Tenth Avenue North - Worn (with lyrics)

This is an amazing song.  Maybe someone out there needs to hear this today. 







Enjoy your family~

"To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”

― Bill Wilson






Enjoy your family~

This Girl

The girl who would always be picked last in sports.
The girl who was made fun of for how red her face would get in P.E. class.
The girl who never felt athletic.
The girl who read slow.
The girl who didn't ever make the cheerleading squad.
The girl who never felt beautiful growing up even though her dad would drill in her head how beautiful she was.
The girl who would long for the sound of the school dismissal bell.
The girl who didn't have a prom date.
The girl who still to this day has to hang out with her sister's friends.
The girl who was made fun of at school for the way her arms looked.
The girl who always felt clunkier, bigger and thicker than all other girls in class.
The girl who had some serious self-confidence issues growing up and being bullied or made fun of only made the issues worse.


This girl is changing her life and this girl has lost 21.4 lbs!

Yes, I am counting that .4 because that .4 of a pound was worked hard for.  No blood, a lot of sweat and very close to tears, every pound was earned.  I am proud of myself and I am doing this for myself and for my girls. Living by example that hopefully they will grow up healthy and fit and not have to live through what I lived through during my school years.

Even though I hate working out I do LOVE the results and that's why I keep going.  Whoever said "Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" is full of absolute crap.  My mind will always be thinking about and my mouth watering for a huge piece of red velvet cake with extra cream cheese frosting, twizzlers, Braums peanut butter cup sundae, iced sugar cookie, greasy Ron's hamburger, real Pepsi, Reese's peanut butter cups, laffy taffy and Ted's tortilla's/chips/queso.  Believe me, I will and still do eat these things but not nearly as often.  Trying to reach a goal and they will only hinder the process.  Here's to many more lbs to go and my lifestyle change...



Enjoy your family~

I've known you for 2,555 days.

My precious Ava,

(The first time I laid eyes on you)

 

 

My life didn't change on February 6, 2006 when you were born and I was finally able to meet you, smell you and hold you.  My life changed on June 10, 2005 when the Dr. called me and over the phone I heard the words "You're pregnant." That moment my world stood still.  I was instantly a mom and I instantly had the urge to take care of you from that moment of your tiny little life.  I read all the books and learned all about your growth.  4 weeks old, you were the size of momma's little poppy seed.  A poppy seed that was making me extremely tired.  12 weeks old you were our little plum and making me feel very bloated and large even though you were still little in my belly.  Then came along the cantaloupe phase at week 25.  I am sure this is the time where dad and I were making nightly trips to Shakes' custard shop.  Week 30 you were the size of a pineapple and by week 40 you were our watermelon.  What a perfect description because that is exactly how I felt.  A huge, bloated, swelling watermelon probably wearing my favorite black pants.  You were such an easy baby to carry, you never gave me any troubles or any sickness.  Then you were born :)

 (your first day home)

 

(3 months old)

Your infant days were filled with a lot of screaming, eating, pooping, screaming, 10 minute cat naps, being rocked by me, peeing and screaming.  You were allergic to my breast milk and that was making you very upset.  Once we got all that figured out your baby days went smoother. 

(First smile)

Fast forward 2,555 days and you are now 7 years old and in the 1st grade.  Your smile can stop me in my tracks and combined with your gorgeous big eyes- Woah.  You are exactly like me and I hear all the time how you are my mini me.  You are thoughtful, caring, creative, loving, happy but you also have a little bit of a temper. (just like me)  You love music and you love to dance. Bieber, Taylor, Maroon 5 and Bridget Mendler are some of your favorite's right now. You love the T.V. show Good Luck Charlie or any kind of cooking show on Food Network.  Coloring, pretending, fashion, animals, church and Jesus are also some of your passions.  You make me proud and I am honored to be your mom.  Happy #7 my Ava.  These past 2, 555 days have been challenging, fun, a learning experience, great, exciting, tiring and rewarding.  I love you with my entire heart.  Happy Birthday. 

(Thanksgiving 2012)

 

Enjoy your family~

We love our (cardboard) daddy

February 1. My favorite month of the year.  Even more this year because it means we are one month closer to seeing daddy. February is the shortest month of the year which also means we only have 27 days until March 1.  This train is going fast and I am loving it!!!  Joe has officially started his coming home countdown and now every time I talk to him he tells me how many days are left.  I haven't started mine yet because even though the time has gone fast, as a whole, the day to day stuff still drags by.  I'll start it at the 4 week mark.  Today was spent making our flat daddies.  We cut cardboard and colored him in nothing else but OSU clothes, cut out a picture of his face and voila we had our flat daddy.  The girls seem to be losing their flat daddies quite a bit.  They play with him and every so often I hear one asking "uh, do you know where my flat daddy is?" "Has anyone seen my flat daddy?" I am thinking of channeling Si the elf and have daddy show up every morning doing crazy antics like Si did at Christmas.  The girls miss Si and I think they would enjoy seeing what daddy did each day.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your family~

She sparkles

Ava makes the best cheerleader.  She works both her loud voice and killer smile perfectly.  Watching her from the stands with her perm-a-smile I know she is having a great time.  There are big all-state cheerleader shoes to fill from her aunt and she is well on her way.  The last couple weeks our home has been filled with the classic chants of cheers, claps and happy hands.  She loves to walk around the house bellowing out her cheer and more times then none, sister also joins in the mix.  My mind went directly to middle school when I would watch my sister and her best friend practice their cheer routine and jumps for hours upon hours... The one and only time I tried out for the cheer squad I didn't make it which doesn't surprise me because God did not bless this body with any sort of athletic ability.  He blessed Ava though and I look forward to seeing her continue to grow in her athletic ability.  Here are a few pictures of my little cheerleader. 

 

Ava with her friend, Gracelyn.

 

Me and my mini me.

Enjoy your family~

Dreaming of lying on the beach with my husband today.  Just us, the sun, the crashing of the waves and the smell of the saltwater.  Relaxing together and enjoying some much needed alone time.  Right now, that's all I can think about- wishing I was packing my bags and leaving on the plane with him.  Ugh, so many more months.