A Social Media Fast {REPOST}

{This is a repost from previous Wednesday. It will be posted each week during the duration of my fast!}

A lot has been going on in our house lately.
I mean a LOT!
Since I began my maternity leave on December 1 it feels as if our lives have been in constant motion. Okay don't misunderstand me. I know that life continually moves and develops and progresses but it is as if someone has pressed the fast foward button and I can't keep up! I'm not sure if it was even possible this last month and a half!
Now that 2013 has begun it has caused me (like almost everyone else!) to take a moment and reevaluate our lives at the moment.
Originally this was to be the year I ran my first marathon! BUT...two pregnancies have pushed that date back a little into the unknown future! It will happen however!
There is more to it than just that though. There are many areas of my life besides fitness that have taken a back burner in the daily struggle to just keep up. Areas of my life that should have been in the front at all times.
"For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" Luke 12:34

Our pastor has asked that as a congregation we take part in a 21 day fast. You can fast anything or everything. There are different degrees of fasting but the most important is not the type of fast you partake in but your state of heart in doing so.
Originally I had decided to skip this fast. I figured since I was breastfeeding I had already cut out so much of my diet and needed to maintain a healthy diet for LJ.
Yet, I could feel God working on my heart. I knew there were areas of my life that needed some serious attention. Mainly my marriage and my home life.
I thought by now my children would be in a nice routine. Hubby Dearest and I would be settled and I would be preparing to return to work. All the while having thrown myself full force into my training.
How naive I have been! There is NO routine in my house right now! I'm talking zip, zadda big fat NADDA! Heck, I don't even think I have a shower routine further than get clean right now! And it shows in the kids. LJ doesn't have a sleep pattern. It's either he sleeps good or not at all! Lil Mister is all over the place (especially with tantrums!) and goes to bed whenever he falls asleep and takes a nap if he is willing. There was a 3 day period in which our brother Q visited and Lil Mister ate NOTHING except ice cream, candy and chips! God help us!
And most of all my poor Hubby is getting so little of my attention. Because the kids aren't in a routine, I can never predict when I can spend time with him. Then by the time I get anything accomplished in the house another kid needs my attention and Hubby is left to his own. He deserves better from me!
1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

The more I looked at the state of my home life and my marriage (or what seems a lack thereof) the more I realized I needed more of God in my life. See...that too is suffering! I'm so exhausted because I'm chasing my own tail most days that I have been slipping on going to church (please let us not discuss my daily devotions :-[ ). I'm embarrassed as to how far I've slipped backwards.
So there I sat....feeding LJ (of course...I spend 50% of my time doing that!) and allowing the Spirit to work in me. Then what do I do....I take out my phone and log into my Google Reader because there are a pile of blogs that need read! I gasped...I couldn't believe what I was doing.
I'd cut off the most important person in my life (GOD!) for social media. I started thinking about it. How much time do I spend on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs a day? I realized that if you added up all the times I just "quickly" check everything I was easily on these sites 5 plus hours a day! Everytime I feed LJ I log on. Heaven forbid I miss what nonsense the Kardashians are spewing across Twitter or fail to upload a photo to Facebook. Oh and don't forget all you lovely ladies out there pounding out amazing posts day in and day out! I must be loyal to you as well!
But what is happening during this time? Nothing....Lil Mister is watching TV. LJ is feining my attention and love. Hubby Dearest is wanting a conversation. And God...well God is knocking at the door of my heart!!
I was....I am ashamed of myself.
So I put aside my phone and listened to God speak to my heart. How important is a healthy relationship with my husband to me? How much do I want to set an example for my children? How well can I be a mother and a wife without God's guidance?? Oh....Lord....I am so sorry. Why have I let myself get so deep?
I remember as a young teenager if I would start to become to 'obsessed' with something normally my parents would ration me off. Like when I hit 1000 sms in one month...my phone was taken. When at the age of 12 I covered EVERY square inch of my walls with Aaron Carter posters...my parents took them down and took his cd's. When I started drinking at 16... my parents grounded me.
So I thought harder about how to be more involved and structured in my home.
Then God asked again....how important is all of this to you?
The answer is easy....more than anything else in the world my family is number one. They're needs and priorties and even wants come before all else.
Then God hit the nail on the head and drove it straight into my heart. How important is social media to you? Because you spend more time and energy there than with your family. Even when you aren't online you're thinking about it. Drafting blogs in your head. Wondering about Tweets and pondering status'.
So there it was. I was going to fast. Nope not food. But social media!
I need more of God in my life and my children and husband need more of my undivided attention in theirs!
Social media isn't bad (nor is chocolate or wine!) but it does need to be rationed.
So for 21 days I am fasting. I will take 30 minutes each day to do my hops and only if both kids are asleep and Hubby Dearest is either working or asleep too!!
During this time I will not be posting or reading on Twitter or Facebook. Neither will I be on my Google Reader (I'm scared what a mess that will look like after 3 weeks!). Although I will check email because of work and it is how I communicate with my parents, I will not be reading my subscriptions!
Please if you are reading this as a follower or through a hop, I vow on all that is bloggy responding to all of your lovely comments will be my first order of buisness when I return!!
I have a few posts scheduled over the next 3 weeks so I'll still be showing up for you!!
I will be replacing my internet time with reading my Bible, praying, reading stories to Lil Mister, spending quality time with Hubby Dearest, or just enjoying a moment with LJ. This is time to recenter my focus and my family and get my priorities in line. I pray that not only will this improve my structure and quality time at home with my family but when I return it will also improve the quality of my blog!

Continue praying for us and I'll see you in 1 week!

(verse 6) “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
(7) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Benefits of fasting
(verse 8) "Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9) Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
(Isaiah 58:6–9)

Shana..

A Social Media Fast {REPOST}

{This is a repost from previous Wednesday. It will be posted each week during the duration of my fast!}
A lot has been going on in our house lately.

I mean a LOT!
Since I began my maternity leave on December 1 it feels as if our lives have been in constant motion. Okay don't misunderstand me. I know that life continually moves and develops and progresses but it is as if someone has pressed the fast foward button and I can't keep up! I'm not sure if it was even possible this last month and a half!
Now that 2013 has begun it has caused me (like almost everyone else!) to take a moment and reevaluate our lives at the moment.
Originally this was to be the year I ran my first marathon! BUT...two pregnancies have pushed that date back a little into the unknown future! It will happen however!
There is more to it than just that though. There are many areas of my life besides fitness that have taken a back burner in the daily struggle to just keep up. Areas of my life that should have been in the front at all times.
 "For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" Luke 12:34
Our pastor has asked that as a congregation we take part in a 21 day fast. You can fast anything or everything. There are different degrees of fasting but the most important is not the type of fast you partake in but your state of heart in doing so.
Originally I had decided to skip this fast. I figured since I was breastfeeding I had already cut out so much of my diet and needed to maintain a healthy diet for LJ.
Yet, I could feel God working on my heart. I knew there were areas of my life that needed some serious attention. Mainly my marriage and my home life.
I thought by now my children would be in a nice routine. Hubby Dearest and I would be settled and I would be preparing to return to work. All the while having thrown myself full force into my training.
How naive I have been! There is NO routine in my house right now! I'm talking zip, zadda big fat NADDA! Heck, I don't even think I have a shower routine further than get clean right now! And it shows in the kids. LJ doesn't have a sleep pattern. It's either he sleeps good or not at all! Lil Mister is all over the place (especially with tantrums!) and goes to bed whenever he falls asleep and takes a nap if he is willing. There was a 3 day period in which our brother Q visited and Lil Mister ate NOTHING except ice cream, candy and chips! God help us!
And most of all my poor Hubby is getting so little of my attention. Because the kids aren't in a routine, I can never predict when I can spend time with him. Then by the time I get anything accomplished in the house another kid needs my attention and Hubby is left to his own. He deserves better from me!

1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 18 helpful votes
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

The more I looked at the state of my home life and my marriage (or what seems a lack thereof) the more I realized I needed more of God in my life. See...that too is suffering! I'm so exhausted because I'm chasing my own tail most days that I have been slipping on going to church (please let us not discuss my daily devotions :-[ ). I'm embarrassed as to how far I've slipped backwards.
So there I sat....feeding LJ (of course...I spend 50% of my time doing that!) and allowing the Spirit to work in me. Then what do I do....I take out my phone and log into my Google Reader because there are a pile of blogs that need read! I gasped...I couldn't believe what I was doing.
I'd cut off the most important person in my life (GOD!) for social media. I started thinking about it. How much time do I spend on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs a day? I realized that if you added up all the times I just "quickly" check everything I was easily on these sites 5 plus hours a day! Everytime I feed LJ I log on. Heaven forbid I miss what nonsense the Kardashians are spewing across Twitter or fail to upload a photo to Facebook. Oh and don't forget all you lovely ladies out there pounding out amazing posts day in and day out! I must be loyal to you as well!
But what is happening during this time? Nothing....Lil Mister is watching TV. LJ is feining my attention and love. Hubby Dearest is wanting a conversation. And God...well God is knocking at the door of my heart!!
I was....I am ashamed of myself.
So I put aside my phone and listened to God speak to my heart. How important is a healthy relationship with my husband to me? How much do I want to set an example for my children? How well can I be a mother and a wife without God's guidance?? Oh....Lord....I am so sorry. Why have I let myself get so deep?
 I remember as a young teenager if I would start to become to 'obsessed' with something normally my parents would ration me off. Like when I hit 1000 sms in one month...my phone was taken. When at the age of 12 I covered EVERY square inch of my walls with Aaron Carter posters...my parents took them down and took his cd's. When I started drinking at 16... my parents grounded me.
So I thought harder about how to be more involved and structured in my home.
Then God asked again....how important is all of this to you?
The answer is easy....more than anything else in the world my family is number one. They're needs and priorties and even wants come before all else.
Then God hit the nail on the head and drove it straight into my heart. How important is social media to you? Because you spend more time and energy there than with your family. Even when you aren't online you're thinking about it. Drafting blogs in your head. Wondering about Tweets and pondering status'.
So there it was. I was going to fast. Nope not food. But social media!
I need more of God in my life and my children and husband need more of my undivided attention in theirs!
Social media isn't bad (nor is chocolate or wine!) but it does need to be rationed.
 So for 21 days I am fasting. I will take 30 minutes each day to do my hops and only if both kids are asleep and Hubby Dearest is either working or asleep too!!
During this time I will not be posting or reading on Twitter or Facebook. Neither will I be on my Google Reader (I'm scared what a mess that will look like after 3 weeks!). Although I will check email because of work and it is how I communicate with my parents, I will not be reading my subscriptions!
Please if you are reading this as a follower or through a hop, I vow on all that is bloggy responding to all of your lovely comments will be my first order of buisness when I return!!
I have a few posts scheduled over the next 3 weeks so I'll still be showing up for you!!
I will be replacing my internet time with reading my Bible, praying, reading stories to Lil Mister, spending quality time with Hubby Dearest, or just enjoying a moment with LJ. This is time to recenter my focus and my family and get my priorities in line. I pray that not only will this improve my structure and quality time at home with my family but when I return it will also improve the quality of my blog!

Continue praying for us and I'll see you in 2 weeks!

(verse 6) “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
(7) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Benefits of fasting
(verse 8) "Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9) Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
(Isaiah 58:6–9)

Shana..

Lil Mister turned 2!!

Okay...I'm sure every mom says this but...
it really does seem like it was just yesterday that I was holding my Lil Mister for the first time!
Now he's 2!!

It hardly seems possible or real! He is changing more and more by the day. I can't believe how large his vocab has become. Nor that he is doing so well in BOTH languages.
He is an amazing big brother and has put all my fears aside.
I'm proud to be his mommy!
As he gets older though, my fears for his life become stronger. I worry about this world that he is growing up in. I fret over the opportunities both good and bad that will come his way. I wonder about the people that he will cross paths with. I envision the roads he will choose to walk.
I pray every day and every night that I am raising him to be the man God set him to be. I pray that I am doing my role and that I am making him proud to be my son!
I've tried many times to think of the words to say all that I feel about being a mother, but I believe that one song does it best.

Shana..

Fitness Friday {3}

Recap 7 January- 13 January:

Jan 7: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout
I got in the walk/run. The workout unfortunately was missed because the kids were running a muk when I got back to the house! Hubby Dearest must still get used to being alone with both kids! ;-) I guess I must alotte for a time of adjustment for him as well! Definetly realized I need better sports bras! The girls are much bigger with me breast feeding and I need support I didn't use to need! ;-)
Jan 8: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout
Again the run was a success! I was super into it and even pushed myself a little faster than I expected. Understand I'm not running at a fast pace or even the full time. It is a walk warm up then run one minute walk one minute rotations. Each run I add one more rotation. I got in half of my workout before the children were needing my attention again!
Jan 9: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
I did manage to squeeze in a short yoga session but not the 30 minutes.
Jan 10: 20 minutes walk/run
This is where everything went wrong! Friends stopped by our house just as I was to be heading out for my run. Run was postponed until Friday morning!
Jan 11: 20 minutes abs workout
Unfortunately (actually we really needed this so it was a blessing!) we woke up to big thunderstorms and since I don't own a treadmill my run was postponed again! Yet, we had plans to braai Friday night again so another day of no training :-/
Jan 12: 20 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga
Again this was a flop. I'm very disappointed in myself but I believe I set my expectations too high. Physically I feel I can handle the plan but schedule wise I wanted to much too quickly. This is a time of adjustment for my entire family and I need to be consious of the changes for them as well. However, I need to remember that this is the one thing that is strictly for me that I do and need to make it more of a priority!
Future outlook:
I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.
I’ve added in an additional strength workout on Thursdays this week. I plan to keep up the 4 days double a week.
As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 21: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute yoga aerobics
Jan 22: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute full body workout
Jan 23: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
Jan 24: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minute yoga aerobics
Jan 25: 30 minute full body workout
Jan 26: 30 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy
Mommy With Her Running Shoes On

Shana..

A Social Media Fast

A lot has been going on in our house lately.

I mean a LOT!

Since I began my maternity leave on December 1 it feels as if our lives have been in constant motion. Okay don't misunderstand me. I know that life continually moves and develops and progresses but it is as if someone has pressed the fast foward button and I can't keep up! I'm not sure if it was even possible this last month and a half!

Now that 2013 has begun it has caused me (like almost everyone else!) to take a moment and reevaluate our lives at the moment.

Originally this was to be the year I ran my first marathon! BUT...two pregnancies have pushed that date back a little into the unknown future! It will happen however!

There is more to it than just that though. There are many areas of my life besides fitness that have taken a back burner in the daily struggle to just keep up. Areas of my life that should have been in the front at all times.

"For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also" Luke 12:34

Our pastor has asked that as a congregation we take part in a 21 day fast. You can fast anything or everything. There are different degrees of fasting but the most important is not the type of fast you partake in but your state of heart in doing so.

Originally I had decided to skip this fast. I figured since I was breastfeeding I had already cut out so much of my diet and needed to maintain a healthy diet for LJ.

Yet, I could feel God working on my heart. I knew there were areas of my life that needed some serious attention. Mainly my marriage and my home life.

I thought by now my children would be in a nice routine. Hubby Dearest and I would be settled and I would be preparing to return to work. All the while having thrown myself full force into my training.

How naive I have been! There is NO routine in my house right now! I'm talking zip, zadda big fat NADDA! Heck, I don't even think I have a shower routine further than get clean right now! And it shows in the kids. LJ doesn't have a sleep pattern. It's either he sleeps good or not at all! Lil Mister is all over the place (especially with tantrums!) and goes to bed whenever he falls asleep and takes a nap if he is willing. There was a 3 day period in which our brother Q visited and Lil Mister ate NOTHING except ice cream, candy and chips! God help us!

And most of all my poor Hubby is getting so little of my attention. Because the kids aren't in a routine, I can never predict when I can spend time with him. Then by the time I get anything accomplished in the house another kid needs my attention and Hubby is left to his own. He deserves better from me!

1 Timothy 2:1-2 ESV / 18 helpful votes

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

The more I looked at the state of my home life and my marriage (or what seems a lack thereof) the more I realized I needed more of God in my life. See...that too is suffering! I'm so exhausted because I'm chasing my own tail most days that I have been slipping on going to church (please let us not discuss my daily devotions :-[ ). I'm embarrassed as to how far I've slipped backwards.
So there I sat....feeding LJ (of course...I spend 50% of my time doing that!) and allowing the Spirit to work in me. Then what do I do....I take out my phone and log into my Google Reader because there are a pile of blogs that need read! I gasped...I couldn't believe what I was doing.
I'd cut off the most important person in my life (GOD!) for social media. I started thinking about it. How much time do I spend on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs a day? I realized that if you added up all the times I just "quickly" check everything I was easily on these sites 5 plus hours a day! Everytime I feed LJ I log on. Heaven forbid I miss what nonsense the Kardashians are spewing across Twitter or fail to upload a photo to Facebook. Oh and don't forget all you lovely ladies out there pounding out amazing posts day in and day out! I must be loyal to you as well!
But what is happening during this time? Nothing....Lil Mister is watching TV. LJ is feining my attention and love. Hubby Dearest is wanting a conversation. And God...well God is knocking at the door of my heart!!
I was....I am ashamed of myself.
So I put aside my phone and listened to God speak to my heart. How important is a healthy relationship with my husband to me? How much do I want to set an example for my children? How well can I be a mother and a wife without God's guidance?? Oh....Lord....I am so sorry. Why have I let myself get so deep?
I remember as a young teenager if I would start to become to 'obsessed' with something normally my parents would ration me off. Like when I hit 1000 sms in one month...my phone was taken. When at the age of 12 I covered EVERY square inch of my walls with Aaron Carter posters...my parents took them down and took his cd's. When I started drinking at 16... my parents grounded me.
So I thought harder about how to be more involved and structured in my home.
Then God asked again....how important is all of this to you?
The answer is easy....more than anything else in the world my family is number one. They're needs and priorties and even wants come before all else.
Then God hit the nail on the head and drove it straight into my heart. How important is social media to you? Because you spend more time and energy there than with your family. Even when you aren't online you're thinking about it. Drafting blogs in your head. Wondering about Tweets and pondering status'.
So there it was. I was going to fast. Nope not food. But social media!
I need more of God in my life and my children and husband need more of my undivided attention in theirs!
Social media isn't bad (nor is chocolate or wine!) but it does need to be rationed.
So for 21 days I am fasting. I will take 30 minutes each day to do my hops and only if both kids are asleep and Hubby Dearest is either working or asleep too!!
During this time I will not be posting or reading on Twitter or Facebook. Neither will I be on my Google Reader (I'm scared what a mess that will look like after 3 weeks!). Although I will check email because of work and it is how I communicate with my parents, I will not be reading my subscriptions!
Please if you are reading this as a follower or through a hop, I vow on all that is bloggy responding to all of your lovely comments will be my first order of buisness when I return!!
I have a few posts scheduled over the next 3 weeks so I'll still be showing up for you!!
I will be replacing my internet time with reading my Bible, praying, reading stories to Lil Mister, spending quality time with Hubby Dearest, or just enjoying a moment with LJ. This is time to recenter my focus and my family and get my priorities in line. I pray that not only will this improve my structure and quality time at home with my family but when I return it will also improve the quality of my blog!
Continue praying for us and I'll see you in 3 weeks!

(verse 6) “Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?
(7) Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"

Benefits of fasting
(verse 8) "Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
9) Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."
(Isaiah 58:6–9)

Shana..

You just can't believe it....

So I’ve done it!

I know you thought I wouldn’t, but I do enjoy proving people wrong.
Oh, you of little faith.
How could you ever doubt me?

I get it. You thought I was different. You figured I wasn’t the type to follow a trend. You assumed that I was the one who would buck tradition.

Well....you were wrong!
Sorry.
Actually I’m not sorry. Not even a little bit!

I wanted to do it since I first stumbled upon blogging. It is what got me interested to begin with. No, it’s not about popularity.

Simply put, it is because of this gold mine that I even learnt how in love with blogging I could be.

My first time I cried tears of joy and of pain. Nothing I’d ever read had evoked so much emotion, familiarity, empathy from my heart.

As I perused the virtual isles of other women (and some men) pouring their souls into what could only be described as an over sharing of highly personal information, I became lost and engorged in the idea that I, too, wanted to spill my wordfilled virtual guts out for all to read.

I had the idea that what I was writing was, well, just so darn necessary for my sanity that I needed to get it out there.

Someone had to know what I was going through. Someone out there had to be able to relate!

Then I hit the lull. I’ve fought through it. It hasn’t been easy. Bloggers block has taken me to some dark places. Lucky for all of you I’ve managed to keep them from your prying eyes. I fear the nightmares you would tell me about and the therapy bills that would find their ways to my inbox!

Yet, we’ve gotten through it. I’ve been at this for almost four months and well...you guys are still allowing me to! No getting booed of the virtual stage just yet I hope!

What is it I’ve done? Oh....I’m not sure you’re prepared. Okay if you insist. But you better say please!
What’s that?? Oh, please! Okay....I’ve...
I’ve....
I’ve....
I’ve joined Top Mommy Blogs!! Hehe YAY!

See that little banner down at the bottom. Yea that one right there!!! Go clickity click all over that bad boy! You know you want to....just touch it....just once....a day. Help a sister out!

Oh and while you’re at it you can clickity click on that google+ and facebook/twitter tabs too! Oh yea....it feels good doesn’t it! ;-)

Shana..

Little Person , Big Future

I thought I was emotional during pregnancy but it was nothing compared to how I’ve been feeling since giving birth! I had forgotten the floods that hit you when you have a newborn in the house.

It is more than just the unbelievable fact that this little person came from me. It is more than knowing that I am completely responsible for another life. It is more than wondering what type of person this little child will grow into.

This is a deep, tugging emotion. It is one that draws on the very strength I keep as a mother. It is a desire for my child’s future.

Yes, you read correctly, desire. I’m not interested in rushing to the future if that is the impression you have received.

No, I am yet a typical mother who in a moment of weakness will admit to wishing my children would stay small forever (then Lil Mister flies into a academy award winning tantrum and LJ provides me with an 8^th dirty nappy for the day; in which case I come back to my senses and scream inside ‘WHEN WILL IT END?’)

What I desire about their future is not the completion of it but the experience of it. I desire that they know every joy this life can offer them. I wish that they know of no fears when it comes to chasing their dreams. I long to see them achieve personal greatness whether that is being financially successful, finding true love, or becoming a missionary.

But this world always has a way of slapping reality on us in our moments.

I’ve not blogged about what happened in Connecticut simply because I have nothing to really say over the matter that hasn’t been said already. It isn’t that I don’t feel anything for the loss and tragedy but my words merely do not add to the healing process.

This situation did strike home with me despite living so far away. I look back over the years and wonder what has become of the world and where are we headed (by the way if we’re reading this then the world DID NOT END! ;-])

The tragedy I’ve witnessed in my lifetime is probably no worse or any better than that of previous generations but I do believe it is on a different level.

I remember the Colombine shooting and the Oklahoma bombing being those of the first murder-suicides to really affect my generation. There’s been the twin towers and the thousands lost in war. We’ve had numerous school shootings since then and now a terrible attack on a generation not even old enough to understand. I don’t think any of us are ever old enough to understand.

How can I possibly lead my children into a desirable future in a world that is so undesirable?

I’m not sure I’ll have the answers anytime soon. I am sure however that I’ll spend many more hours over the next many years simply staring at my children trying to figure out if I’m leading them in the right direction.

I’ll spend countless nights praying tears of protection over them and their lives. I’ll spend ridiculous amounts of time filtering what they see via TV and internet and what they hear through the radios. I’ll weed through their friends even when they are embarrassed by my choices and I’ll ensure that they know what is acceptable in our home.

However, all of this will be left to them each day that they step out of my door. Each moment that they are no longer within my physical reach I will be praying to God that they are making the right choices and that I have prepared them to the best of their abilities.

So as LJ sleeps I look to his tiny feet. I ask myself and God, where will these feet carry him? They seem so small yet the future seems so big. Will I have raised him to stand firmly? Will I have raised him to walk in the right directions?

I look to his tiny hands. I think that one day these hands will be used by God to do great things. They will provide a home for him and his family. They will provide love for a wife and protection for a child. They will provide hope for a stranger. They will provide God for a sinner.

I look to my tiny child and pray that I raise him from a little person to a big future. I pray that I will carry him through the dark times and teach him to always seek the light. I pray that I will accept that I cannot always protect him but that I know I will have always done everything I could.

Shana..

Fitness Friday {2}

I find myself through the first couple weeks of my new fitness plans. I assure you that it is more difficult than I had imagined (I’m a glass half full girl!) but I’m coping well! You’re probably eager to hear about how week one went?? Well...

Recap 31 December- 6 January:
It wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. My plans were to walk everyday and get in 2 workouts. I only got in 1 workout and walked twice. It is harder than I imagined to get the kids into a routine. I have a feeling this is going to take a few weeks to get down right. LJ was doing excellent since birth at feeding. His timing was perfect for me to get in an early run. However, now that I wanted to begin training again he has moved his routine around completely and is cluster feeding from 4am to about 10am! I can’t get him settled long enough for me to be out the door! I’m holding thumbs for the future weeks!
I will say my motivation is good. I’m eager to get out there and love the feeling I have once I’m done. It is bringing back a lot of memories and I enjoy that I feel I’m setting a good example about a healthy lifestyle for my children! I’m rewarding myself with ice cream since my usual Sunday night glass of wine as a reward for meeting my goals is out the window what with breastfeeding and all! ;-)
Future outlook:
I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.

As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 14: 25 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout
Jan 15: 25 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout
Jan 16: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga
Jan 17: 25 minutes walk/run
Jan 18: 20 minutes abs workout
Jan 19: 25 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!



Shana..

TT-The Winter that wasn't...was

If you didn’t already know, I’m living in South Africa. And if you didn’t know this then you better be new to my page....otherwise I’m going all ape on your butt! How can you be reading me each week and not know that I’m living in Boere central (I mean really, I live in a place where my boss gave me an entire Rooibok (Impala) butchered and packaged as a Christmas bonus! Shit is real here!)

But no, I haven’t always lived here. In a couple of mere months I will be making my four year mark in this country.

I lived in central Illinois in the grand ol’ United States of the Americas! (You read it right....!)

I prepared for months to come to South Africa but when I finally made the move it was more of a split second decision.

I had nothing packed or planned to pack but learnt that tickets were cheap...really cheap....for a few days and said that’s it I’m leaving (....on a jet plane du da du da du).

I phoned my Hubby Dearest (when he was still Future Hubby Dearest!) and asked what exactly (meaning stay on the phone as I give you a complete detailed run down of each item) I needed to pack.

Remember, Hubby Dearest has been to America. He started his 9 months in Miami in March then travelled to Chicago in time for the last snow of the year! He spent most of his time in the Midwest finally reaching down into Arkansas in November. I would say 80% of his time was spent in warm and sometimes very hot weather and areas. What little he did experience of a Chicago winter was traumatizing to him!

After having said winter experience he assumed (the mother of all f*** ups!) that what cold I would feel in South Africa would be a walk in the park for me. He assures me many times over that I need to only pack summer clothes and a little bit of spring/autumn clothes. He said bring like 1 pair of jeans and a hoodie just in case. Otherwise it was summer all the way!

I had done some research on South Africa and knew the temperatures that they typically experienced here but still trusted Hubby Dearest because he lived here! He’d know more about what it actually felt like.

For instance, the temperature today is cooler than the average August day in central Illinois but I’m dying from heat exhaustion because of the sheer depth of the humidity!

Back to the point. It was -11 degrees the day I boarded the airplane to leave. I left my coat in the car with my friend and walked in with slops, jeans, a tank top, and a light cotton shawl. People thought I was crazy, but I figured heck it’s the end of summer in Durban!

Since I only packed summer clothes my luggage had decreased tremendously too! I love that summer clothes take up such a less amount of space!

Needless to say the first two months I was in South Africa it was hot. It was ridiculously hot some days. I had the perfect wardrobe and since we practically lived on the beach it wasn’t necessary for so much clothing! I figured I’d build up a wonderful, beach inspired, swimsuit flooded wardrobe over the next couple of years.

We were married in June of that year and the temperatures had already started dropping.

Temperatures dropped to the point I was shaking! I watched as my husband and friends walked around in slops and swim trunks in the middle of the day when it was 15 C outside. Meanwhile I’m considering hibernating!

I had nothing!! I did follow Hubby Dearest guidance and brought only one hoodie and a pair of jeans! I had no winter pajamas!

To be honest, it really wasn’t so much winter! Yes it was cool in the mornings and at night but during the day it was a beautiful spring temperatures. However, what Hubby Dearest failed to register is that we have central heating and insulated buildings/homes in the states. Both of these things do not exist here! At least not regularly.

Houses are built of stone and do not have the insulated walls. There are no central heating units either. So when it is cold outside at night, it is also cold inside. No matter how many layers I put on I couldn’t get warmed up.

In the states, I was so used to being warm inside the house and buildings and therefore only felt the cold through my bundled up layers walking to and from my car.

Not here. Here...you just feel the cold. It seeps into your bones and makes a home there for....well about a month.

Yea, that is how long it really lasts. As we approach July, the temperatures drop and by middle August the temperatures are already warming up again. By October, you’re back swimming in the sea and pools....

Now for me...winter is nostalgic. I long to experience the first snow of the season with my children. I miss the anger as I step down into a pile of slush. I remember fondly watching the news like an addict praying they’ve closed schools. I want to break ice-sicles from the trees to eat.

I know that one winter back home and I’ll beg for the warmer weather, but for now the holidays are a little bit less and the heat a little more.

 

Shana..

Fitness Fridays Week 1

If you’ve been following me for a while or taken some time to look through previous posts you must have picked up on the FACT that getting back into shape after my pregnancy with LJ has been a big focus of mine.

If you haven’t realized this yet the what the heck is going on here?? Please take sometime and go over to that little tag bubble on the right. Yea the paragraph with all the random words! Click on some of them like fitness, healthy living, new me or running and get an idea of where I’m headed in life right now!

My health is pivotal to my family. How can I be a strong and motivational mother if I’m not taking care of myself? My physical health is so much more than just that. It affects my daily mood and life in every aspect. My mental and physical health are linked and so is yours!! Hehe

Let me make it clear, however, that I am NOT a fitness expert of any kind. Anything I say on here is clearly and strictly that of my own opinion and Google research! Please do not decide to go with what I’m doing here as a perfect program! I know that my plans will at some point prove faulty and changes will be made. This is a learning process for me as well.

You don’t need a degree in physical health though to get and keep yourself in shape! There is plenty of information out there via internet, magazines, books and doctors/professionals to get you in the right direction!

I’ve been cleared however to begin light physical activity. For me this is perfect because I am working on getting myself from the couch to the Comrades! No not in the next year (this is a long term goal!) but it starts now! Just over two weeks since my LJ was born! Yea, I’m a little gun-ho! It’s all good though.

So each Friday I’ll be asking you to put up with reading about how my previous week has gone and what I’ll be doing in the next week. I’m doing this both as a journal and tracker for myself as well as that I want some encouragement along the way!

I also hope to encourage a few others to get out there and do it too! As someone who has been sitting on her butt for the past year almost, I hope that other women see that we can make huge changes by taking small steps at a time! By providing details about both the positives and negatives; ups and downs; and the victories and failures, I hope that others can see they aren’t alone in the struggle for physical dominance! ;-)

My recaps will be a week behind. For instance, my plans started December 31 but since we are still in this week the recap will be next Friday. The post on the 11^th will contain nothing of the week from December 7. However, I will include my plans for the week of the 14^th! A little confusing but you’ll fall into the routine quickly! ;-)

I am a firm believer that if you are unhappy with yourself then you are the only one who can change it! I’ve had such weight variations since moving to South Africa that I made it my mission to get myself under control and achieve a personal feat! I will write a post about why the Comrades and what it means to me.

Future outlook:

I’ve acquired a plan via Womens Health about getting yourself running 30 minutes in 30 days. You can check it out here for more details to how the plan works. I’ve incorporated this into my plans along with some strength training.

As I’ve said, these are my goals. Everything is subject to change based on how my mind and body copes.

Jan 7: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes full body workout

Jan 8: 20 minutes walk/run; 20 minutes abs workout

Jan 9: Semi-rest day 30 minutes yoga

Jan 10: 20 minutes walk/run

Jan 11: 20 minutes abs workout

Jan 12: 20 minutes walk/run; 30 minutes yoga

Wish me luck and stay tuned next week!

If you’re at all interested in what I’m doing or getting yourself back into shape can I please encourage you to check out two of my favourite mommy runners! These women love being mommies and their health and they continually inspire me!

RunFasterMommy

Mommy WithHer Running Shoes On

Shana..

Lil Mister's Peanut Butter Cookies

This morning Lil Mister and I decided we would make cookies.

He is a huge fan of helping Mommy in the kitchen and I thought it was a great activity to do while LJ slept a little!

I searched long and hard for a simple and quick recipe. To no avail however. Nothing seemed to quite hit the spot with what I was trying to achieve.

So I quickly created a simple cookie recipe and well, it turned out quite good!
I was going for a peanut butter cookie that would stay somewhat soft. These didn’t stay as soft as I wanted, but I’m beginning to give up hope on soft peanut butter cookies! Especially since I didn’t want to use butter!

 

Ingrediants:
1 c sugar
½ c flour
½ c peanut butter
1 egg
½ tbl oil
½ tsp baking powder

First we mixed the peanut butter, egg and sugar until the sugar was well dissolved. Then we added the rest of the ingrediants and continued to stir! So easy and simple. And not a lot of dishes!

I battled to get Lil Mister to let me put the dough on the baking sheet! He insisted on just eating it!

And since he is now having a visit over at Ouma’s house, I worry if his tummy isn’t feeling a little upset from the sugar and raw egg :-/

Eventually we got them in the oven though.

They baked for 15 min at 180C. They were still quite soft when taking them out and I let them cool. They still were a little crunchy so I might advise taking them out sooner!

We thoroughly enjoyed them however and strongly suggest you try them!
Lil Mister was so kind to even help clean up afterwards! ;-) Mommy score!

 

Shana..