5%

Have you ever thought if how little 5% is? Jesus only asks for 10% of our earnings and that is such a little number and even so, 5% isn't really much at all.

Until you are trying to lose 5% of your weight in a month!! To some, that number may be really small but to others, that's a big number. I am in a weightloss group on Facebook and we are trying to lose 5% of our weight in 1 month. So for me, that is 10.25 pounds in 30 days. That's a really scary number as a whole but broken down into 4 weeks, it's only 2.5 pounds a week. This morning was my first weigh in day and I lost 1.8 pounds last week which is a little bit off from my goal but that just means I work harder this week. 

Last week was rough on me. I had a lot of stress which means I did a lot of emotional eating. This is my weakness and I know it. I have a fight with family, I crave greasy food. I'm under stress, I crave chocolate. I'm sick, I crave chicken and French fries. Okay so maybe not to an exact science but I know that if anything emotional happens, I am going to crave food that isn't good for me. I had every intention last week to eat healthy and really watch what I took in but life happened. Last Tuesday, I had made my mind up that I was going to make a healthy stir fry for dinner but when I got home, I had a major migraine and I was so stressed out that I didn't feel like going to the grocery store. Instead, I picked up my phone and ordered chicken Alfredo from Ninos. Hmm, not exactly a healthy stir fry... Wednesday was church day and instead of getting a salad for dinner, I got chicken and fries. Thursday was much better. Dad and I had subs and I got a pulled turkey with light mayo, lettuce and pickles and I only ate half. So I know deep down what I need to do and what is healthy for me, it's just a matter of me following through. 

This week I am trying something new. I have teamed up with another girl from my Facebook group and we are going to be each others accountability partners. I am hoping that between the two of us, we can help each other through the evil food cravings. I really want to lose this weight and make a permanent change in my life. 

Well, time to run. Jackson is almost ready to eat and I have to take Renee and Baby Abby to the doctors in an hour.

{{Hugs, Denise}}

I quit my job...

     As of Friday evening, I no longer work 3 jobs. I am now a full time stay-at-home Aunt and a full time Premier Designs Jeweler.
 
     All last week, I struggled with knowing what to do. I was awake almost all night Monday and Tuesday worrying and stressing about not having enough hours in the day. Working with my nieces and nephews is the most important job to me and Premier holds such a special place in my heart that I know I can't ever give it up and then my job making insurance phone calls... that was the job I struggled with. I really cared about my boss. He has such a big heart, a great sense of humor and an all around great guy. But I knew I couldn't continue to work 3 jobs but should I keep pushing? Should I quit? Should I try for another month? In my heart, I knew what the right decision for me was, but I struggled with wanting to make everyone happy. I am a big time people pleaser, so for me to let my boss down like that, was a really tough thing to do. But after praying (a lot) crying (a lot) and talking to my family, I came to the decision to step away at this time. I am hoping that in a year or so, I could call him and see if he would like to work with me again. Right now, the best thing I can do in my life, is be the best possible Aunt to my little ones. But if I am stressed out and not sleeping, my patience is low, my energy is low, and my spirits are low. Those things, do not make me the best aunt possible. I only have the kids for 5 short years before they go off to school full time and I want those years to be so special. I want the kids to look back and think "man, my aunt necie is the best!!" My parents have ALWAYS taught my sisters and I to always give the job you have !00%, nothing less. And by me stretching myself into 3 jobs, it was too much. I was not able to give !00% to any of them. That is what made me finally come to a decision.
 
     Tonight, as I sit at my desk in my office, I just sent over my last e-mail to my old boss and I thanked him for my experience and the chance to learn something new. I am also sitting here staring at a check for a couple hundred dollars with my name on it from him. I can’t say that I won’t miss the extra income every month, because I will. But again, I know I made the best decision for me.
 
     I am so lucky though, I have the most supportive family and friends that a girl could ask for, the night that I quit my job, I posted to Facebook "I had to make a really tough decision this week but God has given me complete peace about it. I just hate disappointing people and feeling like I let someone down." and I instantly had people texting me, commenting on my status and my (future) sister-in-law sent me a Facebook message that meant more to me, then anything else. "the world is full of people-(not saying your worthless! You're fantastic, but you can only do so much before you wear out!) so others can fill in gaps, k?? Don't worry about disappointing folks. People need to rely on God, not people, because people cannot always control situations and people are human and need rest.." And then, as I was driving later that night, listening to the radio, a song came on, that completely spoke to me and I felt as if God was saying, "hey, this was written for you. Take a deep breath, it’s going to be okay."
 
What are you afraid of?
Kerrie Roberts
 
"Being compared to the girl who has everything
Not living up when the whole world's watching
Being the last to get there and the last how know, ooh
You scream at the top of your lungs
When no one's listening
Being a basket case over anything
Giving your whole world for love
And the boy says no

So what are you afraid of
Show 'em what you're made of
The shadows that you're scared of
Are usually your own
They're not the great unknown
You don't have to wonder
You're not going under
Grace has got you covered
God is in control
Go on and let it go
What are you afraid of
Right on the brake of a breakthrough but you're frozen
Hurting somebody you love in that moment
No it's not living if you're always thinking of
The worst that could happen
So what are you afraid of
Show 'em what you're made of
The shadows that you're scared of
Are usually your own
They're not the great unknown
You don't have to wonder
You're not going under
Grace has got you covered
God is in control
Go on and let it go
Whenever it's the darkest (whenever it's the darkest)
Whenever it's the hardest (whenever it's the hardest)
Don't you stop before you started
If you're gonna dream
Dream it all the way
So what are you afraid of
Show 'em what you're made of
The shadows that you're scared of
Are usually your own
They're not the great unknown
You don't have to wonder
You're not going under
Grace has got you covered
God is in control
Go on and let it go
What are you afraid of?(afraid of, afraid of?)
What are you afraid of?"
 
     Okay, so not all of it is relevant but I have been struggling with making Premier my full time job and now that I no longer have the income from job #3, I need to kick it up a notch and this song really spoke to me about getting over my fears and just do it.

     What fears are holding you back?? What do you need to trust God about?
 
{{Hugs, Denise}}

 

Absentee Blogger

     I honestly do not remember the last time I posted a blog and I am sorry for that. Summer is so busy for my family and this year was no different. Between me traveling, working, softball games, spending time with family, working some more, and more family time... I just didn't have the time to blog.

Vacation

National Rally 2013

Hanging out with the kiddos

Movie Nights with my man

Cooking

Went to the zoo to celebrate 7 years together

     Hopefully, things will slow down enough for me to get a post out at least once a week. I am getting ready to drop one of my three job so that should clear up some of my time.  

     There is way too much to type in order to catch you up on the last couple of months so I am going to start fresh and just say what has been going on this past month. My two oldest kiddos (not really mine, but they sure do feel like it most days) started Pre K4 last month!! How did that happen!!! Wasn't it just yesterday that we were anticipating their arrival and going to the hospital to meet them for the first time?? They seem to absolutely love it! So far, we have only had one time out and tomorrow they will get their first "smiley" report. This is their cute little behavior report. They lose a smiley if the do something wrong. Let’s just say, I am anxious to hear who did what this week. There were lots of "stories" told in the backseat of my car this week. Ha-ha

First day of school

     Last Wednesday, September 4th, I became an Aunt again (4th time by blood, 7th by future marriage) Abigail Renee was born at 9:29am weighing in at 7 pounds 2 ounces and she was 21 inches long. She is amazing!! SOOOOOOO little! Kati is a very proud big sister and is very protective of her. I love watching her with Abby and seeing how she is like a little mommy.

It's safe to say that I am in love already!

My Girls!!

The Kinsey Family

 

     While Renee was in the hospital, I stayed at her house and took care of my Kati Girl. I got a very big taste of what it’s like to be a mommy. I got up every morning at 6am to make sure I got her up, dressed, fed and out the door to school on time. Then cleaned up after the whirlwind mess she made in the 45 minutes that she was awake before heading to the school to pick her and Logan up and then off the hospital to visit with her mommy, daddy and baby sister. Then it was back home to start the bedtime routine.

     Then, this past Monday, my dad, my mom and my fiancé and I went to Baltimore, MD to see an Orioles/Yankees game. Of course, I was NOT there to cheer for the home team. I am Yankees fan through and through. I have loved them since I was in 5th grade and that will never change!! I was in my glory! Sitting next to my man, cheering for my team and we were 16 rows off of the field. Plus! I have this amazing new camera that takes fantastic shots!! Score!!

 

Well, that is my last month in a nutshell... well, not really... but it’s the major events. A day in the life of me is busy. Always going somewhere. Taking someone somewhere, picking someone up, changing someone's diaper, separating a squabble, adding bling to someone's life or cleaning something. I love my life... most days :-)

{{Hugs, Denise}}