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Simple Woman’s Daybook–April 20, 2009

April 20th, 2009

 

 

For today, April 20, 2009….

 

Outside my window…. The sun is peeking through and we just saw a double rainbow!  AND we saw both ends…getting our shovels to head out and find that pot of gold!  

 

 

 

I am thinking….. of how privileged I am to be a part of the Bride of Christ–and wanting to seek His face as the Bride and not His hand as one of the "daughters of Zion"!    (See When He Appears in my books I’m reading!)

 

 

 

From the learning rooms…. much the same…..

 

 

 

I am thankful for….. getting to spend lots of time with my wonderful husband yesterday!   The kids drove separately to church–I had him for a total of 3 hours all to myself!   

 

 

 

From the kitchen…. cheese enchiladas, meatballs and rolls!   YUM!

 

 

 

I am wearing…. white polo shirt with cutwork collar and sleeve hems and my navy floral print jumper.

 

 

I am reading….. you can look at my bookshelf–you can see I read in several books at a time!   I just finished Ron Auch’s book When He Appears–I highly recommend it!  (and where my statement above came from!)  I just started Unshakable Man–although a book for men, I am learning lots, too, as it is pointing to a relationship with Christ.  Also reading, The Prayer Life by Andrew Murray, The Love Dare (your marriage doesn’t have to be falling apart to glean from this book!), The Hidden Life of Prayer by D.M. McIntyre, Listening to the Language of the Bible by Lois Tverberg, and still working through The Heart of the King by Ron Auch.

 

 

 

 

I am hearing…. little people coming in to get ready for supper!  And some piano in the living room….

 

 

 

 

 I am hoping…. that we will have good weather for camping this coming weekend.

 

 

 

I am praying…. for Christians to fall in love with their Savior and spend time with Him!

 

 

 

Around the house…. Dallas is just coming in, Leah in the living room (either playing piano or "farming" with Isaiah!), Jessica is behind me reading, Cassia is pouring drinks (I mean, water and milk!), Susannah is at Dog Obedience Club and the little people are at the table.

 

 

 

I am recreating….. my blog after we made a boo-boo and got the template messed up!  Finally got the music back on and still need to find my buttons I had on the side!

 

 

 

 One of my favorite things…. is having my family all together.

 

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week… getting ready for camping with our church this weekend–that will take most of the next few days!

 

 

 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you….

 

 

 

Have a Blessed Day!!!

Surprises!

April 20th, 2009

Was I ever surprised when my daughters told me to come out to the computer and they wanted to show me something!

 

I am the Homeschoolblogger Blogger of the Week!     I’m quite honored and it’s a good thing I got my template back or you’d be thinking you were at my daughters’ blog! 

 

Thank you, Tina, and thank you to all who have posted a comment so far!   I pray you will find blessing, encouragement and even a "lighter side" chuckle from what you find here!

 

Blessings!

 

“Nothing!” Said the Lady with the Alligator Purse

April 14th, 2009

"Mumps!" said the doctor.

"Measles!" said the nurse.

"Nothing!" said the lady with the alligator purse.

 

Do you remember that rhyme?!  We’ve joked about it a lot around here!

 

A few weeks ago, Anna was getting Isaiah ready for bed.  He hadn’t been feeling the best, snooky nose and low-grade fever off and on.  She brought him to me and says, "Mommy, Isaiah has these spots on his tummy!"

 

I groan inwardly–"Oh, NO!  Bring him here……hmmm…."  Yes, there are several spots on his tummy!   Oh, please, Lord—NOT THE MEASLES!!!!

 

My mom had said a few months ago, "Chicken pox, whooping cough…what’s next, measles?!"  I told her to bite her tongue!!!!

 

I told Anna we’d just have to check on him in the morning.  I just couldn’t think about going through yet another childhood illness in less than 7 months’ time!

 

Next morning, we checked….and….

 

 

Only one spot!!!!  YIPPEE!

 

So, we have a new rhyme for our family:

 

Whooping cough in winter,

Chicken pox in fall,

What is in the spring?


Why nothing at all!

 

Blessings on your day!

 

 

Getting There….

April 13th, 2009

So I got my template back!

 

Then I played around a bit with a picture I’d taken some time ago.

 

Now to work on the sidebar stuff!  

 

And yes, I now have my template SAVED!!!!  

 

Blessings!

 

 

Blog Woes….

April 9th, 2009

When you’re logged into your mommy’s account as well as your own, and you do something with both templates at the same time, you will likely end up with either your mommy’s posts on your blog, or your template on your mommy’s blog.

 

We’ve made this mistake before, but thankfully a friend had saved my daughters’ information!   I had been meaning to do that with mine…..then the whooping cough hit, and I forgot all about it.

 

Until today!

 

So, the posts are the same, sidebar has some extras and the wrong counter (although mine is still working, I think!), and we will try to get this fixed.   In our spare time.  You know–one of those dull moments?!  (Where are they, anyway?!)

 

Hope you don’t mind looking at my daughters’ template while we figure this out!

 

Have a Blessed Resurrection weekend!

Simple Woman’s Daybook–8 April, 2009

April 8th, 2009

I’ve really fallen down on the job here!    Between normal busyness and a sore throat/cold last week, I’ve been knocked for a loop!

We’re all doing better, the sun is shining, it snowed Monday…yes, snowed!  My mom’s birthday is later this month and she says she can remember having snow covering the ground on her birthday!  Thankfully, not lately! 

 

For Today….

 

Outside My Window…. it is sunny and 50ish.  Nice change from the snow a few days ago!

 

I am thinking…of taking a walk later today!

 

From the learning rooms… the usual dailies, but it’s kind of an unofficial "Spring Break"!

 

I am thankful for….the sunshine!

 

From the kitchen….roast with carrots and potatoes—in the crock pot now!  Mmm-mm!

 

I am wearing…an older "Easter" jumper of multi-colored pastel flowers and stripes, with a pink blouse (and bare feet, of course!)

 

I am reading…The Hidden Life of Prayer by D.M. McIntyre and The Heart of the King by Ron Auch (I’ll finish it one of these days!)

 

I am hoping…to get back on my Bible reading schedule and finish it this month!

 

I am creating…a new Easter jumper for this year.

 

I am hearing…Isaiah hollering for Leah to get him down from the high chair ("Leeeeeahhh!  Done!"), Anna, Bekah, Charissa and Noah are heading out to see if Tiffany has had her babies yet! (Mama goat!)  The other three girls are on their way home from cello lessons.  And Pooh is barking to go outside….again!

 

Around the house….the bar is still messy (I should take a picture so you all feel at home!  ), there are dollhouses behind me (the new rage at our house–we put some bigger toys up and rotate, so it’s almost like new!), two Easter jumpers done and hanging behind me (we jokingly call the clothes we hang out here in the sunroom to dry our "curtains"!  They change daily and get quite colorful!), and the rest of the house is fairly "normal"–for us, that is!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week…finish my jumper, do T-Tapp with a neighbor/friend (we’ve gotten together twice so far–makes it fun!), the bi-weekly grocery trip, and that’s probably enough!

 

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you….

 

Mount Bedding-on-the-Stairs!

 

Have a blessed day!

 

How to Ruin a Two Year Old

March 21st, 2009

I’ve ruined my two year old son.

 

My girls are having a few friends over, and to avoid any problems, all the girls and Noah are getting to sleep in the makeshift "bunkhouse"–the living room!  There are mattresses in there and couch cushions made up to make a nice comfy wall-to-wall sleeping area!

 

After we watched a movie last night (One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing–corny but funny!) , Isaiah (who was going to go up into his crib) rolled over by Noah and said something that sounded like "bigger".  I interpreted it to mean, "Hey, I’m bigger now!  I can sleep down here, too, right?!"  Well, I repeated "bigger", but he said the word again like I didn’t understand him.

 

Finally, I got it!

 

He was saying, "Pikshur!"

 

He knows we always run to get the camera when the boys are doing something cute!

 

I was already on the floor, so I just rolled over and laughed until I cried!!!!  (My daughters’ friends already know I’m a nutcase, but I definitely confirmed it then!!!   )

 

Of course I had to oblige him!

 

Here is his "pikshur"!

 

 

Hope it brought a smile to your day!

 

Blessings!

Noah on Noah’s Ark

March 12th, 2009

Did you ever wonder what it would be like to be named Noah, be a little boy, and hear about "Noah’s Ark"?  From the time our little guy understood "Noah’s Ark", it became "Mine Ark"!   Makes sense to a 3 year old, right?!

 

Well, he’s four now, and starting to understand that someone else can have the same name, and the old guy in the Bible story pictures isn’t necessarily him! 

 

We recently had this conversation as he was lying down before his nap.  (I really can spell!  I am writing it phonetically as he really talks! Think "Linus" with his cute nasally voice–minus the "s" sound!)

 

Noah:  "Ho, Mommy," (remember, he can’t say his "s" sound?  And he starts talking to me this way a lot–"so, Mommy" only it’s "Ho, Mommy"!)   "Ih the ark going to go in our ocean?" 

 

Me: (Not sure what "our ocean" is, but playing along…)  "No, but it did go in the water.  It wasn’t really the ocean yet."

 

Noah:  (after thinking about it a minute) "Ho, Mommy, will it go in our ocean neckt time?"

 

Me: "Well, I don’t think there will be a next time, but if there is, then yes, it will go in our ocean."

 

Noah: (thinking a little bit more)  "Then Daddy can build anodder ark, and we can put giraffe in it and elephant and tiger and monkey and goat and all de animal!  And Daddy and Mommy and Jehhica and Leah and Honanah (Susannah) and Cahhia and Anna and Bekah and Charihha and me and Ihaiah and Pooh!"  He smiles.  "And Noah can go in it, too!"

 

Me:  "You mean the Bible Noah?"

 

Noah nods and smiles!  "And me, too!"

 

So, (or "Ho"!), there you have it.

 

The new version of Noah’s Ark, according to Noah! 

 

Simple Woman’s Daybook–9 March, 2009

March 9th, 2009

 

 

Outside my window… it is a gray day.  It was really nice Saturday–up in the 60s!   It’s now 39 so a bit cooler.

 

I am thinking… I need to find some motivation to get this organizing done!

 

I am thankful for… good friends and family who pray for you, and for the Lord Who never gives up on us!!!

 

 

From the learning rooms… It’s been low key as we try to get back into the swing of things after our epidemic.  Everyone started feeling better mid-February, so why does this take so long?!   Everyone is doing their language arts, math and copywork.  Some are reading interesting living books for history!

 

 

From the kitchen… Hearty Beef Enchiladas, cooked carrots and Parmesan Toast.    YUM!

 

 

I am wearing…  An ecru turtleneck and my NEW jumper! Finally!  (only took 4 months…..)  It’sa floral stripe on the bodice, with the skirt made of that plus three other coordinating fabrics.  I have a moire looking green, another one in burgundy, the floral stripe and a multi-color stripe.  It’s in green, rose, blue, purple, burgundy and creams.   I think it looks like a Mexican fiesta jumper!  

 

 

I am creating… nothing at the moment.  Boring, huh?!

 

 

I am reading… I was skimming through a book that had to go back to the library— Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting.    I decided I need to get my own copy! 

 

 

I am hoping… that we don’t get any more sickness!

 

 

 

I am hearing… Bekah and Leah finishing lunch dishes.

 

 

Around the house… Bekah and Leah talking, Noah and Isaiah are down for naps, Cassia is with Noah, Jessica is getting ready to teach her first student of the day, Susannah just came in, and Anna is with Charissa and a friend out checking out new kittens born this morning! 

 

 

One of my favorite things… are these nice "spring" days before spring is officially here!  I didn’t even have to wear a jacket Saturday for my walk!

 

 

A few plans for the rest of the week: Teach lessons, practice for a concert for my mom’s senior living apartment complex on Wednesday, hopefully a Texas Roadhouse date with dh Friday, and maybe, just maybe (whispering so Murphy’s Law doesn’t hear….) getting the bar cleaned off…..

 

 

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

 

And, here is the DUMB goat, Richardson, who thinks he is from the Swiss Alps!

(He’s the one who jumped from the loft a few weeks ago—still doing fine, as you can see!)

 

 

More About T-Tapp

February 28th, 2009

Since I’ve gotten lots of comments and questions about T-Tapp, I thought I’d share a little bit more!

 

The top workout I recommend is actually the MORE 4 in 1 (which is actually 5 workouts in 1 dvd!)

 

Here is the description from the store:

 

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Product Description

The T-Tapp MORE Rehab Program was created for those who have MORE to lose, MORE health issues to overcome (frozen shoulders, bad backs, knee problems, arthritic conditions) or MORE birthday candles on the cake (degenerative spine and joint issues usually increase with time without proper movement). The pace is slower, repetitions are less and exercises are modified from the original Total Workout.  T-Tapp MORE is designed to rebuild cardiac health, neuro-kinetic pathways and lymphatic function – as well as deliver body sculpting inch loss and weight loss.  This program is excellent for spine and joint rehabilitation along with auto-immune disease such as Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue and Epstein Barr.  With obesity at epidemic proportions in the United States, this program was designed to show everyone that we CAN be healthy and fit in less time (all workouts are less than 20 minutes) and without pain.  This workout has been well received within the medical community as an important first step in rebuilding healthy blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.  The body CAN repair and rebuild if you move it… so move it with MORE and help your body help itself.  Take the first step in rebuilding your health, wellness AND fitness with the T-Tapp MORE Rehab Program – you’ll get MORE results in LESS time!

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

The actual link to this workout is here.   It is $69.95 not including tax or shipping.    The reason I really, really like this workout is that it goes slower, focuses more on form with less reps.  I started with the Total Workout (TWO) and Step Away the Inches (SATI), and although I did get results, I really feel MORE is a great starting place, because of the slower pace.  There is a LOT to remember in T-Tapp!  There is no music (which is good for me–music distracts me!!!), but Teresa will give little form reminders throughout the workout.  You have a certain stance, you need to "curl the core" (think how you flatten your lower back against the floor while lying down) and lift ribs.  THEN you do the exercises!  LOL!

 

MORE has Instructional which is about 40 minutes, which teaches you the moves.  Then there are tips for getting up from the floor, out of a chair and up and down stairs, specifically for people of size or people with knee issues.  Then there is the actual workout menu, which is MORE straight through (about 20 minutes), Chair (10 minutes sitting down–believe me you will STILL SWEAT!!!), Broom–about 7 minutes, done with holding a broom across your shoulders, Step Away–about 9 minutes, with tips on walking in place as well as a few other moves.  Once you understand the Step Away, if you start stepping when Teresa starts talking, it’s about 9 minutes.  Otherwise you stand while she explains things.  Then there is MORE From My Home To Yours, which is just Teresa in her living room doing a more advanced version of MORE–kind of takes it up a notch!  It’s a bit over 20 minutes–I think around 23.

 

You can spend a LONG time just doing MORE!  But we all like variety!    I would encourage you to read this awesome post by a trainer Kirsten Tucker, that she recently posted on the T-Tapp forums:

 

How to Choose and Advance Through the T-Tapp Workouts

 

(You might need to register at the forums to be able to read this.)

 

Too many times we think we’re bored and want to move on, think we’ve got it, think we need more tummy work……Michelle Barbuto got her flat tummy after 6 kids with just the standing workouts–mainly Total Workout!   When you start, you don’t understand.  But as you progress, and get those "a-ha!" moments, you start to get it!   You could realistically never need anything other than TWO!

 

You will never perfect everything–your body becomes its own resistance, and you will find you bring a new level of muscle awareness to your workouts!  A year ago I was dismayed to find that I had a harder time with TWO than when I started!   The trainers assured me that what I just shared with you was true!  And I am experiencing it again with MORE–I was doing some of the Tempos (workouts that are more advanced–you need to own TWO first), before my crazy fall, and now I am sweating and shaking with MORE!

 

Okay, so let’s say you’ve had MORE awhile, or you’re really pretty fit, maybe you already work out regularly.  Then you could get Total Workout, which is kind of the "meat and potatotes" of T-Tapp!  And I would add either Step Away the Inches (a 25 minute step in place workout that also works upper body) or the Broom workout.   Broom has options–I LOVE options!    There is a clinic version of MORE–about 35 mintues for just 3 moves!   Then there is a warm-up–about 15 minutes, 19 if you go through the fire drill!  LOL!  It was filmed live, so you go with the flow!  Then there is a short 7 minute walking warm-up in case you don’t have SATI (Step Away the Inches).  Broom walking workout 1 is about 15 minutes  and Broom walking workout 2 is about 30 minutes.  You are actually stepping in place with a broom across your shoulders (and sometimes in front!) with doing upper body moves with the broom.  I LOVE this one!  And there is now a set with Basic Workout Plus (BWO+) and Broom–that would be nice option, too!  (BWO+ is the first 15 minutes of TWO).

 

Okay, how much time?  Here are some breakdowns:

 

MORE  20-25 minutes (depending if you choose the original MORE or MORE From My Home)

 

BWO+  15 minutes

 

SATI  25 minutes

 

Broom –depending on which one you pick–you’d want to at least warm up with Primary Back Stretch first (about a 4 minute move) then

Broom 1:  15 minutes

 

Broom 2:  30 minutes (or you could combine both for a 45 minute workout!)

 

Total Workout:  55 minutes

 

Teresa gives water breaks, and you are allowed to use the PAUSE button and take more if you need to!  Sometimes I need to walk around a bit between certain points!  (pant, pant, pant)

 

The optimal is to start off with the Instructionals–MORE has it, as well as TWO (there is "Instructional 1" for the BWO+ part, then Instructional 2 for the rest of TWO).  There are "bootcamps" of 4-14 days to help establish neurokinetic connections from brain to body, and just to help know what you’re supposed to be doing!  I will say for me, the Instructional for BWO+ moves a bit quickly, which is another reason I like MORE! 

 

I will also say that my bootcamps of 4 days have been as effective as the 14 day ones!   After you finish, you take two days completely off, then don’t do a "full" workout more than every other day.  If you do one every day, that is like another bootcamp and will eventually stall your results.  Oh, and DO NOT MEASURE DURING A BOOTCAMP!  Yes, I’m shouting!  So many measure during a bootcamp, and you will have some swelling (some water retention for cooling the muscles) and inevitably that looks like you’ve gained!  And for many of us, the period of time after a bootcamp was more telling on the measuring tape! 

 

What is a "full" workout?  Basically working out for 40 or more minutes.  There are a few more advanced workouts considered "full" that are only 30 minutes, but you FEEL it, let me tell you!   There are combinations to make a "full" workout, but without getting bogged down in all that to start with, as long as you don’t do longer workouts every single day, you’ll be okay!

 

And always, always take one day completely off, unless you’re in a bootcamp.  

 

One of the concepts that is really tough to get through is that Less IS More!  We want to do 2 hrs. of workouts to feel like we’ve done something!  The thought that you "only" have to do maybe 15-20 minutes a day is…..well….revolutionary!   And after tapping for two years, things have changed for me to where I can do 3 short workouts a week and maintain.  I couldn’t do that to start with.  Not that I want to maintain just yet! 

 

Here is my workout schedule right now:

 

MORE From My Home–2 days a week

 

Hit the Floor Softer or Hit the Floor (a wonderful ab workout–but do get the "meat and potatoes" of MORE  and/or TWO down first!)  1-2 times a week  (and I do NOT use weighted shoes!)

 

MORE Broom then Broom walking workout 1 or 2 1-2 days per week

 

One day completely off, other than Primary Back Stretch, Organs in Place and a Hoedown or two!

 

I basically workout 5-6 days per week, one day completely off.   Most of the time, this is under half an hour.  I can actually get dressed and lace up my shoes and workout in half an hour to 40 minutes with all but the MORE Broom and Broom 2 option.

 

I love the way the Total Workout really does work you out totally!  But I don’t always have that 55 minute block of time.  You can split it up (BWO+ in the morning, the rest at night after Primary Back Stretch), but I have a hard time fitting things in in the afternoon/evening time.   I have actually divided the TWO up between two days like this–up through Runner’s Stretch one day (about half an hour), PBS (Primary Back Stretch) then Arms to end (about 20 minutes).  You might not get as much benefit, but you will still get something!

 

Like many of you, I don’t have tons of time.  I have learned, though, that this workout is more than just "inch loss", it is total health!  At least get the book, Fit and Fabulous in 15 Minutes, (or from Amazon.com here) from the library and get the feel for what all is behind it.  Teresa is a generous person and her real thrust is health.  I make time for this because it affects my energy levels, my hormones (I’m 46 and feel more balanced than I did in my 20s!), and my mental clarity. 

 

So again, my top two recommendations, are:

 

MORE 4 in 1

 

BWO+/SATI (Basic Workout Plus and Step Away the Inches–can come as a set)  

 

or

 

BWO+/Broom Workout (although it’s considered a clinic style workout, I feel there is enough instruction in there for beginners–but do get familiar with BWO+ or MORE first!)

 

If you can swing it and get the TWO plus SATI or Broom, go for it!   You can purchase the second half of TWO later  (you have to own BWO+ first, and I don’t know the cost of part 2).

 

Okay, that’s a drink from a fire hydrant!  

 

I will still gladly answer questions, and please don’t feel badly if you still don’t understand something!  It can be confusing at first!   But it is worth it!!!!! 

 

Blessings!