One Pound Loss! Better Than Nothing!

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Today I am going to record a one pound weight loss.
I am very happy about it. Next week I want to make it 2 lbs.
I can do it!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

KRDRAPES 8/23/2009 8:34AM

Way to go-keep on towards your goal one pound at a time! Report Inappropriate Comment

WENBIRD 8/23/2009 8:33AM

Yes, keep going, way to go ! Report Inappropriate Comment

TOMWDCSKC 8/23/2009 6:16AM

Every little bit helps. Congratulations. Report Inappropriate Comment

JANTWO 8/23/2009 4:26AM

Yes you can do it and congrats on that pound lost!!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

HENDERELLA 8/22/2009 10:05PM

Keep it going! Report Inappropriate Comment

IMREITE 8/22/2009 9:19PM

1lb weight loss is better then 1 lb gain! Good luck for next week. Report Inappropriate Comment

POSTMARK 8/22/2009 9:12PM

It is in the right direction... WTG Report Inappropriate Comment

Kidney Transplant, Get Well Cards, and God!

Friday, August 21, 2009

Today I told the students they would be getting picked up in an hour and I heard some of them say, "Oh, I want to stay longer." "I don't want to go home yet." Comments to that effect. They had worked hard all day. We had math, phonics, reading, printing class, and Religion. We have no specials on Friday. They are with me all day except for 2 recesses. I even eat lunch with them.

The mother of two of my former students, who has 4 children either attending or they have graduated from our school, had her kidney removed yesterday and it was given to her husband. What a selfless gift that is to give!

So, at the end of the day today we made them get well soon cards to cheer them up as they recover. We have also been praying for them.

That is what I love about teaching in a Cathoic school. We get to pray together, go to Mass together, and we can talk about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, Mary, and all of the saints and angels in heaven.

When someone is sick or has died we can pray for them together. Isn't that nice? And believe me when I say I believe in the power of prayer and its healing power. I think my young students have very powerful prayers.

If you need a prayer, just leave it on my page and my students and I will keep your intentions in our prayers!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LJCANNON 8/21/2009 8:37PM

You are truly blessed to be working in that environment. My sister works in a public school, but she is blessed to be surrounded by Christian co-workers who--like you--know the power of prayer. I remind her often not to take that for granted. A friend of mine was a grade school Principal and he did not have an environment where it was OK to pray with co-workers or with the children. One day he had a little boy in his office who had been having a lot of difficulty due to a situation at home and he was 'acting out' at school. Rick took the child's hands in his and said "I'd like to pray with you about this" The child said "OK". Rick said "You know I'm not supposed to ask you to pray, right?" That precious lttle boy said "You pray and I won't tell anyone except God" Report Inappropriate Comment

SECRETMUSIC 8/21/2009 8:32PM

That is, indeed, one of the gifts of teaching in a parochial school! And you are a gift to your students. Peace always... Report Inappropriate Comment

2BLEAN_N_FIT_AZ 8/21/2009 6:43PM

Your class is fortunate to have you as their teacher, not only do you teach them the "three R's" but you also lead by example and engage them in selfless acts of kindness...what a wonderful life long lesson. At times like those I miss that part of teaching. I do have a prayer request...her name is Patty she is a sparker her name is GR8GaMMY, she lives here in Mesa...she has been in the hospital for severe asthma...and is having a difficult time...she is always up beat and positive, but this is wearing her down in many ways. Thank you so much. God Bless you and your class! Report Inappropriate Comment

Iced Tea

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

I found Celestial Seasonings Green Tea with Blueberries and Green Tea with Lemon at the Grocery Outlet Store. My son loves the green tea with blueberries. I just made the green tea with lemon yesterday so we'll see if he likes it.

I usually make sun tea in a big jar. Living in Phoenix makes this easy in the summer. Just fill up the jar, put the teabags in, and put it in the sun for a bit. Sometimes I brew it.

I have this really neat Tupperware tumbler with a lid. The lid has a straw hole that reseals when you put a straw into it. If it tips over it never spills or leaks. It's great! It holds 16 oz. of water or tea. I usually drink herbal tea, sometimes green tea. I've tried decaf green tea. I once heard decaf coffee isn't good for you but I don't know about decaf tea.

I just refill and drink my Tupperware 3 more times during the day and I have my 8 cups of water completed. I drink water more than tea I have to say.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CSDAYS 8/24/2009 4:19PM

I like most teas. Sounds like you have tried more than I. I stuck on Cystal Light Tea in different flavors now. Report Inappropriate Comment

TOMWDCSKC 8/23/2009 6:26AM

I love sun tea although I haven't made any in a while. Sun tea w/blueberries that is something I'll have to try. It's amazing how much I water I drink during the day when I'm off. I have a 44 ounce plastic glass from QT that I keep full of water and I drink anywhere between 3 and 5 of those a day on my days off and only 2 on the days I work. Report Inappropriate Comment

YouTube

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Another Sparker wrote a blog today and added a video of him/her playing the guitar for his/her young son. I was online at school and I tried accessing it and I wasn't allowed. I'm also not allowed access to images. I needed a picture of a donkey today for a poem I was typing and printing to put in our D.E.A.R Folders but I couldn't get it from image. Fortunately there is a free site for teachers where you can get clip art and I found a good blackline drawing that worked great.

Anyway, a friend told me that companies like Google are working with the Chinese and other countries with limited freedoms so that they can access the internet but the inappropriate material is filtered.

(Beware because I used the words appropriate and inappropriate a million times below:)

I wanted to watch the video but I couldn't so I wrote this response to that person's blog. I'm sorry I can't remember the person's username.

"I'm at school. Apparently I can't access youtube. It's too bad internet companies are working with countries like China so their citizens can access only appropriate material but here in the states we are blocked from sites at schools because of the possibility of inappropriate material. I don't mind the blocking. It's safer for our children. I just wish we could have access to things on youtube that are appropriate. Can't they have "Appropriate Youtube" and "Inappropriate Youtube" and all of the miscreants can spend all of their time on "Inappropriate Youtube" while those of us who want positive and uplifting material and messages could stick with "Appropriate youtube". Instead we are penalized and not allowed access because of inappropriate material."

Now, if companies, like Google, can work with the Chinese to filter inappropriate information why can't we have that choice as Americans?

I wanted to show my students the Rosary on Youtube. Now, I won't be able to because it is blocked.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

LIFEHASCHANGES 8/21/2009 6:24PM

HI sis! I was curious to what you wrote here and I found that you printed up the comment you left on my blog! Hey, well now you can remember which one of us sparkers it was after all! Take care! Blessings in Christ- Mrs. kitt kitt Report Inappropriate Comment

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Monday, August 17, 2009

There is a children's book "Harold and the Purple Crayon" written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson. It first came out in 1955. It's still a popular children's book. It's about this boy who starts drawing what he wants to see and where he wants to go or where he wants to be. I love the part where he draws a hot air balloon and goes for a ride. Wouldn't it be fun to draw a picture around yourself? A picture of where you'd like to be. We'd all want to draw Hawaii or Cancun. Somewhere to relax and enjoy ourselves. Or maybe draw a camel to ride among the pyramids of Egypt or sail on an big sailing ship in New York Harbor or swim with dolphins in the Pacific or Manatees near Florida. There are so many things that would be so much more fun to do than go to work day in and day out.

I'd love to draw a picture of myself eating healthy foods, exercising, and losing weight without any obstacles along the way. Just a straight path to weightloss. Easy and uncomplicated. I'd eat healthy foods, exercise, and a scale would appear and I'd be 2 lbs. less each week with no challenge. Unfortunately, that is not the way it works.
Even Harold found this out. He drew an apple tree and added a "terribly frightening dragon" to stand guard over the apples. He was so unnerved by his dragon that his hand shook which caused the crayon to draw an ocean. Before he knew it, he was drowning but he came up and quickly drew a boat to climb into.

If I had Harold's purple crayon, no matter the circumstances, and if I kept my wits about me, I could "draw" myself out of a dangerous situation. Put a dessert in front of me and I could draw it being demolished by a big dog. If I was too tired or lazy to exercise I could draw a bike trail along a beautiful scenic view along with a brand new style of bike I've always wanted and suddenly I'd feel motivated to jump on that bike and take off.

For me, right now, SparkPeople is my crayon and I'm using it to draw myself a new lifestyle. It isn't always easy but it is always there for me. I can use it to make postitive changes in my life. It won't work without my hand and my imagination. I have the tools to succeed. I have to take advantage of them each and every day.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FELCZAN 8/18/2009 8:47AM

What a great image! I loved Harold as a kid, and my kids now enjoy those books. I think I'll draw myself a well stocked kitchen with all the ingredients to make healthy meals. I can make that happen in technicolor too! Have a great school year! Report Inappropriate Comment