Ride Along

Earlier this week the Man of the House had some dental work done and needed someone to drive him home.  Because of this he left his truck there and I got to take him to work the next day.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

Riding along beside him in the pre-dawn morning I realized how much I enjoy just being in the car with him.

It's the closeness of sharing the small space with him.

The way he will reach across the gear shift and take my hand or rest his hand on my leg.

Sometimes we will talk. Other times we may share a comfortable silence. Just listening to the radio.

It's just one of those small pleasures which are so very easy to overlook as they happen.  Moments to seek out in the everyday.  Times to savor and treasure.

Oh... and he smelled really good too! :0)

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A Spirit of Gratitude: January 26

This Week I Am Thankful For:

Exciting NFL playoff games

My last big juicy cheeseburger for a while

The male offspring making dessert

Early to bed

Starting healthy eating plan

Oatmeal with cinnamon and walnuts

A nice custom order

The kiddos all going for a walk together

Quiet mornings

Hanging clothes on the line - in January

Noticing the daffodils are starting to grow

0

Reorganized pantry

Texts with my niece

A decluttered "junk" drawer

One perfect white cloud in a clear blue sky

Feta cheese

I did NOT hit two deer with my car

The Man of the House starting to feel better

Hearing a bird start singing as the sun rises

Baked salmon

The sound of sleet on the windows

Staying warm inside when it's cold and rainy outside

The female offspring picking her brother up from school for me

A weight loss of 3.8 lbs

Three years with the grand baby

Grocery shopping with the Man of the House

Warm January days

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The Journey Has Begun

This week was... well it was a start.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

I'm not gonna lie.  Last weekend as a sort of last hurrah to my bad habits, I indulged in some chocolate fudge brownies with cream cheese frosting.  And I had the man fix me a big juicy blue cheese burger with fries.  After that though It. Was. On.

I did well with healthier eating.  Making myself eat breakfast - usually oatmeal with some Chia seeds added to it along with a handful of chopped walnuts and sprinkle of cinnamon.  Although I also discovered these Cheerios Ancient Grains which are quite yummy with a little almond milk.  (thank you Amanda for the heads up on those!)

I'm struggling with lunch a little.  I don't like to put a lot of fuss or time into making myself a lunch.  Because of that this week it has been a salad or a Hummus and veggie sandwich on whole wheat flat breads.  I think next week I might try making a quinoa and veggie salad that can last me a few days.

I am drinking a lot more water.  Haven't had a soda since last weekend. I also found the power to walk right past Starbucks, not once - but Twice this week!

Exercise.  Um..  well.  I really want to give an excuse about how the whole week was thrown off by the holiday and a teacher work day or whatever.  But when you get right down to it - I just didn't make time for it.

I did wear my FitBit (since about noon on Monday when I finally figured out where I had left it) and am much more aware of how much I am not moving.  It's something I know I need to work on.

Today:  January 23
Start Weight: 167.8 lbs
Weight Today: 164.0 lbs
This week I exercised: none
Steps walked:  13785

My goal updates for Week 1:
*  Drink enough water ✔
*  Wear FitBit daily ✔
*  Exercise at least 3 to 5 days

My goals for Week 2:
*  Drink enough water
*  Wear FitBit daily
*  Increase daily step totals
*  Exercise at least 3 days

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Three Things: I Want To Do This Year

I didn't make any actual resolutions for this year, choosing instead to focus on one word to better myself and my life throughout the year.  That doesn't mean I don't have some goals I want to accomplish this year!  Here are just three of the things I want to do this year:

1)  HAVE MORE FUN WITH THE MAN OF THE HOUSE:  
This was actually his idea.  We want to start doing some of those "someday we should..." things.  Laugh together.  Play together.  Make time to do more things we enjoy together.

2)  GET MY CHOLESTEROL UNDER CONTROL:
I discussed this in quite some detail in my Wake Up Call post last week.  No need to bore you by rehashing the details. I will be posting a weekly update tomorrow.

3)  AT LEAST DOUBLE MY ETSY SALES FOR  LAST YEAR:
Last year wasn't a bad year for Queen B's Busy Work,  but it wasn't exactly what I would call stellar either.  I plan to make efforts to at least double last year's numbers.

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Abide

While participating in a SheReadsTruth online Bible study the other day focusing on the Book Of John, I was reading this passage:

 ^"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.  If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.  As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love." ~ John 15:5-9

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

 My eyes and mind kept coming back to one word:  "Abide".  I was compelled to look up the definition. (I am such a word nerd sometimes)

Abide: wait for, endure without yielding, bear patiently, accept without objection, live somewhere, remain or continue.

This gave me so much to think about!

If I am in Him and He is in me, I will be able to wait patiently for His return.  Enduring the things of this world without yielding.  Accepting and bearing my trials, accepting the path I have been placed on and my given assignments here without objection.  Continuing on my journey.  Knowing my home is with Him in Heaven.

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A Spirit of Gratitude: January 19

I AM THANKFUL FOR:

That first cup of morning coffee

Orchestra recitals

Banana pudding

Craft projects completed

The grand baby "playing" his guitar

No freezing rain

Hummus and veggie sandwiches

Trending on Etsy

Snuggles from the grand baby

"It's not cancer"

Finally having some real answers

The smell of cooking toast

photo: publicdomainpictures.net  

The male offspring getting a 95 on his final exam

The kick in the pants I've been needing

My silly kids

The Man of the House not having to work late

Brownies with cream cheese frosting

Movie night

Getting lots of laundry completed

Starting a decluttering plan

Beginning a new book

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

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A Spirit of Changing Gratitude

My series "A Spirit of Gratitude" is making some changes for 2015.

It's moving from Thursday to Monday.  (Don't worry Thankful Thursday linkups, I'll still be dropping by to share)  I felt it would put the week off to a good start by looking at the week past and all the blessings it held.  Putting the mind and heart into a good place for the one ahead.

I also hope to expand on the gratitude list by adding a few more thoughts, at least from time to time.

The name might also be changing - that's still in the "thinking it over" pre-planning stage.  We'll see what, if anything, happens with that.

There are also more bloggy type plans in the works: The return of some old favorites.  Some new features and series.  And anything else that might happen along the way!

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Wake Up Call

One afternoon you're sitting on the couch, minding your own business, happily eating cheetos right out of the bag (no judgment) when the phone rings.  You casually lick florescent  orange powder off your fingers and take the call.

That call.  The one from your doctor with your lab results.  Telling you that your cholesterol is too high and she wants to discuss a management plan with you as soon as possible.

You go in the next day.  Your cholesterol isn't just "kind of" high.  It's high - period.  It's all just a big mess.  Bad cholesterol is too high.  Good cholesterol is too low.  Triglycerides are through the roof.  This isn't good.

Not. Good.  At all.

You know you've put on a little quite a bit of weight in the past couple of years.  You haven't been exercising for the last several months.  Your eating habits have been on a down hill slide recently.

But you didn't expect this.  This is a big red flag being waved right in front of you.  Alarm bells are ringing. This is your wake up call.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

It's time to get serious about your health.

I say "you" - what I mean is "me".

I've been kidding myself.  Making excuses.  Turning a blind eye.

"It's not that much weight"

"A lot of people eat worse than I do"

"I'll start exercising again soon"

"I deserve a treat because _____"

But I'll be honest - this shook me up.  Put a scare into me.  Got my attention.

It's time to stop the excuses and get real.  Take charge of my health and make some permanent changes.

Healthier eating.  Reading labels, making better choices, tracking calories.

Regular exercise. Wearing the FitBit and tracking my steps.  It's no longer a matter of "I don't really want to".  Now it's a matter of "I have to".

This will be my journey toward health.  I'm inviting all of you along with me to keep myself accountable.  And maybe for a little moral support from time to time.  I plan to post weekly updates to start.  And we'll see where this goes from there.

So, here it is - I am embarrassed  to even share this with you - the not so pretty honest truth.

Today:  January 16
Weight: 167.8 lbs (you have no idea how much I did not want to type that)
This week I exercised: none
Steps walked: ?

My goals for Week 1:
*  Drink enough water
*  Wear FitBit daily
*  Exercise at least 3 to 5 days

Have you ever had a wake up call which caused you to make some  health or lifestyle changes?

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When We See Past The Distractions

When we get distracted by the earthly things - the busyness, the chores, the schedules - we forget to look for the everyday miracles in our lives. The quiet blessings which constantly reveal His glory to us.

photo: publicdomainpictures.net

They are all around us.  We can see them if we simply slow down.  Breathe it in.  SEEK the small joys.

The miracle in a child's laugh... a sunrise... a bird song... the wind blowing... the smell of a cup of coffee... the touch of a loved one... the complexity of your own hands.

Look around you. Savor the moments. Be thankful.

SEEK 2015

I haven't actually said it here yet, so... Happy New Year!

Yes, 2015 has arrived. Quietly for me.  Slipping in without fanfare, bells, or whistles.  And I am perfectly OK with that.  More than OK.  Really just the way I like it.

So here we are.  A new year.  Which for many people means a new set of resolutions - or goals if you prefer.  For the second year in a row, for me it means a new word.  A new focus for the year.

Until the morning of January 1, I thought that word was going to be 'Pray'.  It was a good enough word and aligned well with some thoughts I had been having recently.  Pray seemed like a nice choice.

But that morning the word 'SEEK' presented itself.  Staring me almost quite literally in the face.  And at that moment I felt the Spirit nudging me towards Matthew 6:33.

Something clicked into place.  And quite at the last moment- 2015 became a year to SEEK.

A year to Seek: Joy, Love, Knowledge, New Experiences, Contentment, a spirit of Gratitude, Peace, Wisdom, Friendship, and Health.

But first and foremost to SEEK God.  His kingdom.  His righteousness. His will.  A closer relationship with Him.

Knowing that by doing this - all these other things will be given to me as well. According to His promise.

So this year, I will SEEK.

SEEK God's will for me.  SEEK His best for me.  SEEK to serve and encourage others.  SEEK to be the very best me - the woman God intends for me to be.

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Saturday's Inspiration: Do Anything

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Shiny and New

The list maker in me loves the start of a new year.  Leaving the past behind.  A fresh start.  All shiny and new.   Full of promise.

It's that same part of me who adores a brand new box of crayons with the fresh points lined up in a row.  A new notebook or journal full of empty pages waiting to be filled.  Opening a new book for the first time and feeling the spine give just a little.

As I sat yesterday, sipping my coffee and soaking up the first morning of 2015 - I came across this verse:

Lamentations 3:22-23

And that's when it occurred to me.  With Jesus, every day is like New Year's Day!!

A new beginning.  A fresh start.  What ever happened before is in the past.  All your mistakes, missteps, mess ups, and sin..those were then.

THIS.  This is now. You can give all of it over to him and He will wash it all away.  Giving you a clean slate.  A fresh start. However far you fell yesterday - today is a new beginning.

His grace and mercy never run out.  Never dry up.  Never get tired.  Never give up on you.

They are new every morning.  Every. Single. Morning.

Every day.  Every hour. Every minute.

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