Wow. I can't believe I started this blog in 2009 and the last time I wrote was 2011. I really like to write and so I think I will do that here.
With today being Sunday I would like to share something spiritual. “To be able to see the hand of God at work in the world is one (or the most) greatest asset one can have. When the shadows are gathering for life’s darker moments, the person that can still see God’s hand at work, even in unflavorable circumstances, will be the master of any situation life may impose upon him.” Unknown.
In my life I have seen God’s hand guide me but didn’t always recognize it. I have suffered depression and anxiety. I have missed members of my family so much that there is physical pain. There have been times I've disliked my job so much that I've wanted to cry and not go to work. But I'm still here and getting stronger. I believe it is because of a stronger presence in my life.
However, we need to also recognize that the problems that people face will always be there no matter where you are in your life. From a young couple struggling with finances to an empty nester trying to figure out where their place in life. There will be issues around you that you’ll have to face head on.
I have learned that the true secret to happiness lies in recognizing. Recognizing what you have and being grateful. Gratefulness, indeed is what leads to contentment. It’s the genuine secret to a happy life, because with it you see the world in a different light.
The Long and Winding Road
Sunday, January 1, 2017
Monday, February 21, 2011
IT’S BEEN 20 YEARS. . .
It’s been 20 years and while some things change it seems some things stay the same.
1. On the 15th of this month it was 20 years that my father had his leg amputated due to his diabetes, Now 20 years later we are battling a sore on his other foot hopefully preventing another amputation.
2. It has been 20 years that the US went to Iraq to fight in Desert Storm. Now 20 years later we are still over there fighting. We have been through Elder George Bush who sent our first troops, to Bill Clinton who served two terms, to George Bush (the son) who serve two terms to Barrack Obama. My ex-husband was in Desert Storm and now his wife’s son is over there. I mean can’t this thing end already?
3. 20 years ago my daughter Sarah was 3 years old when her grandfather had his leg amputated. Now 20 years later Sarah’s daughter Austyn Mae is not quite 3 (she is 2-1/2) and her Yeah Yeah (great-grandfather in Chinese) is battling the sore hoping to prevent another amputation.
4. I still work in Contracting at Hill AFB. But now I am a Contract Administrator and not a clerk.
5. It’s been 20 years since Sarah got her ears pierced and I would love to have Austyn Mae’s pierced but I am not her parents.
A lot of things have happened in my life over these past 20 years but some things never change.
1. On the 15th of this month it was 20 years that my father had his leg amputated due to his diabetes, Now 20 years later we are battling a sore on his other foot hopefully preventing another amputation.
2. It has been 20 years that the US went to Iraq to fight in Desert Storm. Now 20 years later we are still over there fighting. We have been through Elder George Bush who sent our first troops, to Bill Clinton who served two terms, to George Bush (the son) who serve two terms to Barrack Obama. My ex-husband was in Desert Storm and now his wife’s son is over there. I mean can’t this thing end already?
3. 20 years ago my daughter Sarah was 3 years old when her grandfather had his leg amputated. Now 20 years later Sarah’s daughter Austyn Mae is not quite 3 (she is 2-1/2) and her Yeah Yeah (great-grandfather in Chinese) is battling the sore hoping to prevent another amputation.
4. I still work in Contracting at Hill AFB. But now I am a Contract Administrator and not a clerk.
5. It’s been 20 years since Sarah got her ears pierced and I would love to have Austyn Mae’s pierced but I am not her parents.
A lot of things have happened in my life over these past 20 years but some things never change.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Biggest Loser - Final Week
Well today was our final weigh-in for the office biggest loser challenge.
While my team did not win - I am still a winner (and I came in third place).
When we started the challenge on the 7th of January I weighed in at 204.7 pounds. Today when I did my final weigh in I weighed 189. I have lost a total of 15.7 pounds. But I went to the doctor in December 2009 and he weighed me in at 210. So since December 2009 I have lost a total of 21 pounds. The best thing about losing 21 pounds? I sleep better, have more energy, and no more high blood pressure medication. I also have enough energy to chase little Austyn Mae around the house. I can hardly wait for the weather to get warmer so that we can go to the Commons Area in our neighborhood and play and chase there with the dog.
I am going to continue blogging about my weight loss as I am not done yet.
Many wonder what diet I am following to lose the weight I am and not feel hungry anymore. Some thought that maybe it was the HCG diet. I couldn’t do that diet. First, I do not want to give myself injections. That is why I am working so hard to lose weight – so I do not end up like my father being a diabetic and having to give myself 2 shot a day. The diet that I have been following that I have had good results with is the Flat Belly Diet put out by Prevention Magazine.
The Flat Belly Diet begins with a 4-day jump start, known as the Anti-Bloat Jumpstart. The first 4 days are the most restrictive of the diet. One of the major components of the 4-day anti-bloat jump start is drinking Sassy Water. The ingredients for sassy water are: Water (obviously), ginger, cucumbers, lemons, and spearmint leaves. These natural ingredients are supposed to aid in getting a good water intake as well as providing nutrients. After the 4-day anti-bloat part the real diet begins which stresses a MUFA at every meal. MUFAs are mono-unsaturated fats like those found in olive oil, dark chocolate, some nuts and seeds, olives and avocados (I don’t eat avocados). Other key principles of the diet include eating 4 meals a day, instead of three, with the daily calories of about 1600 spread evenly between the 4 meals, for 400-calorie meals.
So this is what I am doing. Keep following and I will be periodically posting recipes or menu ideas from the Flat Belly Diet.
While my team did not win - I am still a winner (and I came in third place).
When we started the challenge on the 7th of January I weighed in at 204.7 pounds. Today when I did my final weigh in I weighed 189. I have lost a total of 15.7 pounds. But I went to the doctor in December 2009 and he weighed me in at 210. So since December 2009 I have lost a total of 21 pounds. The best thing about losing 21 pounds? I sleep better, have more energy, and no more high blood pressure medication. I also have enough energy to chase little Austyn Mae around the house. I can hardly wait for the weather to get warmer so that we can go to the Commons Area in our neighborhood and play and chase there with the dog.
I am going to continue blogging about my weight loss as I am not done yet.
Many wonder what diet I am following to lose the weight I am and not feel hungry anymore. Some thought that maybe it was the HCG diet. I couldn’t do that diet. First, I do not want to give myself injections. That is why I am working so hard to lose weight – so I do not end up like my father being a diabetic and having to give myself 2 shot a day. The diet that I have been following that I have had good results with is the Flat Belly Diet put out by Prevention Magazine.
The Flat Belly Diet begins with a 4-day jump start, known as the Anti-Bloat Jumpstart. The first 4 days are the most restrictive of the diet. One of the major components of the 4-day anti-bloat jump start is drinking Sassy Water. The ingredients for sassy water are: Water (obviously), ginger, cucumbers, lemons, and spearmint leaves. These natural ingredients are supposed to aid in getting a good water intake as well as providing nutrients. After the 4-day anti-bloat part the real diet begins which stresses a MUFA at every meal. MUFAs are mono-unsaturated fats like those found in olive oil, dark chocolate, some nuts and seeds, olives and avocados (I don’t eat avocados). Other key principles of the diet include eating 4 meals a day, instead of three, with the daily calories of about 1600 spread evenly between the 4 meals, for 400-calorie meals.
So this is what I am doing. Keep following and I will be periodically posting recipes or menu ideas from the Flat Belly Diet.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Biggest Loser - Week Four
We had our weigh-in on Tuesday but I did not want to post then because I wanted to post about my favorite things because I had such a wonderful day out on Saturday with Sarah and Austyn.
So when I did my weigh-in it said that I weighed 191.3 pounds and had lost 1.5 pounds. I was so happy especially because on Sunday I was soooo bad. I had such a munchie craving. I ate pizza, I had my doughnut that I had bought on Saturday. I ate crackers. I did not however have any Diet Pepsi.
Now yesterday, the 10th I got on the scale again because I have been weighing myself every morning when I get done at the gym. I don't know how I did it except that the diet I am doing is way awesome and I am really never as hungry as I was before. So, anyway I said that I had lost 1.3 pounds (that's what that elliptical will do for you - it really beats you up but you feel so good after). So it is official I have lost 20 POUNDS!
I am off tomorrow because I wanted to take 5 days off so I could start with the remodel of the bathroom so I am going to reward myself with a new pair of jeans.
40 more pounds to go for goal!!
So when I did my weigh-in it said that I weighed 191.3 pounds and had lost 1.5 pounds. I was so happy especially because on Sunday I was soooo bad. I had such a munchie craving. I ate pizza, I had my doughnut that I had bought on Saturday. I ate crackers. I did not however have any Diet Pepsi.
Now yesterday, the 10th I got on the scale again because I have been weighing myself every morning when I get done at the gym. I don't know how I did it except that the diet I am doing is way awesome and I am really never as hungry as I was before. So, anyway I said that I had lost 1.3 pounds (that's what that elliptical will do for you - it really beats you up but you feel so good after). So it is official I have lost 20 POUNDS!
I am off tomorrow because I wanted to take 5 days off so I could start with the remodel of the bathroom so I am going to reward myself with a new pair of jeans.
40 more pounds to go for goal!!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Biggest Loser - Week Three
Well, the biggest loser is coming along great at work and has been a lot of fun. Everyone is losing weight and this one guy just keeps losing and losing. He says his motivation is the fact that him and his wife are going to Cabo this summer and he wants to look great in his swim trunks. Ahh, what we won't all do for the sake of vanity. This year is my thirty year class reunion. Yup, 30 years since the walked the halls of dear old Roy High. So that is my motivation - my class reunion.
So now as they say in the cop shows - just the facts ma'am.
I missed the weigh in last week because I was in beautiful Richmond Virginia attending a contracting course. Some had bets that when I came back I would have gained weight because one of the other "contestants" was back there for 2 weeks and when he came back he had gained 8 pounds. They were sure I would have too because I had a tendency to eat out of boredom. Well, not this time. They had a nice little workout room with an elliptical machine so I went down there in the morning and again in the evening after class was done (I was lucky - the class was taught in the hotel I was staying in). They also had a pool so I swam (which I love to do) and I sat in the hot tub and relaxed before skyping with the kids in the evening. Here are the facts:
Date: 07 Jan 2010
Starting Weight: 204.7 pounds
Date: 19 Jan 2010 (first official weigh-in)
Weight: 197.5
Pounds Lost: 7.2
Date: 26 Jan 2010 (missed weigh in)
Date: 02 Feb 2010
Weight: 192.8
Pounds Lost: 4.7
Total Lost: 11.9 pounds
So, as you can see I actually lost 4.7 pounds while I was gone to Virginia. WHOO HOO!! Once, I hit that mark of 190 I will have lost a total of 20 pounds which is 1/3 of the weight that the doctor says I need to lose.
Skinny jeans here I come. . .
So now as they say in the cop shows - just the facts ma'am.
I missed the weigh in last week because I was in beautiful Richmond Virginia attending a contracting course. Some had bets that when I came back I would have gained weight because one of the other "contestants" was back there for 2 weeks and when he came back he had gained 8 pounds. They were sure I would have too because I had a tendency to eat out of boredom. Well, not this time. They had a nice little workout room with an elliptical machine so I went down there in the morning and again in the evening after class was done (I was lucky - the class was taught in the hotel I was staying in). They also had a pool so I swam (which I love to do) and I sat in the hot tub and relaxed before skyping with the kids in the evening. Here are the facts:
Date: 07 Jan 2010
Starting Weight: 204.7 pounds
Date: 19 Jan 2010 (first official weigh-in)
Weight: 197.5
Pounds Lost: 7.2
Date: 26 Jan 2010 (missed weigh in)
Date: 02 Feb 2010
Weight: 192.8
Pounds Lost: 4.7
Total Lost: 11.9 pounds
So, as you can see I actually lost 4.7 pounds while I was gone to Virginia. WHOO HOO!! Once, I hit that mark of 190 I will have lost a total of 20 pounds which is 1/3 of the weight that the doctor says I need to lose.
Skinny jeans here I come. . .
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Biggest Loser - Week One
Well we had our first "official" weigh-in today. Everyone did really well. Most lost between 5 and 7 pounds and one guy even lost 13 pounds (not me though and we were all jealous of him). One poor guy though gained a pound. He credited it to too much pizza over the weekend.
I was really worried about my weight because like I mentioned before Sarah took me out for a lovely afternoon and we went to lunch at Chili's. I tried to be really good and ordered something healthy but Sarah ordered Southwest Egg Rolls. We both love these. I had no idea though how much Sarah loved these until she told me that she will order the triple play and get all Southwest Egg Rolls. Then on Monday I had to go to my dad's and help him with some things before I leave on Sunday to go to Virginia and when I got done he said "let's go get lunch at Burger King." I know just how much I can eat at BK but my son (shame on him) had to order the #2 (double Whopper) and had it large sized. I couldn't help myself - I had to sneak some fries. I miss fries. I miss diet Pepsi. One thing I don't miss - the 7.2 pounds that I have lost. YIPPEE!
So I am now down to 197.5. Not to bad considering in December I was at 210. So I have a lost a total of 7.2 pounds since starting the Biggest Loser at work and 5.3 pounds from December to when we started for a total weight loss of 12.5 pounds. Not bad for a month. If I could keep this pace I should look pretty good come summer and I could go shopping for some cute summer tops.
I will miss the next weigh-in as I will be in class in Virginia but fortunately my room as a full kitchen and they have a workout room and a pool. So until next time...
I was really worried about my weight because like I mentioned before Sarah took me out for a lovely afternoon and we went to lunch at Chili's. I tried to be really good and ordered something healthy but Sarah ordered Southwest Egg Rolls. We both love these. I had no idea though how much Sarah loved these until she told me that she will order the triple play and get all Southwest Egg Rolls. Then on Monday I had to go to my dad's and help him with some things before I leave on Sunday to go to Virginia and when I got done he said "let's go get lunch at Burger King." I know just how much I can eat at BK but my son (shame on him) had to order the #2 (double Whopper) and had it large sized. I couldn't help myself - I had to sneak some fries. I miss fries. I miss diet Pepsi. One thing I don't miss - the 7.2 pounds that I have lost. YIPPEE!
So I am now down to 197.5. Not to bad considering in December I was at 210. So I have a lost a total of 7.2 pounds since starting the Biggest Loser at work and 5.3 pounds from December to when we started for a total weight loss of 12.5 pounds. Not bad for a month. If I could keep this pace I should look pretty good come summer and I could go shopping for some cute summer tops.
I will miss the next weigh-in as I will be in class in Virginia but fortunately my room as a full kitchen and they have a workout room and a pool. So until next time...
Friday, January 15, 2010
Do you ever feel invisible?
First a disclaimer - This is a sad post. I was feeling sad when I wrote it because I was here in the house by myself - again.
But then something happened. Read on.
Lately, I have been really struggling with being alone. Now some may say your not alone your daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter live with you.
Well, I think you can be alone without actually being alone.
Sometimes I feel invisible. Sometimes I feel like nobody cares about me. Now this isn't to say that I feel like I did 6 months ago when I had a plan not to be here but sometimes I wonder if I am invisible to my kids. Sometimes I feel like no one appreciates the things I do. Sometimes I hate the feeling of emptiness and not having someone to do things with - even if that person was a snake. I miss not having someone to go to dinner with - or the movies - or to just sit and watch a basketball game or something else on TV.
Then tonight when I looked at my facebook account a friend of mine from high school had the following youtube video posted (see below).
In this video this woman talks about feeling invisible to her family. Then she goes on to talk about a book a friend gave her on the builders of the great cathedrals. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I needed to be reminded of this. That God sees. He sees the cathedral I am building by being a mother and now a grandmother. I love my kids. I love being a mother. I love Austyn. She is the most wonderful thing that has come into my life for a very long time. Sometimes I do feel invisible and that no one appreciates me and that I feel alone but than I need to realize that God sees and loves me.
It is hard to be alone even when I'm not alone or included in the lives of my children but than I need to remind myself that it is a far better life than what I had with Tom and his deceitfulness.
The time will come when I won't be here but hopefully others will marvel at the beauty of the cathedral that has been added to the world by my being a mother.
But then something happened. Read on.
Lately, I have been really struggling with being alone. Now some may say your not alone your daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter live with you.
Well, I think you can be alone without actually being alone.
Sometimes I feel invisible. Sometimes I feel like nobody cares about me. Now this isn't to say that I feel like I did 6 months ago when I had a plan not to be here but sometimes I wonder if I am invisible to my kids. Sometimes I feel like no one appreciates the things I do. Sometimes I hate the feeling of emptiness and not having someone to do things with - even if that person was a snake. I miss not having someone to go to dinner with - or the movies - or to just sit and watch a basketball game or something else on TV.
Then tonight when I looked at my facebook account a friend of mine from high school had the following youtube video posted (see below).
In this video this woman talks about feeling invisible to her family. Then she goes on to talk about a book a friend gave her on the builders of the great cathedrals. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."
I needed to be reminded of this. That God sees. He sees the cathedral I am building by being a mother and now a grandmother. I love my kids. I love being a mother. I love Austyn. She is the most wonderful thing that has come into my life for a very long time. Sometimes I do feel invisible and that no one appreciates me and that I feel alone but than I need to realize that God sees and loves me.
It is hard to be alone even when I'm not alone or included in the lives of my children but than I need to remind myself that it is a far better life than what I had with Tom and his deceitfulness.
The time will come when I won't be here but hopefully others will marvel at the beauty of the cathedral that has been added to the world by my being a mother.
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