Comfort Food

Could it be that with Mike and I in training the food we provide for our family has changed?

I've been trying things like Tuna Steak with steamed vegis, Teriyaki with brown rice and stir fried vegis, and whole wheat spaghetti. High nutrition, lots of color, new flavors.

Our youngest daughter, the princess of all things fashion has come to me several times in the past week or so requesting "comfort food".

Literally.

"Mom," she says in her sweet, I really want something voice, "Can we have comfort food for dinner?" Then she proceeds to name some of her favorites as she sways back and forth hugging her arms around her shoulders.

Over the past week we have eaten:
~Roast Chicken with stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberries and corn
~Homemade Macaroni and Cheese
~Pot Roast with Carrots and Potatoes
~Homemade Chili with cornbread
and
~Grilled Cheese (Well, that may not fit quite into "comfort" but in it's own way...)

Now if only her wish for snow would come true we could have a right cozy winter.

~Vanilla~
An old Chinese philosopher was asked what was the greatest joy he had found in life: "A child," he replied, "going down the road singing after asking me the way."

Toughness

~Vanilla~
Stated repeatedly aloud ALL the way up the last hill while jogging this morning:

You're tougher than you think you are !

I'M BA-AACK! -sung in an eery voice like the little girl in Poltergeist

I have been on an extended sabbatical from blogging.

But not completely apart. I have peeked in on many of you over the past month and seen babies born, holiday travel, holiday sickness, freezing weather, loved ones pass on, new years resolutions made and recipes shared. I love reading blogs of friends I know in real life and friends I have made thanks to Al Gore and "his" invention of the internet.

But, I have not taken a sabbatical from LIFE. Oh yes. Life continues, with its joys and trials, fun and ... well the other stuff. And I'm back.

And, I want to share with you probably the craziest goal I have ever made and am determined to accomplish.

I am......

Wait for it.












Racing in a...











Wait for it.

TRIATHLON.

When I first started thinking about this. I thought, "I can do that. it's a whole year away. I can ride a bike no problem and the run is only 5K, I can train for that... it's a whole year away."

My mind kept reminding me that Tri means three. And that means there is a 3rd leg that actually happens FIRST.... SWIMMING. Notice the caps? My mind was screaming at me... "What do you think you're doing? You CAN'T swim!" I continued to ignore that part and started running and continued cycling.

Now at 7 months and 1 day away from the desired triathlon I am "swimming" or at least I'm going to the High School Pool twice a week, wearing goggles and getting wet.

Mike gave me some really nice goggles for Christmas... I wear them with pride.

My friend and my daughter both introduced me to Zoomers. Flippers you wear on your feet. My friend said, "They help you have better kicking form." My daughter (Beaner) told me, "They make you go fast!"

They were both right. I have now learned how to kick from the hip not the knees and I was going FAST. Zooming through the pool with my cool goggles and... a kick board.

After watching some videos on You Tube about breathing and form I decided that while swimming today I would not use the zoomers and add my arms and breathing.

I swam one lap using my arms and trying to breathe before I went and found a kick board and spent the next 30 minutes practicing proper kicking technique without flippers.

I learned three very important things today.

1. Swimming is hard.

2. 7 months and 1 day are not very long.

3. I think I'll find myself a swim coach.

I almost forgot the
~Vanilla~
You can do hard things.
~from Susan W. Tanner

The Greatest of All

~Vanilla~

I am the Greatest
Lyrics by Don Schlitz

Little boy, in a baseball hat,
stands in the field with his ball and bat.
Says, "I am the greatest player of them all."
puts his bat on his shoulder and tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
and he swings his bat all the way around.
The world's so still you can hear the sound
as the baseball falls to the ground.

Now the little boy doesn't say a word,
picks up his ball, he is undeterred.
Says, "I am the greatest there has ever been."
he grits his teeth and he tries it again.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down
and he swings his bat all the way around.
The world's so still you can hear the sound
as the baseball falls to the ground.

He makes no excuses, he shows no fear,
he just closes his eyes and listens to the cheers.
Little boy, he adjusts his hat,
picks up his ball, stares at his bat.
Says, "I am the greatest, the game is on the line,"
and he gives his all, one last time.
and the ball goes up and the moon's so bright,
swings his bat with all his might.
The world's as still as still can be,
and the baseball falls,
and that's strike three.

Now it's suppertime and his momma calls,
little boy starts home with his bat and ball.
Says, "I am the greatest and that is a fact,
but even I didn't know I could pitch like that."

Says, "I am the greatest, that is understood,
but even I didn't know I could pitch that good."

You Don't have to Tell

~Vanilla~

You don't have to tell how you live each day;
You don't have to tell if you work or play;
A tried and true barometer stands in its place
You don't have to tell, it will show in your face.
If you live close to God and His infinite grace
You won't have to tell, it will show in your face.

A Life ~Worth Living

From Aunt Walene

~Vanilla~

A young lady and an old one chanced to meet one day.
The young one said to the elder
in her usual braggart way:
Why don't you stand up straight like me?
That's no way to grow old.
It's just a form of a habit
~at least that's what I'm told.

The old woman replied:
Have you noticed the wheat fields
when the harvest time draws nigh?
The heads that are empty
are the ones that are tall and standing high.
But those that count in the harvest
are stooped and bending low,
Awaiting the reapers sickle,
their time is short they know.

The young lady passed on by
and slowly bowed her head.
No doubt she pondered many a day,
on the things the old lady said.

The Real Hero

From Great Grandma Naomi Adelaide Heninger

 ~Vanilla~

The Real Hero

Let others write of battles fought

Of bloody, ghastly fields...

Where honor greets the man who wins

And death the man who yields;

But I write of him who fights and vanquishes his sins

Who struggles on through weary years

Against himself and wins.