Book Review

My favorite book club T & T started off the New Year with the instructions to "re-read your favorite book"!  My sister and I started this blook club many years ago and have changed it up from time to time but the general idea is that we read the same book and discuss it and find an activity to do or lesson to learn from each book.  The assignment was to write a post for our blogs telling why the book was our favorite and something new we gained from re-reading it.

This was easy for me!  Many years ago I got hooked on Janette Oke's books about pioneer women.  My favorite series was The Women of the West.   The Calling of Emily Evans was one of the first I read and the book has stayed with me for the last 20 years.  More correctly, the feelings I had, the pictures I conjured up in my mind about the little two room pioneer house, the lessons I learned about pioneer life stuck with me much more than the actual "story line" details.  This surprised me!  I thought I knew the story, but as I began to re-read I told my husband - this does not even sound familiar - it's like it's a different book!!

Could it be that I have changed that much in the 20 years?  Have I read more books and watched movies and some how gotten the details all mixed up??    I have often shared with my sister Tami and friend Rebecca that when I read - I imagine the house - the town - sometimes in great detail.  I think it's a common reader-thing.  I remember the little two room pioneer house that was in my mind back years ago - - - and it was not the same way I imagined it this past week as I read.   I have to say - rereading the book was a disappointment to me.   Yes it is a very good book and Oke is a superb writer, but I could not get the amazement and wonder feeling that I had before.

     She feels God nudging her toward ministry, but what options are there for a young single woman? Emily Evans has a hard time getting herself to class on time, much less figuring out God's will for her life. Then, to her surprise, she feels that God is calling her into full-time Christian service. She expects the Lord will also provide her with a companion to share her life and ministry, but Emily does not want to marry any of the available young men. She squares her shoulders and decides she will accept the task of opening a new church in a pioneer community--alone.

When Emily arrives at her new assignment, she is disappointed to find the church building in disrepair. After many days of hard work fixing it up, she announces her first service and is once again disappointed, this time in the size of her congregation. Is her faith strong enough to stand against the local doubters and myriad challenges that will test her calling?

Pioneer Stories - I think they appeal to me because I tend to like my cushy-life.  I like my air conditioned air and my instant heat when it's cold.  I like protection from storms.  I like driving my car on well paved roads.  I like convenience cooking and housekeeping.  So . . . I am transformed to another time and to an era I can't really imagine surviving.  The simplicity appeals to me. 

I finished this Book Club assignment feeling disappointed that NOW the book didn't hold quite the specialness for me.  It was different than I had remembered but I decided that's crazy - - - I enjoyed it the first time - just let it be what it is - a book I have always loved.  

Shouldn't we 50 year old's know by now that nothing stays the same - what we read and how the book inspires us is really part of who we are at the time and where we are in life . . . that is what I learned.  

excerpt taken from The Calling of Emily Evans by Janette Oke

January Jewels

Checking in with my monthly weight loss tip or lesson learned or bit of encouragement . . .


Ha sounds a little funny to call this "my" monthly tip . . . as you know I am not anywhere near my goal weight and fitness level - who am I to give advice and tips??

Maybe I am the best person to give advice about something I find hard, at times boring, and definitely discipline-required.  That would be walking on my treadmill.  We bought a new treadmill to have in our own home.  I have a nearby gym and my employer pays most of the monthly membership for me - so that's a pretty good reason to use it often!  Good reason - but I still found myself too tired to bundle up and go to the gym.  Having one in my own home has made a complete difference!  I can walk between laundry loads, or after I mopped the floor and it is drying, or at 10 p.m. or 6 a.m. I can walk for 30 minutes and then go back 2 hours later and walk for another l5 minutes.  Convenience is the word!

MUSIC is the real jewel!!    My daughter got me an ipod and it hooks into the treadmill making that 30 minutes or 45 minutes go so much faster!!!  The music makes me want to dance and run!  Unfortunately I can't help singing along and I'm sure from his recliner in the family room - my husband doesn't appreciate that.  Still . . . my January Jewel is this *Add some music to your workout!!!

Fun fitness tip: Download upbeat music you love to listen to on your iPod, and take it with you while you walk. An analysis conducted by the American Council on Exercise found that music not only makes exercise more enjoyable, but it can also boost endurance and effort.

And I can use that!!

P.S. Happy 33rd birthday to our son, Todd today!!! 

Beating the winter blues really suc . . . succulents, geraniums,petunias - think on these things!!

Seriously having a never before case of winter blues - - - so I'm thinking ahead to my flower garden.  I didn't really get to start much of one last year as we moved in on the hottest day of the summer I believe and we kinda drug along the pots we could move and tried to keep them going with the many days of 100+ degree temperatures!

If I were to be honest it is not the cold - not the snow - not being indoors that is bothering me the most - - - it is the MUD!  Shhhh . . . don't tell ANYONE I said that as we are in the midst of a terrible drought in my section of Kansas and our livelihood depends on this mud!  So I see the blessings in the moisture but I have always had a true aversion to MUD.

MUD   - when you think about it  - it is the worst!  Snow is clean, Rain is clean, Dust and Dirt is easily cleaned up, but MUD - what do you do with mud???  You just sit and wait til it dries up and you can sweep it away or vacuum it up (yes I feel the need - - - the need to vacuum the garage).  You can't pick it up or wipe it away - it just gets worse - I HATE MUD!

I have some issues with obsessive/compulsiveness - as you all know - - -

So - thinking ahead to spring and summer I can almost feel the sunshine beating down on me as I play amongst my flowers.   I always have red geraniums and white and red wave petunias, in my blue ceramic pots - and there I have it - - - red white and blue!!  I love it!   I have two plants of sedum that were here in the back yard when we moved in.  They look pretty all summer and bloom in the fall.  They are succulents. So I am going to spend some time learning all I can about how to plant and care for succulents.

I am sharing some pictures and a little planting information.

Beautiful creeping ice plant!!

To view a very helpful article on planting succulents both in pots and in the ground - click here.

Blessings found (or at least trying) in mud . . . Blessings found in gardening (and the anticipation of it).

Winter Blues . . .

I have always loved the winter - being holed up in the warm indoors with candles lit and spending the evenings wrapped up in soft blankets.

Not this winter it would seem . . . Loved the big snow when the family was all here but now I'm ready to be done with cold and snow!  I miss summer!!

I miss playing outside with the dogs, riding my bike, and walking anytime I wanted.  I miss my flowers and birds.  I miss the swimming pool!  I really learned to love the out doors more last summer - even played some golf!

Yes I miss the heat!!

Grilling and home grown tomatoes.

And as if I hadn't had enough changes this past year both at home and at work - now I dislike winter???   This is not like me!

Thought I'd write a short note here and if any of my followers have ideas for surviving winter when you really want summer . . . let me know!   In my best effort to beat the blues guess I'll head for the treadmill and some music . . . Check this website for some great ideas too!

A hunting I will go . . .

As I mentioned in my previous post I am challenging us all to learn something new in 2013!  I have committed to try and learn 5 new things this year!  I have already had two people sign up to join me!  Tami my sister is working right now on her list of five and will be reporting in at her own blog, Just One More Thing this year.  So be watching her blog!  My friend Rebecca quickly jumped at the idea and showed me her list of five tonight.  Crocheting, speed reading, firing a gun, and a couple of more personal ideas finished out her list.  Good luck ladies!

As promised I am ready to share my ideas - but alas, I still am holding out on #5 - I knew four things right away that I wanted to revisit, refresh, and just plain try for the first time!  I have listed them below and the answer to the big question . . . WHY??

How to shoot a gun . . .  I have thought about this for quite some time.  I was not raised around guns being the oldest of 3 girls, but my husband was always good to teach our two kids to respect guns and went to gun safety classes with both of them, took them hunting, target shooting, etc.    I stayed behind and really had no interest.  So why now?  Just have felt like it would be best to know the basics since we have several guns in our home.  In this world of such craziness - I also think about protecting myself - and although I don't anticipate ever really needing to - it just seems like a good thing to learn.  So Annie get your gun . . .

4 week algebra I course . . . This one will make my daughter laugh or cry I'm not sure which.   Casey is a math major and teaches high school and college math classes.  All I ask for is a 2-4 week brief introductory course to Algebra I - - - I think she could easily accommodate me on this endeavor next summer when she has a little down time???  She is working on her Master's Degree in Math - so not sure she has much down time - - - I chose this because it bothers me that I struggle with math now - I never was any good at it - how did I ever raise a math major I don't know - - - but I want to try a shot at math again!

Card Certified CPR  . . .This one is easy peasy - I work at a hospital and am required to take a brief CPR course each year - - - I can also choose to become card certified and I can do that on the clock even!  I think everyone should know it!!

The "Electric Slide" . . .Oh yeh - and this one sounds like the most fun!!!  At my daughters wedding I watched all the ladies do the Electric Slide - looked like great fun!!!  Now that I'm becoming more active with exercise, golfing, etc. I think I'll give dancing a try!  So as soon as I can round up my daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and sisters, we will be sliiiidddiing away!

Keep following along as I share the experiences - I'm sure there is bound to be some!  And let me know if you decide to join us in this challenge!   What will you learn this year?

Learn Something New!

Formal education will make you a living;

self-education will make you a fortune.

 

Do you like a good challenge?  I love the reading challenges I have found in blog world.  I love the Pin-It Do-It challenges that are new to me also!  My sister and I have weight loss/exercise challenges for each other now and then - a fun way to stay motivated.  So . . . I thought . . . It's a New Year and I'll be 54 soon . . . and 54 is not too old to learn something new!!  Right??   So here it is . . .

 

I challenge anyone who is reading to LEARN SOMETHING NEW in 2013!  Let's learn 5 new things this year.  Several ideas have come to me lately and I will be sharing them all this weekend.  I still need some time to compile my list.  The rules are this . . . there are none.  Pick five things, big or small, that you have always wanted to be able to do. Maybe it is something that you need to learn to help you with your job or with your life, but also, just think of some things you want to learn for simple fun! 

 

Where did I come up with this hair-brain scheme you ask?  I think it comes from always being afraid to do things in my life.  I'm the girl who cried in the second grade and didn't want to go to school because it was the "play day" at school and we had to run races.  I wore a dress for heaven's sake?? I have never put a worm on a fishing pole. I detassled corn for one day mind you.  I can't dive.  I can't water ski.  Have been afraid of big dogs until well you know Roy. 

 

Then things began to change - I learned that I can drive in six lanes of traffic going too fast.  I learned that I can have a blow out on the interstate and protect myself and my granddaughter from any further harm.  I can raise a big dog, feed and water him, pet him, hug him, and even - walk him. I can ride a bike!   I can manage/supervise 8 women and most days do it without chaos and blood shed.  I can pack up my entire house so it can be moved down the road.  I can hit a golf ball and I can hike in the Rocky Mountains.

 

This is why I think things have changed - I believe that in my 20's - 40's I was raising my family and keeping up with them - - - I was a great spectator in their lives - - - the way it should be for a mom!!  Loved every minute!   Now in the 40's and 50's I have more time to myself.   I have to entertain myself I guess :). 

Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and you will.

  ~Vernon Howard

So - please join me in this challenge - there is a lot out there to learn and experience.  Something little or big you have been wanting to do?  Some skill you used to have but has faded away with time??

 

Brain storm away - and check back with me this weekend as I lay out my plan for the five new things I will learn this year!   Please consider joining in on the fun!   

 

 

You CAN teach an OLD DOG new tricks!!

 

Blessings in learning new things!

New Year's REVOLUTION

People are so worried about what they eat between Christmas and the New Year, but they really should be worried about what they eat between the New Year and Christmas.  ~Author Unknown

Revolution:

A total or radical change; as, a revolution in one's circumstances or way of living.

A fundamental change in the way of thinking about or visualizing something : a change of paradigm 

For years and years and years I have started every New Year with grandios plans to lose weight, eat right, exercise, and sleep more - - - the Fabulous Four you could say - - -

By Jan. 3 I was giving up and giving in to my old comfortable habits. 

Last year as you know my sister Tami introduced me to Nutri-System and I am proud to say I have lost 30 pounds as I write this.  Tami amazed me in 2012 with her near 60 pound weight loss.  Not only did she lose weight and eat healthily, she also changed her exercise habits and I did too! 

Hence, I am calling this my New Year's REVOLUTION - not just a resolution - not something I resolve to do - not just something I plan to do - something I hope to do . . . A revolution as stated above is a total or radical change in a way of living - a CHANGE in the way of thinking!  In 2013 I will lose another 30 pounds.   I will break the chains and the bad habit of "making food something it isn't".   

I feel that with the first 30 pounds and near year of eating better foods and eating less - I learned to listen to my body and what it really requires as far as food goes.  Easy??  HECK NO!  I have an eating disorder - I crave food for comfort - I eat for the wrong reasons - and the only way for me to be healed of this disorder is to work hard!!  I am surrounding myself with people who support me and encourage me.  I read about nutrition.  I study about excercise and resistance training.  I make the choice to go to the treadmill when I want to be in the recliner.  (most of the time).  I can see that NOTHING I put in my mouth tastes as great as seeing a pound come off the scale and being able to buy a smaller size of jeans feels!  The success comes from hard work and realizing that food is just food and it is for nourishing our bodies.  That was God's ONLY INTENTION for food.    My success so far has been due to being able to think about food in a different way. 

Am I a Nutri-System Success Story?  No I wouldn't say so - I could have lost much more weight.  I got lazy many days.  I skipped workouts many times.  I stayed up too late and snacked on many occasions.  I wanted to quit.  Thankfully - I was partnering with my sister on this adventure to health and that kept me going back day after day. 

But what I know for sure is this . . . I will never slip back into my old ways of living to eat each and every day.  As the quote goes - don't live to eat - eat to live . . . I am on my way to another year of healthier living!   And from Mary Tyler Moore . . . "You're gonna make it after all . . . "

Blessed with good health - and wishing you all the same in 2013!

Check in monthly with me as I share a lesson learned or an encouraging tid bit for anyone else who might be "revolting" again bad choices and the snarls of food temptations!