Disney, Checking In, and Blogging - The Trifecta of Perfectness

I got an email today from Disney's Parent Pulse group that I had signed up with some time ago. It's a way for them to get to know about the on-trend things that are happening in the parenting world...I think. Well, today, the survey asked about my blogging habits and if I used a "check-in" service.

As anyone who knows me can attest to, telling random strangers where I am right away is not my favorite thing to do. In fact, if I'm somewhere I'll actually wait until I get home to tweet about it. I have a thing about advertising my home being unoccupied and my whereabouts. Why? Because it's not safe! Hello! Nothing like telling a burglar that he can come rob my house, because I'm at the zoo with the kids.

Then the blogging question. Ah, that's tricky. As most of you know, I blog every single day. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Sometimes two or three times a day and, during certain weeks, four times a day. The tricky part is that it's not here. It's on the blog I run for work. I'm a writing fool, I tell you. And it's sometimes exhausting, but I love it.

Anyway, I digress. On this Disney survey I did a most uncharacteristic thing. I put down the url's of BOTH blogs....this one AND work. Oy! The secret of my secret blogging life is out and I have now let Disney in on the fact that I am a, gasp!, corporate blogger.

Who knows....maybe Disney needs a new corporate blogger themselves? Hello, Disney rep! I would love to blog for you! I'll blog remotely, or if need be, I would sacrifice myself and blog and tweet while at your theme parks! Consider me a living "Flat Stanley"....or nowhere near flat Gym Mama....the choice is yours. And yes, for you, I'll "check-in".

First Time.

I did something I have never done before.

I wrote a post, published it, and about ten minutes later took it down.

I don't do that.

Ever.

What I write, I post. Because, after all, this is where I let it all fly. Well, to some extent anyway.

So, why did I take it down? For a few reasons, but mostly because of this thing called grace.

There are a lot of different explanations for what grace is and what it means to certain people, but in this instance....grace was the calming insight that some things are best left unpublished. Some things are better off said directly and not in a post that who knows who will read. And even though the message would be here, there are just times when it doesn't belong here.

One thing that's worth taking from that post and putting here is my reminder to myself that faith and fear cannot live harmoniously in the same space. It was a good reminder.

And yes, just for the record, I choose faith.

Welcome Back

It's been over a month and I'm finally back.

The summer has not been kind to dreams of stress-free times.

My brother-in-law passed on August 8th and I can honestly say that there are few things that are sadder than watching an 11 year old and a 5 year old tend to their daddy's casket. Some things just should not happen.

The proposed CNA class that was not thought to happen until early fall was surprisingly scheduled for the two weeks before my brother-in-law passed. A blessing that my husband took time off to watch the kids and, thus, had more time to spend visiting his brother. I finished the class, have been working on the floor as a trainee, and last night took my state exam. I am now a Certified Nurse's Aide (CNA). A difficult and not at all glamorous job, but one that's so appreciated by the residents and family members. I've discovered that it comes rather naturally for me and I enjoy caring for those in my charge.

With all of that going on I have seen the gym only when driving by it. My plan is to start going either tomorrow or Thursday morning. I miss being there, but I'm happy to report that I've actually lost more weight and am 13 lbs. lighter than I was when I got pregnant last year. I still want to lose another 25 lbs. so the gym is definitely needed.

I hope your summer has been kind and I promise to update much more frequently. It's time to get back into the swing of a routine. Don't you agree?

Some things...

Some things I've learned about exercising, fitness and myself...

1. I'm a morning workout gal.

2. As much as I love the recumbent bike, it always makes my knees hurt. Darn it.

3. Exercise makes me feel good.

4. Not exercising does not make me feel good.

5. The number on the scale means less than how my jeans fit.

6. It's not selfish to want to exercise for my own health.

7. Core strength and balance are great things...if you have them. If not, things can get dicey.

8. Exercise clothes are comfortable. They make me want to wear them all day, everywhere.

9. I'm not as strong as I thought I was, but I'm a lot stronger than I was.

10. Bathing suits are evil, evil things and magazines lie....there is no "perfect fit."

11. Bouncy, cushioned treadmills are harder to walk on. (See #7 for an explanation)

12. Wearing a pedometer is kinda fun.

13. Classes would be fun to take...if there was no one else around.

14. I like blogging about exercising. It's fun to write and makes me want to exercise. Otherwise, I have nothing to write about.

15. I like exercising. (Who ever would have thought I'd say that?!)