Posted in Encouragement

Journey - process of development. A gradual passing from one state to another... from innocence to mature awareness.

We've all been on journey's and have gone through seasons. Praise God for them so we can grow.

Of course my latest journey has been weight-loss. Who would of known that it is more of a mental journey on the path to huge weight-loss. The past five months have been hard, but I have learned a LOT.

I have learned to think and eat like an athlete. I have learned that I enjoy a good challenge. Pushing myself is quite a rush. I learned how lazy I used to be! Oh my word! Even though I was busy before I still was not at par due to lack of energy.

My family is benefiting from all this too. They enjoy long walks with me. They like to exercise with me. The other day my son asked me to help him gain muscle. His words after feeling my triceps and my tummy, "Mom, I want muscles like you!" Aaaaaah, music to my ears! Granted there is still flab on my arms and on my tummy, but underneath I've got a six pack, baby! Doing almost 1,000 crunches, push-ups, 1/2 get-ups, squats and other exersices per week is paying off.

I feel stong, I feel good, I feel healthy. I still have a ways to go to reach my goal, but this time next year I will be half the woman I am today. =)

I took tears to get to where I am today. Tears of frustration. One night in prayer I asked the Lord to help me and to plant the desire to physically become the woman He wants me to be. That night He planted new desires, new energy and new motivation in me. It is to God that gets the glory everytime I sweat!

Loss so far - 22 lbs. 30 inches.

Posted in Encouragement

What a journey I have been on this past week. I am amazed at what I have been through. I haven't really been through that much really... which doesn't make much sense. I have realized and learned a few things about myself that I didn't know! How cool is that? For some what I have went through might not be much, but for me they are milestones!

I realized that I am even stronger than what I thought I was. I've always been tough, but... wow... I've suprised myself this week. Glory to God, He is the One that has given me the strength, the morivation and the joy to do what I have done.

What have I done? Besides doing a hard physical challenge I have learned that getting past that one has made me hungry for more! I've always liked to push my limits with myself. I have learned that when I humble myself and completly let God take over areas in my life that I become stronger. Weight has been a struggle for me and now I am doing things I would of never considered doing - like these challenges I'm doing. I find myself pushing even harder on a daily basis because I desire a healthy, strong body.

Now I just have to get back to getting up early in the mornings again! Wake-y wake-y!

Exercise today: 30 min. on recumbent bike and 40 min. BL Cardio Max.

Posted in Encouragement

From now on any type of post I type I will include my exercises for the day at the end.

Here is what my weekly workout looks like.

Mon.-Wed.- Fri. : 45 to 60 min. Cardio plus 30 to 50 min. Strength. I also do challenges with a group through Sparkpeople.com.

Tues. - Thurs. : 50 to 60 min of Cardio. (rest from strength)

Saturday: 30 to 60 min. Cardio. (rest from strength)

Sunday: Rest

My favorite exercise is: Crunches

Exercise I hate, but try do it anyway: Planks

Today: 3 mile Walk of the Pounds (50 min); 2 minutes of step-ups; 10 min. streching.

Posted in Encouragement

My blog post about how I exercise with 5 children follows my exercises.

My Exercises for today: (All complete!)

Circuit training: The goal is to complete this the quickest you can. Make sure you do not let time compromise good form!

3 sets of 10
3 sets of 9
3 sets of 8
continuing in descent to 3 sets of 1 (if you are tough enough)

push ups
dips (tricep dips, you can use a chair, but I use my stairs)
crunches
squats (jump squats if you can do them, but don’t injure yourself. Do what you are capable of.)
lunges (each leg)

Today I did this in 27 minutes compared to Saturday's time of 36 minutes. This is a challenge from one of my teams on SP. (Go Project Mayhem!)

50 minutes of Power sculpt. This video is a major rear end kicker. I highly recomend it!

30 minutes on recumbent bike.

Approximate calories burned: 1162.6 (Yeah!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I copied the following from my sparkpeople blog. It was in response to a question that was raised about finding time to exercise with 5 children.

I have 5 children and on top of all the child rearing, house work... I also homeschool them.
Getting times in to workout is probably the hardest challenge I have yet.. it makes the "Mayhem Project" a breeze! LOL.
I don't have a workout partner. Maybe someday I will. I do have the support of my husband, whom I'm trying to get to workout with me. I also have the support through SP and other online buddies. =)

My children also workout with me.
It makes a huge difference to get them involved in what you are doing. Go for walks or hikes with your children. While they are playing at the park, play with them or walk around the park. Get some low impact exercise videos that they can do with you. I think Leslie Samsone has a family walking video out.
Even smaller children have fun exercising even if they aren't as coordinated yet. (It also provides great entertainment!) LOL.

Some of my more intense workouts I do in early morning before anyone wakes up. Often late at night after they are in bed I'll get about 15-30 min. done on my recumbent bike. Often I'll give them a project to work on which also allows me to get some exercise done.

I have also started doing squats, lunges, walking in place or other simple exercises while I cook dinner In between stirring the food is a great time get some exercise in.

Another thing is to set a timer for 5-15 minutes and go up and down the stairs or crunches (something) while the kids do a chore for the amount of time on the timer.
Speaking of stairs, I also put more oomph into climbing them. I'll swing my arms and dip my knees more when going up them.

If you have younger children that still need to be picked up, make it an arm workout. At least once a day I'll lift my 1 yr old. I'll sit on the couch, put my elbows on my knees, then I'll pick her up, give her a kiss and then put her down. I do this about 10 times and of course she loves it!!

You can do it! Children love to be involved with what you are doing. I know it has been great for bonding with my kids.

Honestly, nothing compares to your children telling you to keep up the exercise because your butt is getting smaller! My kids have been excited for me because they are eagerly waiting for the day (which will be soon) that they can play soccer or basketball with me.

Oh, and for bonus... for me when I am more active during the day, not only do I sleep well, but so do the kids!

Posted in Encouragement

Spring is in the air... kind of. The robins have been showing up on our trees, so that means spring is near! I am looking forward to getting out and hiking! For my hubby and mine 15th wedding anniversary we bought an 8 passenger 4WD SUV. I can now go to even more places in the mountains! I'm totally siked!

Since January I have lost 16 pounds and almost 20 inches. I've been working hard! I'm thinking about adding my weekly workouts here on my blog. What do you think? If your interested and  are tough enough to join me in my workouts you are more than welcome to. I've been getting great results! My workouts are not easy and they make you sweat buckets! They will kick your behind as they certainly kick mine and they'll boost your metabolism! As a result my behind is quickly getting smaller and I am getting stronger!  I have energy and I feel great!

I will have to come back here and brag on my daughter for a bit. She has been busy sewing quilts, pillows, dresses, skirts. She is becoming quite the little seamstress. I am so proud of her. I never really liked sewing, but it tickles me that she does. My mother has been teaching her. My mom is the best sewing teacher! She taught me, but I'd rather play in mud and catch lizzards and snakes than sew.

I'm also shopping for our homeschool learning stuff. I don't like using "curriculum" as I don't use any set curriculum. I use a bit of that and this.

Posted in Encouragement

I'm lovin' life. I've always loved my life, but I don't think I've ever sat down to write about how much I love my life. Well, I don't really love my life, but I love the One who gave me life. G-d has blessed me with a great life no matter what I've been through. I've been through the "ringer" a many times, but I've always come through stronger. I've had many joys and gobs and gobs of things to be thankful for.

*finger pause* (Wow, so many things to remember, and to see G-ds hand in it all)

Over the past year I have struggled with motivation in a few areas in my life. I have gotten past those motovation humps only to fall back on them again. This time it has been different. It is like I have jumped over a few motovi-humps (like my new word?) and found a refreshing pond that has given me the much needed desire and strength that I have needed to overcome.

I am thankful. I have energy. I have strength.

Posted in Encouragement

My faucets drip! On purpose so they won't freeze at night when our temperatures have been in the low single digits. 

I drink about 64 oz. of water a day, but I still find myself very thirsty. I'm not just thirsty for clean, clear purified water. (I put a filter on my faucet in the kitchen last week.) I'm thirsty for more of Christ. I've been through "spiritual" type thirsts before, but this one is different. I can't really explain it because I can't think of the right words... but this one is more intense.

When I turn on my faucet late at night when the temperature is in the low single digits the water first comes out in a quick stream until I turn it so that it drips, rather than running in a stream.

I feel the opposite. I've been a drippy faucet with getting just enough so that I won't freeze, but somehow I can see myself through this new desire, this new thirst in Christ to become a steady stream. I am so thankful for these times of growth. I am always amazed at what the Lord does when I humble myself and desire for Him to continue His work in me. It's not all fun, but boy is it worth it!

"I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." Psalm 143:6

Posted in Encouragement

I found it funny today as I was carrying out my normal routine that I have been doing a few things in five's. I know it's a bit silly, but hey, it gave me something to blog about.

• I ride five miles a day on my recumbent bike. This also provides me some time to get reading done while I peddle too. One of the requirements that I had when I was shopping for an excercise bike was it had to have a book holder!
• I make a list of five things to do each day. This list helps me stay on top of the home blessing stuff.
• I eat five small meals a day. I should eat six a day, but currently I only eat five. I am trying not to eat in the late evenings.

Posted in Encouragement

Stew, it's what is for lunch today. Plus it gave me a title for today's post.

Gravy, potatos, carrots, BEEF!

Life is like a good pot of stew... the good, the starchy, the fatty, the meaty... all together is enjoyable when it is mixed together with love.

Posted in Encouragement

My hubby and I had a very interesting conversation last night. It was a lovely time together and we talked about all sorts of things.

Then the unexpected happened...

He told me that I should write everything down - to make a list. I cracked up! By nature I am NOT a list maker, so me making daily lists (so my dh can see it) and then writing my crazy whacked out list yesterday is something that is totally a step out of my comfort zone. I am dyslexic, so the last thing I want to do is write it down when I can picture it in my head. I wrote that 41 (so far) list down yesterday, and now I have a mental picture of everything on that list, so I won't have to go back to it expect to cross things off. I am the same with going to the grocery store. I know what I need, then I map out the store in my head, then each item is then in its own isle in the store all stored in pictures in my head. I haven't forgotten anything yet. Sound confusing? I sure confused my hubby when I tried to explain to him how I see things. He says he goes into the grocery store and if he sees what he needs in a isle he picks it up. He normally doesn't know where to go - he also carries a list with him.

My awesome hubby is the organized checker board and I am the abstract painting on the wall. I think he is weird and he thinks I am weird.

Making that big, crazy list yesterday was one way to show my hubby how much I love him. (Even If I won't look at it much. LOL)

Shhhh - sometimes before I go to the store I'll carry a blank piece of paper to make it look like I made a list.

Posted in Encouragement

I have been know to jump in the water head first at times. Well, I am about to do it again by making a huge-o list here on my blog of things that I need to get done by February 29th. Hopefully if I post these things here on my blog that I'll be more likely to actually get them done. These are just random things I desperatly need, want  and desire to do. I don't have a set number yet, so I'm just going to list until I am content. (This may take a day or two, so I'll be updating this post.)

1. Finish writing this list
2. Clean out refridgerator
3. Go through all the baby and childrens clothes
4. Give away the old clothes
5. Mail out late Christmas gifts
6. Learn how to use new video camera
7. Learn and use my new juicer
8. Buy some good organic fruits and veggies for my juicer
9. Scrub my kitchen floor, the old fashioned way - hands and knees. (I do this at least twice a year to get it really, really clean!)
10. Organize yarn
11. Defrost the freezer
12. Paint the basement floor and prepare it for tile
13. Tile the downstairs bathroom
14. Have someone put a new toilet in downstairs bathroom. (too heavy for me to do)
15. Paint dd's room. (We bought her paint last year for her birthday... just haven't painted yet.)
16. While on a painting kick... paint the boys room.
17. Maybe paint the kitchen?
18. Organize all the craft totes
19. Finish reading "Shepherding a Child's Heart"
20. Wash windows
21. De-clutter bedroom
22. De-clutter dining area
23. Lose a few pounds. (Hey with all the work to do... I should lose something!)
24. Watch all 3 LOTR with the kids
25. Make a new background for my "Apple Strands" blog. (knit & crochet)
26. Get other computer hooked up to internet
27. Rearrange the living room
28. Clean the pantry
29. Clean the laundry room
30. Replace furnace filter
31. Take an evening to scrapbook. (I haven't worked on any albums for over a year!)
32. Take another evening to scrapbook. (I have a lot of pictures!)
33. Sew some curtains for bedroom.
34. Sew curtains for boys bedroom.
35. Hang some pictures. (Maybe this will inspire me to paint the walls? I hate white walls)
36. Start and finish stained glass project.
37. De-clutter my side of the bedroom closet
38. Plan dd's decade B-day tea party.
39. Pay library fines
40. Make plans for 15 year wedding anniversary in March.
41. Crochet one of THESE comfort-packs.
42. Clean the lime and calcium deposits that have developed in the bathtub.

Posted in Encouragement

The main emphasis of this is to put a concentrated effort into this post. I have been out and about having fun in the great outdoors and now it's time that I start slowing down as our new year of learning starts back up again come mid October. The past three weeks have been a struggle for me to concentrate on my areas of concern. You know, those areas where I have responsibility outside of being a wife and a mother. Those areas where I volunteer, or those areas where ideas have started to bloom. I'm still dreaming of walking through the woods, picking up rocks and playing in the dirt that the thoughts of hankering down again for the winter eludes me.

In the "homeschooling" area I have started seeking the Lord as to what He will have us do this year. Can you say "More Character Training?" We've played around with some routines on our "off" days when we haven't been having fun in the mountains. I think by mid October that I'll have more of a concentrated quality about myself as we find our new learning groove. It's almost nice to be pondering of sharper images of what our next learning year will look like, and to get a sharper vision of how we'll do things.

Focus, Focus, Focus.

I need to start focusing on the things I am involved in, things I volunteer for rather than focusing my camera lens. Well, I won't put down my camera just yet... fall and winter provide plenty of great shutterbug clicks!

Before I can focus on everything else I need to continue to seek out my focal point - Christ. He is the original focus. He is where my focus needs spread, localize and center around. I know from experience that when I am no longer having Him as my focal point that my focus becomes the center of a life earthquake, an explosion of heart, home and learning.

It is a new season, physically and spiritually. I need to re-focus my lens and concentrate on those things which need my attention that had been lax during the summer. It is time to take my trusty notebook into the "prayer closet" and write the inspirations that the Lord gives me. This, for me is the only true way for me to adjust my vision so that I can see clearly.

Here I am Lord, I am focusable.

Posted in Encouragement

Sheryl at Taking The Challenge  given me the "You Make Me Smile Award." What a fun award! What is even more fun is I get to pick 10 more people to give it to. There are so many bloggers that make me smile.

Thank you, Sheryl. You make me smile too!

"This is what the person that created this award says about it- the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell,and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with.

I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement.Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose ten bloggers:

Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you. So, now it is my turn to pass it on. "

**Don't forget to pass it on to 10 more bloggers.

Posted in Encouragement

How do you do it?

It happened again. The double take and the, "Wow! You have your hands full!"

That is the all famous question that I get asked quite often, usually when I meet someone for the first time. It's always fun to see the shocked look on peoples face when they find out I have 5 children and I homeschool them. Good golly, if only they knew the other stuff I do! In comparison to the families from a hundred years and older a family of my size was pretty small. Honestly, it is probably easier today than what it used to be. I have a bunch of modern conviniences that help save time - washer and dryer, ovens and ranges, refridgerators, microwaves, grocery stores, four-slot toasters, coffee makers, clothing stores.

So how do I do it? I do it with the strength that Christ has given me. Through seeking Him, prayer and reading my Bible. If it wasn't for His strength, then I could honestly say I don't know how I do it. I just do it. I can totally rely on Christ to show me and teach me how to run my day, how to be a wife, how to raise my children, how to manage my home and to do it all with joy. Motivation, pure joy, the love for my children, integrity all play a big part in how I do it, but all in all it is Christ who gets the glory. I couldn't do it without Him. He gives me the desire, the motivation, the joy.

I do what I do because I enjoy it. I enjoy being a wife, a mother, a homeschooler. I also enjoy the other things I do. Children's director, Sunday school curriculum writer for church, hiker, camper, knitter, crocheter, artist, gold prospector, historian for the Gold Prospector's of Colorado, scrapbooker, idea starter, meal planner and maker, house manager, online group moderator, online group manager, blogger... the list goes on and on. Give and take there are a few things I don't like doing... grocery shopping, ironing, mopping, but I do them because they need to be done and I try to do them joyfully.

If I didn't have all the children I have and all the other perks to marriage and parenthood, then I'd be very bored!

It's all a lovely life that Christ has blessed me with.

How do you do it?

Posted in Encouragement

Kelly nominated  me for the Nice Matters Award. Thank you, Kelly. I am humbled that you would nominate me.

"This award will be awarded to those that are just nice people, good blog friends and those that inspire good feelings and inspiration! Those that care about others that are there to lend support or those that are just a positive influence in our blogging world!"

As part of being nominated, I now have to pick seven other people who I feel deserve this award as well.

Paula at Hearty Works has a wonderful blog which is inspiring and encouraging. I have really been enjoying her tea posts lately. If you love having tea with your children, you really need to go read her posts. Paula is also a friend of mine in "real life." Her blog reflects who she is - kind, compassionate, lovely and a joy to be around.

I also enjoy reading  Wisdom & Grace  blog. She blogs about different things such as news articles, recipes and what her children learn. Her latest post was about a precious discussion about sin that she had with her son in which her son prayed and told Jesus that he chooses Him and asked Jesus to help him. Beautiful.

Lakeview Christian Academy and Boarding School. Seeks out "encouragement and wisdom and then passes it on" to others.

I have four more to nominate. There are so many blogs to choose from! I'm also trying to find blogs that haven't been nominated yet. =)

Everyone that I nominate should nominate seven more. Keep posted.

Posted in Encouragement

It is nice to take a week or two and not have to worry about teaching or coming up with new things the kids could learn. Even though we  home school year round it is still nice to take much needed breaks to refresh.

In these past two weeks of taking a break I have been able to get some reading in, some "spring cleaning" done and other things around the home that needed to be done. I've had a wonderful time with the kids as we've played games, watched movies, rode bikes, hikes, walks and cooking. Now that I've had some time to relax a bit, to get refreshed I am ready to start back up next week.

One of the MANY perks to homeschooling is the freedom to take breaks when they are needed. They provide an icy cold drink on a hot day! Refreshing goodness.

Posted in Encouragement

On a daily basis I get confirmation that we, my husband and I, are doing the right thing for our family - homeschooling. Whether it is through the television on the nightly news hearing about local school problems such as guns, rapes, bomb threats, poor testing scores or fuzzy math - to hearing support and encouragement from friends, family and even strangers. Anyway, when get the comfirmation I am thankful to get it!

Today was another nice reminder as to why we homeschool. My mother took my brother, 4 of my children and me  to see movies. Then afterward we came home and picked up my hubby and the baby for lunch. (My dh works at home.) While we were all eating lunch the manager of the restaurant came over and asked how everything was. He then asked the kids if they got out of school early. My kids said, "Yes, we are out of school." (So simple, huh? hehe) My mother then tells the manager that they are homeschooled. His face lit up and said to the kids, "Oh Cool! I was homeschooled too! I loved it. I loved being close to my family! Family comes first! Plus you get to go out with grandma's during the day to have fun!"

My hubby and I beamed. My hubby then proudly said, "See, more confirmation!"

Posted in Encouragement

Yesterday's post brought me to this one today.

I think all parents are selfish and I think that the degrees of selfishness are all different. Take homeschoolers for instance. Homeschoolers are selfish for keeping their children at home. We are selfish for wanting to teach them life, love, happiness and the persuit of a love for learning. Many of us homeschool because we know we can give them a better education than that of the "school box" down the street can give our child.

I am selfish as in I want to be the one who sees my children grow and learn. I don't want to share those memories with a stranger care giver or teacher. I want to be there when my child writes their name for the first time. I want to be there when my child reads their first book by themselves. I want to be there when my child is eager to learn something new and to see the sparkle in their eyes when they understand something. I desire to be there each step of the way to guide them and the cheer them on.

Then I read other blogs or listen to other parents of public/private school kids. It saddens me that many of the reasons they send their kids to school is so that they can "get away from their children," "I can't stand my kids," or "our school is a wonderful school," or the "I need 'ME' time." What is more selfish? I simply do not understand that kind of logic. If you don't want to be around your kids, then why have them? What erks me about some (not all) non-homeschoolers is that somehow, they feel threatened by us that do homeschool. I've read some pretty harsh comments and many of them come across that homeschoolers make them feel guilty because their kids go to public school. Maybe they feel that way because we homeschoolers take the time and energy that many people don't have to take care of our precious gifts. We homeschoolers also like to brag about our kids too, ya know. I'm sure there are "good" selfish reasons for sending children to school...

This doesn't mean I am totally against public schools and the parents who send them there. I agree that not every parent can homeschool or that they should. I heard one mother say that she would probably end up harming her child if they were home all day with them, sadly. I know many parents with their children in a school and they are wonderful, and their children get along with mine. It doesn't bother me that they made the choices they have, and likewise.

To homeschoolers I say be nice to your non-homeschool friends. What can we do, in general, so that parents that send their children off to school each day can be encouraged, rather then discouraged? How can we start setting good examples instead of sending out the "we are weirdos sign?"

To parents who send their children to school don't be so quick to call us homeschoolers wierd. Don't shove the "system" down our thoats when we talk to you.

We all are selfish in wanting the best for our children.

Posted in Encouragement

"The soul is healed by being with children." Fyodor Dostoevsky

I am so thankful that I get to be home with my children everyday.  I am glad that I am the one (my hubby too) who gets to see my children learn new things and gain understanding. I get joyful when my children get that spark in their eye when they understand a new concept. I love laughing with my children. I cherish hugs, kisses and cuddles.

Posted in Encouragement

"In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:6

When I was little I wanted to grow up to be a geologist, an archaeologist, a missionary and a mommy. 

My oldest, Boo boo, wants to study sharks, be an inventor, and an astronaut.

Princess wants to be a cowgirl, a veterinarian and a mommy.

Peanut wants to be a donut maker.

The other two are to little to be thinking these big, possible dreams.

Even though I studied and went to school for the things "I wanted to be when I grow up," the Lord still directed my path. I am who He wants me to be. First, His daughter, then a wife, and then a mother. What a glorious life have when directed by the Lord.