Pound for Pound Challenge

I have done something great! I have pledged to lose 20 lbs by June 30, 2010...Will I do it? YES! I will do it! I have pledged through the 'Pound for Pound Challenge' that donates 14 cents for every pound pledged and lost to a local food bank. It was advertised with the Biggest Loser. I am going to make it happen!!

Ticket to Ride

I would just like everybody to know that I am the champion of this game...I have won 2 times...I even beat my dad!!! I feel so great. It always seems as though dad wins, but this time I creamed him and Ryan. I am feelin' lucky tonight!

Guatemala

Lately, I have been thinking about Guatemala. The reason being that it is now starting to rain more often and the sun is out longer and it is beautiful here in Virginia, but not as beautiful as the "Land of Eternal Spring." I mean look at it...that is a real picture! Isn't it beautiful? It is a lot of fun to talk about mission experiences with Ryan, and believe me, we do spend considerable time saying "One time, on my mission..." Isn't that love? I am working on a book of mission pictures and it brings back so many great memories. My two year mark of being home is fast approaching (April 8) and the memories always seem to explode around these times that important dates are in my head regarding mission experiences. What a joy it is to know in the gospel that one day I will see all my faithful family from Guatemala and live in eternal happiness with them.

We walked off of the beaten path and were up to our eyeballs in mosquitoes and ferns!


This is how we rolled...actually, we walked, but this is how the people rolled by...go green and take a friend (often times 3 people were on that bike-somebody can sit on those handlebars)


The "Waters of Mormon"...beautiful site!


Everything was carried on your head. Beautiful family, beautiful house, beautiful laundry line...just beautiful everything!!

And times goes on...

Good Morning,

Oh the days have flown by since that jam session...and now the house feels totally empty. The girls and Dorothy are gone and we ALL miss them. There were no sweet kisses this morning...or chunks to snuggle against. My older sister, best friend, compadre, partner in crime has become a mother! I always knew she would be a great mother...she did my hair in up-do's every.single day in the 4th grade. She got us ready to go to school. She carried me around on her back. She always let me sit on her when we watched tv as young kids. Sometimes, she let me sleep in her big bed and would lay her arm over me like a floppy fish so I couldn't move and was stuck and would scream! She was my dance partner at the young single adult dances. She also made sure we had fun things to do together so that we were busy on the weekends when she returned from her mission. She let me be on the "hang-outs" with her and Trevor...I mean seriously, she was bound to be a good mother and IS a great mother! And now she isn't here...but I will be there (in NY) within 3 weeks to cuidar the little ninas while she goes on a cruise to Bermuda (Bahama, come on pretty momma) with her beau, Trevor for the 5 year anniversary!

Mom is no longer sick...Ryan has caught up on rest...and dad is still kickin it...and I am doing well. This whole working full-time thing isn't as much fun as I thought it would be...it brings home the bacon, but takes a lot of time and energy out of your day. Obviously, so does taking 20 credits!...I wouldn't trade places with Ryan right now...been to school and done it and glad I did it, but even happier that it's over! Oh life is good...and moving forward...but let me tell you, there is a lot of faith that has been required lately (well always). It's alright though, the Lord is with us.always.forever.

Jam Session

Well Hello fellow bloggers- We have been having a few jam sessions here in this house this past week. The kids have been having a great time with Uncle Ryan, looking like jammers and jamming with him. Here is Scarrrrlett ready for an evening out! She is sitting in her bumpie, ok bumbo...


And now we have the Jammers together...giving a thumbs up to the cool shades and awesome music time...


And now we have an ultimate jammer...she is ready to jam on the street!


In the midst of jamming! Uncle Ryan even has a guitar for Chloe...it's called a mandolin.


Let's just say our house has been rocking this week. There have been some great songs: ABC's, Itsy Bitsy Spider, Once there was a Snowman...and many others that Uncle Ryan has been teaching and singing to Chloe.

Who do you blog for?

We have arrived at the end of 2009 and the 3rd month of 2010...I have been thinking to myself lately about the importance of a blog. Who do I blog for? Why do I do it? 15 years ago, I wrote in my journal about all of the important things going on in my life (regarding who I loved and who my best friend of the day was)...and any picture I had would wait until I had 27 exposures so that I could drop the camera off to be developed. Most of those pictures have ended up in the trash due to the fact that it was a picture of my mom's sofa from 1995!

I have read that many of my friends have made their blogs into books...capturing the last year of their life. I will be honest with you bloggy friends, I won't be making a book of my blog this year. I am working on a book of mission pictures though and that is work enough in itself. If I could ever just choose the pictures I should put into my book without having to call my husband so that he can come downstairs and see this picture of this story when one time...and you get the idea.

Anyways, so I have been thinking who I blog for. My sister, Dorothy has said that she puts out pictures/blogs for her "9 followers." I haven't checked how many followers I have. I have spoken recently with my friend Caitlin who has said that she has found cute ideas from other people's blogs and I admit that I do look at random people's blogs to see what they do and how they present who they are...and it made me start thinking about the person I portray in my blog and if people think I am crazy or boring. Ryan and I do not have any children. We live with my parents. I work 40 hours a week and Ryan attends school 20 credits a week. When it comes down to going out to do something "fun," we end up on the couch watching tv because we are too pooped to go anywhere...it made me think of all the things I am not or all of the things I do not have that other people seem to enjoy so much.

Then it hit me...I just realized that I blog, when I can, about what we (as a family) do...whether it be carrying all we can to stay over a Friday the 13th weekend in a cabin on a rainy lake shore, or baking phenomenons, weddings, thoughts, or just ideas. I blog for my sanity and to let my friends know that I am still around. I also blog for my family (more often than lil' d thinks) because it's like a "hey, we are having fun, but we wish we were having fun with you" type of post.

So know that leaves me with the question:
WHO DO YOU BLOG FOR?? (And/Or) WHY DO YOU DO IT?

Growing Up

Often times, I sit at work and think of things that need to get done. I am really working...when the phone rings, when an emergency prevails, when patients are standing at the window in front of me...I enjoy working as a member of the front office staff. It is a great job for the time being, but I do look forward to the day when I will have the opportunity to become a mother.

Anyways, Ryan is working hard at school. Did you know that he is doing exceptionally well at taking 20 credits!? He is receiving wonderful grades, keeping up with readings, becoming a leader in group projects. I am so proud of him and appreciate his desire to work hard so that one day I can stay home. Not only is he working hard, but he is also thinking about the future.

I have been accomplishing the task of going to the gym. The half marathon is coming up in October and as far away as it seems...it will be here before we know it. 13.1 miles should not be run without training. Ryan has been inspiring me to go the gym and encourages me to go each day, whether first thing in the morning or right after work. I am working 40 hours a week...and guess what? Our benefits, real life benefits are starting this week! We have many doctor's appointments planned for next week so we can get things underway. We are truly growing up...

Growing up is not as much fun as I thought it was going to be...(Yoga in 10 minutes everyone...). I suppose I thought it would be more fun in different ways. I thought budgeting would be fun and that you would have so much money that it would be easy. I enjoyed it in the 4th grade...However, I would like to mention that it is more fun than I thought in other ways. Having Ryan for a best friend, is pretty awesome. He is really cute and always patient and nice to me...what more could you ask for in a friend. You should see him dance, he is really good!! You realize, as you grow up, that you have more imagination than you thought...without an imagination, how could you make $10 go such a long way?? How else could you make trash such a treasure. These years are helping us be the best that we can be! So it actually is amazing to grow up and is a blessing. Oh, there is much joy in the years to come...(and there is much joy in the years that have passed).