A Little Po-em

With all of the data and all of the gigs

And all of the digital stuff.

With social media and other pains,

Mom had just had enough!

She turned off accounts and unplugged some things

And headed for days of Yore.

But those daughters of hers thought a

Rotary phone was taking things way too far!

They talked and they schemed and price compared

And headed for Best Buy with a plan.

"We'll get mom a real phone, with caller ID!"

"Cordless, if we can!"

So much excitement. So much fuss. 

All over a telephone!

They had it packed, and boxed and shipped

Right to her very home.

Mom likes her old phone, it's fun to dial,

It's a novelty item, I swear!

So you can't hear on it, so you can't...

Wait! UPS just got here!!

OMG! I love this thing!

It has an answering machine and 3 extensions!!

I can actually hear when people call me

And I know who they are before they mention!

So Merry Christmas to me

Let the phone bells chime!

Have a wonderful evening

And give me a call sometime!!

Setting Things Straight

"Are you OK?" "Did you have gastric bypass?" "You're not smoking again, are you?" "DRUGS??"

Yes, I have lost 'a lot of weight' - 40 pounds to be exact - but I had it to lose! It took me almost 10 months to lose it and I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.

Before

After

Here's the outline:

• After years of suffering, was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. One of the meds has a side-effect known as taste perversion. It turns your taste buds into a waste land. Unfortunately (or fortunately, I guess) it works on french fries, Dr Pepper, candy bars, etc. Cravings just aren't what they used to be!

• About a year ago, Don and I moved to town. There are sidewalks and sub-divisions and quiet neighborhoods to walk through. Realizing how much better I feel if I can stretch these rebellious muscles of mine, we started walking every day. Walking anywhere from .5 to 1.5 miles per day is going to show in the weight department.

• One lovely fringe benefit of Fibro is IBS. I finally found a product that works! Bio-X4 It is not only a great Probiotic, but has a great weight management blend. The recommendation is 1-2 three times daily. I've been taking one a day and it's been perfect for my system.
  

• In July of 2016, I had some extensive dental work done. The procedure is still not complete. It makes it difficult to eat certain foods. To be honest, it's not worth it. So at work when the chips and snacks are out (even if they did taste as good as they should!) I will pass. 

• Now that I've lost 40 pounds I'm completely motivated to make a healthy choice. I love to walk. I will drink water. I will even do yoga before bed because I ENJOY it!!

So now you know. I am OK, I did not have gastric bypass, I am not smoking again and I'm not doing drugs. But thank you for checking on me! 

What Was I Thinking??

Perusing my blog this morning, I was looking through the "Edit Posts" list and found a draft.

 

The dangers of "ISM" I evidently intended to write a post on the subject. The problem is, I didn't leave myself a clue as to the subject matter! I have no idea what "ISM" is or why it's dangerous!

 

My first response in a situation like this (or most any situation, really) is "Google it"! The top three results are....

• Institute for Supply Management (Doesn't sound dangerous or interesting)
• Independent School Management (Upon closer inspection, I'm pretty sure it's SPAM!)
• International Solidarity Movement (Although certainly dangerous and probably interesting, doesn't look like something I would write about)

So, what was I thinking?? Was it Ferris Bueller's speech in the shower about isms?

"Not that I condone fascism, or any ism for that matter. Isms in my opinion are not good. A person should not believe in an ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon: "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the Walrus. I could be the Walrus, but I'd still have to bum rides off of people."

Awesome movie & brilliant line, but I don't see how I can expound on it. goo goo g'joob

I guess we'll just chalk it up to Instantly Supressed Memory and move along....

I'm listening, Lord

We are preparing for our trip to TN.  My son-in-law is getting ready to go to Iraq, my newest granddaughter is 3 months old, my youngest grandson is starting kindergarten, my other son-in-law has his orders for his next station, and we are ready to be there!

We have three vehicles..a Ford Pick-up, a Mercury Marquis and a Ford Van. We also have two teenage boys that will not fit in the back seat of the truck or the Marquis. The Truck needs new tires before a road-trip and the car's air conditioning went out (not to mention some electrical issues that have popped up). So, the van it is!

We put four new tires on the van, cleaned it out & gassed it up. I bought snacks and drinks for the trip and the boys have their dvd's and video games all ready.

Carpenter came to get the van to fix a little something (not sure what it was) while I was at work. He came in as I was getting off and said it broke down. What?? There was nothing wrong with it a lunch! An hour and a half later, it's apparently the fuel pump. The garage (fantastic people who I REALLY appreciate!) will get on it first thing in the morning - should be done by noon, they say.

Well, here's the thing. Carpenter & I took the rest of the week off for this trip. We were planning to leave very early tomorrow (2am-ish) and wanted to be back Saturday evening. It's an eight hour trip so instead of getting there at 10 in the morning it will be 8 at night. But that's if we get to leave at noon. If they can fix the van. And if there is nothing else wrong with it.

Why am I typing all of this? Because I am realizing that my God loves me and is looking out for my best interest. He knows how much I want to see my daughters and grandchildren. He knows how much they want to see us. But He also knows what the future holds. He knows whether or not the Sow and her brand-new litter will need us here. He knows whether or not my mother-in-law (a dear 84 yr old lady that lives on our property) will need us here. He knows if the van will make the 1100 mile round trip. He knows.

"But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil."
                                                                  Proverbs 1:33

I'm listening, Lord

Working Woman's Diet

First of all, ALL Women WORK!!!

Here is a meal plan specifically designed for a woman's day:


This is a specially formulated diet designed to help WOMEN cope with the stress that builds during the day

BREAKFAST
1 Grapefruit
1 slice Whole wheat toast
1 cup skim milk

LUNCH
1 small portion lean, steamed chicken with a cup of spinach
1 cup herbal tea
1 biscuit

SNACK

The rest of the biscuits from the packet
1 tub of Gino Ginelli ice cream with chocolate topping

DINNER
4 bottles of wine (red or white)
2 loaves garlic bread
1 family size Supreme pizza
3 chocolate bars

LATE NIGHT SNACK
1 whole cheesecake (eaten directly from the freezer)

The Biggest Loser

I was watching The Biggest Loser last night (don't judge me!) and one of the "final four" said, "If I can do it, anyone can do it!"

Well, yeah - anyone who gets to spend 6 months secluded on a ranch with a personal trainer, 24 hr gym, stocked kitchen, and a million dollars to shoot for!!

What about the rest of us?

Now, I don't begrudge these people their time there, the resources they have on hand or the prize money...they earn it! One man started at over 500 pounds! I say if you have the opportunity, go for it!

Here's the deal... I am 45 years old, 5'3", and 150 pounds. I smoke, drink too much Dr Pepper and spend waaaayyyy too much time on the computer! I'm unhealthy. I live on a small farm on 13 or so acres, own a treadmill/clothes rack, make a moderate income and have a loving supportive family. What's up??? Why is it so hard to make healthy choices??

I need to lose 25 pounds. It's easier to take a "vitamin" for appetite suppressant than be disciplined. It's easier (not to mention cheaper!!) to make the same old "comfort food" than plan and prepare healthy alternatives. It's much easier to lay down and watch tv or get on the computer than to go for a walk or use the treadmill.

I need to quit smoking. I have a drawer full of Nicorette and an electronic cigarette on my desk. It's still easier to sit on the deck and smoke. It's easier to give in to the craving than tough it out.

I guess the question is how bad do I want it? There are things that I don't give in to. It's easier to stay home than go to work, but I love my job and need the money, so I go. It's easier to let my kids have their way than to argue with them, but I love my kids and want them to be disciplined, well-rounded, productive members of society, so I don't give in. It's easier to be lazy than to cook and clean, but I love my family and want them to live in a healthy, comfortable environment, so I push forward.

Wow. I love my family, my kids, my job so I do what's necessary - not easy. Do I love myself? Do I love me enough to tough out a nicotine craving to save my life? Do I love me enough to choose the treadmill and a salad instead of tv and a bowl of cereal? Do I love my family enough to love ME?? The Bible says to love your neighbor as yourself. I guess if I don't love myself, my neighbor is in trouble!!

I'm not saying I'm ready to quit smoking, start exercising, change our eating habits and schedule a spa day (well, maybe the spa day wouldn't be so hard!) but I am learning that in order to be the best wife & mother I can be - I have to be the best ME I can be! My family is worth it and so am I!

Maybe I need Jillian here to scream at me to keep going!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE: 9/11/2010 I quit smoking! One down....

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

I want to pray that he gets hit by a bus, does that count??

He is just a kid. At 20, the world says he's an adult, but he's just a kid. He wasn't raised well. He calls himself Wiccan. I could probably feel sorry for him, pray for him, even - gulp - love him if my daughter hadn't chose this one to run off with.

Ephesians 6:12 says "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." If you are mad at a person, you are fighting the wrong enemy! DRAT!!


The Word is full of Scripture that tells me that God will handle my enemies and my job is to love. {sigh} For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." Hebrews 10:30





"In you I trust, O my God.
Do not let me be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
Psalm 25:2"

So - Here's the outline:

1) There is someone in my world that is causing me grief. He is the cause of pain and I want him gone.

2) This person is not the source of my pain, he is the vessel. The source is the Enemy.

3) God is my protector and my avenger. He will smite the source..I will pray for the vessel.

4) I will trust in my Lord to heal the pain, stop the source and put me on higher ground.

Back to Matthew 5:44. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you.

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.