Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ride 'em, Cowgirl!

Psalm 23:1
[ A psalm of David. ] The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

I had the best time shooting pictures of this little filly...Avery is a sweetie and I would take her home with me in a second (if it weren't for those pesky boys of mine). ;) She's about to turn 3 and is having a "cowgirl" themed party. These shots are for the invitations. I will only post a few, but there are so many good ones I bet her mom has a hard time choosing! :)





Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Weight Watchers Wendesday

So after three full weeks on the Weight Watchers plan, I've lost 15 pounds. F-I-F-T-E-E-N pounds! Yay me! I have to put that into perspective, into terms I can visualize. Two full-term newborns. Two gallons of milk. That's a lot! I'm so excited to be experiencing success and to still feel so motivated to lose more.

However...

I can't escape the feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop," so to speak. I keep thinking this is just too easy. The scales must be wrong. It can't be as simple as this. It can't be just eating better and moving more. Am I the only one who has felt this way? I think it's ingrained, from a lifetime of going up and down the scale so much I ought to have whiplash. I mean, seriously...who in their right mind is excited to get up early in the morning to go walk a mile or two? I really feel better in the mornings when I get my walk in first thing. I look forward to it in the evenings because it's a few minutes of peace. Plus I have to hear the next chapter of my book (currently in the middle of Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer).

I know it won't always be this easy. I know I will have to slow it down a bit because losing enough to accomplish this first goal probably consisted of a lot of fluid and a lot swelling that would naturally come off easier. I'm praying that I stay motivated and excited even when the losses come in numbers like .8 or .25. A loss is a loss, you know. Until then though, I'm relishing earning my little star stickers. :)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

30 Compressions...2 Breaths

Genesis 2:7
the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

CPR is something that I feel everyone should know how to perform, at least at a rudimentary level...just in case. As part of my job duties, I have been certified by the Red Cross to be a CPR/AED/First Aid instructor and as such, I am an authorized provider for the training for the school district.

Today I recertified 37 Petermann Transportation employees for CPR and AED. It was a full day. We had two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Working with recerts is actually kind of fun, because since they've already sat through the whole 8 hour class before, doing the "challenge" to recert simply consists of taking the written exam (all three parts) and then performing the actual skills on the manikin so that I can be sure they know how to do the steps properly. That's the most time consuming part, but it's my favorite part as well.

I explain to anyone I teach that I want to be confident enough in their abilities that I would allow my own children to be on their bus and know that they could take care of them if the need were to arise (God forbid).

Fortunately today, everyone passed the exam and all demonstrated appropriate skills. We have a good group of drivers and they were all attentive and asked questions. I am confident that if there were an emergency, they each have the capability to handle it.

Even though the challenge is shorter, with 37 people to go through, I am a tired little girl tonight. It takes it out of you!

If you never remember anything at all from a CPR course, remember this...30 chest compressions, 2 breaths...you can help make a difference and possibly save a life.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Weight Watchers Wednesday

So I made it through another week on program without feeling deprived or denied anything. I lost 1.4 pounds. Not as dramatic, of course, as the previous week, but still a good loss for a week. I'll take it!! It was a little more difficult this week, especially with the wedding (and wedding food, wedding cake, etc.) but I did just fine and didn't go over my weekly allowance at all. In fact, I only used 9 of my 35 weekly points.

I'm exercising twice a day and now am up to a mile and a half each time. I really enjoy using that time to walk to listen to books and to spend some time in thought or prayer.

Here's to another good week and good loss! :)

P.S. If you get a chance, look at the article in the Tribune yesterday about Project HOPE. I made the cover! ;)

http://www.terrelltribune.com/articles/2009/08/12/news/doc4a8307bd5fe08760768953.txt

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Wedding Bells Are Ringing...











Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

Two very dear friends of mine were united in marriage on Saturday afternoon. I had the privilege of taking their wedding pictures for them, and thought I'd share a few with you.

The bride lost her husband one day before I lost mine, also very suddenly due to a heart attack. The groom lost his wife almost two years ago due to a sudden stroke. The pair have known each other for a very long time, as their families went to church together. After their spouses' passing, they both attended GriefShare, a grief counseling program at First Baptist. After the semester in the support group, their friendship grew and they fell in love. I am so very, very happy for them. They give me hope that there is love out there in the world, somewhere! :)

Busy week ahead, working on the rest of their pictures and putting together a surprise for them. I'll keep you posted! :)

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Weight Watchers Wednesday

I had my first full week of WW as of Monday. I stayed completely on program, and I never once felt hungry or wanted to eat something that wasn't such a great choice for me. I stayed full, and I ate what seemed like a lot of food. I chose to eat several times during the day in smaller portions that were just a few points here and there, rather than using them in big chunks on a couple of big meals. I only used 2.5 of my "extra" weekly point allowance, and I never traded any of my activity points. Speaking of activity points, I earned 20 of them. I walked every day except Sunday, and I used my Gazelle when it rained. I made a conscious choice to do what was right and what was necessary to lose some of this junk in my trunk.

So.....I went to the meeting, kind of nervous about that first weigh-in. I have dieted many, many times, only to find that all my hard work was for naught. I went in, stepped up on the scale, and the lovely WW lady looked at me, then looked at the scale reading, then looked at me again with this strange look. I thought something was wrong, so I got off and got back on, and she said "I have to get out my calculator, you lost so much!!" I was in shock. I was expecting maybe a pound or two. My grand total for week 1's loss? 8.2 pounds, baby!!!!! E-i-g-h-t point t-w-o!!! I was on cloud nine!!

I'm still on program, I'm still walking (got two miles in today, as matter of fact), and think I might have finally found something that works for me. I'm giving it the old college try, that's for sure. I'm working hard to get in the right number of servings of fruits, veggies, and dairy...but I'm still struggling with the oils. I don't eat much oil.

Now I know that every week won't be like that, and I know that it will usually be in that 1-2 pound loss (but I'll take ANY loss). I'm not getting my hopes up for that because it didn't take me overnight to become this big, so it will not be overnight for me to lose it all. I'm patient, though. Someday you'll see me sashay through the streets of Terrell (yes, that's right, I will SASHAY) and wonder where the other half of me went. Promise. :)

Little Drummer Boys

2 Samuel 6:5 (New International Version)

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.



OK, well maybe not so little...but they certainly fit the drummer boy bill. Here is the bulk of the 2009-2010 Fighting Tiger Drum Line. There are a couple not pictured (one broke a toe and one has strep throat). They already sound good to me, and band camp is only a few days old. Today they were marching up and down the drive along the back of the high school, which happens to go by my building and my office window. I was surreptitiously taking pictures so as not to embarrass that snare player in the front with the green shirt...he'd never forgive me if the other guys saw his mom taking pictures of practice, I'm sure. ;)

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Off and Running

Acts 20:7
On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

Back to work yesterday...and it was great to be back. I was afraid I'd be all discombobulated from being on vacation so long, but it's like a bicycle. ;)

Weight Watchers meeting was last night...and my first weigh in. I'll have to let you know the results on Wednesday, but it's good, so look for that coming this week.

Band practice is every morning at 7:00 now...they go 7-11 and then 1:30-3:30. Two a days, if you will. The show is going to be AWESOME this year. The music is "Scheherazade" from 1001 Nights. I can't wait to hear it every morning from my office at the high school. They practice right behind my building so I always hear it. I wish I was musically inclined, but unfortunately, I can't even play the triangle. ;) I'll try to get a shot of them practicing and then post it up for today.

J.P. came home from camp yesterday afternoon. He had a wonderful time and was completely hoarse. He said he lost his voice screaming for the band and screaming at the girls to be quiet. ;) He told me about the fun things they did, and then told me about the groups and their meetings and devotionals. He learned 11 new bible verses. He also opened up and told me that in one group they discussed fears, and his fear right now is when André goes off to college and leaves him here...he said he won't have another guy here to "teach him how to do stuff." He actually cried. It was so sweet. Most of the time they just fight like cats and dogs...but I know deep down they love each other and that J.P. looks up to André very much.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Summer Ends...School Begins

Exodus 35:2
For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD.

Sadly, today is my last day of summer vacation. Tomorrow I must report back to work at THS. Now don't get me wrong...I LOVE my job and am truly blessed to work with a group of amazing ladies and wonderful kids that make it not seem like work at all. Heck, I'm truly blessed to work at all in these tough economic times!

I have really enjoyed the last six weeks I've had off with the kids. I've accomplished most of what I wanted to do, and I have had some very restful moments along with some wonderful and exciting ones. I wouldn't mind it going on a few more weeks, that's for sure!

HOWEVER...

I am really looking forward to this year. My head is full of new ideas and lots of motivation to try new things with my students. I am starting a new support group for my Project HOPE student parents, so that they can not only cope with teen parenthood a little better, but also earn "Baby Bucks" to spend in our new Parent Pantry on diapers, wipes, and other necessary baby items (we always need diapers and wipes for the pantry if you feel led to donate!).

I pray that this is going to be a wonderful and effective year for all my students. Yes, we face some tough times and many challenges, but I have faith that we will overcome the obstacles and come out in early June having accomplished what we set out to do at Project HOPE keep students in school and get them across the stage at graduation, despite their circumstances.

Here are a few of my favorite pics I've taken at work. You'll have to click on the pics to see the whole image...they look funny on here but you can see the whole shot when you click on it.





Saturday, August 1, 2009

Rain, rain...don't go away!

Deuteronomy 28:12
The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.

I don't think I can recall a more rainy July. I had to look up some statistics just to see where we stand. According to the website Weatherbase, our zip code has, on average, 2.1 inches of rain in July. We average 4.3 rainy days in July, historically. As best I can tell, we had 4.81 inches of rain for July and 9 days with measurable precipitation. All I know is that I'm thankful for it and glad that my water bill will be slightly less since I haven't had to water as much! :)

Rain always makes for great photos if you know where to look...here are some of my personal faves I've taken just after a rainfall. Enjoy! :)