Gratitude getting in the way of my Goals?

Today is a great day ~ I am feeling rested and in control.  I am still wrestling with aligning my goals with my life.

As I was reading today I ran across a blog entry at Simplify101 - I love the blogs and articles at Simplify101, I have been reading Aby's blog for a couple of years. She is always upbeat and on target with advice for simplifying and organizing your life and home.

Today as I was reading the following passage jumped out at me:
The benefits of gratitude have been documented by others as well. In fact, according to an article in the November 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine, expressing gratitude gives you a sense of control plus it can improve your health and raise your self-esteem—all good stuff.

I think my issue has been a feel so thankful and grateful for everything I have that I feel obligated to give it all back.  Today I have come to a realization ~ If I give it all back, there is nothing left for me.

What do you keep for you?

~ Connie ~

How do you know you are living the life intended for you?

Monday is almost done ~ I am feeling better and more in control. 
I have not decided on how to restructure my life, but I know that God will show me his plan.

I found this quote today on pinterest - "Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." 

Making a life is about defining what is important.  What is important to me?
My Family
Living the plan God has for me
Providing care for God's creatures (my four-legged children).

Clowie Bell - Rescued 2009


For me the issue is knowing what God's plan is for me. 
How do you know you are living the life you are intended to live?
~ Connie ~

Life Has Been Out Of Control

Wow it doesn’t seem like it has been 5 weeks since I last posted ~ Life is great.  Well maybe not that great.

Sometimes too much gratefulness can lead to trouble.  Have you ever been stopped dead in your tracks and realized – I just crashed. Last week that happened to me.  I failed at something that means a lot to me and I became ill.  Failing is hard - I have never failed at anything.

I run on the belief that I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams.   Because of my many blessings, I not only work for a rural health care system, which means I wear two or three hats at one time, but I also teach nursing online, run a free health clinic, am working on completing a post-master’s degree in family practice, and I am an active volunteer in my community.  On top of all of this my husband ran a campaign and was elected to the Mississippi County Quorum Court. 

With all of these things going on at one time - I have been running on 3 – 5 hours of sleep a night, horrible food and no exercise.  So, this weekend I crashed – from exhaustion and a urinary tract infection.

This next week I will be in thoughtful consideration and prayer for direction.  I refuse to ever push myself to the point of crashing again.  I want time to enjoy life. I want to have time to run, practice yoga, scrapbook, trout fish and knit.... What do you do when you find your life out of control?

 

Finding Motivation or Time ~ Which is more important?

I can not see to find time to run or craft. Today I got to thinking, is it time I lack or motivation?

I have always heard that if you want something enough you will find a way to get it.

So, do I not want to be healthy? Not enjoy running? Am I not feeling creative?

How do you know is it me or is it me?
~ Connie ~




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Finding Motivation or Time ~ Which is more important?

I can not see to find time to run or craft. Today I got to thinking, is it time I lack or motivation?

I have always heard that if you want something enough you will find a way to get it.

So, do I not want to be healthy? Not enjoy running? Am I not feeling creative?

How do you know is it me or is it me?
~ Connie ~




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Eating Healthy - With No Time to Eat

This has been a long week - I have been covering as case manager at one hospital and coordinating the build for the implementation of a new electronic health record at the other hospital.  I also started my clinical rotation this week for the pediatric part of the family nurse practitioner program - oh and did I say I run a free health clinic, am training for a half-marathon, and I am teaching an online course for nursing (health assessment)...

I am not sure some days if I am coming or going.  There are mornings I have to ask the Big Man what day it is - but, all of this is good, I am blessed.

Eating healthy has been an issue with no time to prep or cook food.  I am tired of eating out.  Fast food has become a main stay in our diet. It is not healthy for the Big Man or for me.  I spent 30 minutes online looking for healthy recipes. It is amazing what is on the web. I found 5 I think we will eat that take no time to prep and a couple can be cooked in the crockpot.

This week I made an awesome Spinach, mushroom, feta crustless quiche.  We have been eating on it for a couple of days. Several Facebook Friends asked for the recipe, click  here Spinach, mushroom, feta crustless quiche for the recipe.

 

I used the crockpot today to make Chicken with beans and potatoes. This recipe made enough to freeze some for next week.  This recipe is healthy (I limited the salt and the potatoes). The Big Man Loved it.  I found it on the Taste of Home site.

 

 

Tonight I plan to make  pumpkin cupcakes (no icing). 

I found an asesome webiste SkinnyTaste.com.  The recipes are  low fat, family-friendly, and  healthy.  I made these Pumpkin Cupcakes a few weeks ago and the Big Man loved them.. 

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting

 

I hope you enjoy the recipes - let me know what you think

~ Connie ~

 



 

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 ~

Preventing Danger ~ Do More

Do bad things happen because those who can intervene do nothing?  

A friend posted the picture below on Facebook – immediately I thought about all the dogs out on the street alone, cold and hungry.  It breaks my heart to think about my how scared my four-legged babies would be out on the street.  I can’t imagine how lonely they would feel.  I often wonder if those left by their owners on the street ever missing hearing their owner’s voice or hugs.

Those that know me know I have a hummingbird brain.  My thoughts move quickly so while I was thinking about my four-legged babies I started thinking about how short life is - how little time we have to make an impact.

Then I got to thinking about the Texas police officer that was killed by a shooter yesterday.  My husband spent 28 years putting on a uniform and a badge to protect and serve.  He never left the house with saying I love you. I never let him walk out the door without a kiss.  I never worried that he wasn’t going to come home, but I knew any day he might not come home.

Brazos County Constable Brian Bachmann got up yesterday morning put on his badge and went to work. He and his family never expected yesterday to be the last time they would see him, hug him, or hear his voice.

Over the last several weeks innocent people have lost their lives due to dangerous people.  Could the shooters in Aurora, Colorado, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, & Bryan, Texas have been stopped if someone had done something?  Did these shooting occur not because of evil but because of those who look on do nothing? Did someone see these shooters as disturbed, angry, depressed, suicidal or homicidal and do nothing?

Can we do more?

Can I do more?
~ 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 ~

Finding motivation

I have not been consistent with posting on Training Thursday. My inconsistency in blogging goes hand in hand with my inconsistency in training. 

When my children were little, I thought – I will have time to be healthy when the kids were grown.  Well, the kids are grown.

When I worked shift work or 12 hours shifts, I thought– I will have time to be healthy when I have a Monday – Friday, 8 to 5 job.  Well, I have that job.

When I had to go to the gym to use the treadmill, I thought– If I had a treadmill at home I could use it every day and be healthy.  Well, I have a treadmill.

When it is cold or hot, I think – if my I could exercise inside where it is cooler or warmer,  I would be healthy.  Well, I can exercise inside. I have a free gym membership.

The being fat 24 hours a day isn’t working for me. 

I really have no one to blame.  Only more questions to answer.

How do I change my mindset?  How do I find my mojo?  Where is the motivation to put my running shoes?

I would love to hear from you - How do you find your mojo when you don't want to exercise? What motivates you to exercise?

~ 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 ~

Making wise choices

It has been a long week ~ As I was catching up on Facebook tonight I found this post at Simplify101:

“Whenyou say “yes,” you’re ultimately saying “no” to something else. Choose your yeses and no’s wisely and you’ll create a life you love”.

I started to think about my life. 

My Week
Full time job 8 – 6, Mon- Fri (callback one-night at 10 for 2 hours) , Part-time job – teaching online (15 hours a week), running a free health-clinic, volunteer work and just the day-to-day responsibilities of a home, 13 four-legged children and a marriage has left me exhausted.

This schedule has also left me with no time to run or scrapbook. I feel out-of-balance.  

“When you say “yes,” you’re ultimately saying “no” to something else. Choose your yeses and no’s wisely and you’ll create a life you love”.

Is this the life I love?  I created it, have I chosen wisely?  How do I recreate my life?  Lot’s to think about – do you ever feel like you need to recreate your life?  Do you feel like you haven’t made wise choices?

~ Connie ~

A day of choas turns into talking about my driving skills

Have you ever had one of those days where your get up and go, got up and went without you?

Today is one of those days.  I spent the entire day at work in chaos.  Mad staff, upset doctors, crazy patients… it has just been one of those days.

On a positive note, after last week’s 25 anniversary of my 25 birthday I had to renew my driver’s license. Of course I expected the trip to the revenue office to be like the rest of my day – chaos. 

Much to my surprise it was a great experience.  The clerk was awesome. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes.  Then I realized – my license says I celebrated the 25 anniversary of my 25 birthday.

Ugh – on a positive note no-one thinks I am 18 so the most likely people to see my license will be a local police officer.  Most of them have seen my license, they know I am a nurse (who works in the ER during trauma and might take care of them someday) and most of them know I carry a gun (with laser sites) – so I am thinking they (the local police officers) will not mention they know I have celebrated the 25 anniversary of my 25 Birthday.

If you are wondering why most of the local police officers have seen my license – I believe cars and trucks are made with two speeds stop and go – go is on the floor.  I have never understood why automobile manufactures make cars with speedometers that say 160 mph and expect you to drive 60 mph – someone has to make the automobile manufactures are not falsely advertising that their vehicle will do 160 miles per hour.   

 Hoping for a day of less chaos tomorrow

~ 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 ~

Turning 50

Well today is my last day to be 40 something.  Tomorrow I turn the big 50.  Yes, I will be 50 years old.  Oh, my gosh – I will be 50 years old when I wake up. Now I will have to answer the question “how old are you?” with “50ish”

I never thought I would turn 50.  It seems like just yesterday I was turning 25, 30, 35, 40 – I guess it is natural for 50 to come next.

I am not sure how I feel about turning 50 – I think I am in disbelief.

It is hard to believe half of my life is over – It is hard to believe I only have 50 years to go.

I have achieved much:

2 marriages (found the love of my life and made peace with my ex-husband)
6 kids (3 weddings – sent a son to war)

5 grandchildren
Buried my mother, brother, and grandmother
Rescued more than 20 dogs
Earned an Associate Degree
Earned a Bachelor Degree
Earned a Master’s Degree
Completed all but, dissertation for my doctorate
Completed all but, clincials for my nurse practitioner
Opened a free health clinic
Taught the Big Man to love to Trout Fish

Spent 16 years as a police officer’s wife (experienced retirement with the Big Man)
Ran a 5 K

Hiked in the Smokey Mountains
Took the Big Man Deep Sea Fishing
I have been to Las Vegas
Learned to Kayak
Been Appointed by the Governor and served on a State Committee
Served in the U.S. Army

Opened a red cross shelter
Taught myself to knit
Created a family scrapbook (or two, or three…)

Wow – and I still don’t feel 50.  Maybe 50 is just a number.  Maybe it is true you are as young as you feel.  

Good-bye 40 something – Hello 50ish
Happy Birthday to Me ~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 ~



Tasty Tuesday - Egg Casserole

Yea Tuesday is almost over and I am one day nearer to the weekend. 

I had Zumba tonight followed by a swim with the Big Man and discussion questions to grade.  The Big Man fixed dinner tonight - grilled chicken, green beans, and tomatoes.  I love fresh green beans and tomatoes.

I have a confession - I am a magazine junkie - today I received the newest edition of Taste of Home (Thank you boys for the great Christmas Gift). I couldn't wait to browse all the pages -

After looking through the magazine I think this weekend I will fix a couple of egg casseroles for the Big Man. He has been watching his carbohydrate intake.   Limiting his carbohydrates has helped stabilize his blood sugar and he has lost some weight. 
 

Have any great egg casserole recipes - send them my way.

Happy Tuesday

~ Connie ~



Monday Madness

Monday Madness – Today I started a Zumba class.  

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. -Stephen R Covey

Exercise is a priority for me, so when a few ladies at work said they wanted to host a group exercise class, I decided to help out.    I have taught step aerobics in the past – but the ladies wanted to try Zumba.  Well….I have Zumba videos.   So today, we used the Zumba videos.

Wow – Zumba is a different kind of work out.  We laughed, sweated, and laughed some more.  But we did it, an hour long Zumba video.

Cooked dinner, replied to student discussion questions, played with the four-legged babies, now headed to the pool for a few laps. 

Monday Madness is going to end – with me sleeping like a baby.

~ 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 ~