My Road to 26.2...

My Road To 26.2:
Today's workout consisted of 2 miles of running and strength training (intense leg workout). I was super excited to get it done. When I finally got out of the house it seemed like it was to be like every other nice run. The weather conditions were ideal (sans a few mosquitoes). I began with a warm up and stretch, nothing new there. But...right around mile 1.5...I broke into tears. I was overwhelmed with emotion. I never stopped running, but I continued to cry. Even having my face covered with my shirt and sobbing I pressed on the run.
I cried...
For every time I lied to myself and said that I couldn't do it, For every time I let people, places and things get in my way, For every time I hated myself for what I thought was me giving up then realizing it was just where I was in my walk, For my husband's new eating habits and commitment to help me succeed like he has in so many other areas...
I cried because I could hear my inner self screaming, "SCREW YOU devil!" and shutting UP the voice of fear that I once gave place to its commentary. I cried because I knew...that this time...I was never going to be that girl again, the one you reference when you're describing someone heavy, "She was bigger than Alana". Never again would I wonder what it was like to LIVE healthy and not just diet. Never again would I find it odd or interesting when people eat healthy because they like it.
Then...I stopped. I wiped away the last tear... silently thanked God...and finished my run. (Then I mustered the chutzpah to complete my leg workout. ;0) )
...And my journey continues

The Things That Fill & Enrich My Life

Hi There WifeyMom Peeps, (All 20Billion of You ;0) Was that an Affirmation? Yep!)
I hope that all is well in your world as you read this.  Even though life can be filled with uncertainties one thing is for sure, You're still living it! 

I have had several "plates spinning" lately.  Many of you already know that I am not only a Stay-At-Home-Wife and Mom that home schools her 2 boys but I am also a makeup artist and fashion stylist.  Well, to those credits, I have recently added Women's Ministry Director & Marathon Runner in Training.  Sounds like a lot but not when you're operating in your purpose.  When you fully live life doing what God has created you to do, I mean living everyday open to the possibilities of being used for service to others, you find order.  You also find that your mind and life become uncluttered.  Your schedule seems to have a flow that it never possessed before.  The things that you have to do go by faster thereby making room for that which you want to do. 

From time to time I'll come to you keeping you up to speed on the happenings in my life.  I promise to always be candid, transparent AND you already know there will be some measure of "funny".  I know that it's not only important for you to read truth in my writings but it is also therapeutic for me to type them out.  I have come into both the knowledge and importance of transparency and truth as it relates to my own feelings and freedoms.  When you can, sans the guilt and shame, tell the story of your tragedies, tribulations and heartache you simultaneously tell the story of your victory.  So...when you read the inner lacings of laughter, despair, and encouragement that spins through this blog that is what you are immersing in, simple truth and complex situations that have simmered down to a revelatory breakthrough. 

I am honored to share my life with you.  I know how other peoples words have touched and enriched my life and I know that my words will certainly do the same for you.

Until we read again WifeyMom Lovers,
~Alana ;0)

Are you a GPS?...Grocery Positioning System

It takes tenacity to navigate a grocery store at 3:30 pm on a school day.  There is no shortage of obstacles and distractions from the path in which you tread.  And if you are doing this with a 3 year old and an 8 year in tow, oh ho ho ho, yeah you da bomb.com.

Easing in and out of different aisles with stealth precision as you narrowly escape the granny giving out samples of "Sugar O's".  You know that sugar dipped caffeine crunchy goodness in cereal form that is sure to have a 500 pound adult up and bouncing for 3 days, much less your two little boogers.  Yep, you manoeuvre past the toy aisle unbenounced to your kids.  It requires heart, sticktoitiveness, and focus.  You've got 30 minutes to get your bag of salad,  potatoes and chicken breast before your shopping time cuts into homework time.  You are moving and shaking, bobbing and weaving.  As the stars align with Jupiter and Mars you get in a no wait check out line and complete a speedy checkout.  As you run past the "kid shopping rewards" machine you screech towards the exit where you get a high five from the sausage sampler lady and a chest bump from Mr. Door Greeter himself.  With kinetic energy on your side you hop onto the cart and let it's force propel you to the back hatch of your SUV.  Your 8 year old jumps out, throws the bags in the back while your 3 year old snaps right into his car seat.  The kids are buckled, the basket is out of the way and as you're leaving, through your rear view mirror, you can see the entire parking lot erupt in sensational applause. You have completed your mission and are on your way.  You did it!  You didn't win the lottery but the exhilaration and excitement is no less meaningful.  Take a bow, Mommy Dear.  You are on your way......To start the arduous multi-task of preparing dinner and completing homework, in a single bound. Lol!

You are woman and I hear you roar.  You are a super hero.  You Are A WifeyMom!!!

Are you a GPS?  Do you find yourself dreading the grocery store?  Tell me your funniest or not so funny grocery store experience.

The Aftermath of a Morning Gone Right

WifeyMom Readers what a morning it was to behold on yesterday.  Before I get into the details let me issue a disclaimer:  If you have ever thought to yourself, "Gosh I love reading Alana's posts, I hope she doesn't run out of things to write about."  Pah, ha, ha, ha!  I can assure you that will never happen.  My life is one big blog post just waiting to happen.  NOW! On to the show!

Now, you should know that when my cell phone rings my boys have a habit of stopping whatever they are doing to bring it to me.  This is no matter what I am doing or Where I am doing it.  It is sometimes welcome but most times unnecessary. 
Back to the story, my cell phone rings while my oldest is supposed to to be finishing his spelling homework that morning.  After the first ring I can clearly hear him yell, "Moooooooom!"  I quickly cut him off by replying, "Son, just leave the phone alone.  I'll get it later."  My son, "But Mooom, there is smoke in the kitcheeen!"  "Smoke in the kitchen?!?!?!", I thought. 

I ran to the kitchen and the waffles that were in the toaster for my little guy were in flames.  Yes I said FLAMES people.  I quickly unplugged the toaster.  The kitchen was filled with smoke along with the rest of the house.  The waffles had popped up just enough to slightly raise out of the toaster but not enough to turn off the heating element.

Exhibit A:  The Naughty Toaster

She's given us lots of years, that little toaster.  But alas, her tour of duty has ended.  Fairwell Oh Family Dollar toaster.  Also, I love how this pic gives the illusion of a clean stove top.  Ahh, perception, lol.



Exhibit B:  The Senged Waffle Remains

The center of that waffle was white hot!



If you're wondering why the post is titled "The Aftermath of a Morning Gone Right" it's because even after this epic travisty I was totally unphased by it.  And that is because hours before this fiasco I started my day with prayer and then some quiet alone time.  That's right before I started a day filled with being needed by others I had alone time with God and then alone time to myself.  It TOTALLY centered me.  I have been waking earlier in the morning to pray consistantly for about 2 months now.  It has made a world of a difference.  However, yesterday I woke up earlier than my alarm and decided to just stay awake and start the day.  That gave me the extra time I needed to add alone time to my prayer time.  Because of that, a day that I anticipated to be a struggle was easy breezy.  I plan to make a habit of adding that quiet alone time to my day.

Do you have time or want to make time to rise earlier?  What would you or do you do with your extra time?

Whatever you do, make it a great day folks.

Family Time Doesn't Have To Be Expensive

Hey WifeyMom Peeps,
The hubby and I really do cherish the time we all spend as a family.  We have nights at home and even nights out.  On this night, we headed to the Town Center for a dinner out with the family.  It was an early dinner.  After which, the boys still had some energy to burn.  So we set out to find the most expensive activity that money could buy, Puh, huh, huh, ha, NOT!  Our Town Center is an open-air shopping area so we walked over to the learning toy store.  The store has tons of educational toys most of which can be tried out in the store.  It was early on a Friday night so there were not many kids in the store.  The boys played for about 30 minutes.  I enjoyed it as well.  It was fun for me to look at a few things and figure out how I could save money by making it myself.  After the boys had their fill at the learning toy store we headed to one of their favorite spots in the Town Center, the bookstore.  My boys are 8 & 3 and they both love to read. (as much as a 3 year old can)  The kids section of the bookstore has several toys and a few comfy  chairs to sit and read.  They played for another 30 minutes.  They had the most fun at the bookstore.  There were more kids there and neither of my boys have trouble making friends.   My 3 year old mostly played with the train set and my 8 year old hung in his usual spot by the chapter books.

While I was there I came across something that I think may help me with my 3 year old.  It looks like it could be useful.  Your thoughts?...

I'm putting my money on the cat.  My little guy would probably find it and use it on me, lol.

We finished off the evening watching Cosby Show reruns and eating stove top popped corn.  (Recipe coming soon)

I have found, after years of mistaking, that times spent like this are the memories that your children remember.  It's when we spend lots of money that we tend to focus on the lavishness of the event and it is more often than not lost on the children.  They really do relish in the simpler things.  It's those things that I remember about my childhood; the way my mom boiled the eggs for Easter, watching her make the extra large peach cobblers, and the crafts she facilitated as my Camp Fire leader. (that's like Girl Scouts)

Take time out to focus on time with your family when you plan your next event.  Make it about the time spent and not the story you'll be able to tell your friends.

All of us had a blast and we didn't spend a dime on our after dinner activities. 

Until next time...

No Where To Run To...

At first glance you would think that you are looking at a picture of a kid sleeping under a blanket but Oh how wrong you would be.  This is a photo I like to call "Shelter In Place"...

A few days ago we had workmen upstairs in the game room stirring up a ruckus.  Initially they were hammering and nailing and while that did create some noise it was a horse of a different smell from that of the circular saw that joined the party.  My little guy was having No.Part.Of.It.  I offered to huddle him in my lap but that was a no-go.  He leaped under that blanket at the first audible inkling.  I've never been around an explosion but I am pretty sure that's how you're supposed to head for cover in the event of a sudden boom.  Fortunately for me the circular saw drowned out my chuckling and laughter while he was "undercover".  So once the dust settled, literally, I was able to maintain my position as caring and loving female parental unit.
Oh, A mommy's life for me...

Transparency...

I was thinking back to about 4 or 5 years ago. I remember that my focus was the same as it is now but my methods were very different. I wanted to have peace and abundance in my home but I thought it was gained through material things. But through listening to The Word and putting it to practice I am today living in the fullness of all that I had hoped for and more. I've increased my value in the eyes of my husband & my family. I now have the ability to give them my presence instead of my money and material things. I left a 6 figure income career, a more expensive home, and a lot of self righteousness to be put to service for the Master's Use. So when you read my posts about making lunch for my husband, helping my son with his projects and being a Stay-At-Home Wife & Mom this is whose post you are reading. My life has not been all Roses & Cherries. This 2011 Version of Me ALL came at a price. But I am Blood Bought & Bible Taught. So if I ever say anything to you about changing your ways or your life, it's not because I'm judging you it's because I see a little bit of me in you and I want you to know the peace and prosperity that I do. It's not because I want what you have but because I want to give you the gift that I have.