24.4...almost to another milestone

I had another weigh-in this week and I am almost to another milestone in my weight loss journey. I hit the 24.4 pound mark this week. So, 25 pounds is not too far away:) My original goal was 60 pounds, but that was a bit on the high side. Now I am thinking even fifty would be a really good amount, but I am going to keep doing what I have been doing (exercising, eating right, taking care of myself) and we'll see where my body decides to settle out. Maybe at a 50 pound lost....maybe at 60??? Maybe a different number altogether?? I have learned that expecting myself to be the size and shape I was in high school is not realistic...I am just not built that way anymore....my frame is larger in some respects and I carry my weight differently. So, I am much more focused on good health and being a nice size....being able to be involved in my everyday life with my child and husband and other family and friends without being tired......not being a size "0" or weighing 105 pounds.

If I wrote a book......

As many of you know, I taught preschool and elementary school for many years prior to coming home to tutor/teach music/homeschool while being a mommy. But, having worked with kids of various ages in all sorts of settings over the last 20 years (or more really), I have seen a LOT of interesting things.


My second year of teaching was at a local public school in a fifth grade class. I had replaced a teacher who had left part of the way through first semester, after dealing with a rather unique group of kids. I did not know her personally, so I can only say that as teacher, while I found this group of children to be challenging, I also found them to be really good kids who needed a lot of guidance after having missed out on a lot of learning opportunities due to several major events beyond their control. I am sure God had me there for a reason, and I did enjoy this group. Yes, I had to put the 'hammer down' on some of them, but most of them really did respond to a more soft touch..at least that's how I remember it.

Well, in order to be able to help the children catch up and 'heal' from a lot of things they had dealt with, we'd have sharing times in class from time to time..and one young man shared this story. It still makes me chuckle a bit every time I tell it...


The class was supposed to be doing an assignment, but as 'usual' some were working and some were talking, playing, goofing off, drawing.... The teacher became frustrated and tried to maintain order, but a few of the children still did not respond to her efforts. While she zoned in on those kids, T (the young man telling the story) decided he needed a pedicure!!!!! Yes, he had brought toe nail clippers to class!!!! So, while the teacher was very intently dealing with the kids who were not able to do what she asked, T got up from his desk, moved to the back corner of the room, removed his shoes and socks, and cut all ten nails. If I recall the story correctly, he then replaced his shoes and socks and returned to his seat and she never even noticed that he'd been up at all. Knowing the layout of the room, I could not imagine how that was even possible....except that she must have been very upset or very focused on those few who were not cooperating. When T told the story...I could picture him doing this...he was such a funny young man...and while I found that I had to sit on him pretty hard, he turned out to be one of the most respectful and well behaved young men in the class, once I made a believer out of him. As a matter of fact, I had him again the next year since I taught 5th and 6th grade history, and I never failed to remember the toe nail story!!

If I ever write a book...I will find a way to work this story into it...

A blast from the past.....1998

I am SOOOOO glad I scrapbook...because I just checked to verify my date, and I was a whole year off...just a side note before I get started on my story here:)

In 1998, Bruce and I heard through a friend that the Tennessee Baptist Children's home (basically an orphanage of sorts) had a need for visiting families who could take in kids of varying ages for the holidays, spring break, summer holidays, weekends.... and be a mentor and special family to a child who needed someone. Well, having wanted children of our own (and not being able to have them at this point) we wanted to be able to pour our lives into the life of a child in a different way than we were currently doing as church/classroom teachers. So, we began the process of becoming a visiting family. This was really pretty easy because in the summer of 1998 we had finished our adoption paperwork and the children's home accepted that with no qualms.

We were matched with twin 8th grade girls...Keisha and Reisha..two sibilings with an older brother and a younger brother as well as two younger sisters!!! These girls had already been at the home for a while and they continued to live there until after high school graduation.

I, along with my friend, Amanda, drove to Franklin (just south of Nashville, TN) to pick them up before Thanksgiving. They spent a few days with us. It was a little strained at first because we did not know each other and to be honest, we did not know what to do with eighth graders!!! But, the Lord worked it out.

The next year our own family grew with the addition of Abigail, but the girls still kept coming, and they loved Abigail and she grew to love them as well. At times, their siblings would visit...not often, but we did have some time with them every now and then.

Well the relationship continued thru the teen years and thru high school. They came to visit many times. We celebrated birthdays and Christmas and graduations and even a wedding. Both girls are on their own now. Both finished high school (the first ones in their family to do so ever!) and both have done some college work as well. Keisha and Reisha are both independent and last fall, Keisha got married. Right away, she got pregnant and just found out that the baby is a little girl!!!

We are excited....sort of like grandparents...except we're too young..LOL!!!!! Well, maybe not:) Anyway, we are looking forward to her arrival, and also to the opportunity to minister to this young couple as they parent this child and continue growing in their married life.

We are also grateful that God allowed us to minister to these girls in a unique way over the course of several years. Maybe, He will again open up such a door for us.

Special girl...

We surely do love our special little lady. She is a sweet child....but she does have her moments. Don't we all???

I was just thinking that it really cannot be almost nine and a half years since she was born!! These years have flown by way way WAY too quickly.

She is growing up way too fast....which means I am getting older too....

After reading a fellow bloggers special story about how her son came to be a part of their family, I am reminded of our story as well. God's faithfulness and his providing just the right child for us at just the right time. Praying, fasting, anointing, waiting, crying, seeking medical treatment, ...but still, it came down to waiting......lots of waiting. Those quiet times from God were SO hard...there were times of utter silence from Him that were SO painful, but He knows best, and when He did speak......it was worth it all.

I am utterly convinced of the power of 2 Corinithians 1:3-4. God HAS used our pain and struggles to minister to others in the same situation....and for that, I am grateful as well.

Valentine's Day

While we enjoy celebrating Valentine's Day, we are pretty low maintenance about it. On Friday, Bruce picked up some Chinese food and we just hung out while Abigail spent time with KG for a few hours. On Saturday, we dressed up and went to a banquet at church. We gave each other a heartfelt card and let that be it. I know, I know....lots of couples do a lot more, but we agreed that it was really not necessary to spend too much with my birthday being only 10 days before V-Day and Bruce's being little more than 2 months afterwards. So, years ago, we agreed to just give cards and have a dinner out (or in--like we did this year). We both enjoyed our special day.

Abigail enjoyed exchanging cards with her friends from school. We also gave her a Webkinz "love monkey" and a small box of candy. She made us cards as well.

science fair photos

All of the participants got yellow ribbons. Those that placed got colored ribbons. The "winners" are on the front row.
Abigail with two friends, L and O. O, with the blue ribbon, was the first place winner in the k-5 age group as well as the overall school winner.
Abigail getting her ribbon at the award time on Friday, Feb. 13
Abigail standing with her project just before the awards were announced on Thursday night.

We have a second place winner!!!!

We are very proud of Abigail for her second place finish in the science fair with her 'doggy respiration' project. For some reason, the kids were not divided into the divisions we'd been told originally. All of the kids in grades k-5 were lumped together. There were probably about 15 projects in that category. She was the youngest to place.

ALL of the children did a great job. There were so many good projects...and we learned a lot just by visiting the different exhibits tonight after the presentations.

We are most proud of her because she did her best and did the work herself with a little help only as needed...so this truly was her project.

Tomorrow the ribbons will be awarded at lunch time, so I hope to get there in time to photograph that. So, watch for a post on that soon:)

Science fair project complete!! and I am proud of how well she did :)

This afternoon, we finished Abigail's science fair project. She researched and compared the respiration rates of a dog (she chose Princess) at rest and after play. We played tug of war, catch the ball and squeaky toy, and chase. You can see that Princess is sitting before we throw the toy in this photo.
Ahh...we're finished with this session (we had to do a total of three and compare the results. Abigail's bar graph was really nice!!

These photos show her display...a close up of her title and then the whole board.

I was SO proud of her. She did most of the work herself, and as she was finishing up, she asked if she could add a Bible verse to her project. She suggested John 3:16...which is an awesome verse, but I suggested that maybe if she found a verse that related to her project, that would be even nicer in tying it all together. She said, "I know what I want to use...it's in Genesis." Then she grabbed a Bible and started reading until she found the verse about God creating the animals. She put the verse and reference on her display using nice 'form.' It was the perfect ending to her conclusion statement:)

PS--The judging will be on Thursday, so I'll be sure to post the results. Even if she places, since she is only a third grader, she will not be able to move on to the regional level....but next year she can:)

Less of me.....

This title really has two meanings......both hopefully applying to me as I begin my 42nd year.

First of all, the Lord has really been showing me a lot of things thru my prayer time and reading. And, I feel like I am slowly learning to have less of "ME" and more of "HIM" in my life. I am finding that I turn things over to Him more quickly and my life is so much better because of it. Makes sense, doesn't it??

Secondly, I weighed in this morning and have lost another 4 pounds in the last two weeks. There were some periods of time where I had some minor ups and downs...lose a pound, gain two, lose three, gain 2....so things were back and forth, especially over the holidays. But, since I started this journey in July, I have lost a total of 22 pounds. Now, with that being said, I still have another 40 to go...but that is okay..I know I will make it.

So, as we see each other over the next year, it is my prayer that there will be less of ME to see.

The last day of 41......

It's hard to believe that this time tomorrow, Feb. 4, I will no longer be 41. Turning 40 really did not bother me at all. And, neither did turning 41. I don't think 42 will be so bad either. Maybe it's because I am commited to making some changes in my life....I look better and feel better (and younger) now than I did when I turned 40:)

But some things have definitely changed since I left my 30's and even 20's. I see GRAY in my hair way more often than I used to. Ooooo, and wrinkles and creases on my face.... And those high heels I used to wear just don't feel so comfy any more. And, I really REALLY must have my rest at night...no more pulling an all nighter to study for a test or work on a project....if I do....I PAY big time for a few days afterwards!

But, considering that the alternative is NOT being here with my family and friends, I'll take getting older. I know where my final home is, but am truly enjoying my earthly home for the moment.

So, goodbye 41!!!! Hello 42!! Well....at least I have another 15 hours before I am 42:)