Shadow

Mason opened a new box of chalk this morning for his birthday--He LOVES this big chalkboard

that I got on the side of the road (yep, I'm one of those people!).

He started trying to trace his shadow!

*So the chalkboard wasn't just on the side of the road...some people were cleaning out their storage and had a ton of stuff sitting at the corner for free.  

When I saw the chalkboard I knew we had to have it!

Grace and Strength

Today marks one month since I began the Grace and Strength program.

I can honestly say that it has been so tough, yet so freeing!  The first week I thought I was going to die, the second week I just wanted to quit (I also had an infected tooth that week!!).

It has gotten so much easier as the days go by and I think I'm falling into a routine.

My eating has cleaned up tremendously.  I eat healthy, lean proteins and veggies.  I drink so much water that I could float away--and I have got to find better deals on toilet paper!!

I feel so good--better than I have in a long time!

AND---I stopped taking my blood pressure meds over the weekend!!!

In one month I have lost 17.2 pounds and 8 inches.

I had a few set-backs in the first week or two, so I could have done better.

I am still celebrating that 17.2 pounds GONE forever!!!!

Ok, can't believe I'm going to do this....here is a face shot of my before and after.

Keep in mind the before is with NO makeup--oh my word can't believe I'm posting this!

Maybe by the end of month 2 I'll be ready to share my full body shots--it's so embarrassing that I let myself get to that point and I honestly hate to look at them!

FebruaryPhotoADay

   

Today's theme is words---and I just love this :)

Photo-A-Day: My View

This is pretty much the spot I've been in for 2 days.  

Used car shopping.  It's taking over my life.

I'm joining in the Photo-A-Day challenge at Fat Mum Slim .

Now at least I'll know what to blog about for the next month :)

A Good Child

Oh, how I needed to read this tonight!!!  I have felt pulled in so many directions lately as a mom, and I have been questioning SO many choices that we have made for our kids.

I also want this on my wall:

  Don’t try to raise a good child.  Raise a God-following adult.

Changes!

This isn't my scale, and unfortunately it isn't my toenails.  

But it's how I have felt for a long time now.

Tired, fat, and just darn out-of-control.  

I have gained way too much weight in the past 6 years 

and I finally got to the point that I was 

READY for change!

I've teamed up with a fantastic program that I'll share more about in the next few weeks.

It's helping me to grow closer to Jesus, to detox my body from all of the junk I've

been putting into it for years, as well as get in shape!

Five days in and I've lost 6lbs, who knows how many inches, and 

I feel GREAT already!!!

This has been harder than I ever imagined, but the results are so worth it!

I can't wait to have more and more energy.  With the sleep apnea (that I still haven't gotten control of)

I am so tired 24/7.  Even when I'm sleeping I'm tired!

Have more energy is going to help combat the issues with sleep apnea that I feel during the day.

I AM still working on a solution for that.  More on that later, too!

I can't wait to share my progress here--no pictures until month one, though :)

5 Long Years

It's been 5 years since I heard my Daddy's voice.

  Five years since he tragically left this earth and went on to see the face of God.

Sometimes it feels like 50 years ago, and sometimes it feels like 5 days ago.

I will never forget the details of that day, or the feeling of my heart ripping apart.

So, so many people were there for us and shared memories of him.

Those wonderful people definitely made up for those who weren't there, but should have been.

It makes me sad that we have had 3 more babies added to our family that he won't get to know.

I do like to think that maybe he got to spend a little bit of time with them before they were sent here.

We miss him so much that it really and truly hurts, but we also laugh and remember some

of the wonderful, funny things about him!  

Over the past few months we've lost 2 more special family members and it makes the pain

of losing my own parent so raw again.  I find myself wishing I could have said to goodbye to mine.

Through it all--God has been good!!!! 

We will always have that missing spot in our lives, but I know that only Jesus can heal the pain.

We miss you so much Daddy and can't wait to see you again!!!