Playing Catch Up for November Blessings!

Well, once again I’ve found myself with little time to do the “extra” things I like to do like writing and working on pictures. Therefore, I haven’t had much time to write blog posts or update pictures on here or facebook. So in an attempt to catch up I’m going to post several updates over the next day or so.

Thanksgiving was lovely this year. I just have to write about it so these memories will be etched deep inside this heart of mine. The kids were sick over the break but antibiotics and medicine helped them feel better very quickly. On Thanksgiving Day we loaded up the car and headed to Cracker Barrel. I never thought we would be “those” people who went out to eat on Thanksgiving. I’m laughing right now because I know now that “those” people are just regular people who maybe can’t cook for one reason or another or maybe they want to use their time with family and friends rather than in the kitchen. I totally get that now. It was great, no clean up at all. We had a delicious lunch and enjoyed being together not having to worry about anything else.

On Friday we spent the day at my parents house celebrating the holiday. There is not one person I know that can cook a Thanksgiving meal like my momma! She’s the best! Her food is always so delicious, and we all look forward to eating. On Saturday we spent the day with Tim’s parents. It was a wonderful time, especially since we don’t see his side of the family as much as mine. This year it felt so much more relaxing spreading out the days with the families. I hope we continue to do it it this way in the future.

My family did 30 Days of Giving Thanks during the entire month of November. I actually posted mine on Facebook for others to read. Maybe it got annoying to read my posts, I don’t know…but it felt great to spend 30 days in a row just giving thanks and not complaining about things. Jackson is still too little to give input but Makayla joined the conversation every night around the dinner table. It’s so heartwarming to hear your child say what they’re thankful for. And we have A LOT to be thankful for. I will write that in another post to keep this one from being too long. ;-)

Blessings,

Shawna

Family Time During Teacher Appreciation Days

 Over the last 2 weekends we have taken advantage of Teacher Appreciation Days in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We took Makayla and Jackson to Ripley’s Aquarium and strolled around downtown Gatlinburg. I have to admit I’m a little partial to Gatlinburg; an adorable quaint town that hosts so many tourists yet still has a hometown feel. The kids were treated to their first chocolate covered banana and they loved it. Was it worth $3 bucks? Definitely! The kids enjoyed every bite.

(these are taken with my camera phone...I'm saving up to get a new camera...a real one)

at the aquarium

This past weekend Tim and I took a date day while MG and Jack had a fun filled day at Nana and Grandad’s house. Amelia, Anna Catherine, and Annabel were visiting so it was a house full of sweet children. Aunt Summer was there too so it was a special treat. Makayla and Jackson took the cookies they had made the night before. When we picked them up that evening we saw that all the cookies had been eaten and neither Makayla or Jackson had taken naps that day. Did it really surprise me since they were “SUGAR COOKIES”.

Jack, Anna Catherine, Amelia, Annabel, Makayla

So while the kids were busy playing and eating cookies Tim and I were busy at the FREE attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. We had a blast at The Tomb. We were successful archeologists who escaped the wrath of the Pharaoh. It was interesting and a little bit funny. Then we went to the Mirror Maze, Put-Putt, and a 5D Theater. Did I tell you it was all for FREE? Hey that might not be a big deal for some people but it is for us. I really appreciate all the local companies doing Teacher Appreciation Days. For a total of $30 bucks we visited 4 attractions, had garage parking, ate a delicious Mexican lunch (blue corn tortilla rolled enchiladas), and had desert (my favorite food on a stick: Caramel apple rolled in chopped nuts). What a blessing these small things can be!

only thing running through my mind: walk like an Egyption...

My Puzzle Prince. :-)

"cheat meal" although we skipped the rice altogether. It was really good.

I’m so thankful for all the treasures in this life whether big or small.

~ The smiles on my children’s faces

~ The chocolate on Makayla’s face while she says, ‘This is so good Mommy. Thank you sooo much!”

~ Jackson’s cheer, with arms raised, as he sees the penguins for the first time

~ The beauty of the mountains surrounding us

~ The gentle breeze and autumn’s falling leaves that speak God’s perfect creation

~ The strangers that smile as they walk past

~ The long awaited date day with my husband; a time to reconnect during this busy season of our lives

~ Knowing my children are being loved more than we know while visiting their grandaparents

~ Orange pumpkins’ everywhere which give light to the fall harvest

~ The sun on my face as I count my blessings, knowing every single blessing is from my Father

~ The strength God has given me over the last several weeks to fight adversity in terms of health problems. He is my strength.

~ Tim getting several little jobs on the side that has helped us pay our daycare bill-not to mention the after school tutoring job I’m doing. God is providing for us daily. We pray that we stay in His Will. We pray that if He opens doors that we see them and not be too busy to pass it by. We pray that every decision we make is in God’s Will and that He would shut doors that are not His Will and open the ones that are. He is able. I want to live for Him always.

God is in the details of life. Thank you Jesus! 

30-30-30

Working Towards a Goal…and staying there.

I’m working towards a goal-the ultimate goal is to be a healthier and more fit me. It’s been a lot of work losing the weight but it’s going to be harder maintaining a good weight. For the first time in many, many years my BMI is considered well in the normal range. Yay! I know it’s not a perfect system but it still feels good. Since school started back I’ve been so exhausted. I went from enjoying my hour of exercising to not wanting to do anything but relax. In the last month I’ve went from exercising 5-6 days a week to 4-5 days a week. This week in particular has been awful. I’ve been having constant pain under my right rib cage and upper stomach area into my back all week. All I can say is that no matter how hard it is keep pushing the play button-you will not regret that, but you might regret not doing it. But I have to admit that I definitely miss the summer break; more time with the kids, more family movie nights (we finally had one last night Bedtime Stories), energy to cook most meals, time to do laundry (now it piles up for the weekends), time to update my blog, time to make a lot of pictures, etc. You get the picture.

I did my measurements this morning.

30 INCHES GONE! See ya & don’t come back now ya hear!

30 POUNDS GONE! It’s hard to believe this since when I started I had doubts. It all began with a 30 Day Challenge to myself back in April.

Makayla Starts Preschool!

As you know Makayla and Jackson started daycare at the beginning of August. Well, Miss Makayla had her first official day of preschool on Tuesday, August 21. She missed the first day because she was sick, but you wouldn't be able to tell because she was ready to go! I thought I would take a few pictures to celebrate the day. She feels like such a big girl and loves school. They are working with the A Beka Curriculum.

Here are some pics of my sweet beautiful 3 year old!

19.5 Weeks Into My "30 Day Challenge"

Okay so I need a new name for my new way of living. It’s not really a “challenge” anymore as just my new way of living. Many people have asked me this week what I’m doing to lose weight. Well, I’m so sorry to disappoint but there is no magic pill and no special drink. I am eating better and exercising 5 days a week. I have not eaten white bread, pasta, or rice in months. I guess some people can eat those things and be okay, but I have figured out that my body does NOT like those things. I have been using The Biggest Loser Cardio Max workout dvd. It has a mix of cardio, resistance, and a bit of yoga. I like the video. I have surpassed my original goal but now I have a new goal. You know I am not one to blurt my “weight” to the whole world so I’m not going to post that. But I will tell you that I have lost 25 pounds! Plus, I’ve lost 26 ½ inches from all over my body (chest, waist, arms, hips, thighs)! It hasn’t happened over night friends-I have been working my butt off…literally. Haha! And just in case you’re thinking you also need to get healthier but don’t think you can-well just give those thoughts a kick in the rear-end. It’s hard for me but I’m doing it….slowly, but surely.

Tim has lost 16 pounds in the last 3 ½ weeks! I know, I know men make me sick-It took me 3 months to lose that much. I’m not giving up and I’m not giving in.

Lately I have seen a lot of FB posts about other people exercising, getting fit, making healthier food choices, and losing weight. Well I want to say “WAY TO GO!” It makes me so happy to read those types of posts, and really encourages me to keep going not matter how hard it is or how tired I am. I definitely need the encouragement. Sometimes I tell Tim to please tell me to exercise on the days I don’t feel like it. It really helps. Okay so that’s enough of that-I just wanted to give an update on my health journey.

This was taken last week & with my cell phone btw

Xoxo,

Shawna

Back to Work

The first official day back to school for teachers is tomorrow morning and I’m not gonna lie, I would rather summer stick around a lot longer. I have so many mixed emotions about going back to work. Yes, I like teaching. Yes, I think I’m a good teacher. But, I just wish I could stay home. I know-I know-I’ve written the same thing every August for the last 3 years. Well, that just tells you that it hasn’t gotten any easier for me. I do what I have to do.  I hope this school year is less stressful. Last year was tough…really tough. I could write an entire blog about it but it’s in the past. Quite frankly, I don’t want to relive it so I will skip the part of explaining. I spent last week sanding, priming, and painting some of my bookcases. They looked grungy and I needed the room lightened up. I totally rearranged everything. I get bored with the same old set up. I switch around my room every year. This year I bought new décor-it looks fabulously refreshing. Is fabulously a word? I still have a ton of stuff to do and zillions of copies to be made. I’m sure those things will get done at some point this week between meetings and lunch with my fellow teachers. I can’t wait to catch up and see how everyone’s summer break was. Mine was terrific! We didn’t go anywhere special but we didn’t need to; we had each other and that was perfect enough.

So let’s chat about daycare. The kids started transitioning to daycare last week and that went well. I think starting them on half days a week early helped out. The kids are doing great so far. Makayla will start the Abeka curriculum in a few weeks and I’m looking forward to that-I know she is! I thought Jackson would have a really hard time because he craves one-on-one attention, but he seems to be adjusting well. I am so thankful that both my little munchkins are adjusting well. They are my sweet little rays of sunshine and I just want them to be cared for and loved. I know they will be well cared for at the daycare.

So I’m off to bed now. Do you like how I start so many paragraphs with the word ‘so’? You would think that I wouldn’t since I’m a teacher but I just tend to write however I feel like it on this blog. Not to mention I am deliriously tired tonight. Goodnight & God Bless.

Shawna

My 30 Day Challenge Extended…I’m on Day 130

On April 1 I decided to make a change for the better. I was, and still am, determined to be the healthiest ‘me’ possible. My first food change was decreasing the bread products I consume on a daily basis. I traded in my morning bagel with cream cheese for yogurt with berries or a tofu scramble w/olive oil and vegetables. I also stopped eating frozen meals for lunch. I’ve always been a real big bread eater. I don’t eat much meat so breads and pastas were my typical lunch and dinners. As of today I have cut a lot of that out of my diet and feeling great. Of course I occasionally have something sweet that is not a whole food, but on a typical basis I stick with healthier food choices. I still eat some whole wheat bread products but I'm focusing on whole foods which haven't been processed-you know foods without all those additives. If I can't pronounce the ingredients, I have a hard time believing it's good for me or my family! I’ve eaten pizza probably four times in the last four months. If you know me then you know pizza was always my favorite meal. Unfortunately, it also causes me major bloating and weight gain. It’s not my friend. :-( So I've traded an easy pizza dinner for baked/grilled chicken with veggies. On occasion my daughter and I will have fun making a homemade pizza-at least in that case we can control the ingredients....and can pronounce them.:-) 

My initial goal was to start exercising. They say moderate exercise is 30 minutes three times a week. So I wanted to find out if I would lose weight if I started exercising; thus was the start of my 30 Day Challenge. I had wanted to exercise for quite some time. I truly enjoyed jogging in my late teens/early 20’s but my body has changed so much since then; mostly my fault but not completely. Along with scoliosis of the spine, I have a type of rheumatoid arthritis. The last 1 ½ years have been a huge struggle mentally, physically, and emotionally. Thankfully my rheumatologist was able to find the right medicine for me to begin feeling better. Though I still have pain, some days are still bad, overall I am much better (cold weather is awful for me!). I felt better and therefore it was the perfect time to try to exercise. I started jogging and walking intervals on April 1^st. I did about 12 miles a week for about a month. I iced my ankles and feet just about everyday that first month. The pain was awful but I knew I had to do it for me…for my kids…for God. He gave me this body and I haven’t taken care of it like I should. I lost about 2 pounds the first month, depending on the day. I was a little disappointed but proud of myself that I hadn’t given up. I decided to continue and change my 30 Day Challenge to a Life Challenge. Trust me, it hasn’t been easy at all but I didn’t expect it to be. Almost 4 months later my workout time just fits into our daily schedule. Sometimes the kids exercise with me, other times Tim will watch them. Sometimes we will go on a walk/stroll as a family. I’ve come to look forward to exercising because I know it’s good for me. I push myself, but I know my limits. I workout 5 days a week now for at least 50 minutes each. I’m just now pushing for even longer. It’s been too hot to jog outdoors much so I’ve been doing a cardio dvd most days. I no longer take my Prednisone and pray that I don’t have to restart anytime soon. That has been great! I’m still taking my other arthritis meds and know they are truly helping me right now. My back hurts often and recently my knees have been awful. Am I pushing myself too hard? I don’t know…maybe…but I’m not quitting. Please pray that those things will ease up soon. I am not giving up. I have not met my goal yet but I hope to by the end of this year….I am not giving up…I will push myself…I will better myself. This is not easy.

Anytime I feel like I can’t go on, when the pain is too hard to bear, when I don’t have the energy, or have too much on my mind, I imagine Jesus jogging right beside me cheering me on and telling me “You can do this”.  Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

 

So if you have a change you want to make in your life but you don’t know where to start, Start with Him…start with God. He is my source of strength, and my cup runs over. You might say or think it’s not a big deal to start exercising, and maybe you’re right to an extent, but it has been hard for me. I give God all the glory for my endurance and the mind to stay focused. I hope that you too will put your faith in God and know that He is always with those who trust in Him. When it gets difficult just know that Jesus is right beside you. 

Remember: The most important change starts on the inside. 

Progress To Date: I’m down 16 pounds and 20 inches, and on my way to a healthier 'me'.

Shawna

Poppy Seed Chicken Salad

A few weeks ago I went to lunch with my sister Summer. We ate at the Apple Cake Tea Room in Farragut. It’s one of our favorite places for “girl time”. My favorite dish there is the Tea Room Medley which includes delicious chicken salad with poppy seeds. I was inspired and started my recipe search for this type of chicken salad. I found a great recipe online. The only thing I changed was the mayo. I used egg-free and all natural Vegenaise ®. Rather than using regular bread, which I’m trying to avoid btw, I used Wasa Multigrain Crispbread. the golden raisins added the perfect sweetness. The salad turned out to be a delicious, healthier version of the inspired chicken salad; even the kids gobbled it down. Enjoy!

What You Need

~2 c. cooked chicken I shredded mine

~¼ c. Vegenaise

good squirt Dijon mustard

~1 Tbs. poppy seeds

~1/3 c. celery, small dice

~½ c.golden raisins

salt

black pepper

Directions

After you cook and shred the chicken combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and serve how you wish.

You can find the original recipe here at girlichef.com. <-----for some reason I can't get that link to go to the right page. Anyhow, search Chicken Salad w/ Poppyseeds & Yellow Raisins on the website girlichef.com.

ENJOY!

Shawna

Jackson’s 1st Haircut

Jackson’s hair was getting a little too long in the back. It actually started to look like a rat tail which is, in my opinion, completely horrendous. So despite several people telling me not to cut his hair, I did it anyway. I saved a cute little curl for his memory box! 

A little curl!

See people, he still has curls...I didn't cut all of them.

Ignore the happy, cheesy mom smile and look at that adorable fella.

 I’m obviously not a professional hair stylist but I think it turned out cute. Little Jack is so handsome! 

Shawna

Fourth of July Party

Summer and Joe have a July 4^th party every year. Joe and his brother buy A LOT of fireworks, they grill the meats, everybody brings a dish, and we hang out together in the smoldering heat. It’s a lot of fun! Here are a few pictures of our memory making event.