Moving Out & Eating Healthy

I go from tons of pictures to NO pictures .. what are the chances ... ?

So ... if you've been following along my fitness journey, you might know that I lived at home with my parents while my husband was stationed in Twentynine Palms, CA... I had done the majority of losing my weight with my then fiance (before he left for bootcamp last year) and my parents. I worked out 3-4 times a week at the local LifeTime Fitness and my mom kept healthy food in the house.

You might know that I planned our wedding in approx. 5 weeks.

You might know that I've gained back some of the weight I had lost, right after the wedding for multiple reasons (being schedule, packing, traveling and moving)

You might know that I weighed 157 about a week before I left Michigan. You might not. I def. didn't want to write about that struggle on here, I'm sorry to say. Which I realize is not fair. I should write the highs and valleys.. I've also been busy too and used that as an excuse not to write it here. I wonder what the last weight I admitted to was (on the blog) ... I should look.

You might know that we recently got housing in CA so that I moved to live with my husband, Jeff!

It is very important to Jeff and I to have healthy food in the house and get "back on track" while we have a clean slate. We have an empty pantry to start with and don't want to fill it with garbage.

On our cross country road trip we ate Subway for most meals and stopped for breakfast a few times as well. We didn't buy snacks for the car (except for a few a friend gave us .. YUM). We also drank lots of water in the car and tried to stay away from sugar. Jeff did drink coffee, but he loves coffee and drinks it anyways :)

It has been one week since we got to CA. One week of living on our own and I'm proud to tell you that I was 150 lbs. this morning. I haven't worked out in 13 days I think, but the lack of snacking and eating garbage has already helped. We have been planning dinners and having a frozen meal for lunches. We also have healthy snacks in like Weight Watchers string cheese, apples, grapes and bananas. I've also been drinking a ton of water because it's so so so hot out here.

My goal is to be between 130 - 135 lbs. by the time we go home for Christmas (if we go home for Christmas ... no promises) The lowest I've been was 140 lbs. I believe. I know it's going to be tough but I need to get back into the swing of working out, find a class, burn some calories and get on the ball. That is my goal this week is to figure that part of my new life out.

That's what I'm thinking about today :)
Thanks for reading!

One Pound At A Time

This morning I woke up and weighed in at a smidge above where I was last week. I'm 100% happy with it.

Weighing in .3 above last week at 140.8 means that I had a good week. I ate well, measured things and drank water. I think I told you that when I lost my 3 lbs last week it was because I was busy and hadnt been eating the amount that I should have (by accident .. I don't recommend it .. It wasn't something I was continuing)

(Sorry for the bad lighting)

So the fact that I ate this week fairly "normally/healthy" and didn't gain it all back says that I'm really at 140.8 legitimately.. Which is exiting.

My work schedule is going to be less and less so I can work more on wedding and moving things - so I'll be getting in at least one extra class this week. 

We have a lot picked out for the wedding .. I just need to get my grooms orders! This week I met with the church and Priest and our Deacon. Everything went really well and I'm feeling good about that. I met with a chair cover company and decided on them this week. I also had my alterations appointment and I pick it up on March 26th. I ordered the invitations last night (crossing fingers .. Logistically I have to order the invites first because of the timing ... I'm giving it to God and hoping that he makes April 12th happen)

Mom went with me to start our registry on Friday night. It was so much fun picking out things for Jeff and I's first home together. The word "exciting" doesn't do it justice. It was also sooo overwhelming to think that all our friends and family will be getting us these gifts.. In a good way, but still!! Hopefully that makes sense.

So this week .. I'm praying we get Jeff's orders .. And I'm hoping to be under 140 next week :)

I've Officially Have Lost 50 lbs!

Yea. You read that right! I've lost FIFTY pounds!!

- it was exciting to put on this white shirt and find it a little baggy in the belly area!

It's so hard to believe. 50 lbs sounds like both SO much and at the same time, just doesn't describe how much time and hard work went into it.

Anyways .. It was time for my Monday Morning weigh in again! Last week I had two work outs Monday (spin and Zumba) and Tuesday (zumba and the treadmill) I was off work and wanted to make sure I made the best of my time. 

Then ... Jeff called me and said there was a very real possibility, that he could come home soon. He said to look into things a bit more seriously for our wedding!

I didn't work out Wednesday or Thursday because I was SO busy with wedding plans. Friday and Sunday mornings I hit Zumba. So six work outs in seven days.. I have also been so busy that I've been very good about portion sizes. I probably haven't eaten enough for the past few days. A problem, I can honestly say I've never had before :)

Here's my update! 140.5 this morning !!!! 

I'm down 3 full pounds from last week.

I'm at 4.15% loss for my weightloss competition. 

50 lbs since I've started my weight loss journey. 

I'm also proud to say that I did my abs and arms every day, Monday through Sunday! 

In other news, by Friday I had the hall, church, photographer, DJ, photobooth, chair covers, centerpieces and florist all set and ready to pull the trigger on once Jeff gets his orders that say he can come home. Crazy right? My friends and family have also jumped right in planning wedding showers which is also SO exciting... Really making a girl feel special these days! :)

I also chose and purchased my wedding dress on Sunday night! I can't believe it. I've always known that we are blessed, but the way things are falling together is really incredible.

I also have told my family and a few friends about all this, but we haven't told everyone yet because we are waiting on Jeff's orders .. so if you're reading this, I haven't forgotten to tell you. It's just still a LITTLE early to claim the date as ours. 

143 - A Bigger Deal Than I Would Have Thought

First ... we will start with a fat pic vs. now pic, because those always make me feel happy. proud. motivated. encouraged. blessed.....

 

You would think that losing 1.4 lbs wouldn't be a big deal after losing 45 lbs.

IT IS. I finally moved the scale this week ... Yep, you read that right. I am no longer at 144.4 ... after ONE .. FULL .. MONTH ... stuck there. I've been complaining and frustrated but I've finally done it.

After people telling me .. "well then that probably means that's where you should just stay, you've lost enough."

After making good choices and seeing NO results. I've moved the scale and I'm not talking about "down the hallway"

I am finally winning this war again.

THIS is the reason I'm a record player and say "just.keep.going." This is the feeling that keeps me going.

143 .. one forty three .. it's 1.4 lbs of music to my happy little ears.

Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 143.0 lbs

Pounds lost: 4
Weight loss percentage:  2.72%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 47.0 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:
Sunday - Zumba AM
Monday - Zumba PM
Tuesday - A quick 20 min run on the treadmill
Wednesday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. keeping my heart rate up .. weights)
Thursday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. dancing  .. weights) totally skipped spin in the AM.

Saturday - Work out in the basement (zumba .. bouncing around.. weights)


I decided that since I've been consistently doing
this arm work out with 5 lbs weights and
these work tummy/ab work outs with 5 lb weights
for three weeks (3-4 days a week) I would take some pictures and measurements.

Remember when I said, to take measurements? I've only lost 4lbs since the last time I took measurements and pictures.  I have lost 1 inch in my chest and 2 inches in my waist and .5 inch on one of my thighs (strange I know)

Upper arm left: 10.5 in (0 difference)
Upper arm right: 11.0 in (0 difference)
Chest: 35 in (-1 inch difference)
Waist: 28.5 in (-2 inch difference)
Hips: 38.5 in (0 difference)
Thigh left: 21.5 in (.5 inch difference)
Thigh right: 22 in

Look at the difference in these pictures. (please understand that I am not bragging about my progress. I am just SO excited to share that I'm actually getting somewhere .. especially since I didn't think I had been!)

January 7th to today .. February 17th

Don't see too much difference in my legs

Holy crap, could it be? A difference in my belly?!??

Less lumpy in that middle section!! No sucking in!

This week I'm off work for mid winter break. I'm hoping to get in a lot of extra work outs and classes.
Monday (today) - spin AND zumba
Tuesday - zumba AM AND treadmill PM
Wednesday - Spin PM (maybe)
Thursday - spin and maybe a night class of some sort
Friday - zumba AM
Saturday - nothing
Sunday - zumba AM

I'm also going to do my weights for my arms and belly every day this week. Yes you read that. I have extra time I'm going to make it work.

I'm really just writing this down so that I have it to look back on my plan for the week :)

Thanks for checking in!! Have you taken your pictures and measurements?

Three Weird Things I'm Doing ...

The first thing is a "No Spend February"

I read this blog, Love, Fun and Football and they did a "No Spend January" and I wasn't quite ready yet but loved the idea. They are working on paying off their student loans and it's really inspiring. Now, I don't have a student loan but we do have a wedding and a move coming up and the more I save the better.

These no spend month's are popping up everywhere and now Kym at Travel Babbles is doing one too. I've jumped on board. I actually did February 1 but I didn't think to write about it here.

So first you write out a budget. For those of you who hate the "b" word .. that means you write down all your bills, how much they are and I included when they are due. I also wrote down all my income for the month and when they would be paid out to me. [Let's get real, I didn't write anything .. it's on an Excel spreadsheet]

I'm suuuuuper lucky so living at home, so I have minimal expenses. Phone bill, car insurance, health insurance, gym membership and gas for the car. I also added in a Valentine's day gift for Jeff and shipping - but I'm planning ahead for that and have chosen a specific amount to spend.
As for income I pretty much have 1 million jobs .. so I won't even write them all out for you. You get the idea.

Drum roll please ... My savings goal for my "No Spend February": $1,300.00 $1,000
*Update ... I didn't realize that I had a "Mid Winter Break" in February when I made this goal, so that means I am out two paychecks for one week ... let's aim for $1,000.00 and see how it goes.

Yep. I'm doin it people. I'm going to save at least $1,300.00 $1,000 this month. I'm also a save-a-holic and get totally high on this kind of crap ... so this is right up my alley. I'll let you know how I do.


Second thing is trying to wear a different shirt / outfit everyday for as long as I can

Yes, I'm a freak. Yes, this means I'm keeping track of what I'm wearing. But hear me out ... I've had to get rid of a LOT of my favorite clothes since losing my 45 lbs. Things that I didn't even wear much because I always tend to wear the same handful of things. So this is why I'm doing it:

1. It's wasteful to have all those clothes and not wear them.
2. I'm hoping to have to give all my clothes away again because they're too big again so I want to wear them first.
3. I was in a rut wearing the same stuff all the time.
4. A challenge is fun.
5. Less laundry .. hollllla!

So I've been wearing different pants, jeans, skirts etc. but obviously those I have to reuse. I have more shirts and accessories than bottoms. This challenge I've given myself is Monday through Friday, as on the weekends I am mostly in sweats or work out gear.

I've successfully completed four weeks so far. I wonder how much longer I can go.

 This ap is called "Pic Cal"

Look at all the laundry I don't have to do! I have two dressers and a closet full of clothes! ha ha!

Some of my favorite outfits so far:

The third and last weird thing I've done (not really doing) is that I made a motivation board

This is mine. What do you think?

I always see these on Pinterest and think "THAT is a cool idea" .. so I finally made one myself!


Yes, I know I should get a life. HAHA!!
Actually, I am a busy person believe it or not!

Thanks for reading my weirdness ... stop by again!

Hello February!

Monday Morning! Hello February - GOD am I glad to see you!!


Time to look back at my week. My messy mess of a week. I do crappy ... I'm 144.4 ... I do well ... I'm 144.4 but I REFUSE to believe this is the number I'll be stuck at forever. I won't do it.

So, third weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at:144.4 ... I know, you're surprised right?

This week pounds lost: Literally zero

Total weight loss percentage{for the competition}:  1.77% STILL

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.6 STILL

My work out schedule this week was:

Monday PM -  Zumba

Tuesday - 30 min run on the treadmill
Thursday - skipped spin because I was tired and mad that none of my hard work is working.

Sunday - Zumba AM

*Something extra I DID do this week though, was lift my weights at home. I did 4 days of weighted ab work and arms. THAT I am proud of. THAT is what I need to focus on.

I did this 10 minute arm video each day and honestly, I don't even know who Holly Perkins is. I just liked that it is a 10 min video and I can do it all with my 5 lb weights because its challenging but not "too much"..

I also have been doing these weighted ab work outs:

from this site ... I can feel it .. so it must be slowly but surely working!! So I plan on keeping at it.

Ive been keeping my food journal up to date really well and drinking all my water... until Friday. My body has been out of whack ... I have been doing what I need to do and emotionally, it got to me {the getting no where}. I begged my mom to make mini cheesecakes, because #cheesecakeiskryptonite (and she did, cuz she rocks - Hey Mom!) and they were awesome. I had a healthy day and a healthy dinner and then ate the baby cheesecake. I then decided that during the snow storm Saturday I would let Anthony bake cookies with me to take to church for Saturday Night Snacks in the hall. This way, I could get my baking in {because that's all I want to do when we're couped up in the house} and get the cookies out of the house. Perfect right? No. Before we took them to church I ate like 30 cookies. How many for real? I don't know, but it wasn't pretty.

Sunday I got back on track but I didn't know if I was even going to weigh in this morning because I figured that I gained my ONLY two pounds I've lost BACK... so ... "yea" is all I have to say to that. I suppose I should be grateful. My body is still really out of whack. I think it will be better in another week or two.

On a positive note, I got my phone call! I officially have my fiance "back" in the sense that he will have his phone from now on. He isn't coming home but he IS calling and texting and Facetiming and that is a blessing I didn't have last week. He graduates MCT tomorrow. Honestly, I feel so much more myself when I can talk to him. I'm hoping that helps with my recent struggles. Which is funny because when he was away at bootcamp for 13 weeks, it was what kept pushing me and this time it was different.

Yea that sweatshirt says MARINES .. duh!

Goals for the week: Drink more water, eat more proteins and less carbs (still), each day I'm going to do "no carbs until lunch", lift my free weights 4 or 5 times this week again and see 143 .... Yes I'm shooting lower, maybe that will help - maybe on the scale NEXT Monday.

#goodlord #emotionalweek #finallytalkedtomyman

Monday Again..

Good Morning Blog Readers!

Each Monday I'll be posting on my progress. I doubt you care (ha ha), but it's a way for me to stay accountable AND look back on my progress!

So, second weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 144.3 lbs

I didn't Even take a picture of the scale I was so mad. Only lost 0.1 lb this week.
This week pounds lost: 0.1

Total weight loss percentage:  1.87%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.7 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:

Monday AM - Spin

Monday PM -  Zumba
Tuesday - 30 min run on the treadmill
Thursday - Spin AM

Sunday - Zumba AM

This week I was off work for MLK Jr's birthday on Monday so I even got an EXTRA work out in.

I've been really good about keeping track of my points in my food journal. I also have been inputting them all into My Fitness Pal as well and I'm on track with my calories.
I've been drinking more water, just like I had hoped to this week.

To figure out how much water you should be drinking:

Take your weight (144lbs) and divide it in half : 72oz and that is how many ounces you should drink in a day. (Approximately 9 cups of water) 

I try to drink 3 of these:

It's funny because last week I said: "At this point in my journey, I've already figured out what does and doesn't work for my body 

... and it's time to just DO."

And then I have a super frustrating week like this.

Just keep going. Don't give up ..... And scream into a pillow if you have to.

Goals: Drink more water, eat more proteins and less carbs (always an ongoing struggle for me), lift my free weights at least once this week, make myself go to Wednesdays core class at the gym (I want to puke with anxiety just thinking that I wrote that down) and see 142 on the scale NEXT Monday. God willing.


How did you do this week? Is there anything you want me to talk about here?

Measure That Body! You'll Thank Me Later.

Happy Saturday!

I want to encourage all of you, NOW .. while you're reading this, to take measurements of your body. The first time I took measurements of myself was in May of 2013 and I WISH I would have done it sooner. I had already lost 30 lbs. I can only imagine what the difference in my numbers from the very beginning, because I don't have anything to compare it to.

First - You don't have to tell anyone your measurements, if you are self conscious! Keep it written down tucked away.

Second - You'll say you "don't know how" ... listen, even if you use this guide and think you're doing it wrong: at least you'll be doing it wrong consistently and see "difference" numbers correctly!
[ does that make sense? ]

{Source}

 
Third - Do it for yourself! You'll be so glad you did when you are down the line, meeting your goals and you have this notebook tucked away for yourself with all your previous measurements. You'll be so proud once you get there ... and you'll say: "Thanks, Tara!!! " haha 

My 2013 I was busting my butt at the gym ... 5-6 days a week (almost all cardio) all summer and not eating right so I was doing a really "good job" maintaining the scale. All the while I was lying to myself and saying that I was still so "stuck". While I am more obsessed with the scale than I care to admit {not proud} I feel like I wasted most of my 2013. I was "getting no where" and only ended up getting serious September - December 2013 again and losing my last 15 lbs.

BUT: I looked back at my measurements, my first ones from May 2013 and I've lost some inches! It's up to you how often you measure. Maybe you do it once a week with weigh ins, maybe you do it once a month, maybe you do it after every 10 lbs you lose.

You'll see that it is goes slowly, but after some time you see huge differences

I don't have anything fancy - just one of these

And so ... 

From May 21, 2013 to my January 20, 2014 measurements I have a difference of:

-1.5" in my left upper arm

-1.0" inches in my right upper arm

-3.5" inches in my chese

-4" inches in my waist

-3.5" inches in my hips

-1.75" inches in my left thigh (yea, I get lazy at the end and only do one thigh ..sue me)

Remember, that's only 15-17 lbs lost ... but a huge difference in my waist, hips and chest!! 

Something to think about, no? 

Monday Morning Weigh In

Good Morning Blog Readers!

Each Monday I'll be posting on my progress. I doubt you care (ha ha), but it's a way for me to stay accountable AND look back on my progress!

So, first weigh in of my weight loss competition (Jan 12 through March 21):
Started at: 147.0 lbs
Weighed in today at: 144.4 lbs

**BACK TO WHERE I WAS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!! YAY!

Pounds lost: 2.6
Weight loss percentage:  1.76%

Total weight loss since 190lb beginning: 45.6 lbs

My work out schedule this week was:
Sunday - Zumba AM
Monday - Zumba PM
Tuesday - A quick 20 min run on the treadmill (225 calories burned what whattt!)
Thursday - Spin AM

4 work outs is great for me and my schedule .. even if one of them was only 20 mins. Just remember:

Found on Pinterest

• I counted my Weight Watchers points this week and went over one day. I'm okay with that though. It was only over by a few points and I wasn't stupid about eating complete junk all day. 

• I've also been consistently drinking 6-8 cups of water which is 48-64oz. of water per day. 

• To figure out how much water you should be drinking:
  Take your weight (144lbs) and divide it in half : 72oz and that is how many ounces you should drink in a day.
• I need to drink more water. My goal this week needs to be about 9 cups of water per day.

•  I was careful this weekend with what I ate and I'm proud to say that I don't think that the weekend messed me up.

At this point in my journey, I've already figured out what does and doesn't work for my body 

... and it's time to just DO. In the words of Nike:

Goals: Drink more water, run on the treadmill longer this Tuesday and see 142 on the scale next Monday.


How did you do this week? Is there anything you want me to talk about here?

"You Should Write A Blog"

Sooo many people have been telling me this lately .. it's kind of funny! I don't know that I have enough content for a blog! But hey ... I'll try!!

So ... here I am with my blog!


So today I thought I would write about "starting" .. "getting started" .. "starting over" ... whatever the case may be.

I think the first part you need to do is "get ready" .. no I don't mean grocery shop and make sure your work out gear has been through the laundry {although .. do those!}. I mean get your HEAD ready. You have to decide that losing weight and/or working on your health is for yourself and that you are ready to make a change. You have to make that commitment of change to yourself. When I had my "start" in January 2012 I was 190lbs and unhappy with the way I felt in my own skin. I remember in August 2010 .. more than a year before I made my changes, we were leaving to go on a family vacation and I truly had no summer clothes to pack that would fit me. I cried and cried and my mom came home (because she rocks ... Hey Mom!! ) with XXL summer clothes for me ...

Here are a few pictures from that trip August 2010:

Ummm.

Then Jeff and I went on our first trip to Disney World in November 2010 .. had an amazing time .. and when I came back, my pictures looked like this:

"What the heck" is all I could think. I was wearing men's Tigers shirts (GO TIGERS) and the only pair of (elastic waist) shorts I owned ...Cute? I think not.Seriously, look at how sad my body language is in the middle picture (and I was at the Happiest Place On Earth!! Hello!!) and how uncomfortable I look in the last picture.

Let me tell you, that both of those instances weren't even getting me to my breaking point yet. One day I was trying on some of my clothes and my XXL stuff wasn't comfortable anymore .. and I thought to myself "Tara .. it's one thing to wear XL clothes and have them fit .. but when XXL clothes don't fit and you feel this way about yourself, you have a problem." It took me still more than a year before my head was "ready" to do something about my situation. Don't take offense to my writing this .. I'm simply telling MY story. Explaining how I FELT when I was there.

Soon there after that moment we talked to my cousin Katie about Weight Watchers. She had been doing it successfully and we wanted her help! She came over and explained how it worked and things she did. I was crazy lucky because when I had my "ah-ha moment" Jeff and my parents all had one too. Now I know that all the people in your life magically deciding they want to get on the bandwagon would be nice, but I'm sure it doesn't happen often.

 I just found this journaling card from my Project Life ... dated January 23, 2012

I did whatever amount of time I could, as fast (which was slow .. think quick walk) as I could on the treadmill and counted WW points. That is how I got from 190lbs to 160lbs. I cheated. I had ups and downs. But the main thing was, counting those points and busting my butt on the treadmill was working ... working enough to make me keep on keepin' on. So I did!

By the end of March of 2012 I had lost 21.4 lbs ...

Another point I want to make is to make sure that you don't bite off more than you can chew ..  start your changes slowly. Add more water into your day, cut out the pop, add in vegetables as sides with each meal, eat smaller portions, walk a bit if you're starting with no exercise. Ease your way into it or your "change" won't stick. It will be too much too fast of a change and you'll want to quit. There is NO shame in starting off slow. If you go from eating Mickey-D's for three meals a day and dessert after dinner to a "chicken only .. no dessert" kind of change ... you'll make yourself nuts and get in a car accident when you drive by Mickey-D's! See where I'm going with this?

You don't have to start off full blown sprinting running (shoot, I still don't really run) I would walk on the treadmill on the highest speed I could and then slow it down .. up, down up down ... WALKING is better than SITTING ON THE COUCH. Don't discredit yourself and think YOUR CHANGE isn't "THE BEST CHANGE" ... You'll get there.

In my classes at the gym they always say "this is your work out .. work at your ability" and that is completely true for starting your fitness journey too. Everyone who is trying to make a change is on a different path. Make sure you are challenging yourself and taking care of yourself with your plan to do better .. do what you can ... because as long as you change ONE thing per day, you're doing alright!

Pic Over Load ... 2013 Review + Jeffs USMC Graduation

Hey people!!
I haven't written in a long time. I know I don't even have to say why ... life get's busy, priorities change .. and really I was always just writing this for myself anyways. I think this blog will be changing as more of like a journal for myself ... anyone is clearly welcome to read it ... but now I'll talk about things that are relevant to me and my life THESE days.

Things have changed so drastically in my life since I wrote my last blog post in (cough yikes) June of 2012. Changed mostly for the better!!

WARNING: PICTURE OVER LOAD AHEAD ;) 

Since I last wrote:
- My fiance and parents and I decided to join Weight Watchers.


- Yep that's right ... I'm engaged!! My best friend asked me to marry him at Disney World in November 2012!

- Jeff finished loosing the weight he needed to join the United States Marine Corps and signed into the dep program in February 2013. They gave him his ship date to go to boot camp (September 16th)

 

- I turned 26 years old! {I can't even comprehend that}

- I lost 45 lbs total since starting Weight Watchers (Yes, this picture is more time than June 2012 - present ... but it's fun to see the progress)

- Exercising has truly become a way of life for me. While it's fun to skip it ... It's not what it used to be to me anymore. It's a necessity. I've also found a blog I love to follow: Mama Laughlin

- During said progress I took too many of {sweaty} pictures of myself .. sometimes before and sometimes after my work outs ...

 -Took a lot of pictures of things that matter ... and some that don't.

- Stayed BIG TIGERS FANS :)

-Even got on TV! (Yep, look close - that's us between those guys in the background!)

- Worked out with my guy

- Jeff worked and worked and worked on this boat ...

- I met Andy Dirks .. and got his autograph :)

GO TIGERS!

- I found my love of spin class.

- We went to the air show

- Saw Kenny Chesney at Ford Field (What whaaaat .. awesome Christmas gift!!!)

- Spent some time in the great Up North together.

 (left at about 10 or 11 pm .... yikes!)

- Went to my cousins wedding 

- Jeff signed his MOS contract (Electronic Maintenance)

- We took a LOT of pictures before he left for bootcamp in September:

 - We had goodbye parties and Jeff left for bootcamp.

 - I wrote 65 letters ... one a day ... and became obsessed with the mailbox and what it might bring to me, from Parris Island. My only way of communication with my fiance for 13 weeks.

- I kept busy with four jobs while he was gone and worked 56 hours a week: Jewelry Lady, daycare (part time), Red Bell Assistant Teacher (part time), and mentoring .... and of course going to the gym 3-4 days a week.

- I did anything and everything I could think of to keep my mind busy and positive including starting this board on my Pinterest: STRENGTH and added to it when I had hard times. 

- Hosted a totally fun 2nd Annual Favorite Things Party!

- Went to a family friend's annual Christmas Tea Party.

- I prayed more than I've prayed my entire life this year.

- ... and then I prayed some more... Prayed for Jeff's strength and safety, for God to be with him while he hurdled over anything that might stand in his way of becoming a Marine, for my strength in getting through the time without him.

 

- I found out that Jeff could possibly call me after they finished The Crucible ( their final 3 days of intense training out in the field with lack of sleep) and when my phone read "Beaufort, SC" I instantly started to cry. I hadn't heard his voice in 13 weeks and nothing will make me forget the way I felt when I answered the phone "Jeffy?" and he said "Yea"

- I traveled 1,035 miles to see My Marine graduate from Parris Island USMC Bootcamp.

- I finally got my hands on him! First shock ... and then tears ... 

- He got to show us around the base and explain some of the things they did.

-The next day, Friday December 13th, 2013 he graduated from Lima Co. and we were EXACTLY where he had dreamed of being for so many years. I am so proud of this man, words just can't explain!!!!

- We flew home a few days later and found these goofballs waiting for us at the airport!

-Went to get Scruffy and saw Grandpa ... 

- It has been incredible to have him home on leave ... We celebrated Christmas Eve ...

- And Christmas ... 

The more I think about anything and everything, the less I think anything at all has ever been a consiquence or happend "by chance". I think there is a plan for me and for us. 2013 has been a year of stress and waiting and anxiety .. but also some amazing memories and lessons that we will absolutely never forget. Things have been so  hard, but this is what we have been working towards and it will all be a good life for us in the end.

Excited to see the new life that 2014 will bring to us. We could possibly be married before the end of 2014 ... depending on the Corps ... 2014 will come with it's own challenges ... but I've learned so much this year and I know I will get through anything with my fiance, my family and God at my side.

See you next year .... and hopefully not so long in between ... no promises ;)