Wordless Wednesday - The Fair

Skylar on the "Miracle Round"

Telling Tuesday - Once Again

I have to tell on myself - I have not done as good this week as I had hoped. I jumped back on last week with grand hopes of losing the couple of extra pounds that had sneaked back on. Somewhere along the way, I lost focus. And not only did I not lose those pounds, but another 1.5 jumped on as well. So here I am 3.5 pounds above the top of my maintenance range. So how did I let this happen? Very simple - I stopped counting points. While I have never been able to keep a written journal of what I eat, I have been vigilant since the beginning of the year in recording my points with my bracelet. Somewhere over the course of the last 2 months or so, I stopped wearing it. I don't remember even making a conscious decision to stop, it just happened. So as of today, I am back to tracking. It is the only way for me to be accountable for every bite I eat, and it obviously has worked for me.

As for the challenge over at Tales from the Scales, they have moved their posting day from Tuesday to Wednesday, though I will continue to post here on Tuesdays and just link there on Wednesday. Be sure to check them out for lots of inspiration, information, and even some free giveaways.

Race for the Cure

I have never been big on fundraising. I'm just no good at begging people for their hard earned money. However, I do participate in a couple of big fundraisers each year. Each spring I join together with my church family and take part in the Relay for Life, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. And each fall I personally take part in the Race for the Cure which raises funds for breast cancer awareness and research. I am also happy to say that Brian is supporting me this year by joining the 3 Miles of Men.

There is not one person I know that has not been touched by cancer in one way or another. My grandmother and my mother-in-law both have survived breast cancer. My father-in-law is going through chemo right now to fight lymphoma. Just this year alone, we have had a close friend diagnosed with colon cancer, church family that are battling, as well as several acquaintances that have fought this horrible disease - some are still fighting, some have claimed victory, and others have lost the battle.

So, while I won't hound you for donations, I do ask that if you feel that you would like to make a donation to help find a cure for breast cancer simply click on the pink ribbon to the left or click here to go to my personal Because I Care donation page. I truly appreciate your support!

Wordless Wednesday

The view from Red Bluff Drive on Petit Jean Mountain.

Visit WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes For Momfor more Wordless Wednesdays!

Picture Perfect

Saturday afternoon the weather was absolutely perfect (one of my 3 days a year that I actually want to be outside) so we took the kids to the state park on Petit Jean Mountain. Of course I had an ulterior motive for the little trip. I wanted to get some new pictures of the kids. Of course they were way to interested in playing to want to deal with posing for mom, so I got lots of action shots of them enjoying the afternoon. I finally got a few posed shots and while Stephen is a real ham when it comes to getting in front of the camera, Skylar is a model in the making not at all into posing for mom. Some of the looks on her face when I snapped the pictures are absolutely priceless. I will post more later but here are a couple for your viewing pleasure.

Telling Tuesday

Well I looked back through my posts and I can't believe I haven't posted anything weight related since July 31. I have been updating my chart each week but for some reason I stopped my Tuesday habit of posting about the challenge over at Tales from the Scales. As you can tell by my chart I am hanging in there. Maintenance hasn't been as hard as I expected until this past week. For some reason I haven't been able to make the best choices. I have been snacking too much and on the wrong things. There were birthday dinners and birthday cakes, stress, and emotional eating.

My Weight Chart:


So I visited the challenge this week and decided to get back to posting at weekly with my Telling Tuesday post about how things are going. I seem to do much better when I am accountable to somebody other than myself - so it is your job to keep me accountable. My only goal is to stay within my 5 pound maintenance range - which as of today means losing 2 pounds, which with any luck will be gone by next weeks weigh-in. This is the last weigh-in for the May Day Challenge at Tales from the Scales - but the first week of the Look Great in 2008 Challenge. So if you have a few pounds to lose, or just need help maintaining - head on over for some inspiration and accountablility from a bunch of great gals face the same trials as we do everyday.

Random Meme

Because I am bored and have nothing better to write about...
A, B, C, D, E, F . . .
Sing play along now.
A - Age:33
B - Band listening to right now: none
C - Career future: accounting
D - Dad's name: Jerry
E - Easiest person to talk to: Brian
F - Favorite song: Amazing Grace
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: worms
H - Hometown: Morrilton
I - Instruments: clarinet
J - Job: bookkeeper
K - Kids: Stephen & Skylar
L - Longest car ride ever: Morrilton, AR to Bakersfield, CA - with Brian, my grandmother and my mother-in-law
M - Mom's name:Jettie
N - Number of jobs: 5
P - Phobia[s]: spiders
Q - Quote: I can do all things through Christ which strengthenth me. Phil 4:13
R - Reason to smile: kids
S - Song you sang last: East to West
T - Time you wake up: 5 am
U - Unknown fact about me: I don't have a spleen
V - Vegetable you hate: baby corn
W - Worst habit: rolling eyes
X - X-rays you've had: too many to count
Y - Yummy food: fried potatoes
Z - Zodiac sign: Aries

Found this meme over at The Daily Meme...go ahead and play along...

Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for:

• My children getting to enjoy their grandparents. I don't tell them enough how much I appreciate them being involved in the lives of our kids. And though they get to enjoy the grand kids a little too much at times, I hope they are thankful they are involved in the kids' lives as well.
• What Skylar is learning in preschool. She comes home everyday telling us something new. Sunday morning she just started spouting out the books of the Old Testament. She is absorbing so much.
• Stephen's outgoing personality. He has never met a stranger and goes out of his way to talk to everyone. This fact was driven home this week when he was selected to be an ambassador at school. For the rest of the semester, he has been chosen to help out any new students that transfer into his school by showing them around and just being a friend while they get adjusted.
• God's amazing ability to completely transform someone into a whole new creature -
  
  

  Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are
  passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2Cr 5:17

• My loving hubby who survived another birthday.
• Tomorrow is Friday.
• A weekend weather forecast looks wonderful. I look forward to spending some time outdoors observing some of the many miracles of God's creation. I hope to take the kids to the park and get some pictures while we are out.
• My friends who can always seem to make me laugh.

For more inspiring Thankful Thursday posts head over to Sting My Heart.

And a little update on the birthday present dilemma - the kids got Brian a couple of Christian tshirts at CBO. He acted a little surprised to get something, and he couldn't get mad at me since the kids bought them - right!?!

Happy Birthday

Today is my dear sweet hubby's birthday. He is 34. Now when it comes to birthdays, he has always told me not to do anything special. In fact, he once told me that throwing him a party was grounds for divorce. This year, while there is a list of things a mile long that he wants, he told me not to buy him anything. While this seemed like a great idea at the time, now that it is actually his birthday, I feel really bad for not getting him ANYTHING. I know he would gripe if I did get him something, but he would also appreciate it. So now I am torn. We are going out to eat on Friday night with the kids and some friends. He claims that is enough. So what should I do? Get him something - even though he told me not to? Or let myself off the hook? Decisions, decisions.

Great Seats

We are going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in December - we just bought tickets today - Row 15 on the Floor. I am so excited. We went to see them last year and it was amazing, however our seats were just above the nosebleed section. I am shall we say "thrifty" so I bought the cheap seats. I actually got dizzy we were so high up. After seeing the show, I couldn't wait to see them again from "gooder" seats. I know it will be amazing.

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday once again and I count it a blessing to share what I am thankful for this week:

• That God is faithful to forgive - especially when people aren't able to do the same.


• The much needed rain we have had this week. It has been wonderful.


• Christian writers such as Jan Karon, Stephanie Grace Whitson, Karen Kingsbury, and many others who have touched my heart with their writing.
• Christian friends who keep me accountable, as well as listen when I just need to talk.
• My sweet husband, who I feel closer to now than ever before.
• Healthy children who are growing everyday - both physically and spiritually.
• The many comments I receive here at my blog. It amazes me that people I have never met will leave such encouraging words - especially when I know there are family and friends who read that never leave a comment.

I know when I read the other posts at Sting My Heart I will think of many other things I should have listed - so go on over and check out everyone's lists.