World Traveller!!!

I love to travel! I love the excitment that leads up to a big trip! I love to explore and see all sorts of new things! I just wish that I had the money to just travel all over the world, I would have so much fun... :) I got a refund back from school, and while I should have been responsible and put it towards bills, I figured I would rather have some fun. So, I bought myself a ticket to go to one of my favorite places ever to see some of my favorite people ever!!! I'm headed to Colorado, I swear I'm going to live there some day, to see my fabulous Haley and her kiddos. I figured while I was there I should probably go see my super favorite person, CHIP! I mean, I guess I should see my best friend before he ships out for a year to serve his men and get the bad guys... ;) So super excited about getting out of Lynchburg, being able to relax, and spend some quality time with some very important people in my life! Oh, the life of a teacher!!!

What Really Matters

I've been reflective on my life a lot lately... I know, that's new, but I figured it was time I try something new! :) I think it has to do with school being over and I actually have the brain process since I'm not grading hours and hours of grammar, writing, and vocabulary quizzes. I like my life, I know it's where I'm supposed to be right now, but it's not my deep down dream. I'm so blessed to own the house I own, have amazing family and friends (seriously they're amazing, I have the world's greatest friends), I'm healthy, and I'm safe. I'm awed and thankful that I have such an amazing career, that I'm able to implement new programs, teach teachers, work with such wonderful kids, but really it's not what I do for the rest of my life... I want to be a wife, I want to be a mom, I want to make the world's greatest chocolate chip cookies. Forget feminism, I want to stay at home with my babies, do laundry, clean the house, and cook dinner for my man every night. That's my heart and passion, and yet, I'm single... I don't regret the fact that I'm not married. I've been close a few times. I absolutely 100% know that I'm not supposed to be with the guys in my past, it was a painful lesson, but I'm glad I went through what I did. So, the question is, 'now what God?' Where am I supposed to go from here? What am I supposed to do with my life? How am I supposed to live?

I don't know the answer to those questions. I really really wish I did. Do I think I'm going to be in Lynchburg the rest of my life? No. Do I think I'm going to teach until I retire? No. There's a lot I don't know, but there are a few things I do know... I know that God has a plan for me. I know that God loves me. I know that if I follow God He will lead me down an absolutely amazing path. I know that I love God. I know that with every fiber in my being I want to love, serve, know, and follow God. These aren't emotional responses, because believe me, tonight is a night when I don't 'feel' those things. It doesn't matter what I feel, it matters what I know. So, I will hold tight to these promises from my amazing Savior and I will trust that in His timing He will make His plans known to me.

Its all coming off...

Over the last few months I've gone through a rollercoaster crazy ride, and in the process I ate whatever I felt like and didn't exercise at all. Thanks to that great combination I put on the pounds and started to feel horrible about myself. I ended up only being able to wear certain clothes and leaving most of my closet just hanging there never getting used... When I broke my back and had to go to the doctor constantly, I also had to be weighed constantly, which is never good for the ego. The day that I saw I was 30 pounds more than my projected weight was one of the worse for me ever. I'd had it, I was going to get serious about losing this weight and I was going to get healthy. I knew that it was just going to get harder to lose the weight and look the way that I wanted to as I get older so I might as well do it now. So, I set my mind to it and refuse to back down! Good thing I'm stubborn... ;)

My mom and I both had some success in the past with Weight Watchers so I decided to try it again. I also wanted to be more active and healthy, because it's not just about how I look but it's also about my body being in the best condition it can. I've started cooking at home more and sticking with my points and counting everything I eat. I don't resistrict myself from the things I love, but I do enjoy them on occasion and in small portions. Now that I'm on summer break I've got a lot more time to work out and be healthy. I walk about 4 miles a day plus working on toning and everything else that I can do, and it feels great! I still want to eat junk and lay around on the couch, but I can't deny that I really actually do feel a lot better and healthier now that I'm working on changing my lifestyle. I've lost 9 pounds now, and I can't wait to lose the remaining 21, and I'm so excited about it!