Oh Daniel...why you treat me so bad?

Every year my church participates in a 21-day fast. This year I decided to participate, it began on Jan 10th and goes thru Jan 31st. So my choice of fasting was to try the Daniel Fast.

Mind you, I am not a faster, per say. Not that I don't like it, but I just never have been a faster. So, this year I needed some prayers answered, and the word says that these things come by prayer and fasting.

Let me tell you...the Daniel Fast is no walk in the park! It is tough, especially when you are trying to exercise at the same time! The Daniel Fast requires you to only eat vegetables, fruit, whole grain items, beans and water. Daniel chose not to eat like the king and only have necessities.
This means no meat, dairy products, SUGAR, white flour...all of the good stuff!

Since starting this fast, I have become crabby, moody, even feel like one of my kidneys is about to bust through my skin and pop out! It is killing me! But, I will try to keep perservering because I know that answers on on the way!

I may modify it a little bit like incorparating chicken or fish to accomodate my exercising as well. The reason for the exercise is because I agreed to be on my friend's team in a "Battle of the Bulge Weight Loss Competition." She also recruited my Sis and a good friend. So, we shall see if I can battle this bulge!!!

I will update you...if I do good!! Hehehehe!

2009 Year In Review...

1. Was 2009 good for you? In a word...YES. I was so blessed this year I had some highs and lows in 2009 but the highs definitely overshadow the lows.

2. What was your favorite moment of the year? Witnessing my last single cousin get married in May.

3.  What was your worst moment of the year? My purse was stolen the day after my 30th birthday and the thief wrote over $6000 in checks to herself and actually cashed them at a bank! The bank fully refunded my account thank God!

4. Where were you when 2009 began? At my home eating good food and popping fireworks.

5. Who were you with? Hubby, kids, parents, sister and her fam, aunt and uncle, lots of cousins.

6. Where were you when 2009 ended? In my bed!

7. Did you keep your New Year's resolution in 2009? Yes, I lost weight this year. By october I had lost 52 lbs, but I must admit that I have gained a few back over the holidays. I am not sure how many though, I have dreaded weighing in.

8. Do you have a New Year's resolution for 2010?  Yes! The first one is: to be as faithful to Jesus this year as he was to me last year.  He never fails me! The second one is to lose 30 additional lbs.

9. Did you fall in love in 2009? I stayed in love...

10. Did you make any new friends in 2009? Yes.

11. What was your favorite month of 2009? September...

12. Why this month? I went on my first cruise with my husband, friends-Kim and Willis, and my Mema. I went on the cruise weighing the lowest of all year, and I felt the best and most healthy this month.

13. Did you travel outside of the USA in 2009? Yes...on my cruise I traveled to Montego Bay & Ocho Rios, Jamaica, Grand Cayman Island, and Cozumel, Mexico.

14. How many places did you travel to in 2009? Dallas, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kemah, Orlando Florida, and the places mentioned above from the cruise.

15. Did you miss anybody in the past year? I miss my bestie Holly. We don't live very far from each, but life has pulled us in different directions and it is so hard to make time to meet up.

16. What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2009? The Proposal - with Sandra Bullock. One of the funniest movies of the year, in my opinion!

17. What was your favorite song from 2009? Fallin' for You - Colbie Caillat

18. How many concerts or plays did you see in 2009? 2....Celine Dion @ Toyota Center and Jonas Bros and the Rodeo (took one for the team...Jenna wanted to go!)

19. Did you have a favorite concert in 2009?  Celine Dion by far!  If you haven't seen her in concert, you are missing out...she's really good!

20. What was your favorite book of 2009? I'm just gonna be honest...I didn't read any books. But I did read about a million health and fitness magazines this year.

21. Did you do anything your were ashamed of this year? Probably, I can't think of anything major, but I do have a tendancy to say things that I wish I wouldn't have.

22. What was the biggest lie you told this year? I'm no saint, but I really can't think of a big lie...I'm pretty transparent and I sing like a canary.

23. Did you treat someone badly in 2009? I don't think I did...I do know that my family gets the brunt of any frustration that I may have on occasion. I hope they wouldn't think that I treated them badly.

24. Did someone treat you badly in 2009? Maybe a little, but I will let that person remain anonymous...

25. What was your proudest moment of 2009? Watching my little girl graduate kindergarden and my son playing awesome baseball over the summer.

26. What was your most embarassing moment in 2009? Falling and busting my @$$ at the gym while trying to balance on a foam roller!

27. If you could go back and change anything in 2009, what would it be? I would have read my bible more and I would have stayed more disciplined in my eating and working out since October. In October, I stopped having a trainer at the gym and it has been such a challenge for me to get back up there and workout!

28. Where did you work in 2009? Choice Fasteners, my parents company

29. Favorite TV show(s) of 2009? The Biggest Loser

30. Favorite Bands of 2009? No specific band that I can think of...like more solo artists like John Mayer,
Michael Buble', Rob Thomas...

31. Favorite food in 2009? Olive Garden's chicken alfredo...maybe that's why my weight loss hit a plateau!

32. Favorite drink in 2009? Sweet tea :-(

33. Favorite place in 2009? None other than... Disneyworld! Went in November for the 3rd time in 3 years and I just have totally fallen in love with that place. I wish I could take a permanent vacation there!

34. Favorite person to be with in 2009? my husband and kids

35. Favorite person(s) to talk to in 2009? Mom, sister Rachel, Mema, Ginny, Kelli

36. Favorite trip in 2009? Disneyworld...but my cruise came in a very close 2nd!

37. Favorite stores in 2009? Gap, New York and Co.

38. Hardest thing you had to go through in 2009?  The lows of marriage, trying to keep the flame burning and trying to keep traveling in the same direction....it gets challenging.

39. Most exciting moment(s) in 2009? Taking a girls only trip with my daughter, mom, sis and niece to Disneyworld that my mom totally paid for...my mom rocks! Climbing a waterfall in Jamaica with James and my friends-Kim and Willis, and singing karaoke at my mom's 50th birthday party.

40.  Funniest moments in 2009?  watching my family dance to 50's music at mom's birthday party, watching my sister waddle back to the resort because her feet hurt so bad after walking around Magic Kingdom for over 13 hrs, my friend Kim had me laughing hysterically when she wore one brown shoe and one black shoe to dinner on the ship one night and she didn't realize it!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today, my family is celebrating with my Mom as she marks her 50th birthday! Yes, I did say 50! No, I am not lying...Yes, I know she doesn't look it at all!

It all started 50 years ago today! My grandmother gave birth at the age of 16 to a baby girl that would be the most important person in my life. I mean, when I think about my Mom, I can't even think of all the words to say how much she means to me. She has hands-down, without a doubt, become my best friend.  I have friends, but Mom is my go-to girl! I cannot imagine a day without her and pray that I never ever have to.



My Mom is pretty amazing! She is one of the most self-less people I know.  I truly mean it.  This is the lady that is always giving out. Let me tell just how amazing she is...she just took me, Jenna, Rachel and Chloe on an all-expense paid trip to Disneyworld.  How awesome is that!?!? She constantly picks up things for us while shopping because she remembers us saying we wanted it.  She always finds ways to bless others.

Mom is the glue that binds our family.  She is our Prayer Warrior.  The thing that I am most thankful about my mom is that when I have something going on in my life and I need God to work a miracle, I know I can go to Mom and she immediately start praying over the situation. I can't tell you how many prayers have been answered because she agreed in prayer with me or was praying over me and my family! 

I have so many memories of her as I was growing up.  One found memory is all of the oldies and 70's music she would listen to while, cooking, cleaning and even exercising in our home. I can remember her letting my drive Dad's truck home from school and she was in the passenger seat and I pulled out  and we got broadsided. She was nice about it, but probably wanted to kill me at the same time!  I can remember countless times her and her cousin Eddie "cheating" in pictionary to beat my Dad and Eddie's wife Connie. I remember her wrestling my cousin Shannon in an elevator of a hotel for a quarter!  Most recently, I thought I was going to pee my parents when Rachel and I got her on the Tower of Terror at Hollywood Studios and she just kept screaming.  The whole time up and the whole time down on the ride, she was screaming!  I will post a picture of her just to let you see how funny it was!

Mom, you are a super, tremendous, special lady and I love you more than words can say!  I hope you have a boogie woogie 50th birthday!!! ;-)

Wow...Time Flies when your having fun!

Where has the time gone?  It just blew past and life has been a blur for a few months. So many different things have happened since I last blogged.

My kids went to their school Harvest Festival on Halloween day and were two of the custest dressed kids, if I must say! ;-)  Jenna went as Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, and Jacob went as a cowboy.

The next day, we went to the Wings Over Houston airshow and it was amazing.  The weather couldn't have been any better and we went with great friends.  The Blue Angels were the highlight of the show and they never cease to amaze me.  There is just something about the roar of a jet engine...
Here are a few pics of the day:

Next...on Nov. 14th, James and I celebrated our 11th year of marriage.  Marriage is a tricky thing, and noone ever told me how hard it would be, and what great rewards there were as well.  We had to cut our celebration a little short because Jacob had a baseball game, but we had fun.

We ate our main course at PF Changs and then stepped over to Cheesecake Factory for dessert.  The red velvet cheesecake was yummy!

After the lunch we caught a quick movie and then off to the baseball fields!

Thanksgiving came and went!  We are drove up to Livingston, to my aunt's house and made a day of it. I wish I could post pictures of the day, but my aunt has not emailed me any pictures!

On Dec 4th, it SNOWED in Conroe!  Can you believe it?!?!?! 2 years in a row! We picked the kids up from school early that day and went home and played in it and topped it off with hot chocolate!  It started to feel like Christmas!  I will post pictures soon!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Today my parents are celebrating their 33rd (i think) anniversary.  Wow!  What an accomplishment!  In 1980 the avarage marriage life span was about 37 years, and today its about 24 years.

I hope my parents are enjoying their time away from work and enjoying the Florida sun!  My parents have been such a rock for me over the past 30 years.  They have shown me what it is to stick together through thick and thin and how to wade out the storm in my marriage.

I love you guys and am so thankful that you have stuck together for 33 years and look forward to watching you stick together for 33 more years!!!

Love Ya,
Jenny

30 years! Wow!

Well, not use is delaying the inevitable...today I am 30.  My friends and family have made me feel special yet again, with all the birthday wishes and presents and love!  Got the best family and friends in the world!!!

So here is a little before and after for ya:

below is a pic of me in 2008 on my b-day...

and below is a pic from today - 50lbs lighter!

What a difference 365 days makes huh!?!??!

Pre Birthday Celebration...and turning 30!

My awesome Mom and Sister have planned a "pre-birthday" celebration for me tonight!  I am so excited and can't wait for 6:00pm.  My actual birthday is monday, Oct 5th.

Evening plans are a girl's only dinner and movie.  They've invited my closest and best friends and family to celebrate my turning 30.  Yes, I did say 30!  I can't believe the time has arrived for me to graduate to my 30's.
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I have mixed emotions about turning 30. 

Part of me is excited because I feel like the older I get, the more confident I become in who I am.  I feel confident in who I have become and where I am going in life.  I feel confident in my looks.  While I acknowledge that I am not a super model, I also realize that even supermodels aren't really even supermodels.  I've started viewing beauty in different aspects other than looks.  Beauty is so much more than that.  For me, it's strength, god'grace, honest people and integrity. I have also noticed that my emotions have settled down a little bit.  I don't take things so personal and I've noticed that I can handle rejection a little better. I appreciate and love my kids more and more every day.  I am thankful for the way my parents raised me and how they've supported me through many good and bad decisions, yet still loved me the same. I am thankful, that while my marriage has been a journey, that James has hung in there with me.

The not so happy part of me is thinking "Oh man, I'm not in my twenties anymore.  It was always so nice to say, " I'm twenty----something."  I have also heard things like:  your metabolism slows down one you hit 30 (which in my case was 20!) 

It's ok though.  I am entering a new phase of my adulthood and I will embrace it!  Besides, I don't really have an option, it's coming for me ready or not! ;-)