Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Tuesday May 30th

Good morning everyone!
Can you believe only a few more days in May left? Where has the time gone?
Things are going well here. Enjoying Mike being home and then I have Michael's graduation to get ready for. I have company coming down too for about a week.

My weight is down to 144. That makes for a 10 pound loss total. Yesterday my diet was horrible. But how can I resist grilled burgers and all the yummies that come with a Memorial Day picnic? LOL

The kids were all playing with water guns yesterday and Tony (my 9 year old) got squirted in the eye and ran into the side of the church building. Got a little gash in his head that took a staple to close up so I spent about 3 hours in the ER. He was great though. Only cried for a few moments when the doc put the staple in his head. Poor guy. I felt so bad for him.

God really has given me a peace about things. 2 years ago, I would have been freaking out. God gave me a calmness and steady thinking to do what I had to do to take care of my boy.
Thank you Lord for watching over us.

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Saturday May 27th

Good evening to everyone! Thought I would catch everyone up on whats been going on the past couple of days.

We've all just been spending as much time as possible with Mike while he is home. Those who have your husbands or spouse home everyday sometimes tend to take them for granted. I want to ask you to appreciate them everyday of your life. I appreciate my husband every second he is here since we really don't get that much time together. At least retirement is less than a year away.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I am now jogging 4.4 miles a day now. I feel great!!!!

cya laters...

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Thursday May 25th

Good morning to everyone!!!
Today is the big day of my best friend's arrival back home.
Me and the kids are very excited. Seeing the ship pull in is exciting, even when he has only been gone 6 weeks. To some, 6 weeks is a VERY long time, but this is just the beginning to many weeks that he will be gone over the upcoming year.

I know God has been helping me deal with these deployments. I usually get very deperessed at some point but He is my refuge and He is my comfortor.

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Kids are all doing good. Very excited about having dad home.

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No more major plans are happening now with our transition move to Ferry but in the next couple of months it will have to start happening. I haven't had much time to go thru boxes or anything lately but i need to do it cause I don't want to take all of this junk with me.
Too much stuff to sort thru at our new residence so it will have to go before hand.

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Praise God for giving my son MIchael many talents that after only a few weeks of working at DQ, his boss wants to make him assistant manager. The only thing that is stopping him is fairness to another employee that has been there longer than Michael. But its still a major complement to his ability.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Happy Birthday to my JOEY!! who is 14 today

Today is my son Joey's 14th Birthday.
14 is a kewl age.
He can work at a job with a work permit.
He can open up a checking/savings account at our Navy Federal Credit Union!
Best wishes and happy day to you my Jo JO
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Been running every day now for like 3 or 4 days at 2.2 miles. The rest of the week I will continue with the 2.2 then starting next week, I will increase it to 3.3. So far, I haven't had any problems with my knees so I hope it continues like that.

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Two more days until Mike gets home. I wish he were going to be home more than just 12 days but the days he IS home, will be precious to us all for sure!!

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Weight is sticking at about 145 or so. My pants are getting looser though. Isn't that funny how that works? I lose inches but not pounds? Oh well, it all comes out in the wash right?


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Have a blessed day!

Saturday, May 20, 2006

May 20th Saturday

Hi everyone!
Today is definitely a great day. I am back with my jogging after taking a break to heal my leg for a week. I ran 2.2 miles and had no trouble at all.

Not only that but I'm down to 145 pounds and I fit into a size 8 pant today!!! Those women out there understand the elation I feel after I've been wearing size 12 and now I'm into SOME 8's.
Not every 8 fits but these ones , capris, that I got today fit nicely.

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Mike gets home Thursday and we are all very thrilled about it. We will make every one of those 12 days that he is home, meaningful.

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Any of you all out there American Idol fans? I'm sure those Chris fans were soooo mad when he got off the show last week. Can you believe its down to the final with Kathrine and Taylor...

Can't wait to see the show this week....

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God is soooo creative and imaginative. Look around you...colors of every maginitude. Beautiful shades that I would never been able to think of. And He created it all for US to enjoy!

Friday, May 19, 2006

Friday May 19th

Hello everyone! I've been keeping some jeans in my closet just waiting for the day that I would lose the weight and be able to fit back into them once again.
Well, today I decided to get brave.
Pants that I couldn't get past my legs I fit into today without any trouble at all.
I've lost about 2 pant sizes.

Now, about the pants that I have that are now 2 pant sizes too big.....I don't like to waste and I am very cheap when it comes to spending money, I don't know what to do with these. I will wear these as long as I can, even if I have to wear a belt with them...lol.

So, that was a big pick me up for today. So much so that when we go out to eat tonight (Fridays are our eat out nights) I will not have the burger and fries that my kids will probably have. I will find something decent for me. My goal is to lose 2 more pounds in the next week with Mike getting home on Thursday! That will bring my weight loss total for the 6.5 weeks to 10 pounds.

That will bring me down to 144. I still would like to lose another 15 pounds. The weight I was at when I got married was about 125. I would LOVE to see that again but I was very thin. I will be happy with 130.

Anyway, nothing else new to report. My Joey will be 14 on Tuesday. Where is the time going?

God is soooo good. Thank you God for my family and giving me the ability to be a mom to them and a wife to my best friend in the whole world.

Thursday, May 18, 2006

May 18th




Good morning!!
Here is an update on how things are going with the raw foods diet.
I lost another pound. I am down to 146 and that means I've lost 8 pounds since I started about 6 or 7 weeks ago. I was hoping to lost 10 pounds by the time Mike gets home but since that is in 6 days, not sure if I can lose 2 pounds in 6 days. I guess if I am careful and exercise every day, maybe. Anyway, everything is going great. I feel great and I praise God for the foods he created to nourish our bodies and rebuild them so we are able to better serve HIM.

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Kids are doing great. Michael's new job is going great. The manager is talking assistant
manager to him only after 5 or 6 days of working. Michael has done so well with this job and I am very proud of him.

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I will put up some senior pictures that I took of him yesterday. Need to pick one to make a 5x7 from. Anyone want to vote on that one?

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

May 16th

Hello everyone. My initial thought on doing my first blog was to write daily but I haven't been keeping up with it that often.
But here I am again....Tuesday May 16th and its beautiful out side here in Virginia Beach, Va.
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Lots of preparation is being made for our move/transfer back to homeland of Martins Ferry, Ohio. I'm hoping that the kids and I won't have to stay with family or friends but a few days until we find a house to rent. God knows what we need and when we need it so His timing is perfect.
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Mike is due back from this small 6 week deployment in about 9 days. The kids and I cannot wait. He will only be home for 12 days then he is gone again for another 6 or 7 weeks.
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My weight is sticking at 147. Its making me mad cause I am working so hard ....and it (the scale) doesn't seem like it wants to go anywhere. LOL. I was running about 2.2 miles a day for a while then I got a little trouble with my knees so I am taking a break from running and walking daily. Hopefully I will be back to new in no time and can run again.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------June 10th, my son's graduation from homeschool is coming up pretty quickly. We are doing the graduation thru HEAV of Virginia in Richmond at the Convention Center. It will be a great time and also a sad time as his schooling days with mom come to a close.

Nikki

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Today is My husbands 38 th Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful Man in the whole world!!!

I want to dedicate this blog to the person I share my hopes and dreams with !!

Mike is a dedicated man of God first, then dedicated and loving husband second and patient and fun dad 3rd.

THe 2nd and 3rd ones are tied cause as a family we really do spend alot of time together. WE LOVE to play video games together. We are large World of Warcraft fans! Yes, even ME!!

I have this motto that I'm sure I've heard somewhere but a family that plays together, stays together!

Mike is a Navy Chief aboard the USS Monterey. He has stuck with the navy for almost 19 years and has one year left before retirement. It hasn't been an easy career but he stuck with it to give our family the retirement and stability that a military service provides.

He is very multi talented. He is gifted with art, music, computer skills, leadership...and the list just goes on. I haven't seen one area in his life that when he does or tries it, he doesn't succeed at it. I used to get jealous of all he could do but then I realized that what he is good at is somehow shared with all of us!!!

I am blessed daily to have him as my husband and my best friend. I hear so many military wives complain about their husbands and when they are gone, they are happy inside. That is crazy to me. I hate when he leaves, the kids hate when he is gone and our lives are turned up side down the whole time. Its like a piece is missing.

Mike, Happy Birthday to you!!! Yes, you are 38 ...just like me so don't try to say your 28!!!

Tuesday, May 09, 2006

Jogging

What a difference it makes when you eat right and take care of yourself. I jogged 4.4 miles yesterday straight, no stopping.
I slow my pace and keep it pretty steady the whole time but I cannot believe I ran as far as I did.

I'm still holding steady with my weight at 147. I can't wait to see 140 but I know that the weight will come off if I keep doing what I'm doing. It was really cool temps yesterday so I know that had a lot to do with me able to run that far. WHen its hot, I can't last as long.

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Tonight Ohio Valley Univeristy A capella singers are performing at 7:30. Sweet Inspiration is performing also at 7:15 so I need to be warming up all day. Since I sing Alto 2, and there are three of us that have a solo type part, I need to make sure my vocals are warmed up.

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I was reading John's blog about softball at National Road. Is this a mixed league I wonder. Maybe I'll be interested in Playing? I've never really played before with a team or anything but I am finding out that if i set my mind to something, I can do it.


Thank God for the beautiful sunny day outside and the blessing of all of my children. Even when they are hitting my last nerve...i love them Dearly!!! : P

Monday, May 08, 2006

3.3 MILES

Well, Saturday morning I started out on my run. Thought I would attempt 3.3 miles. THe most I've EVER ran, and I do mean EVER was 3 miles. Guess what????

I did it!!! It wasn't easy and the last half mile I was a bit nauseated but I did it and was so proud of myself.

Praise God for giving me the strength daily to not only get done what I need to do in my home and with my family but giving me my health to reach goals that I set for myself.
WIth Mike gone so much, I know that God is with me and helping me daily and keeping him safe while he is fighting for our country.

Friday, May 05, 2006

Friday once more

Well, to update everyone on how my new way of eating is going....
I've lost 7 pounds....That is one good thing!!
The other good thing is I have more energy now than I can ever remember.
I've been running 2.2 miles 3 days in a row. I want to get back to running 3 miles a day and I'm not too far away from that goal. I thought about taking today off from running until I saw that I lost another pound this morning (down to 147 now....goal weight is 130) and I thought, Hey, I can run at least another 2.2 hahaha.

Its funny the things that motivate us as humans. Especially as a woman, my motivations can change monthly.

My kids are drinking more water now than they EVER have and some have even attempted to drink my carrot juice lol.

My oldest son goes for his first job interview tonight at 5 at our local dairy queen. 11-5 is the position they are looking for and for $6.25 an hour...not bad for someone just out of high school.

June 10th is his high school graduation from Homeschooling. He has been done with all of his 26 credits now for a couple of months. What a blessing homeschooling has been for my family. I've been doing this since my oldest was in 3rd grade. My other 3 kids are doing great also. My 13 year old just began his high school courses from American School of Correspondence about a month ago and two of his tests he recieved back were both A's. GO GO JO JO!!!!

I give God the glory for it all.
He has given me everything I need to care and teach my children and my prayer is that he continues to bless my family as he does daily.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Positive and Negative Thoughts

I have to share with you something that happened to me this morning.
First, let me tell you that I've been in a bummed out mood for about two days. Call it hormones or stress or missing Mike, maybe all three who knows....but I've been whiney and grumpy.

I had a situation with a daycare parent this morning that just topped it all off and when I was emailing my husband about it, I realized how bad I sounded.

So, I started to write things that were good here. How thankful I was, how blessed I was, and how good the kids and I were doing otherwise.

My MOOD STARTED TO CHANGE!!! Its amazing...
I mean, I wasn't jumping for joy or doing somersaults or anything but I woke up feeling so bad...that changing my thoughts from negative to positive changed my mood from negative to positive!

THe evil one wants us to be mad and angry and let things keep us from our joy in Christ.
Here is my question...WHY LET HIM?

We do have a choice DAILY how we react to situations.
How we react can be the choice between sin and not sin.

Anyway, I hope you are encouraged to keep the faith, not let the things in life burden you and keep you down because we must try to rejoice in all things. God works for the good of those who love HIM!!

I am so thankful that I have a wonderful family and a husband who is out there fighting for freedom for those he loves.
I am thankful for a son (who is almost 18) and I've never had any real teenage trouble with him and he and I are such good friends ..good enough friends that I can step on his toes once in a while and he doesn't get TOO mad at me lol.