A sign of Spring

One of the signs of Spring for me is my grandsons playing baseball.  I spent all day Saturday watching TJ play baseball.  It was sunny which was very nice but the breeze would blow down the valley in Warm Springs and really put a chill in the air.  One minute you are basking in the sun and the next your are pulling your coat around you tighter!!  But it didn't matter as I enjoyed the outing very much.  TJ was the catcher for several innings of each game of the double-header.  He also hit a double and if the runner ahead of him had run faster, TJ may have gotten on third base as he had to slow up heading to second waiting for the other runner to get past second and head to third.  Here are two pictures and a very quick video of MY most valuable player!!!

TJ catching.

 TJ  batting

Easter 2012

Happy Easter everyone!  HE IS RISEN!  Early this morning I let the dogs outside and heard quail and doves and chick-a-dees all singing praises to our Lord.  This is the first time I have heard them in the mornings.  Usually I hear them in the evening.  Singing for the day continued at the church worship service.  I was the alto in a trio and we sang 2 extra songs during the service - "Majesty", and "He is crowned with  many crowns".  It was so fun to sing praises in harmony.  Our weather was fairly good for a Central Oregon Easter - sunny with a slight chill.  Much nicer than usual.  After church, the Paster and his wife treated several people to an Easter dinner which was scrumptious and we had a great time of fellowship.  The day was topped of by having a new dress to wear!!

Fitness update

Update on my Fitness adventure - I have walked at least 30 minutes everyday since January 25th (only missing 6 days so far).  I lost 10 pounds, then Terry came home for a week and I gained 5 pounds back :(  We both feel like we are on vacation when he is home and when we are on vacation our favorite things to do is to go out to eat with our friends.  We also try to pack 2 weeks worth of "stuff" into just 4 days which doesn't leave much time for walking either.  So, after he left I lost 4 of the 5 pounds AGAIN, then went on a business trip.  That meant more eating out but managed to get in my walk each day.  I THOUGHT I was eating carefully but came back home with those same 5 pounds back!!  Terry reminded me that  I should measure inches lost instead of pounds and thankfully I have lost some inches!!  I am going to keep trying to keep trying :)  It was windy and cold today, threatening snow and took me a 1/2 hour to talk myself into taking the dogs for the walk.  But we did it and I am glad that I did not give in to the temptation of just sitting on the couch.  Will be going on another business trip very soon, so hope I can make progress this time instead of sliding backwards.

Snowy Road

On Sunday, I had to take Terry back to Portland, OR so he could go back to work.  It was snowy on the mountain pass on Hwy 26 through Government Camp.  Even though it was slow going (40 mph) on packed snow, it was still beautiful.  I came back home through The Dalles so I could be on bare pavement - but the snow blew in on Tuesday night so have had snowy roads in Central Oregon the last few days.

B & B Dog Inn

Bogey and Birdie have a new dog house constructed by Uncle Jim.  It's a stick built house with insulated wall, floor and roof.  It has blue stain pine exterior and 4 other types of wood including paneling on the interior walls and moulding throughout.  It also has simulated Italian river rock "tile", a teak ramp entry way and a covered porch.  It has 1/4" hard plastic foundation and the roof can be raised to give extra ventilation in the summer or to put in the required food and water dishes.  It has room for a heating pad (that is big enough for both dogs).  Bogey and Birdie are negotiating on whether there will be a flat screen TV on the wall or book shelves.  Uncle Jim did an awesome job managing the construction crew and Terry was the architect.  I was the general contractor explaining Bogey and Birdie's several change requests to the sub-contractor (Uncle Jim).  These changes slowed down the construction but they are pleased with the final result.  And just in time for a predicted snow/rain storm.

Got to get serious

UPDATE 2/18/12 - I have exercised at least 30 minutes every day since January 24th and only have skipped one day so far!!!  I have also lost about 8 pound so far.  This new life style is NOT a habit yet.  I still have to struggle each day to prioritize the time to exercise and I am always wanting to eat more.  But I am going to keep working each day to meet this new goal.

02/10/12 Got the results from my blood work lab test today.  Good news - liver and kidney functions are OK and blood sugar results are good.  Bad news - high cholesterol.  Wasn't surprised it was high since it is a hereditary problem in my family - Dad had it, Mom and sister have it.  What did surprise me is how high it is - 314.  Doc says it should be under 200.  Triglycerides are high and bad LDL is high with HDL too low.  Doc wanted to put me on pills but I talked her into letting me try diet and exercise for 3 months to see if I can get it down.  Several years ago, I went the low carb route and my numbers turned out good.  I need to lose weight too.  So I am going to have to get very serious about my diet and my exercise (30 minutes at least a day!)  It is going to have to be a high priority so I can have a good healthy "rest of my life" and so that I can enjoy my husband, kids and grandkids for many, many years.  Please put me on your prayer list that THIS TIME it will be a permanent habit and part of my life!
Dear Lord Jesus, Help me lean on you when I am tempted to sit on the couch and munch those snacks.  Holy Spirit, Help me listen to you when you say "Don't eat that" or "Get up and get going".  Amen.

Terry's travels to NJ and NY

Terry traveled to the town where I was born today - New Brunswick, NJ.  He had to deliver a truck there.  He didn't see much of the town but took a picture anyway as he was leaving.  He had to take a taxi from New Brunswick, NJ to LaGuardia Airport in Queens, NY.  He saw the Empire State Building from a distance and the NY skyline.  Also, saw the Statue of Liberty but it was too far away to get a picture.  It is hard to get good pictures when you are sitting in a taxi, but it is still neat to have Terry share.

New Brunswick - I was only 3 weeks old when we headed back to Oregon so don't remember any of it.

Empire State Building - I rode a subway in NY and saw the Empire State Building when I was 2 weeks old.  "Oh the memories - NOT"

NY Skyline