Just how lucky I am

I have been reflecting a lot recently on just how lucky I am. Not only to be healthy and happy but to have the support system of such a great family around me.

My husband and I are celebrating 21 years together this month - we met at UWO in Phys ed and after a date to the school pool hall we have been together ever since. I am very proud that we have weathered the storm of tough times and shared in so many great times. Besides 2 rather ridiculous fights - sorry bud...(get him to tell you of time he pulled his pants down at the Worley Road house and the time he decided that going to African Lion Safari would be a good time) we have stuck together. The photo is of our family last summer in Vegas at our wedding renewal - our costumes were a riot.

My parents too have helped me feel so lucky. I remember how lucky I was to have a mom that was a stay at home mom until I was in grade 6. My mom being at home gave me lots of great skills such as cooking and caring for a home which helped me understand math (fractions while cooking) which had been difficult for me. When my mom went back to work it was great too as she showed us all how to balance a family and a job. She went to school to upgrade her skills and eventually retired from a wonderful career in insurance. My dad worked hard at UWO and would walk to and from work to be home when we were teenagers. I got to see him everyday while I was at university and he and my mom enjoy a great retirement together now.

MY brothers have always been supportive of my crazy ideas and are such hard workers. I think a lot of our work ethic comes from our whole immediate and extended family which have all been very accomplished in their fields.

Man am I lucky.

So far. so good

Week one of school is done and still no caffeine needed to get through the day. I also have brought my lunch everyday, eaten breakfast and had a healthy dinner - so cool. Still no red meat consumed but have had a couple of glasses of red wine - Emily the dietitian felt it was a good choice if you were to chose to have alcohol.

As for the exercise part - zippo - way too tired when I am home - one day I was home after 9:00 trying to get our school newsletter ready to go home. This week is rough too as I have Meet the Teacher night and a staff meeting. I have been walking a lot more and a lot less complaining. I did hit a couple of golf balls on Saturday with Rich and Lennie and I still hate it - didn't hit one straight - I have totally lost my touch and continue to not want to retake it up.

I have now made the cookies from the cookbook and made homemade oatmeal cinnamon raisin whole wheat bread - amazing - best one I have ever made - I think fresh yeast helped too. Lennie and I have enjoyed the parfaits for breakfast - lots of protein and fruit - great start to the day and we even put a little Grape Nuts cereal in there for crunch - yummy.

Let's see how well this week goes but...so far, so good.

Positive Possibilities

Well, I have been back to work for a couple of weeks and all positive. I brought my lunch, didn't drink any coffee, hit the gym in the morning before school and even went out to lunch and was able to order well.

We also went away for a night to Niagara Falls where I needed to make good choices at lunch and dinner - no problems. With the learning from FR, I am able to keep my portions small, choice lots of fresh fruits and veggies plus order water to drink. I am feeling terrific.

I did drink red wine though....I had a glass with my friends at lunch and the a bottle at the Purvis' last fire pit of the summer. I still feel great because normally I would eat a ton at the same time but I still do not have cravings like I use to.

I made the fruit parfaits this week because my Mori-Nu pudding got delivered from the states. They were so delicious and even Lennie ate one and liked it - he actually wanted a second one but I took it for a friend at work. I will certainly make more of them - I really liked it for breakfast too as I put a couple of layers of strawberries in it and sprinkled the Kashi granola on top - Yummo!!

I am excited for tomorrow - the kids all arrive back at school - should really test the coffee intake test and I must continue to eat before I go to school and make sure I bring my lunch. I can do it!!! I did try to find some new clothes on the weekend but I am not fitting into size 16 at the store so I am going to continue to wear what I have and look for clothes in a month or so when I weigh less.

Cheers for now - I really miss my FR and my FR friends :).

z