stay focused

One parent in a housing apt, one moving to the Villa Nursing Home I pray temporarily. One daughter graduating this year and since we homeschool, it's up to me to be sure everything is ready. One son desiring to go to college in Sydney, AU but it seems that we cannot get his college fund to climb no matter what. More stupid insurance billing issues at work, when will that ever be normal? Taxes are ready, we owe so much I could scream. I could let these issues ruin my week or I can remember the fact that I am an overcomer. My focus is what's on the other side of these mountains: My parents healthier and back together this spring, my beautiful daughter taking college courses and working towards the business she wants to have, my son increasing in his talents and writing music to become the man God has called him to be, both kids learning to lead more effectively & staying involved in the music & youth ministry that they love. And the Medicaid billing will work better this year! It has to because I cannot have another high-stress year like 2008. It's not worth it. and taxes...I'll consider the money as seed planted. I know it will come back a hundred-fold.
Basement tonight for my workout. That has been wonderful for relieving stress! So have my Goldens, they're like sponges. They snuggle into you and everything just melts away! My cat is curled up like a little pod over my arms in front of the keyboard purring away, what a little punky love! But I have to get ready for work now. I'm glad to have a job. Yes, I am.

Think Spring

As the temps still hover in the single digits, I decided to turn my thoughts to spring projects. I have a nice list made but one of the most enjoyable that I am looking forward to is our upcoming Salsa Garden.
In it, we will grow:
Tomatoes
Jalapeno peppers
Sweet peppers
Onions
Cilantro
Oregano
Garlic

There's a very large pine tree that needs to come down by the garden shed that is way too big and blocking too much sun. Since we have about one million other pine trees on our property, I figured I'd plant a Lilac bush there in it's place. I am looking forward to a good growing season this year!

YAY! The snowplow came!!!!

I'm up early, we all were. The kids are trying to get a couple more hours in. The fuzzbutts heard the city snowplow. They get excited. They thought the whole house should get up and be excited too. Well, we weren't with the exception of the cat. Now she's full of it. Really, she's literally bouncing off the walls. The plow is gone. The dogs are now snoring. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Dang this coffee is good.
I worked out last night. Same routine.

I'm enjoying a fast right now and of course, "CHOCOLATE" has entered my mind a few times. I found a few little tidbits about chocolate; thought I'd share. Enjoy!


Q. Why is there no organization such as Chocoholics Anonymous?
A. Because no one wants to quit.

Q. How do I get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car on a summer's day?
A. Eat it in the parking lot.

Q. What is a balanced diet?
A. Equal amounts of dark chocolate and white chocolate, unless your dietician prescribes equal amounts of bittersweet chocolate and milk chocolate. If your dietitian is out of town and unavailable for a consultation, use both regimens for a week at a time, alternating.


If you've got melted chocolate all over your hands, you're eating it too slowly.

Clearly, chocolate is a vegetable. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans. A bean is a vegetable. Wait! There's more! Sugar is derived from either sugar cane or sugar beets. Both are plants, which places them in the vegetable category. Therefore, chocolate is a vegetable.

Chocolate-covered raisins, -cherries, -orange slices and -strawberries all count as fruit. Eat as many as you want. Fruits are an important part of the Food Pyramid.

Diet tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It'll take the edge off Your appetite and you'll eat less.

If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

Money talks. Chocolate sings.

Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger. Therefore, chocolate is therapeutic.

Put "eat chocolate" at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you'll get one thing done.

A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn't that handy?

If you can't eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can't eat all your chocolate, what's wrong with you?

"You look like you've lost weight..."

It's already Thursday, wow! It's -22* and the windchill is -46*....I wonder if my car is gonna start? It didn't want to yesterday. I cannot imagine it wanting now!
This week, we walked Monday but not from Tuesday on because of the cold temps. I got a good workout in Tuesday night. Same routine plus the Roman twists and leg presses. Tonight's workout may be lame. I didn't sleep all that well; I tossed and turned and broke out in a sweat and slept like crud. But nontheless, I will torture my muscles and work myself to the point in which I cannot do another and then I'll be satisfied. I received my very first comment yesterday that it looks like I'm losing weight! :) I love the fact that all this hard work is becoming noticable! it's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo exciting!