It's Been Awhile

I have been AWOL on weight and living well issues for a while. And I'll tell ya...I was so frustrated, I think my head could probably spin. I signed up with Weight Watchers in October and stopped going in maybe February or March. I didn't lose anything really. I would go up and down, playing with the same two pounds. That is not only frustrating, that is depressing. At the end of March, I tried something a little bit new and it worked for a while....but then it didn't. So....that brings me to TODAY. I have gained some weight by not being on any diets and being a bit overindulgent. And I am edging up to the heaviest I have ever been in my life, which is when I originally went on Weight Watchers in 2002. So, I have got to do something....but what?


Do you know what this is a picture of?

PURE BRILLIANCE!!

My family has the Nintendo Wii game system. Video games--I don't want to get into a debate about the inherent problems with them, as there are inherent problems with the Internet as well....but we have found a way to make the Internet something very good, haven't we? There are okay video games and educational video games. And the Wii is a more active game system. And now.... they have introduced Wii Fit. And it is something quite extraordinary. It weighs you...it gives you body tests (essentially balance tests)....and it trains you. We have had this game a week now....and it is somewhat motivating. I am obese, according to the game and my Mii (which is an animated version of me, created by me, to look somewhat like me) is pretty chubby. But, I am motivated to change that Mii. My husband and kids' Miis are normal looking (actually, my kids' are pretty skinny). But, I am also motivated to do some of the games that are....ahem....exercises. It is fun! I have only done this for a week, but I am hoping this will last. And it helps to keep me accountable. If I gain weight, it wants to know why! If it is only a little bit, it is still encouraging about how your weight can fluctuate as much as 2 pounds in a day. It gives you fitness tips (eating habits, sleeping habits, posture). And perhaps the best part...it is something my whole family is doing and enjoying.

And here's my other focus: FOOD! I am going to continue trying to eat slowly and consciously. And I want to eat healthy foods. But I think the most important thing I am going to try to do is from this book:

If you have read this blog before, you know that I recently became president of Beth Moore's fan club (well, I would if she had one)! The book Praying God's Word is a powerful book about praying Scripture to specific strongholds and it includes food issues in the book. So, I am going to be praying for my food strongholds, specifically, and using Scripture.

Thanks for tuning in, and if you want to check out other blogs about Living Well, click on the Living Well image at the top of this post. And if you gotta minute and are a praying type....lift me up to the Father, for the weight and food stuff....but for a few other things going on with my family which my hubby wrote about here.

Monday Morning Monologue

I just got back from a whirlwind trip up north. I had had visions of blogging while away but ended up with no time to do such! So, I come to you all this morning with lots of things on my heart and in my mind that I wish to share....we shall see if I'm able to get it all out. Because it may all seem random, I shall use bullets to help you out when I transition from one topic to the next:

• I left Tuesday evening at about 10 p.m. to drive all night with my sister and my dad. My grandmother passed at the tender age of 83 and the three of us were going to attend the funeral. Surprisingly, I slept 2 hours during the night and that seemed plenty. I was really surprised by that. I later would take another nap during the day, mainly because I believed I "should." We ended up in Michigan about 6:30 or 7:00 p.m.
• After sleeping Wednesday night, we visited with family. Most of the family I saw up there I hadn't seen for 10 years, when I had gone to attend my grandfather's funeral. I wish I lived closer because I really don't feel like I know them well at all, but I do enjoy their company. But visiting family does soften the blow of the reason we are there, which is nice.
• I found out that my grandmother loved, loved, loved chocolate. She had an entire drawer full of it....and she would often ask for a box of Whitman's Sampler from her kids that were caring for her. I was a bit proud that this passed down to me. Now my love for chocolate isn't a nuisance or even a weakness....it is genetic!
• I found out that when 10 years pass, my cousin's children change dramatically. When we pulled back up to my aunt's house, we tried to figure out who had come while we had gone out to eat. We thought it might be my cousin Kim....and I fully expected her to have two daughters who were about 5 and 7. In fact, when I walked in, I wondered who the two grown women were sitting on the couch next to her. SERIOUSLY!!!
• On Friday, at the visitation, I learned they do things differently in Michigan than in Texas. Her visitation started at 2 p.m....with family only visitation starting at 1 p.m. My sister and I thought that was an odd time to start on a weekday, thinking that people would have to come while they were still working. Then at 4:30, we started asking family members what time visiting hours were over. I have a bunch of kidders as family, so when they said 8 p.m., we thought they were kidding. THEY WEREN'T. In Texas, we have a couple hours of visitation, like 6 till 8. That was a bit of a culture shock to us! I'm curious, those of you that read this...what do they do in your neck of the woods?
• For some reason, every where we went, folks would ask me and my sister where we were from. Apparently, they detected a bit of a southern drawl when we talked. But THEY are the ones who talk funny!!! They drink "pop" and you can't hear the way I say it but it is more of a "pah-up" (don't drag that out too long though). Plus, it is just funny that to tell you what part of Michigan they were from, they would just hold up their hand for a map.
• All in all, I am very glad I went to remember my grandmother. I wish more than the love of chocolate was handed down. She was a fabulous cook, hostess, gardener, and quilter. None of those passed down to me....*sigh*. But the best part was seeing family I just don't get to see very often. Many of them have accounts with My Sp*ce. I had one once and was gently instructed by a cop friend that I should cancel it. But to keep up with some family, I may open one again. After all, how much different is it than having personal info out there on this blog? Let me know if you blog and also have an account with F*ce Book and/or My Sp*ce.
• I couldn't sleep as much on the way back for some reason...only about a total of 45 minutes...again we drove straight through. I overheard my dad say on the phone to my mom that he'd been in more Starbucks this week than he had been in his entire life. My sister and I both love Starbucks...plus we needed the extra shot of caffeine to stay awake and alert.
• And just to make sure I am really random in this post, I wanted to send you to an article that shares how one of our worship songs came about. It was really enlightening on many levels. Hope you enjoy!

Mother's Day

You know, I can't really remember life before my children. I know I had one, but they mean so much to me now, how could my life have been the same without them. One of my favorite quotes comes from the movie The Story of Us....she says, "first there were no people...then there were people." I love that because it really is amazing how people "magically appear" in your life. I know that I fell in love with babies when I was very young, maybe 10 or 12. I would want to help my mom and/or sister in the church nursery as often as I could. I know I wanted 4...and now I am blessed with 2. How the number was reduced is another story for another time. But the two kids that I have are absolutely gifts from God. I could not have better kids if I pieced them together with what I wanted and dreamed of....God did a much better job of designing my kiddos than I EVER COULD HAVE. So...this day brings me great joy NOT because of anything that I have done but to be honored for being something that brings me so many blessings just almost seems backwards. However, mothering is not easy in any sense. But as any mother will tell you (and there are times when you must repeat it to yourself over and over almost in a trance-like state)--it is worth it!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and others out there. My heart especially goes out to those who want children and are struggling to "get" them...sometimes we don't understand God's purpose...but I do know there have been many mother-types in my life that were not my biological mom who have meant so much to me. I send you all love!

Who Knew?

Look closely at the picture above. Burn this image into your head. Did you know that visualizing this image when one needs to go pee helps you hold it better? This is new information to me. I picked my 11 year old daughter up today to take her to the orthodontist. And she had to tinkle. I was driving as fast as I could, yet she was struggling. I think we all have felt her pain. Well, she informed me that when she is holding it, it helps for her to think of a the crunchy outside of a chicken leg because it is dry on the outside but moist on the inside. Yeah....and that is much better than thinking of water or anything yellow. Her words, not mine. Try it next time....hey I am a day late for Works for Me Wednesday.

My Four Basic Principles

I just got back from watching Expelled with my Hubs and I was quite moved. I think we should all see this...it is quite compelling and poignant. I even cried...not sure if everyone would. I'm still a bit speechless about it and may write more later. But until then...I am even more convicted to believe in my God.

Now, I know that I may be spewing Beth Moore to all my friends and regular readers (don't tell me I don't have one or two)! But the best thing about her is her gift to truly delve into the Word and create (at least in me) an intense hunger for more of my God. So....that leads me to post MY FOUR BASIC PRINCIPLES (which is not original but I don't know the author--please let me know if you do):

• Read the Word of God
• Consume the Word of God until it consumes me
• Believe the Word of God
• Act on the Word of God

Now, I know this may sound a bit over the edge and just a few short weeks ago, I would doubt my sincerity as I tended to doubt in others. I now apologize for doubting it in others...I think I was jealous of your fervor and not having discovered this passion myself...I think I was secretly hoping that you all were not for real, because I was finding studying quite dutiful and not joyous. I can't imagine that everyone will find the JOY of the Word the same route that I did, but Beth Moore was the vessel of God for me. So....I am going to post these four basic principles in my sidebar and on my bulletin board and continue to follow them. I believe this hunger of mine is beginning to consume me and THAT, in my eyes, is a good thing.

SHS--Exercise

Some bloggers like Drama Mama choose a habit to incorporate into their lives each month rather than weekly. And honestly, I am not doing so good on the weekly, so I want to shoot for the month thing and see how I do! So like Drama Mama, I want to also exercise this month. I have so many options from walking to doing a tape. So....starting today, I want to exercise 4 or 5 times a week. I struggle with finding the motivation to stick with the exercising thing (can I get a witness from my bloggin' sistas?). But I do want to be healthy and know that exercise is k-e-y!

So, if you want to start some Smart Habits, head on over to Lara's blog. She is about to pop, for one, but she heads up this whole SMART business....so join in and pray for her baby to arrive soon and safe!