1.30.2011

Bro

I learned a lesson from my brother today. It's simple, just like him.
He said this,"I try to do better tomorrow than I did today."
What a great way to think.
From a man that operates a piece of heavy equipment and grades land and digs ditches for a living.
He is rich because he knows Jesus.

1.28.2011

Downhill swing

I finally feel like I might have gotten over my weight loss plateau.
Just maybe. I managed to lose 2.8 lbs this week, putting me at 28.6 lbs total lost.
My goal is 40 lbs, so I am almost 3/4 of the way there!
I'm pretty excited about the new me.
I like the way I feel carrying around less weight and I'm starting to appreciate being a smaller size.
I still have that part of me that feels my efforts are just not good enough, but I think that is part of being a female. I'm just a little hard on myself.

So with that, I keep going. My current goal is to be complete done with my weight loss by Tax Day, April 15th. Not sure why it ended up being that day, but it works!

1.26.2011

Future Missionary

Evan and I have the honor of serving on our church's Missions Board.
Tonight we had an amazing meeting filled with great joy and a clear future about the missionaries that our church supports.
But what happened after the meeting will forever leave an impression on my life.
My sweet Haley asked me to tell her some of the names of the people our church supports that are missionaries.
I named a few and then I decided just to hand her the paperwork from our meeting and let her see all of the names.
She started down the list and said, "Mr.Nathan and Mrs.Erin, Jonathan and Heather, Pete and Abby, Mr.Rick...."
My child knew about 75% of the names on that list and most of them she has met personally.
She has eaten dinner with these families. She has played with their children. She has seen their ministries first hand.
And I would bet you that one day, her name might very well be on that list.
Our family is blessed to know so many great people sharing Jesus around the world.

1.24.2011

Someone Believes in Me

It took me years to get a Blackberry and now I get emails on demand.
I thought it was a good thing, but sometimes I think it's difficult to truly take in the words of a good email when you are riding in the car or standing in the kitchen or shopping at Target.
The other day I got an email from one of my heroes.
A short and simple email that I read quickly in the car.
It was a request.
A request for me to mentor a younger woman.
And my response was immediate- ABSOLUTELY!
Then I had the HOLY CRAP thought a few hours later when I looked at the email again and realized that someone was wanting me to share my life with a stranger. Someone thought I was worthy of sitting with and sharing with and growing with this girl.
I was floored.
I then happened to look down at my tattooed foot.
And 2 thoughts came to mind:
I wonder if she ever thought her mentor would have tattoos?
And I wonder if she will mind me starting my story by telling her about the scripture I have on my foot- the one that happens to be in the form of a tattoo.
Instantly I felt good about meeting my new friend.
The fear I had after realizing I made a huge commitment in a seconds time faded and the assurance that I was someone good to talk to, worthy of being a mentor took over.
I am ready to share 32 years of experience with confidence.
I am ready to share my story.

1.23.2011

Chemistry Lesson

Iodine- Element #53 on the periodic table.
Essential for human life.
Our enemy for the next 2 weeks.

It has come that time again when Evan's diet cannot include Iodine. None. Zero.
The first couple of times he was on an Iodine free diet, we had a list of forbidden foods and acceptable foods given to us by an endocrinologist. This time, we have a list from Emory.
Needless to say, the new list is a lot more restrictive.
Crazy restrictive.

No worries though, we can handle it.
Because in the end, after the scan and tests are complete, we are hoping for an official all clear.
So if eating vegetables with a side of vegetables means he could get a clean scan, then bring on the veggies!

And your prayers are certainly appreciated leading up to the week of Feb. 5-9 when we will spend many hours up at Emory getting Evan poked and prodded.
Thanks for sharing in our adventure back to health!

1.21.2011

Stud Muffin


He's down 51 pounds.
And he's super hot.
I like to call him "scrawny". Something I don't think he thought he would ever be called.
I'm super proud of him. I know you're tired of hearing about it.
But I have the right to be proud.
What man with no thyroid loses 51 pounds?
My man does! And for that, he gets several posts on my blog dedicated to him.


1.20.2011

Win or Lose

This morning I was sitting in the kitchen as the kids ate breakfast being my usual crappy morning self.
I mentioned to Evan that I wanted to quit my weight loss journey and be done. I am tired of trying with little recent success.
And then my blonde headed little booger of a 5 year old looks up from his waffle and says,"Only losers quit Mommy". Then he went back to his waffle.
And then I was reminded about why I am supposed to be losing weight- for my health. So that I will be around for those kids when they are teenagers and really start calling me a loser.

1.19.2011

#26

To date I have lost 26 lbs.
And I have been that way for about a month now.
Let's go ahead and call it a plateau.
Or how about a flippin' plateau.
I'm not happy about it.
But it's my fault right?
I mean who tries to lose weight during the holidays and during a trip to Disney World?
Shouldn't I just be happy that I managed to maintain my weight loss?
Yes I should.
But I'm ready to be done with this little challenge.
I'm ready to move on to bigger and better goals.
But having 14 more pounds to lose is killing me!
So much so that I even told the lady behind the counter at the "meat and three" restaurant I ate at today. And I told the lady at the sandwich shop yesterday. Heck, I've told everyone!!
I STILL HAVE 14 MORE POUNDS TO GO!!!!
And the response I get..
"You do not, you look just fine the way you are." or "You'll be too skinny if you lose 14 more pounds."
Well nice people, as much as I would like to believe you my trusty Weight Watchers book tells me differently and I'm not even in the healthy range yet!
I'm 10 lbs. from healthy range!
And I've got to do it.
I've got to get the final weight off.
I just have to figure out how.
I know how. Less eating out and more exercise. Duh.
I've just got to do it.
Easier said than done. But easy stuff is for sissies. Bring it on.

1.18.2011

The Difference a Year Makes


These pictures are about one year apart.
The one on the top was post surgery January 19th, 2010.
At that point we had no idea Evan had cancer.
We just knew they removed a really big mass and his thyroid from his neck.
The one on the rbottom was taken today, January 18th, 2011.
Not only can you not even tell he had a major surgery, but we are pretty certain that his body has beaten this stuff.
No scar and hopefully no cancer ever again.
It's amazing the difference a year can make.
Physical healing. Emotional healing.
Renewed body and spirit.


1.17.2011

On Disappointment

I haven't blogged much lately for fear of disappointment.
I don't like to put something out there that is half ass just for the sake of having something.
In fact, I don't believe in half assed work.
Not at all.
I believe in nothing but your best.
And it has really caught up with me lately when it comes to my relationship with others.
It seems like I find myself being disappointed by others more and more.
I keep telling myself that not everyone is like me.
Not everyone has the abilities or energy that I do.
Frankly, not everyone had the drive instilled in them that I did.
But there is always the part of me that wants to be mad and get angry at others simply because I'm disappointed.
Here's the real problem I think- I'm just not willing to let others be disappointed in me.
So I give my everything. I will completely drain myself only to figure out that I could have done less and gotten by. And ultimately my impact isn't really that far reaching.
The only person it seems it matters to is me.
So what do I do?
Do I sit back and do less? Focus on my family and screw the needs of others?
Do I stop hosting the parties and get togethers? Someone else can do it right?
Do I stop giving of myself, my time and my resources and start actually doing more for my household?
Nope.
I can't.
Because there would be one disappointed Savior upstairs who gave His all to save me and to give me all I need. And who better to mimic but Jesus himself.
I will continue to do and give until it hurts.
And more and more I've realized that to reach my true potential, I'll have to make some changes in my life. Where I'm at right now doesn't make sense with the plan I feel God has in store for me.
But I have to consider all that is best for my family.
Together we will have to prayerfully consider what God has in store.
Until then, I'll just keep kickin' butt with what I have.
It's what I do.

1.12.2011

Track Star(s)

See that S up there?
One of us has been inspired.
I can walk like a mad woman on the treadmill, but I've decided I'd like to learn to run.
Not necessarily long distances.
I just want to be able to run and not feel like I might die.

There are a million plans that one can follow, but I am going to employ what has worked great for Evan. A walk/run plan.
I have a small issue right now because our treadmill died.
But as soon as I can get to Sears and buy a new one I will. Hopefully this week if the weather cooperates.

And at that point I want to train for a 5k. A simple 5k. But more than just finishing, I want to run more than I walk during said 5k.
And before I set anymore goals, I want to be done with the first one.

And I'm hoping that weighing 26 pounds less than I did this time 4 months ago will make my goal a little easier to obtain. We'll see. Wish me luck- I think I'm crazy! But I'm crazy because I was inspired.

1.10.2011

Triumph

At 3:30 am the morning of the race, Evan could not reach down to tie his shoes. He has been battling sciatica for a few weeks now and is back and legs are is terrible pain. But you would not have known it by his performance at the Half Marathon.
He did so awesome. His goal was to finish in less than 2:30 and he crossed the line at 2:22. A little less than an 11 mile pace for 13.1 miles.
The most amazing part- he looked great at the finish line. Like it was something he was meant to do. Something that has become second nature. I can't tell you enough how proud I am of him for pushing through the pain and doing his best. He truly has taken what God has given him over the last year and made the best of it.
And hopefully I'll have a few more posts about our trip overall. It was a blast, but like usual, it was an adventure!

1.05.2011

The excitement is building


Evan and Lori:
2010 wasn't the best year for you.
I mean there was the cancer and all.
But now everything is looking pretty awesome for 2011.
So what are you going to do?
WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

One of us might be a little more excited than the other (that would be me).
Because I don't have to run 13.1 miles in the middle of my vacation.
But man I can't wait to see Evan cross that finish line.

I'm so freaking proud of him anyway for just being him.
But running a half marathon one year after having your thyroid removed and being treated for cancer?
That's pretty darn amazing to me.
So off we go- the four of us, Chad and Bee, me and Evan.
We will act like kids and ride all the rides.
And we will cheer Evan on to the finish.
I'm beyond excited!

1.03.2011










One of my favorite purchases from Christmas.
I like to call them Shit Kickers.
It's been a while since I've had a pair of boots.
Mainly because I think big girls look kinda funny in cowboy boots.
But being 25 lbs. lighter, I'm ok with wearin' boots now.
And I love these because they don't have some crazy long pointed toe.
Nice and rugged. Nothing fancy.
Just like me.