I need a maid

   I HATE cleaning!  Seriously, I am the worst housekeeper.  I can pick up any room lickity split, but when it comes to actually cleaning - that's another story and it doesn't have a good ending.  That's one of the reasons we had kids - train them on how to clean so I don't have to. ; o)

We have a joke at my house....my husband asks if I'm inviting anyone over soon because the house needs cleaned.  True?  Yes.  Pathetic?  Yes.  It is a joke, but it is also my sad reality.  We were in one of those dirty places and it just so happened that my daughter's volleyball team was looking to have a get-together to view film and have some team bonding.  Perfect.  My excuse to clean.  So I offered our home and the girls came, ate pizza, watched game film and even tye-dyed t-shirts.  And my home is clean!  I even vacuumed the stairs.  So come on over and see the clean house.  Oh, wait.  By the time you get here I'm sure it will need another cleaning.  Somehow the clean doesn't last long at all.  Oh well.  You can come anyway, just look past the dust and dishes and whatever is causing a mess.

What do you do when you have to tackle a task you don't want to or don't like doing?

Weekend Update

"Good evening.  I'm Chevy Chase, and you're not." 

I know I'm dating myself because I remember Chevy Chase doing the Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live.  I didn't watch SNL this weekend (actually, I don't watch it anymore) but I did have one of the best weekends in a long time!  It was a non-stop weekend and I didn't feel like I needed a weekend from my weekend. 

Everything started with installing a new sink and faucet in one of the bathrooms.  We were without one sink for a week as we tried to work on it last weekend and it didn't come together.  So we left it for the week and tackled it again on Friday and we got it in, and ..... it works!  Cooked some Mahi Mahi for dinner then on to my volleyball match for the night.  We didn't win but I was up and ready for the games.  I had fun despite the losses. 

Saturday was a quiet morning with coffee and the paper then on to a great workout (you'll understand why in a few lines).  Ran a few errands and met up with my husband to finish some shopping.  Back home and got ready for a date night.  We almost forgot what that was, it had been so long since we've gone out.  Went out to a fantastic dinner.  Here's why I had to work out:  sourdough bread, clam chowder, a heavenly salad (spinach with bacon and a creamy dill vinaigrette dressing - a taste explosion when I took my first bite), sturgeon for dinner with a creamy lemon sauce, of course wine to drink, and crème brûlée for dessert.  I belonged to the clean plate club, and if we weren't in public, I would have considered licking those plates clean.  But the night was not over.  Off to the symphony and seeing The Brothers Cazimero perform.  No, they are not a circus group.  They are brothers, duh, who are Hawaiian singers.  I love Hawaiian music and this was a fabulous night.  (Here's a link to one of my favorite Hawaiian songs, "Pua Hone") There were also a few Hula dancers and we were so close we could smell the lei's fragrant aroma.  Oh how I wish I was in Hawaii right now!

Sunday was a full day of volleyball for my daughter and her team made it to the finals of the consolation bracket.  Too bad they didn't win but they were playing pretty good volleyball in the end.  My daughter missed the last tournament because she got a concussion from an errant ball that hit her in the head.  She is feeling much better and was very excited to play again. 

It was a great weekend and I hope yours was a good one too.

I'm Back

So sorry to be gone so long.  These past 6 weeks have been something.  I am surprised as to how consuming the passing of my father-in-law.  We rejoice that he's in heaven and blessed his passing was quick, but it did put us in a funk for a bit.  Then add all the things that are involved in dealing with the death of a loved one.  That alone has filled our free time.

Then on to my busy month at work and putting in extra time.  January is a hectic time for me - closing out the previous year and getting everything ready for the new year.  But, I really like my job, so even when it gets busy I know how fortunate I am to have this great job.

Now my dad is gravely ill.  I've spent the last few weekends visiting him.  My sisters all came out to visit at the same time and what a blast it was to spend time with the girls.  That rarely happens anymore since we are spread across the country.  We all spent time with Dad and laughed so hard over the weekend.  I think the fun was cathartic for us and Dad.  Yes, we got a bit noisy at times and he had to tell us to quiet down, but isn't that what dad's are supposed to do?  I am so thankful that I was able to visit. 

I welcome your prayers over my dad, his wife and my family. 

So, the plan is to get back to sharing the goings on and any other fun stuff that comes along.
See you soon.

Missed it by this much

And I’m good with that.  I set a goal to lose 20 pounds in 22 weeks. Before I let you know how I did (I think you know a bit by the title), let me take you back to how this came about.

I was one of the lucky ones growing up.  I was always thin and didn’t have to worry about weight.  After two kids I never dropped back to pre-baby weight.  I began to gain extra weight a few years ago (up to 10 pounds then dropped  a couple) and last summer put on another six pounds in just a couple of weeks.  I was watching the scale climb and not liking it.  I knew I needed to cut back on the treats, watch portion size and begin exercising.  I knew what to do, I just didn’t have the will power or literally, the get-up-and-go to do it. 

One day I was reading blogs and clicking around on the web and came across the site, Two Girls on the Go.  They just so happened to be running a daily challenge for the month.  Any other day I would have continued my surfing.  Not that day.  I followed that monthly plan only missing three workouts.  The first week I thought I’d drop at least three pounds.  (When you are a “Biggest Loser” watcher you expect to lose like they do.)  Nope, I lost just one pound.  A bit discouraging.  The second week had to be a couple of pounds lost.  Again, just one.  After four weeks, four pounds.  Ok, so if I keep at this, in another four weeks I should be around 8 pounds down.  I was beginning to see that one pound a week really is a good thing. 

During the 22 weeks I caught a cold and had little energy for three weeks but maintained then lost again.  I also made it through Thanksgiving.  Then the two weeks surrounding Christmas did me in.  I succumbed to eating all the goodies and couch potato-ing.  There was also the passing of my father-in-law.  The motivation pretty much was gone during those few weeks.  Which brings us to today.  So here are the numbers…

I lost 16 pounds.  I started out at 154 pounds, jeans were pushing into a size 12 and my size 10 work slacks were tight.  I know some people would love to have my weight “problem”.  I know I was very unhealthy – and this is the problem.  I had very little muscle and mostly fat.  I had no endurance.  I struggled to run at a 12 minute mile pace – I could only last four minutes on a good day.  Today I am 138 pounds, jeans are a size 8 and dress pants size 6.  Trust me, I don’t look like someone who should be in a size 6.  I still have that thick layer of fat; it’s just in a smaller circumference.  I can usually run two miles on the treadmill at a 12 minute mile pace.

My first major goal is to get to 134 pounds.  Ultimately I would like to be down to 130.   I’ll admit, the numbers are important to me (it’s nice to see results), but they aren’t the most important.  I want to be strong and healthy and this is what I’m most excited about. 

I share this to hopefully inspire anyone else feeling they need to get healthier.  Trust me.  If this mid-40’s gal who could never say no to a sweet treat can do it I know you can.  I still have a treat but not every night.  Instead of a bowl of ice cream I have a spoon of sherbet ice cream.  I will still eat treats next Christmas, but I will sweat and burn some of those calories instead of letting them settle in my rear.

Going Home

I've been away from the blogging for a bit.  We've been a bit out of sorts and pre-occupied the last couple of weeks.  My father-in-law passed away expectantly the week after Christmas.  That caused my husband to be out of town for a few days and all that goes on with the arrangements and overseeing everything is more consuming than I realized.  So that has been taking up most of any free time we have.  I think in the next week things should be slowing down and at a more manageable pace.

We are sad about our loss of him, but we are also rejoicing in the fact that he loved and lived for Jesus!  That man loved to share stories and his love of Jesus.  I know, without a doubt, that he is home in heaven, Jesus was there to greet him, the angels were singing and dancing and his wife was waiting with open arms. 

His passing also reminds me to share Jesus (something I have to admit I'm not good at).  Also to let those I love know I love them.  When I shared the news with my family I also took a minute to let them know how much I loved them. 

Don't let time steal you away from letting your loved ones know how much you care about them. 

2012

Do you make New Year’s resolutions?  Do you resolve to eat better or lose weight?  Promise you will be kind to others or do more charity work?  Spend more time with family?  Walk the dog daily, no matter what the weather?  Keep the bathrooms clean and laundry put away?  Whatever you resolve, I hope you are successful.

I have a friend who, after prayer and discussions with God, has a word she focuses on for the year.  I love this idea!  You aren’t focused on doing (or not doing) something.  Through the year she sees how God shows the word in so many ways to her, and many times not as she would have expected.  That’s one of the beauties of our God – He surpasses our limitations to reveal Himself in unexpected ways.

I pray for blessings over you and your families for this coming year.

Coffee

I recently had a coffee at my house.  The things I look forward to when I plan a coffee....

1.  Creating the invitation

2.  Deciding what goodies to make

3.  Who will show - will anyone show?

And my husband's favorite...

4.  Having a clean home

Sometimes my husband will ask if I'm having a coffee any time soon because the house needs a good cleaning (I'm the first to admit, and my husband is the second, that I'm not the world's best cleaner.  Actually, I'm not the anything's best cleaner).  So, sometimes I decide to have a coffee just to get me to do some extra cleaning - and it always works.

I enjoy having a coffee get-together in December because the house is festive with Christmas decorations and there are so many dessert ideas to choose from.  This time I had shortbread cookies dipped in chocolate (some sprinkled with crushed candy cane) and seven layer bars.  My daughter loved the seven layer bars. 

This time I only had one person show and it was a sweet neighbor lady.  I don't know this woman very well, so it was a treat for me to have her all to myself for an hour and get to know her better.  This is what's so great about hosting the coffees.  I prepare for ten but expect none.  With these expectations, each coffee is always a success.  Refer back to the four items above.

I only have three or four coffees a year - I don't do any during the summer months.  I'll be planning another as Spring gets closer.  By then my house will need a good cleaning.