For all the ladies...

because the guys wouldn't get it.

Yesterday I put on a size 14 and it was comfortable - not too tight! I haven't worn a size 14 since I was 15 years old.. that was half my life ago!!!! So I'm very proud to say that I've put all the size 16 items in the closet.

One more pound to lose before I hit another big milestone - 40 pounds lost.

I am beyond excited about it and had to share.

Major Milestone

So most of you know how hard I have been trying to lose weight. Well, last night I stepped on the scale and was delighted to see that I have finally reached my wedding weight! I was so excited about it that I was unable to go to sleep until after midnight. I have lost 36 pounds since I started on this journey in January 2009.

I didn't expect to reach this goal before summer so now I am thrilled that I can reevaluate and make a new goal to reach by end of summer. I want to reach the weight I was at my lightest which is when I lived with my grandparents when I was 15 and a sophomore in HS - that is 8 pounds away. It doesn't sound like much, but with how hard I have to work to lose even a single pound, it is a lofty goal.

To help with that goal my neighbor and I are training for a 10k. This morning I jogged 4 miles, the farthest I have ran in a single run since college. I am seriously flying high right now and it feels GREAT!

To top it all off my father in law will arrive tonight to help us with some larger projects we need to do to get our new home ready to move in. I am very excited to see him and so are the boys. Good times people. Good times.

Life is good...

I know some of you have seen this on facebook already, but I wanted to put it here anyway. I am down exactly 32 pounds from January '09!! (When I started on my journey to reclaim my body and lose weight). I'm closer to my goal and getting there faster than I thought I would. YAY! I have worked so hard for this and I'm so thrilled. I am finally down to the weight I was before ever getting pregnant and I have about 4 pounds to go to reach my wedding weight. Then I might even try my wedding dress on again! After that I'll have to re-access and pick a new goal.

I am in a great place in my life right now. I love love LOVE singing again - I'm an alto II in the Portland Mormon Choir and Orchestra and we are close to our Easter concert. I love rehearsals and I love the music and the spirit I feel every time I sing it. It is such a boost to my spirit every time I go. I'm almost done reading the Book of Mormon and I'm in my favorite part (3 Nephi). I usually get a full night's sleep, my body is my own... life is good!

We just bought a house (see my last post for pictures).

We have our fair share of challenges too (like the crappy hair cut I got last night), but nonetheless I still feel good about where I am. And with that I will close my little epistle.

Kind of freakin' out...

We put in an offer on a house on Monday, got mutual acceptance yesterday, and signed papers today. Our home inspection is next week (so we still have time to back out if we want to or if major issues are found). I'm more nervous than excited, which worries me. Brent is really excited about it, and it is not easy to get him excited about anything so it makes me feel better to see him. This has been quite a learning experience!! We will get the $8k tax rebate, which is going to help us out so much! The house needs a lot of TLC and work and I can view that as being a fun adventure or just extra time and money. I'm trying to think positive and keep the vision of what the house will look like when done.

I am a bucket of mixed emotions. Excited one minute, apprehensive the next. :-/

I've attached the pictures we took on our second walk through (I don't know how Brent had our camera settings, but the pictures turned out grainy and blueish). As you can see the place needs TLC, but let me know what you think anyway. :o)


- front of the house -

- tile in entry way - (try to imagine how nice it will look after the grout has been scrubbed)


- living room -

- kitchen, it is large but needs some major work (it is so brown and ugly - 80's hideousness!!)-

- can't tell here, but that is a huge beautiful garden window -


- a wall unit someone built poorly and just place in the kitchen. Looks like it belongs in the garage as a workbench -

- uck! -

- maybe paint would help it?? -


- looking into the kitchen from the dining room -




- fireplace in family room, we call this the beast - (Brent loves it. I hate it.)


- closet in family room -


- looking into the dining room and family room from the living room - (I love the archways)


- main bathroom -


- master bedroom (window area, the room is actually very large)-


- a section of the ugly orange garage. First thing I'm going to do is paint over this -


- our covered deck in the back, we both really like it -

My sweet father...

Sorry it has been so long since I updated. January has been a good one so far. Then one week ago we were told my dad had quickly declined in health and would soon pass away. He passed away last night. His funeral is planned for next Thursday (in Provo). My dad has had a long struggle/battle with poor health and we are comforted knowing he is free from pain now. I'm comforted further in that he passed peacefully while in his sleep. We were all very worried he would have a stroke, heart attack or otherwise painful death - the Lord has been merciful to him.

The Lord has also blessed us that John was able to come home. He deployed for Iraq on Jan. 2nd and had just reached port when my mother contacted him to tell him my dad was going to pass soon. His captain called my mother to verify information and sent him home the next day. The last time my dad was conscious was when he spoke with John about midnight on Wednesday when he arrived. He was with my mother this morning and helped medical personnel take care of my dad. I can't express how much this means to him to have been there and to me that he is there with my mother. We will be leaving asap to go be with my family.

My dad was a good man, and I'm sure his reunion in heaven is sweet one. He was always my biggest fan and fearlessly devoted to us and always supported and encouraged us.

Dad, you have taken a piece of my heart with you. I love you. 'Till we meet again...


My brother John, my dad and Daniel (September 2009)