Whew, what a great weekend.  My parents made it here Friday afternoon and we ate dinner at Outback Steak House that night.  Saturday we went shopping at some Thrift Stores and ran around.  We also watched football and baseball and the two youngest kids went Trick or Treating. Wes held down the fort with our trick or treaters and had fun giving out candy.  After church today, my parents took off for Kentucky.  We had a lunch at church and then I came home and napped. 

Right now Wes is walking the dog, Tom is picking up Maddie from a Halloween party, and Tyler is on his way home from a friend's house.  The house is quiet~Penny is lying by my side and we're enjoying the silence.  I love having my family in and HATE that they live so far away.  But I must admit that these moments of quiet are serendipities that I just soak up.

I also had a long talk with my brother today which is always nice.  I never thought he'd be a phone person but he's becoming more so the older we get and that's so much fun for me.  Which just goes to show that our prayers matter.  God may not answer in our time or way, but the years of praying over my relationship with my brother are starting to show fruition.  We're VASTLY different people~in looks, personality, and many other ways.  But at the end of the day I love him because he's my brother and I need no other reason.  I think he's at that place right now too and I just have to say that all praise goes to the Father. 

You see all those years I prayed for God to change my brother made little change.  But the relatively few years of praying "Change Me" have done the trick.  I'm learning that it's okay to pray for other people and their "issues" but never before I get the log out of my eye. 

So Father, thank you for all those blessings I take for granted.  Time with family, the taste of chocolate on my tongue, the purr of my cats, the big eyes and wagging tails of my dogs, the cool Fall weather.  Thank you for the warmth of my home, blue October skies, friends and answered prayers.  Mostly, thank you for the gift of learning that it's never too late for your grace to change me.  So this "old dog" bows in obedience, waiting for you to show her all kinds of "new tricks."

Friday's workout:  Firm Lower Body Sculpt II
Saturday's workout:  Do walking the dog and walking all over the place shopping count?(I had 13,000 steps on my pedometer)
Today's workout:  A true rest day (except for the fact that Rocky "made" me walk him a bit this morning).

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie's Caribbean Mystery

We accomplished so much today that I'm looking forward to relaxing this weekend with my parents.  I got my hair cut, bought a fabulous cashmere sweater for $8 (you will soon find out I love to consignment shop) and we mopped the floors, washed sheets and slipcovers, and spruced up a bit more.  Maddie also gave Penny a bath (our beagle) so she smells good for Grammy and Gramps!

In between all of that, we got some math and other seat work done but nothing too creative this week. (Okay, we did watch a documentary on the History of Halloween and the technology used to mummify people during lunch a couple of days this week.  Do NOT watch how to mummify while eating, lol)  That's okay, we did were busy with life and that is what counts.

As far as workouts, I exercise pretty hard for about 3.5 weeks per month and the last 1/2 week I do more recovery type workouts and throw in extra rest days.  It really helps me with soreness, motivation, and plain ole' fun.  So, I hit that spot today too.  It feels good to gear down just a bit. 

As I cycle through my workout routine with lighter and more intense, I realize that we all need those spots on our lives. The older I get the more I realize my need for them. And God, fabulous creator and perfect Father, has built that concept of Sabbath into our weeks.  I often find myself not using Sabbath that well.  Instead of seeing it as a burden, what if we approached it as I do my recovery time?  With a sense of lightness, anticipation and playfulness?  Lord, this week, I ask you to build in me a sense of joy in rest.  Let me never think the world can't go on without me, but that I can't go on without YOU. 

Today's workout:  My FAVORITE recovery workout:  Dance off the Inches Country Line Dance.  I don't usually like country; I don't line dance.  But I love the fun quality of this little gem.  It is so refreshing and fun.  I just found out the same instructor has a new DOI Country Line Dance Party coming out in December and I may have to ask my husband to get that for me for my Christmas gift!!

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie The Secret of Chimneys.  I just recently saw a production of this on PBS and HATED it.  They put Miss Marple in there and made one of my favorite characters the murder.  So, I want to re-read this to remind myself of what a good story it really is.

God seems to be hitting me with a theme lesson this week, so I thought I'd share.  In Sunday School, we studied how different denominations need to work together in spite of differences that aren't vital to walking with God.  The problem is, however, what seems insignificant to me (i.e. the method of baptism) may not be to someone else.

Yesterday we went on a field trip to Chattanooga to see the replicas of the Nina and Pinta from Christopher Columbus' voyages.  In learning how a ship works and the history of Columbus' life, it was fascinating to see how he lived.  But one thing caught my attention and that was how the Pope put a bounty on Columbus for saying he'd proved the world wasn't flat~since that went against church "doctrine."  And yet Columbus himself said he believed in God. 

Today I was cleaning the house for a visit from my parents this weekend for my daughter's upcoming 13th birthday.  (How did THAT happen????)  And, by the way, the kids have helped a lot.  What is the difference between good enough and perfection?  When is it good enough so that I don't drive my family crazy and forget to enjoy these days we have together?  (By the way, I think cleaning and cooking are a consequence of the curse given as sin entered the world so I'll never have a perfect house anyway~I'm just not good at it).

So, what do you require of us, God?  To major on the things of the Spirit that are eternal and of value.  To do those things that change lives, not cause bickering and division.  Back again to Sunday School, and Micah 6:8:  "  And what does God require of you, o man, ...but to do justice, and love mercy, and walk humbly with your God." 

Lord, my kids may never remember if my house was perfect when Grammy and Gramps came.  They will remember if I treated them well while making it a warm place for their grandparents.  My kids may never remember all the details of the trip to see the Nina and Pinta.  But I bet they remember their dad being generous with a tip for the people who work on the ship as volunteers, except for tips people give.  They may never figure out a way to convince everyone that their doctrine is correct.  But they can seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with you.  And, in the end, we need to be sure what we're thinking is doctrine truly is...anyone had any "flat world/round world" beliefs you've gotten hung up on?  I sure have!

At the end of the day, isn't that what matters?  Because the heart of the matter is this:  "For God so loved the world that he gave His only Son..."  Through my actions and words, may I go offer him to others too.

Saturday's Workout:  Firm Get Chisel'd Kick it Into Gear Quick Cardio Blast; Slim Series Express Cardio Sculpt

Sunday's Workout:  Cathe Low Impact Circuit Step Cardio premix

Monday's Workout:  Tracie Long Focus Kick Back; Tracie Long Focus Reach Further, Balance section only

Tuesday's Workout:  Rest Day

Wednesday's Workout:  Firm Burn and Shape

Today was homeschool co-op day.  I planned to get up early, go to McDonald's to read my Bible alone, walk the dog, and then get to the co-op by 9am. Well, Tom got up to go with me and got busy with some things.  I got home about 8:20 and had time for a doggie walk with Rocky or makeup application.  I opted to walk the pooch and went out without anything on my face but sunscreen.  Tyler told me I look the same as WITH makeup.  I'm not sure if that's a compliment or it means I need a serious makeover!!

I took a nap after co-op as the darn cold is hanging on and then exercised.  Wes and his dad did some work together and then went out for a long bike ride. Maddie worked on cleaning her room well for Grammy and Gramps to come visit next week~she was scrubbing the front of her door and said she had no idea how much elbow grease I'd put into doing all this FOR her over the years.  A great lesson, huh?  Tyler spent time cleaning up his room a bit too and then after they both practiced piano they took off to spend time with their friends on the next street over.

So now, the chili is cooking.  Tom and Wes are doing a project in the dining room (Tom ordered glass shelves for my china cabinet and they're installing it~for the life of us we can't think how two glass pieces of a cabinet could get lost in a move).  And I'm sitting here, enjoying the sound of silence~except for Penny's snoring, lol. (She's the 12 yo Beagle).

As I sit in stillness, I'm reminded that God designed us to have flow in our lives.  Times of work, times of play; times of intense study, times of reflection; times of exercise, times of rest.  Balance is so elusive in a culture that demands constant action.  Father, help me to see the need for balance~and to teach that to my children. For without balance, it's hard to hear that still, small voice you often choose to speak in.

Today's workout:  Slim Series Express Cardio Core

Yesterday I ended up going out to lunch with Tom and then came home and napped instead of exercising.  I told the kids that yesterday was an "unschool" day~go learn something. They LOVE it when I do that.  Wes studied quasars and galaxy types (sombrero, elliptical, etc); Maddie practiced piano and learned about the piano mechanics, plus did some art and reading; Tyler spent time learning about Greek Myths (he got interested while reading the Percy Jackson stuff).  It was nice to see them learn on their own and gave me a break to rest!!

Today we got our regular stuff done and then worked on doing some chores we'd neglected.  The house really needed to be swept, dusted, etc.  Tyler and Wes tackled Tyler's closet and that was a chore!  Maddie cleaned up the screened-in porch, which needed attention too.  Then we spent time reading and went to Barnes and Nobles to see if there were any new books we wanted to check out at the library or purchase.

Today I was praying for Tom and the kids from the book of I Thessalonians.  I was praying that we'd be kept pure and blameless until the time Christ returns.  And, I was thinking about what purity means and even looks like today. It's so unpopular and uncommon that being pure in body, soul and spirit, as the scripture says, will help us stand out like "stars in the universe" so that others are drawn to Jesus.

Lord, as Wes and I are fascinated by the stars in the universe, may everyone one of us in this house blaze forth, lighting the way to you, as a star over a stable did many years ago. 

Yesterday's workout:  Cathe Total Body Stretching, Stretch on the Stability Ball, segment 1 (rest day)

Today's Workout:  Cathe Shock Cardio Circuit Blast (with definite modifications, I think Cathe's legs are made of springs)!!

What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie Halloween Party.  I read this one about this time every year.  I enjoyed The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo but it was a bit more violent and rough than I generally like so I'm not going to read the other two in the series.

I've really enjoyed using these fall colors for a bit!  The gold, orange, etc. make it feel like fall to me. It feels like fall in the mornings but has been in the mid-80s in the afternoon.  But tomorrow the high is supposed to be 75, that's more autumnal.

Today I slept in because of my cold.  I definitely felt better so I got Rocky out and we went walking. We saw three does crossing the road and I'm convinced they're the same ones we saw last week, they must be living in our subdivision!

I took the kids out for breakfast and we had a lovely time. We'd not gone out like that in forever so it was a good way to spend some of my "mad" money this week.

When we got home, the kids did their math and other seat work.  Mary Madison and Wes began working on their Abraham Lincoln biographies and did really good jobs. Maddie said that from studying Lincoln she learned to follow her dreams.  Wes said he learned to state his opinion~and he really has a hard time with that, so the lesson was worthwhile.

During lunch we watched something I'd recorded from the Travel Channel.  Extreme Rides.  It discussed the most extreme roller coasters and rides throughout the United States, and one in Canada.  I thought it would just be fun but the kids got into seeing all about centrifugal force, Gs, weightlessness, etc.  The program did include some very informative lessons on how they made the coasters.

Tyler spent part of the afternoon playing chess with Wes.  He has a neat chess set with papers that tell you how to set up the board and give suggestions for how to counter moves, etc. He spent a good part of his free time working through that.  I can see that this winter I need to take advantage of the chess lessons offered through the homeschool group for the two of them.

Today I've been reflecting on what it means to "let the Words of Christ dwell richly in you" from Colossians. So often, my mind just wanders when my hands are busy or I'm resting.  How incredible would it be to discipline my mind so that I can meditate on his law day and night, as it states in Psalm 119?  I'm going to try to sneak more of that into my life. How about you?

Today's workout:  Kelly Coffey-Meyer 30 Minutes to Fitness Cardio Blast, Athletic Step section

Started fighting a cold on Friday night so I've been feeling puny.  The good news is that by this morning my sore throat was gone and I did rest get a good nap in this afternoon.

The kids were a huge help today by doing all their work.  We discussed various types of moons as we watched a show on the Universe during lunch.  We ended up looking into regular versus irregular orbits of moons and theories of how moons are captured or formed. 

The kids are also writing this week on something they learned to do and how they learned it.  Maddie and Wes are writing biography reports on a person from the Civil War era.  We also really want to get to the library and check into some new books!!

Saturday's workout:  Firm Wave Rock Solid Cardio
Sunday:  Rest day
Today's workout:  Firm Jiggle Free Arms