Happy Father's Day!

Me and My Daddy Christmas 2011

I am so very blessed to be surrounded by amazing men that show how much they truly love their families each and every day.  My own father who has had to be placed within the battles of his own family for reasons of religion...choosing his children always, no matter what the cost.  I love you and I will never forget the sacrifices you make.

To all the wonderful fathers...Happy Father's Day!

The Power Of Good-bye

Many of you know the internal battle I face (sometimes every day) over the loss of my mother because of religion.  I am taking a New Testament class right now that has really opened my eyes to understanding why my mother truly is the way she is, and how she will probably never change.  I understand now.  I am not angry, and I forgive her...and I am learning to say goodbye.

Some things we will never be able to change, and that is okay.  You just have to find the power deep within to realize THAT, and learn to let go...

How I Feel Today

It's going to be a great weekend!

Trust

It's Official - Matt's Taking on His First Half Marathon!

Now, everyone knows that I am not the fastest thing in the world.  I have never really cared much about that.  I just LOVE to run; the farther, the better.  And during a half, I love the experience my body goes through from mile 1 to mile 13.  It is such a great high!


Matt had started to run with me at the end of last year.  At first it was just the smaller races, but he has taken on larger races lately.  I have FINALLY persuaded him to run a half.  I officially registered him today.  The cute dialogue went like this (I cut and paste from email):


Me:  Quick question...do you want me to register you for Wine & Dine?


Him:  yes please.  going to race against the wife ;-)


Matt and I do have activities that we enjoy by ourselves, but I am very fortunate that we enjoy so many of the same things.  I am so happy that he is doing this with me.  And what better place than my favorite place on earth!  We have decided we will make it a mini vacation as well.  I am so excited!!

Throwing Out the Scale!

Okay, I know this is a slight exaggeration, but how I have somewhat felt for the past few months...actually since January.  My weight has either increased or stayed the same, and unfortunately has dictated how I was going to feel for the day or days proceeding the reading.  Well today I revolt!


This morning, after become aggravated and not understanding how I could have gained 7 pounds in the past 6 months...and my clothes fit just fine...put on a dress to test a theory.  Now this is not just any dress; This is THE dress.  You know ladies which one I am talking about.  The one dress that sits in the back of your closet that you take out every once in a while to see if it still fits.  Yeah, THAT one!  My dress, was one I had bought for Melissa's Brownie banquet when she was in kindergarten (she is now in 4th).  I had gotten down to 123 pounds...a weight that EVERYONE calls "my unhealthy look"...and thought that I deserved this short, tight, straight silk dress from Banana Republic because I deserved it.  Looking back, I didn't deserve something that I cheated to obtain.  And I cheated.  Anyone can starve themselves.  It takes true discipline and strength to get your butt to the gym every other day and run 6.2 miles.  In retrospect, I had become a quitter.  I wanted the easy way out.  Not this girl...not any longer.


The result?  I look better in it NOW than I did when I was 123 pounds!  My hips have reduced, my arms and shoulders are more toned, my legs are much more muscular than they have ever been, and the dress just looks fantastic!!!  I sat on the end of my bed today and cried.


Now, ladies (and men), I know that they talk about this on t.v. and the radio and on the internet, but it just didn't sink in for me.  I really couldn't comprehend how my body could gain THAT much weight and still be getting thinner.  And when you look at your body every day, it is hard to see the changes.  It was a personal experience that I had to have.  I am glad that I did.  It taught me a very valuable lesson.


The other thing I learned from this...never let a piece of technology tell me how to feel.  Lately, I have felt great; in the best shape of my life.  It was only when I hopped on that stupid scale that I was feeling like an ultimate failure. My husband calls me the gadget geek...well, that is one gadget I don't need ever again...


and I just keep telling myself:

I know many of you are hard-at-work for that strong, beautiful body.  Sometimes we get discouraged...if the scale is a contributing factor for you, do what I did, throw the damn thing out!!