Originally posted on Miss P’s Ponderings on April 20, 2012

I must confess.  This morning, when I was heading to school, I pondered what to write today.  I asked God to inspire me with a topic or illustration to use for today’s writing analogy.  And…the pondering…the prayer…were answered with silence.  So, I thought, perhaps….I’m supposed to take “Fridays off” since school is always so packed with weekly assessments, planning for next week, wrapping up this week, and whatever fills my post-school hours.

I thought…”Well, since you started a blog for your language class and told your parents about your school related blogs…that’s plenty for today.”

Yes, teachers are some of the world’s best rationalizers. (Is that a word? I know it’s not, but I’m using it anyway.)

One thing that I realized after leaving school at 5:22 to meet a friend for dinner at 5:30 (when the drive takes 15 minutes) is how often I have plans made for school and then…something else comes up…and then another thing comes up.  So, I have to choose.  Do I have a class meeting?  Give the pretest in math to the two students who may need alternate math instruction/activities next week?  Take my students to watch some fourth grade students do monologues from the perspective of historical figures?  Well, I chose the latter…knowing that “this” and “that” would be rescheduled so we could attend “the other”.

It’s nice when we can make those choices and still do “this” and “that” at another time.  But…what about those times when by doing “this” we miss out on “that”?  It seems to happen frequently in my life, and I’m guessing it does in yours as well.

This really hit home at 6:45 p.m. while I sat at the Spiritual Disciplines Conference taking place at my church this weekend.  You see, my plan was to go to the conference sessions this evening, a science workshop tomorrow, and finish prepping for next week on Sunday.  That’ll work, right?  Sure.

However, as I sat listening to Dr. Whitney speak about prayer, I was overwhelmed with the conviction that my schedule was wrong for the weekend.  I couldn’t truly focus on his teaching concerning prayer until I agreed with the conviction that I needed to be in attendance at all the sessions of the conference. I altered my plans, decided to send out my cancellation for tomorrow during the break, and peace took over.

For the next couple of hours, I was challenged and inspired in my personal prayer life.  During our second session, Dr. Whitney gave us time to put his teaching into practice (praying through a Psalm).  What would be impressed upon my heart to pray about as I read through Psalm 8?  “how majestic is your name in all the earth!”.  I prayed that He would use my simple attempt to blog to magnify His name through the world…or in this case…the world-wide-web. 

Oh?  So that’s why I had silence this morning…because He had something planned for me to write this evening.  When my prayer during session 2 concluded, I knew I had just received the answer to my morning prayer…I just had to wait twelve or so hours.

Now, for those of you who know me…the fact that I’m alert enough at 10:00 p.m. to write this should tell you how much this evening’s teaching challenged me.  Granted, I’ll be heading to bed soon after I hit “publish”, but I knew I needed to be obedient to write what was impressed upon my heart this evening. 

You see, I have no doubt that I would have a great time attending the science workshop at Hanover College tomorrow.  I am certain I would receive ideas for effective & engaging science activities, laugh with Dr. Rubino, enjoy lunch with Mendi, and appreciate the stipend when it arrived later.  But “that” had to be replaced for me to do “this”, and I have no doubt that God has something grand in store to teach me tomorrow. 

In closing, I thought I’d share a prayer…inspired by the teaching of this evening’s message.

The Spirit helps us in our weakness.
Father, thank You so much for being my strength when I am weak.  When I kept yawning this evening, You helped me to focus.  You taught me so much this evening in spite of my weakness. 
For we do not know what to pray for as we ought,
I praise You for the teaching of Dr. Whitney.  I look forward to using Your Word as I pray that it would be genuine and glorifying to you.
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 
How awesome it is to know that Your Spirit intercedes for me when I can’t put my prayers into words. 
And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 
The conviction of Your Spirit this evening was appreciated, as I know You have great things in store for me tomorrow morning.  Please guide all of my steps according to Your will.
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
When things go according to my plans or when things go terribly wrong, it is comforting to know that You work all of those things together for my good and for Your purpose.
Help me to glorify You in all I say, do, and write.
Amen
Romans 8:26-28

Originally posted on Miss P’s Ponderings on April 19, 2012

In the journey though this academic year, my language arts class has enjoyed three rounds of “Book Club”.  OK, I’ve enjoyed the clubs…and most of my students enjoyed the clubs, but I’m sure there is a handful who would’ve rather just read the textbook instead. For the most part, these have been successful learning experiences for both my students and me. 

Today’s post focuses on the journey of two of the boys in my language class.  You see, during that first round of “Book Club”, they chose not to stay on top of their reading assignments and discussion questions.  Perhaps, it was their first experience with this type of literacy learning and they didn’t realize how not doing an assignment could snowball?  In the midst of that first trip through the discussion groups, I received e-mails from the parents of each of these two students.  It seems that both boys were “suddenly” not wanting to come to school.

After learning this news, I reflected on what could have happened in class that would cause this sudden change.  You see, these two boys have loads of friends, positive attitudes, and do well in school.  So, the epiphany came that they knew I would be disappointed that they weren’t prepared and they would be even further behind if they didn’t catch up on the assigned reading.  I shared my realization with both sets of parents and encouraged them to help their sons during the evening to complete their assigned reading/questions prior to the next scheduled discussion meeting.

By this point, their scheduled discussion group was soon approaching.  One of the boys was close, but he wasn’t quite there.  Since he had his morning responsibilities finished, I asked a girl in his discussion group to work with him to get him prepared for our book club meeting.  Great news!  Did you guess?  Yep, both boys were ready for their next discussion.  The two girls in their book club noted how much nicer it was having four students discuss the book rather than simply the two girls.  I praised their efforts in “catching up” and being prepared for the day’s discussion.

Honestly, you would’ve thought the three of us had just showered them with winning lottery tickets.  Wow!  What a difference those simple remarks of encouragement had on those two students.  By the end of that first book club journey, I had received follow-up communication from parents that all was back to normal on the morning front.

Then, in January…book clubs loomed ahead.  I remembered the discouragement those two boys experienced due to not staying up on their assignments, so my class discussed it prior to beginning the journey.  I’m proud to share that both boys decided to complete reading assignments and their discussion booklet prior to meetings.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I still had a couple students who didn’t realize the importance of completing their responsibilities by the assigned discussion dates, but the encouragement those two boys received back during our first book club still continues to motivate and encourage them.

In fact, now we are in the midst of our final book club.  One of those two boys was absent for a few days during the first week.  When he returned, he only had a couple days to read his first group of chapters and complete the discussion guide.  He asked me, “Miss P, is it OK if I don’t use my I-Pad time, so I can work on my book club to be ready for Friday?”

Wow!  What a difference those few words of encouragement made for the rest of the year!  Then, that same boy came to his second discussion group last week, and this was his remark.
 “Miss P, I don’t want this to be our last book club.  I don’t want our language class to end.” 

Now, I’m not so naive to think that part of this isn’t simply his personality.  I mean, the other day when I was reading aloud to my language class and I was wearing sandals, he told me I had pretty toes. [Yep, toenails were painted for Easter, and the polish endures.]  But still, it was a sweet sentiment to share. 

Did you see what happened?  During the first semester, I encouraged him…and during the last nine-weeks, he encouraged me….and I’m not referring to my toenails.

Way back in college (yep, that’ way back since I graduated in 92), I created a little motto for myself that said…
“Encourage those you appreciate, and appreciate those who encourage you.”
Perhaps, you’d like to borrow my motto as your own?  I’ll gladly share it.

Well, my students have arrived, and it’s time to go make a difference…to encourage someone…who will encourage someone…who will encourage someone….

Originally posted on Miss P’s Ponderings on April 18, 2012

Those people who know me…know I like to follow directions.  If there’s a recipe, I like to have it open while I prepare it.  Even if I’ve made the dish a few times, having the recipe open and visible encourages me…I’m “following directions”.  It may be my “methodical” personality, as it’s been called…but…I like directions.

Sadly, it doesn’t seem like some of my third graders appreciate directions as well as I do.  Or, perhaps, they just don’t realize that it requires one to read them in order to know what to do.  Yes, you are reading a bit of sarcasm in that sentence.  Some days, I don’t know if it’s funny or frustrating?  

During my language arts class, a student comes up and says, “Miss P, I don’t know what to do on this page.”  
“Well,” I reply, “what do the directions say?”
“Oops, I forgot to read them,” he honestly answers.

I’d like to say this is a one time thing, but…I’m guessing if you check with teachers across the county, state, nation…perhaps the entire world…you’ll find that some students would rather “be told” what to do rather than “read” and learn for themselves.

Hmmm, are we the same way?  

Would I rather someone tell me how to put my new desk together or read and learn how to do it myself?  OK, maybe I’m an exception…but when I put my big corner desk together and…well, it didn’t collapse, I was quite proud of myself.  {Of course, I must admit I ignored one direction, “Two people required to lift desk into standing position.”  What was I supposed to do?  My cat refused to help! Ha.} 

Likewise, that same student, who consistently comes up to me not knowing what to do because he didn’t read directions, was so proud of himself when he announced that he completed a task. “Without your help because I read the directions!”  Of course, I praised his responsibility and encouraged him to do it again…and again…and again.  Will he remember every time to “read the directions before asking for help”?  Of course not, but it’s a goal to aim for, isn’t it?

I find I’m the same way.  Yes, I like reading and following directions, but there are times…I must admit, it simply doesn’t get done.  So, let me share one of the times I didn’t “read” before asking questions.  

Many moons ago, our church was having a DiscipleNow weekend.  On Thursday night, following the concert, many of the adults helping with the weekend traveled to downtown Madison, IN, to eat at Hinkle’s.  Now, even though I’ve grown up in Madison, living here since fourth grade, I had never eaten at Hinkle’s prior to this evening.  
So, as I sat looking at the menu, I asked the waitress, “Do you have Coke or Pepsi?”  
Doug started laughing and responded, “Jodi…look at their border?”
Yep, you guessed it…I looked up to the top of the wall and saw a lovely Coca-Cola border around their walls.  I laughed it off and blamed it on my hair color.

You see, we all fail to read directions or see the obvious at times.  So, I start pondering the more important directions.  Those directions that tell us how we should live…how we should treat others…how we should think…how we should talk.  The cool part is…all those directions, for me, are written within the pages of a Book in which I have many different copies in many different versions.  I can’t blame it on not being able to read it because I have a copy of the directions in almost every room of my house…I carry a copy in my purse.  So let’s face it…they’re with me always, or almost always.  But, do I read it enough to know them well?  

You know those recipes I shared about earlier.  I made one last night…quite yummy.  It’s called Cheesy Chicken & Broccoli Bake.  So, so simple…tasty…and makes good leftovers.  I’ve made it a total of three times, but I know the recipe well enough to complete it without reading it step by step.  Still, I made sure to read the final sentence to ensure it didn’t burn.

I should be the same with that all important book of directions. Yes, becoming a Christian as a child and being active in a gospel teaching & preaching church, I know how I’m supposed to talk….interact with others…think.  But, that doesn’t mean I should stop reading through my book to remind myself of the instruction.

So…I thought I’d share some directions that I attempt to meditate on at various times in my yearly, weekly, daily journey….
#1–Love my Lord with all my heart, soul, and mind. 
#2–Love my neighbor.
#3–Cheerfully share what I have.
#4–Encourage others.
#5–Make a joyful noise.
#6–Filter my words.
#7–Guard my thoughts.
#8–Appreciate the value of children.
#9–Everything has a purpose.
#10–Be Still

Well, if I follow all the directions above…then, I guess….there’s a purpose even for those days when we fail to read and follow the directions.  It’s during those times of failing that we learn to ask for help…that we have a moment of time when we learn a valuable lesson.  Yes, if that boy in my language class hadn’t forgotten to read directions over and over again…then…well, what would I have written about today?  

 I’m sure you figured out the book of directions I’ve mentioned.  I’m guessing you know its name, and I’m hoping that you have at least one copy of it to read and learn from as you travel life’s journey.  And, for those of you like me, who like to read the directions for yourself…you can find my “Top Ten” (at least for today) at the following addresses.  Enjoy… reading…learning…and following directions form the One who leads me.

#1 & 2–Luke 10:27
#3–2 Corinthians 9:7
#4–1 Thessalonians 5:11
#5–Psalm 98:4
#6–Ephesians 4:29
#7–Philippians 4:7
#8–Matthew 18:5
#9–Romans 8:28
#10–Psalm 46:10

Originally posted on Miss P’s Ponderings on April 17, 2012

As I sit at my computer desk contemplating what to work on  during my 25 minutes of prep time, I look outside.  Right outside my classroom window is a courtyard with a small tree growing in it.  I see the branches gently blowing and think how nice it would be to be outside…walking around the playground.  Then, I look at the students’ desks…and I see the need for us to clean, clean, clean those things out!  Man, I think their desks are as messy as mine, and they have lots less room for the disorganization.    Finally, I look over to the window ledge…and see seven clear cups with seeds planted…not growing.  

Do you know how disappointed students are when they are waiting for seeds to germinate?  Do you know how frustrated an elementary teacher becomes when the “science” isn’t happening like she “thinks” it should?  Let’s just say…each day…of no growth…is greeted with both frustration and disappointment.  However, it’s also greeted with hope.

You see…when there’s no growth…when “nothing” is happening…there’s always hope.  Hope that something will happen soon…  Hope that something is happening “beneath the surface” that we simply can’t see. The frustration and hope that the twenty-six people in room 302 experience due to those stubborn seeds are part of our life journey.  Don’t you think?

A pastor once told me that if we’re not coming out of a personal storm or in the midst of a personal storm…to hold on because a storm is on the way.  Likewise, after the storm…is the calm weather, the clear sky, the cool breeze, and the rainbow promise.  As you go through those storms…or periods of uncertainty…or arid growth spurts, there’s hope.  Hope that the storm will end soon.  Hope that the uncertainty will be made clear.  Hope that growth will begin.

Whether the growth is physical, emotional, academic, or spiritual…it will come.  Sometimes…the soil just needs to be tended more than others.  Sometimes, the seeds are too old and “new” seed should be used.  But that cup of soil…it will bring growth.  Just observe…hope…and tend the garden before you.  And if there’s a storm, hold on…it won’t last long.

    Original post on April 16, 2012, on Miss P’s Ponderings.

Life seems to be filled with tests.  Passing or failing these tests have rewards and/or consequences.

     As an educator, it seems that the government prompts us to give more and more tests to our students.  To measure our students’ academic progress, we give them various tests throughout the school year.  To assess acquisition of new material, we test their recall and application.  To guide our instruction, we assess what students know prior to the beginning of a new unit of instruction.  Yes, tests fill the lives of elementary students and their teachers.

But what about outside of the education world?  Are there tests in the “real world” that face us?  Of course!  

Have you ever driven down a road and noticed a police car with a scanner aimed at the street?  They’re putting you to the test.  Are you driving at the speed limit?  Are you being a safe driver?  If not, there will be consequences.  I hope you passed these tests and didn’t get a dreaded ticket.

What other tests are there?  Let’s face it….there are more tests each day than this blog can hold.  

If my contract day begins at 7:45a.m., am I going to be there before or after?  If I walk in at 7:46, I failed the test of punctuality.  My students will be forced to wait outside my room until I decide to arrive.  If my class is supposed to arrive at “special class” at 11:06, then…I pass if they arrive at 11:06.  If I arrive too early, did I fail?  Possibly…I took time away from instruction, but if I arrive late I take time away from my instructional planning time.  Tests, tests, tests.  How do we test whether a test is important?

Yet, personally, if I look within myself….to examine the tests that matter most to me, what do I find?

Test 1:  Am I being the person God created me to be?  Do my words and actions bring Him glory?  Do they point others to Him?  If I answer yes…then I pass today’s test.  If my answer is no…then I need to “practice” and assess again.
Test 2:  Am I the family member I need to be?  As a single woman, I examine my relationships with my parents, my sisters, and my nephew.  Am I the daughter, sister, and aunt that I need to be?  Sometimes, I think they would be better at assessing this test than a self-assessment.
Test 3:  Am I the friend I should be?  Do I bring Sonshine or rain into their lives?  Do I encourage or frustrate them?  Again, self-assessment is sometimes difficult on this one.  Perhaps, I should ask my friends to point out areas where I need “remediation”.
Test 4:  Am I the teacher I need to be?  Am I teaching the academic standards I need to cover?  Am I challenging students to go beyond their current level?  Am I engaging my students in their education?  An I differentiating my instruction, so students are taught the material in a manner which works best for them at their ability level?  Perhaps a video camera would help answer most of these questions.
Test 5:  Am I being me?  Have you ever noticed how easy it is to become who “they” want you to be…or expect you to be?  This, too, is a tough test to assess.  Am I being true to who I am?  To whom God made me to be?  Or…am I acting, doing, behaving like “they” want me to, even if it goes against who I am?  

Yes…there are tests all around us.  Sadly, if my third graders fail the I-Read test, the state government says they need to stay in third grade again.  If my students fail ISTEP+, then the fourth grade teachers know what areas they need to focus on when planning their instruction.  If they score badly on one of our various assessments, I reteach and reassess.  

Life is a process…a journey.  I would hate to think that my “performance” one day for a couple hours would determine my path for next year.  Yet, with high-stakes testing…that’s what the government says.  

Yes, life is filled with tests.  If you pass, sometimes you are rewarded.  But…sometimes, passing simply means you’re doing what you need to do.  If you fail, sometimes you are penalized.  But, sometimes, there is mercy & grace, and Someone takes the penalty for you.  And for that…I say thank you. 

Originally posted on April 16, 2012 on Miss P’s Ponderings.

    I’ve realized that I am an individual who needs accountability.  There are so many times I make a decision and realize that without someone to ask me if I’m honoring it…it goes by the wayside.  Whether those decisions are simple, like making sure my teacher’s desk is clean before leaving school…or whether they’re more important, such as spending time in prayer and Bible reading daily.  So, accountability is my friend.
    However, I’ve also realized that most of us aren’t good at holding others accountable.  I can think of countless times when I asked someone to hold me accountable to a decision I had made.  “Will you check each week to make sure I’m exercising?”  “Will you ask me weekly what book of the Bible I’m studying?”  “Will you tell me at recess if I was negative during our lunch break?”  I can count on one hand the number of times someone actually did “ask” me…or hold me accountable.
    Then, I reflect.  Have I done the same to someone else?  Has someone asked me to “hold them accountable” to a commitment or decision that they have made?  Have I fallen short on being the one who holds someone else accountable?  I’m sure I have.  It’s easy to do…to forget to honor a request someone else has made.
     So, I find myself starting “another” blog.  Yes, that means I tried this a few years ago.  I had a few friends tell me that I had an ability to write and lots to say, and so I should “blog it” so others could read my “ponderings”.  So…I did….and I didn’t stick with it.  So, here goes…round two.  Maybe…just maybe…I’ll stick with this decision…even if no one holds me accountable.

I’ve been a “Big Sister” to two different girls, who are now young ladies.

I was matched with Courtney for a year and a half. We were matched when she was a 4th grader. My only request of BBBS was for it to be someone who didn’t attend the school where I teach. I wanted to be “Jodi” or “Miss Jodi” rather than “Ms. Pflaumer.” My match with Courtney didn’t last too long because her mother moved their family to Versailles during her 5th grade year. I told Angie, from Big Brothers Big Sisters, that I wanted to wait nine months before getting matched with a new “Little” in case they moved back.

Nine months later, Angie called and let me know there was a 1st grader whose sister had just been matched, so she was looking for a match for Lacie. Since it had been 9 months, I went ahead and started the process of being matched with my second “Little”.

On June 21, 2010, I met Lacie for the first time. I took her to our local ice cream parlor, and we both enjoyed a scoop of ice cream. I still remember her pointing out how her sister’s picture was on their wall. I think she hoped that her photo would be there one day. She barely talked unless I threw a question her way. She wanted to see where I lived, so we drove by my house on the way to their trailer.

Fast forward a few months, and that silent little girl became a chatty one….if it was just us. She still tended to be on the quiet side when others joined. As time passed, that would change a bit. I would often invite her to family gatherings where my nephew, who was 5 years old than her, would take on the big brother roll and join us for games. Soon, we would celebrate our annual Match-iversary. Our 11th is approaching soon.

However, as I was getting ready to lay down and enjoy a catnap (one of my favorite perks of my teacher’s summer-off), I uttered to myself, “This has been a BIG day, and it’s only 2:30.” I immediately thought of Lacie. Why? It never failed…when she was young and we had plans beyond a simple meal, she would get in the car at the end, and as I drove her home…she would exclaim, “Thanks, Jodi! This has been a big BIG day!” And…by the next corner….she’d be asleep in the backseat of my car.

Why has today been a big day?

Well, I was in Hanover by 7:30 and walked a mile. Then, picked up some supplies for VBS. Kevin, our IT guy, became my “Hero of the Day” by fixing my laptop which refused to load my “blog writing” page. Then, I delivered one of my “Jasper’s Pizzazz Words” books. Off to Madison, I walked my parents’ overweight dog. Stopped by Dollar Tree for a few VBS supplies and saw Courtney (Yes, she moved back shortly after Lacie & I were matched. Recently, she & I reconnected on Facebook, so I try to send her encouraging words in her personal journey.) Next, I stopped by my church to work on VBS prep since we start Monday at 9:30 and I teach the Bible study session. When I received a message from Lacie, I left VBS prep to go pick her up for lunch at 88 King Buffet (her favorite local restaurant, I’d guess). Then, we went to B-Bop’s to pick up a gift card before I took her home. In the meantime, I was reminded of a lemonade & cookie sale that a former student was doing to raise money for the VBS he was attending this week. While there, he & his sister were asking about my church’s VBS next week. Finally home…sent an encouraging message to a couple people…and realized that….I have had a big BIG day.

The cool thing is…I didn’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. I mean…I did spend $22 for lunch, $10 at Dollar Tree, and $5 at the lemonade stand….but that didn’t make it BIG. It’s BIG because of the people I’ve interacted with, the attitude/mood I’ve maintained, and the joy & peace that radiate inside me.

So….when was your last big BIG day? A day that impacts. A day that makes you smile. Cherish those.

If it’s been a while, I encourage you to look at your tomorrow. How can you make it a BIG day? Who can you lift up? What can bring you joy? Whatever the answer to those questions, I encourage you to integrate them into your day. And….if you can squeeze in a catnap, then…that’s just frosting.

I never thought about becoming a cheerleader in school. I didn’t have the figure. I didn’t have a perky personality. Now, I’ve got perky covered, and…I’m working on getting fit. However, I still don’t see myself as a cheerleader wearing a little skirt and waving pom–poms.

I am a cheerleader. A different kind. Not the kind who flips across the gym floor or who wears short skirts. I’m the type of cheerleader who sits in the stands of a ballgame and yells my heart out. I’m the kind who will send a message or email when I know you’re having a hard day or difficult time. Being someone else’s cheerleader comes naturally.

But…this blog post isn’t about me BEING a cheerleader. It’s about my experience this past year FINDING my own cheerleaders. They’ve been found in the library drive-thru, the elementary hallways, and a bench along my river walking. I’ve found them at graduation receptions, while shopping at Dollar General, and when checking my messenger. My cheerleaders have been my biggest support system over this past year. How?

Well, believe it or not, sometimes….I doubt whether I can achieve my goal. I was doing pretty well for the first 7 months as I lost five pounds each month. Then, the scale stopped moving. Was it because I was starting to lift and do weights? Was it because I had become too confident in my ability to make food choices? Yes and Yes. Now, I’m using MyFitnessPal app again, and I’m hoping the numbers start declining. If not, I won’t stop. Why? I can’t.

I owe it to myself to FINALLY get healthy. I’ve made it a part of my daily routine now to do some sort of exercise at least 6 times each week. I won’t let myself down…AGAIN. I won’t STOP and feel defeated by decades of living where I just didn’t try. I refuse to be a quitter. I’ve done that. I know I’m good at that.

Now, I choose to continue. I choose to master the gym bullies ( machines & exercises not people). I choose…to become the ME I should be. I mean…my cheerleaders think I can do it….so I will. I’m just not there yet!

On May 14, 2020, Sherry (my sister), Connor (my nephew), and I were discussing how Sarah (Connor’s girlfriend) & Connor had started using “MyFitnessPal” and started exercising to get healthier. I said something like, “I’m turning 50..I should really do that too.” And…so the “Finding Jodi Journey” started.

It has had me exercising, making modifications to my lifestyle, and analyzing various aspects of “me” to learn who I really am. I suppose it could be part of a mid-life crisis, but it was a healthy version of one. We started exercising 3 times a week. Then, it increased to four. I started walking on days I didn’t go to the gym. Now, a year later, I exercise 6 days a week each week…and sometimes 7. I try to stop eating by 6 or 6:30 (unless it’s Connor’s graduation weekend). I’ve started drinking more water, but…I haven’t given up soda altogether. From the center picture in the collage at the end of this blog entry, you can see that I still have a long way to go to reach the “ideal weight” the doctor would dictate, but my goal is to simply be healthy.

I had hoped my weight loss would’ve been 60 pounds as I had been losing about 5/month for the first several months. However, I hit 40 pounds on Christmas Eve and have been up and down a few pounds ever since. I could easily get discouraged by that and give up. Yet, I continue to focus on my goal of “getting healthy” and “Finding Me”. It helps that I’ve dropped a size in clothes since December. I told Connor that I’m like a map app….I’m “reconfiguring”. People always say that muscle weighs more than fat; I don’t know if that is true or not. I do know that the body I have now is a whole lot different than the one I lived in a year ago.

How? I’m glad you asked…
1. Last May, my goal was to keep the elliptical at 3.5 mph and not to fall below 3. Now? My slow pace is 4 mph and my fast intervals have me between 6.2 and 7.2 mph. I sweat a lot more too!

2. Last May, Connor challenged me to push myself and set the Hip Abduction machine at 100 lbs. Now, I can do 175, but generally do my 3 sets at 160.

3. Last year, I would do 3 sets of 12 on 4-6 resistance machines. That built to 6 sets of 12 on 8-10 machines. Now, I’ve reverted to 3 sets but we do 15 reps as advised by the trainer.

4. Yep, that’s another change. Last summer, I did whatever I decided to do. Let’s face it…ANYTHING is better than what I was doing prior to May 14, 2020. Now, Sherry & I have met with Bethani (the trainer at Planet Fitness) who created a 4-day workout plan. Each day focuses on either abs, back, arms, or legs. We do a 5 minute warm up, 6 machines/weights/exercises, then 20-30 minutes of cardio. We’re on week 3. After week 4, Bethani will change our workout to keep our muscles working instead of getting accustom to the routine.

5. Last year, when I’d walk, it would take about 20-23 minutes for a mile. During a 5K in the fall, I finished in under 56 minutes. Lately, I can keep a mile under 17 minutes if I push it…and 18 if I’m downtown with traffic, broken sidewalks, and other pedestrians.

6. Last summer, I would drink water in restaurants and occasionally at home. Now, I have a gallon jug that I empty in a day to a day and a half. Currently, I still add some colorless flavoring, so I need to work on going to straight water this year. (Not a fan of plain water.)

7. A year ago, I would eat whenever and whatever I wanted. Now, I try to eat smarter, but I refuse to be on a fad diet. Done those. Lost weight. Gained it back. I eat what I want…I just try to watch my serving size and the time of the meal. Then, there’s chips & salsa…everyone has their kryptonite!

8. Last year, the stair climber scared me to death. Now, I’m still NOT a fan, but I can do 13 flights in 5 minutes, and have done over 20 flights at a time. However, I prefer walking or the elliptical to that dreaded invention!

9. I’ve NEVER chosen to post a full body shot of me on social media. However, on the Saturday before Easter, Sarah snapped a shot of me playing Bocce ball, and I shared it. I know…I am still overweight. The medical profession I’m sure calls me obese or even morbidly obese, but…compared to where I was a year ago….I was so proud of myself.

10. The final big change occurred a couple weeks ago. A book was given to me that required me to stay after school on Thursday for a book club in order to go to a training in Atlanta. Now, I really wanted to learn from this school, but I had also just committed to the 4-day workout plan. So, I picked ME over an additional task for my teaching job. This was HUGE. It may have been the first time I picked me over a job-related request. I had picked ministry over school fairs in the past, but I had never picked “ME” over a school-related need. I was so proud of myself, even though I also felt like I let people down. (I did send an email to administration apologizing if I disappointed them but reiterating my commitment to getting healthy.)

The coolest transformation is that these changes that started as “have to” on my list have become “need to”. Today, to celebrate the end of my 25th teaching year, I took a personal day and went shopping with a retired teaching friend. When we were discussing what time to leave, I suggested 10:00. Why? That would allow me to walk and eat breakfast. I had my exercise ring on my Smart Watch closed before I even earned my 4th standing point of the day. Exercise has become an essential part of my weekly, if not daily, life. I may have to start telling my students that I now have FIVE favorite verbs. For years, I had three: read, sing, sleep. Then, when I started publishing books and having a blog it turned into four. Writing! Now, I may have FIVE: Read, Write, Sing, Sleep, & Exercise.

Anyway, along the journey, I’ve posted updates to my weight lost. I post daily selfies and pics of my exercise as a form of accountability. I told myself when May 14, 2021, arrived, I would post a tribute. This is it! Happy Anniversary, Healthier Jodi. Looking forward to what this second year of my journey will reveal.

What goal do you have? Go for it! Don’t be discouraged! You can do it. You’re just not there yet. I’m not either, but I’m a lot closer than I was a year ago!

For those of you who read my blog ponderings, you are aware that I started a workout regimen with my sister a few weeks ago. We committed to four gym days per week (except for her upcoming vacation) where we had a day focusing on each of arms, legs, back, and abs. Now, when I returned to the gym last summer, I was using a few arm and leg machines. Likewise, there were a couple ab machines I used as well. However, I avoided the weights section because it was predominantly used by males…and my overweight body felt intimidated. When I would notice some teen girls or other ladies using the weights, I would think, “Wow! One day, maybe I’ll have that confidence.”

Anyway, Bethani, who is a gem of a trainer at Planet Fitness, incorporated several machines that I had already been using. However, she also had us expanding our workouts. To be honest, each day has something that I dread. In fact, ab day’s dreaded machine had hounded my thoughts so much last week that I asked Bethani if we could move it up on the order to get it over with. Ha! I kid you not. I even told my students about this machine…the pain it produced the day after as well as the struggle to accomplish it.

This brings me to the title of today’s blog. Today, I was solo at the gym. I had decided to do two machines in the ab, leg, and arm workouts. After a warmup on the elliptical, I went back to try and lower the ab glider. Ugh! I failed. I figured I could just skip it. I mean, I tried. (Yes, the ab glider is the one that I dread more than anything.) I did the ab twister, then moved to the back to do a leg machine I’ve done since joining several years ago. (My nephew will be proud as I had it on 160 for all three sets of 15.) As I was heading up to the front machines, the ab glider was there…right in front of me. I figure…why not try it again, so I’d know I tried my best. Guess what! I lowered it, so…it was time to endure the torture.

That’s when the strangest thing happened! I did my first set of 10 with little extra effort. “Are you kidding me?” I thought. Then, I did the second set of ten. “How on earth am I not in pain or struggling?” I pondered. Finally, the third set had me slow a bit, but…I did it without struggling too terribly. I was pumped! (Told myself my 3 sets of 10 would now be 3 sets of 12.) Foe #1? Conquered!

Feeling invincible at this point…well, feeling strong, I went to the dreaded chest press. Normally, arm machines don’t phase me much, but this stinkin’ machine is my nemesis. It taunts me with, “You’re not as strong as you think!” Before the 4-day regimen started, I would be able to do one set at 50 then I’d go down in pounds. Alas, I think I did three sets at 50, maybe, last week, but I thought maybe I did more. So, feeling like I was ready to conquer another foe, I put it at 70 pounds. I did 1 set of 15 with a lot of pauses. However, I completed my second set at 65 and my final set at 60. Wow! I was thankful it was over, but I was proud that I pushed myself. Second Foe? Take that!

After a leg machine and arm machine that neither bother me, I glanced back…at the section that still had power over me. Now, when I exercise with my sister, I face the weight corner knowing that at least the two of us were enduring it together. Thankfully, my friend Patty was also working out this morning, and I shared how I was going to make myself face my self-intimidation-area. She said she needed to go back there too. I did the “face pull” (the name makes me chuckle) and then I did some exercise with 10-pound dumbbells. There were only two guys working out at the time, and I don’t even think they noticed I was there. I did. I faced my personally-imposed fear and conquered foe #3.

Each morning, I post quotes for my FB friends and include one focused on either exercise or fitness. This morning, my solo workout made me think of a couple of them. First, I can’t imagine the ab glider EVER being my warm up, but I also couldn’t imagine doing it without a lot of strain and pain. Honestly, my 5 minutes on the elliptical which IS my warm-up is at a faster pace than when I did the elliptical last summer, so I guess this post is correct.

Then, last weekend my nephew graduated from WKU (super proud aunt right here!), so I exercised VERY little for 3 days, ate out every meal, ate later than my 6:00/6:30 personally-imposed food-stop, and drank VERY little water. As a result, when I got on the scale Monday morning, I saw a number 5 pounds bigger than I saw on Friday morning. I was bummed for a bit, but I reminded myself not to let the scale define me. Then, on Wednesday, a colleague uttered, “Ms. Pflaumer, you’re really getting skinny!” (Ha! Definitely a hyperbole!) I laughed and said, “Not skinny, but I’m getting healthier.” She explained, “I just mean that I can really tell that you’ve lost weight and been working out.” Plus, this morning, after my woohoo-workout, I went to Frisch’s for breakfast. (Yes, I’ve reached the point in my singleness that there are some restaurants where I am perfectly comfortable eating solo.) Sonya, my favorite waitress and sweet friend, encouraged my commitment to working out by affirming the physical changes she had observed.

You know…cheerleaders are important, and I have MANY friends who cheer me on and encourage my journey. Be someone’s cheerleader.

I have friends who hold me accountable. They ask me what I’m doing for exercise. They challenge me to try new machines or not to give up. Do you know someone with a goal? Hold them accountable to the commitment.

What are you afraid of in your journey to the YOU you’re meant to me? Whatever it is…you’ve got this. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. The One who made you is with you each step of your journey. He knows where your path is going. Trust Him! He’s got you! And you’ve got this…whatever your THIS is!