"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry..." Robert Burns originally wrote it, John Steinbeck copied it, and last night it was a reality in the McElroy house.  Tyler's scout camp was cancelled due to storms in the area.  We didn't complain though, we needed the rain!  After the storm died down, Ty and I went to Cici's Pizza buffet for dinner and he had a BALL.  When we got home we played Mouse Trap (see, mice do come into the picture, lol) and then I watched Poirot and he watched Monster House.


Today I had to return an item to the mall so we walked around there for a bit.  Tyler played with some neighbors and then decided to take apart an old printer Tom left here for him to dissect.  There is an old karaoke machine he plans to tackle next.


Tomorrow evening, late Tom and Maddie will be home.  I'm just sorry they're going to miss Tyler's closing scout program~skits, songs, etc.  Should be fun.


What I'm reading:  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, of course.  I always compare the Agatha books to the movies.  I didn't think this one was as bad as the reviews I read. But, I was expecting it to be awful so that is probably why I thought it was entertaining.




Today's workout:  Kelly Coffey-Meyer TLC Kickboxing, Kelly's Favorites mix.  I'm getting ready to throw the yoga mat on the floor and do some slow, restorative poses on my own before picking Ty up from camp at 9.

I'm really looking forward to tonight.  After dropping Tyler off at Twilight Camp, I'm planning to come home, do 20 minutes of light yoga, and then watch Agatha Christie's The Murder of Roger Ackroyd with David Suchet as Poirot.  I've heard it's not close to the original plot in the book, which I love, but I think that would be hard to do.  Should be an interesting thing to watch.


Tyler practiced his piano, did some cleaning, helped me with chores, and played with his Legos. Since he did chores cheerfully I also let him watch a 30 minute episode of Scooby Doo, one of his favorites. He just left to play with a neighborhood friend.  I'm going to savor the quiet, read a bit from a Homeschooling book for inspiration, and then start thinking about dinner!


Today's workout:  The Firm Wave, Rock It Off (cardio and weight intervals); PM Workout:  One mile with Leslie Sansone (A Walk in the Park, filmed in Central Park in NYC, really nice); Slim Series Express Cool it Off Express, lovely 30 minute restorative stretch.

This has been a busier week than I anticipated.  Tom and Maddie left on Monday and will be gone until Friday.  Tom is at Annual Conference of the North Georgia Conference of the UM Church and Maddie is staying at my MILs.  After they left I had to get Tyler to his Twilight Camp for Cub Scouts from 6pm-9pm.  Talk about a learning experience, he had a BALL.  Archery, bb guns, team building games, etc were part of the agenda.  


Today Tyler and I went to run some errands and he worked on a yarn necklace they are making for their "Survivor" themed week.  He spent some time doing extra chores for me, since his brother and sister are gone, and then played for several hours with neighborhood boys and girls.  We also put up some signs about Rocky being missing, but are slowly trying to adjust to life without him. It's really hard.


I've walked once since Sunday, but took another path.  It's just been difficult to go to the places that are filled with my memories of him being with me right now.  


On the positive side, I did go out and spend time with some homeschooling moms at a local coffee shop and that helped lift my spirits.  The serendipities shared with other women who really GET what you do and why is just simply good medicine.


Yesterday's workout:  Erin O'Brien Strong Body, Fit Body


Today's workout:  Leslie Sansone 5 Day Fit Walk Compilation:  Power Mile and Walk and Kick (with weights and then weighted gloves for the walk/kickboxing workout).

I had a hard week last week so took time off from writing.  First of all, we couldn't get the sofa into our house. It wouldn't fit through a single door.  So, back it went and I'm living with my old sofa with a missing leg still.  


Next, we lost our dog Rocky. He got outdoors one night and took off, like he always does.  He's part hunting dog and the vet said that's his instinct. That was Tuesday, the same night the sofa wouldn't come through the door.  We've put up signs, gone to Animal Control, contacted the vet, etc. and have yet to find him.


I also cannot find a box of summer clothing.  It has my really nice church blouses to match skirts and pants I have.  Finally, my favorite pillow that's been helping my neck in the past month, decided to split a seam and I woke this morning with little white pills on me, the bed, and everywhere.


Okay, all that seems small but it's a series of losses.  Loss of the idea of finally getting furniture of my own, that  I chose for the first time in my married life (we've always lived in furnished parsonages).  Loss of a beloved family member.  Favorite clothing, etc.  Just loss.


Today I finally went out about 8pm and walked the normal mile path I nightly travel with Rocky. I wore my sunglasses and wept the entire way.  I'm glad the road was quiet~people weren't about as usual.  So, I just mourned.  Poured out my heart to God.  Told Rocky how much I missed him.  And just wept over the losses in my life.


I also told God that I'm grateful for my family.  For a brother who came through surgery and can, I pray, lead a much more normal life now.  Grateful for the time I had with my canine friend.  Grateful that he is THERE, understanding my pain and that no suffering is too small to take to him.


If anything good has come out of this, it's been a 2 Corinthians 1 kind of good.  In 2 Corinthians 1 we're told that if we have received any comfort in Christ, we're to use that comfort to offer comfort to others.  Since our dog has disappeared and we don't know what's happened to him (he's done this before a few times and ALWAYS come home), I've been burdened to pray for people with a missing family member.  I've been praying for those people who have sons, daughters, husbands, wives, parents, siblings, etc. who are missing.  Not knowing where they are, or how they are.  Because I have had a small taste of that with my canine buddy, I feel a deep sadness that I've never felt for people in this situation before.


And so I pray. And cry.  And mourn.  And know, that God is there.


What I've been reading:   I finished a FABULOUS book called Love in a Time of Homeschooling by Laura Brodie.  It tells the story of a woman who homeschooled her daughter for one year to try to restore her love of learning.  A wonderful read for any person who cares about their child's education, whether or not they ever plan to homeschool.


I did exercise Wednesday through Saturday. I did two days of weight training, one circuit weight workout, one kickboxing workout, one Leslie Walking cardio, and one Ramping cardio.

We've had a busy two days.  Yesterday was my Ty's birthday and Wes had an orthodontist appointment.  And, Vacation Bible School started.  Maddie and Wes are working in the VBS and Tyler is attending.  Tom is in a meeting today and tomorrow, along with his regular church and VBS duties.  And, my parents and brother should be here sometime tomorrow.  


Glenn is in surgery today and I'm asking for prayers for a healing outcome from the "Great Physician."  


And, although I should write more about all the things we're exploring and learning together (like signing up for the Summer Reading Program at the library this afternoon) I'm tired. And, I need to make sure things are ready for my new sofa to be delivered tonight.  So, I am just praying that everyone who follows will find time with the Father today to feel their soul renewed.  And, to have a glass of something cold since it's boiling hot!!


Yesterday's workout:  Leslie Sansone 1 Mile Fast Walk from Super Walks; Erin O'Brien Strong Body, Ageless Body


Today's workout:  Leslie Sansone 5 Day Slimdown, warmup, three miles, cooldown and stretch.
PM Yoga:  AM/PM Yoga with Elena Brower. Eh, it was okay, glad it was a rental from Netflix.

Aaah, the pace of a blessed Sunday.  Or so I thought!  We are picking up my sofa that I put on lay away, of sorts, three months ago for my birthday. It will be here Tuesday. So, we spent the day deep cleaning the den.  And grocery shopping, running Maddie to tryouts for a play, church, etc.  But it was  a nice day.


Mary Madison had a ball at camp and loved rock climbing.  Tyler had a great time at my in laws and went swimming, visited the botanical gardens, and was spoiled as the only grandchild around for the week.


I'm enjoying a bit of quiet, winding down before Tyler's birthday tomorrow.  I am amazed that my "baby" is 11.  Time really does fly. He's becoming such a passionate, funny, compassionate young man.  I'm truly proud to be his mom.


Friday's workout:  Firm 500 Calorie Workout(an hour of cardio/weight intervals); Dog Walk; Beginner Yoga Download


Saturday's workout:  Choreography Creations Ramping (45 minutes of cardio); Dog Walk; Cathe Total Body Stretching on the Stability Ball


Today:  Rest.  Yay!!

The pace of life this week has been really nice.  Wes and I have had time to talk a lot and just hang out together. Tom and I have had some good discussions too.  And, above all, we've laughed.  A lot.  Sometimes over silly things, sometimes over nothing at all.  These are the moments of my life with my children I think I'll always remember.


Tomorrow Mary Madison will be home from camp and Ty back from Atlanta.  It's been nice to have them do their own thing for a week.  I'm sure they will have stories to tell and incidents to recount but once again, we'll all simply be together. And that's the best part of all.


Yesterday's workout:  Firm Total Sculpt plus Abs (heavier weights, light cardio intervals); dog walk; Lunar Flow Yoga download


Today's workout:  Weight Loss Cardio Kick, 31 minute kickboxing workout; Erin O'Brien's Pilates Progression 3, 15 minutes.  I'm not walking the dog or doing much yoga, just gentle stretching.  I was up much too late last night, it's 96 degrees out and I'm simply TIRED.