Rewis Family

I want this blog to become a place where I share the happenings of my life.  My life includes my faith, my family, my hobbies and interests and my photography.  All the things I LOVE.

I haven't been systematic with my blogging and you'll find several HUGE time gaps between a recent post and my last one but I'm planning to make every effort I possibly can and which time allows, to have more frequent blog posts from this point forward.  I'm looking forward to showcasing some of my amazing clients all while sharing the bits and pieces of my daily life that I think you might actually find interesting or entertaining.  :o) 

I could go on and on and on and on and on (and I think you get the point *wink*) about this family session and how much I absolutely A.D.O.R.E. their session.  I, seriously, had such a difficult time narrowing them down to what images they would receive and then an even more difficult time trying to choose which ones to share for their sneak peek.  Their house was AAHHHMAAZING with some sweet, delicious lighting that would make any photographer swoon.  I could have spent the entire day shooting there but I had my own little ones to get back to. ;op  

The Rewis family welcomed a sweet, brand new baby boy to their family of three just a couple of weeks ago and I was so thrilled they chose me to document this precious new season in their lives.  Big sister absolutely adores her new baby brother and was quick to smother him with kisses every chance she got (much like my own Ava smothers her baby brother with kisses too)!  This is such a beautiful family and I look forward to watching Miss O and baby K grow during this next year.  

Enjoy!!

xoxox
christy

She's Teaching Me...

The events of this morning what began in the wee hours of this morning would probably make you chuckle, if not laugh out loud.  I pray I can find them comical at some point throughout the day...think spit up and baby poop two times and then again three times over and your imagination can entertain you for a little bit.  I, however, was not and am still not entertained.

Jordan is typically home in the mornings to help with the scrambling about of getting Ava ready for school while I am usually confined to the recliner nursing Pierce.  Not so this morning.  He needed to be somewhere by 8:15 which meant I needed to be leaving the house by 8:15 to drop Ava off at school.  Let me interject right here and say that I am SO unbelievably, incredibly thankful I do not have to try to do all of this and head in for a full time job as well.  My prayers to all of you who do.  And so, by the time I had Pierce relatively in a "normal" state (clean diaper, clean clothes, clean hair and body) and resting contently in his bouncer seat, it was about 7:40.  I, immediately, went to work on Ava's hair.  They were told to wear their "team colors" to school today and Ava wanted to wear her "big" Auburn hair bow.  If you all know me and know me well, you understand that there really aren't any "big" hairbows within our possession.  But we do have this ONE for game days which she's actually never worn because....well....I'm just not the "big" hairbow kinda gal.  Haters gonna hate.  Players gonna play.  Whatever.  Whatever.  The bigger the bow is not my motto.  Ava wanted pig tails for school last week with a hairbow in each one.  I fixed her hair and picked out the only two little matching hairbows we could find.  MY CHILD cried because the hairbows were not big enough!!!!!  WHAT?!  Apparently, one of her little friends at school had worn pig tails with "BIG" hairbows in them and Ava, naturally, wanted hers to be just like that.  Sorry kid.  No "BIG" hairbows here...especially 2 matching ones.  The other day in car line, I saw the girl.  Pig tails.  Two "BIG" hairbows.  Thanks kid.  Ashley Noerper, Lauren Robison, Michaelle Ragsdale....this is the kind of influence your daughters will be having on the "non-BIG-hairbow-wearing" girls!!!  Thank you.  I hope you feel your mission in life has been accomplished!!  HAHAHA!!!!  Seriously, the little girl was a doll and I even told Ava we would have to find her some big hairbows.  SOOOO.....you girls need to help this momma out because they don't just sell those at Walmart.  I looked.  :op

Since we don't normally wear "BIG" hairbows, I wanted to fix Ava's hair so the bow was a little more towards the back part of her head and not on the very top.  So what I attempted to do was pull the top half of her hair back while keeping the front going more side swept than straight back, if that makes sense.  Well, since my morning started out so "entertaining", it should have been obvious that this was not going to go swimmingly.  One attempt.  2nd attempt.  4th attempt.  5th attempt.  UGH.  Forget it.  Top front side of your hair pulled back and the hairbow on the top.  I.DON'T.CARE.ANYMORE.  Let's brush your teeth and get your stuff together and load up.

Cue Pierce getting fussy.

I get Ava's lunch box out of the refrigerator and accidentally popped the lid on her water bottle.  While it was laying on its side.  On the stove.  So now I have water pouring onto the stove and getting her lunch box wet.  Great.  Moving on and we get everything packed up and ready to go.  I go to get Pierce in the carseat and he's asleep.  Awesome.  Move him into the carseat without waking him up.  HA.  Not on this day.  Not on THIS DAY.  It's 8:18.  Cry if you must sweet boy.  WE'VE GOTTA GO.  And so he does.  But, thankfully, not for long.

Ok Ava.  Let's go.  Let's go.  LET'S GO!!!!  And then she speaks these words:

"And we've gotta pray mommy."

And I paused.  And I pulled her in close to me.  And I took a deep breath.  And I prayed for her.  Like we do every.single.morning.before.we.walk.out.the.door.

I don't always parent well.  I don't always have it all together.  Especially as of late.  I'm not a perfect person.  I'm not a perfect mommy.  I'm not a perfect wife.  Ask my husband.  I'm human and I'm struggling too with my own feelings and emotions and situations and circumstances like so many of you may be doing.  I'm trying.  Surviving seems to be more fitting these days.

We ask Ava every single day, "what did you learn at school today?"  Every single time, her response is, "I don't remember."

Last night we tried to help her remember her shapes because they are having an oral test on them today.  She's having trouble remembering the differences between a square and a rectangle.

Today, she reminds me that we need to pray.  My sweet, sweet, precious little girl, that I feel so unworthy to have, I don't care if you never remember that a square looks like a box and that a rectangle looks like a door.  I don't care if you still can't recognize all of your numbers from 1 to 10.  I don't care if you still can't remember the middle part of the alphabet song.  If you always, always, ALWAYS, remember to PRAY, you are smarter than the most decorated college graduate on the planet with more degrees than a thermometer.  And today, you were smarter than mommy.  Keep teaching me baby girl...keep teaching me.

"Jesus, help me be better.  In every way because you've entrusted two incredible young lives to me and I do not want to fail them.  Ever.  Amen."

(Ava with her "BIG" hairbow. War Eagle.)

(And here's Pierce from a couple of weeks ago. Dashing.)

xoxox

christy

FIVE

(photo by Taylor Haynie Photography)

It's been 1,826 days, 260 weeks, 60 months, 5 whole, gone-by-entirely-way-too-fast, years since this beautiful little girl that I am blessed to call my daughter, was so graciously gifted to us.  I never knew what to expect five years ago.  I never knew my heart could love so much, love so deeply, love so big, love so selflessly.  I never knew I could be challenged in so many ways to be better, to grow more, to learn more, to love more, apologize more and even to forgive more.  

Ava,

You are fun, full of joy and full of life.  You never cease to make us laugh.  You are so incredibly smart and the most beautiful little girl in the world.  Your personality is so bubbly, silly and sweet.  You always make us smile.  You have a compassionate heart and a gentle spirit.  You are loving and caring and it makes this mommy's heart smile.  You love bedtime stories, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, night time prayers and my personal favorite, star kisses!  You have a quirky little love for dressing up and picking out your own outfits.  Some make me chuckle while others impress me because it actually looks good but I would not have put it together in that way.  I love your hugs.  I love your laughter.  I love the cute little freckles that have recently popped up on your sweet cheeks.  I love the sparkle in your eyes.  I love your wavy, curly blonde hair that I prayed so desperately for God to give you.  I love that you still have your baby lovey and that you still suck your thumb.  It reminds me of your sweet innocence even though I know Baby will be just a memory before long and you'll stop sucking your thumb.  You are growing into a big girl and I'm clinging to every ounce of babyhood I can...not too tightly, but clinging nonetheless.

(photo by Taylor Haynie Photography)

You became a Big Sister this year, just seven weeks ago.  I wondered how I could love another baby as much as I love you but God gives us so much love to share.  I wondered how you would adjust with another baby for mommy and daddy to love on.  You have been AMAZING!!  You love on your baby brother in such a sweet, gentle way.  You have been a tremendous help to mommy.  Pierce has such a great big sister to look up to and I am so incredibly proud of you.  I pray you both have a special bond and closeness as the years pass by and that you will be the best of friends.

In just a couple of weeks you will start Kindergarten.  From the time we celebrated your very first birthday, I realized how quickly this time would come but I'm still wrestling with how we arrived so soon.  I know you will love being back in a "school" environment and you will do so well and learn so much.  You love being social and will make so many new friends and I have no doubt you will have a ton of fun.  I pray your teacher has a sweet, kind and gentle spirit and that God will help her play a special part in drawing out the best in you.  You have many more years of school ahead of you.  This is still just the beginning of the beautiful journey God has for you.  I'm in awe simply watching you grow and discovering the uniqueness that God placed inside you as He intricately knit you together all these years ago.  Your Daddy and I are so blessed to call you ours.

(photo by Taylor Haynie Photography)

Happy Birthday sweet girl!!  We love you beyond expression.  

xoxoxoxox          

Messy to Clean

Her bedroom has been a disaster for about a month.  Maybe longer.  I've avoided cleaning it because I knew I would have to "really" clean it once I finished painting her new bedroom furniture and we do the whole furniture swap thing.  But I got sucked into the "black hole", as we call it sometimes, yesterday while Ava was getting a bath.  I cleaned.  And I cleaned.  And I got Ava out of the bath and I cleaned some more while she watched TV in the living room.  When I was almost finished with her room, Ava runs in and sweetly asks, "Mommy, can I help you?"  I was more reluctant for her to help because I really just wanted to get the job done and move on but her willingness to help and her sweet convincing voice was enough for me to give in!  I gave her a few things to put away and then she darted back out of the room as quickly as she'd darted in.  Her total time contribution was probably 5 minutes, maybe 10 at the max.  

(Sorry...didn't get any "before" pictures of the messy room)

All her toys were put away and the floor could be seen again so I pulled out the vacuum cleaner and had just turned it on when the little flitter bug bounces back into her freshly cleaned room.  She runs to one side of the room and turns around to survey the cleanliness of her precious abode and excitedly jumps up and down and declares with a triumphant tone, "Mommy, you did it!!"  And as she dashes out of her room once again, this exuberant statement trails behind, "Thank you for cleaning it all up!"  Be still my heart.  What did I do to deserve such a grateful child?  It's in those moments when the discomfort of being 18 weeks pregnant, crawling around on the floor on my hands and knees, and the frustration of where to put this or that diminishes and I think to myself, "I would clean it all up again, endure the discomfort all again, just to see the elation on your face and hear the sincere gratefulness in your voice."  I think it's a beautiful picture of how Christ sees us, too.  

Sometimes we can make a mess of situations.  Sometimes we get ourselves into a mess, maybe we didn't even ask for or create.  We don't know where to really begin in the clean up process.  We look around at the mess and feel its just too big or too much.  It looks hopeless and we despair at what we live in.  Sometimes we need to ask for His help to begin the process.  Maybe by asking for forgiveness. Maybe by declaring your need and dependence on Him.  Maybe by confessing your failures or mistakes and telling Him that you can no longer do this on your own.  Sometimes you may not need to ask.  He may take the first step by removing one thing from your "room".  It could be the catalyst that sets you on a new path seeking Him and then He begins to show YOU how to clean up some of your mess.  Either way, you won't have to do it alone.  He'll be right there beside you, helping you, showing you what step to take next.  And when He gives you a clean slate, a fresh pallet and a new life, I know how His heart must feel when you give Him the glory and you praise Him for "cleaning it all up".  I think its in those moments when He can look at us and say, "It was worth it, all the excruciating pain, the heartache, the torture and the torment, I'd do it all again for you to love Me, adore Me and recognize Me for what just took place in your life."

I want to live with that heart of thankfulness and gratefulness, everyday.  I am beyond thankful to be a parent and get these glimpses of how God sees me as His child.  It has truly helped me see through His eyes.  It has helped me forgive even myself at times.  It reassures me constantly how much He does love me and how much He wants good things for me.  I may not have always been given the best example of a father in my earthly father, but God, my Heavenly Father, has been all the example I need.  

If you're at a difficult place in your life right now, uncertain of your place in this big world, feeling unloved or unwanted, let me encourage you today by simply saying, there is a God who loves you, adores you, waits for you with open arms; who wants to pick you up, clean up your messy life, give you a brand new life and set you on a path full of purpose and joy.  All you have to do is ask Him.  His sole purpose is to bring you into His family.  There's no better place to be.  

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!" 

2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV

Just to Remember

I will probably update my Facebook profile info soon but I still love what it currently says.  I don't want to forget it so I'm posting it here.  I'm just a nerd like that. :o)


If the challenge you are facing doesn't place a demand on your faith, it neither pleases God nor involves Him.


Daughter.Sister.Aunt.Friend.Wife.Mother.  I identify with each of these.  I love being my mother’s daughter; Being a little sister and a big sister; Being an aunt to all 11 (so far) of my nieces and nephews; Being a friend. I am blessed to be a wife to an amazing man and I adore being a mother to my beautiful little girl.  I am walking in a season of redemption, peace, promise, fulfillment, amazement, hope, expectancy, victory, blessing, triumph, freedom and so much more.  My faith in the God who created everything that exists and knit me together is more secure in this moment than ever before in my life.  I have walked through the valley of decision.  I have struggled to really know the truth of what I claimed to have believed.  I have questioned the existence of my Maker.  I have cried out in hopelessness and despair.  I have seen dark days.  I have pondered my purpose.  I have been angry.broken.confused.hurt.discouraged.and.yet.determined --- Determined to discover Jesus in His fullness…in His Word.  Determined to really know who God is and search for Him through a childlike innocence.  I sought.  I found.  He IS real.  HE IS Truth.  He was the Light in my darkness.  He IS the Light on this new journey.  I AM confident of this:  HE IS FAITHFUL!  (1 Thess. 5:24)  God has opened more doors, poured out more blessings, revealed so much to Jordan and me, than ever before.  I stand AMAZED, simply amazed at who He is and that He would consider us for even the slightest thing.  Yet He’s entrusted us with so much in just a short span of time.  Why?  Because He believes in us.  He is confident in us.  He is for us.  We cannot fail.  We can do ALL things through Him.  And even still, this is only the beginning.  The mountaintops are fun but oh, how I cherish the valleys.  It is there my faith was shaken and there my faith was formed.  I would never appreciate the mountaintop without the lessons learned in the valley.  Thank You Lord for Your grace, Your mercy, Your unconditional love.  Thank You for seeing within me, what I could never see without You.  YOU ARE FAITHFUL!  May my life ALWAYS bring YOU glory….

The Page Family ~ Amazing Peace

I don't remember the day but I do remember the phone call.  One of my bestest friends called me on my way to work one morning to let me know that she had just found out she was expecting baby number 2.  I was super excited for her and could hardly wait to meet this precious baby.

A few months pass by and we're all together at a youth retreat in Panama City Beach, FL.  Not to be rude in any way but I told her she was too big to be just a few months pregnant with just one baby.  I swore to her that there were two babies in her belly and she just laughed it off and assured me there was just one.  Fast forward a couple more months and she calls me to confirm my suspicions.  She's having TWINS!!!  I did what any best friend would do.  I said, "I told you so!!"  :o)  

As a friend, I'm super excited for her.  As a photographer, I am super duper excited for her!!!  My husband is a twin and all of my life I have always wanted to have twins.  I just love twins!!  :o)  I made her promise me that I would get to do their newborn session!  She thought I was crazy to mention it because, frankly, who else would she let do it?!  ;o)  I started counting down the months until they were due and getting myself all psyched up to FINALLY do a twin newborn session.  I could hardly wait!  

She had an ultrasound done to find out the sex of both babies and learned that her firstborn son, Jackson, would have two new baby brothers to play with.  Three boys, oh my!  Let the fun begin, right?!

She also learned that one of the boys, Baby B, had a blocked urethra valve and his bladder wasn't functioning as it should.  She called to let me know and asked that I be praying for that situation.  Absolutely!  Doctors would continue to monitor this throughout the remainder of the pregnancy to see if it improved.  If the blockage did not clear, Baby B would be facing a surgery very soon after his birth to correct the problem.  As months passed and checkups were held, there wasn't any improvement in this blockage.  Nothing could be done until after the babies' birth.  So, Jason and Amanda, patiently waited and enjoyed the remainder of this pregnancy.  

On February 21, 2012,  at 5:16pm, Amanda sends me a text message that says "We are having babies tonight :)!"  I could hardly contain my excitement and I kept my phone close-by for any updates on their arrival.  Since I've experienced the labor and delivery process once before, I know how overwhelming it can be to have a million phone calls and text messages blowing your phone up while you're trying to have a baby; so, I intentionally, did not respond with any follow up text messages that night to check on her or the babies.  When I woke up the next morning and still had no updates, I sent her a text to see how the boys were doing.  Baby A, Hayden, and Baby B, Harrison, had arrived late that night.  Amanda replied and said, "We're all good! :)  Please pray for Harrison though.  We serve a huge God and his lungs are very small and not mature."  At the very beginning, before she knew the road she was about to travel, she proclaimed the BIGNESS of our God.  Before she knew what would be required of her, she declared that God was larger than whatever she would face.  I am a witness to the fact that this faith never wavered.  She never questioned the proclamation she made.  Never doubted for a second that her God was huge.  It was this faith that carried her through the most challenging journey any parent could walk.  

Baby Harrison had severely underdeveloped lungs.  He was immediately hooked up to a ventilator and several other machines to monitor his vital signs.  He would make amazing progress and then there would be a set back.  His lungs were getting stronger but his bladder and kidneys were failing to work properly.  He endured a surgery to prepare his little body for dialysis.  No one knew if the dialysis would be a long term situation of if it would only be necessary for a little while.  We all prayed and hoped for every part of this to be short term.  We prayed for every facet of his little body to function independently without the need for any machines at all.  

In a very short 15 days, those prayers were answered when Baby Harrison was given angel wings and called heavenward.  It's not at all how we had hoped it would be.  Not at all what this mommy and daddy dreamed for their family.  They were looking forward to turning their family of three into a family of five.  But because they have a faith and hope in Jesus Christ, they can embrace God's plan and trust that He is bigger than what they have had to face and that His ways are so much greater than they can understand.  In walking through this with Jason and Amanda, the one thing that has been ever so constant in their lives has been the supernatural peace of God.  They will both admit to you that this was the most difficult thing they have ever had to experience but they will also admit that God's peace has been so real and tangible in their lives and it is simply that peace which has sustained them each day.  I have been so blessed to witness their faith, experience their joy as they celebrate Hayden and praise God for the short time they were able to have Harrison here.  I truly believe their story has made an impact on more lives than they can even comprehend.  

I typically would shoot a newborn session within the newborn's first ten days of life but considering the situation and circumstances we faced with Harrison, scheduling this photo session was challenging.  It was such a bittersweet conversation to have with Amanda.  We wanted to capture Hayden as this tiny new baby but our hearts ached because we should have been photographing two sweet brothers, side by side.  Nothing felt right about it.  We both agreed we wanted Harrison to be a part of the photo session too....in some way.  Thankfully, the hospital had a photographer take some pictures of Harrison after they had unhooked him from all of the machines.  Amanda, graciously, entrusted this cd of images to me.  I did some small editing to a few of the images and had them printed for our session.  Below are images from my photo session with the Page family.  Knowing this family, knowing what they have been through, knowing how they have handled the difficult journey they were called to face, puts this session at the top of my list of favorites.  Such a sweet spirit of peace, hope and joy surround them.  

Jason and Amanda, I hope you know how much I love and adore you both.  I am so blessed to know you.  So encouraged by your faith.  So amazed at how you've grown.  So expectant at how God uses your story, your testimony, your son to impact other lives.  You are beautiful inside and out.  Your family is so precious to me.  Thank you so much for allowing me to be such a small part of it.  {hugs}

I love this picture below.  In the image on the right, Amanda asked Jackson for a kiss and he went straight for baby Hayden!  :o)

 Look how high Jackson can fly!

This was the only time Hayden gave the slightest hint of a smile.  I love that it was with a picture of his sweet twin brother.  In the picture, Harrison is on the left, Hayden is on the right.

This is one of my favorites!

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him." 

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 NIV

Blessings, 

Christy  

Encouragement

At the beginning of this year, January 2012, I had committed myself to a lifestyle change that I knew would be very challenging and demanding.  I was optimistically excited but very, ummm...., very....unsure of my own ability to really do what I had made up my mind to do.  Seven or eight years ago, I wouldn't have balked at this decision.  I would have bowed out my chest and said, "bring it on!". 

Let's face it.  The "weight loss" challenge is exactly that.  A challenge.  So, let's add some extra baby weight to that and oh, just a few extra years from when you were "really in shape" and you no longer just have a "challenge".  You have impossibility, or so it seems. 

We all want that quick fat burn where 50 pounds drop in 2 days.  Hello fat girl on Monday.  Hello skinny girl on Wednesday.  Yep.  That's a dream.  What's the website for that weight loss pill again?  Can you tell me one more time the name of your weight loss doctor?  We live in a time when we want everything NOW.  We don't have time to wait.  I want what I want when I want it and I want it right this minute.  That's our mentality.  And that has been my mentality for the last three and a half years since I had my little girl.  I want to lose "x" pounds and I want to lose it in like three months.  Come on!  Is that too much to ask for?!  Well, realistically, yes it is!  

After facing some health issues in August last year, I hit a season of being very depressed with my overall health.  I felt like my body was in an all out attack against me and I was powerless to overcome it.  I had surgery in September and expected to be pain-free once my body had healed from surgery.  Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.  I endured three more months of pain with little relief.  Can I be honest and tell you that this was not a very pretty place for me?  I was beginning to feel defeated.  Lie after lie after lie would bombard my mind, consistently.  And I believed them. 

I felt prompted in late November, early December to go back to my doctor and have her check things out one more time.  After my checkup, she was still questioning why/how I could still be in so much pain.  She decided to prescribe me a strong antibiotic to rule out any infection and if that didn't seem to help, we'd re-evaluate.  I sauntered out of her office with a prescription and still no answers.  I was frustrated.  Exhausted.  Spent.  Ready to give up the fight.  Throw in the towel.  If this is how my body wants to behave then fine.  I don't care.  

See.  I told you it wasn't a pretty place.  But praise God, I have a Father who loves me SO much, He will lovingly rebuke me, reassure me, encourage me, push me on and renew my mind.  Not only did He realign my mental state but He also reached down and touched my physical body.  I prayed that God would use the antibiotic and that it would work.  Prayed for it to clear up ANYTHING that should not be in there.  And then I waited.  And I trusted.  And it worked.  One week, two weeks, three weeks passed with a drastic decline in pain.  Hallelujah!!!  I, literally, felt like I had just been given a new body.  It was like my new lease on life....in a way.  :o)  

With this sense of hurdling over a major health obstacle, I knew things needed to change.  I needed to take care of the temple God had given me.  It was no longer about a weight loss goal.  Yes, I do still have a number in mind, but its not what I'm striving for.  My goal is simply to live a healthier lifestyle; making healthier choices when it comes to what I eat and what I do to my body.  This way, I don't get caught up in a number.  I focus on a daily decision.  Did I choose a healthy option today over a bad one?  Did I exercise today?  If the answer is yes, then I've already accomplished my daily goal.  If the answer is no, then I haven't fallen from an insurmountable height; I simply didn't move a step forward.  I can try again tomorrow.  

With all of that being said, I kicked off my lifestyle change in January of this year.  I started counting calories and exercising.  I don't have a personal trainer.  I have a gym membership that I NEVER use.  I am a wife, mother, full time employee, weekend photographer, church member, daughter, sister, friend and so forth.  I have no more extra time in a day than anyone else.  I had to MAKE priorities.  I had to make up my mind what this lifestyle change would look like and consist of before I ever started it.  I had to have something in writing.  I had Jordan take some awful, humiliating pictures of me so I could see what I looked like when I started.  After seeing those pictures, I had to apologize to my husband and ask him to forgive me for looking this way and not taking better care of myself for him.  He's never loved me less or thought less of me but I knew my husband deserved my best and this was NOT it.  I took measurements so I could track my progress.  

My church has small group semesters and the first small group semester of the year would be kicking off in just a few weeks.  I decided I wanted to get involved in some sort of fitness small group this time.  I felt it would keep me motivated at least one day of the week and I knew I wouldn't drop out within the 13 week semester and I would have some accountability.  Some amazing girlfriends of mine were actually leading a small group called Highlands Dance Workout.  I felt comfortable with these ladies as leaders so I signed my happy little self up.  I don't dance.  I have no rhythm.  I am not coordinated.  So this seemed like the most ridiculous small group of choice but I was up for the challenge.  Let me just say, it was the best decision ever!  It took me a few weeks to get the moves down but I'm hanging with everyone and have felt the improvement week by week. 

Along with my Thursday night small group workout, I've also incorporated running, P90X and Insanity into my workout regimen.  It has been T.O.U.G.H.!  But I am loving them all!!!  

When we had our first small group class, I had lost 13 pounds.  I shared that with Summer, one of the leaders, just because Summer is cool like that and ALWAYS full of praise and encouragement....I just love her! ;o)  Summer also won't hesistate to ask you to share something praiseworthy with the group if you feel comfortable!  :op  After sharing my weight loss victory with her, she asked if I would mind sharing that with the group.  I'm not crowd-shy so I agreed.  I wasn't sure of the direction to take with it because it only needed to be a few minutes in length.  I was at lunch one day and used my handy little "Notes" option on my iPhone to jot down some stuff that I had actually started implementing myself at the first of the year.  It turned into something lengthy so I just typed it up and emailed it to Summer and told her she could do whatever she felt led to do with it as far as sharing it with the group.  I just shared with the class a brief overview of my weight loss and encouraged everyone to keep at it and they would see results.  Summer ended up printing copies of my little "Encouragement" notes for everyone to have.  

I thought it would be fun to share on here in case anyone reading this needs a little encouragement in their own weight loss journey.  I'm thrilled to share that, since January, I have lost 23 pounds!!  It wasn't by a pill, a vitamin, a weekly injection of B12 or any other super-pseudo scientific method.  It has simply been by a lot of self-discipline with my eating habits, exercise and some serious prayer for God to sustain me and help me take care of what He's entrusted to me.  I am 3 pounds shy of reaching my pre-baby weight and I couldn't be more excited about this whole journey!!!  It's been A LOT of work and not a lot of sleep but the rewards have been amazing and I feel great!  Every step made in the direction of maintaining a healthy lifestyle is worth celebrating.  I have a lot of celebrating to do and more to come!  I hope the "Encouragement" notes below will be an "encouragement" to you....no matter what journey you're on right now.  
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~ Encouragement ~    

Like most things we deal with & face, 99.9% of the battle is in our minds. This year I have been determined to win the battle. I am calling the shots this year & making my body submit to what I say it can/can't, should or shouldn't do. It's been SO empowering!!!
This is my encouragement to you:

Take 1 step closer to your goal weight every day...just like we aim to do with our relationship with Jesus; just taking one step closer each day.

Recognize your setbacks...I call them "my walls". First, try to avoid them but if you can't, be determined to plow through them.

Small steps that can help you reach your goal:

1. Make a healthy food choice every day. Example - pick the grilled chicken sandwich instead of the spicy chicken sandwich with pepper jack cheese! :)

2. Know how many calories you need to be consuming each day & then KNOW how many calories you are eating at every meal. There are apps to help! "My Fitness Pal" is my favorite.

3. Plan your meals in advance so you don't make an impulsive decision that isn't good for you and that you will regret afterwards.

4. Avoid fast food if you can help it. If its inevitable, only choose from the healthier options (even if it's not what you really feel like eating!). Your conscience (and the scale) will thank you later!!

5. Make the choice to turn off the tv, get up & do some type of workout, even if it's after the kids go to bed and it's 8:30/9:00 at night!

6. Make the choice to not snack after supper or to not eat after 8pm.

7. Believe in yourself! Believe that you are worth investing in & that you CAN reach your goal!

Remember - the battle's in your mind! You want to lose weight more than you want that Krispy Kreme Hot Now donut!! :)

What is the time it's going to take to become a healthier you, taking care of the temple God's given you compared to the # of years you've spent overweight, unhealthy & dissatisfied with yourself?! It will be a lot of work but that time will fly by and before you know it you'll be able to see the results you've wanted and feel so proud of yourself and your accomplishments! Go after it!!

If you need motivation daily or weekly, write your goals down - write the vision & make it plain! Habakkuk 2:2, right?! :o)

Write down the steps you need to take to achieve your goals.

Take pictures of yourself & measurements. Yes, this part hurts but it can be the BEST motivation. Update those pictures & measurements each month. See the improvements & keep pushing yourself to do better each month.

YOU CAN DO IT!!! God is for you & He's cheering you on too!!

If you are a part of this group and you're at a healthy & happy weight, we applaud you! Set it in your minds now to maintain a healthy lifestyle. It's always easier to maintain your weight than it is to lose it. Never stop taking care of your temple!
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And just to end this post with something cute to look at, here's a picture of my sweet girl!!

Stay encouraged!!
 
Christy  :o)