New Year's Resolutions

Well, here it is- a new year 2012. Once again I feel the need to set forth all of these new resolutions to start the new year off right. Lose weight, save money, exercise more. I've heard it said that the only way a change is going to stick is if you are sick and tired of being sick and tired. I truly think I have reached that point this year. I got on the scale this morning- 269.4! I need to lose 100 pounds. Now I am realistic enough to know that all 100 are not coming off this year. I would love to lose half this year and half next year (if there is a next year). So how am I going to lose 50 pounds and keep it off? I am convinced this has to be a true metanoia. Gosh I haven't used that word since Cursillo. Metanoia is a change of mind and heart. I can't be following the latest diet trend just because it was successful for my brother or it is what Jeff thinks is best. This change has to come from within. I hope I can use this blog to keep myself accountable for this change. I hope and pray I will have people from all sides supporting me along the way. Yes, that means you kids too! No More Temptations to go buy Chocolate!!! I am going to try to eat "clean" as often as I can. I am not going to count points or calories, but hopefully by making good choices, I can shed these pounds in a way that won't be so painful. So here we go:

Breakfast- 1 banana, 1 small Cutie
Lunch- Super Salad- (greens, veggies, avocado, grilled chicken breast) and crackers.
Snack- vanilla yogurt and strawberries, blueberries & banana
Dinner- bacon wrapped sirloin, mashed potatoes, beer bread

Jeff & I walked about 1.5 miles in the cold and wind.

Day Book 1-3-11

Outside my window...
Cold and frost, but it looks like it should be a clear and sunny day. Sam is wanting snow, but I could do without for a little while longer.

I am thinking...
I should have gotten in a better routine of getting up during Christmas break. But boy did the sleep and waking up naturally feel good after a sleep-deprived December.

I am thankful for...
Jeff's continued recovery, this warm house no matter how "small" it may feel at times, friends that keep me on the right track.

From the learning rooms...
Back to school this week. Hannah never did get caught up in Math. I'm not sure why she struggles with retention so much. That is Jeff's assignment for January before he goes back to work full-time. I need to keep Jordan focused this last semester. Hoping he gets his Health research paper done before community college classes start back up.

From the kitchen...
I started following Weight Watchers. I love that fruits are now 0 points. I just wished there were more in season right now. There are large muffins in the kitchen calling out to me, but I hope I can resist until after the kids eat all the good ones! I need to find time to stock up with nutritious snacks and lunch foods. It seems like I am going to the store every other day, but I guess that is better than the McDonald's drive thru window every day!

I am wearing...
shorts and a t-shirt right now. Whatever I put on today must be comfortable and warm. I am so sick of my fat people clothes. I hope that I can successfully lose this weight this year (and the next year). A good friend of mine reminded me that weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint.

I am creating...
hopefully a journal to remember our family experiences. I find that my memory is getting pretty fuzzy around the edges lately. I want to note those little things that are forgotten easily

I am going...
back to sleep if no one else is getting up. My beautiful color-coded schedule needs a little tweaking and then a lot of enforcing.

I am reading...
nothing right now. I need to find something that is good, easy to read but uplifting. We need to get all of the kids back to reading more. Sam is falling behind. I caught Hannah reading the other day, "I am finishing up Samantha so I can read The World According to Humphrey before it gets too easy for me."

I am hoping...
That the 2nd half of the school year goes by quickly.

I am hearing...
the furnace run. I am thankful for that noise.

Around the house...
Christmas decorations are pretty much put away. I was not in the mood for decorations this year. This house seems so hard to decorate. Everything was crammed on or around the fireplace and I didn't like that look. I really want to find some curtains for the family room windows.

One of my favorite things...
A clean house.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Basketball, Challenge, Conquest, Scouts... all of the activities start back up this week.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...(add your picture here)

New Year 2011

Well, 2010 is now packed away. What will 2011 bring for me and my family? We ended 2010 with Jeff having surgery for his diverticulitis. We are hoping and praying that this will take care of this particular problem once and for all. So back to 2011. I see many changes ahead in our family dynamics. Jordan is graduating in May. What changes will that bring to our family? It is time for me to let him venture out into the world, knowing there are many mistakes he'll make along the way. I am beginning to realize that it is through those mistakes, he will grow into an adult. How many mistakes did I make on my path to adulthood? Well, maybe one or two (or more) :). Of course one of the mistakes we (Jeff & I) made was not preparing ourselves financially to send four kids to college. But I must trust in God's Divine Wisdom and know that all will be fine. There are many lessons to learn in this lifetime. My prayer group buddies and I have been pondering this quote:

"If someone who is called to consecrate his life to the Lord God through priesthood or religious life rejects this vocation, then God will permit this person's decision and provide another solution, another path to holiness, such as in marriage. This path, however, will be more difficult and longer because it is not according to the initial, merciful plan of God. On this path there is a multitude of unnecessary torment, suffering and pain because God's initial plan was different, better, and gentler."

How can I apply this to my life? Even if it doesn't apply to religious life, God has a way of bringing us back on the right path even when we take a wrong turn. I hope that 2011 will lead me on a path towards Him. I ask for His grace to gracefully accept all the twists and turns this new year will contain. It is through Him that all things are possible. Here's a toast to 2011!

Here I Am

OK, so I never thought I would be doing this, but for a while this will be a private blog, a journal to keep records of what we're doing in school, church and life. It seems like my memory is getting foggier and foggier by the day- is it old age, poor health, or just laziness? It is my hope that this blog will create memories for me and my family. Maybe it will motivate me to do something "memorable" each day with my kids. Who knows? Well, I know that God knows where this will lead. I titled this blog Here I Am Lord for several reasons. First of all, it is one of my most favorite Catholic hymns. Secondly, I seem to like to do my own will too many times and not God's. Perhaps this will help me keep my focus on God's will in my life.

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart.