10 Pounds Down And A LOVELY Autumn Season

 Our Little Strawberry

Baby Bear's Favorite Person, Her Daddy!

Special time right now. I know I'm not posting a whole lot, I'm trying to enjoy time with our sweet girl while also getting more active. That means less time on the internet.  So far I'm down 10 pounds.  With 36 pounds left to go for my short term goal.

We love the Autumn season!  Took baby bear out to grandparents for Halloween.  It was SO fun.



This week, we're trying to finish the winterization and hunker down for what sounds like will be a pretty rough winter.  I hope we're prepared enough.  It's cold and rainy today.  We managed to finish mowing the front lawn but still need to get the rest of the leaves.  We cleaned out the gutters again for winter.  All the windows in the house are sealed.

Next the garage windows will be sealed, the chairs will all be put up in the storage. THEN Comes the back lawn to be mowed, leaves to be taken up front and the deck cleaned as well as the deck furniture stored.  We hope to have the garden cleaned out and tilled by next weekend.  I'll be planting fall garlic shortly for next spring. SO excited as we love the snow, but just need to get things comfy and cozy.

I hope your all doing well.  We're looking at a new chapter which I plan to share in the next few weeks.   As it stands now, I'm making fun Plant-based warm meals for the season. Lots of veggie soups and stews.    The books are out and I'm reading three right now.  "1000 Gifts", "Created To Be His Helpmeet", and believe it or not a children's book called" The Boxcar Children" which I was told was a classic series worth reading to children.  I thought I'd read it first.  I love it and bet that most young children would LOVE the series.

What are YOU reading?  What's on your seasonal menu?

Happy Birthday Baby Bear!

 Who would have thought THIS sweet baby girl would grow so quickly?!  From the day we brought her home, all I heard was "enjoy this time because it goes SO quickly".  I miss holding this sweet little baby, but...

 It's this little girl who is growing to mold me into the mother I am and hope to be in the future. God blessed me with this role. While it can be testing at times, I REALLY love the sweet and compassionate part of this little being.  She just LOVES.  At this stage, I notice the struggle she has in coming to her own. You know the "terrible 2's". I call them the "testing 2's". She's not terrible...the sinfulness in our world in US is the terrible. She's just a little one trying to figure things out.  Mommy and daddy are trying to figure out how to discipline in a loving way that will guide her footsteps. No is NOT a word we're afraid of.  It's one however, that baby bear is learning to understand. It is hard to believe that THIS cutie-patootie has a temper.  She loves hard, plays hard and is strong willed like her mom was.

 This is Elmo.  Elmo is just 1 of baby bear's favorite friends.

 More Sesame Street Friends!

Baby bear and her 2nd cousin once removed sit together and celebrate...LIFE!

Small And Sweet

© Shauna Scott

Small and Sweet.
My Little Girl so small and sweet,
Those tiny hands and tiny feet.
Everyday I watch you grow,
You teach me everything I know.
Such a joy to be around,
Every smile and every sound.
Number one you will stay,
Each and every single day.
You changed my life in such good ways,
''Thank You'' is all that I can say.
I love to watch you sleep at night,
Cuddled warm and wrapped up tight.
As I blink the time it flies,
It breaks my heart to see you cry.
I gave you life, so proud to say,
I'll love you more with every day.
My little Girl so small and sweet,
For you my heart, It beats and beats.

Source: My Little Girl So Small And Sweet, Baby Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/my-little-girl-so-small-and-sweet#ixzz2jWQ3dwY5 
#FamilyFriendPoems 

Week 2 Scripture And Challenge

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow. For tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of it's own."  Matthew 6:34

You've got this! You can eat healthy, you can exercise to feel better.

How is everyone doing? Are you on target? Are you falling behind?? Are you finding certain obstacles in your way?!

I must admit that exercise is NOT my favorite part. I REALLY have to push myself to do it but once I'm done, I feel GREAT! 

So here is how I'm feeling after week 1.

I'm extremely confident with Scripture Memorization.  I've read, written and consciously viewed the scripture each day this past week.

I've taken a picture or two of a couple meals I've had:

 Raw Zucchini pasta with marinara sauce and Nutritional Yeast

 Salad with Raw Mango dressing

 Veggie sandwich on wheat with black bean soup and an iced coffee

Chocolate Banana Protein Shake

Serious obstacle on my part is that I'm stress eating this week and feel more bloated than ever. The morning goes great but by the time evening rolls in, I'm wanting to eat anything and everything. Doug did two twelves this week to catch up on finances from a car part we needed new in order to pass inspection. The baby had an accident on the floor, the dog followed suit (which doesn't usually happen) and none of us got much sleep this weekend. The stress has caused me to crave carbs at night. ((sigh))

So what do YOU do late at night to curb your cravings and the stress?   

To add to this, I haven't slept well in 4 days.  It's not for lack of trying. I'm WIRED, which I'm guessing is the carb overload at night and the anxious thoughts going on in my head of things that need to get done. 

Finally, I've been sick which I've guessed is from the stress.  So while I HAVE worked out this week, it hasn't been at the intensity that I've liked.  I have been doing Classical Stretch.  I sweat like a hog. While you may think this is SO easy, it's a pretty good workout.  Miranda used to be a dancer (me too!) and when she hurt herself, she wanted to find a new way to incorporate her love for dance with exercise she COULD do.  It lead to Classical Stretch, which is a combination of Classical dance and Tai Chi.    I did this Monday, Wed. Friday. and Saturday with some bicep work on 5lb dumbells on Wed. and Friday night.  Hopefully this week will be better as I am not feeling sick at all!

This weeks scripture couldn't have come at a better time.  With all the anxiety and inability to sleep.  THIS weeks verse should prove to help!  God is SO perfect in His timing.

May the Lord bless our week and the work we do for the glory of Him who saved us! In Jesus name...AMEN.

A Loss. YAY

Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccles. 4:12

I can't stress enough how important it is to have some or a series of someones who are by your side encouraging you and helping you stay accountable to your goals is.  It helps a great deal if your spouse and family are a part of the change.  Luckily that's what I have with my husband.  He was the first one who went plant based, he was the first one who lost weight and got off his medications so he is the first one to lead his family to better health.  I couldn't think of a better leader since through Christ, HE is the leader of our home.  He also seeks Christ as HIS leader.  It just all works to Gods glory here.

I'm about 2 months into a more plant-based lifestyle. I have dairy/meat here and there, but for the most part, there's no meat and dairy in our refrigerator. We have almond milk and almond or coconut yogurt. NOW, cheese has been the hardest for me. Particularly mozzarella but most cheese just cannot be replaced with a non-dairy cheese. It doesn't melt the same, the texture is not the same and taste is NOT the same.  I'm sorry, as a foodie, there's just no substitute to the flavor of cheese.  I want to go completely plant-based but eggs and cheese are a staple I like once in awhile.  Not all the time but sometimes at least.  So I'm out on weather plant-based life will officially be my end result.  We'll see how things go in the future.  To call myself 100% plant based would be a lie though. I'm still concerned about what animal fat and cholesterol can do to my heart and blood pressure.  Since I am at higher risk for a heart attack or stroke with PCOS and Type II diabetes this is something I want to be careful of so that I can live to see my child/ren grow.  A question I have is would having eggs and cheese in great moderation REALLY be an issue if what I mostly eat is raw and/or cooked fruits and veggies?  I'm just out on it.

Today's exercise is classical training.  A cross between dancing and Tai Chi.  It doesn't sound like much, but it's a great weight loss tool.  After doing one video I've sweat like a hog and hurt in the morning.  I know someone who recommended it to ME who lost her weight that way.  I was skeptical but it works!  It's on PBS if anyone is interested. Wed.'s for us here in CNY.  I've been recording LOTS of them for different workouts...full body weight loss, back issues, arms, legs, feet, etc.   It's GREAT for those who have back problems or feel as though they can't achieve much through a regular workout yet.  

Here's the deal, since raising my thyroid 2 weeks ago because I stopped losing weight, felt groggy and my labs showed I needed it. I have felt great.   I also have lost 11 pounds.  11 pounds I'd LIKE to announce to the world however each and every time I announce a weight loss, I gain it all back again.  No sir, I'm not announcing the 11lb weight loss in any other place but my blog.  The blog where I am writing down where my trust lies in Christ for the Challenge I'm doing.  Somewhere I can look at and just share the ups and downs of getting healthy but this time KNOWING that Christ is my leader and not only is physical health important but more importantly, Spiritual health and well-being is important.

Which leads me back to the verse again:

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Ecclesiastes 4:12

I pray your week is going well! Love and Hugs dear friends.

Week 1 Scripture Memorization and Devotional

Though one may be overpowered,

    two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Eccles. 4:12

To read the Devotional, Please Go to Living & Active Challenge HERE.

A New Course In Our Journey

Well, I've come to an EXTREMELY difficult but needed decision. This has been coming for months now I suppose, but I was always afraid to make the final call so to say... After a discussion with my husband, a whole lot of prayer and confirmation in all directions I think we're calling it quits to try to conceive any further through my own body. 

I am overweight, depressed, out of shape, sick, hormonal and unhappy. I look at my almost 2 year old and while I REALLY don't feel done with having children, I also know that 9 months on bedrest with a stitch and progesterone shot will rob her of having a mother at a crucial time for HER and her need as a toddler to explore.

Furthermore, I want to live to see her grow up and to grow old with my dear husband who is MORE than patient, kind and gentle with me. So I've decided to call it quits ttc through my own body. My thought was I was going to have a hysterectomy, get a lap band to aid with the plant based lifestyle and exercise I've been doing. Maybe even start a goal to train for an Iron Man Race. This of course is long term, but a significant goal that I can be proud of accomplishing.

God blessed us with two children already, when I never thought I could carry a child. Maybe His reason for all of this is because He knew if we had one more through my own body, we'd forget about adoption. My hope is that He will provide the finances we need to do so as well as lead us to the grants and funding that can help us achieve that goal.

While it breaks my heart to shut this door, I am REALLY excited for this new journey in my life. I can stop taking all the hormones, stop worrying about cycles and timing and FINALLY just be happy!

Many people may be wondering why I'm sharing this in a public forum. My focus always has been about being transparent with our fertility struggles so that my experiences can help other women going through the same thing. To let couples know that they are not alone in their fertility struggles and that there are other options available. My agenda to bring awareness to preterm loss as well as the many struggles of women around the world who REALLY long for just one child.

Please pray for us if you think about us over the next several weeks, months and years. That God will create a way to expand our family through adoption, the financial means to do so and will help us get healthy physically, finacially, emotionally and spiritually. 

5 Week Living And Active Challenge

This is JUST what I've been looking for. A Divine Appointment!  Since we're actively looking for a church AND I am trying to lose weight and get healthy, why not combine the two!

If your in for a 5 week Scripture Memorization and Exercise Challenge, Why don't you get those sneakers on and follow me?!  

Lets get spiritually and physically fit!