Here we go!

I made a decision over the weekend.

I have, like many others I know, battled my weight for many years. I was a cheerleader for 9 years and spent most of it feeling like I was the heaviest girl on the squad. It didn't matter that I weighed about the same as the other girls or that I looked the same as them in our group pictures. I had always seen myself as being overweight and so, I thought I was. Then, I went to ACU and became even more depressed. I hated the heat and never went outside, thus my gain of more than 50 pounds from the beginning of my freshman year through my junior year. Then, I went to Weight Watchers for the first time. I went with my dear roommate and we did pretty good up until my wedding. I think I lost around 20 pounds and I felt better. Then, I became the Director of Singing Groups for ACU and spent the next two years on the road, eating out at every meal. Because we were relatively active, I only gained back about 10 of the 20 pounds I had lost. THEN, I moved to Fort Worth. I think that was my downfall. I became the ultimate couch potato. Thomas was working nights and I was working 12-15 hour days and when I was home, I was a permanent fixture on my love seat. Before I had Callie, I went back to Weight Watchers (2x) and lost a few. Then, I gained them back because I just didn't change myself. Since I moved and had Callie, I have gained 32+ pounds. Most of that happened before I had Callie, so I can't blame pregnancy. I have no excuse.

All that being said, I spent some considerable time in prayer and conversation with myself this weekend. I will be 30 on July 28.
I WILL NOT spend my 30's as I did most of my 20's.
I WILL NOT be exhausted when I walk up more than 10 stairs.
I WILL NOT over-eat every time I sit down at the table.
I WILL NOT take my health for granted.
I WILL NOT have my daughter grow up thinking her Mom is not healthy.
I WILL NOT impose healthy eating habits on my family and not do it myself.

I WILL be an example to Callie.
I WILL have more energy.
I WILL feel better about myself.
I WILL show my family and Thomas that I care about being here for another 60 years and I am not too lazy to take care of myself.
I WILL fit into a size 8.
I WILL pose for a picture without asking the photographer to either take it from a down-shooting angle or "hold on a second while I suck in."

I WILL SUCCEED.

My goal - 50 pounds by September 30, 2007.

Callie and Graycen

Over the last few months, Thomas and I have been watching a little boy named Graycen every Thursday. Graycen is exactly one month younger than Callie and they are hilarious when they are together. To show you how big they are getting, here is a picture from February...

Wait...something fishy is going on...are they holding hands???? Callie can't already be boy crazy!!

Here is a picture from last Thursday (May 24)...

They are getting so big! In the first picture, neither of them were able to sit up on their own, much less crawl around the house (or roll around the house, in Callie's case). It is amazing what babies can accomplish in such a short amount of time. By the way - is it just me, or my baby a bit of a ham on camera?

Misty - thanks for letting me post pictures of Graycen!

Help!

I am in a bind. I LOVE to watch The Price is Right. I watch it everyday. Tonight, there is a $1,000,000 primetime special at 7:00 CST. I will be at church and am hoping (praying) that there is someone out there with a DVR (that can burn DVD's) that will record the special for me! I will bring you a DVD and will even give you a really big hug, if you would do this for me. Any takers???

Music Camp

I just finished assigning singing roles for Music Camp. Phew! I'm glad that part is over! We had so many great kids audition this year. It was really hard to decide which would be best in which singing roles.

Fortunately, I had a group of people helping on choosing the cast. Big thanks to Diane, Mistee, Melissa and Thomas! If you read this blog and you know of a child who is anxiously awaiting the news of which part they are playing, have them stop by the Music Camp table at Heritage on Sunday. Every child who auditioned will have an envelope with their name on it. If you just can't wait until Sunday, call me, comment on my blog or send me an email!!

Make plans to come to our musical this year! The performances are in three weeks (I think). We are doing Nic at Night and it is going to be fantastic!

I was the lucky one...

Today was such an emotional day. Megann went to be with our Father. There is not much more to say than how much I will miss her and how lucky I was to call her a friend. She had so many friends and affected so many lives. I have so many "I wish..." things running through my head.

I wish I had done more with her, taken her picture more, prayed with her more than just at Bunco, encouraged her more, told her "thank you" more....

The comfort I have is that I will get to see her again someday.

For the 10 minutes I actually slept last night, I dreamed this:
I was walking up to the gates of heaven and here come my relatives, who have gone on before me, ready to greet me and welcome me in. My grandfathers and grandmother are there. Jesus is there with open arms. He hugs me tight and beckons me toward the gate. I started walking toward it and then, I heard the sound I wish I could hear right now. THAT LAUGH. That distinctive Megann laugh. Somewhere behind the gate, she is there laughing, talking, and having fun and as I approach, she turns and smiles.

Scary Baby

Callie likes to play in her pack and play every afternoon while Thomas is watching her. I was sitting at my desk the other day when I received this pix message on my phone...

Apparently, she enjoys licking the side of the pack and play.