Tenacity

This, to my remembrance, was my first experience to drive a huge bulldozer. My Dad owned and operated heavy equipment as I was growing up, but this was my first time to climb on a bulldozer and fire it up.

I wish you could see the terrain behind the bulldozer in this picture before, and now after. Once, huge piles of rubble, not so good trees that had taken root and a lot of plain ol' trash made this site, unsightly! And on top of that, it was a place where I had frequently camped.

As the wife of a Home Missions Pastor/Evangelist/and now, a husband struck with MS and disabled, I always gave credit for my survival to my awesome God. But I also forced myself to think right and visualize what I wanted. I will tell you that in spite of all of my trying, I became buried, with the feeling of going down a swift drain and grasping for whatever I could as I went down, before completely going under.

The lack of money or the absence of an income can be totally devastating. Money is a subject we do not like to talk about, but without a doubt, money controls every part of your life or so we think.

I decided I needed a whole fresh attitude about money. Being reduced to a "poor man", "poor me" attitude, I knew it would keep me captive to my past. Searching for answers, this is what I found:

We have a concious mind and a subconcious mind. You will find in every success book or motivational speech that there is power in your thinking and in the words of your mouth. This is all straight out of God's Word. Books like "Hung by the Tongue" and "Think and Grow Rich" are some of very many books written about the subject.

Our minds are hit dead center every day by what is REALITY. This can be a mountain of impossibilties to overcome. The truth is, although your situation does not change, YOU can change. By feeding your mind, and ultimately your subconcious mind that motors your attitudes, emotions and actions, mountains can begin to move.

Affirmation is key!! You MUST begin to AFFIRM what you want! Concious controlled thinking can be visualized like this: Picture a very gentle steady rain falling softly on a rock. Though oh so gentle, over time the rock begins to change. Change is inevitable. When we begin to affirm what we want, write it and speak it, gradually in time it gets accepted as truth and affects the actions and behavior of the person involved.

The accumulated power of the repeated affirmation pushes and drives out the subconcious mind's thoughts, attitudes and habits that are not in harmony with the affirmations, and changes the contents of the subconscious mind from negative and restrictive thoughts, to positive and constructive ones.

Here is what "I" did:

First, I wrote down every dilemma I possessed. These were thoughts that I DAILY had to ward off. Think you don't have any? I challenge you to do this. I listed 26 of them! Though I fought to ignore them, there was a reality that "these" thoughts constantly bombarded my thinking.

Next, I took each one and turned it around into what I wanted. I ended up with 35 affirmations, I got so carried away!

Here is an example: "We are too old to get jobs." Replaced with: "Our age and accumulated wisdom brings unique opportunities for us to make money and minister in fulfilling ways."

See the difference?

Once all said and done, I jumped on this huge bulldozer like a raging maniac with more tenacity than you would ever see in a WOMAN, and turned it around to my back and began to plow up my past. It did not take me long. This dozer was so huge that in just a short time, it was flattened and buried! It is not even there any more! There are still mountains ahead and always will be but I know that from where I have come to where I am now, I have the strength to climb.

I refuse to go back there and camp or even visit! Everyday, I reaffirm what I want instead of rehearsing WHY I can not get to where I want to go.

The first day was amazing. I had to get out my favorite journal and begin to write down all of the amazing events that came in just the first day!

Now...God said it and I believe it. There is nothing more powerful than His Word in our lives:

"Let the words of my heart and the mediations of my mind be acceptable in thy sight, oh Lord."

"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

Don't be a victim of your past. Bury your past and renew your mind with what "HE" thinks.

Hannah's 16th Birthday

May 31 marked the first day of celebration of Hannah's 16th birthday. With an early end of the year school dismissal, Hannah invited 3 close school friends over for a birthday luncheon.

The Menu: We used our "decorating for the senses" recipes, some of Hannah's favorites:

Gabby's Confetti Pasta, Strawberry Green Spring Mix Salad with a homemade citrus vinaigrette dressing, lemon mint rice, cheese and crackers, home made pineapple cake with a cream cheese frosting and sweet tea.

Decor used for all party celebrations was a Vintage Theme: antique suitcase, radio, newspapers, books, jars, vintage pictures of Hannah and an antique black board. Not pictured: tree limbs in entry about 8 - 9 feet tall with vintage pictures hung with ribbons of Hannah.

The next day, Hannah invited her close church friends that also attend her high school. The table was turned to seat more people and the same menu was repeated.

Hannah's main party consisted of local family members. Twenty-five guest were in attendance.

The Menu: New Orleans Creole Gumbo, my own family recipe, steamed brown rice, prepared by Shelley, wheat french bread, iced tea, lemons, limes & orange slices, the cake and coffee.

The cake was purchased from HEB. We chose half chocolate and half white cake with a cream cheese icing and white chocolate side shavings. The picture used was one taken at Christmas time on our visit at my mother's at Christmas time, 2010.

Shelley and Savannah and Louis.

Steve.

Felicia.

Dusty.

Aaron & Samantha.

Valerie.

Hannah & Kaylie.

Gary & Dianne.

Jan & Me.

Laurie & Me.

Hannah about to blow out her candles.

Additional pics on facebook.

How I Lost 15 Pounds

OK... I have really hesitated to share, but in hopes it could encourage someone else, here goes.

I have never had a weight problem and can be thankful to have eaten as many desserts and and drank as many Dr. Peppers without the worry of gaining weight. Having Hannah at age 42, I was at a great weight and felt healthier than ever. I rode my bike often and at my peak of my ideal size.

I unleashed a problem with an imbalance in my thyroids once she was born and my weight started the roller coaster ride. Also, due to hitting my soon to be 50's, hormones kicked around and a struggle with weight actually became a problem. I always knew if I just reduced the amount of sweets, I would surely reduce quickly.

Very long story short...my sister in law, Shelley, also going through the similarities after many children and now metabolism also beginning to change, put on some pounds. She discovered a weight loss plan she tried and reached her weight goal extremely quickly.

I have never dieted in my life, but committed to myself to try for 3 days. I actually thought I would loose extremely fast because I loved sweets and this diet as well as all others will not allow. Learning that after 3 days, I had overcome the very hardest part of the diet, I pressed on.

In 6 weeks, I reached my weight goal of 15 pounds lost. More than the pounds, the inches began to fall off from head to toe. I have gone from size 12 to wearing 8 and 10 skirts!

Here is how it was done. With Shelley as my coach and using my primary care physician to monitor my blood levels, I used the Medifast Weight Loss System. I purchased 5 medifast products to eat each day along with 64 ounces of water, and one lean and green meal a day.

The one meal a day was more than I could eat in one meal. I split the amounts and ate half of it for lunch. It was hard to get in all of the medifast meals. I had to learn to drink one shake which was a high protein drink to kick off my metabolism early. Drinking the water was the challenge, but absolutely a must for weight loss. The one meal a day was a good amount of lean meat and veggies other than carrots, beans and potatoes. The key was, you starve your body from all carbs so it is forced to use the stored carbs you have for energy.

If I got hungry, I would eat a small amount of almonds, a celery stick with peanut butter, sugar free jello, olives or a pickle. I will say that I did not beat myself up for the small moments I may have cheated a little. It was such a drastic diet change that I just had to be proud of myself for

every moment I did the right thing.

The Medifast meals were: shakes, ready mix or powder which made thick shakes with ice in a blender, a pancake you make, bars which are delicious and filling, pretzels, which I did not like, soups, which I did not like but many others did. I mostly had the shakes, bars and pancakes.

Here I am late Fall of 2010, camouflaged in this coat.

This was taken just before I began the diet. At hospital to visit Josh, Josie and their new baby, Louis.

This was about one week into diet. Several couples in our family went to Ouisy's on Westheirmer. This was hard. The bread looked out of this world. I had salad and grilled salmon. If my coach had not been there with me, believe me, I am quiet sure I would have cheated. lol

This was 3 weeks into my diet. I was thrilled I could tuck in a top without looking enormous. Now, I can not wear this skirt...huge!

Week 4, size 10 skirt.
Present. I need a better flattering pic.

I can say my main goal was to overcome a very potential deadly problem with sleep apnea. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea a couple of years ago. For me, I obviously could not tolerate much weight to prevent it. I am sleeping better and do not feel the symptoms of the apnea any more. My doctor says my blood sugar level has gone down and all of my levels are perfect. I am just needing to increase my good cholesteral which is being done by taking fish oil. One trick to that: freeze the capsules, then take. You don't get the after taste nearly as bad.

It is a great thing to look in the mirror and not beat myself up for being over weight. Shopping is so much more fun as it was increasingly being a challenge to get the right fit.

More info:

Contact Michelle Piatt who is a counselor for Medifast and can get the products for you:

Michelle Piatt

Hannah is 16!

Wow, it is hard to believe that my sweet Hannah is almost 16. We are celebrating with a family party at our home. She will also have some close school friends after school on her big day, May 31. A night of celebration with her close friends from church is also in the making.

Love you, Hannah. I hope your 16 is your BEST YEAR EVER!!

A Poem From Hannah

This Mother's Day, Hannah wrote me a poem per my request. Here it is for my readers to enjoy. I especially like the "skinny" part as I have been on a diet this year, first time ever, and lost 15 pounds. Enjoy.

The Lovely...

Her long black hair, shines in the light

She's so skinny, that her skirts are not tight.

She makes things so beautiful with a small little touch

It's such a delight to see her new creations so much.

It's Mother's Day today

And I have been asked to do this

Although it's a request,

It's not written with regrets.

The beautiful, talented, woman I do mention,

Brings memories of laughter to my attention.

I couldn't thank her enough for all that she does,

But all I can say is that I love her so much.

Who is this lovely women you may wonder?

Well she's more lovely than your thoughts can ponder.

I'm so lucky to be the one,

Whom has the pleasure to call her mom.

Happy Mothers Day 2011!!

Love you so very much,

Hannah

And, I am a very blessed Mother to have two wonderful children, a soon to be daughter-in-law, step grandson and a new baby granddaughter. Thank you Aaron, and Hannah for your gifts, cards and love you gave me on this Mother's day. Love you both so much.

This pic was taken in our master bath around Christmas 2010.

Have a Wonderful 2011 Easter!

Easter is a wonderful time to be with those you love. I am looking forward to being in church this Sunday with my entire family. Next Easter, we will have a new addition to our family as my son Aaron and his "to be" wife are blessed with a baby girl in May.

This year following our service at Life, we will have Sunday dinner with our family here in Deer Park. We all bring a covered dish. This year I will bring my salad with varieties of lettuce, fruits, feta cheese, candied almonds and a home made citrus vinaigrette.

Aaron & Samantha's Baby Shower

The Menu:

Terragon Chicken Salad

Gabby's Confetti Pasta

Grape Salad

Strawberry Spring Mix Salad

Cheese, Crackers and Deli

Sparkling Fruit Punch, Tea, Coffee

Cake Made By:

Linda Crowder, my sister

Games:

Jennifer Lemke

We had a wonderful turn out and Sam and Aaron were showered with many gifts needed for the soon to arrive, baby Abbey. Thanks to all who attended and contributed. Special thanks to Laurie, Shelley, Dianne & Valerie for helping prepare the food. Mom, for your beautiful pink china, Linda, for the gorgeous rose arrangements, and Shelley for your special silverware.

I think using beautiful dishes, fresh flowers and good food makes a party a special one to remember. I think everyone had a great time.