Well, here we go. Confession time. Most people tell me I am a hard worker and am relatively organized. I have a reputation of being responsible, meeting deadlines, and able to juggle many balls at once. So why is it I have not been able to get this weight off for the last decade? As each year has crept by, another 5-7 pounds added to the growing total, giving me just that much more to have to have to get rid of. Of course, most of my daily work consists of sitting in a comfy chair (with rollers so I don’t have to get up—I can just r-o-l-l-l-l-l-l my way to anything I need) and within arms reach of just about everything. Whether it’s lesson planning for the kids, or preparing new products, illustrating, or research, it all takes place here in my “office.” (My L-shape desk in a corner of the family room.) Even the TV is within sight, or if I’m feeling exceptionally lazy, I can pull up the TV channel on the computer screen 18” away from my face. All I need here is a bed, fridge, and microwave and my world would be complete. Who says you can’t live in 6 square feet of space?

But, I digress. This sedentary lifestyle is beginning to take its toll as I approach my mid-forties. Walking up stairs has me wondering where my inhaler is. After all, I’m carrying around the equivalent of an eight-year-old child on me! Not a happy thought! As I care for the family and make sure they have THEIR three squares a day with limited sugar and fat, how can I neglect myself to this extreme? As I send them outside to get some activity, how come I will make a request for one of them to “Please go get me a (fill in the blank)”? After all, by neglecting my own health, isn’t that depriving them of me at my best? Oh, to have the energy that would come with dropping that “child” off my back! Perhaps then I could pick up my “real children” without the additional effort it takes now. And then there are the health issues—we read so much about the chances of diabetes in overweight people at MY age (am I already at that age?!)! That age which also includes possible heart disease and more. I’m sure the joints are affected due to the extra weight they have to bear. Oh, to be healthy and not have to worry about any of those issues due to proper diet and activity! …Not to mention, the thought of a new wardrobe four sizes smaller at Christmas wouldn’t be half bad, either!

I came to the conclusion this past week (between a bag of jelly beans and leftover birthday cake) that this has to STOP. I need to create a menu that has limitations. I realized that I do better with boundaries and a laid out plan. AND, I came to the conclusion that I need to be accountable to someone. My dear husband would be helpful, but his sweet spirit would not have it in him to dole out the discipline with me when necessary. I have tried with friends on occasion, but everyone gets a bit busy and it’s hard to keep up. I felt an urging from the Lord to make this a public issue, among those who I think would be compassionate and possibly be some able to relate! Therefore, I decided to take a step of faith and POST my intentions in this blog. As of this moment there are 6,228 members, and countless others who come just to read. I figure, if I can post regularly “journaling my journey,” I’m more apt to make the goal with this corner of the homeschool world watching! And, if there are any takers out there who are in the same boat as me, please post a comment and we can pray for and encourage one another! My plan is to update with my exercise schedule and any good recipes I find along the way. I don’t intend to ramble on daily, but to post a quick note every few days. I know this is a risk, as failure is bad enough, but failure in front of a multitude is exceptionally worse…  

But, I’m hoping to find strength, encouragement, and the ability to live up to the responsibility of becoming healthy again, both for myself and my family. God says all things are possible through Him, and I believe He will give me the will power, both physically and mentally, to make the time for the important things, such as cooking healthy, taking time to exercise, and resisting temptation. It’s going to have to come from Him, because He knows what would happen if it were left up to me!! With that said, it’s time to begin!

Oh, and ALL PRAYERS ARE WELCOME, by the way!

Journaling the Journey: Walked for an hour today! Good way to start!

• Comments (7) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

That eerie silence that comes over a house when the children are ill... no mother likes it. For as often as a mom might complain when the children pound down the stairs, shrieking in excitement as they try to outrun their big brother; as often as they talk incessantly--often on top of each other--trying to tumble out all of their thoughts before they forget them; those sounds are actually a comfort to a mother as they mean their children are healthy and generally, happy. But when illness creeps in, it is like a thick fog that covers the happy home like an oppressive blanket. And although a mom might "say" she wishes for quiet and for her children to "be still," it's the last thing she wants when it comes with fevered brows, glassy eyes, and listless bodies.

Our family is finally on the upside of this virus, and I'm glad to say getting back to the volume it was two weeks ago. Thank the Lord, my temperature never got above 101, and only lasted about two days. The others all lasted about five days each (staggered over close to a week and a half) and spiked quite high (see the first entry). In fact, I've had to break up a few arguments today and wait in turn to speak at our daily conversations around the dinner table, further proving that spirits are resuming thier old ways. :-)

So, take heart! If your children are a little out of control today; if they are loud, rambunctious, or just plain in your space for the 15th time, scoop them up, wrap your arms around them until they squeal to be let go, cover them with kisses, and breath a prayer of thanks that they are healthy and all is well with the world.

...it is definitely better than the quiet.

• Comments (8) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link

After several months of pulling up this website and attempting to get a blog started, I finally had the time to get the whole shabang completed! I am SO looking forward to being a part of this community and sharing our tidbits, anecdotes, gems, prayers, and thoughts with the many homeschool moms and dads out there!

We are a family of six: Ed, myself, and four pakrats ranging from 3rd grade to 12th grade (we're graduating our first this spring! Hallelujah!) and yes, our homeschool is in the woods.  "Home School in the Woods" is the name of our family business:

http://www.homeschoolinthewoods.com/HTTA/timeline.htm

where we offer HISTORY Through the Ages Historical Timeline Figures and other timeline materials and SOON, Time Traveler Unit Studies on CD! But, I'll get to that in another blog.

At this point, I will take my leave, as I'm beginning to feel warm and my scratchy throat needs to get some tea. Our family has had a whirlwind of a virus pass through this past week--a nasty one that lasts about five days with high temps (topping out as high as 104.7!), scratchy throats, aching muscles and joints, days of sleep, tight chests, a dry cough, headaches, and running noses, and has had us at the doctors more times than I want to say. I think our visits alone covered the doctors salary this week. Our 10 year old wound up in the hospital yesterday as his chest got so tight from the coughing that he was gasping for air; much like an asthmatic attack. After two nebulizer treatments, rest, and medication, he was asking if they had a cafeteria. Hmmm...asking for hospital food...he was either better or delirious.

I'd better go take care of my symptoms, for as we all know, "Moms are not allowed to get sick." It's just a fact.   ;-)  

• Comments (9) • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link