Simple Woman's Daybook, 3/22/10

For Today, 22 March 2010

Outside my window...intermittent sprinkles...and peeks of sunshine.

I am thinking... about how irritating Drake and Josh really are. and how much more i like iCarly. yep. deep thoughts tonight. oh, and how glad i am that the migraine is just a dull ache at this point.

I am thankful for...a weekend full of projects that really, really needed to be done. and signal spring.

I am wearing... a fuschia scoop-necked, long-sleeved t-shirt, my favorite jeans, and soft, grey wool socks. it got chilly fast tonight.

I am remembering... my sweet neighbors who are attending the funeral of their 13-year-old "grandson." pray for Bill and Arlene and the boy's devastated parents and family tonight. additionally, the boy's grandmother died the morning after he did--the family is a wreck.

I am creating...a spring-themed cake for the women in my church celebrating their March birthdays tomorrow night.

I am going... to bed early tonight.

I am reading... Love and Respect, The Children's Homer, Treasures in the Snow.

I am hoping... for resolution.

On my mind... old friends.

From the learning rooms... decimals. borrowing. Greek history. Greek mythology.

Noticing that... like my friend Kendra's family, we ALL definitely need a school break. i think the week after Easter sounds good. what is wrong with the school districts around here??

From the kitchen... after a day with a migraine, left-overs, thanks to my dear friend, Leslie, who thought maybe i could use an evening off, and had hamburgers and hotdogs left from a dinner at church. i did make a yummy salad at lunchtime and pasta salad for dinner tonight, but...it was a pretty easy night.

Around the house... clean floors, almost-done laundry, a new cage for the hamster who kept getting attacked by her cage-mate...and fresher-smelling carpets. Odo-Ban. gotta love it.

One of my favorite things... the kids sleeping in the living room together. and sleeping until 8. i love that they sleep well wherever they are. especially when they're together.

Praying for...Bill and Arlene. and my parents as they keep their house spotless in hopes of selling it.

A Lyric or two...

I am strong all because of You

I stand in awe of every mountain that You move

For I am changed...yesterday is gone

I am safe from this moment on

There's no fear when the night comes 'round

I'm in better hands now

It's like the sun is shining when the rain is pouring down

It's like my soul is flying though my feet are on the ground

So take this heart of mine, there's no doubt

I'm in better hands now

-Natalie Grant

A verse to share...

But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning, I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 59:16

A few plans for the week... cake for tomorrow, weigh-in and measuring on Wednesday, The Odyssey at the community theater on Thursday morning (I can't believe it's in town this week. Incredible timing. Although, we're not going to get through the book before we see the show...), recovery week with P90X, making a spring-cleaning list...and maybe checking a few things off, maybe seeing my sister-in-law and brother-in-law? we'll see.

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Fish Fry, and P90X Day 17

How do those two things go together??

They don't. :) Just the way my brain works after spending 9 hours in a gym timing vault warm-ups for a bunch of incredibly talented gymnasts...who aren't my kid. Then heading out to yet another restaurant in search of a half-way decent fish fry...something we still have not discovered here in joyous Williamsport.

Well, until now, anyway. Funny that we had to go to "the airport" to find it.

:)

And Day 17...Yoga X. Only did the first half of the workout today--because Yoga X is 90 minutes long, and as it was, to do the first 45, the moving postures, I had to get up at 5:15. Yoga...love it. Kicks my butt, but I love it.

Sadly, to balance out my commitment to doing that workout this morning, I also ate more for dinner than I've eaten for any single meal (maybe even two meals) in about three weeks. I don't feel super, super badly about it...he he...but I do feel a little like...well, that may not have been totally worth it.

So, now I sit in front of the television after this beautiful day (which I spent indoors...aak) watching Full House with my kids, and listening to Justin Beiber songs Seth found on youtube for the girls...because we have to see if he's half-way decent too.

Like the fish-fry. You know. Because they have anything to do with each other either.

Hey, I never claimed this blog would actually be worth reading.

P90X, Day 16

Writing every day in weeks like this...obviously hasn't happened. Interestingly, this week has played out very differently than last week--no birthday parties to plan, no running around for supplies, no cakes to bake or houses to turn back into something acceptable after a week of avoidance (for good reasons, but still) before guests arrive. Still, adding at least an hour of exercise into my day, finishing school (and not blowing any of it off and adding it to next week), a full activity schedule for the kids, worship planning and rehearsal, and getting outside to enjoy some of this springtime beauty...somehow I just haven't had the time to update.

With birthday celebrations over the weekend (meaning elaborate cake decorating and activity implementation, of course), my workouts had to take a backseat. Additionally, I still haven't completely beat this cold. No Yoga on Saturday, and no Legs and Back or Ab Ripper X on Sunday (had to be at church at 7). So, Monday, I picked back up with Legs and Back, and Tuesday, Kenpo X. I think after Shoulders and Arms, Kenpo is my favorite workout...but then, that's not really surprising, and I may have mentioned that before. In an attempt to keep close to on-track even with missed days, I skipped the Stretch/Rest day, and moved right back to my regular schedule--Core Synergystics on Wednesday, Cardio X on Thursday, and Shoulders/Arms and Ab Ripper X today. I justify the missed workouts over the weekend a little bit by reminding myself that I also include two nights of karate practice during the week at an hour a workout...I kind of get doubles on those days, and it makes me feel better. I have to say...each day, I wake up ready to go. Waiting after I eat something before I exercise...torture. As Seth got ready for work on Wednesday and I began my workout, he walked through the family room and said, "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" :) Umm, yes.

Now. I completely blew off any semblance of an eating plan last week. I mean completely blew it off. Stepping on the scale and measuring on Wednesday, I had no idea what to expect. What I found was no weight loss...but I did maintain last week's weight...and frankly, that made me happy. Inch-wise...still losing. Which I find interesting. If I had done well with eating (and avoided the buttercream and doritos and three days in a row of pizza a bit more carefully), I can just imagine what last week would have looked like. Hopefully, this week will look more like what that could have looked like. We'll see. I'll keep you posted. Because, I'm sure you care and all. ;)

A few things I'm loving...feeling strong. Less squishiness. Clapping during worship on Sunday morning and feeling my arms getting stronger...not so jiggly (which has been a self-conscious issue for me in the past). Having to tighten things so that they fit. :) Looking forward to getting up in the morning (though I still can't quite just get up when the alarm goes off at 6:15. Sigh. Tomorrow.). I switched from dairy this week, though...thought my lactose supplement would help with the amount of dairy this eating plan requires, and it just doesn't cut it--kept feeling yucky, and it wasn't working for me. Ahh, the joys of lactose intolerance. So, instead of chocolate milk for my recovery drink...this week I switched to chocolate soy milk...yum. And soy milk on my cereal. I have to say...I think it works (as a recovery drink, I mean). Though I have been sore, I haven't been nearly as sore as during the first week. Could just be a matter of getting more fit. Though, every day, these workouts are equally challenging--changing it up every day really does have that benefit. You feel like you're working hard every single day. I can't believe next week it all completely changes again and it's time for a recovery week before completely changing AGAIN. :)

Maybe I'll be back tomorrow...state meet for gymnastics (level 9's and 10's) this weekend, and Dynamats hosts...so, parents are responsible...and I'm a parent, so I'll be timing vault for 3 sessions. Oh, joy. We'll see. :) Happy beautiful March weekend, friends.

Sweet Shot Day

I follow this great blog...It's called Life With My Three Boybarians. I love it...partially because she's just so real...and partially because...gosh, she's an amazing photographer...and I totally stole a bunch of her homeschool classroom ideas. Like most of my classroom looks like hers...or has big plans to look like hers. Someday. She started this idea today...Sweet Shot Day...and here's the picture I'm linking up with her blog:

Bad lighting...but beautiful monkeys. :) I don't pretend to be an amazing photographer--I leave that to my brother (see www.North40photography.com )--but I do enjoy taking pictures...especially of the kids.

Now, theoretically, if you click on that happy little link button up there, you'll reach her blog (and be able to see everybody else's amazing pics this week. :) ) Since I can't seem to make that cooperate, you can just click on the highlighted words and it will take you right to her blog. Eventually, I'm going to leave this miserable spaces thing and go to a real blog space, where I don't fight with things like that. However, the thought of moving all these archives...a bit overwhelming. If you have any suggestions for moving this blog to wordpress...hey...I'm all ears.

Simple Woman's Daybook 3/14/2010

For Today, 15 March 2010

Outside my window...darkness. a bit too cold for my liking tonight. but the hot tub is clean and heating up. thanks, Seth.

I am thinking... that though tonight, I feel exhausted, today's insanity resulted in serious productivity.

I am thankful for... my Mommalee. her birthday is tomorrow. :)

I am wearing... my Houghton sweatshirt (aka cake sweatshirt), purple cotton jammie pants, and crazy thick navy socks. nothing matches. it's almost bedtime. it doesn't have to match, right?

I am remembering... how good it feels to have a good workout routine...how good it feels to have consistent routines, period.

I am creating... plans for Palm Sunday and Easter services.

I am going... to call my mom in the morning and sing "Happy Birthday" loudly and off-pitch--it's tradition!

I am reading... Love and Respect, Eggerichs, Star of Light, and The Children's Homer.

I am hoping... that change does not come. I seriously need no change.

On my mind... our morning routine...it has rocked a little with my workout regime...need to get it under control. earlier bedtime, earlier wake-up, organized schedule...what was i saying up there about consistent routines??

From the learning rooms... Greek history and some mythology. :) this history, i can handle.

Noticing that... my beautiful landscaping will require much more attention than any other home i have lived in. ever. and a vegetable garden probably won't be an option here. sigh.

From the kitchen... threw all the frosting away...so that i wouldn't eat it by the spoonful over the next three days. otherwise, some old stand-by's that my family begged for...tuna noodle casserole, anyone?

Around the house... trying to eliminate the smell of dog urine in the sunroom...the moisture in the air over the past week has made it sooo noticeable...stupid previous owner's dogs. (not that our stubborn puppy is innocent, but this is ridiculous)

One of my favorite things... snuggling with my children in the mornings when they're still mostly asleep. they love it...i crave it.

Praying for... my voice to return to its normal state. difficult to do my job without a voice. difficult (for me) to worship without a voice.

A Lyric or two...

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Holy, holy is he

Sing a new song to him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Holy, holy, holy

Is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing

Praise to the King of Kings

You are my everything, and I will adore you

A verse to share... I Sam. 12:24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

A few plans for the week... the beginning of spring cleaning, the continuation of P90X, no major birthday celebrations, and the usual craziness.

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A book...

...I think it's going to be worth the read:

Love and Respect, Dr. Emerson Eggerichs.

I'll let you know how it turns out.

Read it? What did you think?

Cardio X today. Last week, this workout made me realize that I needed to eat something before my workout to avoid crashing somewhere halfway through. What I forgot was how much incorporation of the other workouts occurs in Cardio X...and that it only lasts about 45 minutes! Today, I needed that. Yesterday, I felt like I had beaten this cold...today it kicked my butt. And wouldn't you know...today we do karate too. To say that I drooped during karate tonight...would not be an exaggeration by any means.

I love getting up in the morning just chomping at the bit to start my workout. Having to eat something and let it settle before I work out?? Absolute torture. Today, I set my alarm for 6, and must have accidentally hit "clear" on my phone instead of "snooze"...and didn't wake up again until 7:34. Hmm. Maybe should have stayed right there in bed, but since our crazy day scheduled itself as a Thursday...well, I got up. I'm glad I did. And "pushed play." Hoping for an easier day tomorrow, amidst planning for Bryson's 8th birthday party, shopping for their friend Taylor's 11th birthday present, roller skating for a couple of hours at the party, heading to the bowling alley for some asteroid bowling for Bryson in the evening, and figuring out when to do school and clean my house in the meantime. :) Happy day-before-the-weekend!!