fitness roadblocks

I started working out again in earnest at the first of the year and trying to watch my calories. I am starting to feel stronger...I CAN DO BURPEES!...and am losing some weight. More importantly, I am seeing a definite change in the shape of my body.

However, the last few weeks I have been getting nauseous every time I eat. EVERY. TIME. It doesn't seem to matter what I eat. No matter what, I just get sick. Since that started, I have been having a hard time actually eating, which means I don't have enough energy to exercise as vigorously as I have in the past; actually, I don't have enough energy to do much of anything.

So, I contacted my nutrition-crazy friend and asked her what I should be doing. After a lot of discussion, she told me that my lactose intolerance that I thought had disappeared years ago either didn't really go away or is maybe coming back. And then she told me everything I already knew but needed to hear again (apparently). So, I'm decreasing my consumption of milk products, upping my fruits and veggies, and cutting out as much sugar as I can. I'm hoping that fixing my diet will help with my nausea and help me feel better. It is going to be a challenge. But I know I can do it! And my friend is going to work to keep my on track. She's determined to turn me in to a stronger me!

it is all about "immersion"

This past Sunday, the Sunday School lesson was all about being born again. I have heard that statement so many times but didn't really understand it. I understood that it was to be "baptized by fire" but what does that really mean?

In studying to teach this lesson, I found a quote by Elder Bednar that says "We begin the process of being born again through exercising faith in Christ, repenting of our sins, and being baptized by immersion for the remission of our sins by one having priesthood authority...Total immersion in and saturation with the Savior's gospel are essential steps in the process of being born again."

The word immersion is mentioned twice. I realized that immersion is the key. I can understand that word - becoming completely engulfed in something! Ah, now I get it. Be baptized by immersion for the remission or our sins. Live immersed in the Gospel to be born again. Suddenly it all makes sense!

I had the missionaries over for dinner yesterday. We got talking about this lesson and the meaning of the word immersion and how it applies to both baptism by water AND baptism by fire. Sister Williams mentioned that she had been studying this topic in Preach My Gospel and was wondering how to explain the concept of being born again to people not of our faith. We had a great discussion on this immersion idea and how we can all apply it and talk about it.

Did I mention that I love having the missionaries in my home every week? Seriously, they come every week and it is the best decision I could have made to invite them in. Sister Fakatou is leaving me next week after serving in this ward for six months and I will miss her a ton. She is going to be a great missionary wherever she lands and will touch many more lives, but I will still miss her. I'm happy to have Sister Williams for at least six more weeks.

They asked to take a selfie yesterday. So, here we are! PS. I texted this pic to their moms. Every missionary mom loves mid week surprises. :)

living intentionally - redux

I started a plan to live intentionally last fall. It worked for a bit. This year, as I was contemplating my goals and how in the world I was ever going to achieve them all, I knew that I needed a little bit more inspiration. That is when my mind went back to last fall when I first started researching the idea of living intentionally, and I just knew that I needed to make this idea my theme for the year (don't you just love inspiration?). 

Living intentionally is deciding every day to live how I want to live and not just because I've always done things a certain way. It is living less out of habit and more out of intent, daily working to break bad habits and create new ones. It is deciding every day to move (not just thing) toward something better. It is living at its best. It is life on purpose.

    

How can you not love something that puts you in touch with your mind, body, heart and soul every day? Living intentionally is an art and with every great art, it takes practice.  

staying motivated

If you read yesterday's list of my goals for the year, you know I have an ambitious plan. How do I keep it all straight? Well, thanks for asking!

I tell you, everything about my goal planning this year has been so inspired. As I was contemplating what I wanted to do, I was told directly to study more, spend time in the temple, and work on family history - specifically the Wells line. My other goals are just gravy. The hardest part I have is trying to balance them all.

Again, I was inspired. I knew that if I made my goals visible, I would work on them more. I also knew that having these huge nebulous goals would not keep me very motivated. So, I took my goals and broke them down into specific tasks. I divided the main goals and tasks into quarterly, monthly, and weekly goals/tasks so I could track each week if I was on track to complete what I needed for the month to meet my quarterly goals.

THEN, I needed a way to track all these tasks. And, here is where the inspiration came in! I made little sticky notes for every goal and task and put them on my wall grouped by quarter, then month, then week. I move my sticky notes around to the weeks where I need to work on them and remove them when the task is complete. This little diagram (not so little really) is up on the wall right by my bed so I look at it every day!! It has been amazingly motivated. And, I find that I am able to put down the things I WANT to do (embroidery) to work on the things I NEED to do (study/family history) because I need to be able to move that little sticky note!!

Here is what my wall currently looks like one month in. You will notice that January is pretty empty as I have moved past that month.

The quote above all the little sticky notes is from Elder Richard G. Scott and says, "To reach a goal you have never before attained, you must do things you have never done before." I love it and think it is the perfect quote to look at every day along with my goals.

a great start to a new year

Every year, I make new year resolutions. I actually call them goals for the year. I also pick a theme that I want to concentrate on for the year. And, usually, by the middle of January I have forgotten my good intentions and am right back to doing what I have always done, which isn't bad but isn't great either.

This year has been much, much different. First, I have felt prompted to set some very specific goals. Second, I am making my goals very visible. And third, I feel more energized about them than I have ever done in my life.

First, my goals. I actually have A LOT of them this year. It is a little daunting and I am not making as much progress toward all of them that I would like, but I am still making progress. Here is my list:

Spiritual:

• Gain an intimate relationship with my Savior. 
• Spend time in the temple every month, not just go - spend time there. 

Family: 

• Work on family history, specifically the Wells side. 
• Write meaningful emails to my missionaries. 
• Bring my missionaries home and get them settled in the next chapter of their lives. 
• Finish 2014 yearbook, Ireland vacation book, Paris/Germany vacation book, and Italy vacation book. 
• Write in my journal and blog weekly. 

Health: 

• Keep track of my net calories every day. 
• Move every day. 
• Lose 30 pounds. 

Financial: 

• Pass the PMP exam
• Pay off all credit cards and other loans
• Kickstart my retirement
• Become Elite with doTERRA

SCA: 

• Learn trapunto and make largess items
• Make a lefkara veil for my Laurel
• Enter Kingdom Atlantia Persona Pentathlon in 2016. 

Yup, it is a big list. I will give you a quick update as this is actually month two of my goals. 

I was called to be the Gospel Doctrine teaching in my ward and we are studying the New Testament. Yup, I'm actually studying regularly. Heavenly Father knew I needed help staying motivated. I went to the temple in January but didn't spend as much time there as I needed to. I have a trip planned for February already and will spend more time in the Celestial Room. 

For family, my emails are getting better. I'm talking about my studying and lessons. I don't know how this new information is received but I feel better about it. I am almost finished with my 2014 yearbook and should get it ordered this month. I finally got some family group sheets from Mom and Dad and will get started on verifying information this weekend. In the meantime, I started indexing almost every day. I'm not writing in my journal or blogging every week, but I'm better than I have been for a while! I'll get there as I continue to work on my schedule. 

Health wise I'm tracking my food 95% of the time and have already lost 5 pounds! I have to be vigilant every day but it is paying off. Woot! 

Financially, I passed my exam!! I have not done anything about retirement yet but I have paid off half of my other debts. I will be going to FL in March to work a doTERRA event, have a class, and make some contacts. I will take what I learn there and start making contacts here in VA. 

For the SCA, I have been focusing on the lefkara veil that I want to get done by June. It will take me that long to do it as it is a monster piece with a lot of work. I am also doing four scrolls and 2-3 household towels (items that were not on my list but I'm doing them anyway). So, I'm super busy. 

And that is my list. 

super secret birthday pie surprise delivery

It all started last spring when I was card shopping for a friend. I ran across a card that said, "Oh poo. I forgot my recipe for cake. I hope you like pie!" All said by a cow. It was cute and got me thinking that maybe, just maybe I should deliver a birthday pie to my boy, who hates birthday cake and loves my homemade lemon meringue pie.

The mission to surprise my Mister Missionary with a birthday pie began. I finally moved to VA, making a drive to his area possible. I was able to connect with a mom in his area who was willing to meet me and make the delivery for me...so I could give him a surprise and not break the mission rules.

Here is the pictorial story:

Super Secret Birthday Pie Surprise Delivery - Phase I: The PIE 

Super Secret Birthday Pie Surprise Delivery - Phase II: The DRIVE

I enlisted the help of both my girls. :)

Super Secret Birthday Pie Surprise Delivery - Phase III: The HANDOFF

Super Secret Birthday Pie Surprise Delivery - Phase IV: The DELIVERY

and then there's this

Let me start by saying, I love General Conference. I really do! The talks are always so uplifting and give me direction. I get answers, I get soft reminders of what I need to do better, I get direction on what to do next. I also always get a little bit of guilt. Yup, always. When I hear talks about the importance of family scripture study, prayer and family home evening, I wonder how in the world my kids turned out as fabulous as they did. We never did these things as a family. Honestly, I struggle with doing them personally. I tried to teach the gospel through every day conversations, through discussions after church, through moments when the Spirit was so strong none of us could deny the experience we were having.

I wondered if this foundation that was obviously lacking in some important elements was enough to help my kids make good decisions as adults. I still wonder if they will be able to stay strong in this crazy world and raise a family righteous in the Gospel. I wonder if they will be able to add important elements to their homes and create a stronger foundation than I did.

They both made the amazing decision to go on a mission. I knew going in that it would be hard for them. I knew they would probably feel they were lacking in some basic gospel knowledge, after all we didn't study the gospel every day for 18 years.

And then I get this little gem and it makes me cry.

From Kaitlyn's email exchange today:

I'm going to get booted off soon but Just know I love you, You're the best example I could have ever hoped for growing up. You are the reason I am on a mission. Without you our family would have fallen away from the gospel and I wouldn't be making the choices I am now. Without you, I wouldn't be who am I today. So I love you, and owe everything to you! Because of you I am free from Satan forever :D (there's scriptural references for the last bit, go find them)