It's Kind of a Big Deal

Wow!  It has been wayyyyyyyyy tooooooooo long since I last posted.  I think it is time for an update.  The kids are doing well. Chloe turned three, Sara is five and Mya turns seven tomorrow.  She is so excited to be a birthday girl for the day.  Birthdays are fun at this age because they get so excited about presents and celebrating their special day.  And of course I get excited to give them their presents.  Tomorrow will be fun.  Mya asked me tonight before she went to bed if she would have to do school tomorrow since it is her birthday.  I might cut her a break just a little bit.  But I told her she still had to do some school work.  Homeschooling is going well.  It is a tough job.  But I have learned how to embrace the fact that each day is new for us.  Each day we are given grace and that is a wonderful blessing.

Dan flies to Oklahoma on Thursday to meet with a company that could be a potential job change happening in the near future.  We are very excited and feel the Lord leading this direction.  We will know more when he gets back on Friday night.  Neither of us have flown in an airplane since our honeymoon more than 9 years ago so I am excited for him to go on a trip. 

So it was "kind of a big deal" that I ran a race yesterday and beat my personal record by 12 minutes!  Dan and I spent the weekend in Columbus with a couple from our Sunday School class.  We had such a good time together eating great food and having nice adult conversation.  We even had time to sit in the hot tub at the hotel for a while.  Dan and I enjoyed sleeping in a king size bed with no children pushing us out of bed.  On Sunday we all woke up around 5:30 am to prepare for a 7:30 race.  We stayed near the Columbus airport so we had to commute to downtown Columbus for the race.  With nearly 18,000 participants for the half and full marathon, we had to leave early to find a parking spot.  None of us were prepared for the cold weather.  I thought I would be fine with a sweatshirt and gloves, but I made a mistake by not bringing sweatpants to wear before the race started.  My legs were freezing and we had to stand in the cold weather for an hour.  I was thankful to have a tall husband with a warm body to keep me semi-warm.  But I still shivered for that hour. 

We were running the race for a dear friend in our town who has a daughter with special needs.  She was a sponsored child at mile 15 and so many people from the Ashland community ran for this sweet girl.  I know it was an emotional run for many.  Even though we only did the half marathon, it felt great to know that I was running my heart out for her. 

The start of the race was awesome.  There was a live band and then fireworks.  And then the gun went off and we waited and waited before we got to the start line.  The size of the corrals were outstanding.  People were side by side and trying to find their way to the start line.  And finally we made it.....I started my watch and was off with a great pace.  A few miles into the race I had to go pee.  That is not a good thing, but I was so determined to get a certain time that I refused to stop at the porta potty to go to the bathroom.  I was not going to waste any time.  It was quite a mental game to keep myself going at the pace I wanted to and not focusing on needing to go to the bathroom.  So I held it and somewhere around mile 8 or 9 I forgot about needing to go.  Then around mile 10 I found my pace guy for a 1:40 pace and stuck with him until mile 11.  He coached me on how to break the 1:40 time, I took his advice, and ran as fast as I could for the last couple miles.  And I crossed the finish line at 1:38.  I never imagined I would get a time like that....ever in my life!  It was "kind of a big deal." I placed ninth out of over 900 women in my age group.  I crossed the finish line and needed to hug someone so bad....I kind of felt like crying.  But I couldn't find anyone I knew so I held in my tears and waited for Dan to cross.  Finally I found him and got my hug.  I just felt proud.  At that moment I was so grateful for having healthy legs and healthy lungs and the mental strength to push through those tough moments.  I was proud of myself.  It seems like it is a feeling that we don't experience often enough.  God gave me the opportunity to do well and run for Him.  I did it!

 

Breakfast

When I was a public school teacher, I hated eating breakfast.  Most mornings I would just skip that meal.  I didn't like to take the time to eat it and nothing sounded good in the morning.  My diet was completely different then.  Now I rejoice in the value of breakfast and how much our bodies need it.  We need to get our metabolism going for the day and breakfast is a way to do that.  So this past year I have worked hard at finding ways to eat healthy in the morning.  I used to just sit down and eat a bowl of cereal.  But after researching the ingredients in most cereals, I knew I had to find alternatives. 

Here are some new ideas for a healthy breakfast:

• A bowl of oatmeal with add ins (raisins, maple syrup, fresh fruit, honey)
• Green smoothie
• Hot pink smoothie (see recipe below)
• Scrambled eggs with spinach or other veggies
• Toast.....bread made from whole grains (I eat Ezekiel bread because it is live sprouts)
• Green smoothie bowl (use frozen bananas to make it thick) with granola and fruit on top
• Greek yogurt with granola and fruit
• Fruit smoothie with ground oats and chia seeds
• Grapefruit

Hot Pink Smoothie Recipe

1 cup water or coconut water
8 frozen strawberries
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/4 raw beet
1 whole carrot
2 tsp vanilla
6 dates

Blend and enjoy!

Juggling Act

So many times in the last few weeks I have wanted to sit down and blog.  I have had great ideas and thoughts to share, but time would get away from me.  I am juggling a bit much lately and waiting/hoping for it to slow down and settle soon.  From training for a half marathon to running the oil business to mentoring high school students and most importantly home schooling I find myself overwhelmed right now.  However, as September progresses I know that I will feel relief from all of these projects.  Home schooling simply takes a lot of time and I am trying to settle into a new schedule.  I have to meal plan and grocery shop at different times then I am used to.  Things have to be rearranged and I am exhausted when evening comes.  I VERY much look forward to 4:30 when Dan walks in the door from work.  It is great to have that extra hand for the evening.  Because I am a scheduled person who likes things to work like a well oiled machine....I find that I am in a readjustment phase of my life with all the new things going on.  So as I learn to juggle it all, I find that I am clinging to the life lines that God has provided for me....family support, quiet times, snuggles from the girls, relationships and physical exercise.  Somehow I wake up each morning with energy and a love for the life I have. And my cup of hot green tea each morning helps get me going too.

Last week I had a birthday....number 37!  I had some difficulty knowing that this birthday put me that much closer to 40.  I take a step back sometimes and can't believe how quickly my life has gone.  I remember in high school thinking life went so slow.  Now it is going too fast.  My birthday this year was wonderful.  Dan took me out to dinner and gave me cash to spend at the mall.  I can't remember the last time that I bought something at the mall.  It was quite a treat.  We had a great evening together and I had my favorite sandwich at Panera for dinner...mozzarella and tomato sandwich.  On my actual birthday I woke up to Dan whispering "Happy Birthday" in my ear before he left for work.  And he brought our oldest daughter into the room so she could snuggle with me before the other kids woke up.  At dinner time Dan brought home a birthday cake and a movie for us all to watch.  It was just a very pleasant day.  And...I had to get a new driver's license and my picture came out really good.  That made my day.  I don't usually like pictures of myself, but I have to admit that I was pleased.  My hair was all in the right place and I didn't close my eyes, which is quite common when people take pictures of me.

So this week I pray that I intentionally have time with the Lord and make myself rest when I am tired.  I pray that I can get up at 6 am for my morning runs...without complaining.  And I pray that I can have patience and a love for teaching with my girls during the day.  One of the hardest things about home schooling has been researching to prepare for lessons and coming up on blogs that other home schooling moms have.  First of all, I wonder when they have the time to blog about home schooling and then I wonder how they get everything done that they write about.  I constantly had to battle the comparison game with those other moms.  But it really comes down to loving and appreciating what is going on in my home.  It is about what God is doing in our home.  It is about the richness of life that my kids are experiencing.  It is about us and not about them.  The comparison trap is an ugly one.  It is not necessary.  If you look at scripture in the bible you will find that God does not compare any of us.  He wants us to fulfill the great commission...not wish to be someone else.  I am reminded of that constantly and find myself loving what we have and what we do when I leave others out of it.  I have been blessed beyond all measure and have a peace that "surpasses all understanding."  Isn't that enough?  Yep!

Plant Based Dish

I am trying to add in more plant based foods for dinner.  This one we tried last night and it was very good.  I thought I would share!

Avocado Brown Rice

3 C water
1 1/2 C brown rice, rinsed well
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper
1/4 tsp. turmeric
2 bay leaves
1 C green beans, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
1 C carrots, chopped
1 C celery, chopped

Bring the water to a boil, add all the other ingredients, and stir well.  Cover, reduce to medium-low heat, and cook for 45 minutes.  Serve topped with cold avocado sauce (below).

Avocado Sauce

3 ripe avocados
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
2 tsp. Dijon mustard

Mash avocados by hand in a small bowl.  Add all the other ingredients and mix well.

Official Business

Getting a business card seemed to be the final step to say that "I am in!" for the long run with my oil and green smoothie business.  I was very excited to get these the other day.  I am really enjoying the oil business because for me it means meeting with women one on one and hearing their stories and helping them achieve health with their families.  It means researching and constantly learning about nutrition and oils.  It means teaching classes, which I love to do.  And it means making and feeding a green smoothie to anyone who walks through my door for a play date.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the contacts that I have made thus far. 

Yesterday with the second day of home schooling.  And another beautiful day it was!  Again, I KNOW that most days will not go so smooth.  But I am amazed at how excited I am to walk alongside each child as they learn to read and write.  And they know they have my full attention for the entire day.  I won't answer my phone until I have a break and I won't check my email until lunch time.  They know they have me and I think that makes them feel secure and happy.  On the first day of schooling Dan called about three times that day to check in with all of us.  It was wonderful to know that he was thinking about us all day long.  Now, when I write my first negative blog entry about how exhausted I am from home schooling....someone please remind me what it felt like during the first week of schooling!

First Day of School

Today I started home schooling.  It was amazing!  I am very realistic in knowing that most days will not go so well, but it was encouraging to start the first day so beautifully.  I thought the day was going to be tough because I slept through my alarm and missed my chance to run before Dan left for work.  Which meant that I missed my devotion/quiet time too.  But I pulled off a good attitude for the girls and started the day with a smile for them.  After the girls finished their morning routine (i.e. breakfast, making beds, getting dressed, etc.), I started the day with their memory verse and a bible lesson and a journal entry.  Then I split them up for the morning....one worked with me while the other entertained Chloe....and vice verse. Around 11:30 we did a Wal-Mart trip and returned home to a fun lunch.  We made tortilla wraps, which the girls loved because they put the ingredients on themselves in any order they wanted.  After lunch I put Chloe down for her nap and spent the next two hours working with each child one on one on more subjects.  Their stamina will certainly have to improve, but overall they had good attitudes about schooling at home.  I was amazed at how awesome it was for me to begin the process of observing learning styles and strengths and weaknesses with academics.  We ended the day with Mya making us healthy banana bread (she did it on her own using the blender).  When Dan got home we played outside with the kids and they got into a water fight with the hose.  I just stood back in amazement while watching them laugh and "just plain have fun!"

And the best part of all....Chloe has potty trained herself in two days flat!  Well, maybe not 100% potty trained all the way, but just about there.  She is even staying dry during her nap.  She might be a challenging kid when it comes to energy level and behaviors at this age, but in this area she is a rock star!

While schooling I am reminded of a verse that I memorized last week (I am up to 4 verses in my memory bank now...yeah!).  I know that I will refer to this verse time and time again when I am have tougher days with the girls.  But while I am home with them, I have so many opportunities to share God's word with them.  Just today on the way to Wal-Mart, Mya and Sara figured out what an earthly father and a heavenly father are.  They made that distinction and that was a cool conversation.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7
"These words which I have commanded you this day shall be upon your heart.  Teach them diligently to your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and when you rise."

I Have A Dream

I left for college at Bowling Green State University in the Fall of 1995 and I remember the day very clearly when my mom and dad dropped me off at my dorm room.  I remember saying goodbye.  I remember feeling like I was going to conquer the world.  My dorm room experience didn't work out so well, but luckily I had decided to rush a sorority.  I found the sorority that I liked and met a dear friend, named Julie, who was a senior and a believer.  Her roommate in the sorority house had moved out so I was able to move in as a freshmen.  God sure had his hand in the timing of all of that.  If you know me well you would probably wonder why I was in a sorority.  It doesn't seem to be my thing, but once again, God had some awesome plans laid out for me. He knew I needed the sorority to build my confidence, encourage leadership skills, share my faith and introduce me to life long friends.  While living in the sorority house I experienced some tough feelings that challenged me as a person.  I had left a small church community and was quite sheltered.  My eyes were opened while living on campus.  I was trying to find my way as an individual and as a girl with a faith.  How did that all fit together in my new world?  I felt isolated at times because I felt like I was different.  I was insecure and was trying to figure all that out while living away from home. And thankfully, I met some of the most amazing women while living in the sorority house.  They lived life with me and taught me the value of "true friends." And today they are my forever friends.

Back in January we received an email from one of those dear college friends (my roommate for many years) and this is what it said...."I have a dream.  I have a dream to one day have all my college friends together for a weekend away."  Then she proceeded to share her plans on how we would do that.  She had the cabin chosen and the month that it might take place.  So we all emailed back and forth for a while and finally chose a weekend in August.  Well, the dream was just fulfilled this weekend.  And it was amazing.  After almost thirteen years of not seeing each other, we reunited.  Let me just say, as I begin to tell this story, that there was NEVER a lull in conversation from Friday night to Sunday morning.

We all arrived Friday evening.  I left around 4:00 and was supposed to arrive around 5:30.  I took the back roads, but missed my turn off at some point and ended up in the wrong location.  I had written down the directions and left the IPad at home so I didn't have a GPS in the car with me.  That was a big mistake for someone like me.  If I am not with Dan then I typically get lost.  I had to call my friend's husband to get me back on the right road.  Finally, around 6:30 I made it.  I only went an hour out of my way.  Three of my college buddies were already there so I was welcomed with warm, loving hugs.  I felt like we had never been apart for all of those years.  Later that evening the final two arrived and we were giddy and excited and talking very fast until about 3 in the morning.  We finally gave in and went to bed.  I volunteered to sleep on the hide a way bed which was hilarious.  When we pulled it out and I laid down, the middle of it sagged down real deep.  It felt like I was sleeping in a mattress with a hole in the middle.  I didn't need to roll over at night because I couldn't.  It was hilarious.

The morning came and I guess a few of my sweet friends are morning people.  They were awake nice and early chatting away in the living room.  Some of us lingered in bed for a bit and then got up for the day.  Since I am on a half marathon training schedule I had to get my runs done in the morning.  So after a few hours of sleep I left to run 6 miles.  Two other girls joined me for a part of the run and I enjoyed that part the most.  When I returned I made green smoothies for everyone.  I think they liked them!  We spent Saturday surviving from sleep deprivation.  When we were in college it wasn't such a big deal.  I guess we have to face the fact that we are a little bit older now.  And a little tired already from having young children.  But we pulled it together and had constant conversation, which helped us all stay alert.  We had a wonderful lunch and then had ice cream.  When we went back to the cabin around dinner time we decided to hike a trail.  What could have been a very pleasant hike turned into a muddy walk with mosquitoes swarming in our faces.  The trail went on and on and we had no idea where we would end up (maybe because we left the map back at the cabin).  So we decided to turn around and retrace our steps to go back home.  We made it back safe and settled in for an evening of games and more conversation.  The evening might have consisted of eating lots of snacks, talking, playing games, talking, push up contests, talking, funny stories about our abdominal muscles separating during pregnancy, talking, someone peeing her pants, talking, a bottle of wine splattering on the kitchen floor, talking and eventually going to bed for the night.  Sunday we left after lunch and were on our way back to our homes.  We already decided that this will be an annual event at the end of the summer.  I have not laughed this much in a very long time.  It was good for the soul.  Dreams do come true!

Friends reunited.....

College roommates reunited....

Setting out for our hike....

Random jumps in the middle of the road....

Hiking....

Talking on our phones while hiking....

Taking a break from hiking....

The snack table....

Late night push ups.....

And old photos I dug up from college...

Thanks Kim for having a dream!!!