Servants Heart Quartet

Just in case you don't follow my husband on social media, he sings baritone for a southern gospel group called Servants Heart Quartet.  I have filled in occasionally singing the alto/tenor part.  Last week their tenor singer resigned.  The guys asked me to fill in for them until they can find another tenor.  Soooooooo................

I have always loved singing.  Growing up, that was my favorite part of church.  I played the flute and I sang - not at the same time of course :O).  Back then, I sang soprano, but really, as I have gotten older, alto is more my range.  Rhonda played the guitar and we sang growing up.  I also have always sang in the choir at church, and a solo or duet occasionally, but I have never really considered myself a singer.  Actually, I can't stand to hear my own voice, but it blends well with the guys, and heaven knows that I already know the songs from attending most all of their concerts over the past 8 years.

I have filled in quite a few times, so I am not quite so nervous anymore and it is getting easier.  What I do know is that I love my husband and I want to support whatever he is doing.  If that means getting out of my comfort zone to help him, then that is what I will do.  Besides that, the guys are all funny and silly and a joy to be around.  There have been a few people that said SHQ sure does look better with a girl singing.........ha!!!!  And a couple people have compared my sound to Vestal Goodman of the Happy Goodmans.  Really BIG HA!!!!  

So, if you see a post on Facebook about SHQ singing...........DON"T LAUGH!!!!!

It really is the little things

I got a coupon in the mail this week from an anonymous friend for the horse stable that I visited last week.  I had posted pictures of my horseback riding adventure on Facebook and someone sent this to me.  It is so encouraging to know that people care about me and care about this journey.

So to whoever sent it, I really appreciate your kindness and support.  

Encouragement from my sister

My sister left this note for me with a gift the day after I started Weight Watchers.  She is starting a new beginning of her own.  Prayers for each of us that we are successful in our own journeys.

I love you Rhonda.

Another loss this week, but I was sick so not sure it's really reflective of weight loss

I lost 3.8 pounds this week for a total of 28.8 pounds.  I did very good at the beginning of the week, then the stomach bug hit our house hard and I was sick and did not eat anything for 2 days and very little the third day.  I  know that some of this is just weightloss from being sick.  I am so worried that next week I will have a gain, just because some of this was not true weight loss.  

I will just have to really stay on track this week and make it worth the while.  

 Each week when I move my pounds lost marbles over, I always think, I sure will be glad when I can't see the bottom of the jar.  It is getting closer and closer.  Maybe by the time April rolls around, the entire bottom of my jar will be full of marbles.  It is the little things.  

I still have such a long way to go, but I am really starting to tell a difference in the way my clothes hang.  I started singing with Dwayne's quartet recently and they wanted to make a few pictures.  I can actually tell a difference - and yes, my other foot is in there, it was a little bit wet and my shoe was getting stuck in the mud :0(

My First Weight Watchers Reward

This is me and Casper...............I have been doing Weight Watchers now into my 3rd month.  I had made my first goal to be 25 pounds.  When I reached my goal, I would go horse back riding.  I wanted to ride without having to worry about the weight limit to ride.  Today was the day.  I loved it!!!

I rode Casper and Dwayne rode Ole Joe.  it was fun 

it was a trail ride.  The lady behind me in the green, it was her birthday.  we were nearing the barn and her horse, Tucker, got spooked and she got kicked off.  Of course the rest of our horses got spooked too, but we managed to pull those reins tight ange hang on.  

It was so fun!!!  My saddle even fit into their saddle ok...ha!

We will for sure do this again.

It Is the Little Things That Motivate Us

I got another little charm for my WW key ring.  I had a 5% charm and now a 25 pound charm.  I am so excited to "see this".  I am a visual person, so the marble jars are really helpful to me.  I love this reward.

Down 25 pounds total!!!!

I am really starting to feel a difference in some of my clothes.  I know I have such a long way to go and I still have that mindset of ""if I lose more weight" instead of "when I lose more weight".  I love my WW leader.  Her name is Susan.  I have also become friends with a couple of ladies - Suzie and Sherry.  We are in the same boat and it is nice to have the support.

Here is to another great week!!!

Week 7 - down 2.6 pounds - YEA!!!

Looking at the calendar to see when we can go horse back riding.  Dwayne is singing with SHQ for the next 3 Saturdays.  Who knows, maybe I will go on a Thursday by myself.  I just want to reward myself, although I am a little bit scared.

Dallas is 8 months old

Dallas is getting to be such a big boy.  He has his two bottom teeth and boy can he bite your finger.  He is really sucking his thumb now.  We are trying to break him, but he loves it.  He still goes to KinderCare.  He is moving up to the creeper room, although he is not really creeping yet.  He will try to sit up.  I am sort of scared because of our hard floors.  I lay a quilt down, but it is still not very soft when he falls over.  He HATES tummy time!!!  He eats good, but he has started getting up during the night again to eat.  Sarah has started feeding him food before bed so he will sleep a bit longer.  He weighs 20 pounds!!!!  He is a very happy baby.  I love him bunches.

the little thumb sucker!!!  He is very sweet, and our orthodontist will appreciate this one day.

Joey + Rory

http://gaither.com/videos/joeyrory-hymns

The above is a link to their last video of Hymns and What's Important to Them.  What an honor it has been to follow their journey.  Prayers for them as Joey's life draws to a close.

Week 6 - Down 2.4 pounds

This is really happening!!!  So excited.

Austin is one of my biggest encouragers in this weightloss journey.  Every time he stops by to visit, he goes to my room to look at my jars to see my progress.  It is funny, gives a whole new meaning to "Mom is losing her marbles!!!!!"

As I took Dallas to bed last night, he was sound asleep and boy was he heavy.  I thought my goodness, he is getting so big!!!!  Today I weighed him and he weighed 20.2 pounds.  That is essentially how much weight I have lost.  I was carrying that around every minute of every day.  How much easier will it be to get around without the extra weight.  I am praying that I can stay on track and stay committed to getting healthier.

20.2 pound baby

20.6 pounds lost since joining Weight Watchers

Down 18.2 pounds...........I am proud of that number on the scale

It is obviously WAY to early to be posting another picture of myself because when you are so large, 18 pounds is practically invisible to see, but I can see the number on the scale and my clothes fit a bit better, so that is good enough for me.

Herding Cats............again! Trying to get ready for church with 3 little boys is tough

Going to see the Crabb Family Revival

We got VIP tickets and went to the Meet & Greet

Adam is now singing with the Gaither Vocal Band

and Jason.......................

I always loved the original Crabb Family sound.  Love those songs.  

Jason can play for sure.

Jason is working on his solo career and doing great as always, Adam is singing with the GVB and it has been a great opportunity for him.  Kelley is singing with her husband and their group is the Bowling Family with their girls.  I really like Mike's baritone voice.  Adam is pastoring a church in Hendersonville, TN called Restoring Hope.  Terah sings there at the church with the praise team.

It was really a great night of music, memories and fun.

Week 5 - I lost 4 pounds :o)

Yea...........it feels SOoooo Good!!!

Grandparents Day at Oak Elementary School

Today was Grandparent's Day at Oak.  Thankfully, Dwayne and I were both able to go.  It seemed like such a fun thing, then laying in bed last night, it dawned on me that I was gonna be there with a bunch of OLD PEOPLE!!!!  I am WAY to young to be a grandmother.  I guess I am in good company, ha!!!

This is the one who started it all....because of him, I became a Mimi.

Noah has shortened PeePaw to just "Peep" these days............they are best buds.  Noah loves Spy Kids, so Dwayne "activated him" before he went to school today.  I don't even know what that means, but they love to play.

100's Day at school is the 100th day of the school year.  He has 100 pins on his shirt.  Hopefully, today will NOT be the day he learnes how to open safety pins.

Noah and his friend Ethan............Ethan had 100 dots on his shirt.

Noah and Lucas...........Lucas had 100 stickers on his shirt.....well, he started out with 100, but they were falling off.  Noah was so sweet picking them up and helping him try to get them to stick.

The Beach is my Happy Place

Dwayne had this made for me..............I LOVE it, and I love that he knows my heart.

I sang with Servants Heart Quartet

Jimmy was sick this weekend and so I filled in singing alto/tenor for they guys.  We sang at Peterson Lake Baptist Church out in Collierville and also at Lakeland First Baptist Church.  

Fun with Dallas

He is teething, so he is a "Juicy Baby" these days.

Loving his new mittens and hat.

These boys all love their Peepaw

There's  a new sheriff in town.

Week 4 - Lost 14.2 pounds so far

It has been hard at times, but I am hanging in there and tracking every bite.  Going to the gym more, am in the Dr. Coopwood walking challenge at work.  Slow and Steady!!!  I watch Biggest Loser and it gives me inspiration and also frustration that they lose so much more so quickly.  At least I am trying.