JustJane48

Back home safely!! YIPPEE!!!

We arrived in Grand Rapids yesterday afternoon around 4:30.  It was a long day filled with laughing, talking and unfortunately a 2 1/2 hour layover in Detroit!! We flew out of Hartford Conn. at 11:05 a.m.  The flights were great, the seats were perfect.  My dear husband is the bestest ever!! I’m so blessed to have him.  We enjoyed his family….there are too many to count!!  We probably only saw 1/2 of them.  He must have over 50 cousins!!!

My eating choices weren’t always the best, but I surely had fun.  I did choose salad alot…didn’t drink nearly enough water :(  But its ok, today is a new day

I started this morning with my healthy eating, and I WILL walk on the treadmill today.  Even if it is only a few minutes….something is better then nothing.

It was good seeing Dad….tommorrow starts the Doctors appts. again.  I had a nice break, but now its back to reality. 

I sure missed my little dog Toby “sigh”  He had a long 12 days in the kennel.  That was tough leaving him.  He was sooooooooooo happy to see us.  He’s been konked out on the bed all day LOL!!!

Life is good…my buddies are the best. I’ve missed you all, I hope to be better at reading blogs now!!

John 20:29

Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Yesterday was the day buddys

Moms yard was a mess.  Grass hasn’t been cut for the season, the leaves were piled high, wet, heavy and all raked under the trees.  What a mess……this would be a challenge to say the least.  But Alan and I were up to it.  We went out armed with rakes, bags for the wet leaves, gardening gloves and determination to get the job done :)  Hey it would be a win win situation, Mom would be happy because her yard looked good and we would FINALLY get some physical exercise   YIPPEE  LOL!!!!!

Not quite an hour later I could feel the burn…LOL!!! my back, my legs… Ooooohhhhhh what a workout!!

We stopped because of the heat.  figured a little at a time was better then overdoing it.  Alan stayed and worked harder (he’s much more in shape then me).

So I’m proud to say I am getting some exercise…..walking will be our workout today.  At the end of the street is a beautiful lake (private) and we enjoy that short walk.  I look forward to that when we come here on vacation.  I think of Tatiana as I write about walking.  So good for the heart…so good for the mind.

On that happy note….I hope everyone is able to get some type of physical activity in today.  Loveyou all so much.  Stay strong, stay focused, remember one day at a time!!!!!

Good Afternoon my favorite buddys ever!!!  How is everyones day going?  We are struggling through high humidity and high 90 degree weather here in Massachusetts.  Enjoying my mother in law so very much.  Lots of visiting and eating going on.  No cookies for me though…LOL!!!

Now when it comes to the big Fathers Day Cake and celebration I will misbehave and have just a little bit!!! I’m eating more then I should this vacation but I was afraid this might happen. I’m trying very hard to be more conscious of every bite I take.

Today is kind of a laid back day which I’m enjoying so much.  Its so nice to be away from the stress at my home in Michigan, although I do miss my Father.  We talk every couple of days.  Sounds like he is getting stronger every day.

Tonight is hamburgers on the grill, hot dogs, and salad. I’ll just have an extra large salad to help fill me up and NO COOKIES!!! Mom, always has goodies around…Dunkin Donuts, Cookies, you name it!!!

Ok buddys…stay strong, stay focused…be healthy……walk if you can and ALWAYS SMILE!!!  Love ya all!!

Every day is a gift from God.  Some days better than others, but for the most part I find something to smile about.

Each of us has our struggles and challenges to face each day.  Weight issues and obesity are one of the biggest problems we face in life.  Look at the children today and the choices they are given for eating.  Fast food, candy machines, pop machines everywhere.  How can we expect them to become healthy aduls when the choices are leaning towards fast food and junk  “sigh” 

My struggle with weight is what brought me here to BuddySlim a year or so ago.  I’m so thankful for Dr. Marc for setting up this unbelievable encouraging site for us all to come to.

During this past year I have learned soooooooooooooo many things, from all of you, from my buddies, and from everyones blogs.  I’ve been blessed to become a part of BuddySlim.  The friendships I’ve made along the way have touched my heart in so many ways.  The constant motivation and encouraging words I get when I come to BuddySlim is phenonemal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In life we talk to people, make new friendships, form bonds and sometimes God brings certain people together.  Geez, its living proof, God brought my husband and I together here on the internet.  Now if that isn’t divine intervention then what is????????????????? LOL!!!  You must believe!!!

Yesterday was one of those days you have in life that will stay with your forever.  Remember as a child and you did something so magical, something so unbelievable and today you still talk about it with a smile on your face???

My husband and I were so blessed to have that kind of day.  We met our dear friend Linda (poet) and her charming husband Donald at the beach in New Hampshire.  I was so excited and anxious to finally meet in person.  My husband and I enjoyed the drive as we remenisced about the old days.  You see we lived near the beach and had actually vacationed there several times.  The trip was a win-win all the way.  Meeting a favorite buddy of BuddySlim, coming back to one of my favorite areas and just enjoying every minute of the day (except for the problems with parking  LOL )  We drove and drove and drove, I asked God to please guide us to an open parking spot…and yup, for $10.00 he showed us one..LOL!! worth every cent.

We enjoyed a lovely lunch…with ourlovely friends.  Friends like this are rare, and once again we thank God for giving us even more blessings in life.  More angels around us….. Linda has such a big heart, so full of love and so much fun to be with.  We laughed, about children, life, weight, BuddySlim. My husband and Lindas husband seemed to hit it off right away.  We chatted like we had been friends forever!!!!  What a wonderful time we had…I’m hoping we can have many more like these

Our vacation has been filled with family, friends, lots of food and drink, graduations, more graduations, lunch dates, making lifetime friendships and smiles and laughing with everyone everyday.  We have only been away from home since Thursday, but we are taking each day and living it out to the fullest. 

Thank you God….thank you all my buddys…I hope all are well and staying focused.

One more thing, I wanted to say something about the picture of the angel on my blog.  Years ago when Hallmark came out with the 3 angels my mother fell in love with them. You see I was an avid collector of angels. 

These particular 3 angels were a magical group.  2 of the 3 angels were absolutely perfect in every way.  The 3rd angel had her toes pointed inward and her halo was crooked.  My mother just laughed at the misfit angel.  She bought them for herself and we both enjoyed them every Christmas.  At the end when my mother was getting sick (with Alzheimers, Emphasema) she told me she wanted me to have the angels.  She said everytime I look at them I was to take special notice of the “not so perfect” angel.  She told me I was an angel in her eyes……but sometimes I would muddle throughlife.  I always tried to keep a smile on my face and my faith inGod remained strong. 

Even though we all have our struggles, lifes up and downs, remember no is perfect.  But remember this always.  We are all angels, some with crooked halos…..some with a little extra weight, but we are all Gods children.  We will stand strong…together…..one day at a time!!!

Hey Buddys at BuddySlim :0)  Guess what??????????

Less then 24 hours and were off to Massachusetts for a fun filled vacation..LOL!! Can’t wait.  Were feeling like we deserve this vacation more then any other vacation we’ve taken!!!  YIPPEE!!!

Went to Goodwill yesterday and found a beautiful suitcase (almost brand new) for only $8.99 :)  Usually we are trying to stuff everything into this smaller bag, so needless to say, were geeked and ready to roll!!

Our plane leaves at 10:30, but we have to be at the airport at 9 - 9:30.  Toby will go to doggy camp around 7:30.  I’ve got him all packed and ready to go, I’ll miss the little guy.

We have 2 graduations, 1 dance recital, 1 Fathers Day gathering, and the awesome opportunity to meet a dear friend here at BuddySlim!!!!  YIPPEE!!!  Linda and her husband will get together with Alan and myself for a lunch reunion!!! Soooooooooo excited!!  I’m also hoping to get to Cambridge area and give Debbie a quick hello!!

Thank goodness I now have a laptop, I’ll be able to check in to BuddySlim.  What would a girl do without her great buddys here!!!

Love you all…have a great day….stay healthy, stay focused and strong

This morning was kind of a “Aha” moment.  Instead of waking up discouraged and anxious about our vacation, I feel the complete opposite.

After talking to both of my sister-in-laws about the “eating issues” with my Mother in law, I feel somewhat at ease.  We all decided to just stand strong and support each other.  We’ll push for more salad, and fresh veggies.  When we do go out for dinner, its easy enough to pick from healthy choices on the menu.  Geez, my husband and I have been learning this alot in the past few months.

As far as the fancy cakes, and graduation parties, its up to me to make the wise choices. I’m not doomed…or ready to fail.  NOPE…NO WAY!!! I’ll have just a little bit…but use alot of common sense!!

We all can do this…..I’ve seen many do it and look at their success!!!

Hope the picture came through!!! LOL~!! I’m still new at all this.  It should be Katelin and Talan putting smiley stickers all over their faces..LOL!!

Have a good one buddys!!

Lots of Candy and Cake making this weekend :)  But alas…..I did NOT cheat!!! LOL!! It wasn’t even tough.

Went on a mission looking for some type of cake pan in the shape of a tool.  Katelin (lil sis) wanted to make her Father a Fathers Day Cake in the shape of a hammer…quite the challenge huh?? LOL!!

So off to Cakes Plus, no such pans, but in the candy department we found a candy mold with seveal tool shapes.  A saw, hammer, pliers, wrench and chissel. I was thrilled.  I bought the chocolate to melt and the mold. 

Katelin made a chocolate cake with loads of sprinkles, letters spelling out Happy Fathers Day.  We then made candy…and she decorated the cake with tools made of chocolate…Badda Boom Badda Bing What a Wonderful Thing!!!  

So all in all the weekend was a hit.  We picked up baby Talan also, and had pizza.  I still have Talan, so I ‘ll have to sign off as I have no idea where he scooted off too…OH MY!!! LOL!!

Hope everyone had a great weekend Love ya all!!