The New Year's Resolution That Changed My Life

 

8 years ago I made a New Year’s resolution that changed my life. Like many people, I had hopes of bettering myself and making the most out of the upcoming year. In years past, I had resolved to eat healthier or exercise more. And I undoubtedly failed over and over again. But 8 years ago, I was called to focus my efforts on my spiritual well-being instead of my physical well-being, and the results were monumental. I didn't fail. For the first time, possibly in my entire life, I didn't fail at my New Year's resolution.

In 2016 I resolved to go to church more often. My husband worked every other weekend. And I had two very small children. To top it off, my youngest, Annabelle was nearly a year old, and I was dealing with postpartum anxiety which sometimes made it nearly impossible to leave the house. Going to church wasn't easy. It took a great deal of physical and mental effort on my part. And I didn't make it every week. But I tried my darndest and attended FAR more church services than I had the years leading up to that resolution.

We now go to church almost every single week. Not because I am trying to keep a resolution, but because that resolution changed my life and now we WANT to go. (And I kind of have to be there- I’m a Vicar now ).

So this time of year I listen to people make resolutions, and I listen to the haters make fun of people for making resolutions. And I sit on the sidelines with a great deal of HOPE! I hope the best for all of the people who dare to improve their lives. I pray their lives could be changed like mine! So here's to 2024! To the New Year's resolutions made. To the New Year's resolutions broken. And to every single one of you, who dares to improve your life, one New Year's resolution at a time!

Photo credit: Chase Andrew Gronenthal

**This is not my church, but it is the church my husband and I were married in and I LOVE this beautiful photo!

Guess Who Is In Seminary?!

 

A lot has changed in the last 3 years since I last posted on this page. We still live on our Acreage of Grace  but in September 2022 I started seminary at Wartburg Theological Seminary where I am now a second year Master of Divinity student pursuing ordination of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. A bunch of fancy words meaning that I am becoming a pastor. I am currently a Vicar, meaning student pastor, serving as the primary pastoral presence in two churches in rural Nebraska. A lot has changed, but some things never will. I still love God, love my family and love my Acreage of Grace. 

Look Up, Keep Walking

I remember when I was in my third trimester with my first baby. And I just decided one day that I wasn’t interested in going through this whole delivery thing. I still wanted a baby, don’t get me wrong, but the delivery- no thanks, I wasn’t into the idea. But turns out you don’t really have a choice in that matter, and after 27 hours of labor, 3 hours of pushing, and an unexpected c-section, I held Brecken Liam and we all lived through it.

I woke up with that same feeling this week. Coronavirus, no thanks, not interested. I don’t want to live in this reality anymore. Once again, turns out, that’s not an option. So I took my dog on a walk today. She recently had 6 puppies so I felt like us mamas needed a break. We approached this sign “NO OUTLET” on the gravel road we were walking, and I thought- yep, life feels a little like this right now. There’s no way out of this thing. So we just have to bow our heads and walk right through it I suppose.

And I’m not saying this to be negative or depressing. Because I know I sure don’t want to go down that rabbit hole. But I think it’s important to recognize our feelings, allow ourselves to feel them deeply, but just not camp there too long. It’s ok to feel anxious, scared, frustrated and lonely. But it’s also important to look up, and keep walking.

How Losing 85 Pounds Improved My Life

Left picture was taken the night I went in to have Brecken (2/3/13). 

Right picture was taken after I met my goal weight (7/4/16).

**Deciding whether or not to post this article is something I have contemplated for awhile. I don’t want anyone to think that I somehow feel like losing weight or being “skinnier” makes me feel like a better person or a better mother. I know the stigma that surrounds weight loss, and especially the pressure women go through to “get our pre-baby bodies back”. I understand that weight loss in general has negative connotations due to eating disorders and unhealthy habits. To sum it up, I know that this topic is a very sensitive one and I hope you find that I approach it well.

I was at my very heaviest weight after returning home from having my first child. I actually gained 10 pounds from the time I checked into the hospital to be induced and the time I went home. I was under the impression (or hoped I suppose) that I would go home weighing way less than I did prior to having our baby. Due to the amount of fluids they had to give me, I was extremely bloated and uncomfortable. Some mama’s have amazing pictures of themselves with their babies after childbirth (seriously how do you do that!) but I couldn’t even recognize myself in any of the pictures because I was so puffed up and heavily medicated. To sum it up, at my heaviest, I was 55 pounds heavier than I was prior to getting pregnant, and 85 pounds heavier than I am now.

After having my second child I eventually returned within 10 pounds of my initial weight prior to both children. Then, this year I decided I finally needed to do something about it. I know some people won’t believe me, but I truly wanted to lose the weight in order to be healthier for my children. It wasn’t to look good in a bathing suit, or to be able to wear cute clothes again. I’m not saying those are bad reasons to lose weight, because they aren’t. Those just weren’t my reasons. I had tried to lose weight before in order to look better. Then one day I was thinking about it, and I realized-since becoming a mother, I don’t put myself first anymore. I put my children first. I couldn’t lose this weight for myself, but I could/and would do it for my children.

I scheduled an appointment with my doctor and talked to him about my concerns. My height and weight put my Body Mass Index in the “Obese” category which increased my health risks exponentially. I told him that I needed to be healthy for my children and that I needed help. I had been strictly dieting for 2 months and had only lost three pounds. My doctor talked to me about a weight loss program he has been utilizing with his patients since 2005. A low calorie diet coupled with a medication had proven significant results.

I worked the program. I didn’t cheat. And I successfully lost the weight I sought to lose and put my BMI in the “normal” or healthy weight range. I can say that I believe the number one reason I was successful is because my husband also decided to do the program with me. We used MyFitnessPal to track our calories and we worked together to prepare low calorie meals. As most people who have had a significant amount of weight to lose know, it isn’t a sprint, but a marathon. I am now working to maintain the weight loss and this will be a lifelong lifestyle change for the both of us.

After losing the weight, I went in for a follow-up appointment with my doctor and he asked me what losing the weight has done to change my life. The biggest changes I have felt since losing the weight include my energy level, less anxiety about the way I look and less physical body pains. Because my energy levels are up I play with my children more. I sit on the couch less and actually want to go outside and play. I have less anxiety about the way I look. I used to wake up every morning and just stress about my weight. I just wanted to be comfortable in my clothes and in my skin. Due to the amount of weight I was carrying around, I had extreme lower back pain and couldn’t sit or lay in certain ways. My back pain started during my first pregnancy and got progressively worse. I can thankfully say now that I do not have ANY back pain and have very little/if any body pain at all. My doctor told me to remember these things. He told me to write them down or blog about them. If I started gaining the weight back, he told me to reference this place in my mind. Reference the reasons WHY I need to keep the weight off. Reference the life changing effects this weight loss has had on myself and my family. My doctor said losing this weight is probably the single best thing I have done for my health in my lifetime. And I am proud to say that I did it.

I am not trying to sell anyone a product or a lifestyle or anything like that. If you have specific questions for me regarding my journey I would be more than happy to answer any emails. I am not a medical professional and do not know what is best for each individual, but I do know what worked for me and I thank God everyday that I no longer have the burden of losing weight.

Patience and Gentleness

This week in church we discussed Colossians 3:12- “Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” The pastor focused on the virtues patience and gentleness. I have been called a lot of things in my life, but patient and gentle most likely aren’t two of those things. I’m not proud of the fact that I lack patience and gentleness, those virtues just do not come naturally to me. But as the pastor said in church, not being born with the natural tendency to identify with these virtues, does not give me a right to not TRY to practice them.

Let me start by saying I have never been patient, but since becoming a stay at home mom, I am noticing that my patience runs out more than I am proud to admit. I have a 3.5 and a 1.5 year old, and many times it is hard for me to remember that they are only that old. I feel like Brecken and Annabelle have been in my life my entire life. It’s hard to remember what life was like without them. Because of this, it is hard for me to remember that sometimes children get muddy, and don’t listen, and don’t want to eat their dinner-but that doesn’t mean they are bad kids, they are just kids.

When explaining gentleness the pastor explained that Jesus loved with a sacrificial love-genuinely concerned for the best of those which he was loving. This really resonated with me because I do believe that I love my children and husband and care for their well-being more than mine own. But I do think I need to improve when it comes to being patient and gentle in my interactions with them. This week I encourage us all to focus on patience and gentleness in the interactions we have with our family, friends and coworkers.

Did you have a great church service this week that you want to share in order to encourage others? Or did you write a blog post regarding something that has been weighing on your heart lately? I would love to hear/read about it! Leave a link to your post in the comments section or tell me about it below.

Because We Don't Get to Decide When We Play Our Last Game

We are all family here in Nebraska, at least that is what I like to believe. When you pass a vehicle on the road you wave. When you have extra cucumbers from your garden, you take them to the neighbor. When a 22-year-old young man dies tragically in a car accident, it breaks your heart knowing the pain his family is experiencing.

Husker football is more than a sport for most Nebraskans, it’s a way of life. When I was a child those players were my super heroes. When “we” won the National Championship in 94 and again in 95, it felt life changing. As an adult I see those young men playing on the field giving time and dedication that should be applauded regardless of the season outcome. My brother-in-law played for the Huskers and I was able to see first-hand the love the teammates and coaches have for each other. They are more than teammates, they are brothers.

As Nebraskans we are all family, we “bleed Husker red” and this weekend we all suffered a great loss as punter Sam Foltz passed away. According to www.huskers.com “Sam Foltz was a preseason candidate for the Ray Guy Award and was expected to be one of the nation's top punters in 2016 before he tragically lost his life in an automobile accident on July 23. The 2015 Eddelman-Fields Big Ten Punter of the Year, Foltz died after attending a kicking camp near Waukesha, Wis. He was 22 years old.” Take two minutes and scroll through social media #RIP27 and you will find that Sam Foltz is being remembered as a man with a kind heart, honorable character and Christian faith. “You never know who’s watching,” Foltz tweeted last Tuesday, July 19. “What impact do you wanna leave on the next generation to aspire to?! #DreamBig”

I had something else written to post tonight for my #prayersofgrace this week, but I feel that Sam Foltz and his family, friends and teammates need our prayers in a big way. If you all could also please pray for the family and friends of former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler who also passed away in the crash. Also, pray for LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye who was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash and according to ESPN.com “needed stitches and suffered burns on his legs.” We don’t get to decide when we play our last game. #RIP27

Vacationing on a Budget

Last week my husband took his first vacation of the year and it was SUCH a blessing for our family. Because it was his first vacation of the year, it was also the first time we had taken a vacation since I had become a stay at home mom and our family transitioned into living off of one income. For this reason, we had to be a little creative regarding how we were going to get the most bang for our buck. Budgeting is key for us. We knew that he was going to be taking vacation in July, so I did research regarding low cost activities for families during the summer. Listed below are some activities that didn’t put a huge dent in our budget.

-FISHING- $0 We already had the equipment to fish. If you needed to buy your poles or fishing license this would cost you some money.

-SWIMMING AT THE LAKE-$0

  

-$5 MOVIE DAY AT MOVIE THEATER- Our local theater offers $5 Tuesdays and you don’t have to pay for children 2 and under. We splurged on popcorn and pop because we very rarely go to the movies (I haven’t been in 3 years!)- $25. Our theater also did a summer series with $2 movies on Wednesday mornings ($1 if you bring the coupon). We didn't do the $1 movie because it was Goosebumps and Brecken isn't ready for scary movies yet.

On Friday we drove to Omaha to enjoy some of the opportunities that the big city provides. We spent a little bit more money there, but by purchasing memberships we were able to justify the money spent because we will be able to enjoy their entertainment all year long.

-OMAHA HENRY DOORLY ZOO- This zoo was named Top Zoo in the WORLD by TripAdvisor in 2014 and it lives up to that title 100%. Jeremy and I are convinced that our children will both end up as veterinarians because they absolutely LOVE animals. Brecken woke me up at 6:00am on Friday and said “It’s time to go to the zoo!” I could (and still might) write an entire post dedicated to how awesome this zoo is for families.

The coolest new addition for our family was the Alaskan Adventure splash park. It was such a fun surprise because we didn’t know it was there. It is a splash park complete with whale and sea lion (statues) that squirt and splash and mist. I would recommend bringing swimming suits and towels. As I said, we didn’t know it existed so we weren’t totally prepared. I told Jeremy a family like ours could spend hours just enjoying the Alaskan Adventure. We purchased the year family pass for $120. The pass is good for 2 adults and up to 6 children. Also a great bonus is that as long as at least one adult member is in attendance, you can bring 1 adult guest on the pass. So if Jeremy was working one of my friends could come help me with the kids! Members also get 5% off of concession and gift shop items as well as tickets for additional entertainment. Also, did I mention the membership includes unlimited access to the zoo IMAX theater!  A 1 day pass for our family would have been $53.85. So after 2 trips and some concession and gift shop items, it will basically be like we are going to the zoo for FREE the rest of the year.

-We stayed the night at a hotel in Omaha. We love the Embassy Suites and typically stay at the downtown location. But again, because of our budget, I price matched in the area and the La Vista Embassy Suites was $50 cheaper for Friday night so we decided that was a better option for our family. Even though most of our entertainment was on the downtown end of town, the drive to the La Vista Embassy Suites was not bad at all, and we drive a Prius so the gas did not equal out to $50. My suggestion for finding the best deal on hotel stays is to be flexible with your dates. I priced out every night of the week and found that the Friday night stay was our best option. We initially planned on going Saturday night, but really it all worked out perfectly in the end. The Embassy Suites provides a cocktail hour with drinks and snacks. We figured, depending on what you order and how much, that is AT LEAST a $30 value. They also provide a top notch breakfast with made-to-order omelets and chocolate chip pancakes as well as a buffet of delicious and nutritious options. This breakfast is AT LEAST a $10 value for adults and a $5 value for children, so around $30 for our family. Our stay was $120 for the night, with taxes and fees it equaled out to approximately $150 (prices differ depending on dates and demand). When I asked Brecken what his favorite part of the trip was he said the hotel :) Which was very surprising because he saw tigers at the zoo and he LOVES tigers.

  

-On Saturday we went to the Omaha Children’s Museum. This is the only part where I kind of want to kick myself from a financial standpoint. The cost is $12 per person and children 2 and under are free. A family pass for the year is $110. We couldn’t decide if we wanted to do the family pass or not so the attendant at the front desk told us that we could spend the $36 and if we decided at the end of our day that we wanted to purchase a pass they would take off the $36 from the pass total. Brecken had such a great time there that getting him to leave was kind of a battle and I forgot to stop and purchase our pass. When I called the next day they said that in order to get the $36 off you had to purchase the pass the same day as the visit. Moral of the story, do not make the same mistake I did, purchase the family pass. The Family membership includes a 10% discount on gift shop purchases. Also, it is set up the same way the zoo membership is, so if Jeremy is working I could take an adult friend or family member who would get in on my membership. It also includes discounts on special events and birthday parties.

My favorite part about the Omaha Children’s Museum was the face painting. Brecken of course wanted to be a tiger so after a quick look at Pinterest I found the cutest example and painted him up. He didn’t want to smile the rest of the day because he wanted to look like a tiger and “Tigers don’t smile mom.” Annabelle was supposed to be a butterfly fairy, but she wasn’t as cooperative so she ended up looking like a kind of owl tweety bird. Brecken’s favorite part of the day was the Pirates and Mermaids Voyage to Creature Cove special exhibit. They had seashells in water that you could touch and play with and he thought that was so cool. I will probably also write an entire post about the Omaha Children’s Museum because of how great it is and how many great pictures I took :)

-Before leaving Omaha we stopped at Nebraska Crossing Outlets in Gretna. We had never been there before and definitely want to return to spend more time there (probably without the kids because they don’t really like to shop). We went to the Under Armour store and were able to score some shorts and a shirt for Jeremy and shoes for Brecken at 50% off!

The best part about Jeremy’s week of vacation was the time we were able to spend together as a family. That time and those memories are truly priceless!

Have you and your family had a successful family vacation on a budget? I would love if you would leave ideas or links in the comments section so I can start planning our next family vacation!