Okay guys I’m going public with it. I’m on a mission to lose weight. My goal is 20lbs, but I would love to lose 30lbs. I will weigh in weekly, and let everyone know how much I have lost to keep myself accountable. I have always been a skinny-mini all my life never worked out and ate what I wanted, but the last five years it has changed! Luckily Chad is a health nut so I know he will help me keep on track :) My friend Lindy, is making a life style change too and I heard about sparkpeople.com through her. Basically it’s a website to track your meals and calories and also a place to go for support. I have signed up to have them send me healthy recipes daily , and they are YUMMY! Last night we had Chicken and Asparagus Pasta. I bought a huge wok and have been buying fresh chicken in it to cook, and I get all my veggies from my pepaw’s garden, throw it all together season it, and it turns out delicious. I have also taken the Crystal Light Challenge, and have been drinking my eight cups a day of water, I absolutely love the Pomegranite Lemonade flavor! Wish me luck and say a prayer for me! Any dieting tips are welcome!!!

I love this post!!!!!!

I am posting the below from a blog I ran across and I love. It really touched my heart and I hope it does yours. I whole-heartedly believe in the power of prayer and I thank God for all the Prayer Warriors around me.... I don't really care that much about whether or not my kids are book smart. Let me explain. I do care, I just don't care as much as I care about other things. I don't sit around and pray that my girls will learn to read today, or that they will understand a foreign language by the time they are 6, or that they will know their times table by next week. I do spend a lot of time asking God to give them "undivided hearts (Psalm 86:11), " and praying "that they will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel when they open their mouths (Ephesians 6:19)." I pray that God will help them to be good stewards of their time, their money, their words. I pray for their character, their faith, their decisions, their husbands. I want them to be wise, Godly women who chase after the Lord. I'm thinking that instead of getting a "My kid is on the honor roll" bumper sticker, I may create a "My kid has an undivided heart" one. And then people will make ones that say "My kid kicked your 'undivided heart' kid's butt" stickers. Maybe not. But, the point is that one of the most important things I am privileged to do as a mother is to pray for my children every day. 1. When they wake up: "Let the morning bring (child's name) word of your unfailing love, for she has put her trust in You. Show (her/him) the way (she/he) should go, for to you (he/she) lifts up her soul." (Adapted from Psalm 143:8) 2. When they are getting dressed: "Therefore, as God's chosen child, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Lord, help (him/her) bear with others and forgive whatever grievances (he/she) has against others. Help (him/her) forgive as the Lord forgave (him/her). And over all these virtues, help (him/her) put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Adapted from Colossians 3:12-14) 3. While they are eating: "Teach (child's name) the secret of being content in any and every situation whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Teach (him/her) that (he/she) can do everything through him who gives (him/her) strength." (Adapted from Philippians 4:12-13) 4. When they go out of the house: "(Name of child), do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." (Adapted from Romans 12:2) 5. While they are taking a bath: Lord, give (name of child) clean hands and a pure heart, and let (him/her) not lift (his/her) soul to an idol or swear by what is false. Let (him/her) receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God (his/her) Savior. Let (him/her) be part of the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. (Adapted from Psalm 24:4-6) 6. When they are going to bed: "The Lord Your God is with you; he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, be will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3:17) 7. While they are sleeping: "I pray that (name of child) will do everything without complaining or arguing, so that he/she may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which he/she shines like a star in the universe as he/she holds out the word of life-in order that he/she may boast on the day of Christ that he/she did not run or labor for nothing." (Adapted from Philippians 2:14-16) I feel like God has been reminding me more and more lately that I need to live my life in prayer. For my children, husband, family, friends, country, those in need, etc., etc. As a mother, it has been so pivotal for my children to hear me praying out loud over them So for those of you that keep wondering if Chloe is going to suck on a pacifier until she is five, sleep in the same bed as me until she is 13, or if she is saying enough words at her age, hope you get my true feelings of what I think about it, and thats I really don't care, Im not worried about it! :)

Celebration Park :)

Chloe and I met Uncle Brad and Aunt Amanda at Celebration Park in Allen. Chloe loves the splash park there, but unfortunately the water was turned off for maintenace issues.. .boo. She had fun anyway running around the playground dragging Amanda everywhere. A little boy came up to us and saw my brother's hat that said Frisco Fire and asked him if he was a fireman. Brad told him yes and he freaked out, he said he wanted to be a fireman when he got older. He asked Brad for his phone number so he could come see his fire truck, Brad told him 911, and the little boy said he would be calling him soon, uh-oh. Amanda said he seemed like he was attention deprived by the way he was acting, he would not leave us alone (not that it was bothering us). Amanda is a teacher so Im sure she can spot that kind of stuff from a mile away. Speaking of Amanda, her and Brad are now roomies :) Im so glad that Brad found him a sweet girl like her. They make such a great couple. She is a teacher in Frisco and part time interior decorator :) hehe. I love when she emails me because she always ends her emails with making up names of what she is doing ... "Bored Betty, Hungry Helga, Laundry Lisa, Confused Cara...etc" She is such a goofball and I love it!! Im so excited for her to be my "sista from another mista" I wuv you Awanda.

Splishin and a Splashin

Chad and I decided to load up and go visit my brother and sister in law in Providence. I feel ashamed to say that I have been out there once since Chloe has been born. They are always coming in to us every weekend. It seems like such a long haul, but it’s really not. So they live in Providence and it is such a neat neighborhood. It reminds me of The Stepford Wives, all the lawns are perfectly manicured, and it’s nice and quiet after 9:00. Then here comes the Welborn’s to jack it all up J Let’s just say the police know them really well there… loud music and too much partying! When we got there Chloe was in amazement at their house. It actually looks like a wildlife zoo! Zebra (not fake zebra print, a real zebra that still has the tail and eyelashes, so sad), Cheetah, Deer, Duck… all kinds of poor animals plastered on the wall. I think she could have stayed in there and looked at it day long. We loaded up and headed to the water park. She had so much fun splashing around and she is quit the daredevil. She loved jumping off the side of the pool and playing in the fountains. We went to the sand pits too, but she absolutely hated it, the girl does not like anything to be touching her feet! After a long swim we headed to dinner at The Prairie House. She kept herself entertained by drawing pictures with the ranch dressing and ate a big dinner. She was out by the time we left the parking lot. Thanks Bryan and Ashley for having us out, Chloe loves you guys to pieces…. We will see you on Sunday for another swim!

Fun in the Sun!

Chloe went and stayed the day at her Gigi and Papa’s and played on the slip and slide. She always has so much fun over there and is wore out by the time she comes home. Her cousin Dylan was there to play with too, she sure loves that boy !

7-7-07

Two years ago today we found out we were expecting a baby :) Our lives have drastically changed, and wouldn't change it for the world. So glad God decided to let me be Chloe's mommy. She makes life so much sweeter!