Exercise...

This is our friend, Shirley who comes and works out twice a week!

For years I have dealt with back aches and a lack of strength in my arms and pretty much most of my body.  In the beginning of the year of 2011, I had the opportunity to join The Biggest Loser contest at our local gym.  It wasn't an amazing experience as seen on t.v., but because my trainer was a bodybuilder, I learned a lot about exercising my muscles.  Consequently, I was lucky enough to meet some amazing ladies, about my age, who lifted weights regularly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  They were advanced lifters and ran miles and miles on the other days, but they were open to letting me join their amazing group.

It's been about 2 years now, and I can definitely feel the difference.  I used to have trouble planking for 30 seconds,  but now I have no problem for going a minute..and then another...and then another!  As I use those muscles for different activities during the rest of my day or on the activities they get me to go on, I feel the strength I have gained through those persevering work outs.  I am grateful for the encouraging words and pushing me to work a little harder...always challenging myself and not taking the easy way out. (As Cheryl would say, "Don't cheat yourself!)

I think the same can be said for exercise of the spiritual and mental type... and also relationships.  If you stay engaged in a relationship, it will be stronger and stay strong with continued exercise.  Engaged...meaning partly these two meanings:  5. Being in gear; meshed.  6. Partly embedded in, built into, or attached to another part, as columns on a wall. (Online dictionary)

I like the words meshed and partly embedded in, built into or attached to another part.

It's a well known fact that my husband snores.  I can't sleep when he's snoring in my ear and so I have often left and gone to a spare room we have, to sleep.  It's impossible for this poor man to not snore during allergy season, so sometimes I spend more than a few nights in the other room.    However, if I end up doing this too often, I begin to feel detached from him.  It's a palpable feeling of lost connection.  The act of sleeping next to each other as the effect of meshing and partly embedding into each other.  

It is easy to see that those couples, for whatever reason, sleep in separate rooms, tend to "loose that loving feeling".  The way I've overcome this "separation anxiety", is to get up before he does and snuggle in with him.  It's the touching that connects us.  I can't really sleep in a snuggle, but I love waking up to one.

My husband mentioned that he enjoys the subtle, short touching during the day, hand holding, shoulder rubs, leaning on one another, sweet caresses.  Not hanging on one another, but keeping in touch, sorta speak.

So, if you are in a relationship that you want to keep, exercise good, healthy habits and keep in touch!

Welcome 2013!...a little late

I wrote this post last January but forgot to post it!  Maybe remembering the cold will help us appreciate the warmth! ;)




Well, I got my wish for snow at Christmas!  However, the cold, cold air and inversion...I forgot that comes with it!  I biffed it on the ice a couple days ago..which has sped up my tiredness of the cold.  What happened to global warming???  I am looking forward to heading south to thaw!

I lost three people that I really care about already this year.  My friend, John Skidmore, My friend Ruth Hodson and my cousin, Artie.  Mixed blessings with sadness of loss.

Some awesome news...John finally got a job!  He has been out of work since the end of September!  His friend, Richard, found some job listings at Cache Valley Electric.  They applied back in December, but never heard back from them...until last week.  John is a much happier guy when he is working!

I saw my first opera...Phantom of the Opera!  Some of my weight-lifting buddies (ladies) were going and invited me to tag along.  I have to say, I have really enjoyed getting to know my new friends outside the gym.  I guess what I really enjoy is that they have been successful in drawing me out of my comfort zone.  Most times I just want to stay home where its safe.  I feel the best when everyone is home, safe and sound....yet I really enjoy those times when everyone is off to work or school and I don't have my life to myself for a short time.

Surprise!

Hello my long lost friends and followers!  I'm back!  It least I'm going to try to be back!  I enjoy writing.  It's therapeutic for me.  I enjoy reading your comments so I have decided to post some life lessons I have been learning.

Kids are nearly all grown...just have one left in high school and I am enjoying not having a regular 8-5 job.  I like being flexible in the way I can serve others and taking time to stay healthy and enjoying life, nourishing relationships and bonding with the people I love.

This is me enjoying my first pedicure!

I've got some ideas for some new posts so stay tuned!