Back Atter

Well. I'm not going to start by apologizing to my neglected blog.  I haven't had the urge to write.

That said, I have been on pinterest in the last little while and have so many great things to share that I had to write.

Since I last wrote:

The girls are taller.
I have a muffin-top.
Little one is starting Kindergarten.
I'm thinking of going to work full-time.
My husband is still pretty awesome.
We've started going to church on Saturday nights.
Organizing, painting, cleaning...

I'm learning how to be thankful.

Just learning how to live and roll with the punches.

But I want and need an organized home.  So, I stumbled across this on Focus on the Family.  And, it really spoke to my heart. 

 http://www.familymanager.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

So I'm going to try some of the suggestions in her book.  I'll keep you posted as I attempt to celebrate the joy and the challenges in our home.

Freeeking Crossfit

Ok.

I think I know what dying feels like.

One word: crossfit.

So, the sister's neighbours are totally into this workout called "Crossfit". "It's 6:30 in the morning and I've probably completed 2 workouts already" totally into it. They work out all the time. And, when they are not working out, they are thinking about their next workout. They even make up their own workouts. Or, they follow the plan here: www.crossfit.com.

When we were invited for a swim in their pool. I went. But, I should have known better. What was a little swimming relay became a crossfit relay.

Let me explain: first, swim 6 laps of the pool, then run, uphill, to the top of the driveway, around the big rock, back to the picnic table, do 21 box jumps on the bench of the table, run down the side of the house, pass the trampoline, around the far tree, up the hill, to the pool and tag your partner. Repeat 6 times.

So, who was my partner? The crossfit kid who dreamed this whole thing up! He wanted to make sure the teams were "even". Yah, thanks, pal. I guess my rash guard didn't cover up my flab well enough.

The "race" begins.

I'm doing alright in the pool. Well, I guess this can't be that bad...

Until the run. Flipping, uphill run. In barefeet.

Now, the wheezing begins and I can't believe I don't have my puffer.

Stupid asthma. Bad timing.

Compete against yourself. And, my 10 year old, who seems to have no problem with this little workout!

Box jumps-- on the concrete steps-- stub my toe. Chip my nailpolish.

Run through the pain.

Avoid the doggie doo.

UP the hill.

To the pool.

Tag my partner. Phew.

I have to repeat this 2 more times.

By the third round I've switched to the breaststroke and am full out wheezing.

But, I finished. In second place.

You must know this about me: my husband does all the working out for both of us. But, with my new fit goal, and to be a good example, I think I'll be doing more things like this in the next while.

And I will always have my puffer on hand.

HOLIDAY!

We have escaped the BC rain and are sitting quite nicely on the sundeck of Mike`s parents apartment. We are overlooking a runway of Pearson International and about every 3 minutes we see a plane coming in from somewhere.

I wonder where people are going. Where have they been. What stories can they tell.

We tell the stories of our trip. Of the traffic jam at the tunnel. Of almost missing our flight. Of being ushered to the gate in the golf cart. Of having to wait while they load our luggage. Of forgetting our lunch. Of our first take off and cruising altitude. Of games, stories, and new toys. Of falling asleep during landing.

We tell the story of our 4 year old`s first plane trip. Of meeting our 10 year old after her adventures in Newfoundland. Of a Dad`s 80th birthday. Of the smells of warm meat `cooked to death`by mom. We watch the intercom TV as our own reality TV channel. We listen to the laundry drying in the wind. We hear the cicadas buzz. We wish the powerlines were not blocking the view of the CN tower.

Leisurely coffee times.
Snooping in the cookie cupboard.
Playing silly games with Grandpa.
Remembering to use our manners.

Our family holiday begins.
Follow our adventure.

You look like your... uh... mom....

So, i caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and happened to only see my body sans head.
heh.
I look like my mom.
For years I have been told I look like my dad`s side. But, after a year of uncaring, the softness of my thirty-somethingness is becoming quite obvious.
The muffin top.
The not-quite-gone baby fat.
Thighs.
The squishyness that is now me.

Fit by 40. My new goal.

A year ago, I would have looked and hated what I saw. I would have said a whole load of lies-- things that made me hate me.

Now, a Heart Restored. Full of the truth of Life. A much better way to live.

But, fit by 40. A new reality. A new goal. A new life. A new me.

I promise.... after this bowl of m&ms...

hey June.

June=

Field trips.
Permission Slips.
Musicals.
Recitals.
Baseball games.
No jackets.
Sports Day.
Fun Fair.
Farmer's Market.
Barbeque for dinner.
Popsicles.
Ponytails.
One more daycare cheque.
Stanley Cup playoffs.
Shorts to school.
Introduction to deodorant (for my students).
Flip flops.
Long days that seem to zoom by.
Report Cards to write.
Cleaning out the desks.
Saying Goodbye friends.
Saying Hello Summer.

Gosh, We're good looking...

www.sharaleeprangphotography.com

I haven't been blogging much lately.
I've been planning a wedding.
I've been working.
A LOT.
But, you know, now and then, we clean up real nice.
Here's a little photo of us at my sister's wedding on the Easter weekend.
It was a perfect Spring day.
Love and lovely.
Can't complain.

When I'm done work, I'm planning to blog on all my adventures this summer.
Stay tuned.
I'll try to be witty and funny.

The New Guy

I'm on a committee at my church called "creative team". We plan the visuals, the media, the stage design. You know, the creative stuff.

It's a crazy time.

The only agenda we have is to come up with something creative.

And that's where the agenda ends. Hopefully at the end of an hour and a half we've come up with something. This is often a series of rabbit trails, shouting ideas, using a flippy chart, checking out websites, editing videos... Mostly, we try to find a creative way to get the message across.

It can get a little nuts. (I have to admit, it's usually my fault. I am all over the place in my popcorn-brain! Just call me the queen of "random").

Someone should have warned the new guy.

It should have been part of his interview.

I'm not sure if he knew what hit him. He politely thanked us all at the end, but I'm certain he drove home shaking his head.

He took it all in stride, but he's leading the meetings from now on.

So, as a "veteran" on this committee, I am offering some words of wisdom:

* start on time, end 90 min. later-- things go completely off the wall after 90 minutes.

* make sure the coffee is decaf.

* encourage the cookie-maker to keep coming back!

* you have to hum and whistle at the same time. It keeps us focussed.

* we will always have your back, even if we don't agree on the title you came up with for the sermon series

* we will provide constructive criticism, but don't get bogged down in the negative unless you know you can learn from it.

* go home for dinner

* surround yourself with mentors and good friends

* pray always

* sing

* know your purpose

* recognize that you are part of a divine plan

* be approachable

* communicate well

* laugh with us and at us

* celebrate success and failures

Welcome, new guy. We're glad to have you.