Flashback!

I came across this picture in an old photo album of mine. I immediately thought who I thought it was. I am curious to see what you guys think. This is me when I was around 3-4 I think with all my little friends. The cool thing is that I also just found the doll that is in the middle of the picture. Emily loves her :)

I put this one on there for comparison :)


Quote: I have had several friends that have written to say they are really been struggling in different areas from temper, money, attitudes to patience. One friend wrote this and I love it: "today I cry for my sad state of affairs and tomorrow I will smile because I have God to help me." Let's not forget....though it feels so alone, we are NOT!!! Keep on keepin' on my friends....let's not faint.

One Year Later!!!

Ok, it is officially one year today that I got the news from Dr. Behm that he wanted me to lose 60 pounds. Unfortunately, even when I meet that plateau, I will still not be able to have any more kids....but I have gotten healthier.

I have lost 44 pounds, and Allen has lost 88 pounds in 52 weeks. That makes it sound like a bigger achievement when I say it has only been 52 weeks. It feels like I have lost so much more than that...perhaps because for the last two months I have been going back and forth. I will take our measurements tonight and post how many inches we have lost. Thank you all for your accountability and encouragement. We couldn't have done this without you!!!!

Memorial Day weekend 2006

June 24, 2007

The Pillsbury couple Memorial Day weekend 2006

July 2006

June 24, 2007...though I am still disgusted by my never shrinking arms >:(

Survey Says......

Good and bad. I had to be on steroids for the past week + because of my bad poison ivy. I worried about what that would mean for my weight loss. I also should be getting you-know anytime. I did however try really hard this week. In fact I even got up at 4:30 am to exercise because otherwise it is so hard to fit in. If you have roomed with me for any time you KNOW that was a struggle. I am so not a morning person. Well I ended up losing a pound. Of course I wanted it to be higher but given the other circumstances I will be satisfied.

Allen lost another 2 pounds putting him at -88!!! Unreal. Beth isn't that what you weigh???!!! Paula lost two pounds as well so she is still in first. Allen is in second. The last weigh in is next Tuesday.

Thursday I am going to weigh in again as it will be my one year anniversary of weight loss!!!

Today's Devotional

LETHAL INJECTION by Gail Rodgers

In a moment of anger it all boils over. Are you depositing toxins into the important relationships in your life without even realizing it?

Think of the common conversations you have with your loved ones. Are your words too often negative and critical? A diet of negativity and criticism will put toxic waste into a relationship often doing irreparable damage.

So often we can justify our criticisms as we point out other's flaws. Yet when the majority of our words and tones have that negative edge we will find we are no longer putting building blocks into that relationship. Rather we are beginning the slow process of demise.

People will seldom remember the words you spoke but they will always remember how you made them feel.How do people feel after an encounter with you?If you find the flow of your words leans toward negativity and criticism more often than not, then do a heart check. What is going on in your heart and mind? Are you feeling bitter, neglected, jealous or perhaps lonely?

Spend some time asking God to show you the root of the negativity that flows from your heart. He can be trusted to reveal the cause and help you find a way to work through it.

Proverbs 4:23 gives us good advice: "Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life."If what springs from the well of your heart does not speak life to those around you, go back and see where you have left your heart unguarded. God will help you discover why negativity found a home there and He can help you change.

I was just thinking about something like this the last couple of days. I was thinking about songs. It seems we all have a song or two that other people "hear" when we enter a room. My friend Karen is always there to help me. When I think of Karen....I hear a cavalry song. There is a person I know who is quite negative. I hear Beethoven's 5th or the theme from JAWS when that person is near. What is your song?

Brody Update

Here is an update I have gotten from my cousin, Erin. God is SO good!!!!

The update of the month.......Brody is at home today will be his first full day home since Friday May 25, yeah I know the accident happened Sunday the 27. Brody will however have to go back to the hospital about 3 time a week for therapy and in about 1-2 weeks to have the piece of his skull put back in. But the good news is he is at home today, he was released yesterday afternoon. Brody has short term memory loss but the doctors are saying that should clear up as the rest of the swelling on his brain goes away. Other than that his mental abilities are okay, he is getting back to being a sassy 7 year old, but to all of us it is music to our ears. He is working on his physical abilities such as climbing stairs, walking, bending over, writing, picking up small objects all he can do but needs a little perfecting. Brody can't wait to get to the track again, Katie calls him a kart junkie, so that is the big news update from me, it may not be big for all of you but when you are excited as we are about this it is huge.

Erin

Picnic

After the parade we went over to the picnic. It is just a lot of food with beer tents and a few rides, but it is a big deal here in Red Bud :) My girls and I got in a little boogeying. We were amazed by the band while we were there. Unlike the bands the other two nights we could hear from our porch...this band could actually sing! So we cut the rug for a minute or two. I was just dying in the heat and humidity! Then thankfully Auntie Karen was there camera ready to take our picture. It is so nice having Karen around....one of the reasons besides her obvious sparkling personality and titillating conversation she is so good about helping me get some pictures with me in them :P

Me and my honey. I couldn't even believe when I saw this picture how slim Allen is looking! Way to go, Babe!!!

Joseph just loves to spend time with his Daddy. I am so grateful to have such a wonderful dad for my kids. It is priceless!

The kids got to ride a couple of rides. Here Samantha and Emily are in the back of the car followed by Hell's Angels Caleb and Hannah on the bikes. They thought it was the best thing. I have lost the excitement of going in a circle :)

Joseph and I were doing a little dancing. I had hugged Allen and kissed him right before this picture. Joseph layed a BIG one on me. He is so dear. I can already see him emulating everything his sweet Daddy does!

Another Monday Dawns

Hard to believe we are starting yet another week. Hard to believe this is the last full week of June! I really HATE how quickly our summer fun goes :( We had a yard sale Friday and Saturday. We got rid of a lot of stuff and made some money to boot. I was very grateful that Karen came over all day Friday and baked in the sun with me. I would never have been able to do it by myself. My kids were actually super though. They enjoyed playing with the toys we were getting rid of. It cracked me up because if they would have played with them that much before they wouldn't have even been in the sale :)

We sold Joseph's highchair. He was getting to be a danger in it. One Sunday morning Allen had put him in there with his breakfast. I was in the kitchen finishing the girls meals. I walked in and Joseph was sitting on the floor!!!! I never even heard a bang of any sort much less cries. He is too funny. So, now he is officially a big boy and sits in a booster. Bitter sweet for the old sentimental mom :*(

Sunday we had a bunch of family and friends down for the Red Bud firemen's parade and picnic. Here are the diva girls. Karen, Monica, Tammy and Sandy. We all had a super time. It is hard not to when we are all together and laughing. Praise God for friends!

Waiting for the parade to start was Papa with Samantha, MawMaw with Emily, Hannah, then in the background is Allen and Joseph. It poured just an hour before the parade, but God was good to us. We had a perfect parade that was dry and by the end of it we were all dripping from the humidity!

Sandy and Tammy got a work out. They sat on the curb with the kids. In fact, they didn't sit much as this parade has the most candy, beads, freezy pops and other things being thrown. They were running around for over an hour helping the kids pick up all the goodies!

My little man had a super time. He was just in awe of all the fire trucks. He can't wait until next year to fight the other kids for all the candy though :)

Homeschool Issues!!!

Ok, I need input from you moms that do homeschooling. Hannah is going to be turning 4 the end of August. Our public school doesn't offer k4 except for at-risk students. I would like to do my own k4 at home. At least I thought I did.

I don't know how you guys do it with other kids at home! How do you keep any focus at all? I had to hold the baby, shoo Emily away four times, chase them off the living room table, yell at them for jumping on the couch.....and that was just the first 5 minutes!!!!

Impart your wisdom ladies!

1. What curriculum do you use
2. How do you make it real school time
3. How long do you do it at a stretch
4. How do you keep younger siblings occupied???

I am so not early childhood! Now when they get in 5-6 grades I am the woman :)

All right!!! Now I am mad!!!

It seems like the weeks that I really try are not paying off as of late. This plateau has got to end. I walked at least 2 miles two times last week and rode 18 miles on a real bike, 5 miles on the exercise bike and did 20 minutes on the elliptical hell machine. And I have lost NOTHING!!!! I am so very irritated!

Allen, however, lost another two pounds. Way to go, Handsome!!! He is getting dangerously close to my weight! Just not allowed. There's motivation, hey Danna?!

Haven't heard from the other competitors, but will post that later

Father's Day Weekend

Here are some more pictures from our Father's Day trip to the train museum.

I love his..."Mom, seriously no more pictures" look!

Yesterday we took a bike ride with Karen and the kids on Grant's Trail. It was a bit hot....97 degrees or so. We ended up riding the whole trail! I was quite proud of all of us. It ended up being just shy of 18 miles. I better score some weight loss on Tuesday.

Father's Day Weekend Saturday edition

We decided that the men in our lives are so special that we needed to take the whole weekend in their honor. Unfortunately, we didn't get to have Bumpa with us (my dad), but we got to call him on Sunday. Here is Allen and his girls with the WWII airplane we bought him. Hannah whispered to him what it was about two weeks ago...what a goof!

I couldn't resist this shadow box from Things Remembered. I didn't realize that store was so reasonable! They even engraved the kids' names on it!

Papa opening his card from the kids. Can you see their awesome signatures?! :)

Comparison

Today we went to the Transportation Musuem aka The Train museum for our Father's Day outing. This is now becoming a tradition. It was very hot, but we had a super time. We are quickly approaching our one year anniversary of this weight loss trial. So, I am posting some pictures for comparison ;)

June 2006

June 2007

Ok, does anyone notice anything hilarious in the next two pictures?

June 2006

June 2007

I asked Allen if he had any comment about this next picture.....he said no...it really speaks for itself :) The funny thing is....I never realized how big we both were.

June 2006

June 2007

Outside

I took this as we were headed over the Poplar Street bridge on our way to the zoo on Sunday.

I love flowers. I don't like to tend them however. Well, maybe I would if I had the time. Plus, they are expensive. So, the year before last I planted wild flowers. Well, I added to them this year just from package. They are doing so well. I just love them. So, of course I had to post them for you all to see as most of you haven't been to my house and probably won't for a while.

My cutie pies playing outside. It has been 90 degrees this whole week, so we have been in the pool a lot :)

Did You Get Your Pearls ON???

I have often marveled that June Cleaver could have a tasty roast in the oven, a cake from scratch cooling, her house clean and her pearls on by the time Mr Cleaver got home. I have a hard time getting any of those done lately and surely never get them all done. Today I decided I was going to try really hard so Allen could come home to a calmer house and not have work to do to help me...plus I also wanted him to see his wife, not just the mother of his kids.

So, I don't do roasts....so I put some chicken in the crock pot. I didn't make a dessert from scratch but that is ok because we are trying to cut out desserts. My house was fairly clean, and I took a shower right before he came home.....and I remembered my pearls!!! He is so wonderful. He noticed everything. And I know that he appreciated the extra effort.

How about you? Do you forget to be someone's wife and lover in the midst of being a mom like I do?

Remember to put your pearls on from time to time :)

To Scratch or Not to Scratch

Pray for me. I got into some poision ivy or more likely poison oak this past weekend. It is on both wrists and forearms, both calves. I am miserable. Any suggestions?

Brody Update

Here is the latest update on Brody. I just cut and pasted it from my cousin Erin's email. What a huge praise!!!!! He is a miracle. Thank you to all of you who were part of praying for just that. My family can't thank you enough!

The update of the month.......Brody is at home today will be his first full day home since Friday May 25, yeah I know the accident happened Sunday the 27. Brody will however have to go back to the hospital about 3 time a week for therapy and in about 1-2 weeks to have the piece of his skull put back in. But the good news is he is at home today, he was released yesterday afternoon. Brody has short term memory loss but the doctors are saying that should clear up as the rest of the swelling on his brain goes away. Other than that his mental abilities are okay, he is getting back to being a sassy 7 year old, but to all of us it is music to our ears. He is working on his physical abilities such as climbing stairs, walking, bending over, writing, picking up small objects all he can do but needs a little perfecting. Brody can't wait to get to the track again, Katie calls him a kart junkie, so that is the big news update from me, it may not be big for all of you but when you are excited as we are about this it is huge.

Erin

I Forgot!

Yahoo...it is Wednesday already. I am so glad, but that does mean that I forgot to post the results from yesterday's weigh in. I was down the 3 pounds I had gained. Allen lost all 8 of his too :) Chris and Dana both gained, but Paula has lost another two pounds!!! Grrr, she is getting tougher and tougher to catch. So, she is in first followed by Allen, me, Chris and Dana bringing up the rear. We only have 2-3 more weeks in this challenge. Time has flown....and I really have not done well.

Today's Devotional

"I have stilled and quieted my soul..." (Psalm 131:2).

Whether it be the insistent cry of the corporate ladder, the more vocal cry of small children, or the never-ending cry of our loneliness, cacophony surrounds us. However, even the most "type A" personally eventually discovers that the soul, that deep place within, longs - indeed requires - stillness.

I am amazed that the writer of Psalm 131 does not ask for a seminar, retreat or religious "professional" to teach him how to be quiet. He simply says, "I have stilled and quieted my soul..." Did he hide in a cave in the midst of actual battle for moments of spiritual re - arming? Perhaps it was during the daily schedule of unrelenting decision-making as king that he escaped into a quiet side room of the palace?

In our modern world with its press of sound via television, radio, iPods, internet and cell phones, it becomes imperative for the Christian to learn how to "still and quiet" the soul. But this is not a habit that comes naturally; we are attuned to the clock and calendar, somehow wanting instant quietness without effort.

Anyone who has suffered through learning to play a musical instrument knows the tendency to skip over those daily and often frustrating practice sessions. In similar fashion, any spiritual practice must also be actually practiced.The psalmist says that the result of a stilled and quieted soul is the attitude of a small child who leans close to his mother, fully confident in her love, care and protection. There is ultimate and sure blessing ahead for the one who is learning to be still and quieted

.~Lord, I am impatient for so many things. I want results without effort, without practice. Not only does my head know that I need quiet, but the core of my being longs for it. Please help me understand and practice the disciplines that will lead to a stilled soul.

Requested Pictures from the Fort

Here is Caleb "shooting" Emily's cool new gun!

A little too authentic?? No butts about it :)

We got to see Dave and Belinda during some of the show :) Aren't they so cute?

Zoo Trip con't

Karen blowing out the candles on her dippin' dots....you just gotta make do!

Yes, that is my butt in all its glory for the whole blogging community to see. I had to post this. Stuff like this always happens to me. While in line for our lunch I had to bend over to get my zoo membership card....well, my brand new....no I mean BRAND new pants that I just took off the tags this morning ripped! The seam was completely decimated by the time we were done at the zoo. Thank goodness I opted for the white undies yesterday!!!

Ha ha ha! We thought it quite fitting that Tammy found her name sake in the chimps Fragile Forest. Too funny!

The birthday girl donning her princess tiara while opening one of her gifts. I drew out the gift opening by making her open one an hour throughout the zoo :)