" 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....

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.

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.............

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!!

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!

 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

 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

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.)