blog guilt

so it's really easy to say that life is busy, that there's not really time to stop and spend a few moments reflecting on my day, my week, my life. although in many ways it's true, it's partly because I put myself on the back burner when life gets a bit hectic. and really, [and this will be a shock to you, so brace yourselves!] I blog for my sanity, not because anyone really reads this. okay, sorry to the two of you that are faithful readers! so, I want to take a pause and just take this blog post to be thankful for a few things:

1. I am thankful that I have a wonderful job that I really love. it's hard to be thankful in the middle of IPP, report card and PTI season, but I am very grateful that I can provide for my family with a job that I adore.

2. I am thankful for all my stamping buddies. I let myself feel criticized [I'm sure it was how I took it vs. how it was intended] about why I sell stampin' up! and I made myself feel "less than" when defending how I do things with my business. lately I have been really reflecting on the "why" and I am so thankful that I keep going with this business just purely because of the relationships I have formed and the joy that just the thought of the girls I meet with monthly, occasionally and sometimes just yearly.

3. I am thankful for my kids. I talk a lot of crap sometimes, mainly because parenting is maybe the hardest job I've ever had, but I do love my kids. I love how Nate is learning to read and tells me how "when two vowels go a'walking the first one does the talking" and how Ty sings everything and can play Nate's batman song on the piano better than Nate can!

4. I am thankful for my husband. he's not the most talkative guy, nor the best communicator. however, he loves me best and I love him best. he treats me better than I often treat myself and for that I am so thankful.

5. I am thankful for all the people past and present that invest in my life. I could start with my parents, but really, the list is quite lengthy. some people I've lost touch with. some people I am still friends with. some people were there for a time and a place. some people have been along for a big part of the ride. but everyone has played a part and invested something of themselves in my life. and for that, I am eternally thankful.

family pics

so my friend Irene took a bunch of family pictures about a month or so ago [maybe it was just 3 weeks ago!]. I love these pictures. LOVE. here's a sampling: photos

I should also write about my trip to Ottawa - THAT was a good time too! I'll gather my thoughts and write about soon...

post #500

holy dinah.

don't even know how to make this "#500-worth". perhaps I could be eloquent. yeah, don't think so. perhaps I could be funny. doubt that one too. I may be able to produce pictures...THAT will work! thank you for reading all the time, lovely blog-readers...some of you are new, but some of you are old friends. I appreciate each of you!

xoxo

[a reminder of what I'll be doing tomorrow - dealing with batman and his little brother...batman!]

potential

do you see your potential? do you do things that may be risky, knowing that there is a good chance you'll succeed? yeah, me neither. turns out that I think I need a coach. I coach a lot of people - I think it's the teacher in me - I see potential in people who don't see it in themselves, while I sit here not seeing it at all in my own self. odd, eh? for me there's always been a fine line between confidence and arrogance and in trying so hard not to be arrogant, my confidence has turned to mush.

I have this huge deal presentation at a pd session on monday. I was REALLY stressed about it. like over the top stressed. well, I had a chat with one of my coaches and realized that he wouldn't have asked me to step on the ice if he didn't really believe that I couldn't score the goal. within that conversation, I found peace. he believes in me. it gave me permission to believe in myself. although I still have no clear view of my potential, my coaches do. and there are more of them out there than I realize - maybe it's time to start trusting what they have to tell me.

and in other news...

yeah, so overwhelmed with the above presentation that there hasn't been other news!!!

xoxo

crazy, crazy!

1. survived the kelowna marathon experience. it was bloody cold. it took every ounce of my energy to stay warm. totally nuts.

3:32:12 10:04  Cori Fraser             Edmonton, AB

2. did thanksgiving dinner with the family today. fun stuff. mmmmmm. turkey!

3. I don't get really excited about movie releases, but I'm excited about this one:

4. how did it get to be the middle of october already?

5. and just a preview of what may be a VERY fun halloween:

have you met batman, and his brother batman?

have a great week, folks!

things I am thankful for

1. september is over

2. I lost 4 pounds, then gained it back, then lost a few. SHEESH!

3. I have a great class at school.

4. I get to walk the second half of my marathon this weekend [the first half I did in may - in vancouver]. off to kelowna tomorrow!

5. glee [DON'T STOP BELIVIN']

6. football games in september. love the cfl. love the esks. love those september games!

7. Nate LOVES school and gets 100% on his word wall words almost every week.

8. club started again and I MISSED CLUB!

9. small group started up again. I sure enjoy that too!

10. pumpkin spice lattes. no wonder I gained 4 lbs in one week. I do order mine as a triple and non-fat, HOWEVER...still all that SUGAH!

so yes, I've not blogged in a month. it is THAT month though, so I know you all understand! I will be better. I promise!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!! what are you thankful for?

10%

it has taken me 9 flippin' months, but I finally reached my 10% weight loss goal. HOLY DINAH! perhaps my new goal can be to do the next 10% in a third of that time! regardless, there is 10% less of me today than when I first got on that evil scale. I have walked a half marathon in that time, did close to 8 weeks of bikram yoga, and have begun training for another half. I ate an unknown quantity of fat-free cool whip. and I am gaining control of my life in so many areas. that's that part that feels really great. okay, looking better in my clothes feels pretty decent too. so the next goal is not monumental and I hope it's without a ton of fanfare, but the last time I lost some weight [like 3 years ago] I couldn't get below a 25 lb weight loss. SO. I need to lose 7 more pounds to get past that hurdle. since I started at a higher weight this time, it will be closer to 28lbs gone when I get to that point, but regardless that next 7lbs are pretty important ones. the weight I will be at that point is not one that I can ever recall being in my adult life. okay, so I have a short memory and didn't actually weigh myself for an entire decade, but I'm still going with it.

I did some reading on weight loss plateaus recently and the word that resounded was: PERSEVERE. hold on. endure. press on. I am reminded of a Donnie McClurkin song from over 10 years ago where it says:

Tell me what do you do when you've done all you can, And it seems like you can't make it through, Child you just stand, You just stand, Stand, Don't you give up, Through the storm , through the rain, Through the hurt , through the pain...Don't you bow, don't bend Don't give up, don't give in Hold on, just be strong...

there's a whole bunch more, but this is the part that resonates. just be strong. don't give up. it applies to so many things, doesn't it...