school, school, school, school, school,

school, school, school, school…..as you might have noticed, Jon and I have school on the brain.

Jon is almost done with school for this Spring semester, with this week being finals week. He has taken more tests this last week then I want to think about. He has three tests just today! Please pray for him as he finishes up this semester and moves right into the Summer semester. He is amazing and persevering to the end. This time next year he will be all done with school and getting ready to graduate. We cannot believe how time has gone by so quickly.

I have school on the brain for a completely different reason. I am not in school, but I hope to be soon. I am in the process of applying for a Master’s degree program here at LeTourneau University. It would be a Master’s in Education specializing in Curriculum and Instruction. There are many reasons why I want to do this, which I can get into if you ask me about it. However, there are also many factors that go into me starting my Master’s program. Please pray for me. I want the Lord to carry out His will in my life and if this is it that’s great! Pray that I would not simply do what I feel like doing and seek God.

We love and miss you all!!

Hungry Girl

So I normally do not share my obsessions with everyone like this, but I just could not resist this time.

I am, as you all know, learning to take better care of myself by watching what I eat. I love finding new recipes to try. I long for great tasting low calorie foods. Part of that knowledge has come through my Weight Watchers meetings and I must tell you that this time I have found a diamond in the rough. You all may already know about it, but I didn’t until last week.

Hungry Girl. http://www.hungry-girl.com/index.php

Go and check it out!!

McKinney Historical Run

Let me be the first to say that I think I have gone mad. But before I tell you why let me start at the beginning. You see I have been losing weight with Weight Watchers since November 2008. To date I have lost 45 pounds, which is 20% of my body weight!! Much of my weight loss has happened with very little, inconsistent exercise; however I wanted to become more consistent in my exercise routine. Little did I know that Weight Watchers would be right there to help me.

This week Weight Watchers launched it's "Walk-!T Challenge". They are creating walking groups all over the country and encouraging people to either join a walking team or sign up for a 5K marathon walk or run. But that's not all, WW said that they would also give you access to free training plans to help you over the next 8 weeks so that you could be in shape for you marathon.

I couldn't believe it!! I was so excited!! One thing I have always wanted to do before I die is to run in a marathon. I see it as such a great accomplishment that I knew this could be the motivation for which I had been searching.  I immediately thought to myself, "This is perfect!". I went right to the computer to find myself a race that I could run in. Why a run you ask? Well I love to walk and I knew that I could walk well, but I was really looking for something that would challenge me. I knew that a 5K run was just the challenge I needed.

I will be honest and tell you that I didn't actually sign myself up for the run. I was extremely nervous and asked Jon to sign me up, that's what husbands are for right? I am signed up to run in the McKinney Historical Run, a 5K (3.1 miles) run, on August 8th at 8:00 am. I even get a T-shirt!!

So, last night Jon and I went to exercise, I thought I might die. We didn't really run, our time was more broken into walk, run, walk, run, etc. But I didn't die! I am so nervous about this, but I am sure that after several weeks that the nervousness will wear off, please pray it does. I have never been a runner and who knows this may be the only run I ever participate in, but I need to try. I do not want first place, but I do want to finish the race.

Halfway There!!

When you are a glass is half empty kind of girl saying that you are halfway to reaching something is not very exciting. This is because you think at all the things that you still have to accomplish to get to your goal. But I am learning and changing and I refuse to think that way anymore. This is the first time I could not be more proud of what I have accomplished and excited for what is to come.

Tonight I was finally able to sit down with my Weight Watchers leader Linda and set a goal weight. I have dreamed about what I would say and she helped talk me through setting something very reasonable. With that said I am happy to say that I am halfway to my goal weight!! I can't believe it!! I have lost 40 pounds and 3 pants sizes in this time!!  

Honestly I don't even know what I will look like when this journey comes to an end, but I am excited for the woman I am becoming. I have worked for hard these last few months to change the way I treat my body and take care of myself. I know that this is a journey that I would not be surviving without the Lord.

I have to be honest and celebrate, because it is this kind of stuff that keeps me on track. Please pray for me that I would have perseverance, strength, and the "want power" to finish this race strong.