All Things Driving

Well folks, Ben and I are close to celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary and so I thought it is time to officially change my name on my driver's license. Yesterday afternoon I spent a few hours at the DMV and got that all squared away.

When we went to sell our Ford Escape, we found out that the officer who filed the accident report, used the VIN number for the Escape, instead of the Focus to report the accident. The Focus was totalled, so we are unable to sell the car until we get this resolved, so Thursday we get to go to downtown Dallas and pick up a copy of the accident report and then I get to call the officer who did the report and have him change the VIN number. Then we will have to go through the whole process again  to get another accident report.

10 Year Anniversary of 9/11

On this day 10 years ago, I was a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. That morning we woke up and did our scripture study and got ready to meet the English speaking elders to teach a discussion to a single woman. Right before we started teaching the discussion, the Elders said that one of the members of their ward said that a plane hit the world trade center. I seriously laughed and said that could not be possible. We left the discussion and went to our next appointment. Our investigator opened the door. The TV was on and they were sitting there watching in disbelief. We sat there and watched the 2nd plane hit the tower and the tower collapse. Afterwards we asked them to mute the tv. We sang Nearer my God to Thee and said a prayer with them and left.

I must back track a little bit. I was serving in Freeport, TX, which is an island on the Gulf of Mexico, where the refineries are massive cities. We had to take a bridge in between the refinery to get to our apartment. We went home for lunch and had several messages from the rest of our appointments for the day saying they were evacuating the island. Panic started to set in and we called our mission president to see what we should do. He said to pack several items and if a mandatory evacuation was asked of us to head to Austin. Also, he told us to always have a full tank of gas.

We had no more appointments, so we decided to go tracting through the streets. As we got out and walked down the street there was not one person on the streets and it was eerily quiet.

After I came home from my mission in 2002, I had so many questions. I had to ask my dad who Bin Laden was. It was hard not being able to use the internet, tv or read newspaper, when such a huge event in American History took place. At college, I was part of a play that was written about the events of 9/11. We posted newspaper articles all over the building from the events of 9/11. I remember spending hours reading about the events that occurred, because I felt disconnected from that day.

I am so thankful for those who have sacrificed everything to defend our country.

I will never forget.

Back to the Grind

I can't believe it's Tuesday and that it's September. It was so nice to have a lonnng 4 day weekend. The weather was gorgeous. It was in the 80s on Saturday and we were able to open up the windows in the apartment for the first time since April.

Work was ok today, but I'm sure it will be even busier tomorrow, as quite a few people took today off. During my lunch, I went and worked out. After work, I went to get the oil changed, did a little shopping for an outfit for my mother in law's wedding. Now it's off to get gas and go grocery shopping. We went through the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks this weekend and picked out several recipes to try. We are opening up our repertoire of dinner menu items. I'm excited to make new things. I'll definitely take some pictures of the new menu items as I make them and post them on the blog.

Breast Cancer Awareness Chain Game

One of my husband's cousin's wife's posted a link to a Blog post by C.G. Ward about the game that started this week and clogged the status update on Facebook as things like, "I'm 10 weeks and I'm craving..." I loved her article. Apparently, faking that you are expecting a baby was supposed to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. I really don't see the connection of the two. She had some great points. If you'd like to read her full post, here's a link to her blog: cgwardphotography.blogspot.com Being a huge supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness this game is completely offensive. There are many ways to raise awareness. One is to support a Breast Cancer Charity. There are so many different non-profit organizations. For several years I raised money and walked every mother's day for the Beverly Breast Cancer 5k walk. One of my friend's friend had Type IV Breast Cancer at age 32. She fought a huge fight, but lost her battle at age 35. She would come in her wheelchair and participate in the walk with us. How sad it was that she left 2 young daughters and a husband. Also, she touched on infertility in her blog post. There are so many women in this world who yearn to have a baby of their own, but have difficulty conceiving. Many people feel isolated and bear their pain in silence. I know that once I started seeing people post this on their boards it made really sad, even though I was excited that they were having a baby. We want a baby, but have not been fortunate enough to have one of our own. I would just ask that if you're going to play a silly, thoughtless game, think about the consequences of what you are doing, before posting it for the whole world to see. Also, ask yourself, is this really going to bring "awareness" to the cause.

Accountability

Ok...so It might get a bit boring, but I have to do this, because if I'm accountable, I will actually follow through. Today I could not wake up at 6am. I laid in bed wayyyy too long and had to get up to walk to work (aka the second bedroom). Instead of putting on some pj's, I ended up putting on my work out clothes. I wore them the entire day. When I got off work, I put my gym shoes on and went to the gym. YAY!!! Wearing my workout clothes all day really worked. It was a constant reminder of the commitment I have made to get fit and healthy.

Back On Track

After a rocky summer of very little exercise the last few months, I'm back on track. Saturday I started working out at the gym and doing my floor exercises at home. I was quite sore in my legs the next day. Today the alarm went off at 6am and I got up, got dressed and headed to the gym. I love when working out starts to get easier and the distance can get longer. I got home, got showered and I had a spring in my step all day long. Tomorrow I start all over again. My mother in law is getting married in a month and I hope to have shed some more weight before then... And so the journey begins...

It's July! Where has the time gone?

Well, Ben and I have been in Texas for the past 3 months and we love it here! Our ward is fabulous and we both have callings. Ben is the Ward Clerk and I'm the Mia Maid Advisor. I haven't been in Young Women in 13 years and so much has changed. I'm looking forward to this new adventure.

Right now, we are on the house hunt, but finding one in our ward boundaries is proving to be impossible as it is 2 blocks deep and 6 blocks wide. It makes for slim pickings, so we've had to start looking outside the boundaries.

I love the 4th of July! It is one of my favorite holidays. One thing I will miss this year are the fireworks in Chicago. They are always
so spectacular. I did however hear that one of the neighboring towns in Dallas has the number 3 ranking for best fireworks, so after I pick up Ben from the airport, hopefully we can go watch them.

We are so blessed to live in a country where we can choose our own destiny. We have so many freedoms, because of the sacrifice of those before us.

I'm so thankful to be an American.

Charity

This past year has had sooo many ups and downs. I feel like I've been on a roller coaster ride. Moving to Texas has been such a blessing for us. Ben is my rock and I'm so glad to have a wonderful, supportive husband.

I'm not going to lie. I've cried a ton this past year feeling sorry for myself about loosing our first baby. Emotionally, I think that is the toughest thing that I've ever had to experience in my life so far.

Finally I think I have gotten some answers... Moroni 7:40-48 struck my heart today. Below are a couple of the versus that popped out.

42 Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope: for without faith there cannot be any hope.

43 And again, behold I say unto you that he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart.

44 If so, his faith and hope is vain, for none is acceptable before God, save the meek and lowly in heart; and if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity.

45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."

I know I've read these scriptures a hundred times, but today they have offerred me guidance and direction.

There is a line in my patriarchal blessing that also has shed new light about developing the quality of charity.

I really need to work on developing charity, especially all of the qualities that are present in verse 45.

I feel so blessed to have the knowledge, that my Heavenly Father loves me and is mindful of my needs.

Weight Loss Journey

Drum roll please.... Today I got on the scale and I have lost a total of 20 lbs!!!! Yay!!! Happy Dance. Only 85 lbs to go.

What I weigh today is what I weighed when Ben and I got married in January of 2010.

I mark my weight loss goals with specific events that have happened in my life.

-15 more lbs (35 lbs total) I will weigh what I weighed when I met Ben in 2009

-20 more lbs (55 lbs total) is what I weighed when Jenny, Jilly and I were working out at the gym 5 days a week together in 2006

-30 more lbs (85 lbs total) is when I graduated from College in 2003

-20 more lbs (105 lbs total-Hit my target weight loss)-What I weighed when I started college in 1998.

Yes, it is sad to say over the past 13 years I've gained over 105 lbs. I know that I can make it back to what I weighed in 1998, which will make me happier and healthier.

This weight loss journey has taught me so much about myself. I have become conscience of the decisions I make. I'm an emotional eater, so whenever I have the urge to eat to comfort, I think about why I want to eat and then I resist the temptation. I have taken control of my life again and it feels great. I had to take a week off prior to vacation, because I was sick and recovering from the accident. Monday I started working out again and will be back on my 6 day a week training program. After I loose the next 35 lbs, I will post a before and half way through picture on the blog.

The Weight Loss Journey and move to Dallas

A week ago today, I arrived in Dallas safely. Our townhouse had many things in its proper place, as Ben had already started the process of unpacking. The next day, I went back to work and then got ready to make my first venture out to the grocery store. I went shopping at Aldi and Walmart and headed home around 5:30pm. At approximately 5:45 I was at the intersection to turn onto the street we are living on and traffic was stopped going the opposite direction. The other drivers were waving me on, so I proceeded to turn. Unfortunately, the last lane was still moving and my car collided with another vehicle. After all of the airbags deployed and my car had stopped. I sat for a moment and then I called 911. I got out of the car and went over to the other driver. She was headed home from work and her cousin was behind her. My shoulder was hurting and my hands were burned from the airbag explosions. During the crash my glasses flew off my face and I couldn't find them. After my call to 911, I called Ben who hurried down the street the two blocks and waited with me. After the fire department cut power to the battery, all of the items inside the car needed to be unloaded. Unfortunately, I still had 3 boxes of files for work, all of the groceries and several different other items from the move. Ben had to move all of it into his car, because my hands were covered in ice packs. Both drivers walked away with only minor injuries. He took such good care of me and was my backbone when I was pretty shook up about it. Yesterday, we found out that the car was a total loss. The car will be paid off and we are going to be a 1 car family for a while. i started driving again this week, but I've been proceeding with caution. I've been taking it easy and my body is healing really well.

In other news, I've dropped more than 15 lbs and I'm feeling great!!!!! Before I left Indianapolis I started working out at the gym and going to kickboxing. We have a gym in our complex, so I hope to start going after our trip.

It's Official

Ben and I are moving to Dallas, Texas next week for work. We have a townhouse that we are renting and our home is rented to a nice family. It will be nice as both of my brothers and family are headed down there in the next 4-6 months. We are looking forward to living in a warm state.

I'm committed

Well, this past weekend Ben and I were talking about my weight loss journey and I have not been motivated to go out on the pavement. SO, I broke down and joined a gym.

At 6:30am this morning I left for the gym. I used the elliptical for a half hour. This afternoon my Visiting Teacher and I headed out to do Taebo for an hour with some other ladies from the ward.

It felt so good to get my body moving. My muscles and body ache, but it's the good kind of hurt.

Weight Loss Journey

Well, It's almost been two months and I'm down 12.5 lbs!!!! Yay! I only have another 10 until I'm at my weight when I got married. Then another 8-10 and I'll be when I met Ben.

The weight loss journey definitely has it's up and downs, but fortunately, I've been able to start going in the right direction with my weight.

Twins

So, yesterday during my lunch break, I watched a set of 1 year old twins. They are so sweet. They know me a little bit from church when mom is near by, so this was a new experience for them.

At first, James began to cry and then Whitney looked at him and then started sympathy crying. I ended up with one on each hip and the Disney Channel in the back ground. As long as I would sway the twins began to calm down and watch the show. About 15 or so minutes later, I was able to sit down and rock them. Fortunately, we have rocker recliners at our house and so it made it easier. After a little while longer, Whitney was ready to play on the ground. As long as I stayed near her, she was fine. James seemed a bit tired and wanted to be held. I massaged his feet and helped him to relax. Every little while, he would whine a bit and then he would be fine. One time while he was crying he looked up at me to see if I was paying attention to him and I said, "it's ok, you don't have to cry anymore." I think I may be mellowing out in my old age.

Yesterday, afternoon I called my mom and relayed my experience, she then goes to me, you are the next one on both sides to have twins!!! Yikes... I have an appreciation for all of those parents that have multiples.

The Weight Loss Journey

Well, Ben and I have been on our diet/exercise routines for a month. Things are going well. Ben and I have both lost weight. What we've found to be successful, is to make the life change and then stick to it. It also helps to have someone to be held accountable to. Our diet consists of fruits, vegetables, lots of ground turkey, chicken, whole grains, fiber, fat free yogurt and cheese. We have basically eliminated red meat, except for the ocasional stew we have on Sundays.

Well, we will continue to plug forward. I can't wait for it to be warm outside, so I can hit the pavement running. I hope to run some races this year.

The Weight Loss Journey

So, Ben and I have made some lifestyle changes starting last Monday. At the beginning of the week, I will have to admit that it was extremely difficult and I was cranky. We have cut out all Fast Food and cut down on our calorie intake. I'm cooking dinner using the Weight Watchers cookbook and Cooking Light magazines. All of the Cooking Light recipes are online. I absolutely love it!!!

A few years back when I was working with a personal trainer to run my races she taught me quite a few floor exercises that I can do anywhere. It helps with the my problem area, my stomach... I also lift weights on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Since it is cold outside, I put on my StepUps and head to either Super Walmart or Meijer and briskly walk for a minimum of 30 minutes.

My goal is a lofty one, so I will be making my strides with smaller steps. This is embarrassing to write, but I plan to loose a total of 100 lbs. I'm on my way as I have dropped 9 lbs this past week.

My first goal is to run (2) 5k's this summer.
I will be implementing my training program that I used a few years back. I trained from August to November. I plan on being ready to run my first 5k by May.

So as I embark on this journey, I'll take as many cheerleaders as I can get.