Facebook Friends-- Top 10 List

Ok...here is a total departure, but it's something that keeps making me laugh some, so I thought I'd write about it. This post is somewhat in the vein of the "Stuff Christians Like" blog by Jon Acuff, which I am a regular reader of...but, hey...it's fun, so why not?! So, without further adieu, here are the Top 10 types of Facebook Friends I have...maybe you have some like this too??

1. The Food Picture Poster: We all have that friend (heck, sometimes we ARE that friend) who posts endless pictures of their food. Sometimes its stuff they have cooked, so they can brag on how great of a cook they are, and sometimes its beautiful restarant food, so we can feel totally jealous we aren't eating there too. They will post pictures of a big roast chicken, browned to perfection...or maybe some ribs on a bbq pit, or a big hunk of chocolate cake. Sometimes its a pretty dessert with strawberries on it. These friends often also post check-ins at restarants and frequently have statuses about meals as well.

2. The old-picture person. I have a few friends that have pictures up on their facebook profiles that are at least 20 years old....and nothing recent at all. I guess this is supposed to make me feel bad for how badly I have aged, when they still look 20 years younger. Sometimes they will fess up to it being old when someone is like "Wow, you haven't aged a bit!" and sometimes they won't, but yea...its just funny.

3. The vague status poster: You know the one who likes to make you wonder what is going on, good or bad in their world. They are the statuses like "Sometimes, I just feel like I could..." or better yet just "I am______".....like, fill in your own blank and guess how they are. This can also be used for exciting times. Like a countdown for something that no one else knows about. Or prayers for something exciting to happen, but not actually saying what it is. Yea, I see a lot of those.

4. The person who posts mostly those cutesy little pictures and sayings: We all have a few of those. We steal their pictures too, because they are so darn cute and funny. Sometimes because they are thought-provoking and sentimental...naaah, nevermind...I would only steal the funny stuff!

5. The person you keep around as a friend just because they are a little bit of a freakshow! You know them, but really you probably wouldn't want to hang out, but its sorta fun to see neuroses on parade. Cmon, you all know we have those friends!

6. The person you really don't even like, but you keep them as a fb friend so you can just not like everything they post....Please don't tell me I am the only one this shallow! I do have a couple of folks on there that are simply for that reason. I am so wrong for this, I know..but sometimes it just makes you feel better...ok--even wronger.

7. That person you forgot was there because they only creep and never post, and then...you hear from your mom that your great aunt Bessie found out that you were at Wal-Mart at 11 pm because you posted it on facebook and why were you out so late...you know how it works!

8. The person from high school that was so cool, and you feel cool-by-association now that you are grown ups and friends too! I was never a cool kid...but facebook sometimes makes me feel like one now, since it is a place where I can actually hang out with the cool kids! Growing up can be a great thing!

9. The people you vaguely remember who they are but not really but since you have tons of mutual friends you accept because they are legit. Yep, that says it all. I have several of those. I mean, I think I remember who you are, but not really, and I am certain we never talked, but yea, I will be your friend.

10. The people you wish you'd have gotten to know now that you see how amazing they are through a window like facebook. I must admit, I have several friends like this from my past. People I knew who were nice people and all, but I never knew what a strength of character they have or realized how much I would admire them for the beautiful person they are inside, by God's grace....Facebook gives us a little window sometimes into a person's brain and their heart. We can see what someone's thoughts are, and you realize what a great person they are through that window. Those are really fun..the kind that make me want to seek that person out and hang out with them now.

Birthday Bike Ride!

I just realized I never did post about my birthday bike ride! We went to Liberty Hill, which is very near to my hometown, and I had signed up for the 44-mile version of the Spokes and Spurs Ride, which benefits a beautiful ranch up there, Spirit Reins Ranch, where they do equine therapy with children. Beautiful, beautiful area and a near perfect day for a bike ride! We had also gotten Craig his road bike not too long before, so he took it and he and the boys rode in the 6-mile family ride, while GG went and had an amazing girl-day with my mom. Anyhow....My kids did amazing. They were super proud after their 6 miles, and did a great job! My 44 mile for my 40th bday was super fun...but tough! First of all, I saw a friend from high school that I have kept up with on Facebook, but haven't seen since high school, over 20 years ago. He is all into running and triathloning and such and in great shape, so 40-year-old me was sort of embarrassed to show my fat self, but I was friendly and it was good to see an old friend. The day started out a little overcast and cool, but felt great. The first couple of miles weren't too bad, and then we hit some hills, which to locals up there who are used to riding them aren't so bad--but for someone who mostly rides in the flat swamp, it was tough! I was kicking in my Granny Gear within the first 5 miles on some of the hills, and was thinking to myself "Good Grief, how I am I gonna do THIS??" And sometimes I would kind of have to stop and tell myself it wasn't a race...not that I am fast...but I would feel like I had to hammer out and keep a certain pace, and really, I didn't need to. So, once I kept remembering it was for fun and just relaxed, it got a little easier and more fun. Well...for awhile! Just before the first rest stop at around 13ish miles or so, we came around a corner, and were looking pretty much straight up a wall of a hill with a sign at the bottom that said "Get ready to climb"...holy cow! They weren't lyin! I had to dig in and give it all I had to keep moving and almost fell before I was able to unclip and I had to walk up it the rest of the way. I always feel like a weenie when I have to walk, but this was killer! There was one other hill I had to get off and walk up later on, but I was able to ride to the tops of the rest of them. By the time we hit 30ish miles or so, it was getting out and out hot outside, and somewhere around 35, my phone started to lose charge, so I had to quit using my Cyclemeter, because my power button on my phone is broken--I am afraid if it turns off I will never get it to turn on again! so, the last 9 miles or so was kinda tough not knowing exactly where I was mileage-wise (oh, how spoiled we get!) but it was fun! I hit 40 miles and thought to myself that I could technically quit there if I wanted to, since it was for my 40th bday...but I kept on going and made it the whole 44, and it was awesome! I didn't feel great after that (headache, etc) but got over it later that night and had a great bday dinner with my mom and dad. My mom had made an amazing chocolate cake for me with chocolate cool-whip stuff inside it and I indulged freely since I had ridden so far. Gosh, it was good! The next morning I got to sit beside the San Gabriel River where we were staying and just sorta think and be thankful for the 40 years I have been given. I want so badly to get healthy so that I can have many more birthdays...not because I want some long glorious life, but because I want to see my kids grow up and know my grandkids, and I often pray that I might get to meet my great-grandkids. Kind of a bold prayer for a woman who didn't have kids until her 30s, but I pray it anyway. My God is big enough....and He is big enough to help me get smaller....Here's to an amazing 40 years! Thank You, Lord!

And...again!

Hey there, me myself and I! Well, here I am again...recommitting myself to getting this crazy weight off. How many times is this in the last year now? The last 10 years? I took some really nasty "before" pictures of myself (you know, iphone in the mirror pics) and they will never see the light of day unless I get to a point of having some "after" pictures. They are a great motivation though, because I sure am disgusting. I really have had it with this weight battle. I have tried to reel in the eating and have done pretty well for about a week now. I have successfully kicked the Diet DP habit, having only had 3 or 4 cokes in about 2-1/2 weeks. I went 2 weeks without, and then Craig got some free diet cokes at the kids' school festival to bring home, and so I did drink a couple of those the past few days, but overall, I have that part kicked. I am trying desperately to get back into running. I still think cycling is my favorite--there is still nothing quite as fun to me as sailing through some miles on my bike. But, I have seen a common thread among many I know and just those I have read about who have lost big--running, more often than not, plays a central role in the weight loss process. I have done it before, have done well at it before, so I believe I can again. Just takes a lot of discipline. I am trying to have some grace with myself and get back to it slowly, but consistently. The kids and I have been going out on walk/runs, which seem to work pretty well most of the time. Well, most of the time. Today was a bit of an exception. My boys were sticking really, really close to me, one of them in particular, and I could hardly move on the sidewalk. When he wasn't beside me (like, right beside me) he was trying to hang on my back or hold my hand. And let me tell you...there is no way--no stinkin way--this momma is EVER gonna turn down one of my kids who want to hold my hand. It may be sweaty and really tough to walk much less run, but I know there will be a day when they don't want to hold my hand, so I will never turn it down now. I love that they are wanting to be close, and I love getting to hang out with them. I just think between my allergies, lack of sleep, benadryl hangover, and just general pissy mood I was in that today's run was sorta rough. I fussed at them more than I should have, and I really want to work on not doing that so much. Anyhow, we are trying to get a routine of the walk/run stuff in the evenings before we eat dinner after school and then going longer on the weekends when we have more time. Time is the biggest problem for us right now. We only have about 2 hours between school pickup and my work leaving time, which cramps the time quite a big, especially when you add in cooking supper, sitting down to eat together, and kitchen cleanup, no matter how limited. But, we are trying! I am also trying to kick the sugar habit, and get my portions down. Haven't been terribly successful at either yet, but I have made small steps in the right direction, so I am hoping my small steps will add up to some results at some point! So there it is!

So much swirling in this little pea brain!

Well, first of all, you nonexistent readers you, I am VERY happy it is my Friday! I am sooooo sleepy! One week til I turn 40, and I am feeling every one of those years right now because I am so tired. Just a bunch of random t houghts swirling around my head I thought I'd spill out here. Please forgive the random non-cohesive nature of this post...well, I guess no one really looks at this anyway, so its probably all good :-)

On the food front: I made a spaghetti squash the other day and it was GOOD! The first time I made it, it wasn't so great, but this time around it was yummy! I probably went a little heavy-handed on the olive oil, but that could be part of what made it so good. I am thinking if I could get hooked on that, I might be able to lose weight after all! I have a buttload of seeds from it now I can plant...we may be eating LOTS of spaghetti squash if I can actually grow it! Speaking of which I planted all sorts of goodies last weekend: tomato plants, tomatillo, zucchini, lettuce, peppers, basil, cilantro. I still yet need to get the strawberries, kale, and cucumber into the ground, but baby steps! If even 70% of what I planted works, we ought to be so set on vegetables! If I can figure out how to post pics I will....but no promises, non-existent readers!

On the exercise front: I am officially in love with biking, I would say. I really, really am passionate about my bike and spending lots of time on it! Outside riding, is obviously my fave, but even the trainer beats most anything else. I need to parlay this passion into pounds gone! (is that alliteration or what?!) The latest bike misadventure happened on the trainer in my very own driveway yesterday. It was a beautiful day, perfect in fact, and I had done crockpot food so I had a little bit of time I could drag the bike to the driveway and ride out there while the kids played. It started out awesome enough......and after about 20 minutes POP and I see out of the corner of my eye a little piece of red flick off into the distance off to my right. Before I know it, my foot is flying out of my moving pedal and I realize that little red flying object was part of my cleat and the pop was it breaking off of my shoe. Good times. I use LOOK pedals and am forever chewing up cleats and having them break, on MS150 rides, or even just clompling around in them between my bedroom and the living room where the trainer is. I could probably buy another pair of shoes for what I have spent in cleats for these. They just break so easily being on the outside of the shoe. So, I am going to meet my husband tomorrow afternoon to go to the bike store and shop pedals and shoes. I am thinking of going with SPDs this time around. Not totally sure on that one, but I am contemplating it. It'd be nice to not clompity clomp so bad, but also nice to not forever be replacing cleats, since on SPDs they are more recessed into the cycling shoe. I don't really wanna spend the big bucks, but I have to figure something out before my ride next weekend back home. So, I guess we will see what I come up with. Any trip to the bike store is fun anyway!

On the random-I-don't-know-where-else-to-put-this front, we are going to see the Hunger Games on Saturday night at 10:15...WAHOOO!!!! Blew through all 3 books in about 48 hours, and I am super excited to se how the movie turns out. Got a babysitter and got tickets ordered...life. is. sweet!

And....on the serious-spiritual-type front: I am not sure what word to use here, but I am, I guess, convicted lately of how I need to be seeking wisdom as well as knowledge, and how much more of an understanding of truth I need to be living in this world we are in. It's an election year, and there are so many things in the news where the worldview of a disciple of Christ is under attack.....from Planned Parenthood, to homosexual stuff, to HHS bill about religious liberty, to the fight and advocacy for life, to so, so many other issues. Really, it is mindboggling. I listened to the audiobook by Andy Andrews How to Kill 11 million people, as well as Eric Metaxas's Bonhoeffer, and I am struck by how similar our world and the United States today is to Germany during the rise of Hitler. As disciples of Christ (I want so badly to say "Christians", but I listened to a super interesting podcast last night by Andy Stanley that addressed the proper vernacular of the aformentioned words....a matter of semantics: yes, but still one worth considering), but as disciples of Christ, we need to be ready...ready to defend the Truth of Scripture and ready to stand up for what is right. I read a lot and listen to a lot of good stuff, but I feel so woefully inadequate to be an effective soldier in the battle. I want to be able to engage lovingly, but also intelligently with those who don't agree with me and my worldview which is based in Scripture. I want to be able to debate the issues without a lot of ummmms and aaaahs and getting flustered. I want to know Truth so well that it is the most natural thing in the world for it to flow from who I am. I want to be so filled with the Holy Spirit that I can't help but spill over with all that He is. So I am praying for discipline to study and to try to be a worthy bearer of the blessing. My discipline for spending time in the Word really stinks the past few years. I don't know if my brain cells washed out with my placentas during childbirth or what, but there is definitely a difficulty focusing that I used to not have. I am also praying for wisdom. Solomon asked for it and it pleased the Lord. I pray He will be pleased with me also, and that I may become wise too.

Lord, help me to dream and to dream big. I am thankful for belonging to You, and I pray my life would reflect that gratefulness!

So...not much to say, I guess

I haven't written in a while, because there isn't a whole lot going on terribly exciting to write about at the moment. We were home on Spring Break this last week and just trying to get back in the groove. I began eating like I hadn't eaten in a year or so while we were in Wimberley last weekend, and pretty much kept it up for the rest of the week. I am trying to get back on track some now. One thing exciting was that I did cook and really enjoy a spaghetti squash today! Now that was good! If I could get myself hooked on something like that, I am thinking weight loss could actually happen...maybe?! Next weekend is my bike ride in Liberty Hill for my birthday, which I am super excited for. I have been riding some on the trainer and rode outside on Sunday afternoon and it was great. I really want to get consistent on my bike again....I do love it!

Well....I guess that's it for now. I still am struggling with what to write about. I am still struggling with getting consistent exercise. I am still struggling with spending time with the Lord consistently. I am still struggling with what I want to be when I grow up. I am still struggling thinking I will be fat forever.

Oh Lord, help me! I am crying out to You in my weakness. I sometimes don't even realize just how weak I am....help me to be obedient, and to know the hope I have in You!

What a day!

Well, yesterday was interesting. I have a feeling it still wont make the scale move, but I sure do feel good! I got home from work yesterday morning and rode my bike on the trainer for about 40 minutes, give or take a minute or two, and my phone rings. It is my husband, who is in Alvin (a 35-minute drive away) who lets me know he has my van key. We only have one key to the van, because we bought it used and it only had one, and it is a couple hundred dollars to get another made, since it is a fancy-schmancy electronic key. Anyhow, he had taken the kids to cub scouts the night before, so he had the key and he took it to Alvin. Grrreeeatttt..... So, the kids and I had to hop into high gear to get out the door so we could walk to school. I was kinda irritated at him over the whole thing, until we started walking and it was super nice outside. Mosquitos were bad, even with the one can off Off that wasn't locked up in the van sprayed all over us, but it still felt great outside. And to start/end (whatever a night shifter does at that time) the day with a walk felt awesome. I got the boys to school, had 3 offers for a ride before I got to my daughter's school with her, and then came back home. Figured out it was about 3.6 miles this morning altogether. But the day wasn't over yet! I got to sleep about 3-1/2 hours, and then got up and rollerbladed with the stroller to go pick up my girly at preschool...yep, only a goober like me would be rollerblading down the sidewalk through town pushing a stroller! My girly thought it was great fun, so it worked out well. We made the trip one way in about 10 minutes on the blades, which is about half the time of walking. So, she and I lay down for our little afternoon nap, like we always do, and I wait to hear from my husband if he can get out of work in time enough to come pick up the boys. As it turns out, he was a little late, so she and I got back up, got the stroller, and walked back to the elementary and got the boys. My husband met us about halfway home and we all got in the van. Well, as much as it kills me to spend money going out, I decided after this day, cooking was not going to happen....so we went out and I got a crazy good hamburger and onion rings--and I ate every last bite! I think I could have eaten a small-elephant! It was so ridiculous good...and I didn't feel bad about it, because it doesn't seem eating right is helping me much right now. Not that I'm going to go back or anything, but I just don't think an occasional treat like that will make much difference. So yea...total for today ends up being 42 minutes on the bike, 5 miles walked, and 2.2 miles rollerbladed. Other than being ridiculous tired, it sure was fun! I love how the Lord takes a big ol pile of crap and turns it into something beautiful....today ended up being beautiful!

Can I shoot my scale?

So, here I am, 2 weeks into eating well and exercising consistently, and whaddya know....the scale still hasn't moved! I would really love to take my scale outside and have target practice with it. Sorta like that dad did on youtube awhile back with his daughter's laptop. Seriously! What gives? I have always been able to lose weight. I have always known what to do. But now, its like I have been thrown a game changer and nothing that I used to do works anymore. It truly is frustrating, especially when you need to get about 100 pounds off. It starts to make me think maybe the eating right isn 't worth it. I mean, I know realistically that it is, but when you don't eat any sugars (other than some fruit here and there) and no chocolate and keep it all super healthy and the scale doesn't budge, it's awfully tempting to say it doesn't even matter and hit the cookies. Or ice cream. Or a ton of Cadbury cream eggs.

I am crying out to the Lord to help me. Honestly, I am at the end of myself, and I don't know what to do about this.