Daylight Savings Time Fail

I've read so many Facebook statuses about Daylight Savings Time and people's angst about having to turn their clocks back, losing an hour, how tired they will be, etc and I was feeling a little smug, to be honest. Team Hartsock was out the door at 9 am yesterday to open the church for 9:30 am Sunday School and it went rather smoothly. I was kind of proud of us because it doesn't always go that way when you consider there needs to be deodorant applied, teeth brushed, hair re-combed, Bibles found, offering placed in pockets, Levi's snacks, Sippy cup, and sticker books packed - and one preacher primped and shaved for the day. So yeah, I was feeling pretty good about it.

Then this morning happened. EVERY SINGLE PERSON in this house ignored alarms and no one made the 6:50 am departure time for the bus. My alarm said 6:46 am when I bolted out of bed in a bit of a panic.

The big kids did well though. They got ready and ate breakfast and we were out the door about 7:10 am. I had to drive them to three different schools, of course, but we made it and it wasn't too bad. The whole time I was praying that I wouldn't see anyone I know because I was only barely presentable. I made it home unnoticed. :)

I love this little quote about DST:

When told the reason for daylight savings time the Old Indian said, "Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket."

Time To Kick It Up!

Remember my gushing over my sister-in-law, Jenny? Well, not only is she amazingly talented and kind of a SuperWoman, she also ran a 1/2 marathon recently. She's really starting to get on my nerves. She's such a down to earth and funny chick that there's just no way but to feel blessed to know her. But, she does inspire me to start working a little harder. I'm so tired of my 2-3 pounds lost here and there. It's such a long process to lose all this weight that sometimes it's overwhelming!

Diana and I did a couple of "walks" last year. We did a 5K and a 10K, but we walked. It was still a lot of fun and still an accomplishment, but I've always wanted to run a real race. Not to win, but to finish. Do people really start a running program at my age and weight?? I don't know. I'd really like to do it though. I've seen the Couch to 5K programs. Maybe I'll look at that again.

Diana and I started training for the 10K last week. Even though I've been doing aerobics 3-4 times a week for months, that 3.5 miles we did last Wednesday really did a number on my legs! I was so stiff and sore! The 10K will be fun in May, but I'd really like to train to at least run a 5K at some point. I hope its doable.

I'm doing a weight loss competition with the MOPS groups in our area. I'm down about 10 pounds, but it's soooo slow!! That ends in May. I'd like to have 20 more pounds off by then.

My fitness and health goals for this week are to drink all the water I'm supposed to drink every day, nothing to eat after 8pm, and work out at least 4 times.  Are you in?

Here's to a healthier life and running the race in the best way we can! Blessings for a great day!

Wreath Projects

My dear sister-in-law, Jenny, over at One Day at a Time did a really neat wreath project that I wanted to try myself.  I think it's officially called A Book Page Wreath. I decided to use an old hymnal because we seem to have a few of those lying around collecting dust - especially in Scott's office. Hers is so amazing, plus she's like a professional photographer/interior designer/all around amazing woman. But I love it so much I wanted to show you hers as well.

See?? That's like her actual living room. AND, she has four kids under 6!! (Maybe under 7...I'm horrible at birthdays, but I definitely know there are four.). If you could see our living room, you'd see horribly ripped up leather furniture from my cat, Mike, crayon marks on the carpet - possibly on the wall as well - and some miscellaneous unexplained stains that will take a professional to remove. I bet Jenny could get those stains out too!

Here are the two wreaths that I did. The cool things about the really old hymnals is that the pages are not stark white and the edges are colored - I have red, green, and blue so far. I don't know why they did that back in the day, but it makes for a pretty effect on the wreath.

All you need to make these is: a styrofoam circle, a clue gun, a book, and I used a pencil to do the pressing into place. So you can make this for virtually pennies!

You can find a tutorial here: http://livingwithlindsay.com/2009/11/librarians-please-avert-your-eyes.html.

Let me know if you try it!!

We're Fat and Happy!

It's time for recipes!

So we're on a weight loss quest around here. It's been a struggle every day of my life for as long as I can remember. Food comforts me. And that's the truth. But I think the key for me, is finding other things to substitute in place of food, staying organized throughout our busy week to make healthy meals (planning ahead!), and setting an example of healthy food and exercise for my kids. I work out at least 3 times a week, but my downfall is eating at night after the kids are in bed. It's really a hard habit to break. Scott and I rarely have down time or alone time, so once the kids are in bed is the perfect time to eat together! We developed some really bad habits that we are striving to break. Scott (I'm so proud of him) has been for a complete physical, blood work, had a nutritionist appointment, and also gotten his diabetes meds squared away. I've had a complete physical too and am really committed to getting to a healthy weight. I'm excited!


Scott loses weight pretty easily. He's down about 60 pounds since we've been married (and about 100 before that!!), but I am up about 40. UP!! Granted, I had a baby, but that was three years ago. I'm not really one for excuses, so let's just move forward and get it done already!


A couple of weeks ago I posted on Facebook about the Potato Bacon Chowder I was making. A serving (I'm figuring about a cup) is just 3 Weight Watchers Plus points. This is made in a slow cooker on low for six hours. I put it on high and cooked it less. Just keep an eye on it. The following is one recipe and I took it x 1.5 because we have six to feed.


2 cups of potatoes cut into 1/2 in cubes (I peeled them)
1 large carrot, diced
1 cup leeks, chopped, white part only
1 medium garlic clove, minced
4 cups fat-free chicken broth
1/2 cup uncooked barley
1 bay leaf (I used two and it was probably too much)
1/4 tsp drief thyme, crushed
1/4 tsp black pepper
4 oz. Canadian style bacon, cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1/2 cup fat-free evaporated milk
2 oz. fat-free half 'n half


In your slow cooker, combine potatoes, carrots, leeks, garlic, broth, barley, bay leaf, thyme, pepper and bacon; cover and cook on low for 6 hours. After the six hours, stir in the evaporated milk and the half 'n half. Heat through and serve.

The kids really enjoyed it. :)          

                                   

A peek at Parsonage life...

If you follow me on Facebook, you'll know we've been busy these last few days supporting one of our church families who went through a terrible house fire on Thursday of last week. Obviously you never know when crises will happen, but here at the parsonage it happens more than it does to normal people! We immediately went into crisis mode, making preparations, connecting with the disaster relief task force, the Red Cross, etc. Scott even walked through the destroyed building with the fire marshall. You just never know what you'll be called upon to do!


That morning seemed to crawl by as I waited for Scott to come get me so I could go be with the kids who were affected. They are 11, 8, and 5. I knew the parents and grandparents were distracted with their own grief and filling out paperwork and dealing with the overwhelming details of what just occured. I couldn't wait to give out some hugs. I packed a bag of crafts, snacks, and some stuffed animals so they could have something to hold on to. You should have seen me trying to explain to Levi why some of his "guys" were given to someone else.


I really didn't know what to expect.


Before Scott came for us, I was able to talk to my Mom for a little. She is the one who had prepared me for so many things that I've faced in ministry thus far. I wanted her to know that. From knowing the old hymns without need for a hymnal, to knowing when a homecooked meal is going to hit the spot for someone hurting, to knowing what to pack in my bag that morning and so much more. She has taught me what I know about compassion and giving of yourself to others. I hope I can adequately pass that on to my own kids.


When I arrived at the building where they were keeping the family warm, it was pretty quiet. I really didn't have words to say, so I just hugged the adults that were there. Then one of the kids saw me and ran into my arms. They started yelling, "Corie! Corie's here!" I just kept hugging them for awhile. In that moment, I was struck by how God had prepared me for that moment. To think that I could be His vessel that day, to provide love, comfort, compassion, a giggle, some crayons - small things, but big things in His plan. I was humbled by His goodness.


Hebrews 13:21 says, "[He will] equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. " To GOD be the Glory!


(I brought construction paper and crayons for the kids to use while we were waiting and the girls - 11 and 8 - quickly drew the below pictures. God love 'em.)

Day One

Well, it happened. Team Hartsock has a home on the World Wide Web!


I've seen so many different types of blogs and I know there are all kinds of rules and etiquette, but we're just going to wing it here. I can't promise to blog every day; I have four kids! But I can promise that I'll post about our life, our joys, our triumphs, our struggles, my recipes, my crafts and DIY projects, life as a pastor's wife, the silly stuff Levi does (and the big kids too!), my journey to lose 100 pounds (I'm down 11 so far. LOL), and just our crazy life here at the parsonage. Having all these kids and a ridiculously funny and amazing husband does give me a lot of material. I hope you'll stop back again.


I plan to start with some DIY projects that I did and some recipes that friends have been asking about that I mentioned on Facebook. Let me know how they work out!


Blessings to you and yours! I'm so excited to start this adventure with you!