Living Long, Living Strong!

I decided to write another entry and angle on my physical progress, as I hope someone is motivated and encouraged if he or she is working to improve their health and fitness.

I have always been passionate about health and fitness, and even now call myself an athlete despite the fact that I probably have very little natural athletic ability. I remember thinking in the past that I would really like helping others, especially those in my age group (fifty plus), to get fit and lean. I shied away from that because as I did indeed approach that age, I could not even solve my own fitness issues satisfactorily. A personal trainer started me on the right track and finally I did resolve those issues, as I wrote about in an earlier blog. I will not digress and repeat myself, but you may go back a few entries and read that about that.

It was and is very rewarding to accomplish a set goal. So now I do feel that I can really help others do the same. That is why I recently became a Beachbody coach. I have been using BB workouts for a couple of years now and have become very familiar with the company. Their return policy and integrity impressed me from the very beginning. Not only that, but the products do what they are touted to do if you use them correctly. It's only a ten-year-old company but is growing in an impressive way.

As I continued to mull over how I could be of help to others looking to reach their fitness goals, it seemed the only option was investment in a gym and equipment, etc. etc. I was not at all inclined in that direction. That's when I discovered the Beachbody's coaching program and I was intrigued, to say the least. At first I thought it to be just a mentoring program, which it is, but on closer inspection I found it is actually a way to build a business it you care to work it. So after some deliberation I decided to become a coach. The investment is minimal, and actually, anyone can become a coach. Many of the ones signed up are just beginning their fitness journeys. There are so many contests. I have had such fun entering the WOWY (Work Out With You) contests. You just enter your daily workout and then others working out at the same time become your "success buddies." At the end of the workout you can chat with those who have just completed their workout too. Every day a workout is chosen for cash and all kinds of other prizes. I have "met" and have been communicating with several of the buddies in TX. I just met one gal who basically lives down the road a couple of hours away from me. She is a taxidermist and is about my age, and we've had great fun exchanging notes about our fitness and coaching progress. I'm also entered in the monthly success story contest which is worth $1000.00 each month. If you win that you are automatically entered in the quarterly contest which is worth $10,000. And then there is the yearly contest worth $250,000.
Day 100



One of the neat things to me is the opportunity I have had to talk to others about getting fit and into shape. People are doing that more and more at home instead of at the gym, because statistics say that people that work out at home save 288 hours and almost $1000/year. Those numbers would be even higher for me since I live out in the middle of nowhere!! As I have said before, it is especially rewarding to talk to people my age because the general attitude is that once it starts going downhill, well, that's just the way it is, you know, aging and all. Poppycock, I say! Get off your duff and you can do it too! What is the price of adding at least a dozen years to your life?

Check out my BB website at www.bodyofhonor.com and read about my transformation. Find out more about the workouts, nutrition supplements, contests, and other fitness information. Let me help you learn about living long and living strong. What if YOU could get that way and then help others? That's the concept of Beachbody.

Soaking Up the "Local Color"

With all the rains we have had, the local color is absolutely gorgeous! The cacti are blooming like crazy. The blooms start orangey-red, and then burst into the bright yellow, making them the Yellow Rose of Texas! I've been walking around everywhere just snapping pictures. Enjoy!

Mothers and Sons

In my Bible I have two Mother's Day momentos. If the house was on fire, that Bible with those two things is the first item I'd rescue.

One is a letter written by my elder son when he was a sophomore in college. Here is an excerpt:

"You have always been an example of faith and perseverance to me. You never
do give up. You always have faith that things will work out. That is always a
source of strength to me. Mom, thanks for being my confidant. I always
remember spending vast amounts of time just laying (or is it lying?) on your bed
and just talking to you. You always put down what you were doing to talk to
me. Thanks, that means a lot..."

I wept for fifteen minutes after reading the whole letter. I've read it many times over the years and cried every time. You always hear about young people that never appreciate their parents until they're at least in their thirties, but I never felt more loved and appreciated than through this example of gratitude from a twenty-year-old.

The second is a card given to me by my younger son as a junior in college. Here is a tear-jerker excerpt: (this is pre-Stacie!)

"How do you tell the single most important woman in your life what a
difference she's made--or how many times the sound of her voice has
lifted your spirit and given you the courage to keep following the path
of your dreams?"

I'm already starting to cry again!

What a joy these boys have been to me! We've rocked, read, swam, hiked, played baseball and football, ridden horses, skied, sang, flown, sight seen, fished, agreed, disagreed, overlooked one another's imperfections, laughed and cried together. They've trusted me with secrets, changed flat tires, opened doors, pulled out chairs, driven me around, and in general treated me like a queen. I cannot recall one time either one of them ever embarrassed me. I spanked them and loved them as hard as I could. When I'm tempted, usually on Mother's Day, to look back and regret all the things that as a momI did wrong, I shut that down quickly because I know they love me anyway. And I know that wherever I missed it, God is big enough to fill in the gaps!



At the San Saba River



"No, son, we're not taking him back. We're keeping him!"


Trait, Ty and I (You can't see Ty yet!)






Sons are never too old to rock!!

Our Latest Guest

Diamond K Ranch has had many interesting guests. Our latest one is the most interesting of all.

I pulled into my garage Friday after playing tennis and he was in there lying down. I had to back my truck out and run him out and then drive back into the garage. He's been hanging around since Friday. In particular, he likes to sleep on the deck. But Saturday morning he was sleeping on the porch by the wood pile and he watched in the window the whole time while I worked out. We finally ran him off the deck and closed the gate. He still is hanging around the porch and yard and is allowing me to get a little closer all the time. I guess he just likes us.











I don't know how long he'll stay around. You'd think he'd want to hang out with the other deer. Next thing you know we'll be naming him!

Hooking Up With The Gents

I found out last Sunday that the Four Gents For Jesus were reuniting for a singing during the Sunday service at the Methodist Church. I really wanted to go and hear them, but because of commitments at my own church could not. I did, however, hook up with them and their wives for lunch.

It was quite a lively group, and the laughter and fun was nonstop. They even sang one song just for me in the restaurant!

Mitch, Glennon, Steve, Jack


They do not get together very often, for just as they were really rolling along and getting strong, three of the four moved away. One moved to become a professor at a university. One retired and moved away, and one moved his business to another city. But they sing just as if they had never been apart.

I really love these guys and their great wives. They did much to help me promote my book. I hope it is not so long before I hear them sing again.