School time!

Freshman in high school.....seems weird that this kid will be considered an adult in 4 short years. Both kids are pretty excited about this year. However day 2 Spence came home early and is running a fever today. This might be a new record. 

4th grade is here. This is the second year that Audrey has a teacher that Spencer has already had. She is pretty excited and a little nervous. I have to say her outlook on school has improved dramatically!

Our Starbucks tradition....nerves got a little to her. She did not finish her morning treat.

This may be a favorite of mine. She looks so grown up....but kiddish at the same time!

Camping

A tradition is brewing. Camping at a local lake with good friends. This year the Jimison's came as well. We all went swimming, fishing, and had some campfire time. One of the highlights this year was playing the "What do you want to do in the new system?" Wow....what a way to include our future with our close friends. We had an amazing weekend!!

Watching the boys move this log around brought back some great memories of when I was younger and did the same thing. The boys had a blast with this!

Her 5min break to convince me to come back out and swim some more.

We had to have spray butter along with our pancakes. Why? Because that's what we had when we went to Lake Shasta with Uncle Brian and Auntie Beth!....by the way mom...when are we doing that again?---Audrey (just thought I'd throw that out there to any who would like to know they are missed.)

Hosting Delegates

Our congregation and Wright Park had the special privilege of hosting 50 delegates from the International Convention. We met them outside at their bus with welcoming signs and cheers of welcome. They went out in service with some withing our halls and then we met for a catered lunch at the convention center for lunch and local entertainment.

My favorite sign at convention was from Wright Park. :)

Photo station. It was awesome to have an extra day to meet our new friends and take pictures at the umbrella photo booth. 

I was so proud of the kids in our hall. They all did a great job in welcoming the delegates and their pictures and smiles will be shown in Korea, The Netherlands, Ghana, and Sacramento CA, ;)

International Convention Day Three

If you look at these pictures and think we were low in attendance, we weren't. I am sitting on the shady side of the stadium. It got up to 85 on Sunday and that side was in full sun for most of the side. We had people moving to our side for the last talk. Unfortunatly there were lots of ambulences to the stadium. First aid was busy. But we made the best of it and enjoyed all that we could. I hope someday I can be a delegate. That too would be an amazing adventure!!

International Convention Day 2

We had!! full sun yesterday...today it rained. Lots of umbrellas

This year was different as the kids went with their dad. I was able to have them in the morning with me so I did get some great pictures. It was awesome to share this with them!!

I dont think I have ever seen umbrella holders for the stage!!

International Convention Day 1

We had a terrific weekend at Husky Stadium. I have had many friends attend international conventions and come out built up and encouraged. So I knew we were in for a treat....but this surpassed all my expectations. To see all the friends with gifts and love in their hearts. Knowing that the future will be so much better. The organization and the talks. WOW! What an experience and blessing!!

We had delegates from Korea, Ghana, Sweden and the Netherlands. Everyone had gifts. Audrey made coffee cozies decorated. By the end of the weekend she was handing them out and asking them about their visit to America. I was so amazed by her!

High School.....?

Well it is official, this kid is moving on up to High School. Totally weird to think that I have a Freshman. He got an award for maintaining a 3.5 or above for all of middle school. Algebra almost kicked him off of that list this year....but he pulled it up and survived middle school. I am happy to say....that I get a two year break from that. Woo Hooooo.

He is really an amazing kid!

We have a lot going on these next couple weeks. Grad parties always been to...and we are so excited to attend our first International Convention. LOTS of preparation going on. I'll get better about posting and uploading......

Goals

I've been reflecting a lot on how fast life can change. So much has happened over the past two years. I'm in a place now that I never thought I would be. I am a little overwhelmed on how to be a single mom, take care of the house, yard, car. How do I fit time in for myself when I don't have time for all of that and more importantly meetings, study and service.
 I remember what I said before. When you take care of yourself, you have more to give to others. I still believe that is true. So I'm going to make some more goals. My weight loss has been extremely slow. Why?....because I am feeding the overwhelmed part of me junk food. Now that I realize what is happening there.....I've lost a few pounds! Yay!! Exercise has been a little rough. The pollen up here has been off the charts and I have felt like I have had a nasty cold for several weeks. But I've also been thinking that weak lungs run in my family. I'm wondering if this is lingering because of lack of exercise, so I've increased that a bit. I haven't had the ability to get out and run. Yesterday I got 15000 steps by doing tons of yard work. That is killing 2 birds with 1 stone. :)...That isn't a permanent fix, but a start in the right direction.
My goals for June. Let go of what I cant control. Enjoy my children and what I have. Strengthen my lungs and start running. And fit into my summer clothes by the end of the month.
Side note.....International Convention is next month. Along with all of my normal things, we will be participating with gift making for the convention and the delegates. I will post pictures. I am also going to research how to combine these blogs of mine so that I only need to maintain one of them. Off to meeting I go!
Here are a few shots to see how we role. :)

To explain the one below....we had had two 80degree days and then this rainy day. This is what living in Washington in May looks like. We are slightly confused!!

I actually got all three boys in one shot looking normal! A huge accomplishment with teenagers!

Audrey has Talent

Audrey had her School Talent show this last weekend. She did amazing!! She sang Every Storm by Gary Allen. Her performance is on my picture site. It is now password protected. If you need the password email me and let me know. It is a tad bit big and I haven't spent the time to figure out how to get it over here yet.
Family, friends.....she had a lot of support. I think my girl is amazing!!!

10,000

What does 10,000 steps look like? It is a 1.5 mile walk to subway at lunch, mowing the lawn after work a bike ride with my girl and because I was short 182 steps before bed a mini workout at 9:30pm. I did it a few days later than my goal. However I felt great. So this next weekend the kids will be with their dad.....Im going to do Chambers and see how many steps I can get there....

Also, going to try to get to 10,000 3 times this week!!

FitBit

So I begin....I went and weighed in last weekend. I was terribly depressed. And then I began to think. I have done this before. I was successful....even with very little support...and sometimes sabatage. So I am back at the basics. Portion size...low sugar ....and even more exercise. So I decided to run....and then I pulled a Me and took out an ankle. So now I'm going to start off with walking. My goal is 10000 steps. The highest I have gotten is 7200. My goal is to get up to the 10000 mark by Friday. Time to get cracken on me!
 I am not even close to my highest..... I am above what I ever thought I would let myself get. Sooooo I am coming up with Scale goal....a fitness goal.... and an appearance goal. Last time took 2 years. Now that I am in a new place Im hoping for a lot less. New goals on next post!!

Family and Friends

It is time to move forward with our family and friends. I am really going to try to post our good times so that we will always know that no matter what we are always provided for.

We have had so much love....here are a few of my favorites.

Starting New

I am pretty sure I have lost most of the readers I had for this blog and my personal one. I know I do have family who has been wondering if I would start this back up again. So here I am. Single, happy, and moving forward with my new book. 

One of my last posts described the start of some stress that I was dealing with. I thought I was done with it back then....turns out I wasn't. I was in for a lot more. Two years later, it is time to rediscover and build a new me. I have been taking care of life...the kids....and I have fallen into some old nasty habits again. So I have decided to see what I can do on my own. I have to put my health as a priority. I have two amazing kids that I have to stay strong and healthy for. Below are a couple of my pictures at my lowest weight. My first goal is to reach this again....the healthy way. (as opposed to not eating because of stress).

The below picture is a great picture of my nephew....but shows that I have allowed myself  to fall. So today I choose me. Today I choose a healthy me.