ARMY

Well, we're one step closer to getting in, but now they are saying that Petey’s HS Diploma may not qualify for diploma status. It may just be a GED or even a waste of time and $. He is so frustrated... we won't know for a few more days though... we want to know now. The school says that they should accept it, but they also said we can send the diploma back and get a refund or change programs and do the home school program. But that will take 3 months. We are really struggling, financially; mentally it’s all really discouraging. We need prayer. We need to know that this is God's will. We thought it was, but maybe it isn't. I know that if it is God's will, it will all work out. I just wish we didn't have to play the waiting game. I really don't like waiting!
Well on a good note, he passed the pre-ASVAB but they recommended that he brush up on his Math. If all goes well he'll take the actual ASVAB next Thursday and he could be heading out to Basic as soon as July 1st. Its scary... really scary. I can't wait though! They don't let you choose where you’re going, not now. The recruiter explained to us that they have so many job openings that they really won't know where he is needed until after Basic, so between Basic and AIT we'll find out. I'm hoping that we get stationed where we know someone. I have family in Georgia, and California and we have friends in Texas. But we may also be stationed over seas, so we're hoping for Italy or Germany. They said that the shortest time for AIT is 11 weeks but it could be as long as 52 weeks, but the average is 16 weeks, it all depends on his job. Either way it all interprets to a long time without my honey. Just thinking about it makes me miss him!
Our sign on bonus will be nice, enough to get us another car without having to make payments. I think that once he leaves I'm going to move out of the house so my parents can rent it for more $ and I can save some. We don't pay too much a month in rent but we won't be able to afford that especially with the ridiculous child support payment we have to make. I have a couple of options; I can move in with my parents or move in with my 'sister' she's a real close friend that everyone mistakes as my sister. They all think that she is my mom's other daughter. Her and her husband have 2 extra rooms in their trailer, and he works odd hours so I won't really be interfering. Or move back in with my parents. We need to pay off some dental bills!

Pray for us!

Total Surrender

sur·ren·der ( P ) (s-rndr)v. sur·ren·dered, sur·ren·der·ing, sur·ren·ders v. tr.
To relinquish possession or control of to another because of demand or compulsion.
To give up in favor of another.
To give up or give back (something that has been granted): surrender a contractual right.
To give up or abandon: surrender all hope.
To give over or resign (oneself) to something, as to an emotion: surrendered himself to grief.
Law. To restore (an estate, for example), especially to give up (a lease) before expiration of the term.

That was the theme of the Women's Weekend. This was my first retreat with a bunch of women, and to tell you the truth, I had no idea what to expect. I figured it would be just like camp... in a way it was... but I got more out of this weekend then I ever got from a week at youth camp. Denise Gould was the speaker, and she did an awesome job. On thursday night she preached on what total surrender is. I always thought I was surrendered to God, but not fully. I still take things in my own hands and I there are a few instances where my trust in God was anything but evident. God dealt with me the whole weekend about trusting him fully and giving him more time. I always leave rushed and I don't have time to read or pray... my excuse is because I have to the my husband and my step daughter ready. My day goes by so fast that by the time 10 p.m. comes around I've forgotten to read and pray so just before bed I say a prayer and read a chapter... maybe even half.
I've been doing good so far. I've been reading and praying before I get to work. I'm really trying to be totally surrendered; I don't want to miss out on what god has for me.
The weekend wasn't all seriousness. We had a lot of fun while we were up there. I had no idea that grown women could be so crazy! It was a lot of fun... I made some great memories!

Weight loss...
What a HEADACHE!!!!

once upon a time I used to be a tiny size 5... as time went on I got bigger and bigger and bigger! Here it is... my journey back to thin.


May 10th, 2006
174 lbs yuck! That's ridiculous! Well I've lost 6 lbs since April 5th... so I feel like I'm on the right track. My husband and I have been walking every week day 3 miles a day. We probably ruin about half of the calories that we burn because we stop for ice cream at either DQ or the Old Colorado City Creamery... but that's stopping. We'll bring water with us from now on; it's time to start feeling comfortable being me again.

I'll start posting pics of my progress soon. I'm hoping for a digital camera for mothers day. Oh... you're probably wondering why I get a mother's day gift when I'm not a mother, huh? Well... technically speaking I am. I have a 4 year old step daughter, her name is Alyia. She is so special to me. I can't imagine not having her in our lives. We have her every weekend with the sole intent of raising her in church.

I've set my main goal weight to 115 lbs by November 30th of this year. But 59 lbs is a big number when you look at it like that. So I've broken it up as follows:
Goal weight #1 157 lbs- loose 17 lbs by July 7th my reward will be getting contacts
Goal weight #2 141 lbs- loose 16 lbs by Sept 1st my reward will be getting a manicure
Goal weight #3 127 lbs- loose 14 lbs by Oct 20th my reward will be a pedicure
Goal weight #4 115 lbs- loose 12 lbs by Nov 30th my reward will be a shopping spree (I'll definately need a whole new wardrobe.

Rewarding my self isn't my only insentive. My husband is planning on joining the Army this summer, and when we leave to our first station I want every one to remember me happy with who I am. I want to be comfortable in my own body! Well, keep us in your prayers!

Aren't these the cutest things you've ever seen? They are made of Marzipan... a candy made from Almond paste. They would be the perfect baby shower candy huh? Anyway, I thought these were so adorable I had to share them. I'll be posting again later today!

Surprise!!

We've been planning it for 2 months now, the whole time we were hoping and praying that he wouldn't figure it out! It was my Uncle Henry's 60th birthday. We wanted to throw him a surprise party. We invited everyone he knows, and the funny thing about it was my dad was handing out invitations right infront of him and he didn't even know! It was about 15 minutes until the party started and it was all going so smooth, no stress at all. My dad, (going along with the plan) called over to his house and had the following conversation:
Ring, Ring
Aunt Juanita: "Hello?"
Dad: "Hi, Juanita. It's Bill, bring him here at 2:30, let me talk to him."
Aunt Juanita: Chuckles, "Henry, Bill's on the phone."
Uncle Henry: "Hello?"
Dad: "Hi Henry. I need to talk to, can you come over?"
Uncle Henry: "We're getting ready to go out to eat, whats going on?"
Dad: "I don't feel comfortable talking about it on the phone. Just, please come over."
Uncle Henry: "I'll have to talk to Juanita. Is there anyone else you can talk to?"
Dad: "No, Henry, you're my older brother and I need to speak to you. Please, it won't talk long."
Uncle Henry: "Ok, what time?"
Dad: "2:30."
Uncle Henry: "I'll try."
Dad: "Please do, I appreciate it."
Uncle Henry: "Alright, I'll talk to Juanita. Bye."
Dad: "Bye."
Well, the house quickly filled up with family members and old friends, the last guest arriving just seconds before Uncle Henry and Aunt Juanita pulled up. There were about 100 people waiting to see his reaction. He gets out of the car, and Aunt Juanita stays in.
Ding Dong (that's the doorbell ringing)
My dad answers the door.
Uncle Henry: "Hey, what's going on?"
Dad: "Come in"
Uncle Henry: "Is this going to take long? We have reservations."
Dad: "Just come in."
Up to this point Uncle Henry is oblivious to the crowd of people awaiting his arrival and hearing how cold the ball of fire he is really can be. He has also failed to realize that just 3 feet behind my dad are his sisters and sons.
My dad steps aside and Uncle Henry puts ONE foot in the door
Everybody: "Surprise!"
Uncle Henry turned the brightest shade of red I have ever seen him, and turned around and shook his finger at my aunt.
He walked in the house and wonder around through the crowd, each face surpising him even more and the real surprise hadn't even been unveiled yet. His son Tony had set up a slide show presentation with pics of him growing up and then he ended it with pics of lions, monkeys, elephants, african cuisine, african villages and people. After the slide show, Tony and his brothers stood up infront of the crowd as Tony read a speech that he had prepared. He talked about how things used to be, before Uncle Henry was saved, he talked about how things changed, and about Uncle Henry's love for God and burden for the lost. He ended it with an announcement that sent Uncle Henry's heart racing... or maybe it stopped. He was just in shock.
You see, my Uncle Henry's dream is to go to Africa and preach. Every one who was present for the party, and numerous people who were unable to attend had all contributed an undisclosed amount of money to make his dream come true. Through teary eyes Uncle Henry stared speechless and in awe at his family and friends. The rest of the day was just as awesome. Just to see his reaction to the people who arrived and the amount that was contributed for him to go, was such a blessing. It made the rest of the worlds seem to just go away for a while...
Happy Birthday Uncle Henry!