Life in the Fast Lane

Well, I haven't written on this blog in MONTHS! Life is just so busy around here. I can't believe London is already a year old! Man, time flies by when you work two jobs! lol

Tommy and I recently joined a new church. We are so excited to be at Temple of Praise with our good friends, (who also happen to be the pastors), Danny and Debbie Lance. God has opened so MANY doors for us these past 6-8 months and we are truly blessed! We ablsolutely LOVE our TOP family and couldn't ask for a more supportive group of people.


I am still working at the Station House on the weekends. I really do love my job there, but boy, is there a LOT of drama in that place. I try my best to stay out of it, but sometimes I just have to speak my mind. lol I'm workin' on that.

Speaking of jobs, I am truly thankful for my job with Hamilton County schools. I endured so much crap with my job last year. It is nice to be told, "You are a GREAT teacher - and so easy-going." Of course I knew this all along, but when you have people saying the contrary, you really do start to doubt yourself. But do you want to know what the greatest thing in the world is??? The ability to finally let go and "let God". For so long I wanted vengeance and redeption and vindication and ALL those things that go along with it. I had been wronged and my integrity had been ripped out from under me - all because of one person's power trip. I wanted to get back at that person more than you can ever realize - but now - I just really want to be happy. I know I am good at what I do. I know I am a GREAT teacher, and I know I am valuable to my profession and my school. God has healed me from the hurt that was inflicted and I can honestly say, I am GLAD to be where I am today. God is GOOD! ALL THE TIME! lol

As far as my weightloss journey I started last summer...I lost 30 pounds by November, but haven't really been back on the plan since then. Which is the reason why I have decided to start a Biggest Loser competition at our new church. I talked with some of the gals at church last night and they were really excited. I think now is the perfect opportunity to start getting the word out at church because we are starting a growth campaign the month of March and I hope it will help some women find a nook and some friends to keep them plugged into our church. I am excited about this and I hope to lose the last 60 pounds I need to lose this year. Wish me luck!
By the way, if you are looking for a church and you just haven't seemed able to find one you really connect with, come try out Temple of Praise! You'll love it!

Not Me! Monday...Here I Come!

Well, I haven't blogged in a while, so I reckon' I will update for you. Let's see...today is Monday, isn't it? Well, I guess that means a "Not Me! Monday" is on it's way...

Well, I was totally not needing this day off from the crazy psycho-planet otherwise known as -my world- today. It was not planned out to be a totally blissful day ending with dinner and a movie with the man I share a bed with (but never actually see since I work two jobs and he stays home with the kids.) My mom did not call around 4pm to say that she was not going to be coming for "Nana Night" because her husband was in a funky "poor me, I need attention, what about me, I'll be mad if you go" mood for her. Let's not mention that she spent the WHOLE DAY with him since they were both off of work for the holiday! MEN!! Anyways, Since the evening plans were thrown out the window, of course I did not just lay around the house all evening vegging out on chocolate - that would be a killer no-no for my diet that I have totally been staying on to a "t". I have not gained back 2 of the pounds I had previously spent an entire SEVEN DAYS trying to lose! I do not hate fat! It's not like a leach - never letting go-hanging on for dear life- sucking the very breath out of you. I do not feel as though I am defined by my fat these days. It does not control my mood, my behavior, my life. Boo!

As for the happenings of last week, we did not lose a teacher to resignation after she had had enough of her fourth grade boys, and the principal has not asked one of the teachers from second grade to take over that class. Furthermore, she has not given the second grade team the option to choose ANY of the interventionists (that would be me) to fill that spot for the year. SO, I may not be moving to second grade sometime next week. I do not have mixed emotions about this and I am not riding on the fence as to whether I would like to change positions. I am not the only interventionist with experience in the classroom. No, the other interventionists did not just graduate college last year or the year before last. Questions like, "Would I still be able to keep my job at the Station House?" and "Am I truly prepared to teach inner-city children?" do not keep running through my head! I did not pray about it and ask God to just take over and if they ask me then I know it is his will for me to be there. I am not scared out of my mind that THAT very thing will happen! (Can I change my mind on that prayer, God?) I do not love my cushy interventionist - leave at 3:10 - no indepth lesson plan-making - job. I would not be completely devistated if I had to quit my job at the Station House. I do not completely LOVE it there! On the other hand, I do not want to completely redeem myself as an amazing teacher and shove it it a certain person's face. Whatever... I'm not bitter. Not ME!

What's the point?

I'm in a blah mood right now...it may be due to the fact that I did not get enough sleep last night. So, forgive me if I sound pathetic or angry or even rude in this next post.

If you know me at all, you know I am a VERY sociable person. I love people and have a need to be around all different types. I love to talk...sometimes even to myself if no one else will listen. But I digress...I thought this blog would give me the perfect opportunity to talk (non-stop) and would gives others the opportunity to respond to my crazy antics and what-not. The only problem I am having is - NOBODY responds. I have 45 followers from Facebook, and 12 followers from Google, but I hardly ever gain any response from ANYONE. Am I really all that boring? I told you I was in a funky mood.
I mean, I have all these friends who spend HOURS on Facebook and who say they read my blog, but they won't take two seconds to figure out how to create a Google account so they can comment on my blog??? And then, there are the lurkers...Yes, I know you are there. I see all kinds of places pop up on that counter I have. I REALLY want to get to know you, too! Do you have a blog? How did you come across mine? Maybe you are the ones who have comments, but are afraid to say anything. Who knows. I'm just feeling useless at this point. Flood of emotions, I know. And it isn't even that time of the month yet... :sigh:

Well, for those of you who care, my diet is still going on. This is BY FAR the longest I have EVER stayed on a diet. I have lost 11.6 pounds since June 24th, and yes, I am pretty proud of myself. I only have 18.4 left to go before I can reward myself with one of those tattoos I put in an earlier post. Yay! One day, I will not fear the public swimming pools or water park attractions we all love to attend. But for now, I will remain in my shorts and tank top while taking my children to the watering hole.

Well, I gotta go clean house. If you want, leave me a comment. If not, then don't. I'm getting used to it.

Wordless Wednesday

Update...

Well, it has been a month since I started my diet - almost. Actually I started on the 24th of June and today is the 21st. But, I wanted to go ahead and post because I have to work the rest of the week. So here are a few of my face shots.

BEFORE



AFTER



Can you believe my face was that fat??? WOW!!

Tat it Up!!

ok...quick post...I have decided that when I lose 30 pounds, I am going to reward myself with a tattoo. i don't want just ANY tat though. I want it to mean something. So here are the ones I have found that I like. I need opinions. Which one do you like best???

This one would be on my foot. I just love butterflies and this one is unique.


This one would be where you see it one her. The only difference would be that I would add another star at the top so that there would be a total of five little stars. Then I would put the birthstone color of each one of my kids in the tiny stars and my birthstone color in the big one at the bottom.


I don't know where I would put this one. Probably where it is one her if I could stand the pain. I just LOVE it because it is musical and that is such a part of my life. Plus, I absolutely LOVE the colors!


So tell me...what do YOU think???

Chunky? Boo!

Ok..so it has been two full weeks since my last post - and two full weeks since I started this diet. Here are some new pics.

Last night at work, I was on stage singing a song recorded by Jewel (You Were Meant For Me) and I was down in the crowd really workin' it. When I got done, one of the customers made a comment to a friend at his table that I was "chunky". They were all drunk so the comment was kinda loud and heard over the entire restaurant. Yep. Kinda sucked. I could mope and carry on about it for a few days, or I could use it as motivation to keep me on track with this weight loss cause. Even so, it still kinda hurts.
On a lighter note, London had her 4 month check up yesterday. She is 26 inches long and weighs 17 pounds! lol The doctor said she is on the 95th percentile for her height and 97th percentile for her weight. He also was very pleased with these numbers. London took three weeks to get back up to her birth weight when she was born, so he is amazed at how she is growing. He said not to worry about the numbers because they are proportionate. If she were on the 25th percentile for height and 97th for weight, then there would be a cause for concern. HAHA! I guess my prayers for her to be petite like Caedan went unanswered, but that just fine. She's adorable and I love her with ALL my heart! Here are a few pictures of her chunkiness! :)



Well, it's off to work out with the Wii! Wish me luck!