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not doing so well on the weight loss.

Written by Joy
not doing so well on the weight loss.

It has been a while since I have updated on the weight loss journey I started last year. Truth is, there hasn’t been any weight loss. I have gone the opposite direction. That is right, I have gained weight. It looks like I have gained all but 15 lbs of the weight I had previously lost over the last couple of years.

I have been trying to wrap this around my mind. When I was at the doctor for a check-up, I did mention the weight gain. He actually said that he was surprised I hadn’t gained weight sooner. Yes, he thinks the weight gain is from the medicine I am on for Fibromyalgia. But is it really from the medicine? I have cut back on the medicine some and haven’t seen any difference from doing so. So, I can surmise that the weight gain isn’t just from the medicine.

I take a look at the food I am eating. I am definitely eating more fruits and vegetables. I am doing my best to eat more protein, have cut back on carbs, have cut back on carbonated drinks and drinking more water.

Then I take a look at exercising. This is where I seem to struggle the most. I try to start out slow and work my way up. I have been trying to walk and evening riding our recumbent bicycle. This is what is so frustrating for me. When I attempt to exercise, I get extremely tired. It usually takes me a day or so to recover from walking a mile.

So what do I do? Do I give up? No, I am not giving up. I can’t give up. I just have to figure out what works for me. I have to figure out what my body is trying to tell me. Is the Fibromyalgia really messing things up? Is it really the medication? Am I not eating what I should? How do I incorporate exercise without making myself tired and hurt even more?

These are a lot of questions I am in the process of trying to figure out. I don’t want to blame this all on my Fibromyalgia or Arthritis I have. I know others have overcome a lot more with medical issues. I just need to figure out what will work for me. I know I will overcome this weight problem. No doubt about it, I will overcome this weight problem!

Do you have a weight issue? Are you overweight and having trouble losing it? Have you found success in losing weight? How did you overcome your weight issue? I would love to hear back from you!

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2011, weight loss

An Evening Ride In The Great Smoky Mountains

Written by Joy
An Evening Ride In The Great Smoky Mountains

Tuesday evening, we played hookie from bible study. It was such a beautiful and clear day that I suggested we go ride to the Great Smoky National Park. My husband and kids were excited about the idea. So off we headed to the mountains. The entrance to the Great Smokies is only about 20 minutes from our home. We are truly blessed to live in this beautiful land of mountains.

As we neared the Oconoluftee Visitor Center, we noticed cars stopping and parking by the road. Out in the fields, we saw a several elk. The elk were introduced back into the Great Smokies several years ago and seem to be surviving well. They have several new calves every year to keep the numbers growing. It is always an awesome site to see such beautiful animals that were created by God back in their natural habitat.

I love seeing the male elks lock horns.  It is a battle for the territory!

I was surpised by the amount of elk in this field.  They are usually over in the Cataloochee Valley.  This is also a beautiful area to go visit.  It is very similar to Cades Cove.

Here is a precious picture of a momma elk with her baby.  I just love how protective she is of her baby.  She never left her side.

Here is a another baby grazing in the field.

After we left the elk, we headed on to the top of the mountains.  We stopped at Newfound Gap.  By this time, the sun was setting just behind the mountain.

At the top of the mountain, you can stand in 2 states at once!

I just can’t get enough of this gorgeous view.  The pictures just do not do this view the justice it deserves.

Here are the kids at a section of the Appalachian Trail.

Again, these pictures just do not do the view any justice what so ever.  It was absolutely gorgeous at Morton’s Overlook.

After we left Morton Overlook, we headed on u p to Clingman’s Dome.  By this time, the moon was getting high, as the sun was setting. My husband took these pictures to try and capture the moon as well as the sunset.  I think he did an awesome job.

As the sun set, the sky turned a gorgeous red/orange.  It was absolutely amazing.  As I was standing on top of this mountain, I could feel the presence of God.  Just knowing that he spoke the words,

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 
4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 
5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 

7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 
8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 
 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 
10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Yes, everything God did was good. 


Photobucket

2011, photography

An Evening Ride In The Great Smoky Mountains

Written by Joy
An Evening Ride In The Great Smoky Mountains

Tuesday evening, we played hookie from bible study. It was such a beautiful and clear day that I suggested we go ride to the Great Smoky National Park. My husband and kids were excited about the idea. So off we headed to the mountains. The entrance to the Great Smokies is only about 20 minutes from our home. We are truly blessed to live in this beautiful land of mountains.

As we neared the Oconoluftee Visitor Center, we noticed cars stopping and parking by the road. Out in the fields, we saw a several elk. The elk were introduced back into the Great Smokies several years ago and seem to be surviving well. They have several new calves every year to keep the numbers growing. It is always an awesome site to see such beautiful animals that were created by God back in their natural habitat.

I love seeing the male elks lock horns.  It is a battle for the territory!

I was surpised by the amount of elk in this field.  They are usually over in the Cataloochee Valley.  This is also a beautiful area to go visit.  It is very similar to Cades Cove.

Here is a precious picture of a momma elk with her baby.  I just love how protective she is of her baby.  She never left her side.

Here is a another baby grazing in the field.

After we left the elk, we headed on to the top of the mountains.  We stopped at Newfound Gap.  By this time, the sun was setting just behind the mountain.

At the top of the mountain, you can stand in 2 states at once!

I just can’t get enough of this gorgeous view.  The pictures just do not do this view the justice it deserves.

Here are the kids at a section of the Appalachian Trail.

Again, these pictures just do not do the view any justice what so ever.  It was absolutely gorgeous at Morton’s Overlook.

After we left Morton Overlook, we headed on u p to Clingman’s Dome.  By this time, the moon was getting high, as the sun was setting. My husband took these pictures to try and capture the moon as well as the sunset.  I think he did an awesome job.

As the sun set, the sky turned a gorgeous red/orange.  It was absolutely amazing.  As I was standing on top of this mountain, I could feel the presence of God.  Just knowing that he spoke the words,

3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 
4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 
5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 

7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 
8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. 
 9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 
10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.

Yes, everything God did was good. 


Photobucket

2011, photography

Homeschool Pass It On – Mountain Life Festival

Written by Joy
2 Comments
Homeschool Pass It On – Mountain Life Festival

The area we live in is so full of history. We love to take advantage of any activities that are put on by the National Parks. The Oconoluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains puts on a mountain life festival every year at their Mountain Farm Museum. Since we moved to the mountains 6 1/2 years ago, we have made a diligent effort to come to the festival and to support the park. At the festival, they have volunteers dressed in late 1800’s clothing. They are at various areas of the farm, talking and demonstrating certain jobs they had to do around the farm.

The area my kids enjoyed the most though was the Toys booth.  The volunteer had many items that children played with in the 1800’s in the mountains.  Below, you will see my daughter taking a turn with the dancing man.

Here, my younger children were playing with the tops.  Their dad was showing them how to spin the tops.

I love this old cabin.  Inside it has two rooms with a kitchen attached on the back.  It also has an attic that the family used as well.  They had women volunteers cooking in the kitchen over a fire in the fireplace.

This picture came from the Oconoluftee Visitor Center.  It was a little saying by a gentelman who actually lived in the Great Smokies.  I must say, I agree with him 100%.  When I visit the Great Smokies, I think about how God created this beautiful area.

These gentleman were showing people how brooms were made.

This is the Apple Barn.  The families would store the apples in here as they picked them  They would then make applesauce, apple butter and would even dry apples for apple pies.

I love taking my family here.  It is a living history and they kids learn so much.  Fields trips like this to National Parks do not cost much.  Every National Park I am aware of has a Junior Ranger program that the kids can take part in.  They are able to earn badges when they complete the activities in a book that you can purchase from the visitor centers.  Check around your area and see what you can find!

If you would like, you can look at the rest of our pictures from the Mountain Life Fesitval by clicking on the picture below.

mountain farm festival 2011

Photobucket

2011, field trips, homeschooling

Homeschool Pass It On – Mountain Life Festival

Written by Joy
2 Comments
Homeschool Pass It On – Mountain Life Festival

The area we live in is so full of history. We love to take advantage of any activities that are put on by the National Parks. The Oconoluftee Visitor Center in the Great Smoky Mountains puts on a mountain life festival every year at their Mountain Farm Museum. Since we moved to the mountains 6 1/2 years ago, we have made a diligent effort to come to the festival and to support the park. At the festival, they have volunteers dressed in late 1800’s clothing. They are at various areas of the farm, talking and demonstrating certain jobs they had to do around the farm.

The area my kids enjoyed the most though was the Toys booth.  The volunteer had many items that children played with in the 1800’s in the mountains.  Below, you will see my daughter taking a turn with the dancing man.

Here, my younger children were playing with the tops.  Their dad was showing them how to spin the tops.

I love this old cabin.  Inside it has two rooms with a kitchen attached on the back.  It also has an attic that the family used as well.  They had women volunteers cooking in the kitchen over a fire in the fireplace.

This picture came from the Oconoluftee Visitor Center.  It was a little saying by a gentelman who actually lived in the Great Smokies.  I must say, I agree with him 100%.  When I visit the Great Smokies, I think about how God created this beautiful area.

These gentleman were showing people how brooms were made.

This is the Apple Barn.  The families would store the apples in here as they picked them  They would then make applesauce, apple butter and would even dry apples for apple pies.

I love taking my family here.  It is a living history and they kids learn so much.  Fields trips like this to National Parks do not cost much.  Every National Park I am aware of has a Junior Ranger program that the kids can take part in.  They are able to earn badges when they complete the activities in a book that you can purchase from the visitor centers.  Check around your area and see what you can find!

If you would like, you can look at the rest of our pictures from the Mountain Life Fesitval by clicking on the picture below.

mountain farm festival 2011

Photobucket

2011, field trips, homeschooling