My Fitness Routine Overview

Working out needs to be a part of your weight-loss journey. I have been a member of my local YMCA since July 2011. At first, I could barely do 15 minutes of cardio on the recumbent bike...which is still my favorite cardio equipment because I have lower back issues. It has a back on it which gives a lot of support for my back. When I go to the Fitness Center, I still use the recumbent bike; I just can last longer on a different type of workout and level. I also use the following weight machines: Seated leg press, glute, hip abductor, hip adductor, pec fly, seated row, tricep press, ab crunch, torso rotation, and back extension.

I do spend more time taking group classes though. Fitness 101, at our Y, is basically beginning step along with using hand weights and mat work for the last 15 minutes of class. I usually wear Velcro wrist weights throughout the class. I also take an intermediate/advanced step class and two dance classes. (Psst...wanna know a secret? I will be taking over one of the dance classes. Shh...that's just between us.)

 I hope this helps to give you a little bit better picture of what it's taken to get the results I've seen the last year.

Current Curricula

I am down to homeschooling my last child who has the NERVE to be in high school. Technically, R is 18 years old, but he chose over a year ago to take his time to actually learn everything we have chosen together. So without further ado, here are the choices we made for him:

We returned to LLATL about three years ago during my daughter's senior year. We are using it with Wordsmith also from Common Sense Press.

For geometry, we switched from Teaching Textbooks to AO Lifepacs. The first couple of Lifepacs were a bit of a transition period, but it's now going really well.

Science was a tough choice this year because we started out trying ACE Physical Science, but it was very difficult. That surprised us because we have been using ACE for science for many years. As surprising as it was to me, we've gone with Lifepac science as well. We are using a combination of the 8th and 9th grade years which cover the same topics as the ACE Physical Science. SHOCKING!

At least, we remained with our tried and true favorite for American History...ACE!!! We've used ACE history for many years. All of my kids have remembered more using ACE than anything we've previously used. (That topic will be coming later. Trust me.) 

R wants to be a game programmer, so this year for his electives he's using the TeenCoder Windows Programming and Game Programming books.  

Well, there ya have it. The choices that work best for JR for this year. I will try to post more specific information on all of these at a later time. I hope you've been able to find what works for you and your family.

Type 2 Diabetes

The BIGGEST blessing during my health and fitness journey has been totally controlling my diabetes with diet and exercise alone. I haven't needed ANY Metformin or insulin of any kind since February 2013!!! Praise the LORD!!! 

I appreciate your patience while this page is under construction

Philippians 1:1, 2

This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God's holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the elders and deacons. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

~Philippians 1:1, 2~

These are the first verses of my favorite book of the Bible. I read this book over and over to help re-focus my attention on other things besides life. As a homeschooling mom, it's easy to get our focus off of where it should be. That first verse usually convicts me every time I read it. “Slaves of Christ Jesus”. Would anyone use those words to describe me? Would I? Would He?

Let's take a look at what we so easily become focused on instead of Christ Jesus. As a veteran homeschooler, 16 years and counting, I can say I have found myself a slave to the teacher's guides of whatever curriculum I'm using...be it a big-name publisher, unit studies, online freebies, etc. It is not wrong to want the best for our children and, as the ones responsible for the moral and academic upbringing, it's easy to get caught up in the sometimes never-ending search for the perfect choices for our children.

I've learned over the years it's so very important to pray about our choices. We belong to Him and so do our kids, and He wouldn't want us to spend SO much time worrying about what we're using. If we're spending the majority of every day around the school books and going about our busy lives, we're not like Paul and Timothy being slaves to Jesus. We're slaves to our homeschool. We are meant to be His holy people devoted to serving Him and making disciples of our own kids. A tall order, I know. He won't have us do something without giving us a way to get it done. However, what that looks like for each family is very different from one to the next. It could change from each season of your homeschool journey, too.

The last verse mentions what our Heavenly Father wants to give us His grace and His peace. When we take a look at our school days are our choices part of that grace and peace? If not, we need to take a look at how to change that. Do we need to tweak it or dump it? What is most likely going to help us show our families and the world around us what being a “slave to Christ Jesus” looks like?

Dear Heavenly Father, I pray for those reading this devotional. I pray it would be a help to keep them mindful of You and what You want for their families. As we're feeling convicted or more confident of our choices, may we always feel your grace and peace...and know how to restore it.

In Your Son's Precious Name~ Amen