TSFL Convention

I went to the national convention for Take Shape for Life.  SO much fun!  And, very inspiring.  An entire week of meeting people who have lost weight and who are healthy now thanks to Medifast.  The best speaker by far was Brian Biro (look him up) who I've heard before.  He does a whole seminar about breaking barriers in your life and at the end he has everyone karate chop boards in half to "break-through". I realize it sound a little corny, but it is very thought provoking.  It is way to easy to go through life with the wrong focus.  Two years ago I broke a board.  This year I held a board for someone else to break.  She did it the first time and I was so, so glad about that.  Eddie had quite a few people who had to try multiple times.  You will not break your board if you focus on it (same with life, you will not accomplish your goals while focusing on obstacles).  You must look past the board.

Eddie usually does some training or workshops at convention but this time he was asked to participate in a Dr's panel.  He is third from the left in this picture.  All of these doctors discussed how TSFL has improved the lives of their patients, and then how it had improved their own personal life.  He was the only chiropractor.  The rest are surgeons, a FNP, a gynecologist, and such.  This was also very inspiring and powerful.  To hear doctors discuss creating health instead of responding to disease is practically unheard of today.  One doctor admitted that his practice had more prescriptions stopped or reduced than started.

READ THAT SENTENCE AGAIN.

There were 2,500 health coaches listening to this panel.  Eddie usually isn't nervous to speak- but he said you looked into the crowd and it just kept going and going!!

And, my favorite part of the whole week was meeting Norma.  She is an 82 year old health coach who is in our Florida team.  She used to be a seamstress in New York City and altered wedding dresses and designed lingerie.  I told her that she is my hero.   She mailed me her 1976 reader's digest encyclopedia of sewing.  I've been reading it- I don't care how nerdy that makes me.  One day I'll be able to do a welted pocket.

sorry the pic is bad- we were at a dinner show.

Confession

I'm sure I told you before that I once went to my doctor and told him that I was crazy.  He said I was only a little bit crazy.  I need meds. Seriously, I am pacing and freaking out and worrying.  I don't even know why.  Tornados that are half a nation away ripping everything apart.

I'm waiting again to hear if charges are pressed against my son.  It maybe time for home school.  I'm not smart enough for that.  That's not putting myself down, it's truth that I'm okay with- I have other talents that are not math.

There is discussion of moving in our home.  Which is not the same as decision.

I find myself mentally going back to Maui quite often lately.

Too bad it's not part of the discussion.

Undefeeted

So, I went through the fall recovering from Puedendal Nerve problems.  I stopped running and working out for 3 months.  I felt better at the end of January and began running again.

I woke up last Thursday with a fire in my foot.  I'm pretty sure it's a Morton's neuroma problem.  I'm limping around the house and wearing only Chaco sandals and icing my foot.  Good Times.  When the swelling goes down a bit I'm going to go get some custom orthotics for my little ole Hobbit feet.  My feet aren't hairy mind you,... just w.i.d.e. and my poor toes are tired of being smashed.

I found this blog that I love.  I'm scouring her work outs for calisthenics I can do that aren't weight bearing.  Around the world push-ups here I come (on my knees, to save my toes- of course).

I also started the program today.  During those 3 months off I gained 5 pounds.  It feels like a lot.  I was running it off.  But, who knows how long this cardio break will be.

Be Grateful

So, I have to thank my awesome friend Rachelle for commenting on my "predicament" post.  She said it made her heart break when I wrote that I wish I knew what was wrong at home.  My first thought is- that I'm just not a great writer, and she misunderstood me a bit.  I KNOW about trials and the benefits of them of course, but just for a minute I wanted to be able to fix this trial that we (and mostly Nathan) have.  Don't all mothers want to do that for their kids?  I think so.

I've been thinking quite a lot about what this is teaching me.  Mostly, I forget that I do have good things to offer Nathan.  I need to remember my talents because well, I almost never do.

While at the gym last night I watched a "Wednesday's child" news story.  Our news station does spotlights for children who are looking to be adopted.  There are also "Sunday's child" articles in the newspaper.  This particular story was about a little boy.  I only caught a bit of the story as I was busy working away at the elliptical.  The clip I did see quoted the little boy as saying something like "I've been wanting a family since I was four".  Immediately I diverted my eyes away because that sentence was enough to make my eyes sweat too.  Four years old and wishing for a family.  The articles about these kids always state certain needs the children have, or things they desire.  This boy's needs were parents who could support his mental health needs and provide him with opportunities to love animals.

Okay. Eyes sweating again.  You get my point right?

Please somebody who loves animals adopt that little boy because I *strongly dislike* our dog.

Parenting 505

The best thing about LDS General Conference is that you hear the things you need to hear.   Now, I could never tell you what speaker said what until I get the written word but I loved the idea that some parents are in "parenting 101" with their kids while others are in "parenting 505".  I needed that one, but it wasn't my favorite.  This was:

"Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words".  Francis of Assisi

Although I am enrolled in 505, I need to hear what they say in 101.

And, on another note.  I surprised Carolyn with something for her birthday.  I was a little nervous about it.  I told her there would be a surprise and said "EVEN if you don't love it pretend like you do please......"  Sometimes she hates my ideas.  I am the mom, and she is a teenager.  (And sometimes I might break out into song and dance when she asks who The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is.  Who wouldn't?)  Anyways, my friend talked her rock-star brother into giving her a little concert.

She LOVED it.  Freaked-out-waving-hands-in-the-air-when-nobody-but-me-is-looking LOVED it.  I was so happy.  I used her camera to take a picture.  Then I got this look.

Which means: what-in-the-heck-stop-taking-pics. So I did.  And, alas I have no good ones.  Oh, well, she liked it.  And, her friends loved it too.

*look at the first pic, my favorite thing about it is the little bit of hair from our neighbor girl's hair where she lost a braid from her weave poking up.  I think it's hilarious.

Also, the rock-star is Cary Judd and you should buy his song Valentine off of itunes (or others, but that's my favorite).  And, thank you again to his sister if you read this... Did I say she loved it?

Predicament

Such an interesting week here in the Arnold home.

My sweet Nathan is in big trouble.  Call from the principal who wanted in school suspension but I said no, home suspension kind of trouble.  Me waiting at home freaking out that every phone call is the school resource officer (and will he get a citation?) kind of trouble.  He bit someone for calling him gay and tripping and shoving him.  Really?  Who is the bully in this instance?  Nathan doesn't take crap.  Can I make him a shirt that says "DON'T FREAKING MESS WITH ME! I bite back."


Of course I don't want him to fight back. But, he does.  Revenge.  It's what we've been working on for 10 years.  Do not seek revenge son.  Turn the other cheek.  Love thy neighbor.  Etc.  SIGH.

Then, I got a call from our other principal.  And, I immediately think GREAT- now, what did Will do?  Poor Will.  It was Elizabeth.  A boy told her that he was going to kill her and "rip out her heart".  The principal recommended that I press charges.  I told him our whole story with Nathan.  How can I press charges when I am praying that it doesn't happen to us?  The principal seemed very touched and relieved that I understood.  It made me wonder if they HAVE to suggest filing charges to protect the school.  Then, I got the call from the school resource officer.  But, not for Nathan's case, for Elizabeth's.  He asked if I wanted a citation to be written.  "No!"  I said very emphatically and I told him our story too.  He hasn't heard of Nathan's case yet.... Does that  mean he won't?

When talking about this little boy with the officer and principal, I learned that his life is difficult.  His mom left and now he's with dad.  This is what everyone used to assume with Nathan.  What is wrong at home?  I wish I knew.

Finally Finished

Remember the bench Eddie and I made?  I finally painted it.  Yes, it took that long.  I'm glad I waited.  Apparently freezer paper works on wood.  I'm not really a quote kind of person, but I like this.

And, if you aren't a FB friend then maybe you didn't see my chairs.  Yep, these were ugly and orange velvet.  They still need trim, so the finished title does not apply.  But, I think I love them.

I used to hate everything I tried to make, now either I'm on a roll... or I'm just more comfortable in my own skin and know what I like and if you don't like it then who cares because I'm not 20 something anymore.  I like that feeling.  Know what I mean?

And, all pics are thanks too my sweet new iphone (my lover gave it to me).  Once Suze heard me call Eddie "lover" and she said gag- you might as well say person I have sex with.  Ummm, isn't "husband" the same thing?  Not sure where that came from.  I'll stop now.  Oh, yeah....

I'm going to Maui.

Jon Schmidt "All of Me"

I thought some of you might like to see the song Carolyn played for her school talent show.

Snow girl

I know that I'm biased an all, but this girl is the cutest thing ever.

Helen Harper

We have a patient who has been with our practice for years, at least 4.  I remember telling her when I was expecting Leah.  Helen is an English lady who is also a midwife so she loves all things pregnancy related.  She is the most kind person ever.  Really.  She would lay on my table and let me work her and want to know all the details about my life and kids, and how things were going for me.  MOST people never ask, or want to know.  Being a mostly home-bound-nobody-to-talk-to mother, this meant a lot to me.
Helen had cancer.  I remember her telling us, and crying, and then she got well, and then she got worse.  And she got well again.  She is the most look-on-the-bright-side person I've ever known.  She bragged about wearing a bikini once on vacation because her treatments had made her lose weight, which I'm guessing is something she wouldn't normally have done.  And, I won't ever forget how hard I laughed when she came back into the office from a trip to England with a package of Helen Harper sanitary napkins.  She said that is what they are called there.  Helen Harpers.  They sat in the office bathroom cupboard for a good two years, then one day I noticed they were gone and I was sad someone had taken them.  I wish I kept them.  Stupid Cancer.  Love you Helen Harper.

Moving On

I have written and deleted paragraphs about how things ended up with Dr. W.

I love Nathan and want to help him.

Dr. W is a crook.

I decided than Nathan is my son and somehow God will help me know how to teach him.

There is no label for Nathan other than super sweet, super smart.