We have our April Challenge of the Month Participants!

1.  LonnieandJess

2.  Diana of Cookerati – who also informed us that smartphones have pedometer apps – big yay!

3.  Katie of Healthy Heddleston

4.  Alexis of Too Busy Gals

5.  Susan of Falling Out of Place

6.  Natalie

7.  Renae

8.  Laura of Absolut(ly) Fit

Can’t wait to hear how everyone is doing!

I’ve been tossing this theory around in my head (and probably someone else has come up with it already). 

There was a time in my life that I was not overweight.

Really, I was fine in college.  I just didn’t have the self-esteem at the time. 

Really, I was fine in high school.  I just wasn’t as tiny as everyone else was.

Really, I was fine in junior high.  See high school. 

Really, I was fine in grade school.  See high school.

I love Yoga and I want to keep doing it.  The classes and my level of exhaustion are not meshing right now.  I still want to go, but I can’t always be ready at a specific time. 

I started thinking about what kept me in shape when I was younger.  And what did I enjoy doing?

It’s not walking, as I hated that even when I was a child, even when I was in high school.  It was better in college, as it just became something you did.  But I seldom choose it as an exercise. 

When I was in elementary school, I often had to walk home, because my mom made me. LOL.  I hated it.  And I looked it up to see the distance.  Do you know what it was?  0.7 miles.  Granted, I was much shorter then, so my legs were shorter, and yeah…I hated it.

But I did love to ride my bike.  And in that spirit, I bought this baby today:

You knew it would be orange, right?

This is the Electra Townie.  I have named her Callie.  I went and tested out a version of her at the store today and it was a perfect fit.  I had to order her, because of course they did not keep the orange in stock (WHEN will people realize that it’s the best color ever?!?!?)  So I get her in a week or so, which is fine, because Ohio has at least one more good snow coming.

I also bought a ton of accessories, because you know that I love that part of any new activity.  I have my bike rack for the car (as I will need to take the bike places to ride it), my helmet, my lights, my mirror, and all sorts of things. 

I’ll keep you posted as to when I get going on it. 

• Sorry for such a long time away, folks.  Life has been very, very busy.
• That doesn’t meant that I don’t love ya’ll.
• But I do feel so removed from the blog world at the moment, because I haven’t had time to read any blogs, let alone write any.
• I hope that all of you are okay.  If I’ve missed a big moment in your life, I apologize.   And I would love it if you would tell me about it either in the comments or through email.
• Work is great.  Busy, but great. 
• Bob and I are great.  He has quit his job and is playing househusband.  I want him to play houseboy, though, and wear a skimpy outfit as he cooks and cleans for me.
• I am thrilled that I was asked into Amazon’s Vine Program.
• Amazon Vine™ is a program that enables a select group of Amazon customers to post opinions about new and pre-release items to help their fellow customers make educated purchase decisions. Customers are invited to become Amazon Vine™ Voices based on the trust they have earned in the Amazon community for writing accurate and insightful reviews. Amazon provides Amazon Vine™ members with free copies of products that have been submitted to the program by vendors. Amazon does not influence the opinions of Amazon Vine™ members, nor do we modify or edit their reviews.
• I’m hoping that I can get back into my blogging schedule soon.  I miss it.
• Here’s a dorky picture of me with the new hair – I’ve mentioned that I’m not photogenic, right?

• The Challenge of the Month is going really well.   I am excited to share with you more insights.
• NEXT MONTH’S CHALLENGE – You will need to have a pedometer. They’re cheap and easily found on Amazon.

Okay, can I just tell you how hard it is to realize I’m 39 today??  How in the heck did that happen?

I had a wonderful day.  My coworker Latoya took me to lunch (plans for a lunch that included my boss had to change to Monday.)  Bob and I aren’t really celebrating until tomorrow, which is absolutely fine. 

I did want to share with you the loveliest birthday present ever, which is Theresa’s (of The Professional Mother) son, George, singing Happy Birthday to me. 

Check it out:  http://professionalmother.blogspot.com/2011/03/angelas-sweet-boy.html

I also received tons of lovely message on my Facebook page.  I am truly blessed.

Love to all of you.

Hi all. First of all, let me set your mind at ease:  I have not forgotten about you.  Nor am I giving up this blog.

There, there, it’s okay.  I am still here.

But, as you’ve probably noticed, I have gone ahead and skipped some regularly scheduled posting.

The fact is, I’m a bit buried right now.  Okay,  a lot tired and a bit buried. 

The new job is fabulous.  In fact, later on this week I will be sharing pictures of my decorated niche, as we are having a contest between my new co-worker and myself. 

Also, I took my Give It Up challenge to the next level and lost 8” of hair from the top of my head.  I’ll be posting pictures of that soon as well.

Anyway, until I can get ahead, I’ll keep posting what I can where I can.  I know you understand.

Lots o’ love to you,

I’m so happy to announce our participant in this month’s Challenge of the Month!

1.  Tyly of One Mile at a Time.

2.  Maria of Four Blessings Academy.

3.  Kim of It’s a Turbo Life.

4.  Radioactive Vegan.

5.  Lisa of I’m an Okie.

6.  Lisa of Thrive Style.

7.  Rachel of Hounds in the Kitchen.

8.  Ruth of My Devotional Thoughts.

Laura of Absolut(ly) Fit was unable to participate, but she recommended a book for us, Throw Out Fifty Things:  Clear the Clutter, Find Your Life.  Thanks Miss Laura!

What have I been doing?  Well, I went through my closet and dumped some things.  I have also transferred a lot of stuff back to the office – stuff I had at my last job and brought home from the office when I was laid off.  So now I’m taking things back in to work.  And Bob has been great about dumping some of his stuff too! Yay!

This month’s challenge was to try a new exercise.  I am so proud of all of you for trying something new.  I hope that you found something you enjoyed!

Laura of Absolut(ly) Fit!

She spent the month working on Rachel Cosgrove’s workouts.

Congrats Miss Laura.  I’ll be contacting you for your charity info and to send you your Amazon Gift card!

Stay tuned for March’s Challenge of the Month!

My friend Julie shared this story on Facebook and I decided that it would make a brilliant guest post. It expresses what I’ve learned in the last couple of years and what I’ve tried to impart to a few people.

The following story was shared with Travis and me yesterday during a Lutheran Marriage Encounter meeting.  I find it to be a very powerful illustration, as well as a thought-provoking topic that can be relatable to anyone.  We are all guilty of passing judgment.  What would happen if we carefully considered each of life’s situations before speaking or making assumptions?  What if we waited to see how life plays out instead of viewing each event for what we judge to be its immediate face value?  What if we looked at the big picture and strived for acceptance instead of narrow-mindedness or tunnel vision? 

Consider this story… it truly hit home for me.

The Old Man and the White Horse

from Max Lucado’s book "In the Eye of the Storm"

Once there was an old man who lived in a tiny village.  Although poor, he was envied by all, for he owned a beautiful white horse.  Even the king coveted his treasure.  A horse like this had never been seen before – such was its splendor, its majesty, its strength.

People offered fabulous prices for the steed, but the old man always refused.  “This horse is not a horse to me,” he would tell them.  “It is a person.  How could you sell a person?  He is a friend, not a possession.  How could you sell a friend.”  The man was poor and the temptation was great.  But he never sold the horse.

One morning he found that the horse was not in his stable.  All the village came to see him.  “You old fool,” they scoffed, “we told you that someone would steal your horse.  We warned you that you would be robbed.  You are so poor.  How could you ever protect such a valuable animal?  It would have been better to have sold him.  You could have gotten whatever price you wanted.  No amount would have been to high.  Now the horse is gone and you’ve been cursed with misfortune.”

The old man responded,  “Don’t speak too quickly.  Say only that the horse is not in the stable.  That is all we know; the rest is judgment.  If I’ve been cursed or not, how can you know? How can you judge?”

The people contested, “Don’t make us out to be fools! We may not be philosophers, but great philosophy is not needed.  The simple fact that your horse is gone is a curse.”

The old man spoke again.  “All I know is that the stable is empty, and the horse is gone.  The rest I don’t know.  Whether it be a curse or a blessing, I can’t say.  All we can see is a fragment.  Who can say what will come next?”

The people of the village laughed.  They thought that the man was crazy.  They had always thought he was a fool; if he wasn’t, he would have sold the horse and lived off the money.  But instead, he was a poor woodcutter, and old man still cutting firewood and dragging it out of the forest and selling it.  He lived hand to mouth in the misery of poverty.  Now he had proven that he was, indeed, a fool.

After fifteen days, the horse returned.  He hadn’t been stolen; he had run away into the forest.  Not only had he returned, he had brought a dozen wild horses with him.  Once again, the village people gathered around the woodcutter and spoke.  “Old man, you were right and we were wrong.  What we thought was a curse was a blessing.  Please forgive us.”

The man responded, “Once again, you go too far.  Say only that the horse is back.  State only that a dozen horses returned with him, but don’t judge.  How do you know if this is a blessing or not?  You see only a fragment.  Unless you know the whole story, how can you judge?  You read only one page of a book.  Can you judge the whole book? You read only one word of one phrase.  Can you understand the entire phrase?”

“Life is so vast, yet you judge all of life with one page or one word.  All you have is one fragment!  Don’t say that this is a blessing.  No one knows.  I am content with what I know.  I am not perturbed by what I don’t.”

“Maybe the old man is right,” they said to one another.  So they said little.  But down deep, they knew he was wrong.  They knew it was a blessing.  Twelve wild horses had returned.  With a little work, the animals could be broken and trained and sold for much money.

The old man had a son, an only son.  The young man began to break the wild horses.  After a few days, he fell from one of the horses and broke both legs.  Once again the villagers gathered around the old man and cast their judgments.

“You were right,” they said.  “You proved you were right.  The dozen horses were not a blessing.  They were a curse.  Your only son has broken both his legs, and now in your old age you have no one to help you.  Now you are poorer than ever.”

The old man spoke again.  “You people are obsessed with judging.  Don’t go so far.  Say only that my son broke his legs.  Who knows if it is a blessing or a curse?  No one knows.  We only have a fragment.  Life comes in fragments.”

It so happened that a few weeks later the country engaged in war against a neighboring country.  All the young men of the village were required to join the army.  Only the son of the old man was excluded, because he was injured.  Once again the people gathered around the old man, crying and screaming because their sons had been taken.  There was little chance that they would return.  The enemy was strong, and the war would be a losing struggle.  They would never see their sons again.

“You were right, old man,” They wept.  “God knows you were right.  This proves it.  Your son’s accident was a blessing.  His legs may be broken, but at least he is with you.  Our sons are gone forever.”

The old man spoke again.  “It is impossible to talk with you.  You always draw conclusions.  No one knows.  Say only this.  Your sons had to go to war, and mine did not.  No one knows if it is a blessing or a curse.  No one is wise enough to know.  Only God knows.”

What did you think of the story?

Oh, I love it, guys.  I am SO freakin’ happy!

I had a very busy week.  I had meetings for 5-6 hours each day.  I have been lucky enough to be able to jump in and help out with some projects already. 

I have never worked in a company where everyone pretty much gets along.  I sat in a huge meeting with my division’s directors and personnel and felt absolutely NO underlying tension.  There wasn’t any sort of, “My project matters more than yours” feeling at all.  Everyone listened.  Everyone valued the input. 

And we laughed.  A lot.  Especially at the video of one guy falling on his skis, which was on America’s Funniest Home Videos tonight. We watched it a few times and it just became funnier and funnier.

I feel so blessed to be with this company and in this position.  I have enjoyed every minute so far.

I will say that using my brain for the first time in 2 years has really worn me out, LOL.  I slept the entire weekend away.  But I know that I’ll adjust and I’ll be even better for it. 

Thanks again for sticking with me through this journey. 

Hi all,

How are my February Challenge of the Month folks doing?

The challenge this month is to try a new form of exercise.  Even if you just try it once, it counts.   I thought I was going to try Rachel Cosgrove’s workout, but that didn’t happen.  I haven’t even had a chance to open the book.

Then I had planned on doing Pure Barre, as Jessie is teaching there now, too.  But the class times haven’t worked for me yet.

Instead, Bob purchased me a small stair/stepper contraption, that’s totally powered by you.  As soon as I use it for more than 2 minutes, I’ll let you know. 

Stay tuned for the winner of this month’s giveaway as well as the March Challenge of the Month, both of which will be announced next week.