Personal Trainer

Today I met with my very own personal trainer. She guided my work-out and my legs were so shaky I couldn't hardly walk. When we first started talking I told her all that was going on in my life and that I couldn't possible start before December 19th (when all my commissiong paperwork is due). She said you will always have an excuse for not working out, just do it. So I did, and I'm glad.

Working on my own I have only lost ten pounds over the last three months. Will keep you updated on how well it works.

Whom Shall I Fear?

Pic#1= Playing in the park while Mom is walking around in circles. We aren't sure what she is doing but we get to have lots of fun while she does it. And we get very, very excited when she puts on her walking shoes.

Pic#2= Last but not least, trying to keep up with very short legs. I try really hard to keep up but I have to take five steps to everyone else's one.

Pic#3= Telling Mom "It's time to go home." We got in here by ourselves the first time because it sounded like Mom was croaking out on us but she made us get out and went two more times around. This time we waited until she said, "Load up". (Check out Luke's tongue, where does it all goes when its not hanging down to his knees?)

As I was walking, I was listening to Casting Crowns on my IPOD. And at the end of one song, they sing "Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear?" I thought, "how much has fear defined me?" Fear of embarrassment, fear of people thinking that I'm not a perfect pastor, fear, fear, fear....

It's a deadly combination and I believe that as I walked, and listened to this that it was a message from God because as he sang the words I looked up and saw the graveyard where I will be burying someone tomorrow. Living in fear is like being in the grave.

Flash Flood Watch

Much of the area is under a Flash Flood Watch. It rained pretty hard here yesterday afternoon. I really didn't notice as I was comatose. Took a nap, called my mentor and complained about the "Banes of my existence". He told me, my mistake was going back to finish cleaning the kitchen but that the rest I handled in a professional manner. Yea, for me.

I worked out this morning but forgot to weigh myself. I am scared too because after I got so upset yesterday - I ate chocolate cake and not just a small reasonable sized piece. Oh no, a massive piece. I did give the rest to the neighbor so that I wouldn't continue down that slippery slope.

I finished the RevGals Read of the Month "Good Fences: The Boundaries of Hospitality" by Caroline Westerhoff. I disagreed with her assertion that "we are not God's hands in the world". I do agree that "God could do it without our help" but that isn't how it works - at least, not in my understanding of theology. God chooses to do it through our work. Otherwise, why are we here? What are we doing?

I am off to the bank to deposit my paycheck and to visit at the nursing home. Tonight is Karate and a Horse Club Meeting.

We had an idea for our Mother's Day Out Program. We are going to take the kids on outdoor nature hikes. So I want to talk to our County Extension Agent, who is a Master Gardener, about giving a demonstration or talk. This week I am going to take Lily down to meet the kids. She loves kids. Plus, she will fetch a frisbee until she collapses from exhaustion or a tennis ball or a stick (basically, anything you throw she will fetch). Plus, she doesn't jump and she smiles. I kid you not, she smiles at people.

Sore Feet

I had heard an story on the news yesterday about the 2.5 million Americans who suffer from Plantar fastitis (sp?). Anyway, it is the swelling of the tendon that runs along the bottom of your foot. It caused excruciating pain when you first step out of bed on them and they hurt most of the day. I have been suffering from this for the past year or so. I thought that I just needed to lose some of the weight that I had gained and they would feel better. Well, I do need to lose weight and am working on it but wearing shoes without the proper arch support may have contributed to my problem.

I bought some of the cutest sneakers that last year of seminary but they had very little padding on the insole and absolutely no arch support. I wore them all the time. Hmmm.... a foot condition caused by cute shoes - would've have thought of it.

The story said that many sufferers found relief by; 1) shoes with good arch supports, 2) stretching the foot before ever getting out of bed. Here is my initial evaluation of the foot stretching advice. Yesterday, when I got out of bed it was like stepping on hot needles. This morning after diligent stretching, it was merely sore. It was hard to remember though because when the alarm goes off I usually jump up and wake up my daughter for school. This morning I waited a couple of minutes while stretching and still she got to school on time. So it is looking good so far. I worn shoes with good arch support all day yesterday. My only question is what about going barefoot? Because I spend all the time I'm home without shoes on.

My book for the RevGalPal's September book discussion arrived yesterday, "Good Fences: The Boundaries of Hospitality" by Caroline A. Westerhoff. I can't actually join the group yet because I haven't been blogging for three months (shrug), but I am looking forward to reading it. I finished Nicholas Evans "The Smoke Jumpers". It was a great book.

Bloggus Interruptus: Just got of the phone with my church treasurer. It is supposed to be my day off but apparently the conference has screwed up my pension/insurance automatic draft yet again. They have pulled out over $1100 dollars this month. When I called the conference, they said, "we have only drafted $279". It is hard trying to handle issues like this from a middle position, so I asked the conference person to call my treasurer directly. Now you might ask, why doesn't my treasurer have that contact name and number. She did. I have it to her after last months fiasco. But she wants it fixed and it is easier to call me, than it is to call the conference directly.

Tomorrow, I am spending the day a few counties over for the State Hippology Contest. Hippology is the study of horses. Last year Ryss was in the Top Ten for the entire state of Texas - Junior Division. That is big deal since Texas is so horse orientated. The contest consists of some actual horse judging events, then a written test, then a identification test which covers; tack, equipment, scientific labels for body parts, and the hardest identification of various grains, feeds, etc. It is an all day competition.

Ryss was awarded her purple belt yesterday at Karate. I'm so proud of her. And better yet, she came home and cleaned her room. Of course, she talked on the telephone the entire time. Yes, the entire time. I had to finally make her get off because it was bedtime.

I walked for one hour today. Didn't want to but my friend called and said "Are we walking?" Thanks to "The Thief" for the advice. Actually, two good pieces of advice; buy good shoes and get a friend to exercise with. Wish I had taken the shoe advice before I caused this problem in my feet.

Sore Muscles

Did NOT want to get up and exercise this morning, figured "I've been good. I can take the morning off." And I'll be darned (not the word I was thinking), my friend shows up - ready to exercise. So we did. Have lost two pounds. Here's hoping that I can keep it off.

Still haven't heard from the furniture delivery people........ promised to call at 1:30 yesterday with the time..... have a issue with those kinds of things. Oh well, I studied Henri Nouwen for my meditation this morning. It was over fear (not irritation). Realized that part of my short temper was over the money thing for the end of the month. My mantra is..."let it go, let it go, let it go".

Thought you might want to see this huge praying mantis that was on my patio.