Minus 4

No...that's not the temperature here in Texas, thank God!  It's FELT like that a day or two....but it hasn't been.  No.  Minus 4 is the current # of pounds dropped since my new Bodybugg gadget came into my life.  I am LOVING this little thing.  It works for me for several reasons.  First,  it's just a fun, cool gadget.  Who wouldn't adore and be fascinated by this kind of technology?  I'm forever wondering how many calories this activity burns, or that one.  Folding laundry, verses scrubbing toilets.  It's just plain fun!  Second, I am a numbers driven girl.  You would think with a statement like that I'd be MUCH better at math!  However...I don't want to ADD the numbers (or multiply, divide, square root or factor them).  I just want to see the numbers fly!  I love waking up in the morning and seeing how many calories breathing and dreaming took.  I LOVE watching the numbers jump up as I exercise.  I just love seeing those numbers change.  And third, I feel empowered by it.  I can see plainly at each minute of the day what I've burned calorie wise and know how far I am from various goals.  And because I know exactly where I stand, I can then ACT to make sure I am reaching those goals and staying on track every minute of the day.  I've learned a lot from this little bugg.  For one, I take in more calories than I'd like to admit.  It's easy to do.  Even with the best of intentions,  often, by 3:00 or so when the kids start getting home, my willpower starts to wane a bit.  I can completely undo a day of great eating by 6 p.m. if I'm not careful.  And by careful, I mean VIGILANT.  One bite here, or a morsel there....it all adds up QUICK!  In addition to taking in TOO many calories, I do not MOVE enough or burn nearly as many calories as I would like to think that I do.  I am an active person.  I stay on the go.  I exercise HARD.  Almost always.  And that is simply not enough!  In my head, I always feel like I put in my hard core time and worked out and can just chill the rest of my day and get on with the business of carpooling and laundry.  In reality, I have realized that I have to be EXTRA purposeful in keeping on the go and moving SO much more than I ever imagined.  I find myself deliberately making multiple, extra trips up the stairs.  I find myself parking WAY, way out from the store I'm heading into, just to get the extra steps.  I find myself heading out to the bus stop a few minutes earlier each afternoon with the dog to catch a couple of extra laps before Clara gets home.  And in being deliberate and purposeful I AM hitting my daily goals.  It's exciting!  I love it!  It's the most motivational thing I've had in ages and I am totally loving it.  I feel a sense of panic when it's time to trade out my digital display watch for something a little fancier looking because I'm heading out.  I LOVE seeing those numbers!  I NEEEEEED to see them.  My bodybugg is, hands down, my 2011 Most Favorite Gadget!!!!  Next weigh in is on Wednesday!  I'm hoping for good news!

In other news...life is barreling along like always.  Kids are back into the school routine.  We are all counting down the days until summer vacation!  Come on June 5th, because that's when we are getting out of here!

We have been visiting a church we like a great deal.  White Chapel United Methodist.  It's big, close to our house, has a great kids program, and best of all, the worship service does not feel like a televangelist rock concert.  There are choir robes.  And pastor robes.  And WOMEN help to lead the service (sorry, but that is one thing that bugs the heck out of me in the baptist church)  There are actually two women pastors, along with 4 men.  There is a sense of respect and reverence and tradition there that I have found lacking in so many services of late.  Sitting there, I love taking in the music, the QUIET (with noone shouting A-men every other minute during a prayer), the stained glass windows (LOVE me some stained glass) and the beautiful sense of community coming together to worship and give thanks.  There are young people.  And old people.  And new people and every age in between all those ages.  Most of all, I love that it hasn't conformed to the megachurch philosophy.  That it teaches scripture, straight and true and claims and stands on foundations that have been established since the beginning of time.  I love that it doesn't seem to need to "sell" Jesus or the idea of coming to church by making it as fluffy and light and "cool" as possible.  So many of the mega churches seem to be moving away from traditional church, and are focusing on  making it feel less like church and more like, hip, happening, rock concerts, hoping that if it doesn't feel like church, folks will want to come.  Sad that they have to be tricked into it if you ask me.  Sad that society today is so drawn to and dependent on gimmicks and flashy lights and "feel good" gatherings.  It was an amazing service Sunday.  There were no flashing stage lighting, no electric guitars, no disco balls, no deafening booming beats pouring out of the speakers.  I could not feel the bass vibrating in my bones.  But what there was was a fantastic message.  Beautiful music.  And a full house packed with the body of Christ.  It was, in every sense of the word....lovely.

In some final, and not very exciting news, I have a new desk.  A snazzy little antique oak number I got up at the antique mall.  It's all in place now and I am working on framing up some pictures for the newly available wall behind me!  Pictures to come soon!  One thing at a time!

And on that note....have yourself a FANTASTIC Monday!  I'm off to tackle today's P90X workout.  I've been delaying it, because I'm afraid it's a workout I hate.  This is transition week...and I SO so not want to do Core Synergistics.  I will.  I haven't missed a workout yet.  I just don't want to.  :)

P.S.  Blogging burns 40 calories!