One of my favorite John Lennon songs...and it rings so true on this last day of 2012. What an amazing year...so many things to be thankful for and how blessed are we in my little family.
Our babies are healthy and happy, Henry and I are celebrating our 12th year of marriage. We finally have booked another trip down to Mexico to see all of our extended family this spring after five years. Most of the family have never met Cruz and haven't seen Victoria since she was 18 months old. We have reconnected with friends past and made new friends this year. Fostered new, budding friendships and watched our children blossom into little people, developing their own thoughts and opinions and nurtured their loving ways.
We made big goals at the beginning of this year and I am happy and proud to say that we met them. We were able to continue on the path that we began at the end of 2010. For 2013, my focus is family. My husband's is preparation. So our motto this year is PREPARE.
We have so many exciting things on our horizon...so much potential and things we would love to have happen...like expanding our family, buying a house...and other plans we are putting into action...like starting the savings for the new truck that will bring so much to our family, getting completely out of debt, paying off all of my student loans and continuing our journey of health and wellness with the whole family. I am looking forward to Cruzie boy starting "raceball" (baseball) and Victoria starting her second season with Tustin Girls Softball.
Cheers to a fantastic year!
~JML
Monday, December 31, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Still going strong :) 262...
Hi!!
It has been a couple weeks since I posted last...computer problems, open house, packing up my classroom and life have taken a front seat to this little blog. Hubby was in town for a long time and it was such a treat! He is off again trekking across the big 'ol United States. I still have been weighing myself each week...just couldn't find the time to make it accountable here.
I am happy to report that I am still dropping weight and I am down to 262 and still seeing movement in the positive direction! I am continuing to make great choices even when faced with my usual disatrous fair but the most important thing that I will keep repeating because it is important is that I am not denying myself anything. If I want chips, salsa and guacamole...I eat it....I just don't eat the whole bag and bowl along with it. I will say that I haven't had too many of those moments. I still try a "low-carb" option first or I go outside, work in the garden, read a book, pin on pinterest, call Henry, play with the kids and if I still have the hankering I go for it. But the difference is control and not over indulgence.
What I know for sure is that this works for me. More than the number on the scale, I have noticed how I don't ache as much first thing in the morning, I walk faster, I have energy now that used to take a vat of Diet Coke to achieve.
With that said...I am looking forward to a busy summer full of community based activities that are easy on the pocketbook. I am looking forward to another summer of job interviews that I will rock and a new district to make my home. I found out from my principal that I will not be returning to Wood Canyon or Capistrano Unified next year. They have already replaced me with another teacher via bumping rights. The budget in Capo is not looking so good so a rehire at another school doesn't seem so likely. At Open House three of my four families cried when I told them the news and one of them was an outgoing 5th grader. That warms my heart more than anyone can know because I do this for my students and for their parents. I teach and treat each and every child the way that they should be treated and help the parents realize that their child is worth something more than just the behaviors or the disability that the rest of the world sees.
I will leave you with this...a professor of mine during college read this to the class. It pretty much sums up my approach to teaching. Have a beautiful week!
c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
<3, Jen
It has been a couple weeks since I posted last...computer problems, open house, packing up my classroom and life have taken a front seat to this little blog. Hubby was in town for a long time and it was such a treat! He is off again trekking across the big 'ol United States. I still have been weighing myself each week...just couldn't find the time to make it accountable here.
I am happy to report that I am still dropping weight and I am down to 262 and still seeing movement in the positive direction! I am continuing to make great choices even when faced with my usual disatrous fair but the most important thing that I will keep repeating because it is important is that I am not denying myself anything. If I want chips, salsa and guacamole...I eat it....I just don't eat the whole bag and bowl along with it. I will say that I haven't had too many of those moments. I still try a "low-carb" option first or I go outside, work in the garden, read a book, pin on pinterest, call Henry, play with the kids and if I still have the hankering I go for it. But the difference is control and not over indulgence.
What I know for sure is that this works for me. More than the number on the scale, I have noticed how I don't ache as much first thing in the morning, I walk faster, I have energy now that used to take a vat of Diet Coke to achieve.
With that said...I am looking forward to a busy summer full of community based activities that are easy on the pocketbook. I am looking forward to another summer of job interviews that I will rock and a new district to make my home. I found out from my principal that I will not be returning to Wood Canyon or Capistrano Unified next year. They have already replaced me with another teacher via bumping rights. The budget in Capo is not looking so good so a rehire at another school doesn't seem so likely. At Open House three of my four families cried when I told them the news and one of them was an outgoing 5th grader. That warms my heart more than anyone can know because I do this for my students and for their parents. I teach and treat each and every child the way that they should be treated and help the parents realize that their child is worth something more than just the behaviors or the disability that the rest of the world sees.
I will leave you with this...a professor of mine during college read this to the class. It pretty much sums up my approach to teaching. Have a beautiful week!
WELCOME TO HOLLAND
by
Emily Perl Kingsley.
Emily Perl Kingsley.
c1987 by Emily Perl Kingsley. All rights reserved
I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......
When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.
After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."
But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.
The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.
So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.
But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."
And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.
<3, Jen
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
30 pounds gone in 7 weeks!
From 298 to 268.
From feeling hopeless, fat, frustrated, alone, listless, stuck...
to feeling hopeful, excited, motivated, surrounded by love and support.
I have all of you to thank for that. Friends that I only talk to on facebook, friends I talk to on the phone and who motivate me from afar and friends that I see frequently who have buoyed me with support and encouragement!
The sheer fact that I posted my original post on facebook and that I weigh-in each week to my little blog, keeps me motivated during the week. I like the fact that I am accountable to myself.
This week has had its challenges. But I am realizing that every challenge can be overcome and it doesn't take food and overeating to meet those challenges head-on. I think I yell a little bit more now. Just ask my husband and kids. But I am sure that they will take a mama that raises her voice over one who is six feet under because she ate her way through her stress....right? Or maybe I should start saving all the money that I am not spending on fast-food for their future therapy bills ;) But in all seriousness...I have so much more energy and more importantly than that....I have desire. Desire to do more, go outside, garden, play with them, dance, engage and just be. I am not drowning myself in hamburgers, taquitos, fries, fast-food, heavy casseroles, mexican food...you name it. I am not disconnecting in front of the TV or facebook. I am making time for the things that need it, letting go of the things that don't and placing myself in the forefront instead of just in the background.
That is probably the hardest thing to do as a mother. To verbalize that I am just as important as my children, my husband, my career, my family and to make time to show how important I am. By placing my health in the forefront and not the background I am showing my daughter how to be a strong, independent, forward thinker and I feel that I am showing her how to value herself and to never dull her light at the expense of others.
Hope you all have a great week!
<3, J
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Wednesday Weigh-In 5/16/2012
Mothers day was beautiful. We celebrated with my family...three generations of gorgeous women...
This week has been full of ups and downs. Work is stressful but Hubby is home...haven't had time to work out but I haven't been sitting in front of the tv either. I continue to marvel at the resilience of my children. Victoria is continuing to listen to her body and realize when she is satisfied. Softball season has ended and she genuinely misses going each week. So we signed her up for AYSO summer and fall soccer.
Looking forward to the weekend and more complete family time before hubby is off and running again for summer. See you next week!
<3, J
I am so blessed to have these little loves in my life....
and we ended the day down in Newport Beach...it was a beautiful, relaxing day with our family...
It is most likely the first holiday that I have celebrated where I didn't go overboard. I enjoyed myself and really savored the moments, the feelings and the people that I was with.
It was a great day!
Weighed in this morning at 271 pounds. 27 pounds gone! Feels good to almost be in the 260's again. I haven't been there for almost four years. More and more friends and family are joining me on this weight-loss journey and it feels good to know that I am not alone. It also feels so good to know that while navigating through holidays and stressful times at work...I have not turned to food and resorted to my old habits. This is such a change for me!
This week has been full of ups and downs. Work is stressful but Hubby is home...haven't had time to work out but I haven't been sitting in front of the tv either. I continue to marvel at the resilience of my children. Victoria is continuing to listen to her body and realize when she is satisfied. Softball season has ended and she genuinely misses going each week. So we signed her up for AYSO summer and fall soccer.
Looking forward to the weekend and more complete family time before hubby is off and running again for summer. See you next week!
<3, J
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday Weigh-In, 5/9/12
There it is...275. 23 pounds gone...2 more this week.
I have not gone to the gym in over 2 weeks :( We all miss it. Too much sickness and the end of softball season. I am getting back in the saddle though.
I also want to do this. Who wants to do it with me? I am big fans of Dallas and Melissa. They are no-nonsense kind of people, sarcastic, witty and super knowledgeable. I am thinking of starting it July 1st. I have been reading their website and facebook page for sometime now and I really need to just do it. Just like I just did this and made the change...this would force me to give up Diet Coke. I am a fiend for Diet Coke. Its all I drink...and its sooooo bad. I just don't stop. So that has to change too.
Hope you all are having a fabulous week! I am counting down until we are out of school!
Lots of job interviews and new prospects on the horizon!
<3, J
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Office with a View....
He's heading west folks! Can't wait to have him with us this weekend!
Burlington, Colorado
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Wednesday Weigh-In, 5/2/12
277. 21 pounds in one month gone! I am so excited about this and I am proud of myself. I have not been able to get to the gym like I was during Spring Break with the littles getting strep throat AGAIN!!! 4th time in 3 months! But I have continued to make good food choices....and when I am having cravings...
I do it up low-carb style.
Like this pizza.
Which turned out kind of like a pizza quiche. Yikes. But it was still good and it got the craving out of the way. I found the recipe on pinterest...you can find it here :) http://accidentalmommies.com/delicious-no-carb-pizza-recipe/. I think next time I will put the crust in some stoneware and spread it out more. I used a quiche pan....oooops! Hence the reason it tasted like a "pizza quiche". ;) The other sneaky little craving I have been having is mac 'n'cheese...which I low-carbify by buying this delicious pasta. It cooks up just like regular pasta...but doesn't leave me all itchy and wanting more in a half hour! Now don't worry...this is not an everyday occurrence. It is a once in a while "treat" that gets me over a craving and then I slip right back into my normal way of eating. Clean, non-processed, lean protein, green leafies. So its working and I am going to keep on truckin' down this healthy path with my little sweeties hot on my heels. :)
Have a fabulous week!
<3, Jen
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