weight loss update & a new favorite corner

Just a little update on my weight watchers/exercise progress! Today I reached a personal goal! I've lost 15 pounds!! Hooray! I am officially halfway to my total weight loss goal of 30 pounds. It's been 9 weeks since I started exercising regularly and doing Weight Watchers. It has been an amazing journey! To God be the glory!! 

and here's a new favorite corner in my home. 

vintage painting (paint by number)

vintage globe 

Clint's late grandmama's cabinet

a closer look at the painting. i love it. :)

it reminds me of the song As the Deer. 

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield 
To You alone may my spirit yield 
You alone are my heart's desire 
And I long to worship Thee 

You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a king
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything   

I want You more than gold or silver 
Only You can satisfy 
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye 

Hope all of you are having a great day!!

Blessings!! 

Lora

wordless wednesday - down 12 pounds!

lately...

As you can see, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous lately! I believe that fall has finally made its appearance! Hallelujah! Fall is my favorite season!

 Here's a little something I put together on my kitchen island the other day to welcome Fall. :)

 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a HARVEST if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9

I took advantage of the beautiful weather this weekend and went for a walk/jog outside. 

It was so nice! Did a quick two miles.

Definitely breaking in my fancy new running shoes! 

(Thanks to my brother Paul and my parents who so generously helped me buy them! I had to get new shoes because I wore holes in my old ones! haha)

I don't normally take dressing room photos, but I had to document this one! I went shopping at JCPenney the other day to try to find some new clothes for me to wear at my booth at Harvest Fest. I brought back this dress to the room in a size 12, hoping I would be able to fit into a size down from my normal 14 (the size i wore before i started working out, etc). It was way too big! I went back out in the store to find a size 10. They only had an 8. I brought it back anyway, knowing it would be too tight. It fit perfectly. I was crying in the dressing room! Total shock and total joy.

I cut my thumb pretty badly last Thursday night, so I wasn't able to make make any jewelry over the weekend. I used the time to go shopping for supplies instead. I went to one of my favorite little antique shops called The Knife Shop. The 90 year old owner, Bill, has lots and lots of great vintage and antique jewelry. I always find the best stuff in there!

Here are some of my newest treasures from The Knife Shop and from my sweet friend, Jenniffer. (She sent me a box filled with vintage jewelry that arrived just after I got home from the antique store.  What an amazing friend!) So now I have lots and lots of awesome goodies to create with and add to my stamped pieces and antique key necklaces! I cannot wait to sit down and create with these one of a kind pieces!!!! 

I sat down last night for the first time in four days to try to make some jewelry. I made this necklace using one of the vintage chains that I found at The Knife Shop. I also used an antique key and made a hammered pendant that I handstamped with "revival". It felt so good to create again!

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land." II Chron 7:14 

And here's a pic of me yesterday. I got dressed up for church and I felt pretty in my new top (that I got for $4 at JCPenney!) and a gorgeous necklace that my friend Allison gave me. I am feeling so good in my new body! As of this morning, I've got 11.5 pounds! The diet and exercise is really paying off! And I feel GREAT. I am so so thankful to the Lord for all of His help in my efforts to get healthy. It's been amazing!!

I'll leave you with a photo of my new spruced up wreath on my front door. I wanted to decorate it a little bit for Fall. I used a bit of antiqued crocheted lace, an antique key, a handmade bird, a handmade brooch my friend Joy gave me. I love how it turned out! 

I am so thankful that we are entering Fall. It's such a wonderful time of year for me! Harvest Fest is in only a week and a half. I have so much to do to get ready, but I know that God will help me accomplish all that He wants me to do! And I am very expectant - I know He is going to do amazing things!!I would love your prayers for strength and stamina and grace as I prepare! And more importantly, that God would use me to bring hope and encouragement to His daughters!

afternoon walks

The weather here has been gorgeous the last couple of days! 

We've been making the most of it, and trying to get outside and take some walks! 

I took a walk by myself yesterday afternoon. 

It was a good workout, involving a really big hill (easy going down, brutal coming up! haha) 

Here's the beginning of the hill... 

So pretty, huh! The sky yesterday was so beautiful!

And all seven of us went for a walk today after church. It was really fun!

I love this shot so much! These people are my favorite people on earth. :) 

Clint and Leo looking at the ducks, geese, and swan in the lake. 

And we saw this interesting creature sitting very still on a tree trunk. I think it's a moth. 

The kids were fascinated by it. 

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I hope the weather's been nice where you are, too! I am so happy its getting cooler outside. Fall is my favorite season! I even got to put on a cardigan this morning. Hooray! 

Hope you have a wonderful Sunday afternoon!

getting healthy

This has been quite a week!! God has done something wonderful in my heart. It's truly been remarkable. I'm not kidding. I've been asking Him for a long time to help me with my hormonal highs and lows. As I've gotten older, they seem to have gotten worse. And often, I struggle with periods of sadness, anxiety, and all around just feeling overwhelmed.

Anyway, Clint and I have been praying together for a "plan of action" so that I don't have to live like that every month. And He began to place in our hearts some strategies for me to get healthier.

Last Sunday night, I went to a mom's meeting at my church. It was a sweet time of fellowship and I reconnected with some ladies that I hadn't talked to in a long time. One of the ladies came up to me after the meeting and shared some things that she felt that the Lord had laid on her heart for me. She ended up praying for me and it was so encouraging. One of the things that she prayed for was alignment. That God would line up everything in my body and in my life as well in the way it should go. And she really encouraged me that she felt that the rough season that I have been in for about the last year was ending and a new season was beginning! So so encouraging.

Monday morning, I woke up with new resolve and vision for a new lifestyle.  I got out my Weight Watchers materials and started the program again from home. And I dusted off a Leslie Sansone workout video that I love and started exercising. I took these "before" photos on Monday:

I don't know if you can tell, but the T-shirt I am wearing says "Yes I can with Jesus!" 

Here I am - no sucking in. :) 

these shoes have been used A LOT this week! 

Here's my food journal. I write down everything I eat each day. It really helps me stay on track! 

And this is one of my new favorite snacks, usually post-workout.
Fresh pineapple and cottage cheese. 

 Before I started this new lifestyle, I totally would have had sour cream and onion chips! haha 

This is me ready to start my workout the other day during naptime. I have been doing a workout routine that consists of lots of intervals of walking/jogging/leg lifts/knee lifts, etc..
It is a total of 2 miles. 

The kids' naptime used to be the time where i watched tv on my computer, stuffed myself with lunches like hot dogs and chips, and had "me time". God is changing my desires! Now I look forward to naptime because I can work out! Yes! God is redefining "me time" for this happy girl!

I'm also taking more time to rest and be away from the computer and other distractions. I am trying to make more of an effort to sit still and have a cup of coffee and read each day.

I am already feeling better about my body. I feel tighter in my muscles. And I swear my jeans are looser! Here's me in my pretty new top that I got the other night from Goodwill. Isn't it cute?! 

I not only feel great in my body, but I feel FANTASTIC in my mind and emotions. I was telling Clint last night that I am convinced that regular exercise (as well as healthy eating and drinking lots of water) is the key to my mental health. My mind feels clearer and brighter, if that makes sense. I've only cried once over the past week, and that crying was happy crying. I had just finished one of my workouts and just broke into happy tears during the finishing stretches. I was just so overwhelmed at the goodness of God in my life. And I was so so proud of myself! It's truly been amazing, y'all!! 

I just wanted to share with you what God's been doing in my life lately!

"With God, all things are possible!"

 Matthew 19:26

Hope all of you have a wonderful weekend!

Lora

back in the saddle again

I started Weight Watchers again two weeks ago. It's time. My starting weight is 175 pounds. I'd like to lose about 30 pounds. So far, it's going really well, I've lost about 4 pounds. Only 26 to go! haha...

I took some "before" photos the other day while we were at my in-laws house. Looking at that side view - oh my. I totally look pregnant, don't I? I'm not. It's probably due to the fact that I had five babies in seven years (and the fact that I really love to eat large quantities of chocolate!). Hopefully, once the weight comes off and I do a bunch of sit ups, my tummy will flatten out a little bit.

I bought this pretty journal and have been tracking what I am eating, writing down every little thing I put in my mouth. And I gotta tell you, doing this really helps!

I know I can do this.  

I lost 90 pounds after Joseph was born.  
(You can see my before and after photos here (at 230 pounds) and here (at 140 pounds)). 

So, I am just gonna buckle down again and say no to that second helping. And not give in to emotional eating. Bottom line is - as much as I like to think that food will bring me comfort when I'm sad or stressed, it just won't. It ends up hurting me in the long run.

Only God's presence in my life can truly satisfy!

I'd love your prayers for me as I try to become healthier. :)

 

 

stretch marks and squishy tummies

Hey everyone. Well, I'm gonna get a little bit real with y'all in today's post.

It's been a long week, adjusting to my new schedule with the kiddos in school now. I am walking Ruth to and from preschool each day, so I'm spending more time outside pushing the double stroller around. It's been nice to get some fresh air every day and also some exercise. But, it has also forced me to be in a stricter routine, too. I've got Robby on a pretty tight napping schedule now, and I am trying to also make more defined hours for shopwork, housework, and time playing with the children. And I'm gonna be honest - I'm exhausted!

When Clint got home last night, he saw the look on my face. You know, that look that says, "I need ME-time! Please!!" So, he graciously offered to watch the kiddos for a little bit so I could go out. On my way out to the car, I ran into a neighbor that I haven't seen in months. We chatted for a little bit, and then she asked me, "Are you pregnant?" (I'm hoping that she didn't ask me that because I look pregnant. Maybe she asked me because I kind of have a history of always being pregnant or having a little one on my hip! :)) Anyway, I laughed it off, but as I drove away to the mall, the tears started flowing. Cause all I could think was, "I look pregnant. I'm fat. I'm never gonna have my pre-baby body back." - I told you this post was gonna be real! haha...

So, after this pity party in my head, I immediately went into the mall food court and had McDonalds for dinner! Cause, of course, that's the logical choice for dinner when you're trying to lose weight... I'm an emotional eater, what can I tell you?

After I ate, I walked down to JCPenney and looked for an outfit that didn't make me look pregnant. But, honestly, it seems like the only tops that look good on me right now are the loose, tunic type tops that cover up my squishy tummy. Well, God was kind to me in that JCPenney dressing room. I found two fun tops and two pairs of pants that fit really well. And, as I walked out of the store with the bag in my hand, I confess I did feel a little bit better. (And I have to add this part, too: My dad got me my JCPenney credit card a few years ago. He pays the bill each month. He got it for me so I could go every now and then to buy myself something nice. Isn't that the sweetest thing?  I love that man.)

So, here's a photo of me this morning wearing one of the outfits I bought:

As I was going through all these emotions yesterday, I tried to talk to the Lord about what I was feeling. And ever faithful God that He is, He spoke to me.  He said so gently, "Lora, you are not what you weigh."  And the more that I thought about how discontent I've been with my weight and post-babies body, I know that I should be proud of my stretch marks and squishy tummy. Because those are the evidence of the five amazing children that I have been blessed to carry and birth.

So, I walked out of the mall carrying my bag of loose fitting tunics and size 14 jeans, feeling better and a little more accepting of my body. But before I walked out, I stopped by McDonalds on the way and got a hot fudge sundae to go. (I couldn't resist! haha...)

The weight will come off, little by little. And one day, I will be skinny again.

But God is so right - size 14 or size 7,

I am definitely not what I weigh.

weight watchers update

I thought I'd give y'all a quick Weight Watchers update!

Three months ago

Weight: 180 pounds

Today

Weight: 169.4 pounds

Total weight lost so far: 10.6 pounds

I don't know if you can tell a difference in the photos, but I can. One thing's for sure, I definitely could not have worn that dress when I began in May!  I still have over 20 pounds more to lose, but I am on my way! I let out a huge "Praise the Lord" at my weigh-in today at my Weight Watchers meeting. I lost 3.2 pounds this week! And that loss put me (finally) in the 160's. I haven't been there in a long time! It feels really good.

Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Hi everybody! Hope you've been having a good week so far. Mine has definitely been different. The house is just not the same without Benjamin and Leo! I miss them tons. But, we're leaving tomorrow to go join them at Clint's parent's house for a few days so I'll get to see my boys tomorrow! Yay!

I've been trying to take advantage of the time with just Ruth, Joseph, and Robert. It's been fun! They are so cute.

Here's a few pictures of our day yesterday:

"Look, Mom, a heart!" 

(it's not often you see a heart shaped potato chip! :) )

Joseph and Robby playing with Legos

Joseph was so proud of his tower that he built

Ruth and Joseph have been having the best time playing in these big boxes!

I got to go out to lunch with a new friend yesterday. I felt pretty since I actually blew dry my hair and put on makeup, so I thought I'd take a picture of myself. I am also feeling good about my weight too. (I've lost almost 10 pounds!)

say cheese!

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Thanks to everyone who took advantage of my big sale yesterday! It was a success. :) Now, I've got lots of work to do today before we go out of town tomorrow. But, that's a good thing! :)

Have a great day!

re-covering my stools and a saturday update

Remember when I got my kitchen bar stools? (I blogged about them here.)

Well, it's been nine months since I got them and those cute seat covers I made for them have gotten majorly stained from the kiddos and their peanut butter and jelly fingers... So, it was definitely time for a re-do!

I found this beautiful vintage Waverly striped upholstery fabric last week at the thrift store and I knew it would look really great on the stools. The colors are perfect for my kitchen! So, yesterday, during naptime, I re-covered the stools. What do you think?

I have almost a yard left of this beautiful fabric. I am trying to decide what to make with it. Do you think I should make a valance for my kitchen window, or would that be too matchy-matchy? Or, maybe a pillow for my living room?  Decisions, decisions....

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In other news, I just completed my first week back at Weight Watchers! Yep, it's that time again....
So, here's the first week's results:

Starting weight - 180 lbs
Today's weight - 177.5 lbs
Total loss - 2.5 lbs!!!

Only 32.5 pounds to go! I can do it! It only took me six months, but now I am motivated! :)

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My dear friend Jenn is visiting! She's here for a few days with her miracle baby Haven. And I'm hosting a little girl's night at my house tonight for all of her close friends that live here. I'm excited!

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One other thing that I'd so appreciate your prayers for -

I've hurt my hands. I've been working hard these past couple of weeks preparing for my table at the women's conference I'm selling my jewelry at. Well, I guess I've overdone it because my hands, especially my left hand, are very sore and a little bit swollen. I've had to take a break in making jewelry. And it's killing me! I love to make it, and it's been really hard for me to say no.  But, I don't want to make it worse... So, under the strict instructions of my husband, I am staying away from my tools for a few days. Please pray that my (eager) hands will heal up quickly so I will have a few days before the conference to finish up my preparations and last minute necklaces.  And, if you have any suggestions for things to do for my hands to help my joints and soreness, please let me know!

Have a good day!