Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Lent 2011

Hello all! Long time, no blog, right?



Well, today I walked into my boss' office and she asked me what I was giving up for LENT. I was plainly honest and said, "I don't know." I actually have been thinking of it for some time now and for the past couple of years have opted to "do more" of something positive or something to promote my spirtural growth. One of things I always attempt to do is to pray more...have more conversations with God and strengthen my relationship with Him. I genuinely know that the events of my life and how they led me to where I am today were not by accident. I am truly blessed to be living the life I live and have an overwhelming need to be sure I give thanks.



Googling on the internet this morning, I came across this list on http://www.bustedhalo.com/ about other things to do for Lent besides "give up chocolate." http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/25-great-things-you-can-do-for-lent



In this Lenten season, let us reflect on the aspects in our lives that make us believers and remember to focus on the renewal of our spirits.


Monday, January 10, 2011

Happy New Year!




2010 In Photos...


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Can You Believe? Alexander is 3!



My Sweet Boy is Growing up Fast...


Alexander's 3 Year Stats - 31.25lbs and 36 inches tall


He has totally started coming out of his shell. Although he is still pretty shy around new people, he has been talking much more...in complete sentences...since the summer.


Alexander is a great big brother and genuinely a delight.




Sunday, August 08, 2010

It's Official, I'm a P90X Grad!



So, I finished P90X. It was great! So amazed that I was able to stick to it... And I lost all of the baby weight!



At 90 Days: (August 1, 2010)I have lost a total of 18 lbs. 5 inches off my hips, 3 inches off the chest and 4.5 inches off my waist. There actually isn't much difference between 60 and 90 days. But, I think the extra inch in my waist is a little noticeable. Either way, I feel great and am really proud of myself!!!






At 60 Days: (July 2, 2010)I have lost a total of 13 lbs. 5 inches off my hips, 3 inches off the chest and 3.5 inches off my waist.





The best advice I can give if you're really trying to transform your body and/or lose weight is to be sure to follow the nutrition suggestions/meal plans and the tracks explicitly! I know a lot of people who JUST follow the workouts...others who randomly do the workouts. Seriously, you are not going to look like the folks in the infomercials unless you do what Tony Horton tells you! (Heck, I don't even, because I didn't follow the nutrition guide to the letter.) Regardless, the point is, it will work.

Another thing is that it really isn't for everybody. I honestly wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is not already working out/in some kind of decent shape. Not that it's impossible to do, but I think to see results will take a little longer. The best part of the program is that you "Do your best and forget the rest." So, most of the workouts are designed for you to do as much as/as hard as you can and TAKE BREAKS if you need to take them. Not everyone can get through the workouts. I had been working out on my own since November '09 and was in fairly good shape and it took me a week to get through some of the routines without feeling like I was going to die. The ab workout took me 10 times to do it before I could finish without taking a break. So, I'd imagine it would take a novice even longer to get through some of them...and by the time that happens you're already at 30 days.

I plan on moving on to something different and coming back to P90X next spring and following the Classic Track. My husband is following the New Rules of Lifting by Lou Schuler and is looking phenomenal. I'm going to get the New Rules of Lifting for Women and see how much stronger I can get.

Thanks, Tony Horton, for an amazing plan and getting me back into shape FAST. :)

Thursday, June 24, 2010

R.I.P. Uncle Bill

On June 15, 2010 the world became a little less sweeter place. My Uncle Bill passed away after a long struggle with illness.




Moses Locatee Moody, III (Bill)
September 6, 1952 - June 15, 2010


I suppose my deepest regret was that I did not know him better and we lived 2 hours away! What's that about. My fondest memories of him are all of his humor, wit and generosity. Uncle Bill would always send us cards on our birthdays and Christmas and address them as "Master" or "Madame." We always looked forward to those letters... And the visits! They were as random as they come, but welcoming, just the same. Literally, we would find out he was coming within a hour before him showing up at the doorstep. My cousin Colleen could attest...she said he'd even do that when visiting Lynchburg. He always had great stories from their childhood and from present day. I loved listening to him talk. Pretty sad that he was always the one that had to take that initiative...

The funeral was hard. So much harder than I had imagined. All of the memories and regrets of time lost came flooding over me all at once. Particularly when reading this poem my sister wrote:

Why cakes don’t fall (In Tribute to my Uncle Bill) 06/17/10

Eggs, water, oil, and a simple cake mix. Time, patience, care and a little love; memories stirred and memories bound. It is forever these moments that will cake my mind like batter coating a pan.

Warmest on a cold blustery day, come birthdays and such, when being called madam or master was such a treat. A card had come addressed just to me, like I was so special, like I was being honored.

A tear slides down my cheek.

His smiles always lit up a room, with a careless wit that was somehow flippant at times but was always genuine.

And there sits my cake, mixed and poured, filling the pan, it has bubbles. So as I have been taught, and as my mother was taught by her baby brother, I gently tap, tap, and tap, till the bubbles rise to the surface.

My heart begins to ache for all the missed moments.

As the bubbles rise I realize that, his face has come to mind, his smile, his mannerisms, and his rough laughter.

His hugs, those were so warm even though, he was always so thin. Yet he could wrap you in care with one of those hugs no matter how many years it had been.

I wipe cascading tears with the palms of my hands

The bubbles have dissipated and the cake is oven ready, my tears have mixed with the batter but I don’t want to discard the cake. I wait while I watch stories and memories that float past my mind’s eye.

I watched him from a distance, so strong, confident, such a caring father, devoted son.

As the cake slides from the oven, perfect, as it has been so many times before. A glossy surface, perfectly springing back.

I watch the cake. Wanting all the memories that flood me, knowing how I’ll miss the hugs, the crossed leg, how wise a face he had. All the things he’d seen, experienced, loved, know, carved into that face.

I think the cake has captured me, twenty minutes has gone by and I have not moved. And as that perfect cake lay upon the counter, I know that every cake will have a piece of him in it for the rest of my life.

The tears have stopped but the ache remains.
~Candace Yvette Johnson-Hardy



We love you Uncle Bill. Thank you for always keeping in touch...thank you for always making us smile. You are dearly missed.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

P90X - DAY 30!



So today marks the 30th day of my P90X adventure. I am so proud of myself!

I have lost 9lbs and dropped 2 pants sizes. 3.5 inches off my hips, 1 inch off the chest and 2.5 inches off my waist.

The first workout, Core Synergistics, about kicked my butt... I seriously thought I was going to die. When I was done, I was lying on the ground, breathing hard, barely able to move, thinking, "I thought I was in better shape than this...Leonard is going to find me passed out on the floor here in a moment..." LOL But, honestly, the hardest part for me so far is the TIME it takes from my life. I lose close to 2 hours of my night (yes working out after the kids go to bed) doing the DVD and showering...and some times can't go right to sleep. I guess I most proud of my dedication to pressing play every day. That's seriously the key, making sure you press play.

Here is the serious of workouts I just completed with the Phase 1, following the Lean track:

Phase 1 Lean - Weeks 1, 2, and 3

Day 1 – Core Synergistics
Day 2 – Cardio X
Day 3 – Shoulders and Arms, Ab Ripper X
Day 4 – Yoga X
Day 5 – Legs and Back, Ab Ripper X
Day 6 – Kenpo X
Day 7 – Rest or X Stretch

Phase 1 Lean - P90x Workout Week 4 Recovery Week to Rest the Muscles Some

Day 1 – Yoga X
Day 2 – Core Synergistics
Day 3 – Kenpo X
Day 4 – X Stretch
Day 5 – Cardio X
Day 6 – Yoga X
Day 7 – Rest or X Stretch

Monday, May 03, 2010

My Cousin's Recent Art Show...

So my cousin, Sean, is an AMAZING artist out in the Seattle area. I swear I'm going to get out there to see one his shows one day. This was the most recent. Found this really cool article linked from the gallery's site. Thought I would share... If you are ever in the area, seriously, check him out. Some really good stuff...

Sean M. Johnson - object ballet as memory - Another Bouncing Ball

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