While I didn’t get a whole lot of running in due to tweaking my knee early in the week, I am happy to report I managed to maintain my plank-a-day challenge, and finished up strong with a 4 minute plank tonight. YAY!!!
I was supposed to be running a marathon today, if you remember I signed up for a full last fall before we knew my husband was deploying. It stung just a touch seeing everyone post up their pictures today, but I had to remind myself that my time will come and that right now I am doing my best with my situation.
So here’s my week in pictures, with 2 very amazing friends, and lots of planking, LOL!
My friend Janel and I at dinner Monday night. Love the fact that she won’t let me hole up in my house!Tuesday’s workout left me with a wonky knee for several days so decided to rest for a few days!One of my favorite pics. Ever.Wednesday was arms and planks!Thursday didn’t have a lot of time, but managed to get my plank done!Friday night before going out with my friend Andrea (from the poster above)This amazing woman has texted me daily for the last 11 weeks, even if it’s just NNT (night night termite, LOL)Got a selfie from the husband Saturday! SOOO nice to see his face!Saturday we had a beautiful day so I planked outside, notice my photo bomber?LOVE having fun with my kids!Sunday’s plank and yummy “taco salad” after a wonderful day in the sun!
My last load of laundry is in the dryer, and I am ready to retire on the couch. I am linking up with Tricia and Holly for the weekly wrap!
How was your week? Are you still planking with us? Here’s to almost 3 months of my husband’s deployment under our belts, and to a new week. Tomorrow I will be honored to see my daughter perform her poem about deployment and military families. Be sure to check it out if you missed it the other day!!
So I’ve totally failed at regular blogging. Guilty as charged! I’ve been terrible at commenting on people’s blogs. Guilty again! I truly apologize, because I really do enjoy blogging. Please don’t give up on me! LOL!!!
But I am pouring myself in to my job, my KIDS, and improving my home right now, and that means some things have to give. First being, blogging 3 times each week. It’s rough finding spare time as we all know…so I’ve decided that I’m 99.9% not running the Rockford half marathon on the 22nd of this month. (I originally signed up for the full, and that’s a definite NO). I haven’t trained, because that would mean taking far too much time away from my kids. I’ve never not ran a race that I’ve signed up for, so the pride thing is still nagging at me a little, but I think I am ok with my choice. Who knows, maybe I’ll wake up next weekend and change my mind. Stranger things have happened.
So instead of marathon training, I’ve really jumped in with my weight training while maintaining cardio by running on the treadmill at least 2-3 times per week. I can do this from the comforts of my own home, and that alleviates the guilt of having my 16 year old constantly babysitting her sister. I’m in week two of weight training and am really seeing early results that please me, and make me smile. It’s nice to feel proud of ourselves from time to time, and while running will always be a love of mine, I’ve been lifting weights nearly just as long in my life and it feels good to feel strong again. I’m also planking daily this month still, and I’ve started doing more core work every day.
So while I started this deployment with high hopes and plans, I am realizing I just need to take things one day at a time. Because you just never know what life will give you on any certain day. And accepting that is tough for someone like me, because I plan…well…everything. Here’s to flying by the seat of my pants! LOL!!!!
Highs for the week are highlighted in photos:
Longest plank this month!
My beautiful daughter’s that took me out to dinner after work, on Mother’s day
Getting stuff ready for care packages for my hubby
My little one made me this for Mother’s day!
Lows for the week were a little all over the place. Without disclosing details I’ll say that the communication with my hubby has been minimal, and I had a really hard time after the kids went to bed on Mother’s day. A good cry fest, and I was feeling a bit better the next day.
I will say, I can proudly add the title of “Plummer” to my list of titles, LOL. Yup, gotta love the deployment curse!!!
Are you a planner? For the Moms, did you have to work on Mother’s day? Do you enjoy weight lifting?
Thanks for your awesome love and support, and patience during this crazy time. I’m with y’all in spirit, I promise, and I will make a better effort to hang out with everyone! ❤
This morning started out a little rocky. I woke up from a terrible nightmare as my husband reached to kiss me goodbye this morning WAY before the birds (or anyone else for that matter) were awake. I laid in bed, practicing my deep calm breaths as my heart raced a million miles per hour. Would he be ok over this next year? Will the Nanny’s first day go well? How can I help my 16 year old cope with, well, being 16? Ugh…
Several deep breaths later, I was up and getting ready for work. The Nanny arrived promptly on time, and everything went quite well for our discombobulated first morning. She texted me as soon as my little got on the bus, and I sighed a HUGE sigh of relief. I had a busy day at work, but was in awe of how many times I smiled, and was reminded of how far I’ve come in life. It really is true. You control your mood, no one else. #learninglessonseveryday
I drove home from work in a crazy snow storm, picked up my little from after school care, and we headed to Home Depot. See, our front light went out, we were out of sidewalk salt, and my daughter’s bathroom toilet lid broke right off. Guess since it was the original one from 1989, it was time to replace it. These are ALL things my husband normally takes care of. Although he isn’t handy, he does do all the hard things that I haven’t had to do in over a decade usually. Yet it’s time I figure out how to be on my own again, and do all the hard things.
As I lifted the huge bag of salt from my Jeep, I reminded myself that I CAN and WILL do this and be stronger for it.
My mini and I cooked our version of Jambalaya for dinner in preparation for an evening of shoveling out above said snow, and here’s a quick recipe.
Jambalaya Ingredients
4 links of pre-cooked chicken sausage, sliced into coin shapes
1 cup of precooked shrimp, chopped into small pieces
1 large can of crushed red tomatoes (use the spicy ones for added kick) with the juice
1 can of black beans, strained
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 small white onions (or one large), diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
Creole seasoning to taste, salt, pepper, and chives
Fresh chopped Parsley to garnish
In a deep sauté pan heat 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and sauté the garlic, onions and celery until slightly tender. Add in the tomatoes and beans, and simmer for 20 minutes. Add in the chicken sausage and shrimp until heated through, and serve over your favorite rice or quinoa. I used a brown rice quinoa blend that I cooked according to the package instructions. I even had a little help from my mini.
Not sure which sparkles more, her eyes, or this dress? ❤Dinner is served! Healthy AND Delish!
As we cleaned up the table, I got a text from one of my newest neighbors. She told me her husband has a landscaping business, and plows in the winter. Would I like him to plow my driveway? I broke down crying, and thanked God for all he’s blessed me with through this deployment preparation. He came over to plow, and I thanked him profusely as the temps are dropping, and I now only had to shovel my sidewalk and salt.
BRRRRRRR
Next it was time to fix that darn toilet seat. And who took the lead? Yup…my 16 year old. With a little help from Sammy…LOL!
“Mommy can I help? Or can I at least lick your face?”
Girl power! We did it!
My oldest asked if she could talk to me. I froze. What’s wrong? She confided in me that she’s been struggling with feeling happy, and I was catapulted back to 10th grade. I told her WE would get through this, and I would help her in any way I can to learn to find happiness even in the toughest of times. And I was just so darn touched and honored that SHE CAME TO ME. #allthetears
My hubby just got home from a very long day of training, so I think it’s time to wrap this post up. But here’s your reminder, that we can ALL do the hard things, if WE believe we can.
Do you have a handy spouse? What’s the hardest thing you’ve done lately?
As I talked about in my last post, I have always been a fan of New Years. This New Year’s started out with a killer migraine on NYE and as the day progressed, so did my headache. Thankfully I was able to cut out of work an hour early, and take a much needed nap with a Motrin cocktail in tow. We spent the evening with our dear friends who are also neighbors, and I am proud to say I stayed awake until after 1 a.m., LOL!
I woke up rather late on New Year’s day, and immediately felt a sinking sadness looming in my chest. I cried, most of the morning, and then decided I needed a nap because I was over tired and over emotional, and I cried myself to sleep. I am going to miss my husband, more than I can even say in words. (Sorry, broken record, I know…)
He always makes me smile
Thankfully, I woke up feeling much better. We spent the rest of the weekend cleaning, putting Christmas away, and cleaning some more. My house was immaculate, and I was at peace. We had an interview with a nanny on Sunday, and it went GREAT. She starts next Monday, and this is a HUGE weight lifted off my shoulders. I still don’t know how I am going to #doallthethingsallbymyself but at least now one of those things is taken care of for me.
A big thumbs up for our new nanny!
So now, as the days fly by and the countdown to my husband’s departure ticks by I am thoughtful in my goals for this next year. My goal to PR the marathon distance will be sidelined, and my cookbook put off for probably another year (although I will still catalog my recipes on the blog) and I will be focusing on staying positive for my kids, smiling/laughing every day, and doing things I love with the people I love.
What are you plans for the New Year? Do you make resolutions/goals? Have you ever had to deal with a long term separation from your spouse?
I think it’s only human for us to have assumptions in certain situations when it comes to what is thought to be “the norm” in life, no? We assume that if there is something big in our lives, or something that we put our heart and souls in to, that those we consider closest to in life, will support those big things…at least I do…or did…
But assuming is a naughty naughty word, and it truly does end up slapping you in the face from time to time. And for a split second I caught myself being sad about the person(s) that don’t support my crazy #keepmovinforward mantra, page, and blog. I looked into my husband’s eyes with sadness, and he reminded me that HE will forever be my best friend, MY PERSON…and suddenly the sadness vanished. I’ve accepted that sometimes friendships run their course, and that is ok. It’s all the circle of life, right?
Since learning of my hubby’s upcoming deployment I have been flooded with phone calls, texts, comments and emails from friends and family. And despite crying more than I’d care to admit, I am also counting my blessings. Because you don’t get through the hard stuff without your friends and family.
Here’s a pic my friend Andrea made after I spectated and ran the last few miles of her first marathon with her. One of my all time favorite running memories.
With that, I thank you all for being just plain awesome. I love the fact that I’ve met so many amazing people through this community, and that you have chosen to join me on this journey. My hat goes off to you all!
Moving forward, I will continue to rant about running, recipes, and real life adventures. Let’s see where the upcoming year takes us!
Movin' it with Michelle 