Transformation

The past five weeks have been interesting ones for me, weeks in which I have had to completely re-think my life.  Or lifestyle.  Or something....  But let's start at the beginning...

In February, my knee started bothering me.  It hurt off and on for a few weeks, but eventually stopped.  At the end of March, my knee starting bothering me again.  One night, I was walking down a couple of steps and my knee just popped really loud...and it hurt like crazy!  I ended up going to the orthopedist, who told me "you have arthritis and will have to have your knee replaced". My Granny had bad knees two, from arthritis, and had to have both of her knees replaced.  NOT the news I was hoping for....AT ALL!

This news really made me stop and evaluate my life.  I'm 33 years old.  I am massively overweight.  Something HAD to be done!  I don't want to have knee replacement surgery any time soon.  I've been saying for years and years "Yeah....I need to loose weight" or "I'm trying to loose weight" or something like that.  I even made a few honest attempts.  But I've wimped out on everything that I started. I've always know that I needed to loose weight so I would feel better, so I would have more energy, so I won't develop diabetes (my other grandmother had that curse), so this and so that and bla bla bla bla bla....but there was never really anything concrete to give me the kick in the seat I need.  Until now.

I've decided to change.  And I've decided to make changes that are going to last this time.  I have to.  I am eating healthier.  I've stopped cooking with sour cream, cream of whatever soup, cheese, etc. on a regular basis.  We have cut back on the amount of meat we eat, and when I do cook meat I try to cook it in healthier ways. Fresh veggies are a huge part of our diet now, and I'm trying to cut back on carbs and fats. I am also making healthier choices, like salad for lunch instead of heavy leftovers from the night before.  We are also walking.

My goal is to make changes that have staying power.  I'm not on a diet.  I'm making lifestyle changes....changes that I intend to keep up for the rest of my life.

So far, things are going great.  When I had weighed a week ago, I had lost 14.2 pounds so far...and I know  I've lost more weight since then.  I'm actually excited to go weigh in tomorrow and see my progress.

So there's my story.  I am putting this out there for everyone to see, because I want my friends and family to keep me accountable.  They have all been so supportive of me on my journey so far.  I have made a lot of progress, but I have a long way to go.....but with the help of my family and friends and, most importantly...WITH GOD'S HELP, I can do this...I WILL do this!!

I can do all things through Christ, Who gives me strength!

Travels......

This week, I am in Asheville, NC, for training for my new job.  It is absolutely beautiful here!! Tonight, the clouds and the sky were so pretty at dusk!!  Here is my (very amateur) attempt at some photography.  I wish some of the pictures were sharper, but it was dark. And I'm still learning.  :)  But enjoy!!

Newlywed News....

So we've been married for a little over a month....and what can I say?!  It's AH-MAY-ZING!!  I love being married!!  My husband is awesome!!  What can I say...I picked a winner!!

But seriously...we had an awesome honeymoon!  We went to Fernandina Beach - it's on Amelia Island, FL.  It was beautiful.  I haven't been to the ocean in AGES, and it was nice to be able to spend time there with my hubby!!

See?  Told ya so!!  I can't wait to go back!!

After I got back from our honeymoon, I went back to work and found out I had gotten laid off.  Lovely! But our Heavenly Father knows best.  And I start a new job on Monday.  I will be working at Wells Fargo as a teller part  time.  Yeah...keeping it in the family.  LOL  I'm excited to be able to work part time.  It will (Hopefully) give me enough time to do wifey stuff.  And I will also be selling Pampered Chef in the near future.  I'm pretty pumped about that!!

Overall, we are getting settled in pretty well.   Married life really is amazing.  Although sometimes...I stop and wonder (as in I'm in awe) at the fact that I'm actually a married woman.  I waited so long for it.  And for the past couple of years, I had decided that marriage just wasn't in the cards for me, and I was ok with that.  Well, I was ok with that most days...I still struggled some with it.  But I can say now that every minute of my single life was more than worth the wait.  I am so glad I waited, and didn't compromise my standards just so I could get married!!  SO to all you single gals out there....keep waiting.  Your prince charming will come along when the time is right!

Being married is the most amazing thing....we are loving every minute of it!!  Well...there have been about 3 hours that I haven't loved, but I guess that comes with the territory.  :)

So if you are interested, here is a LINK to our wedding pictures!!  And a shout out to our photographer. You did a great job, Casey!!!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

Sooooo.....

.....we are MARRIED!!!

Inconceivable!

"You keep using that word....I do not think it means what you think it means".  Ok wait -- YES I DO!!  Well...mostly.  I've been thinking about the past year.  This time last year, I was living in Taylors, SC, working at a job I wasn't happy about.  But God was working in my life, and I was, for the most part, content with where I was at in life.

And now?

I'm getting married in 48 days!

I just got a new job - one that I know God provided for me!

I just moved to Greenwood!

Wow...so many changes!!  I have been looking for a job kind of off and on, but wasn't really planning on looking hard for anything until after the wedding.  But I had talked to a friend from our church in Greenwood, and had passed on my resume to her.  About two months later, I got a call asking when I could come in and interview.  That was the third week in March.  I interviewed on Tuesday, March 27.  I was hired on Thursday, March 29.  I started my new job Monday, April 2.  WOW -- THAT WAS FAST!!  When God works, He works!!  I've been at the job for 2 weeks, and so far it's going well.  There are some snags, and some frustrations...but that's true for any job.  Over all, I am really enjoying it.  My co-workers are amazing.  This week should be interesting, though, the man who has been teaching me the job, Joey, is going to be in CA for a business trip, so I'm on my own.  But I know I can do it!!

So the moving.  Yeah.  I found out on a Thursday I had the job.  We found a house to rent the next Friday, and I moved the next Saturday.  So....in two weeks, I had a job and a place for Josh and I to live when we get married.  Talk abut stressful...yeah, trying to pack up an entire house in two weeks (minus the weekdays one week, since I was working in Greenwood) was interesting.  Stressful!  But I had a few friends who came and helped.  So it's all good.  Now the unpacking....well, that's for another post!!  LOL  There is a reason I really, REALLY hate moving!!

Mostly, though, I can't believe that I'm getting married.  IN 48 DAYS!!  This time last year, I had no idea about how my life would change in the next year.  I was single, and content to be that way.  But again...God's work is amazing in our lives.  I'm so excited to be engaged to Josh.  He is just the most amazing man!!  He is the kind of man any woman would want to have.  He is kind, patient, thoughtful, and always puts me ahead of himself.  I can't believe how lucky I am to have a man like this.  But then...it's not about luck, is it?  

So what has all of this taught me?  What am I learning through this?  God's grace is sufficient for us.  We think that all of the time....throughout the good times, but especially during the bad ones.  But really - God's grace is more than sufficient.  He  loves us.  And He DELIGHTS in giving us the desires of our hearts.

WOW!!  I am so thankful to the Lord for everything He is doing, and has done, in my life!!

99 Days

So wow....it seems like I've been counting down FOREVER!!  But we are finally in the double digits.  Yaaaay!!  It's hard to believe that things are getting so close!!  WE got our invitations in the mail....so that really makes it feel real....or surreal, I'm not sure which one!  But either way around it I'm excited!!

Wow...it's getting close!!

Wow...I can't believe our wedding is only 3 1/2 months - 109 days! - away!! I was finally able to take Josh up to WI to meet my family this past week....so glad they LOVED HIM!! (of course, I knew they would, but still....)  I hadn't seen my family in a year, so it was nice to see everyone.  I can't believe how big Cynthia and Molly are getting, and I was so happy to meet Elsie.  She is such a sweet, happy baby!  We had an amazing time!

AND we got to spend our first Valentine's Day togther this year.  Josh was so sweet!  He took me to Olive Garden for lunch, and he got me Lady and the Tramp on BlueRay for my present.  Plus, I had to get a few groceries and he paid for those too.  So romantic...so much better than flowers and chocolates.  My man loves me, and wants to take care of my needs.  Who can top that!!