Saturday April 30th-Traci is in Nicaragua as I write this!

All 4 of us got up early and drove to the airport this morning.  We stopped for breakfast at Tim's, which was nice.  I am so glad, too, that I thought to pray for her trip while we were all in the car.  I prayed she will be safe, that it will be the trip of a lifetime, that she will really immerse herself as much as possible into the local culture, that God will show her (and she will see) amazing things in such a different part of the world.  I have been praying for this trip for a long time but it was nice to pray together.

I slept a lot today.  I am not feeling well.  I am sure Wednesday and Friday are contributing muchly to how I am feeling. Doing too much and too much stress!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 sausage breakfast sandwich on a biscuit, and a hash brown.

Lunch
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Dinner
no real dinner...grabbing a few things.

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-9:00 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:05-plank

Toodles!

Fri April 29-What a day!!!!!

Oh my, my, my! 

Traci and I were packing her suitcases and organizing things in the late morning.  Somehow the topic of passport came up and she wasn't 100% sure where it was but she knew she had put it somewhere safe where she would remember it.  So she checked the half dozen or so places she thought it would be..nope.  She checked those places again. I checked them....nope.  Then we started going through all her as-yet-unpacked stuff.  Boxes of kitchen utensils, bedding, school books, etc.  No passport.  We went through all the boxes again.  Nothing! We are both getting very worried.  At this point, she is leaving in less than 24 hours.

I called the passport office.  Yes she could get a replacement passport today but we had to get ourselves to the office right away.  We found the forms online and printed them.  Traci filled them out as I got dressed and ready to go.  I think we left the house at 1 pm.  The passport office closes at 4:30 pm!!

First stop was City Hall to get one of the forms signed by someone who could act in a legal capacity,

Then a 10 minute walk to the passport office, which was in the mall downtown.  We were SO grateful for the office being in that mall, as you will see.

First trip to the passport office, and Traci was told she needed new passport photos.  Gerry had mentioned that during one of the times we were talking to him about this. But they did not mention it when I called the office from home.  So downstairs we go to the nearest photo place in the mall to get a passport photo taken. The lady took the photo and showed Traci what it looked like.  Traci did not care.  :)  She just wanted the pictures ASAP. While we were waiting for the photos, we walked across the hall to get some fries at McDonald's.  We were both hungry!  Ate the fries, got the passport photos, and headed back to the office.

Second trip to the passport office seemed to go well.  The receptionist was awesome!  She recognized Traci and said "You are going to hater me"  Traci asked why. "Because your guarantor needs to sign your photos"  Whew!!  That was OK because I was acting as the guarantor!  Got our number, waited in line, Traci went up to the clerk.  Uh oh!  She needed to have a copy of her itinerary, some proof that she was actually travelling the next day. But she DID start the process, thank God!  And Traci paid through the nose for her new passport. So Traci gathered everything up and off we went to the library, which was ALSO in the mall, to print a copy of a couple of pages of her trip information document that included her itinerary with dates.

Third trip to the office, Traci just handed the pages to the receptionist.  They all knew who Traci was now and were doing all they could do get her the passport! I did not go to the office with her that time.  I went to Tim Horton's where we were going to eat some real food and probably wait until 4:30, or so we thought, for the passport to be ready.  We ordered our food and we were just about to eat when Traci got a text message from the office!

Fourth trip!  I stayed at Tim's with our food, not eating, as I did not want to eat without Traci.  15 or 20 minutes passed with no word from or no re-appearance of Traci.  I texted her saying I was on my way to her.  I packed up our food and everything and left.  I stopped for a sec outside.  Good thing!  I had forgotten my purse and the man sitting beside me rushed lout with it!  Whew!!

I got to the office and Traci said that they had needed her to sign another form having to do with her itinerary.  And then they told her to wait for the passport.  So she did and I did.  I think it was 4:20 when they handed it to her!  We thanked everyone profusely!

On the bus home, I was just out of it.  I was so tired from the stress and anxiety and all the walking we did.  I went right to bed when we got home.  Traci made the pizza.

Oh my!!!

Legal signature at City Hall-$20
Passport photos-$15
New passport-$87
Rush charge-$70
Food and fries-$15

New passport so Traci could go on the trip of a lifetime to Nicaragua-PRICELESS!


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 Tim Horton's Turkey Bacon Club sandwich on whole wheat
1 Boston Cream donut

Dinner
2 pcs homemade pepperoni pizza

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

I did WAY too much yesterday.......

...and paid for it today.  I helped Traci move upstairs and made MANY trips up and down our stairs yesterday.  I also went to the dentist and walked 1.3 kms (part of the way home).  And then I bussed it both ways to and from midweek service last night.

I was up early this am because my cleaning lady was coming at 8 am.  I LOVE how the house looks after Debbie is here!  

I started dozing on the couch around 10:30 am.  Gerry called around 11 am saying the power was out at his workplace so he might be leaving.  He called at noon saying they were letting them go and would be home for dinner.  :(  Good that he would be home for dinner, bad that he was not coming home until then.  Maybe he and Traci could have hung out for a bit before she leaves for 2 weeks.  (sigh) When Gerry called at noon, he thought I had had a seizure!  I guess I sounded pretty bad.  I am quite sure I have not had a seizure, though.  I do not feel THAT bad.

I slept until 4:30 pm!!  Traci woke me to say she was leaving at almost 3 pm and Trina woke me up when she got home at 4 pm.  I finally got up at 4:45 pm because I would need to think about dinner!

We had horrendous windstorms today.  And it was garbage day!  :(  Blue boxes and garbage cans were blowing down the street, not to mention their contents!   We lost both of our blue boxes.  Oh well.  Other people had it MUCH worse, 100 high school students were pulled from Hamilton harbour when the sudden windstorm tipped some of their rowing boats!  All were OK.  My mom and her husband lost power at 9 am and still don't have it back as of now (9pm)  (They had their power restored at 10:13 pm) A man in St. Catharines lost his life as the wind blew his garage door off of its hinges and it hit him in the head and killed him.  Trees and branches are down everywhere.

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
slept through lunch

Dinner
fried egg sandwich

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-9:52 pm-v-sit
2nd set-11:02 pm-plank

Toodles!

Well, Traci is pretty much moved upstairs.

I did not do any sets of exercises today.  What I DID do was help Traci move her things to the upstairs room that is now her room/a guest room.   I must have gone up and down the 12 steps from the main level of the house to the basement at least 10-15 times, if not more!  Great exercise!

A friend of mine said today that: "Tracy (sic) needs to understand that she is just visiting between school terms . That house is yours and she should not be coming back causing such turmoil. She needs to be showing some respect to you, Jerry (sic) and Trina. It sounds like she has become very self focused. You do not owe her anything , especially your home. Just my opinion based on past advice with regard to my children."

But it is a done deal now.  I think it will be OK in the end but maybe I did just do what she wanted at mine and Trina's expense.  It really did/does not affect Gerry at all.  I don't think he cares!  But I REALLY do love the idea of having a guest room!!  And that room WILL be a guest room if someone is visiting, whether Traci is here or not.   I have a friend who comes once or twice a year and stays for 3-7 days each time.

I also walked 1.3 kms today...partway home from the dentist office.  I also did that same walk last Thursday on my way home from the dentist office.

My mom mentioned to me yesterday that she thought I had lost some weight.  :)  I hadn't really noticed and losing weight is a tertiary goal in my eating and exercising better.  My main goals are just to be putting healthier food into my body and maybe regaining some mobility and energy.  Besides it is a command of God.  And I have been failing at it miserably for a long long time.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New International Version, ©2011)
19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 banana

Dinner
1 ham and cheese sandwich

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

Toodles!

I want my house back!

Our house is a disaster!  Because all of Traci's stuff is here...a whole apartment's worth of stuff, except for furniture.  The downstairs kitchen is full of her stuff, the living room has lots of her stuff in it, as does her room which she shares with Trina.  And THAT sharing situation is getting a little sticky!  Traci is now used to her own space and just being here is kind of weird for her and sharing a room with Trina is causing some friction.  I guess that is to be expected but it is a bit challenging to deal with.  We shall see how it pans out.  All of a sudden our house feels small!

It sure is great having Traci here, though!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
ham and potatoes and corn
1 bowl of Rocky Road ice cream

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:55 am-v-sit
2nd set-8:51 pm-plank

Toodles!

Easter Monday...getting ready for Nicaragua!

Chillin' with the girls today!!  Traci and I were out out on a shopping trip getting things she needs for Nicaragua.  Lots of fun, but she is lamenting the $$ she is spending.  Things like a air mattress, headlamp, 1L stainless water bottle, powdered Gatorade, etc etc.  We got a lot of it done.  She is feeling both overwhelmed and excited that she is leaving in 5 days!  Mostly overwhelmed right now.  It will be the trip of her lifetime so far, for sure!  Please pray for a safe trip both ways and for a great, safe experience for her and her whole group!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries (at lunchtime)

Lunch
no lunch :(

Dinner
nachos-yummy!!

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-2:34 pm-v-sit
2nd set-11:00 pm-plank

Toodles!

Sunday April 24th-Jesus Is Risen!

We had a beautiful, moving worship service this morning!  It was a service telling the story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It was all done through with a combination of prayer, the congregation singing, Scripture readings, video from The Passion of the Christ, and the choir singing.  We have a lot of very talented singers in our church and they have been practicing for months.  They were wonderful!  If someone posts a clear picture of the choir, I will add it to the post.  If not, my cell phone camera picture, which is not very clear, will have to do.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
Goodies and treats after church today, including chocolate covered strawberries, fresh bread with spinach dip, plus a couple of cookies and mini muffins.

Dinner
Kraft dinner-have not had that in MONTHS!

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-7:45 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:20 pm-plank
3rd set-

Toodles!

Saturday April 23rd-Easter dinner

Easter dinner with the fam today!!  There were 17 of us!!  And there were 17 of these cute chocolate Lindt bunnies on the table.  My mom is so thoughtful!  Read below for our dinner menu.  It was amazing! 

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch :(

Dinner
Easter dinner at mom's!!!
Ham with pineapple, mashed portaties, scalloped potatoes with onions, turnip, carryot with onions, plain carrots, roll, turnip, peanuit butter squares, apple crisp, berry crisp, wine spritzers!!
How is that for dinner??

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
chocolate!

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

Friday April 22nd

I am behind, so I am just trying to catch up right now.  :)

Traci had to go to Waterloo on Friday night for a meeting about her Nicaragua trip.  So Traci & Trina went together. Trina did homework in the Business building while Traci was in her meeting.  How cool; that the girls went on a little road trip and got to spend some good time together! (And Traci did not have to drive alone)  :))
 
What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch, I got up so late, it WAS lunchtime!

Dinner
ice cream  :(  I intended to make pizza when the girls got home, but I forgot.  The kids had eaten already.

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
some Dairy Milk chocolate

Can\t remember if I did exercises.  :(
My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-
2nd set-
3rd set-

Toodles!

Traci is home!!!

Traci's move went quite well today.  But even though we had a pickup truck, it would not all fit!  She left some of it there in her roommate's room to pick up on Tuesday.  The rest will all fit in the car.  I LOVE that apartment she was in!  I could TOTALLY live in an apartment like that!  4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 storage room, open concept kitchen and living room.

She is out tonight as I expected.  :)


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
tuna casserole that Traci made

Dinner
pancakes

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
Reese's chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-8:44 am-v-sit
2nd set-9:10 pm-plank

Toodles!

Tomorrow is the day!!

My mom and her hubby and I are going with his pickup truck to get Traci tomorrow from residence.  I am so excited that she is going to be home!  Although, I *think* she has plans to go out tomorrow night!  Even though she is going to be home for 4 months (less 2 weeks in Nicaragua), she will be working and she will be out and about a lot.  She will not be home much but it is a lot more than when she is at school!  I think she is hoping as well to spend a few days with one of her 1st year roommates in her hometown, who will also be one of her 2nd year roommates.  Traci and L are good friends and I am happy for them!

I am one excited Mom!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 bowl of granola cereal

Dinner
scrambled eggs

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-8:32 am-v-sit
2nd set-10:43 pm-plank

PS I ended up not doing that 3rd set of exercises last night.  I typed the time, published the post and promptly forgot about it!

Toodles!

So many people are having medical challenges!

My friend, R, has been having breathing challenges (that they are now calling heart issues) for a long time.  My other friend, G, had knee replacement surgery today.  And he is going to have to have the other knee replaced too!!  One of my aunts is being treated for 3 types of cancer.  One of my other aunts had a breast lumpectomy today...waiting for pathology results.  Another friend has a bad knee and just learned she does not need surgery, just yet.  Hopefully PT will be enough for her.  And that is just the tip of the iceberg!   We have a long list of people in our church, their family members, and friends who we are praying for various medical issues.

There are SO many people out there who are going through challenging times.  It really makes me appreciate my health, such as it is.  :)   And I am just addressing mediical issues.  There are emotional, financial and spiritual challenges too!  Thank you God for being in control!

...Lisa

PS Traci is home in 2 days!!


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 sandwich

Dinner
BBQ chicken, potatoes, corn

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-8:23 am-v-sit
2nd set-2:44  pm-plank
3rd set!!!-10:10  pm-v-sit


Edit 4/20/2011 I ended up not doing that 3rd set of exercises.  I typed the time, published the post and promptly forgot about it!

Toodles!

Easter dinner and seeing extended family this weekend...

I am so looking forward to Saturday when our extended family will all gather at my Mom & B's house for Easter dinner.  Mom was thinking of Gerry by having it on Saturday.  He won't want to leave early because he does not work on Sundays.  I so appreciate that!

Our family of 15 or so often gathers around 10 times year.  People tell me that is a lot.  I don't know if it is or not but I love getting together!  Seeing our nieces and nephews growing, my girls bringing/not bringing boyfriends, hearing about what is going on with my brothers and their families and others too!

Mom and her hubby-2
Brother 1 and his wife and their 2 kids.-4
Brother 2 and his wife and their 2 kids.-4
Us 4 plus 1 boyfriend-5
My dad's uncle-1
My cousin, D-1
My aunt?-1

I did the math.  That is 17 or 18!

It will be a wonderful time!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch

Dinner
Spaghetti with meat sauce

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:47 pm-v-sit
2nd set-10:34 pm-plank

Toodles!

Saturday ....another good day!

We are going to play cards with friends this afternoon!  We LOVE playing euchre with them but it has been many months since we last played.  Then we are going to enjoy dinner at their place.  YUM!!  L is an amazing cook and hostess!

Then we are going to a Love and Respect conference.  The church is doing a 5 week series over 5 months.  It has been very eye opening and interesting.  I am excited that Gerry wants to go together!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
Dinner out.

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer

NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-1:47pm-v-sit
2nd set-
3rd set-
Toodles!

That's what friends are for!!!

I had such a great morning today!!  It kind of had it's roots last Sunday morning when one of my best friends in the whole world, N. and her family) were not at church.  I knew she had been unwell but I didn't think she was unwell enough to keep her away from church.  Maybe her husband or one or both of her 2 children were not well?  But usually that would not keep all 4 of them away from church.  Whoever could come, would come.  I was concerned.

It was announced to us all, that her husband had taken her to emergency at 6:30 am.  We prayed for her as a congregation.  Now I was worried!  It was SO HARD!!  We/I didn't know what was wrong.  I was having such a hard time not worrying.  She is my best friend!  She really does not like doctors, medicine and definitely does not like hospitals!  She must have been in quite a state to allow herself to be taken there (she told me she didn't want to be anywhere else but at the hospital). It was then announced at the end of the service that her husband had taken her in because of severe pain, and that the doctor said she had an inner ear infection.  But she told me this morning, that when she left the hospital with an antibiotic and still no pain relief!  She did not get any pain relief until later that afternoon.

She is feeling somewhat better now, but still not well.  She has vertigo, still bouts of pain as well.

There was a time that she and I would get together and talk and chat EVERY Friday.  Now it is every other Friday but other things get in the way sometimes.  Whenever we do get a chance to get together, it is like we talked just yesterday.

So we were talking last night about getting together.  I asked if I could bring a meal over.  She asked if I had any of my homemade spaghetti sauce in the freezer.  I did!!  And she said she asked if was going top make bread anyway, could I please make some bread (because you know that fresh bread goes with spaghetti).  I totally heard her ask if I could make my cream cheese brownies.  She clarified later about the bread!  I made the bread and the brownies anyway.  But it was so funny.  I would have bet anything she said brownies.  :)

So I took it all over to her place this am.  She put a pot of coffee on and we just talked for about 2 hours.  It was great.  She is so wise and insightful!  She blows me away.  We have known each other for 22+ years and we have both been through some very challenging situations.  I really do believe that God has nourished our friendship especially for this last year or 2 when things have been tough for both of us in various ways. She is a gem whom God put in my life!

Proverbs 18:24
One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother (sister).

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
Coffee + granola bars

Lunch
1 turkey chicken club on whole wheat plus a coffee + donut.

Dinner
homemade pepperoni pizza

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine. Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-11:00 pm-v-sit
2nd set-11:42 pm-plank
(better late than never!)

Toodles!

Am I a bad Leafs fan???

So, my Leafs did not make the NHL playoffs. (no snide comments, please)  The 2 Canadian hockey teams that DID make the playoffs are the Vancouver Canucks and the Montréal Canadiens (Habs for short, which in turn is short for Habitants)

I have seen and heard this comment on Twitter and Facebook and other places:
"I can't bring myself to cheer for the Habs."

Toronto and Montréal ARE bitter Original Six rivals. The Habs are playing the Boston Bruins in a 1st round best-of-7 series.  My husband is a Bruins fan.  So you'd think with all those things being in place that I would cheer for Boston and NOT for Montréal.

NOPE!!  I am cheering for the Habs.  Why??  They are a Canadian-based team, that's why!!  And I am cheering for the Vancouver Canucks as they play their 1st round series against the Chicago Black Hawks as well.

 The only way the Canucks and Habs will end up playing each other is if they both win their first 3 series (minimum of 12 wins, max of 21).  If they do end up playing each other in the Stanley Cup Final, I will probably cheer for Montréal as it is the closer of the 2 cities to Hamilton.

So am I a bad Leafs fan???

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen peaches, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
no lunch  :(  late breakfast

Dinner
pasta with spaghetti sauce

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine

Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-2:24 pm-v-sit
2nd set-8:44 pm-plank

Toodles!

No writing today. Sorry folks!

No writing today (yesterday).  Sorry folks!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
The other half of yesterday's chicken sandwich with Swiss Chalet sauce!  Yummy!!

Dinner
tuna casserole

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine.
Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds
1st set-10:23 am-v-sit
2nd set- 4:21 pm-v-sit
3rd set-
Toodles!

Treated for lunch today and had a great time with my friend, B!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
Swiss Chalet!!  My friend, B, treated me to lunch!
Half of a chicken on a kaiser sandwich with Swiss Chalet sauce and french fries.(the other half of the sandwich with Swiss Chalet sauce for tomorrow!)

Dinner
pork chop, potatoes, veggies

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

My exercise routine.  
Each set includes:
Leg extensions-10 reps each leg
Bridges-5 reps
Plank or V-sit-15 seconds

1st set-8:23 am-v-sit
2nd set-10:52 pm-plank

Toodles!

New house today...sort of!

Our friend, Rick Steenkist, is here today doing a handful of little jobs (for him) that I am thrilled about!  Rick is going to remove an old non-functional light at our side door.  He put in a motion sensor one so when it senses someone, it turns on and then turns off at a set time.  Brilliant!!  He is fixing our downspout, he tightened the door handle, he might put up our front window shutter that blew down in a storm (if it is OK enough shape) and I am also going to ask him to take down a high curtain rod in our bedroom that we do not use and that will need to come down when we have the bedroom painted so I thought I would ask him to do that today while he is here.

Rick has done quite a bit of work in our house that Gerry and I are unwilling and/or unable to do.

He has installed our dishwasher, installed new bathroom faucets, painted the living room, dining room and hall walls and ceilings, put down a new floor in the bathroom, installed a new toilet, changed a light switch from behind a door to a more accessible spot in the hall,  installed a new front door and side light, as well as the stuff he is doing today.

I love when he comes!  He does great work and it is always exciting to get something new done to the house.  What he does always improves my life!   And I so appreciate giving the business to a friend, a brother in the faith!

If anyone in the area needs great work done at a fair price, Rick is your guy!

Rick Steenkist
76 Spring Street
Brantford ,ON
N3T 4M5
GST# 819029877
Phone: 519 771 9425
Email: ricktherenovator@sympatico.ca



What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
granola bars, coffee


Dinner
1 toasted ham and cheese bagel with mayo

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

Exercises
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-9:00 am-v-sit
2-9:49 pm-plank

Toodles!

Walk-a-thon Day!!

The walk-a-thon was so much fun today!  We raised a fair amount of money (thanks to all the people who sponsored me).  We were all given pedometers and I walked about 1500 steps.
And one of the women at church was gracious enough to come pick me up to go to church even though it meant she would be late for the beginning of church too!  (As it turned out, we started late so we didn't miss a thing!)


What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas, strawberries and granola bar pieces.

Lunch
granola bars, chicken strip,

Dinner
Scrambled eggs and toast that Trina mde.  Yummy!!
We were going to have Chicago style deep dish pizza!!  (Trina's awesome idea!)  Alas, they do not deliver as far east as our house.  :(

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
1 chocolate bar that Gerry got for me!

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-7:58 am-plank
2-10:40 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Exciting day tomorrow!!

1.5 km walk today.  It is a beautiful day today!

I didn't want to walk too far or long because I am doing a walkathon tomorrow before church to benefit The Hamilton Young Stroke Survivors group.  This group became an official group in October 2010 and my friend, J, serves as Co-Chair. She had a stroke at age 45!

I am thrilled to go out and get some sponsors and help J out!

What I have eaten today:
Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
yogurt and granola bars

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer

NO chocolate
Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-10:59 pm-v-sit
2-
3-
Toodles!

No writing today, sorry

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk and strawberries

Lunch
1 egg salad sandwich

Dinner
homemade pepperoni pizza

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-1:07 pm-v-sit
2-12:04 am-plank

Toodles!

Went to a Liberal election rally tonight.

I was impressed by Michael Ignatieff.  But even more than that, I am VERY unimpressed by Stephen Harper.  Maybe I will write more about it tomorrow.  I am tired, it is bedtime.

Breakfast
1 bowl of Harvest Crunch cereal

Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
pork, potatoes, veggies

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
Reese's chocolate bar
1 dutchie donut
a few Oreo cookies

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-10:30 am-v-sit
2-12:54 pm-plank

Toodles!

Missions and sacrifice

I am thinking tonight about Missions and sacrifice for God's church.  God has blessed me with so much!  I want to give back to Him! 

I recently made changes and sacrifices in order to sponsor a beautiful girl in Ghana, G.A..  She is 10 and her birthday is the day before Traci's.  I am excited to be able to help her!  I have been thinking about it for years and I am thrilled that I can do it now and also that it will mean personal sacrifice for me!

For missions, we put aside money every month but I don't feel as if it is a sacrifice.  I want my giving to affect my living, not the other way around!  I want to do more.  I am not sure what that will look like yet but I have some ideas.  One is selling clothes that I do not even wear.  Trina is excited about that!! "Get rid of this dress and that dress!" :)

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo

Dinner
1 fried egg sandwich with cheese

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-2:46 pm-plank
2-11:05 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Kind of an uninspiring day....

..in terms of writing.  Nothing really came to mind today to write about.
It was a busy day, though.  I was out morning, afternoon and evening!
I certainly had a good afternoon nap!

Sorry for posting late.


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries and granola cookie

Lunch
1 toasted BLT on whole wheat

Dinner
pancakes with syrup

PLUS
2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-6:20 pm-plank
2-
3-

Toodles!

A good day...

I had a good day today.  3 meals. 2 sets of exercises, worship God at church!  We heard about a vision our leaders have for the next 10 years for the church.  Very exciting!

Isaiah 6:8 (New International Version, ©2011)

 ⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
   And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

http://www.canadianchurches.info/dir/

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
1 sesame seed bagel toasted with butter

Dinner
pasta with homemade sauce

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
1 bowl of chips
NO chocolate


Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-8:48 am-plank
2-6:41 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Sports, sports and more sports.....

I am enjoying watching all the sports today.

This afternoon the Jays won and the Canadian men won their first draw at the Ford World Men's Curling Championship in Regina.  They are playing in the 2nd draw right now. (up 2-0 in the 2nd end)

Butler won in the NCAA to earn a spot in the championship game for the 2nd year in a row.  I am cheering for the Kentucky Wildcats in the second semi-final vs UConn.

The Leafs are winning in Ottawa right now, but I am not hopeful they can get into the playoffs.  :(

The thing is I am alone tonight.  It is not as much fun to watch these games alone.  Oh well.

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
no breakfast.:(

late Lunch
yogurt with my granola bars crumbled into it.  Yummy!!

Dinner
toasted ham & cheese & mayo sandwich

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
1 bottled mudslide with a banana blended into it
NO chocolate

Exercise
Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-6:04 pm-plank
2-9:25 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

Back on track!!

for one day at least.  ;)   Friday was the first day since March 21st!! where I ate 3 meals and did my exercises at least twice.

Baby steps!

What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg, bananas and strawberries

Lunch
granola bars and milk

Dinner
homemade pepperoni pizza

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
1 regular sized Musketeers mint chocolate bar (just like After Eight mints! Who knew there was a Three Musketeers mint??!!)
I had to buy one to support Traci's trip to Nicaragua, right???  :))

Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
1-9:30 am-plank
2- 11:09 pm-v-sit

Toodles!

A confession.....

I wrote in my post last night that I did 2 sets of exercises.  Both at approx 10:48 (am and then pm)  Well I wrote that, published my post and then totally forgot about doing that pm set of exercises!  So even though I wrote that, I did not do the pm set.  I did not do that on purpose or to mislead you.  As soon as I realized what had happened, I started composing this post in my mind as I do not want to be disingenuous to (the great numbers of) people reading this.

I am not doing well in my goal of 3 meals and 2 sets of exercises per day.  :(   Although my trip was awesome, being out of, and then getting back into, normal home routine is challenging for me.  I don't do well with change!


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk, 1 egg and strawberries
 Lunch
a few homemade granola bars (thank you SO MUCH Mark for the recipe!) + a glass of milk

Dinner
nothing really....Trina and I were on the bus to a school event.  I planned very poorly.

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
NO chocolate

Exercise :

Leg extensions-At least 2 sets per day, 10 reps each leg
Bridges-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps
Plank or V-sit-At least 2 sets per day, 5 reps

1-3:12 pm-v-sit

Toodles!