Why Do Adults Worry About Their Weight?

I was asked by my daughter why weight is so important to adults.  First, I’m not sure it’s weight exactly, but more how and what we eat. Weight is just the easiest thing to pinpoint. We can see if our clothes are getting too tight. We cannot see if our blood work is getting dangerous. This is a dangerous topic when you have a tween, because you want them to eat healthy, but not obsess about weight. It’s hard to explain why she can eat more of certain things than I can. We did discuss how your body changes as you get older and necessary eating habits need to be changed as well.

Is this really true, or have we just been programmed this way? Yes, your body changes as you get older, but do we need to change eating habits? What would happen if we started healthy eating habits from birth? I know part of the answer to that. School lunches would need a major overhaul or we would need to start packing lunches everyday. I know for my family, it would not work to make any drastic changes. They would surely notice. I have had a year or so to do research on eating since my first scary test results. I would not say I am an expert, but I have made some changes around here. One of the first things I learned is that the fewer the ingredients, the better. I am taking control of what my family consumes by knowing what ingredients are in each dish. Of course, in order to do this, we have had to prioritize eating at home and cooking our own meals most days. Snacks mostly consist of fresh fruits and vegetables (good thing my kiddos like them).  We try to shop on the outside edges of the stores to get fresh and frozen fruits, veggies, & meats and Dairy products.  We eat processed foods and prepacked foods as little as possible.  We also love to "eat the rainbow" around here.  The kids like trying new fruits and vegetables in the whole rainbow of colors. I am far from perfect in what I eat, but I am trying to provide healthy meals for my family.

Another way we can teach why eating right is important is that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we need to care for the temple. "Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit?  Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you.  God owns the whole works.  So let people see God in and through your body." (I Corinthians 6:19-20, Message)  If we don’t take care of the temple, we may not be physically able to do the tasks God has for us to do. In my case, if I do not take care of my temple, I may need to spend the money on a new, wider wheelchair than use it for a ministry task. God provides us with one body for this life on Earth and we have the responsibility to take care of it.

Watching what you eat does not mean obsessing with what you eat, depriving yourself, or focusing too much on food. This is not healthy or a good way to minister either. We should not make food our idol.  Our focus should be on God and not on our food--counting calories, hoarding food, hiding treats, etc.

What great tips for eating healthy do you have?
How do you manage the with kiddos (especially a tween or teen girl)?

Here We Go Again

I am a little frustrated this morning. My headache is back. Only this time it’s a bit different. It did not wake me up in the middle of the night, I had it before I even went to bed. It did make sleeping difficult, but I managed to get some sleep on and off all night. And, it’s still there. Stinkin' headache!!! I am totally going to make a doctor appointment today to see if there is anything they can do. And, I am going to go see Dr. Matt tomorrow instead of waiting until next month.

I’m frustrated because I got so used to feeling OK most of the time, that I could manage how to function through life. I would get tired and have to take a nap, but other than that, I was getting a lot done. When my headache arrived, I had just tried to teach our daughter how to do counted cross-stitch. Well, I had only imagined I could start doing that again. Two stitches later and my head was killing me. I was quite disappointed. I finally get my hands to working enough that I thought I could begin cross-stitching again. I loved it!! Well, that is not going to happen. :(

I also get frustrated because I think I’m getting better or at least stabilizing and figuring out how to live life. Then, something like this slams me. The headaches are bad enough that they cause life to stop. I don’t feel like I can plan much of anything because I’m not sure when a headache will hit. One I considered a fluke, especially since the MRI was fine. Now, however, I don’t know when to expect it to hit and am afraid to schedule anything for fear of having to cancel or not be able to do it. This is slightly on the annoying side to say the least. The fact is, I will not allow this to stop me from living my life. I will continue to do what is on my schedule--just in pain. That ought to be fun for everyone. :)  What good will it do me to take to my bed anyway? I'm hurting no matter where I am so I might as well try to be productive.

Update:  I saw the doc and am being treated for an infection in the sinus cavity behind my right ear and an ear infection.  Plus, I'm getting an appointment set up to see a neurologist.  Maybe I'll finally feel better and can get the answers I need.

Happy Birthday Kansas!

Happy 151st Birthday Kansas!!!

What a day to celebrate!  We didn't do all that much today, but couldn't let the day go by unrecognized.   I wore a sunflower/wheat corsage to church which brought a lot of questions and more than one opportunity to explain the reason.  What better reason to celebrate than the birthday of this great state.  We also has ice cream to help celebrate this afternoon.  (It couldn't have anything to do with seeing deer.  :))

But, the best news is finishing our blog to book about all our Kansas adventures last year.  What an amazing way to help immortalize a moment in time.  http://kansas150th-150thingstodoinkansas.blogspot.com/  We should forever be able to revisit the book about our journeys and relive the experience of the past year.

Our celebration of Kansas Day really started yesterday, January 28.  We attended the Kansas Day Celebration at Sternberg Museum in Hays.  They had an area all set up to learn about Kansas symbols and the kiddos each got to enter a coloring page of a Kansas symbol in their coloring contest.  This would have been a great place to learn about Kansas symbols and a great place to start our adventures.  I was pleased that the kiddos already know all of the symbols and can spout from memory information about our great state. We got to see a tiger salamander and ornate box turtle live and in person.  My favorite part was getting to hear the recording of the meadowlark.  I absolutely love that call and it is unmistakable.  More than once on our adventures we have heard the call, stopped in our tracks, and began searching for the meadowlark.  There is no other sound like it in the world.  I was impressed that even I learned something. The sunflower is not one flower, but hundreds or thousands in each bloom.  Each petal and seed is considered a flower.  I have sunflowers all over my home, but never knew that.   That just goes to prove, there is always something new to learn, no matter how familiar something seems.

Our Kansas adventures are not over.  We may have finished 150+ things in one year, but we are not done exploring.  Every time we leave our house, we are exploring the world around us.  We had heard there had been snowy owl sitings around Kansas.  Of course, we had been looking and hoping to see one.  Well, last night, Eric spotted one.  So, we stopped and enjoyed the beauty of God's creation.  The kiddos even named it Hedwig.  :)  Hopefully, we will never lose our sense of adventure.

Happy Birthday Kansas!

Scouting

Our family has started scouting this year. We have a Tiger Cub Scout and an Explorer in the American Heritage Girls. You would think picking a scouting organization would be simple. However, it was not. We wanted to make sure the scouting organization had the same value system we are trying to teach our children at home. Not so simple anymore. After much research, we chose Boys Scouts of America and American Heritage Girls. The only problem being our town does not have an American Heritage Girls troop. I was thrilled to discover since our closest troop is 60 miles away, our daughter can be a troop of 1 or “Trailblazer” and I can be her mentor. We’ve just started this journey, but I’m already excited about helping both kiddos meet badge requirements.

I was even more thrilled as I explored the American Heritage Girls website http://www.americanheritagegirls.com/ and discovered “American Heritage Girls first all girls’ organization to Partner with century old Boy Scouts of America”. I felt so validated that all our research had paid off. We had chosen scouting organization for our kiddos that feel their values are so similar, they have partnered.  And, next Sunday just happens to be Scout Sunday so we get to celebrate the kiddos choices and hard work with recognition at church. Don’t know quite what we’ll do, but they will at least get to wear their uniforms.

American Heritage Girls:
AHG Oath:

"I promise to love God,
Cherish my family,
Honor my country,
and Serve in my community."

AHG Mission:
"Building women of integrity through
service to God, family, community and country."

AHG Vision:
"American Heritage Girls is the premier national
character development organization for young women that
embraces Christian values and encourages family involvement."

Boys Scouts of America: 
Cub Scout Promise:

I, (your name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
To help other people, and

To obey the Law of the Pack.

Law of the Pack:

The Cub Scout follows Akela.

The Cub Scout helps the pack go.

The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.

The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

Cub Scout Motto:

Do your best.

Loving Technology

I am absolutely loving the technology that is available out there.  I might love it anyway, but I really love the technology that enables me to do things my body will no longer do for itself.  So, I thought I'd share with you all the cool things I have discovered and see what you know is out there I haven't yet discovered for myself.

1.  Let's just start with computers.  I remember taking computer science in high school when the Internet was just beginning and we could go play online games if our work was all done.  Who ever would have imagined that technology would explode like this in such a short time.  Now, I can do almost everything on my computer including connect with friends and family around the world.  I can share my thoughts with all of you via this blog, email, facebook, etc.  I can look up any question I have on Google and find almost anything I want to buy somewhere on the web.  My husband has a lap top which he can use anywhere and we can even watch movies and TV on it.

2.  My cell phone lives in my pocket for instant connection to whomever.  It also keeps me organized with a calendar and alarms to let me know something important is coming up.

3.  My piano is really a full-size Kurzweil PC3x.  So, besides sounding like a baby grand (which it does most of the time), I could learn how to utilize it as a full orchestra.  Cool, huh? 

4.  Plus, VocRehab is currently figuring out technology to help me enlarge music so it is easier for me to see.

5.  Our Blu Ray player can instantly connect to Netflix and other programs, so I can sit on the couch and watch our TV whenever I want.

6.  Loopz and the handheld version .
7.  Kitchen scissors, blenders, food processors, apple corer/slicer/peelers, anything that can cut food and not my fingers. 
8.  Crock pot and my new 3 in one crock pot for sides.  . 
9. Enclosed garlic mincer.  I just drop a clove in the top, roll it around, and Voila!!  minced garlic with no minced fingers.

10. Sleep Number bed--I can make it firm enough to get in and out of it, but soft enough to let me sleep. 

11.  My Kindle because I have a library at my fingertips, I don't have to struggle with a heavy book and turning pages, it can read out loud to me when I can't read for myself, and I can now check out books on it.  YEAH!!

I am thankful for all the technology out there related to my disability:

12. Wheelchair

13.  Electric wheelchair

14.  Reacher

15.  Sock donner

16.  Stair chair

17.  Water chair

18.  Home Buddy

19.  Handicap bars 

20.  Shower chair

I'm sure this is only a partial list of what I use everyday, but it is what I could think of right now.  What else is out there, I should look into?  Does anyone have an idea of what I could use across the door of my wall oven to keep from burning myself when it is open?--kid of like a giant pot holder that will cover the entire open door?  Let me know.

Be Still

I’m working on being still before God, but can’t figure it out. Life is so crazy, busy everyday. It absolutely exhausts me to worry about meals, laundry, cleaning the house, etc. Not to mention taking care of the kiddos and all the volunteer stuff I have packed into my life.

I get to rest on the couch every afternoon, but if I tried to have quiet time before God, I would totally fall asleep. I do nap every day and need to recharge my batteries before the kiddos get home from school and the afternoon excitement begins--including kid’s activities, piano lessons, etc. I’d try being still before bed, but I’m ready for sleep sometimes before my kiddos are at night. So, I’d be falling asleep again. I’d try early in the am--but I barely have time to get myself ready for the day before everyone else wakes up. Does it count if you are quiet in the shower or does the sound of running water drown out God’s voice?

I can manage to do devotions and spend time in the Bible and pray and feel like sometimes God gives me insights then..  I just can't quite manage to figure out how to "be still."  If I stop long enough to relax at all, I totally fall asleep.  So, I'm looking for any great ideas you guys have out there.  How do you find time to "be still"?  What about my need to sleep and recharge so much that I can't "be still" without falling asleep?  How do you "be still" before God when your TBI doesn't want to let you sit and be quiet without sleeping?   Does "being still" in the shower count?

Forgiveness

Sunday School was thought provoking today.  We talked about forgiveness which I think is one of the hardest subjects to discuss. We all know the right answers and KNOW what it is God wants for us to do, but doing it is not so simple. It all goes back to humbling ourselves, loving God, loving others, and rejoicing in trials. http://angel-memoriesforgotten.blogspot.com/2012/01/rejoice-in-trials.html That is such important information for all of us to live by. I looked for curriculum for adults on guarding their own hearts, but did not find it. All I found was Guarding Your Children’s Hearts by Gary Smalley It is amazing curriculum for all to hear and apply to themselves, but I’m just afraid people without children will hear the title and automatically think it is not for them.

Some great questions about forgiveness were brought up like whether forgiving makes you vulnerable to being hurt. I didn’t do such a great job talking about what forgiveness means and does not mean. We did that in a small group curriculum here a couple of years ago. I think it was in 40 Days of Love by Rick Warren.  I sure wish I could keep details of what I learned in my head.  The good news is with my memory what I learned a couple of years ago is easier to access than what I learned a couple of days ago.  The other good news is that I have kept my books/study guides, so I can look up the information I need.  And, it is good to refresh my memory about that kind of important information anyway.

What good Sunday School/Small Group curriculum do you know is out there that deals with forgiveness?  Anybody out there know of a study on guarding your own heart not just teaching your kids?