Not that I'm braggin' but....

I am....I had a check-up at my doc's office this week and I came out clean as a whistle. BP 100/70.....YES!!!I was a little worried after all that job stress and what not. Check out these stats:

Component	Your Value	Standard Range	Units
Cholesterol	154	100 - 199	mg/dL
Triglycerides	45	0 - 149	mg/dL
Chol HDL	97	>39	mg/dL
According to ATP-III Guidelines, HDL-C >59 mg/dL is considered a negative risk factor for CHD.
VLDL Calc	9	5 - 40	mg/dL
LDL calc	48	0 - 99	mg/dL
LDL/HDL Ratio	0.5	0.0 - 3.2	ratio units

Finding Myself

This is me after about 5 months at my last job:

pretty ain't it?........NOT. I start a new job next week and I am oh so hopeful. This week, well, I finally feel a bit like myself again. Thank you Jesus....and thank you playlist.com... it ROCKS ;-)

I want...

..for life to slow down.
..to work less and be with my family more.
..to work out more.
..to cook more.
..to shop more.
..to read more.
..to be more.
..and to have more time.

I wonder what it is that I need? Only God knows.

Growing pains

God answers prayers in ways we can never imagine. I have prayed so many things in the last several years that, I think, God is starting to answer, but in no where near the way I thought He would. Let me tell you though....

It. Hurts. 

When God grows you, it hurts and it's hard. Sometimes it hurts so much that Satan will try and trick you into thinking that pain can't be part of God's plan, but it is. Paraphrasing "Bittersweet" by Shauna Niequist: the Christian life is is about death and rebirth, about riding the waves, about tasting both the bitter and the sweet.... because something won't ever taste as sweet without the bitter to temper and compare it to and who would want only super sweet all the time anyway? Too much sugar will rot your teeth and your soul.

So that is what I am beginning to learn, and hopefully celebrate, even though it most definitely takes growing pains to get there.  Thankfully, I know there IS a plan and that God is holding me and my family in the palm of His hand.

ALWAYS!

I don't know if it is the music, the sweat, or both, but I ALWAYS feel better mentally after a workout. Always.

Substitute teaching again....sort of

So I got to try out substitute teaching again this time at my children's own preschool. Only I was helping with the terrible 2's. Well they weren't that terrible, just exhausting. I was the bonus (3rd) leader to 12 tiny tots and we unfortunately could not leave the room for the four hours we had them. Honestly, they were fun and super cute and I am glad I got to help, but again, man do I have a lot to learn. It is one thing raising one or two tiny tots but having twelve at one time? Of course there were three of us, but K-woman, or "superman", as I should call her, seemed like she had eyes in the back of her head, out her shoulders, and from her knees! The woman knew who was hitting who, who was stealing a toy from who, or why someone was crying at any given moment, not to mention she changed all the tots diapers......twice. Not only that she has a quiet strength about her not to be matched......or messed with. Hats off to you K-woman!!!

Back in the Saddle

Well yesterday I got back in the saddle. I pressed my clothes and made my lunch Tuesday evening. I woke early Wednesday to shower, dress, blow dry, do makeup, eat breakfast and have coffee and..............I went to work.  I finally (or actually quite quickly) got to try out substitute teaching at a public school about 15 minutes away. Luckily Papa took off work and got the kids ready and to school so I didn't have to worry about that on my first day.

Beyond that, it didn't feel like a saddle at all. Actually this animal wasn't even a horse or a beast. It was something completely different and much better than when I worked before. I was functioning on adrenaline, since I couldn't sleep much the night before, but I think I actually liked teaching. A lot. I taught computer lab and had at least six classes rotate through from K-5 grade. They worked simple programs learning typing and the functions of the mouse, so it was easy to help. Besides being a bit loud and energetic at times, most of them were bright and well-behaved. I really enjoyed interacting with them. Some of them even wanted to give me hugs. I know I have a lot to learn, some of the teachers have those kids reined in like nobodies business. I could also tell kids test the waters a bit with subs, especially since the subs don't know who all of them are, but I want to try again and I am praying to see if even more teaching  might be in my future.

You know you are PMSing when...

1) You have the patience of a squirrel

2) Your kids are more rotten than ever (see #1)

3) Your will power against junk food is out the window

4) Your kids are eating crap (see #3)

5) You finally become disgusted at the sight of your house and start cleaning like a mad woman...and you hate to clean, it makes you crabby

6) Your skin is broken out

7) Your kids take turns having "accidents" in their pants and won't take naps (this is Satan working here)

8) Your dog walks two inches in front of you, wherever you go in the house

9) You feel like crying for no reason at all

and finally......

10) You are counting down the days to your vacation (OK, we were doing this pre-PMS)

Another sign

Age affected

So I am not going to sing the "I'm old" song but I have to say, I have definitely noticed some differences in myself and my only explanation is I'm getting oldER.

Case in point: If there was anything for me to brag on myself, it is my memory. I used to be able to remember almost all names, faces, situations, even from when I was very small. I think my son inherited this trait from me (not from my math geek hubby :-)). Anyway, it is difficult to remember things now. For example, Peanut and I came out of the store today and I had to wander to find where I parked (and this isn't the first time). I didn't even go out the same door I came in. I can still remember a lot of names but not quickly. Sometimes, when on the spot, I can't even come up with a simple number (phone, pin, etc.) that I have in the vault. It drives me crazy! I know this is pretty typical but I don't like it. Combine it with my changing hormones, oily skin, and backACHES and you have a crazy woman. Thank God my hair is still light so I can't see the gray hair.

Sidenote: Dierberg's has some great sales this week! Boneless skinless chicken breasts $1.99 lb, General Mills cereal (Cheerios, Kix) $1.88, Dierberg's OJ $2.50, Ground Turkey $2.50. Great time to stock up!

Signs again...

Hopefully you can read this one...I like this one because it's about baking.....

More signs

So I lied...actually this ones my favorite:

and this ones cute too:

I am starting to realize we have a lot of signs in this house!

Signs

My favorite sign in the house:

My second favorite sign (I know I know, where are my priorites, sheesh!)

The top may blow

You ever have those moments where you can literally feel your blood pressure raising and your head getting hot, and you picture your face turning red, steam coming out your ears, and the top literally blowing off. Well I have had too many of those moments this week. The makings of a crappy week:

1) Cabin fever

2) Trying to work from home with kids who have cabin fever and no nap

3) A professional disagreement and venting session

4) The ONE day both kids are at school and the house is quiet, they call early and say Peanut is sick

5) Peanut is not sick but you worry why she was crying and laying down at school

6) A husband who is so stressed by work his top may blow

and the biggest one of all....

7) Peanut having a nervous breakdown at the cardiologist. Kicking, thrashing, shaking, crying the whole nine yards. I could not calm her and felt helpless. Needless to say we will have to go back soon, they didn't even get her blood pressure.

I realize things could be A LOT worse and that we are still extremely blessed but honestly that makes me feel even worse! That I am getting upset over, well, life. I am realizing again though I need to hold as tightly to God as possible, and a new revelation, I want to examine and identify Satan and tell him to get off my back!!!

My new glasses

which you will probably never see otherwise:

Four Eyes Forever

I was evaluated for LASIK surgery last night and honestly I was pretty cut by the results. I guess the thought of not being visually handicapped at times (I have to feel for my glasses in the morning) gave me a little warm and fuzzy hope. Although, knowing this is considered cosmetic and very expensive, well I was praying to do the right thing.

They told me because I had thin corneas and a very high prescription I wasn't really a good candidate (borderline). They could however do lense implantation for only $2000 more than the LASIK ($6000). Visian (lense implantation) hasn't been around as long and is a little more invasive. Plus, if my eyes change anymore, and they have just in the last few years, I'm hosed!

So I got a pretty good gut feeling that this wasn't for me and I went ahead and ordered new glasses. I am thankful though that I have sight at all and the resources to see well. One thing to look forward to though, in heaven I will have perfect vision :-)