All it takes is one

Yesterday I stopped in at work to help my girls for a few hours when I knew they were busy, even though it was my day off. While I was there one of MY regulars (she comes only when she knows I am working lol) showed up after being out of town for almost 2 months! I was excited to see her and when I went to give her her pictures she came to pick up she exclaimed all surprised, "Oh my gosh you have lost ALOT of weight girl! Look at you and how thin you are!" This made my day because I have been getting quite proud of how I look everytime I get ready to go anywhere and look in the morror.... All it takes is one person to say something and it can make a whole day great!!! lol

On a side note but relevant, Jared recently was issued his dress blues uniform and I have been talking about going and getting really nice pictures done together with them- he in his blues and me in a nice formal dress- but this would have to wait bc I had weight to lose. Well, just last week my sister and I went out just to try on some dresses and see how I felt- see how much longer it would be before I would actually THINK about buying and posing in a dress much less feel comfortable trying many on. I am so oober proud to say the first one I tried on, this long tight flowing gown fit so nicely (and it was tight around the waist and backside)! I didnt have rolls or even the love handles I thought I had bulging out the side, it just smoothed straight down and dang my hips looked good! lol! I didnt get it bc it was this weird topped one and it really made me look flat chested as all get out but I was just so pleased that it wasnt a size 15 or something like that and that I looked so good, even my sister was impressed.... so I tried on some more too haha. One was this "pretty pretty princess" dress as Jacky called it. It was like a corset up top and then poofed out in layers all the way down to the ground all silver and sparkly. All I needed was a tiara and look out Cinderella! lol!

Anyway, since "FIT" is my word for this year I thought this post would be relevant and I want to look back on it one day and remember this good feeling!

My big big BOY!!

Today my handsome little boy turned 1! While he is still the same size he was at 9/10 months--because he never grows-- he is still a big boy now and it is actually harder to accept then I expected. Since he was born on my sister's 20th birthday, they both celebrated today- him 1 and her 21! As a gift for them both I brought them to the studio today and had their bday pictures done. I think they turned out super great but you can decide! lol

At first there was only going to be pictures of Chase and Aunt Jacky but when I got to thinking about it I realized I might look back and wish I had taken at least one picture with my son for his birthday... So I got a couple cute ones of us together.

I had these shirts made for the pictures. I thought it would be a cute idea to do a pose from behind and my boss took the photos and they turned out so cute! Chase did so well and it meant alot to Jacky to get pictures done with him!

I am quite proud of how these pictures turned out. I feel bad because I never got pictures done for the girls for their 1st birthdays like this... pictures around their birthdays yes, but not with th 1's and never of just them individually to celebrate. But I never worked for a portrait studio before with great discounts and opportunities either. So, you take each chance you can right? lol :)

Speaking of working at a portrait studio, I have some excellent news that I can finally share!

My district manager called me about a week ago and asked me if I was interested in a management experience they had available in Bowling Green Kentucky. The offer price was lower than what we could live off of, with moving and all, so I told him I needed a better offer but I was willing to move if the price was right. Today he called me and offered me a little more, still not enough for us to live off of... we had already found the most affordable place in Bowling Green and knew we had a certain price we could live with... so once again I had to tell him not unless we could bring the price up. Thankfully he has been very impressed with me and wanted me to have this job. He really went to bat for me with the regional manager and right before Chase's party tonight I got "the call" we had been waiting for. The right price with a guarantee raise within 3-6 months as long as I perform like I should. As excited as I am I also feel a bit nervous. This is a big responsibility and an opportunity for my family I am afraid I could mess up. I absolutely LOVE my job and have been aiming towards management since I started really. I am feeling quite blessed for this amazing chance and I am praying for the many blessings that I really feel will continue to come from this.

We will be moving the first week of February! That's nice and soon. lol. We havent decided whether we are going to move straight to Bowling Green or maybe the half-way point between here and there in Russelville. We dont have forever to decide so we are going to be going through all the apartments and rentals we can find over the next few days and make some phone calls and a drive out that way to view the area. Prayers please that we find the right place for us and the best place for our family to live.

Well there is an update for everyone! Wish us luck and blessings!!!

New Year

For my New Year's Resolution/goal, I am going to be a better blogger.... keep a better journal for my family's sake and so when I am 83 years old and can't remember my own name much less things I did in my 20's- I will have these journals/blogs to read over and remember how I learned, struggled, loved, lost, grew, shrank, wanted, pleaded, received, and all my many blessings from the Lord! I can remember how my kids discovered the world one small new adventure at a time. There is alot going on right now I can't really put on here yet, not until everything is final and set in stone, but the moment everything gets into place I want to put it all here so I can remember the joy and strength I had for my family and how amazing my husband, my kids, and my family were in supporting me.
I can't write much today, got tooooo much else going on, but as part of this new goal, I knew I needed to jot this down.
Also, my friend Laura has asked what everyone's "word" for this NEW year 2011 is... a word that details in a nutshell what your strongest goal is for yourself, what your biggest flaw filled area of your life encompasses and how you plan to change that.... and I got to thinking about it today while I sat in church for the first time in months because of all my crazy work hours. Pastor Tracy, a wonderful minister I feel very strongly was sent here to help me on my path to the Lord and who has influenced my better living by pointing me to the savior who can lead me through anything and everything, was talking about getting "fit" this year. Spiritually fit that is. The bible talks about it quite often and how important it is to get spiritually "fit". Within the idea of spiritual fitness is financial fitness, physical fitness, and relationship fitness. All areas of my life I need very much to work on.... So my word is FITNESS.... and by this time next year I do want to say YES, I have gotten spiritually fit, physcially fit, financially fit, and built stronger relationships with those in my life.
What about you?