Hobby: Photo

I have a little hobby...
This hobby is fairly popular and it seems as if every time you turn around there's another person joining the "photographer" world. It's great...people preserving memories for the future generations.  It's a great creative outlet and I love it.  I've been doing more hobby shooting and less portraits.

I'm not a professional...it's not my job...

but it is a guilty pleasure and I do enjoy shooting a person from time to time.

This charming little lady parents have asked me to do her portraits...i think it's going on 4 years.  It's always a lot of fun but my favorite part has been watching her grow up...she's a real sweetie.

Check out the gallery and then comment with your favorite photo...
A few of the 'specialty' ones were her idea. love that!

http://chocalatta.shootproof.com/
PW: bethany

          

 

weightwatchers.com

I joined weightwatchers.com

there, I've said it. 

It's humbling asking for help.

Admitting your fat. Duh, everyone can see it.

but there's something about naming the truth.

It's making me very aware of what I'm putting in my body.

I come from a line of women that struggle with their weight; so I've always tried to be careful about what I eat but along with that I've learned that my self-esteem comes from God and not from my body.  Which is good; but also it not good...because obviously I am overweight but it didn't bother me (a whole lot)

but now...

I'm heavier than I've ever been in my entire life. (blushes) and it's time to get serious.

Here's why?

(This list is for me...to encourage...and remind)

#1) Because I love God and want to take care of my body.

#2) Because I want a higher quality of life.

#3) Because I want to feel good

#4) Because I want to buy new clothes...haha!

I want to make reasons like "because food is over-rated" but we know that's not true.

I apologize that you need to go on this journey with me.  I've decided by sharing it with the world that it will keep me more accountable.  I'm also working on being more transparent in life and this feels very vulnerable.

Now that I've told you I will let you know how it's going...Sunday's are weigh-in day...so I will make that my weekly "healthy-er living" post...

eat your greens, -mary

Blessed

Sunday was one of those days I want to wrap my hands around and stuff back into my heart...

The entire day gives me warm fuzzy feelings.

I'm seriously so tired and sore in the morning that I feel like alternating between bed and the hot tub ALL DAY! (see Saturday's post)

but...I force myself to get dressed

and then off to church I go.

I'm so happy I did.

I know that church isn't about me and how I feel, but about bringing God glory.  But I do believe that we did that on Sunday...brought God glory and in the process I was blessed.  It started when my friends 10 year old daughter opened the service by playing "How Great thou Art" on the piano.  Now here's why it blessed me...it wasn't perfect, but it was beautiful.  She did her best and she's played for her Creator...it made me think.  How often do I 'mess up' and then feel like i don't have anything to give.  But even my mess-ups are beautiful to my Creator. 

And then sunday school.  Verses that are familiar, explained in a way I've never thought of...take on new and personal meaning.

And the sermon, also applicable and speaking directly into my life...

After church, Mom served a delicious meal of ham loaf, green beans with bacon and vinegar cucumber salad. 

I had made plans with my friend Cheryl after the service to hit the river in kayaks.  But when I got home I started feeling lousy and it looked like rain, after debating and trying to decide - I finally just said, let's do it! 

Later in the day, I realized it was exactly what I needed - it was a huge blessing.  A vacation in the middle of hurry...the last month has been go, go...making decisions and ALWAYS something or someone that needs my attention - this was the exact opposite...slow, peaceful, floating, no time limit, absolute beauty everywhere. Oh it was wonderful! 

After I returned Cheryl's rental kayak I headed to DD for a med pumpkin spice latte and then down to "The Fence" for their world famous fish sandwich.

Back home to give the dog a pat on the head and then off to bed by 8:30. :-)  I need a day like this every once in awhile - but I'm going to try to keep this one in my heart and live off of it until I get a chance for another one like it. Thank you Jesus!

 

go live today, - m

Today

some days the words flow easier...and some days i rack my brain trying to turn the mumble jumble in my head into a decent paragraph.  (not happening today)

on my way home i was trying to "start the post" and all i could think about was food...

want to know why?

this morning i had a bowl of rice krispies for breakfast,
not my favorite kind of breakfast - i was in a hurry.

i was over at the house by 9



crucial to today...



 i screwed

and glued

and screwed

and glued some more

and then all of a sudden it was 2:00 PM

A tiny glimpse at my handiwork...

My kind mother brought me a chese steak from the local OIP and then I kept on working.  You see on Labor Day I made a trip to...

and bought a complete

KITCHEN!

Isn't it beautiful?  I would just like to say...that stack of boxes was loaded by yours truely (and her mom) while it was raining.  And I'm pretty sure that had i purchased one more thing we couldn't have gotten it into the truck...

*side note...too bad my friend Sara didn't have a video camera the other day when I pulled up to DD and realized the pumpkin flavoring is back!!  I've only had one every other day since then....

So anyway back to the kitchen - i can't wait to show you the grand revel but that won't be for awhile so don't get to excited.  I will be putting more peices together and making another trip to Ikea. 

And now back to the food - i was at the house until 8 - which is 11 hours if you are counting and on the way home, i wanted FOOD! Problem is...i grabbed the first thing i saw in the fridge when i got home...are you sure you want to know? jalapeno garlic hot dog. (oh my...)


And check this out...

This is what it looked like when I was packing up to leave...the view out my window.

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

I need to go drink a bottle of wine and sit in the hot tub because my back feels like an 84 years olds....

chow...-m