This Weight Loss Journey

...has been so frustrating. I joined a local gym ($9.99 membership- HOLLA) with a friend and we were doing great! I have lost about 10 lbs and was seeing definition in my stomach (the top) and my bi/triceps, calves and thighs....
Then came a 12 day break from school. I went to visit my family in Orlando. My mom use to be really strict about what we ate so I thought it would be easy to stick to clean eating...it wasn't. There was 4Rivers BBQ (TWICE) and other unhealthy things that I found excuses for (THAT is the real problem). I gained 6 lbs back :(
My sister came into town this past weekend for her birthday (25th one) and we went out to eat a lot and got root beer floats in Old Town..."We're on vacation" is what she was saying and I used it as my excuse, too...and gained 6 more lbs...SOOOO- I lost 10lbs but gained 12 back so I'm 2 lbs up from the beginning of my journey. I am heartbroken and so disappointed in myself. All my hard work and egg whites and chicken and spinach, etc was all a waste because I made excuses for momentary gratification THAT WASN'T EVEN WORTH IT. (I did bring my resting heart rate down 10 bpm's though...thats good)
Beginning anew again tomorrow-feel free to join me in getting healthy and getting fit and down to my goal weight of 115lbs!!! (I'm not letting you know my starting weight haha but I will update on how much I've lost, and when I hit my goal weight, my total weight lost so, if you MUST know, you can do the math yourself)
You don't have to have a gym membership to join me...start with me tomorrow...go for a walk, go for a run, left plastic shopping bags of cans or gallons of milk...just get moving and get healthy! Let's go!


(PS-there's a new app called Gym Pact that I downloaded for free. Holds you accountable to your workouts by charging you money when you miss one and rewarding you with MONEY when you make them....)

Free Military Care Kit Package

Not sure if this is still working, but I used it when Pat was deployed last time... FREE SUPPLIES!!!

Since Priority Mail® supplies are the packaging of choice for families and friends preparing care packages for service members overseas, the post office has created a “Mili-kit” based on the items most frequently requested by the military. This kit is available for free to military families.

The contents of the kit change from time to time. Right now, each kit contains:

• 2  large priority mail flat-rate boxes
• 2 medium priority mail flat-rate boxes
• 2 medium shirt box priority mail flat-rate boxes
• 6 priority mail labels
• 1 roll priority mail tape (yay!)
• 6 customs forms and envelopes.

Request your FREE Military Care package kit by calling 1-800-610-8734. Select your language (1 is English, 2 is Spanish). Select option 1 (it states it is for Express Mail®, Priority Mail or Global Express Guaranteed® products).

When you reach a live agent, request CAREKIT04, the “Military Kit.  Allow 7-10 days for delivery. You can request up to 4 kits.

You will also be issued a customer ID number to make it easier for you to reorder supplies next time.

YOU CANNOT ORDER THIS KIT ONLINE – This Military kit is only available via the phone number.

Mail sent to APO and FPO addresses overseas require special customs forms. All mail addressed to military post offices overseas is subject to certain conditions or restrictions regarding content, preparation and handling.

The cost to mail the large flat-rate box to APO/FPO is $12.50

Love From Home

SOOOOOO...as most of you know, my husband is in the Navy and currently deployed to SHHHH for SHHHH months. In fact, a lot of men and women I know are away from their families right now and they could all use some love and encouragement from back home. As a Navy wife, I send letters and postcards and treats to my hubby whenever I can, and I know his Navy mama does, too. But sometimes, it's nice to know other people remember your service. That other people are praying for your safety and protection.
That in mind, I would like to start a group to send care packages, large and small, to our boys overseas. (Can you believe that some go entire deployments WITHOUT A SINGLE LETTER?!?!) It breaks my heart. But we can do something about that. In fact, it doesn't even have to be a 15lb box of treats and magazines, but a simple card/post card saying "Hey, I'm praying for you. Thank you for your service," could change a soldier/marine/sailor/airman/coastie's day.
Please pray about this, I mean REALLY PRAY, and ask God if He would like you to join in and send some "Love From Home" to our boys overseas. If this sounds like something you would like to do, leave a comment with your email and I will get an address of a military member.

If you're on Facebook, you can find us at https://www.facebook.com/luvfromhome

This Memorial Day

This Memorial Day weekend, amid the BBQ's, the beer, the lake/river/ocean, and the family and friends...take a moment, just a moment, to be silent and to remember. Many people gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we would have the freedom to do the simple things...to have the BBQ's, to go to the lake, to have the jobs we want. Mama's gave up their baby boys, daddy's gave up their princesses, wives their husbands, children their mommies...all so that we can live in a place where we don't have to fear, in a place where we can have free will.
I ask you to also take a moment to pray for those who are serving today, for those who don't get the 3 day weekend with their family and friends, who have to wake up early in a strange place and put a 50 lb pack on and march up and down streets. Remember them and their families. Pray for our leadership and government, because the Lord knows they need it. Pray for protection and grace.

Don't take today for granted...Remember the fallen, remember those serving...Just remember.

In The Midst of the Storm

It's only been two days since the tornadoes hit OK. I am still shocked at the pictures and videos that I am seeing. It brings back memories of the tornadoes that hit AL a little over 2 years ago. I am so thankful that I

did not experience any direct loss and that no one in my family had any drastic damage to their homes. When you live in an area that gets storms like that, you prepare yourself. But it's completely different when you hear those sirens go off. I remember feeling completely helpless. I was 36 weeks pregnant and all I wanted to do was protect my unborn baby and I didn't know how to, except to pray. God truly answered my prayers. He protected my entire family.
As I look at the pictures of devastation from the storm two days ago, all I know to do now is to pray

for each and every person, across this country, that has been affected by this storm. I can't imagine what the families and friends of those lost are going through right now. My heart aches for the mommies who lost their babies. For the men who lost wives, and the women who lost their husbands. For the sisters and brothers lost. For the aunts and cousins and uncles and grandparents. For the children who lost a mommy or daddy.
I know it can be hard to look at the devastation, not just in OK, but worldwide and think 'how could God

do this?" But my insight is that He did not DO this but allowed it to happen. There is a difference. I don't just see lives and homes lost when I look at the pictures, I see people coming together, I see lives SAVED. How this storm didn't take more people is beyond me except for the fact that I know God had His hand in it. How many blessings can He hand out through all of this? How many people will be brought closer to Him because they saw His love through another person?
In the midst of the storm, do not lose sight of the Savior. He calmed the seas, do you not think that He would be able to protect you if you reach out to Him? He is waiting with His arms wide open. He will carry you

when you have no strength left to hold your head up, much less walk.
I ask, as you look at these pictures, that you pray for survivors and, if God puts it on your heart, that you donate to the Red Cross.

And We're Back

We have spent the last 12 days in Orlando, visiting my parents (Ryder's Mena and Papaw). My brother was in town and my sister came to visit, too. My father had to work in NE until Thursday so we only got to see him for 2 1/2 days, but it was so good to be home. We hadn't been back since October of last year and BOY! has Ryder changed! I think everyone was surprised to see what a little boy he is now compared to that baby they saw last. 

We spent the weekend with my sister SHOPPING AT THE OUTLETS! We have outlets here, but there is something special about the Orlando outlets. I do believe they are better than any others. Especially the Janie and Jack and the Victoria's Secret outlet. I got some amazing sweatpants for about $17. SAY WHAT?! you say...yes, $17 for a pair of super soft boyfriend pants...however I did get a size too big so I've got to go to the ones out here and find smaller sizes. I also have a friend from Birmingham making a workout top for me that says "Sweating for His Homecoming". I got a size too big in that top, too, so I've got to go get a smaller one. Ya'll should definitely check out her page, Tootlebugs on Etsy or Tootlebugs on Facebook. She has some great things and reasonable prices!!! I just got the most adorable bracelet from my SIL. It's red with white polkadots and has a blue anchor with my initials in yellow....I'll post pics of it soon when I unpack.

Back to our trip. We were going to go to the beach with my aunt and cousin one day, but my cousin got sick and we ended up going to a local Community Park which as a little splash pad in it...RYDER LOVED IT!!!!!!!

We went to Panera to eat after. Ryder is a sucker for their macaroni and cheese...or their "CHEESE!". He fell asleep on the way home and didn't even wake when I got him out of the car to put him down for a nap. He played in the pool with my aunt afterwards. Boy does that kid think he is a big boy! Loves trying to swim by himself, kicking his legs and moving his arms. 

We had a little birthday party for Ryder and ordered 4Rivers BBQ, which, if you're in the central Florida area, you HAVE TO TRY. It's some of the best you will ever have. Their brisket is amazing! Pulled chicken-AMAZING! Coleslaw, BAKED BEANS, green beans, mac n cheese (per Ryder)-AMAZING. And my cousin was raving about their bread pudding....anyway....You have to try it.... It was nice to have some family around and get to celebrate Ryder's and Katie's birthdays. 

It was great to have almost 2 weeks off to not have to do anything and to be able to lay out by the pool and get a small tan. I really think, if I won the huge lottery in FL, or found a money tree (bother are just as

realistic as the other...), I could be a stay at home mom and go to the gym, go to the outlets, and lay out by the pool all day. I really don't think I could get bored. It was so relaxing. It's definitely my goal to get back to Windermere. The weather is perfect and the humidity really wasn't that bad, especially next to the pool haha.
Well, it's back to the grind, starting tomorrow. My sister is coming to visit on Thursday, so between now and then and in between classes and gym (when I have time these first two weeks) and taking Ryder to school, I've got to unpack, put clothes up that I washed and folded from BEFORE I left and pick up and wash sheets. We are very excited to have both Aunt Katie AND Uncle Andrew come to see us! Ryder loves them both so much and will be so excited to have them here! (Ya'll just don't judge when my house isn't completely picked up. It's not dirty, by any means, it's just "lived-in", organized chaos if you will haha).
Until next time...

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This Mother's Day -

I took this from a friend's blog. It spoke to me and I wanted to share. You can find her site and learn more about her, her family, and her journey into motherhood by clicking here Waiting On A Word

On this Mother's Day.....

To those who gave birth this year to their first child—we celebrate with you

To those who lost a child this year – we mourn with you

To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear the badge of food stains – we appreciate you

To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away—we mourn with you

To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment – we walk with you. Forgive us when we say foolish things. We don’t mean to make this harder than it is.

To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you

To those who have warm and close relationships with your children – we celebrate with you

To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children – we sit with you

To those who lost their mothers this year – we grieve with you

To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your own mother – we acknowledge your experience

To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood – we are better for having you in our midst

To those who will have emptier nests in the upcoming year – we grieve and rejoice with you

And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising –we anticipate with you

This Mother’s Day, we walk with you. Mothering is not for the faint of heart and we have real warriors in our midst. We remember you.