A blog worthy of reading...

Reading this is a wonderful time in my day. She writes deeply about daily life in a spiritual way and reflects with beautiful pictures.

I don't know her, but she is a daily encouragement. So I pass it on to you--- Happy 2010!

2009 Picture Review

I'm copying my sister here! She put one picture from each month!

HOW DID YOU DO THAT SHAUNA?

I couldn't do it! You are awesome! I had to put TONS of pictures on so-
the first 12 days of January will be my 2009 picture review -
here are January 2009 pictures:

This is our family vacation to San Diego. I love family shots like this.
I'm always thankful that everyone is present and accounted for with this many wiggle worms!!
This picture is priceless.
Seeing my kids with their grandparents and cousins is worth more than gold.
Such precious times together last year with family!

Then we went to speak at churches and visit friends.
We didn't realize that we're going through Napa Valley--- this is what we saw!
Next time, we'll stop!
We stayed at hotels on the way and Weston went from floaties to no floaties on this trip.He can swim and hold his breath forever, however, he can't lift his head for a breath yet-
a major component of swimming!!!- breathing~
(Kerri this is the pool at the hotel where you stayed. We went there to swim! Weston needs a pool and a spa so that he can warm up. That boy has no fat!, our hotel's spa was broken, so they gave us a pass for the other hotel! )
This was an afternoon on our rest/hotel day at Pismo Beach! It was stunning. Sierra didn't like the walking on the beach and we CARRIED here the whole way. This is when I decided to ask for a jogging stroller for my birthday!
Staying at our friends house in Northren California-
Peter entertaining them in a wheel barrow!
Dad of the Year award!
After our trip up north, we hopped into the car to get to Disneyland on time for my birthday. We were near San Fransisco and our plan was to drive halfway to Anaheim-
but after our meal on the road at Carl's Jr., the children fell into a deep sleep. Peter was exhausted! This was our last big trip, and I have to admit I was so tired of traveling and being on the road. Like I said yesterday, I just needed to feel settled. So I took the wheel and drove STRAIGHT to our hotel in Anaheim, across the street from Disneyland! We had a wonderful two days together exploring the Disney hotels, Downtown Disney and enjoying a gift certificate from Disney for my bday and inauguration day!
This was an impromptu lunch at Applebees!
For some reason, we I have very fond memories of our time together.
We all shared those mini hamburgers- sliders.
This is my favorite picture of Weston EVER!
Our little James Dean!

One thing I remember from reviewing our photos, is that we were SOO busy! There were even things that I didn't include here!

Wishing you a chilly new year!

It is a cloudy day here, I can see the yellow circle of the sun burning through the overcast. Weston always insists it is the moon! It looks like we're going to have a white new year too!

What will 2010 hold?
I have a good feeling about this one.
I'll be 33, still young right?
Sierra 3 and starting to be a little girl instead of a toddler.
Peter turning 36 handsome as ever-
Weston 6- definitely turning into an elementary student!

I feel settled like I haven't in a long time. I think settling into a life of two countries takes longer than I assumed it would.

I was chatting with other missionary women and we were telling how long we had lived overseas, one women said, "9 but the first 4 are a complete blur." I really understood what she meant. Between moving, learning a language, raising infants babies, learning all the new tricks that come with life in our home--- it really was a blur!

So I am thankful for a settled feeling, no matter how fleeting. :)

May your 2010 be filled with hope.

Health Challenge Update

I’ve printed my journal pages, written my goals, printed out the points chart and taken my before picture; it’s all neatly hole punched and in my journal.

How are you doing? If you haven't signed up, you have 2 more days to sign up to play- fun, prizes, and health all rolled into one! Is there a better way to ring in the new year?

Christmas Church Service

We had a nice Christmas service on Sunday. First we sang and then we listened to a the story of Jesus' birth. Then people stood up to tell why they were thankful and things they hope to happen in 2010.
It was our first try at a potluck and it went really well. Everyone pitched in and it was fun to put it together for We ate salami, bread, fruit, candy, cookies, and drank juice, tea and coffee.

Then there were some games it was fun to see them play musical chairs, where they had to waltz around the chairs in pairs. We also played singing games. Teams of about seven people singing songs in a certain category. They have to take turns singing back and forth never repeating the same song! You cannot believe how many songs there are in Mongolian to honor fathers and mothers!

How to Earn points in the Health Challenge

1point- daily change	5 points-- organization	10 points- 20 points
Daily for filling in change journal	Get your journal	5 points for reaching your goal for 1 week.
Daily for 7 hours slept	Writing your goals	20 points for reaching your goal for 1 month.
Daily for 64 oz of water you drink	Writing a plan about how to reach your goals
Daily for reaching your healthy eating goals	Take a before picture
Per 10 minutes of exercise	Measure yourself and weigh yourself
For emailing me your points or writing them in the comments on my blog (or every other day)
At least 6 points available per day	25 points available- one time only	Big points for reaching goals over time-

My Goals for the Health Challenge

Goal	Motivation	Plan	Due Date
Do Romans study daily- Use Women of the Harvest Email	I know that true change only comes from the Lord and that I need Him to help me in every aspect of my life.	Put study by my bed, along with my Bible and pen. Do the study when I wake up, while I’m snug in my bed (my favorite time of the day)	March 1
Run 2 mile-s 5 days a week	I have tried to increase my mileage too drastically in December; I need to enjoy exercise again, so I’m reducing back to what I enjoy. It makes me happy to run.	Run after homeschool and lunch before Peter goes to work- Lay out clothes, socks and shoes in the treadmill room.	March 1
Eat 24 Weight Watcher points per day	I need to reduce my points to keep losing. I want to lose a total of 41 more pounds in the next year, so this will help. I want to reduce 3 more pants sizes so that I can buy cute clothes more easily	Record points after each meal, prepare food that meets those points requirements. Drink at least 64 ounces of water.	March 1
Do 15 mens push ups	It is a great core workout and something that I can do world wide. I would like to have nicer looking arms	After running and stretching get down and do men’s push ups until my exhaustion point. Stretch arms. Record how many I did on my journal	March 1
Do 15 min Target Specifics DVD 3 times a week	This is a great DVD that incorporates yoga, Pilates and strength exercises. I really enjoy it and it makes me feel strong, but also flexible and tall. I need to stretch more	Do with the children in the afternoon around 4 oclock after cleaning the house. Use VHS or MP3 player	March 1

Health Challenge- info

We have 6 people signed up for the Health Challenge. Today, I emailed some goal setting forms to the participants. If you are interested in participating, please let me know via comments or email.

It's gonna be great. I have to say I need the motivation right now---the dead of winter is on us and I need a game like the Health Challenge to get me motivated again. :)

Click the heading to read the articles below.
Notice these are all from Good Housekeeping- I love their site and honestly I have a cold and this is about as good as I can do for the day! ;)

Diet-
COOL! A tool to compare diets and to help you find one that is a fit for you.
It gives you an overview of 15 popular diets, a success story for most and what type of person the diet fits best. It also gives a link for each diet about where to learn more. My fave on the list? Weight Watchers :)
Strength Training at home
A complete workouts for home or travel!
Activity Calorie Counter--
I have found knowing how many calories I burn when I run, is a good reality check about what goes into my mouth. :)
Motivation-
I don't know about you but reading about real people who lost weight is enough to get me on the treadmill. Last week I read many success stories, that is what made me think of this Challenge.
Importance of sleep-
many articles about sleep, menopause and sleep, importance of sleep, napping,
Emotional Eating
a great piece about not turning to food when life gets you down.

our morning

Snippets from our morning

• apple cinnamon oatmeal with walnuts
• 1 John- the best part- verse 3:20, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but in actions and in truth."
  
• pumpkin spice coffee
• Weston's favorite white silk long underwear shirt and him playing with his new transformer
  
• Sierra jumping on the sofa and cuddling with me while I type.
  
• Peter walking to the bank to wire money to UB- it's -35 and snowy.
  
• texting with a good friend in the US and my siblings
• Peter delighted to buy medicine over the counter for $4.50 (for a suspected sinus infection- sad)

Now it is time to clean up, once again, and start a new novel with the children.
Have a great day! Oh the dog days of winter!

2010 Health Challenge

It looks like the Tundra Mom Health Challenge is going to work out. So far we have 5 people signed up. If you would like to be a part of the Challenge, please let me know on or before December 31.

Men and women are welcome. There are no health goals too big or too small to join, just a way to have fun together and a chance to win a gift certificate.

Please don't think, "I'm too out of shape for that" or "I don't have time for that." I have transformed from a couch potato to a runner in the last three months and I've lost 23 pounds.

I did it by joining two online groups. One woman and I have been writing daily to keep one another accountable and the other is a group of runners and racers, in which I am the rookie!!!

I would have given up three separate times if not for these people.

We'll start January 1 and end on March 1.

If you are signed up start brainstorming and listing your health goals.

1. Start a list of goals.
   
2. Include after each the motivation for the goal.
3. Include a plan for how to reach that goal.
4. Be brave take your before picture and measurements- those will be big point winners during week one.
   

Remember to be reasonable, specific and measurable.
Instead of saying, "I want to be fit," define your goal more, like this:

• For me one aspect of "being fit" might be, "Do 15 men's push ups."
• This is reasonable because now I can do 12 women's push ups.
• Then add a timetable- "I want to do 15 men's push ups by March 1."
• My motivation listed maybe: I want to build muscle. I'd like my arms to look nice in that orange dress I bought. Finally, push ups are cheap- no equipment needed- just my big fat body to lift!!!
• Then add a plan- "I will do two sets of men's push ups every other day to my exhaustion point. I will stretch after each session so that I don't get sore. I will record my progress on my journal and try to beat my previous week's number."

I know all of you know these things, but goal setting is important because then you have something to aim for and know if you are coming close to your target.

It is also important to be reasonable because if our goals are too ambitious, then we'll be discouraged.

Here is an article to help us think through our goals.

I'll define the point system for the Challenge this week and also post articles here that are interesting, inspiring, or helpful.

I will not let my blog be only about the Challenge. I'll keep you informed about my family, ministry, and my various strange musings from my love of recycled jars to my broken heart about the poor!