It Feels Good!

Hi There!  I know  I know!  It's been a few days since I last posted anything, but time is literally flying by and my schedule has been crazy.  I've committed to doing more inspirational speakings, running the family mission, being a mom and wife, exercising my butt off and finding time to breathe.  Whew, I'm out of breath just typing all of that!

I honestly don't know my numbers for my weight, because I chose not to weigh in until December 1st.  I love that date, so it will be extra fabulous to weigh in on one of my favorite days of the year. (=
On Saturday we were getting dressed to go to the grocery store and by accident I grabbed one of Princess Charlie's extra-large shirts.  I put it on and it fit me beautifully!!  Once I found out it was her shirt instead of mine I danced my butt off. (=

So many changes are going on with me both externally and internally.  I'm trying to find the time to blog about it, because I feel it could be of assistance to others who are going through the same challenges as myself.  I hope to have something up very soon.

I'm Noticing - Weightloss Update

It's funny how our bodies change as we change.  I've been noticing many things lately and a lot of it is truly funny to me. (=

On the weight loss front I am still slimming down and I'm very happy about that.  I've started walking in place and that has boosted my weight loss for me.  Doing this makes me feel energized!  Naturally I have to do it will sitting down, but with God's help it is doing some great things. (=

I'm Noticing:

1. Bulges in certain spots are gone
2. I can get up from the sofa on my own!
3. I haven't had an asthma attack since August!
4. I am able to fit in my prosthesis (=

I Appreciate Pt 2

I Appreciate:

1. The lovely weekend I had with my hubby and daughter
2. Learning something valuable from watching "For Colored Girls"
3. My new devotional book by Max Lucado
4. The love that grows for myself daily
5. God's help in my weight loss journey
6. Delicious brownies made by Princess Charlie
7. Feeling truly loved and at peace

Advice To Princes Charlie

There are many days when I sit and say to myself "I wish someone would have told me this."  In nine months I'll be 40 years old and for me it is exciting.  I love the thought of aging.  I love the thought of a much wiser me.  I love the thought of a day I'll be called "grandma."  I know many look at aging as a curse.  I'm grateful that is not an issue for me, because I think if I worried about what's going to happen anyway I'd be very miserable.

I strongly believe in sharing things that I learn and I especially do this with my daughter (Princess Charlie).  I know she will make choices that will in the end be a huge mistake, but I also believe that with the right guidance those mistakes may be fewer.  I strongly believe if someone (anyone) would have given me a few life tips things would have been much easier for me.  My grandma gave me the best advice ever.  She said "If you're going to give your troubles to God do it and then walk away fro them."  I didn't listen to her until much later, but now I know that advice was the greatest she could have ever given me.  So, I have some advice for my daughter and to my younger self.

Rules to Live By:

1. Love yourself completely.  In order for you to fully love others you must first fully love yourself.
2. Believe in God with all of your heart, mind, body and soul.  He will NEVER steer you wrong.
3. Just Breathe. No matter what's going on ALWAYS breathe
4. Simplify life as much as possible and always express gratitude
5. Laugh as many time per day as you humanly can
6. Do NOT sweat the small stuff...Literally!!
7. Live and love every minute of your life..It is indeed short and you don't want to miss out on the joy
8. Choose to be joyful EVERYDAY..Even through the chaos.
9. Do what you can and God will do what you can NOT do (which, is a ton!)
10. Grow old graciously..It is a gift and not a curse

Love Always, Mommy

I Appreciate...

*God, Jesus & The Holy Spirit
*Angels watching over me daily
*The sound of music in my daily life
*Our comfortable home
*Warm Blankets on cold nights
*Breakfast, lunch and dinner
*Lots of Hugs
*Being told "I Love You"
*The Bible
*Refreshing water
*My Blogging Community
*Blessings & Spiritual Gifts
*Life and the joy I now have in my heart
*My body and organs
*Being able to see, hear and speak
*Good movies and popcorn (family night)
*Going home to be with family
*The sun and The moon
*Nature and all it's true splendor

Gratitude & Promises

Today I Am Grateful For:

*A new day of life

*Love of God and Jesus

*Guidance of The Holy Spirit

*Complete Love of Self and JOY in my heart



I Promise:

*To be extra kind and loving to myself

*To trust God and follow His lead

*To nurture my heart, mind, body and soul

*To NEVER allow another being to mistreat or disrespect me

Day 14 - Saying Goodbye

Not to my blogging community!

Yesterday I visited my friend Caroline's blog Constantly Evolving and she was inviting her readers to say goodbye to those who cause us pain or make us feel shitty.  Well, I have a HUGE confession.  There is indeed someone in my life that has caused me a great deal of hurt.  They allowed others to hurt me without standing up for me.  This person that I must rid my life of is...Me

How can I get rid of myself?  It's actually not that hard to do.  Currently there are two versions of myself.  The old me who allowed others to go too damn far.  The me that took too much crap.  The me who cried herself to sleep after each fall out.  The me who thought being overweight was okay as long as I was alive.  What The Hell!!

Then there's the new me.  The me who kicks butt and takes names later.  The me who now KNOWS her worth.  The me who chooses joy instead of waiting for others to give it to me.  The me who is nurturing both mind and body daily through exercise, meditation, pampering and prayer.  The me who will never allow another being to define who SHE is.

I love them both for different reasons, but it's time to kick the old me OUT.  She's held on for far too long.  She has made life on earth hard, dark and cold.  Although I know she loves me she didn't love me ENOUGH.  This newer version of me?  She has proven her love and does so everyday.  She knows bull-crap from a mile away and she's not afraid to stand up for me and say so.  She believes in living a life of joy and peace right here on earth.  SHE has MY best interest at heart and honestly I am deeply DEEPLY in love with her.  I want her here!  I never want to let her go!  But the old me?  We will now close the door and never look back.  As of today she is history and I wish her well.

Days 12 & 13

Yesterday I decided that I would park my butt on the sofa all weekend and do nothing.  That was a great idea and I'm grateful to have the luxury to do it, but it just wasn't going to happen.  I do things!  I cook, exercise, put goody bags together and I love writing.  Taking an entire weekend and doing none of that would have driven me insane. LOL

However, I'm very grateful that I could if I wanted to.  I woke up today (Saturday) and decided I wanted to exercise.  Hubby joined me and I was so proud of him!  He's having a harder struggle with losing weight, so I'm trying to lovingly nudge him into exercising.  I know that would be a great move for him.  I love him and I so want him to be healthy and happy.

Today I Am Grateful:

*For the most comfy blanket ever!  I slept like a baby last night.

*That hubby and I walked in place together for 36 minutes!!

*That I have the ability to hear..I truly would be lost without music.

*For a peaceful heart (=

Day 11

Today I Am Grateful:

*For a seriously needed good nights rest.  I feel so refreshed and alive and that makes me so joyful.

*There has been no asthma in my life since my doctor placed me on Symbicort three months ago.  I can not fully describe the peace that brings to my heart.

*For shows like "Soap" and "Benson."  Do you remember those shows?  They were a household favorite when I was growing up and I can remember the laughter so vividly.  Yesterday my daughter and I watched a few episodes of Soap online and we cracked up so much.  Hearing her laughter filled me up with sweet joy.

Day 10 - Dear November

Dear November,

When my cousin Bradley passed away I hated you with a deep and dark passion.  I tried my very best to get each day to fly by when you arrived.  You would flaunt your beautiful weather and I would think of ways to eliminate you forever.  I seriously hated you.

Today, I can honestly say the hate is gone.  I found myself ushering you in with great joy.  The weather has been amazing and I consider you a friend again.  I am grateful for you November and I just wanted to say...I Love You.

Days 6-8

Day 6:

I'm truly grateful for the laughter that my beautiful daughter brings to my life.  She's so charismatic and animated and I love every bit of it.

Day 7:

I'm so very grateful for the sweet conversations I have with my daughter.  Since fully giving my life to God she has decided to do the same (with no pushing from me).  She lights up when she talks about God and that just makes my heart beat with great joy!

Day 8:

We started putting these little bags together 3 years ago and it has given my life such joy and purpose.  I do not get paid to do this, yet I can't see my life without it.  It is indeed a rewarding part of my world and I'm so very grateful God chose me to do it.  :-)

Day 5 & Weightloss Update

Every morning I wake up and head straight for my laptop.  I open I Tunes and I fill my room with music.  I adore all genres of music and I have to have it in my life.  Each genre does something different for me.

So, today I am grateful for music.  I'm grateful for my hearing, so that I can enjoy music.  I would be loss without music (seriously).

Weight-loss Update:
Today is not my day to weigh-in, but I just had to take a peek and I'm SO grateful I did!!  I can officially kiss 200 goodbye forever!!  As of today I am 199 lbs!!  I feel so great about that and I am NOT ever going back!  Ever!  I am 45 pounds away from my goal and now I know FOR SURE that I am on my way!

Day 4 - Peace

*I am grateful for the peace that fills me up each morning I open my eyes.

*I am grateful for the peace I feel each day as I listen to my soothing music.

*I am grateful that even through the chaos I am learning to embrace the peace.

*I am grateful God sees me worthy to gift me with his loving peace daily.

*I am grateful that the loud, negative thoughts get softer and the positive ones are getting louder.

Day 3 - Gratitude

At this very moment I am grateful for many things, but today I want to focus on one in particular.  Just a few short years ago we were pawning items (our own) to purchase food.  We struggled financially and that lead to a small heart attack for me.  Hurricane Katrina was a horrible ordeal to go through, but I have to admit it was a blessing for us.

Today I am grateful that our bills are paid in full and we have all the food we need to sustain us.

Day 2

Day 2 - 30 Days of Gratitude

less than 3 months ago I was fearing for my life - literally.  2 spots had been seen on my right lung, but it was unknown if it were anything other than scarring.  Come to the beginning of August when a second opinion was sought by a lung specialist.  He confirmed it was simply scarring from years of chronic bronchitis.  At that point I decided I had to do everything I could to lose weight and get healthier. 

I am very very grateful for the strength God has been filling me with to achieve this.  I am extremely grateful for the joy I have been experience and the energy I have daily.  I am feeling better than I have in a long while and to that I am grateful to God.

30 Days Of Gratitude

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.”     --Peace Pilgrim

Day 1:
I'm joining my friend Caroline over at Constantly Evolving for a month of gratitude.  I'm no photographer, so I'll stick to writing and maybe Princess Charlie will help out with photos. LOL

When I woke up this morning I felt the strongest feeling of peace surrounding me.  Daily it varies, so too feel it that strongly was a welcoming feeling indeed.  So, today I am truly grateful for peace within my home, body and soul.