Time Flies When You're......

"I count it as a privilege
I count it cause for praise
to kiss my children goodnight
at the close of everyday
for I know too soon they're off and gone
and walkin' out the door
and I'll never have a child to kiss
goodnight anymore"
-Steve and Annie Chapman "Goodnight Kiss"


As I sit in front of my laptop, thinking about what to write, my biggest question is, where has the time gone?? I was going to get my life organized, I was going to keep up with my blog, I was going to spend more time with friends...sigh...but, really, the one thing that has me the most baffled is: When did my first-born child become a HIGH-SCHOOLER?!?!? This is what elementary and middle school have been preparing him for all these years. These next four years will prepare him for college, and his performance will directly affect his ability to get into said college and...deep breath...

This year marks the true beginning of his adulthood.  All of the values, the morals, the things that I have tried to instill in him over the course of his youth will have the opportunity to show themselves!  From the time he was born, I knew that God had a great plan for him, and I feel like I have done my best to "train [him] up in the way he should go" (Prov. 22:6) and all I can do is sit back and hope he doesn't "depart from it."

My favorite friend (and "other mother" to my children), Kim, has done a great job of assuaging my fears and anxieties about this whole high school ordeal, reminding me that James is a great kid, and more than ready for the year ahead: he's friendly, he's eloquent, he's respectful, he's intelligent and charismatic (not to mention excellent taste in music!), etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.  After all:

 

But.....he's also a teenager: he has little motivation, little assertiveness, lots of procrastination (he gets that from his mother!), tons of attitude and teenage angst, and a lot of confusion and questions that he may never share with me.  Kim says that it is time for me to begin the transition from "mom" role to "friend" role because James will need to feel like he can come to me with anything.  To be honest, I don't remember when my mother became my friend, and I'm not sure how to take on that role for James without losing the parental respect that he has for me now.

Anyway, I truly believe that God allowed me to quit work at just the right time, and I will make the most of this time as I commit to being the best support I can be to my son who needs me so much right now - whether he knows it or not!

To God be the glory, GREAT things He has done!

Exercise Is Not Just For The Birds

*WARNING: Haters who are going to read this and criticize and say things like, "I wish I had your 'problem'" or "I don't know what you're talking about, you don't need to lose weight" or "I hate you because you're skinny" may feel free to skip over this blog because it's really irritating*

Those of you who know me know that I often say that different things are "for the birds".  If I don't like to it or don't want to do it, or just feel like being difficult, I simply say, "Forget that! It's for the birds."  Also, those of you who know me know that I am extremely thin.  I always have been, it's in my genes, and I have never had to work at keeping myself looking fit.  I use the term "looking" fit because I am probably not as healthy as I look on the outside.  I don't eat healthy, I don't exercise, and I probably don't take care of my body the way that I should.  My best friend (who is also very thin) came up with the term "skinny-fat" which, in my opinion, describes me perfectly.  When people ask me questions about my health, I tell them I don't have the discipline to stick to a diet or exercise program to stay healthy: I eat what I want, when I want, and that is a very wrong attitude.  Whether you're skinny or not, proper diet and exercise is important because our bodies change over time.  Age is a huge factor in body changes and, as the road to 40 fast approaches, I need to take that into account, especially as I'm noticing that my arms flap when I wave and the cellulite on my thighs isn't going away by itself.

That being said, I have just done a workout session and as I'm sitting here, body shaking and knowing I'm going to be sore later, I can't help but come up with a few thoughts:
1. I hate exercise. 
2. I take my thin figure for granted.
3. I need to tone my body, so that I can maintain my current size/weight/figure.
4. I hate exercise.
5. I will commit to being healthy.

This means that I will do my little routine on an almost-daily basis and I will begin to "feel the part" of a skinny girl....maybe I'll even do a half marathon....whatever it takes to get myself to the me I want to be for the rest of my life.

All the Glory be to God!