How long has it been?

Well hello there, nonexistent readers!  I'm back!  Only what, 10 months since my last post, no big deal, right?  There has been A LOT happen in my world since that last blog post at new years.  My family has moved, not just to a different house but a whole different part of Texas, my husband and I of course, with the move have different jobs, and our kids are in a different school.  We went from suburban living in Lake Jackson with around 25-30 thousand population to rural living in Harper, TX in the Central Texas Hill Country with a population of about 1200 in our unincorporated community.  Its a whole different world for us, but it has been a pretty sweet change.  Life here seems to have slowed down a lot--which is a welcome change. 

I am now working Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.  Twelve-hour shifts, so there isn't much besides work on the weekends, but I have all week to do things at home, exercise, and take care of my family.  And though I never would have chosen to work weekend nights, its actually working out quite well.  At times I would like to have some days off with my family off too, but for the most part, this seems to work pretty well. 

During our process of moving, we saw God do some amazing things.  He worked out every detail of our move and made our path incredibly clear.  He provided jobs for both Craig and I in wonderful places, He provided what we needed to get our house ready to sell and He provided a buyer for our home in a week and a half.  He led us to the perfect home for our family and has worked out our scheduling in a new routine.  No, life isn't perfect and we still have our issues just like anyone else, but I will say, this move has been a very positive thing for our family and I think things are better for us than they have been in a very long time.  I cannot say enough how thankful I am for that. 

We do miss our friends and our church family in LJ, but the cool thing in this crazy world we live in is that the world does seem a little bit smaller than it used to, with the help of things like facebook.  Though I manage sometimes to get myself in trouble on there in one way or another, it has been really nice to keep up with so many who we love on there.  Its not the same as being together, but it does help.  And we think we may have our church home here figured out.  After several months of visiting all manner of churches, we think we have a place.  Really happy to have found that!

And I am finally taking the time to get exercise and feel good again.  We live in the hills now (as opposed to total flat land where we were) and running and biking tend to be a challenge with that being the case.  I am happy to say though, yesterday I managed to bike 27 miles (yay me!) and I have run a couple of times this week too.  Only 3 miles each time and with a few short walk breaks, but more than I have run in probably 2 years.  Gosh, it feels good!  I have been trying to make my exercise a priority and I feel so much better.  Sure hoping the scale starts to show it soon too!  Since turning 40, weight just seems to hang on really tight!

I will try to do better at keeping up with this thing.  Not that anyone reads it...but its fun to write and it helps me to keep some perspective too.  So, nonexistent readers....til next time!

Hello 2013!

Well, hello there, new year!  I love New Years time...new starts, fresh beginnings.  Not that you can't have that all the time, but there is something so "official" about the turn of a new year.  I have recommitted to getting healthy (for like the zillionth time) and am off to a decently good start.  I got myself a fitbit just before Christmas and it has been a lot of fun!  It keeps track of my steps, sleep, calories, etc. and I am having a lot of fun following it.  I think the biggest thing I have learned from it so far is that I am not as active as I thought I was.  I have hit 10,000 steps several days, but not like what I would think I might.  It has been cool!  I walk laps around the hospital at night sometimes if I am close, and then get in my 10,000.  It integrates with the My Fitness Pal ap and helps me keep track of calories in/out, etc.  I am such a geek.  I remember nursing my kids and being freaked out because I didn't have a gauge on my boob to measure the volume of milk they were getting.  I guess I am a number nerd without even realizing it.  I also got my bike on the trainer moved into the living room where I can play wii while I ride, which makes the time go super fast!  I am also still trying to stick to the Just for Women Weight Loss thing, which is more or less paleo.  I have had a few slip ups, but nothing too crazy.  I got a Wahoo Blue SC speed and cadence sensor for my bike  today, which will help me keep track of the speed/distance I ride inside, which is cool.  It was crazy trying to get it on, since you are supposed to take the pedal off to get one of the magnets on, but that was MUCH easier said than done!  I think I got it on okay with some zip ties though, so I am looking forward to trying it out tomorrow, hoping I don't kick the whole thing off or something! 

I think I have decided that at least for now, I have to cycle instead of much running.  Back in the fall (or maybe even late summer) we were out at the beach and I was racing with my kids--oh, maybe 100 yard dashes or some such little thing) and I don't know what I did to my foot, but ever since even a little bit of running makes me nearly unable to walk the next day.  Its on my left (I think) heel--like where the tendon attaches, maybe?  It is okay now, but even after a measly 30 minutes of slow intervals on the treadmill the other day, I was messed up for several days.  So, for now the cycling is feeling great, so I will keep that part of the routine for sure! 

Okay....guess that is all of the update for now.  I need to write a few book reviews and various other things on this blog...but tata for now!!!!