Weight loss for 4/14/2015

So as of this morning I am down just over 30 pounds.  371.2 and only hating the diet sometimes.

Well it's been almost two years since I tried posting my health goals on the blog.  They did not end up going too well.  I did walk a fair bit but I didn't really keep things up dated and then I ended up hurting my knee playing laser tag and stopped walking.  I then gained a lot of weight.  Over the year and a half until January I ended up at 401.4 lbs when Kim was starting the weight loss challenge.  The challenge ended up not going anywhere but I had decided to get my weight in check and so I started to tracking my food and using myfitnesspal.com(and the app).

So far I have lost 27.4 lbs (374.0 on Tuesday).  I'm feeling well and I am a lot happier with where things are heading.  I weigh myself every Tuesday and I'm going to try to post on the blog that day as well with my progress.  If any of you want to use myfitnesspal as well my name is blessedexchequer and you can send me a friend request.

I have also started some light exercise and will start walking again as the weather improves.

The start of our mission

The day of our setting apart was a miserable one for me. I woke up with stomach flu. I spent the day in the bathroom. It has been years since I have had this kind of sickness. Just before leaving for the church I called Kim and Dave and asked them to say a prayer for me to be able to keep control over my stomach and bottom, then I asked Dad and Dennis to give me a blessing. When the blessing was over I ran for the bathroom. But the blessing worked and I had control until the setting apart for both Dad & I was over. Then it was back to the bathroom. Bishop Hadley took all of the family that was here to a large room. He asked the grandchildren some questions about why we were here. Then he asked Richy how our mission was going to affect him, next he asked Kari, Dennis, Sean and Heather the same question. They talked about how this mission was a perfect fit for dad and I, how we loved teenagers and they loved us. How we would have the opportunity share our testimony more than we did on our first mission and how we would influence more people this time too. Sean mentioned our helping to shape future mothers on the gospel and rearing children. I went first for the setting apart. The thing that I remember most about my blessing was that I knew it came from God. Things were mentioned in my blessing that were concerns for me that only the Lord knew and He answered them through Bishop Hadley. One thing of concern was my knee and back. He blessed me that they would not be a problem. I have been concerned about not being able to help in what we were called to do, but he assured me that I would be able to fulfill my calling. I had not gained a testimony that this was the mission that the Lord wanted us to go to. I wanted to turn in our papers and go where ever the Lord called us. To put faith in the Lord that He would call us somewhere that He needed us to go and that we would be able to afford. My blessing told me to have faith that this is where the Lord wanted us to go. I knew that dad had a strong testimony about going to this mission, but I had not been convert until last night. Then dad was set apart. The one thing that I remember about dad's blessing is that he would be a great influence on the girls threw his story telling. He was also blessed that he would not have any health issues. In dad's blessing he was told that this was the mission that the Lord wanted us to go on. That dad had been led by the spirit. I am so blessed to be married to such a wonderful man who hears and listens to the spirit. I have no more worries. I know that we are meant to go to the Heber Valley Camp. I know that the Lord needs us there. I know that we will be able to help and strengthen many young girls while serving there. And I know that we will be able to influence more than the girls. Our blessings mentioned influencing young men, priesthood holders, leaders etc. I want to be an instrument in the Lords hand to strengthen testimonies and to let everyone know that they are loved by the Lord and Heavenly Father. I want all of my children, children in love and grandchildren to know that I love each and everyone of you with all of my heart. I will miss you all dearly. Be safe, be happy and know that you are loved. Mom Holliday

Hello?....

Is anyone here?

Thanksgiving and business

I just wanted to say that I'm thankful to be part of this spectacular family.  You are all such a blessing to me!  Thanksgiving has always been a favorite of mine, but in recent years its been less so because I don't get to spend it with you all.  This year I was really focused on how much I love my family and how thankful I am for all of you.  I can be thankful for you, even if I can't be there to celebrate with you!

I hope your holiday was full of gratitude and love!

Book Club announcement: Let's do it!  I'll choose the first month.  The book will be The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton.  We can discuss even discuss it in person (for the most part) at the end of the month, since I will be in Utah!

General Conference announcement: I, for one, am going to be sharing a tidbit from conference now and again.  I really think it will be fun if you do the same!

Today I wanted to mention President Packer's talk.  I usually have a hard time listening to him speak. I tend to lose focus, but when I read this one I just loved it!  Here is the link, you should definitely read the whole thing!  I feel blessed that we were raised in a gospel centered home by loving parents who helped provide an atmosphere where we could each develop our own personal testimonies.  Here are some quotes from Pres. Packer...

The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection. They contain the doctrine and laws and ordinances that will bring each child of God to a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer.

I have felt the scriptures bless my life a lot lately.  And I've needed the spiritual protection they hold.  Depression is a real thing in my life, Satan knows that I get discouraged easily, but the scriptures are a great protection against his powers.  And I love what he says following this paragraph, a story about  a member of the Seventy that taught him about reading the scriptures.

If you are set on a course of faith and activity in the Church, stay on course and keep your covenants. Continue forward until the time when the Lord’s blessings will come to you and the Holy Ghost will be revealed as a moving force in your life.

If you are presently on a course that points away from the one outlined in the scriptures, let me assure you there is a way back.

Jesus Christ has prescribed a very clear method for us to repent and find healing in our lives. The cure for most mistakes can be found by seeking forgiveness through personal prayer. 

These words are just comforting to me.  None of us is perfect and we each need repentance to be clean.

The gospel teaches us to be happy, to have faith rather than fear, to find hope and overcome despair, to leave darkness and turn toward the light of the everlasting gospel.

I love the gospel.  It is perfect, even though none of us are.  Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ prepared a way for us to be happy and they want that for us!  Doesn't that just amok you feel hopeful, that the Creator of the world is in your corner, cheering you on?  It does me.

I bear certain witness of the scriptures as a key to our spiritual protection. I also bear witness of the healing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, “that through him all might be saved”¹² who will be saved. The Lord’s Church has been established on the earth once again. Of the truthfulness of the gospel I bear witness. Of Him I am a witness. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Amen.  :-)

Meeting

Hey.  So, I've been thinking.  I like you guys.  You're all pretty darn cool.  I'd like to "do" more stuff together.  You know?  I would like to see if you guys are interested in doing some stuff together.  Here are my ideas, please share your own as well.

• Book Club: Wouldn't it be fun to have a book club together?  A friend of mine here does this with her kids who are all over the country.  They read a book together each month and then get together via g+ or something to discuss it.  I think it would be great fun.  Each month one of us would choose the book for the rest of us to read. That way, we are broadening our horizons and trying new things, but we know we'll get to read something we want at least every so often. :)  I think it would be fun, what do you think?
• General Conference discussion: Ethan and I are trying to discuss a new talk from the most recent GC each week.  I know we are having a difficult time posting on this blog as frequently as some of us would like, but what if we just shared a thought or two from a talk that inspired us?  That way we can be helping ourselves by reading or listening to the talks throughout the next 5 months and helping each other by reminding us of something that might help us as well.
• If you got my text today, you know my proposal for a family meeting on g+ tonight.  Maybe it will be a way for us to communicate all together and actually get something decided on.  It might be a good idea to use this tool more frequently.
• And finally, I am going to add all of us to the email list so when one person posts something on this blog everyone will get it in their inbox.  In order to comment you will still have to click over to the blog, but this way you will be aware of what is being shared.

Mom's retirement

I just copy and pasted this from my blog, but figured it would be good to have on here as well!  Love you all like crazy!

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For weeks I worked on planning a surprise party to celebrate my mom's retirement.  And then we found out that Ethan's promotion was going to be the same week as her retirement... it was a bit crazy, but it all worked out.

The invitations went out and the RSVPs came in.  We expected a crowd somewhere around 70 people! I used celebrations.com because I could design my own invitation and they sent it out with all the ease of an evite rsvp.  It was great. I highly recommend using them!  This was the invitation I designed.

We were going to be feeding the masses a light dinner and dessert, so I had to come up with a fun way to decorate the tables.  I wanted to honor all my mom's talents, so I decided to do each table with a different theme.  The themes were based on some things that she'll have more time for now that she's retired. So there was a mission table... it had a globe, a Book of Mormon, and this banner...

A travel table, which included this sign and a picture of their new trailer...

Sadly, I had no time at all for taking pictures of the tables and the event... but there was also a quilting table, a knitting table, a painting table, and a couple others I can't remember right now. (I can't believe I can't remember it occupied my thoughts for so long!!!)

The guests started arriving and I was so excited to see so many people that loved my mom and that I knew she loved.

And then we waited... my dad texted and said they were leaving their house, so we expected them and everyone gathered together and waited with baited breath... but they took forever to get there... then they finally arrived and we knew we had succeeded in the surprise!

I had so much help with the food! Richy came and helped prep food and my sister in law Brindy (who is my SIL on Ethan's side, not mine!) came and saved the day as well.  She and Sara (another Woody SIL) provided most of the serving dishes.  The dinner table looked fabulous!

And then my fabulous sister-in-law Heather took the dessert table on herself.  It was beyond words amazing.  Everyone was in awe of her skills (as was I) she is super woman.

Once everyone had food and had a chance to visit for a minute, I let everyone know that the cards on their tables were for them to write on and we would read them throughout the night... it was funny, but SO much funnier when my brother, Sean, took over reading them.  He made the night so much fun.

We had a little program that was really neat to honor her.  I rewrote some words to Sunrise, Sunset and played and sang it.  It was silly.  Next Richy's two oldest kids performed a skit.  I had planned several games, one was a trivia face off game, another was a list of things she either did or didn't do and people had to race to a buzzer when I got to one that was real, and the last was a timeline game where people had to put things in chronological order (when she started different crafting and when she lived in different places).  My dad talked about what a neat lady my mom is and how blessed he is to have her and Sean read two really beautiful poems that he wrote for my mom and my dad.  And we ended the night by singing You Are My Sunshine to her, like she used to always sing to us.

It was a super fun night and such a special way to celebrate what a wonderful life she's lived so far.  We're excited for all the great things she gets to do now that she's retired!

I can not believe that I only have 3 measly pictures from the whole night, all these other are files from my computer in prep for the party.  Heather and Kari send me what you have when you can!!!