Project underway! !

This is the day our Lord has made...

Good Morning...starting my Sunday with Chris Tomlin, Jamie Grace and other inspirational Christian artists..funny how somedays I am just drawn to the computer to turn on a particular station that makes the day flow so much better. Starting my days with God is always the BEST way..I am excited that we will be back in the states soon and I will be able to seek out a couple of  churches that are like the one I used to go to..full of praise, worship, and this wonderful energy that you can only get when a group of believers come together..besides having in depth conversations with strangers in the checkout line at Walmart, this is what I miss the most about being in the states..of course I miss my family also..but to me that goes without saying..
So the hubby had men's day-evening out yesterday..it is no secret here that the alcohol consumption here is high....with one look at him I was super happy that I was not required to attend this particular event..usually when it is a gathering with this group the wives go also..and quite frankly, in my opinion we have all reached the age where gatherings based strictly on seeing how much alcohol can be consumed need to be reinvented..a couple of hours is okay but for hours on end is just too much..and the 2 days afterward that you feel like crap are just not worth it..but I guess if you drink a lot all of the time it doesn't have that effect..the end result of this event is that he will be sleeping most of the day and my workout time and place will have to be rearranged..seeing as my home gym is in our bedroom. Speaking of workouts..have been incorporating some of the ab toning moves into my daily activity that my son suggested..moves such as Russian twist, various types of crunches..and I am telling all of you..they hurt so good..all of my life since I can remember I have had to fight my weight, I was never one of those stick thin figures who could consume whatever..cellulite has always had a home on my butt..unfortunately..but I have to say..now that I have gotten in the habit of working out almost everyday I really feel the difference when I don't stick to it..no energy, sluggish..just blah. I have to say..I never thought I would be that person..the kind of person who looks forward to working out...
Have to change the theme here...the song Blessings by Laura Story is playing now..for those of you who have never heard it..please take the time to do so..it talks about how maybe when things are rough, and how disappointments may turn out to be for the best for us..we learn from them..have certain doors closed so others can open..it speaks volumes to me every single time I hear it..even though life was not what I had imagined and through some bad choices and decisions  it was harder than it should have been but in the long run God took my hand and lead me through all of it to be who I am today..and even though things are not perfect in our lives he has worked in such amazing ways..for me, my boys, and he is slowly moving in Matthias's life also..as the more he changes me the more it changes our marriage..strengthens it..we have faced some crazy challenges in the time we have been together..what would have broken many couples but he has worked to bring us closer..
Started a new decopauge project yesterday..will post some pics of in progress and finished project this afternoon..going to hang out on the patio with the pups for a bit..I wish you all an awesomely blessed day..  

WooHoo..1 week away!!

Good Morning all..not so much time this morning as today is Tafel Tag..off to work I go..without pay of course but oh so good for the soul!! So..after yesterday's post I am happy to report that I had some feed back from a few people..and recieved an awesome workout plan for the abs from my youngest..king of the 6 pack..abs that it!! Scale this morning reported 71.7 kg..that is in the world of pounds..159.28..so not where I ultimately want to be but just enough to start me off super motivated this morning..not such a long workout but here it is..6.4km, 30 Russian twists, 50 bridges, 30 reverse push ups, 50 squats with hand weights, and 20 legtucks..I am not so fast on the treadmill so the run alone takes the better part of an hour but practice practice practice..and sticking to it...I can feel it in my thigh muscles this morning after the second day at this distance but it hurts so good!! Water bottle is full and ready to go for the day..now to finish hair and make up and I am off for the day..Don't forget to share your smile today!! Be blessed and Bis Später..:D

A week away from what you ask?? I see Mickey and Minnie and Pluto in the near future!!!

End of the day. .

Breakfast

Lunch

Dinner..at the end of the day had taken an additional 5780 steps without leaving the house..have 1 more bottle of water to go to equal 8..feeling healthy and not so weighed down as a normal evening..so, until morning!!

Jamie Grace - Beautiful Day (Official Lyric Video)

Why is this so f#%@$&g difficult?

So...after having to buy jeans in a size larger and then after getting them home and wearing them..only to feel like a big fat sausage stuffed into denim..and not even real denim but the kind with elastic. .hate it but it seems that every single piece of denim here has it built in....at least the women's jeans and skirts. .but..the fact is that I am struggling to lose weight and it seems like the harder I workout the more I am gaining..okay..I will say that maybe .0000001 percent is from increased muscle but overall. .no..just no..it's not..am holding steady at 72.5 kg..in pounds that is an ugly 160 plus a little. ..workout this morning. .6 . 4 km on treadmill. .80 crunches and bridges. .40 scissors. .50 jumping jacks. .50 squats with hand weight reps. .30 reverse PU.  I generally do a pretty good job with water consumption but am setting a new goal of 8 of this blue bottle worth daily..and will be going back to following a Vegan diet starting today...this is not easy to do here..can be a bit frustrating at times even..hence my return to normal..quote unquote eating habits..no Whole Foods or Green Markets here...have been thinking this over for a couple of weeks now...not only for the health benefits but also...with the news coverage on the inhumane methods of animal transport and articles on slaughter methods. .not to mention that yesterday evening we were watching a travel-food show based in India and when asked about being vegetarian one woman replied that to kill an animal to them is a sin that pretty much sealed the deal for me..how can I say that I love animals and then turn around and eat one? I realize that this way of looking at things is a bit extreme for some but it is a choice that I am making for myself and the critters out there..For now after a sweaty workout I feel really good and motivation is high..time to get the day started..I wish you all a great day☺

Welcome Fall...and Christmas too??

So..the glue gun and treadmill both saw some action this morning. .5 km and the first crafts of the season. We discovered Christmas goodies in every store we went to yesterday. .a little early don't you think? The weather is changing slowly but surely here..the sun is fighting the clouds for equal time..and I am using every last minute of the warmth for drying the laundry. ..love the smell of clothes dried in the fresh air☺ Matthias has a project going upstairs. .we are turning the youngest son's bedroom into a guest-sewing room..sorry kiddo! New paint..new wallpaper. .cannot wait to start sewing up a storm Made banana pumpkin muffins this morning. ..yummy So happy this time of the year has arrived..time to nest a bit!! I wish you all a blessed Sunday. Bis Morgen..

Okay..enough already

So..after almost a week of being sick my thoughts are turning to this..how is it, that me..who takes vitamins daily, works out on a regular basis, drinks hardly any alcohol, doesn't smoke, and is a clean freak..can remain sick or even get sick?? When my husband..who I love dearly smokes and indulges in a drink more ofter than not is perfectly fine?? Not fair I say. Took the pups for a walk this morning..coughed up a lung most of the way and now have nothing less than a massive headache..I really want to hit the treadmill but I do not want to set myself back for another few days or week of this mess...ughh. Will take a break for a few and see how I feel..my mind is willing but my body is not..a bit frustrated at this in the moment. Am however, in the fall crafting mood, will dig through my craft supplies and see what I can find to create today to celebrate the changing of the seasons..fall is my absolute favorite with the colors and the wonderful foods..pumpkin, squash..and here in Germany the beginning of Grünkohl season..it is more so for winter butI like to get an early start..for all of those not familiar.. it is simply kale..super healthy and super delicious. The one thing I really miss here is not having Thanksgiving..that my dear friends is strictly an American tradition that I have tried to celebrate here..and well, lets just say I will not do it again..sadly. Things such as dressing..aka stuffing, pumpkin pie, and sweet potato cassarole were just not so well recieved..:C
I must say..September here so far has been wonderful..the weather is much better than in August..windows open, clean, fresh air..love it!! Okay..time to see just how much I can accomplish today..if nothing else, I can get some work done on the computer and learn a few new things...will post pics of my crafts as the projects start, are in progress, and are finished!! Be blessed and have an awesome Thursday!!!
 

Blessings

Good Morning all..sorry, no workouts since I have been home due to the fact that I am not feeling well..coughing, sneezing, achy, you name it..but the good news is that all of this is going to be over and done with by the time we get on a plane in a number of days to relax, spend some quality time with each other, family, old friends, and watch our youngest graduate from Combat Medic training..life is good right now. I am not saying that there are not still some sources of irritation and stress but overall we are truly blesssed. As for those who are not strong believers in the power of prayer..I have to tell you..over the past couple of years I have seen it work in my family more than a couple of times..and here we are once more, where 1 situation that we ae dealing with is taking a turn for the positive. And, no I don't think that it is all just the way things fell into place..I think God is working to change lives. To me right in this moment I am so full of this amazing feeling that things are going to be alright, even if things do not go exactly the way that I have in my mind's eye I know that it will all be okay because I know that God has this, not me. So, enough on the computer for now..I need to go in search of cough syrup..just wanted to share with all of you how amazing life can be when we turn it over to him...Don't forget to share you smile with everyone you meet today!!

Heading home....

Good Morning all..boots by the hotel room door..waiting patiently for me to finish packing..they will get to go into one of my lockers until November so that my husband and I can head to the states..have a much-needed vacation,  visit the family,  and of course attend our youngest son's graduation from his medic training.  I am happy to be going home today..as much as I enjoy seeing my co workers living out of a hotel cannot compare to home. One of my closest friends had her last weekend with the unit this weekend. .happy for her for reducing the crazy travel schedule. .sad for me because I won't see her on a regular basis now...however. .her husband promised to send her back for a visit. ..Tamaris store here we come ☺.So..going home means getting back into my routine. .stay tuned. .to the adventures of the treadmill! !

September 11

Good Morning all...well, today is 11 September 2014..for us, as Americans this is a significant day every year..no we don't have September 11 items out in the stores, it is not on calenders like Thanksgiving or Valentines day..but I would be willing to bet that every American that you ask can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when the attacks occured on this year 13 years ago..me, I was at work in the ICU, standing at a patient's bedside. This was a changing point in all of our lives..and continues to be. All I can say this morning is prayers for all of those families and lives directly affected by these horrible acts, and to send out a message of respect and thanks for those that have served, are serving, or have paid the ultimate price by giving their lives..a day of reflection, a day to be grateful....

Had to take a minute and a few deep breaths....

Hey guys..I had to take a few and rethink where my life is going, what I want out of it, and how to get there..as you all know I had my "Probetag" at the hospital about 45 minutes from our house this past Tuesday..I wasn't holding my breath but I have to admit that I did get my hopes up as if they weren't interested, and knowing how my schedule is ahead of time the fact that I was getting a chance to work an entire day..for free..surely that was a good sign..right?? Well, no, it wasn't actually. The nursing manager of the dept where I spent the day working wanted to give me a chance, and was willing to work around my schedule but the overall nursing manager was not..but I have to give her credit as she interviewd me a second time, asking me the same questions about my schedule as were asked in the first interview..so, wonderful people I managed not to let the tears fall until I was in the car, drove home and laid on the couch for 2 days..I just want to be able to work as nurse again and take care of people..is that really too much to ask?? Very frustrating here for me about now..but the week got better..I picked myself up shook it off and went to the Auricher Tafel on friday..as I do every friday when I am home..for those of you that read Fluffy on a regular basis you know the previous 2 fridays were a bit frustrating with the ignorance and prejudices against Americans but I thought..surely they have said all that they can say and this day is going to be a good day..not just no but hell no..the same man that insists on spouting his great knowledge of the states proceeded to tell me that I am fat. WOW..really?? Now, I am the first to say that I could stand to lose about 10 pounds but by no means am I a whale that grew legs and am now walking the earth...but what do I expect..really?? ..after more than 3 years of being given dirty looks, talked about, and of people being openly critical I have come to expect no less..but guess what?? These wonderful people will not win, they will not break me and I will indeed have the last laugh somehow.. someway...
But..today is Sunday..yesterday I spent a wonderful day with my husband and now I am at work for a little over a week..would rather be home but it is what it is..and I must do what I need to do for the time being..at anyrate I am glad to be seeing my co workers.I have set up my hotel room, office to go included and am about to finish up the 4th week of my course..am way behind where I wanted to be timeline wise but after the fantastic week I had I am super happy to have gotten as much done as I have up to this point..there is nothing a couple of cups of coffee can't fix, have some inspirational music on and all is in order..Will be postiing on Have flip flops will travel either tomorrow or Tuesday from our outing on Saturday..it wasn't a trip but just some fun for the day somewhere we had never been before..So..here is to having a better week than last week, keeping our heads held high when we encounter the rude people of this world and making a positive difference..this life would be so much better if everyone would first consider that everyone is fighting a battle of some sort before making mean, nasty comments!!