Simplicity Is Bliss

Thanksgiving, A New Year 2013

2013-01-03T12:24:00.001-05:00

Party like it's 2013, O' wait, it is! I worked New Years Eve and so after four days of work, I was absolutely bushed! I slept the new year in. I have been off since and haven't accomplished much, except a few runs. January 2, Jimmy and I did a 6 mile run at Melton Lake Park. It was so cold. I however, prefer to run outside. I just can't stomach the treadmill much.
Today feels like a Harry Potter kind of day. So the 1st movie is in. It is 39* outside and seems like about that inside! Minnie has made her some hot chocolate, while Chey is spending the day in her room after being dishonest.
I have been very slack at "blogging", and besides, my husband I'm not sure anyone out in cyberspace read my words. I live a pretty tame life, that most would think as boring, repetitive. It is a good life that I live. I am blessed my The King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Jimmy tells me to be raw, however, I want this blog to be positive and inspiring. Raw, to me would be all the nitty gritty let out. Mind you, I am human and erred as well with mistakes and regrets a plenty. I have a God given grace and redemption.

2012-10-30T08:53:00.004-04:00

" Now it is a strange thing, but things are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to, while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway" JRR Tolkien

In this month of October, our family took fall vacation to Myrtle Beach, SC. We enjoyed 6 days of surf, sand, family time and an abundance of different personalities.(10/13-19/2012) The fact, that all 6 of us were together, is in itself AMAZING!! I am so glad that we had the time. Ashley joined us on Tuesday, after her semester finals. (I am so proud of her) Zeke and the girls are growing up so fast. It is unbelievable how fast.
The last couple of months, I have read several books. A couple of the books were suggested by the Chic Chat Book Club, that I follow on face book. The titles are: Unglued; Made to Crave; One Thousand Gifts. Each one of these books have a major message that speaks to the core of this woman, wishing and striving for a personal relationship with her Kingly Father. I adopted a prayer from one of the authors: "I need wisdom to make wise choices. I need insight to remember the words I have read in Scripture. I need power beyond what I can find on my own. Help me to grow closer to you by making godly choices and seeing how you provide the power to live by the Spirit."
In the upcoming event of "The Hobbit" movie, I read the book by J.R.R. Tolkien. I really really can not wait!!! I absolutely love " The Lord of The Rings" trilogy. This past Sunday was so cold, Jimmy and I vegged on the couch and watched the first movie.
I have tried to teach myself to knit, occasionally over the last couple of years or ten. I recently heard the calling again, so I picked the needles up and chose a vintage pattern Crescendo Shawl (www.freevintageknitting.com) to start. After several failed attempt, I now have 21 rows done. It needs to be 66 inches long. I never chose easy. This pattern incorporates cable type stitches which I have never done. So far so good, I think. I don't think my stitches are too far off. I do believe I have chosen the wrong type of yarn for this pattern though. I have only ever attempted straight knit-purl scarves (x4).

Entering August....

2012-08-06T19:28:00.001-04:00

So we once again find ourselves in August, and I haven't blogged anything since, what, April- I think. Yesterday, August 5, was my Honey's birthday. I didn't prepare as well this year for his birthday. He is a hard man to buy for... He is hard to fit with shoes and clothes. Diffidently has to pick that out himself. The things I'd really like to splurge on for him is costly so that kinda doesn't happen often. We did go out to eat at our favorite restaurant- Carrabba's!! The girls got him a CD of Mercy Me and I got his cologne.....and our time together.......He's wonderful!!
We visited Jim's mom and step dad at the end of July in Indiana. Zeke went with us, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit and Geri's cooking. Geri is such a wonderful woman!!
My girls are home from the summer with their father. School starts in 2 days. Chey is a FRESHMAN- can we say Oh My Goodness.....and Boo is in 7th grade. So both at different schools again. Ash turned 19 this summer. And poor poor Zeke, had to have an appendectomy as well as have his wisdom teeth pulled under anesthesia. He's had a heck of a summer.

While they have been away I have managed to tackle a few projects around here; hung curtain rods in front room, painted the dining room and porch posts, cut all the pieces for Chey's quilt and a few other things.....But not enough...Poor time management, actually. Well, another project for me to work on.......
I will sign off for now, that is enough of an update.

2012-04-18T11:06:00.001-04:00

I have spent April 2-4, recuperating from my half marathon on Sunday and then it was time to go back to work. My husband and I run Covenant Healths Marathon every year or try too. Our runs have been between 5k and the full marathon. We missed the first year, but ran the second. I did the 5k and Jimmy ran the 1/2 Marathon. I missed out on last year's run due to a hamstring injury. It is awesome running across the 50 yard line in Neyland Stadium. I am quite proud of my time after poor training and the hamstring injury. It was 2 hrs 22 min and 13 sec. I will take it.
So the marathon is done and over with. I am still struggling with my eating habits, still trying to balance my workout regimens, my family, work, and self-time. Not to mention household stuff.... I have so many projects started and unfinished. I have very romantic ideas of being a DIY'er and yet a huge trait of procrastination! Menu planning, another project.So I have picked out some recipes in the cookbook- for menu plans- but the hitch is; purchasing the ingredients and actually cooking.
Even though I regularly exercise: ie; running, beginning bicycling and P90X'ing. It isn't consistent. Most of the time, I feel like I am burning a candle at both ends. Since the marathon is done, Jimmy wants to do P90X again. The problem is neither of us has figured out the diet to go with it. So that it is truly effective. Plus with the intense 3 month program, throwing a full scale running program on top of that ='s burn I'm afraid.
Plus, I really need to do something to improve my marketability in Nursing. I love ER nursing, I think it is my niche. What to do, what to do.............

2012-03-27T19:38:00.001-04:00

The goal is to be healthy and fit. Which is a very vague statement! Because what does it mean to be fit and healthy? What does it take? There are alot of theories out there regarding what it takes. Multiple diets and multiple fitness regimens. I have some theories of my own.

I have never had major weight issues, but I have the serious potential to have major issues! I have always been one to eat what I want as long as I did it in moderation. But as I get older, it is harder for me to stay at the weight that I feel comfortable at.

Youth is wasted on the unwise. I say this, because I really should have took better care of my body when I was younger. Been more health conscious with what I ate and my physical activity. It would have been so much easier to train my muscles for ROCK Hardness!!!

I grew up in a family that did not make that a priority. With Mom and Dad working long hours 6 days a week. Dinner was usually fast and easy. Although, my sister and I would sometimes eat dinner with my Grandma and Papa T. Let me tell you, it sure was Good Southern fare!

And Excercise....Oh Please! So after I had my babies and not being happy with my post-baby figure, I started with inconsistent work outs. It began with the occasional work outs at 0600 Dennis Austin work outs on Lifetime. Then I proceded to walking, slimfast and Lean Cuisine meals. Now, I have ran several 5k's, 1/2 and full marathons. Plus done the P90X exercises ~ I, however, am not as chiseled as I want to be.

Back to the Question: How do you become and stay healthy and fit? It is Very Very Frustrating...............
My theories are: MODERATION!!, Try to drink LOTS of Water, lots of fruits and veggies, 1600 calorie daily, DECREASE all processed food consumption.
MAJOR FOOD CONGLOMERATES (Con-Ag, etc..) ARE NOT OUR FRIENDS!

So on my journey I go....to learn the best of my ability how to stay healthy and fit!!

New Spring!!

2012-03-21T20:44:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was March 20, 2012. The first day of spring, which I welcome with open arms. I am not a winter person. I love the light, the green and the colors of nature. The tulips have bloomed out, my hydrangea has new growth. I am so ready for!!

My Mom, Dad and my nieces came from NC to stay the night on the 16th. I am very glad they did.They have visited several times over the years, but have never stayed. It was very nice to just hang and relax at home visiting them. On friday night, I fixed my chili and cornbread. Saturday morning, I actually fixed breakfast.(I never fix breakfast, Jimmy always cooks my breakfast) I even made biscuits. Have not done that in over 6 yrs.

Monday evening, I was so surprised with company. My prodigal daughter came home for a 2 hr visit. I fixed pasta for dinner before she left. Maybe, just maybe, we can bridge the grand canyon that is between us. I would really like to have peace with her. She still has some growing up to do and she will.......

I have recently read the Hunger Games. Those novels blew me away. I really can't wait for the movie. They have a great story line that resembles our current culture. Very potent!!!

I really am so very blessed by the Lord above!!

The Blessed Life!

2012-03-06T13:54:00.006-05:00

On March 4, 2012 : Our family got up early and meet up with my Best Bud and her daughter at The Lost Sea in Sweetwater, Tn. It was a cold sunday morning, but it was warm once we got inside. The cavern stays at 58* year round. It was a very interesting tour. The experience was a gift that we where able to share with our daughters and our friends.

Here are a few photos of the cave's inside that I took with my phone camera. The underground lake photo's did not turn out well. : ( !!

Check it out: www. thelostsea.com

2012-02-28T20:35:00.001-05:00

So I am experimenting with adding photos. The top photo is of the actual soup that my husband loves. This recipe is from the Weight Watchers Momentum cookbook. The best part of this is it is ZERO points, plus it is very versatile.

My Mother is not a cook. So I did not grow up with the benefit of learning how to plan a menu and cook accordingly. So I have a couple of goals to accomplish by the end of summer.
1) Learn how to menu plan.
2) Save money by menu planning.
3) Utilize the coupon and local sales to facilitate these goals!
4) Eat healthier and cleaner.

2012 Total New Year

2012-02-19T15:14:00.000-05:00

So I haven't done very well with the blog thing. : ( Life gets busy and in the way. Between work, children, exercising, and wasting tons of time with facebook and my new obsession Pinterest and Polyvore!! I just haven't. Plus I wonder what it is that would be interesting to write about. I am a jack of trades while a master of none. I don't know if I have A.D.D. or what. My focus is only getting worse as I get older.....squirrel!! So I'm gonna try again.
So to recap 2011~ I am still working at MMC. This February makes 5 years. The girls are both in middle school. Jimmy is still at Cornerstone, though his position has changed. I have read several books this year. Boo started playing basketball. Chey is attending modeling classes. The year has been very disorganized and disjointed- birthday cards late, decrease in church visits, sinus infections, injured hamstring, nontraditional thanksgiving dinner and Christmas. However, we did provide a very big Christmas for the girls.
Now we are into 2012! We are wonderfully and graciously blessed. Both Jim and I have signed up for the Knoxville 1/2 marathon in April. So we are training for that, this past week however~ we haven't trained very well. Jim has injured his left shoulder/neck area. So he has been seeing a chiropractor. I do believe my sinuses will be the death of me. Makes me feel all blah. As well as the running, we have been doing the P90X again.
Also for diet control, we have been trying to eat better utilizing Weight Watchers. One of the recipes that Jimmy loves is the vegetable soup. So I have fixed it many times for him. On valentines day, I fixed another WW recipe of Slow Cooker Tuscan Soup. Man, did it taste good. (If I can figure out how to load pics, I will show both soups.)

The Busy Life!

2011-01-11T10:35:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season, that life gets so busy. My resolve to blog weekly has fell by the wayside. It has been a couple of months now. In November, Cheyenne, Jessica and my Mother have birthdays. So on saturday,Nov. 13, my parents, sister and her children came to Tn. We celebrated everyone's birthday with chili and birthday cake. Immensely enjoyed each others company and went shopping. The girls grabbed up treats from Aeropostle`.
I worked Thanksgiving day,so we enjoyed thanksgiving dinner with our close friends that following sunday. Our bounty included an assortment of vegetables, bread, desserts and a 22lb Turkey. Jimmy deboned the turkey for me, which is a lot harder than it looks on the Food Network. Everything was very tasty and the company was grand. We are all very blessed.
Christmas day, Jimmy and I woke up to a layer of white. We drove to North Carolina to celebrate with our family. Spent time with Mom and Dad,my three girls, Tina and her children. Doug was the only member missing. He was out on call working for the NCDOT, trying to keep the roads safe and clear.
New Years day was celebrated at home with our little family. We watched the ball drop with Dick Clarke's special. Christmas and New Year's have came and went. And now, we are in the throes of winter.
It snowed yesterday, so school was canceled again, much to Minnie's dismay. Time will only tell what else the New Year of 2011 will bring. I pray, Many Blessings for all my Family and Friends!!

Happiness, part II

2010-09-13T16:51:00.000-04:00

Ironically, the pastor at church touched on this subject as well on 9/4. Anyway, back to my thought process of the book's contents. The happiest people are those that have put themselves out there win or lose, they have the fewest regrets. They tend to be Positive-thinkers, shifting away from negative thoughts. Unfortunately, inaction paralyzes great dreams and desires. This thought is a bases in insecurity. Sometimes one has to fake it until you make it, acting and thinking happy.

Happiness

2010-08-30T21:03:00.000-04:00

" We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have." ~ frederick koenig

I just finished reading a book giving to my Hubby for his birthday. happy: Simple Steps to Get the Most Out of Life, it is a good read. So thinking on some of the ideas in this book I have a few insights. What is it that makes me happy? Well, spending time with my family, I love night time snuggled in my husbands arms, working together with all the household maintenance, fitness workouts, reading a good book, going to church, spending time with my friends, eating good food, just hanging out, hiking, beach, being creative, there is just so much. I want to live a life of wholeness instead of a life that is expected of me or a reflection of "success". What is the real meaning or purpose of what I do??
Unfortunately, I spend most of my time at work, not that I don't have a satisfying job. I have the job that I wanted from the start. I work in an Emergency room and it is quite satisfying, especially when I help ease someones distress. It can be really stressful, life is so uncertain when one is sick. Most of the time, I work with a great group of people that work together. The politics can be really stressful, and I need to make a point of staying out of any gossip circle. I thoroughly enjoy patient care, it is making sure everything is charted that can be a-bit overwhelming. It is harder than a person thinks to keep up with charts that grow legs and walks around. My primary purpose of work is to help provide for my family. Money isn't everything, but it sure is nice to be able to pay bills on time, buy groceries, and all the modern conveniences of living.
Optimist live longer. With that thought, I have always tried to hope, believe, wish, and fantasize about life being better. As I have gotten older, I have learned that you are the deciding factor if life is good or not. Of course, there is gonna be events in life that are out of your control. You can chose to live or just exist. I guess I have always been a fighter, set a goal and persevered to the best of my ability. I believe that I am a blessed woman with a wonderful Husband and family, good health, good job and a satisfying life.
I love the quote "Reduce the complexity of life by eliminating the needless wants of life, and the labors of life reduce themselves."~Edwin Way Teale. De cluttering one's life is a thought I really desire. I really want balance of all the important things in my life, I just don't know if I have the organizational skills to apply all aspects of life. Recently, I have read and trying to apply The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. That is just one example of how I am trying to achieve balance in an area of my life. Together my husband and I are doing the P90X fitness regimen for our health, soon we will be training for the 2011 Covenant Marathon. I am trying to be the best mother I can be to two beautiful,smart young ladies. Life is a full plate!! However, I have been blessed.

Weekly Random Rambles

2010-08-23T15:09:00.000-04:00

I have decided that on Mondays, I will try to post a weekly update. The key to everything is balance and life is very far from that. Part of life is work, children, marriage, home life and all mundane things that compile that. With only 24 hrs in 7 days, seriously how are we to pack it all in without going nuts. Simplify and prioritize is such a fine balance. Ergo my normal routine: (on a work day) Up at 0530, dress, eating breakfast,get girls up, 0630 drive, work @ 0653, 0700 report, lunch somewhere between 1100~1500, report 1900, drive 1915~ HOME 1930, 5 mins for the girls, P90X(with them sometimes) 2040 done, dinner, shower, bed: Just to do it all over again. Luckily we are in week 8 of P90X, leaving 5 weeks left. Then it starts with the marathon training for Covenant 2011 run. I am sure glad that I can do all things through my Savior Jesus Christ. For I need all the strength he delivers!!
   Then there is the process of cooking and planning for this fitness routine. Trying to stay under 80 carbs a day. It is bloody impossible!! I so love pasta and Italian dishes. Not to mention sweets, chocolates, Breads!! O my goodness. For the most part, I have done fairly well I think. I am used to burning more cals with cardio, ie my running, but soon enough I will get back to that. So I am not sure what the trick is, I have been eating more meat and fish, less breads, pastas and sweet stuff. I haven't had a regular coke in over 2 months now. Every once in a while I will drink a diet pop. Have increased H2O and decreased juices(more carbs). Still eating veggies though!! And still my weight is staying consistent!! I am just trying to use up my fat stores and polish my muscle tone!!
   I was off this past weekend, saturday, we got up early and P90X'd it- Legs and back! We cleaned some around the house, got laundry caught up, doggy bathed and ultimate chili cooked for company. Jim's co-worker and spouse came over. We had a very delightful evening. Lots of laughs and conversation until 2230. After they left, we cleaned up the kitchen together and ran the dishwasher. Quickly followed with a trip to nighty night!!
   Sunday was our off day, so to speak. Back to the low carb high protein diet. The girls and I went to church at Faith Promise and Jimmy had his service to go to. The spirit was alive at FPC!! It was miracle weekend and I hope God above hears my pleading heart. I am expecting an explosion of miracles in my family and my life, my friends, finances and work!!

Getting Started!

2010-08-16T18:16:00.000-04:00

I have never attempted a blog before, technology seems daunting sometimes. However, I thought I would give it a try.
Today is a Beautiful day in Tennessee. I had the day off, so I got to sleep in a little. It felt so good to veg! The girls went to school and Jimmy went to work. It was just Buddy and me ambling around the house today. He is a good little dog. He was giving to us and has proven to be a well behaved little man. The only dog I know that doesn't mind showers. Tolerates them rather well. The girls took to him right away. They have been wanting a dog for some time. It is all good.