In Process

The second half of this discipline post is turning out a bit more uncomfortable to write than I initially thought it would be.

That and I'm preparing to wage battle with a bus service my husband uses that has become completely incompetent since the contract was given to a new company. Oy!

But I wanted to stick my head in and wave hi!

Does anyone else out there use Chesterfield Access?

Leave a comment below and tell me about your experience with it since the new contract took effect July 1.

Or just leave me a comment and tell me what's been on your mind!

Creating Discipline

There is a book I went through several years ago called The Celebration of Discipline by Richard Harris. It discusses several disciplines in the Christian Life. Many I'm afraid our missing in today's church culture.

But I don't want to talk about the Christian church culture today. (Maybe one day, but not today.)

Rather, I want to discuss discipline. Rather, my lack of it.

It came to mind this morning in Sunday School, where we're spending the month learning from one of the elders on prayer, where Richard Harris's book was mentioned. Sadly the only thing I could remember from that book was my relief and excitement that meditation was included as a discipline! (Another bunny trail for another day.)

I still have my copy. I need to find it and start going through it again . . . but I'm getting off track.

Distractable? Yes. Quite . . . Why do you ask?

Does life set you up on the path it wants you to go down sometimes? While I was attempting to get my menu for the coming week set up I came across an e-book I had downloaded a while back.

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life

Now I've not read the whole book. I think I've read the introduction and first chapter a million times. Swearing that THIS time I'm really going to go through it.

As many of you who've read my previous blogs know, I'm not so good at this blogging thing. I say I'm going to start something and . . . then I never come back. (I am queen of the orphaned blogs . . . not proud of it. <----Lack of discipline anyone?)

That being said, I say with great uncertainty and quivering fingers, I am going to take the next 21 days (starting today) and work my way through this e-book, right here, on this blog.

I can hear my Italian's voice in my head. "Talk is cheap" You see he's not unfamiliar with my declarations and lack of follow through.

I'm tempted to simply shrug my shoulders and say "Eh. I am my father's daughter! What do you expect?"

My Daddy and I on my wedding day.

I am my father's daughter, there is no doubt about that. I have almost every ounce of his personality; the good, the bad and the ugly of it. BUT I've had the benefit of recognizing that fairly early on being able to learn from his mistakes. Not that I haven't repeated a lot of them . . .

I'm getting off track again aren't I?

My Italian is summoning me to bed, so I'll have to finish tomorrow.

Good night!

(You don't decline or ignore an Italian summoning!)

Digging in Deeper

I've decided to re-enter the blogging world again.

This time on my own terms and my own way. 

Yes, I'm still attempting to lose weight. I'm at about 215 right now. But it is coming off. Slowly. But that's the way to do it right? (I type this as I'm munching on crunchy Cheetos at quarter after 9 on a Sunday night.)

It's been a rough first half of the year with my Italian. He was declining at a very fast rate until he had surgery to fix a catheter that delivers a muscle relaxer to his spine. The medication has been re-regulated and he's doing a lot better. In fact he's doing laps around the main part of the house. Today he did 2! 

He's also started lifting weights. His chest press is up to 15lbs as is his seated row. That may not sound like a lot, but for a guy who doesn't have a lot of use of his right side and has been essentially wheelchair bound (electric) for the past 3 1/2 years, and hasn't lifted weights since before his second accident . . . it's pretty good. He's adding weight pretty quickly, but at 15 lbs he's definitely working. 

In terms of my work-outs, I've joined my Italian at the fitness center/pool he does his weight training and pool exercises. I've joined a water aerobics class, of which I'm easily the youngest of (but it's an older demographic at that center all the way round), twice a week. Honestly, I love it. I have more fun there than I did at any of the classes I took at the other gyms I belonged to. But they're no slouches! I do manage to get in a few laps after class just to try to push myself a little harder. I can do about 5 or 6 full (up and back) laps after class before I'm done. I'm getting there. Swimming is hard work! I'm still working on finding my rhythm. Once I do that I'm sure the process of building my endurance will come easier.

I'm also doing weight work. My goal is to be able to go lift 200 lbs in any way shape or form. 

Why?

Because when my Italian is on the floor his 150 lbs feels like 200+ sometimes. Especially when he's not in a position to help me. So the stronger I am, the better off he'll be. 

So if all of this has stayed the same, why am I starting a new and different blog? Well with UnearthingEm I felt like I was figuring out who this new person is. This person fighting Hashimoto's and hypothyroidism. Since then (despite my lack of blogging there) I've grown into this new me. My new normal and am digging deeper now. Attempting to get to the base of what makes me, me. 

Spiritually

Physically

Mentally

Artistically

Creatively

 My hope is that through this blog I can express all of those things. Maybe they'll even leek into real life!