My family came home about 5 yesterday.  I was so glad to see them home, safe and sound.  The kids were happy to see mom but I think they were a bit more excited to see Tucker!


We've spent the day getting laundry done, packing for our trip, etc.  It's been raining all day so we haven't felt like we missed out on anything!


I will give you details, and a picture or two, of the trip when I return.  Until then, may God smile upon you and give you peace.


Today's workout:  Slim Series Tone it Up; Yoga for Stress Relief segment.

A few tidbits from my day.  The dogs slept well.  The family is coming half way home and will be here tomorrow.  I spent about 45 minutes to an hour cleaning the house.  It will be dirty again by Sunday (LOL).  God is good.  I'm off to read my book, Leslie Meier's English Tea Murder.


Now for the real post today.  Mary Madison wanted to grow some vegetables this year.  So, my mother in law with the green thumb bought two grape tomato plants, one other tomato plant, and a green pepper plant.  Maddie and Tom planted them and have been diligent to water~sometimes too diligent!!  But, we have tomatoes and peppers.  


No one in the family seems to think to harvest them so, since the end of June, that's been my job.  And this week I've been watering as well.


Now, I'm as far from a farmer or gardener as God makes them.  I simply kill things.  My mother in law tells me it's because plants, like children and pets, need attention. Well, for the most part she's pegged me~I just don't think about taking care of green things.  But the good news is I do remember to make sure Tom, the kids, and the pets are provided for!!


But there is something simply spiritual about plants.  In a wonderful old movie with Jimmy Stewart, Shenandoah, there is a line at the beginning that grips me and makes me laugh every time.  Charlie Anderson, the character Jimmy plays, is getting ready to pray before a meal. He doesn't believe any of it but keeps praying out of love for his dead wife, Anne.  He says something like, "We tilled the ground, planted the seed, pulled the weeds, watered the plants, ...it grew because of our labor but we thank you just the same."  By the end of the movie, after the death of sons and a daughter in law during the Civil War, he tries to pray that prayer again and breaks down crying.  I like to think it's because his pride is broken enough to know that all things come from God, we are not in control at all.


That's why I love harvesting my little tomatoes and peppers.  I haven't done a thing to make the grow.  We can put the seed in the ground, but where did the seed come from?  We can't make it.  And, some plants live, some die and we can never be fully in control of all the events to ensure their survival.


As I was reading my Bible the other day, I came across this wonderful verse.  Psalm 104:14 says, "You make the grass for cattle and vegetables for the people.  You make food grow from the earth."  I'm so grateful to God for the mysterious, miraculous, marvelous ways he takes care of us~seen in my plump tomato that came from God's seed.


Today's workout:  Slim Series Mix it Up.  I'm also going to do Kathleen Anderson's Yoga in the Garden of Serenity shoulder section, I feel so loose after that.

My dogs went to bed at 10pm and didn't wake me until 6am, woo-hoo!  I got up and let them out and about 30 minutes later walked Tucker for 1/2 a mile and meandered with Penny a bit.  I had to have blood work drawn at 8am and then came home to tackle Tyler's pit of despair. It looks better now but it seems to be a neverending story since he's a pack rat!


I had lunch with my friend Beth and her daughter Kathryn.  I love Beth because she's a Christian and just a good friend.  I love that she is smitten with my son Tyler. And, I love that she loves and will talk about sports with me!  I think she's the only "face to face" girlfriend I have like that!!  ( I do have some homeschooling and home exercise buddies I've met in other states via the internet who make me look like a pseudo-fan, lol).


Since I gave blood today I wanted a workout that wasn't too sweaty so I chose an oldie~Yoga Mind and Body with Ali McGraw, although the yogi leading it is Erich Shiffmann.  I loved the workout but my favorite part is always savasana, or shavasana (Sanskrit word for corpse pose, or relaxation pose).  When I first started practicing yoga I STUNK at relaxation.  (You lie on your back, like a corpse, and give yourself over to relaxing).  My mind wandered and I felt tense trying to MAKE myself relax.


So, I began having prayer time during relaxation.  Then, I listened to some cues and would tense muscles and let them go.  And, over the course of a couple of years, I've learned to breathe deeply and relax so I feel really heavy on my yoga mat.


As I thought about this today, I was pondering my relationship with the Father.  I tend to focus on Him when I am in shavasana.  I am longing for my entire life with him to be a reflection of this pose~I lie heavy in his arms, letting him hold me up like waves in an ocean.  Or I lie my whole weight upon him, like lying back against a giant tree.  Trusting that he will hold me.  Like a baby at the mother's chest, completely relaxing, trusting, accepting.  


Paul says physical training is of some benefit, but training for godliness is far more important (Cheri's paraphrase).  Yes I'm more flexible, ache less, can do more since practicing yoga.  But the greatest benefit by far is that I've learned to rest in him, even for a little bit.  And that has made all the difference.


Father, teach me the way of trust and complete relaxation in you, at all times, for all things, in all ways.  You are so good to me.


What I'm watching:  I watched Miss Marple's Body in the Library, a BBC production with Joan Hickson.

Oh my goodness, my dogs were a mess last night.  I wrote about it on my homeschool moms board and will quote it here.



I do not know what was up with my dogs last night.  I'm convinced they took my car, went to McDonald's and ordered iced coffees, extra large.  They were WILD.  Penny wanted to go out at 2 am.  Tucker heard something that made him start barking at 1:30 am.  I finally put him in his crate and he barked off and on until after 3! :eek:  I let him go outside and checked on him, gave him water, etc.  He was just wound up. I wonder if it was the vet visit?


Anyway, after 4 I got to sleep and then the dogs wanted out at 6:30. :asleep:  I think I'm taking a nap today, lol.  I have a doctor's appointment at 2 but no other commitments.


And yes, I did take a 20 minute cat nap. The most annoying thing is that the dogs have slept most of the day, the beasts!


My doctor's appointment was just a regular check up and was fine.  Tomorrow I have blood work drawn and then I'm done until the next time.


Today's workout:  I did a 3 mile Leslie Walk from the Walk Club, iWalk Strong, aka 3 Really Big Miles.  Same set but different people and music, I really enjoyed it.  It was weird though, there was no stretching at the end so I did 10MS Yoga For Beginners Stress Relief and Flexibility segment because it hits the legs from every angle and feels great after cardio.  The dogs and I have taken a couple of walks too.


Gotta run~Tucker is barking his head off at Penny trying to interest her in playing.  Puppies!!!!

I'm enjoying my time alone but my goodness, it is quiet.  Except when I take Penny out for a walk alone and Tucker barks and kicks up a fuss about it.


Tucker had a check up at the vet today and got a clean bill of health.  He got a booster and his heartworm and flea medication (which now comes in one fabulous pill, for the same price of the flea medicine) and generally had a great time.  He loved the vets, and licked the ear of the assistant holding him, LOL.  He also tried to make friends with and play with all the other dogs and cats there.  I could tell one woman was ready to smack me because  Tucker kept trying to sniff her puppy, which was on her lap encased in a blanket more expensive looking than the one on my bed.  He is probably her sweet angel.  Tucker didn't scare him but the lady was most unhappy. At this point I put ole Tucker in the car and then went back to pay my bill.  


I watched a documentary on The History Channel, fed pets, took pets, out, watered plants, etc.  The usual kind of life stuff.  I've not done a DARN thing around the house, all that can start tomorrow.  For now, I've just enjoyed lounging with my furry friends.

And here is a random reminder for all of us that the brutal heat will not last forever!  Hey, laugh all you want, it was a big snow for us.  And yes, this is the church where we are currently privileged to serve alongside some of God's most awesome saints.


Today's workout:  Slim Series Shape it Up.  I absolutely adore the Slim Series workouts by Debbie Seibers (through a company called BeachBody).  They are high repetition/low weight workouts and have a cardio effect as well, killing two birds with one stone so to speak.  I think I'll do three or four of them a week for a bit, adding in a couple of days of cardio, along with some other online home fitness workout fanatics I've met, lol.


Tonight will be some yoga from Jill Miller's Yoga Tune Up Quick Fix DVD.  I'm thinking wrists and feet, as I often neglect stretching and caring for those areas.

Yesterday is somewhat of a blur to me.  I have been having a problem with my Eustachian tube in my right ear(at least I think that's where the pain is I've been having). Usually it will go away after a few days and some Claritin but it had been bothering me nearly a month. I went to the doctor and, like a three year old, was told I had discolored fluid behind both ear drums so I got some penicillin for an ear infection.  


Later I got my medicine(after only two days my ear does feel better~I hate taking medication and haven't had an antibiotic for two years, but guess it was warranted), ran errands for Tom and the kids, etc.  When I got home Tyler and Maddie's friends were here so we got dinner ready, packed luggage, etc.  By the time bedtime rolled around I was tired and ready to sack out.


Today I got all 5 kids up and ready for church. After church, Wes wanted to go by Barnes and Noble and get a copy of The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien to take on vacation. He has read The Hobbit in two days and he's usually  more of an information reader than a novel reader!   When we got home, Wes' friend Josh was here.  Tom finally got free from church, I ran two last minute errands for him while he, Wes and Josh packed up the van. By the time they pulled out of the drive around 3pm I was ready to listen to the sound of silence.


Okay, true confession is I miss them.  But, I'm ready to enjoy not cooking every night. Eating when I want, going to bed when I want.  Cleaning out Tyler's closet, cleaning baseboards, the fridge.  Things I don't normally have time for.  And, having lunch with a friend.


So, tonight I'm hanging out with the dogs, enjoying the silence.  And, praying for my family who are all so precious to me.


Saturday's workout:  Angie Gorr Custom 3 Fit (50/50 Cardio and Weights)


What I'm watching:  The Cincinnati Reds and Atlanta Braves play baseball.  I've not watched a single baseball game all season, not even the All Stars!  And, since I grew up in the 70s in the Big Red Machine Era, I'm rooting for my Reds, even though I now live in Braves Country.

Today's post is entitled Snapshots.  6:30 am, a dog licks my hand.  Out for a quick walk.  Pop a workout in and press play.  Eat and shower, out the door to run errands.  Library with the kids.  Laughter and fun.  Discussions about what we like to read.  Lunch and a short nap, aaahhhh.....Sorting through clothing, a quick break for a snack.  Wes tells jokes, Tom tells riddles, we all laugh.  Dinner together.  Finish watching The Eagle.  Take Tucker on a walk~HOT!!  Yoga while I'm warm and stretchy.  Feed Penny and give her her medicine.  Read a bit of a book.  Tyler plays with a friend.  Kids listen to CDs of favorite books on tape.  Wes reads part of the Hobbit.  Tom works on his laptop.  Cicadas sing as night begins to settle in.  Another day to praise God, for he is so good.


Today's workout:  AM~Firm Calorie Explosion(cardio with light hand weights); PM~1 mile dog walk and Jill Miller Yoga Tune Up Post-Athletic Stretch, Golf.


What I'm reading:  Agatha Christie's Murder on the Links since I just watched the movie version with Suchet.