The Gated Community

Hey there, everyone...(yea right...ummmm....like ME!),
Here I am....it's been a few days, but I just don't have terribly much time to blog. But, I thought I'd write a quick one now before I go to bed.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to go to Houston to a really cool event; hence, the title "The Gated Community" because it happened to be in one of them! I chuckle myself everytime I say/write/think that, because there is a really funny little Veggie Tales Silly Song called "The Gated Community" (on the "Do the Moo-Shoo" DVD, for any Veggie fans!) and it cracks me up. Larry the Cucumber is a little boy with a ball that lands in a tree, and when his ball falls out of the tree, it lands in "The Gated Community" where it is "free of debris" and the little wealthy-golf-playing Veggies live in their "Gated Unity." It's just funny! The Veggies in the gated community are all dressed up in golf gear and have their little (as a friend of mine put it the other day) "horseshoe head" baldness with the hair on the sides and the back and they are just too, too funny....while Little Larry the Cucumber sits and wants his ball. Anyhow....enough diversion for now:

The event I got to go to was "An Evening with Dr. Chap Clark" who is a professor of Youth, Family, and Culture at Fuller Seminary, which is where I am working (very, very slowly mind you...but still working nontheless) on my Masters. It was at the Royal Oaks Country Club in Houston...like really--RIGHT IN Houston. It was a pretty fancy schmancy affair with beautiful food and tables and lots of people dressed up pretty cool and just a super nice place this was. Of course, I had lots of trouble finding just the right gate to actually get into the gated community, but once I finally found it, was quite impressed with the inside. It was truly cool. I saw a sign on the way in that said homes were from the 400,000's to over 3-million...which for our real estate market, is super pricey!! Anyhow, I met some really very, very nice people--some who actually live in the Gated Community! And though I felt very out of my element, it was still a really neat thing to go to. It wasn't what I thought it would be--a night about understanding the kids I minister to more; it was more of a rah-rah event for Fuller in Houston, but that's okay....it was exciting to feel like you are a part of something like that, so it was all good. Dr. Clark talked about John 4 and the Woman at the Well. He talked about how Jesus honored the woman...somehow, he honored her enough that she was willing to tell everyone all about him. It was a familiar passage, but he brought out some things I really hadn't thought about before, which is always refreshing...and as out of sorts as I was in that beautiful room with all the beautiful people and all--it is Christ Who died for each of us, and that lives for and within each of us. Thanks be to God for loving us, no matter who we are, and making us all the recipients of the greatest inheritance ever! What a cool thing! He honors us...and what a challenge that we would honor others in order to bring them to know Him.

In other news....well, there's lots of other stuff, but since I have to work at 6 am, I'll keep it brief. The weight is holding steady. Of course, that could have something to do with my insatiability for chocolate right now! Don't know what the deal is, and I haven't gone crazy, but I do need to reign myself in a bit. I did a pilates class at the gym today. That was cool...well, sort of! It's really not for fat people, I've decided! The instructor kept talking about "imagine you have a beach ball" like right in your belly area....ummm, excuse me....I don't have to imagine! There's a whole lot of me right there in the way of trying to do those crazy contortions she had us doing! I have to giggle when I do some of that stuff at how ridiculous this fat girl looks doing them! But, the instructor came up and talked to me some after the class and told me how impressed she was with how strong I am, because I was able to do a lot of stuff that people aren't normally able to do at their first class. That made me feel good. After that, I did 20 minutes on the elliptical, so it was a good workout day.

I work tomorrow the day shift and then I need to work on my sermon for next Sunday the 20th. I'm excited to get to preach....challenged, but that's part of the excitement. I better get some sleep now. Just wanted to catch up some! Gonna lay down my head in my non-gated community home now! Heehee!

Super Silly since '72!

Well, here I am, writing my birthday blog...albeit a few days late! On Saturday, March 29, I turned 36 years old. That sounds so different than 35 did, but not too awfully daunting, I guess. I have been meaning to write for a few days, as birthdays are a good time to sort of take inventory and to ask yourself, in the words of Switchfoot: "This is your life...are you who you want to be?" Hmmm....well, I don't know exactly how to answer that. I think maybe I am closer than I was a few months ago, but still worlds away from where I'd like to be, in so many ways. I am so glad I am working on getting healthier. I have had a hard time staying "good" with my eating, especially with my birthday and also with Lent being over...(ie, chocolate!) But, I am still slowly working my way down on the scale. I haven't really gained, so that's a plus. I am still hovering between like 217 and 222, around a 27-ish pound weight loss since the first of the year. I would much love to be farther along, but you have to live too, so at least I am still pretty much making forward progress....however slow it may be!

I am happy to be making progress financially...we have worked really hard and have made great progress in paying off and down debt...though we still have a heck of a long way to go...it feels good to be making progress.

I feel like I have the most wonderful kids in the world, and a girl couldn't ask for better friends--or job(s) for that matter! (especially the church job, but there are some pretty wonderful friends at the lab, so I can't dismiss that one out of hand!)

Marriage...eeeehhhh....lets not get into that one. Definitely one area where I'd check "need for improvement." Sleep? That one could be better too...I haven't been sleeping nearly enough lately, and I can tell.

My walk with Christ...I hunger and thirst for that to be more disciplined. Praise God for His faithfulness, even when we fall so short!

So, overall.....not too too bad, I guess!

My birthday itself was quite wonderful, if I do say so myself! I got a good night of sleep the night before and my first call of the day was a great conversation with my mom, who is super cool. We had a good visit, which I always enjoy. Then, we got the boys' bunk beds out of the garage and up to their room, cleaned up, set up and the rest of the room cleaned and set up. A big hit, and it made a lot more room too! Then, we took the kids to Chick-Fil-A, ,which was fun, especially with Sweet Potato the Clown! (who they are still talking about, by the way!) Then, I had a hard nap and my sweet friends Julie and John came over to watch the little ones for us so we could go out to eat....Cafe Annice, which was wonderful as always! And they met us at my SURPRISE PARTY at the church...well....I should say, as soon as we were out the door, they were hard at work to make this party happen....(especially since I wasn't exactly cooperating, unbeknowst to me!) which was a total surprise and shock...and which I happened to be quite late to, due to taking my own sweet time visiting and hanging out beforehand! It was absolutely beautiful and so much fun, just to hang out with so many of my friends...there is nothing I'd rather do, so it was truly a blessing!

I got my little Nike+ipod thingy for my birthday, which is SOOOO COOL! I'm hooked already, and can't wait to do more runs to try it out! I found out the San Antonio Marathon got bought out by the Rock-n-Roll marathon people, so I am seriously thinking of training for it! I had so much fun when I ran San Diego, I really think it'd be a good challenge to work toward. I also got asked to do a Sprint Triathlon in Austin in June....I think I"m going to try, ,although I'm a big weenie about the swim part!

Well, I better get some sleep now....this is my last chance to sleep really til Friday night, since I"ll be working the rest of the week! As the Veggie Tales would so...."Toodle Do!"

I LOVE to SWEAT!

Woohoo!!! Okay....can you tell ("you", like anyone reads this thing! Haha!) I just got back from a run?! Yep...I'm sweaty head to toe and I love it! There is nothing like a good workout...a run, in my case...to make you feel like you accomplished something. Woohoo! I so didn't want to go because I am so stinking tired. But, as I knew I would be, I am so happy I drug myself out there to run. The scale is hovering between about 218 and 221 right now, so I'm looking for consistently being under 220 as my next little mini-milestone. I've been behaving, so I am thinking it'll happen soon, at least I hope so!

" I run in the path of your commands,for you have set my heart free." Psalm 119:32 I saw this verse in a signature line on a forum post about running....so, yes...I am admitting to blatantly stealing the verse for the same purpose! What a great one! I know I've read it, but seeing it on it's own like that is sorta cool. I'm not generally a big fan of taking things (especially scripture) out of context, but that was pretty cool. So, yea, I am trying to run in the path of His commands. I think I probalby fail far more at it than not, but Praise Him for never, ever giving up on me! He has set my heart free....I pray I will not walk, but RUN in that freedom!!

what a weekend!

Well, I'm back from a fun and exhausting weekend at Camp Cho Yeh with my youth. It was a lot of fun....for lots of reasons; the main one being that I simply got to hang out with the kids and have fun with them. I really enjoyed that. Bonding like what we got to do helps encourage me that I am building relationships and that feels so good. It's a step in the right direction toward the wider goal of helping these kids truly become disciples. What could be better than that? The theme for the weekend was "Hope is in our midst." It was a great message and I know the kids got a lot out of it....and it was a very appropriate message for myself as well. I can remember many years ago being in a situation that felt sorta hopeless....okay, it was after having my heart broken worse than it had ever been broken, up to that point in my life. I remember really finding and focusing on the concept of "hope." Seems too, that I remember writing in my journal something about how I never really understood the concept of hope until I didn't have any.

Well, I've got a lot of great things going on right now, but there are also some things that don't seem as filled with hope as I wish they did. I was reminded this weekend that hope IS in our midst...all the time, because the Lord is with us, and He is our hope. I must remember that!

I truly want to spend more time praying or in the Word, too. I am hungry to sit at the Lord's feet. How I hope for a quiet, peaceful time to sit at His feet soon.

In weight loss news: Don't know where the scale is standing now, but I feel much better than I did. I ran around all over camp this weekend and the portion sizes on meals were quite small. So, I am thinking I did pretty good. (not counting the Sonic I got tonight for dinner....I didn't really feel like cooking after I got home, so we went to Sonic with some gift cards we had been given and I ate a chicken strip basket. Not good, but I am thinking the weekend probably more than compensated for it.

I missed my sweet babies while I was gone. It was good to be back with them!!

Well, tomorrow starts..what is it? week 8 or 9 I guess of my M-F workouts and eating better. I'm looking forward to it and hoping I will do okay!!!

There's nothing like a run outside when it's cold!!!

Aaaahhhhh...yes, you can tell I've been running! It's about 50 degrees here and perfect weather for running! I didn't get to go earlier to the gym as Missy G still is a little sick and I worked a night shift last night and got off of work at 6 am...soooo, I went out running tonight in our neighborhood and it was darn near perfect outside! I took just a short walk break once, I think, and I ran the rest of it. A total of about 2.25 miles. The stars were beautiful, the night peaceful..really, really wonderful! Then to come inside and start sweating was pure joy!!! (yes, I'm a sicko, I admit it!) I think there is nothing like a good butt-kicking sweat-fest to cope with the stresses of life...well, you know....after prayer and all!! I think movement must be one of the greatest gifts the Lord gave us.

I do have a crazy idea...I really would love to run a marathon again someday. I wonder if there are any other nutcases out there like me who stay up way too late and would want to train for a marathon? I know of one friend who might would be game....I am thinking how cool it would be to have a "midnight marathoners" group. Do all your normal short runs on our own and then get together for a long run each week....but instead of getting up early to go like most people with sense would do, go at like 11 or 12 for a long run. It wouldn't be too hot, not much traffic out, and you wouldn't conflict with other stuff going on. Just a crazy thought I had!

Need sleep now!! Working on only about 3 hours for the last 2 days! Nighty night!

Down a couple more!

Woohoo....I am down under 225, headed for the 2-teens now. It seems I was stuck at that 227ish area for a few weeks, but things are moving again, and I am so thankful for it. I am now weighing in consistently between 221 and 224....next mark, to be consistently below 220. My birthday is at the end of March, and how wonderful it would be to be in the 2-0's by then.

I've now completed 6 full weeks (plus 1 day so far) of working out EVERY M-F without fail. It feels sooooo good, and I am not only feeling better physically, but emotionally too. Exercise is sooooo good for the mental health! I think I forgot how much I loved getting my blood pumping and my muscles moving.

I am also 3 weeks no chocolate. That's a real big deal for me. I'm not missing it too, too much, really. Just if things get a little stressful. Like this past weekend. I had an awful lot going on with the youth potato luncheon at church that I pretty much have to pull together and working the other job (2 night shifts last week) my 5th and 6th grade youth group Friday night, etc. Oh, and my baby girl was sick Saturday night with vomiting and stuff, which I don't do very well! By the time Sunday got here and I was working on like about 6 hours of sleep for the entire week and everything going on, I was REALLY feeling the need for some chocolate!! I made it though, and even though it was all around me, the Lord helped me to keep the commitment to stay away from it--and it felt like a little victory, which is a cool feeling!

Yesterday I didn't get to go to the gym because of the lingering effects of Missy G's little stomach bug (ie, diarrhea) but my good friend and I went walking last night late and so I still got in some exercise. We walk pretty fast and last night I think we went around 4-1/2 miles....a little over an hour of walking. It felt great, and really therapeutic. My husband was having a very difficult time last night (okay, when is he not?) especially difficult, with some major problems and stuff going down at work. I have been so frustrated with him, so it took all I had to try and walk the line between compassion and telling hard truth. It was really wearing me out. Well, by the time my friend and I had walked, things were feeling a lot better. It is good for the mind as well as the body! We'd go around the 3/4-mile block in our neighborhood and get back to my house and be like "we aren't done talking yet...let's go another!) and by the time we finished, it was nearly midnight and 6 laps later! She's been through quite a lot herself lately, so I think it was good for both of us. Praise God for the gift of wonderful, precious friends!! I have a lot of things that I am less than pleased with in my life.....but my cup overflows with blessings from my friends...who are really like family. My kids are pretty darn wonderful too!

2-teens, here I come! (never thought I'd be so excited to say that!)
Later, gators!

Two-a-day!

I feel great tonight...had my first "two-a-day" workout today...I went to the gym this morning and ran on the treadmill for 35 minutes (with a walk break or two, of course) and then tonight a friend came over after I had my kids were in bed and she and I got to take a 3-mile walk. It felt soooo great! The weather is sorta cool and it's pretty much perfect for going out and walking. It felt so, so good, and it's so nice to walk with a good friend and get to visit and catch up.

And, I hopefully worked off most of my supper! Can't beat that! We are gonna try to go again tomorrow night, and I'll go to the gym in the morning, so hopefully tomorrow will be another 2-a-day. I have to work overnight Wed and Thurs, so all I'll get in those days is my morning at the gym workout...but hey, I'll take the late night walk whenever I can get it! I'm feeling good! Woohoo!