Haven't been on in a bit. Travel and holiday makes busy times. Trying to get this house wrapped up in Arkansas is stressful. I'm still at my weight loss journey. Sure is hard to stick to it when you are not sure where you will be for your next meal so travel eating wasn't so good. I still managed to loss some even having a few meals not on plan (Rally's cheeseburger). 

I'm down.... 11 1/2 pounds since I started. 

Of course it would be more if we didn't go to Arkansas, which I might add I hardly ate while we were there add a scrapbook weekend. Just updated my 2nd order with a few changes. I've found a few tasty things and a few not so tasty things. I've definitely branched out and tried things I wouldn't normally try like an Egg Life wrap, it appears like a tortilla. It's a little weird but works in a pinch. Hopefully this week I can do better. Well off to go run some errands and find something to fix for lunch.. 

 Day 2

I survived my first day. I was a little short on my water but I did better than I usually do, about 40 ounces. Breakfast on the run today and a little Chipotle for lunch with chicken, lettuce and a little bit of cheese. Wasn't much maybe an ounce of chicken or so. Still trying to figure out how to eat every 2-3 hours, man that's a lot. The doctor's scale was off from mine for the better so I'll have to check it against mine today... I'm sure the doctor's one is better... haha. 

 I never realized how much 6 ounces of ground Turkey actually was... way more than I thought that's for sure. Still learning which "Fueling" snacks are good and not so good. Honey mustard sticks.. not as good as you would think but dipped in some low-fat Baby Bell Cheese made them pretty tasty. Now these... a little like cardboard with cinnamon sprinkled on them. Tonight's dinner will probably be leftover Turkey meatloaf from last night.

My Baby is not a baby anymore...

She is now a licensed driver... look out world! Sure will make the trips to Arkansas easier having another driver. She is lucky enough to be able to drive my Marine's truck... a 2012 Ford Raptor.. yep you read that right. I know, crazy to let her drive that but the way I see it.. it's paid for and was just sitting in Arkansas and he would want her to drive it (better it than either Mustang). 

Well back to my paper shredding to get this craft room cleaned up so I can get these cup orders out and try out my new heat press for T-Shirts ... more tomorrow.. 

Remember though... Family is everything, the fights and the disagreements can be forgiven, do it before it's to late and they are gone. Cherish your family.. tell them you love them 💖

 Boy has it been a minute since I was last on here. 

So much has happened that's for sure. Divorce, Job changes, house purchase, Covid 19, loss of more family just to name a few. 

Started a new journey today... the dreaded Weight Loss...  

Where to even start. I'll go back a couple of years. My knee slowly started to bother me, I'm sure old Roller Skating Injuries 

I went to an orthopedic doctor to get it checked out and it's Osteoarthritis and it was almost bone on bone at that point. Jump ahead a couple of years and it is now bone on bone and a torn meniscus. Well with Covid 💀 that brought us all to a halt and brought us home which then in addition to the bad knee getting movement was greatly reduced which you can imagine added to weight gain. I'm not proud of it at all and after stepping on the scale today sickened by it. I'm opening myself up now and sharing the truth, which is hard for me to do. I try to hide pictures of myself even... 

My knees hurts daily which makes exercising close to impossible, walking up or down stairs is painful and difficult, I'm short of breath doing just about anything. I have to often take breaks and sometimes don't want to even move. This is not me! Most people know I'm usually pretty active doing all sorts of things, camping, gardening, housework or anything but sitting on my Butt..

At a Christmas party I saw my boss's wife, she was like half a person. So skinny and looked amazing. We started talking and she shared how she had been losing weight. Turns out it's the same program Jenna's dad had been on also. Ellen has lost 60 pounds!! I've been thinking about it since I saw her, if she can do it with her crazy schedule then so can I. It's expensive to start out but it provides all the snacks, materials and a coach... Ellen is a coach now which makes it even better. 

So fast forward.. I'm signed up and started the program today. What is it you ask.. It's called Optavia! It makes you eat and from what I see you won't ever be hungry with eating every 2 hours. Holy Cow.. how in the world do you eat every two hours... guess I'll find out.  Getting in the water might be a challenge but I'm up for it. Traveling is going to be the challenge for sure. The trips to Arkansas means I have to plan ahead and pack prepared snacks. Summer is around the corner as well as camping season and the Davis Family reunion. So stay tuned and follow me with pictures and stories of my journey..

Below is Day 1 Breakfast... Mashed potato(fueling) made as a waffle, 1 wedge of light Laughing Cow (1 healthy fat), 1 oz of Avocado(1 healthy fat), fried Egg (counted toward lean but not full portion) with some Everything Bagel sprinkled on top.

Missing him

I was reminded that today would have been Stosh's birthday, for some reason I thought it was tomorrow, the day before Jenna's. He wanted so bad to have Jenna born on his birthday. I think of him often, wishing his big goofy smile would show up at my front door, walk in and say "I'm hungry". That seemed to the be the usual when he came over, I always made sure to save him leftovers if I knew he was coming by.

I will never forget the first time he met Jenna, it was so cute. I picked him up to go have lunch with his mom. I think of him as the gentle giant, he was so sweet and gentle with her, loved her from the minute he saw here and she loved him. We had fun when she was a baby, we did a lot together when I was on maternity leave, like getting the truck stuck in the mud. We picked up the dead Christmas tree to put it on the burn pile but didn't realize the field was soggy, the truck got stuck. The truck was pretty new and he was so afraid his brother would freak out, he tried so hard to get it out, covered in mud he worked to get it out all the while Jenna was sleeping soundly in the back seat. Finally getting the truck out then quickly washing it off so there were no traces of our mud bog.

I think so often about the struggles he went through, the demons in his head that tried to take over. Often thinking I wished I could have done more for him. He was there for me with my tearful phone calls, listening and doing what he could to calm me down I only wish I could have calmed him down.

I wasn't lucky enough to have known him long, only 7 short years but felt like an eternity. I think the only peace I have is knowing that he is no longer struggling and I can only think that he is happy with Joe. I miss you, you big goofy guy!

Holidays

Well we survived Christmas, it was a rough one, I was sick the entire month of December. I didn't get my usual handmade Christmas Cards out, didn't get the Christmas village out but we did get cookies made. Jenna and I had a very nice quiet Christmas and she got most of the items on her list with the exception of her top item, and IPAD. Yep you read it, that was the one thing she wanted. Santa isn't that rich and even this mom doesn't have one. She will have to do with playing on my phone, it's the same just smaller right? I feel very fortunate to have such great friends who looked out for me this Christmas, they made sure we had some extra gifts and even made sure I had a gift to open from Jenna.

Mom would have turned 68 this year, still so hard to get through the holidays without her here and without my family here. I guess the one disadvantage to coming from a small family but I am grateful every day for having my step dad Bill who still looks after us, I only wish I could get him to come and join us for the holidays. On a positive note though we will be seeing him in about 6 months for the annual Davis family reunion. I am really looking forward to this one as I have grown closer with my cousins and sounds like even some who haven't made it in several years will be there this year.

It's hard to believe that New Year's Eve is tomorrow! I will be so glad to have 2012 behind me as I know many who feel the same. I am praying for a better 2013 for myself and for everybody. Jenna will be 6 in a few weeks which in itself is hard to believe and we have planned a day at the American Girl Store for Brunch with her new doll. I am looking forward to getting closer with the kids at The Zone and getting to know more of them at our Winter Retreat in February.

So to you my friends.... Here is to a better and amazing 2013!!! Love to all and Happy New Year, stay safe and don't drink and drive.

So much this past year

So much has gone on over the past couple years. I Never would have imagined I would be a single mom despite all the rough times I made a vow to stay married and fight for what I believe but that is not always God's plan.

I sure have learned alot and continue to every day. I look back on my mom alot these days, how she managed with me and it makes me stronger. If she can do it then so can I!! I guess with Facebook the blog gets lost in the shuffle but I think this is a way to say what I want and not get sensored or "watched". Life sure makes us stronger and makes us want to be a better person and for me I am greatful for my mom raising me to be strong and for having Jenna in my life to keep me going.

Mary and I

After loosing my grandma 2 years  ago and shortly after that my best friend, my mom then marriage going south just a few months after that in a way I think I'm numb sometimes. I have found some great new friends and could not have survived the past 2 years without them and am greatful for them every day. I will do my best to keep this thing updated. It's much easier to say what's on my mind and not everybody has to read it if they don't want to.


Jennie and Hazel

Renee and Katie



Did you miss me??

Sorry folks, been MIA for some time. I guess I just got to wrapped up with Facebook. Hopefully someone still reads this?? Do you?? Let me know if you still view my blog?