My Girls

These are some of my very favorite pictures of you two. I am not even really sure why, but they just seem carefree and fun - just like the two of you. I did not realize that you would have so much love for each other - you both genuinely enjoy each other's company.

I can not even remember ONE time in seven years that the two of you have been angry with each other - which is certainly not true of other family relationships. Your personalities just seem to mesh really well together. You long to spend time together, which does this ole mama's heart good!

Both of you, so beautiful inside and out and so caring and accepting of each other. I pray that the worst things you have experienced so far will be the worst of your life, but realize that is probably not going to be true. I know there will be hard times ahead for each of you, because this crazy thing we call life is just that way. I also know that no matter what, you will always have each other to encourage and lift you up. Just like the worst is probably still ahead for you, the BEST is as well - because life has so many wonderful things waiting for you both! I am so glad that good or bad, whatever comes, you will face it together - with love and compassion because that is just who you are.

SSSHHHHH

I will let you in on a little secret - I am changing me life. Yep, SO much has changed in my life over the past few years that I am now feeling invincible. I am going to conquer the one area of my life that has never been conquered before - my weight.

I had been walking for about 3 months, but have not lost a pound. Yea, I know all the sayings, "muscle weighs more than fat - you are probably building muscle" Also, my goal is not just to be a skinny minny, but to be healthy! BUT when you are as overweight as I am, weight must come off in order for total health to arrive!

When we were in Ft Worth, Reliv launched their now Slimdown 2009 and I got excited. Reliv has a specific product for weight loss, and people have used it to great success. I have gone on it and off of it about 5 times since it was released in Feb 2007. You probably remember my daughter, Reagan, went from a size 17 to a size 9 using this product. Anyway, I started Slimplicity consistently on February 24th and did not weigh until today - my one month anniversary. Today, I have officially lost 8 lbs and 6 inches!! WOO HOO!!! I guess it is not a secret anymore, and I no longer want it to be - I don't have to be afraid of failure. I have the determination and now I have the tools - watch out!

K is for Kinship

Lizzie had her friends at the party - but I also had mine! Thanks God for wonderful friends and family!! Left to right - my mom, Rosemary, My best friend, Julie, My sweet daughter, Reagan, Me, My dear friend, Char - Yea for Kinship!

Indoor Beach Party!!

These are the cupcakes we made. They were not too hard, but they were time consuming. The shark is made out of a twinkie. I must say, they were delicious! I would have liked the fish to be actually swimming, but you come convince my hard headed kid ANYthing and I will be impressed.

This is our sand - filled living room. Now you see why I say I will be still finding sand next year?

That thing over in the corner covered in plastic is Jake's piano. He threatened endlessly that his piano better not get wet - It survived without being scathed one bit!

This is the guest room. It was wall to wall Pool! There is one sheet rocked wall in there that we covered in plastic.

Lizzie had a blast! She begged for an indoor beach party since her 6th birthday - we said "NO" for 10 months and finally relented. I do not regret it - it was fun! It would only work in a house of solid tile or stained concrete like we have. You really can't hurt our house - it is a perfect house for parties.

Life is Beautiful

1) It is a great day, the sun is shining.

2) My husband is suppose to be at work, but he is home with me and we just took a nap together, on a Thursday in the middle of the day - Wonderful - get your mind out of the gutter, Lizzie is home - so we ONLY napped - but it did cross our minds for just a second - which is also a good thing after 21 years we are not bored with each other.

3) I have almost all the sand cleaned up on my first floor, ALMOST, somehow I think I will be finding sand for a long time to come. I will post pictures soon - I promise!

4) I worked about an hour and a half today and made as much money as I used to make in an entire day of cleaning teeth - and I get to help someone change their future - what more could I ask for?

5)Lizzie is happy today, she is surrounded by her Littlest Pet Shops and having a ball. She is also addicted to the movie Beauty and the Beast these days - I really like that movie. It reminds me of Reagan, she was 3 when it was released and it was also one she watched over and over. I miss Reagan, she is in Houston for Spring Break.

6) I have Choir tonight - one of my very favorite things all week. I LOVE choir, I am not even sure why - but I LOVE it!!

7) Tomorrow is the start of a fabulous weekend!

This Week

Monday Morning Update: A New Tradition

IDEA BORROWED FROM Friar

the weekend that was: Friday and Saturday were full of Reliv stuff, it was Master Affiliate Training, which only happens once a quarter. We had some amazing teachers, Rosemary from MO and Nick from CA. Also, the highest paid Reliv distributors, they make 80K a month, showed up in Bozeman to do training with us - NICE couple who have just helped a lot of people - that was amazing.

Sunday was Lizzie's 7th birthday - we had a beach party - 2 sandboxes in the living room and a 10 ft pool in the extra bedroom! wow! lots of wet, sandy, screaming girls! It was a blast.

on my to-do list this week: it is spring break for the kids, so we are going to do school only 2 days this week. I hope to get a lot of new people called and set appointments. I would like to get my whole house in some kind of order - better than now anyway!

procrastinating about: Cleaning - always!

book i’m in the midst of: The Courage to be Rich, by susie orman, also a jeanette oak book, which is pretty slow, and Helen Keller's biography

music that seemed to catch my attention this past week: I downloaded Amy Grant - old stuff I used to listen to in High School, also Wynona

big excitment coming up: Not sure - Everyday I get to help someone change their life seems exciting.

how i’m feeling about this week: Excited, always excited!

J is for Jesus

I would like to introduce you to my best friend, Jesus. Yes, it may seem odd to you that I would talk about Him so casually, as He is the Son of God and all, but He is so much more than that to me.

He has been the only true steadfast thing in my entire life. Always there, always dependable, always loving me no matter what. As much as I love some other people in my life, they are human, and therefore always let me down at some point or another.

I used to just go to Jesus when things were bad or I was in a bind. I would beg Him to rectify the situation and promise my undying devotion, soon to be forgotten when things were smooth again. Then at some point I quit treating Him like the lottery. I quit living in fear of condemnation and began living in freedom of being me, far from perfect, but realizing that I am always lovable to Him.

We have been through a lot together, great things and horrible things, and I know there are going to be both in my future. Good or bad, no matter what, I do know one person that will be beside me from now all the way into eternity - Jesus. My saviour, my healer, my best friend.