91,663 Steps

As of today, I have intentionally walked an extra 91,633 steps.

You see for the last year, my 45th year, I have been in a struggle with my body. I've always heard that as you get older maintaining your weight is more difficult and that what you did or ate before doesn't seem to work anymore. I was sure I would defy this BUT one year has proven this to be true, at least for me. 

Sadly, my workouts had become less and less. I would get into a routine but would quickly be diverted from it due to a project, traveling, etc. - you get the idea! 45 was my year for exercise excuses. This is somewhat ironic because of how dedicated I was just a year or so before not only getting to the gym and doing additional training but following a very strict eating plan (okay, the eating plan was more a beginning eating plan that needed to be adjusted over time.) If you know me well, you know I'm either all in or all out, I'm very rarely an in the middle kind of girl. 

Because I can be an extremist, finding a happy medium has been a struggle and let me tell you my scale has not been a friend lately....it has been a foe! I know, I know, I shouldn't be "hung up on a number", "muscle weighs more than fat", "you still look the same" etc.  But here is my confession, I have always struggled with how I look. It goes back to my early teens like it does with so many girls. No, I am not going to give details because that really isn't important. I just want you to know that this self-esteem issue has been a life long issue. Now, I am a Christian and I know God makes no mistakes. I also know that I am "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Because I not only know this but believe it, each day I have to turn this insecurity over to God. Why? So it doesn't keep me from doing what He has planned for me in order to bring glory to Him. So, with His help, I'm working on this "struggle" trying to make exercise and eating well part of a healthy lifestyle and not a fad for a number or an acceptable look to others. 

There is a group from my church who started an early morning workout program and my one friend, Jen, is a part of it so I thought I would join in. On Thursday, August 29th, I met up with Jen at 5a.m. (yes, that is a.m.) and we did our first speed walk together. This started a whole new exercise plan for me. Now, before I go any further I have to tell you that Jen is my inspiration. She has been losing weight the smart way through diet and exercise and is a great encouragement to me. Jen is beautiful through and through and I am so proud of all she has and continues to accomplish. 

Okay, so on my birthday, Sunday, September 1st, I started my "new year" off by walking 6 miles and keeping track of the extra "steps" I'm taking toward being healthier. Out of the last 19 days I have walked 11 of those days. I do take the weekends off although occasionally I will walk early Sunday morning before church. Also, I did for one week join the church team for their strength training workouts, however, being at the park at 4:15 a.m. was hard for me so I decided to stick with my walking routine for the time being.  I'm a morning person but blame my age, I'm too old to be getting up before 4 to workout at 4:15. At least that is what my mind and body are telling me.

Getting up and walking at 5 has also allowed for me to make my spiritual life healthier too. By the time I come home from walking, I have 30 to 45 minutes before the kids start getting up for school. The quiet allows me to focus accordingly on what God is showing me in His Word and in the devotional I use. Sadly, before this routine it was easy to say, "I'll do it once the kids are at school" or "a little later in the day" which would most of the time result in me not spending time with God that day.

One humorous "revelation" of this early morning routine is that our bunny has proved to me that somehow he has to have canine blood in him. We always joke how much Mr. Jingle is like a dog, well how is this for proof? Each morning when I return home, I open the door of his cage (which is in Matt's room) to let him out. Jingle meets me in the living room and assumes his place in front of the patio door waiting to be let out. Jingle runs a few laps around the enclosed patio, running up the stairs, in the door and slides across the living room's hardwood floor. The first time he did this, I had to laugh. I though he just didn't know his speed coming in and would never do it again. Well, no, he proved me wrong.  He does this "routine" 4 to 5 times, then heads into the kitchen to get his morning meal of fresh veggies. I tell you it is like having a dog.  Even now with the mornings being cooler, Jingle still likes to go out. 

All in all these first 19 days of my 46th year have proven that I can get back to a balanced routine of exercise, healthy eating and daily spiritual nourishment. Now they do say it takes 90 days to make something a habit, so I pray that the cooler weather coming won't deter me and lead to excuses. Thankfully I have friends to keep me accountable in both area of my life - physical & spiritual. 

As always, thanks for stopping by!

Hiatus - OVER!!!!

Wow! I never imagined how hard it would be to write this first returning blog post.

As I type, my mind is bombarded with the many activities, ups, downs, personal revelations, etc. that have happened over the last two and a half months. I have so much to say and yet it can't all be done in this first post. So, that being the case, I ask that you bear with me as my future posts will not only be regarding current events but some will revert back to things that have already occurred.
One main event that occurred during my hiatus was my 46th birthday, hence the cupcake picture. I don't need a birthday cake for the occasion but I do require a red velvet cupcake from this particular cupcake store. So very yummy!!!
I have to laugh at the fact that I have been telling people for a while I am 46 while only 45. As I get older, I just seem to want to say I'm older than I really am......I have no idea why!!
There is the saying "with age comes wisdom" and I have to say that I totally believe this to be true. If I had only know the things I know today even just 5 years ago, life would have been a little less complicated, or I should say I wouldn't have made life so complicated.
I've grown in so many ways. One area is that I have learned to be less regimented and just open to what is suppose be. I've previously confessed my love of lists. There is nothing wrong with having lists but when you live by lists you tend to get so caught up on making sure everything gets crossed off you miss the little blessings along the way. I truly believe God has been trying to show me this truth for several years now. As I start this new year, I've made the conscious decision to still have my lists but listen for the divine appointments God places in the midst of my "to dos". Yes, laundry, cleaning, cooking, homework help and all the other "mundane" and even "fun" things of every day life are important but when you feel God is calling you to maybe spend time with someone who needs to talk, be in his Word, or in prayer, those every day things need to be put aside. I truly feel that I have missed out on a few blessings He intended for me because I was too busy with my lists and my plans.
Another thing I've come to learn is that being in God's will is putting my life in His hands each day. Turning each moment and day over to Him to be used for the furthering of His kingdom.
I've also learned and continue to learn about how God's timing is perfect. At the end of August, Dave started a permanent employment position. This was after almost 2 years on a consulting position which he took a few months after being at his job for 11 years. We knew from the very beginning God would provide, we trusted Him to bring about the job he wanted for Dave. One thing we prayed was that God would allow for him to work locally (Dave has always commuted either by car or mass transit at least an hour each way). The consulting job Dave took was still a long commute but it provided for our needs. Now I don't want to give you the illusion that in the last 2 years I haven't had moments of stress regarding this matter. When I would feel anxious I knew I had to take it to God, trusting He knows what is best and would bring that about for our family. It was and still is every day a matter of stepping out in faith. The job that Dave got is just 12 minutes from our home. God truly blessed us with the desire of our heart. We needed to trust that He would bring it about and He did in His time. I have to continually remind myself that God's timing is so much more important than mine and over the last 2 and a half months He has shown me this many times.
Well, I could go on and on about the things I have and am learning but that would eliminate more posts so I will end by saying I only pray that I will continue to live each day for Him, keeping my eyes and ears open for the divine appointments He has for me and my family. They won't always be easy or comfortable, but He hasn't promised me that. I do know though that I will be blessed and more importantly He will be glorified.
Thanks for stopping by! (My new post closing line)

Two More Hits

We have just about completed our weekly dinner menu that I posted on July 5th. Two more to go and we will put together the next week's worth of recipes - maybe.  

Currently, we are experiencing a little trouble with our refrigerator and may have to shut it down for 24 hours of defrosting. Of course, we found this little malfunction the morning after I purchased all the items needed for this past week's meals. So, we have been making sure it is keeping the food cold, using up the product we bought, all the while secretly hoping the problem would pass. It appears it has not so we need to eat what is in the fridge/freezer as not to waste too much for when we shut it down. Its times like this, I wish we had a back up fridge or freezer in the garage or basement. Oh well....back to the food!

Thursday night we had Lean Turkey and Spinach Lasagna which I got from the Skinny Mom website. The only adjustment I did make was to the Italian Seasoning, I used 1 1/2 tablespoons instead of 3. It was very easy to make and tasted absolutely delicious especially for being a healthy version of lasagna. Everyone gave this a thumbs up so that makes 4 and a new addition to our family menu binder. 

Now, I'm always curious if "maybe I just think it tastes good?" My husband, Dave, is not one to hold back saying if he doesn't like something and same with the kids but I am always curious if it is truly as good as I think. So, when I told a friend what I was making for dinner that night and texted her later about how good I thought it tasted and she said she'd have to try it, I offered and took her a piece to try and give me her "rating". (I could do this "sharing" because my family of four only ate 4 pieces from the 12 that were cut. So, I shared one and froze the rest.) Well, her review is ......drum roll, please...... a thumbs up!  

Last night's meal was Creamy Chicken Enchiladas which I got from Better Homes & Gardens. Now, this recipe called for 8 oz. of shredded chicken and recently my friend, Jen, advised me of a "trick" she found on Pinterest for shredding chicken. If you have a Kitchen Aid mixer and add the chicken to the mixer bowl using the paddle blade it will shred your chicken. Well, I tested it and it is true and works so incredibly.  

My chicken after it was poached in the mixing bowl and the paddle blade attached.

My now shredded chicken ready to be used. 

This recipe was pretty easy even though it included poaching & shredding chicken, steaming spinach, making a cream sauce and assembling the enchiladas.  Let me just say this, if the "work" of this recipe discourages you to try it, you will miss out on the BEST tasting enchiladas. No one talked at the dinner table....they just ate, that is the sign of a 4 thumbs up dinner. 

What was nice is the recipe makes 6 enchiladas. Each of us had one and Dave ate another half of one. This meant not too many leftovers which is always a plus for me when making a recipe. 

If you try either of these recipes, I'd love to hear what you think of them.

Enjoy!

Lists - Losing Control

I'm a girl who LOVES lists. 

If I had to pin point "how" my list making originated I'd have to say it goes back to when I switched from attending public school to a private Christian school.  The school's curriculum, ACE, was based around the student setting their daily goals of the pages they would complete in each subject. This was my first introduction to goal setting and, what I believe, ultimately list making. 

In my college years, I would map out the hours of each day showing when my classes were, my work hours and then the blocks of time I would study for each class. 

My list making has continued into my adult life and even to this day, I am a girl with many lists.
What I've come to learn within the last few years is that lists are one of those things that can be good and bad at the same time. I admit I had always considered them a good thing.
List are great for helping you remember things that need to get done, so nothing really falls by the wayside. The bad part however is that if you forget to put it on your list you may not "look" to see what isn't getting done. It is kind of like list tunnel vision.
An aspect I love about lists is being able to cross an item off once it is done. Its my visual "cue" of having accomplished something. The bad part is when the majority of your list never gets crossed off and just keeps staying the same or grows as you add it to the next day's list of "to do's". When the list gets long, there is no feeling of accomplishment and discouragement can set it.
Another good thing about lists is that they can keep you on task but the problem is that when you are set to working this way, you may become rigid and not willing to alter your plan because the list doesn't allow for it.
When it comes to list making, I have spent more money than necessary on notebooks, cute "task" pads, appointment books, electronic gadgets, etc. Yes, you do need to make a list on something but you can get a little addicted to finding the "right" means to keep your list.
When it comes to lists, there are the "important" lists and not so important or what I would call secondary lists.

• Shopping lists I find very helpful but I have to admit it only keeps me from forgetting an item I need for a planned recipe. Sadly, it doesn't prevent me from buying something not on my list. 
• Home "to do" lists are another list I make but they don't always get done in a timely manner. Both Dave and I are not really the fix it kind of people, so thankfully our home list has more to do with painting/decorating, outdoor/gardening maintenance, etc. Many of these jobs are contingent on time available and finances. I'll be honest, I love the end result of painting a room but the work of it is something I need to mentally prepare for.  
• Chores and cleaning lists are helpful. The kids have a chore list that is posted outside their rooms. Me, I'm still finding all these cool cleaning schedule charts on Pinterest and am still deciding which route I want to take. I'm what you would consider a cleaning freak, so it is okay that a "plan" hasn't yet come together for me.  It is a list in progress. 
• Our family calendar is an important list! Filled with appointments, events, practices, etc.  
• Food lists have a place in our home. Every few months I start to track what I'm eating, they say it is good for healthy weight maintenance. I have to say I always give up on this list, 1.) because it gets a tad tedious, "do I have to list everything?" and 2) sometimes I just don't like to see what I am eating.  This week I've been given the task of starting another list, an important list. Matt, our 8 year old son, is having issues with vomiting (in the last 5 weeks, he thrown up one day out of each off those weeks). After visiting the doctor where she confirmed that there is nothing visibly   wrong with Matt that would be causing this, she has asked that we keep a food and activity log for him. We are trying to determine if there are any common factors that can be pinpointed to the weekly vomiting. Matt has also been prohibited from eating after 7:30 too.  This is a list that has great importance as we determine if there is an issue and if and when further testing needs to be done. 

This is just a simple sampling of my view on how lists can be good, bad, important or secondary as with anything in life.  

Now, what I've recently come to realize as a major "bad" factor of list making and sticking to a list is that people's emotional needs, especially children's, are not something you can list ahead of time. Yes, physical needs (toothpaste, tuition payments, practices) can be met via lists and those are important but emotional needs have no time frame for occurring and they need to be addressed in the moment not later when it is more convenient. 

I've always lived with the goal to "complete the list" "to stay on task" but what I realize is that I've missed some important teaching and learning moments by not being flexible to what I should be doing which is really serving others, especially my family. So, knowing this I have adjusted my thinking when it comes to my lists. Yes, having them is not a problem, they do help me to get things done but I need to listen for those "divine" appointments sent to me by God, those moments of service He has set before me, and make those the priority trumping the list. Just this week I was able to "hear" and put this new prioritizing into practice. The kids were attending our church's VBS program this week. One of the mornings, I had intended to come home after dropping them off and making a few phone calls, I started having a casual conversation with another mom and felt that this was the conversation I was meant to have in that moment. This was my "divine" appointment. What was interesting is that at the end of the conversation, not only did I feel that I was able to serve that mom but that she served me as well. If I had stuck to my list, this moment never would have happened and I would have missed out on a true blessing.

Of course hind sight is 20/20 and looking back over the years, my kid's growing up, etc., I see the many missed opportunities whether it be in time, conversation or service. I can't go back and change that but I can move ahead with this realization and put list making in a new perspective - letting the list lose its control over me. 

Will I continue with list making, you bet BUT I now know to "listen" and see if there is somewhere or someone to serve, a "divine" appointment that trumps my list. After all, my life here is not my own, it belongs to my God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and each moment of my day needs to be able to bring glory to Him....some days it may be by cleaning my home, others it may be helping my daughter with school work, Matt with a moment of getting over tears and trying to express how he is feeling, serving my husband by being a help to Him or conversing with a friend or stranger who just needs to talk something out.  I don't know what form of opportunities will arise but I do know when I hear, feel or see them, my list will not be in control.

A Hit and a Miss

We are continuing with our weekly menu here at the Wessel household.

Yesterday, I made Lemon Chicken Thighs with Olives. What I loved about this recipe was that it was a crock pot meal but sadly the kids were not big fans. Emily did not like the lemon flavor, she is also not too fond of chicken. Matt on the other hand liked the chicken but being a lover or olives, which I thought would sell him on this meal, did not like the lemon flavor that permeated the olives. Dave and I agreed that it tasted good but it was not a meal that "wowed" us. 

Now tonight, we had a winner for dinner - Baked Tacos. It was so easy to make and the results were yummy. Because we are a family of just 4, I decided to halve the recipe so we wouldn't end up wasting food. This meal also worked well because Dave was able to eat during his quick stop home after work before heading out to play a softball game. This is one recipe that will definitely make it into the family menu binder. 

Hope these receipes are giving you some good ideas or just inspiring you to get back into the kitchen. 

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm planning on making with th kid's help the dessert bars we've chosen to make for the week.