The week ended up being busy. I had people from the church in and out painting and hanging blinds; took Peanut to the vet to get treated for an abscess; went to Bible Study on Wednesday; and spent time cleaning and going through a few boxes, etc. I was happy to have the family come home about 5pm yesterday for sure!


Hmm, this week I've read Agatha Christie, Dorothy Gilman, and Henri J.M. Nouwen. How is that for variety?


Workouts:  Tuesday, Thursday and Friday were TA Meta Ab L5 Days 2, 3, 4; and cardio!  Tuesday I did  Jessica Smith's LBN Metabolic Cardio (Intervals); Thursday I did Caribbean Workout Hi/Low Aerobics workout; Friday was Jessica Smith's Weight Loss Cardio Mix.  Wednesday was yoga; today was Jessica Smith's Sole Sculpt(barefoot high rep/low weight workout with a cardio effect).  I also walked Tucker 1 1/4-1 1/2 miles each day this week.

Lonely day here.  They're hard but make me glad I have a Savior who can "sympathize with my weaknesses" and understands grief.
When I look at people and systems I can get overwhelmed and burdened~as can those who put their faith in me. I'm so fallible too.  But when I "fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith" all things are infused with purpose. Even loneliness.


Today's workout:  TA Meta Ab L5D1(harder than level 4 for me); Crunch Cardio Go-Go Dance; 1 1/4 mile walk with Tucker.


What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie A Murder is Announced.

My ABSOLUTE favorite picture of Penny and me, taken last December.  It sounds funny to say that she was one of my dearest friends but it's true.  In fact, I want to love Jesus the way Penny loved me.  Unconditionally.


We were very attached to one another.  She would follow me with her eyes, right until the end, wanting to watch and know where I was.  Even yesterday, she would get up and come to be in the same room with me, even though she was weak and it cost her in terms of comfort and energy.


In fact, for the last 2.5 years that she was primarily and indoor doggie, she loved to be with me.  She would follow me through the house when I left the room, if possible. She wanted to know where I was and what I was doing.  She let me pet and kiss her nose and paws (and no one else was allowed to do that).


I want to have my eyes on Jesus constantly. I want to have a deep need to be wherever he is, following hard on his heels.  I want to feel safe in his presence and know every need I have, be it affection, comfort, food, living water, or even a walk outdoors, is to be found in him.


Thank you, Penny, for the way you loved me.  Fully. Without condition.  All-out.  And thank you for the lessons of grace and faith you taught me.  Truly, you were one in a million and I "return you to your Sender," with gratitude and love.


Today's workout:  Early morning mile walk with Tucker.  Tone it Up Beach Babe workout, Bikini Sculpt(awful name, great workout); 10 Pounds Down Cardio Abs, Tummy Torching Tabata.  I almost didn't exercise but found it to be therapeutic.

Penny is gone.:(  She took a turn for the worse last night and couldn't get up and was struggling to breathe.  The vet said she was only a day or two, if that, from death, so we let him give her final relief.  We'll bury her in our yard this afternoon.  Please be praying for us as we grieve.  Thank you all for your love and support.


This picture is the way I will remember her~climbing up on our riding mower in Lavoina and showing the world that she was queen! :D

Penny got really ill yesterday morning.  She wouldn't walk, wet on herself, etc.  We brought her in, made her comfortable, etc.  We cried, told her we loved her, etc.  We even called the vet to talk about having her put to sleep today.  Then she got up yesterday afternoon and started following us around. She ate a bit and drank a bit.  Today she wanted to go out and sit under her favorite bush.  We know she's nearing the end and it could be any time so the days we have with her are so precious. She's certainly been a good dog to our family.


The kids went to see the new Spider Man movie with the youth today. And I had a special treat too:  Tom got up and walked Tucker with me. We went a bit longer, more like a mile and a half. It was a really nice time together.


Thursday's workout:  TA Meta Ab L4D7; Ellen Barrett Walk Off Belly Fat; 1 mile Dog Walk


Today (besides the walk); TA Meta Ab L4D8 (done with level 4); Ellen Barrett Weight Watchers Walking workout (20 minute walk using light hand weights).

The past two days have been a blur of running errands, dealing with bills that need fixing, making calls, getting records from people in Rome, etc.  Nothing major but things that take time.


Today, however, we also had a fun treat. We went tubing down the Chattahoochee River in Helen with the local homeschool group. It was fun to meet some people and a great thing to do on a hot day.  When we got home I got dinner for everyone and then had to run out to Ladies Bible Study at the church.  


Tuesday's workout:  1 mile dog walk; TA Meta Ab L4D6; Firm Fat Burning Sculpting Ball Workout


Today's workout:  Ha ha ha!  1 mile dog walk was all I had time for but that was a nice way to start my day.


What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie's The Body in the Library and Have Fun. Learn Stuff. Grow.  Homeschooling and the Curriculum of Love  by David H. Albert

My family got home yesterday and I was so glad to see them. The last 24 hours or so I was ready to have noise and laughter around me once again.


Today was errand day.  Post office, library, grocery, etc.  I also got back into the swing of Bible Study with the kids this afternoon and did some digging around to find some Boy Scout troops in the area to check into. The boys really, really want to keep going and Wes is getting very close to Eagle. He's got all of his requirements for Life, the last step before he's eligible to start working on Eagle!


Today's workout:  TA Meta Ab L4D5; Tone it Up HIIT the Beach. I don't do much High Intensity Interval Training but loved this workout!

I've got to share my latest God sighting.  Tom and I had a minor financial setback.  Some things we ended up having to pay for that were unforseen.  No biggie BUT I've been fretting a bit about our school resources.  I need to get math for Maddie, Language for Maddie and Wes (they're studying German), and Chemistry, Geometry, and History resources for Wes.  Maddie's Biology, History, and Literature came from a FABULOUS friend I met on an online exercise forum who passes on her daughter's books from her private Christian school in California.  Anyway, I've fretted.  I should have prayed, right?


Well, in spite of my sin of prayerlessness, God provided.  When I went to Mildred's Thrift Store (run by our UMW to support missions work) I met the woman who runs the store, Marge.  I casually mentioned that we homeschool so Wes and Maddie can help on Tuesday mornings as volunteers during the school year if she needs them.  She told me she had some early high school resources she'd bring to see if I could use that she intended to Ebay.  Guess what?  It's 10th grade History (fabulous, literature based study, wonderful), Geometry, Literature, and Chemistry. I couldn't believe my eyes.  I showed Wes and we talked about how great our God is.  


My thought for the day is this:  Just think what our God can do if we're PRAYERFUL.  I'm grateful to My Father, who supplies all my needs from his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.


And, I'm grateful my family will be home tomorrow!


Friday's workout:  TA Meta Ab L4D4: Yoga Boot Ballet Cardio:  Latin Flavor and Light and Easy; Light and Easy Yoga Stretch


Today's workout:  1 mile doggie walk. Finally a day without rain.  The first one since Wednesday a.m.  I also did the following:  Tracey Mallett Renew You Cardio Fusion:  Sun Salutation Warmup; Core Cardio; Tone it Up Beach Babes Surfer Girl Workout.  Some of my workouts have funny names, don't they? ;)

The family got off about 1pm yesterday.  I promptly took a nap!  LOL.  Oh well, I'd been getting them out the door all morning so felt I earned it.  I like time alone without everyone but only a couple of days, not 4.  So far so good though.  My prayer during this time is to experience God more.  


Today I had lunch with Tracie Howell, our Youth and Children's Director.  I can already tell Tracie and I will have much in common~and not simply having two boys the same age!  In fact, we're almost the same age.  We just both seem to be of one heart regarding not wanting to do "church as usual."  Wanting to reach out and share the love of Jesus with people in our community.  It's fun to talk about that for sure!  So, today I did experience God more~through one of his children.


Today's workout:  TA Meta Ab L4D3; Ellen Barrett Express Belly Blast:  Warmup; Cardio Intervals; Yoga; Stretch.


What I'm reading:  Well, I picked up the first Harry Potter book last night and began re-reading it.  No idea why, just wanted to do so.

I've spent the past couple of days making sure the kids are getting everything ready for their River of Life Mission Trip. They leave tomorrow afternoon with Tom and will be home Sunday a.m.  I'm excited for them but will miss them like crazy.  Today I had to run errands to pick up last minute things I need.  I took Maddie with me. Of all my children, she seems to have the least concept of how much it costs to live. By taking her with me to the grocery, Walmart, etc. lately she's been AMAZED!


Now I need to shower and get dinner on the table.  Perhaps I can even get some good play time in with Tucker tonight~throwing sticks and tennis balls anyone?


Monday's workout:  Tracy Anderson Meta Abcentric Level 4 Day 1 (lots of planks in this level); Jessica Smith Sunset Barefoot Walk; 1 mile walk with Tucker


Today's workout:  TA Meta Ab L4D2: Powerfit Harmony Cardio: Speed Burn; 1 mile walk with Tucker


What I'm reading:  Finishing up Death on the Nile  and am beginning Guerrilla Learning by Grace Llewellyn  (http://www.amazon.com/Guerrilla-Learning-Education-Without-School/dp/0471349607/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1341950370&sr=8-1&keywords=guerilla+learning)

I'm back!  We've moved, had family and friends over, unpacked boxes, sweated, cried, laughed, set up home in a new place, continued to do math lessons, found the library, jumped on the trampoline left in the back yard for the kids, made some new friends, and finally returned to exercising this week.  All in all, we've been blessed beyond measure. 


Looking forward to sharing more with you as the days settle down.


Exercise:  I've been walking Tucker a mile in the morning.  I've also gone back to using my Powerfit Harmony workouts that use the band or tubing for strength training this week.  Here's what's gone on so far:


Thursday~Powerfit Harmony:  Strong Push; Cardio Move It


Friday~Powerfit Harmony:  Strong Pull;  Cardio Power Up


Saturday~Powerfit Plus:  Total Body Express and Cardio Kick


I really love my Tracy Anderson experiment BUT have had a hard time making myself go back~it's just darn hard.  I think I'll do a modified version throwing in some Tracey Mallett, Stephanie Huckabee, Jessica Smith, Ellen Barrett and dance workouts and see how that goes for the rest of the month.


Something like this????  
Monday~TA Meta; Cardio; Dog Walk
Tuesday~TA Meta; Cardio; Powerfit Strength 
Wednesday~Tracey Mallett; Dog Walk
Thursday~TA Meta; Cardio; Dog Walk
Friday~TA Meta; Cardio; Powerfit Strength
Saturday~Ellen Barrett; Dog Walk


The two days a week I don't have Dog Walk listed I'm going to have the kids walk Tucker.  I enjoy it but they need to start walking him again and this will give them a routine to get into of doing that for me.


What I've been reading:  Comfort food: Agatha Christie, of course.  I've read Sad Cypress,  Evil Under the Sun,  and am now reading Death on the Nile.  I read her stuff over, and over, and over, and...you get the point. ;)  I've also finished reading Homeschooling the Teen Years by Cafi Cohen and am now reading Things We Wish We'd Known (homeschooling book) edited by Bill and Diana Waring.


School:  I'm planning some things for the coming year.  I think we'll start the year doing a Unit Study on the Appalachian Trail.  We live so close to it that we can actually end the study with hiking part of it!  And, the AT is celebrating it's 75th anniversary in August.  We'll study history, geography, Bible, literature, composition, science, and spelling/vocabulary, along with crafts and art.  Math will be done separately.