Went shopping

My friend, Deana, has told me that one way to deal with my discouragement over my weight not changing was to go shopping. So yesterday she and I did just that. I call her my "personal shopper" because I can shop so much better when I am with her.

When I started this journey last year, the shorts I was wearing was a size 24w. My jeans were 22 and 24. Yesterday the tops I bought were a large (I was wearing a 3x) and the pants I bought were either 14 or 16. I can't believe I have gone down that much in my size but I have. I wore some 14 shorts this summer but mainly were at a 16.

My children told me that week that not only do I look like I have lost weight lately but they think my body shape has changed. I think getting up at 4:45 2 days a week and getting the YMCA for a gravity class (Total Gym machine) has played a part in that. That class is shaping my body and working the muscles. We also got a class in this morning.

So, I am feeling better about myself.

The picture above is of a friend and I, her name is Christy. We celebrated our birthdays with a nice dinner out.

I think it has been a good week.

I am taking a break

from weighting. Don't get me wrong, I am not putting my scales away, just not standing on them for a bit. They are running life and they are discouraging me right now. I am at this place where I lose and gain the same 5 pounds over and over again, no matter what I do and I am sick of it. So, I will stop weighting for a period and see if that helps.

On another note, I have done something that I hope won't cause me to spend even more time in front of this computer. I joined Facebook. I have already reconnected with some of my college friends and that is nice.

Today is really Friday

That is how my children put it when we have a day off of school on Friday. This is our Fall break. We are out of school tomorrow and Monday. We are glad for the break. It is needed. I have a project for me and the kids to complete and I will give them free time. I think William is going to work at my brother's farm (www.oakviewfarms.com) on Friday. William is taking the SAT on Saturday and working that afternoon for a family friend. Monday is going to be an extra day of rest and play. Anna is headed to a friends house this afternoon for a spend the night party. She should a nice few days.

Our Headmaster has a theory. He says at this point in the school year, everyone needs a day off, a break in the schedule. I agree. Looking forward to next few days, having the kids around and not having to maintain the same schedule.

84 pounds

Every pound seems to be a struggle now. The first 50 were a breeze. Not the last 50. Last week when I stepped on the scales I had gained 3-4 pounds. This week I lost that plus one so I guess that was a good week but it is so frustrating. I am sick and tired of gaining and losing the same 5 pounds. Please pray for me that I will not be discouraged and I will finally get back to losing 1-2 pounds a week.

We have stopped running at the YMCA on treadmills, at least for now. We are now running outside and it is so different but we love it. We love being outside in the nice weather and having the scenery change with every step we take. Last week we ran in my neighborhood and this week we are in hers. We live a neighborhood away from each other. Next week will go to a different neighborhood. We are going to change up each week to keep us from getting bored. We should be able to do this until Janurary.

So, onward I go...

Lera

That is my mother's name. Lera. To me it is a beautiful name. I wanted to name Anna that name but Win said no.

Mother, as I call her, is strong woman. She has been through a lot in her life. She married at the age of 16 and her first of 6 children were born 2 years later. The first house she lived in with running water and electricity was with her husband, my father. When she was pregnant with her third child, she was 21 years old. She had a 4 year old and 2 year old at home, both boys, my father was drinking, what he loved to do, and he was mixing chemicals together at his business. He set the building on fire and he set himself on fire. He would survive and be in the hospital for many, many months. During this time Mother's mother, Carroll, would be diagnosed with breast cancer. This would be the fall. My grandmother would die the following June, my brother Renny would be born right before that, about 2 weeks before her death and my parents would inherit her 2 little sisters. All this in the space of about 8 months.

My mother would go on in the next 2 years and have another child, my sister. I would not be born for another 7 years and my youngest brother would come 7 years after me.

My mother would raise all of us on her own. She doesn't even have a high school education but she is the smartest woman I know. She is like Win and Davis and can do math problems in her head. Her first job after my parents divorce was to deliver newspapers. She would go on to work at Morrison's Cafeteria for 26 years.

In June of 2008 she would be diagnosed with breast cancer. Her house would then flood in May of 2009 and she would have to live at one of my brother's house for 4 months. She has cried more in the last year and half than I have ever seen her cry.

She has endured many hardships her life. Many people have talked about her behind her back and judged her harshly. She has had to face life without a mate. She has gone without so her children could have what they needed. She has lost many of her teeth, but I have all of mine, thanks to her. She has been consistant in her life. She has stayed and done what needed to be done and not quit on life or her children.

She has raised 6 sucessful children. She is a wonderful woman. She would do anything for me. She tells me like it is and loves me without telling me that she loves me.

Happy 76th birthday Mother. I love you.