So much has happened in ten years.
We lived in Hawaii. We explored Oahu, Maui, and The Big Island.
My husband adopted my daughter.
I was pregnant with my son.
We were and still are shifting to gentler, more respectful parenting, constantly reevaluating methods and learning.
I’ve homeschooled our four kids for over fifteen years now. I’ve come full circle in my educational and religious beliefs after exploring so many options, many of which were very harmful to me and my family.
We’re a military family. We moved from Hawaii to Utah to Germany to Ohio.
Looking back over the last decade, I realize there are few photos of me since I’m usually the one behind the camera.
I rarely take selfies. We rarely get family photos. My kids don’t have a record of me in pictures.
This picture was taken in fall 2016.
Here’s a photo of me in the same outfit in May 2019.
It’s a bit of a glow up. I feel more confident and healthy.
It’s been an adventure for sure.
I’m trying to do better to ask my family to snap photos of me, preferably when I don’t have my mouth full.
I’ve changed quite a bit in the last decade, especially the last couple years. I think I’ve improved. I’m never content with a status quo. I’m constantly growing.
If we are not regularly deeply embarrassed by who we are, the journey to self-knowledge hasn’t begun.
Alain de Botton
Self Improvement
Health
I lost 20+ pounds the last couple years.
I’m not concerned with weight as a number. I’m not concerned with aging gracefully. I just want to be healthy.
The first picture is the heaviest I ever was, not pregnant. I weighed in at about 175. I didn’t feel good. My knees hurt. I felt tired all the time. I was too sedentary. I didn’t eat well. I didn’t exercise enough or correctly. I was depressed. I needed to jumpstart my metabolism.
I have no medical complications or issues. Thank God.
I take supplements that work for me. Glutathione and progesterone before bed. B vitamins and evening primrose in the mornings. I add collagen and flax to my smoothies.
I massage castor oil into my hands, scalp, and thighs probably weekly.
I drink lots of water. I only have 2-3 cups of caffeine each day.
I pray and meditate every day.
I try to go outside every day.
I don’t have social media on my smartphone or iPad.
I will say that I seldom have joint pain now and I feel happier and more energetic.
Food
I try to eat real foods.
I happen to really like almost all foods. I have no allergies or sensitivities.
Food has no morality.
Fiber is really important. I add chia and flax to my smoothies.
I splurge and sometimes get takeout from Raising Cane’s. I actually seldom eat out. I drink a beer or glass of wine with dinners on weekends.
I don’t like this idea of “cheat days” or “being good” by eating more veggies or the idea that veganism will save the world.
I know sugar isn’t good for me and causes health problems, so I do try to limit my refined sugar intake.
I really like bread.
I eat mostly what I want, what I like, when I’m hungry. Sometimes, that means coffee at brunchtime and a sensible dinner. I suppose it’s intermittent fasting, but I just eat when I want to, not when society tells me to.
I teach my kids that balance and moderation is key.
Exercise
I do HIIT workouts about three times a week.
I had physical therapy for my knee last year and I continue to practice what I learned with my exercise ball, balance trainer, kettle weight, and hip band.
Here’s how I maintain my health. It’s not all about exercise and eating!
Everyone is different. I’m not competing with anyone but myself.
I try to walk outside 1-3 miles every evening after dinner. If I don’t get my walk in, I don’t feel well and I don’t sleep well. This is my down time to destress and listen to the birds and wind. It calms me. I get to think and work through problems or issues or conversations.
Rest
Rest is so, so, so important.
I try to not be too busy. I like being peaceful and not rushed.
Life happens.
Even good stress can affect us physically and mentally.
When I’m stressed, I get bloated. I don’t sleep well. I feel anxious. It’s a vicious cycle.
Moving every 3 or so years is stressful. Cats get sick. Finances get wonky. Car accidents or repairs that can’t be avoided. I take extra care during stressful life events.
I try not to overschedule the kids so we don’t have to hurry and we can almost always have dinner together.
We have leisurely mornings over breakfast. We do reading. I do work while they complete their lessons. We watch shows or run errands. Evenings are for sports, dinner, walking, more reading, prayers.
Learning
I am constantly reading. I love to read books about parenting, education, religion, psychology, politics, history, historical and speculative fiction.
I have stacks of books on my shelves and tables and oodles of Kindle editions. I get books from the library if I can.
I like to read articles about my many topics of interest. These often lead to more books from their bibliography and source notes and quotations.
Learning is very important to me. I want to keep up with everything. I want to fill in the gaps in my lackluster Georgia public school education.
My aunt and several elderly female cousins had Alzheimer’s and I worry about my parents and my husband and myself.
So many good thoughts you’ve shared here, Jennifer. AT LEAST a decade’s worth!
So beautiful! A decade seems like such a short amount of time when we look back, but so much can change in those years, especially in family life! I’m trying to take more pictures too, I’m always the one with the camera and hubby hates taking pics!
Hope that you are having a great start to your week!
Hi Jennifer,
What a joy to be here today.
What an emulating life style!
It’s Indeed a great share! :-)
Thanks a lot for sharing about the wonderful products you use, the links are worth preserving.
I am bookmarking the post for my further use.
Your daily routine you presented it well here. It’s really worth emulating. :-)
I am here via Janice Wald’s page, wherein you shared this post in the Monday party.
Keep sharing all the best.
Season’s Greetings
~ Ann And Phil
Jennifer, thank you for your list. Made me want to chat with you. I take glutathione in the morning. Does is have a calming effect at night. Congratulations on a new and healthy lifestyle.
It’s my favorite supplement! Makes such a difference, doesn’t it?
Thanks for sharing all your healthy tips. Good reminders to take care of ourselves.
I always the one behind the camera too. Thanks for sharing with us at the Creative Muster. Looking forward to seeing what you’ll be sharing next week. Pinned!
Robin 🎄
Jennifer, it sounds like the last 10 years have been good to you and YOU have been good to you! YEA for all the healthy habits you’ve incorporated into your lifestyle. And like your shirt says, Life IS an Adventure!!! :)
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
What a wonderful look at 10 years! I am definitely feeling inspired to do the same!
Thank you for sharing where you were and where you are to encourage others! God is so good!
Jennifer, your balanced approach to health is so refreshing! “Not concerned with weight as a number, I just want to be healthy.” Gradually making lifestyle/food choices you can do for the rest of your life is the way to go. I always say, You can’t get permanent results from temporary diets! I’ve written two posts about health–limiting sugar intake and 16:8 intermittent fasting, both things I have done for a long time and will do for the rest of my life. Keep up the good work!
I’d never heard of Glutathione until now; so thank you!
A lot happens in 10 years. Thanks for sharing.
We have several of the same books on our list! And share the same concern about Alzheimer’s. :( My mother died of it, so I think about it a lot for myself, praying that I won’t get it. I know it’s out of my hands though. Thanks for sharing your decade. It’s interesting to look back at all the changes we go through in a year. I need to do this exercise myself.
Wow, you have moved a lot! And all over the map too! Love all the photos and how you said you don’t get caught up in numbers (on the scale or at a birthday). :-) Thanks for sharing!
I too am trying to get in front of the camera more as I am always the one taking photos and used to say “no thanks” when someone offered to take one with me in it; I decided a few years ago to stop that since my kids are going to want to see me in photos some day. I feel that now my kids are older and a bit more self- sufficient I have time for me and taking care of me. I too have lots weight, try to drink mainly water, exercise more and eat better because it really does make me feel so much better. Thanks for sharing with us at Encouraging Hearts and Home. Pinned.
A great post! I must get back on track, but the weather really keeps me down at the moment. Thank you for this positive post!
I had not thought about doing a round up of the decade, but having read your post, I’m thinking it’s such a good idea! So much has changed in our lives since 2010, and it’s exciting to have a whole new decade to start off. I really enjoyed reading your post, and getting a little glimpse into your life. I hope that you will get your family to take more photos of you. I really regret not having more photos of my late Mom, she hated having her photo taken. We’ve got to get in front of the camera more :-) Wishing you all the best in the next decade, Jennifer, and thank you for sharing your journey with the Hearth and Soul Link Party community.
My priorities in self-care are to meet my mental, academic/artistic, physical, and spiritual needs. It’s a journey, and I’m getting better at being balanced. I know what you mean about having your photo taken without your mouth full ;). I don’t have a lot of photos of me, either. I never like how they turn out (but I’m working on it–self-criticism isn’t healthy).
I loved reading your account of the past decade, and your approach to various things in life. I felt the calmness reading it. It made me feel happy. Lovely!
Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com/~bijoube2
A lovely recap of a decade and what a lot you have packed in – here’s to the next decade!
From my blog, to Twinkly Tuesday, to visit you to say hello. Enjoyed visiting and reading. Sounds like you’ve had some traveling adventures and other learning curves as a mom. Mine are all grown and probably older than you. :) I like the idea of your post of the last decade. I may have to look see if I have photos enough to do that, and I also was always the one behind the camera. Congratulations on the adoption, that is awesome and he must be a good man. :)
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