Challenge Completions

Wow! I am slow in reporting back on my two challenges:

Body for Life Nutritional challenge completed Dec. 10, 2010
Did really well. Had a few slips, and actually didn't end the challenge as strong as I would have liked... will discuss the reason later in this post. Making better choices about what I eat is easier now, as I am not used to a lot of junk.

European History Course completed Dec. 9, 2010
Consistently stayed 2 lessons behind schedule, then had to make them up at the very end. Learned a LOT, and enjoyed it very much. If I'm being honest, though, the last 4 lessons are kind of a blur... and I don't remember much from them because I was rushing to get through them, watching kids, and being distracted in other ways. Would definitely take another class after the New Year.

There is a reason that I didn't end these two challenges with a bang. I had my second miscarriage this year. It's strange to be writing this on my blog, because we didn't tell anyone about my first miscarriage in April aside from our immediate family, and a couple of people who watched Natalie and Abi while I got a d&c. In November, I finally did tell my best friend about my first miscarriage (because she'd recently had one, and I wanted to be supportive), she told me she really wished I would have said something earlier. When I miscarried again earlier this month, initially we only told family again. Eventually, I DID share the news with two friends, and their reaction was sympathy and also, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Beyond, that we haven't told people.

My miscarriages weren't news that I had really wanted to share. It seemed like telling people would be inviting them to feel sorry for me, or feel bad about something they couldn't do anything to change, and therefore unnecessary.

I'm learning that people want to know about these things because they care (which I knew) and because it strengthens our relationships. When I finally told my best friend about my miscarriage back in April, and she expressed her wish that I had told her sooner, I realized that she felt out-of-the-loop, and a bit distanced. Friends and family want to be supportive, just as I wanted to be supportive to my best friend through her miscarriage, and as she wished she could have been through mine.

So, here it is:

Last April, I miscarried at the end of the first trimester of my pregnancy. At the beginning of this month, I miscarried a second time, but was only about 7 weeks along. My heart absolutely broke each time.
BUT, I have been so blessed to experience the Lord's tender mercies, His love, and His guidance. I've been able to find peace that comes only through the Savior. And truly, I am doing well. Happy even, in this most special time of year. I know the Lord is aware of me, and my family, and I know that He blesses us each and every single day, and my heart is full in that knowledge. In my Relief Society meeting last Sunday, the lesson was on spiritual gifts, and the instructor asked each of us to choose one of the spiritual gifts she had listed and read the scriptures assigned to them. I chose the gift to be healed, and after some cross-referencing, came upon the scripture account of the woman with an issue of blood who touched the Savior's robes to be healed.

He said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace."

Reading that verse, my heart was touched, and I felt His love, and His peace. It felt as though He was speaking to me, and I now know (not just assume) that everything is going to work out as I continue to exercise my faith in Him. Through His divine love, my heart is now healed, and I have great joy today and bright hope for the future.

And now that my two "challenges" are complete, I am scheming on another goal, which I will post about next time. This next challenge is a lot more daunting than listening to lectures and eating yummy healthy food. On to the next!!! :)

When it rains...

... put on your dancing shoes and go find the puddles!

In my last post, I mentioned that illness had struck our home for the week and that, while no fun to deal with, we were all on the mend.

I'm wrong a lot. And I mean a LOT. This time, I was WAY, WAY, wrong. After that week, the phrase, "on the mend" was no longer applicable to our family in any way. The girls continued to deal with horrible coughs, fevers, more vomiting, and to top it off, pink-eye all around. Cory was so sick one night, I think we might have gotten two hours of sleep in. He was feverish, but chilled, nauseated, and sick as could be. Both of us got pink-eye at some point with the girls. The women in the house are all well as of Tuesday, (knock on wood) with the exception of a lingering cough for Natalie and Abi during the night. It's a different story for Cory, I'm afraid. He finished up with pink-eye, only to be at the mercy of some sort of major sinus infection. Sheesh! I don't think our little family has ever been through a month like this one as far as health is concerned.

Illness has not been the only damper we've had to confront for a whole month. There have been stressful work-related issues with Cory's job, loan officers who have been a bit difficult to deal with, and other things going on on top of it all.

Is there a silver lining to all of this?

OF COURSE!!! Though sometimes it's difficult for me to see through the pelting rain, the rainbow is not so far off in the distance:

Our family is LOVED... by the Lord, by our other family members, by friends, by many.
Our family has the GOSPEL and it's messages in our hearts, and therefore, clarity, understanding, and an eternal perspective to help us find peace.
Our family is BLESSED so greatly that as I reflect on it, I find myself tearing up in gratitude for all we have, for all we are, and just the fact that we get to be together.
While we might not always have good health, we have not one single chronic/major health issue among us.
While life may not run nearly as smoothly as we might hope for, we know where we are headed, and that, while it's rocky terrain at times, we'll eventually reach our destination.

Re-reading this post, I know it's starting to sound "perfectionist," or "idealistic optimist," and I want to be honest, so all that said, there's also this side of things: The wonderful stuff I just spoke of with regards to the silver lining? I see all that... truly, I do. But I definatley don't see it all the time. Internally, I have been pouting, I have been moaning, I have been complaining, I have not been "choosing to be happy" as well as I should.

BUT I am seeing things in a happier light today than I did yesterday, and plan to continue to do so. It's a process, that's for sure. Happiness is not a stagnant thing that I can just catch hold of and expect to stay with me for the rest of my days. Nope. Sometimes I lose my hold on it , or I voluntarily fling it far far away.

Today, though, I'm choosing to hold onto the happy things in my life and be grateful. So, today, I am metaphorically dancing in the downpour. :)

Cheerfully

For the last two weeks our home has been under attack by the Five Formidable Foes:

Contemptible Cough-and-Sneeze
Ruthless Runny Nose
Fiendish Fever
Horrible Headache
and let's not forget...
Villainous Vomit (who had a thing for Natalie)

There were times when I felt I was barely keeping my head above water... while trying to keep a cheerful smile plastered to my face.

I know that sounds a bit dramatic, and it is. However, there is more truth to it than I would like. Natalie got sick two weeks ago, and is just now recovering. Abi got sick last week, but seems to be on the mend. I was sick last week as well, but it was bearable for the most part. There was only a half-day that I was more or less bed-ridden. Thankfully, Cory was spared.

In light of all this, I had a couple minor setbacks with the Body For Life nutrition challenge. Surprisingly, I didn't feel one iota of guilt as I ate that piece of pizza that Cory brought home for dinner because I was not up to cooking. Nor did I feel bad about the Kit Kat and Reeses peanut butter cup I popped into my mouth later that night.

Setbacks are a part of life, and I have had, and will continue to experience, my fair share of them. The trick is dealing with those setbacks as cheerfully as possible.

So, here's to moving on, pressing forward, and not looking back. We often don't choose our circumstances, but we CAN choose our actions... And if Horrible Headache comes near me again anytime soon, I WILL cheerfully beat him to death.

On a lighter note: Check out my Super-Mega-Stellar Pumpkin this year!!!

I guess it'll only make sense if you've read the book, "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. I thought I was pretty clever... doing the ambigram for "Fire" on my pumpkin... which was lit up with fire.

Big pat on the back, blowing of kazoos, and confetti throwing for me. :)

Blah Blah Blog Post

Consistency rules much of my life. Putting my kids to bed and down for naps on time, gym workouts, grocery shopping on Mondays, family prayers, reading to my kids, etc: consistent, consistent, consistent.

But Blogging?

Not so consistent... Exhibit A: this blog. Turns out blogging is not necessary for vitality. Who knew? ;-)

I fall in and out of love with blogging like a teenager. Sad but true. And since I can't really call my relationship with blogging "on again" at the moment, I will simply provide a brief update in the hopes of reigniting the old flame.

Body For Life Nutritional Challenge: Check. Yogurt+Cottage Cheese+ Berries= Heaven in a bowl.

European History Course: Check...kind of... I'm two lectures behind schedule, but still loving it.

And just to throw something new into the mix of this blah post, here's my recent couponing conquest:
3 bags Kettle chips
2 bags Krunchers chips
10 boxes of whole grain pasta
2 boxes Go-Gurts
3 cans Bush's Baked Beans
2 cans green beans
2 boxes of Double Stuf Oreos
4 bottle Frank's hot sauce
1 Package Cottonelle Flushable Wipes
1 Package Dole Fruit Crisp
1 lb bag Mahatma rice
2 EAS protein bars
1 Zone Perfect bar
1 bottle 24-ct Advil

Retail Price: $85.00

My Price with coupons: $13

SKADOOSH!

Hand sweat

Today, I decided it was time to amp up the old weight training routine.



I have been performing the same routine for the past three months and I've thoroughly enjoyed it! It's become so comfortable, and I've liked it so well that I haven't made any modifications since June. This, unfortunately, is not how it's supposed to be done. Frequent modifications to fitness regimes are not only good for a change in pace but are important in keeping the body from coming to a stalemate... which is where mine has been for probably a month now.

Today, I said, "Adios," to my comfortable, enjoyable workout routine and, "Let's try to get through this with a tiny shred of dignity," to my new not-nearly-so-nice routine.

This new routine uses different exercises, heavier weights, a different rhythm, either the same or fewer reps, and the same number of sets as my previous routine, and it takes about the same amount of time as the old one. It went really, really well!!... For the most part... kind of... at least I managed to finish with that tiny shred of dignity I spoke of... I think...

Here's an idea of how it went:

Act 1 Scene 1: LA Fitness in Troy, MI.
(Andrea and the Dumbells doing shoulder presses together... Andrea doing ALL the work, and counting off reps in her head.)

Andrea: "...eight..."

Dumbells: "Yeah right, sister."

Andrea: "...nine..."

Dumbells: "You're seriously dreaming right now... and your eyes look crazy."

Andrea: "...*deep breath*...t-t-tennnn..."

Dumbells: "Did you just grow a new vein in your neck?"

Andrea: "...*wheeze* ....ellllllllllllleven"

Dumbells: "Holy Crow! You're arms are shaking so hard we can't see straight!"

Andrea: "...GASP!........twelllllllllllllllllllllllLLLLLLLLLVE! (thud)"

Dumbells: "OUCH!! Was that really necessary?!? Also, that lady over there is looking at you funny... also that guy over there is surprised you're not a guy... also your hand-sweat made us all wet. Gross. Also, Eww."

End scene 1

Basically that's how it went down.

After it was all over, I felt so happy that I was able to follow through with every rep/set that I had planned... granted, some finishes had more poise than others.

Hallelujah for accomplishing hard things and for hand sweat! (Gross. Also, Eww.)

Week 1: Nutrition Challenge and European History

Invigorating!

That's how it feels to put exceptionally nutritional food into your body, and exceptionally interesting information into your head.

In this first week, my goals of following the Body For Life nutrition guide and taking the European History course from Yale have been more rewarding and easier than I had planned.

First, the BFL nutrition challenge:

I'd forgotten just how GOOD it feels to eat like this! Seriously. My body is very happy about this change. It is true that once in a while my taste buds cry foul... they miss their good friends; Chocolate, Sugar, and Fat, who they only get to see once a week.

Here's a favorite:

See? Eating healthy isn't that bad. Looks pretty good, right?

The sandwich. OH, the sandwich!

(Turkey, romaine, red and yellow bell peppers on whole wheat... no condiments needed)

Sound weird? Yes. It does. Peppers? Oh-my-yummy-goodness, YES! I think I ate this sandwich like 4 times this week. Bring it on, Week 2!

On to Modern European History:

This was FANTASTIC!!! I'd forgotten just how much I enjoyed taking classes and hearing really great lectures. I took two of the 24 lessons this week. The first was simply the introduction to the class, but it served to ignite my already sparked interest in the subject.

(King Louis XIV)

The second lesson was on Absolute Rule, with an introduction to state-making, how it came to be widely accepted in the mid 1600's, and why. The Thirty Years war was touched on, as was King Louis XIV among other subjects. So interesting! I think my brain must have been starving for something like this, because I ate up every word the Professor spoke, took 2 pages of notes, and checked out a book on European History from the library to start. (I'm nuts, I know...)

Week 1 = SUCCESS!!

Chocolatey Goodness! (Not that I'm eating any...)

I love to bake.

I find great happiness in being creative and making something that I'm positive people will like. (Thanks mostly to chocolate, sugar, and other yumminess.) My relationship with making tasty treats is wonderful, because I don't ordinarily have to sample the finished product to enjoy the process... which is especially helpful right now as I'm resolved to be healthier in my eating habits.

Baking = Bliss.

It was nearly a year ago, that the clouds parted, the light came on, the angels began singing, and I discovered Bakerella.

(Above: Bakerella creations)

Oh Bakerella, how I love thee! Let me count the ways!... 1.) cake pops 2.) cake 3.) cupcakes 4.) candies 5.) creative awesomeness! Her website is choc full of amazing creations, recipes, and ideas.

(Above: Bakerella ice cream cone cake pops)

Just looking at all her ideas makes me smile. How can something so beautiful, creative, and DELICIOUS make anyone feel anything other than sheer delight?

(Above: Bakerella cupcake pops)

Today, I decided to make cake pops again and bring them to some of the women I go to church with. They weren't fancy like those pictured above. They were pink, simple, and lacked embellishment. I made a chocolate cake from scratch since I was out of box mixes, added the frosting, rolled the mixture into balls, inserted lollipop sticks, and froze them. After they reached sufficient hardness, I dipped them in the melted pink white chocolate and allowed them to set. Something about this process was so thoroughly enjoyable that I found myself grinning as I carefully packaged them to be given away.

The best part was seeing the light come into the eyes and the smiles spread across the faces of the women I gave them to.

(Above: Bakerella's pink pops. My pops are the same... my camera's capacity for photo quality is not.)

If ever there is ever a need for more happiness/creativity/chocolate in life, cake pops are the perfect remedy!