Perspectives

This week has been full of life.  I decided today that journaling is critical.  I have lots of reasons, but the most important one is for record for myself, for my children and for records.  I am going to be doing more journaling, like thoughts, feelings, that sort of stuff, that is appropriate, here and I am setting a goal for myself to do it weekly, if not more often.  I am feeling like rambling, so if it sounds like it, it is.  I have been thinking about my goals, and how at the new year for last year, not only was I so glad 2009 was done and in the books, but I was feeling overwhelmed at the prospect of setting some new goals for 2010.  So, now that we're in May, I have a few goals, and their reason for coming to be goals.

First, I am going to run a 1/2 marathon.  I didn't think I could ever do this. I have genetically weak knees.  I didn't think I had time.  After I ran Pat's run, I realized I can do it.  I trained for that on the treadmill, and I just ran 6 miles yesterday and felt great!  I was still hopping and going strong when I got home ( I was outside).  I can do it, because I've been babystepping my distance and I feel strong in my mind which is more than half the battle or training.  So, who knows, maybe I'll actually go for a full marathon, but I am feeling confident about setting the goal for the1/2 and excited about the strength and energy I am feeling in my body as a result of my training.

I am going to spend more time with each of my kids individually.  Yesterday I listened to Kennedy singing twinkle twinkle little star to a little baby in the sweetest way!  She said every word and even did hand actions. Audrey is saying her "R" sounds better, and that shows she's growing up.  Emma's going to be a 2nd grader. Where has the time gone?  Another reason for this is because I have had an increased value of family in perspective or relationship to daily demands of family.  My to-do list will really never go away, and I will be sad when the kiddo maintenance items on that list fade, but I'll be even more sad if I let my kids fade and grow while I worry about the silly to-do list.  I have a wonderful family heritage to pass on to my children and I need to get on that.  I am so thankful for my knowledge and belief in eternal families.  I know that the relationships we form here on earth can and will be maintained beyond this life.

I am going to date my sweetheart Tim more often.  He is the best thing in my life.  The best.  He is my best friend, my confidant, my sense of humor, my personal chef (dang good one too!) and my strength.  I appreciate him so much and I aim to be better at showing my appreciation for him better.

I have had some real struggles in the past year and I wouldn't trade them for anything.  I knew life would be better or more rewarding on the other side of the "dark tunnel" I have been through.  I am so thankful for Tim for his strength through it all.  I know there are still challenges ahead, but I can handle them better now because I feel I have the tools to get through it.

I am so thankful for the light I have in my life.  Jesus Christ is Real.  He is my best cheerleader, and my strength and my coach.  He wants us to be happy but we have to turn to Him.  It is amazing the peace that comes during turmoil when we allow Christ to carry our burden.  I don't share my testimony often enough, and that is the last goal of this list.  To do that.  To bear my witness of Jesus Christ as my Savior, Redeemer, and Friend.

Thanks for reading.

This week in the life of us

So, this week has been... different.  In a good way.  I have been on a health/wellness kick of late, and last Monday Tim and I have been doing a health cleanse.  It has been good for so many reasons.  First off, I was really nervous about it because I'm a snacky munchie person.  I am always eating.  Mostly sugar.  This cleanse has been about slashing our diet of sugar.  Added sugar, simple sugar, and even complex carbohydrates.  It has been a challenge, like I said, but I feel great.  Who knows, maybe it's placebo effect, but I've been feeling really good.  We have really had to think about what we are eating, and veggies are expensive! Especially when you eat so much.  No wonder so many people are unhealthy and overweight, it is super cheap and easy to eat poorly.  So, I want to brag about what Tim has been doing for us as far as cooking this week.  He really could open a restaurant.  Monday we ate grilled chicken with vegetables, no bbq sauce ( I know, Tim grilling without his sauce? CRAZY) but it was amazing.  Grilled veggies are awesome.  Breakfasts have been yummy omlettes packed with spinach and other veggies.  Lunch has been salads and lemon/olive oil dressing.  Tuesday grilled steak with grilled peppers, zuccini, eggplant, onions.  Wednesday grilled shrimp and asparagus. Thursday we had tuna lettuce wraps and huge cobb salad.  Friday was slow baked salmon with smashed cauliflower and green beans.  Saturday lettuce wrap tacos.  Sunday lunch was awesome chicken salad lettuce wraps and for dinner we had grilled chicken with bell peppers and green beans.  We have had some amazing food this week.  The kids have had all the same as us, only with rice added for filler.  I am so proud of Tim for doing so well with this, but he does everything so well.  I aspire to be as good a cook as him.  I acutally enjoyed cooking so much yesterday and today.  We planted some tomatoes in our garden (hopefully it's not too late) and we have harvested some peppers and eaten those this week.
   This diet has done wonders for my awareness of what I eat and what we feed our kids.  There is so much sugar and even added sugar in everything we eat.  Even peanut butter!  Added sugar. Seriously, peanuts are sweet ,don't add more. Also, this diet disallows carbohydrates over 50 per day.  That is a challenge.  I'm amazed though, how much reading labels makes a difference.  I have done research online for stuff too, and if nothing else from this cleanse, I have been reawakened to awareness about what I put in my body.  It has been a good lesson for my kids too.  We've been feeling pretty good, and I'm excited for this next week on the diet.  It is 2 full weeks then slowly start to add fruits and other complex carbs.  I have to admit, I am really excited to enjoy some homemade bread after next week, and some good chocolate chip oatmeal cookies!

On a spiritual note, I have been feeling aware of my spiritual wellness too.  Last week I had an opportunity to fast for my family and I did.  It felt good to put my temporal needs aside as I seek for spiritual strength.  That was a good kickoff for my cleanse.  This has been a spiritually uplifting experience this far too.  I am not very connected to the food I eat because Tim is so great about cooking and I thought I had so little time between coming home from work and bedtime.  I feel like I've been shaken awake.  I do enjoy cooking, as long as we have planned what to eat, and I feel so much healthier physically and spiritually.  I feel like it's helped me to remember what matters most and what's most important when it comes to how I spend my time and energy.

I have set some goals for myself and I am going to give it a few weeks for them to be set in place and be realized, so I'll keep updated here.

Pat's Run

On April 17th I ran Pat's run. It's a 4.2 mile run/walk for Pat Tillman Foundation.  I set the goal back in February and registered and made myself get ready for it on the treadmill.  I went and ran it in 44:14 which is about 11 min mile, and I ran the whole way.  I felt great the whole day until about 4 pm when all my muscles seized up.  I hadn't run outside for years.  I have only run on a treadmill, and only up to 4 miles.  After the race was said and done, I had to account for travel to and from the race start and my silliness getting off the light rail a mile early, and deciding to just run the mile to the truck.  In all I ran about 6 miles by 10 am, which I wasn't prepared for.  Now I'm running outside and I am ready for a 10K or two on my way to running a 1/2 marathon.  I never knew my knees could do this, but my heart and mind are so glad they can!