2012 resolutions versus 2013 resolutions

Resolution: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure...

December 2011, I made some resolutions.  Today, I decided to review those and see if I accomplished any of them...

1. Lose 15 pounds with Lose It!

I did this!  Mark it - ACCOMPLISHED!

I started with the Lose It app on my phone, and eventually, I switched to My Fitness Pal - another phone app.  My sister uses this.  My husband uses this.  A lot of people I know use this as a way to track their calories and fitness.  I did lose that last 15 pounds.  In fact, I lost over 20 pounds with this app AND with my ease into a 5K app.  I became a runner in 2012, and I surpassed my weight loss goal and fitness expectations!

2. Make extra money easily on the side!

I did not accomplish this to the extent that I was hoping for.  And, you know what? I'm fine with that!  Mark this - NOT ACCOMPLISHED - THANKFULLY!

I've learned something about money.  It's not all that important, so why make earning more of it a priority in my life? We have what we need, and we mostly get whatever we want. 

It was really a stupid resolution.  One I do not intend to make again!  I'll still do the ebay thing, the consignment thing, and upload to the teachers pay teachers website.  I'll do it because it's smart and easy, but I won't make it priority.  There are too many other things in life that are more important.

3. Stay in balance!

I was rocking this at first.  Then school started again in August, and speech and debate season took off...  Speech and debate really makes staying in balance in life impossible, and if you've read any of my other posts on this subject, you know how I intend to fix this.  Starting May 2012, no more speech and debate for me!  So as of right now, mark this one - WORK IN PROGRESS!

As for resolutions for 2013...  Keeping it simple...

1. Grow Spiritually
2. Stay Healthy
3. Live, Love, and Laugh Often

Now, I've read that new year's resolutions typically don't get accomplished because they are too vague.  You need a specific plan for each resolution to help you to accomplish them.  Here's my plan...

1. Grow Spiritually - Continue working at a consistent quiet time.  Going to sign up for some women's conferences and concerts for 2013.
2. Stay Healthy - Adding strength training to my running regimen.  Going to hit the gym at least 3 days, sometimes 4 times, a week.  Also, as always, watching my food choices.
3. Live, Love, and Laugh Often - Going to Disney in 2013!

If you are contemplating new year's resolutions, you have to watch this. And GOOD LUCK!


Don't be stupid in 2013

So. My dad is in the hospital - again with complications due to his COPD.  He caught the flu, and COPD and the flu don't mix well.

Why did he catch the flu?  How did he get so far gone with it that yet again he could have died in his sleep because there was so little oxygen running through his system? 

He's still working at the steel mill, still doing the job the doctors said would eventually kill him, and still working 13 days straight, 10 hour days. 

Stupid.

I have little sympathy for stupidity. 

I told him the last time he got sick to leave the cold and depressing Midwest for milder Georgia winters and a better job.  He asked again if I really meant it - him coming down to stay with us.  And, I have yet again told him YES. Get down here! 

We'll see. You know, I love the man because he's my father, but he's an idiot.  So, I really doubt I'll ever see him down here.   More than likely my sister will have to call me some time next year saying he's died. 

Just stupid.

Don't waste your life, people!  It's a gift from God!!!  Living. Loving. Laughing. It's beautiful!  God gives you this great gift and provides everlasting salvation for you and what?  You throw it away!?  I just don't get it!

Make time to LIVE a healthier life in 2013.  Please.


Dance it out!

I took a look back on my blog to December 2011.  I found a post I entitled "Keep Living."

It was a great post - if I do say so myself  ;-)

In that post, I was in the midst of my obsession with Grey's Anatomy.  Man, I love that show.  That sinfully awful show.  (guilty pleasure)

Anyway, the post has a video clip on it from an early Grey's episode.  When it first starts, Izzy (character dying of cancer) says...

"The days you think are going to be the big ones are never as big as you  make them out to be in your head. It's the regular days - the ones that start out normal - those are the days that end up being the biggest..."

Today was one of those days.

We - the four of us - just relaxed at home.  We played. We laughed.  We threw plastic balls at each other - "we" meaning my husband and I.  The kids watched and laughed.  It was pretty cool. 

Today was filled with moments where I watched Beth and Hannah play.  They played beauty parlor.  They played blocks.  They hugged.  Hannah terrorized Beth and Beth terrorized Hannah, and then, they hugged. 

It was a good day.

And when it isn't, something else I've learned from Grey's that I'd like to pass along ...
Just dance it out!

As Cristina says, "Dancing makes you brave!"



Truly

Today, we sang my most favorite Christmas song in church - "O Holy Night"

It's hauntingly beautiful, but in addition to that, it just embodies all that is Christmas.  I tear up every time I hear it. 

Today, when we got to a particular point in the lyrics, I felt God speaking to me...

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!


I need to do this more - practice loving others.  Because, truly that is what He taught us.

Merry Christmas bloggie friends!

Love of the Father
Child in the Manager
Light in our darkness
God IS here!

for mental health

I'm realizing that in my old age - I'm 35 - I speak my mind much more than I used to.  At times, this can be a great thing, but some times, I'm a bit contentious - I'll admit it - and I'm sure I've hurt some feelings.

Does it have to do with my age or just being influenced by the debate crowd for the past five years?

Anyway, because I can't seem to control myself lately, I've put myself on restriction.  I've blocked certain friends on Facebook from seeing my status - those people who might take something that I post in the wrong way.  You know what I mean?  It's like when you type a post just to vent some frustration, but then some of your "friends" take offense and go on the defensive.  Then your status becomes a war zone.

You know what I mean?

Anyway, I think this will help me offend less people.

I've also hidden certain people from my news feed.  Why?  Well, again, in my old age or perhaps with my tenure in debate, I have found that I can't restrain myself from commenting on some one's status or other post that I might find... well... wrong!  And then again, it sparks a posting fight.

I don't do well with strife between friends - so you would think I would be able to keep my mouth shut on certain things, but... I just... CAN'T lately.

So, I'm hoping that hiding certain "friends" from my news feed will decrease my offending people and lower my blood pressure.

That's what I've done lately for the sake of my mental health as it pertains to Facebook.  Now, as it pertains to my job...

Get ready for this...

I'm going to get certified to teach health and PE!

Yes, you have heard me right! I'm so burnt out on grading essays and what it does to me physically, emotionally, and psychologically that I'm looking for another area to teach in.  And get this... Certification in health and PE is as easy as taking and passing a test!

I'm going to give a try! What do I have to lose - except for hours upon hours of essay grading traded for fitness fun!  Who knows, I might like to coach cross country one day?!

for mental health ;-)

our first family Gobble Jog

We did it!


Sorry for they delay in this most recent running post, but if you read my "swamped" post, you know why this is late. ;-)

Michael ran his first 10k on Thanksgiving while the kids and I cheered him on. 

He ran it in under an hour!
They had some fun things there to occupy our time while daddy ran...

Fun train the kids could climb on.


Let's go runnin now Mommy!

Afterwards, Beth sat with daddy while I ran Hannah in her stroller in the 2k - aka 1 mile. 

My running buddy!

The plan had been to run with both the girls in the double jogging stroller; however, the morning of the jog after putting the jogging stroller in the trunk of the car, we realized it was missing a bolt.  That meant I would have to use the single stroller (above), and Beth would have to run/walk with me.  However, my diva didn't like that plan - her feet hurt. So she said.  That's why she sat with daddy after his 10k while Hannah and I ran.

The upside to all that is I did get to run the 2k whereas I would have had to run/walk while pushing both girls.  It ended up being a good run.  I think I finished the mile in under 10 minutes which is GREAT for me!

Beth tried to get a pic of me, but she cut off my head. LOL

We had a good time.  I would FOR SURE do this again next year.  It made for a healthy, fun, and relaxing Thanksgiving.

Hugging the Turkey on Thanksgiving.

Hope yours was a great one!

living in the swamp

You have heard this expression: "I'm swamped!" Meaning, I have more than I can handle right now, so I feel stuck. I feel yucky.  I feel like I'm trying to swim, but I am swimmin in this...


Not good.

This is why I haven't posted much lately.  I'm swimming through life right now, and life looks and feels like the above photo. 

The biggest problem right now is work.  Yes, I am taking a step back from speech, but I'm still having to fulfill certain obligations.  I can't "abandon ship" - so to speak.  So, there is that.  Then, there is the reality that all good English teachers struggle with - grading.  I got so behind on grading essays because of speech and debate that I'm WAY behind.  Trying to catch up on that is like trying to swim in a swamp - FOR SURE!  In addition to these things, I'm teaching two new novels - one to my sophomores and one to my juniors - at the same time!  Why did I do that to myself?!!?

I'm counting down to Christmas break and that freeing feeling that comes when grades have been exported and I get to relax and enjoy me, mine, and my God!  When I get to enjoy the no papers to grade or lessons to prep freeing feeling that comes with a break between semesters.  It's a bit of summer all over again!  Summer in the winter!! :-)

I found this scripture in my quiet time today.  Ecclesiastes 3:12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Be happy. Do good.  Find satisfaction in my toil (work).  Goals for 2013. 

I see it... the light at the end of the tunnel, or in this case, the light breaking through the trees and into the swamp. :-)


How is swimming for you lately?

((hugz))