2010 – What a year!

To close out 2010, I decided to write about 10 moments that happened to me this year that have marked my life. These things have left such an impression on me that I can remember the exact day and probably time that all these things happened.

This would be really long if I did it all in one post so I am going to do a post a day for the rest of the week with two of my ten moments.

1. January 2^nd – Glasses

After getting dizzy a lot and having headaches when reading, Jesse told me I should get my eyes checked. I thought, wow this could be the reason for all my dizziness and headaches. I just want them to stop. I was feeling so sick I told Jesse “we need to go to Lens Crafters today in case I do need glasses so I can get them right away”. I was sitting in the chair doing the tests and my left eye was bad. I teared up. I used to be so proud of my “perfect” vision. Sitting there I knew what was coming……….. The doctor said I had a stigmatism in my left eye and needed glasses. My world shattered at that moment. But I went and found glasses I liked, and here I am with my new glasses!

2. January 11^th – Prism

Today Jesse dragged me to the church for some weight loss meeting I didn’t know anything about. He told me “we are doing this!” I was like “I don’t know anything about this”. So I sat through the meeting and listened to everything. I decided that day I was going to do the “impossible” and follow this program and maybe lose weight. Well I haven’t reached my goal weigh yet, but I am succeeding at losing weight for the first time in my life! Here is my before picture!

New experiences and old recipes

Jesse and I just got back from our anniversary trip. Yes, we went to Disneyland. But it was so different then all the other times we have been. How you ask? Well we both have lost a lot of weight this year. I have gone down 4 sizes!!!!! Last year on our anniversary trip to Disneyland we were walking to a ride and Jesse said, “let’s set a weight loss goal before we come back”. I said “ok, what about 80 lbs being my goal”. So we decided that we wouldn’t come back until I lost 80 lbs. Well I haven’t lost 80 lbs. but being that I have lost 67 was close enough. So, I was excited to see how different Disneyland would be 67 lbs. lighter. Well it was different! Here are some before and after pictures of us.

Now we stayed at Jesse’s Grandma’s house and drove to Disneyland each day to save a few bucks. Well ever since I met Grandma Lucy and tried her apple pie, I have always wanted the recipe. On our honeymoon we stayed one night at her house and she made us two pies! They were delicious. Before we left she gave me her glass pie plate. I was so happy that she would pass that down to me! But I really wanted the pie recipe too!!!!! Well, she didn’t give it to me. I was a little sad, but glad to have her pie plate passed down to me.

Well this year she made us pie early and baked it for us when we got to her house. So sweet! But she talked a lot about not being up to cooking anymore. My ears perked up and I thought, “Well, maybe she is ready to hand down her apple pie recipe”. It was wishful thinking. We stayed four nights. On Thursday, the day we were leaving, we were watching the cooking channel and she kept asking me questions about baking and cooking. Then I heard the most glorious words, the words I was waiting to hear for 7 year, “I’ll give you my pie recipe”. I was elated!!! I tried not to freak out on her!

On the way home I studied the recipe to see what I would need to purchase the minute I got home. I decided to make her apple pie for Thanksgiving. I knew I would need to practice before, so I bought everything I needed yesterday and made my very first Jazz Apple Pie, By Lucille DeShane. Here are some pictures.

When invited Philip, Brynn and Silas, and James over to help us eat it! It was delicious!

Day 64

So today was day 64 of my weight-loss journey. It is also day 11 of limiting our TV watching.

I know it has been awhile since my last post, and a lot has happened since then. I have lost 25 lbs total since January 10th; one clothing size. The awesome thing is that my attitude about food has completely changed! I know the things I have learned I will do the rest of my life.

OK, so limiting TV watching to just three shows a week was hard at first. I think Jesse and I put more emotionally into it then we thought. It became something we did together to relax from a busy day, push unwanted thoughts out of our minds, distract us from what was going on in our lives. Once we stopped, we noticed we didn't have a way to unwind and took out our frustrations on each other. This may sound like I am saying TV is good for us, but that would be wrong. I'm also not saying that TV is bad, just that all things should be done in moderation.
So we are making a list of all the things we need to do with our newly discovered "free time". We went through a book shelf in Jesse's office and got rid of the books we didn't need anymore. Today we went through our bedroom closet and got rid of all our clothes that don't fit us anymore. I got my shoes rack back up and put my shoes in order. It just feels so good now. I love it when things are neat and orderly.
So we are excited to see what we can get done with all our new free time!

Day 8

Well today is day 8 of my journey through the Prism weight loss program. It was a pretty good week. Today Jesse is sick so I am trying to not get sick. I have been washing my hands like crazy and trying not to breathe in when I go to the bedroom to give him something. My emotions are kinda crazy today. I also am tired but want to do something but too tired to do anything. So I thought I would blog.
I thought went I started my new diet I would go through withdrawals. I didn't but now I am dealing with my blood sugar going too low more than once a day. Not eating sugar or white flour is easier then I thought. Jesse and I are making lots of good meals and are satisfied. It's easy when we are home. I don't have to feel "left out". It's stupid but this last week I realized I am a social eater. I like to be in with what other are eating. It was hard for me at first. Even on Sunday morning when everyone was eating the mini cheesecakes.
This is not easy to talk about. I usually keep all this inside. But I guess that's how I got to this place. I don't like to be different. I don't like to be mocked or made fun of. All the jokes about hurt at first. But God showed me something this week and became so real in my life. I don't think I could have learned it a better way. Steven talked about it on Sunday. That we have to look different than the world. We have to stand out.
God told me loud and clear. I have be OK with standing out and being different. If I'm not, something is wrong. I can't look like the world. I have to look like Jesus. I shouldn't be comfortable and trying to fit in with everyone.
So in spite of all that has gone on this week, I have never felt this good about myself. EVER.
Now lets see if I have the courage to post this...........................

My, How Time Flies

I still can't believe that it is already almost November. In just 15 days Jesse and I leave for your one year anniversary trip. Wow. It has been such a good year. God has been good to us.
Over the last 11 months of my newly married life people have been asking me the same question. "How's married life?" At first I was like, "Great" and didn't think much of it. But after the tenth time it got me thinking. I'm not saying it hasn't been great, because it has. But really, what did they want me to say, "It's not what I thought it would be at all". Then I got to thinking, for some people marriage changes their lives in a way they didn't think it would. But for me it just made my life better. Jesse and I have followed God's leading in our lives all the way up to the wedding. So how could the first year of married life be bad? Well, it's been great and I am so excited to see what God had in store for us next year!

Fun

Whew, am I tired. I had a super fun, super LONG weekend. I thank God for all my friends. Four days of games, swimming, movies. Jesse and I had an awesome weekend hanging out with everyone. Now it's time to get back into the routine of a regular week.

I Win!

Yep! I finally got my mom's sewing machine set up and figured out how to use it! I already have a long list of things to make for people. So I better get started...........