2 New Programs!!!!

I have gotten 2 new programs I have yet to tell you about!!!

I did some work for someone around their house & they surprised me by paying me for it.  I then turned around & bought the program PiYo from Beachbody.  I liked everything I had heard & saw about this particular program & thought it would be perfect for me.  Was I RIGHT!!!

I have developed Plantar Fasciitis AGAIN.  This means running, jumping like a crazy woman & sometimes even walking are rough on me.  This time around it's pretty bad.  So, PiYo is right down my alley! 

Chalene Johnson has created a great program that you are stretching & using your own body weight in balance moves etc to help build your strength.  I love how I feel after doing this workout.  There are a couple that leave me in a puddle on the floor too!  Who'da thunk huh? 

Then for Chrtistmas I received the 21 Day Fix.  I was looking forward to something a little different to switch things up.  Because of the PF I haven't been able to do some of the cardio moves but Autumn Calabrese has a modifyer on there that shows exactly what to do if you can't go crazy.  Honestly I can tell you the 10 minute ab workout is truly challenging.  She NEVER STOPS for that 10 minutes!  I wasn't sure if I would be able to pick myself up off the floor when I was done.

With these 2 workouts I found I can double my workouts & feel really strong afterward & not hurt myself doing it.  No pounding on my feet right now is a good thing. 

I'm excited to keep going with them (just finished out a week of 21 Day Fix and the 8th week of PiYo). 

I happen to have my son's wedding coming up in March & I would like to be as fit as possible when that comes!!  Want to look good in those pictures!!!

What goals have you set for yourself in this new year?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!!


***  I am not a Beachbody coach or trainer.  These are my opinions only. 

Post Christmas Ponderings (part 3)

This is my final post about Christmas.  I promise :)

The blessings abounded this past Christmas.  Just over a year ago at Christmas my father was admitted into ICU in Pennsylvania where my parents live.  He went in because he was having trouble breathing (smoker & prone to collapsed lungs & pneumonia).  Within a 1/2 hour my father was unresponsive & on a ventilator.  Us girls (I have 2 sisters) were called & were kept updated constantly.  My older sister went flew up there to evaluate what was happening & seeing what Mom needed.  My younger sister & I have younger children & were not able to get up there as easily.

As the days went on we were informed we needed to get up there.  It didn't look good for Dad.  My sis & I flew up together & stayed for an extended weekend going back & forth between hotel & hospital.  My Dad's 2 brothers drove in.  This was serious & the Dr's were not feeling too positive.  My sis & I were praying over Dad every chance we could get.  I would sing songs to him.  He would respond some times by squeezing my hand and turning his head to me.  Oh - if I didn't mention before, I have always been a Daddy's girl.

So, that was just over a year ago.  Dad pulled through.  He had to have some therapy as being in ICU for 14 days & then in the hospital for longer takes its toll on a body.

My other sister was on Facetime on the phone Dad is holding :)

He wears a shirt that says "Miracle Man".  That is so true.

In the months that followed Dad & Mom decided they wanted to be closer to their girls & grandkids so they came to FL & found a house here.  They will live here during the winter months & up in PA during the summer months.

We were blessed to have them here for Thanksgiving, Christmas AND New Years.  Celebrating these moments with them was extra special.  Seeing my Dad get around when truly there is no reason he should have made it through all he went through is just mind boggling. 

He still has things he is working on getting stronger with.  Mom & Dad are the only grandparents my kids have right now so having them close by is really sweet.  My middle son(almost 16) has been in boy heaven going over & helping Grandpa with different tasks around their house. 

So that is one of the blessings we had for Christmas.  As I look back on the holidays of 2014 I realize how incredibly blessed I am.  Yes, there were moments that made me sad but all in all God has been so good to me I need to focus on that.

Thanks for reading the ponderings of a slightly emotional (ha!) woman after the holidays.

I hope yours were all you hoped they could be.

My next post will be more health/fitness related :-D

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!

Post Christmas Ponderings (part 2)

I mentioned in my last post about some family estrangement.

It makes my heart sad when family is estranged from each other.  I remember growing up & having older members of our family not want to be around others in the family.  It never made sense to me.  There were times it made me sad as I got older.  I realize that people who grew up together would choose to not have a relationship really bothered me.

I realize now as an adult how easy that can be. Relationships take work.  Even being 1000 miles away that relationship would take work!  One of my sisters lives in TX and if we don't take the time to call, text or email it would be extremely easy to just move on & lose touch with each other.  We have had times that it's gone too long & realize that needs to be remedied.

I have a confession to make.  Years ago I passed judgement on a relationship someone close to me was in.  It created bad feelings for a few people.  When my husband called me out on that I spoke to the person I was close to & explained my feelings.  He pretty much told me "suck it up, it's my relationship".  That was true.  Not my business really.  I can still love him & his (now) wife.  Problem is now there are hard feelings.  Feelings that someone can't get passed because of my judgement years ago.  I have apologized & have been trying to make amends.  Regardless of how we feel, if we are Christ followers He calls us to do that.  I won't stop doing so.  This estrangement is affecting so many others though in the family & that is so sad.  It is carrying on to the next generation.

Through this last Christmas it was weighing heavy on my heart how not all family could/would be around to celebrate & remember Christmas' past.  To share memories of passed Christmas'/holidays with family is so important especially as we get older & the patriarchs/matriarchs pass away.

I know some times it's hard to 'like' someone even if they are part of our family.  Jesus calls us to LOVE though.  Love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-40), honor one another above ourselves (Romans 12:10)

So that is what I'm trying to do.  I have done wrong in the past.  I am not perfect (hence the name of my blog).  I have apologized & hope I will be forgiven soon so that we can heal & create lasting relationships for our families.

I am writing all these things because I have realized over the last year that our mental health is SO important to our physical health.  They seriously go hand in hand.   We can't make someone love, like or even stand us BUT we can do what we can to make sure that our part of that relationship is right.

Hope this makes sense.  I do appreciate you reading this.  Funny what the holidays do huh?

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!

Post Christmas Ponderings

This past Christmas season was especially poignant to me.  It was the last Christmas we will technically be a family of 5, as officially we will welcome our daughter-in-law in March.  It was the first Christmas in 19 years that all of my children didn’t wake up here. 

Hearts made sad this year by those family members that have chosen to be estranged yet we have been blessed by others that are close enough now to celebrate the birth of Christ with them.

I have realized twice now in 1 week I have heard about Mary “pondering these things in her heart” in regards to Jesus.  This is so true for me right now.  I want to remember every little thing & make sure my children know I love them & they will always have a place to call home. 

I find myself in moments of being extremely capable of starting that cry.  You know which one I’m talking about.  The “ugly” cry.  I understand these things are normal. 

This is the time we raise our children for right?  They are not meant to stay with their Mom’s & Dad’s forever.  We raise them with what they need to go out & spread their wings. 

This Mom might not feel ready for this but I know my oldest is.  He is ready to spread his wings.  He has already been practicing it & I am proud of what I have seen so far.  He needs this time on his own before he gets married in March.  

On to the next phase in his life.  I just hope he can be patient with this Mom who just loves him more than he will ever know.

Happy New Year!

Be Blessed & Live Healthy!!