The Journey Continues

My journey on the de-clutter road continues. It has been slow and not always encouraging. But I am trying to move forward more often that backwards!

My positive progress is I have officially lost 15 lbs of body clutter! SO happy with this. I'm a little behind, but how can I not feel joy at finally hitting 15 lbs lost? Now I will work on the next 5 and see where that leads!

My home clutter seems to be moving out at an even slower pace! But I made progress this past week in that we started painting the office. It's getting cleaner and hopefully by the end of the month we will be done.

Our bathroom is at a stand still again because my Dad has gone up north for the summer. He hasn't been feeling well and I've been worried about him. He puts so much pressure on himself and I sure don't want to be the cause of him having bad health!  We did figure out the tile and as soon as we figure out the measurements we will start buying it.

My guilt issues have totally increased... bad - very bad. LOL! But I will just have to keep working on this. *sigh!*

All in all I feel good about my goals for 2012. I think this if the first year that I have actually continued the process past Feb! I'll just keep enjoying the journey and try to forgive myself for not moving forward as fast as I'd like!

Easter

I'm just a little behind, but here is a sampling of Easter. Our Easter starts on Easter Saturday with Easter baskets full of candy and treats! No matter how old you are there's a basket waiting for you on Saturday morning!

Vaughan's basket

Hillary & James basket

Heather's basket

Heidi's basket

Holli's basket

Hope's basket

I have a lot of fun putting these together! In the "good 'ole days" we would color eggs on Saturday. But the girls seem to have mostly outgrown that activity! Not so much because they don't enjoy doing it, but because they are too busy to stop what they are doing to color the eggs! :)

Easter Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year. I like to get the girls new Easter dresses. They usually need them in the spring and so it seems appropriate! I like to coordinate us as a family. Usually, the first dress we find ends up being the color scheme for the year. This year it was Heidi's dress - yellow and gray!

We took these pictures after church in our back yard! Holli was creative and put the camera on a tripod - using the timer! It was funny watching her run to get in place!

 Later that evening we went to Randy and Tiffany's for our Moore FHE and Easter gathering. Of course we had to have our traditional Easter Egg hunt! Here are some of my cute nieces enjoying the hunt!

Ellie and Brooke

Ava

Lainey

Dad and Mike visiting

Brian and Marc and others visiting

Our dessert spread! Mmmmmm

Bob, Missy and Heather

Time to empty all those eggs so they can be used again next year!

Ava and Heidi

Pink Lemonade cookies made by Heidi for our Moore gathering!

This year there was a little damper on the fun because my Mother wasn't feeling well. They ended up taking her to the hospital for what they thought might be a stroke. She ended up staying in the hospital for three days. After MANY tests they decided it was dehydration. It was a scary and worrisome few days. We all learned much from the experience. Mostly, how much we love our Mother and how fragile life can be.

Despite the scare, we had a great Easter and enjoyed being with each other and celebrating the life and sacrifice of our Savior! I'm so grateful to Him and to know that because of all He suffered for me I can return to be with my Heavenly Father and be with my family for eternity! 

I'm NOT going to use the "D" word!

You know what I mean... It has 4 letters. Starts with d ends with t and somewhere in the middle is an i e.

I really don't like the D word. In fact I try very hard not to use it. But sometimes it's just easier. And then someone gave me another way to say it that sounds SO much better "healthy eating plan".

I know, I know it takes longer to say. But I'm ok with that. Maybe I'll burn a few more calories! hahaha!

Yes, this post is about my "healthy eating plan". I started a journey in January to de-clutter many things in my life. So far I'm doing pretty good. It's a stop and go process. Here a little there a little. But I'm starting to feel some progress in my home.

However, the whole body clutter thing just wasn't happening. I've been thinking and even praying a little about what to do. I had been hearing about a "program" that I was considering, but it was a lot expensive... So I wasn't really considering it. But I kept getting nudged in that direction, so I finally asked some questions about it - not sure how to "afford" it. But I finally took the leap feeling like I had the Lord's blessing. I decided to give it a month...

In the first month I lost about 3 lbs. I was a bit discouraged, but something told me to keep doing it. I decided as long as I could come up with the money I would keep going... by some miracle I had the money and I decided to go another month.

The weight loss wasn't so hot. But the inches were what convinced me to try another month. In 4 weeks I lost 3" in my waist, 1/2" in each arm, 1" in each thigh and 1" in my hips.

Not too bad.

I start week 7 tomorrow and I have lost 8 lbs. (I won't measure for a couple more weeks!) To say I am on top of the world would be an understatement! Whoo hoo and all that!

So my body clutter goal is finally happening. I feel like "maybe" I will actually be able to feel better AND look better.

I feel like I have more energy and I'm thinking clearer. Weird.

I don't really have a weight loss goal... I just want to look better. I'm not looking to be skinny. I never have been. I don't really think I'll be able to wear the same size I wore in high school. I'm ok with that. I just want to feel good and quit envying my friends and family that seem to not "feel" their age!

I have learned some things about me on this journey:

I LOVE food. Not just the eating, but the preparing. I miss making treats for my family. It is who I am.

I actually eat pretty healthy. I have all my life. But I've been a meal skipper - and then I snack or grab things that aren't good choices to keep my energy level. Not so good.

I was becoming a sugar addict. I still have a little problem. But I am learning to eat less of it and making better choices.

Because my choices are better, my family (kids) choices are better. We aren't eliminating treats, just not having them as often. Although, old habits are hard to break - and I'm ashamed to say my kids Easter baskets will have as much candy as ever... I tried. Really.

Now I'm trying to figure out how to keep me from eating any! LOL!

My plan for my "healthy eating plan" is to keep going until the end of June. Then I will re-access. For now I will enjoy the journey and I look forward to the time when people other than me will notice! LOL

Darn Perfectionisms!

Sometimes I think I should just quit blogging!
I never seem to do it much anymore!
I want to.
But then I realize I don't have any pictures to illustrate with.
And when I start I always take more time than I think I will.

And besides - I'm the only one who reads it, right?

So do I do it for me? Or for others?

I guess that's what I need to decide!

Hmmmmmm.

Guilty as charged.

My quest to rid myself of clutter in 2012 continues. One of the things that clutters my life is guilt.

Guilt. Blek. hate it.

It feels heavy. It makes me sad. It slows my progression and paralyzes me.

I have been suffering with this malady for much too long.

It's time to rid myself of this parasite!

This is what I have learned so far:

1. No one makes me feel guilty. It is my choice. So, if it's my choice then I choose to let go of the guilt.

2. Some of the reasons I feel guilty is because I'm not doing things I "should" do. This guilt is caused by my conscience trying to motivate me in the right direction. Unfortunately it doesn't always work for me. So to conquer this form of guilt I'm just going to DO IT. Yep, almost too simple. I chose my top guilt causers and made a plan. Then I am going to be kind to myself if I'm not PERFECT and look at my improvement and not at my failures.

Here are my should do's that have caused me the most guilt:

1. Temple attendance
2. Personal scripture study
3. Family scripture study
4. Exercise
5. VTing

So far - so good.

Operation Clutter is marching along!

(I am only blogging this for me - to hold me accountable and to notate my progress!)