Friday, August 21, 2015

At My Goal









In these pictures, I am not wearing the same clothes.  I wanted to post anyway.  I made my weight loss goal today.  I must say that Trim Healthy Mama is the way to go.  I've lost 23 pounds since February.  I am at 133 pounds and am very happy.  I went to Goodwill today to purchase new shorts as my size 10's were falling off.  The shorts in the picture are SIZE 4.  Size 4!!!!!!!!!  Hello...I said SIZE 4!!! 


 These pictures are when I think I was looking my heaviest.  Granted I AM standing to a wisp of a woman who at her heaviest weighs as much as my right thigh...
 So I will just crop her right out of the picture.  Love You Kelly!

Very pleased :-)


Welcomce Sister!



Dear Eli,

I am so thankful that you get to come and see us (me.)  We can't wait to see you.  Your room is ready for you.

Love,
Beth



Tuesday, August 18, 2015

MaMaw's Hair



MaMaw cut her hair.  it had started to look pretty badly damaged on the ends in the back.  I chopped a good 6 inches off of it this morning and this is what I am left with.  The pictures make it look crooked, but it's not.

BEFORE




AFTER

Friday, August 14, 2015

It's Friday


It's been a while since I had a real post.  I've a few minutes today and would like to do an update!

For Today... It's Friday!!

Outside my window...  Our hot part of summer is here.  About 100 degrees forecast for the next several days.  

I am thinking...  When it gets this hot I dream about camping in the mountains.  Maybe in Oregon under a tree with the smell of pine.  A babbling brooke nearby.  Wild daisies growing around the camp and blackberries to pick.  Birdsong from a tree.  Aaahhh....

I am thankful...  I am thankful for many things.  God continues to bless me and I am humbled and eternally grateful.

I am wearing...  I have on a gray, light knit dress that "makes" me think I might be a bit cooler today.

I am creating...  I've gotten one of my projects complete.  The photo wall is done with the exception of photo's of my nieces and nephews from my two sisters. (cough-cough)



I am going...  Vacation Bible School is tomorrow.  We are expecting about 20 children.  It should be interesting to see how it turns out.  I don't know that we are very well prepared this year.  I am thankful we are only doing 4 hours in one day and not a whole week of bible school.

I am planning... I think our fall schedule is filling out nicely.  
Our anniversary is at the end of September.  I want to go camping in the mountains near Bishop, CA. 

In October, the San Diego Bluegrass society is planning a camp out pretty near to our home.  It sounds like it might be a lot fun.
 (this is the campground)
For Thanksgiving we are going to travel to Missouri.  My In Laws recently purchased a gorgeous property with 40 acres.  I am very curious to see the new place.  My Sister In law and Brother In Law and some of their children will be there as well.  It will be nice to soak up some In Law love.

I've invited my Mother to come and spend a few weeks with us for Christmas.  She wants to take the train.  I am kinda jealous.  I want to take a train trip...to New Mexico...with my manly man...

I am reading/watching...
I am reading Life of Pi.  So far it's a very good book.

We've not started any new video series yet.  we've watched a couple good ones recently especially one called "Granite Flats."  A must see!


I am praying... On August 24th I am scheduled to have a a total hysterectomy with the removal of my remaining ovary.  The Endometriosis has almost engulfed my left ovary.  It is now a mass measuring about 7cm x 9cm.  I've seen three different doctors and gotten three opinions.  They all agree with the first doctor, that this course of treatment will be best with the advanced stage of Endometriosis.  At this time it is still unknown what that left ovary is... hence the term "complex ovarian mass."  The surgeon is wondering if there is Endometriosis within the bowel.  He (he is an Oncologist remember) is preparing for cancer staging and bowel resection.  I serve a great and mighty God and know he will not direct my path beyond what he wants for me.  I am praying specifically for no cancer and no bowel resection.  Also praying that recovery will be swift and that I will be free from hormone swings and discomfort.  Pray for me if you will.

From the learning rooms...  I have yet to enter our final grades from 6th grade.  7th grade curriculum arrived yesterday.  My student is not thrilled.  We will be doing English, Mathematics, Penmanship,Science, History and Art.  We will start mid to late September.

In my garden...  The garden is almost done.  Our heatwave will finish off quite a bit.  The lettuce is bolting.  I've got bugs on my collard greens.  I've got a new summer squash this year called Peter Pan.  That is the plant you see in the picture.  Nice and healthy.


In my kitchen...  I love Poppy Seed dressing.  But...only a certain type.  It's only found in Missouri.  I recently ordered a case because the 6 bottles my sister in law brought me in June are almost gone.

A favorite quote for today...
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good work and word.
II Thessalonians 2:16-17

A peek into my recent days...  My manly man had his gallbladder removed on July 13th.  He came out of surgery recovery spouting nonsense about how beautiful and wonderful I was.  As we were walking around the nurses desk trying to be released he is telling me about an airplane he is in love with too.
...and because I love him...





I cut my friend Cynthia's hair.  It has been almost a year since she was at Beth's Beauty Parlor.  after her haircut, we went to lunch at a cute little coffee shop I discovered when my sister in law was here.





My second grandchild was born last month.  He is just the cutest BIG boy.



(I think Walter looks a lot like his Uncle Bubba.)

We were able to get away, in June, for one night and relax with the sounds of the ocean in the background.



One of my favorite things...  Some day I will have a house of my own.  One that can paint and decorate and remodel if I want.

 I am really loving this purple Thomas Kincade kitchen!!


So to help my contented-ness.  I will decorate my space...
 a new teal colored stinky candle

  and new yellow placemats on the table

 this is what they look like up close...


From the Pinterest board room...  I added some new boards.  It's all about Trim Healthy Mama.  Hubby is down 33 pounds and I am almost 20 down.


Post Script...  I'm sure I'm forgetting something.  I hope to be more diligent in my blog writing. I aspire to great things.  My follow-through is bad.I'm praying the rest of your summer is wonderful!!

Thank You Simple Woman for the inspiraation for this post!


Friday, July 31, 2015

Trim Healthy Weight Loss

Posting our three month weight loss pictures.

 Beth lost 15 pounds and 11 1/2 inches


Stacey lost 30 pounds and 3 3/4 inches


Tuesday, June 9, 2015

First Fruits



We're enjoying the bounty from the garden the last week.  I picked my first tomatoes yesterday.  We sliced one up for dinner and the rest will go in a salad for our dinner this evening.



Progress



Progress

I thought you might like to see what our Trim Healthy Progress looked like after 1 month.  These pictures were taken at week 4.  We have now been on Trim Healthy Mama for  6 weeks.


 Beth 11 pounds lost.  6 1/2 inches lost.


Stacey10 pounds lost.  1 1/4 inches lost.



Thursday, May 28, 2015

Where, Oh Where Have I Been?



For Today... Today is Thursday.

Outside my window...  The weather has been fantastic here in San Diego.  Cool and drizzly, sometimes rainy.  The forecast is for mid 80's through the weekend.

I am thinking...That I have to catch you up on a lot off happenings.


I am thankful...  I am thankful for God's goodness to me.  I feel so undeserving of His goodness.
I am wearing...  I am wearing an olive green maxi skirt with ruffled blue tank top and a blue and white button down shirt as a cover up.
I am creating...  Well, in the creating department I just finished the nursery set for my second grandchild.  I can sneak you a picture of it but it needs to remain a surprise until the baby shower June 6th.

Baby Walter's Cribset

Cathryn's Cribset, My previous work :-)


I have purchased two more collage picture frames.  One is for my Alaska family pictures, especially the grandchildren.  The other frame will be for our Sully.  That photo album update project hasn't gone anywhere.  But I will be working on that as well.

I've cleaned out a bookshelf in the office.  I've also gathered a large bag of clothing.  I've spied a few old throw pillows and some picture frames that will soon be empty.   I need to go through my craft and sewing supplies and empty some of those things out.   I will be hauling it all to the thrift store.

I also organized a storage room at our church last night and have a few things to take to the thrift store from that as well.

(pics from our overnight camp out in the desert on Sunday)



I am going...  I have a doctor appointment next Friday.  Church on Sunday.  Nothing else that I can foresee.

I am praying...  I have a HUGE unspoken that I am praying for God to move on.(it's not for me :-))  Praying for far away family.  Praying for the changing going on with my in-laws.

I am reading...  I picked up a book by Richard Castle at the library.  It is based off the television show Castle.  I have not seen the show but the book is okay.  I wouldn't let a youngster read it however.  The main character would be the offspring if MacGyver, James Bond and Dirk Pitt produced a child.

From the garden...  The garden is producing very well.  I've recently replanted some old favorites: spinach, lettuce, collard greens and kale.  My Mother's Day present was more tomato plants and some starts of spaghetti squash, they are already in bloom!  My zucchini's are just starting to produce and we are enjoying their great flavor as I have been purchasing them for several months now.



From the kitchen...  Big News from this household department. 

In April husband failed his required bi annual weigh in for the Coast Guard.  It goes against his record and he has 35 weeks to reduce to a certain weight, measurement and BMI.  Soooo we started a 'diet.'  We are trying Trim Healthy Mama.  THM is a low Glycemic, low carb, food combining diet.  I've had good success with it so far.  I've lost 10 pounds and 9 1/4 inches.  I think my manly man has lost 2 inches from his waist.  Tomorrow is our weigh and measure day so we will see how far we've come in four weeks :-)

Is been challenging to use things like flax flour, coconut flour, almond flour.  I've had a few success stories and an equal amount of failures in the baking department.  I did have a good success today with a Lemon Cranberry muffin that was very good.

One our favorites was this Cherry Cheesecake Desert




From the learning room...  School is almost complete.  We are working on end of year review and gearing up to take our final exams.  We'll probably do the exams next week.  We had an end of year party yesterday making Fairy Gardens.  I think they were a big success.  Even the boys liked them and called them Army Men Gardens.

(pics of the fairy garden  makings)








(these last two pics are my fairy garden)



Favorite quotes for today...
When you get to your wits end, you will find, God lives there.  ~Author Unknown

When you get into a tight place and everything goes against you, till it seems as though you could not hang on a minute longer, never give up then, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.  ~Harriet Beecher Stowe

  A bend in the road is not the end of the road... unless you fail to make the turn.  ~Author Unknown

I know God will not give me anything I can't handle.  I just wish that He didn't trust me so much.  ~Mother Teresa 

 
I ask not for a lighter burden, but for broader shoulders.  ~Jewish Proverb


I have sometimes been wildly, despairingly, acutely miserable, but through it all I still know quite certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing.  ~Agatha Christie 

(feeding the ducks at a lake) 

A peek into what is going on with me...
My female problems have returned.  I've had an ultrasound in March that shows a mass on my remaining left ovary roughly 9.9cm X 7.4 X 7.0 CM.  The Gnyecologist/Ocologist who performed my last surgery gave me two options~
1. remove the remaining ovary and my uterus
2. remove the remaining ovary preserve the uterus and remain on progesterone supplements for that remaining uterus the rest of my life.

I have asked for a second opinion.  The fantastic government health care we are provided with says my second opinion has to come from WITHIN the clinic where I received my first consult.  That second opinion is next Friday.  I will then ask for a THIRD opinion.  I am trying to get into see a gynecologist who works with my friend Tonya at the Womens Hostpital in town.  I am hopeful that he may remove a bit more of the Endometriosis than my previous surgeon did.

Endometriosis is a terrible disease.  Like cancer, but not fatal.  To have more success with treating it, it needs to be removed, lasored, vaporized etc. If I decide to do Estrogen/Progesterone hormone replacement the endometriosis may flare up again if its not all removed.

Truthfully I don't know if I want to use hormone replacement due to the increased breast cancer risk associated with it.  I don't know that I want to totally go without any hormone replacements due to increasing the chances of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and osteoporosis.

My husband (God love him)  has said the two options are feasible options.  He thought the surgeon was less  highfaluting than last time.  Honestly, I think he would take me on a cruise if I just decide to have a hysterectomy and move on.

So pray for me if you will.  I need to have peace over the decision I make.


One of my favorite things...  Since this diet, I crave all things carb.




From the board room...  the Pinterest board that is...


this was lunch
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/8866530492791648/


this is dinner
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/379498706077525533/



****************************

thank you Simple Woman for the inspiration for my post!