After the devastation from the tornadoes on Wednesday night, I've just not had it in me to write much.  There are many, many people in our city and county without electricity, with homes that look like a bomb went off, with so much pain.  And, of course, it's much worse in Alabama and north of us here in GA in Ringgold.  I've been praying and asking God to be huge in the lives of everyone touched by all of this disaster.


Yesterday morning I pulled out Tyler's papers and placed them in a folder.  I told him when he was done with the work, and cleaning his room and doing his chores, he could go outdoors to play.  Man, he was quick and cheerful getting his things accomplished.  He really wanted to be outside since it had been raining so much lately.


Today we had homeschool co-op and I ended up pinch hitting at the last minute as a teacher for the 3rd through 5th grade Ancient Egypt class and that was actually fun.  I don't like doing anything at the last minute, but it worked out and stretched me in ways that I need stretching.


This afternoon, Mary Madison left for an American Heritage Girls overnight trip to the Gatlinburg Aquarium where they are "Sleeping with the Sharks" overnight in the Aquarium.  Wes and his friend Josh went with Tom all day to help out people in the church without power and with trees down on their property.  Tyler played with Garrison, his best buddy.  What did I do with myself?  Took a nap, lol. Then I went shopping a bit and walked the dog.  What a lovely ending to my day.


Yesterday's Workout:  Leslie Sansone 5 mile Fat Burning Walk~but I only walked 4 miles of  it. That was about an hour and I said it was enough.


Today's workout:  Slim Series Express Cardio Sculpt, upper body workout.


What I'm reading:  I always keep a book in the car in case I get stuck somewhere. Well, I got stuck waiting for two long trains while out today!  I read a chapter in Max Lucado's Come Thirsty and had forgotten what a thought provoking read it is.

I ended up falling asleep in my chair watching Poirot last night~I guess that's a sign of getting old!!  But the good part of that I was up by 6:10 and got ready to exercise.  This house isn't that large but there are two air conditioning units.  So, just my luck, the a/c unit in the kitchen and den is out~and it was 80 in there at 6:15. It's now 82.  I sure hope we can get it fixed soon.


After my hour long workout, it began to storm.  We didn't have any problems but power was out due to tornadoes and damaging winds in
West Rome.  They were untouched the last two times we got hit here in East Rome.  And, some storms are due to come back tonight.  I'm ready for those April showers to end.


After we got settled the kids got going on some school work.  Mary Madison and Tom went to piano and Tyler was still feeling puny so he didn't go.  Then, we found out Wednesday night dinner was cancelled due to the strong storms due in about dinner time.  So, it's a raid the fridge night for us, just like Monday night.  The kids will be glad for me to cook tomorrow!


Today's Workout:  Slim Series Shape it Up~high rep/low weight total body.

Today was one of those days where things don't go as planned.  I knew my Maddie was taking a cold, but when Tyler got up he had one too.  I'm sort of stumped as to what precipitated this but they both started sneezing like crazy at my mother in laws house on Easter.  I'm just hoping they don't give all of my in laws the cold they were catching.


I had an eye appointment, we needed groceries, and I had to run to the post office.  So, I got up and did a quick 30 minute workout and then got ready to leave the house.  I left Maddie and Tyler with instructions to read and watch an educational show I'd taped off of the Science or History channel~giving them a choice.  I also got Wes going on his school and put him charge of pet duties.


My eye exam went well. The Ophthalmologist said my retina is in amazing shape to be as near-sighted as I am and he's amazed how well I read without needing reading glasses at 46 years old. We did discuss what to do with my eyes in a year or two when I age enough to necessitate a change.


Meanwhile Tom asked me to go to lunch at a Mexican restaurant. The kids said the felt fine, were just lying in bed reading so we had a quick lunch and that was a nice surprise. When I got home the kids felt a wee bit better and wanted to go to the library so off we went.  Maddie and Tyler climbed back in bed with new books once we got home, lol.


The other funny thing is the 13 yo beagle Penny. She's driving Wes and I crazy because ALL she wants to do today is go outdoors in the front yard and eat grass.  I guess all the rain has made our grass green and yummy in her tummy, LOL.


So, that was our crazy day. Tonight I have a Mother/Daughter banquet to attend at church~maybe alone, if Maddie isn't up to going. I'm looking forward to everyone feeling a bit better tomorrow, I pray.


Today's workout:  2 miles of walking style cardio with Leslie Sansone, using a 2 pound weighted belt you wear around your middle.  Yeah, she's chatty and silly, but no one day Walk Aerobics like Leslie.

I feel like Dorothy when I say with heartfelt sincerity, "There's no place like home."  We went to my in laws for Easter and had a lovely time.  We spent the night and came home this afternoon.  We had no air conditioning, had to go back for Tom's  laptop, and dealt with torrential rains on the drive home.  Thus my Dorothy syndrome.


But, honestly, I'm not much of a traveler.  I like to go to the beach and the mountains, I love Disney World (the kid in my coming out).  I also love going to see my parents in Kentucky, no matter how old or how long I'm away Kentucky just feels like home.  And Atlanta is a nice place to go, especially since my MIL spoils me by doing all the cooking!


But I'm ALWAYS, without exception, glad to be home.  Wherever the Bishop of the United Methodist church says that is at the moment.  I like settling in, feeling content, having my kids, husband, stuff, pets all around  me.  I just like HOME.


I sometimes feel a deeper longing for my permanent home.  Where there will be no more tears, no more frustration, no more sense of separation between my Savior and me.  Where I can be barefoot, without makeup, accepted, comfortable. Without pretense, hypocrisy, or personal sin.  Because I'm full of all of that, at times. (After all, it is so easy to look at others and think we're better than we are).


Home.  I pray today that you are in a place where you can feel cherished, safe, loved, relaxed.  And that you allow that place to give you a glimpse of eternity.  Yearning.  Hope.  Anticipation.


Knowing that our heart's true home is where Christ is.  And, truly, there is no place like THAT home.


Workout:  Are you kidding me?  By the time I got home at 5pm I just wanted to sip in the joy of being home!!


What I'm reading:  Well, I read with the kids today. Wes and I studied Pyramids of Egypt; Tyler and I Spanish for Dummies; Maddie Math for Smarty Pants.  Interesting choices that they took to their grandparents for school reading today and in the car on the way home!

Homeschool co-op day.  The forecast called for rain but it was nice and sunny so the kids got to go to their P.E. class, which they love:  Tennis!


This morning was a fiasco and best forgotten.  But there are absolutely days like that, aren't there?


Tonight is Good Friday Service and DD has a friend spending the night.  I don't know if I'll blog before Monday with a busy weekend ahead but am praying all will have a blessed celebration of Jesus' resurrection.


Today's workout:  Upper Body and Core with Michelle Dozois; Dog Walk


Tomorrow:  Lower Body and Core with Michelle Dozois; cardio 


Sunday~Rest, Happy Easter.

April showers have definitely been around this year.  We had storms last night and are supposed to have rain tonight and tomorrow.  But, somehow, we managed to get the grass cut today.  I'm so grateful for the men the church sends over here to cut grass for us~but wish that Wes could get out there and do that, it would be good for him.  


Today we did some catching up in our workbooks that we'd neglected while housecleaning on Monday.  It felt good to get that out of the way for the rest of the week.  We also did some fun grammar lessons, listened to some French tapes, and read some books.  Sometimes the rainy days turn out to be the most productive ones.


Today's workout:  Cardio!  20 minutes of a medicine ball workout by Tracie Long (Breakthrough); 20 minutes of cardio from a Tracie Long workout Weightless; 4 minute yoga stretch.

I'm trying to figure out how I missed Tuesday and then remembered that I didn't sleep well.  Tom forgot to baby gate the dog into the kitchen and she got up at 1:30 am, clicking into my bedroom looking for me. At 2:30, she clicked out into Tyler's room.  Tom got up to gate her and then he was tossing about and I was wide awake. I got up and watched a documentary on Egyptian pyramids for over an hour, lol, and then was up at 6:30 to start my day.


I did take the kids to Barnes and Noble yesterday morning.  They love going there and browsing books, magazines, etc.  Last night I was pretty much useless, though, and was in bed by 10.  I try to do that each night, turning out my light by 10:30, since I'm getting up to exercise before the kids get going.  At first I was exhausted but now it's getting better.


Today we did some more reading in The Willows and Beyond, cleaned rooms, etc.  The crazy story of the day is as follows.  I'm quoting from how I told the story to the moms on my Homeschooling Moms Exercise Peeps checkin:


  Drama this morning. At 6:20 I heard the 13 yo beagle, Penny, moving around in the kitchen(we baby gate her in there at night) so I checked and she needed water. Then she went to the back door to go out. I went and got dressed to exercise, drink water, etc. About 10 minutes later I went to check on her. I leave the back door ajar so she can come in, it helps her not stand out there and howl, lol. Well, one of my sweet children had left the gate open and she was gone. I got Wes, my 14 yo up, and we drove around, walked around, etc. for half an hour. Finally, I threw my hands up and said, "Father what should I do?" I felt like he said, "Go home." I asked Wes and he said to go back toward the house too. That fiend of a dog had come home and was barking at us from the driveway when we got into her view. She came jogging up to me, wagging her tail 90 miles an hour. Sigh. So, now we have a talk about leaving the gate open, lol~Penny has no sense and would easily walk into the road in front of a car, sniffing the entire time.


After all of that, we did get some school work done too, and Maddie and Tyler had piano. Wes is doing a Good Friday drama for Tom and he's off practicing at church and Maddie is getting ready to babysit.  I'm looking forward to reading and just enjoying time with Tyler, who is dying to play a game now.


Yesterday's workout:  Since I was so tired and needed cardiovascular exercise, I chose walking workouts.  I did 30 minutes of Jenny Craig's Let's Walk it Off and 20 minutes of Weight Watcher's Walking Workout.  I used 2 pound hand weights and a 2 pound weighted belt to bump up the intensity.  I loved the Jenny Craig, it had lovely outdoor scenery.


Today's workout:  Tracie Long Defined Lines.  Low impact medicine ball cardio and light weight work and good ab/lower body floor work.  Definitely made me sweat.


What I'm reading:  Bill Bryson's In A Sunburned Country  I read it several years ago, it's all about his adventures in Australia.  Plus, you learn so much about Australia and he's just darn funny.  Warning: He's not a Christian so his theology is faulty regarding things like evolution, and his language is a bit dicey sometimes, but his books are worth reading.  He also wrote A Walk in the Woods  about hiking parts of the Appalachian trail.  You learn a lot and are just laughing OUT LOUD at times.