The Letter "H" A-Z All About Me Challenge - Healthy

This week Love Kate’s A – Z Challenge, All About Me is focusing on the letter “H”

To me H is about being Healthy - physically and mentally healthy.  Healthy according to dictionary.com means, “possessing or enjoying good health; conducive to good health.

I try to live a healthy life-style.  I try to take care of the body, after all it is the only one I will have in this life.

I eat healthy – vegetables are the main stay in my diet. 
I know when my body needs rest – I sometimes have what I call is a down day. On these days I sleep all day.

The one area of my healthy lifestyle that I have not been faithful in is – exercise.  I love running but I have not had time in the last six months to run on a regularly.

I have lost my motivation. I say that because, even when my schedule was busy, in the past I would find time to run… morning, afternoon or night.  Now, I find myself thinking I never have time.
Love Kate’s challenge has given me an opportunity to re-evaluate my health. Now is as good as any day to make a new commitment. 

My goal this week is to run, walk, or ride my bike 3 days.

Stay tuned to see if I can keep my goal.

~ Connie ~
P.S.
The Big Man said H stands for Happy.  Yes, I am happy

The letter G - Grace. A to Z All About Me Challenge

This week on Love Kate, The A-Z All About Me Challenge we are using the letter G.
Of course I asked the Big Man, “If you could describe me with one word that begins with the letter G – what would it be”?

The BIg Man

He thought for a few minutes and said: Gorgeous, generous, and grace.  

As the weeks and letters have passed, I am consistently amazed that the Big Man sees me differently from how I see myself.  I wonder if others see me like the Big Man does, or does his love come with rose-colored glasses?  

I would never describe myself as gorgeous – Gorgeous is an adjective that is used to describe something; that is splendid or sumptuous in appearance.  At best I could be informally described as Gorgeous;  something that is extremely good, enjoyable, or pleasant. 

Generous – is an adjective used to describe someone as giving or sharing; large, abundant, ample, and / or something as rich or a strong flavor.

Grace, on the other hand is a noun.  Grace can be elegance or beauty.  It can be a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior (God’s Grace).  It can be mercy, clemency, or pardon.

My question to answer is – do these words describe me?

I am good, enjoyable and pleasant.  I have a big heart and I give freely. I give of my time, money, and talents daily.  I do this because of the Grace I have been given. I have received grace in my life, beyond my own belief.  I strive to everyday give or show God’s grace.      

How do you think others see you?  Can you see God's Grace in your life?                                        

~ Connie ~

The Letter F - A-Z All About Me Challenge

This week the letter F is the focus of the A – Z All about Me Challenge.   Of course I had to ask the big man - “If you could describe me with one word starting with the letter F, what would it be”?
His response: Fantastic!  I think he is in love.  But, he is right I am fantastic. 

I have raised six kids – three of them for a period of time as a single mother. I have earned my GED  followed by an associate degree, a bachelors degree, a master’s degree, all but a dissertation for a doctorate and now I have returned to school for a second master’s degree. 

I failed at track in high school but I have learned to run as an adult – I have finished a couple of 5ks and I am training for a half-marathon.

I have failed at one marriage but found the love of my life.  

I can grade papers, have a discussion with a child and watch a TV show all at the same time. 

I have a big heart – I live by the rule: to those that much is given, much is expected.  I run a free health clinic.  I volunteer with the Humane Society and the Red Cross.

I am the mother to 13 wonderful, almost perfect four-legged babies.

Oh – and, I am an excellent shot. I love to make my husband work hard to beat me at the shooting range.

I am fantastic –

~ Connie ~

A-Z All About Me - E for Energetic

This week’s letter is E. Playing along with the A - Z All About Me Challenge at  Love Kate  has become a weekly game with my husband (the Big Man).

Every week I ask the Big Man, if you could describe me with one word that begins with the letter what would it be.  The week's letter is E, wwithout blinking an eye, he said, “energetic, you run hard and play hard”

It is funny he sees me as energetic, especially after last week.  By Friday afternoon I was exhausted not energetic.  I came home from work and took a nap.  I even got a nap on Saturday. Slowing down has given me an opportunity to reflect on how much energy I am expending on things that are important and on things that are not important.

According to Brian Tracy
Just as your car runs more smoothly and requires less energy to go faster and farther when the wheels are in perfect alignment, you perform better when your thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values are in balance.

I agree my energy flows from my thoughts, feelings, emotions, goals, and values.

I  have come to the realizaiton that to maintain my energy I am going to have to start taking better care of myself. 
How do I take better care of myself? How do I maintain my Energy level?
8 hours of sleep
Regular exercise
Healthy Diet
Learning to say No

~ Connie ~

D - Could be for...

Daughter, dog-lover, and a diva, that is dynamic, dazzling, and domestic. But, mostly I am determined.
I am determined to live up to Luke 12:48 “From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”

My determination has allowed me to, raise an awesome group of young adults, serve in the U.S. Army, run a free health clinic, rescue some amazing animals, earn multiple degrees and be a contributing part of the community.

My determination is sometimes based on previous failures -

As a child if you told me I could not do something I would say ok – I was raised to not talk back, to accept what I was told.

I wanted to run track in high school; my mother told me I did not have a runner’s body.  I tried out, made the team, but during a track meet I passed out. I tried again and developed shin splints. Once again everyone told me - it is ok to quit, your not a runner.  I never finished a race. 

As an adult it had always bothered me that I couldn’t be a runner. So, I started training and guess what, I finished a 5K and went on to teach other women how to run. 

As John Bingham, The Penguin, says:

"The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start."

I can’t wait to see what Luke12:48 and my determination get me into next.

~ Connie ~

C ~ coffee loving, caring, comfortable, cautious, controlling, and courageous, crafter

I spent a couple of days this week thinking about the letter “C”.  Some of the words I thought about include: Coffee, caring, comfortable, cautious, control, courageous, and crafty.
The hardest part of this project is deciding on one word. 

I love coffee – I run on coffee.  I can drink it all day long.  I like almost any blend of coffee.  I like it black, with sugar or with cream.  Simply I like coffee.

I am caring.  I often worry about others. I want to fix or take care of things.

I am comfortable.  Comfortable – cozy, snug, restful, that is my life and who I am.   

Cautious – I am cautious.  I have been hurt in my life. Because I have been hurt I sometimes find myself being cautious about new relationships and friendships.

Control – this is one of my greatest weaknesses.  I feel the need to control most aspects of my life.  I struggle everyday to allow God to work through me.  To give him control.

Courageous – I am courageous.  I am not afraid to jump in to situations that need fixing.  A couple of weeks ago I broke up a fight in the ER where I work.  I did not think twice before jumping between two men, both over 6 foot tall.   My children laugh at me because at 5 foot 2 inches I will not back up when right is right and wrong is wrong.

Each week during this project I have asked the Big Man how he would describe me – this week the word is crafty. When I asked the Big Man why he sees me as crafty, he pointed to my craft studio.   I do love crafts.  I like to scrapbook and knit. I do love to take objects that have little meaning and make things that have meaning.  So yes, I am crafty.

I am a coffee loving, caring, comfortable, cautious, controlling, and courageous, crafter.





~ Connie ~



A-Z All About Me - Bold, Beautiful, Blessing Looking for Balance

Me and the Big Man

B – Again this week I asked the Big Man, “What word beginning with the letter B would he use to describe me?”

The words he used are Bold, Beautiful, and Blessing.    I didn’t know what to say at first.  I thought about what he said and I have to agree –

The definition of bold is: “Showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.”

I am bold.  I like to wear red, drive fast, play hard, and think outside of the box.  I am not fashion model beautiful, but I am ok for someone turning fifty this year.  Yes, 50.

The Great River Charitable Clinic

He went on to tell me that I am a blessing to many – him, the kids, our four-legged babies, and the patients at the free health clinic. 

I spent some time today sitting in the swing thinking about what he said – how he sees me.  What he does not see – is how blessed I am. 

The word I want to describe me is balance – I want to find balance in my life.  I want to find more time to spend with my family, to fish, to watch the sun set or the hummingbirds fly. 

Most days I feel like I am in control but I put my obligations on my schedule before “me” time.
So this bold, beautiful, blessing is going to work on finding balance in my blessed life

~  Connie ~

A-Z All About Me - Week A

Vacation trip over – I had 10 hours in the car to think about the challenge of describing my life with a letter of the alphabet each week.  I asked my husband for how he would describe me using the letter “A”.  

He said – academic.  I laughed.  See I have been in school for 15 years of the eighteen years we have been married.  I have finished bachelor’s degree, master’s (X2) degree and all but a dissertation for my doctorate.  I disagreed with him – academic makes me sound like a nerd.  He laughed and asked how many books did I read on our vacation?  Ok, two but does that make me – academic or a nerd?

He then suggested my word should be accommodating.  When I asked him why, he said I can’t say no to anyone.  I had to laugh – he is correct.  I do say yes when frequently asked to lend a hand. 

I believe: from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48). 

I have been given and entrusted with much.  Sixth healthy, not always perfect kids, four perfect-grandsons and a an awesome granddaughter, a loving husband, a great career, the ability to provide a safe and loving home for thirteen-four-legged babies. 
I love being a nurse and my full-time money making job is awesome. I am part of the administrative team for a rural health system.  I average 50 hours a week –

But, I still find time to volunteer.  I am the volunteer director of a free health clinic we serve approximately 650 residents in our county with free health care.  The clinic is open Monday and Wednesday 9 AM to Noon and every other Thursday 5 PM to 10 PM.  We provide medical, dental, optometry, and medications free to those who have no insurance or access to healthcare. 

I volunteer with the Red Cross, the humane society, the National Wild Turkey Federation, various Running activities, and my church. 

I do have a hard time saying no – so, yes I am accommodating.  But, from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked (Luke 12:48).

~ Connie ~

A - Z Challenge All About Me- Recharging My Creative Side



Me and the Big Man

Welcome to my blog Scrapbookwife Running in Arkansas.  For those of you who are new to my blog I like to introduce me.  My name is Connie.  I am married to the love of my life (retired police officer turned city building inspector).

We have six adult children (mine, his and other peoples, I will explain this later).  Our children have blessed us with four grandsons and one granddaughter.  We are the proud parents to 13 four-legged babies.

All of our four-legged children are rescues.  The picture in the bottom right corner is our miracle baby.  She wasn’t supposed to live after I found her; she had chemical burns over 90% of her body.  But today she is 50 lbs of love and joy.

I have accepted the challenge posted on By Kate to use one word a week to describe me. 

This week is the letter A – Hummmm since I decided to play today, I think I will post my description using the letter A on Sunday.  Stop back by to see how I describe myself.

~ Connie ~