It's only been FOREVER :-)

Hello friends!

You probably thought I just up and disappeared from the blogging world. Well, I have news for you that I hope you consider GOOD news . . . WRONG!  I did disappear for a little while, but I am BACK!  I may not be able to blog as often as I'd like to, but hey, better late and little than never and nothing! :-)

So, we are in the dead-heat of summer. And I don't like it. I admit. About the only things I like about summer are these I can count on one hand: swimming, Independence Day, and (usually) a break from school!  But, I'm hoping that summer will not be too treacherous and that autumn will roll around before we know it . . . .because autumn is my favorite time of year followed by spring!

I have been busy with "life" in general.  So many changes, so little time.  Some good, some bad. But overall, I still try to maintain a positive attitude and count my blessings.  I am going to the gym. That's a positive.  I am testing new recipes (I like to cook and bake, I don't love the cleaning-up part, but it's ok, it's life!) and mostly all of them are super yummy.  That's a positive.  I am reading good books.  That's definitely a positive. (maybe I should post a couple informal but fun reviews of the books I've read on here sometime?)  I'm enriching friendships and relationships with those people I can get to know better, and with whom I can share this journey called life. That's a major positive!

What have you been up to?  Are you counting the positives in your life?  I know sometimes, it's hard to do.  I've been there a lot.  Especially recently.  But I've found that counting the little blessings, and the bigger ones, helps me to keep a proper perspective.  It helps me face each day and end each day with a little song of hope in my heart.  To keep on keeping on.  And I think we could all use that hope and endurance at one point or another!

Hoping you find your life FULL of positives!!!!!   :-)  Talk to you later! 

Physical Challenge . . . .

I had a great weekend. I ended up going on a physically challenging, 2+ hour long hike and that was FUN!!! No, really, it was fun. It was also EXHAUSTING. Lol By the time I got to the base of the mountain, my legs and feet and ankles and EVERY other fiber of my being felt so tired!!! And I slept HARD that night. Still felt tired today. hahaha But, I also still went to the gym for more than an hour and 20 minutes of working out!!! I was so happy with myself!!! ;) Spent 35 minutes steadily cycling with a fair amount of resistance, then 10 minutes doing a fast elliptical-relative, and then the rest of the time weight lifting/bench pressing for my upper body and doing I don't even know HOW many sit-ups!!! Yahoo!!!

As I write this, I feel utterly tired with a huge distaste for doing anything that requires standing and using energy . . . . and yet I have lots to do about my place. I already cleaned my shower after getting home, but there are dishes to be loaded into the washer and others to be hand-washed, a soup to cook up (planning on a squash soup) AFTER I have to go down the road to the grocery to get a few missing ingredients (and I SO do not want to have to get out again tonight!!!), and of course, time spent reading something inspirational/spiritual and SLEEP. I totally, absolutely, inarguably need SLEEP . . . . big time!!!! I felt so tired today!!!

Anyhow, just had to post and share that I'm still working on the physical exercise, even on the weekend when one should "take a break," I was out climbing mountains. haha

Hope you are happy with where you are in the progress you're making toward achieving healthy goals and a healthier lifestyle! Talk to you later!! :)