Beauty on the Backroads

Stories of grace for life's unexpected turns

Archives for July 2011

First steps

The first week

Starting weight: 186.4

It’s been an exciting and challenging start to the My Loss Their Gain Campaign. Two good friends in the town where I live have pledged to join me on the journey, which is great from an accountability standpoint. Another friend from college has offered her fitness expertise and support. I’ve been humbled and inspired by the shows of support from family and friends and I’m looking forward to the process.
Fitness and nutrition highlights of this week:
  • Ordered a salad and baked potato at Wendy’s instead of a burger and fries and didn’t even miss them.
  • At our favorite Mexican restaurant in our hometown, I cut my burrito in half, saving a portion for lunch the next day, something I don’t think I’ve ever done there. And it was better the next day because I hadn’t stuffed myself the night before. Here’s the proof: 
  • On a make-your-own brownie sundae, I skipped extra chocolate sauce and whipped cream. At the same party, I didn’t have seconds on salads.
  • Ran 1.7 miles with my husband on Saturday morning.

Those were the successes. I had some failures, too. Like extra helpings of delicious food at a wedding reception. And a lot of snacks while driving 18 hours in the car on Thursday.

This week, too, will pose a challenge. I’m counseling at a Bible camp. Famously good food and lots of it. I’m praying for self-control and the chance to run a couple of times while I’m there. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

Until next week, chew on these comparisons: In Liberia, the life expectancy at birth is 57 years. In the U.S. it is 78.37. In Liberia, the median age is 18. In the U.S. it is 36.9. (Source: The CIA World Factbook.)

So much to say

It’s been the kind of day where things are coming together and life is good, and if you could read my thoughts, you’d hear something like this:

  • Meal time in the days leading up to vacation is an adventure. For lunch, yogurt, chips and salsa, raw veggies and ranch dressing. Dinner is shaping up to be “clean out the fridge” night. Wonder what I can make with applesauce, Greek yogurt, green olives and couscous. Hmm …
  • It’s amazing how much Isabelle has learned from just a few weeks of swimming lessons. She water runs through the pool, not really putting strokes and kicking together, but a month ago, she wouldn’t even let go of the teacher to “swim.” And Mommy and Daddy were superimpressed that the teacher grabbed her hand first to jump off the platform in the deep end because no one else wanted to do it. I’m not sure if it was bravery on Isabelle’s part or naiveté.
  • Making friends is fun. I exchanged numbers with another mom at swimming lessons today for a potential park playdate. I’m not the best at making friends. Awkward is a good way to describe it. I’m never sure if people want to be my friend as much as I want to be their friend. Sometimes I’m timid. Today encouraged me.
  • God knows exactly what I need. Illustration:

I’m an easy target for the sun’s rays, and I’m about to spend a week at Bible camp with high schoolers. Outside. In Illinois. In July. Notoriously the hottest week of the year. Baseball caps just don’t cut it for me anymore, so I’ve been keeping my eye out for something more wide-brimmed. My husband cringed when I told him what I wanted. I couldn’t pass up this beauty. $2 at the thrift store. Husband thinks it’s ridiculous. He’s right; ridiculously awesome.

  • I like taking advantage of deals to provide for my family. Bought $35 worth of clothes at  Kohl’s today and didn’t spend a dime of my own money. Then, found a few more things I needed for the fam at Dollar Tree. Spent less than $10. And besides the hat, bought a pair of shorts and two tank tops at the thrift store for less than $15. I’m not an extreme couponer, but I do think I’m a bargain hunter. Going to try to squeeze in one last hunt tomorrow at CVS.
  • Sometimes, there’s a good reason to get lost. On Friday, while following a friend to the park, we took a couple of wrong turns. We were never really lost, but my friend ended up leading us through some unfamiliar parts of town. Today, I needed those parts of town as I was redirected due to an accident and road construction.
  • Being neighborly takes time and effort, but it’s worth both. We’ve spent several of the last days chatting with our neighbors over the fence between our yard and having unplanned and unbusiness related conversations with our landlords (our other neighbors) when we’re all outside. It’s taken us 3 years to develop these relationships to this point, and in a year, we’ll be in a new neighborhood God-only-knows where. And even though I sometimes feel like we’re a bother or wasting their time, something inside of me sings when the kids feel comfortable enough to want these relationships in their lives.

Whew. No wonder I’m tired and sometimes talk to myself. One more day till we head for Illinois, where more adventure awaits.