Still working

I mentioned a couple of months ago that I was trying to lose some weight and needed to be accountable.  December is so very hard to be accountable in.  Since I ran my second 5k I have been slowly and not quite as steadily losing and exercising.

Unfortunately being a teacher and aunt in December means nearly every night has something plus people are always trying to give me food (especially chocolate).  The first three days this week were really bad, mostly because I had to stay late to get everything done for the semester.

I had gotten behind because last Friday I left half day to come home and do my home study update.  That went well.  We had to do it for 2 reasons.  One for immigration because our other one is running out soon and also because we moved this summer and our social worker had to make sure our new home was suitable for children.

So I was behind on grading and then this week was just a busy mess! On Wednesday I baked cookies with my students which is my favorite way ever to celebrate the holidays.  We made chocolate chip cookies and I ate way too many!

Anyway, yesterday I was super bad and although I had no work still didn't fit in any exercise (although for the most part my eating was more on track).  Today I got up determined not to put it (and this blog for that matter) on the back burner again.  So I went to pinterest where yesterday I had pinned this:



And while the doggies were outside frolicking in the first snow of the winter (yay! we didn't all die last night), I did this.  Man did it get everything on fire.  So I should definitely add this into the mix (because if I do the same thing or eat the same thing daily I get burnt out super quickly).  Hopefully I'll work up to being able to do twice a day but I think for a busy just quick workout it hit the spot.

So accountability, I am down about 30 lbs from last summer.  I had school pictures in September and sent them out in my Christmas cards to my students this week (ps why do I get a full package of school pictures every year? who am I going to hand 30 wallets, 2 5x7s, and an 8x10 to?  I am not really that narcissistic).  It was pretty cool because I could see the difference between my face in September and now.  Just have to remember that and not let laziness (probably my number one sin, pray for me) get me off track.

A friend put this on facebook last night:


I think it applies to oh so many things.  I am currently waiting to hit my healthy goal with eating and exercising, it is not something that will happen immediately and I don't know why we always think it will.  I am also waiting, waiting, waiting for God to grow my family because I know He will.  I know His ways are above mine and that this wait is helping me to depend on Him.  Thank you God for your willingness to work with me, to prod me, and to lead me.  Amen.

Isaiah 64:4

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁴ For since the world began,
    no ear has heard
and no eye has seen a God like you,
    who works for those who wait for him!

Thankful for good people in this world.

Remember how I posted that Saturday the weather was super gorgeous?  I went to a local park with my sister and went running.  I don't have a cool id for running so I just stuck my driver's license in my pocket.  I also had my pedometer in a pocket and my cell phone.  We listed to music and tracked our run using my phone.  My sister challenged me to run beyond what I thought I could and that was awesome.  I ended my run at the bottom of a lookout tower, head pressed against the cool concrete.  Betsy went to the top of the tower and I walked circles at the bottom.  As I walked circles at the bottom, I put my hand in my pocket to check for my stuff.  I still had my phone and my pedometer but I had no id.  Most of our run had been in a loop so after we searched the car we went back over the parts that we hadn't doubled over already.  It was no where to be found.  I thought maybe it had fallen out at home?  But alas it wasn't there.  Monday the BMV was closed. Tuesday I didn't go because of other things.  Last night I get home after work, working for Operation Christmas Child,  and going to Bible study I get the mail.  There is an envelope to me from someone I don't know in a neighboring town.  She found my id at the park Saturday and mailed it back to me.  There are good people in this world and for that I'm thankful.

Proverbs 11:3
Honesty guides good people; dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

Thankful for...

Tonight I'm thankful for Pinterest.  Where else can I while away the hours finding ideas for my home and my future?

Like this one:



Psalm 84:3
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar, O LORD of Heaven’s Armies, my King and my God!

A Week of Thankfulness

I really was trying that first week... and then I slacked off and now I need to catch up on a whole week's worth of posts.

Nov 7-- Thankful for Faraday

My little puppy last fall has turned into a great big Giant puppy this fall.

Most evenings it is just the two of us relaxing, taking walks much to the chagrin of the not as nice dogs next door, playing fetch indoors and out.  We lost both of our previous pooches last year and I am so thankful we were able to get Faraday to help keep me company this last year.  His first year had a lot of excitement, eating a month's worth of medication, moving twice, and making friends wherever he goes.  

1 Samuel 25:16
In fact, day and night they were like a wall of protection to us and the sheep.

November 8

Thankful for Josh.

He tops my thankfulness list daily.  He has been my best friend for over 11 years and my husband more than 6.  He works so hard to provide nice things for us and I truly appreciate it daily.  I also appreciate the time we get to spend together, working on things for the house, going camping or traveling, playing games, hosting our annual Halloween bash.  I prayed to God for my husband and he has blessed me so completely.

The other day when setting up our Thanksgiving mantle I was searching for a picture for a new frame.  I went through the wedding album and found this one which I just love.  It's not the one in the frame now but it did bring a smile to my face.

Romans 12:10
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

Election Day Thankfulness

Here's a picture of me today with my I voted today sticker.  I am so thankful that I was able to put forth my opinions on who should be the next president of our nation, governor of my state, superintendent of education in Indiana, and Senator from Indiana.  I am also very thankful for the thousands of people nation-wide who worked the polls and helped people to exercise their right to vote.  I was lucky to be able to walk right in, show my ID, and go straight to a voting machine this afternoon.  While I was there one of the ladies checking ID mentioned that she had been there since 5am.  That makes for a very long day.  I am so thankful for her and other volunteers who helped to make this and every past election a pretty "painless" process.


Proverbs 22:29
Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

Bonus thought for the day:  I am so Glad Jesus is my king no matter what happens in the election today.

Thankful for my parents and siblings.

Today, and everyday, I am thankful for my siblings and parents.  I have 3 brothers and 3 sisters and a mom and a dad.  I love each of them.  I get together regularly with them.  I am so proud of who we have all turned out to be.  I pray that I can provide my children with as much love and good guidance as my parents gave all of us.  I think we are kind of like rocks in a stream.  We bump against each other and wear off those rough parts so that the world gets to see the shiny smoothness.  We are each others' greatest fans and I wouldn't have it any other way.  This picture idea I got from Pinterest.  My mom free cut the letters and then my sister set it up (she's the awesome photographer and her label thingy is on the picture).  I love it!  Don't you?

Psalm 105:8
He always stands by his covenant— the commitment he made to a thousand generations.

Thankful for Orphan Sunday

Today was Orphan Sunday around the world.  Unfortunately our church didn't have anything special for Orphan Sunday, but I still think it is so important and I am so thankful for it.  I think it serves a purpose because God has called us as Christians to support the widow and the orphan.  This won't mean through adoption for most families.  However, if God has placed this call upon your heart and then you go to church and hear/learn more about it it might be that nudge you need in order to follow God's plans for your life and your family.  I know that God had placed adoption in my heart long before we started the process.  I know that the process has been way too long by my estimates and will be just exactly the right amount of time in God's, but I also think that without exposure to adoption in my life (I nannied for a family with 3 beautiful, wonderful boys fro Guatemala), I might not yet be following God's will.  Adoption is hard and scary, especially for people with no history of interactions with adoption, perhaps through Orphan Sunday God can help people to overcome their fears and take that first step that completes their families.  Praise God for such an opportunity.

James 1:27
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you. 

Ps.... Once I actually move my church membership and this adoption thing finally works out, I do plan to bring up Orphan Sunday to my church :)