Alabama Tracks

-Talking with my grandpa about how he and his wife met.  Hearing the love he has for her in his voice as he says they just met and they knew.  As he continues to take care of her 24/7.

-Having my boss give me accolades that I’m doing a fantastic job even though I haven’t done campaigns like this before; on a day when I felt like I had not a clue as to what was happening.

-Knowing my daddy called just to talk while sitting on the worlds largest porch, even if I wasn’t there.  I was on his mind.

-Finding out how a great great grandfather died and listening to other recount what they remember, even if it is evident that the sins of the forefathers are carried down.  They’ve ended with our families.

-Knowing my sister has prayed for me when I felt that my weight loss and efforts weren’t going anywhere.

-Walking at night with my husband and knowing that he is pushing me everyday and encourages me to keep it up. 

-Knowing it is almost quiting time

The beginning of the year again marked the beginning of the diet.  This time I decided that I was bound and determined to exercise regardless of whether my doctor has told me to lose the weight with only the diet and no exercise.  I was going to work through the pain.  Based on many episodes of The Biggest Loser, I figured that if I did the diet and worked out like a fool 6 days a week I would be able to see some really great results rather quickly. And thus it began.

Nearly 2 1/2 weeks ago we started The Makers Diet and I started walking at work in the gym.  I walked both breaks and another 1/2 hour after work.  Since then I have walked a bare minimum of 2 miles for 6 days each week.  The only day that I have not worked out is on Saturdays.  Most days I shoot to walk 4 miles and now that I have a pedometer, my goal is to incorporate a bare minimum of 1 mile in normal walking around the office, etc.  I’ve done really well, or so I thought. 

When I first began I weighed myself using the scale at work.  The following week we bought our own scale.  I figured there would be some disparity between the two numbers but now I really don’t know what to think.  I figured I had lost 15 pounds between the two numbers realizing that it may not be completely accurate.  Sunday made it 18 pounds.  Yesterday however, completely bursted my bubble and threatened my resolve.  I once again got on the scale at work to see if I could figure out just how much disparity was really there.  A big whopping 3 pounds is all that that scale says that I have lost! 

Frustrated, I headed home to cook yet another meal with low carbs and water.  I weighed again and found that I was still at the same mark on the home scale as I had been when I figured I had lost 15 pounds.  Joel has tried to encourage me and tell me that I need to stick with the home scale and that it does look like I have lost.  I really have no choice but to continue.  My body has felt the benefits of walking and dieting for that matter.  My joints have bothered me only with the pressure changing which is a miracle.  So I guess in just a few minutes from now, I will yet again head downstairs to the gym to begin another mile on a rubber mat that goes in circles.  Talk about futility.  Today will only be 2 miles seeing that I have choir tonight.

My meal delivery went wonderful on Monday.  I ended up making scalloped potatoes and ham, sugar snap peas, and rolls.  My dessert was a peanut butter oatmeal bar w/ chocolate and peanut butter topping.  The babies were so sweet and little - just barely 6 pounds a piece.  By the time I got home, I didn’t quite have the energy to cook yet another meal so we ended up getting taco salads for our dinner.  I was encouraged though as my friend told me that she was excited that I was bringing them something and thus told her husband that she new it would be good because I’m “Martha.”

I signed up for Cake Decorating classes this past Sunday.  My classes will be throughout the month of February and then maybe I’ll take the intermediate class with a friend in March.  I’m looking forward to it though it is a step out of my comfort zone - I don’t know anyone else that will be taking the class with me.  Joel is excited for me as this has been something that I’ve really wanted to do for sometime now.  Hopefully my creative side will flourish with cake as my canvas.  Mom and Tia both say it will - we’ll see.

The political races are heating up here in Alabama so work is beginning to be much more chaotic.  I’m learning new things everyday and I enjoy being busy so it is rather welcomed.  It will be very interesting to see how my two bosses share me during the busiest season for both.  I’m amazed at how the political system really works - no one teaches you this stuff if you’re not directly involved.  November 7th I’m sure will be a day that we all will take a big sigh of relief when all is said and done.  Only then will time tell the results of our actions as those we have voted into office work on the behalf of farmers across the state.

Lily has taken to digging into my gym bag in the wee hours of the morning along w/ attacking my bathroom mats.  Mind you the gym bag does not make her daddy very happy as he is the only one that hears it.  I’m too dead to the world to hear much of anything.  The bathroom mats on the other hand crack me up.  She’ll squat at the door, wiggle her tail end as if she was a wind up toy, and take off as if she was stalking her prey.  She falls on the rug, rolls over, kicks, chews, and just about rolls herself in the rug.  She has yet to do anything of damage - it is usually short lived - so it’s not that big of a deal yet.  I’ve come to determine that Lily has the body of Donkey off Shrek.  Big body and short little legs.  She is a great source of comic relief most days.

I had the harsh reality hit me again this week that regardless of my desire to try to fix things for those in my family, I am unable to so.  There are so many things going on for everyone and I can’t make things better or even take some of the heat.   I want to help, it pains me that I can’t, and yet the only thing that I really can do is pray.  It seems to small and yet I know can be so huge.   Something so much a part of my nature is being stiffled and it can be so frustrating.  So, doing the only thing I can do, know that I’m praying for each of you regarding your various issues - you know who you are and what is going on.  This one thing I know, the prayers will not be futile.

 

 

It’s a rarity that I reccomend a movie to the general public. Either it’s a movie that is something you’d have to be like me to enjoy or it’s something that’s not appealing to more conservative people I know (kinda like Tia’s circles). Seldom do things like that intersect.
I’ve always marveled at the things that pass for Christian “entertainment”. Turn on TBN some Saturday morning and you’ll see what I mean. I don’t expect kids’ shows to be intellectual but the cornyness of some of the shows is beyond belief. I don’t know what it is about puppets but even EWTN has a corny puppet show. The dialogue is stilted, the characters are flat and it feels like some poor attempt to bring back Leave it to Beaver. It only gets worse when it’s real live kids interacting with growns ups in costumes (think Barney read Ephesians). What’s worst is they HAVE to include scripture of some kind. While daily Bible reading is a good thing if the only book you read was the Bible you’d either go crazy or be incredibly dull.

What I think most of these people miss is that it’s possible to have a good moral story without having to tie everything directly into a Bible verse. Focus on the Family has made some of the best strides in this area since their Adventures in Oddessy series (radio but somewhat the cartoons as well) has great moral stories without having the Bible in every episode. It gets read, but only when it makes sense in the story to do so. I mean I don’t run around quoting scripture at every circumstance I face, do you? Scripture has a time and a place like everything else under the sun (see Ecc. 3 for more info)
Adult versions aren’t much better. I remember having to watch the Billy Graham movie Caught when it was in the theaters. Boredom doesn’t even begin to describe it. Few people even try to aim for adult Christians anymore.

So what has me intrigued is the movie coming out this Friday called End of the Spear. If you don’t know about it you probably do know who Elisabeth Elliot is. You might have heard the story how her first husband, Jim Elliot, was a missionary in Ecuador and how the tribe he and his compatriots tried to minister to killed them and how the women returned and finished their work. This movie is based on that story. Better still, it looks like a high quality production that doesn’t Hollywood-ize it.

Rare is the opportunity we all have to support a movie like this. As Cal Thomas has put so well

“End of the Spear” is the latest in a steadily growing number of films that are taking on culture on its own turf. Instead of cursing darkness, more independent producers are beginning to make good movies (do not confuse “good” in content with bad in execution) containing positive messages.

So if you are looking for something good to do this weekend you might want to give it this one a shot. It looks worthwhile (though not for kids) and if it does well maybe Hollywood will sit up and take notice.

I consider myself a planner and a relatively good one at that.  The one thing I have a hard time planning is menus.  It is especially hard during the diets but now I have another issue on my plate.  I signed up to bring a friend a meal as she just had a set of twins last week.  I’ve had a lot of ideas but nothing seems to gel into anything.  I need it to be good yet quick and yet well balanced.  To make it even more difficult, it can’t be spicy.  Ugh! 

I had a thought this week to go buy a frozen chicken pot pie from the local Fresh Market and bring that to her along w/ a bread and dessert.  That is the cheaters way though and I have a hard time doing that.  Today I thought of the beloved scalloped potatoes and ham.  The thought of the cheesy, hot potatoes with some ketchup sounds great to me.  The problem I have now is that I don’t know what to do for a vegetable.  I’ve pretty much decided on some peanut butter chocolate bars for dessert.  Am I on the right path regarding the menu?  Help from those mom’s who have had meals brought to them would be appreciated.  I think I’m so antsy about it because it somewhat puts me out of my comfort zone.  Stupid I know and I need to get over it which is why I’m trying to do so now.  I have a week to plan.

We had a great lazy weekend.  I managed to get off work early on Friday and after working out, I took a nap.  Friday night was quiet for us though we did take a trip to the Fresh Market to browse. Joel and like this grocery store. Oh it high priced in a lot of things but they have such unique offerings and good stuff.  As soon as we are able I plan on trying some Bear Naked Granola Cereal they have there.  I heard about it on Food Network and its supposed to be all natural.  No preservatives or nothing.  It sounds good and yet is diet approved later on down the road.  When we got home, Joel watched his shows while I searched the internet for family tree info. 

I had a hard time getting into it but I think I hit a jackpot.  That is IF it is correct.  If I have all of the information right, I have managed to link back to William I Conqueror and Charlemagne.  How cool is that.  I may be of royal blood after all.  I always new I had the affinity for royalty for some reason.  Albeit hundreds of years down the pike.  I thought it was pretty cool.  Now comes the research to back everything up and find out if it really is true.  Grandma said at one point that there was supposed to be some blue blood somewhere in the lineage.  Only time and research will find out.  I’ll keep everyone posted.  By the way, this is on my maternal side for those wondering.  

I plan on walking at least 6 days this week as well as signing up for Cake Decorating classes for the month of February and The Apples of Gold ladies bible study for the months of February and March.  Work is picking up but it still is a little bit on the slow side.  It comes in waves. 

I dreaded having lentils again last night for dinner.  If there is one thing we don’t like about the diet is that there is so much food that we can’t have.  The stuff we can have is often times so boring and never fills us up.  That is until last night.  On the menu was “The Girls’ Oven Roasted Salmon w/ Veggie Lentils”.  WOW!!!  Lip smacking good.

I was a little fearful of the ingredient list as it did appear long and I knew I didn’t have all of the spices but I thought I would try to make do.  The tomatoes added a great burst of flavor to the dish and what is even better; taking a bite of salmon along w/ a bite of lentils.  It feels as if I’m floating on a cloud, looking down and my mouth just comes alive.  :)  The lentils are good just by themselves too so by all means try just the lentils if you don’t have salmon.

The recipe:

In a medium saucepan combine 8 oz lentils, 3 garlic cloves (I used 2 teaspoons of minced garlic), 2 bay leaves, a sprig of thyme (I left this out) and enough water to cover by 1 inch.  Bring to boil and reduce the heat to a simmer.  Cook until tender but yet still firm, about 15 - 20 minutes.  Drain.

Preheat oven to 425.

Rub the salmon filets with olive oil and season on all sides with the following:

salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika.  I didn’t have cayenne or paprika so I used red and black pepper to add a little bit more a light kick.

Coat the bottom of a baking dish w/ olive oil and place salmon skin side down.  Roast for 8 - 10 minutes.

 

While salmon is cooking, saute in olive oil the following:

1/4 cup chopped carrot, 1/4 chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped celery.

Add 1 teaspoon garlic and cook 1 minute.

Add 1 can of diced tomatoes, 1 cup chicken stock, thyme, the lentils, salt, pepper.  Cook, stirring occassionally until the lentils are tender and the liquid is reduced slightly.  Approx. 8 minutes.

 Create a bed of lentils on plate, top w/ salmon.  Drizzle with parsley, chives, and olive oil.

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Joel loved this dish and didn’t even need an evening snack which was music to my ears.  There is so much of this dish that can be done ahead of time or with left over lentils.  It was fabulous. 

I only hope I can find more “diet” food that doesn’t taste like it.  This is one meal that will stick around even after the end of any diet!

 

Getting back into the groove of things is proving to be difficult for me this year.  I think my body is in some state of rebellion.  I’ve done so much for the whole month of December that now all I want to do is veg on the couch, knowing that it won’t last and I need to get busy.  My Martha-like qualities are screaming at me that the wash needs to be folded and that more wash awaits on the floor, dishes remain in the sink, and I’ve yet to cook a real complete meal this week.  I’m hoping this weekend will help me work through all of this in short order.

The New Years weekend we spent up in Tennessee was great.  What a boost to spend time with those you love.  It was chaotic but it was rejuvinating at the same time.  I was skeptical when we drove up as traffic was terrible and all I could think of was what it was going to be like coming home and getting right back into work.  As soon as we got there though all that changed.  I was able to share my family history finds and spend good quality time with my sister into the wee hours of the morning, present them with a computer, then the next day go through pictures with mom and take pictures of those enjoying ice skating.  Amid the myrid of boxes and kids (both young and old) playing with game systems, I felt peace because I was with the family I missed so much.  The weekend continued and ended with taking The Lord’s Supper together as a family, constant wonderful food, the ever present game of May I, a few notes on my flute, and final goodbyes. 

As Joel and I began our trip home, we reflected on the weekend.  The weekend proved to be one that offered a great deal of introspection and solidification of ideas of which I’m sure will develop over time.  We enjoyed our trip home by stopping at Fazolis for lunch, enjoying a stroll at a rest stop, getting Joel’s beloved Baskin Robbins ice cream, among a few other menial errands.  We were ready to see the girls and boy were they ready to see us.  Meeting us at the door and following us wherever we went, Flala eventually ended up in an empty suitcase as if to say, “You’re not leaving me again!”  Lily was a big mush pot rolling on the floor begging for much needed attention.

I’m looking forward to this weekend with great anticipation.  It will be the first weekend without anything planned for several weeks.  Sleeping in will be the first thing on the list and I’m sure pancakes on Saturday morning won’t be far behind if Joel has anything to say about it.  We will be planning our meals this weekend as come Monday we are going back on the diet.  I will also be going to the gym at work beginning next week.  I’ve decided to drop Bible Study for the month of January to focus on working out and getting myself in gear. They have switched the nights to Monday night now so if Joel goes to Bible Study on Tuesday, I won’t see him in the evenings until Thursday.  I also figured that I need to try to get back into a routine like I had when I was working at Barnett of working out before I left work.  Of course that means that dinner will be later but somethings right now have to be flexible.   I’ll pick Bible Study back up in February when we begin Beth Moore’s “The Patriarch.”  It is bound to be good and I’m hoping by then to have made some good progress.

Work has picked up considerably this week as most potential legislative candidates are declaring now that the new year is here.  Being busy at work helps though with making time go quickly and helping me not want to eat when I’m bored.  Speaking of work, I should get back to it.  I’ll have Joel post pics soon. For the fam, know that I love you all and so enjoyed spending time with each of you.