Life Happens

I hope yall will forgive me for the personal post.  Sometimes life just has a way of hitting you right between the eyes.  My father-in-law has been sick for a while, just gradually getting worse as the years go by.  We all knew he was declining, but none of us knew how bad he was.  He passed away this past Sunday.  It's one thing when you hear the news, but another completely when you're there when it happens.  I am so glad we were there, but it has been a heart-wrenching time.  Looking thru pictures, planning his funeral, dealing with all the details I have never had to think about...it's all overwhelming, and sad, and eye-opening to how short life really is.  Foot surgery is still a go for tomorrow morning...pray for my sanity.

In other news, my sister (my absolute best friend, right after my sweet husby) and her family are moving here from California....starting the drive on Sunday!!!  They are going to be staying with us until they get settled, and that means giving up my sewing room.  I have a LOT of packing and moving still to do...but it is SOO worth it :o)

Hope yall are having a great week so far...and that I will be posting something wonderfully quilty very soon!

Challenges

I have been writing this post in my mind for a while now...months really.  My blog is a place to share myself, what I do and who I am.  I hope that's okay with yall!  So, in that spirit, I am going to share something I am challenging myself to do, and will hold myself accountable here.  I have posted a couple of times about losing weight, and haven't done a dang thing about it so far!  But today is just different....let me tell you why.

My husband and I are planning to celebrate our 15 year wedding anniversary next summer by taking a big trip...without the girlies!!  At least it's big to me ;o)  Unless one of us dies, or something else tragic happens, we're going to Europe for 11 glorious days.  It's a 3 city tour through London, Paris, and Rome and I am SERIOUSLY excited about it!!!!  I have been DYING to go to Europe since I could say the words Eiffel Tower, and had planned to live there after I got out of college, before getting married.  Needless to say, plans change!  I'm so glad they did :o)  But I still want to visit!

All that to say, I was reviewing the itinerary this morning, just could not focus on work, so I thought I would just read up on a couple places we may plan to visit.  And I thought about all the pictures I want to take, but also all the pictures I want to be in of me and my husband, or just him or just me hugging the Eiffel Tower.  Then I got to thinking about the tours I want to take and how I want to walk through Versailles for the entire day if I wanted.

Problem, I hate pictures of myself, but I want to take a picture of us in front of something fabulous and not worry about how fat I look in the picture!!  I want to be fit enough to trapse around Paris all day without feeling exhausted half way through.

Now...the CHALLENGE! And bear with me, but I am excited about this!

I have about 430 days until we go on our trip (wow, that's longer than I thought!) and I have 100 pounds to lose.  Yep, you read that right.  100 pounds.  I would be happy with 75, but I am setting my goal at 100.

In case you're wondering, that's about 1.5 pounds a week.  Doable, yes?

Changes will HAVE to be made though or this just won't happen.  Diet is one thing, but exercise is another.  My job involves sitting at a computer all day, then when I quilt/craft, I am sitting down!  I don't really exercise, and that is not good when you're over 30 and trying to lose weight!!

Here is the plan!  I am going to track my progress very publicly, here on my blog.  Could either be really embarrassing if I fail or really motivating if I keep it up.  I know the WW plan inside and out and I am joining the Y so I can start swimming.  I can't really do much walking yet, because of my stupid foot (another story altogether!).  I'd like to work up to walking or even running or zumba, but the thought of breaking my foot again terrifies me!

If you are in my shoes, needing a kick in the pants to get started, I hope you'll keep tuning in!  I am going to dedicate my Mondays to all things healthy, weight or exercise related.  I am going to have a linky party, so that you can share what is inspiring you! Maybe it's just a recipe you want to share, or your own weight-loss, exercise challenges.  It doesn't matter, the more, the merrier!!  

Soooo, please join in for my first Motivation Monday on April 9th!!  It would be really sad if I hosted a linky party and no one shows up :o)

I leave you today with 2 great blogs, very real and down-to-earth, of 2 real women who have lost weight and are staying healthy!

Mama Laughlin

Runs for Cookies

Birthday Weekend Re-cap

Birthdays are always a big deal in my family!  Yesterday was my birthday...can't believe I am another year older!  My husband is just awesome, and planned an entire day just for me.  I felt so special!  Saturday morning, we dropped my girlies off with Nana.  Then the hubs whips out a list of 6 quilt shops in the area that I've never been to...along with their addresses.  He told me that we were going to all of them and I could get 1 yard of fabric from each!  He is such a doll.  So, we plugged in the first address into the GPS and were off.  It was just the best day, spending time with my man all day, having fun in the car driving to each new place, and he helped me pick out some pretty great fabrics.

We went all over creation, Raleigh, Wake Forest, Cary, Apex.  There were 2 shops that I just loved.  I also got to try out a long arm quilting machine...squeal!!  I have always wanted to try one and I finally did it!  The last shop we went to offered lessons and quilting by the hour.  It's a 4 hour class, and then you get 2 free hours on the Gammill long arm.   I am definitely going to sign up for that one!

We ended up getting cupcakes at Gigi's Cupcakes, did some more shopping, and then went to get the girlies for dinner.  I had no idea what the plans were for the day, so I didn't bring my camera! oh well.  My husband is absolutely the best, hands down.

13 Years

Thirteen years ago today, I married my best friend.  We met at college, the very first week.  I was the outgoing California girl taking ID card pictures, and he was the shy southern boy who came thru my line.  We didn't meet again for 2 weeks, but when we sat next to each other in English class and I heard his southern drawl, I knew I would marry him someday.

It's been an amazing 13 years...even though we've had some bumps and struggles along the way.  Those struggles have taught me so much about God's goodness and grace.  In the past 5 years, my husband has had 3 brain tumors, 3 surgeries, and 6 weeks of radiation.  The first tumor was the size of a golf ball pressing on his optic nerve causing him to lose his vision and have horrible headaches.  Every 6 months is a check-up MRI, never knowing what that might bring, but God is always good even when the report isn't.  It's very likely he'll have more tumors, but for now, it's clear.  There may come a time when he has a tumor pop up that brings the worst news...cancer.  The doctor thought the 3rd one was cancer.  Those were dark days....I thought I would lose my best friend and end up raising my 2 little girls alone.  I smiled for him and for the kids, but wheeling him into surgery a 3rd time....it just crushed my heart.  Hours later the surgeon reported no cancer, just a benign tumor.  He would still have his 6 week recovery, but I still had him with me.

I really am thankful for the struggles.  I appreciate and love him so much more than I think I would have without those hard times.  Sometimes I feel like we're living on borrowed time, but isn't everyone?  No one really knows what's around the corner or what the day may bring.

I love so many things about him.  I love that he's big and super strong.  He gives the BEST bear hugs ever...I used to ask him to squeeze me as hard as he could and without even trying he'd squeeze so hard I almost couldn't breathe!  Then I would try and couldn't make him flinch!  I love that he is a faithful man, loyal to those he loves.  He's a wonderful Christian who loves the Lord more than anything else.  He invests himself each school year, trying to touch as many kids' lives as he can.  he's quiet and firm, but cares so much.  He's fun and and has a great sense of humor.  And he's such a fun, sweet daddy to our 2 girls, too, which makes me love him more.  He loves me and puts up with all my insanity :o)  The list could just go on and on.

Happy 13th Anniversary to my best friend!

Super Excited!!!

Up until about 8 months ago, I had NEVER broken anything in my body...which is pretty much a miracle since I am a world class clutz and always have been!!  It's ridiculous how clumsy I am sometimes! I got my broken foot from falling down my stairs at home...nothing glamorous at all about it.  Long story short, I had to have a cast on the past 6 weeks after surgery to repair a break in my heel bone (after 6 1/2 months of walking around with it broken).  I got a purple cast so at least I could match my toes...is that a girl thing or what?!?!  So, the exciting thing about today???

I'M GETTING MY CAST OFF!!!!!

After surgery they don't really wash off the orange-y looking stuff they slather on you, so my toes have been wearing this wonderful orange hue.  I have tried to baby-wipe them, but I think it has to just wear off.  Anyway, I am glad to get this thing off so I can walk again without crutches, wash my foot with SOAP AND WATER, wear cushy socks on BOTH feet, can scratch my ankle without the use of a dowel rod, and can SHAVE MY LEG again....can I get a hallelujah!!!!!

Thoughts for Thursday

I love getting to know people through blogging!  I have been to so many great blogs and have met some amazing people!  So with that thought it mind,  here are a few facts about me:

1.  My active book on my Kindle right now is Sherlock Holmes.  I love to read and LOVE my Kindle!!  I am on the road to and from school and work so much and it's perfect for reading on the go.

2.  My favorite drink of all time is Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry.  As of right now, nothing beats it.

3.  I always have to have something to do....I can't stand just doing nothing.  This is probably why I have a gazillion hobbies!!

4.  I have knock knees.  Google it...nuff said.

5.  I HATE clowns!  They scare the crap out of me, whether they are meant to be cutesy and playful or scary and mean.  I blame the Scooby Doo cartoon with the clown at the carnival...scarred me for life.

Okay, enough sharing!  There's my 5 facts for today :o)