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 -