Wow, where has the time gone...

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted an update.

Much is happened, but we still have Lynda with us and Brayden is getting close to having his next open heart surgery.

Lexi and Tyler are back in school and busy as ever with growing up!

Some of the most exciting things in the last 6 months has been a hobby I have picked up. I am loving photography and paper crafting and might consider how I could turn it into a business if I was given the opportunity to retire.

The pictures are full of snapshots of family, but my favorite things are nature and scenery.

2010 a year of blessings

I am thinking that in life there are times where the bitter is mixed in with the sweet.  Such was the year of 2010 for the Myers family.

We have experienced grief and sadness for the loss of the matriarch of the family, not through her death, but through the awful disease of aging, dementia and loneliness.  She lost the love of her life in May 2009 and although she put up a good front, she has slowly disappeared from us.  Each week over the last 3 months she continues to advance into late stages of losing the fight with who she is and who her body has forced her to become.  I ache deeply when I see her eyes, that are vacant and shadowed with loneliness.

The things I remember are her gentle quiet spirit.  She rarely spoke a harsh word about anything.  She was the light in David's eyes and he treated her as if she was still that high school sweetheart.  Sometimes I would catch a glimpse of their amazing warmth of their love.  In fact, in David's last weeks of his life, before he was hospitalized - I was staying the night there to help take care of both of them, but especially Mom as she had become too much for Dad.  (Not to mention he was dealing with grieving his own mortality) But, there they were...  ready for bed.  As I get Mom into bed, right beside Dad, they both roll to face each other grasping hand in hand for the last few glimpses of a life spent together in so much love.  Mom pulled Dad's hand close, kissed it and spoke in the softest voice "I love you" and he responds the same but adds to it 'forever'.  How amazing their lives were.  What we could learn from their perseverance as they stood side by side and hand in hand in serving God's kingdom of believers, in counseling many a couple who's marriages were a tangled web of mistrust, or spending many a summer shaping young peoples lives with the work they did at the christian youth camps.  They rarely missed an opportunity to be in fellowship at any type of gathering and their lives were examples unmatched by most of us. Lynda always standing by David, supporting him in everything he did and in all the times he would be away, visiting the sick, counseling, preaching, lecturing and teaching at colleges...  she stood beside him.  She was his rock, while he was busy being the rock to so many others.

Lynda is now in advanced stages of aging and hospice is now called in to help her make her transition. We were able to be with her for the holidays. We know that it will be the last of her opportunities to celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas and yes bringing in a New Year and her 84th birthday.  But her memories of her life will go with her and God is preparing a sweet heavenly home for this woman who raised three most amazing children, all who continue the same legacy - as they too, have raised families that will stand the test of life!

Thank you Lynda for your gracious spirit, for your love of family, for your strong character of faith, for your ability to love someone into greatness as we see in your three children, your grandchildren and yes even your In-Laws.  We are blessed by you, forever.

Committed or ?

I did the craziest thing the other day.  Two Saturdays ago I joined Weight Watchers. I thought I should stay in reality over the holidays.  WHAT was I THINKING!  Just kidding. I am feeling really great about how things are going.  I lost 3 pounds after the Thanksgiving holiday.  I thought I would be in big trouble, but in reality I am more focused than I thought.

What's next, exercise. I need to try and get exercise into my schedule this next week. I haven't been able to do anything along these lines since I developed plantars faciatis in my right heal.  OH the PAIN. But it is starting to get better and I am hoping that p90x can become a part of my routine again.

I also want to walk, so this week I might get the pedometer out and start tracking my 10,000 steps in a day strategy.

Holidays...

Here we are, almost time for the two biggest holidays of the year for my family.  And yes, I volunteered my home for this years Thanksgiving "famFEST".

Now normally I am excited about that, but I have not washed the walls down or the drapes. Not to mention my windows are out of control.  But since it is time to do the fall cleaning routine I might as well start now and do it in a GRAND fashion!

So the stampinXtreme room is getting painted and organized. The dining room is getting painted and new hardwood floors are being installed in both rooms. WHAT AM I THINKING!  Every weekend till Thanksgiving I will be putting paint on walls, new flooring and fixtures everywhere.  I have simply lost my mind.  So, if you find it - please return it to me.

All kidding aside, this will be an amazing year of being grateful for the lives of everyone of my family. For all of the Myers - we will rejoice and be glad in it!  Thank you for the many blessings of successful chemo outcomes, of successful liver transplants and lastly of successful open heart surgeries. We celebrate a year of SUCCESS in health!

For my Gill family, we have so many blessings of good health, families that are thriving and love beyond measure for the very special gift of family!

And to all who know me, the credit goes to the greatest family member - our Father in Heaven!  He has wrapped us up in his arms and carried us into a glorious 2010 year.  To HIM BE THE GLORY!

Intentions count...

It is my intention to continue to do the things I don't want to do, so that, I can live a long and healthy life.

However frustrating this intention might be, I continue to battle the hurdles of a lame foot, and now a very lame flu/cold.

So, getting rest, drinking lots of fluids...  feeding a cold, starving a fever... and all the other cliche's that go with this scenario... I am going to win this battle.

Today is the third day of a nasty flu bug.  But I actually think I feel energy.  Can you think it into existence?  That is my goal. I plan on thinking it all day!  "Yes, I feel energy"  "Yes, I can clean up the kitchen"  "Yes, I can do laundry"....   Well, so far I am thinking that I am doing great with sitting up instead of laying in the bed curled in the fetal position.

P90X is going to have to wait for another day!

Day 3 of 90... "I think I can"

Good Grief, this is going to be the hardest thing I have done in a long time.  Definitely it is causing me to stretch my stamina, my willingness to stay with something past 3 weeks and mostly, my stick-to-it mentality.  My stomach muscles are so sore.  Yikes, it hurt to get up and down in my office chair today.
My knees are killing me. Every step I took whether going up or down at work, envoked all the soreness in my legs all over again.

The good news is that when I am done, I will not be at my goals for weight loss, but I am absolutely positive I will be at my goals for being more fit.  At least more fit than when I started on September 6th, 2010.

I will try to post a couple of times a week on how things are going, only because it helps me stay accountable and encouraged.

Day 1 of 90

Okay, so I have finally bit the latest and greatest, you have got to try it, guaranteed, amazing workout, the P90X ultimate fitness and nutrition program.

Now, most of you who know me, know that I am adverse to any type of activity that leads to sweating.  WHAT am I thinking. I might ride a bike around the neighborhood, because I know I will get some wind blowing in my face. I might even swim in a pool because I have a great back stroke that doesn't require much air expansion in my lungs.  So, What AM I Thinking?  Basically, I have a heal spur that requires me to wear New Balance walking shoes and inserts/orthotics to get better.  What am I THINKING?

First night on the program and what do you think happens?  Yes, you guessed it, I felt it for the first time in a very long time, air bursting into my lungs and sweat breaking loose from my pores!  But it really feels good they say.  Ha! Yea Right!

I think they are right.  I felt good all day at work.  I am sore, but the worst is yet to come, so look out, and you CAN bring it on P90X and Tony Horton!   http://www.beachbody.com/

Gatlinburg 2010

Annual Vacation in the Smokies has been everything she promised.  I love this vacation, it brings our whole family together where we do only unscheduled activities. How exciting!

I watched the family play at the pool before noon, at home in the heat of the afternoon at the kitchen table, the game of trash and this evening I the game of hide and seek. There are times in my life that I treasure, and this is one of those times.

What a blessing to be able to have all the kids and their kids together in our big Cabin in the Smokies.

Part 1: This week is Spring Break and I was planning on doing springy breaky things, like wandering around Kentucky and taking advantage of the hospitality of nice people who are willing to take in a family of three, one of whom is always pointing her annoying camera at something or somebody, my daughter Brittney.

Our first stop was my daughter and son-in-law's place. Our plans were to make the best of the state of Kentucky.  I think all was going well and then 'boom' Tyler starts to feel bad, and then develops a nasty cough. Within 24 hours we were making the decision to travel back to Columbus with Tyler and leave Lexi behind with her cousin Brayden and his mommy and daddy.  Of course, Aunt Britt and Uncle Mike did not throw up the arms and express huge disappointment when I said I couldn't stay all week.  That’s all I’m saying.

Tyler and I spent today all wrapped up in blankets and watching movies. Both of us feeling sick now.  How does this happen...my vacation spent as a sick Nana taking care of sick grandkids.

Part 2: More to come at the end of the week, should we survive the Myers Infirmary in Dublin, OH.

The good old days...

For years we would travel to my grandma's house on the weekends.

We would spend the whole weekend there and spend hours playing with our friends in the little town of Murray City.  It was a great little place, formerly a booming mining town, and full of the fun.  I remember walking down to the local drugstore where we could shop for lots of penny candy and catch a Root beer float at the soda fountain bar.

We would always have to walk up to the gas station and get the newspaper that was left on hold for Dad.  While we were there, we would spend the quarter that we were given to get a bottled coke out of the coca cola ice chest.  It even had the built in cap bottle opener where the caps would fall down inside.  It was right across from the local funeral home which was right next to the local 'all grades' school.  We would head over to the playground and play, drink our soda and then drop the bottle back off so we could get our 5 cent refund for returning the glass coke bottle.  I preferred Orange Crush .

The school would host fun events where you could go and do fun things from room to room.  You would pay an entrance fee and then it was craziness as we went from room to room.  One year, it was a halloween night and they did it up as a haunted house.  Then is was a carnival night and the favorite room was the gym where we were allowed to pay to go in and dance.  They had the lights down low and dance lights flashing.  The music was so loud you couldn't even hear yourself talking.  It wasn't long after I got married they closed the school down.  Such great memories.

I remember a homemade basketball court that we played at just across the street from our house.  Many times the neighborhood kids would meet up to throw some hoops down and playing H O R S E was the game of the summertime. Those were the middle school years, when we couldn't go to movies and do all the fancy activities that our children  enjoy.

It was a true Andy Griffith type of town.  Everyone knew each other and the neighborhood was one big happily family.

http://www.ohgen.net/ohathens/murraycity.htm

Laundry

Weekends always bring lots of work for the Myers household.  With 6 people two of which are children, the laundry just piles up.  The towels alone seem to swallow us up and become a big black hole that keeps sucking more and more clothing into the big monster that lives there.

So have a great day, a great weekend and lots of fun doing the laundry!

Life is sometimes backwards...

Last Thursday, February 25th, my hubby started feeling bad.  Of course, being the man that he is, he tells me around 10 PM. It was evident that Bryant would need to go to the hospital as his pulse was pounding 90 miles a minute and very irratic and irregular in rhythm.

We arrive at the hospital and within minutes he was on heart machines, IV's and anti-arrythmia medicine.
Heart rate was up at 200 beats a minute and blood pressure was off the charts. He is immediately diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (A Fib).  Simply meaning, his heart is out of rhythm.  The top part of the heart (atriums) were not doing the squeezing of the hearts blood into the lower chambers.  The were quivering verses contracting.

Today is the 7th day of being in A Fib.  Bryant is on restricted activity and is struggling with boredom, sitting at home all day.

The coumadin is not doing its job and now they have increased the dosage.  So, here we are in the hurry up and wait syndrome.

Now all the roles are reversed. I am shoveling the snow and driving everywhere while Bryant is doing dishes and folding clothes.  I am not reading at my leisure, or facebooking and blogging. Go Figure.  In a blink of an eye and you are moving backwards.

Empty Nest or Fully Blessed

As I travel through the seasons in my life, I realize how fragile the moments are with family. Some of you who know me, know that my home is full of chaos and yet I feel fully blessed.

Yes, this week is our week with the grandkids, Lexi and Tyler.  They are so full of life and fun and eagerness to please. They are such good kids. I love them and they are what makes me 'fully blessed'.

Yes, it is that time in our lives where we should be experiencing the empty nest syndrome and most of the time I am on the verge of screaming "get me off this vicious ride".  But, in all that matters in my life, the most important to me is giving the grandchildren a sense of normalcy.  They will always have an extended family. Their father who lives with us, their grand-parents, and their Uncle who lives with us. Recently, their Aunt Britt and family moved to Kentucky from their California home. Ty and Lexi are able to see them monthly vs. yearly. Not to mention they spend a week with us and then a week with their mother.

Yes, they are constantly surrounded with the complications of having multiple authority in their life.  Yet everyday Lexi awakes with a smile and a good attitude.  Tyler gets a good morning hug without fail and they have a hope each day that they will be and are loved.

So, what is all the fuss about this 'empty nest' thing...
Personally, I love being surrounded with family and the constant chaos that is creating the best memories, the character of future leaders and the seasons of life just keep on coming.  Bring it on.

Whats all the spark?

I found a new website, for online tracking of weightloss, and its free.
I am tired of the same old excuses. Tonight I walked on the treadmill and got my heart rate up to 154 for about 10 minutes and then backed it down to a walking rate.

I am going to be focused this year on taking care of Rhonda.  No more am I serving all others and then failing myself on what should be first priority.  I grew up hearing, "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".  So true for most mothers who have and will spend a life time being the passionate beings they are. They will serve their families, they will serve their communities, they will serve their co-workers. I just don't know what it is in our upbringing that put us on this path!

So, whatever it takes, nor how many times I start a new.  With every breath in me, I am focusing and refocusing on the goal of 2010.  I will sound very selfish, but it is going to be tha way for awhile.  I am saying NO to many things until I can get a sense of well being back in my life.  Things that will bring me back to a place that makes me feel good.

So, the website is a place to start Free.  I need to focus on areas of discipline this year, of which one is spending - spending -spending.  I am excited to say that the website
 http://www.sparkpeople.com/    will give me everything I need in the way of 'tools' for success.

Join me with great encouragement as I fight to find myself this year.

Don't Blink!

Today is one of the days where I am feeling slightly edgy about just about anything. Not sure what is going on.  I think I could use a vacation, but then again, running away isn't going to change what is wrong with this feeling I have today.  I should be grateful for all of the blessings in my life, but I am stuck in this crazy spot.  Full of anger and frustration.

It doesn't help that I have my children with their children living with me.  Nor does it help when it comes to this stage of my life when I should be enjoying an empty nest syndrome.  You know it is not for us in our time of life to experience the same thing our parents experienced.  The century is different, the decade is different and the age of the american dream has all but disappeared.  The economy is struggling and our young people are graduating with 4 year degrees and no real possibilities in getting jobs in their field of study.  Instead they are getting jobs that require them to be away from their families and away from the opportunity of the American dream. It is scary to think that we actually are moving back toward the home grown family of the prairie days, where we all chipped in to support.

It seems like just a moment ago there was a dream!  Did I blink?

Monday Menu Planning

How is it that I let the weekend pass by and I am still not organized with my menu planning.
Why do I miss out on the opportunity to have all my meals ready to be served up at just the right time.

I know there are sites out there that help with menu planning. In fact there are sites that help with just about any kind of organization one is looking for...

For example there is 'flylady' who gives you tips on things you never thought about, and actually enjoys doing things in 15 minute increments.

There is a whole host of sites that help with menu planning and strategies to end all.

I just wanted to be able to pick up on Monday, knowing that my lunches were prepared for the whole week.  Did I get there...NO!

I am too distracted with all my geeky stuff to do what could be done, should I actually put my mind to it!

Friends who pickup as if there had been no distance

I enjoyed an evening with friends this weekend. It was as if no time had passed, although it had been almost 10 years since we last talked.

It is such a rare thing to have a relationship with someone who allows you to pick up where you are with no feelings of discomfort or fear.  Such is how I feel about Lynne, a very dear friend, who spent many days, nights and weekends in our home.  We were kindred spirits in so many ways.

Our lives take place in two different counties in OHIO, but we are always a just an hour's drive away.
Bless you my friend, Lynne.

5 Strategies for success at a healthier me...

"Have a positive attitude."  How many times have we heard that one?  While our emotions can not cause some of physical issues I have, they no doubt affect my symptoms. How can I maintain good thoughts when my body feels lousy?  This challenge, of course, does not pertain exclusively to physical issues, but to any time when things do not go as I wish. So how do I find strength to climb back on the health and fitness regimen? I am listing 5 strategies, ideas, or thoughts for maintaining a positive attitude:

1. Expect Bumps! As much as I don't want to admit this, I am at this point right now. I have seen bumps and now I am frustrated with my response to what seems to be yet another failure.  The point is, I need to allow my 'shoulda, woulda, coulda' mentality not sabatoge my over all efforts to be healthy.
2. Track Changes.  Keeping track of my numbers helps to remind me that I am still going down on the weight.  It tells the 'bigger picture' story. Although I hate the process of tracking everything that goes into my mouth or the points value of the foods, it surely teaches me that I do not always tell myself the truth about how much I am eating or if what I am eating is the best choice of foods.
3. Distractions are a must! We all need to keep lists handy of the things that make us happy.  Evidence shows that people who are in physical pain can become engrossed in a beautiful movie, talking to a good friend, or even listening to music - while the pain receptors in our brain are being tricked into leaving us alone for the moment. Why does this happen, because physiologically our brains can process only so much input at a time.  So I have refreshed my list!
4. Shape Perspective.  Is the glass half empty or half full? Am I a loser at weight watching or am I getting it done through persistence. This thought process can be most destructive if given free will to reign on our parade day in and day out.  Be willing to fight through the tough times instead of letting them define you. Don't forget the good stuff. By focusing on the positives in our lives we can be more aware of how many blessings are there and the motivation to be healthy is ever present. I will call someone the next time I am struggling through a decision that seems impossible.
5. Create a new self.  If we hang on to our old self and the attitudes and perspectives that have placed us in this situation, it will be increasingly difficult to be successful. This does not mean we should totally discard our previous conception of self; rather, we need to find a way to integrate the two. In other words, we should seek to find in our new bodies new ways to enjoy and experience the things that we had done before.  Consider all the aspects of yourself that you like, and the things that you most want to do; then step by step, find ways to achieve as many of these as you can.  At the same time, recognize that our expectations must shift so that we can once again meet them. Believe that I can be exactly what I want to become!

Why do I do what I don't want to do?

Over a month ago I decided to try weight watchers as a way to get a handle on healthy eating and healthy living. The problem is this, I can't seem to stick to it.  I love the biggest loser show and watch it faithfully.  It is so highly encouraging.  So how does one get motivated. There seems to be no excuse, especially with all the support systems around me. It can be so frustrating.  So what is the problem.  Is it the lack of energy? Is it the fact that I have soreness in my muscles on every level and I ache most of the time. Or is it that I am just so good at excuses.  I would suspect the latter.

But, here I sit in a chair with my macbook typing away. Maybe I should get busy moving. Today I wore my pedometer and sat in meetings all day.  At the end of the day I had walked 1456 steps.  I should be walking 6000 to 10,000 steps per day.

I think I must have did most of the walking before I even got to work, because there is no way I walked that much just going from meeting to meeting.

Tomorrow is another day, and Weight Watchers is a great program for teaching lifestyle eating vs dieting and deprivation.

2009 a year that changed us all!

So, where to begin. There are so many things that happened this year not only to our country but to the Myers' family.  Let's start with Politics and the new President.  Now let's stop there!

Moving on to Brayden and his surgery at the beginning of the year. He was just 4 months old when they went into his chest to create a pathway for blood to flow correctly from his heart to his lower body and back and then from his heart to his lungs and back.  What a trooper and faith building situation we experienced.  Our hearts are forever molded to this little guy and it is as it should be that he will grow and thrive for several years before needing additional surgery.

Now, life comes at you fast, but this one we didn't expect, the death of the Patriarch of the Myers.  David Myers, Sr.  Absolutely the most influential man in my life and in countless others.  We love you and miss you.  As the seasons of this year come to an end, it will be sad to not have you celebrating with us. But you are always there in our MEMORIES.

Then came the liver transplant for David Myers JR.  Yes, another experience in life that has changed us tremendously.  Although we are privilege to have Dave with us for more years, it did not come to us with out him having to pay such a terrible cost.  His life since May has been hospital bound and now he has moved into rehab.  What a story to tell by both Dave, Linda and there children. They are all the most amazing family of strength and resilience.  I have no room to complain about my life, when I think of how much this family has had to endure over the last 18 months.  God continues to rain down many great witnesses to the power of prayer and faith.

As I start up this blog, again after a long hiatus, I am challenged to continue to use this as a format for much of what I am feeling and thinking about events in my life, friends and family and yes, even random thoughts.

Thanks for all who will read and comment...