BEEF AND NOODLES!!

Here are the results of my first attempt at Beef and Noodles, yes I said first attempt because there will be more, oh yes there will be more...!!

- cody

Workin at the Y

OK, so I have had the opportunity to do a little swim training, and life guarding that I am now ready to make a small post about my experiences.

First, the training was not all that bad, it definitely let me know how out of shape I really am!! One of the requirements of guarding is to swim 500 yards every week, alternating between the free-style and breast stroke. The first time I did the 500 I thought I was seriously going to suffocate. The first 100-150 yards I think I did fairly well, but after that I looked like a drowning llama! I am not really sure what a drowning llama looks like, I would have probably made a drowning llama look good! Well I didn't quit and I did feel horrible afterwards but I also felt a sense of accomplishment. I look forward to the weekly 500's, I have a goal to finish my swim without stopping to gasp for air, and also to not drink half of the pool.....

I had my first guard this past week and I really enjoyed it. I kind of missed the whole routine and I also remembered that I like guarding outside better than inside, not sure why it is just a preference I guess. It was a good experience, I watched an older man come in at 6 and swim non-stop until 7:45! I was very impressed, the length he swam was a mile and he didn't even know about it. I had an hour long conversation with another swimmer who is a mother of 2 and is from California, and I also met a woman who said she was from Pond Creek! For those of you who do not know, Pond Creek is a little town in Oklahoma where I used to play basketball.

I enjoyed my first week at the "Y" and look forward to the next few months. I am currently working a "call-in" position at The Lettershop that if needed I can go in to work. I love serving at the Christian Church of Carl Junction, over the next 3 weeks Boyce will be in India teaching and preaching to preachers in the area he will be visiting. With him going to India he has asked me to fill the pulpit this sunday evening, the 17th, next sunday, the 24th, and the morning of the 31st! I look forward to these opportunities, I will be following some pretty amazing preachers which makes me a little nervous but also burns some excitement within my bones.

Well that is my update as of now. I will be back to let everyone know how preaching went, and how many times I am pulled out of the pool while swimming my 500's..!

-cody

Some recent pics

Moses is ready for some food!

Cody was so surprised with his gift!

My new shower head. It's WONDERFUL!

It has been insanely cold here in Joplin. We had a pipe freeze...luckily it didn't burst! Also, since our "laundry room" is outside of the actual house, our washer froze up too. This happened a couple time last winter. We've learned a few things since then that have helped, but it's just been WAY TOO COLD! We now keep a space heater out there which has been helpful. However, keeping the heater off for even 1 day is too long. :( The pipes that connect to the washer froze again. On the plus side, I haven't had to do very much laundry the past couple weeks! :)
As much as I love winter and snow, this below zero thing we have going on is getting old!
Cody takes Poncho on walks most every evening and his poor little paws get so cold it hurts him to walk. So Cody ends up carrying him home. As soon as they get in the front door, Poncho heads straight to his bed in front of the heater. :-) Smart pup!
We had a wonderful time visiting both of our families over the holidays. It's hard being so far away from each family, but at least we're centrally located in the middle. That's something to be thankful for.
Cody and I just purchased a Wii Fit Plus. It is a fun fitness program that engages your mind and body through balance and strength activities. You can play games or even have a personal trainer help you work out. It really is amazing...and so much fun! I've lost 2 pounds since Wednesday!
Not only are Cody and I being more active, but we are eating smarter and healthier. We actually started this back around October. I've been doing a lot of reading on healthy living. It so hard sometimes because after a long day at work the last thing you want to do is come home and work out or make a healthy meal.I made a yummy soup in my crock pot this past week with a bunch of veggies and chicken. It was so good!

I don't believe in dieting. Being healthy is a pretty simple concept. Eat food thats good for you and stay active. Fruits and veggies, lean meats, lots of whole grains. I've learned a lot from watching The Biggest Loser and reading books/articles from their trainers. I really do want to be healthier so someday I can teach my family how to do the same. It's still a struggle sometimes, because I really love my cookies, candy, pizza, cheeseburgers....BUT I can only have those every once in a while.
-Dianne

My snow angel