Half Way There

Well, today is day 5. My half way point. I still feel pretty good overall with just a few minor side effects. My tongue is white with toxins. Yesterday my leg muscles were pretty sore. And I've been a bit sniffly today. I don't feel tired or weak though, which is good.

I had to miss eating at my lunch for teachers yesterday. Thankfully there was some white chicken chili left over which I will be freezing. It smelled so good cooking. Another big test of my will was Saturday when I was making cookies. I realize how much I normally nibble and lick while baking! It was tricky, but I didn't have even one small taste!

I've officially gone 1 week now with no solid foods. Who knew my will could be so strong. I just have a feeling that there will be a day when God requires discipline from me for something that truly matters. I will have challenges like this to look back on and know I can do it...in His strength.

Master Cleanse Day 1

Over the past few months I've been getting pretty down on myself about my weight, which has the opposite effect desired. I end up eating more and feeling very disappointed with myself. About 2 years ago I did the Master Cleanse, sometimes referred to the Lemonade Diet. I decided last weekend that it's time to do it again. Yes, quick weight loss is one outcome, and who doesn't like seeing the scale numbers go down so quickly! But more importantly I know that I will be cleaned out of all the gunk, chemicals, toxins, sugars...everything that is in me. It breaks the hold food has on me because for 10+ days there's no food involved. Now, it's not starvation because the lemonade mixture includes Grade B maple syrup and if I drink enough of it I get plenty of calories each day.

So last Monday I started the "ease in" process and ate only veggies and fruit. Tuesday was liquid veggies and fruit and then Wednesday was fresh squeezed OJ only. All that prepares your body for one taste, one drink for the next 10 days. And now here I am. Half-way through Day 1. I decided I should write about what I'm feeling/thinking so I can learn more about my body and my relationship with food. And to keep a record for next time so I'm prepared.

I was feeling great all 3 ease-in days. When I would start to feel hungry I'd just have more veggies/or drink. Last night was the first time I started to feel quite tired. I think that is because it's hard to get enough calories with just Orange Juice. I do still feel quite tired today. I'm going for a run after work, that will help raise my metabolism and hopefully do away with some of the tiredness.

I got the mixture wrong for the first 4 glasses of lemonade this morning/afternoon. I used a 2 tsp of lemon juice and syrup instead of 2 tbsp! I wondered why the pepper was so stinkin' strong! I still have a hard time with the cayenne pepper. It burns the back of my throat. So I don't use as much as the recipe calls for...at least not all day long. Some glasses I will guzzle and can use more pepper in those. The lemonade isn't so bad tasting actually.

Tonight I add the Senna tea and the salt water flush in the morning. Then the fun begins!

Change

I was talking with a friend today who is beginning a blog. It inspired me to add an entry to my pitiful little piece of cyberspace! So I log on and realize it's been almost 2 years since writing. Sadly I'm not surprised. But the conversation inspired me to write at least an update, and we'll see if that turns into more regular posts. Not sure anyone reads this anyways!

I no longer live in PA, but am a New Englander. The home of the NE Patriots football team is also my home...Foxboro, MA. I was warned before coming that New England residents tend to be cold and hard to befriend. Thankfully that has not been my experience at all! I was welcomed with open arms to my new job as Children's Ministry Director and have begun getting to know some of the women at the church. Everyone has been very friendly, encouraging and very gracious as I attempt to learn the ropes. It helps that I lived with a family for my first 5 weeks here. Their house key is still on my keyring and I'm not giving it back!

I do have my own place now and it's nearly all furnished. A comfy brown couch will finish off the living room this weekend, just in time for my first visitors. Phew! Still need quite a few decorating touches, but I might put the girls to work with that when they get here on Saturday since decorating is definitely not a forte of mine.

I guess that will be all for now. I don't plan on waiting another 2 years to write again. I can change. I can try at least. It's Fall. Change is in the air. It's all around.

Beginnings and Endings

Well, I can't believe it's here, but tomorrow is my last day of student teaching. It has been a busy three months, and a bit overwhelming at times (especially the weekend I moved), but overall a great experience. I am all set with little gift bags for each kiddo, stuffed with a pencil, bookmark, stretchy worm, candy, and a candy-cane reindeer. I am almost done writing each one a little note too. Tomorrow will be bittersweet as I am so excited to be done and able to finish my certification and yet sad to say goodbye to the kiddos I've helped teach for the last few months.
I sent out three resumes already and will be sending more this week. Pray with me that the perfect placement for me is available and that I can find a job quickly! :)

Thanksgiving at home was fun this year. We missed Jennine and Josh, but Miah, Jalit, Brian, Jordan, Rachel and I all joined Mom for dinner at home. It was pretty relaxing and we enjoyed just talking, playing a few games and competing with mom's new Wii.
I'll have to update that pic after Christmas if we convinced Jennine to make it home. There's a spot for her on the other side of my head!

Summer of the 5K

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to run a 5k. Well, I've run 3 so far and have at least one more to do before the summer is over! I wasn't sure if I would actually do it, since that has been a resolution for a couple of years now! But this year I did it! And the best thing is that each time my finish time got just a little quicker. Now, I'm not a fast runner by any means. In fact, some of you could probably speed walk at my running pace! But at least I did it!



This first picture is from the Race Against Racism. My cousin Jeremy and his son ran, as well as about 3,000 other people. I just happened to be right behind them when his wife, Jodie, took the picture. This picture isn't the greatest, but I'm in it!



The second race was the Turkey Hill run and I ran with my friend, Marlene and a bunch of women from my Bible Study/weight loss group. (So far I'm down 33 pounds!!)



The third race was with some of my cousins on the morning of July 4th! It was by far the flattest course of the three, which might have helped with my faster time! Again, the picture is not so great...that is what I get from stealing them off other people's facebook!

Funny story

Well, it's kind of sad, or maybe embarrasing.

So every month my youth group serves a meal downtown Lancaster at a youth drop in center. I was the first one there last Wednesday and walked out to the street when one of our youth was getting dropped off. I was standing across the street from their mini-van when the dad asked if I had been painting. I laughed and said, "Nope, that's just my gray hair!"

Yep. I was a week too late and my salt and pepper crown was starting to show at the roots. I was embarrased, but what can ya do. My hair money last month was spent on a massage/reflexology/body alignment appointment. I say it was a good switch.

The problem is solved, though, because my housemate just colored my hair tonight. Yay!

A sheep family, a painter and the tv show 20/20

What do they all have in common??? I'll tell you at the end. See if you can figure it out! The category is Riddles and Word Play.

That's what I was doing in the middle of the night last night. We had our first game night/party at the new house! Only most of the night was spent playing bowling, tennis and boxing on the Wii. Have you ever watched people playing on a Wii?? It's quite entertaining. Especially the girls who tried boxing!

There were just a couple die-hard gamers that stayed late so we could play a "real" game. One that none of us had played... TriBond. Three words or phrases, all with something in common. I surprised even myself when I came up with the associates of Sherlock Holmes and characters in To Kill a Mockingbird! That English degree came in quite handy last night! I must say, though, that my brain doesn't work as good after midnight! But it's a good game and I look forward to playing again.

So did you think of the answer?? I didn't last night either.

Here it is: They all have hues, Hugh (Downs), ewes...

Ridiculous, right??