2 hours until we start our new lives

Well, in 2 hours it will be the official start day for our new lives... I am SO happy that the hubs in on board. I just feel like with both of us trying we should be successful, I mean if 2 heads are better than 1...

We tried to eat things this weekend that we like and know are not healthy. I have my workout partner lined up for tomorrow, I got some new work out attire this weekend. And I came across this awesome visual on pinterest that I thought would help us visualize our goal and see our success each week.

Inspiration

Our weigh loss visual

We counted up how much we wanted to lose, then weighed... We both added a few to the original numbers and volia! We filled the jar and are ready to do great this week so we can move some of those babies over to the lost jar! I also made a chart that we can record our weekly weight and lbs lost. I am so excited and glad we are finally really doing this!!!

I bit the bullet

Yep, I did it! I joined a gym tonight! I already lined up a work out partner for Monday. Here we go... Goal = 10 lbs a month. Surely I can do that if I am working out 3 to 5 times a week and watching what I am eating. That would be 60 lbs by the summer.. and maybe a baby in the new year. Oh and I need to mention.... You might want to sit down for this one... ROBBIE JOINED TOO!!!! Loading up my ipod as you are reading this :)

Please pray for both of us to stick with it, not only for our health, but our chance for a precious miracle.

One take on Prayer

I saw this on FB today and had to share. If you have ever seen any of the Tyler Perry, Medea movies you know she is a crazy black lady who in all her craziness, has a true understanding of God at times... other times she is just a hoot. This is the best description of how prayers are answered I can come up with, and its kind of funny too :) Granted it is about finding a man... but, it can so be worked on the baby angle. So, I hope you either get something out of it or laugh a little out loud .

Do You Share...

Well it was looking like my "New Years Resolution" had already been ditched... See I wanted to try my darnedest to make it to church every Sunday in 2012. Well.... the first Sunday, the hubs had had a little too much fun with the neighbors on NYE so we slept in. Then last Sunday I set my alarm, and he turned if off... so week 3 we made it! It was great, of course. I love our church, it is really a place for use to worship un-judged and with other Jesus Followers. So, the message was on how you share your Jesus. It was really good. They showed a video that went viral this week on you tube. (this has had very mixed reviews... so I am adding in his comments on posting the video. hopefully it doesn't offend.)

"A poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it's core Jesus' gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth. Religion either ends in pride or despair. Pride because you make a list and can do it and act better than everyone, or despair because you can't do your own list of rules and feel "not good enough" for God. With Jesus though you have humble confident joy because He represents you, you don't represent yourself and His sacrifice is perfect putting us in perfect standing with God!"

The main point of the message was to share Jesus. But, that together as a church we can not only share with those outside of church, but those we share worship with in church. Of course this is when I am thinking, "Ok God, I gottcha... I will be here :) These were the notes we had on who to share Jesus. I think this will be my resolution revised:

• regularly attend Sunday celebrations (thats what we call services)
• invite others to join you at Heartsong/ church (I do this)√
• belong to a group (need to find a small group)
• learning and practicing the Jesus Centered Life (I feel I do this already)√
• reading he Bible (need to work on this one)
• praying √
• sharing the message when prompted

Bottom Line - Jesus is all anyone ever really needs. So, I plan on working on this in 2012 and know I will reap many benefits from it.

I actually had an opportunity to share Jesus with one of my students this week. Now I know I am not supposed to talk church at school, but she was going to a big dr. appointment to see if she would have to have surgery again in her ear (hole in the eardrum). She has had many other surgeries from other medical issues as a young child. I got an email from mom, that my student was a little scared of the outcome. So, I pulled her aside and told her that I was and had prayed for her, asking God to heal her ear without having to have surgery. She said thanks and went off to her appointment.

The next morning, she came in and said guess what? She said it had healed even with fluid still in her ear. I told her that prayer helps. Then she shared with me that one of her sister's friends had fallen earlier in the week at gymnastics and was paralyzed from the waist down. She said that the girl shared with her that everything happens for a reason and that God would use her in some other way if she could never walk again. (Cue tears... ) She said that she make a picture with everything happens for a reason, to remind her that there are people with worse things that happen, and that she would be thankful for what she has even if it isn't what she wants. Oh, if we all could have the conviction of children. But at the same time, how awesome that a 4th grader and at 7th grader have faith that big at such a young age.

I can honestly say that in 4th grade and even 7th grade. I went to church, had been confirmed and believed, but don't think I truly understood Jesus' sacrifice. But, at that moment with my student, I told her (without going into detail) that God doesn't want us to hurt, but that sometimes his plan works itself out in a way we don't understand as human beings. That I too have had my share of times when I thought this couldn't be the kind of plan God would want me to go through. But, then I realize that my mountains are mole hills compared to many others. She said you are so right. But no matter what God is there for us and will help us through it. And she gave me the tightest hug. It made my day. And I bet it made His too.

2011 In Review, Welcome 2012!

I got the idea to do this from a blog I read often, Walk With Me By Faith. She does this every year, and I think I might start this as a yearly tradition too. So, here goes... 20 things about 2011

1. What did you do in 2011 that you had never done before?
Put my very first house up for sale, rode in a gondola at the Venetian in Vegas, taken on home renovation projects with the hubs, and last but not least... run out of gas in my own driveway (lol)

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?

I don't even remember what it was. Resolutions are too easily forgotten. This year I am looking to make LIFESTYLE CHANGES. :)

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
OMGEE - Don't lose count, but this year was truly amazing for all my friends in this department. Here goes: E & M had sweet baby Landon Matthew in Feb., A & N had baby Garner in July, C & B had baby Henleigh in Sept., E & A had baby Wels Oct., A & B had baby Benjamin in Oct. and Sweet baby MJ in August (adoption finalized in Dec.), S & B had baby Aubree in Nov., Our sweet cousins S & C had baby Grady in Nov., J & J had babies Wilson & Addison in Nov., J & C had baby Morgan Mae in Nov., and baby Sloane made her debut on Dec. 27th to LA & J. (*sorry if I forgot someone, but I am sure you can see why I might have left someone off.)

Here are baby Addison & Wilson on their first trip to Aunt Morgan's house around Thanksgiving.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No one in our families passes away this year thank goodness. But some of our close work friends lost loved ones, and Robbie's coworker passed away.

5. What places have you visited?

We saved and scraped through out 2011 to have fun in Vegas for Amberly's wedding. And we did!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Our own baby to snuggle and spoil is really the only thing we lack to make life as close to perfect as we can get. But, we would both like to get healthy and lose some weight!

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched in your memory and why?
I wish I had some date here that was etched... maybe if I could remember things I would have something to put here haha

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
Getting that much closer to being debt free... so close!!!

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than normal sinus/ allergy stuff... The infamous ear infection of 2011 might could have been used in #7 (lol). It was NOT GOOD!

10. What was the best thing you bought?

Probably a tie between our new stainless dishwasher and my new iPhone 4s. LOVE them both!!!

11. Where did most of your money go?

Bills and/or the little gnomes who spend most of our money haha. Who knows!

12. What song will always remind you of 2011?
God Gave You Me by Blake Shelton. I love him! But I love my hubby more and this song reminds me of him! I thank God everyday for my sweet hubs! I am not sure how he puts up with me most of the time, but he does and I love for that too!

13. What do you wish you would have done more of?
being healthier, walked, gone to church more often. I really hate to admit there were times when I should have just gotten up and gone, but didn't. (that is one of my "life changes" I spoke of earlier... Church every Sunday unless I am too sick)

14. What do you wish you would have done less of?
Eating. haha no really. I wish I would have made healthier choices when eating.

15. What was your favorite TV program?
Mike & Molly is my all time fav. But Dexter & Real House Wives of Anywhere ran a close 2nd.
16. What was the best book you read this year?
The Help. (actually the only book I made time for)Man it was the only book in a long time that I have not wanted to put down. In fact I finished it in 4 nights. I was really tired during those days, but it was so worth it!

17. What was your favorite film of the year?

Bridesmaids was the only movie I made it to see this year... It was pretty funny

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I turned 32 in 2011. My "usuals," close friends, and our hubbies, and I all went to dinner at my "usual" place, Nagasaki Inn a hibachi place. Lets just say it was not the best service and 2012 we will be going somewhere else. :)I guess the older you get the less exciting your birthday becomes. Which makes me so sad.

19. What national/world event stirred you the most?

Some might say that The Royal Wedding was mist stirring, I have friends at work who actually took the day off to watch it. I guess I just wasn't into it as much as some.

But for me, it was the 9/11 Memorial. It really brought back memories and watching the memorial on tv, was moving. I would love to make a trip to NY to tour the memorial.

20. Who was the best new person you met?

Well, I have met so many wonderful ladies through blogging this year. I have written about many of them often. Love you ladies!!! I also was able to meet some of my friend from Vegas' friends while there in Oct. Of course I met 21 new students & families this year too when school started. But, I am not sure I could give any one of these wonderful people the "best" title. You are all awesome to me :)

2011 has been full of fun. I am so looking forward to 2012 being even BETTER!!!