"Hey Slim!"

Before........Now

To date I have lost 27 lbs. I have 13 more to go before I hit my goal of losing 40 lbs. I am feeling better everyday and enjoying my new healthy eating lifestyle. People at church have started telling me how good I look, and it really makes me feel good. I don't really like attention, but I'll take someone calling me "slim" any day. ha.

I can fit into everything in my closet now, but after these last 13 lbs are gone I'll be able to fit more comfortably :) I can't wait to put on anything I want and not worry about the bulge. When I get to my goal I will be at my wedding day weight.... I haven't been there since 2005.

My theory these last four months has been, "It's just food." There are a lot more important things to worry about. I don't really miss much, because I feel so much better about myself.... and there is always a low fat option out there. Hearing Nate tell me that he's proud and give me compliments is all I need to keep me going :)

"You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God Himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred - and you, remember, are the temple." -1Corinthians 3:16

Ladie's Retreat 2011

Ladies Retreat 2011

"Scouting the Divine"

April 15-16

We had a great time at the Ladies Retreat this year. It was a weekend away that was very needed and appreciated. We made a pact before we left that we wouldn't talk about the church and just focus on us and our own personal relationships with our Creator. Man, it was great to get away from reality for a while.

We had to take a picture with this "Spirit Stick" that ended up being from Purcell. Ha.... Good times. .

Hollie looks so lovely in the background of this picture. Just blessed my heart. haha .

We got to hear some great speakers and my hunger for some great spiritual food was quenched. During to break out sessions I heard Hollie's mom, the great Glenette, Robin Marsh and Lauren Nelson (Miss America), and Sarah Hill.

Glenette shared some great words of encouragement and direction. She and I have been through similar things lately so I really enjoyed her talk about how God will direct our steps. (I'll share more in another post!)

Robin Marsh was very entertaining and I loved getting to see a local celebrity in person. I was also a little excited about Miss America being there. They talked about Ruth and Naomi and the importance of mentoring. I liked everything they said and can apply it with my girls in the youth. The thing that stood out in this session was a story about Lauren. She had everything she had ever wanted, was traveling the world, getting her hair and make up done everywhere she went, getting to help people all over.... she was Miss America for crying out loud, but she was drowning inside. Everything looked great on the outside, but inside she wanted more. When she met Robin Marsh her life changed. She had recently given her life to Christ for real, and gotten married to a wonderful Christian man. She was just real and showed that everyone is vulnerable and broken sometimes.... And that we have a God that will take care of us.

And in the last seminar, Sarah Hill was just plain awesome. She talked about her ministry in Hawaii a little bit, and answered some questions about Soul Surfer, Carrie Underwood, and Bethany Hamilton. Her devotion was also great and I plan on sharing that in another post.

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We also got to hear some Jamie Smith. I love this lady. I kinda wish that we could have had more praise and worship time, but it was awesome while it lasted. I still knew all her songs and had memories of my youth events rushing back. .

The speaker was Margaret Feinberg. She was a very eloquent speaker and knew what she was talking about. She spent time with a shepherd, a bee-keeper, a vineyard owner, and a farmer to better understand some scriptures. It was very interesting and definitely made some of the scriptures come to life. It was almost like she was talking directly to our group about our church... but we didn't talk about that until we got back :)

For more about Margaret click HERE

For more about Jamie Smith click HERE

Soul Surfer

I have learned these last few years just how important it is to have great friends. Now, in the last year and a half, I have learned how important it is to have genuine Bible study with other women. It is just refreshing and wonderful to get together and talk about what each one of us gets from a certain scripture. God really uses other people to talk to me sometimes.

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Some of us ladies that are going to the Women's Retreat this weekend got together last weekend to eat and go see the movie Soul Surfer (the small group leader from that movie will be at the retreat). It was a great time with a great group of ladies and I can't wait till Friday!

The movie was stinking great too! It was a little cheesy at times but overall, I loved it and want to see it again and again! The real story of Bethany Hamilton is an inspiration and we all decided that in our next life we will be skinny blonde surfers that live in Hawaii. Haha.

Memorable Moment #15: Kiamichi River

March 31 - April 2, 2011

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Nate and I took a much needed day off of work and headed down to the Kiamichi River to spend some time fishing with my Dad, and Nana and Pops. It was a great little trip and something I will never forget. Enjoy some of my favorite pictures from the weekend.

Brian, Tommy, and Brendan came the last day, and it was good to see them for a little while before they went out in the boat and we came home.

Brendan is pretty crazy about his fishing. He had to show me all of his lures in his "sand bass tackle box." 6 year old boys are funny.

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It was so great spending time with Nana and Pops. We has some great times fishing and playing dominoes.

. I have never fished so much in my life. Dad thought this one deserved a picture. . Dad and Papa cooking up some of our fish. .

Brendan, Brian, and Dad.... Three guys that like to fish.

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Dad, Nate, and I with the big ones that we decided not to throw back. It was Nate's first time fishing on a boat and man did he get to do it a lot.

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Me and my sweet Nana Lue. She is the greatest.

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I love this picture of my Dad. It will be a picture I keep in my head for the rest of my life. I'm glad I got a picture of one of my favorite sites that day.... My dad happy and completely in his element, doing one of his favorite things.

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Nate and Dad with a lot of fish.

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Brian, Brendan, and Dad.

While Dad Was Out...

Keeping the books for two businesses and one church keeps my mom pretty busy, so she doesn't have much time to update her house. She is always talking about doing things, but rarely does.

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. My dad went on another spring fishing trip and while he was gone she decided to get something done. Together we completely re-did their bedroom, complete with new paint and accessories, and new furniture for the first time in 30 years. We only had two days to do it so it really was like a While You Were Out thing.

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Reggie keeping watch over the old furniture.

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It was a good "making memories" time, working with my mom. We painted, we shopped, we chased Styrofoam across the yard at 1:00am.

It was a surprise for my Dad when he got home, and he loved it just as much as us. Here are a few pics from Nate's phone.

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Until the next make-over project,