Reflecting & Recovering

I turned 41 yesterday.  

My sister has decided I am old.... "only 9 years from 50 now...."

But no, I am not old.

In fact right now in my life I love my age.  Who knew the 40's were going to be so stinkin' awesome!?!

(insert happy dance here...) 

So many wonderful things happened at 40.

A work in progress .... 95 pounds down!

And 41 is going to be just as amazing!

Audley swept the kids and I away for a weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.  Fun and adventure was everywhere we went, starting right in our hotel.

We ran into Jessica Limpert and Ramon Medeiros from season 12 of the Biggest Loser while in the gym at the hotel.

As you know, the Biggest Loser has had a huge impact on my own weight loss journey.  Jessica and Ramon were totally awesome and really great to talk to.  It was also encouraging to see them still working out and finishing the journey that they started.  

We got very little sleep this weekend and lots of incredible action.  I am so tired and dragging this Monday morning, but I'll give you a clue to what our weekend did consist of....

I can't wait to share all of the details with you.  

But they will have to wait until after I get the laundry caught up and bags packed again for an mini road trip with my daughter.

Have a wonderful Monday!

Sunday Grace

A little more encouragement and a little less discouragement.  

I really like the thought of that.

Wouldn't the world be a better place?

One Year Later

Just one year ago my hubby was under a doctor's care for heart related issues and I was a complete mess with where my own life was headed as I turned 40.

My wise & precious Momma once told me, "If you don't like something, change it."

 So, I did.

One year later my hubby is on no meds (after 19 years on blood pressure medicine) and free from doctor's care and me?

I weigh 95 pounds less and feel the best I have felt in years as I head into my 41st birthday weekend!

One year to the day .... What a difference a year can make!

Instead of finding myself breathless just playing in my flowers or walking up stairs, I can leg press 400 pounds and workout four or more days a week.

That's 400 pounds right there.

And instead of shopping at Lane Bryant for plus sized clothing I enjoy shopping at Macy's & Belk and wear 12 sizes smaller than I wore last May.

Please don't listen to all those nasty rumors where people say that girls shouldn't lift weights .... it's a bunch of lies.

Do I look big & bulky to you?

I am not done by any means as I have several more personal goals I am anxious to meet, but I can't help but be excited about all of the changes in our lives!  I know this upcoming birthday will be one of the best I have had in a long time, just because I feel good!

A Beautiful Mother's Day

I truly hope all of my lovely friends had a wonderful Mother's Day!  Around here things were a little different as it was the first time ever that I have not spent the day with my own beautiful Momma (who I miss so much!), but my own little family made it perfect and special for me.

After a wonderful worship service we found ourselves in downtown Spartanburg to check out a local restaurant, Monsoon Noodle House.  It had great ratings on UrbanSpoon (if you have a smartphone this is a must-have app if you travel a lot), so we were excited to try it!

While waiting on Monsoon Noodle House to open, I took the opportunity to shoot a few pictures of my little family, since we could not have asked for a more beautiful spring day!  We had a lot of fun hanging out in the beautiful Daniel Morgan Square.  

It's funny, I visited the Greenville/Spartanburg area back when I was in college and thought what a sad ending to a couple of historical old cities.  I'm a serious believer in preserving history, especially these gorgeous old Southern cities.  In the last 20 years these two cities have totally turned around and are revitalizing and rebuilding their downtowns.  Parks, restaurants, B&B's local shops, cultural centers and growing universities have restored these beautiful and historic cities.  And the plans continue.

I absolutely love living here!

Daniel Morgan was a Revolutionary War hero from Virginia who made quite a name for himself at the nearby Cowpens National Battlefield.  This statue was placed in Spartanburg's city square in 1881 in his honor.

I just love how South Carolina is proud of it's history.

My kids were in rare form for pictures (meaning they cooperated ... perk of Mother's day, I guess) so we had a lot of fun posing on the square.

I can't believe they are all teenagers now.

Daniel Morgan Square is so pretty.  From the hanging baskets down the street lights to the statues blending into the scenery, this particular Sunday in Spartanburg was almost like a scene from a movie!

And my teenagers were more than happy to let their personalities shine.

Even my son..... He insisted that he pose like his sisters.

Check out the Basset Hound socks he is wearing.....

I was quite spoiled for Mother's Day .... from a most shocking and fabulous gift to lunch out and my girls cleaning the kitchen for supper.

One massage a month for an entire year!!  I told you I was spoiled!

Without a doubt, it was a beautiful Mother's Day.

I'll share details of the Monsoon Noodle House on Friday.  It was quite good and they did cook for my healthy palette so they get a good rating from me just for that!

Enjoy this beautiful spring day!