Counting My Blessings.....

Today I'm grateful for....

My family who helped me finish up fencing off the garden to keep the bunnies out.

A rice pack in the freezer to wrap around my angry ankle.

A kitchen to bake homemade pizza and homemade walnut bars in.

A treadmill, so I could walk indoors, at home, where if I needed to stop I could, without needing a ride home.

Two wonderful sons who cleaned out the bird cage together.

Cool watermelon in the refrigerator

Central Air

Two more days of relaxing weekend ahead!

Food Diary-Friday 5/28/10

Breakfast- cereal and almond milk

Snack#1- a few handfuls of homemade trail mix at the state park- pretzels, cashews, raisins, cranberries

"Lupper"- lunch/supper- burger and fries - Before & after photos-Couldn't eat it all.

Snack#2- frozen strawberries blended with lemonade

Snack#3- Doritos & Diet Soda - Really craving salt!

Snack#4- not pictured- cherry fruit snacks

Reflection- Its been a grazing kind of day. Big meals aren't working for me lately. I was up too late because of the loud music coming from an outdoor concert down the road. I shouldn't have eaten the fruit snacks at midnight. I probably did not drink enough water today given the extra hiking today.

Some Thoughts.....

My watermelon smiled at me. How can it not be a great day when that happens?

Hike today in New Glarus Woods State Park- I was happy the family joined me on my walk today. We looped around this wooded state park, and I thankfully only managed to suffer one mosquito bite. Next time I need to remember the bug off junk before we hit the trail. Thankfully I had leftover insect repellent wipes in our Letterboxing backpack.

We didn't find any Letterboxes because we could not find the first clue. It was one of those cryptic plants were you have to find the first clue and then do the math calculations in order to find any of the 5 hidden boxes. I was more interested in getting my heart rate up, so maybe next time we'll hunt for those stamps. 

The water works began on the ride home. Usually my allergies wait until the first week of June, but of course, everything is early this year. I'm hoping they don't get too bad. I try to consume a spoonful of honey a day, year round to help with my seasonal allergies.

Things are being to sprout up again in the Square Foot Gardens. We had lost all the seedlings we planted before Mother's Day when things frosted up when we were out of town. I just hope I can keep the critters from eating things up.

The job search for DH continues, but thankfully the unemployment insurance was extended. Its crazy to think its been over 7 months now. It is very strange to see the seasons change and holidays pass while feeling like our life is on hold. Truth is, life never goes on hold, but when you live through this uncertainty, your life feels like its in limbo. You can't make plans because you aren't sure what your resources will be.

Usually this time of year I close out our "school" year and begin a new one June 1st. We learn all the time, year round, but for the state of Wisconsin, we are required to keep a calendar of days in attendance to comply with the mandatory attendance law.

I usually end up reflecting on how things are going and try to dream up plans for our new, coming year. With all that's been going on, I really haven't had time to reflect on our past year and think about which direction we need to set the sails for. Its really just been a day to day, survival mode existence.

I do know I've reached the point where this limbo lifestyle feels normal. I can look back on the past 7 months and with amazement, see how God has carried me through this. My emotional wounds have stopped bleeding, are scabbed up, and awaiting underneath the surface, is a new, stronger me.

Food Diary- Thursday 5/27/10

Breakfast- bowl of watermelon

Lunch- egg over easy on whole wheat toast, slice of farmer's cheese

Commuting snack- Dandy blend, almond milk, ice, chocolate syrup

Supper/snack at work- green beans , too busy to finish them

Supper- after work at home- finished up the green beans and a spicy black bean burger

Dessert- light mint cookie ice cream

Reflection- Thursdays are busy days for me so it a challenge to menu plan. Plus, I wasn't feeling very hungry today.

Food Diary- Wedneday 5/26/10

Breakfast- bowl of watermelon

Lunch- Burger King Veggie burger and fries- I couldn't finish it all. Shared the fries with DH, threw away 1/4 of the burger

Snack for the commute to work- smoothie w/nonfat yogurt, 1/2 a banana, strawberries, blueberries and almond milk

Supper- after work- the last of the re-fried beans and another fresh batch of homemade salsa on tortillas

Dessert- two Chips AHoy cookies

Food Diary- Tuesday 5/25/10

Breakfast- Kashi Go Lean Berry Crumble cereal & almond milk

Lunch- Leftover re-fried beans & cheese on tortillas with green pepper, jalapeno, onion, garlic (I'm out of tomatoes. :()

Snack #1- two Chip's Ahoy Chocolate Chip cookies

Supper- at work- a cup of non-fat plain yogurt, spoonful of honey, Just Bunches granola cereal

Snack #2- after I got home from work- 27 "Cheese-Its" crackers- I counted them out to see exactly what a serving size looks like. 

Reflection- Doesn't seem like I ate very much today, but it could be because I'm drinking more water. Tomorrow I have to pick up more produce.

Food Diary- Monday 5/24/10

Breakfast at work- Kashi Go Lean Berry Crumble cereal & almond milk, diluted OJ/calcium

Lunch- re-fried beans, homemade salsa-tomatoes, avocado, green pepper, onion, garlic, jalapeno, a little bit of cheese on a tortilla

Snack#1- two peanut butter Girl Scout cookies

Snack#2- still craving sweet- 1/2 a banana sliced- I usually only eat bananas frozen but this did satisfy my sweet tooth better than the cookies. Saving the second half if I need a bedtime snack or for tomorrow.

Supper- spicy black bean burger with homemade salsa, broccoli & corn

Reflection- I think I made some good choices today. What helped is NOT asking my family what they wanted me to make for meals. I came home from work and started putting together leftovers. They had to fend for themselves for lunch. For supper, I did suggest burgers but picked up a vegetarian option for me, trying to ignore my inner guilt. The bean burgers are way more expensive than hamburger, but I do enjoy them more. I'm hoping DH finds a job soon and then I won't feel so guilty about spending more at the grocery store.

"I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn." -Albert Einstein

Life Feels Crazy

Two weeks ago, my baby tomato plants froze to death. Now its in the 90's. I must live in Wisconsin.

I'm having messed up dreams. Last night I pulled a blue parasitic worm from my palm and DH thought he was herding cats, but it was a skunk instead. Please let this not be an omen about DH's interview! (Unless its a good omen. :) )

Apparently, I'm not cool anymore, and I'm not referring to this heat. I'll get through these teen years right? I should just give him some space and trust.

Walking is going well. I'm still hoping to motivate my family to join me. I must be patient.

It feels like I've been busy, but what do I have to show for it? I have nothing to present.

I need to so some personal planning. I think this is why I feel lost.

Am I enabling or am I being supportive?

Finding myself longing for things I shouldn't reach for just yet. Is it wishful thinking or unwise dreaming?

I must continue to have hope and remember, if I do what I can, the Lord will take care of the rest.

Food Diary Saturday 5/21/10

Breakfast- the usual- cereal and almond milk, not pictured OJ w/calcium

Snack #1- apple slices

Snack #2- brownie

Supper- re-fried beans, homemade salsa-tomatoes, green pepper, avocado, onion, garlic, jalapeno, a little bit of cheese, tortillas

Snack#3- Dandy Blend Frapp- dandy blend, almond milk, ice, chocolate syrup

Snack #4- not pictured- a bowl of light ice cream

Snack #5- not pictured- cherry fruit snacks

Reflection- I made a few healthy choices, but still hit those sugar speed bumps, ending in a sugar crash and burn by the end of the night. If I could do this day over again, I would have tried to eat 3 healthy meals, not only 2. I also need to get in the habit of bringing home more fresh fruit and veg from the grocery store.

I am finding it to be a challenge to eat healthy with my family. We are rarely hungry at the same time and we don't all want to eat the same things.

Friday Five- Holding a Grudge

I really am a forgiving, patient person, but if I examine myself closer, I can come up with a few grudges. 

1. There is a family we have been generous with who only ended up taking advantage of us. Not that we expected our acts of generosity to be reciprocated, or even appreciated, but when all they would return to us was disrespect, we knew it was time to distance ourselves.

2. I will not shop at Woodman's. I don't care if it is employee owned. I was waiting in line to pick up my developed film. In the check out area was a basket full of Tootsie Pops. Having two little boys in tow, of course they wanted a Tootsie Pop. I picked up the candy and waited my turn in line. When it was my turn to pay, MR. RUDE, refused to ring up the candy saying this was the photo line only. He required me to pay for the photos and then get in a different line, in another area of the store, to pay for the tootsie pops. WHY THEN HAVE THE CANDY IN THE PHOTO AREA IF YOU CAN'T PAY FOR IT THERE!!! I have never shopped at Woodmans since and never will.

3. An extended family member once treated my son very poorly. Its very difficult to forgive those who have wronged your children.

4. I was nine months pregnant, working in corporate hell. We had an employee of the week reward allowing you to park close to the door to the building. I had won the previous week's reward, and the next woman to win was a bus rider and didn't need a parking space. She offered to allow me to park there another week, seeing I was overdue and having a difficult time waddling into work. One day after her kindness, security stopped me and made me move my car. It did not matter even after the woman tried to explain to security she wanted me to be able to use the spot in place of her. The parking spot sat empty the rest of the week. I left work after my son was born and never went back.

5. Anne - She knew we were a couple. She seduced him anyway. Of course, it does take two. His betrayal was just as hurtful to me, if not more so. It took an act of God, literally, to help me find forgiveness. The Lord helped me through it and today I understand why. Maybe this truly isn't a grudge I hold anymore, since I've forgiven them both, but whenever I hear of someone cheating on someone else, it strikes a chord. I will never be a Brangelina, Tiger Woods or Jesse James fan. Infidelity seems to be a greater sin to me than a few others.  


Want to join me in the Multiply Friday Five? http://fridayfivegroup.multiply.com/

Food Diary- Thursday 5/20/10

Breakfast- cereal & almond milk

Lunch- grilled SW salad at McDonalds

Supper- at work- sandwich - Wasn't very good. :(

snack at home- grahams, peanut butter and nutella

What I've learned- I need to take the time to plan healthy meals I will enjoy eating, no matter how busy I get.

Food Diary- Wed 5/19/10

Breakfast- cereal w/almond milk

Lunch- chicken breast (gave away most of the skin), baked potato w/Smart Balance

Snack- graham crackers with peanut butter and Nutella

Supper- at work- spinach wraps w/broccoli slaw and light cream cheese

Snack- ice cream sandwich

*drank lots of lemonade water today, hoping it helps my kidneys

Time To Buy A New Buzzer...

I'm so blessed he loves me so. This is what happened when I tried to cut his hair and the guide comb fell off. I've cut his hair for years, and this is the first time something like this has happened. Needless to say, I had to really buzz his head to even it out. If Murphy's law is real, this means the phone should ring and it will be someone wanting to interview DH for a job.