It's New Year's Eve

It's New Year's Eve and I'm in the party mood.  Okay, not really.  I'm home on my couch watching a movie with my 11-year-old son, Josiah.  Nothing says Happy New Year like Star Wars right?! Samuel has been sick for 2 days, Josiah woke up sick today and I haven't felt well all day either.  We were supposed to go to a party tonight but with all the sickness in our house, I chose to stay home.  The rest of the family is out partying in the new year but that's just fine by me.  I'm not feeling left out at all. I've done enough partying over the past month (and especially over the past week) to last me quite some time.

Ever since Thanksgiving my efforts have been relaxed too much.  Some days I have the will power to watch my habits and other times I just don't care.  I haven't been caring much at all over the past couple of weeks.  We have had at least one party to go for 5 of the last 7 days.  I just need some time to get back into the groove of real life again.  I miss routine.  I miss vegetables. I miss tracking. I miss taking care of myself.  I miss sleep and normal bedtimes.

There is something to be said for routine and when mine comes back into my life I will be glad.  I know that it will not be easy though.  Even though I am looking forward to normal home school days again I know that it will be a challenge to enter into a mindful, healthy lifestyle again.  I do believe that is the key though.  It is a lifestyle that I have been striving for all these years.  A healthy lifestyle is not perfect day to day, week to week or even holiday to holiday.  It's a matter of balance.  My life is feeling off balance right now because of the lack of routine.  I need to work to bring it back into balance this week as we get back our normal lifestyle.

I've gained weight since Thanksgiving and Christmas. I indulged too much but since it's all a part of my life, I'm not beating myself up.  I'm getting myself back on track and the weight will come off in time. It may take a few weeks or even a couple of months.  That's not what's important either.  What's important is that I remember to take it one day at a time as I live this one healthy life that I have.

Happy New Year Everyone.  I hope 2013 is great to you.

Corinna

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." -1Peter 1:3

Party without Food?!?

Tis the season for parties.  Hence...'tis the season for buffet tables full of food.  Here's a thought for you.  What if you have a party without food being the center?  I know, I know, I'll give you a moment to compose yourself.  Ready?

Today I had a phone conversation with a friend of mine.  We were planning a get-together to see another friend and her family since they were in town for Christmas.  We decided to get our families together at 1pm.  That way we didn't have to eat a meal together and make the party more complicated than needed.  We wanted to see our friends and their families.  We wanted to have some time to catch up and talk with each other.  We wanted to get our kids together to run around and play.  We wanted to wish each other a Merry Christmas and share stories with each other about our lives.  We wanted to do all of these things so why do we need to involve a meal?  We decided that we didn't need a meal to do these things.  We just  needed each other and a place.

Our plan is simple.  We will meet at my friends' parents' house.  Thankfully, they are willing to have us since we will have a minimum of 11 kids and 6 adults.  We will eat lunch on our own before we come.  We will bring a small snack to share and we will feed our families dinner after we leave.  This way we accomplish our goal of visiting with our friends but no one is having to cook all morning before we meet or spend a bunch of money feeding us all.  I will admit that this was not my idea.  My friend came up with the idea and I love it.  I wish we could have more parties without food being the center of the entertainment.  We will be attending plenty of parties where there will be more food available than I should possibly partake so I am thankful to have one where I don't have to worry about all of the temptation surrounding me.

Think about doing this with some or one of the parties that you are going to schedule this season.  I think you will find it enlightening.

Have a great day and a great Christmas if I don't talk to you before then,

Corinna

"See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this; when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure." -1 John 1-3