The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost (HD)

From time to time, I still personally struggle to find my place in the future as a single mom. There is inspiration that often finds me when I am not looking. I found this today as I was finding solace after Sacrament Meeting at church. My Olivia does not feel well and my first reaction is to contact her father and ask of his opinion and knowledge. In my quest to contact him I had to make a choice to inform him but not engage him in this daily decision. I believe I will always struggle with this as he left with errant ways. So my phone call was simple "Olivia is sick and has been for several days. I will probably take her to the E.R. if she still has a bad sinus headache this evening". This was my message that I left on his voice mail as he chooses to not engage in the lives of his children. So I sit next to Olivia we are on the computer reading and finding scripture to soothe my soul and to share together. We found a nice calming passage from The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost (1874-1963). We then went to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUaQgRiJukA and found it in a short video. The wonderful pictures of the fall season reminds us to savor the blessings and enjoy the many colors that are before our eyes. The urge to contact him has now surpassed. He missed another wonderful opportunity to be a part of our children's life, but that was his choice.

Long time... New beginnings...

Well... It has been a long time since I made a post. My life has changed dramatically. I am no longer married to the father of my two daughters. Long horrendous drawn out story. Basically everything I wanted to believe as truth was a lie. Enough with that. I am learning to carry on. I am slowly but surely carrying on and moving in a healthy and wonderful life. I am finally back in college. It happened about 4 years earlier than I expected. None the less, welcome to my life as a college student with two teenage daughters in high school and single mom. Oh yeah, and I work as an elementary art instructor. Whew! Life is starting to look up. College is going well. I made the Dean's list at Ashford University. That was a feat in itself. Juggling everything at times has looked a lot like a Tasmanian devil on the loose. But I have managed to do that all by myself as the girls father doesn't live in the state and when he visits it is only for a day or two at most. He has a life and she keeps him busy. Art is amazing at school. I took a course through www.deepspacesparkle.com to help organize many years of chaos. Thanks Patty Palmer! Your inspiration was a hit and the kids are having a blast. All 650+ of those little cuties. The teachers have had a new hope given to them in the introduction of new art projects to the students. Hopefully the school system will learn to recognize the art process as a necessary subject and can tie into curriculum as a reinforcement to the required subjects. Krystan is growing bigger all the time. I mean taller. Almost taller than I am and I am trying to catch up with her. Just keep stretching I tell myself this all the time. It has to work, RIGHT! She is taking a boat load of AP and Honors classes at Choctaw and loves hanging out with her friends. She will be 17 this year. WOW! She loves culinary and says that I can teach her classes because her teacher at school is retiring. She believes that culinary will be her life. I hope she loves it as much as I do. Olivia is 14 going on 40. She knows it all and constantly reminds me of how I need to chill! I am so very proud of her. She marched with the band at Choctaw this year. Go Stylemarchers! She now plays 3 instruments fluently. Oboe, Flute, and Piano. Yes, I was a crazy person and bought her an open-hole concert flute this year. I told her she has to keep playing it until her children are born and she has repaid her dues to me for this. We purchased three Kayaks this past summer to keep us on the water here in Florida. We love to snorkel and swim and beach comb. Two of the kayaks are one person sit on top sea kayaks. The other one is a Hobie that fits 3 small teenagers or two adults. It is great when you want to get in and out of the water but is a slow beast when you want to move fluently through the water. If you want an upper body workout this one is for you. Oh and I can stand and paddle it around. In January the, Ruby Bell, RV made it's way from Alabama to Florida. We have taken it on two weekend trips. We are having a blast in it. Last July, the nieces and nephews made it to Florida where we camped at the Ft. Benning MWR post in Destin, FL. A week of fun times and memories that cannot be erased. They have asked where we are going this year? I do not know yet. Hey 'Livi how is it gonna work with band camp and girls camp, etc. We will see! I have slowly but surely begun the battle to set up my sewing studio in the 4th bedroom off the Florida room. I need to start my creative side back up. I miss all of it. It was so much fun and I had a blast. The girls keep asking and all I can say is, SOON. Well maybe my creative kick will kick back in and all of my blogs will eventually meander into one big media hub. We will see! Until later...

Brittney and her owl. DiyDIsh.com

This was an episode back in September from www.thediydish.com I am addicted to the fun and creative ideas that Kim and Kris offer. I made one of the owls up and my niece Brittney had to have one. So this is the one she chose. They are both so adorable. Off to church and then back home for more cute owls. I will have to make some for my classroom.

Day two eating right

Ok, yesterday was a very long day. I didn't stop until about 1:00am this morning. I am posting day two. I found it hard to consume so much food but pushed my way through it. Today I will be at school so I will take my food with me. I found a great bag to carry my food with me. It looks like a purse and it is very well insulated. Worked out for 30 minutes this morning. Off to school. Good Luck with your day.

Day Two – drink 8 ounces of water between each snack and meal.

Wake up at 6:15 am.

6:45 to 7:15 workout – Did you know that even 15 minutes of strength training will help to break down the fat in your cells that buildup into cellulitis

7:45 Breakfast – 1 slice French bread French toast. I make my own syrup with 2 tablespoons whole fruit jam with no sugar added, 3 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Bring to a simmer for about 1 minute. If you need butter use 1 teaspoon of smart balance spread.

10:30 Snack –1 cup sugar free Jello with 1 tablespoon of Whole Cream Whipped.

12:30 Lunch – ½ cup sloppy joe turkey meat between 1 whole grain thin bread and as much green salad as you can eat. If you must have dressing use one serving of low-fat and low carb dressing.

3:30 Snack – 3 cups air popped popcorn with 1 tbsp melted smart balance spread

5:00 Snack - 1 cup dry cereal

7:30 Dinner – 2 ounces cooked thin spaghetti noodles, ½ cup tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, 4 turkey meatballs and as much steamed fresh broccoli as you want.

10:00 Bedtime – Good night!

Tomorrow will be better. See you didn’t have to starve yourself, again.. Make sure that you eat everything tomorrow. You should drink 8 ounces of water with each meal and snack tomorrow. This will help you feel full and help with the weight loss.

Tuesday- It's a new beginning!

This is the day everything has to change. This is what I have planned for the day. Follow along, post your views, thoughts, experiences. I want to tweet my progress. Follow along on twitter. Their app makes it so easy.

Day One
Wake up at 6:15 am.

6:45 to 7:15 workout - Did you know that a walking boot makes a great leg weight? Low aerobic doesn’t mean you can’t do strength training and stretching.

7:45 Breakfast – 1 graham cracker with 1 tablespoon low fat all natural peanut butter and 1 serving chocolate protein smoothie. I use about 6 ice cubes to 8 ounces nonfat milk and amount of protein powder that is required to make one serving.

10:30 Snack – 1 small apple with one serving of pepper jack cheese (about 100 calories)

12:30 Lunch – 1 spicy chicken taco in 2 corn tortillas with lettuce, red onion, tomato, 1 ounce grated low fat cheese. Mash together 1 cup canned black beans, 1/8 tsp ground chili powder, 1/8 tsp ground cumin, 1 tbsp lime juice, 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro. Top with 1 tablespoon Fage total 0% plain yogurt.

3:30 Snack – ½ cup cottage cheese with 1 cup fresh fruit

5:00 Snack - 1 grapefruit with Truvia, optional

7:30 Dinner – 5 ounces flank steak, stir fried peppers onions and broccoli, 1 small baked potato with 1 teaspoon smart balance spread and 1 tablespoon Fage total 0% plain yogurt and salt and pepper.

10:00 Bedtime – Good night!

Tomorrow will be better. See you didn’t have to starve yourself. Make sure that you eat everything tomorrow. You should drink 8 ounces of water with each meal and snack tomorrow. This will help you feel full and help with the weight loss.

Until Tomorrow! Monica

Beginning to eat more healthy...

I have been gaining weight lately. Partially because my right leg is in a walking boot. So getting on or off a bike is a potentially hazardous feat. I was able to walk about 2 miles on Saturday and the weather was amazing. I love the fall and it is a time that I am more easily motivated. So I am going to lose the weight I have gained. I learned about 10 years ago how to eat everything you want and still lose weight. The whole answer to this is eat every two hours. Learn to read a label,choose whole foods and cut out the processed convenience foods. Enough is enough... If you would like to follow along or join in; you can post your comments each day of the next month as I begin to lose all this weight.

Breakfast is the most important meal! See you in the morning.

more reception food pictures

the last of the food buffet pictures. We also used it for a linger longer at church for Father's Day! Bonus...