65 Hours Without Power!

Our power went out at 5:00 Christmas night. We were watching "We Are Marshall", we had only been watching it about 15 minutes so we weren't very far into it yet. Little did we know it would be 65 hours before we could finish it!

We have a gas heater for such times as a power outage, so we fired it up, we pulled out our flashlights, candles and lanterns. We rearranged the living room to make room in front of the heater for our "beds". We got out the cards and portable table and set up "camp"!! We were warm, comfortable and had entertainment!

We woke up the next day, power still out, so we decided we should do something to keep our food in the refridgerator from spoiling. We got all of our ice chests and filled them with everything in the fridge and then filled them with snow!! We had some hamburger meat so I decided to cook a meal on the grill (our stove is electric). I cooked hamburgers, corn, green beans and tomatoes and onions, it was wonderful!

We were able to stay warm, nourished and safe for the 65 hours we were without power.

As I look back on it, I realize several things. We take so many things for granted, like when we flip the switch on the wall the lights will come on; or when we change the temp on the heater the heat will come on; that our family will always be around and play cards or games with me when the power is out for 65 hours! I learned that I can do without a lot of "things" but not God or my family!

I am thankful that God has blessed us with a church family who provides us with a home to keep us warm and sheltered! I will be more aware of what I have each time I flip a switch or stay warm!! Thank you God!

Cartwheels!

One of my goals in all of this has been to do a cartwheel again! Guess what?? Today I did two, woohoo, it was so exciting!!!! I'm sure they were not pretty but they were full on cartwheels!! I know I would have hurt myself if I had tried it back in April! My next goal is the splits, today I was more than halfway there!! Just sayin!

Boot Camp

Well, I've been walking/running since April and have made a lot of progress! Last week we added boot camp on our "off" days, OUCH!!!! Today was the third day of boot camp. I've never heard so much moanin' and groanin' and whinin' in all my life . . . and that was just from me!!! 😁

Seriously though, I am seeing the benefits of exercise. For all of you who have tried to get me on the exercise path in the past, I apologize for not getting on!! I'm so glad I finally did! I've always heard that it takes 21 days to form a habit, well, it has been formed and I am reaping the benefits from it!! It is very encouraging when in my clothes I can tell things are shifting! I was able to wear a pair of pants yesterday that I have not been able to wear for about a year! PLUS, I feel SO much better!!

Thanks Forest, Bob, Marlana, Gwen and Angie!!

Way Behind!

Well, I'm way behind on posting, way behind on exercising, way behind on where I wanted to be on my weight loss!!! I could moan and groan and whine . . . maybe I will a little bit . . . but I only have me to blame!!  I guess the good news is I haven't given up!  I have exercised long enough to see the benefits and to see the set backs when I don't stay with it.  I played "hooky" while the guys were in Alaska. I made excuses as to why I couldn't exercise when in all actuality, I probably (and I know) I should have!! All that being said, we are back to our routine, it's been a little hard getting back into it but it'll be worth it!! Bob, Riley, Bob's mom and step dad and I are going on a cruise in July(first time for all of us), we are so excited!! I really wanted to lose a good amount of weight before we go because I hear there's a lot of eating to be done when on a cruise!!! Any way, I still have time to lose a little bit before we go! Would you pray with me to keep doing well with the exercise and to begin doing better with the eating habits? I would very much appreciate it!!! Thanks and I pray you are having a wonderful, blessed day!!

Still Going!

Even though I am WAY behind on my posts, I am still going!!! Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, still walking!!! I've started doing some type of exercise on the days in between! I can proudly say that I got into a pair of pants Wednesday that I have not been able to wear for a while, woohoo!!!  I'm still struggling with the eating thing! Some days it's real easy to turn away from things I shouldn't have and other days . . . not so much! I know one day it will be easy every day!!

Days Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen!!

Although I am behind in posting, I'm not behind in walking!!! The eleventh day was an endurance day and we walked a little over three miles (the longest I've ever been)! I think I could have done more!!  Days twelve and thirteen were speed days! Today, the thirteenth day, we walked faster than day twelve!!!! Yes, that's the idea but it's easier said than done! I feel good too! Tuesday I was sluggish and didn't want to go but I did, I'm glad I did. Saturday I will be at our ladies retreat, the three ladies I walk with will be there too, we will walk but probably not at 5:00 am! It is getting easier but at the same time it's getting harder which makes it worth while. The same is true with my quiet time. It's getting easier to do because I'm already up, I've exercised and I'm alert so I get it done and I enjoy it. However, there are days that I'm a little sleepy so I think I'll lay down and "rest" instead of spend time with my Lord. That's satan!! He loves distracting me . . . I have to press on!!!!  Will you press on?  Have a wonderful and blessed day!

Days Nine and Ten!

Okay I told you I would keep you posted . . . . even though I'm not proud of it I will tell you. Tuesday was a walk day, it was a little tough but I made it through and it was a good day. Wednesday on the other hand was not so good! I set my alarm Tuesday night to get up at 5:15 (like a did Monday), I woke up around 4:00, reset my alarm for 6:30!! Needless to say, I didn't exercise yesterday!!  Today however, I did get up and walked! Again, like Tuesday, it was tough!! I asked Bob this morning if it got a little tough for him in the 3rd week or so, he said yes! He's running now, so there's hope!! God doesn't give up me so I'm not giving up on Him!! I know he will bless me in all I do!

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays!

We are walking on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. I've been going for two weeks now, getting up at 4:30, walking by 5:00, then having quiet time with my Lord. All of this makes for a great day!! You should try it!! So I decided I should do something else on the other days. Today I got up at 5:15, worked out for 20 minutes on a rowing machine(tough!!) and had my quiet time, made for a great day!! So I decided I would do that on Wednesdays and Fridays as well!!! I feel so much better by starting my days this way!! I'll keep you posted on how it's going!

Day Eight!

So last night we didn't get home and in bed until about 11:00. By the time we got to sleep we may have gotten 4 or so hours of sleep! Up at 4:30, out the door at 4:50, walking by 5! Today was endurance, I'm tired but I feel good (except for the fact that I'm very sleepy!). My body is getting used to getting up at the early hour, however, on Saturdays I have been going back to bed for a couple of hours. I can't today because we have a 9:00 ballgame an hour from the house so we need to leave at 7:30! I had to really talk to myself today to keep going! It's gonna be a good day, hope yours is too!!

Day Seven

Well! It's getting warmer in the mornings!! I was sweating before I started walking today. Supposedly that's a good thing, I think so anyway! Today was speed . . . I'm tired! It was sort of like a scene from Noah's Ark today. Bob rode his stationary bike (while he is strengthening his hips and knees) so that left 6 of us and we had 3 groups of 2!! There was 1 group of runners, and 2 groups of walkers; the runners were way ahead of the walkers and 1 group of the walkers was a little ahead of the other group! I've seen pictures and the movie of what we think it might have looked like when all the animals were going to the Ark. I think we probably looked like that this morning. We were all headed for the same goal, some not as quickly as the others but we were all doing something. That's what God wants us to do I think! Our goal is to strive to be more like Him, some of us are further along than others in that journey. Where are you in your journey?  Keep it up, it will be worth it!! That's what I keep telling myself about exercising, Keep it up it will be worth it!!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Rockets Add One to Their Wins!

The Rockets took another win tonight, 14-4, that makes their record 9 & 1, regular season, and 12 & 3 over all! It's been a great year so far! We have our mid-season tournament this weekend come on Rockets!!!  I keep the book each game for our coach and he keeps track of the stats for the boys, so he can give various awards at the end of the season. I think each year I get a littel better at it, I branched out tonight and marked a few errors . . . I wonder if he will notice!

It's nice being on the winning side, it wasn't so long ago (last year) that we only had two wins all season. We were one of the youngest team in our division. The boys are enjoying winning, they are playing well for the most part. Tonight they had three run-downs (pickle, as the boys call it), anyway they made all three outs! That's exciting!!!

Go Rockets!!!!

Day Six

So you remember yesterday I said I was looking forward to today? I was and I'm glad I went but I had the hardest time getting out of bed; not because I was sore but because I was sluggish! I told Bob it was because I've been talking about how easy it is to get up at 4:30 on our excercise days and Satan doesn't like it! I've also been talking about how good I feel while walking (it burns but that's good) and how it makes my day so much better! Satan doesn't like any of that!

We walk on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Thursday and Saturday just have one day in between, Tuesday has two, it makes a differene!! A lot of it is mental, I know, but this morning there was a physical aspect to it and right now I just want to go back to bed!!! I'm sleepy, not tired but sleepy. I'm whining today, sorry about that!!

I am very glad I went today and I know my body is glad and more importantly God is proud of me and I'm proud of me too! There was a day, not long ago, that I would have rolled over and gone back to sleep!!

Hope you're having a great day, check back with me Thursday!!

Day Five

Saturday was day five, this was endurance day! We walked further than I have been so far, we walked steeper hills than I have so far! There were six of us Saturday, 2 guys and 4 girls. Forrest, our leader discovered that when we (the girls) were talking we were walking slower, he had to "crack the whip" a few times! It was a great walk I think I like endurance better than surging!! I am seeing the benefits to exercising early in the morning . . . I feel better the rest of the day and into the next day, I have more energy, (yes, I'm getting less sleep and waking up earlier but I have more energy) and I'm ready to go again the next time and actually look forward too it!!

Now I need to work on the eating part!! I have increased my water in take greatly, however, I have not decreased my sweets in take. This is a huge weakness for me!!  I struggle with wanting sweets, especially chocolate, ALOT!!!! I think the key for me is to stay busy, when I'm busy I don't think about wanting them so much. During the day while working is not as bad as after work. Of course, if I don't buy it it won't be there, right!?!

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is day six, I'm looking forward to it!

Day Four

So last night Forrest told me "tomorrow we surge". I did, I feel it!! If it aint hurtin' it aint workin'!!! We hear that some in our walks! Today there were 6 of us, some walked, some ran but we all surged!!! I learned that term from Bob who learned it from Forrest when they first began this journey in January. You walk or run then you walk or run as fast as you can until you can't anymore and you back it down, get your breath good and then do it again! Don't tell Forrest or Bob but I kinda enjoyed that!! Thank you God that I made it throught the surges, I feel good and I'm ready for the day!

Baseball is in Full "Swing"

Baseball is under way!! Riley has been playing for 7 years. He played t-ball the first year, then pitching machine, then he started playing with the Red Roc Rockets! He's been on this team for 5 years so he's had the same coach and played with most of the same boys for the last 5 years! It's been pretty neat watching the progress from year to year. They've been playing live pitch for 3 years.  Riley plays 1st base primarily and then pitches and catches some. I love to watch this team play. Bob has been the assistant coach last year and again this year and Steve Smith is the headcoach and has been since the team was established . . . I think . . . 9 years ago!!!  Steve is a great Christian man, guiding these boys as best he can in skills and attitudes.  After they are finished warming up before a game, it is not unusual to see Steve, Bob and the boys bowing their heads in prayer!  I love that!  What a great example they are setting for these young guys.

Thanks Steve and Bob for leading our boys with godly attitudes!

Days Two and Three!

Days Two & Three!!

Day two was Saturday and day three was today!

Saturdays are my only days to sleep late!! Most of the time it is 8:30 or 9:00 before I get out of bed.  That changed this past Saturday. Wednesday when Bob and I were talking about walking (I like that!), I told him in no uncertain terms that I was not about to get up at 4:30 am on a Saturday!!!  Guess what I did Saturday?  Yes!!! I got up at 4:30 am and was walking by 5:00 with Bob, Forrest, Marlana and Gwen! Well, Bob and Forrest ran, the girls walked! When we walked on Thursday, Gwen said when we get to the red house it is almost a mile! Thursday we almost went to the red house(we went to the phone pole right before it), Saturday we to the red house, it was exciting!! Round trip was almost 2 miles!!  Saturday was a great day!!  Did you know out in the country there are not many street lights, you can see stars for miles!!  I love looking up and seeing God's lights at 5:00 in the morning!!

Tuesday mornings are hard right now because Riley has baseball games on Monday night. He's not a little kid anymore so his games are not the early ones, they are the late ones, so we don't get home sometimes until 11:00 or so, depending on where we play that night. Anyway, I always thought, until here recently, that I HAD to have AT LEAST 8 hours of sleep EVERY night!! You know what? I don't!! I am finding out that when you exercise first thing in the morning and talk to God, the day is so much smoother!! The wrinkles in the day don't seem so bad! Today Angie joined us, that was a nice surprise. We walked to the other side of the red house!!!!  Thursday I plan on going to the light pole just past the red house!!

Thank you God for friends and family to encourage me along!!

The First Day of the Rest of my Life!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life!! I was up at 4:30am and out walking at 4:57am!! I am NOT a morning person!!! I DO NOT like to exercise!!

My husband, Bob, started out walking and is now running, since January first of 2012. He is doing really well and has lost 23 pounds since then! I am very proud of him!! I have needed (and wanted) to begin an exercise regimen for a while and have made several attempts that did not have good outcomes. So yesterday and last night after several conversations between me and God, me and Bob, me and Marlana, me and Forrest and yes, me and my son Riley I finally came to the conclusion that it is now or never!!

It is now 9:50pm I am at an Arkansas Travelers baseball game watching the game but more importantly, I'm watching Riley be a batboy for the first time! He is doing an awesome job!!! It has been a great day!! I walked, went to work and have spent the last 3 hours doing one of my favorite things, watching baseball with my boys!!!

Thank you God and my sweet husband, son and friends for the words (and nudges) I needed to make this the best first day of the rest of my life!!!