Slooooowwwww

It's been maybe two years now that I've become more health conscious. There were many times I had quit something "cold turkey". That gung ho attitude worked...for about 72 hours. So I decided to take it easy on myself and start making changes slowly. Instead of going from a lethargic life to working out at the gym 6 days a week I decided to pick up running, doing it 3 days a week. It took me all of 2007 to build up a good base and I completed 2 5ks! The first one was a doozy. I had to run/walk the course. It was very hilly and I had trained on flat roads. The second one was a flat course and I ran the whole thing. A little while later I ran 3 miles as a workout. However, this past February I started to feel some bad knee pain and decided to do something else. I've listed my new program in an earlier post.

A few months before I decided to pick up running I started to tweak my foods. I began to read books on nutrition and joined a great health message forum. It all began with the coffee, y'all. I was consuming up to 3 cups a day, on average. In those cups I put in a sweetener and flavored creamer. I decided to quit that cold turkey and I promise I had a headache for 3 days. I didn't drink any coffee for 6 months or so. Once I picked up a part time job at Starbucks, I decided to drink it again, but even now I don't have more than one cup a day. I can go a week without any and feel just fine. That may sound like a small feat, but it was a big deal for me.

Now, around a year and a half ago I began to minimize the amount of red meat I ate, replacing it with ground turkey. I'm eating more fish now and fresh foods. I barely buy anything canned or pre-made. I have found that convenience foods aren't the way to go if one is concerned about their health. For me, it's not all about how I look, but how I feel. I want longevity of life.

I have been recording all my foods (even the stuff I'm not proud of, you know the minimal snacking here and there) through Sparkpeople. See the link to the left for a spin. It really helps me keep track of what I'm doing. If I am not seeing results I can look to past weeks and see what could be the cause.

I am down 3 pounds from last month, so this is encouraging. It doesn't sound like much to some, but I've been at the exact same weight since late 2006. I think I'm definitely getting somewhere, but it's taking a very looooong time.

My goals do not include a huge weight loss. In fact 10 less pounds on my body would be ideal. I do like to workout so I think that's something I'll keep doing even if I don't get those fitness magazine type results. I love to eat healthy food. There's something about it that makes me feel better about myself.

Fresh Prince says It's Summuh Summuh Time!!!

The bunny and I are very excited that it's summer time. If you don't understand its caption, bunny is saying, "I has a lettuce". Since its mouth is full, bunny can't speak clearly. It's adorable, isn't it?
I love summer weather, summer vacations, summer fashions and most of all summer produce.
It's the time of year to browse the local farmer's markets for local fruits and vegetables. My favorites right now are crispy salads with loads of goodies.

Please don't make a salad with just one type of lettuce, but mix up the colors. The darker the color, the richer the vitamins. I love to mix green leaf lettuce, red lettuce and baby greens. It's also tasty to add a few raisins, slivered almonds, cucumber, black olive and grape tomatoes. I've recently discovered a delicious vinagrette recipe. It's orange balsamic, it includes: orange zest, orange juice, balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, dried basil, salt and pepper. It is delicious! It's a little strong, so it doesn't take much, which is good.
I went fishing with Brooke, Dad and the kids the other weekend. Tommy, Mikayla and Mr. Curtis (the owner of the pond) caught bass and brim. Dad cooked them for us and man, was it good. My favorite way to eat any type of fish is to marinate it with a citrus of any type (lemon, lime or orange) fresh herbs and some montreal seasoning. They need to be grilled. It's the best.

My favorite fish right now are Red Snapper and Salmon. However I do like many others. I'm currently discovering that I do, in fact, like fish and am trying different types. For the longest time I had convinced myself that I don't like it. I am still picky with it, but I try to consume fish at least 2 times a week. In the summer it's so much more fun because Brad and I like to grill at this time of year the most.
As far as vegetables go, I'll eat just about any of them. I love to stick them on skewers for the grill, steam them or sautee. I made a great concoction the other night: cabbage, squash, zucchini and onion. I chopped those up, put them in my wok with a little olive oil, salt, pepper and paprika; so tasty!
Now when someone talks about their favorite summer foods, I immediately think of fruit. I also like just about any type of fruit.

Bananas, apple and strawberries are always on stock at the Hill house. However I also like to buy mango, peaches and pineapples. Strangely enough, I LOVE the taste of an orange, but I find them too messy to eat. I mainly use them in recipes instead of simply sitting down with a knife and an orange.
It's good that summer produce is so good, therefore I find myself wanting more fresh vegetables, lean meats and fruit and wanting less of oats, pastas and breads. Conveniently, most people want to be leaner in the hotter time of the year.

What a weekend!

Friday after work I went to a bridal shower, then I had a great tennis lesson with Brooke. I hung out at the Love's house for a little bit and called it a night.
Saturday I went the kids' soccer games with Brooke and Kelly. We were there from 8:30am to 5:30pm! And genius-me didn't think she needed sunblock. :( I'm burned. The kids were awesome! I was proud of them all, whether they lost or tied a game. I did get a good workout in between games. They were playing a YMCA on Downtowner, great facility! After that we all went to Mom and Dad's for a fish fry.
You would have thought it was Christmas morning! Dad was all giddy and happy over his fish. He fried the brim and bass the kids caught the week prior. They were battered and fried whole, so when I ate the filet there was no breading. There were also beans and coleslaw. It was a great dinner!
Sunday morning I went to church (will post more about the teaching later), then to Mom's house for Mother's Day dinner with her, the Love's and my grandmothers.
Then I cleaned house and hung out with some friends at Heroe's in downtown Mobile.
Today I'm pretty tired, sore from working out and irritable because of my burn. On the bright side Brad is coming home tonight and will be here for 3-4 weeks! Hmmm...I need to buy groceries.

Baby Girl

So I've talked some about my little boy, now I should talk about my baby girl. Brad and I graduated in May 2003. Two weeks or so before graduation I saw an ad in the paper for Golden Retriever Puppies. The guy wasn't asking a lot so my roommate drove me out to Wilmer to see the cute furballs. I should have known better... Who can resist a Golden Retriever Puppy?! Especially a person like myself who loves her dogs more than most normal people love their pets.


I left with the largest and palest colored female he had. She was 7 weeks old, hugely fluffy and simply adorable. I called Brad on the way back to the school to tell him that I had a surprise. He had a suspicion because I had already asked if it would be okay if he got a puppy early. We had already talked about getting one.
I'll never forget the look on his face when I got out of the car. He didn't see me. He didn't the ground for that matter, he just rushed over, scooped her up and didn't put her down for a while. She was sleeping. I left her with him then went to WalMart for food, a bed and a collar. I had to get a red one because Brad wouldn't EVER let me have a pink collar on any of his pets. "I don't want you to sissify my dog" are his exact words. "But she's pretty little lady" I reply. I still haven't won this argument. We've had her for 5 years and I still can't have her toenails painted.
Okay, so I had a name picked out for OUR dog. Annabelle. It's a nice name, but it just didn't stick. You know how names are supposed to fit the named? Be it, person, fish, cat, dog, iguana... I mean, the cat could be named Fluffy, but it may not stick, and Esmerelda may be the more appropriate name. That night of Arwen's homecoming to us was the first annual Starlight concert at UM. We had Ricky Skaggs! We go, our friends are there sitting on blankets and we bring this walking hairball with us. Everyone's playing with her, holding her and taking her picture. Our friend, Joe Langley, asks what her name is. I tell him "her name is Annabelle, but I may call her Anna for short". "No," he says, "name her Arwen". Joe had spoken the name that fit my dog. Arwen it was. Brad and I are HUGE Lord of the Rings fans so we really dug this new title.
She was a bad little girl. She ate EVERYTHING. She once digested a shoe of mine. No, she didn't just "eat it" where the dog chews and leaves the remnants on the floor. She chewed it, swallowed it, and crapped it all over our back yard. There were pieces of leather and rubber to be found for days. She's a smart girl, though. On command, she sits, lies down, stays, plays dead, fetches, speaks and high fives. Sometimes she'll hold a treat on the top of her nose, throw it in the air and catch it, but she's not consistent.
She was a pale blond as a puppy, now she's a rich amber color. Her eyes look like a deer's. She's just beautiful with her silky wavy hair. Arwen is very kind hearted too. Naturally gentle, I would trust her to guard a newborn baby. Which, she'll undoubtedly do in the future. She's a mommy at heart.
We had her bred a few years ago and she was the best doggie mom on earth! She had 10 puppies, in fact. However, 2 didn't make it. That's normal so I was already prepared. We found 8 homes for our lovely puppies. I must say that was such a hard effort, keeping them clean, keeping Arwen healthy and finding just the right homes. I don't think I'll ever do it again. I got um...attached. :)

My baby girl has a very distinct personality, which is truly golden. I can put my hand in her bowl to grab at her food and she'll gently nudge my hand out of the way. No growl, no bite, just nudge. She's so sweet.
She's lazy now. Arwen was so hyper the first year and a half, then overnight she became a couch potato. She does have a special spot on the couch, by the way.
Her night time ritual always involves Brad. Once we are in bed, she wants to jump up with us, lie on her back, wedged between us and then it's time to talk. We talk to her and rub her belly and she kinda talks back. It's so funny!
She really is like a daughter. My two dogs are very different from one another, though raised by the same people, and in the same breed group. I love retrievers, they have all the qualities I love best in a dog: appearance, intelligence, gentle nature, and loyalty.
If Arwen had to choose between us and her food, she would choose us. When Brad and I have those icky "I love you more" arguments, it's pretty much over when one of says, "I love you more than Arwen loves you". Case Closed.

Tuesdays: The Hangover of Mondays

Every day of the week has it's purpose...except Tuesdays. I'll break it down for you in case you haven't figured this out already (which you probably have and I'm really not that clever).
Sunday - it's really the first day of the week. In Christian American Culture, this is church day, and is often referred to as the Sabbath so we're supposed to rest. (Sabbath is really Saturday, but whatever) What really happens is the women cook lunch, work in the yard a little and finish laundry not completed on Saturday. The men will help with some yard work, watch NFL or Nascar, depending on the time of the year and take a nap. I am a good wife, so I will keep my husband company and watch NFL along with him. ;)
Monday - the first work day of the business week. No one really appreciates Mondays. It's obvious why.
Tuesday - I'll get to this one in a moment.
Wednesday - commonly known as "Hump Day". No, Fergie, this is not a reference to your lovely lady lumps, but it's the middle of the week. You wanna get OVER the hump so it's a downward coast from there. Wednesdays are okay in my opinion. I could live without them though.
Thursday - Friday Eve! I like Thursdays. I have a sense of accomplishment on this day. I'm fairly productive at work and at the house because I like to get my to do list done before the end of the week and I have a cram session of laundry, cleaning, grocery shopping, etc.
Friday - See, most people say Friday is their favorite day of the week. This is dumb. Saturday is the best day of the week and the only reason so many like Friday is because it precedes this day off (for most people). But, I think the actual day off is the best day, not the day before it. It makes sense. Fridays are the least productive days in the average work place. We take longer coffee breaks, leave a few minutes before the go home bell sounds and we actually read those silly forwards we have sitting in our e-mailboxes all week.
Saturday - ah....Saturday. How I love thee! Now it doesn't take long for anyone to figure out that Paige-ro likes to sleep. I also like to "sleep in". This is usually the day for me to have my reward of sleeping in after working the 5 days before, getting up between 5 and 6am. I like Saturdays because for the most part I can get a lot of things done. If Brad is home we work in the yard, then I will clean on the inside of the house, do some grocery shopping, visit the kids, and what not. If I'm lucky I'll attend a get together or something. If I'm real lucky, that get together will take place at Callaghan's Irish Pub. Yet, there are many Saturdays which hold baby or bridal showers, family events, birthday parties, and such that will keep me away from home. Its okay, at least I'm not in the office.
Now, don't get me wrong, I do love where I work. But, let's face it. We would all rather play than work, right?
So, getting back to Tuesdays... it's basically the hangover from Monday. For myself I have the weekend to do things I like to (again, for the most part, not entirely). I'm out of the office setting, enjoying fresh air and sunlight, the company of friends and family. Then BAM! It's Monday and I'm easing my way back into the groove of the business world. Mondays are usually busy. I have a long to do list that for some reason I feel I MUST accomplish within the next 8 hours or I'm done for. So I work really hard, then usually have some sort of activity to do that night, so come Tuesday I'm already spent.
Today is Tuesday, can you tell? It's a quarter to 9am, and I'm already on my second cup of coffee, trying not to fall out of my chair. This isn't like me. For the past year and a half I've enjoyed a small cup of coffee or tea and I'm good the rest of the day. NOT SO TODAY. I'm hungover from Monday. Okay, Mom, don't freak, no alcohol was involved. I'm hungover from what Monday stands for and requires of me.
Another culprit to my extreme tiredness is my new lifting program. O.M.G. It's um... tough. I also played a little tennis last night and I'm sore from head to toe. Yet, Tuesdays do serve a great purpose, it's my universal rest day. That's right, no cardio, no lifting, REST. It's nice. I do this so I don't overdo it, alrighty? The epsom salt soak last night did help me. I'll be honest, I'd love another one. :)

So, I guess the only cure for a Monday hangover is that second cup of coffee, a good long stretch and a prayer.

It's not so easy when he's gone, actually.

I get asked quite about "how I make it" with my husband gone so much. "I just don't know you do it", they'll say. I respond in a hows-the-weather sorta way, "Oh, it's not a big deal, I like having the place to myself. I keep myself busy by hanging out with friends and family. Plus, I have my dogs to keep me company". There's the kicker. The dogs. These two furry sweet hearted canine companions of mine make me feel safe when he's gone. Well, actually, only Batman does. Arwen just chills now. She handed over the security guard badge when Batman became of age. She figured, "well, the boy has this protective thing down pat, so I'm going to leave the responsibilities up to him so I can nap more." That's exactly what she does, too. Well, that and steal my shoe and sock. Yes, just one. She's a foot fetish or something. Batman is definitely the rent-a-cop of the Hill household. He checks the doors at night with me, and listens out for even the faintest of sounds. It's pretty scary when, in the middle of the night, I'm jarred from my sleep by his manic barking. It's usually just a cat fight (Robin and the stupid white cat I presume).
Now, when Brad is home, it's not so. The dogs sleep soundly in their beds which are situated in our bedroom. Some people may think this is strange, but it's natural for us. We love having them in the same room. But Batman does snore and fart in his sleep, it's funny at first then it's annoying. Okay, I am going somewhere I promise. Batman couldn't care less what's going on outside. He knows Daddy is home, so he is the one to take care of Momma. When Daddy is gone, it's all up to my knot-headed but handsome black labrador.
He's a handsome fellow. Weighing in around 85 pounds, standing tall enough to see his reflection in the bathroom mirror over the counter, and a beautiful glossy black coat. He has a distinct build to him, what my vet called the English Labrador. He has great bone structure and will likely never suffer from hip problems commonly associated with his breed. He's something else, let me tell ya.
One of Batman's common rituals happens at bedtime. I get in the bed, situate the covers like I want them and I say, "okay". He jumps on the bed and lies next to me with his front legs laying right on top of me as if to say, "she's mine, not yours." I scratch his head and give him kisses, telling him what a good handsome boy he is, then I tell him to "get on your bed" and he obeys. He'll stay there all night...only if Daddy is home, that is.
When Brad is gone, I give both pups their due attention and love, send them to their beds and I get situation in this bed of mine because I have it all to myself. WRONG! I have woken on many amornings with Arwen directly on my legs and Batman either curled up right beside me or sharing a pillow with his face directly in mine, sound asleep and snoring.
Lovely.
Right now there's a really gross amount of dog hair on my comforter (mostly black) and not much on their beds. When Brad is gone, I do more cleaning after them, if that makes any sense. I don't know how to break them of this because they do this after I'm fast asleep, but I don't think I'd want to. I do feel well protected AND loved. I do miss Brad when he's gone. It's really not all that easy when he travels, but it is worth it. He's doing a great work and I'm taken care of.
I think life is too short to try to keep your house spotless all the time. Let the dogs (or kitties) sleep with you and enjoy a little hair underneath your feet from time to time. I think it's good for you.

Chicken Soup for the Fearful Soul

I must confess, I am usually the first to look down upon fluff. No, not the marshmallowy goodness you slather between two pieces of bread with a handsome spoonful of peanut butter. I'm talking about surfaced-spiritual-milk-fluff. I do own a few daily devotional books, however I've hardly ever cracked them. They were mostly gifts.


Every Friday my workplace has a tradition. Working on a rotation, we ladies bring breakfast for everyone and leads the group in a devotion. We have quite a few on the list, so the responsibility is required every over month or so. I have enjoyed this time, but mostly so I can sample others' recipes. I really don't care for a 5 minutes devotion on a verse that's probably taken out of context or is extremely surfaced. I don't care for sappy stories about children of dying mothers wanting to buy a pair of shoes, or a couple who can find enjoyment while splitting a can of beans for their Christmas dinner. Give me something I've never heard before! Illuminate the scriptures to me so I am contemplating on the words through the day.
THAT is my exact attitude going into most devotions. (I really hope my coworkers don't find offense to this. It's nothing personal, I'm just picky.) It's a rotten attitude, I think. I've always felt that way, I don't like that I go into a setting like this with an expectation that I'm going to be bored to tears. I really should give everyone and their material of choice a chance. So, to those of whom this concerns, I apologize.
I really am going somewhere with this.
Today was my turn to lead devotion. Usually I use this opportunity to enlighten others about profound things I have learned while at my church, The People of Mars Hill. I usually bring up some Levitical tradition that has never really been studied heavily in your normal Southern Baptist Church. Last night I decided to pick up a devotional book of mine, along with my Bible, and thumb through it. I looked up May 2. It reads:

God's Complete Protection
Nothing that Satan can do to you should cause you to fear (2 Tim 1:7). Jesus chose the twelve disciples the Father had given Him and then jealously guarded them from the evil one. Jesus sent His disciples into the world where they experienced difficult and dangerous circumstances, but He interceded on their behalf with His Father that they would have His strong protection from the evil one (John 17:15).
In the same way, Jesus said that we, as His sheep, are held securely in the Father's strong hand (John 10:28). There is no better place to be than safely in the hand of almighty God. Do you believe this, or are you fearful of what Satan or people can do to you? The apostle John encourages us that we do not need to fear: "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). This is not merely a theological concept but a profound reality in which you can have absolute confidence. It is not just a truth for meditation in the security of your home; it is a promise you can cling to in the midst of a hostile and menacing world.
What you do reveals what you believe. If you are living a fearful, anxiety-filled life, you are proving your lack of confidence in God's protection, regardless of what you may say. Live your life with confidence that Jesus is continually interceding with the Father on your behalf. If you trust Him completely, you will have nothing to fear.
" Experiencing God", Henry T Blackaby and Richard Blackaby

I was then reminded of the final verses in Psalm 91. Words that have been stuck in my head for weeks now, it seems, thank you to my husband Brad.
"Because he loves me", says the Lord, "I will rescue him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." Psalm 91:14-16
Just to let you see through this little window of mine, I have been struggling with a HUGE sense of anxiousness and worry. Stress has become my emotion in the past few months. My brother, Chris, has sent me a few emails from God's Daily Word Ministries (so well written) that have directly pertained to prayer and faith. My problem has been the lack of both. Therefore, I believe, I have been fearful. I'm scared of everything it seems. I'm scared that my husband will get hurt while traveling, I'm scared we may have to move one day and I won't want to, I'm scared of future financial situations, I'm scared to have a family because I'm worried I'll be a failure, I'm scared that I may be losing friends, and the list can go on. I'm not called to live a life in worry. Brad told me that when I live this way, I might as well tell God that He's not good enough. Which, in my mind isn't the issue, it's me. I'M not good enough. But I take my life in my own hands, and knowing how flawed I am doesn't make me feel better. I've obviously lost my mind and have replaced it with nothing else. I should replace it with His word. I do read the scriptures. I do pray, I do listen intently to weekly teachings and further discuss them with my husband and friends. But, there's something deeper that seems to have weakened. Maybe it's just life circumstances, and I've let myself go unchecked.
Obviously I've learned a great lesson. Just because it comes from a simple, short devotion, doesn't mean it cannot leave a lasting impact. Sometimes we get to a point where it only takes one line, one verse, one thought to get us on the correct path.
In view of all things God has promised us, why do I allow myself to worry?


God is good. He will always be good.