Thursday, March 29, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
I've Got the Mondays
I tried to get up a little early this morning to spend a little time to "myself." That was interfered with by a dog (I don't know which one) making a throw up sound in our room. No throwing up. But that behavior was supplanted when one of the dogs began licking its butthole. Repeatedly.
So that was a sweet alarm clock.
I got myself up, let the dog out. And took care of my "personal business."
When I came back to the door, Ranger had very kindly covered himself in turkey poop.
At 6:30am.
Awesome.
Time for a bath.
In my nicely cleaned bathroom.
With a dog that has dark, black hair. YAY!
After I bathed my dog, I got to clean the bathroom and wake my children up.
One child got up and decided he didn't really like any of the options for breakfast or anything I was making for lunch.
Too bad.
Then, dragged his feet through all the rest of his morning chores, brushing his teeth, putting on his shoes and then decided a light little jacket in the middle of February when it was 18 degrees outside was good enough. We had to go through 3 jacket changes, do his hair and blow his nose before also taking our neighbor to school.
Got them off, took Lucy to school but not before realizing that my laptop was at Matt's office and were I to do anything related to my job today, I needed to go get it.
I managed to grab it and return home by 9:30 to get my day under way.
But I am worn out and a bit cranky and I want so badly to be joyful in the midst of my day and serving my family. How does one do this when everything seems like an uphill battle?
It felt like an attack this morning telling me "You can't do it all and you shouldn't even try" and to "give up." Truthfully, I totally failed.
I yelled at Asher.
I yelled at Matt.
I grabbed Ranger by the ear and yanked him back in the house.
It was no fun to be at my house today.
But a little space. A little quiet.
A little renewal and the truth can settle into your bones that nothing has been done that can't be undone.
And I am a work in progress too.
I need grace and mercy every bit as much as my husband and my children do.
It is hard to apply it to yourself.
Especially when I am so intense and want everything to go right.
And all I wanted was a little quiet time this morning. To get my day started right.
I think its more important sometimes for it to end well. Right?
Let's hope so. And let's all hope for Tuesday.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Living House
This Chubbiest Loser contest has brought into question so many areas of our lives that were totally unexpected.
When you start focusing on your diet and how you use food to compensate for your emotions; then you realize other ways that you do this as well. Finances, anger, even coming up with little "plans" to fix these things is a way to cope with and compensate for your emotional downfall. Rather than going to the source of all the questions and answers in our lives.
I am leading our areas work crew training right now and we have been doing a Bible study from Discipleship Journal called "Becoming More Like Jesus" and this week ended with a paragraph from CS Lewis that I wanted to share:
"Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building a quite different house from the one you thought of-throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself."
My vision is completely quaint for my life. I have become the kind of person that has decided the safe, secure little cute cottage is a good idea instead of the wild ride that God promised me at the beginning.
But for sure over the last few years He has knocked out a few walls and installed rooms and towers where I would rather He didn't. It's good to have a vision of what is happening in my life so that I can take part in the joy that He has for me.
"God has set before us the ultimate prize of Christlikeness, and anything that moves us closer to that prize-including the lessons we learn through failure-bring Him pleasure and glory."
-Traci Mullins
When you start focusing on your diet and how you use food to compensate for your emotions; then you realize other ways that you do this as well. Finances, anger, even coming up with little "plans" to fix these things is a way to cope with and compensate for your emotional downfall. Rather than going to the source of all the questions and answers in our lives.
I am leading our areas work crew training right now and we have been doing a Bible study from Discipleship Journal called "Becoming More Like Jesus" and this week ended with a paragraph from CS Lewis that I wanted to share:
"Imagine yourself a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building a quite different house from the one you thought of-throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but he is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it himself."
My vision is completely quaint for my life. I have become the kind of person that has decided the safe, secure little cute cottage is a good idea instead of the wild ride that God promised me at the beginning.
But for sure over the last few years He has knocked out a few walls and installed rooms and towers where I would rather He didn't. It's good to have a vision of what is happening in my life so that I can take part in the joy that He has for me.
"God has set before us the ultimate prize of Christlikeness, and anything that moves us closer to that prize-including the lessons we learn through failure-bring Him pleasure and glory."
-Traci Mullins
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Buckets of Love
My Grandmother Mimi died late last night. Hardly any of you knew her. But she was one of the single greatest influences on my life.
Whenever you hear someone says "my grandmother/grandfather just died" my tendency is to react to them as if they just said "my bunny just died." In a that's sweet but we all knew that was going to happen-way. Until it happens to you.
Then, it feels as if a light has gone out of your life.
Mimi was the kind of person who believed I could do anything I ever wanted to do. I think this is because Mimi did nearly everything she wanted to do. She was a became pilot at the age of 16. She flew planes during WWII WITH my grandfather who was Navy Pilot. Her curiosity knew no bounds and she explored it with fervor.
This made their home a place of vast imagination and exploration for me as a child. It always felt like Narnia when we would drive down their long spanish moss and oak covered driveway.
We would play a game where would try to navigate through their kitchen without letting our feet touch the floor. Which Mimi encouraged. Children sitting on top of her refrigerator was common.
We would stay at their home whenever we moved or were home for a season and I know that Mimi got more done before 8am than I will ever get done in a single day of my life. I can still hear her whistling "Onward Christian Soldiers" as she washed the pounds of blueberries she had picked all morning while I slept.
When I was in the fifth grade, Mimi and Bob flew to Korea, where we lived. They stayed for an extended visit since it was such a long trip. When they left, I returned to school and I was sitting in my classroom and I swear, I heard her voice. Mimi had a very distinctive voice due to a loss of part of her vocal cord. I heard her voice calling to me. I ran out of my classroom to go find her. I didn't ask my teacher or anything. I just ran. But she wasn't there. I just wanted her to be there so badly.
We didn't live near grandparents any part of my life and when we had Mimi and Bob nearby, I felt like a million dollars. I think because they made me think I could be a sky writer if I wanted to.
I know I'm not unusual in this feeling. Mimi made everyone in our family feel as though they were her favorites. But is am sure of this. I was her favorite. :) She told me I was just like her. I had a widows peak just like her. I had the same sense of adventure. And I always wanted to laugh and enjoy life like her.
Now, I simply want to love like she did. I want to make people feel as though they are "my favorite". It is really hard to lose someone who thinks that you are obviously the president of whatever it is that you are involved in. Or that you can do no wrong-ever. That is the role of a grandparent. No one else in your life ever feels that way about you. Certainly not your spouse, siblings or parent. Only your grandmother reserves the right to see past all your flaws and thinks "Owner and principle in chief" is not too lofty of a goal.
I will never be that same for the influence of my grandmother Muriel Pace Newcomb. She always signed her letters "Buckets of Love" which is exactly what she poured into my life.
Whenever you hear someone says "my grandmother/grandfather just died" my tendency is to react to them as if they just said "my bunny just died." In a that's sweet but we all knew that was going to happen-way. Until it happens to you.
Then, it feels as if a light has gone out of your life.
Mimi was the kind of person who believed I could do anything I ever wanted to do. I think this is because Mimi did nearly everything she wanted to do. She was a became pilot at the age of 16. She flew planes during WWII WITH my grandfather who was Navy Pilot. Her curiosity knew no bounds and she explored it with fervor.
This made their home a place of vast imagination and exploration for me as a child. It always felt like Narnia when we would drive down their long spanish moss and oak covered driveway.
We would play a game where would try to navigate through their kitchen without letting our feet touch the floor. Which Mimi encouraged. Children sitting on top of her refrigerator was common.
We would stay at their home whenever we moved or were home for a season and I know that Mimi got more done before 8am than I will ever get done in a single day of my life. I can still hear her whistling "Onward Christian Soldiers" as she washed the pounds of blueberries she had picked all morning while I slept.
When I was in the fifth grade, Mimi and Bob flew to Korea, where we lived. They stayed for an extended visit since it was such a long trip. When they left, I returned to school and I was sitting in my classroom and I swear, I heard her voice. Mimi had a very distinctive voice due to a loss of part of her vocal cord. I heard her voice calling to me. I ran out of my classroom to go find her. I didn't ask my teacher or anything. I just ran. But she wasn't there. I just wanted her to be there so badly.
We didn't live near grandparents any part of my life and when we had Mimi and Bob nearby, I felt like a million dollars. I think because they made me think I could be a sky writer if I wanted to.
I know I'm not unusual in this feeling. Mimi made everyone in our family feel as though they were her favorites. But is am sure of this. I was her favorite. :) She told me I was just like her. I had a widows peak just like her. I had the same sense of adventure. And I always wanted to laugh and enjoy life like her.
Now, I simply want to love like she did. I want to make people feel as though they are "my favorite". It is really hard to lose someone who thinks that you are obviously the president of whatever it is that you are involved in. Or that you can do no wrong-ever. That is the role of a grandparent. No one else in your life ever feels that way about you. Certainly not your spouse, siblings or parent. Only your grandmother reserves the right to see past all your flaws and thinks "Owner and principle in chief" is not too lofty of a goal.
I will never be that same for the influence of my grandmother Muriel Pace Newcomb. She always signed her letters "Buckets of Love" which is exactly what she poured into my life.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Almost One Week In
We are almost one week into the "Chubbiest Loser" and I am not going to lie, it's been tough.
It is always hard to take a look at your "food addictions" or let's just call them "habits" that have turned into a "lifestyle" that had creeped all over us. Without a major change, you never notice that every night you just sit down and watch TV for HOURS.
Or how often you reach for mindless snacks when you get stressed, hurt or frustrated. Instead of reaching for food, we now have to reach resolution. This is better in the long run, but sometimes a bit exhausting. :)
But the payoff?
Matt is down nearly 10 pounds.
I have lost 5.
WHAT?
In one week?
That seems crazy.
We have changed a lot around here.
But none of it has been terrible. Well, there was one terribly cranky day (Thanks Diet Coke for that addiction) but other than that. We are full, happy and have lots more energy. And are sleeping better at night. Matt isn't snoring anymore! YAY!
What have we been eating?
It has been a hybrid: Biggest Loser/Weight Watchers/Mediterranean Diet that I call: The Pinterest Diet.
If a recipe looks appetizing on Pinterest and is low in calories, carbs and high in fiber, I make it.
It has worked out fabulously.
Here are some of the recipes I have made:
Dijon Mustard Chicken Packs with Zucchini and Tomatoes
It hasn't been killer to make these changes.
Here has been the biggest change. Our mindset. If I am going to buy all this produce, then we are going to eat that food that is sitting on the counter or in the fridge OR ELSE. It is too expensive and time consuming to cut up fruit and have it rot out in the fridge. So, we have to eat it or it goes bad.
This is honestly, a big deal for us.
We are on the go a lot and we eat out more than most people.
This is taking serious discipline to plan and eat around being at home and going to the gym or the park.
The payoff is already rolling in. So that is more incentive to keep going!
It is always hard to take a look at your "food addictions" or let's just call them "habits" that have turned into a "lifestyle" that had creeped all over us. Without a major change, you never notice that every night you just sit down and watch TV for HOURS.
Or how often you reach for mindless snacks when you get stressed, hurt or frustrated. Instead of reaching for food, we now have to reach resolution. This is better in the long run, but sometimes a bit exhausting. :)
But the payoff?
Matt is down nearly 10 pounds.
I have lost 5.
WHAT?
In one week?
That seems crazy.
We have changed a lot around here.
But none of it has been terrible. Well, there was one terribly cranky day (Thanks Diet Coke for that addiction) but other than that. We are full, happy and have lots more energy. And are sleeping better at night. Matt isn't snoring anymore! YAY!
What have we been eating?
It has been a hybrid: Biggest Loser/Weight Watchers/Mediterranean Diet that I call: The Pinterest Diet.
If a recipe looks appetizing on Pinterest and is low in calories, carbs and high in fiber, I make it.
It has worked out fabulously.
Here are some of the recipes I have made:
Dijon Mustard Chicken Packs with Zucchini and Tomatoes |
| Grilled Feta Stuffed Turkey Burgers. These were amazing. |
 |
| Biggest Loser Oatmeal Pancakes. The kids and Matt loved these. |
 |
| Biggest Loser Turkey Chili. Winner All Around. |
 |
| Lemon Water. All Day. Love it. |
It hasn't been killer to make these changes.
Here has been the biggest change. Our mindset. If I am going to buy all this produce, then we are going to eat that food that is sitting on the counter or in the fridge OR ELSE. It is too expensive and time consuming to cut up fruit and have it rot out in the fridge. So, we have to eat it or it goes bad.
This is honestly, a big deal for us.
We are on the go a lot and we eat out more than most people.
This is taking serious discipline to plan and eat around being at home and going to the gym or the park.
The payoff is already rolling in. So that is more incentive to keep going!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Around Here
Matt and around 60/70 Young Life associate men began today what is being called "Chubbiest Loser". These boys are all vying for the rights of chubbiest loser in the next three and half months.
I am not permitted to post the before picture nor the before weight.
But let's just say it looked something like this:
I kid. I kid.
He is not nearly that big.
But like most people who "meet" with people for a living, nearly every meeting is over a meal or has food somehow involved in it.
So he has a little extra "padding" these days. Who doesn't?
So he, and by he, I mean WE are doing this chubbiest loser project.
It should be something worth reporting on. If nothing else, to share the highs and lows of detoxing from the extra 3500 calories a day that we have been consuming over Christmas.
Already, its only Day 1 and we are STARVING and we have been eating all day long.
Just none of the food involves butter, peanut butter, chocolate chips, powdered sugar or icing. It has been a sad day. Except that we have worked out, eaten a healthy breakfast, vegetables, almonds, hummus, cottage cheese and WATER.
So this is the plan:
Drop soda.
Add exercise. Daily.
Walk Ranger. Daily.
Drink lots of water. Daily.
No more chips. Maybe pretzels if we are desperate. (potatoes make you more hungry after you eat them and leave you feeling less full. Drop the chips!)
If hungry, grab a handful of nuts or baggie of veggies.
Eat at home. No more eating out for dinner.
First weigh in is in two weeks.
The best part about doing this? You don't really want to sit around if you have nothing to eat.
We are getting stuff done!
Cleaned out the garage.
Laundry is done.
Met some people for work.
Dog is walked.
We have lots of more energy! Who knows how long this is going to last? PRAY FOR US! Join us.
I have started a pin board on pinterest with lots of recipes and inspiration to get you started:
Biggest Loser on Pinterest
I am not permitted to post the before picture nor the before weight.
But let's just say it looked something like this:
I kid. I kid.
He is not nearly that big.
But like most people who "meet" with people for a living, nearly every meeting is over a meal or has food somehow involved in it.
So he has a little extra "padding" these days. Who doesn't?
So he, and by he, I mean WE are doing this chubbiest loser project.
It should be something worth reporting on. If nothing else, to share the highs and lows of detoxing from the extra 3500 calories a day that we have been consuming over Christmas.
Already, its only Day 1 and we are STARVING and we have been eating all day long.
Just none of the food involves butter, peanut butter, chocolate chips, powdered sugar or icing. It has been a sad day. Except that we have worked out, eaten a healthy breakfast, vegetables, almonds, hummus, cottage cheese and WATER.
So this is the plan:
Drop soda.
Add exercise. Daily.
Walk Ranger. Daily.
Drink lots of water. Daily.
No more chips. Maybe pretzels if we are desperate. (potatoes make you more hungry after you eat them and leave you feeling less full. Drop the chips!)
If hungry, grab a handful of nuts or baggie of veggies.
Eat at home. No more eating out for dinner.
First weigh in is in two weeks.
The best part about doing this? You don't really want to sit around if you have nothing to eat.
We are getting stuff done!
Cleaned out the garage.
Laundry is done.
Met some people for work.
Dog is walked.
We have lots of more energy! Who knows how long this is going to last? PRAY FOR US! Join us.
I have started a pin board on pinterest with lots of recipes and inspiration to get you started:
Biggest Loser on Pinterest
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Resolutions
I told Asher and Lucy about the concept of New Year's Resolutions yesterday and unprompted, this is what they came up with:
Asher:
Eat healthier. "like more apples, bananas, and lemon glazed pound cake."
Ride my bike more.
I want to write better//more clearly. (this is always on his report card!)
Play with my friends more.
Shoot my BB gun more. (for the record, he does not have a bb gun. Clearly he is working the system.)
Lucy:
Do more crafts.
Recycle more. (completely hilarious)
Help mommy and daddy more. (yes please)
Hug and kiss mom and dad more.
I don't know that I could do ANY better crafting my own resolutions than they did.
In fact, if we all worked at these...our family might be a smooth running machine!
They really made me laugh at how "adult like" these resolutions are for a 6 and 5 year old. But I'll take it! And I'll help them achieve them.
This is going to be a good year.
Asher:
Eat healthier. "like more apples, bananas, and lemon glazed pound cake."
Ride my bike more.
I want to write better//more clearly. (this is always on his report card!)
Play with my friends more.
Shoot my BB gun more. (for the record, he does not have a bb gun. Clearly he is working the system.)
Lucy:
Do more crafts.
Recycle more. (completely hilarious)
Help mommy and daddy more. (yes please)
Hug and kiss mom and dad more.
I don't know that I could do ANY better crafting my own resolutions than they did.
In fact, if we all worked at these...our family might be a smooth running machine!
They really made me laugh at how "adult like" these resolutions are for a 6 and 5 year old. But I'll take it! And I'll help them achieve them.
This is going to be a good year.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Sweat Everyday
Anybody adding "running" or "exercise" to their New Years Resolutions?
If so, here is a new playlist of songs to add to your ipod. Do it. You will love these.
I Got It from My Mama by will.i.am
Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer) by Pitbull
You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) by Cobra Starship
Moves Like Jagger [feat. Christina Aguilera] by Maroon 5
More by Usher
Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) by Rihanna
Without You (feat. Usher) by David Guetta & Usher
Good Life by OneRepublic
The Edge of Glory by Lady GaGa
I Wanna Go by Britney Spears
It is embarrassing to share these songs because I truthfully LOVE pop music really only when I run and classic rock or singer/songwriter ALL the rest of the time. But I need a beat I can run to when my lungs are dying. These songs will carry you through at least 30 minutes.
My new Lululemon mantra? Sweat everyday. Go do it!
If so, here is a new playlist of songs to add to your ipod. Do it. You will love these.
I Got It from My Mama by will.i.am
Give Me Everything (feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer) by Pitbull
You Make Me Feel... (feat. Sabi) by Cobra Starship
Moves Like Jagger [feat. Christina Aguilera] by Maroon 5
More by Usher
Sexy and I Know It by LMFAO
We Found Love (feat. Calvin Harris) by Rihanna
Without You (feat. Usher) by David Guetta & Usher
Good Life by OneRepublic
The Edge of Glory by Lady GaGa
I Wanna Go by Britney Spears
It is embarrassing to share these songs because I truthfully LOVE pop music really only when I run and classic rock or singer/songwriter ALL the rest of the time. But I need a beat I can run to when my lungs are dying. These songs will carry you through at least 30 minutes.
My new Lululemon mantra? Sweat everyday. Go do it!
Year End
Looking back at 2011, I knew it was going to be a tough one.
Last January, I declared it to be the "Year of the Marriage"
Matt and I have done some hard work on our marriage this year. The metaphor I feel comfortable using is it has been like having a knee scoped. The knee was working, but it hurt. And it wasn't doing what is what meant to do. It needed a surgeon to go in and dig out the old scar tissue, debris and other junk that was causing problems. Then once surgery was over, we needed physical therapy to relearn HOW to use the knee properly again.
We have been abusing our marriage and taking it for granted for so long that we needed a whole year to take stock in it and relearn how to slow down and love each other well.
As the very wise Buddy Odom has said, "We didn't have a bad marriage, we were being bad Christians. Who are married to each other."
People who are lazy in looking for opportunities to serve, care for and lay down their lives for another are going to have a difficult marriage.
This is us. Has been us. Will be us.
It is a daily struggle.
Thankfully we have been asked to pay attention to it and I am grateful for that.
Going to a marriage conference this year really helped to dig out the debris and to seek forgiveness for past hurts.
Going to France and the Sabbatical was learning how to be married without the distraction of needing to serve "others" within the context of the Young Life ministry work life.
Going back to work, sending kids to school and finding a loss of purpose set us up for a "new call to love one another" in a dark season for me. It was hard. But through encouragement, conversations and prayer, we found a new level of trust and understanding that would never have been there without the previous 6 months.
Now, we are heading in 2012 and the challenge continues. To not look back but to strive for deeper, more meaningful life and marriage together. It never ends!
Thankfully, I read this today from Oswald Chambers:
"You shall not go out with haste...for the Lord will go before you, and the God and Israel will be your rear guard." Isaiah 52:2
Security from Yesterday. “. . . God requires an account of what is past” (Ecclesiastes 3:15). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. “. . . the Lord will go before you . . . .” This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our “rear guard.” And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. “You shall not go out with haste . . . .” As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.
And that is what I hope for in my marriage.
I would do this entire year over again. No problem.
Friday, December 16, 2011
Getting Older
The last few months, at my ad agency we've been working with a new client "Tech RALLY for Seniors" It is an event group teaching senior adults at retirement communities how to use new technology like iPads and iPhones, Skype etc and they just shared this video on Facebook.
Working with this group has made me passionate about elder care and living joyfully all the days of my life.
I couldn't help myself. I had to share this fun video on here.
Working with this group has made me passionate about elder care and living joyfully all the days of my life.
I couldn't help myself. I had to share this fun video on here.
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