found more than I was looking for

God continues to fascinate me in how he works. I've seen him work so many times that I'm not surprised just... fascinated. He created a perfect storm in my life by loosing my mentor and friend Melinda, my mom's declining health, stressful summer at work, growing passion and love for the PSCOC teens, success in weightloss, enjoyment in nature hikes and training workouts, and a whole host of other details.
Its hard to explain the change in my life and every attempt to seems to discount the magnitude of how God has worked in my life emotionally, physically, psycologically, financially, and Biblically. All this climaxed on trek but I see God's mighty hand long before I began my 6 day stint in the wilderness, turning and using so many occurances- peoples words, additudes, my choices and additudes.
I feel empowered. I feel a burning guilt that I couldn't physically do what my heart and mind wanted to- for myself and the people I care about so much. I feel blessed by the guides we were assigned to and the family I belong to because of His blood. I am overwhelmed by the blessing of a job to come home to that I enjoy so much and can be so passionate about.
God has called me to make some changes in my life, not because I was following Satan, but because He calls all of us to our best and I've simply been going through the motions.

Lost the Office Won the Church

By a whopping .1% (yes, that one tenth of a percentage) I lost the office biggest loser. The good news is that I won the church biggest loser by a landslide. I was so proud to beat those boys! The best part is I was able to raise $250 for the kiddos.

Now, the challenge is staying motivated without public humiliation on the line. I've tried to think about the public humiliation of pooping out on trek but that only helps a little. Its so blistering hot outside I don't want to do a thing. Its only May and already 90+ degree heat all week.

I recently finished my training for CASA http://www.casatravis.org/ (Court Appointed Special Advocates) While finishing up the required court room observations I was intrigued by a grossly dynamic and dysfunctional case. Most people shake their heads in disgust at the travesty of the situation, but I petitioned the organization to let that be my first case. So I officially take the case on Thursday when I sit down and wade through the undoubtedly stacks of files and information. Travis County definitely holds a different caliber of cases in comparison to Erath County (Stephenville) where I'd worked before. I'm anxious to begin, God has given me an undeniable love for children and passion to make a difference. I am so thankful for CASA that allows me to use my talents.

Loosing the Biggest Looser but still a Winner cause I Lost

Yes, thats right we are almost 7 weeks into the office biggest loser contest and I have only won once! But no one won last week because we all endulged a bit for Valentine's Day. The good news is no one gained. I've lost a total of 22 lbs and almost 4 inches in my belly but since its based on percentage of weightloss the little pip squeeks in my office have been beating me with their 1 and 2 lbs loses.
I struggle every weekend to eat right and squeeze in a work out. The temptation is church friends and activites but last week I heard rumblings of a Pond Springs c of C biggest looser so I voluntered. Then I learned of the details of the contest which include getting sponsors for each pound I loose. Ok, not a big problem and the money goes to the kiddos for their summer activities. But I have to take before and after photos and publicly announce my weight. I was pretty panicked but reminded myself I need to loose it anyway, this is great motivation on the weekends to win the work contest and if your gonna loose it anyway might as well make some money for the kids while I am at it.

Katherine, one of the youth group girls was asking silly random questions the other night. I told her I love you and the other girls so much that I would potentially publicly humilate myself and enter this contest. I told her she is on my mind every day as I prepare my body for Trek so that I can be an enrouragement and inspiration to her and the others. I told her I love her so much I am doing something for her I wouldn't and havn't done for anyone else or myself. She tilted her head, smiled, and went back to texting.
You gotta love teenagers, right!

The bottom line I've got til April 18th (also happens to be my best friends wedding) to loose as much weight as possible. I am secretly hoping to beat the boys but know thats a tough one if they really buckle down. Regardless, with my current sponsorships I will raise $11.75 for every pound for the kids.

The Biggest Looser

For a multitude of reasons, including health, looking better, fitting back into my clothes, and Wilderness Trek I decided to battle the bulge directly after Christmas. Well directly after New Year's. I really thought about what has been my down fall in previous attempts and what has helpful when I was successful. I even reasearched what makes diet plans in general successful short term and long term. That answer first was the giant cabinet in the middle of my office full of yummy goodness that I walk past 100 times a day. The next was a community and support system. I proposed having a biggest looser contest with the girls at work. As the plan developed and terms were agreed on I was stoked! I knew my South Beach Diet would stack up leeps and bounds to their Weight Watchers and work out videos.
I started my first phase of South Beach on January 2nd and agreed to start the contest on the following Wednesday when everyone was back to work. After the first week I finished up .3% behind the winner. I am trying to look at the brightest side of things. Since I started on that fateful friday morning I've lost 14 lbs! More than that I've lost a lot of inches. So much that I am frightening my office mates because they see a difference over the days. I see a difference already in how my clothes fit.
I know thats the goal and all. Loose weight, feel great, yeah yeah! I want that stupid trophy and bragging rights more inmportantly! Wednesday is the next weigh in so I am anticipating a huge loss and have cleaned off my desk so that the trophy can be promiently dispalyed.
I have to give my friends at church a huge thanks, they've been so motivating and understanding and don't seem to mind when I always suggest Jason's Deli or a place I can get a salad.