Let the "mountain moving" begin!

"If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will slay to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move;
and nothing will be impossible for you."  Matthew 17:20


A dear, sweet friend sent me a prayer this morning via email.  Upon reading it, tears began rolling down my cheeks, and it left me speechless with joy, thanksgiving, renewed spirit, and a peace that replaced all doubt and fear with faith and trust in all that I'm capable of through my Heavenly Father.  Nothing could have meant more to me...what a beautiful prayer.

And so...I share it here, as it should be.  I will print it and take it with me backstage, and I will hold fast to its assurances.

                      Dear Heavenly Father,

My friend T is getting ready for a new adventure in her life -

and she is nervous and maybe scared. But Lord, you know the time and commitment she has devoted to this .

Lord, help her to feel comfort in knowing her body is YOUR temple!

Help her to put behind her any negative thoughts or words

and focus on you and giving you the glory.

You have made her a wonderful being in your likeness

and no one can take that away from her.

Help her to feel calm and remind her how blessed she truly is!!!

Keep her safe in her travels and bring her back to us, her friends!
In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen

--------------------------

"God gave you this glorious day.

Don't disappoint Him.

Use it for His glory."

- Marie T. Freeman

The Time Draws Near

I can't believe how time has passed so quickly, my having begun this prep mid August.  It's now only days away from my first competition. 

Reflecting on my progress, I truly have to marvel at the changes that have taken place:  Increased strength, definition, lean body mass, endurance.  I've dropped weight and clothes size.  I no longer have anything to wear to work!  One pair of pants that slightly fit!  I have recomped my body in ways I never thought possible in a seemingly very short period of time.

When I began, did I think I was up to this challenge?  Hopefully.  Was I confident that I could get my body as lean as I needed to in order to comfortably and confidently compete in my division?  No.  Hopeful, yes.  Certain?  No. 

It has been a fabulously rewarding journey, and I have no regrets.  As the days wind down to the finish line, I feel more tired, sluggish, very depleted, no longer able to complete my morning cardio runs; I have had to replace the runs with power walking.  I've had to will myself to DIG DEEP these last two days as I struggle to find the energy to complete my cardio and training.  The past couple of days I've felt somewhat dizzy and slightly -- "buzzed," if that makes sense.  I'm told it's because I'm depleted and dehydrated, and that it's a normal way to feel at this stage.  My training is nowhere near as intense as it has been, as training now takes back seat to cardio.  Posing is priority.  One can never get too much practice posing.

All plans have been made, nails and tanning appointments scheduled, jewelry and makeup selected and packed, my list of things to take with me being added to daily.   I've begun having food dreams.  Oh, mercy!  Is that freaky or what?  I dream of loaded gooey pizza; fresh, warm, homemade sourdough bread, smothered in garlic and cheese, dipped in olive oil and spices.  Mississippi Mud Cake.  Pita Chips.  Ergo wine.  These are the things I crave.  I fear I will go crazy when I finally get to eat normally that first meal following the competition.

I don't want to totally lose control.  I want to maintain focus to preserve the progress I've made.  Realizing that keeping my body fat at this percentage during off season is not practical, nor is it desireable, I still want to maintain my tighter, leaner body within a realistic degree.

Who would have ever thought that at 51 I would be competing in my first figure competition?  That I would ever be this lean, this strong, this fit -- in my fifties.  Where do I go from here?  What are my goals from this point forward?  How can I use this experience to help others achieve their own goals?

My thoughts collide with questions and ponderings. 

All I care about right now is walking out on that stage with unwavering confidence and pride, embracing my intentional alter ego as I showcase the passion that I have been living for the past few months.  I want to say to the world: 

I AM MY COMPETITION. 
I AM AN ATHLETE. 
I HAVE GIVEN 100% EFFORT TO THIS SPORT. 

And now it's

MY TIME TO SHINE.

The Bronzed Blogger

It's no secret that I love the sun (witness my blog profile photo).  The sun warms, brightens, lifts our spirits.  The most natural source for Vitamin D, it makes us happy when we're sad.  It makes us look healthier, younger and SKINNIER than we otherwise look without it.  Unfortunately, too much of it can be a bad thing.  It can cause premature aging, and worse, skin cancer.

About one week ago I had my FIRST EVER SPRAY TAN.  I'm a virgin spray tanner.  Yep. 

Oh.How.Daunting.  Stripping nude in front of another person (doesn't matter that she was female) and baring all, in every position imaginable (she instructed me how to stand, bend, move), I couldn't help but wonder: 

What is she thinking as she's doing this?  Should I just liken this to a gynecological visit?  It's her job.  It's what she does.  Okay.  I'll keep telling myself this, and maybe my reluctancy won't seem so obvious.

When it was over, I couldn't wait to see. Oh. YES. I should have had this done long ago. The healthy way to tan. Short-lived, but healthy. And even. And yummy and sexy.

I will be spray tanned before my competition, and I didn't want my first session to be in front of a perfect stranger, at an event when my nerves will already be on end.  This was practice.  Having just had my nails done (French), even THEY looked sexier with the tan!  And my teeth whiter.  It's just...well, it's all good.   Now I know why the celebrities have perrenial tans.  It's not cheap, but it's far more even, natural, sexier, and healthier for us than the alternatives.

And as for my training progress? Yes, the tan shows it off even more. Very cool.

I'm told my spray tan at the competition (already scheduled) will be even DARKER.  Okaaaaay.  The tanning sponsor there offers matching MAC stage makeup for my face.  I've already begun the search for darker, more dramatic shadows and liners to accent my suit -- which should be arriving any day.  Can't wait.  I guess I'd better practice with the stage makeup and false eyelashes BEFORE the day of the show. 

This pic was taken after my son's football game at St. Vincent (beautiful campus, by the way) one day after my first spray tan.  It was a very warm day, so no worries sporting my "uniform," -- a tank top and jeans.  It's my favorite go-to outfit.  I'd wear it to work if I could get by with it. 

My accessories?  I didn't really need any (even though I wore plain med-large hoops and my favorite Lucky bracelet with my watch). 

The BRONZE was all I needed.

The Simple Life

Having once lived briefly in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and witnessed the simple and beautiful livestyle of the Amish, I tend to stop and pause to admire photographs taken of Amish life, children, farmlands, etc.

This one was in Life Magazine's weekly email to me (I subscribe).  I fell in love with this photo.  (I've tried to insert the link to the photo, but it may not cooperate.)

What a GREAT Christmas card this would make! 

Simple pleasures indeed.  Life should always be this beautiful.  This simple.  This happy.

http://www.life.com/gallery/66201/image/85175654/the-amish-life

"We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."

--Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Better Than Sex Brownies

That is the official name of the recipe I'm in the process of making.  There is history behind this recipe.  Everyone on the planet should try these brownies.  At least once. 

This recipe, when taken to events, parties, outings, is always the FIRST to go, not even a crumb left in the bowl.  (I've even witnessed people trying to dig remains off the sides for that last fleeting bit of yum.)  It's one of the simplest recipes in the world, but yet it wows all who have the privilege of partaking in its sumptuous, scrumptous, seductive powers.

My husband is one of two videographers for the local high school football team.  He and another guy travel with the team and coaches every Friday night to capture play-by-play action for the team, a learning tool for all.  Every now and then I will prepare a plate of snacks for them and the coaching staff, and it's always gratifying to get feedback from their appreciation.  Knowing this was a  WINNER recipe, I sent a plate of these down to the field house one Friday evening a couple of years ago ... and the rest is history.  It is now renamed by that crew as "T's Brownies."  To this day, I can run into one of the coaches out in public, and they still ask with puppy-dog eyes ...."So when are you gonna bake us some of those fabulous brownies?"

I've been very busy this season preparing for a competition and trying to balance that around LIFE.  Not a lot of down time.  Who am I kidding?  None.

But I've taken the day off, and regardless of having a mile-long list of things to accomplish today on my day off (having just returned from a week-long educational seminar and playing catchup), I have decided it's way overdue...they're getting their brownies.  Tonight.  I'm feeling rather benevolent.  (It's the season.  It does this to me!)

And the recipe?  Oh.So.Simple.

BETTER THAN SEX BROWNIES

Duncan Hines Brownie Mix (prepared according to box)
2-3 large Hersheys Toffee Almond Symphony bars, broken into small chunks

Prepare the mix.  Spread one-half of it in the bottom of a 13x9 pan sprayed with Pam.  Cover the batter with the broken Symphony pieces.  Top with remaining batter.  Bake according to package directions, watching carefully not to overbake.

Let cool COMPLETELY before cutting.

Why Do We Cry?

Sometimes our emotions overcome us and we have no recourse but to release.

And we cry.

Because we must.

And because it washes the bad away...at least for a while.

An emotional purging, cleansing.

A time to cry.

Seth: Why do people cry?
Maggie: What do you mean?
Seth: I mean, what happens physically?
Maggie: Well... umm... tear ducts operate on a normal basis to lubricate and protect the eye and when you have an emotion they overact and create tears.
Seth: Why? Why do they overact?
Maggie: [pause] I don't know.
Seth: Maybe... maybe emotion becomes so intense your body just can't contain it. Your mind and your feelings become too powerful, and your body weeps.

~~ From CITY OF ANGELS

Hips Don't Lie

By way of an update on my training and prep progress, I'm thrilled to learn as of two days ago when my coach measured me, I have lost a total of FOUR INCHES off my hips since August 15th when she first measured me.

That's workin my program. 

Sweet, sweet rewards!

No wonder my pants don't fit anymore!

I can't begin to describe how motivating this prep has been for me...this is frikkin' working!  I've never been in better shape. 

More to share...when there's more time to share. 

For now, back at it.  The courtroom calls...



 .....P  U  S  H!!!