WFMW--Help Your Neck Stay Young

A little over a year ago, I went to the chiropractor and was told my neck (on the inside) looked more like a 54 year old than a 34 year old. After several treatments and a good bit of money, it felt better (it was sore....hence the appointment in the first place). If you would like some simple things you can do to keep your neck strong and healthy, here are some things I am doing (suggestions from two chiropractors):

1. Hang your head over the edge of a bed or couch (you could buy a special device but you probably have a couch arm or bed at home already)--try to hang for 2 minutes and then use your hands to lift your head up. It gets easier with time. Oh, and you are hanging looking at the ceiling. Wish I had a picture for ya!


2. Apply gentle pressure with your hand to your head for a count of ten in each of these four directions: left side with ear to shoulder, right side with ear to shoulder, head forward with chin to chest, and head back slightly. Your hand is an isometric weight designed to build strength.


3. Put your hands on your shoulders and make the biggest circles you can with your elbows--10 circles forward, then 10 circles backward.

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, so consult your doctor if you are concerned about any of these exercises. I have been doing them (I aim for once a day) for quite some time now and feel my neck is more stretched out and stronger.

Check out other participants in Works for Me Wednesday here.

The Girls Got Squished

So, I am 35 years old and got my first mammogram today. I have worked myself up into a tizzy the last couple of months since this was scheduled. My life was SURROUNDED by this date. And when it was this week...EVERYTHING was, "Well, that is 2 days before my mammo" or "Same day as my mammo." Do you think I'm psychotic? Sistas!! It is not too terrible. They take 4 mug shots, one of each facing forward, and then a profile of each. The little bit of pain and discomfort is over very quickly. And I'm told by lots of people who went to school a long time and did lots of research and wrote articles and stuff that this is important for us girlies to do...the earlier something is detected, the better. And when nothing is detected, we can rest assured....KNOWING that nothing was detected. So, my encouragement to all the ladies who happen upon this post...schedule the appointment....and take care of you. And afterwards, head to Starbucks.... Anita Renfroe says coffee and chocolate fluff those babies right back up!

WFMW--magazine control

Some of you all are going to laugh at me for this post. If you are a naturally organized person, you will seriously think I am a sad l'il woman. At any rate, I am risking public humiliation for my fellow sisters who, like me, are organizationally challenged. I am a piler, and over the years...I have tried to work with this disability rather than fight it. And this is just one of those ways I am trying to work WITH this personality characteristic...

Magazines! I can be a magazine junkie at times. I don't know why. Maybe it stems from my childhood of Highlights magazines, I don't know. That is something to work out in therapy at a later date. But, I have a subscription or two and occasionally feel compelled to pick up a magazine at the store. NOW, I know that I can't hoard these magazines or my home would become a fire hazard. So, as a tip I read (in a magazine no doubt), I tear the articles and such out that I want to keep and recycle the rest (look at me being green). But then these articles and recipes and ideas to try pile up. After many attempts over the years to file them and organize them (never to see them again in some cases), I have come up with something else that seems to be working for me.

I now go ahead and pile them. There is no particular order or system to the piling, just after I pull out the articles and recipes from the magazine, I put them on top or bottom of the growing pile. Then, what I try to do is (daily if possible) pick up the top item (not always one page) and take action on it. Maybe it is to read it and be inspired. Maybe it is a recipe I want to try--so I work it into the plans in the next week or so. If I cannot take action on it, what did I pull it out for? As soon as possible, that item is thrown into the recycle bin....unless of course it is a super great recipe that I need to add to my repertoire...or something of that nature. I find a great deal of my pile is recycled pretty quickly.

So, now you know what works for me, to find out what works for others, head on over here.

Unplugging the Plugged In Drug

In 1999, my family cancelled cable. We didn't watch ANY live television, only videos. And we made it an entire year until we moved and ordered cable for the new house. Deep heavy sigh. This was before much Internet activity and any video game activity. And we never recaptured the atmosphere we had when we stopped the television. Now, we had ONE media free weekend several months ago...and we turn technology (computers, video games, and TV) off at 7 p.m. every evening with only a few exceptions here and there. But there are times when I would REALLY like to regain those days of no live TV. Well, that leads me to my desire to participate in this challenge--"TV TURNOFF WEEK." I mentioned it briefly yesterday and my kids really wanted to know the particulars....mainly if that included computer and video games as well. They, of course, believe that to be a breeze if they can get on their video games and computers. Well....what good is that? Here is my plan! I want to propose at our family meeting today that starting tomorrow, no TV for a week....and 1 hour or less of video games/computers per day (not counting time on the computer for work or school). That SHOULD be a lot, but that is cutting back on the video games and computers. I am going to challenge them, though, to try to log the LEAST amount of time on technology for a prize of some sort at the end of the week. Hopefully, this will inspire future changes in our use of "technology."

To see about this year's challenge or to find others participating in the challenge, head on over to Unplug Your Kids TV. Feel free to leave me comments or advice or encouragement or ideas....I promise I'll read them only during my allotted computer time!

Hurt People Hurt People

Well, hold on to your britches, because I am about to post a commentary here. I have avoided blogging about too many hot topics, but there is just something that keeps coming up that I am not sure what I think about. If you know me, you know that I am a social worker and for seven years I worked with abused children. I became quite the expert on child abuse through a ton of training and experience. There's a little quip that I would hear from time to time that goes something like this: "Not everyone who was abused grows up to abuse but those who do abuse were abused." That is now shortened in words but expanded in areas of pain to be: "Hurt people hurt people." Now on the one hand, as a Christian and social worker and MOTHER, I want to get a full grasp on that little phrase. I teach my kids that when people are ugly, hateful, or hurtful....truly they are miserable and rather than feel hurt by them, feel hurt for them....maybe even pray for them. THAT is even more important when the one doing the hurting is family. And I am mostly talking about hurting with words, as that is how most people lash out.

Now on the other hand, there is the side of me that hurts for the victims and wants to not feel any kind of sympathy for the perpetrator. Yesterday, I was able to attend the second day of a Crime Victim's Conference in a neighboring town, and I got to hear Mark Lunsford, father of Jessica Lunsford. You may recall that Jessica was abducted, raped, and buried alive a couple or three years ago. The man responsible is sitting right where he should be, on death row in the state of Florida. And because of the system, which seems to be more FOR the criminals than the victims, he will probably sit there for 13 years. Jessica only lived 9 years. I digress...

I think sometimes hurt people hurt people. And I know that I am human and have "participated" in my fair share of hurting people. However, there are those who go far beyond hurting people. Also, a few years ago, I heard Jan Hindman speak and she was phenomenal. She has done research that included some studies on why offenders offend and it may surprise you that when given a polygraph and immunity, very few abusers that were researched were actually abused. Another study of hers showed that a more common trend is that the abused grow up to be helpers....like police officers, therapists, and social workers. She theorized that the average person would RATHER believe that abusers were abused and that abusers figure this out and LIE to us....it softens the blow just a bit when we feel sorry for them.

Unfortunately, when we feel pity for the perpetrator, they don't suffer the consequences they need to in order to protect the public, including our children. Back to Jessica Lunsford: If you are familiar with her situation at all...her murderer was a CONVICTED SEX OFFENDER. Why would he be free??? If he had his little hind end in prison, Jessica would still be here. You can learn more about better legislation here. Incidentally, it is not JUST legislation that is needed. Funding is needed. The president signed the Adam Walsh Act in 2006 and the dollars have not been provided to train and implement the child protection and safety spelled out in the act.

It wasn't really my intention to get political, but I guess when I get passionate about children (YOUR children and MY children), I get a little carried away. I really wanted to talk about "hurt people hurt people." And I am expanding that hurt all the way to abuse and murder...because another common quip is: "sin is sin is sin" or "God doesn't classify sin." Knowing what I know about how abusers aren't necessarily abuse victims, I am not sure I want to ALWAYS accept that "hurt people hurt people." Of course, the first hurt isn't always abuse either. They could be hurt by neglect. Another topic I get really passionate about is attachment, which Dr. Karyn Purvis has been a HUGE teaching tool for me, and perhaps I will blog about this issue at another date. But lack of attachment can lead to survival techniques which can hurt others.

So....how do I make sense of all of these feelings? I want to feel compassion for my fellow man but I personally want to put a limit on it, almost as if some of those out there hurting were not human. And that is another theory: that Satan has his demons walking around with skin on perpetrating some of these heinous acts. And perhaps that is true. I am just being honest with my struggle here. I think deep down I know that it is not up to me to decide WHY these folks act the way they do. And there is a good reason that God is God and I am not, because He can love His children better than I can. He can show mercy and grace, when I don't have to. Still...I wonder....doesn't He want me to love my neighbor? I just know I read that somewhere :-)

Well, there you have it: my somewhat political, yet honest, and even a bit weak on the controversial stuff post. Any thoughts?

SHS--Getting Hydrated

I have not been very SMART. I took a HUGE break from the SMART habits and tried to jump back in on March 1st with flossing. Then I added walking. I am sad to say that I haven't walked in two weeks and I have only flossed a few days here and there when I "remembered." So, today is April 19th, and I really do want to be SMART. What should I do so that I can be successful and build up momentum? I am really building momentum in the bad habits or lack of follow through in my life right now...WRONG WAY!!! Okay, I know what I really want to do. I want to drink water...lots of water! I have gotten out of that habit, which I used to have back in the day when I was successfully losing weight. I want to get some re-usable water bottles (throwing in some green-ness with my SMART-ness). I also want to encourage my kiddos to be more hydrated as well. I will be bringing this up at a Family Meeting tomorrow. So...TODAY...I will go shopping for some fun and fairly inexpensive re-usable water bottles, so that we will all drink more H-2-O. I might even build up some deals in my head about drinking tea or coffee ONLY after having had some water.

Want to check out some other SMARTies--head on over to the official SMART headquarters.

WFMW--Convert to Spiralbound

You all learned a couple days ago that I am now a Beth Moore groupie and well I struggled with trying to make the workbook more "flexible" as I was reading and working it. I learned at the group Bible study about this little trick...go to your nearest Kinko's with your book and ask for a "Cut and Coil" and after one hour and about five dollars, you have something that looks like this:

This has definitely made a HUGE difference when I am "working" the workbook and I am sure this would work for other things like cookbooks and such. If you want to see what works for others, head on over to the official WFMW site.

Easy Money

Okay, if you will check out the link on my sidebar...I would like to invite you make some money. I know that some of you all will be skeptical. I know I certainly was. But if you are familiar with paypal--this is very similar. Just by setting up the account you get a $25 deposit (if you sign up before May 15, 2008). You don't have to give them any bank account info....although you do give your social security number.

Anyway, I don't have a clue how they are doing this and still making moolah! But it took 2 minutes to set up the account and then I "accepted" the $25 they sent to my account. Should you decide to do this and use MY referral button (it's there on my sidebar), I get $10 and you get $25. How cool is that?

Catching Up...

Oh my goodness, time is passing more and more between blog posts. I hate that I miss "documenting" my life because the busy-ness of life takes on a life of its own. I did start eating sugar again and I guess I am ashamed to admit that to the bloggy world. It happened on Easter and just spiraled downward from there. And now, it is right back to square one with the sugar monkey being right on my back. I continually have not lost weight and out of the last 6 Weight Watchers meetings, I have gone to ONE. But that is okay because I have not had successful days of eating so those weigh-ins would have been depressing to face. So would somebody PLEASE tell me to put up or shut up on the whole weight business? And the walking. I had tried to walk at leas 3 times a week...only a mile each time....and then I stopped. Haven't walked in over a week (with the exception of going to the zoo yesterday). So as I am trying to figure myself out and how to be happy with myself--my body image--and to find that whole balance thing....and at this time,I just want to share with you something that probably most all of you already know, but....

BETH MOORE IS INCREDIBLY GIFTED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For literally years, I have heard about this lady and her coveted Bible studies. And for years, I have successfully avoided joining in on any of them. I haven't even read one of her books. I would always say I should get her book and read it OR yeah, it would be great to be a part of her Bible studies. Still....I had heard that doing one of her Bible studies required a commitment....I had heard that you need about an hour a day to do her workbook in addition to the time once a week you get together. Well, I also wondered if she wasn't a bit "fluffy"--you know what I mean, right? All intellectual and scholarly....missing the real-ness of sin and struggles and daily drudgery. Like maybe she wasn't "for real." Well...for one reason and another, I finally figured it out and joined in a Bible study (Stepping Up). And can I just tell you--OH MY STARS!!!! She is most definitely NOT fluffy. She is dadgum smart...but not so smart that you hate her. She is painfully honest with us about real stuff and about herself. And she has a way of relating simply something so sacred. She takes the Bible and breaks it into delicious pieces, leaving ME hungry for more. I can't help but wonder if all of her studies and writings are as wonderful as this one. I believe God is using her to feed His children. So if you have thought like me about Ms. Beth Moore, believe you me....run--don't walk--to your nearest Beth Moore Bible Study and sign on up. I can't wait to fill my head and heart with her studies. In fact....I am a bit impatient....I want it all in there right now, but I must not binge on this deliciousness, but savor it bite by bite.

Baby Feet

Sundays have changed for me. I was in a class for over a year, but I felt I needed to "expand," as in venture out and meet new folks. Hubs and I signed up for a parenting class for parents of tweens and teens. I think we have been doing this for a couple of months and somehow, I am not sure how, Hubs and I are signed up to teach my daughter's Sunday morning class. We have co-teachers, which means we will teach one week and get a break one week. But still, I haven't quite figured out how we became teachers, but we did. Last week, even though I was bummed, I was blessed. God can speak to us ANYWHERE, you know? Then this week, I learned 3 things about my daughter: (1) she answers ALL the questions and one of her school-mates says she does this all the time at school as well, (2) she is funny: she said if she was going to stay in a motel/hotel, she'd be sure to bring chapstick, and (3) she is very kind: she assisted the only boy in the class find something they were looking for in their workbook. What is so important about this? I got to see my daughter in a slightly different light. I have seen her at home, with family, and with a single friend or two. But to see her "social" personality is something I just hadn't seen before. It is just the coolest thing to witness: our kiddos growing up and coming into their own.



On a similar note, my son went to a lock-in at church the other day. I got to drive him to the lock-in. He wanted to stop in at Starbucks but at 7:45 on a Friday night, they were PACKED!!! (On a side note, I so wished I would have bought some Starbucks stock several years ago.) He is just an adorable young man. I love, love, love talking with him and hearing the thoughts that POP out of his head. He just seems so grown sometimes.



My "babies" are really not babies anymore. I need a baby for just a minute, you know? Or a friend with a baby who needs a break for an hour or two. I want to share with you one of my favorite things:


These are not my youngun's tootsies, but they are just so cute. Look at those toes!! I wish I'd had the foresight to photograph my children's feet when they were bay-bays. But, Google Image is great when I need a "fix." However, one day when I have grandbabies, I will take a picture of them and frame them!!! If you have a baby in your life, go out now and take a picture. Tell me that is not one of the sweetest things!!!