7 days of food

So I started weight watchers a few weeks ago.
I'm down 7 pounds over three weeks. Yay!
Any amount of weight loss is good, it's great actually (but you know we always want to see a bigger loss on the scale).
It's hard.

Sometimes I'm so tempted to eat whatever I want again, but then realize I have to stay on track. This usually means I'll have a little bit of what I really wanted and substitute with other stuff.

So, I've decided do a Seven days of meals post after a week.
It will be a fun way to track what I eat (i think)

And maybe be interesting for you guys to see!

summer reading list

Do you remember when you were in middle school and it was time for summer? But then they disclosed the all-dreaded reading list? Yeah, I hated that. It made me not like reading until up about a year ago. Add on the excessive amounts and overly dry reading tacked on by college, I was just about done.
Until about a year ago when I rediscovered reading.

Here is the list I have compiled so far:

"The Me I Want to Be" John Ortberg. He discusses the pressures Christians face about who to be. Between "The me I don't want to be", The me I pretend to be, The me I think I should be, The me other people want me to be, The me I'm afraid God wants, The me that fails to be, and the me I am meant to be. So far I am about 50 pages in, and it's very good

"Mere Christianity" and "The Problem of Pain" C.S. Lewis. Afraid I'm a bit behind on my basic theology books. Or I just tried to read them before I was ready a few years ago

"Unleashing the power of rubber bands" Nancy Ortberg. She talks about unleashing the full potential of staff in churches. Really looking forward to this book, this lady is so so funny

"When the darkness will not lift" John Piper. A good friend of mine absolutely loves John Piper... so I'll see how it goes.

"Authentic Spiritual Mentoring" Larry Kreider. It has a pretty cover. haha.

"Lies young women believe, and the truth that sets them free" Nancy Demoss

"A Jewel in His Crown" Priscilla Shirer


So, it's shaping up to be a pretty good summer, book list wise, anyways.

the little things

Today I went to white castle with my friend, Krista Edsall. If you've never heard of White Castle, it's this novelty burger place that has really disgusting burgers but they taste so good with the tiny chopped onions on them. The novelty part about them is that they are little hamburgers, like the original burger sliders! They were so good. It's beautiful outside, Krista and I just spend the whole hour car ride there and back chatting and singing obnoxiously loud to songs.

It made me think about how happy I am to have the little things in life. we just randomly chose to drive the hour to and from a burger join in northern new jersey because we had a free afternoon, and I loved it!
How often do we forget about those kinds of liberties?
like beautiful days, windows rolled down, having good hair days, a great friend, stand up comedians, chocolate chip cookies, chirping birds, babies, fun colors, happy nail polish!

Here's your love mission for today:
-think about a little thing you're thankful for, whether it's your momma buying you snacks or a friend randomly texting you, and thank them for that
-then pass along a "little thing" on to someone else because you have no idea how far a tiny bit of kindness can go!

Home is where the people you love are

So this past weekend was Easter (He is risen!) and I got to spend the majority of the weekend with my new second family, the Svendsens. I could not have been more blessed by it. It made me realize what was really important; family and those people who accept and love you just like family. As Kara quoted "You find out who your friends are" or in this case, people even closer than that. Momma Svendsen even made me an Easter basket!

Here's a quick recap of what transpired; Mcdonalds (mac snack wrap surprisingly good), new attitudes (thrift store, incredibly cluttered), verizon (who knew they only sell 4 non-data plan packages?), penne vodka, the last song (balled like a baby), new moon (fell asleep), Svendsen Easter dinner (faux turkey is delicious! maybe only when Michael makes it), bridge exploring, Early morning (read 10am) Starbucks runs, tow trucks, Uncle Roy's birthday!, Speedball (who knew it could be so fun!), sleeping on thousands of cotton balls, teaching Renn kids to respond with "He is risen indeed!", Easter lunch at a precious old folks home, learning about Grandma's adventures, sending lance and brian off to colorado, one last nap, then home for babies.

phew!

[I decided to pick up blogging again sparked by Jecca]

One year ago, after class, I received a phone call that nobody wants to have, nobody wants to hear, nobody wants to deal with.
Insert typical joke about a false April fool's day joke here.
After a day of grieving and getting my thoughts in order, I went home to start making plans with Jeremy. Momma was away on a cruise so it was time to be a big girl. I don't want to pull on anyone's emotions, this was just how it happened. It was really easy to separate myself from the difficult-ness of everything by talking prices, trying to find a reception hall, and putting together a collage. But the relatives did me in, especially Aunt Nancy if you know Aunt Nancy, did it.
So, this is just a little photo journey through time.

This is mine and everyone else's favorite.



momma always had a babysitter for us.



love



Christmases with Nanny. I remember spending Christmas eve with her and eating sandwiches with lunchmeat.



She's where I get my laugh and smile from.



hottie tottie.


Nanny with Mike. I remember going to Wendy's and Seville's on Fridays during lent so Mike could get fish.





Nanny
4/3/1928-4/1/2009

Every day when school got out
I'd get off the bus and I'd run down
That old dirt road where you were waiting for me
On the front porch in that blue swing
You'd be smiling and we would sing
'Amazing Grace' and 'Jesus Loves Me'

You were like my mother
You were my best friend
You were everything I want to be
And all the good inside of me
There's never been
Never been another
That loved me like you did
My grandmother, my angel

Even though I can't touch your face
I feel you with me every day
I wish you could see all my dreams coming true
When I get lost I close my eyes
And I feel you shining down so bright
I feel you shining down on me

You were like my mother
You were my best friend
You were everything I want to be
And all the good inside of me
There's never been
Never been another
That loved me like you did
My grandmother, my angel

You were like my mother
You were my best friend
You were everything I want to be
And all the good inside of me
There's never been
Never been another
That loved me like you did
My grandmother, my angel
My angel
Kellie Pickler "My Angel"