tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38259579189334542022024-03-13T13:35:54.379-07:00Stokes-mania......the musings of Momma Stokes on life, love, and lessons learned from all the Stokes of the Basement.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-25791590070017970032020-02-26T07:37:00.001-08:002020-02-26T07:37:18.112-08:00Nothing new...still the worst blogger ever!The last post was a week before Little Man's 1st birthday and this one is two days after his second. If I'm going to do this, I really need to make more of an effort, yes?<br />
<br />
So what's behind this latest "I must start blogging again" surge of interest? One of my friends just started up a blog (daydreamingdarci.blogspot.com if you are interested) and it kinda made me think how much I like to look back on my old posts. My memory is pretty spotty (hence the cruddy blogging schedule) so some of these posts remind me of times gone by that I wouldn't have remembered otherwise.<br />
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One of my daughters was awarded a Fulbright grant and is teaching in Honduras for 10 months. She's blogging about her experience (lorenmstokes.wixsite.com) so why shouldn't dear old mom? But then, what does dear old mom have to say?<br />
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Last post last year was about us joining our new church. A year later and we are praying over a return to Bethel. Our hearts want to be at Bethel, both for the friends and family we have there and for the sense of belonging and purpose we have there that we don't have at our new church. But what does God want for us? We're trying not to turn our decision into a pro and con thing (cuz of that whole His ways are not our ways thing) but into a prayer thing. We've been gone from services at the new church for a whole month. K. told Bethel leadership that he'd help them out by leading worship for three weeks to give them the time they needed to look around for a new worship leader (they recently asked their senior pastor to step down and the worship/youth pastor chose to follow). Then this past Sunday we went on a weekend cruise with the Flanagans. In our talks about the situation with each other, we've given a deadline of sorts for this coming Sunday to be the Sunday we make our decision. We're hoping that going back to our current church after some time away, that when we worship together with the current church family, we'll have some kind of knowing of what we need to do. Right now, K has stepped down from playing piano with the worship team to lessen the pressure and load on his plate so that he can pray with a clear mind over it and not with the frustrations that come from being a leader and experienced instrumentalist trying to fit into the paradigm that have been set by the worship leader and pastor at our current church.<br />
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Probably enough babbling for now. I wonder when next we'll meet!Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-9415930394373479572019-02-15T07:33:00.001-08:002020-02-26T07:20:02.497-08:00Worst blogger...everHow in the world am I supposed to have a record of my life in blog when I apparently am the worst blogger ever?<br />
<br />
Anyhow, big news for us: we joined a new church. That poor pastor had to watch me completely lose it during service. He knew I was having a hard time leaving Bethel and I'd blubbered on him weeks before over this fact. He also knew that we'd made our decision to join the church and he was going to call us up after the sermon to announce it to the church and have us remake our confession of faith. But then I got a text from Meg. One of the little ones at Bethel asked where I was. I don't know why that struck me so hard, but it did. I know in my mind that even if we went back to Bethel, that things would never be the same (not that they were wonderful, mind you). But my heart aches for the things I've lost: being with those specific kids, seeing G. after church running around with her friends, checking in on our senior saints, worshipping not just with my friends but with people I truly consider family, singing with F., knowing that what I did during the week made a difference to the environment people worshipped in. Plus I miss being a pastor's wife. Isn't that silly? But I miss feeling like I "belonged."<br />
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It probably didn't help that the Saturday before was RH's funeral and I was there at Bethel making sure tissues were available and things were ready. I was a go-to person to ask questions and making decisions on things. Then Sunday I was just me. A nobody that made no difference to anyone and back to just being a number in the weekly count. I don't like that feeling. Makes me think, though, if I'm not enough just being me...than I probably was never enough with the other things.<br />
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Geez. That's deep.<br />
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In other news, Baby Boy turns one in a week and change! He is the most adorable and smartest baby ever. I need to plan more baby time. I've put a lot of money in that stupid Happy Planner. I need to use it! Dad-blast it!Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-66996558894137165922018-09-04T16:23:00.002-07:002018-09-04T16:23:40.637-07:00We had an Ark EncounterLabor Day weekend was this past weekend so about a month ago when we were looking ahead at the calendar (if you know us, you know what a complete SHOCK this is) Hubby thought we should go to Maggie Valley. Why? Because some people he knew went and said how much they loved it. I was ambivalent. We'd had the same "I love that place/it's my favorite city" reaction from people when we went to New Orleans a couple years ago and we were less than impressed. Different strokes for different folks (or Stokes, as it were). Anyhow, my brain kicked in and I realized that Kenny's birthday was just a couple days after Labor Day so we ought to go someplace he REALLY wanted to go: the Ark Encounter in Williamstown, KY. So Friday we packed up the car and we moved to Beverly...well, we packed up the car and drove to Kentucky, actually. I really watch too much TV.<br />
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Saturday found us driving up to the gates and parking about a mile away from the Ark. When you think life-size ark, you really have no clue. Even a mile away, that thing looked massive.<br />
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So we get on the Ark-tram and it takes us to the ark.<br />
Dang. That's really all I can say!<br />
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Once inside, you forget that you are in a replicated boat. It just feels like a building. But there are a lot of displays and videos and such throughout. We could have spent more time there but...Labor Day=people. And people? Don't got much sense. We found out later that there were 6000 others at the Ark with us. The bulk of them acted like that they were completely unaware that there were other people in the room and would stop suddenly, wander around, and/or change direction all without looking first. It was bizarre and it was a lot to deal with CONSTANTLY. We'd lose one group and then find ourselves in the midst of another.<br />
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Anyhow, our feet felt like we walked the walk and after driving up from Georgia the day before my body did, too. We went to the 4D theater thinking that might give us some time to refresh and regroup, but, no. We decided to call it a day but before we left the grounds I took a picture of Hubby standing in front of the ark to give some perspective. H-U-G-E. How Noah and his sons built that is beyond the scope of my mind.<br />
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So, we got some lunch and went back to the hotel where I took a needed nap and Hubby watched the Bulldogs.<br />
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The next day we headed down the interstate and checked out the Creation Museum (also from the Answers in Genesis people). Again, it was insanely beautiful and well-done and also packed full of people who had not practiced their company manners in awhile.<br />
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I'd love to go back to both places when we have more time (and there were less people to contend with). The Ark Encounter has plans for additions to their campus that I'm interested in seeing the results of. We saw a huge amphitheater that was going up and some of the other plans.<br />
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Definitely would like a do-over. BUT I'm glad we went. It was fun to be able to jump in the car and go somewhere (thanks to Meg being able to watch the fur-babies). For most of our married life there were always kid or church (or kid and church) obligations. We'd watch others take off on adventures while we held down the fort. So now we're taking advantage of this time in our lives to have a few of our own!<br />
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<br />Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-77038623429798672122018-09-03T14:16:00.001-07:002018-09-04T16:25:06.756-07:00Catching up...againWelcome to 2018, blog-o-mine! In my head, it's been a few short months since I checked in, but cream of cheddar, it's actually been three years! What the heck? So...quick update:<br />
<br />
K3...Kenny graduated from Point University with a degree in Music-production emphasis married a beautiful, funny, smart young lady named Shaniqua. They have the most adorable 6-month old baby and live nearby. Kenny works as a video production technician and Shaniqua is an attendance secretary.<br />
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Lorie...Lorie graduated from American University with a dual major in International Studies and Economics. She lives in DC and works for a nonprofit.<br />
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Meagan...Meg was accepted into a nursing program at one of our state universities. She recently became engaged to her Prince Charming. They are looking at a fall 2020 wedding.<br />
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Johanna...JoJo spent two months this summer interning with Mision Caribe in Honduras. She is now in Ecuador for a semester abroad. She is working on a dual major in International Relations and Spanish. She'll begin her senior year next semester thanks to good AP scores and Dual Enrollment classes.<br />
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Hubby...Ken is working on his second master's degree. This one is in IT through the University of Liverpool.<br />
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Me...I'm not doing much of anything. How sad. I've got no children at home (with the exception of Meg on weekends), no studies, no volunteer work, and no church family, but I feel like I'm busier than ever. How'd that happen? Dang. Gotta work on that.<br />
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Maybe, just maybe I can use this blog to work that out.<br />
<br />
PS...in case you are wondering. No, I'm not still eating the Daniel Plan way and yes, I'm getting as big as a house, thank you very much and no, not going to do the Daniel Plan again.Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-46922616764555522372015-01-23T07:13:00.002-08:002015-01-23T07:13:47.187-08:00Daniel Plan TTTC...Day 3 and Day 4
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The turkey meatloaf on day 2 was not bad. Forgot when I menu
planned about the bread I usually put in meatloaf. So I guess technically I
actually made flavored meat and not meatloaf. We made broccoli and cauliflower
as sides. Meg and I took a quick 1-mile walk in the neighborhood. Go us.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 3</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday I stayed in bed 15 minutes longer than I should
have and paid greatly for that poor choice. Dinner yesterday beef stew (I'm used
the purple potatoes...nothing like spooning up gray potatoes!!!) that I put in
the crockpot since it was Daniel Plan night and I wanted to workout after work.
The girls had also had about enough with the breakfast smoothies so I’d told
them I'd make eggs and bacon. I put the turkey bacon in the oven while I
started chopping vegetables. So there I am in the kitchen, checking out the
clock, chopping vegetables, keeping one eye on the turkey bacon in the oven and
realizing that I still need to pack my gym clothes AND my lunch and that there
is no time to make eggs. I'm about to start in on a MAJOR pity party when Meg
stumbled into the kitchen and said, "Bacon!" grabbed a piece and then
stumbled into the bathroom. Johanna then popped around the corner with a surprised
look on her face and said, "Mom! You made bacon! How sweet!" ... so I
started giggling and instantly my attitude totally changed. I still had to pack
my gym clothes and my lunch but then I was doing it with a chuckle. I let the
girls know that I didn't have time for eggs, grab a banana for my breakfast and
out the door I went.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surprisingly, after I ate my banana and a handful of almonds
I wasn’t hungry until almost 1 pm! I had a wonky moment with my salad at lunch
when a piece of lettuce got caught on the edge of my bowl and when it sprung
free, it splurted a drop of balsamic vinaigrette into my eye! Not pleasant!</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did bring my clothes with me but once I found out Meg was
going to go home, I chose to instead of working out, going to the church and
doing some much needed cleaning and organizing of the SKC room.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The second session for the Daniel Plan group study went
well. Thirteen of us plus Johanna and Gloria in the other room. Lots of laughs
and sharing, which I love. I know I need to work on eating according to the
Daniel Plate and I need to be more determined at carrying out my exercise plan.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 3</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Breakfast: banana</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mid-morning snack: almonds</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lunch: mixed green salad with grilled chicken, sunflower seeds and
homemade balsamic vinaigrette</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dinner: Beef stew</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 4</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Breakfast: Smoothie (1/2 cup water blended with big handful of kale and
spinach, scoop of protein powder, cup of
raspberries/strawberries/blueberries/blackberries, banana, almond milk)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lunch: Beef stew</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dinner: Dr. Hyman’s Walnut-Basil Pesto Chicken. Not sure about the
veggies. Zucchini or asparagus.</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-86902070358853305642015-01-21T08:58:00.000-08:002015-01-21T08:58:04.979-08:00The re-start of the same adventure...Daniel Plan TTTC
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here I go…AGAIN. I’m going through the Daniel Plan group
study for my third time. The first time I blogged about it, it was just the
Daniel Plan. Second time was Daniel Plan Part Deux. This adventure I shall name
Daniel Plan TTTC (third time’s the charm). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s not that the Daniel Plan doesn’t work. It does. But it
doesn’t work if you don’t do it. I do fairly well during the study time and 40
days of eating but afterward, when I don’t have the boundaries set up, that’s
when the yucky eating sneaks in. So having a plan for keeping on the Plan after
the boundaries of the group study and 40 days are over is what’s going to make
it or break it for me.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We met for the first of the six group studies last Thursday.
We had 8 people show up and I had emails from people who forgot, had a bad day,
didn’t want to get out in the yucky, cold, drizzly mess that was last Thursday.
I think we’ll have 12-14 people involved, which will make for some lively
discussions.</span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My family started our 40 days yesterday. I needed time to
get the pantry in order and to grocery shop and time had just passed me by in
the weeks leading up to the first session. Meg and I worked a miracle at the
house and threw away a LOT of expired stuff and bagged up a lot of non-DP (not Daniel
Plan okay) foods to take to the church to give away. Let’s just say that after
1.5 days of the detox (first 10 days are no gluten, no dairy, no sugar, no
caffeine on top of the regular whole foods/no processed/no artificial sweetener
foods Daniel Plan thing), I’m over it. Sorry. That’s a pretty cruddy attitude
but I am. At the very least I’m ready to not be on the detox because this girl
is HUNGRY!! I know that I’m not doing well with eating according to the Daniel
Plan Plate (50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% lean protein, 25% starchy
veggie/whole grain and a low-glycemic fruit) and that’s probably my biggest
problem and the reason why I’m so blasted hungry. So I’ll work on that and see
if that helps keep me full.</span></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 1</span></u></div>
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<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breakfast:</b> Smoothie:
raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, banana, a couple handfuls of spinach/kale, a
cup of coconut water, scoop of protein powder.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mid-morning snack</b>: almonds</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lunch</b>: salad of mixed greens
with grilled chicken, homemade balsamic vinaigrette</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dinner</b>: Salsa chicken
(chicken breast baked with homemade taco seasoning and salsa) and corn (no
non-starchy veggie…bad!)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Snack</b>: air-popped popcorn</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exercise</b>: Week 4,
Day 1 of Couch to 5K plan. 5min warmup walk, 3 min jog, 90 sec recovery walk, 5
min jog, 2.5 min recovery walk, 3 min jog, 90 sec recovery walk, 5 min jog, 5
min cooldown walk.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<u><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 2</span></u></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Breakfast: </b>Smoothie: Jamba Juice Green
Fusion smoothie mix (and, dang it, I didn’t read the ingredients this morning
and just found out that it has stinkin’ sugar in it! So much for the shortcut!)
with coconut water, protein powder and 1 T of Chia seed</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mid-morning snack</b>:<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>organic mixed nuts</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lunch: </b>Turkey wraps (turkey wrapped in
romaine lettuce with some mustard), apple</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dinner:</b> Meatloaf made with ground
turkey, broccoli and not sure what else</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Exercise: </b>not sure</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How long
until I can eat my lunch?</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-33248788309839567362014-12-09T10:48:00.003-08:002014-12-09T10:48:21.156-08:00The start of a new adventure
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I’ve been pretty quiet on the blogging front these days.
Some because I don’t think about it. Some because I’m a little embarrassed
about not sticking to the Daniel Plan. Some because I don’t have much to write
about. However, yesterday I embarked (that’s a serious word, “embarked.” Makes
you know something major is about to be announced.) on a new adventure. I’m calling
it “the great smoothie experiment.” As of right now, not sure how long this experiment
will last.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Background: Meg’s been having aches and pains now for, well,
it seems like forever. We’ve moved up the chain of command, medically-speaking,
but can’t get her seen by a pediatric rheumatologist until March. So until
then, we are trying some home remedies. Her drum major coach thought getting
more greens in her diet wouldn’t hurt so we are trying some green smoothies. We
decided to try this adventure together since I need to get back to eating
better and since I get up before her, I said I’d be in charge of being Smoothie
Maker. She looked up some different recipes and we decided on one that we
thought might not taste too <s>disgusting</s> bad. We went to the store and
picked up our supplies.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday: Monday’s green smoothie was made from 1 frozen
banana, 5 frozen strawberries, 1/3 honeycrisp apple, 2 handfuls of baby
kale/baby spinach combo, 1 scoop protein powder, 1 cup of coconut wate and ½ of
a lime wedge. It blended up into a delicate green color. It tasted…okay. It
wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever tasted but I’m certainly not gonna jump out of
bed and bounce into the kitchen because I can’t WAIT to drink this smoothie!
There was a bit of a bitter taste that I figure came from the lime rind.
Apparently I was supposed to peel the lime, but that bit of info didn’t get
communicated to me. One problem we ran into was that Meg looked up the recipe
but didn’t forward the link to me, so I kinda put it together based on our
conversation. Got a laugh out of Meg when we figured out what happened.
However, it did keep me pretty full. I had a handful of almonds mid-morning,
but that was more because I had the munchies and was trying to keep myself away
from the chocolate jar.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday: Found out that Meg isn’t a big fan of the banana.
Who knew?! So this morning I attempted a non-banana smoothie. Today’s
not-so-green smoothie was made up of 2 handfuls of baby kale/baby spinach, 5
frozen strawberries, about a ½ cup of frozen blueberries, 1 scoop of protein
powder and 1 cup of coconut water. It blended into a pretty purple color. It
was, well, tart. I think I needed some apple or something in there to help it
out. Again, not the worst thing in the world, but I won’t make it again,
especially since I was hungry by 8:30. </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve been looking up smoothie recipes and think I’ll add
chia seed or flax to tomorrow’s smoothie to see if I can get to lunch without being
hungry.</span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-74384373959189682912014-10-13T05:35:00.000-07:002014-10-13T05:35:11.997-07:00Whaaaaaaaaaat?!<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span id="goog_792707385"></span><span id="goog_792707386"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv9amnjlBio/VDvG5WtdwkI/AAAAAAAAAGU/C1TmwslJFcc/s1600/20141013_065808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kv9amnjlBio/VDvG5WtdwkI/AAAAAAAAAGU/C1TmwslJFcc/s1600/20141013_065808.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How did this happen again?! Well, I <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">know</i> how this happened again, I didn’t double-check that the bottom
part was screwed onto the blender tightly. Of course, I wasn’t the one who took
the blender out of the dishwasher, assembled it incorrectly and put it in the
stand so that it looked like it was ready to use, so…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So! I was late to work because it takes a bit of time to
clean up 12 oz of spilled almond milk. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, Monday, is this really how we want to start this week
off? </span></div>
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-83678840833080623292014-09-27T17:17:00.001-07:002014-09-27T17:17:26.484-07:00Competition Day!Today was the first marching band competition of the season. Last night we thought it might be Meagan's "nemesis triangle" (Power Ranger speak). We've been seeing a chiropractor for her IT band Syndrome issue for a while now. Lately he's been working more on her shoulder than her leg. It seems that the short repetitive motions during the fast parts of the set cause issues. The muscles bunch up and cause a lot of pain. When I got to the practice field last night, Meg was sitting out in tears. I didn't know what to do except to try to call her down so that she could possibly be less tense (which I thought COULDN'T be good for her shoulder). I hated not being able to make things right and I hated knowing that SHE knows that she may lose her drum major position because her injuries hurt the band. I didn't know what I would be walking into when I got to the competition today.<br />
<br />
The band left Conyers after practice and eating lunch at the high school. I had to get some things done at the house and at church to get ready for worship tomorrow, so I left at 2. (I wanted to get going at 1:30 but time management is really not my thing.) When I got to the competition, the band was at the warmup field which just happened to be right by the place I parked...which is a good thing since I'm pretty much directionally challenged as well. I had visions of wandering around the campus never finding the band until AFTER they performed! Meg had her arm in a sling and seemed to be in a fairly good mood. Apparently they reconfigured some things so that Meg being one arm down wouldn't throw them off too much. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2riuv020HE/VCdTOWpFr-I/AAAAAAAAAFw/k10fOXFSL98/s1600/wolverine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y2riuv020HE/VCdTOWpFr-I/AAAAAAAAAFw/k10fOXFSL98/s1600/wolverine.jpg" height="400" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jo is dead-center in photo with Meg in her sling on the podium.<br />
My actual favorite part is the Field Crew member who is supporting<br />
the podium but looks like he's peeking at the duet!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found the rest of the field crew and shortly afterward found myself watching the band perform while I kept my eye both on Meg and on Jo while reminding myself to breath. I don't know how the drum majors did at being a team, but Meg looked really confident. I know she was hurting but I couldn't tell from her face...although she did rub her opposite shoulder after they got done. Hope she hasn't hurt that one now!<br />
<br />
The awards will be in about an hour. I really hope they did well, both as a band and as drum majors. <br />
<br />
On another band note, Jo did really well with her duet. She was so worried that she could mess it up.<br />
<br />
I'm so very proud of my kids.<br />
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-91557839319161655502014-09-11T04:57:00.003-07:002014-09-11T04:57:44.035-07:00That's right! I did it!This morning I was making my morning smoothie and decided enough was enough! I had HAD it! I had finished a jar of the natural peanut butter we'd been using and so opened a new one. Problem: this was the kind where the oil had separated and I had no idea what I was doing. I figured I needed to stir it, right? No problem. Wrong! Big problem! I got that oil all over the jar, all over my hands, and all over my counter. I didn't get the peanut butter and oil integrated into each other. So I gave up. I pushed the spoon all the way to the bottom and got a spoonful to put in my smoothie and then I capped that jar up and threw it away! Yep! I did! I'm such a rebel. <br />
<br /><br />
Okay, so that may not be a big deal to YOU, but it was to me. I hate throwing useful things away. Normally, that jar would stay in my pantry until a) I found someone to give it to, b) it rotted or got broken, or c) I Googled what to do with the peanut butter/oil issue and fixed it. Confession: after I typed out c) I totally thought that I ought to do that and then go home this afternoon and fish the jar out of the trash and fix it! Oh. My. Word! <br />
<br /><br />
I think there's a screw loose somewhere!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-54555314499170942332014-09-10T09:58:00.001-07:002014-09-11T04:52:06.100-07:00Catch-up<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I’ve been pretty quiet on the Daniel Plan front, haven’t I?
I’ve kind of been quiet on all fronts. I </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-pFBhfBWiM/VBCA3dfWJ_I/AAAAAAAAAEs/nEAIFZdUMZg/s1600/thumper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M-pFBhfBWiM/VBCA3dfWJ_I/AAAAAAAAAEs/nEAIFZdUMZg/s1600/thumper.jpg" height="149" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"If you can't say something nice, don't say nuthin' at all!"</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
learned from Thumper that if you can’t
say something nice, don’t say anything at all. And frankly, I haven’t had a lot
to say nice. Well, that’s a lie. I can always find something nice to say…although
I don’t always say it. It’s just that there has been so much that
it’s been shadowing everything. But I’m determined to not let it anymore. I've said more before but I'm not going to here. I'm walking the Thumper Road and since I can't say something nice, I'm not saying nuthin' at all!<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyhow, back to the Daniel Plan. Tonight is the last
meeting. Yep, we made it through the entire study. Kenny’s lost almost 20 lbs
(stinker) and I’ve lost anywhere from 5-10 lbs…depends on if the scale decides
to like me that day. I am very proud of myself for getting through the entire
six week study. Kenny’s and my 40 days of eating the Daniel Plan way ends next
Friday since we got such a late start due to not beginning until after we took
Lorie back to school. Kenny is so happy with his weight loss and with how he
feels that we’ll pretty much stick to the Daniel Plan way of eating as a normal
way of life (at least that’s the plan. It was the plan when I did it back in
January but the nasty foods crept right back in).<br />
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4sD_aRdkYo/VBCCW6hFqiI/AAAAAAAAAE8/BvNrtolk2lA/s1600/20140905_193137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A4sD_aRdkYo/VBCCW6hFqiI/AAAAAAAAAE8/BvNrtolk2lA/s1600/20140905_193137.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meg in uniform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are firmly into marching band season. We have a little
more than 2 weeks until our first </div>
competition. It’s very exciting. We haven’t
used the props yet, but hope to get them on the field at the next game which is
the week after next.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’m still trying to work out what my job is and what it isn’t.
It’s kind of frustrating sometimes but I do really like the people I work with
and am happy that I can dress up and not find myself crawling around on a
teacher’s floor trying to re-hook some piece of electronics that someone
unplugged.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pretty boring stuff, to be honest.<br />
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXb3FX84UuE/VBCCAYSZsvI/AAAAAAAAAE0/YGv6PNcA-ac/s1600/th8TNR9KZD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CXb3FX84UuE/VBCCAYSZsvI/AAAAAAAAAE0/YGv6PNcA-ac/s1600/th8TNR9KZD.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a>I will take some time to
hype an audiobook I just listened to, “Unglued” by Lysa Terkeurst was really
well done. I could totally relate to this woman and if she lived anywhere near
me, I would want to be her best friend because she totally gets me! I laughed,
I cried (a little), I was struck speechless a LOT. I think I’m going to
purchase the paper book of hers so I can highlight and write some notes. I’m
also going to look her up and get another one or more of her books. She’s part
of the proverbs31 woman website, so I’m going to have to give that another
whirl. I’d stumbled across the website a couple years ago. I don’t remember why
I haven’t been more engaged with it.<br />
<br /><br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0w-UIgOksWs/VBCDEHid50I/AAAAAAAAAFE/OqWRAnAWxKs/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0w-UIgOksWs/VBCDEHid50I/AAAAAAAAAFE/OqWRAnAWxKs/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
And last, but certainly not least, Jo has her driver's permit. She conned me into letting her drive home from Walmart the other day. My fingers have finally unclenched themselves from the claw form they were in, but there are permanent fingernail grooves in the handle of my car. Poor thing.<br />
<br />
She's actually not a bad driver for an absolute beginner. But there's just something about being in a car with your 15-year old at the wheel and your heart being in your throat that makes you want to go berzerko!! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-32953581503357708332014-09-09T06:35:00.001-07:002014-09-09T06:35:12.140-07:00My sweet MeaganHad this email conversation between Meggie and me last Friday in anticipation of her first game in drum major uniform.<br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do you have your gloves for tonight? I have your “stars” in my jewelry box at home. Do you need them?</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Meagan: Yes... I thought I had lost them!!!!! Oh my goodness thank God!<br /></span></div>
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: You ding-a-ling! We decided I’d keep them so you WOULDN’T lose them! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I just gotta remember to get them!</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Meagan: Oh... I don't remember that. Ok cool.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Me: Will you be home before the game? It’s in one of the little drawers…think it’s the second one. </span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Meagan: I got them. I left my wallet at the house so just got home and on my back<br /> </span></div>
</span><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Me: Child, please!! You may need to go to college in Georgia just so we can rescue you from yourself!</span></div>
<br /><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">
</span><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri;">Meagan: Lol... Well I had totally forgotten, well I mean I still don't remember doing that, but yeah. I was planning on going to the army surplus store to get new ones or borrow lories old ones.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And funnier still, when I got to the school to volunteer with the band, I found out that her boyfriend (sweetheart that he is) had driven to the army surplus store for her and purchased new leaves (got that wrong by calling them stars...oops!) for her.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I can't be too irritated with her because the apple don't fall far from the tree! :)<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1f497d;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<br /><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></div>
<br />Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-20912526120303127342014-08-22T12:16:00.001-07:002014-08-22T12:16:05.115-07:00Daniel Plan, part deux-days 8-12
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yowzers! How did all this time go by without me checking in?
Today was my easy week, too! I have no excuse! Anyhow I’m still sitting at
181.2 so that’s disappointing…</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyhow, I’m tired still. I tried walking a mile last night
and taking a bath with lavender scented Epsom salts…but still woke up at 3am
and tossed and turned the rest of the night. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Foodwise, we did really good. The 10-day detox was done
yesterday. We enjoyed spaghetti for dinner. I think we’ll still be watching how
much dairy and gluten we put in our bodies to help keep us on track.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t remember what exactly I had for breakfast (smoothies
every day) or lunch (usually leftovers) but I did manage to write down what
dinner was each night:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday: turkey burgers, broccoli/cauliflower mix</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tuesday: Baked chicken with either green beans (Kenny) or
brown rice with broccoli/carrots</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wednesday: veggie stew</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday: Whole-wheat spaghetti with sauce made from tomato
paste, olive oil, garlic and spices, 5-grain rolls, corn and (for me) broccoli
slaw with vinaigrette dressing</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tonight the big football game between county rivals (one
school I work for and the other school my kids attend). I have about 30 minutes
after I get home to walk the dogs, change, throw down some food and then get
back in the car to head to the kids’ school to help load equipment before buses
leave. I’ll get a lot of exercise from loading and unloading instruments so I’m
not going to do any formal exercises. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This week, the Daniel Plan Essential we are focusing on in:
Fitness. So we’ve studied: Faith, Food, and now, Fitness. This is one this that
tends to mess me up. I can handle the food pretty well. The fitness part gets
me every time. I did come home from the study and after the sunset (it’s 95 and
MUGGY here in Georgia right now) Meg and I walked to the front of the
subdivision, which is one mile. I’ve tried to either stand at my desk or walk
around more during the day, since I’m so sedentary at work. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m actually trying to set up a time for me and two friends
to meet at the gym and work out tomorrow and maybe in the future. And I’ve made
plans to do Zumba on Tuesday with friends (at a gym) and Thursday with DVDs
after the Bible study.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Go me! (Especially if I go through with it!)</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-30309664245565626292014-08-19T05:38:00.001-07:002014-08-19T05:38:55.291-07:00My silent rebellion
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This year I took a new position within the school system. I’m
now the secretary for the principal at the rival school of the school my kids’
attend. And, woo-wee, there’s some serious school pride going on over here. Not
so much with the kids, mind you, but with the staff and the parents. I have
been asked several times why I didn’t bring my kids with me…and by people who
know that one of the girls is not only a senior, but one of the drum majors! Yeah, sure, I'm gonna make her miss out on all that!! </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t get me wrong, this is a perfectly nice school. I’m
proud to work here. I love the staff. But just like any high school, it’s not
perfect. My kids know their school. When Jo graduates, we’ll have had a Stokes
child enrolled for a solid decade. That’s a lot of history right there. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyhow, the first football game of the season is this Friday
and everyone here is on super Patriot Pride alert. I mean, it didn’t take me
long to know how they felt about my kids’ school. But this week? Wowsers! It’s
almost to the level of “methinks they doth protest too much.” Maybe that has to
do with the fact that Rockdale beat Heritage at last year’s football game?
<giggle> But, my goodness, really? It’s a football game. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, yes, I know, I live in the South where Football is
King. But, still, seriously, folks!! Get it together. It’s kind of sad that
they have to have 20+ police on site…because of the alumni, parents, and adult
fans!! Really? REALLY???<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><sigh></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyhow, as things heighten to a fever pitch around here, I’ve
decided to do the only thing I can do…wear Rockdale colors all week. I even
have a Bulldog necklace to wear, thanks to Meg’s boyfriend’s mother!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meant to take a picture every day and post
it…but it was ridiculously muggy yesterday afternoon after work and after going
to the Park to hang out with my bestie, Kim, and my sweet girl, Gloria, and
then pumping gas…I was a slimy, sweaty mess and all I wanted to do was to get
out of that dress (well, really, the Spanx, girl’s gotta be honest, here). </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I will be so glad when this week is over, though. Of course,
basketball season is right around the corner and I hear the Rockdale/Heritage
basketball game is something to behold as well.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joy…</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-16638047174604985302014-08-18T08:21:00.003-07:002014-08-19T13:51:49.231-07:00Daniel Plan, part deux-days 6 & 7<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These weekends are gonna kill me. I don’t know why it’s
harder to stay on track at home than it is when I’m at work. I have a
refrigerator full of good things to eat…but I didn’t feel like dealing with it.
Maybe that’s it. On work days I make a smoothie and take it with me to drink on
the ride. I also make lunch and that’s my only choice. At home I have all sorts
of options but in order to eat them, I have to do something. Guess that makes
me a lazy thingamajig.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday I dropped to 181.8, which meant 3 lbs gone, so that
started my day off well. I had so much to do to get ready for this weekend. I
had the VBS follow-up movie and the Band Potluck on Saturday afternoon and
evening and SKC/nursery meeting on Sunday to prep for. And what did I do Saturday
morning? I lolled around in bed! Which made the rest of the weekend go pretty irritatingly.
Nothing fell apart because previous planning held, which meant that I didn’t
look all whackado. But still. It annoys me that I didn’t work on the things
that I’d planned to work on.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The VBS follow-up movie was disappointing. Only three kids
showed up and since we watched it in the fellowship hall, since I thought there
would be more participating, the movie was too dark for that big room and the
sound quality was really yucky. But I appreciated the parents of the kids that
showed up for taking time on their Saturday to bring their kids and I had a
couple volunteers who showed up and that meant a lot to me.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Band Potluck was pretty good, I guess. I volunteered to
help with the merchandise and ended up not eating…but that’s okay. I’m not sure
what I could have ate. My favorite part of the night is when the kids take the
field. This year they did something different. They encouraged the parents to
come down to the field and take their kids’ places. We learned the responses to
some of the different commands. Kenny took Jo’s place and she showed him how to
stand and do flute stuff. I stood with Meg by her podium and learned a couple
directing motions. (Wow! That is HARD!!!) The guard parents were my favorite
because they some of them had to contort their bodies in to ways I don’t think
they’d planned to EVER get into! But I think it gave the parents a new
appreciation of a little of what their kids go through AND it gave a lot of
amusement to the kids, the instructors and to the parents who didn’t choose
participate. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ncwbq0DaZE/U_O405XlzqI/AAAAAAAAHO4/eVrJzFdQP60/s1600/2401.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Ncwbq0DaZE/U_O405XlzqI/AAAAAAAAHO4/eVrJzFdQP60/s1600/2401.jpeg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday I got to be in a Sunday school class. My soul is so
happy. Jo joined me. We are doing Beth Moore’s study on 1 & 2
Thessalonians. SKC was pretty fun. 9 kids came. We looked into the battle of
Jericho and what lessons we could learn from it. The nursery meeting was a bit
of a bust because Brad had to skip in order to look in on his parents and Joyce
had plans to eat out for lunch. Since we were just going to go over a sample
nursery handbook and talk about changes and additions for our church, I just gave
Joyce a copy and Kim a copy to give to Brad and we’ll chat about it some other
time.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We went out to eat but it was a buffet, which when I’m
eating regularly I don’t eat enough to make it worthwhile, but on the Daniel
Plan was kind of silly. We paid $11 for me to have some salad, a hard-boiled
egg, and apple and baked chicken. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I don’t think I ate dinner Sunday night. I took a Sunday nap
and just couldn’t get it together!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m still really, really tired. I’m just not getting sound
sleep. I guess I need to work on scrubbing my bathtub so I can take a soak at
the end of the day and see if that helps.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Food:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday: peanut
butter/banana smoothie, raw cashews and apple for lunch, no dinner</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday: no
breakfast, baked chicken, apple, salad, hard-boiled egg for lunch, leftover
walnut/basil pesto chicken and green beans.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Weight:</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting
weight: 184.8</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 2
weight: 184.4</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 3
weight: 184.2</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 4
weight: 184.0</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 5
weight: 183.8</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 6
weight: 181.8</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 7
weight: 181.2</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
</div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-54387246772179278262014-08-14T07:37:00.001-07:002014-08-14T07:39:32.120-07:00Daniel Plan, part deux-day 3<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Headaches abound! I feel like I am one big headache and
stuffy headed person. I’m taking my Zyrtec and nosespray as usual so I’m
assuming that this is either the toxins coming out or that I’ve caught a cold.
Kenny feels crummy, too, which also could just be the toxins or that we’ve
caught the same cold since we spent all weekend together in the car. I’m still
a day behind on blogging so this is about yesterday/day 3. Maybe I’ll catch up
at some point and blog at night about my day…and maybe I won’t. Depends on how
saucy I get to feeling.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Daniel Plan group is great. Emails flying and
encouragement coming left, right, and center. Awesome, awesome, awesome!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yesterday was one of those Cinderella days for me. I was
feeling low because I’m still not an integral part of the team at work and
although I have a nice little office with my name over the door, I still feel
like I’m unnecessary. Since the girls had band practice until 6, I had to deal
with the dogs. I felt mega-guilty about leaving them in the pen while I swept
and mopped because they’d been crated up all day with no human companionship
(coming off of a whole 3 months with someone there almost all day/every day).
But the floors needed some attention and I HAVE to get this house on a routine…for
my own sanity. I did my & Kenny’s laundry and changed my sheets on Monday
(and some dish towels), Jo’s laundry on Tuesday, and yesterday finished up the
delicates while I swept and mopped the family room, kitchen/dining/entry way,
and my bedroom. I need to scrub down my bathroom today (yuck). Besides just
needing to do it for sanitary reasons, I want to start taking Epsom salt baths
at night to calm and draw out more toxins. Plus I’m having a hard time getting
my quiet time in. I’m the children’s leader, leading a Bible study and a mom…I
gotta have my Bible time!!!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last night I also went by Kroger’s because everyone at
Daniel Plan raved about their organic/gluten-free section. I was actually a bit
confused. I do appreciate that they have everything grouped together but I
still could not find cheap tahini!! I broke down and bought some though. I’m
such a schmuck. </span><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After I got the house stuff done that I needed to get done,
I realized that I didn’t have time to work on Sandra’s flyer anymore. Luckily
she won’t need it until next Tuesday. I needed to get dinner ready. One of my
favorite recipes from the Daniel Plan book is Dr. Hymans Walnut/BasilPesto
Chicken. Unfortunately, I got popped by some grapeseed oil and burnt the snot
out of two of my toes and in between them. Hurt like anything! Dingaling didn’t
think about the fact that I had aloe with lidocaine in my cabinet. I just put
cold water on it and griped about it until I got home and Kenny was saying I
needed to put something on it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s meals: banana/peanut butter smoothie with protein
scoop for breakfast, lunch-hummus/carrots and an apple, snack: raw cashews,
dinner: walnut/basil pesto chicken with broccoli/cauliflower. Water: 114 oz</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Exercise: none. My toes hurt too badly to stuff into tennis shoes. But I figured since I'd sweated up a storm with the sweeping/mopping, I hadn't been totally sedentary!!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting
weight: 184.8</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 2
weight: 184.4</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 3 weight: 184.2</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-15687292648600899272014-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:002014-08-13T09:18:01.922-07:00Daniel Plan, part deux-Day 2
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 2 was hard, I’m not gonna lie. I woke up with a headache
and not feeling like I slept enough. But I had a plan for the day: Work,
dishes/laundry, salsa chicken, work on Sandra’s flyer and print out Band
minutes, band meeting, home.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the day pretty much went like that except I didn’t feel
like unloading the dishes, so that didn’t get done. And the printer decided it
was going to be offline no matter what I did, so I had to leave earlier than I’d
planned to go by the church to print out the Band minutes, which meant I had to
finish Sandra’s flyer later. I also didn’t get to eat dinner since I ran out of
time. The Band meeting was kind of irritating because all the stuff we went
over, I’d already heard in the planning meeting and the budget meeting. So when
we started over for the people who didn’t realize that the meeting started at
6:30 instead of 7, well, I was on edge. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got home and took the dogs on a walk out to the front of
the subdivision (1 mile…go me), I really need to remember to put their
harnesses on since they have no idea how to walk well on a leash and I don’t
have the time to teach them. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did sit down and finish Sandra’s flyer and looked over my
lesson for tonight before I went to sleep.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t eat dinner because by the time I got settled after
the meeting, it was almost 9. I wasn’t hungry and I didn’t want to eat that
late…so I didn’t.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Oh, and I looked it up and Ezekial bread does have wheat and
gluten, now it’s organic gluten and sprouted wheat so if you’re gonna screw up
with your gluten, that’s the way to go. But I still beat myself up a little for
not eating right the VERY FIRST DAY!!! And the second time I did this!!! Ack!</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s meals: Strawberry/banana smoothie with almond milk
and chia seeds for breakfast, organic raw cashews and spinach/kale chips
(checked…gluten free) for snack at work, quinoa salad for lunch, hummus and
carrots for snack at home, and 96 oz of water. I made “Salsa chicken” (chicken
breasts baked with homemade taco season and salsa) for dinner but didn’t eat
it.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Starting
weight: 184.8</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Day 2
weight: 184.4</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Disappointing,
but with the thyroid issue and just having ate right and walked one mile for
one day, guess I might be expecting too much? I have to say that emails to my
hubby, friends and Daniel Plan peeps have turned my frown upside down!</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-36146621725059502592014-08-11T18:58:00.005-07:002014-08-11T18:58:54.733-07:00Here we go again!Daniel Plan, part deux!<br />
<br />
Yep, I'm a glutton for punishment. Today is day 1 of the plan for me and Kenny. The first Bible study session was last Thursday. However, since we left Friday after work to make the drive to D.C. we figured the better choice would be to start today (Monday). I took the day off so it wasn't too horrible. Tomorrow I'll have to deal with work, too. Ugh. I think I may have boo-booed, though, because I didn't even think about it and had some Ezekial bread. I think it's okay on the 30 days but not the 10 day detox. I'll have to check that out. :(<br />
<br />
Days 1-10 are the detox: no dairy, no gluten, no sugar, no processed foods, no caffeine<br />
<br />
How I ate:<br />
Breakfast: Smoothie made with banana, blueberries, almond milk, protein powder, and chia seed.<br />
Mid-morning snack: Hummus with carrots<br />
Lunch: Turkey sandwich, Dijon mustard<br />
Dinner: Baked chicken breast, brown Jasmine rice, green beans<br />
Water: 80 oz.<br />
<br />
Exercise: I shopped and did a lot of laundry and housework (I even weeded a bit!!) during the day. Jo and I took the dogs on a 1-mile walk!!<br />
<br />
Gonna do a banana & strawberry smoothie tomorrow, a quinoa salad for lunch, probably some more hummus and carrots for a snack. Dinner....if I get up in time, I think I'll put some beef stew in the crockpot. I have a band booster meeting tomorrow night so I gotta do something easy or fast. <br />
<br />
Day 1 down, 39 to go!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-68351562640037458622014-07-12T17:28:00.002-07:002014-07-12T17:28:55.563-07:00Last days of summer...Okay, so I know how ridiculous that reads seeing that it's only July 12th. But tomorrow is the last day of MY summer. I start work on Monday at my new position with the school system! I'm super excited...and super scared. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do exactly in my new position. My title is Principal's Secretary (so fancy-schmancy!) and I'll also be helping with the athletic director, but what my actual day-to-day responsibilities will look like are up in the air. <br />
<br />
Squee!<br />
<br />
Sorry, had to do that. I'm all goose-pimply and giddy as I type this out!<br />
<br />
It's been a pretty nifty 6 weeks since my last day of work as an INTEL last school year. I've really enjoyed having my Kenny-bear and Lorie-lou home. We had a fantabulous time at our family Beach Week and VBS turned out pretty ding-dang-dong nice. (All that hand-wringing was pretty worthless...wish I'd get that through my head.)<br />
<br />
Now I've got to get myself together for the school year. New job and new responsibility with the kids' marching band (I usually just chaperone...this year I'm the Band Booster Secretary) will add some stress until I get into a new routine but I'm ready to get going. <br />
<br />
I'm going to attempt the Daniel Plan again in August. About 9 people from the church are going to join me on the journey this time. We've chosen a time that can't get messed with because it's just before the church's Prayer Time and it's before fall ball starts. I'm hoping between that and my Planet Fitness membership, that I get a good jumpstart on my health. <br />
<br />
I also figured out that if I continue the course with my school work and include summer courses next summer, that I will graduate with my B.A. in Religion/Biblical Counseling in May 2016! <br />
<br />
But for now...I just have to get through tonight and tomorrow. I've attempted the Pinterest Listerine foot soak with Listerine/Vinegar and water. It does NOT make your nasty calluses sloughed off but it did make using the pumice stone on those areas a bit more effective. I'm about to go soak in the tub before making a date with Mr. Nyquil. I've gotten a bit of a cough/cold from Kenny and am pretty sick of it. So soak (to help me unwind), Mr. Nyquil within and Mr. Vicks Rub without and nighty-night time it is! <br />
<br />
Hoping I can be a little more disciplined on the blog. I did pretty well there for awhile. But not so much lately. Sure is fun to go back and read some of the things I thought worth posting over the years! Well, fun for ME. Probably pretty boring for anyone else.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-10366862961107275432014-06-16T19:55:00.000-07:002014-06-16T19:55:24.037-07:00What a day! What a night!So today was errand day. It's been a long time since I ran errands with a baby, but I figured that since Gloria is a very mild-mannered and good-natured child, and since I was bringing Jo along for the ride, it would all work out well.<br />
<br />
We went first to RCPS's Information Technology offices to turn in my work kit. She flirted and batted her eyes and generally made herself Miss Cutesy-pie. Next we went to the Warehouse to check out the desks they had in stock for my new office. (Oh, didn't you know? I'm not returning to the INTEL position. This girl is going to be the principal's secretary for Heritage High School next year! Yeppers!) She immediately went in to Miss Precious Mode and had the Maintenance secretary wrapped around her finger and then went on to be cute for the Purchasing secretary. (Found a desk, by the way.) Back in the car seat and off we drive to Heritage to check with the bookkeeper and let her know we'd found a desk and to measure my window for curtains. While we were talking at Heritage, Little Bit jabbered and cooed and generally made a sweetie of herself. Seriously...totally amazed at how good-natured she was! Anyhow, back in the car again and a trip to Lifeway, Staples, Schoolbox, and Pier One Imports. Then we decided we were famished so off to Zaxby's we go. That's where the poo hit the fan. She was hungry, too. Jo had to get into her bag and put together a bottle. She finished it off on the way home from Zaxby's. <br />
<br />
So imagine it, Jo and I are sitting on the bed with our Zaxby's. We've got Gloria propped up between us with a cookie. We are all eating. We are all happy with the world. Then Gloria gets too much cookie in her throat and starts gagging and choking. I'm using my Zaxby's fry salted finger to try to sweep out her mouth, she's gagging but also smacking at the salt. Finally it comes up (along with some of her bottle) and I'm hold a bib full of tossed up cookie and formula asking Jo for help. <br />
<br />
The excitement of it all...but at least the sheets got changed!<br />
<br />
Anyhow, fast forward to early evening. Kim's come by for Gloria and plans for me for get the cake and decorations for Brad and Barbie's surprise 50th party are set. I've told everyone that I need to leave at 5:15 and need help since I have to get a cake from Walmart and balloons from Party City and it's 97 degrees outside. Kenny3 hasn't taken a shower yet and Lorie had worked from 10-4 and wanted to take another one. That left Jo to be my grunt. So off we go at 5:18 and then Kenny drives up. A quick reconnoiter (did I spell that right? Did I USE that right?!) and he's up to date on plans and off we go, later than I'd planned and praying fiercely because, well, it's me and things don't usually work out the way I plan. We go to Party City first and get the balloons purchased and stand in line to get them blown up. Jo agrees to stay at Party City while I run to Walmart. I get the first parking space in the row by the door! Unfortunately, inside Walmart, however, there's no one in the bakery. No worries, well, lots of worries, but I'm going to try not to worry. I go to the card section and am slightly nauseated over the stupid cards but then fall into two I can get behind. Next...gift card section. IHOP, it is. Then I run into a Walmart associate who find the bakery person who gets me the cake and we are golden! Lines next...no freakin' way! I am behind someone in the 20 items or less line who actually has less than 20 items! I'm walking out the door in no time. At the car I can hear my phone ringing but as I'm juggling a cake and the package with the card, my keys and my wallet, I choose to get the cake in the car safely. Unfortunately, as I'm juggling, I drop my wallet and stuff falls everywhere. I hurriedly pick it up, throw it in the foot well (is that what it's called?) and jump in the driver's seat as my phone rings again. It's Jo. She's done at Party City. I drive over and get her and we are at Golden Corral before the 6:30 deadline! <br />
<br />
So we are at Golden Corral and I dig out the cards and then go to my wallet for the gift cards. No gift cards. Crap! I probably dropped them in the Walmart parking lot and they are now in my car. Kenny3 and Lorie are sent out to find them. I finish putting out the cake and stuff and then go out to the parking lot to see that, darn it all, the gift cards aren't there. Lorie and I jump in the card and drive back to Walmart. As I'm getting closer to where I'd parked my car the first time, I can see the gift cards on the ground. I'm freaking out inside my car, which in turn, freaks out the father who has just gotten his toddler daughter out of the car that my car is now heading towards. I roll down the window and start babbling about what was happening as Lorie gets out of the car and picks up not only the two gift cards, but the Band Value card and...oh my word...my debit card!!!! <br />
<br />
And we made it back to Golden Corral by 6:45.<br />
<br />
Does that deserve a "What a day! What a night!" or what?!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-50975673124593662012014-05-13T17:50:00.002-07:002014-05-13T17:50:40.995-07:00The Spotsylvania Adventure...the final days
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday came after a long night of listening to Lorie make
noise, grind her teeth and take up most of the bed (sorry, babe, but I gotta
report it like it happened). I got up a little earlier than I’d planned because
it seemed a little stupid to stay in bed trying to hang on to what little
“property” I had instead of getting ready and spreading out on the couch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once Lorie and I were ready we realized that we were a bit
too matchy-matchy. I had on a black with white polka-dot dress and a red
cardigan and she had on a black with white dots dress and a yellow cardigan.
Neither of us had an alternate outfit so off we went. I don’t think anyone else
noticed. Wish we’d taken a picture of it though. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lorie attends Capital Life Church in Arlington. Super-duper
friendly, fabulous worship, easy to feel “at home” are the take aways for me.
They had a guest speaker (Dave Buehlring) whose sermon was right on target.
Lorie navigated us from the church to Chipotle’s and I followed the directions
without maiming any walker, bikers or banging into cars that were parked
(PARKED) in the middle of the lane. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d never had Chipotle’s before but yummo! Lorie and I had a
lovely mommy-daughter heart-to-heart and then it was time to get on the road
since Annie and I were driving to Charlotte. Lorie got us to American
University (again, no pedestrians, bikers or cars were harmed) and I had to say
goodbye. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That was hard. I knew I was going to see her again in just a
couple days but if living teaches you anything, it’s to not take people
(especially people you love) for granted. We aren’t promised tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I got back to the Haneys’ with just one small blip in
following OnStar’s directions (which turned out to actually be a better route),
changed out of my church clothes, got our stuff packed and hugs all the way
around for the Haneys and then Annie and I were off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We managed to get back to Charlotte with no tickets, although
we both probably never want to hear the words, “What’s the speed limit around
here” again. We stopped by KFC and got dinner before pulling into the driveway.
The fur-babies (and Greg) were glad to see Annie. We sat and enjoyed dinner and
some TV before heading to bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Monday, I got on the road around 8:45 and drove. I had the
radio on full blast because it was just too dang quiet and lonely in my car. I
wish I lived closer to my sisters. We’d probably kill each other if we did, old
habit die hard, but still. No one knows you the way your siblings do. They were
your first friends and your first enemies. They taught you how to love someone
fiercely that also drives you insane. I’m so proud of my sisters. I think they
are both funny, fascinating, amazing women. I am truly blessed to be able to
call them my sisters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-37836720316415759292014-05-13T17:49:00.001-07:002014-05-13T17:49:31.546-07:00The Spotsylvania Adventure...Day Three
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Yesterday we’d gotten
to Spotsylvania, spent time with cousin John W and his wife Patty and met up
with Lori/Lorie. After we got to the hotel (and need to take a commercial break
here, if you are ever in the Spotsylvania/Fredricksburg area, I recommend the
Hampton Inn and Suites on Hospitality Drive in Fredricksburg. Super friendly at
the desk, decent price, clean (CLEAN…they even had a post-it on the beds
telling us about their clean sheets and bedding!), lots of towels in room and a
fabulous breakfast buffet in the morning), we jammied up and got into bed.
(Disclaimer: I got nothing from Hampton Inn and Suites or their owners for this blurb.) Lorie showed me a new app called 2048 which then garnered my attention for too
long. Seriously, if you don’t know about 2048, don’t check it out! It’s a trap!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Before Lori got back from
John W and Patty’s (remember, she stayed back when we left so she could spend a
little more time with them), the rest of the Haneys got to the hotel.
Unfortunately I was in a 2048 zone and rudely kept playing. Although I did take
a break to bounce up and down on the bed to show off the weird sounds the bed
made. Don’t ask.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We made plans to meet
the next morning to drive to the high school to meet up with Daddy and Susan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Wow…it really was an
incredible breakfast buffet. Nice job, Hampton Inn. We got on the road vaguely
on time and got to the high school with no issues. Daddy was already there
talking to the schoolbus drivers who would serve, with their schoolbuses, as
shuttles for the day. We parked, jumped on a bus and made our way to the
Opening Ceremonies at the Bloody Angle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It was a beautiful day,
although the sun kept popping out which made it a wee bit hot at times. The
park area is absolutely gorgeous. I wish we’d been able to take one of the
walking tours. There were little monuments dotting the park commemorating
different regiments and situations during the battle. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The opening ceremonies
were very touching. They did a great job with that. They had readings taken
from newspapers, diaries, and letters from that time. It really added the
personal part back into the history. They also had Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr.
give the main speech. My word, I think I had some good history teachers over
the years, but Dr. Robertson took the cake! If you ever have a chance to go to
a lecture by him, jump on it. You will never look at history the same way
again! I did, though, feel a bit sorry for the Union soldier reenactors. They
marched up on the other side of the Confederate hill thingys (gotta remember
what those are called…especially since I almost sat on one before finding out that
they are a “really big deal” by a Park Ranger) and then stood there for the 15
minutes before the ceremonies began and then the entire hour+ of the
ceremonies. I was twitchy sitting down. I can’t imagine being in a wool uniform
and standing. Oh, and I forgot about the bagpipes. I don’t know if they picked
a solo bagpiper (bagpipist?) because the bagpipe gives such a mournful,
thoughtful sound or if there was something particularly important about the
Scots and the battle. Anyhow the bagpipes started and ended the ceremonies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It’s really hard to
explain how I felt sitting there. I, of course, was distracted by the sun
coming and going behind the clouds and by an inchworm that crawled around on
the shoulders of a lady in front of me (yes, I gasped a little when it was
trying to wiggle into her hair…shudder), but even for someone as distractible
as I am, the green fields spreading out all around us, the trees, the breeze,
oh, it was so beautiful. But then the words from the Park Rangers and Dr.
Robinson painted such a vivid picture. It was…heartrending. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Anyhow, after the
ceremonies we went back to the shuttle pickup point and moved to where the
vendors and the battle reenactment were setup. I’m blanking on what they called
it…Merchants Square? Anyhow, it wasn’t part of the National Park Service’s
events. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So I got my beloved
t-shirt and we wandered around the vendors area…there are a LOT of vendors for
reenactor clothing and paraphernalia. I was amazed. Daddy signed us up as Descendants
of the Wilderness and Spotsylvania Courthouse Battles. We got a ribbon to wear.
Pretty cool. I tried to take a picture of my ribbon, but it was a bit too
boobalicious to post.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We all made our way at
different times to where the battle would take place and managed to meet up
even with all the people that were there. My goodness, the amount of people
that were standing around as spectators was mindboggling but the amount of
reenactors on the field? Astonishing! Unfortunately, where we were standing
meant we didn’t hear much of what they would announce over the loudspeakers so
we pretty much had no idea what was going on. I mean, we knew that they were
shooting and cannoning and whatnot and we’d see someone go down and get “hurt”
or get “dead.” There were advances and retreats but, we also saw a whole bunch
of standing around, so it was a bit hard to figure out what was going on. Then,
after about an hour, there was a bugle call and that’s when the loudspeaker
came through loud and clear announcing that the sound we just heard was the
ceasefire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The “people
interesting” thing I found was that the spectators that were reenactors tended
to believe that they had more right to a good view of the reenactment than the
people who had bought tickets to be there. (Of course, maybe the reenactors had
to buy tickets, too, I have no idea). We “set up shop” in an area that gave us
a pretty good view and the next thing you know a couple ladies with their big
ole skirts and big ole bonnets walked right in front of us and blocked our
views! One of them actually gave snotty looks to someone who tried to get
around her to be able to take a photo. The cutest moment was a family of
reenactors that stood to the right and front of us. They had two small toddler/preschool-age
children. The little girl was beyond hot on her bonnet and long-sleeved dress.
She was drinking water from a water bottle and having a good ole time. Her
older brother got a bit whiney towards the end and as he was escorted back to
their tent (I’m guessing), he announced that, “gunfire makes me FIRSTY!!!” I
totally understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Following the
reenactment we realized that the shuttles were going to stop running soon and
that there were a whole bunch of people that were going to try to get on them,
so we hightailed it to the shuttle stop and waited (and waited, and waited) for
the shuttle. We all managed to get on the same shuttle and got back to the high
school. The Haneys had one car at the high school and one car still back at the
hotel. Since the Haneys and I were headed to American University to gather
Lorie’s stuff, we decided that Lorie and I would go straight to AU and start
packing up my car. The Haneys would take Annie and go back to the hotel to get
the other car. One Haney car would come to the university to get the stuff we
were dumping on them to store over the summer and one Haney car would go home
and get some dinner rustled up. So hugs all around as Daddy and Susan headed
back to John W and Patty’s and the rest of us split into our assigned seating.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I still don’t know how
we managed to get all Lorie’s stuff in those cars. Space management is best
left up to Kenny. But we did. I am pretty proud of myself. We got back to the
Haneys, unloaded the Haney car and then plopped! Pizza, Top Chef (or was it
Chopped?), and 2048…then bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Tomorrow…twinning it at
church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-73781031634577695002014-05-07T05:19:00.000-07:002014-05-07T05:20:11.473-07:00The Spotsylvania Adventure...day 2<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So yesterday’s blog got me to Charlotte and my sister, Anne’s,
home on Thursday night. She has two of the sweetest boxers you’ll ever meet.
They “helped” me up the stairs and then pouted because Annie put a baby gate up
to block them from my room. Apparently, I would have had a boxer sleepover if
she hadn’t. She told me Friday morning over breakfast that Nova had taken up
patrol at the baby gate and probably would have stayed there all night if Annie
hadn’t had her come to bed. As it was, she positioned her body on Anne and Greg’s
bed so she could stare down the hallway at my room. When Anne woke me up, there
were two forlorn, but oh-so-sweet, boxer faces staring at me across a baby
gate. They also “helped” me back down the stairs when I came down for
breakfast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyhow, Anne and I were going to do this next portion of the
ride together, which I truly appreciated. The Hair Nation, 80’s on 8, 70’s on 7
stations on my XM radio got me from Atlanta to Charlotte, but I didn’t want to
see if their music selections could hold up all the way to Virginia. We decided
that the smartest thing would be for Annie to take the first leg of the trip
since she knows her way around Charlotte (natch!) and then I could drive us
into Virginia. Things are going well, Annie drives a lot of rental cars in her
business travels so the Equinox’s blind spots were no match for her. However, a
work zone was. About an hour or so outside of Charlotte, Annie is passing a car
and in the grassy median she sees a policeman and mentions it. We both look at
the speedometer and Anne says, “No worries, I’m going about 80.” Then as she’s
checking her mirrors (as good drivers do), she says, “The policeman just pulled
out.” And then, “Uh-oh, he’s got his lights on.” Me, being the amazing
deductive reasoned that I am said, “Is he pulling you over?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To which Anne replies, “Yep” as she’s slowing
down and pulling over. Okay, so I have this bad habit of getting the giggles at
really bad times. And, yes, this was a really bad time to get the giggles.
Luckily, Annie is a lot more mature than I am because if this had happened back
in the day, she’d’ve probably gotten really upset with me. So I’m trying to get
my giggles under control and have pulled them back into just a dopey looking
grin on my face when the police officer’s face pops into my window. And then, I
turn moronic for a moment as I can’t figure out how to roll the window down…IN
MY OWN CAR!!! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Officer: “Ma’am,
do you know why I’ve pulled you over?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anne: “No, sir, I don’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Officer: “You were traveling 77 mph in a 55 mph work zone.”
Anne and I look at each other incredulously because neither of us had any idea
we were in a work zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyhow, long
story kinda shorter: we had totally missed the signs saying that it was a work
zone although we had noticed the barrels. But since there were no workers
ANYWHERE, no machinery ANYWHERE and nothing torn up ANYWHERE, we obviously didn’t
process the barrels. They are pretty much all over the place on the highway.
Annie is now required (REQUIRED) by North Carolina law to show up at court
because she was going 15+ miles over the speed limit in a 55 mph or higher
zone. She’s looking at a 30 day suspension of license, 4 pts, and, well, toot, I
can’t remember the other part. I checked NC statues and it also looks like she’ll
be charged with a Class 2 Misdemeanor and have at least a $250 fine (because it’s
a work zone). She can get a lawyer to appear for her in court (which is nice
since the date they set is during our family vacation) but in doing a little
googling on the situation, it looks like North Carolina is notorious for
setting up fake work zones like these and trying to rack up on out of town
drivers. Yes, we should have been paying attention to the signs. However, a
trap is a trap is a trap…and I feel this was a trap. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So guess what occupied our attention for the rest of the
trip? Yep, talking about what happened, texting her husband Greg as he
researched what was in store (the person in the passenger seat did the texting.
No texting and driving, thank you very much), and keeping an eye on the speed
limit and cops. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“What’s the speed limit here?” was heard probably a hundred
times during the rest of the trip…it was funny, but not. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, we make it to the hotel in Fredricksburg (town next to
Spotsylvania), check in and do the potty thing, check on Lori/Lorie and find
out that they AREN’T<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>going to check in
in the next hour because they haven’t even left yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are meeting a cousin that my dad found
while digging around for information about Horatio. His great-grandpa and
Horatio were brothers, is how we are related. His name is John, as well, so we
called him either “cousin John” or JW. We drove out to his home in Spotsylvania
for dinner.(Oh…my…word…”gorgeous” doesn’t even cover it!) We got to unwind with
beautiful view of the lake, watch as his wife fed the swan in the lake (a
SWAN!!), <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>enjoyed grilled burgers and
then got to see some of the cool stuff that was handed down through John W’s
family which really made what the soldiers in the Civil War had to go through
come more alive. Lori and Lorie drove up in the middle of this and we got to
give out hugs and squeezes. It was so nice to have my sisters and one of my
girls where I could lock eyes and giggle or make a comment in their ear. <le
sigh><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I started noticing that dusk was upon us and as I knew how
tired I was, how disoriented I get when I’m in a new place and how not-so-good
I drive in the dark, I had to say my goodbyes and thank yous to John W and his
wife, Patty, and get going. None too soon, either, as it was quite dark by the
time we got into Fredricksburg and my eyes were so tired, I couldn’t read the
street signs. Between OnStar and Lorie, we made it back to the hotel and sleepy
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tomorrow: “gunfire makes me firsty!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On an unrelated note: good heavens! They have the air
cranked UP in here and I took home my heavy sweater last week. I’m going to be
frozen solid by lunch!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-60997537088179542742014-05-06T11:47:00.000-07:002014-05-06T11:47:09.296-07:00The Spotsylvania Adventure...part 1
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What a weekend. Still processing it all and still trying to
recover so I’m going to write about it in stages. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some time ago (maybe last year at Beach Week??), Daddy brought
up the idea that we all meet up for the 150<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> anniversary of the
Battle of the Wilderness. Daddy has been doing some family tree-type stuff and
found out that his great-grandfather (I think…I get lost in the “greats”) had
been a captain in a regiment in the Union Army during the Civil War and had
been killed in the line of duty during the Battle of the Wilderness. (<a href="http://www.fowb.org/index.php/take-action/heritage-programs-page/wilderness-brigade-biographies/wb-horatio-bell/" target="_blank">Here's some information about him. Especially love the last two paragraphs!</a>)</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward to a couple months ago and I’m talking to my
sisters about getting down the nitty-gritty about making plans. Next thing you
know, I’m in my car driving to my sister, Annie’s house in Charlotte! This past weekend's travels took me from Loganville to Charlotte on Thursday evening, from Charlotte
to Fredrickburg, VA (and visiting a new cousin’s home in Spotsylvania) on
Friday, Fredricksburg to Washington, DC and then finally to my sister,
Lori’s house in Fairfax on Saturday, Arlington then DC then Fairfax and then
to Charlotte on Sunday and, finally, back home to Loganville on Monday. Yep, I’m
exhausted and as much as those doofy blind spots in the Equinox drive me nuts,
two thumbs up for the nice ride!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That’s the overview…now to take it slow. I wish I had pictures.
I meant to take some selfies along the way because I thought it would spruce
things up around the ole blog to add more pictures. Oh well, best made plans and all
that…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyhow, the Plan was that I would leave Thursday after work
to drive the 4.5-5 hours to Annie’s house and spend the night there. I worked
45 minutes late on Tuesday and was going to leave 45 minutes early on Thursday. My trusty Equinox needed an oil change. In fact, it told me I
needed to change the oil every time I started her up. I was getting tired of
hitting the CLR button and also didn’t think I should go on the type of trip
that I was planning without changing the oil and getting the car a good
once-over. Unfortunately, life happened and I wasn't able to take care of that so I drove to work on Thursday with
the car still screaming at me that it needed an oil change. But, hey, I was getting
off 45 minutes earlier than I’d planned to when I came up with this whole Plan,
so everything was going to be fiiiiiiiiine. Sure…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thursday at 2:30 p.m. I get a call from my
supervisor who asked me what time I was getting off work that day. I had seen him
earlier in the day when he had to come out and help with an issue and we’d
talked about the 45 min early thing, but it must have escaped his mind. When I
told him that I was clocking out in 15 minutes and heard him sucking in his
breath, I knew I was not getting out of there in 15 minutes. Surprise! My
evaluation was due by Friday and since I wasn’t going to be at work Friday, he
needed to get it done now. But we did it superfast so I was still able to clock out
15 minutes early.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I prayed all the way to the mechanic and when I got there
heard the words I wanted to hear, “Sure we can fit you in now. It won’t take
long.” And it didn’t. However, while I waited I came to the realization that I’d
managed to leave my phone’s charging cord at work! That’s a pisser! Back to
work I go meaning that by the time I get home, I’m now 20 minutes later than in
the original Plan. Shazbot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I hurriedly take the dogs on a walk, change my clothes, and
jump in the car to start this adventure. Traffic bit the big one getting out of
metro Atlanta and I had to drive the last part in the dark (thank you, OnStar)
but my sister, her husband, her adorable fur-babies and a guest bed with the softest sheets known to man were waiting
for me. So that was super. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next up…the drive to Spotsylvania (love saying that name).
SOMEone gets pulled over in the next installment! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3825957918933454202.post-33568114871594248282014-04-22T17:16:00.001-07:002014-04-22T17:16:22.469-07:00Poop, friends, maturity...pretty much a Rant-fest!
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you didn’t know it, I’m here to tell you, your poop doesn’t
smell like roses. No one’s does. And when you do “take care of business”, it’s
kind of appropriate to flush and, hopefully, spray some air freshener or open a
window. When you don’t flush or when you don’t spray air freshener then a whole
bunch of other people get to deal with your crap. And that ain’t right. Just
sayin’. When you’ve done stunk up a place, that’s when you need your friends. (And,
case you don’t speak Tracy, while it applies literally, the “poop” I’m
referring to is when you screw up.)</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, let’s get something straight. A friend isn’t someone
who tells you that your poop don’t stink. A real friend is someone who reminds
you to flush and suggests that some Lysol would cover over a multitude of sins.
(And a best friend goes and gets the Lysol for you!) There are way too many
people who think that if someone holds you accountable for your slip-ups, that
they aren’t a “real” friend. Honey, I’m here to tell you, we got enough people
willing to blow smoke up your butt about your dumb decisions. A real friend?
Tells you when you are about to do something stupid (or that you DID do something
stupid), loves you just the same and then supports you as you dig yourself out
of the hole you dug for yourself. Just sayin'. They DON’T tell you that what you did smells
like roses. I see too many people standing around in stinkiness pretending it
smells GREAT and talking about how everyone else is mean.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you want someone who is only going to tell you how
wonderful you are, how funny you are, how everyone else just doesn’t “understand
you”, how everything you do and say is fine and everyone else should just “get
over it”…well, that’s not a friend. That’s a fan. And you’ll be headed to hell
in a handbasket with your fan club. And they’ll probably still be telling you
what an awesome person you are. Just sayin.'</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Good heavens. Do I like it when someone comes and tells me
that I screwed up? Heck, no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’d
rather learn from my mistakes and actually, ya know, GROW so I don’t
end up as a 45-50-60-70 year old woman with an 11-year old maturity level!
Just sayin'.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sure there are people who love nothing more than to tear you
down just because it makes them feel good. But remember that there are also people
who think that you are an actual adult and willing to take responsibility for
your actions. So, maybe when you are hearing people talk negatively something you do or say,
instead of gathering up your fans (remember, they AIN’T your friends!) and
letting them smooth over your ruffled feathers, find some real friends, people that
can stand up to your annoyance with them when they tell you that you’ve gotten
off kilter. If THEY say there’s nothing there…let it go. But if they say, “yep,
you screwed up” or “I’ve noticed you have a problem with this”, then it’s time
for a little reflection, prayer, and time in the Word while you let God grow
you up a bit. </span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Listen, if the only mistakes you own up to are the ones that
YOU acknowledge, you are probably missing 90% of the crap you are throwing out
at people. Just sayin'.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m not a teenager so surrounding myself with people who
make my ego feel good is pretty stupid. (And seeing so many other adults who only surround themselves with fans...it's confirmed that it is VERY stupid.) I want friends who make me laugh, who I
can talk to about the good, the bad, and the ugly, and who will keep me pointed
to Him by letting me know when I’ve gotten off track. In other words, I need to
know that when my poop stinks…someone who's gonna point it out AND expect me to do
something about it. If you don’t have anyone in your life that holds you
accountable for the stinky stuff you do and say, you need to get some. You need
to take a good hard look at who you are surrounding yourself with and realize
that you aren’t doing yourself any favors by keeping your fans entertained with
your antics.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just sayin’…</span></div>
Tootlyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03628358612030564216noreply@blogger.com0