A little, baby update...

Only my friends from Genoa will get the title of this post.  No, no babies here.  Just a little inside joke between some of the BEST friends a girl could ask for.

Short and sweet.  No soda for a full week.  Watching every bite I put in my mouth.  Not dead yet.  They say that doing it my way is the wrong way and that you have to ease into diets, don't over analyze.  Not me.  Balls to the wall or nothing at all.  Yep, I really just said that.  Anyhow, ran yesterday.  Again, still alive.  I've also inspired something in Bill to hit the treadmill.  He's taking 40 a tad harder than I ever imagined, so I think his treadmill time is helping a little.  Thank goodness.  A pouting man is a tough thing to handle.

After my non-PC styling above, I can't believe I'm talking about God and church in the next breath.  Let me just say that this resolution has been a wonderful choice.  Reading every morning and evening have been key.  Starting and ending the day with God.  Making time to meditate.  Texting my church girls everyday for a little boost (both ways).  Praying with my girls on the way to school every morning.  All is well with my soul.

My house is still reasonably clean and my laundry is caught up.  This is HUGE.  Usually, I'll kill myself and within 3 days it looks like we live in a condemned building.  Instead, I've been taking 20 minutes every evening and doing a clean sweep.  Loading and running the dishwasher in the morning is keeping my kitchen cleaner than ever.  Praying that I keep this up--I'm a happier person when I don't live in filth.

Promising pics next post...I know you're sick of hearing from me 

and not seeing the faces of my mostly sweet girls....

A New Year....

It's officially the beginning of 2013.  When 2012 began, I embarked on what I decided was going to be the "year of Amanda", most pointedly getting healthy.  I quit pop, started eating healthy and started running....religiously.  And, then, like the best laid plans, it started to fizzle.  But, not without a heck of a fight.  I completed Couch to 5K TWICE, didn't drink a sip of Diet Coke until July and continued healthy eating for most of the year.  Then, I started a new job.  It all quickly fell apart.  I was drinking 2 huge Diet Cokes a day just to survive.  Working out never.  Eating whatever I could shove in my mouth in the 5 free minutes I had for a "lunch".  I did have some success.  I lost 30 pounds overall, but have since gained back 20 of it.  My body does a good job of hiding the fat (I credit big boobs), but it's definitely there.  As I'm getting older, I see it sagging and bagging in new spots, too.  So, to begin 2013, I'm making new resolutions.  People say the worst times to make them are at the new year, but not for me.  I look at January 1 as a new beginning, clean slate, get out of jail free card.  So, as a back up plan, to hold me accountable when times get tough, I'm baring it all.  Putting it all out there.  I'm doing this in hopes that you'll back me up.  Be my cheering section.  I'm taking before pics tomorrow, however, I'm not comfortable in posting those just yet.  Baby steps.  But, I hope to do that before too long.  When I do, I'll know that I've made progress.  Again, baby steps.

My second goal is to grow in my relationship with God.  I have to read my Bible more.  I have to pray more.  I have to study more.  These are not ideas to be taken lightly.  I feel that my relationship with the Lord grows each day, each year.  It's a maturing relationship.  I am blessed to have the BEST church and church family that a girl could ask for guiding my path.  I have a mother in law who is one of the best Christian women that I've had the opportunity to know, who could not be more supportive.  I see this goal being an easily attainable one.

As for my third goal, it's still up in the air.  Come back to me on that one.

I heard today that what you do on January 1st guides the remainder of your year.  I prayed, I cooked, I cleaned like a crazy woman, I had great time with my loves and had a wonderful dinner with my in-laws.  If this is any indicator of what 2013 will bring, I'm ready.  Bring it on.