Photo Shoot!

I got a call a couple of weeks ago that Slim 4 Life was being featured in a magazine, and they asked me if I would be willing to be interviewed for it! I was honored to be asked and was more than willing to participate, but it was really short notice. I got my work schedule adjusted, then they postponed the shoot. :(
They rescheduled it for the following week, and my boss was so gracious to work with me again and let me switch my shifts.
When I arrived to the publishing company, everyone was super friendly and the photographer was very kind, but I'll admit...I was super intimidated being in front of the lights and camera! I don't think modeling is in my future. LOL
There were six clients that participated. We began with individual shots, then group shots, and peppered throughout they conducted interviews with each one of us.
It was a really great experience!
This was for Inform (Dallas) Magazine, a local health-based publication put out by Russell Publishing Group in Addison, TX. The plan is for our story to be featured in their January issue.
This is a photo that Dan took of our group session. I'll keep you informed of when the issue comes out!

Christmas

Merry Christmas!!!!
We are at my parent's house in Lubbock, and it has been a special time.
Christmas Eve we had some shopping to do, so we ran into Lubbock to get that done...and it was snowing!!!!!
I love it when it actually feels like Christmas!
I snapped this picture outside my parent's house just before we went into Lubbock.

Christmas Eve is also my dad's birthday. I made him some pumpkin bread cupcakes with cream cheese icing. Mmmm....they were so good!
I wish I would have gotten a picture of all the snow on Christmas Day, but I was too busy sitting by the fire drinking an excessive amount of coffee! ;) We ate breakfast together, Dad read the Christmas story and had prayer, then we opened gifts. To see a very special gift, you can click here.
I honestly can't remember the last time that I was home for both his birthday and Christmas Day. Working retail pretty much dictates my holiday events, and even though I don't manage anymore, we can request time off but it's never guaranteed.
This year, I didn't even request any time off for Christmas. I was just waiting to see what I was scheduled then we would make our plans around that. I was surprised when she scheduled me off Christmas Eve. I had to close on that Friday, so we decided we would leave Friday night as soon as I got off work, drive all night so that we could spend Saturday and Sunday with my family. Then I would request to work late Monday so that we could leave early Monday morning. Makes for a long day, but it worked out well at Thanksgiving.
That was the plan.
Well, we got thrown a curveball.
One of our cousins passed away Wednesday before Christmas. The funeral is planned for Monday. When I found that out, I called to let my boss know, and it turns out she scheduled me off until Wednesday! When I asked her about it she said she knew I was going out of town for Christmas, so she wanted to give me some time to spend with my family. Little did she know that I would need that time so we could attend the funeral.
It always amazes me when God works in the details of life's curveballs.

Finals

Three down.

One to go.

Christmas vacation is in my future.

...Near future.

...As in TONIGHT!!!

Oh, glorious day!

Christmas Fun!

Last night was our final home group of the year, so of course we ended it with a Christmas party!
We did everything one would normally do at a Christmas party...white elephant gift, finger foods, ugly sweater contest, and lots of laughter!
I think the best white elephant gift of the evening was a pack of batteries with a sticky note that said "Gift Not Included."
HA! So stinkin' funny!
The highlight of the evening was most definitely seeing the sweaters that people came up with. Clearly, we are a bunch of competitive people unashamedly grasping for bragging rights. ;)

Update

Check out the latest details here! :)

The Letter

The long awaited letter from UTA College of Nursing came in the mail today.


The application deadline was June 1. I turned my application in the last week of May. It is a long wait.

And it looks like I have to wait a little bit longer...

I have been put on the waiting list to be accepted into nursing school.
Although I'm glad it wasn't a rejection letter, I'm still not guaranteed to get in.
I have to turn in a form to keep my name on the waiting list, and they could let me know anytime between now and when the Spring semester starts if I've been accepted or not.
Talk about being on pins and needles!
God is truly teaching me about patience and not being "in control" during this time in my life.

In other news, I posted a blog here about our upcoming adoption!

Just Checking In...

This last week has been absolutely C.R.A.Z.Y.
As in, like, I can't even begin to tell you how crazy.
Can you say a roller coaster of highs and lows?! Because that's what it was.
Oddly enough, it has nothing to do with the adoption. That is all well and good, and going as planned. And, if I may say, the mere thought of it has been the joy of every moment of my days.
Let's just say (because it's a llllooooonnnng story) that in the span of about five days we found out we had to move, found a place, and moved in. We were not "evicted"...it really was not our fault...we were paid up on our rent...but...yeah, it's a long story, indeed. And I shall not drudge it up here.
The point is...I am still around, just a little too busy to blog right now. Thankfully, all of that happened during a week that was light in school load. This week, however, is another story.
So, I will stop putting off my work and get to it.
I will hopefully have some news, though, later on this week.....
;)

Check This Out

If you are a regular reader of Elliott Escapades, you might be interested in reading THIS.

Just a Feeling...

My time is coming.
I can feel it.
It may not come in the most conventional way, but hear me...
My time is coming.

Good Morning, Little Cup o' Joy!

When I first started this diet, I cut out real sugar and creamer in my coffee.

You would have thought that an event of catastrophic proportions had occurred.

Coffee and I had to rediscover our relationship with one another, for sure. In fact, it stopped being a daily part of my life because I didn't really find any satisfaction in it anymore...it didn't taste how I wanted it to taste.

When stopping at Starbucks, I had tried some of the sugar free syrups, and they were okay...I tried hot teas, and they are okay....then one day I tried just a plain, tall fat-free latte with two Splenda.

Ahhhh-ahhhh-AHHHHHHH

Did you hear the angels singing?
Perfection.
And sometimes I sprinkle a little cinnamon or chocolate powder on top for fun. It's so good!

But then, here comes Debbie Downer.....

Starbucks can get expensive.
I'm a college student....albeit an old one....but a poor college student, nonetheless. Out of convenience, I had started slipping back into using real creamer every now and then. I'm really trying to get off the last 15 pounds to reach my goal, so even though creamer doesn't seem like a big deal, I'm buckling down to make sure everything I do helps and not hinders.

SO
Here's what I do:
My favorite coffee mug (thank you, Sweet Life Cafe SAF Ladies' Retreat 2010) is about 12 ounces.
I like my coffee on the sweeter side, so I pour about 1/4 cup skim milk, stir in 2 Splenda and a couple of dashes of cinnamon, and heat in the microwave for about 45 seconds, stirring it really well when it comes out.
Then I stir in my coffee until my mug is full!
My current favorite coffee is Starbucks Christmas blend.
Yummy!!!

This is SO not on the Menu!

I love to make fried pies.

My great grandmother had an amazing recipe for fried pie dough that she gave to my mom after she and my dad married. It was really a big deal at the time because she didn't give that recipe to ANYONE except my mom. Not even my Granny got it until later.

I haven't made them in a long time because of the diet, but I had an idea this week that I really wanted to try. Not because I wanted to eat them, but because I really love to cook for people! We are having home groups tomorrow night, so I thought I would try out my idea on them.

I love fall! It's my favorite time of year, and with the fall of temperatures this week what better way to introduce a new twist on a fall classic? I wanted to incorporate the classic sweet potato and marshmallow dish into a fried pie! I googled "sweet potato fried pie" to see if there was a recipe out there, and there was, but not what I had in mind.

I made the dough and while it was chilling in the fridge, I diced two large sweet potatoes and let them boil until fork tender then drained. I added 1/2 stick butter, about a cup of brown sugar, cinnamon, and pecans, then mashed and mixed it all up. I separated the dough, rolled it out, put a spoonfull of the mixture in the middle, along with a large marshmallow split in two for even distribution, sealed it up, and fried it!

I'll be honest, Dan was skeptical about the idea, but he liked it a lot! I had about four bites of it and was pretty pleased with the outcome! Hope they like it at home groups!

If I'm being honest...

***Disclaimer: If you're reading this and have said anything similar, please don't take offense...just venting.***

...If I never hear the phrase "I'm so jealous of you!" again, it will be too soon. This being in regard to the weight loss I've accomplished over the last year and a half.

Some people say it off the cuff, and that doesn't bother me.

I don't know why, but what bothers me is when I learn that there are times when people just sit and talk about how jealous they are of me.

Well, I guess I do know why it bothers me...because I know me! And believe me, people, there is nothing to be jealous of here. In order for there to be a lot lost, there has to be a great accumulation to begin with, and you don't wanna go there.

I mean, really...let's be real...when people bring their new babies to church, I don't go up to them and tell them how jealous I am of them or sit and talk with my friends about said feelings. Yes, there is a deep desire, but to begrudge someone else of a blessed event would be selfish on my part and just plain rude.

Just be happy for me.

And if you're THAT miserable.....lunching around a table talkin' about people (good or bad) isn't gonna help you any.

Just sayin'.

Check it out!

My super-talented friend Melisa is celebrating a milestone for her blog!
She is doing a 500 follower giveaway!
Click it to check it!

On the Menu

5-6 oz. ground turkey breast
1 chopped roma tomato
1/4 t. Morton Lite salt
1/4 t. Zesty table blend (salt free)
1 slice 35 calorie wheat bread
1 t. mustard
1/2 large bell pepper, sliced
1 med. Honeycrisp apple, sliced

Cook turkey, tomato, and seasonings on stovetop over medium heat. The measurements on the seasonings are estimated. You can just season to taste, if you like. I added a tablespoon or two of water so that the turkey wouldn't get too dry, then drained the excess off at the end. I like mustard on my bread, but you could easily use any other kind of light condiment or fat free dressing...or you could toast your bread with light butter instead. The possibilities are endless! :) Serve up with bell pepper and apple on the side. Yummy!

Retreat Pictures!

I went to a ladies' retreat this weekend and had an incredible time with old and new friends!
The ranch was out in the middle of nowhere. And when I say "out in the middle of nowhere", I mean, drive until you are positive that you are on the wrong road, but keep going because you think you might see something up ahead. Turns out to be nothing, then you lose service and still keep going. Yeah, it was out there.
Here are some collages of pictures to kind of sum up the weekend. Loved it!

The lodge

The Talent (or lack thereof) Show

Friends

Quiet Time/Communion

On the Menu

Chicken salad: Chopped chicken breast
1/2 cucumber, finely chopped
1/2 apple, finely chopped
2 T. Lite Mayo
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1/8 t. Morton Lite salt
Two slices 40 calorie wheat bread, lined with spinach leaves
Strawberries

one of THOSE days...

Have you ever had one of those days where you had your day all planned out with important things that needed to be done? Like, really important things...things that your future depends on.

Then you get a phone call.

Nothing else on the agenda seems so important anymore.

The Help

Before we went to see the movie, I made myself read the book.
It wasn't hard to "make myself" because it was a really good book!
There was one portion that I highlighted because it just stood out to me.

"'Mae Mobley? Mae Mobley Leefolt!'
Miss Leefolt just now noticing her child ain't setting in the same room with her. 'She out here with me, Miss Leefolt,' I say through the screen door.
'I told you to eat in your high chair, Mae Mobley. How I ended up with you when all my friends have angels I just do not know...' But then the phone ring and I hear her stomping off to get it.
I look down at Baby Girl, see how her forehead's all wrinkled up between the eyes. She studying hard on something.
I touch her cheek. 'You alright, baby?'
She say, 'Mae Mo bad.'
The way she say it, like it's a fact, make my insides hurt.
'Mae Mobley,' I say cause I got a notion to try something. 'You a smart girl?'
She just look at me, like she don't know.
'You a smart girl,' I say again.
She say, 'Mae Mo smart.'
I say, 'You a kind little girl?'
She just look at me. She two years old. She don't know what she is yet.
I say,'You a kind girl,' and she nod, repeat it back to me. But before I can do another one, she get up and chase that poor dog around the yard and laugh and that's when I get to wondering, what would happen if I told her she something good, ever day?....
...After while, Mae Mobley come over and press her cheek up to mine and just hold it there, like she know I be hurting. I hold her tight, whisper, 'You a smart girl. You a kind girl, Mae Mobley. You hear me?' And I keep saying it till she repeat it back to me."

It never ceases to amaze me the impact that words have on children...people. The way they think of themselves, or think, in general, comes out because of what has been input.

Lord, let us impact a generation that knows their worth because we tell them they are precious. We tell them they are kind. We tell them they are smart. We tell them they are important.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21

Happy Heart

I woke up this morning with my love by my side...

...and rain hitting the roof!

What a glorious day!

**Warning**

Well, not really a warning...maybe just a head's up...This post will probably make more sense to our SA peeps.

What is the significance of this picture?


The dress I am wearing here was worn by Kim P. at Kylah's wedding.
Of course, this dress just swallows her now, but...can I just say?... I never, EVER thought I would be able to get my big toe into anything Kim wore, much less wear one of her dresses! Geez-Louise!

Healthy Choices

*Take advantage of the great summer fruits and veggies that are less expensive this time of year.

*Try not to drown your salad in dressing. If you're at a restaurant, ask for their light or fat free dressing on the side, and don't use all they give you. Pour a little on, then give your salad a toss for even distribution.

*This yummy salad was easy-peasy to make and delish! Baby spinach, half an orange bell pepper, and one small peach tossed lightly in Fat Free Caesar Italian dressing.

Truths about Laundry Day

*The clothes you wear are clean but haven't been worn in about two months because everything else you have is cuter or fits better...and they are in the wash.

*Even though you've showered, brushed your teeth, and look somewhat presentable, you refuse to put on makeup only to sweat it off lugging laundry to and fro.

*There are always two socks that each lost their mate.

*Laundry can get washed, dried, and folded with relative ease....why is it so hard to put it up???

*Finally...everything is done and put away...you sit down with a cold drink and a snack...then your husband comes in, changes clothes, and tosses the cast offs on the bed.

OH NO YOU DIDN'T!!!

Snippits from Camp

Five weeks of camp is a long time...or so I thought. It flew by!
This was my first time to spend all five weeks with Dan out there, and I had an amazing time! My job was to, basically, keep us eating healthy. Because pretty much everything the camp serves is processed or fried, I would usually cook our entree in the nurse's station, which has a small kitchen. Then we would take it to the cafeteria and have salad or whatever sides they were serving.
I also spent the mornings cooking breakfast for everyone working in the nurse's station. Over the five weeks, they had a combination of eggs, bacon, toast, cinnamon toast, biscuits and gravy, and pancakes. Then I usually made cookies as a snack in the evenings. So not all of the cooking was healthy... ;)
Here is a video of a portion of worship from one of the weeks...week 5, I think. This is what it looks like when 1000+ people worship in spirit and truth.

From a portion of this week's Breaking Free daily study...

"The best of our churches tend to welcome those captive (to alcohol, drugs, homosexuality, promiscuity, and so forth) at first, but if they don't 'fix' pretty quickly, they will probably soon be despised. We like success stories--powerful testimonies. A captive in our midst soon wears out her welcome if she doesn't get with it pretty quickly.

"In gracious contrast, God stands by us until we are free. He uses various forms of discomfort to woo us to cry out to Him, but He never forsakes us. God is the only One who is not repelled by the depth and length of our needs. Although God never excuses our sin and rebellion, He is fully aware of what drives our actions. In fact, He understands things about us we cannot even understand." ~Beth Moore

In. Absolute. Love.

....with this treasure!


I was at my mom and dad's this weekend, and mom wanted me to go through some of my grandparents' items and see if there was anything I wanted to take home. Dad wanted to show me some end tables that were in the storage shed, and I saw this while we were out there.

I don't ever remember seeing it at my Granny and Pa's house, so I asked my dad if he had known they had it. He said that this was from when my Pa worked on the oil lease when my dad was growing up. It was kept in the doghouse on the lease in case of emergencies. It doesn't have the original contents in it, but on each drawer is listed what is supposed to go in that drawer. There isn't a date anywhere on it, but my guess is that it is probably from the 1950's.

I LOVE IT!!!

Expectation

I have been through a couple of Beth Moore's Bible studies, but I had never done Breaking Free. She has done an updated version recently, and although I can't compare it to the original, it is just what I need for this present time. It is perfect for obvious spiritual reasons, but it is also developing friendship bonds and connections with the other ladies in the group. Very timely.

In the study, she defines captivity as this: "A Christian is held captive by anything that hinders the abundant and effective Spirit-filled life God planned for her."

One of the continual hinderances in my life has always been fear, and I've always associated it with fear of failure. That's part of it, but just fear, in general...fear of the unknown.

I remember when I was in 7th grade, it was the last six weeks of school where all athletic seasons were pretty much over for our level. I was never very coordinated in athletics, and I was the chunky girl in our class, but I had made it through volleyball, basketball, and track (read: shotput). Understand, of course, that there were no tryouts in my small school. Whoever showed up the first day of the season was what the coach had to work with.

So in the last six weeks of 7th period athletics, the coaches did the infamous "Spring Training", which was three weeks intense training in volleyball on MWF, weights on TTH. Then three weeks of equal training in basketball MWF, weights on TTH. I say "infamous" because the class just above us had told us how horrible it was.

And I was terrified.

Fear gripped me so hard that every day after 6th period English, I had to throw up because my stomach was in such knots. I knew it wasn't going to kill me. I knew it was probably for my good, but I could not get past the fear.

Thankfully, that was the only time I experienced the physical effects of fear, but the struggle has inwardly remained.

Last night, Dan and I were with a group of people in a time of prayer. As I was praying I felt the Lord impress on my heart this: "Do not face the future with fear. Face the future with expectation."

As I was studying this morning, one of the verses pointed out was Isaiah 44:20: "He feeds on ashes, a deluded heart misleads him; he cannot save himself, or say, 'Is not this thing in my right hand a lie?'"

Then I read this paragraph: "I remember one thing in particular I held onto with a virtual death grip. I also remember the harrowing moment God opened my eyes to see what a lie I had believed. I cried for days. I originally thought this lie was a good thing. My heart, handicapped in childhood, had deluded me. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I eventually bowed down and worshiped it. My only consolation in my idolatry is that I finally allowed God to peel away my fingers and to my knowledge have only grasped His hand since. Had I not discovered what a lie I held, I would never have run to Him to fill the void." Beth Moore

Trust Him.
Seek only Him.
Cling to Him.
Listen to Him.
Obey Him.
With expectation.

Posts like these....

...Aren't meant to draw attention to myself.
...Aren't meant to be braggadocios.
...Aren't meant to make anyone think one way or another about me.

...Are to remind myself of how far I've come.
...Are to give hope that nothing is impossible.
...Are to bring me back to reality that a small set back does not mean the battle is all for naught.

The Road

"...Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Last portion of "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost

Last night Dan and I decided to go into Waxahachie for dinner. It only takes about 15 minutes to get there from our house, taking Hwy 287. We went a different route, one we had never taken before.

The road was an unmarked, two lane road with a group of houses here...then a group of houses there...with lots of natural, undeveloped land in between. It was a beautiful drive.

About ten minutes into the drive, we began to get a little nervous because we really didn't know where the road led. We assumed at the beginning that it would eventually connect to a larger road, but we had lost count of how many curves we had taken. A fork in the road came up, so we just took the one that was in the general direction of where we needed to go.

There were no signs. Evidently, most people who took that road knew where they were and where they were going.

There were times when the overgrowth of trees beside the road connected like a canopy overhead. We could not see beyond where we were right then.

Then, there was a clearing, and I saw the water tower of Waxahachie...a sign that we were headed in the right direction, and we weren't far away from our destination.

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

Once again, we were surrounded by trees. This time, though, we had confidence because we saw a sign.

Sure enough, about five minutes later we connected with a larger road that took us straight where we wanted to go.

I thought about that road and how our lives with God are similar. We go in the direction He leads us without knowing all the details. We start out with confidence, enjoying the ride. Then, sometimes we can't even see our feet in front of us, and we begin to question the way. We keep going, relying on the initial direction, and before we know it, He gives us a sign to give us confirmation and resolve.

Oh, the things He uses to teach us!

"Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding; In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

Vintage Beauty

After my Granny passed away in 2005, I was able to choose a couple of pieces of her jewelry.
I really loved this ring, but only wore it a few times on my pinky since it didn't fit on any other finger. It didn't really look right on that finger, so I didn't wear it often.
Since losing the weight, my wedding set and right hand band I have are too big. I've had a couple of close calls in wearing them recently where they have slipped off my finger without me noticing. Thankfully, I noticed it was gone shortly after and recovered it. (It had come off my finger when I was taking off my gloves in lab at school. It was with my gloves in the trash can. Scary.)
I remembered this ring, and absolutely love it.
My Granny was always proud of me, but I know she would be extremely proud of me now and love the fact that her ring looks so good on my finger!
And it's vintage!

Easter Silliness

Dan said (jokingly) that we should do this.
We held him to it.
It was his idea, you know.
He gets all the credit!

Bullets!

*Fine Arts is two weeks away! Oh my! It's crunch time, but it's coming together...so exciting!

*Kristen's wedding is three weeks away! YIPPEEEE!!!! I am so ready to see all my peeps!!!

*Finals are right smack in between.....(wohmp, wohmp, wohmp...Debbie Downer...I won't think about that right now.)

*Dan had an MRI on his hand after the wreck, and it wasn't broken after all! YAY! It was severely bruised inside and swollen. He has just in the last week been able to use it regularly, although limited. It is still swollen and glass is still working it's way out.

*It's amazing how you become more sensitive to crazy drivers on the road after you've been in an accident. It's a wonder how some people managed to get a license.

*I've officially lost a whole person. I've made it to 120 pounds of weight loss! Only 55 more pounds to go until my goal is reached!

*My niece is old enough to go to prom. Exciting time for her, but the fact I can't overlook is that..........I'm old.

*On that note, we are planning our 20 year class reunion. Geesh....hahaha. It's been fun getting in touch with a lot of my "old" friends, and I'm looking forward to seeing them all again!

*Easter is this weekend! I can't wait to celebrate the resurrection of my Savior with my church family! Afterward, we are meeting at my aunt and uncle's house to have a lunch celebration with our family that lives locally.

So.......there is a lot going on, and I love it! God is so good!

This is the coolest stuff!

It's a nail polish called Shatter by OPI.
You do a base coat of any bright color and let it dry.

Then brush the Shatter polish over it. When it dries, it crackles.
That's too cool!
It's probably been out forever and I'm just now catching on.
Oh, well! ;)

The Year of Blessing

That is what I felt the Lord whispering to me at the beginning of the year.

I have a whole new perspective on that since last Tuesday.

Dan and I were headed home around 10:30 pm, after I had been to our church's ladies' meeting and then had coffee with some friends with Dan at Starbuck's. We live off of a two lane road, and we were just about a quarter of a mile from our turn off when we had an accident.

A young lady was traveling toward us, and for some reason, began to veer off her side of the road. Dan saw this happen, and not sure how she was going to react, he let off of the accelerator. All I heard him say was, "Oh, gosh," in a somber tone. I had my head down, looking at my phone, and when I looked up, all I saw was headlights coming straight at us.

Thankfully, God gave Dan the presence of mind to turn the wheel to the left as much as he could without sending us into a spin. She still hit the front of our vehicle, but not straight on. The front right side was hit. Our car stopped still, and she spun, going into the ditch and ending up facing the same direction we were facing.

Although Dan and I allowed the ambulance to take us to get checked out, when it was all said and done, all three of us walked away from that accident. Dan fractured his right hand and had to have glass dug out of it. Apparently, his hand made contact with the windshield on impact.

Both cars are totaled. Looking at the picture of our car, it doesn't look as bad as I remember it being. Still, all I see is head lights coming at us.

I've said this to a few friends, but I feel so strongly about it...
We all have those times in our lives when we feel like we are just beating a dead horse...questioning if what we are doing matters...if it's doing any good...God, did you really call me to do this?...was I just making it up in my head, the vision I thought was from You?

Then, something happens where the opportunity was ripe for your life to come to an end...and you LIVE!

All of the "what if's" and "it could have been's" DIDN'T happen, and God spared the lives of you, your husband, and a total stranger!

NO! You're not beating a dead horse!
YES! What you do matters!
YES! There is good coming from it, though you may not be able to see it right this very minute!
YES! The call of God is as real today as it was the day He first prompted you!
NO! It was not bad sushi, the vision that God gave to you! It is unique to you and the talents he gave solely to you!
HE IS NOT FINISHED WITH YOU YET!

And, thank you, Lord, for not being finished with my Dan and me, either.

Oh, SO Neglected!

"Mom, all I want is to snuggle with you in your lap, but this computer is in the way of that. I'm being as patient as I can, but I'm going to stand here on your legs until you pick me up and put me under your throw blanket. I'm cold and lonely, and all you want to do is play that stupid game. Please, Mom, please?!?"

Hot tea, anyone?

When I was growing up, I thought that hot tea was just another name for sweet tea that was poured over ice just before Sunday lunch after church.

The ice crackled as the tea was poured into the glass.

The first sip was a mingling of cold and warm, as the ice had not had time to cool off the whole glass yet.

Wait, what?
You mean there are people who don't drink iced tea?
They drink their tea HOT?!
That's weird.

...or so I thought.

I can say now that I have grown accustomed to a nice cup of hot tea every now and again. I wouldn't say it's something that I want on a daily basis, but it sounds good to me once or twice a week.

It's funny how things aren't so "weird" when you give them a try.

FINALLY!!!

It's taken longer than I've wanted...(a little perspective here is noted...what is another couple of weeks compared to YEARS of the alternative?)...but I finally reached 100 pounds of weight loss!
I'm so excited!!!
You know the phrase "You gotta give something to get something"?
It's true. Nothing is without cost of some kind.
It cost a good deal of money for me to join Slim 4 Life.
It cost time to write down everything I've eaten all day and go to the center three times a week for accountability.
It cost will power to walk by the dairy section of the grocery store and not pick up the latest delicious flavored creamer for my coffee or to keep driving past the donut shop that sells the best apple fritter ever.
It cost planning to know what I was doing that day and if I needed to take my lunch or how many snacks to take.
It cost determination to keep going even if I had a gain at weigh in.

But as much as it has cost, I have gotten much in return...more than can be expressed here in black and white.
I've gotten a new body! Which is constantly changing!
I've developed a new appreciation for raw vegetables!
I'm a better planner!
I've developed a new palette! When I have tasted things that I've had a craving for, they don't taste the same.
I don't dread going to workout at the gym.
I actually enjoy my non-fat latte with Splenda now. Coffee and I have had to develop a new appreciation for each other when I started this diet. ;)

Some days are easier than others. Still. I'm not a machine. I'm a human being, and a lot of times I put more demand on myself than what others expect of me. That's a good thing sometimes. In the grand scheme of things, I'm doing this for myself...to be healthy, to be able to have a family and live long for them. No one else will have those same expectations for me.

The thing I have to ask myself everyday....
How bad do you want to change?
Are you satisfied with where you are?
Or do you want to do more?

Change does not come in simply being inspired by others. Change comes when you let the inspiration propel you to action...and don't quit. I'm not finished with this thing yet. My goal is to lose another 75 pounds. I can't stop now!

SNOW DAY! (ahem...) SNOW DAYS!!!!

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, AND now Friday, schools of all sizes and levels have been/are cancelled due to inclement weather.

Tuesday and Wednesday I was quite content being at home doing domestic activities and mindlessly watching cable channels snuggled under a quilt in my comfy chair.

By Wednesday evening, after finding out school was cancelled yet again, I made it clear that a trip into town would do me some good. :)
And it did.
But now I'm quite happy to be home again, away from the icy roads and drivers that don't know how to drive on said roads.

Fashion for taking the dog out in ice: no makeup, pajamas, pink fuzzy socks, slip-on shoes (not the best for walking on ice, but they were handy), Dan's hoodie, Dan's coat (both hoods up), and knit gloves.

How cool is that?!

A week or so ago, I was lying in bed trying to sleep, and I kept telling Dan that I must have overlooked something on the bed before climbing in. I was feeling something stuck under me and it was hurting my back.
I sat up, but nothing was there.
I lay back down, and it was hurting me again!
Turns out, it was my pajamas. They were getting to be so big on me that when I would lie down they would wad up under me and poke me!
So, I told Dan I was going to have to break down and buy some new pajamas.

Fast forward a week later...hadn't had time to go buy new pj's yet.
My best friend and her family had come to town for the weekend. (She is also doing quite well on the Slim 4 Life program.)
We had a great dinner with them, and she left me with two HUGE LAWN bags full of clothes she could no longer wear.
I opened one of the bags, and the very first things I pulled out were two almost new pairs of pajamas that were a perfect fit.
I almost cried.
It's the little things that mean the most.

Since a picture says a thousand words....

...I'll let these two speak for themselves.

Happy 2011!

To read my thoughts about the beginning of 2010, go here.

Although we are still waiting for our "Grace", there is no doubt that we truly experienced the Favor of God in other areas of our lives in 2010.

The last few days as I was thinking about 2011, the theme that kept going through my mind was 2011 being the year of blessing. Already, it has come to pass. We started out the new year moving into a one bedroom apartment in Midlothian! Pics to come later on after we get all set up. In the meantime, this was the scene I came home to when I got back from visiting my parents last night.