Simply Abundant Living

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Need some inspiration for good ways to use August? Since I have a bit of extra time on my hands that I am focusing on family right now, I have been thinking precisely about these things…here are a few ideas I came up with!

1. Harvest your garden
2. Read a book in a hammock
3. Skim stones until you are an expert
4. Climb a tree
5. Picnic under same tree
6. Go swimming–in a lake or pond
7. Go fishing
8. Take a long stroll
9. Gather wild flowers
10. Weave wild flowers into a crown or head band
11. Go to a drive-in movie
12. Lie on your back and watch the clouds
13. Sit in the garage during a thunderstorm
14. Stargaze on a clear night
15. Go camping (even in the back yard)
16. Go to a baseball game and cheer like crazy
17. Plan a fall garden
18. Plan meals using only your garden produce
19. Jump on a trampoline
20. Make lemonade
21. Have a lemonade stand
22. Swing high on a swing
23. Get up early before the birds wake up and listen to them begin to sing
24. Go to a farmer’s market
25. Learn how to whistle a blade of grass

I am thoroughly enjoying the beautiful excuse I have to be lazy this summer. Nothing like a brand new baby to slow you down and shift your priorities a bit. Not concerning myself with anything that does not directly impact my family at this point…no room for even wondering what extenze might be…nope…not even curious!

Seeing the summer through the eyes of my children is a blessing I’ve not had in years!

The hustle and bustle has dissipated temporarily as everyone but the baby and I are at a ballgame. I look around me at the mess and disorder and then I look at my tiny newborn as she nurses in my arms. Suddenly the need to restore order pales to the awesome miracle I hold in my arms. The mess will wait. In fact, cleaning up messes is very similar to shoveling in a blizzard and equally as fruitless. I’m doing something far more important…so important that former cares about term life insurance quote…while all well and fine…will just have to wait.

The quiet helps me regain my focus and vision. A brand new beginning…and I get to not only watch it unfold, but I get the supreme privilege of molding and guiding it.

Yes…it took my tiny new daughter to help me relearn what is important. Right now, the most important thing to do is slow down and get her off to a good start. In the midst of all of the distractions, I must allow myself to focus mainly on her and me. She needs my breastmilk supply to be adequate and I need to slow down to accomplish this.

That means no worrying about nonessential things like the latest and best wrinkle creams out there. Time enough for that later.

…the arrival of:

Rachel Bethany

Rachel arrived on July 7, 2010 at 9:14 p.m. weighing 7 lbs 14 oz and 21 inches long.

It was a long induction…36 hours to be exact…and it was filled with ups and downs…but God is faithful and always provides when we need it.

My worries about things like anti wrinkle cream are over for now…now I am thinking more along the lines of baby poop, sleeping and feedings.

She’s a sweet little princess and we are loving her.

When you are interested in weight loss, my advice is to approach it from a sensible and long-term standpoint instead of trying to make huge changes overnight. These huge changes are usually not permanent because they are so uncomfortable and unnatural that you cannot sustain them for long. Instead, if you make small changes that involve healthy portions, choices and sensible meals, you can make these changes last a lifetime.

No, you won’t see big changes in your body overnight…or perhaps even in a week or a month…but they will come…as will better health and more energy.

I’m about to take my own advice as soon as I have this baby. I will be breastfeeding, so no crash diets for me…but I will also be eating sensibly and moderately to stay healthy and allow my body to regain my former healthy weight.

It’s summer! Are you still exercising outdoors or have you moved your strenuous working out indoors where it’s cooler? I’m not talking about anything too strenuous along the lines of hgh or anything…but let’s face it…we still need to workout even when it’s warm.

Some Workout Tips for Warm Weather:

* Cut back on your exercise duration and intensity when it’s very warm – especially when you’re are not accustomed to the heat yet.
* Don’t exercise during the hottest times of the day. Pick a shady exercise or use an air-conditioned facility on the hottest days.
* Drink all the way through your workout.
* Monitor your heart rate and slow down if you don’t feel right.
* Train with a buddy when it’s hot.
* Watch out for heat stress: nausea, dizziness, headache, feeling chilled, muscle cramps, breathlessness and reduced sweating. Stop exercise, get where it’s cool and rehydrate yourself.

I’ve never been one for supplements and I wouldn’t have a clue about what might be the best protein powder out there. I do know that I tend to feel better physically, however, if I am eating more protein. I think I frequently short-change myself in the protein department and hence, I just don’t have the stamina to keep going when I otherwise would.

Eating more protein certainly wouldn’t be unpleasant…who would turn down more meat or another scoop of ice cream? Certainly not me. I’m not sure why protein always seems to be lacking in my diet but it seems like it would be an enjoyable problem to fix.

Is your paper organization system working for you? Can you easily locate items you need when you need them with little or no struggle or searching?

If not…perhaps it’s time to consider some kind of document management software to help you streamline your paper trail and keep things tidy. My one problem with locating papers is that I do not have one central location where things may be located. I have a school area where documents and papers connected with the kids and school go. I also have a different desk where I work on personal projects and I keep my own personal documents there. Thankfully, my husband keeps track of his own things so I don’t have this to contend with.

Whatever system works for you…just be sure to use it faithfully to keep your incoming documents properly filed and organized.

How much thought do you give the color of your house? Have you ever gone through the process of choosing and changing the color of your house or did you willingly accept the color the previous owners chose when you purchased your house?

We fall into the latter category…thankfully our tastes meshed with the previous owners. About a week ago my husband and I were in the car and we passed by a white house with bright SHINY red shutters. We both gasped at the same time…what must some people be thinking?!?

Choosing your house color is certainly nothing like the construction of steel buildings or anything, but it does bear some consideration on the part of the homeowner before committing to a color scheme.

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