Broken Hand and Gratitude

     Well, you may be wondering why I haven't blogged in a while. Or, maybe the thought hasn't crossed your mind! Either way, the reason for my absence is 2 fold:

1) We have had a very busy week here! Our ministry is always busy but there are exceptional times of the year. Last week was one of them. We had "Think Like A Christian Week". We had different speakers every night, it was AMAZING!!!! I learned so much about how to think about our country. It was awesome.
2) I broke my right hand! Yes! True Story! Broke it!

     I was loading food into the back of my car and I just got going too fast. I tripped on my flip flop coming up the stairs through our back door. My right hand swung into the door frame and BAM! Broken! I almost threw up the pain was so intense. But! I didn't. In fact, I sucked it up and delievered my food! Broken hand and all. Mike said that we needed to get it X-Rayed, BUT, it was Monday night of "Think Week". I am in the band and was singing every night. We had to be on the stage on 6:00 and it was 4:40. So, I told Mike that I just didn't have time to do that. It would have to wait. He informed me that I would have to change my plans. So, because I have been doing what he has told me to do for the past 20 years, I did.
     We found a Quick Care clinic in town so we decided to go there instead of the ER! I asked the Lord to help us get in and out. We walked in the front door and low and behold! We were the ONLY ones there! I was seen, erayed and splinted in 15 min! I missed being in the band that night but we didn't miss ONE SINGLE WORD of the speaker! Who, by the way, is one of the most amazing speaekers I have EVER heard. I could listen to this man speak the phone book!
     Anyway, I broke my right hand, which means that I had to take a break from writting. Sad Day! Kelle found me an amazing dictation program to use while I am recovering and so far it seems to be getting the job done!

     I am always amazed when a part of my body is injured, how much I realize that I use that injured part of my body. I mean, I know that I use my right hand but seriously? This is ridiculous! Cutting vegetables, changing diapers, squeezing shampoo bottles, brushing teeth, putting on make up... all tasks which I usually take for granted... not so much any more!

     Like most things that happen in my life, I have learned a very valuable lesson here! I am attempting to go through my days noticing the smallest of things that I used to not appreciate. It is my prayer that you will not have to break to something valuable to learn to slow down and appreciate the little thing that make life enojyable!

A Blog About My Son

     After my last post, I feel as though I owe my readers a little comic relief...enter Carson! On a daily basis, my children surprise me. The emotion of Campbell going to school, growing up and being without me on a daily basis was overwhelming. However, i do have one child still left at home and it is here that I begin stories about him!

    He has been an answer to my prayers in so many ways. Everyday I look at my son, I know that God gives women the desires of their heart. I was not aware; however, the differences between boys and girls. Carson has done things that Campbell never would have attempted.

He disassembals highlighters and takes the highlighter part out and plays with it...I didnt realize highlighters could be disassembaled! 

He finds my spice box and locates the blue food coloring and sips it like he is at high tea.

He walks to the barn barefoot just to see the cows.

He climbs in the bed with me in the middle of the night and just says, "Mommy, I sleep with you." 

He crawls up in my lap and says, "Mommy, I love you more." 

He loves his Nana

He asks to go to work with his dad every day

If he has his choice, his first vehicle will most likely be a tractor

He makes me say the sentence, "Dont hit the cat with that plane."

His answer to the question, "Why did you do that?" Is always, "Becove"

He serenades me everyday with his guitar and "Today is the day" is his favorite song...wish you could hear him.

As I'm writing this, he comes into the living room with his guitar and starts singing...Not joking...

     Both of my children are blessings from the Lord and have been just what I needed in my life. Being their mother and being a witness to their extraordinary lives has been the biggest honor of my life. Carson's fun personality and sense of humor keeps our home entertained to say the least. 

     Nothing emotionally draining, no change my life moments...this blog is unique...it has a different tone, different feel and much different out come...it stands alone and it stands out...it is entertaining and makes me smile...after all...

This is a blog about my son!

"By Mom".......

 

Today was a history making day in the McMillan household. Our daughter, Campbell began Kindergarten.

Not just at any school either... O No! The school where I started my education. The school where I met my husband. The school where we both completed our high school education.

In fact, if you look at the picture below, in the back of the class room on the right side, there is a half moon table. It was at this table that I spent my elementary years. This very table.

 

 

It was in this same living room where I got dressed in my school uniform for the first day of school.

We were so excited to see our Mim this morning. What an amazing thing! Campbell's great grandmother came down to see her off this morning. How blessed!

 

 

 

It was on the rocks of this fireplace that I took my first school pictures on my first day of school.

 

 

I took school pictures in this same yard.

 

 

As I was getting my daughter dressed in her uniform, I was overcome with emotion. I put the navy and red colored bow in her hair and she turned around and looked at me and warm tears began to sting my eyes. I couldn't believe it this chapter that we are entering.

 

We climed into the car and made our way to school for the very first time.

 

 

Just before we reached the building, I prayed for my daughter. I thanked the Lord for CMA and the Christian education she was going to receive. I claimed the mind of Christ over her and I prayed for safety and protection. Of course, crying the whole time. After I had finished in Jesus Name, Campbell turned to me and said, "Mommy, you don't have to cry."

I tried to explain to her that I wasn't sad, I was overwhelemed with emotion... She understood as best as her 5 year old mind could.

 

Then, we pulled up beside one of Campbell's BFF Haley! They were born 20 days apart. Haley's parents went to CMA with Mike and I. They met there just like we did and started their dating relationship there just like us. Now, the 4 of us watched our daughter's walked side by side into the next chapter of their precious lives. It was quite a moment.

 

 

We saw Poppi who was waiting inside the door to see his grandkids on this amazing day.

 

 

Then we saw Nana!

 

 

Then we took a picture with Campbell's Kindergarten teacher... Mrs. Crystal! We love her!!!!

 

 

 

Once the greetings had been exchanged, we moved down to our seats at morning assembally

 

 

Once seated, Olivia and Eli joined in the festivities and it was finally a party.

 

 

Then came the time all of us weeping mothers had been dreading and looking forward to for the past 5 years. We stood beside each other, some mothers I knew and some I didn't know. But standing there just above the stairs, we all had one thing in common. Our lives were changing right before our eyes.

The babies we had taken care of every second for the past 5 years were walking off into their new lives. We were no longer going to be there to monitor who says what to them, to fix hurt feelings, to apply bandaids to scraped knees. We were loosening our grip and passing the torch onto someone else.

 

So, they lined up, backpacks in tow, I was videoing and taking pictures. My beautiful baby girl, all grown up in her uniform turned to me and waved. With a huge smile on her face she said the words I had been dreading to hear...

 

"By Mom"

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Bloodwork Test Results.... Did It Pay Off?

     Well, here it is! The post you have been waiting for... OK maybe not! But it is the post I have been waiting to write... There! That's better! If you have been following my blog at all you know that I became a Vegan in March. March 28th to be exact. The reasoning in my change in lifestyle was rehashed a few posts back and you are more than welcome to read them if you need to be brought up to speed. Just for times sake, I became a Vegan for health reasons.
     It was February when I went to the doctor to get blood work done. I needed a baseline. I needed to see where I was in my health. Up until that point, I never considered myself to be unhealthy however, when the blood work came back, it told a very different story:

My cholesterol was through the roof at 367

I was pre- diabetic with a number of 5.7

And I had a ton of fat in my liver (which is very dangerous) The fat in your liver is measured in 2 different numbers, both of which need to be at or below 40 for you to be considered to have a healthy liver. My numbers were at 76 and 42.

 

     I was shocked at my numbers and what they told me about the health of my body. I knew I was overweight but had no idea that I was THAT unhealthy. I was motivated to say the least. The doctor wanted to put me on medicine for  all of the above. I told him that I wanted some time to try and take control of it myself. A very good friend had me watch Forks over Knives and it changed my life. I woke up the next day resolved and for the first time, I woke up with a game plane. I was going to give this Plant Based Diet a real chance.
     4 1/2 months later, I went back for my bloodwork. I put it off for weeks because, honestly, I was afraid of the results. I wanted it work. I NEEDED it to work. I didn't want my efforts and complete lifestyle change to be in vein. Most health things I have tried, I have done half heartedly and reaped half hearted results. Not this time! I was all in and I wanted to see the fruits of my labor pay off! And also, if we are just being honest here... I wanted to be validated. Validated in my thinking and in my actions. Validated with my friends and family who have watched me take on this journey. Validated to the people who didn't understand... I just flat out wanted validation...
    So, I sat in the chair as the nurse drew my blood... I'm almost positive she hit a nerve with that needle! Then came the real torture... waiting through the weekend to get the results. Monday morning came and so did my phone call to the doctor's office.

My cholesterol had come down almost 100 points!

I am no longer pre diabetic with a normal number of 5.2

The fat counts in my liver went down from 76 to ... wait for it... 16!

The second number went from a 42 to a 20

My blood sugar was holding steady at 87.

VALIDATION ACHEIVED!!!!!

 

     The last time I stepped on the scale I was holding steady at a 20 lb weight loss which I'm not upset about at all! I have not checked my measurements but my clothes sizes have taken a huge hit! I am still persuing weight loss to continue by journey to health.

     I am thrilled! I still need my cholesterol to come down below 200 and I feel like I can accomplish that given a few more months. The doctor told me that my genetics have alot to do with my cholesterol counts (Thanks Mom and Dad... and All of my grandparents) but honestly, I don't buy into that just yet. I believe that I can overcome this. So, I have uped my vitamin intake and my fiber intake. I will keep you posted on that progress!

 

    With my new, healthy numbers in tow, I have been more than encouraged! I have also started reading a new book, which EVERYONE needs to get. It's called The Lean by Kathy Freston. I am becoming even more educated in healthy choices and have gotten a much needed boost in the creative cooking department.

 

     Thanks to everyone who has supported me on this journey. Thanks to all my readers who read my blog so faithfully. I am encouraged everytime I see another reader has read my writings. I pray you are as encouraged as I am.

 

     One last encouragement: Whatever the change is that you have been needing to make in your life, just go on and make it. There is never a perfect time to leap. You won't ever be "ready". Just go on and do it! Whatever bad habits are making you unhealthy, just let them go. Easier said than done? Sure! But lots of things are easier said than done...that doesn't mean you don't ever do them because they aren't easy... We can encourage each other in our journeys!

Life is a journey and I am going to be here to enjoy mine!