Oops! It's Saturday and I forgot to post my Friday results!

I know, nobody cares about this post but me, but I still am trying to be accountable so  here is how this past week went. I did really good...honestly...until yesterday. I had lost 3 more pounds. But then yesterday I got on the scales and it went up. So, for the week I only lost 1 1/2 pounds. Darn! I think it might have been because I didn't weigh myself until later in the day....oh well, lesson learned. I did get in a little exercise on 3 days. Since I don;t get out much, I am doing floor exercises. I enjoy them and I have had good results in the past. I just need to become more consistent. Today is another day and the start of a new week....wish me luck!

Why Do We Care?

Yes, England has a new prince. As I have watched the unfolding of events, I have heard different people in the media ask the question..."Why do we care?"  Well, I don't think is it about caring what is going with the Royal Family as it is curiosity and fascination with watching history unfold. It is interesting if nothing else to see tradition throughout the centuries kept. Watching the royal family is like taking us back in time but with a modern twist. Somehow we get caught up in being able to witness this historic event...a future king being born....and it not only takes us back in time but also while seeing what is happening now, it gives us a wee glimpse into the future, also. It is so refreshing to witness a couple that is married, seems to have a bit of sense and class get attention for something that warms our hearts by bringing a baby into their lives and creating a family unit. They want to raise their son themselves instead of being raised the old traditional way the royals have done in the past with nannies and servants.

 Let's be honest though, no matter what, this little boy is going to be raised with privilege as well as expectation. But whether a prince or a commoner, he needs two loving parents to guide him. William may have been raised by a loving mother, but I think one can safely say that Charles wasn't a truly hands on father until he had to be after Diana's death. Honestly, the way I see it....I don't think he has been truly good at much of anything., but that is another story. The story at hand is that the world loves William and Kate for the way they have carried themselves and rose above all the mess the royal family has engaged in in the past. They symbolize hope for the future. Something we need in the messed up society we live in now. And we hope that their son will reflect the image of what the story books have always taught us about royalty and life......that we all should  live happily ever after.

Girl Voted the Ugliest on the Internet Gives an AMAZING, Godly Speech - Inspirational Video

 Saw this on a friend's site today.....Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...Sometimes we need to see with loving eyes instead of worldly eyes.


Girl Voted the Ugliest on the Internet Gives an AMAZING, Godly Speech - Inspirational Video

Happiness...Part 3

 Found this timely message on facebook today which goes along with the other recent posts I wrote on Happiness being found in truths.

Mormon.org

"Cultivate an attitude of happiness, a spirit of optimism. Walk with faith, rejoicing in the beauties of nature, in the goodness of those you love, in the testimony which you carry in your heart concerning things divine.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

Physical evidence of ‪#‎God‬ is everywhere – the beauty of ‪#‎nature‬, the wonders of the earth, and the discoveries of ‪#‎science‬ testify of the divine hand of creation. We have so many reasons to be ‪#‎grateful‬ and ‪#‎happy‬. Lift up your eyes and let true joy fill your heart!

SHARE this post if you have a reason to be grateful today.

http://mrmn.org/13dOTWu

It's Friday Report Time! Week 1

After a full week....The report is in......Sorry I didn't post this morning. I have been sewing frantically for a wholesale order that is due tomorrow and I still have more to do tonight! Anyway...because of the crazy week I have had with mucho sewing and grandchildren here 4 days this week, plus a cranky husband who was going nuts with all the commotion, I did not get in the exercise I would have liked unless you count running after kids....darn...I know, that doesn't count....well, it was a try. I also have to say I didn't do as well on my eating as I had intended either...but nevertheless I did manage to lose 2 pounds. Not great, but it is a start. 2 pounds is two pounds of success. It is the beginning of moving forward. I know I can do better this next week...AND I WILL!!! Stay tuned......

How Do You Define Happiness? Part 2

In my previous post, there is one element of the truth that in after though, I feel I did not put enough emphasis on. That is the act of service toward others. There is nothing that will bring one out of the blues faster than the act of giving service to others. When we stop focusing on ourselves and  instead focus on another person's needs, we can put our own lives in better focus. Our problems seem smaller and we gain a better perspective of our own self worth as we see it in others. We give ourselves a gift...for as we serve others, we also serve ourselves. It is important that we also give others the opportunity to serve us so they too can feel the blessings. Happiness is something that needs to be shared....we can't just get it from others or expect it....we need to be able to give and receive with an open heart....not so much with open hands. As we do this, we will find the peace and allow happiness to enter.

How Do You Definite Happiness?

This question was posed to me today by a friend. It is a question I asked myself many years back while depressed. At that time, I really didn't feel I knew what happiness was...and guess what!?!?! I didn't! I have learned that happiness doesn't come from others feeding it to you, or having a bunch of things, it is not about an euphoric feeling. It is a gift you give yourself as you experience and recognize truths in your life. It is the power that comes from the peace that truth gives you. For instance, if you tell a lie you don't feel good about yourself, thus you can not find happiness in that lie.... It weighs you down. But if you choose to tell the truth then you give yourself freedom from the burden of guilt, shame or bad consequences. 
We tend to tell ourselves lies about happiness. People tend to think that 'if' they find the perfect person they will be happy....expecting the other person to gratify them. Some try to find their happiness in wealth or fame thinking that if they have more they will be happy. Others think that life should be one big vacation or amusement ride with thrills and adventure around every corner...usually at someone else's expense. Then they wonder why when faced with the realities of life they are not happy.
We have all heard the saying, 'The truth will set you free'. Finding and excepting truth brings one peace of mind. When one feels that peace, they discover happiness and that freedom.
When raising my children during their teens, it seemed like everyday was a battle. But every once in a while, I would get  what I use to call my 'paybacks'. Those paybacks were the moments when one of my kids would say or do something special, nice, thoughtful, showed good judgement or was down-right funny. I lived for those moments.....moments of happiness. Truth is an exhibition of goodness, things that work, solid values put into practice, recognizing the blessings..that is where happiness lies.
As a grandmother, I can find great happiness in my sweet grandchildren. The truth about the circle of life, the value of family life, of learning and growing, teaching, loving.....all this can be found and enjoyed while spending time giving my time to them......happiness.
When times are rough, I can reflect on the little blessings along the way that give me the strength to endure and face my challenges with faith and hope..... again, happiness.
As we share our hearts and thoughts with others it releases bottled up anxieties and we are able to breathe more freely...feeling that peace.....happiness.
Happiness is what each of us seeks, but many do not find. They believe they can create their own happiness or someone else can give it to them, but it is something we need to cultivate for ourselves as we discover the truths which have been laid out for us by our Heavenly Father. He has told us how to find happiness, it is simple...we follow the path he laid out for us. Some might say that they feel too confined by God. I say, he loves us enough to tell us what works. He is 'the way', 'the truth' and 'the life'. It is only through His teachings...the values  or 'truths' that He set forth, where we can find the happiness we desire. He does not promise us there won't be bumps in the road....only that if we stay on course we will find those 'paybacks' that will get us through and eventually bring us the happiness we all desire.

George and I with 3 of Our 4 Kids

Though I love the fact that 5 of us are together in this picture, I dream of the day that all 6 of us can be in a picture together again.

From left to right is Kevin, Andrea, Me, George, Nathan...Jason is missing.

This is the picture you are going to have to use as my 'beginning reference point for my transformation. When I look at myself I am sickened at how I look. Look at those arms...oh my! Hopefully before too long I will be able to show a picture of myself that I can be proud of.

Another observation....No, I am not short, 5' 6" as a matter of fact, but I am surrounded by my extra tall family.

1st Friday Report to a Healthier Me

Okay, I am off to good start...  Today was less painful than I thought it might be, but truthfully.... it is the evenings when I tend to loss control more easily. I weighed myself.....ugh!.....but there has to be a starting point to count from, so I faced the truth and plan to deal with it....one day at a time. I know it is going to be a long road....but hey, each time I lose a pound I can feel success.....soooooo...I have many successes to look forward to in the near future! :-) Each time I am able to get into a smaller size I will record it so I can reflect on how great it feels. Today....I resisted a Hershey candy bar sitting in my pantry....I will either let George indulge or my granddaughters will be very happy next time they stop by.I will try to have a picture on here sometime this week so it can be my 'before' picture and then will try and post other pictures during this journey. Exercise begins this evening........Good Luck To Me!!! :-)

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who's The Fatty? I'm Apalled

Yes, the fatty is the mirror is me! This past 1 1/2 years has been very stressful on several levels. I have allowed it to take it's toll on my body. There are many excuses I could use that many people would say are understandable. Yet, the truth is, no matter what goes on in our personal lives, we are responsible for our own well-being. If we are stressed, we need to do all we can to alleviate it with healthy habits...not feed it with things that make it worse. So I am going to make myself accountable for myself by posting my progress every Friday morning until I reach my goals. Yes, I said goals. I don't believe that if I set 'a' goal to lose the total amount of weight I would like to lose I would find that goal very reachable, but if I break it down into 10 pound segments I should be able to celebrate small victories along the way. I am aware that the first 10 pounds are usually easier than the next 10 pounds...etc. Tomorrow is the day I begin my journey to a healthier and thinner me. I am starting with a change in eating habits and exercise. I am going to start out slow with the exercise and then increase as I gain stamina and strength.

At the moment, I weight more than I ever have. As a result, I find that I am having a little more sever allergy and asthma problems than I have for a few years, I can not endure walking for as long, and even the stairs in my house are getting to be more burdensome. Playing with my grandchildren is wearing me out faster and I feel because of the weight, I can not do things with them that I still should be able to do. The truth is, for the last 1 1/2 years I have been sitting on my backside sewing most of the time..( my work). At the end of the day my eyes, back and shoulders are tired so I do not do much. I am now at the age (60 ouch!) that if I don't get serious about changing some bad habits, I am going to be at risk of some serious health issues in the near future.

The plan at this moment is that every Friday I will report my progress. I will report weight losses or gains (heaven forbid!) plus I will report what I have done by way of exercise. One big issue I have is not drinking enough water. I think I will try to report on that as well.

For anyone following this blog, I hope you will either be encouraged by my progress and/or pray for my success. I need all the help I can get!

Well, with one click.....I am making this public...please at least think of me as brave! :-) Here I go!

Negativity vs. Positive Attitude

Negativity is like a cancer to the body....a toxin that sucks the good air out of a room. It tightens the chest cavity and the oxygen is not allowed to disperse the carbon dioxide.... the tenseness causes anxiety which generally causes more negativity and inwardness.

Being able to see the positive things in life breathes life into the body. The oxygen generates blood flow so one feels energized and able to seize the moments of happiness as they occur. The freedom to breathe in and out without effort brings peace to the body and soul.

We all have our sad and difficult moments, but life for the most part is good. I have found that life is best when we let go of ourselves and share in the circle of happiness and peace. Those who focus on themselves eventually find they isolate themselves into a state of discontent because others try to avoid the toxin and protect themselves from the cancer.

Rainbows in the Water

The other day, we took 3 of our out of town granddaughters up the Columbia River Gorge. We took the old highway through all the wonderful fir trees and stopped at Vista House, went by Multnomah Falls and then stopped at the fish hatchery at Bonneville Dam. The hatchery is in a beautiful park setting. For years people have been able to see the huge sturgeon. I remember not that long ago there were at least 5 or 6 of them in the pond they had set for viewing. The largest one there which was at least 8 feet long was killed by some hoodlums one night about 2 years ago. We were disappointed to see only one in the pond this time. It was large but nothing like the ones we use to see. While there the girls fed the rainbow trout which were plentiful.

Smile!....Cheese!

Girls at Grandma and Grandpa's yesterday

My Heart and Soul Breathe the Air of the Oregon Coast

Growing up, my family spent many wonderful times  on the coast. My grandmother lived on the coast in Lincoln City, plus we spent several vacations in Walport as well as day trips to the Northern Oregon coast. While raising my family, hubby and I also took our kids there fairly often. Our family grew to love Cannon Beach and the surrounding areas. One such area was Indian Beach..a small little beach that over the years has become a surfer's paradise. While raising our kids, my parents on a few occasions would get a particular picnic spot there for a 4th of July picnic. This past weekend, Nathan, his family and Andrea and her family plus George and I went to Indian Beach and got the exact picnic spot we all grew to love. As I stood in that spot, I couldn't help remembering my parents there and a bit of emotion swept over me as I could picture my since departed father standing there with my mother putting food out on the table. Now it was my turn to be grandma. I felt such joy knowing that my grandchildren were tasting a part of family tradition.

Granddaughters in surf

Nathan and Andrea

Stop the World, I Want To Get Off!

 Have you ever got excited about going on a Ferris-wheel ride... got on and enjoyed the ride as it spun around ....then felt anxiety as it stopped on the top and someone decided to rock the seat cage? Well, that is how I am feeling.....like I have allowed others to spin my personal wheel of emotion and I have landed upside down hanging on for dear life and no one has a clue, seems to care or ever will. It starts and stops with jerking ... slowly weakening my grasp. I consider letting go but know I have to keep moving with the motion of the wheel until I can firmly plant my feet back on the ground praying that I will not get dragged along the bottom. Unfortunately, I seem to keep hanging on to the wheel. The spinning carries me around to the top and down to the bottom over and over again. Others seem to think I am strong enough to hang on forever and they just care about the tune that plays as the wheel spins, or when they get a turn at being at the top....not realizing that it too will stop and jerk them around eventually, also. Life has taught me that the saying, 'What goes around, comes around'... is true....one way or another. It is just a matter of time.

This is a late posting of  myself with my daughter Andrea and her girls from Mother's Day.

This one is of the girls with grandpa today on Father's Day

Hear Me

In today's world I am reminded of  the saying, "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive."  I also find it interesting how some people have names that are sooooo very fitting....Madoff, Weiner, Farris Fink...to name a few...and no one can dispute that Lois Lerner has yet much to learn (and account for). Each day that goes by seems to reveal more and more.....I am reminded that things happen in the Lord's time and for his purpose......in the meantime....I sit and watch.....waiting to see how it all ends. Yes, I know this is being put in the files of the government.....I say good! Maybe someday they will read.....I am an American with a voice...hear me. I believe in God...hear me.  I believe in the constitution.....hear me. I believe in the Bill of Rights....hear me. I stand for values I was taught in the home and in my schools as a kid in the 1950's and 60's and in my church.....hear me. I am disappointed in the leadership of this country...hear me! I just wish it wasn't this way.....HEAR ME!

Memorial Day

Memorial Day and Veteran's Day are probably the most under-appreciated holidays we have. People look forward to long week-ends, barbecues, first camping trips of the year, no school, etc. but few truly pay tribute to the fallen soldiers and those who have gone before us. As a child, I remember each Memorial Day going to the various cemeteries where my grandparents and great grandparents are buried as well as my uncles. I grew up knowing where each was buried and seeing my parents put flowers on their graves. My children were blessed to have their grandparents alive while they grew up, so I have to admit that George and I did not keep up the tradition of visiting the sites regularly.George's grandparents are in other parts of the country. After my dad passed on, George and I have tried to make sure we go every Memorial Day morning before the crowds. This year is a bit different unfortunately. Because of the bad weather, we felt it was too dangerous for George to try and walk down the steep hill  in the wet grass and mud to his mother's grave site and will go another day. Nevertheless, we remember our dead parents. My dad served in WW II as a medic. George's mother was the wife of a military man...Army Corp of Engineers. They are both buried in Willamette National Cemetery. They are remembered and in our hearts. (George's dad and my mother are still with us.) We are also very grateful for all the brave men and women who fought for this country so that we who are alive can enjoy the freedoms they fought for.

How Much Rope Will It Take?

Growing up I use to hear the phrase.....give a man enough rope and eventually he will hang himself.
I believe that is true in a collection of people, too. The past week has been full of news about our government and the corruption within it. Personally, I have not been shocked at what has come out. What has truly surprised me is that the general media is finally starting to report on it after refusing to acknowledge wrong doing for months....(I say years). It will be interesting to see where all the probing takes us. If I were a betting person, I would guess we haven't even hit the surface of what will be discovered. I believe all 3 'scandals' are linked by ideology and I have names of people I am just waiting to hear about, for I believe they are the puppeteers who orchestrated what had been discovered. (No, I am not not talking about Obama and Clinton...even though I believe they are not innocent.) 
 What is sad to me is how the American people have been duped by the media who have clothed this administration in a shield of  non-information. Yes, there has been an attempt at transforming American...and it hasn't been for the better. I believe if the media truly did the job it was suppose to, the majority of the people would have been outraged much sooner. News organizations have edited the truth..while perpetuating the lies. As far as I am concerned, they are co-conspirators.
What is happening in DC is far beyond the drama of what Hollywood dreams up. It is a triple scooped waffling cone of crumbs and melting goo....ready to dump it's ugliness into our laps because the media hasn't been there to catch the drips that should have kept everything in check and clean. Grab the towels everyone....because not only are we going to be stuck cleaning up the mess but also find ourselves covered in what is left behind....or to get back to how I started....I will be anxiously watching as people are grabbing for the rope and trying hard to pull themselves out of the mud they created to only fall farther into their own undoing for they have hurt this country and the people who love it.

A Beautiful World Where Bad Things Happen

Yesterday's terror attack in Boston was not just tragic, but it was evil...yes, evil. It takes an evil mind to plan to kill and maim innocent people who are simply enjoying a day with family and friends at an athletic event. I personally don't want to dwell on the evil in the world, but instead would like to remind others that this is a beautiful and wonderful world in which bad things happen. We cannot go through life focusing on the bad. We need to realize that there are bad things, people, beliefs, etc. but that generally we have so much more to be grateful for. It is our responsibility to recognize these blessings daily and keep a proper perspective. If we live our lives in fear, hatred, envy and pride, then we will find ourselves in a cycle of  never trusting, seeing goodness, and being able to enjoy life. We will give away our freedom as individuals to live happily. Yes, terrible things happen that are disturbing, hurtful, and unfair, but if we chose to wake up each morning with a heart full of gratitude for the beauty in the world then when bad things happen, we will see them with better eyes.....with compassion, hope, charity, love, the ability to cheer on others who do good and have good things happen to them. Though what happened yesterday was beyond comprehension, it was also a day of heroics, people coming to the aid of others, people mourning with those who mourn, outpourings of love and even miracles. Unfortunately, I believe that bad things happen sometimes to wake us up as individuals...To force us to feel, care, come together and turn to God. Some would curse God and ask why??? while building up their feelings of hatred believing they have been forsaken, but many will turn to God for comfort and to gain the strength they need to go on and put their faith in Him who created us. Life is about choices. How do we choose to handle our tragedies, trials and challenges? Yes, we have moments in our lives which are hard to bear and we grieve....that is normal, but we need to allow happiness back into our lives to survive and feel peace in our hearts. My heart goes out all those who have been affected by the horrendous act in Boston. I pray they will find the comfort and peace they need to move on and once again see the beauty in the world.