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.