So much to look forward to!

These past few weeks have had me thinking, alot. Maybe that's why i've had all these headaches..... ;o)
Anyways, when we first moved up here to MO, I had myself convinced that I was going to be a hermit. I didn't want to make friends or connections at the church/school, because I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to make friendships with people and then have to leave. I hate good-byes! So I tried my best to stay un-involoved and disconnected from EVERYONE. Well, my dear neighbor and great friend, Leslie, just wouldn't let that happen! I am so very thankful for her now. I have found such a dear friend in her, a true friend. She's the kind that I know I will keep in contact with for the rest of my life, no matter where life takes us. (Even though she's a TX fan!! haha!)
When we got here, Janie was mid-year in Kindergarten. I was so very nervous for her to switch schools in the middle of the school year. Would she be able to make new friends, would she be able to catch up to the other students, developmentally? Would she like her new teacher? I was completely amazed when we got to the school. All the kids were so sweet, and took Janie right in like she had been there from day one! And the teacher, oh my goodness, I thank God everyday that she had such a great teacher. She got Janie caught up to the other kids in her class in 3 WEEKS! She was reading within 3 weeks of being here, when we got here she was just doing a few sight words... and now she can read! I was amazed.... Mrs. Fortmeyer, if you have met her, you agree whole heartedly that she is truly a gift from God to any child that comes into her life! She is the most genuine, kind hearted, helpful and willing teacher/person I've ever met. I am so very excited that Jaclynn will have the opportunity to be in her class next year, even if that means we're going to be here in MO for another year. It's almost worth it, just to have Mrs. Fortmeyer again!
I've also made friends with a beautiful soul named Sheila. She is just like me, in so many ways! We get along so well, and our kids do too!! We each have 3, granted, 2 of hers are boys, but all of them are so close in age together. I love getting our family together with her family, we always have so much fun! She is a very kind person, always willing to help and can't so no to anyone ;o)
All in all, I've decided that I need to open my life to the experiences out here. Live it to the fullest and embrace what God has give me! Because moping around wishing I was back home in OK is going to do nothing but get me depressed. I don't need that!
Changes have already started taking place... we've joined St. Paul, the church out here that we've been attending. It's a great church! I've also taken a volunteer cheerleading coach position for a squad that Janie will be cheering on! And i'm getting more involved with the school/church as well. I'm going to be assisting the director of VBS for this summer and also helping out with the school carnival (when I can...) LOL!
There are still a few things I wish I could change about being here.... some people just seem so unwilling to let "new" people in.... but despite that, i've made some wonderful friends and been presented with some great opportunities and learning experiences! I've given my life to the glory of God, I've seen the ways He has been working in my life, and I can't wait to see what else is to come!

Fun weekend, and now a Snow day!!!

 

        Saturday we celebrated Jordyn's 2nd Birthday! I can't believe she's 2 years old. I keep catching myself trying to type "1st" birthday. These last 2 years have flown by! I'm so proud of my baby girl. She's learning so many new things every day! She talks more than I could have ever imagined, and fairly clear too! She's really starting to show interest in potty training... guess I should jump on the bandwagon with her while she's willing. I'm not pushing it too hard right now because we'll be off schedule this weekend with going to Oklahoma!!

       Today we woke up to about 4 inches of snow on the ground, with plenty more to come! We're expecting 8-10 inches before it's all over with. The girls are so excited to go out and build a snowman. It's pretty powdery right now, so it may have to wait until tomorrow! Plus, Janie has grown so much this past year that her snowsuit has turned into MAJOR highwaters! So we gotta go get some new snowsuits today.... I should have done it Saturday when I saw them, but i'm a procrastinator so I didn't! Oh well :(   Just another reason to go shopping today! LOL

       Still continuing on with my Picture a Day project.... in fact it's time to go update some more pics! Hope everyone has a great day! We're gonna have a fun, snowed-in day! God Bless you all!

A Step In the Right Direction!

I'll be the first to admit, St Joe is NOT my favorite place to live. It's nothing like OKC.... the people out here are just not the same. I've had a hard time getting people to talk... They're not nearly as friendly. Sure, a lot of people have lived here their whole lives and had "their group" of friends, and I don't expect to barge in on that. But I've always considered myself easy to get along with. It just hasn't quite come as easy to me here, although I've made a couple of really great friends since we've been here. ;o)
But one thing St Joe DOES have to offer, that I never thought to take part in when I was in OKC, is the pound plunge.   I guess that is one benefit to living in a smaller community. It is a big deal all over the city. We meet up at the mall and do weigh-ins once a week, for 12 weeks. It's St Joe's version of the Biggest Loser. This has become a yearly event, although this is my first year to participate.

I came across this program at just the right time. I had just written my last blog about my resolutions, one of them being the typical lose weight and get healthy. So I looked over the website and thought it would be interesting, but it is done in teams of four. This year they have also opened it up to individuals, but seeing how I hadn't had much luck getting to know people here, I didn't really want to go into a huge group of 'teams' by myself and feel alone. So I thought twice about taking part. Strangely enough, the next night, my friend Sheila and her family were over for New Years Eve. We were talking about resolutions and weight loss and she mentioned wanting to take the pound plunge! How funny.... I was just wanting to do this but didn't want to go it alone! Then, yesterday, I was talking to my neighbor about her new program she was taking part in at work. I mentioned to her that we were considering this program, and registration was due by midnight for early sign-ups. She's on board too! So, this random commercial that I saw and became interested in is coming to life for me! I recruited Sheila and Leslie, but that's only 3 people, and the teams have to have 4 people. Fortunately, I do the cooking in my household, and whether he likes it or not, Jason is now on board  as well! So there is my team!

It was just the right timing for me.... I had all the desire and want to lose this weight and get healthy again, but I was lacking the motivation to get started. Now I've got this competition, plus the support of some of my best friends online and at home! I've got no excuses for failure this time. And the best part about it all.... it's 100% FREE! They will be having zumba classes once a week, and many other opportunities for fitness and health, plus nutritionists and fitness experts on hand, whenever we may need them!

I can't wait for next Tuesday at our initial weigh-in to get this ball really rolling!

Oh.... and by the way.... our team name is "N.O.T. W8less"    The N.O.T. has meaning.... see Sheila is a Nebraska fan and Leslie, bless her heart... poor thing is a Texas fan! Of course, me and Jason are both Oklahoma fans :) So we put the N from Nebraska, O from Oklahoma and T from Texas together for the N.O.T.! Pretty creative I must say! And it was all thanks to Sheila and Leslie! :) Thanks girls!