' word that everyone so hates. Yes friends. Exercise. I know it's a dirty word. But bein' honest here. If you want to lose weight you are going to have to use up more calories than you take in. Pretty simple idea really. Not that giving up my favorite beverage AND WalMart cupcakes with all that yummy icing wasn't hard enough...but man! Exercising was tough! It was hard because I was SO tired all the time. And I hurt. Everything hurt. And I was exhausted constantly. But...I repeated my mantra to myself and set my alarm for 5:00AM. When it went off, I groaned, but stumbled out of bed and down the stairs, and onto the treadmill. I tried to do this every morning. I wish I could say that it got easier and within a few days I was bouncing out of bed with a smile on my face and a spring in my step. But I can't say that. I have always HATED getting up early. I am NOT a morning person by ANY stretch of the imagination. What I did find, though, was that my stamina was increasing. Every few days I could bump up the speed just a little bit. And that was encouraging. I could see progress.
Another thing I started doing religiously was stretches and crunches. I started doing these while laying on my bed. That didn't hurt my back as much. I did these EVERY night. Then, I started doing the same exercises in the morning before I got on the treadmill.
What I have found is that you can exercise pretty much anywhere! Use the time sitting at a red light to do abdominal squeezes. Sit up straight, slowly squeeze your abs in, hold for a couple of seconds, then release. Repeat as long as you are sitting at the red light. Another one I do a lot is for my calf muscles. When washing dishes or cooking dinner just raise up on your toes, hold a second, then lower. Repeat ten times or so. Works those leg muscles! I do some kind of ab squeezes or leg lifts whenever I'm standing somewhere for a period of time. Brushing my teeth, ironing, looking for something to fix for dinner. You will be amazed at how even those few little movements will help you.
The key? Start small, but START.
So there you have it folks. That's my story. Recapping the steps:
1. Got my motivation
2. Identified and eliminated my problem causing agents: Diet Coke and sweets
3. Started exercising
I know you hear people say it all the time..."If I can do it, so can you". Well that is the absolute truth!! If THIS girl can give up two things that I practically lived on for years, YOU can too! I have to tell ya, I am LOVIN' this new body. Again, I'm not at my goal yet. I still have a ways to go. But I FEEL so much better. It is AMAZING! And I am very proud to say that
"I'M NOT GOING TO BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!!"
Another thing I started doing religiously was stretches and crunches. I started doing these while laying on my bed. That didn't hurt my back as much. I did these EVERY night. Then, I started doing the same exercises in the morning before I got on the treadmill.
What I have found is that you can exercise pretty much anywhere! Use the time sitting at a red light to do abdominal squeezes. Sit up straight, slowly squeeze your abs in, hold for a couple of seconds, then release. Repeat as long as you are sitting at the red light. Another one I do a lot is for my calf muscles. When washing dishes or cooking dinner just raise up on your toes, hold a second, then lower. Repeat ten times or so. Works those leg muscles! I do some kind of ab squeezes or leg lifts whenever I'm standing somewhere for a period of time. Brushing my teeth, ironing, looking for something to fix for dinner. You will be amazed at how even those few little movements will help you.
The key? Start small, but START.
So there you have it folks. That's my story. Recapping the steps:
1. Got my motivation
2. Identified and eliminated my problem causing agents: Diet Coke and sweets
3. Started exercising
I know you hear people say it all the time..."If I can do it, so can you". Well that is the absolute truth!! If THIS girl can give up two things that I practically lived on for years, YOU can too! I have to tell ya, I am LOVIN' this new body. Again, I'm not at my goal yet. I still have a ways to go. But I FEEL so much better. It is AMAZING! And I am very proud to say that
"I'M NOT GOING TO BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!!"
The Big 5-0 Part 3
It's looking like this blog is going to take me as long to finish as it has taken me to get the weight off!
So, on with the story...
In addition to being a Diet Coke addict, I was also a sugar addict. Bad. Really bad. I mean if one cookie was good, two would be better and six would be euphoric. I could not eat JUST one cookie, or cup cake or piece of candy. It was nothing for me to have a twin pack of Little Debbies with my Diet Coke for breakfast, then have another something sweet before lunch, then something else after school, then a bed time snack. ALL sugar. It truly was an addiction. I CRAVED sugar. It was IMPOSSIBLE for me to go through the checkout at WalMart and not get a candy bar of some kind. Of course it would be eaten before I got out of the parking lot, and it was usually washed down with, you guessed it, a Diet Coke. This habit was the one that PACKED on the pounds for me. There is NO TELLING how many grams of sugar I was pouring into my body every day. It really is a miracle I didn't become diabetic. When I finally decided that I was going to DO something about my weight, I knew that the first thing that would have to go would be sugar. And there was really only one way for me to do it. I KNEW I had to go cold turkey. I don't remember the day or the time, but I quit. I just stopped eating sweets.
Now this is where I need to put in some side thoughts. Rog made a comment to me that REALLY stuck in my head when I started this process. I'm pretty sure it wasn't original with him, but it made a HUGE impact on my thinking. He said, "Whatever you do to GET the weight off, is what you have to do to KEEP the weight off." WOW. How true THAT statement is!! That is EXACTLY why "diets" don't work!! Sure, you can lose 40, 50, or 60 pounds, but what happens when you decide to get off your "diet" and go back to your "normal" way of eating? Those pounds you lost are going to find you, and I promise they are going to have friends with them when they come back!!
PLEASE GET THIS! The pros aren't lyin' when they talk about "lifestyle change". See, I've lost 30 pounds before, but I gained every ounce and then some, back. That happened because I didn't change the way I lived my life. It's not about a PROGRAM!! I'm not trying to put down all those money making places that are out there. I mean, the "diet" industry is a multimillion dollar giant. BUT... will you just think for a minute? How many LONG TERM success stories do those places have? I mean, people who can HONESTLY say they have KEPT WEIGHT OFF for years because of this-or-that program. There's just not that many. Know why? Because whatever you do to GET the weight off is what you have to do to KEEP the weight off! And people just don't want to pay hundreds of dollars EVERY month for the rest of their lives! That's what LIFESTYLE CHANGE is about. I had heard that term thrown about for years, but I honestly never really grasped it until now.
Now, back to my sugar addiction. Because I know me, I knew that cutting out sweets a little at a time simply would NOT work. So, I repeated my "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER IN MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING" mantra, and I quit eating sweets. Now before you get the idea that I just shut the door and walked away and it was simple as that, PLEASE do not be mistaken. IT WAS HARD!!!!! I mean REALLY hard!!! There were days when I thought I was going to go out of my mind if I didn't get some kind of SOMETHING sweet. So you know what I found? Apple Jacks. I love Apple Jacks!! So when I would get a hankering for something sweet, I would eat a bowl of cereal.
Here is another side bar: My sister is a registered dietician with a LOT of letters after her name. I am not. However, I do understand that Apple Jack and Cocoa Krispies (my other fav) are laden with sugar. Here's another point I want to make. I have not gotten anal about things in this process. Notice I said I cut out SWEETS, not sugar. Just like there was no way I could throw down hundreds of dollars for some big name diet program every month, there was also no way I could count calories, or fat grams or carbs, or sugar or anything else for that matter. I mean, anybody can do that for a while, but to do it consistently for a LONG time...no way. So...this is where I deviate from the "pros". I REFUSE to count anything. So I will eat an occasional waffle with a little syrup, or I'll have my bowl of Apple Jacks or Cocoa Krispies and not wig out about it. What I WILL NOT eat is a piece of cake, or pie, or a cookie or candy bar. I know that all it takes is one little bite, and I will have to start fighting that battle all over again. It's a whole lot easier for me to not eat any of it than it is to limit myself. I do still eat bread or rice or pasta every now and then. If I want it, I eat it. Pretty simple. The difference is that now, I haven't had six cookies IN ADDITION to that stuff.
All this may sound extreme, but when you have to lose as much weight as I have to lose, it often takes extreme measures. It really does come down to motivation, and 'I AM NOT GOING TO BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!' dad gumit!!
Now there is one more piece to this LONG story...if you are interested, stay tuned for Part 4.
So, on with the story...
In addition to being a Diet Coke addict, I was also a sugar addict. Bad. Really bad. I mean if one cookie was good, two would be better and six would be euphoric. I could not eat JUST one cookie, or cup cake or piece of candy. It was nothing for me to have a twin pack of Little Debbies with my Diet Coke for breakfast, then have another something sweet before lunch, then something else after school, then a bed time snack. ALL sugar. It truly was an addiction. I CRAVED sugar. It was IMPOSSIBLE for me to go through the checkout at WalMart and not get a candy bar of some kind. Of course it would be eaten before I got out of the parking lot, and it was usually washed down with, you guessed it, a Diet Coke. This habit was the one that PACKED on the pounds for me. There is NO TELLING how many grams of sugar I was pouring into my body every day. It really is a miracle I didn't become diabetic. When I finally decided that I was going to DO something about my weight, I knew that the first thing that would have to go would be sugar. And there was really only one way for me to do it. I KNEW I had to go cold turkey. I don't remember the day or the time, but I quit. I just stopped eating sweets.
Now this is where I need to put in some side thoughts. Rog made a comment to me that REALLY stuck in my head when I started this process. I'm pretty sure it wasn't original with him, but it made a HUGE impact on my thinking. He said, "Whatever you do to GET the weight off, is what you have to do to KEEP the weight off." WOW. How true THAT statement is!! That is EXACTLY why "diets" don't work!! Sure, you can lose 40, 50, or 60 pounds, but what happens when you decide to get off your "diet" and go back to your "normal" way of eating? Those pounds you lost are going to find you, and I promise they are going to have friends with them when they come back!!
PLEASE GET THIS! The pros aren't lyin' when they talk about "lifestyle change". See, I've lost 30 pounds before, but I gained every ounce and then some, back. That happened because I didn't change the way I lived my life. It's not about a PROGRAM!! I'm not trying to put down all those money making places that are out there. I mean, the "diet" industry is a multimillion dollar giant. BUT... will you just think for a minute? How many LONG TERM success stories do those places have? I mean, people who can HONESTLY say they have KEPT WEIGHT OFF for years because of this-or-that program. There's just not that many. Know why? Because whatever you do to GET the weight off is what you have to do to KEEP the weight off! And people just don't want to pay hundreds of dollars EVERY month for the rest of their lives! That's what LIFESTYLE CHANGE is about. I had heard that term thrown about for years, but I honestly never really grasped it until now.
Now, back to my sugar addiction. Because I know me, I knew that cutting out sweets a little at a time simply would NOT work. So, I repeated my "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER IN MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING" mantra, and I quit eating sweets. Now before you get the idea that I just shut the door and walked away and it was simple as that, PLEASE do not be mistaken. IT WAS HARD!!!!! I mean REALLY hard!!! There were days when I thought I was going to go out of my mind if I didn't get some kind of SOMETHING sweet. So you know what I found? Apple Jacks. I love Apple Jacks!! So when I would get a hankering for something sweet, I would eat a bowl of cereal.
Here is another side bar: My sister is a registered dietician with a LOT of letters after her name. I am not. However, I do understand that Apple Jack and Cocoa Krispies (my other fav) are laden with sugar. Here's another point I want to make. I have not gotten anal about things in this process. Notice I said I cut out SWEETS, not sugar. Just like there was no way I could throw down hundreds of dollars for some big name diet program every month, there was also no way I could count calories, or fat grams or carbs, or sugar or anything else for that matter. I mean, anybody can do that for a while, but to do it consistently for a LONG time...no way. So...this is where I deviate from the "pros". I REFUSE to count anything. So I will eat an occasional waffle with a little syrup, or I'll have my bowl of Apple Jacks or Cocoa Krispies and not wig out about it. What I WILL NOT eat is a piece of cake, or pie, or a cookie or candy bar. I know that all it takes is one little bite, and I will have to start fighting that battle all over again. It's a whole lot easier for me to not eat any of it than it is to limit myself. I do still eat bread or rice or pasta every now and then. If I want it, I eat it. Pretty simple. The difference is that now, I haven't had six cookies IN ADDITION to that stuff.
All this may sound extreme, but when you have to lose as much weight as I have to lose, it often takes extreme measures. It really does come down to motivation, and 'I AM NOT GOING TO BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!' dad gumit!!
Now there is one more piece to this LONG story...if you are interested, stay tuned for Part 4.
The Big 5-0 Part 2
I ended my last post talking about my motivation for getting started on this LONG journey to lose 60 pounds. (If you didn't read that one, you might want to do so before reading on...)
After Kerri made her announcement, I immediately decided that I had to get busy. I knew those nine months were going to fly by. I had to get a plan. I visited with the registered dietician at my doctor's office. He gave me some good information. The best things that came from those visits were whole wheat bagels and smoothies. (more on that in a little bit) But he didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. I mean, I've been fighting this battle a LONG time. I'm not stupid. I know all the stuff I am supposed to do and NOT supposed to do. It also helps that my sister is a registered dietician, so I have an inside line on what the pros say is good and bad. (side note: you really should check out her blog at www. healthywithasideofbacon.blogspot.com It is awesome!) I asked Kathy for some pointers...again...pretty much the same quetions I have asked her a BUNCH of times before. And guess what...she gave me the SAME answers! I knew what I had to do. It was just a matter of DOING it! The first month, I made two pretty significant changes. I started cutting back on Diet Cokes and I quit eating sweets. Now let me break that down for you.
Diet Coke (especially Vanilla Diet Coke) was always my beverage of choice. You know how coffee drinkers stumble through the day until they have had that first cup of java? Well, I hate coffee, but the same principle applied to me and Diet Coke. As soon as my feet hit the floor, I would go get a big swig of DC. I would then usually finish off bottle number one with breakfast. I would usually have another bottle sitting on my desk at school that I would work on all day. Then I would have another in the evening with dinner. Sometimes I would throw in a sweet tea just for a change of pace. So I was pretty much an addict. I had tried several times to quit, and as with most addictions, I was successful for a while, but then I would take that first sip and I would be right back to my three-a-day habit. For some reason, this time was different though. One of my best memories of this adventure was on our Family weekend in October. (All of Rog's family comes to our house for the whole weekend and we have a GREAT time) Anyway...after they all left, there were a couple of bottles of Diet Coke left in the fridge. I had not had one in a while, so I thought "what the heck". It sounded SO good to me. So I twisted off that cap and took a big ole swig. It was DISGUSTING! I took about two sips out of that bottle and poured it out. I figured something was wrong with the bottle. The next day, I decided to try again. Same result!! It tasted HORRIBLE! I couldn't believe it! And that was the LAST time I had even a sip of a Diet Coke. I kept the sweet tea for a while longer. So what in the world do I drink, you ask? This is the CRAZIEST thing. If you had told me a year ago that I would ONLY be drinking water, I would laugh in your face. I HATE WATER. I mean REALLY hate it. It's just gross to me. But one of the things that the pros tell you is that if you are going to lose weight, you HAVE to drink water. Kathy, bless her heart, tried SO hard to coax me into drinking 'just a TINY bit'. Because I didn't drink any...at all. It was Diet Coke or sweet tea or something with a LOT of sugar and flavor. I would literally gag if I drank a sip of water that was ANYTHING other than ice cold. So for me to think about drinking ONLY water, ALL the time was unheard of! BUT...I kept repeating my mantra "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING". If drinking water was what I had to do, I would figure out a way. And I did. I added a splash of lemon and a packet of Splenda to my water, and guess what! It was pretty good! So now, everywhere I go, I have my tumbler cup with my water/lemon/splenda concoction in it. I don't even remember the last time I drank sweet tea. I can honestly say, I am a WATER ONLY girl now, and that is by choice. Nothing else tastes good to me anymore! I really think this change was a significant part of my weight loss, but maybe not as much as the OTHER big thing I did.
Check out The Big 5-0 Part 3 for that!
After Kerri made her announcement, I immediately decided that I had to get busy. I knew those nine months were going to fly by. I had to get a plan. I visited with the registered dietician at my doctor's office. He gave me some good information. The best things that came from those visits were whole wheat bagels and smoothies. (more on that in a little bit) But he didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. I mean, I've been fighting this battle a LONG time. I'm not stupid. I know all the stuff I am supposed to do and NOT supposed to do. It also helps that my sister is a registered dietician, so I have an inside line on what the pros say is good and bad. (side note: you really should check out her blog at www. healthywithasideofbacon.blogspot.com It is awesome!) I asked Kathy for some pointers...again...pretty much the same quetions I have asked her a BUNCH of times before. And guess what...she gave me the SAME answers! I knew what I had to do. It was just a matter of DOING it! The first month, I made two pretty significant changes. I started cutting back on Diet Cokes and I quit eating sweets. Now let me break that down for you.
Diet Coke (especially Vanilla Diet Coke) was always my beverage of choice. You know how coffee drinkers stumble through the day until they have had that first cup of java? Well, I hate coffee, but the same principle applied to me and Diet Coke. As soon as my feet hit the floor, I would go get a big swig of DC. I would then usually finish off bottle number one with breakfast. I would usually have another bottle sitting on my desk at school that I would work on all day. Then I would have another in the evening with dinner. Sometimes I would throw in a sweet tea just for a change of pace. So I was pretty much an addict. I had tried several times to quit, and as with most addictions, I was successful for a while, but then I would take that first sip and I would be right back to my three-a-day habit. For some reason, this time was different though. One of my best memories of this adventure was on our Family weekend in October. (All of Rog's family comes to our house for the whole weekend and we have a GREAT time) Anyway...after they all left, there were a couple of bottles of Diet Coke left in the fridge. I had not had one in a while, so I thought "what the heck". It sounded SO good to me. So I twisted off that cap and took a big ole swig. It was DISGUSTING! I took about two sips out of that bottle and poured it out. I figured something was wrong with the bottle. The next day, I decided to try again. Same result!! It tasted HORRIBLE! I couldn't believe it! And that was the LAST time I had even a sip of a Diet Coke. I kept the sweet tea for a while longer. So what in the world do I drink, you ask? This is the CRAZIEST thing. If you had told me a year ago that I would ONLY be drinking water, I would laugh in your face. I HATE WATER. I mean REALLY hate it. It's just gross to me. But one of the things that the pros tell you is that if you are going to lose weight, you HAVE to drink water. Kathy, bless her heart, tried SO hard to coax me into drinking 'just a TINY bit'. Because I didn't drink any...at all. It was Diet Coke or sweet tea or something with a LOT of sugar and flavor. I would literally gag if I drank a sip of water that was ANYTHING other than ice cold. So for me to think about drinking ONLY water, ALL the time was unheard of! BUT...I kept repeating my mantra "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER AT MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING". If drinking water was what I had to do, I would figure out a way. And I did. I added a splash of lemon and a packet of Splenda to my water, and guess what! It was pretty good! So now, everywhere I go, I have my tumbler cup with my water/lemon/splenda concoction in it. I don't even remember the last time I drank sweet tea. I can honestly say, I am a WATER ONLY girl now, and that is by choice. Nothing else tastes good to me anymore! I really think this change was a significant part of my weight loss, but maybe not as much as the OTHER big thing I did.
Check out The Big 5-0 Part 3 for that!
The Big 5-0!
So I've wanted to get this written all week, but I haven't had time to sit down and collect my thoughts. Gonna give it a shot this morning.
On Sunday (at least I think it was Sunday), I hit a HUGE milestone in my weight loss journey. I FINALLY reached the 50 pound mark! Now that's not my goal. I still have ten or so more pounds to go before I hit that. But man. Fifty pounds is a LOT! I have tried to think of things that weigh 50lbs. A bag of concrete mix....five big bags of sugar...and Rog told me one time that a man-hole cover weighs 50lbs (he has ALL KINDS of random bits of information like that tucked away in that brain of his!!)
Anyway...when I think about those things, and I try to imagine lifting any of them, I just don't think I could do it. MUCH LESS carry them around! But that's what I was doing. Every day. All day.
NO WONDER I was exhausted ALL the time!
So how did I get started on this journey? Well, one might think it would be when my doctor told me my cholesterol levels were getting pretty high, and if something didn't happen, I might have to start taking meds. Or maybe when she said something about pre-diabetes. But nope. When I heard that news, I would just shake my head and say, "I know. I know. I need to lose weight. It's just so HARD. (whiney voice)" and I went on doing the same things I always did, getting the same results I always got.
The motivation to really get off my can and start DOING something came some time in August of last year I think. It went like this... "Mom. I'm getting married!! IN MAY!"
WHAT?????? MAY??? Like the May that is nine months from now???? HOLY CRAP!! I've got to DO something!!! It was then and there I adopted the mantra "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER IN MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!" See, my sister had gotten married the year before, and I have one of her wedding pics of our family hanging in my hall. I have to look at that picture every day and see what a COW I was. I could not STAND the idea of looking like that in a picture that would be hanging in someone else's house. So...my motivation for losing weight? Vanity. Pure vanity.
But hey. It has worked.
Now this is getting to the point of being too long, so I'm going to say "Stay Tuned" to find out how I got started on this lifestyle change. The Big 5-0, Part 2, coming soon.
On Sunday (at least I think it was Sunday), I hit a HUGE milestone in my weight loss journey. I FINALLY reached the 50 pound mark! Now that's not my goal. I still have ten or so more pounds to go before I hit that. But man. Fifty pounds is a LOT! I have tried to think of things that weigh 50lbs. A bag of concrete mix....five big bags of sugar...and Rog told me one time that a man-hole cover weighs 50lbs (he has ALL KINDS of random bits of information like that tucked away in that brain of his!!)
Anyway...when I think about those things, and I try to imagine lifting any of them, I just don't think I could do it. MUCH LESS carry them around! But that's what I was doing. Every day. All day.
NO WONDER I was exhausted ALL the time!
So how did I get started on this journey? Well, one might think it would be when my doctor told me my cholesterol levels were getting pretty high, and if something didn't happen, I might have to start taking meds. Or maybe when she said something about pre-diabetes. But nope. When I heard that news, I would just shake my head and say, "I know. I know. I need to lose weight. It's just so HARD. (whiney voice)" and I went on doing the same things I always did, getting the same results I always got.
The motivation to really get off my can and start DOING something came some time in August of last year I think. It went like this... "Mom. I'm getting married!! IN MAY!"
WHAT?????? MAY??? Like the May that is nine months from now???? HOLY CRAP!! I've got to DO something!!! It was then and there I adopted the mantra "I WILL NOT BE A HEIFER IN MY DAUGHTER'S WEDDING!" See, my sister had gotten married the year before, and I have one of her wedding pics of our family hanging in my hall. I have to look at that picture every day and see what a COW I was. I could not STAND the idea of looking like that in a picture that would be hanging in someone else's house. So...my motivation for losing weight? Vanity. Pure vanity.
But hey. It has worked.
Now this is getting to the point of being too long, so I'm going to say "Stay Tuned" to find out how I got started on this lifestyle change. The Big 5-0, Part 2, coming soon.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Praise Jehovah Rapha
I am constantly amazed at the goodness of God. I remember studying a long time ago the different names of God. Here are some:
Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will
Provide)
Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is
Peace)
El Shaddai (Lord God
Almighty)
El Elyon (The Most High God)
Adonai (Lord, Master)
Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My
Banner)
Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My
Shepherd)
Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is
There)
Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord
Our Righteousness)
(From Blue Letter Bible-Study Tools)
But the one that has been with me in the last days is Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) .
Last Friday, my back started hurting again. It was the same kind of pain I experienced in September when I had to go to the chiropractor for an extended time because of a disk that was out of place.
The pain got continuously worse over the weekend, and by yesterday (Monday) I was miserable. The thoughts that kept running through my head were..."I don't have time for this! I have got the busiest three weeks of my life coming up!" and "I won't be able to exercise! and I still have 13 lbs. to lose!" and "how are we going to be able to afford more chiropractor visits?" I was in tears.
I got on Facebook one more time before I went to bed and asked anyone who would to pray for me. I didn't really think a whole lot about it. It was just a post. How many people actually READ my posts anyway? And for the ones that DO read it, how many would actually be willing to PRAY for me??
Well...I'm not sure I will ever know exactly how many people said a prayer for me. What I DO know is that Jehovah Rapha heard SOMEBODY'S prayer and healed my back!!I woke up this morning with NO pain. NONE. I have been pain free ALL DAY!
Some may roll their eyes and say I just "had a catch in my back" or make any number of excuses. That's fine. See, I know how I felt on Monday, and I know how I felt on Tuesday. The ONLY explanation that works for me is that God heard the prayers of a righteous man (or woman) and healed me!!
Thank you Jehovah Rapha!
(From Blue Letter Bible-Study Tools)
But the one that has been with me in the last days is Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals) .
Last Friday, my back started hurting again. It was the same kind of pain I experienced in September when I had to go to the chiropractor for an extended time because of a disk that was out of place.
The pain got continuously worse over the weekend, and by yesterday (Monday) I was miserable. The thoughts that kept running through my head were..."I don't have time for this! I have got the busiest three weeks of my life coming up!" and "I won't be able to exercise! and I still have 13 lbs. to lose!" and "how are we going to be able to afford more chiropractor visits?" I was in tears.
I got on Facebook one more time before I went to bed and asked anyone who would to pray for me. I didn't really think a whole lot about it. It was just a post. How many people actually READ my posts anyway? And for the ones that DO read it, how many would actually be willing to PRAY for me??
Well...I'm not sure I will ever know exactly how many people said a prayer for me. What I DO know is that Jehovah Rapha heard SOMEBODY'S prayer and healed my back!!I woke up this morning with NO pain. NONE. I have been pain free ALL DAY!
Some may roll their eyes and say I just "had a catch in my back" or make any number of excuses. That's fine. See, I know how I felt on Monday, and I know how I felt on Tuesday. The ONLY explanation that works for me is that God heard the prayers of a righteous man (or woman) and healed me!!
Thank you Jehovah Rapha!
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Why is there always a battle?
Honestly, this idea is the reason I really started thinking about a BLOG.
I have asked MANY times in my life (especially in relation to my kids) "Why does everything always have to be such a battle?" That question came up again yesterday, in a round-about kind of way. I was thinking about it this morning, and I believe God really put this in my heart.
There is going to be a battle when we try to buck the authorities that God has placed in our lives. For example: Our parents are our first authority figures. Think about the battles we fight with our kids. When my girls were little, I remember dreading bedtime. It was a struggle every night to get them ready for bed, to get them in bed, and to keep them in bed. They did NOT want to go to sleep. They would find every possible reason NOT to stay in bed. They did not want to submit to my authority as the one who knew that it was best for them to get rest.
As they got older, the battles became much more intense. There were battles over who they could hang out with, how late they could stay out, what music they should or should not listen to, what they could or could not watch on tv, what was appropriate to wear and what was not. I'm using past tense here because two of my daughters have moved out now. But the battles still rage because I do have one teenage daughter left at home. And it's still the same old stuff. WHY can I not go to so-and-so's house? WHY can I not watch that show on tv? WHY do I have to be in the house at a certain time? WHY do you not let me go out with my friends? WHY do you constantly bug me about the music I listen to? WHY are you on my case about my grades? WHY do I have to wear the rubber bands on my braces? WHY does everything have to be a battle?
The answers to all those questions (except for the last one) is "Because God put me in charge of you. He has placed convictions in my heart concerning the way you are to be brought up. And I have to answer to HIM for how I mothered you. THAT'S why!"
The answer to the last question is this. There doesn't have to be a battle. When we finally get to the place where we can accept God's delegation of authority, there will be no more battles. To continue with the previous example...When a child will get to the place where he/she can say "I don't get it, but Mom doesn't want me to hang out with this person, and Mom knows what is the best thing for me" there is no battle. Or "Mom is riding me hard about my grades because she has been around the block a time or two more than I have, so she knows what I'm going to be facing in the future. She wants what is very best for me." No more battle. Or "Mom is so stinkin' over-protective, I can't stand it. BUT, she is doing her best to take care of me and keep me safe. So even though I think it's stupid, I'm going to do what she asks." No more battle. Or "That doctor went to school a LONG time and has put braces on a LOT of kids. He probably has a reason why he put these rubber bands on me, even though they don't seem like they are doing anything at all for my teeth. I guess I should just do what he says." No more battle.
You see. Submitting to those in authority over us prevents ALL KINDS of trials! Hmmm...interesting thought.
I have asked MANY times in my life (especially in relation to my kids) "Why does everything always have to be such a battle?" That question came up again yesterday, in a round-about kind of way. I was thinking about it this morning, and I believe God really put this in my heart.
There is going to be a battle when we try to buck the authorities that God has placed in our lives. For example: Our parents are our first authority figures. Think about the battles we fight with our kids. When my girls were little, I remember dreading bedtime. It was a struggle every night to get them ready for bed, to get them in bed, and to keep them in bed. They did NOT want to go to sleep. They would find every possible reason NOT to stay in bed. They did not want to submit to my authority as the one who knew that it was best for them to get rest.
As they got older, the battles became much more intense. There were battles over who they could hang out with, how late they could stay out, what music they should or should not listen to, what they could or could not watch on tv, what was appropriate to wear and what was not. I'm using past tense here because two of my daughters have moved out now. But the battles still rage because I do have one teenage daughter left at home. And it's still the same old stuff. WHY can I not go to so-and-so's house? WHY can I not watch that show on tv? WHY do I have to be in the house at a certain time? WHY do you not let me go out with my friends? WHY do you constantly bug me about the music I listen to? WHY are you on my case about my grades? WHY do I have to wear the rubber bands on my braces? WHY does everything have to be a battle?
The answers to all those questions (except for the last one) is "Because God put me in charge of you. He has placed convictions in my heart concerning the way you are to be brought up. And I have to answer to HIM for how I mothered you. THAT'S why!"
The answer to the last question is this. There doesn't have to be a battle. When we finally get to the place where we can accept God's delegation of authority, there will be no more battles. To continue with the previous example...When a child will get to the place where he/she can say "I don't get it, but Mom doesn't want me to hang out with this person, and Mom knows what is the best thing for me" there is no battle. Or "Mom is riding me hard about my grades because she has been around the block a time or two more than I have, so she knows what I'm going to be facing in the future. She wants what is very best for me." No more battle. Or "Mom is so stinkin' over-protective, I can't stand it. BUT, she is doing her best to take care of me and keep me safe. So even though I think it's stupid, I'm going to do what she asks." No more battle. Or "That doctor went to school a LONG time and has put braces on a LOT of kids. He probably has a reason why he put these rubber bands on me, even though they don't seem like they are doing anything at all for my teeth. I guess I should just do what he says." No more battle.
You see. Submitting to those in authority over us prevents ALL KINDS of trials! Hmmm...interesting thought.
The Beginning..a good place to start
So today I'm starting something new. Well...not new, new....but new for me. I'm going to write this BLOG!! Why the name? Because I think it fits me perfectly! There really is no tellin' what I'm going to end up writing here.
You see, since I wear a LOT of hats, I may have to vent my frustrations or share a bit of humor that I encounter as a middle school teacher. Or, I might have to share a bit of pride (or maybe some of the heartache) of being a mom. There may be times when I have to let the whole world know about something my wonderful husband did. Then sometimes, I might just want to talk about something God revealed to me. So you see, there really is NO TELLIN' what you are going to find posted here.
So...if you want to have a laugh....read on.
If you want to nod your head and say "Yeah!! I TOTALLY understand that!"..read on.
If you want to shake your head and say "That woman's nuts!"...read on.
There's just no tellin' what we're gonna get into today!
You see, since I wear a LOT of hats, I may have to vent my frustrations or share a bit of humor that I encounter as a middle school teacher. Or, I might have to share a bit of pride (or maybe some of the heartache) of being a mom. There may be times when I have to let the whole world know about something my wonderful husband did. Then sometimes, I might just want to talk about something God revealed to me. So you see, there really is NO TELLIN' what you are going to find posted here.
So...if you want to have a laugh....read on.
If you want to nod your head and say "Yeah!! I TOTALLY understand that!"..read on.
If you want to shake your head and say "That woman's nuts!"...read on.
There's just no tellin' what we're gonna get into today!
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