Pursuing Health

I have been away from blogging for awhile now. I miss writing and now that my family is rapidly growing up and heading into young adulthood I feel that I have more time to pursue again one of my passions which is journaling.

This year I have been in a great pursuit of health. I have struggled with my weight for about two decades now. Wow! Just writing that is very sobering. I have used willpower, fad diets, exercise, and other ways to lose the weight. I realized that my main issue is in my head and in fact, a control issue that I desperately needed to turn over to my Lord and Savior. This go around feels different. I am not on a 'diet' for one and the other key is I know I have to exercise every single day. Do I love it? Uh No! Am I learning to love it? Uh sort of. Do I know I have to do it? YES!

October 1st, 2011, I decided to go gluten free to see if some issues I had struggled with for more than twenty years would disappear. I was not sure if I could do it but I read many blogs, books, medical reports, and really prayed about what to do. I have seen a huge change in how I feel and stomach issues that have plagued me for years disappeared! Hallelujah!

Four years ago I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I had no idea what to do. I was depressed and discouraged. I think more than anything I was disgusted with myself. In December I began to really get serious about testing my blood sugar to see what was effecting me and when. My poor little fingers were a battleground for several weeks. I can say now I only test in the morning, sometimes at before lunch, and always before dinner in the evening. I have seen my blood sugar drop significantly and I know when I am having issues. It has been a God-send to get in tune with my body!

I also changed my eating habits even more dramatically in December when I went lower carb and no sugar! So now I am eating lower carbs and by that I mean no empty carbs. I really keep track of what triggers my blood sugar to spike and carbs really do a number on my blood sugar. I can say that the weight is melting off of me. My husband is calling me the "Shrinking Woman".

I think more than the food changes and added exercise is what I have been doing with my mind. I truly confessed all those things that triggered me to eat sweets or to rationalize eating 'just a little' of something that I desired. I have never been a binge eater or someone that ate large amounts of calories at once. I was a snacker. I ate very healthy for the most part but I have found that all the whole grains that I was eating like whole grain pastas, breads, etc were killing me! I thought I would doing something great for my body but because of my obvious gluten issues I was not. It is a huge blessing knowing that I have found the main cause of my weight issues and subsequent illness. I have given myself permission to fail and yet in doing so my desire for my former triggers just went away. I have learned what makes my body tick and how much work it is to work off those desirable calories. I choose to eat sensibly and get my workouts in so that at night I can enjoy my treat of either berries with cream or sugar free gelatin or pudding with whipped cream. It is a little decadent and given what my carb count is for the day I decide on whether I have the pudding or the gelatin. The gelatin has 0 carbs and the pudding has around 12 carbs. Zero is always better!

Keeping track of my emotions, reason for hunger, how much H2O I have consume, carbs, protein, blood pressure, exercise, and blood sugar was overwhelming at first. Now it is second nature. I try not to beat myself up like I would do in the past. I tell myself I am not on a diet but living my life eating healthy, moving, and getting in touch with what makes me and my body function.

I am going to post a few of the things that have really helped me as I pursue better health.

Until next time....

Pray for Oklahoma State University

Today has been an emotional one. This morning I received a breaking news email from our local CBS station that my beloved Oklahoma State University had yet again lost members of the athletic department in a horrific plane crash but this time in Arkansas instead of Colorado. We lost our OSU Cowgirls Head Coach-Kurt Budke and Assistant Coach Miranda Serna plus a former Oklahoma state senator Olin Branstetter and his wife Paula who were piloting the small plane. It was only back in January that the OSU family remembered the 10th anniversary of the crash that killed ten men connected with the Oklahoma State men's basketball which included players, media personnel, basketball operations, trainers and the two pilots. I will never forget how I felt that cold January evening as the 6:00 p.m. news came on and heard the words. Our favorite sportscaster had also been killed in that crash. It was devastating!

I can't put into words exactly how it feels to have been a part of this wonderful school in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Everyone always has fond feelings of their special school or college experience but there is truly something uniquely special about Stillwater and Oklahoma State University. I noticed it right off on a high school visit back in 1978. I could not believe how everyone on the sidewalks that day would speak to us, stop and ask if we needed assistance, or wave and give us a friendly smile! I thought to myself, "Wow! This is where I want to be!" I was sold from that moment on.

Please pray for all of those involved and who have been touched personally by this tragedy. My heart is heavy tonight. I can't imagine how all those directly affected at O-State feel. Personally, I think right now prayer is the best thing to begin to heal hearts. This article pretty much sums it what a lot of people are thinking.

Becoming Abnormal

Today I had so much going on at work but there was one thought that I could not get out of my head. It had been rolling around bugging me all day. I finally had to put my pen to paper and write it down. Sometimes the Lord uses the every day mundane chores of life to speak to me.

So much is on the news about the economy in trouble, people losing their homes, life is in turmoil. I see people who seemingly months ago had it all and was not shy about showing off the latest gadget or gizmo's that they had purchased for either themselves or their children. Today it is a different story with a lot of those people that have chosen to live well above their means. All one has to do is check out the garage sales lately or Craig's List to see there is a plethora of STUFF cluttering up people's homes and lives.

Today this thought came into my head as I was pondering the current state of affairs in our Nation:

"Pursuing all the popular "stuff" of life leads to cluttered homes, hearts and minds. Discontentment becomes your new normal. Be abnormal!"

I want to be abnormal! I do not want to keep up with the Joneses or to have the latest and greatest technological toy. Thank you very much! I like being debt free and having choices in life! Currently having three children in college is quite a stretch but sacrificing for my family is not a hardship. Trying to keep up with the latest and greatest only keeps people broke and for the most part discontent.

So from now on I am going to embrace the abnormal and live unlike most today. If I don't have an iPhone so be it. I don't have to have all the accouterments to really enjoy life. I am on a mission to declutter and get rid of even my excess so that I can live my life more richly and simply.

I think my battle cry for the next few months as all the gift buying frenzy begins is to embrace being abnormal. I will enjoy getting my mail in January knowing that we lived within our means and gave meaningful and thoughtful gifts to our loved ones.

Whose with me?

Renewed Pursuit

Thesaurus.com states that simplicity is the absence of complication and pursuing is listed to have as one's goal. Since I last posted Pursuing Simplicity has not been my reality. I am on the tail end of a whirlwind couple of years! While it has been exciting and thrilling to be in the midst so many changes my heart and soul still has a deep-seeded desire to seek and pursue the simple life.

Since January of 2010, when I last posted, I have had two children graduate high school, one as recently as May 2011. Moved one into college for his freshman year and now that son his headed back for his sophomore year. I have seen my third son graduate high school and decide to sit out a semester to work and experience life before going to municipal fire protection school in the spring. Our oldest is furiously trying to get finished with college and hopes to graduate in May 2012. And now we are in the throws of getting ready for our last child to enter her senior year! Yes, that will be three children that have graduated in three years. There were four years between the oldest and our second child but the last three are stair-steps.

I have met myself coming and going the past year and a half. While I love the busyness of life and the excitement that takes place when you see your children growing up and heading off to live their dreams...it has been hard! I have not been focused on my writing or blogging. I have lost sight of my main goal in the process....making our lives as simple and uncomplicated as possible. The Lord has really pressed upon my heart that I need to embrace this season and to take the time to not only listen to what He is teaching me but to pour out what He lays on my heart.

I am re-dedicating myself to being more focused on keeping things simple and to pursue a less complicated life. In the process I am going to focus more on writing. I suddenly have a lot of time on my hands. The prospect of my baby girl graduating high school in May 2012 is beginning to resonate with me and the fact that I will soon have an empty nest! Where oh where has the time gone! My focus will most certainly change and my time will be dedicated elsewhere in a very short time but this pursuit of simplicity I believe will take a lifetime.


The three younger children at May 2010 Graduation


May 2011 Graduation

Planning and More

I have taken a few days to gather my thoughts but preparations for possible power outages kind of took place of my ultimate 'plan'. We were socked with several inches of ice and sleet before it turned to 8 inches of snow. We have had two snow days off of work and school as well. My husband helped out tremendously in getting us prepared in case we were to lose power. I pray for those in the SW part of our state that are currently without power. We were spared in our town from losing power and for that I am deeply grateful.

This whole event reminded me that while I try to have a fully stocked pantry I also need to have a better emergency plan instead of the one that rolls around in my brain.

I am getting a late start in the goal planning for 2010 but instead of just blowing it off because it is January 30th, I am going to forge ahead and set some goals. This year is a big one in our family! Actually the next three years we will have three children graduate from high school and one prayerfully from college. Lots of stress, excitement, and planning!

I have decided in February to set a few goals that will help faciliate the coming months leading up to Seth's graduation from high school.

February Goals
1. Create mail merge list for Seth's graduation announcements.
2. Begin to gather pictures and print off for scrapbook retreat in April.
3. Strive to exercise each day.
4. Taxes done
5. Declutter, organize, and decorate our laundry room.
6. Gather materials needed to paint buffet in breakfast room.
7. Blog more than once a week!

That is all I am going to add to my list. I have a tendency to make a huge list and then get so down on myself when I do not mark everything off. I have had one item on my 'to do' list now for three years....I want to paint a built in buffet in my breakfast room. I am going to do this at some point but have decided not to add it to a list. If I can have the supplies at hand I feel I will be one step closer to tackling this project that I keep putting off.

Long Range Goals for 2010
1. Research and price the refacing and/or painting of our kitchen cabinets.
2. Exercise at least four days per week.
3. Clean eating every day but one free day.
4. Save 2000.00
a. Do not eat out at lunch
b. Cook at home more.
c. Get back into Once a Month Cooking
d. Become more organized in my coupons and saving strategies
5. Read Beth Moore's new book and study So Long, Insecurity!
6. Plan a sweet sixteen party for Hannah
7. Plan a graduation party for Seth
8. Prepare items for Seth to take to college
9. Plan a time to get away with my husband.
10.Organize each room in my home. Declutter and store items effectively.

So that is what I can think of currently. I have more for the 2010's list but will update as necessary.

Beginning Again

Life has a way of snagging you and pulling you into a whirlwind when you least expect it especially if you have three teenagers living under your roof as well as a college student three hours away! Much has taken place since I last posted in March. We had one son severely injured in his last home football game on Senior night and who only this week went back to school after being out for more than eleven weeks! We had another son injure his ankle in a farming accident that only by a miracle of the Lord did he not lost his foot or worse his life! Our baby girl started driver's education and now has her permit! One son acquired his first job! So many other things I could have documented and did not. I had written only sporadically before March and mainly focused on great sales that I had found or books that I was reviewing. I will still do some of those same things but this year feels different.

I really want to re-focus and begin to journal again. It is in those times of quiet repose that I can hear the Lord speak to me ever so softly amongst this chaos called life.

This year...2010...is going to be a huge one in our home. Our second son will be graduating from high school in May and heading off to college in August. I will turn an age that I even hate to write down or utter for fear that I realize it is really happening...I am arriving at middle age! EGADS! I will turn 50 in June! How can it be? I mean in my heart I feel young, vibrant, full of life and yet in reality I am at a crossroads...mid-life. Soon we will have an empty nest and while I am very excited to see my children growing into young adults I find myself worrying if I have raised them right, given them the tools to make it in this life that is so full of uncertainty and strife. Have I pointed them to Jesus enough and His Word?

It feels good tonight to be up late pounding on this keyboard. The thoughts that are rolling around in my mind have taken up my precious sleep at night so perhaps the best way to solve those quiet conversations in my head late at night when everyone is asleep is to write them all down.

I first started this blog because I wanted to pursue a simpler life in all areas. My blog tag line says "A Christian Mom in pursuit of a more simplified life in all areas body, mind, spirit, finances, and health." I don't feel that I have pursued much of a simplified life in the last year. In my heart I long to but in reality I have felt like I have been on a bullet train speeding along praying I can keep all the various events of my life in balance. I have not done a great job of that at all. So begins the journey anew. That is one thing about our Father that I love....He can refresh and renew our hearts, minds, and lives. I am ready to get my plan of action going but the plan will have to wait until tomorrow. Until then...

Real Moms....Real Jesus Blog Tour

Today I’d like to welcome author and speaker, Jill Savage. Jill’s recent book Real Moms…Real Jesus, just released, and I wanted to ask her about her real mom moments..

Jill, tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.
Mark and I have been married 25 years and we have five children. Anne is 24 and married to our wonderful son-in-love, Matt. Evan is 21 and married to our beautiful daughter-in-love, Julie. Erica is 18 and a college student at Heartland Community College. Kolya is 15 and in the 8th grade. We adopted Kolya at the age of 9 from Russia---the God story about his adoption is included in the Real Moms…Real Jesus book. And Austin is 12 and in the 7th grade.

Tell us about your newest book Real Moms...Real Jesus?
Real Moms…Real Jesus is a book designed to help moms understand that when Jesus lived on this earth he was fully God, yet fully man. We don’t often think about the fact that he was a human being and he lived the full human experience: pain, hunger, fatigue, frustration, betrayal, disappointment. He experienced it all!

There’s one verse in the Bible about Jesus that simply says “large crowds followed him everywhere he went.” Well, isn’t that the life of a mom? Large crowds follow her to the bathroom. They follow her to the kitchen. To the grocery store. She’s in high demand! And when Jesus lived on this earth, He was in high demand, too.

Why did you want to write this book?
Most of us long for a friend who understands. Yes, we need girlfriends who understand what our life is like. But we also need to understand that we have a friend who understands in Jesus. Too many of us think of God as being distant and unable to relate to our daily struggles. But nothing could be further from the truth! He understands and he wants us to build our friendship with Him. He wants to not only be our Savior, but also our Friend.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?
I hope that readers will gain a new perspective about their relationship with Jesus. I also hope to weave God’s truth into the daily life of a mom.

What unique elements will the reader find in Real Moms…Real Jesus?
Each chapter looks at some character trait in Jesus’ life that can help us in our life as a mom. In between the chapters are interactive vignettes that provide brief, refreshing glimpses into our real, messy, busy lives.

There are also questions at the end of the chapter for further consideration and suggested Bible reading in the book of Matthew. If the reader chooses to pursue the suggested reading, she will have read the book of Matthew completely by the end of the book!

There is also a leader’s guide in the back of the book so it can be used in a group setting.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?
Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free bi-weekly electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!


Any closing thoughts?
I am very excited about this book! I believe that if a mom can strengthen her relationship with Jesus Christ, she will feel more equipped to be the mom she wants to be. I’m also offering an online book discussion on my blog beginning Tuesday, April 7. If you’d like to join us, you can subscribe to my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

I’d love to hear a reader’s thoughts after they read the book, too! You can connect to me through my blog at www.jillsavage.org.

Thanks, Jill, for taking time out of your busy schedule to share your real mom, real Jesus moments with us.

You can purchase your own copy of Real Moms…Real Jesus by clicking here.

And be sure to check out Hearts at Home, their conferences for moms, and all their online resources here.