Once Upon A Time on Date Night...

The weather almost had me convinced to nix the Azalea Path plans and stay home with pizza and a movie. SO glad we did not do that. This place was gorgeous! We met at home, I grabbed our cameras and my walking shoes and provisions to protect against the stinking biting gnats... and we were on our way. It only took us about 20 minutes to get to Union. Beautiful, beautiful setting and gorgeous color everywhere you looked. Someone has put lots of time and care into this place. There were mulched paths everywhere, tons and tons of plants. Even a gorgeous waterfall.















How pretty is this? I could have sat here for hours. We took a couple shots here right before the camera batteries died... both sets...















Here is my cute date... He also took a shot of us and somehow even manged to get the waterfall in the photo...














Here are several more shots of the gorgeous colors. It was breath taking...

I loved this flower although I have no clue what it is. Is it a peony? Isn't it pretty?














When we spotted this pink Azalea it seemed I must have my photo taken by it... fitting somehow huh?




















I loved this orange color. Probably second fav. after the pinks! There were also beautiful Irises blooming, and some roses were also starting.






























We walked around for a good little bit. They had quite a few places for a picnic area, lots of benches, wood carvings out of tree stumps and even a couple of pretty statues. There was a playhouse and a cool tree swing which I might have enjoyed for a bit. Darrel took a picture... but I am not liking it... so it shall remain hidden on the computer. I am thinking we need a tree swing. It was very fun!
















After the gardens, we headed back to town for dinner at China Wok. Yummy. I love that the best Chinese place around is like 2 minutes from home! Next it was time for a movie at home and we decided to try out the Jiffy Pop.





















Now how come when I was a kid the foil bubble looked way bigger? The popcorn was pretty good, a little chewy, but better than the microwave bucket. It was yummy with some cheese popcorn mixed with it. We watched a movie (Old Dogs) and then it was time for dessert.

This my friends is chocolate angel food cake from Black Buggy, fresh strawberries and cool whip. I have decided that God definitely intended for cool whip and strawberries to go together. YUM and not lots of points here either. I like that!

In the midst of a full date night I somehow managed to get packed for the crop too! I am so ready to go and looking forward to the day with friends tomorrow! Love the DB too! Hope you have an awesome NSD!! I have to head to bed! Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

I have been tossing around ideas for Thankful Thursday all day and wouldn't you know... ended up right back where I started.... HOME. I am so thankful for my home, both the physical place home and all the other things home means to me. One of the reasons I love this home so much, this HOUSE so much is the history. It belonged to my grandparents and my Dad was literally born here. I love, love that I can look at these pictures from the 1940's and earlier and see my family and see the house I am sitting in right now. The top left photo is my great (step) grandmother Lela. That is the back of our house and that well she is at is now covered in our back yard. I could just look and look at that picture, at the details. The photo on the right is my Dad when he was a little boy, standing in our front yard. I love seeing the front porch. Mamaw and Papaw closed it in years ago, but I've always missed it. The bottom left photo was taken in our dinning room. It was some kind of family dinner and you can see my Papaw, Mamaw's brother and sister, her Dad and his wife.




















This is one side of our house and its Papaw, my Dad and his sister, my Aunt Mary. I am thinking that must be the bathroom window. Our bathroom was originally a closet.















Here is a picture from the back of our house taken about 2 years ago. I love this place and its a good home to us. It is old, it still needs lots of remodeling which we never seem to quite get done or caught up with, it's small, but you know what? It suits us.

I am also thankful for the things this home provides. Such as shelter, a warm, soft, comfy bed, a shower and indoor plumbing. It's a place that has food, clothing, and a place for the things we have been blessed with. My husband is here. Our pets are here. My scrap stuff and favorite chair are here... The pink stuff... its here... :) We are very blessed in this country to have such things. Have you ever thought about that? The reason its been on my mind is because of a presentation we saw in church last Sun. night. We had a man come with pictures from Haiti following the earthquake. Our church is organizing a work camp to go there and build new homes for those who lost theirs in the quake. These people are living in tent cities right now. Their new homes will not even have running water and indoor plumbing. He told us that is how it is there. The work campers may not get to have a shower the whole week they are there. They will have to have drinking water provided. They will be sleeping in tents. This has been on my mind every time I get in my bed this week. My bed with the soft down comforter, feather pillows and feather bed. I think of it when I step into a hot shower and shampoo my hair after coming in all sweaty from walking. Can you imagine being on this work camp, or living there and working hard building houses every day in the July heat and then you can't clean up? I mean how good does a shower feel after a hard day of work? I think we forget or perhaps don't even know how good we have it. Even in my old, small, in need of remodeling house.... wow..... we have so much. So much. Thank you Lord.

Other things I have been thankful for this week are:

• Vanilla! The biting gnats are back.. I swear they would eat me for dinner while I am walking if I didn't douse myself with Vanilla first.
• Singing. Getting ready to sing a song for intermission during a concert Sunday night at church. I am so thankful that God allows me to sing and gives me opportunities to do so. I love it!
• Reading and books! Really enjoying my books for the Readers Choice contest. I am still in love with my Kindle too.
• A sweet little girl at church who called me this week to ask if she could go walking with me so she would be ready for Carry the Cross next year. Ask me how much that melted my heart...
• A husband who cares about me so much. He has been stressing about my BP issues and it just touches me so much how he takes care of me.
• Ankle bracelets! Loving them!
• Good smelling stuff from Bath & Body. Got some of the new summer Vanillas last Fri. and LOVE them.
• All the nice people at the camp ground that smile and wave at me and are such an encouragement.
• Gracie, Jack and Tanner. Doesn't that sound like a children's book?
• Good friends! I could go on and on about that one this week. Friends who have helped me sort thru problems. Friends who I have so much in common with and we can talk so easily. Friends who do nice things like give me gifts for Secretary Week. Friends who drop by work just to bring me a bottle of Diet Cherry DR Pepper....
• Prayer time with my husband.
• The Beth Moore Simulcast at church last Saturday. Good stuff. Glad I went!
• NSD coming up Saturday and getting to crop with friends and take an awesome class with Lisa!
• My husband telling me "you look good" when he got home from work yesterday. That one may be my favorite...
• La Caretta! A 3rd waiter now seems to know what we want to drink and that we want cheese sauce and jalapenos! That just makes me smile... perhaps we can have our own booth there?

Still having some BP issues. It has been all over the place. My BP goes up, my heart rate goes down.. Then HR goes up and BP goes down... Then HR goes up and stays up and feels weird! Then we do the lightheaded woozy thing... then we have a headache. Yesterday I had some pain in my left arm and that was scaring me a bit. A few nurse friends from church checked me out and were concerned and thought I should check with my DR. I did call the DR this morning and he said to give it another week, since I am just 7 days in to being off the meds. He still thinks it will calm down and that all of this is normal adjustments my body is going thru while getting off of this medicine. I have been on the BP meds for probably 20 years so this is very cool to me to be in a place where maybe I don't need it. Just praying it will settle down and stabilize and I will not need to go back on the meds. My husband would like that too. He is not liking the HR issues or the high BP readings and has been hovering and mothering me.... and yes... I have been a good girl and respected his wishes.

Looking forward to date night. Hopefully we are going to that Azalea place to look around first. Hope the weather is good! I still need to pack for the crop too. Why do I always leave that till the last minute? Oh yeah... because I hate packing... Hope your week has been good! Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) LOOK at this gorgeous Mini Album created by my friend Lisa. She is going to be teaching a class so that you may make an album all your own at the Doodlebug this Saturday during the NSD crop and also on Sunday at 1PM. I am soooo taking this class, probably the one during the crop since I will be there then. (Cannot wait! I love NSD... its right up there with birthday week... have I mentioned that?) I have seen the whole album and it is to die for. SO pretty with lots of cool pages, envelopes, die cuts, fancy pants papers, vintage elements, embossing, cool ruffles and glimmer mist... you name it, its in there. It is called a Mother's Day album but you could easily customize it to whatever subject you like. Hope you will join me! Just give the DB girls a call. You will find their number at their website linked above.

2) It was cold today. Well cold compared to what it has been. Did I wear like jeans and closed up shoes? Um no.... I am too enamored with capri pants and sandals; ankle bracelets and pretty pedicured toes... I did pick a pair of sandals that have a thick leather strap that covers most of the top of the foot. I figured that way my feet would be warmer... but my toes could still peek out...

3) Guess what we bought at the grocery store? Jiffy Pop! Remember Jiffy Pop? See last date night at home, we bought the microwave popcorn movie bucket. While it was cooking in the microwave and the top was rising, I'm like hey its like Jiffy Pop for the microwave... However.. it so was not. We were not impressed with the popcorn part. I think they set you up with the movie bucket and all that it will actually taste like at the movies. They lie... We have concluded that the Jiffy Pop would definitely be better AND more fun.. so.. look out date night.. we are all set!

4) Speaking of date night... we are considering going here to start things off. It's called the Azalea Path and is a botanical garden not too far from here. A lady from church told me about it and showed me some pictures and it looks gorgeous! The web site says there are 50 acres and 2000 Azaleas. wow! I would love to walk thru there and get some pictures too!

5) Here is a tip for you... if you are already struggling with your eating and losing weight this week... do not go to the Amish Buffet for dinner. However... I did eat more salad than anything else... but it was yummy. They have awesome angel food cake. We just might have brought a chocolate one home.

6) A further tip.. when you are at the Amish Buffet, it might be a good idea to remove your favorite camilla/pandora type charm bracelet. Otherwise, you will find it is easy to not once, but twice drag your dangling heart charm thru the mashed potatoes which will then end up all over your shirt... Not that this happened to me or anything.

7)I received another Secretary week gift from my friend Kay! She got me a very cool pink pen with little jewels on it. Now is that me or what? It says "Sisters in Christ" and I totally love it. There was a pretty pink book mark too that has the verse about being a new creation! That one has been on my mind this week, especially after the Beth Moore Simulcast last weekend.

8) Have you heard? There are now Oreo Blizzard Cream Oreos... I am thinking this must be a good thing to try since I am an Oreo Blizzard lover. However... be very impressed that I did not buy any at the grocery store tonight.

9) I am on day 5 off of my blood pressure meds. The DR said when I started weaning off of them and then was off them completely that my pressure could jump around all over the place at first. Well he would be correct. It has been up and down all within a few hours. Last night my heart rate went up to 110 at one point and stayed above 90 for a few hours. Feels a little odd... However tonight I have had 3 perfect readings so maybe it is starting to settle down? I hope so. I really want to be able to stay off the meds! It was a little scary to have your resting heart rate stay up like that. We thought maybe my monitor was wrong, until Darrel took my pulse and got 108. Makes my chest feel weird. I am thankful it has been better this evening.

10) Can you believe I think my new Vera purse arrived today and I haven't opened the box? I was planning on going walking after work like normal. However I had some of those heart rate issues this afternoon and Darrel didn't want me to go. Instead I met him for dinner and was going to grocery shop with him. I got 1/2 way thru the grocery shopping and started feeling light headed and woozy.. more BP issues.. and he made me come home which I did... Since then I have been parked in my chair and have not even opened my box.. hard to believe I know! Perhaps I will go find my box cutter and open before bed....

With that I bid you goodnight! Hope you are having a great week! Blessings.

It's a Girl Thing...

OK I may now be obsessed with ankle bracelets. I think its a girl thing... While on the weight loss journey I've been waiting for the day when an ankle bracelet would fit me again. I have two that just barely fit but are too tight for comfort.. Well in the latest AVON book they had a set of 3 ankle bracelets with a tiny little like 1/2" at most extender on them... Got them from my friend Julia today, and LOVE them and they fit. Then I remembered this shell ankle bracelet I bought in Florida YEARS ago... like more than 16 years ago... and it never did fit... it was always going to be "that will fit when I lost weight..." Right. Well I realized I had another extender on a necklace I don't wear much and I asked Darrel if he could attach it to the shell ankle bracelet and Viola! LOOK now it fits too. Now I just need to go to the beach... don't you think?

Speaking of Avon... I have admired these shoes in the catalog for a long time now. I kept talking myself out of them. Then I recently saw someone wearing them and I'm all like.. "next time I see those I am so getting a pair..." Well guess what popped up in the new catalog? $9.99 what a deal huh? I also decided to try this lip balm. I know... I am not a teenager but I still like the Mark stuff.. PLUS it was totally too funny telling Julia I wanted to order "totally balmed in totally hot..." bwa ha ha ha Enough said on that one. My other new obsession seems to be metallic bronzey eye liners.... I am currently trying this one in brown sugar.













Does this tell you where date night ended? OK who has tried this limeade stuff they have at sonic? Is it good? People talk about it like its awesome... I was wondering about the limeade strawberry chiller... I think they need to give samples... We decided not to take the plunge on that but instead indulged in a hot fudge sundae. Well, I did, Darrel indulged in a hot fudge banana sundae.. I'll pass on bananas mixed with ice cream....













Darrel is grinning at me for taking his picture when he was done ordering. Well actually he stuck his tongue out at me which I told him was dangerous because you never know when I picture like that might end up in blog world.













His response was to take a picture of both of us.. Now... why in these late night pictures do I always look like just that.... Like its late at night and the make up has been on for hours by that point and um time for bed! Ha!

The earlier part of date night was spent at dinner at Midwestern Ribeye and Ribs to start. They tried to seat us in the room right next to the bar which totally smelled like cigarettes. Not enjoying that so we quickly moved. Dinner was good and then we headed to the Best Buy for the all important remote shopping. Problem with that.. .the kind we wanted.. the only one they had was $300... We were thinking a big no on that one. Still researching that little problem. After that we headed to the mall to shop for a gift for a friend.













This particular friend had blessed me with this gift earlier in the day on Friday. It was for Secretary's day. How sweet is that! I love presents... especially pink ones. Well she is a nurse and it was also Nurse's day this week so we decided to bless her in return since she always remembers me. I found the cutest little polka dot initial cosmetic bag for her... its pink, black and white. She is a fellow pink lover. We then headed to Bath & Body Works to fill it with fun good smelling stuff! I think we got a nice assortment. Have you smelled the new summer vanillas? Oh my gosh I love them. I got a small bottle of the lemon vanilla lotion. Must go back for the berry vanilla. Love good smelling stuff...

We also stopped at Kohl's. In a departure from the norm for me... I hauled like 10 things into the dressing room and actually enjoyed trying stuff on. Funny too... the 2 things I would have least thought I'd like ended up being the things that looked best that I bought. One is a pretty turquoise and white shirt that I wore to the Beth Moore Simulcast we went to today. I told Darrel I was thinking it would really look cute with some white sandals... he just rolled his eyes and shook his head... .I also got a cute black wrap dress. It was marked down to $23. cool. Might wear it to church tomorrow. Do you think it will match my ankle bracelets? Ha!!!

While I was IN the dressing room trying stuff on I got a text from my friend Lori. Lori & I and 2 friends had been hoping to go to a crop for NSD (Natl Scrapbook Day) and she had just gotten an email from our LSS that they were having a free crop for the first 20 people to sign up! Well... dressing room or not, we were all over that. She promptly called and got our name on the list so now we are looking forward to some NSD cropping together! Can't wait! Have I mentioned I love NSD? It's right up there with birthday week! Ha! I am sure it was quiet an entertaining sight had someone seen me texting and trying on clothes all at the same time. I am quite the multi tasker...

















When I arrived at church today to attend the Beth Moore So Long Insecurity Simulcast I found this gift on my desk. It's from our Pastor for Secretary Day. Now how much do I love that he got me a pink water bottle? Plus... It says "beautiful inside and out" on it. LOVE that. I mean another pink present... what is better than that?

Was gone most of the day for the simulcast. Got myself all dressed and ready to go this morning... got in my car... was talking to Darrel about a few things he was going to pick up at walmart and the STINKING DOG FROM NEXT DOOR... jumps in the car on me... the WET MUDDY dog... jumps on my nice clean capri's and new white and blue shirt. I was NOT a happy camper about that... The dog should be very happy he is still breathing... Darrel got rid of her and I managed to get brushed off and was able to head on out to church. The simulcast was good and totally speaks to where I am at with my battle with food and weight. I also got the opportunity to sing which I enjoyed! Spent the rest of the afternoon doing some things around the house, riding the stationary bike and finishing my 1st book for the Readers Choice judging. On to book 2. I also may be in need of an M&M intervention.... Perhaps that chocolate fast was not such a bad thing....

I bid you good night! Hope you are having a great weekend! Blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Why does sparkling grape juice taste better in a pretty glass and what is it about it that makes things more romantic? Darrel and I choose not to drink alcohol. For a romantic evening though we sometimes get one of these bottles of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice. Now... we moved to Indiana in Sept 2001. It is currently 2010 correct? This bottle moved with us and has been in the fridge every since! We were thankful it had not fermented there! Ha!!

Well can you guess what I am thankful for? Romance. I am a true romantic at heart and praise the Lord for blessing me with a husband who is also a romantic. He has been since day one. From doing things like holding a door open, helping me into the car or pulling out my chair, he has always swept me off my feet with romance. Tonight we had a romantic evening spending time together at home. The kind of evening that I spent half the afternoon preparing for and getting dressed up for.. hair.. make up.. the whole deal. I love those times when it feels like just you and the one you love and the whole world just kind of falls away. Whenever we have an evening together like this, we usually don't get more than 1/2 way thru it before one of us says "why don't we do this more often?" Too funny. I guess we don't do it more often because life gets busy. We get tired. Time gets late. You know what though? It's ok. We strive to keep some romance even in the every day with leaving notes for each other, flirting via e-mail.. one of my favorites.... holding hands, sitting close, and talking. I am so thankful that I am going on 23 years of marriage and that even after so many years together, the romance is still there AND still wanted. Love that!

Other things to be thankful for this week include:

• my 90 lb loss and celebratory pedicure!
• my Vera Hobo purse which is on the way here!
• Walking and all the sweet people at the camp ground that have been so encouraging
• beautiful weather
• a secretary's day card from my husband. Most people don't remember or celebrate that day and my husband always does and it means a lot to me.
• wedge heel sandals. Loving those this year! My 5 ft 2 self likes being taller.
• getting to sing on Saturday
• prayer time with my husband
• my husband wanting to take my picture on Sunday
• feeling more energetic as I get off my my BP meds
• good report from my DR this week
• getting to stop and see Darrel during the day this week

While I was walking today I had my ipod on shuffle in my walking playlist and "I Just Called To Say I Love You" by Stevie Wonder came on. Instantly I was transported back in time to being in my little brown VW Rabbit, driving down the highway towards Chicago heading to see Darrel at college. I was probably 19 years old? Those were such good days....

Tomorrow is work and date night. I think we are headed to the big city to buy a remote... doesn't that sound romantic and exciting? Um I am thinking there will be more to it than that.. lets hope huh? Blessings!

10 on Tuesday... or I guess that would be Wednesday...

1) I am thinking one must be a true scrapbooker when she takes a picture of her breakfast because she thinks it looks pretty.... What do you think? This is one of my latest breakfast concoctions. Fresh strawberries, fresh grapes and one of those single serve del monte fruit cups, peaches in light syrup. Add a little sugar.. just a smidge, and you have a yummy and pretty breakfast.

2) Does it tell you how my week has been if I say that I had no idea that I had forgotten to blog for 10 on Tuesday until I saw it written on my calendar this evening. Then of course I had to have a whole conversation with myself about what day it is and if I had actually missed it....

3) Have you heard about the new EK Success Edger punches? They look so cool! Check them out here and here. How cool is that heart one? I'd love making a heart strip for my page. Look at this zig zag! I like this lace too.... perhaps I should use the last Martha punch I bought at least once before adding to my collection?

4) Did we know that Tim Holtz has an idea book? Is this brand new? It looks interesting and I usually love Tim's products. Anyone have this? Like it? Lisa did you know about this?

5) Someone today... a man.... asked me if I had seen the "Brazilian Butt Lift" on TV. He asked if I thought it would do him any good and then asked if that was what I had been using..... He was joking, and he proceeded to tell me I was looking really good... but I was still stuck on stunned about the whole butt conversation and unsure what to think or how to respond. I mean is there an appropriate response in this situation other than say slapping someone? ;)

6) Had the yearly mammogram yesterday and yes.. aren't those fun. This was my 3rd one I think? I did remember that you are not allowed to wear deodorant or powder.. I could not remember if perfume was included in that so I didn't wear that either. It was very weird. I never consider myself ready until I have my customary spray of Passion.... I actually took my bottle with me so I could catch up later! Ha!

7) The WHOLE stinking way to the hospital for the mammogram was under road construction. I would like to know WHY you go thru mile after mile of this just to finally see the end of construction sign... only to then see.. like 20 feet ahead... a "road construction ahead" sign. Now was that just to torture me?

8) The good thing about road construction between Petersburg and Jasper is that it causes one to return to work via Loogootee and Washington... Hmm my husband works in Loogootee... So as I was sitting in front of his building I called him and asked if he wanted a hug. He was waiting for me in the parking lot by the time I pulled in... Guess he likes my hugs huh? Certainly perked up my afternoon.

9) My monitor is going out on my computer at work. This was not a good start to my day. I thought something was up with it on Monday. I made an adjustment, it got better and um today not so much. I had to swipe a monitor from another computer in the building with a little help from my husband and our pastor. They take good care of me. The borrowed monitor did not have speakers. I was bummed that I wasn't going to have my music during the day especially since I had LOTS to get accomplished. Then I realized the speakers were still hooked up on the old monitor and that cable was still connected.. So picture if you will 2 monitors, practically side by side, one with the speakers working playing WBGL and one with the monitor working so I could actually see and um work... it looked a little goofy but made me a happy girl and hey my husband seemed to find it quite entertaining too.

10) Guess what? The Vera Hobo in Makes Me Blush that QVC had on waitlist... IT SHIPPED. Guess what else? My husband says it is my Mother's Day gift. I am not a Mom, yet he has started a tradition of getting me a gift. Yes.. I am happy about that! So glad they got more quantity in and this is shipping. It was a good deal and I am sure this purse won't be on sale elsewhere anytime soon. Have you seen their new stuff? I think this cross body bag is pretty! How cute would this bag be for the beach?

And now friends it is late and I am thinking a cup of hot chocolate and my book sounds good before bed... hope you are having a great week. Blessings.

Head & Shoulders, Knees and Toes...

When I realized what pictures I was using today... I totally couldn't get that song out of my head. Did you ever sing that in Sunday School?

So we get home from church yesterday... and my husband asked me if he could take my picture before I changed. Totally his idea. I was surprised and pleased at the same time... I was wearing the new black 16-18 t-shirt dress I mentioned and had added a lime green cami and my t-shirt cardigan from Old Navy. Darrel told me I needed my sweater.. because I had taken that part off. I said it's not a sweater... it's a cardigan. He said um aren't all sweaters cardigans? Um NO... and thus the discussion ensued until I had him feel that my cardigan was in fact t-shirt material and NOT a sweater. Gee.. that would have been a good blog title too... "Not all cardigans are sweaters..." Should have saved it for another day... Ha!

And here you have the knees portion of our post....

Yes... this dress came right to the top of my knee so yes... knees could be seen. This was very different for me and I could not decide if I felt comfortable or not. I liked it with my new sandals.. but again felt like maybe too much leg was being seen... I am not a show you all my stuff kind of girl in case you hadn't figured that out. I know... you are shocked right? This is when you like need video phone when you are getting dressed. Perhaps I should have fired up the web cam so I could have gotten a girl friend opinion before leaving the house. Of course this would also require that I wasn't running late as usual. Darrel declared I looked OK (well.. he had a few other adjectives and faces to make at me.. .but we will leave it at that... ) and off to church and lunch we went. I am thinking that since not only did he want to take me to church but also wanted a picture to commemorate the event, that was plenty good enough for me. If you feel differently.. please remember my views on bursting my bubble and intruding on my happy place... enough said. :)

OK I am enjoying my new pedicure SO much so I may now be permanently converted to regular pedicure times throughout the summer.. or perhaps year. :) I mean the little flower has a little jewel in the center and the little whispy marks below have sparkly silver stuff... what's not to love?















Here is my new pretty pink water bottle. It has its pros and cons.... Pros: It's PINK. I can have water while I am walking. It's about the right amount of water. It stays attached to my hand so I don't really have to hold it. Cons: Once you drink some water... the remaining water sloshes. Not a fan of the sloshing... although I am getting used to it. On a hot day, the water being in my hot sweaty hand is pretty warm by the end of my walk. Although it attaches to my hand, wasn't liking the feeling of having something in my hand the whole time.














All pros and cons taken into consideration, as I have walked with it a few more days I am getting used to it. I like it and am happy I got it. I think it will be a huge help as the days get hotter! Plus... did I mention? It's PINK and cute. Darrel was smiling at me and shaking his head as I left to walk in my pink and grey shoes, pink ipod, pink water bottle... are you seeing a theme?

During my walk today a lady I met at the campground on my walk a little over a year ago stopped me. She said I was looking thin and that I am inspirational...She told me how she was trying to lose weight and what she was doing for exercise and that she has knee trouble to deal with. It always totally amazes me how this weight loss thing seems to be contagious and how so many people are not happy with themselves and wanting to lose weight or change something. I so do not feel inspirational. I know I've mentioned that but I always feel compelled to point out that God has changed me and that I fight and I do mean FIGHT this battle every day. I am still struggling to get a right heart about the amount of food I WANT to eat vs. the amount of food my body actually needs. It so helps though to hear kind words like today. It is encouraging and supportive and it makes me smile and I swear every time that happens I finish my walk and have like my best time ever because I am practically flying! Ha! She is the nicest lady too. She told me if I need water or anything I am welcome to stop there and I should never pay for water and she will always have water in her porch fridge. How sweet is that?

I had a DR appt. almost 2 weeks ago now and they did a full blood panel on me. I started this weight loss in 2008. In 2006, when they did my blood work my triglyceride number was 352. Normal range is under 149. Did you read that right? MY number was 352. It meant I had too much fat and sugar in my blood stream. It meant I could have been pre-diabetic. Yet it still took me 2 years to really start doing something about it. It amazes me how we can rationalize and actually even forget that our health is in danger. I know I did. Well my number on the report today for triglyceride was 177. From 352 to 177. Still up a bit from where it should be but I am so excited to see that change. There was even a note in my report from my DR and he told me "good job!" That made me smile! I just love my Dr. He is the best.

Now that I have completed the latest blog tour I am working on my four books for 2010 Inspirational Readers Choice Award. I am a judge and I have until May 15th to complete and judge the 4 books assigned to me. Currently I am reading Yesterday's Embers by Deborah Raney. So far really good and enjoying the book! I also get to read Fools Rush In, A Widow's Hope and Seaside Letters. All look good and I have always enjoyed getting to participate in this. This is at least my 3rd or 4th year. Can't remember.

I am happy to report I did not see any snakes while walking today.... I told you I saw one a week or so ago didn't I? DO NOT LIKE SNAKES. Right up there with big ugly spiders and mice. YUCK. Of course now every time I walk thru the area where the snake was getting a sun tan... I keep looking around and behind me to make sure no snakes are following me... can you blame me?

Hope your week is off to a great start! Blessings!

Thankful Thursday....a few days late

So thankful Thursday comes along and I am thinking to myself what is my focus this week? Thursday also happens to be my weigh in day for ww and guess what? It turned out Thursday was also the day I FINALLY HIT 90 LBS GONE! Yay!! SO happy about that and um yes, that quickly turned into my focus for the week. I had already had a shopping day planned for that day but when I got home I asked Darrel to take a few pictures for 90 lbs for my scrapbook. When I was looking at the pictures later and put this one together with my original photo I started to cry. Why? Because I am so thankful that the girl on the left is me! Because 2 yrs ago even though I was trying.... well being here now just didn't seem possible. I look at that picture now and I am like who was that girl? It's like it was a totally different person.
















I remember looking at this one that in the original photo, I did NOT want to have my picture taken. However I knew right from the start that I was serious about this and I wanted to record it. I also knew that having the pictures would help me work on my head. What do I mean by that? Well another time I lost weight the picture of myself in my head never changed. I still felt like I looked the same. I couldn't always see the difference just looking in the mirror. When I saw a photo from a youth convention later I was stunned. I had NO idea I looked like that. So this time, I intended to record the whole journey with photos and also hoped it would help me change my thinking as well. 90 lbs ago there were a couple instances where I had to have a picture of myself for work. Darrel took them for me and I cried the whole time he was trying to take them because I so did not want my picture taken and I did NOT want to see myself either. I used to avoid mirrors in malls and stores. I used to make sure to request a table at a restaurant because I couldn't fit in most booths. I never fastened my seat belt because it didn't fit. I used to avoid having to walk anywhere.... Now.. I walked 5 miles today. I made it from home past the gatehouse at Prides Creek in 12 minutes. Last year I was doing good to make it in 15 minutes. When I first started walking I would take 15 minutes to get to this certain tree. Then I'd walk 15 minutes home. Today I passed that tree in 6 minutes. Very cool to see that change. My wedding rings would fall right off my finger now if it weren't for the ring guard on my engagement ring. I see it happening... yet it amazes me and yet I can still struggle so much. It is a daily, minute by minute fight. It is God who has changed me and I am very aware that this is my life now. There won't be an end to this. This is it because I will NOT go back. For all of these things, the good and the bad I am SO thankful. I have learned so much from both sides and I know God is still working. All the praise to Jesus because as I have often told you I CANNOT do this in my own strength. I have tried since I was a child. It was only when I got serious about realizing I was accountable to Him about how I was living my life and treating my body AND asked Him to change me that change began to happen. So now.. we head to 100. I lose very slowly these days so I am hoping and praying I can reach that goal by birthday week in July. What an awesome celebration that will be huh?

Other things I have been thankful for this week are:

• beautiful weather
• feeling better as the BP meds get out of my system. I had an "optimal" reading today with NO meds.
• chocolate... well OK M&M's... enough said
• reading
• going to the drive in
• good friends
• progress in the push up challenge.. cause um trust me.. upper arms need LOTS of work
• Gracie and Jack
• well OK... Tanner too.. he has his moments
• a great report at the DR AND when they took blood it was one stick in my arm and done. No more torture where they stick me 9 times including hands, arms and wrists. OUCH.
• the chocolate fountain at crazy buffet... chocolate strawberries... YUM
• enjoying salad and fresh fruit
• pink nail polish
• JJ Heller music
  

Also had an awesome shopping day on Thursday. Payless has a buy one get one 1/2 off sale. I could only find one pair I liked...I know.. hard to believe isn't it? UNTIL we got to the mall. Well that payless had the pink pair you see here...















I walked up to the check out and told the guy I had just bought a pair at their other store and could I get my 1/2 off here and he said YES. Had he said no... well then I would have said well I'd like to return pair #1 and then buy both from there... Perhaps he had thought of this.. So 2 cute pairs of summer heeled sandals! We also hit TJ Maxx and I got the blue and black t-shirt. At Old Navy I got the 2 tanks for walking, the fuchsia T well um because it was fuchsia... and the tan top with the pretty embroidery at the bottom. I got some walking socks at Shoe Carnival that are "no show" to try to alleviate my sock line... and the pretty pink scarf came from Target. Had a very yummy grilled chicken salad from chick-fil-a for lunch. Wish there was one of those closer to home! Even the fat free honey mustard was good. I was impressed!!

So on Friday I was determined to get my celebratory pedicure. Remember I had promised myself one for 90 lbs. Somehow I managed to get off work by 3:15 and headed that way. I had a few minutes before my appointment so I checked the Wooden Key to see if I could see the new Vera Hobo in person. They didn't have any! They did, but they sold out. It must be good huh? Headed over to the nail place and had a very nice pedicure. My nail person was a guy. At first I was wondering if this would be odd. It really wasn't though. He did a great job and I am quiet happy with my pedicure. This is only the 2nd time I've gotten one. The other was like 2 years ago on my birthday and the girl was a bit rough with trimming, etc and I wasn't so sure I liked it. This one though was quite relaxing and I now have pretty pink toes with a cute little flower complete with jewel center on my big toe. Must wear sandals to church tomorrow don't you think?

Headed to Walmart after that to get one of those microwave popcorn movie buckets and some M&M's for pizza and movie date night at home. I also had to go back and pay the nail people... Note to self.... check to be sure nail place takes a debit card before showing up with no cash or checks... They were very nice about it though. Anyway, Darrel met me at home with a pizza and bread sticks. We watched Amelia and Sherlock Holmes. Amelia was OK but not fabulous. I actually enjoyed Sherlock Holmes more. It was a nice quiet date night at home and I had lots of opportunity to stare at my pretty pink toes.... Are you seeing more pedicures in my future? Ha!!

Now it is late and we still have to do push ups and head to bed! Church in the AM. Is it a bad thing that I have been trying on outfits in my head half the afternoon and evening trying to decide what to wear? I think its a girl thing. Blessings!

Forget Me Not Book Tour

This week is the Blogging for Books Book Tour for Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze. Here is a summary from the publisher:

THEIR ELUSIVE ENEMIES TOOK EVERYTHING. NOW THEY WANT MORE. Crossroads Crisis Center owner Benjamin Brandt was a content man—in his faith, his work, and his family. Then in a flash, everything he loved was snatched away. His wife and son were murdered, and grief-stricken Ben lost faith. Determination to find their killers keeps him going, but after three years of dead ends and torment, his hope is dying too. Why had he survived? He’d failed to protect his family. Now, a mysterious woman appears at Crossroads seeking answers and help—a victim who eerily resembles Ben’s deceased wife, Susan. A woman robbed of her identity, her life, of everything except her faith—and Susan’s necklace. The connections between the two women mount, exceeding coincidence, and to keep the truth hidden, someone is willing to kill. Finding out who and why turns Ben and the mystery woman’s situation from dangerous to deadly. Their only hope for survival is to work together, trust each other, and face whatever they discover head on, no matter how painful. But will that be enough to save their lives and heal their tattered hearts?

This my first time reading this author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It has a very nice mix of romance, mystery and suspense while at the same time having a good Christian Fiction base. I really liked the main character Kelly. I loved how her faith was portrayed and how she lived it out and clung to God and that faith during some very difficult times. I also liked Ben and the way his story ends just gives you one of those warm fuzzy feelings. You will find your heart going out to both Kelly and Ben and even some of the bad guys who seem to be bad guys with a conscience.. ha! Good stuff! It was a nice change to have the suspense of a good Mary Higgins Clark story in a Christian Fiction book. Really liked that! I would definitely recommend this book. Be sure to check it out.

(This book was provided for review by Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing)

Very Thankful Thursday

Did you hear me shouting this morning? I told you you'd hear me yelling remember? 90 lbs gone was reached today! I have so much to tell you about that and some pics to share. Been shopping today and want to show you all my goodies. However.. I was gone all day... had a horrible night last night and got maybe 3 total hours sleep so I am too worn out to do my planned post today. I will be back tomorrow... after work and hopefully a nice pedicure... .to fill you in on my Thankful Thursday post, all of today's details, date night plans and a book tour post! Sorry for the delay. Hope you have an awesome Friday! Blessings!

Ten On Tuesday

1) You've heard of Jack in a box? Um well here is a visual for you. I get home from work today and couldn't find Jack in the garage anywhere. I call him.. I hear him... I suddenly see him here. This is a big box waiting to go to the garbage and it has a couple of other old boxes and a big popcorn tin in it. He was like completely hidden under that one box. He is too funny. His name totally suits him. When he was a tiny kitten, we thought he was a girl and he was all prissy looking but totally mischievous. Darrel said "she" needed a name like Jacqueline, but we could call her Jack because she was totally tomboy and always in trouble... Well when she turned out to be a he we stuck with the name Jack and it totally fits. Either that or "Chance" would have been good like the dog in that movie Homeward Bound. That dog was the puppy that was always curious and always getting hurt or in trouble because of it. Totally like Jack. He has come home with his nose all injured, another time with part of his ear missing, another time with a huge wound under his chin and now a week or so ago he came home limping.... I need to follow him sometime just to see what in the world he does?

2) I have decided I must be a huge dork because I got all happy this morning just because the Jay C salad bar had chicken salad on it. Seriously... it like made my day! It was yummy chunky chicken salad and then I made a salad to go with it. Very much like the chicken salad platter that I love to get at Azura... Problem is that is in Jasper and I am never there at lunch time... so see that is why I got so completely happy just over chicken salad... It makes sense. Honest.















3) Speaking of goofy things making me totally happy.... I got in my car last night to head to church for a meeting. I looked over at my pretty pink Vera purse, pretty pink calendar, pretty pink sunglasses case, pink stuff sticking out of my purse and it like totally made me smile... Not only am I goofy that these things make me happy.. the being surrounded by pink thing... I am apparently also goofy enough to stop and take a picture...

4) Since the end of the chocolate fast I have been having a total addiction craving for M&M's. Whomever invented the 42 oz. Ziploc bag of M&M's.... well they are just evil.... AND I am thinking it is probably not a good thing that I have one of those in my desk drawer. It's 5 points for 1/4 cup but its amazing how generous you can be with yourself about what the actual size of a 1/4 cup serving looks like plus, if you add oh just one or two more in your mouth before closing the bag, well that doesn't count either right?

5) It's April. I already have a sock line on my leg from the sun from walking. I love already having some sun. Not loving the sock line. What is the answer to this? I mean a sock line, Capri pants, and sandals is such a nice look don't you think? Should I Walk 4 miles barefoot? I am thinking NO on that one. My heel would be screaming. Shorter socks? Well then I'd still have a shoe line so whats the point? Guessing I will just have to put up with it till beach time when I can try to even things out!

6) If you are from the area have you heard about the SIS Women's Tryathlon? OK I am no where near ready to complete something like this but I am still amazed that stuff like this now interests me. I think with work I could get to where I could do the 8 miles biking and 3 mile walk/jog/run. The swimming would be the problem. I can dog paddle myself across a small pool and that is about it. Can a person learn to swim at 43? Don't think I will be up to is this year.... I am considering this 10K and this 3K though. Not sure about the 10K. That would be 6.2 miles. I have done that before and Carry the Cross is longer so I know I could make it. It is just a huge struggle when you are in a group of people that all take off faster than you! I don't want to be last.... I'd love completing something like that though... thinking.. thinking...

7) Besides chocolate.. my new favorite thing is strawberries. Darrel just brought some home from this store this evening. Guess what is for breakfast?! I am thinking strawberries and a chocolate and oat fiber one bar. YUM.

8) Haircut or um trim tomorrow. I am still trying to grow out my length. I am thinking I am going to print my "inspiration" picture and take it with me. I am thinking mine is still not as long as the picture. I am hoping this is a good thing because currently I am not all that pleased with how the back is laying. I am hoping this is because its an in between lengths kind of thing and that it will improve.

9) I had an excellent walk today! I put in 69 minutes, 4.1 miles and my pace was 17.04. Will I someday be able to achieve a 15 minute mile while walking up and down hills? I am thinking I could do it now if my route was a flat surface. I was determined to get in at least 4 miles today as I am soooooo TRYING to get another lb off to be at 90! I walked my short little legs around the last loop like um 6-8 times (I lost count) until the Nike+ announced 4 miles completed. Besides.. I still had steam at that point so I was thinking I should keep going! Did I tell you? On the way home from La Caretta on Sunday, I hit the trip counter thing on the car as we were going up tower hill. That is the last GIANT hill at the end of the Carry The Cross Walk. It was every bit of 3 tenths of a mile. One stinking long hill to be 3 tenths of a mile all going up!

10) We just competed today's push ups. We have decided to repeat week 4. We both made it thru week 4 last week but it was a struggle. We had trouble finishing the last 2 sets each day. We thought maybe repeating the week would help us get stronger before moving on. The whole time I am doing my push ups I feel like the push up police are going to come tell me I am not going down far enough or my back isn't straight enough so they aren't real push ups... Ha! OK we are not in the military so I am thinking I should relax and do my best and remember that I couldn't do 2 or 3 when this started. My arms and my abs are telling me I am accomplishing something. Still boggles my mind to think I could actually get to the point where I can do 100!

I am off to bed. This week is a book blog tour week so be sure to check back! Blessings!

3 Years Older....

I'm sitting in my chair this afternoon relaxing and browsing the Internet a bit and decided to click on my husband's facebook profile and then on photos because I couldn't remember what pictures he had posted. I came across this one... This was taken Thanksgiving 2006. It immediately popped in my head how similar it was (the pose) to the photo we just took at the conference a few weeks ago.... My new favorite photo remember?

3 years older.... but for the first time in my life I can actually say it and feel it and mean it... 3 years BETTER. I couldn't believe the difference in us. Both of us. I love what I see. And yes, I have plenty of before and after or rather "during" photos of this weight loss journey, but this one just really hit home today. I had just spent an hour or so in my closet after church going thru some old dresses that I hadn't sorted thru when I cleaned and purged the closet a few months ago. They were hung on the higher rod which I can't reach without climbing. Yes.. that would be Darrel's portion of the closet! Ha! One dress, a sweater dress that was like my best dress... Um Darrel fit in it with me... serious. It was too funny and mind boggling and cool and goodness.. what other adjectives are there? You can see it happening but it can also be so hard to get your head around how your body can literally change that much. It is especially hard for me because I still have an extremely long way to go to goal and so even though where I am at is good... it can sooooo feel like not nearly enough which can make me discouraged and impatient. Especially times like right now. I have been at 89-1/2 lost TRYING to hit that 90 that I want SO BAD for over two weeks. The problem is me and going to the conference and then Easter weekend. Even when I know I am the problem and that it will eventually come.. .um still does not help me be patient. I am not patient remember? So um expecting me to have patience about this? Not so much..... It was just a cool thing to see today and gave me a little needed boost on a journey where it is way easy to get off in the ditch.

While browsing this afternoon I was also looking for a water bottle I could take with me walking. I hate having to carry anything with me, but sometimes I get nauseous and stomach cramps and I have read that can be from dehydration. Last summer Darrel and I saw a small water bottle with a hand strap at Dick's Sporting Goods. Dick's did have one online, but on a pink whim... I decided to google it and see if I could find a pink one. Guess what? I did! It looks like this however their site is no longer showing the pink. Perhaps I got the last one? Very cool. It was only a $10.95 purchase, but they also had free shipping! Pink Water Bottle is on its way to me!

Remember me saying I had bought a little t-shirt dress on sale at Woodfield and I thought I might use it as a swimsuit cover up? Well I had never tried it on really until today. I had tried it in the store just over my clothes and thought it would do, plus it was marked down from $40 to $7.99. So while sorting old dresses I remembered I hadn't really tried it and put it on... I did not expect to love it. I just thought it would be good enough for a beach cover up. Serious. I can't find it online but it looks a lot like this. Oh my gosh I loved it. I was surprised how much I liked it! I was suddenly thinking OK.....this would be cute for date night.... PLUS.... if you are not sick of me and my weight loss talk.... I am going to be bold here and share a size... this new dress was a 16-18. One of the dresses I gave away today was a 30 petite. It was a size 30 black suit that I wore to Darrel's work Christmas party. I was uncomfortable the whole time because everything was just a little tight. From 30 to 16-18... Thank You Lord!

Better run. Busy week ahead! Grocery week, hair appointments, council meetings, possible mammogram appointment... all kinds of things to do and places to be. Blessings!

Adventures in Dating

I took this picture during my walk earlier this week. Anyone know what kind of tree this is? It has the most perfectly shaped beautiful little flowers all over it. Love it.. Plus.. how pretty is the park in spring? Walked over there today and did 4.6 miles. It was gorgeous out and the walk felt good. It still amazes me that this is possible... that I could actually like the way my legs feel when I am climbing those hills. Very cool. It is also fun now that the campers are back because they all look at me and wave like "hey, she's still here..." A week or so ago one guy yelled out "You been walking all winter?" I said I had and he gave me a thumbs up and then his wife said "you did better than us." Too funny!

So last night... date night... We had a good time! The work day went pretty good but it was one of those days where jobs kept getting added.. still, I somehow managed to get out of there by 4:30 so I could meet Darrel at home and hopefully head to the big city by 5PM. We decided to go to Crazy Buffet. A chicken stir fry and some of their Bourbon Chicken was sounding very yummy and yes.. it was! They also have good fried shrimp. Then.. YES I got to try the chocolate fountain. It was good! They had strawberries, grapes, pineapple, marshmallows and pretzels to dip. I had the strawberries. They were good strawberries and the chocolate was really good. I don't know who was the first person to decide that chocolate and strawberries should go together but I am thinking there should be a statue in their honor somewhere... ha!

We had a small amount of time to kill between dinner and the movie so we stopped at the mall. I think we were there for a grand total of 30-40 minutes or less and yet I still managed to pick up 2 things at old navy.... I know..don't say it. I got these pants which I am currently wearing and they are sooooo comfortable and one of these t-shirts in a teal color. I might wear it to church tomorrow.. IF the outfit in my head actually looks OK once I put it together and try it on. Sometimes this plan does not work out... hate when that happens. And... why does it only happen on those mornings where there is no time to figure out what else you could wear?

Now we headed for the drive in in Rockport. Darrel had checked and sunset was supposed to be at 8:21 Eastern time. It should have taken like 30 minutes to get to the drive in. Notice I said "should have." First... we decide to stop at the gas station for movie snacks. Apparently this took much longer than we figured because by the time we were back in the car and headed down the road we had 20 minutes to get there ... not enough time.. or OK, close to enough time.. UNTIL the detour. They had the whole stinkin road closed and of course when we first see the road closed sign we do what any normal thinking adult would do... we keep going right on thru thinking well surely they didn't mean we had to detour right there or thinking it's probably closed way on farther down the road right? WRONG. We get up ahead and have to turn around to go back to the detour and of course, now that we have passed the detour sign twice.. we've read it really well and know exactly what it says right? WRONG. I didn't even see the sign and um reading signs? Not Darrel's best thing... Just ask him. So we head on down 61 thinking the detour won't be that far... um wrong again... It just kept going and going... and now we start discussing... or was it arguing?? whether or not we should even keep trying to get there? By this point the detour had landed us in Boonville and then is taking us towards Dale to get to Rockport. At least now Darrel knows where we are and has some clue of how far away the drive in actually is at this point. Why is it too that on a night when it would have been most helpful we left the GPS at home? I would have loved to hear that lady saying "recalculating" just so I would know where the heck we were! Finally like 8:45 we arrive at the drive in! AND the movie had not started yet. Yay! We found our spot, Darrel headed out to find some popcorn and we settled in to see Bounty Hunter and Dear John. Both were good. Not the best most fabulous movies ever.... not bad either. Fun and OK and you didn't have to think too hard to follow things. The most excitement was probably during the second movie when it broke like 3 times! I had visions of someone in the movie showing room with a spool of film and some scotch tape! There was also the issue of the windows fogging up. And before you go there.. this was because of the outside vs. inside temp... not because we were doing anything to fog them up. ;) Darrel had the idea that next time we should get there early and bring a pizza with us. I said that would be fun and maybe we should take the truck because it has a bench seat... or because we could sit outside in the bed. Then he says we should load up our old love seat rocker/recliner thing in the back of that.. My response to this was that then we would certainly be identifying ourselves as rednecks... bwa ha ha ha ha! He then had to remind me how last year a guy in a pickup pulled up next to us and then proceeded to haul his couch out of the back end of his truck so he could then enjoy the movie with the comforts of home... too funny!

Last night at the mall I spotted this purse. OK.. LOVE love that. It is patent leather look FUCHSIA. How pretty is that. There is a problem however.. um $195.00? It's coated canvas for goodness sakes! Don't think I'll be getting one of those anytime soon!

Have you seen these adorable little crocs sneaker shoes? I've seen them on their latest commercial a couple of times and just remembered to look them up today! They aren't even available yet, but are on preorder. I need a white pair... how cute would those be with my old navy Capri yoga pants? I mean seriously right? Plus I am loving this new pair of wedges called Farrah. How pretty is that green color? I love crocs wedges. I have a pair in navy of the Havanas and a pair in black of the cyprus. Oh and um how cute is the new little crocs croslite guy?

Anyone know of any fun stuff going on for National Scrapbook Day? I believe its the first Sat. in May correct? I used to go to this crop our LSS held every year on NSD however the problem this year is that LSS closed.. bummer..no crop... See not being a Mom I can feel a bit overwhelmed and excluded from the all consuming Mother's Day celebrations in May so several years ago I'm like hey.. NSD is in May.. That is going to be my holiday and I am going to have some fun! So the first few years I had myself a little solo crop at home. Then the LSS started having crops and I went to those. Very fun! So.. what shall I do with myself this year? Solo crop? I thought of inviting some friends over to crop maybe? Wondered if maybe the Doodlebug was having a crop? Anyone know? I just want to have some NSD fun!

I adore this LO. Look at those banners with the twine. Why do I not yet own some twine? I need to make those banners and I definitely need to get some scrapping done! Have not scrapped since the Feb crop! Toooo long. Next trip to the big city I am getting some twine!

Remember little Pebbles the dog from next door? She was visiting today and tried to go on my walk with me. I decided to walk from home to Prides Creek today to get in some extra time and distance. I see her following me down the driveway and tell her to go home. She stops. I see her as I am walking along the highway. I stop. I clap my hands and tell her no and go home. She stops. I keep going and stop looking at her as this seems to be encouraging her. Last I saw her she had stopped on the bank by our house. I get over to the road down to Pride Creek and guess who is trotting along behind me. She followed me from our house, along the highway and 1/2 way down the road to the park. I had to call Darrel and asked him to cut thru the pasture next to our house to come get her. He decided to drive his truck but he came and got her. I was afraid she was going to get lost or hit by a car or something. She is very sweet and quite a ball of energy...

Well it is time to do the push ups.... We are in week 4. I am amazed at how many push ups have been accomplished between the two of us. However this week has been hard. We are considering repeating this week just to get a little stronger before moving forward. Hope you've had a great Sat. and that your Sunday is peaceful and blessed!