Worms

You know it's wet outside when you find worms on the kitchen floor. NASTY. Thankfully they're at church and not my house. But still... And I should clean them up but I'm not sure my stomach would cooperate so I'm going to pretend I don't see them.
In other news, I have to confess a BAD day yesterday. My father-in-law's birthday is this weekend and we decided to give him a large bag filled with brownies. See the problem? I have to hold out while 5 batches of warm gooey brownies pass through my house. I've only made three batches so far and have already failed miserably. I never just sat down and ate one but rather sampled the entire pan as I packaged them up. By the evening, I felt sick. At least I didn't want to eat any more then. However, I still have to make two more batches tonight. Maybe I'll try chewing gum while I work with them...To clarify, it's not so much the brownies that are the problem, but rather my lack of self-control. If only I could just have a bit or two and be done. But no; one bite and I'm done for. It's the same way with chocolate chips. I have a little handful and then I can't keep from going back. It's way better to have none at all, but some afternoons I just can't help it...
I did my Latin Dance video for the third time yesterday. After doing it Monday I was really rather sore and happy about that so I was looking forward to another good workout. From what I've heard and experienced, a dancer's workout promotes a lean and flexible body rather than an overly muscular and bulky body. My body type tends towards bulk (in more ways than one :P) so I thought this might be a good direction to lean. I'm still not having huge success in the area of coordination, but it's a little better then at first; at least I can keep up with the warm up now. :P Despite how embarrassing this is I'll still confess that yesterday I did the video in my swimsuit and wrap skirt. I thought maybe that would help me move my hips better if my clothing helped me be more aware of the movement. Not sure it worked; I just felt really silly. And totally look like a dork doing "the Samba bounce."

Latin Dancing

My enthusiasm for eating well and working out has definitely been lagging lately. I still do it...but don't really want to. The dreary weather doesn't help. Makes me just want to curl up on the couch and I don't even have the option of a good bike ride. So I thought I'd try a new exercise video to spice things up. I got "Latin Cardio Dance" for $10 at Walmart. It was a bummer. Not that it might not be good, but it left me feeling fat and uncoordinated. The way the instructors moved made even push-ups look sexy, but me, I concentrated really hard to manage marching in place to the beat. Definitely couldn't do all the fancy steps or look so good doing it. And the "shimmy" move? Yeah...more like jello jiggler when I did it, not that I could do it. Shaking my hips one way and my shoulders the other was way over my head. Gosh darn it. I want to be coordinated and able to move my hips 60mph. I'll keep working on it, if for no other reason but I need to get my money's worth. But definitely disappointed in myself.

Not even a hint

Was reading in Ephesians this morning because I was again convicted about my tv viewing habits. I was thinking about what I do in a day that's any different from a person who does not claim to be a Christian, and I don't know that there's too much on a regular basis. There were bad attitudes and such that came to mind that I know I need to work on, and am...but also came to mind the little habits that I excuse. As one author puts it "the little foxes that spoil the vines." Mike and I like to watch two tv shows regularly, "The Big Bang Theory" and "The Office." Whenever I tell people that I usually say, "They're kinda nasty, but..." Now what place do I have watching tv shows that I introduce that way? So God and I decided this morning that they're out. So's "Friends" I guess...and anything else that might fall into those lines, although those are the only ones that I really watch with any regularity. *Sigh* So much for evening entertainment. There is pretty much nothing decent on tv anymore. And those two shows were maybe the only thing Mike and I had in common that we liked to do together. I'm not exaggerating here. Would God excuse "obscenity, foolish talk, and course joking" in favor of marital camaraderie? Probably not...The other thing is that now I have nothing to look forward to. Pathetic, no? I've always been someone who lives from one happy anticipation to the next and if I don't have something, I tend to get depressed. Now you understand why I start Christmas decorating in October; sometimes I'm desperate. I know it's bad to spend my whole week looking forward to tv shows with dirty humor...but...well, I guess that's just more evidence that I need to give them up and find something new. Maybe I really should take up knitting.

Wyoming Pictures

Got a few moments to upload some new pictures and there are a few good ones. I'm quite pleased with my new camera. Thanks for the recommendation there, Christy.

And the results are in...

I didn't gain any weight on my trip! Hurray!!Not sure if I made my 1lb. goal either...but at least I didn't go backwards!

In other news, I saw a quote by Abraham Lincoln that intrigued me; "A man with no vices has very few virtues." I smiled at this because I once had someone write me a letter of recommendation that stated "Holly has no vices." The statement had always amused me because it is of course ridiculous, as any one who knows me well can attest to, but flattering that someone would still think that. Well Lincoln certainly puts that in perspective doesn't he? *Sigh*

Another thought...this morning I read the verse "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom," for the 50 millionth time and I felt like I understood it for the first time! I had been praying for my little brother because he's make a lot of choice that just aren't smart, and I know he knows better. It frustrates me how he says "I know, I know" and does it anyway. But after reading the verse it makes sense, that if he doesn't have the fear of God, then he also doesn't have the wisdom to make right choices. He's make his choices based on the wisdom of the world (which is foolishness compared to God's) so no wonder he can't see how they could hurt him later. Perhaps when he was still at home he learned the rules, but not the motivation (the fear of God) and so now that he's on his own (more or less; he sleeps in mom's house but only occasionally) he's got no reason to follow the rules. Although my realizing this does not really do much for him, it does help my frustration over why he's doing these things and helps me know how to pray for him better. It also helps me to realize what should be my goal in raising my kids: not to teach them a bunch of rules but to teach them how to fear the Lord and, better yet, to model it. If they focus on that then they will be well on their way to making wise choices on their own. I also realize this isn't groundbreaking stuff, and you're probably saying "duh!" but hey, sometimes it takes awhile for it to sink in and I"m just grateful for the insight.

Traveling

So... eating well can be hard when you're away from home for a week and there's nothing in the airports under $5. Parker and I flew to Wyoming for the last six days and had a great time, but it did post some hazards to my fitness goals. On this side of it though I feel like I navigated it successfully. This is not in a little thanks to the great cooking of Christy our hostess. She planned us a delicious and healthy menu that made it way easier to eat how I should and enjoy it! Granted I did have a hamburger and fries one night...and we drank a lot of coffee....and even had ice cream once...but all in all it went pretty well. I don't know for sure because I didn't keep track of my calories the whole time,but I gave myself permission to loosen up. The only real hangup was those darn pumpkin chip cookies...probably shouldn't have eaten so many of those...speaking of which the mush from my carry-on that was once pumpkin chip cookies sounds really good right now...Anyway, the other bit of a challenge was the "something active" everyday. We weren't exactly sedentary, but I did sit on the couch and watch Gilmore Girls a bit. :D Parker and I tried to get out for walks a few days, and I also did my exercise video two other days, so all in all I'm hoping that at least I didn't loose any ground. Last night might have been my biggest splurge because supper consisted of a burger from McDonalds and a 16 oz. Mint Condition from Caribou. :) Yummy. Today it's back in the saddle; I ate my twigs and soy flakes for breakfast and logged it up. Making a grocery list from all the tastey menu items Christy made for us and am excited about the new options to our rotation and that I don't have to feel guilty about them! I thought about asking for the cookie recipe too, but that would literally be asking for it.
I can't really decide how I feel about the taking of the Parker on this trip. On one hand it was really fun to have him and see his reactions to all the new experiences and it's fun memories of stuff just he and I did together: no one can say that we're not bonded! However he won't remember them and sometimes I think, I just want a break! There would've been a lot more that Christy and I could've done with out a toddler in tow and I was so jealous of the other plane passengers that got to sleep or read their own books and didn't have to catch the toys before they got chucked down the aisle...All in all though, I didn't have a choice so I guess I will just be grateful that I get the chance to have the memories of such adventures with my son and grateful that I can take him out in public and he's a good companion, even if he does end up without pants more often than anyone would like.