Growing in God

2017 is quickly coming to an end, and holy crap! I cannot even believe I am saying those words, it feels like it was just yesterday that 2017 even started. And this year, has been pretty crazy, but yet, really, overall, a pretty good year. I can't complain too much. So, lets take a look at the goals I had for last year. My first goal was to make this year a really good and positive year after having such a hard year in 2016. And did I accomplish that? I would say, overall, YES! This year was a very good and positive year. I mean, yes, I had some rough times in the last couple of months, but still, overall, I am doing well and still remaining pretty positive. 2017 has been a thousand times better than what 2016 was for me and my family. And there has been so many wonderful times and great things that have happened and overall it has just been wonderful. And it has been a full year of us living in our new condo, which has been so good for all of us, as well! Really helped with the ...

I am feeling a need to hit a refresh button on my life. Wipe my slate clean and begin anew. Why? Well, some details I won't go into on the internet. But mostly because of the way things have been for me the last couple of months. Let me start with I feel things were going just so good for me, that I feel like I was almost getting caught up in it. I was getting lost in just how good things were that I think I was letting some underlining insecurities pop up and take control. And then when I started dealing with something unbelievably difficult, my insecurities really came forward and things completely crumbled around me. And where do I feel I was the most lost in all of it? My faith. Since losing my Mom, I always seem to have a hard time of where do I turn when I need someone to talk to and help me through things. Because my Mom was always my go-to person for everything in my life and she helped me through everything. She was my rock and strength and she kept me sane. And sin...

Here is a very Happy Thanksgiving post to you all! As I sit here and think about everything I am thankful for, there is just so much that I am so thankful for. First off, I am thankful for all of the wonderful people I have in my life. My family, my friends, and my coworkers. To my family, thank-you for loving me and supporting me and standing by my side through thick and thin. I know you all would do anything for me and I cannot thank-you enough for that. To my friends and coworkers(some of my best friends) thank-you, also, for loving me and supporting me, especially in my worst of times. I know, especially in the last month, I have not always been the most enjoyable person and I am sure you had moments where I dreaded seeing me walk in the door. But even if that were the case, you guys still hugged me, loved me, sat with me, let my cry on you, vent to you, talk to you, and work things through with you. You have helped me in so many ways. And, again, I cannot thank-you enough for be...

Well, not I am just diving right into this post because I have no idea how to really start it off other than just diving in. So, here it goes. I am 2 years post-op from having my weight loss surgery. I have lost 219 pounds and I am so happy! I have never been happier! I can finally do everything I have ever wanted to do and I am a whole new me. I can ride roller coasters, wear normal people clothes, sit criss-cross-applesauce, cross my legs, go up a flight of stairs without being winded, run around and play without being tired, clean my house without feeling like I am going to die, I can climb a sand dune, an so much more! I love it and love where I am! But, with this weight loss, I have learned some things about myself. These things I have learned about myself, have been just recently, with having my arm surgery and being in this "recovery phase" and having to "take it easy". First thing I have learned, "taking it easy" just is not my vocabulary. And ...

So, on August 16, 2017, I had my arm lift surgery or brachioplasty. Going into it, I was very excited, and I had fully expected for there to be some pain and some challenges. I had it in my head that I would be laid up for awhile and things were just going to be challenging for awhile. Well, this has been a way easier experience than I anticipated, and even though it was a pretty major surgery, it hasn't felt all that major. Let me just explain. On the day of my surgery, I went in at around 11:00 and they got me all prepped, hooked me to an IV an things like that. And my plastic surgeon actually has an operating room in his office, so I was at his office, and not a hospital. Shortly before my surgery, my surgeon came in, he drew on my arms and made marks where he was going to do the cutting, and where he was going to do the liposuction. And then after that, I was given the "happy juice" and then brought to the operating room where I was put to sleep. The surgery lasted ...

For those of you who don't know, I work in daycare as an Assistant Teacher in a Preschool room (3&4 year-old's). I absolutely love my job, I really do. I feel like I am where I am suppose to be and like I am right where God wants me. But, just because I love it, does not mean it is always easy. In fact, there are some days, I want to run away screaming. In this post I just want to talk about what it is really like working in daycare. Now lets start off with the best parts of the job. For me, the absolute best part of the job is getting to interact with the kids and helping them grow and learn and become the people God is calling them to be. I love watching them learn and play and get smarter and stronger in everything they do. Also, you never know what a kid will say or do, and sometimes, it just makes you burst into laughter and makes your day so much better. And getting lots of hugs, kisses, and "I love you's" makes it all worth while. And getting to inter...

I got a couple of things I just HAVE to post about. Because both are pretty big things for me and pretty big updates in my life and this whole crazy weight loss journey I have been on. First off, I have a HUGE NSV(Non-Scale Victory) to share. Yesterday(7/14/17) I went to "Michigan's Adventure" with my younger brother and my 9-year-old niece, Sophia. I have not been there for years. And the last time I was there, most of the rides, I wasn't even able to go on because I was too big and couldn't fit. I remember even being tossed off one of the rides and I felt humiliated! I felt so self-conscious and felt like I really wasn't getting to enjoy the park. But this time, I felt so confident and so excited, and I was proud to march up to every single ride and hop on and ride them with absolutely no problem! There was one roller coaster that I never even rode on before because I was too scared and because I knew I probably wouldn't fit. And this time I walked rig...