A Rare Occasion

Thanksgiving has always been a very special family time for the Rich (Sheerer) side of the family. It has been a family reunion for the past 54 years. This year we had between 50-60 folks during the day on Thursday. It has become a "community" effort more than ever over the past several years and this year was no exception. Many hands prepare favorite dishes that have become traditional and expected. Aunt Nona Sue's cheese grits are a must! Janice's green bean, corn, almond casserole is another. Two of the hash brown potato casseroles (one without onions) the special jello salads, and sliced turkey and ham with Grandma's cornbread dressing and giblet gravy I could go on and on!

One of our contributions is the tablecloth that everyone signs on Thanksgiving day and has chronicled our years since 1986. Last year we filled the last section and I added a wide border in order to continue this tradition. We also did a trivia game show last year using the tablecloth for verification of some of the answers! Fun!

The amazing thing this year, was that ALL of the Riches were present except Grandma Virginia (advanced Alzheimer's in respite care for these few days) and it was joyful! Usually a few are either too far away to come, or have family commitments on their "other side" of the family, but this year we were all there. We ranged in age from 85 (Grandpa Ken) to 6 months (baby Jaxon). I don't know when I have laughed so hard or "rolled my eyes" so much! That is family!

I am so very blessed to be a part of this amazing group. Each one has their own special place in the family. It was so touching, funny, happy, sad, irritating, annoying and wonderful. That is family!

At the end of the day, we love each other, and we claim each other. That's Family!

Now about eating:

• nibbling works
• bits of ham and turkey were fine
• green beans and green bean/corn casserole
• bits of cheese grits
• part of a roll

What doesn't work for me:

• cornbread dressing
• fresh veggies
• fruit

surprises:

• popcorn
• pretzels
• a bit of pumpkin pie (not the crust)

I took sugar free pudding, protein drinks, string cheese and protein bars. These were great for breakfasts or night snacks when I wasn't able to eat much for supper.

From Peggy's book:

"God always gives the best to those who leave the choice with Him."

-unknown

Thankful Wednesday!

Today is my first day of vacation! YAY!

I have today at home and then we go to Abilene for our annual family reunion with the Sheerer clan. It is my children's favorite holiday because they get to see most of their cousins and this family is close and wonderful.

I have soup to take for me, in case I have trouble eating. I also have protein shakes and bars to take. I will try the "nibble" technique first, but then if there are a problems I have my backup food.

I have gone down one more pound, but my body is "shifting" and it is interesting to put on clothes because there are surprises constantly. It is the fun part right now.

I am thankful for my many blessings, and wish everyone a thankful time during this season of gratitude.

from Peggy's book:

"Fill up the crevices of time with the things that matter most."

- Amy Carmichael

Blogging isn't for sissies!

Since Wednesday it has been an eventful few days.

On Friday I took my 4th grade study group to the courthouse for a tour. It was fabulous! Charlie (the bailiff) gave us an in depth look at our court and introduced us to several people including a court reporter who demonstrated how she records everything said in the courtroom on her machine. We agreed it was like learning a new language. The judge welcomed us and answered lots of questions. While we were in the courtroom, Charlie got a phone call from the Sheriff''s office across town. They wanted the kids to wave at them! They monitor the courtroom. Charlie also showed us a communication room where all of the security cameras were monitored.

After we got back, the sign installer for the playground signs (science vocabulary) arrived and Mr. Ivy (principal) and I walked the playground to show where each one would be placed. they should install them next week YAY!!!!

Then a teacher I met at TAGT came to see the Challenge Lab and she was sooooo excited about the possibilities for her program based on what she saw at 2 of our Challenge Labs.

Saturday, John and I spent 8-6 at a concealed handgun class, and shooting range. We Passed!!! It was very interesting most of the time......it was a lonnnnnnngggg class. I was so glad we had our 3 classes with a shooting instructor before we took the CHL class. It made me much more confident and I was pleased with my target results. It is really fun!

After the class, we met Jenny and Laura at the Palladium Imax to see Harry Potter and WOW what a movie! it was fun.

Eating continues to be trial and error. Things I can count on: Cream of Wheat for b'fast or protein bars/shakes. (NO to oatmeal, eggs or bacon) Soup for lunch: broccoli is great, split pea, or brothy vegetable also good (be careful of meat in soups sometimes yes much of the time no) Supper is a challenge.

Looking forward to church and a relaxing afternoon.

Quote from Peggy's book:

"The lives that have been the greatest blessing to you are the lives of those people who themselves were unaware of having been a blessing."

-Oswald Chambers

Weigh-in Wednesday

Ok, so only 1 pound, I will take it! I can tell that my body is changing. I have been lax about exercising and now I have new motivation. The way to get more weight off and change the shape more quickly is exercise. Is this a new revelation? of course not! just a re-newed motivation. When I get tired of the plateau this is the key.

I am still playing "catch-up" from being gone last week for TAGT and then being sick on Monday so school is "I'm dancing as fast as I can!" I barely got my assignments in this past week for grad school so now I feel like I am behind there too. ugh! This too shall pass.

Peggy's book:

"Happiness consists more in small conveniences or pleasures that occur every day, than in great pieces of good fortune that happen but seldom to a man in the course of his life."

-Benjamin Franklin

Surprise Sunday

This morning while I was getting ready for church I had a surprise- the black pants that I put on wouldn't stay up!!!! I had to re-think my whole outfit. :) My belt was too big a few days ago and now this! woo-hoo!

I need to back track a few days. TAGT conference was great! (mostly) I tried to eat some b-b-q chicken before our presentation on Thursday and it was a disaster! Pain, nausea and the inevitable "rejection by the body" made for an upsetting prelude to what was a good presentation. We had around 50 come to our session. There were lots of good questions and interest. I spent the rest of the afternoon resting in the hotel room. I was feeling better and Mark came by after work to take me to their house. I got to meet Jaxon and Aunt Christy (Tara's aunt) and have a short visit with them (Jessica stopped by for a minute too.) I was not "up to" going to dinner so Mark took me back to the hotel. I got some yogurt and fresh fruit at the coffee bar for dinner. I learned fast that the fresh fruit,while it tasted wonderful, did not agree with my new tummy. I was able to eat the yogurt with no problem. The next day I went to several great sessions and ate lunch with the team with no problems. (cream of broccoli soup, some tuna salad and rolls.)

So today I am celebrating the "surprise of the black pants!!" I am still on the learning curve and I am astonished at the things that work and those that don't.

Quote from Peggy's book:

"Every day holds the possibility of a miracle."

Ft. Worth is lovely this time of year!

I am in Ft. Worth for the Texas Association for Gifted and Talented education conference. We fondly call it the "tag-it" conference. My partners and I (we have an educational consulting company and we are all Challenge Lab teachers) are presenting at noon today on our favorite topic, the Challenge Lab.

Yesterday, I said that, "Things are still working and I will see results elsewhere than on the scale." Well, it is true! What a surprise when I put on my new pants and shirt (2 sizes down from when I started this journey) and the pants fit even better than 2 weeks ago when I bought them, and the belt I wore last week with these pants.......didn't have a hole small enough. I can put my fist between the belt and my body and that is on the smallest setting. What a great surprise!

When we finally got here, we went to Abuelo's to eat and I successfully navigated part of a cup of tortilla soup and some of their wonderful Espinaca (spinach) casserole (my favorite!) YAY!!!

This morning I am having sugar free cocoa, and a protein bar. I will go with my team to breakfast but won't try to eat. Then see what will happen for lunch....since we present at noon, it will be either a small snack ahead of time, or afterward.

What a fun day! I am looking forward to it.

Psalm 21 (NIV)

The king rejoices in your strength, LORD.

How great is his joy in the victories you give!

Plateau! & 8 Weeks

Looks like I am at a plateau this week. I have been here before and I know it is part of the process. Things are still working and I will see results elsewhere than on the scale.

Today I travel with my team (Challenge Lab Teachers) to Ft. Worth for the TAGT conference. It is the best professional development conference I have been to and I have gone for years! It is also the largest conference in the U.S. for gifted education. This year we are speaking again about the Challenge Lab in one of the breakout sessions. This is one of the highlights of my year.

I am taking my protein bars so I can "nibble" and not have any problems. We will see how this kind of traveling works with my new situation.

from Peggy's book:

"Life is what we are alive to.

It is not length but breadth....

Be alive to... goodness, kindness, purity,

love, history, poetry, music, flowers,

stars, God, and eternal hope."

-Maltbie D. Babcock