tHe pLaNk

Well, we are 25 days into the 30-day Ab Challenge.  And when I say, "we" I do mean Jay and I.  Our partners have jumped ship.  Madolyn fell and hurt her wrist (she really did) and seems to have used that injury over a week ago to just stop altogether.  Lane missed a few days and feels like he can't just pick up where he left off, for some reason.

Jay and I are in it to win it.  We are going to finish this thing.  No. Matter. What.  There have been a couple times when I thought the no-matter-what could lead me to the emergency room with some pulled or strained or torn or shredded abdominal/groin muscles, but wouldn't you know, I'm still plugging along.

The dreaded plank is certainly not easy, but it really hasn't been quite as bad as I had envisioned.  Every day the time is increased by about five seconds.  It is totally blowing my mind that I am up to a 90-second plank. That is one minute and thirty seconds.  Of Sarah holding herself up.  Really.

I've found a few tricks along the way to get me through it...I set my timer and try very hard not to look at it. I'm always super disappointed when it's not nearly as far along as I feel like it ought to be.  I also have been quoting scriptures for strength.  You know that old wives tale scripture text telling us to use scripture in times of need?  Hey, it actually works!  That Bible is full of lots of good stuff.

After a few rough nights of doing the plank at the end of my other exercises, it dawned on me that I should do it completely separate and not after my muscles are already angry and upset with me.  The other night Jay and I were doing the plank alongside one another.  Lane was coaching from the couch.  (He is sooo good at that).  I put my head down and started in reciting my scripture, the Lord's Prayer, 23rd Psalm and anything else that I could think of.  Near the end (I think we were at 55 seconds then) I was struggling a bit and spewed out "surely goodness and mercy and all of that other stuff..."

Well, that got Jay and Lane giggling.  Trouble was, there was still a good twenty seconds left.  I tried to get back into my happy place and started in on the 23rd Psalm.  And once again I found myself at the I-can't-hold-this-for-another-second moment.  As I was rattling off that scripture, I sputtered, "and all that crap."
Now, this was definitely not one of my brighter moments.  (And Lord, I do apologize for throwing my word of desperation into your Word.)  But the real kicker is my sweet son will not let it go.

Of all the things he could've taken note of - like the fact that I was actually holding this unending plank, or that I was trying to utilize scripture and the power of the Lord for strength - he has tucked away my not-so-nice-paraphrasing of scripture for future reference.  And that night after we said our prayers and I tucked him into bed, when I started to walk away, he says, "Hey mom."  I said, "What?"  Giggling with that silly grin and cackle, he blurts out, "AND ALL THAT CRAP!"

I'm pretty sure I will never live this down.

Maybe this ab challenge wasn't such a great idea.

Colored Pens

Funny, sometimes out of nowhere I get an idea about something to write.  Today is just an example of that. (And don't set yourself up for something amazing here, this one is pretty simple.)

I do a lot of proofreading with my job.  I have found that after making the correction on the paper, I need to circle it so I catch it when I'm flipping through my rough draft and making the noted changes on the computer.  But even circling it isn't always enough.  Sometimes I have to open my drawer and pull out the magic red pen.  Like today.

As I reached for my red pen, I was reminded of grade school and how much I loved those red pens the teachers used.  There were a couple teachers that would let us grade papers and use their red pen. I felt so special.  I loved pretending to be a teacher and making huge markings at the top of the page. Like an E or E+ with a big red circle...or an A+++++ for Ralphie (cue scene from Christmas Story).  You know what I'm talking about.

I prefer to use blue ink pens at work and when signing things so I can tell if it's an original.  I know that there are some that think colored ink is unprofessional, but seriously, there are times I have to hold a document up to the light to try to decide if it is a photocopy or an original.  It is so much easier when it's signed in blue.

The very first state's attorney I worked with in Lawrenceville was a little very disorganized.  He couldn't walk into the courtroom one time and be ready to go, it would take at least two or three trips for him to actually sit down and begin. Only to realize he had forgotten a writing utensil.  And then he would take mine.  (I often joked about putting a shock collar on him, with my hand on the remote.)

Although I do a majority of my note taking on my stenographic writer, I still make handwritten notes on my docket sheet to help me remember important points, or in case someone (like a very disorganized state's attorney) asks me an hour later what we did with so and so.  I need my pen.  I also bought all of my own supplies at that courthouse, including my ink pens.  I didn't appreciate providing ink pens for someone who had his own office budget.

I've been known to be a smarty pants a time or two (or ten thousand), and I came up with the perfect plan to fix Mr. C. and his pen-snatching ways.  I got colored pens.  I had red, purple, pink, green...and I don't just mean on the outside.  I mean the ink was colored.  It worked perfectly.  I pretty much cured him and anyone else from 'borrowing' my ink pens.  Not too many 'professional' men want to write in pink or purple ink :)

Colored pens, what a great invention.  And with that being said, I better get back to proofreading with my bright red ink pen!

Just like Grandma did...

Senior year of high school, my grandma started making Jay and I fried tenderloin sandwiches before ball games.  I'm not sure how it started, except that maybe I just asked her to do it, but routinely we would go out to grandma's house before a game, basketball or football, and eat a big, juicy, full-of-grease tenderloin, cooked to perfection.

She would sit down on that end bar stool (that was her spot, you know) and we would eat around the bar/counter there in her upstairs kitchen.  They were so tasty.  I don't make them very often at all, but I can assure you, my tenderloin sandwiches don't come out quite like Grandma's did.

At grandma's house potatoes, of course, were a must for almost every meal.  Lately, I've been making fried potatoes a lot.  Gosh, I love fried potatoes. They sure do make me think of her.  She made the best fried potatoes.  Her secret...after slicing the potatoes, was lying them out on paper towels to soak up every bit of moisture from them before putting them in the frying pan.  I do that to this day and I think it helps.  Maybe it's all in my head.  Maybe it's not.  But that's how it's done at my house...just like Grandma did.

As I change out the seasons, I go to my storage room or shelves and there I see it, artificial flower arrangements in plastic bags.  Things labeled with tape.  Something for every season.  You guessed it, just like Grandma did.

Grandma put a napkin or paper towel in any kind of plastic container before putting the lid on it, to soak up any leftover moisture.  That tidbit stuck with me too.  I have been opening up thermos jugs and coolers for the summer season recently and finding a simple napkin or paper towel in the bottom of them. My kids don't get it.  I didn't get it way back when either.  I get it now.  It does work and I will continue to do it just like grandma did.

I found my grandma's homemade brownie recipe (chewy - her notation) and am preparing myself to try them.  Problem is, I know they won't turn out the way hers did.  That is always a bummer.  I have attempted her smooth candy about 19 times with total failure.  I wish I could make that silly candy just like Grandma did.

Constantly, I find myself doing something that reminds me of grandma.  Whether it is putting potatoes out on a paper towel to dry or sticking a napkin in a thermos.  And I have been noticing lately how my kids comment on the way their grandmas do things.  I guess that is how methods and ideas continue on, by being passed down from one generation to another.

I hope some day that my grand kids are doing things just like Grandma did.

A little of this and a little of that

This morning as I was getting ready for work, I noticed there were some major shoe shelf violations at the back door.  Do you see those two bottom, mostly empty, shelves...

Madolyn and I are in compliance with the Shoe Shelf Code.  Jay and Lane are not.  They just keep laughing, but it's not so funny when you trip on shoes as you walk in the door...is it?

Soaking up some rays.

Sweet Josie will search the house for a ray of sunshine and plop down.  It's so funny sometimes to find her in obscure places because she has found a patch of sunlight.

Madolyn finished her Spring club volleyball season.  It won't be long and she will be practicing and attending open gyms for High School Volleyball. (How crazy is that?  Mad will be a freshman!)

I took a last tournament photo of her Force Pink team. We were missing on player who was at a track meet.  One of the best parts of this club was meeting and playing with girls from area schools.

It was funny hearing them say, "baa" before every line. 

We had the closing program to our Wednesday night youth last week.  Madolyn's bunch did a skit and were sheep.  The girls did a good job and may have a future in acting...as farm animals.

Lane turned 10 a while back.  It's hard to believe that it has been a decade since he joined our family.

I'm not really sure why he is making this face...to be goofy, I imagine. We're all excited when someone wants a DQ Ice Cream Cake!

I'm glad my in-laws are good sports!

We celebrated Lane & Grandma's birthdays along with Easter.  It isn't a party until there is silly string EVERYWHERE.   Thankfully, it's an easy clean-up once it dries.

This was payback from Aunt Ashley & Uncle Jordan.  We gave our nephew silly string for his birthday...at their house.

I must end with this photo...a true portrayal of our daughter.  She loves to be in her volleyball uniform.  Slap on a pair of boots, grab a pig stick and you've got pig-show training apparel.

Going back to the basics

Just a follow-up to my 2014 perspective on Adam & Eve.  As I continued to read on in Genesis, I was struck by the simplicity (but very strong message) of that story and how it could be so pertinent in today's culture.

God told Adam (and Eve) not to do something, but they did it anyway and guess what?  They had to pay the price for it.  It wasn't pretty either.  What had been set up to be a life of perfection was now...pain during child birth, shame, soil filled with weeds, hard work and pain.

I saw someone post something on Facebook similar to this:  We put a dog down when it bites a human, causing injury, pain and suffering.  Yet, when a human does the same thing...

That is a pretty harsh statement maybe, but stepping back and thinking about it, hmm, it kind of makes sense.  Have we lost sight of a very simple concept?

Maybe we should go back to the basics.  If you do something wrong, you face the consequences.  Stop blaming someone else and take responsibility for your actions.

And I think to myself, Oh, if only it were that easy, and yet, maybe it is...

Adam & Eve with a 2014 Perspective

Most of us know the importance of the story of Adam & Eve and the forbidden fruit.  God put Adam & Eve in the Garden of Eden and specifically told Adam... And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it, you will certainly die."  (Genesis 2:16-17)

Pretty clear instruction, wasn't it?  And what did Eve do?  She let herself become convinced by the serpent that eating the apple would make things clearer to her...and boy, did it.

Now, let's put this scenario into a 2014 perspective...

God places Adam and his companion in the garden, tells them specifically what not to do, and they do it. They are immediately ashamed and face the music.

Most certainly God is to blame for this and should be sued for their pain and suffering.  It is God's fault that Eve disobeyed because God put that pretty red apple right in front of her.  He should have known she would not be able to fight the temptation of eating it and the consequences she would face as a result.

I'm thinking that, as a direct descendant, I could even sue God for pain and suffering.  How about we make it a class action lawsuit.

Makes perfect sense, don't you think?

The Ab Challenge

Last week, it dawned on me that I had about four-and-a-half weeks until vacation.  A beach vacation. Which means swimsuits - puke!  I'm sick to death of trying to lose weight, I just want to be healthy so I decided I need to work with what I have.  And regardless of what the scale says, my body is weak and out of shape.

I've known for quite a while that I need to work on strengthening my core.  The core of your body is responsible for more than I realized.  It needs to be strong to support us.  My lower back aches, body aches and posture, I'm hoping, will be improved by a stronger middle.

So like I mentioned, last week it hit me that it was now or never, as far as vacation goes, in toning up what I've got.  If I happen to lose a couple pounds between now and then, I'll take that as well, but I am on a mission to try to firm up my mid-section.

I started looking on Pinterest for a good Ab workout.  Oh good heavens, that silly website gets me every time.  Overwhelms me, makes my head spin.  You click here, and then here and it takes you there, ahhhh!  Finally, I went to my beloved Google and just typed in what I was looking for.  (What did we do before Google?)

There are many different Ab work-outs and challenges in cyber space, but I finally found one that looked doable.  And by doable, I mean, short and sweet.    A let's-get-right-down-to-business type of plan.  30 days to firmer abs.  Do you promise?  Oh yes, I'll take one of those, please.

My biggest concern was seeing the 120-second plank on day 30.  Do you realize that 120 seconds is two minutes?  Two minutes isn't a long time when you're driving down the road or watching television, but when you're shaking and biting your lip to hold yourself up by your arms and abs, two minutes is close to an eternity.

I decided, regardless of the intimidating 120-second plank, I could do this or die trying.  I got Madolyn on board and my friend Traci, who is under the same timeline for her son's wedding.  Jay decided to jump on the Ab challenge train.  Then Lane was watching us and thought it would be good for him to prepare for football this summer.  We were eating supper with some friends, who we are vacationing with, and they decided they would all do it too.

Funny thing, I told a few of these folks that I would probably do more than the required amount of sit-ups because how could 15 sit-ups do any good?  I had serious ground to cover...

I'm on day eight and what I feared most - the plank - is the least of my worries.  Real sit-ups are the spawn of Satan, I tell you.  And what is crazy is that I used to do all kinds of ab exercises without any problem.  It is amazing how your body falls out of sync so quick.  Of course, when I use the phrase 'so quick', I'm talking like six years or so.  Yes, I think it has been that long since I did any kind of ab routine more than once in a six-month period.

And as long as Lane Truman isn't lying next to me as I do the challenge, I can get through it.  If that little booger is there 'coaching' me, I crumble.  He laughs the whole time, which makes me laugh, and I can't get through it.  It's best to let mama go at it alone...

Regardless of how my abs look at the end of this 30 days, mentally, I already feel better.  And the amazing thing, as my bff Jay said, is how fast our bodies re-adjust and get right back in the groove.  The first night, when I plopped down on the floor to do those super easy, nothing-to-worry-about-sit-ups, I soon realized how far out of it I was.  It was all I could do to complete those 15 sit-ups...the whole time thoughts of failure were filling my head.  I was going to press on and do my best, but doing 50 sit-ups, let alone 125 (day 30)  were seemingly out of reach.  A pure fantasy in my mind.

Last night I did half of my sit-ups (1/2 of 40) without using the couch to hold my feet.  Truly, I could not believe it.  How was I already able to do that?  When just a few days ago, I could barely muster up the strength to pull myself up to my knees with the huge couch holding me down.  I'm so determined to finish this challenge and prove to myself, and maybe a couple of my roommates, that I'm not a complete weakling!

Today is a rest day, yee-haw.  Every four days, we get one of those, to allow our body to recover.  Similar to my thoughts of doubling up on some of the sit-ups at the beginning, I thought rest days were going to be such a waste.  How silly was I!  The first one was like manna from heaven!  Today is our second rest day and I plan to enjoy it.

Just like with anything, taking that first step is the most difficult and often the most important.  I've known for a long time that I needed to do something, anything, to improve my aching body.  Madolyn, an over-achiever at times like her father, suggested throwing in a 30-day leg challenge, I told her one thing at a time is all I can handle right now.  This gal is a work in progress.  But who knows, after the abs are complete, I just may be ready to tackle the next one!

**And no, I will not be posting before & after pictures...you'll just have to take my word for it.**