From Bologna to Burnout???

Yes, we came back from Bologna, a while ago, actually. Things have been really hectic in my life lately, but I thought I'd better give a brief comment on my recent armchair travel experiment. I decided, as it's a bit beyond our budget to hop on a plane and explore faraway places, that we could have a pretend vacation, so I made up a powerpoint presentation of all the sights we might visit if we were to actually go to Bologna (see my previous post for more background on that!)
I have to say, my enthusiasm was met with mixed reactions. My younger two girls were excited, and thought they would like to have a go presenting a travel destination at some stage too. My somewhat less than enthused husband said it was "OK", and my darling 13 year old, who was a bit moody at the time, huffed "It's all just imaginary!" as she sat there with a junk mail catalogue over her face.
What's a mum to do???

But lo and behold, within a few days the easter school holidays were over, and it was back to the busyness of juggling work and school schedules again. Now the idea of armchair travel seems fanciful, when there's an immunisation course to complete, girls needing homework help and clean uniforms, and dishes piling in the sink! I jumped over to Stacey's blog, at "The Truest Thing", and found some very thought provoking posts on overload- doing too much, stressing too much, etc.
I have to admit, I am in that place right now. I've found myself both unwell and in tears several times over the past two weeks. I know some things have to go, but I'm not sure what... or how. Naturally, I feel like throwing in the towel, actually, all of them at once, but I know that's not a very good place to be making decisions from, so I'm just asking God for guidance at this point. As I press on taking one day at a time, with lots of ginger, garlic, and honey & lemon drinks, I'm believing that God will help me to achieve some much needed balance in my life!

In the quietest of times, though, I'm lifting up my soul to God, and drawing strength from singing this little song. If you know the tune, sing it for a bit too, and it will encourage you too.
Have a great week everyone!

He's all I need, He's all I need.
Jesus is all I need.
He's all I need, He's all I need.
Jesus is all I need.

I take Him now, I take Him now,
For all that I need.
I take Him now, I take Him now,
For all that I need.

First Destination >>>

Hi everyone, it's been a while, hasn't it! I've been in hibernation due to a) a labour intensive immunisation course (which I'm only half way through, but in denial about at the moment :o) ), and b) I discovered Facebook, and have been having a bit too much fun on there when I could have been studying, or writing another post!

I've had many thoughts over the past weeks which I could have written about- thoughts about Joseph (i.e. king of dreams)... (I love Joseph; one of my favourite Bible characters), and also thoughts about posting some of my favourite recipes & crowd pleasers, but since I tend to cook the yummiest things without regard for fat & sugar content when I am entertaining, I thought that might be a bit counter productive considering my main blog theme is weight loss & living a healthy lifestyle!

But today I was reading a small portion of Karen Scalf Linamen's book "Just hand over the chocolate, and no-one will get hurt!" In it, she suggested a bit of armchair travelling for those of us who are tired, run down, or just needing a bit of a break, without wanting to break the bank! From her suggestions I came up with a fun idea to do with the whole family- a family holiday night. Essentially, one person decides where we are going, and transports us there as the tour guide, via powerpoint- with pictures from the internet, local music, historical facts and a whirlwind tour of the area's places of interest. With a week's notice, on request I can also whip up a dish of the local fare to top it all off! A marvellous idea- education, fun, and precious family time all rolled into one!

I mentioned my little plan to my darling hubby, who I must say, was somewhat less than enthused, but nonetheless willing to go along with it for a trial... well you do usually marry someone opposite to yourself- you'd think after almost 15 years of marriage I'd have cottoned on to the fact that he would most likely NOT respond to my wacky idea with leaps and whoops of sanguine excitement! Anyway, undeterred, I press on!



Tonight's vacation is to Bologna, Italy, owing to the fact that I had already taken mince out for the family fave- Spaghetti Bolognese! Reflecting on it for a minute, I realised I know nothing whatsoever about Bologna, so it will be a great place to start our family tour! I have yet to begin our power point, but I have just learnt my first fact- Bologna's location. Most of us have heard that Italy is the shape of a leg with a boot on, well if that's the case, Bologna is in the mid-to-upper thigh region, or in medical terms, the vastus lateralis muscle, right where our darling babies have their infant injections (don't cry, mummies, immunisations are important!)
Bologna is not far from Florence, or Firenze, as it is known there, and also from Verona, where my fair namesake died an untimely death! (Actually, no, that was fiction, wasn't it!)
I'm looking forward to this... a new place to explore!
It's time for me to get started now, but I'll make sure I let you know how it goes, and share all of my interesting facts. Hasta la vista, baby! (ooh no, not that one... hmm let me see...)
Arrivederci! (Ah, that's better!)