Category Archives: Family

Project 365, Tim

Counting My Blessings

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When I was a few weeks out of Basic Training, I weighed 163 pounds. The rest of my time in the Army, I weighed about 185 pounds (the limit for my height). When I graduated from college, I weighed 215 pounds. About two years ago, when I was discharged from the hospital after appendicitis and kidney surgery, I weighed 209 pounds.

Other than that, I’ve pretty much spent my adult life between 230 and 250, overweight by at least 50 pounds by any reasonable measure. I’ve tried lots of diets and exercise plans, with limited success. Before Christmas, I had worked my way down to 228, but I gained almost ten pounds by the time January rolled around.

Lately, I’ve been doing this crazy thing, ‘counting calories’, they call it. I use My Fitness Pal to accomplish this — it is a pretty decent (and free) app with some really nice features.

A great app for calorie counting

A great app for calorie counting

My favorite thing about it is that, as you complete each day, it gives you a projection, based on your calorie consumption for that day. For example, today I consumed about 100 calories less than my allotment, so they are fairly hopeful:

If every day were like today… You’d weigh 224.1 lbs in 5 weeks

I actually sort of like this calorie counting thing, although I can see how it will get old, quickly. I am just now finished with my second week of following this plan, and I like the freedom it gives me to eat the things I really enjoy.

For example, a cup of cookies and cream ice cream 'costs' me about 260 calories, worth it every time.

For example, a cup of cookies and cream ice cream ‘costs’ me about 260 calories, worth it every time.

Kathy and I have also been using RunKeeper on our phones — we linked it to My Fitness Pal so it carries the calories from our exercise over and adds it to our allotment. So if you eat too much for supper, and you don’t have enough calories for ice cream, you can go for a quick walk and earn the calories you need. I speak hypothetically, of course.

runkeeper_logo

So far, I’ve lost about 6 pounds — not bad for two weeks of being mostly careful (except for the donuts and deep-fried seafood I had with David during our weekend away).

Somehow, I don’t mind being hungry during the day if there is ice cream waiting for me in the evening. I’ll do nearly anything to get ice cream. Let’s have another look at tonight’s treat, which is waiting for me, as soon as I finish this blog post:

I've gotten pretty adept at packing it into the metal measuring cup with my hydraulic press.

I’ve gotten pretty adept at packing it into the metal measuring cup with my hydraulic press.

On the left side of our blog, we continue to track our weight loss challenge for this summer. Sarah is right behind me … I’d better watch my step, or I’ll fall to last place again.

Project 365, Day 131
Tim

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David, Parenting, Project 365

I’m Glad That’s Over!

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Well, David and I finished the Passport 2 Purity material, and managed to have a great time together.

Several times in the course of the more difficult sessions, Dennis Rainey pauses and tells the father and son: “OK. Pause the CD and look at your Dad, and say, “I’m glad that’s over!”

David Triumphant

David Triumphant

It was a light-hearted way to break the serious mood, giving us permission to laugh and to take a break from the intensity of subjects which (for many families) are pretty hard to talk about.

We camped near Ocean Shores, within about a quarter mile of the Pacific. We had lovely weather, but it was much cooler on the coast (and in the wind) than it was here at home. Neither of us are particularly experienced campers, but we managed to pitch our tent and build a fire with hardly any serious injuries.

There's nothing quite like a fire-toasted blueberry bagel for breakfast.

There’s nothing quite like a fire-toasted blueberry bagel for breakfast.

I really enjoyed the updated Passport 2 Purity material. It is frank, engaging, and steeped in a Christian worldview, which I deeply appreciate. I strongly recommend the five sessions (and the weekend getaway that frames it) to any parent of an 11-14 year old child.

Some of the topics were hard to address, but I think we were both glad to get them out ‘on the table’ and to open a dialog that I hope will continue for years to come.

Some of the projects didn't quite work out as intended, but we persevered.

Some of the projects didn’t quite work out as intended, but we persevered.

We waited too long to do this with David, and yet we are also glad that we have done such a good job of protecting his innocence and purity until now — in some sense it is very sobering (and a little scary) to usher him into a knowledge of sexuality that cannot be rolled back.

We spent a lot of time driving around, since it was easier to listen to the sessions when sitting ‘shoulder to shoulder’ rather than facing each other across a CD player. I never seem to tire of driving on the beach — there is something inherently fun about speeding along at 25 mph on the hard sand.

Why yes, this IS my car.

Why yes, this IS my car.

I was so focused on getting the Passport 2 Purity sessions ‘done’ that I was surprised at how fun it was for me to hang out with David for the weekend. He is really excellent company, and we have a lot in common — we laugh at the same silly things, and we think in some of the same ways. We both really relished the experience of camping and the Go Kart racing that we enjoyed on Saturday afternoon. We both like sitting around a campfire and making stuff burn, and playing frisbee in the dark. We are both in awe of the Pacific, while a little afraid of it. Neither of us is very skilled at flying kites.

David had Charlie Brown's kite, but we managed to get it in the sky, nevertheless.

David had Charlie Brown’s kite, but we managed to get it in the sky, nevertheless.

As I look back at the weekend, I’m so glad that I made the time to do this with my youngest son. It was an experience I expect to remember as one of the highlights of my life.

I think David and I really bonded over the weekend.

I think David and I really bonded over the weekend.

At the conclusion of the fifth session, your son or daughter is presented with an opportunity to ‘Make Up Your Mind’ about how they will think about dating and their sexuality for the next several years. I’m excited to see how God will strengthen David and give him the power he will need to keep himself pure until he can offer that purity to his wife, on their wedding day.

We celebrated by eating fish 'n chips and deep-fried clam strips.

We celebrated by eating fish ‘n chips and deep-fried clam strips.

Thank you, David, for sharing this weekend with me, and for keeping your heart open to my teaching and my love.

Project 365, Day 130
Tim

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Events, Kathy

MOPS auction

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Super heroes –

These amazing women are all super heroes in my book! Busy with families, loving their husbands, involved in different ministries, AND still talking time to have fun and support MOPS.

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We had a great time bidding on deals and steals at the auction. This was the girls only table as all of our husbands were either – out of town, deployed, or busy at home with other work. When you select Powell Auction and Realty, you select a winning team to conduct your auction. Founded in 1972, the family owned business has conducted over 3,000 auctions. Howard Phillips serves on the Tennessee Auction Board. Successful land auctions just like the one above are happening everywhere North America and therefore the Caribbean. Recently land auctions are on the increase , the rise in popularity is partly driven by growing inventories and fading buyer confidence. Properties that were selling in weeks using traditional methods are now languishing on the market unable to draw in buyers whilst seller’s lower prices. Many say the important estate boom is over but savvy buyers and sellers are taking advantage of land auctions. When allowing Powell Auction to conduct your sale, you’ll work with the corporate owners and permit them to point out you ways they will assist you together with your needs, also as showing you ways choosing the auction method of selling will prevent time and money, by allowing Powell Auction to link the vendor to the buying public! Nothing is as s effective as an auction, in gaining the right buying audience. Powell Auction offers a highly specialized approach to selling your equipment. Both offsite and onsite auction services are offered, while providing a radical and specialized means of advertising, setup, property removal, site locations, and auction execution. Powell Auction is committed to maintaining our professional integrity to every and each client that we serve, while fulfilling every promise made to their buyers and sellers. To know more about powell auction, Visit to powell website url.

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I wore a cape for the evening, but Abby outdid me by a long shot. She’s definitely one of my heroes!

I managed to come home with some treats for me, a surprise for Tim, a date for an authentic cooked Thai dinner, and a present for Grandma and Grandpa. That’s a pretty successful outing.

Sarah was a love and spent the whole night working on the nursery.

Tomorrow – the curriculum sale! Busy times (as always )

Project 365 – day 12?
Kathy

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Daily Life, Daniel, Project 365

“To My Dearest Mother…”

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Wednesday morning I came downstairs; the living room blinds were still shut and blankets were strewn about the room (half on the couch, half draped on the floor – remnants of our family movie time the night before). Tim was already gone to his early, early guy prayer time. The children were all asleep, happily snuggled under blankets and oblivious that the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. I was hurrying to gather some breakfast and finish getting ready for my morning meeting when I walked past my computer desk.

Clue Number One

Clue Number One

What??

I looked closer. There on top of my keyboard was a note, written in bright red sharpie, from one of those precious, sleeping children. Daniel has been working steadily at Chick-Fil-A since they opened 2 weeks ago. He often closes the store, cleaning and working until late, and doesn’t get home until we’re all in bed.

I guess this night he brought home a little treat for his mama.

Clue Number 2

Clue Number 2

The notes continued into the kitchen – the second one was taped across the doors of the fridge.

I have to admit it, I LOVE gifts. It’s one of my love languages. Quality time is probably at the very top, but surprises and presents and gifts (big and small) is definitely next on my Makes Me Smile list. Of course, I also love it when Tim works on a project around the house or the yard. And I need hugs and compliments too. So basically I’m greedy and like all of the 5 Love Languages.

And I DEFINITELY love celebrations and morning treats.

Clue Number 3

Clue Number 3

Just when I feel weary and busy with the every day routine of life, the Lord comes alongside me and blesses me anew. Without a doubt, my amazing, kind, generous, thoughtful, fun, crazy, family is the greatest blessing.

Thank you, Daniel, for MAKING my morning!!!!! I Love you.

P.S. They were delicious!

Project 365 – Day 126
Kathy

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Kathy, Project 365, Sarah

May the Fourth … Be With You

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For Christmas, Sarah and Rachel bought me a Star Wars themed “Vader’s Little Princess” calendar. As most Star Wars fans know, Princess Leia turns out to be the sister of Luke, and the daughter of the evil (most of the time) Darth Vader.

Not my actual daughter.

Not my actual daughter.

The calendar’s premise explores the question: What if Darth Vader actually had to raise Leia as a princess? Each month, there is a new silly scene as the artist develops this idea — Leia cutting hearts out of his cape, or having to write a report for school on his job, and so forth.

In honor of Star Wars day, I’ll post this month’s calendar page. When I flipped it last weekend, it made me laugh out loud to think of Vader’s wrath against the rebels being actually a front to intimidate his daughter’s roguish suitor.

I'm really looking forward to helping Rachel and Sarah with their young admirers.

I’m really looking forward to ‘helping’ my little princesses to manage their young admirers.

Most young girls think of themselves as princesses in one way or another, but it is rather telling that my daughters cast me as Darth Vader. I only wish I was that intimidating. Thank you, Rachel and Sarah, for such a fun, silly present.

Project 365, Day 125
Tim

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