Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day everyone.  Over the past several days, I have been hanging out with great friends and enjoying cookouts.  However, the importance of this day has always been in the back of my mind.  So....

To all my military family and friends who are currently serving or have served, I want to say a big THANK YOU!!  I appreciate you for everything you do/done for this country.  Also, a special prayer to all those who laid down their lives to keep this country FREE.  What you did will never be forgotten. 

To close, I wanted to share to special pictures.  These pictures are of my grandfathers.  Both served in the Army.  I am very proud to have been their granddaughter.  I miss them both so much.  Sending much love to heaven this morning for both of them.

My Grandpa Tom Daniel (he is the one on the left)

My Grandpa Duane Anderson

Have a blessed and safe day everyone!!

Memories in Pictures

One of my friends on Facebook has been posting pictures from high school and that got me digging in my great assortment of pictures.  Man, what I found!!  It was great looking back at those times in those old pictures.  So I thought, 'Why not share?'  Well, that is exactly what I am going to do - share. 

So, here is the first go around.  These are from junior high and high school.  Some brought a big smile to my face and then some (two to be exact) brought tears.  Enjoy!!

Melissa, Kim and Stephanie - taking in 9th grade science I believe

Mr. Meade - One my favorite teacher of my entire school career!

Tim Farley and I with the birthday cake April Estep made me.

And yes, you see croutons on the cake.  I don't know why there

are croutons on the cake!

Terry Estep, April Estep and me - All County 1992

Sherri McNeely, Dan Gygax and me - Football game 1991

Hard to believe Dan will be RETIRING from the Air Force this year!!

Where has twenty years gone?!?!?

Renee Dickens and my sister Stacey

Tim Farley, John Dickens and I - Graduation Day 1992

Those two guys were my two of my best friends!!

Though this is dated after I graduated, I love the look on Jennifer's face!

Amy, Jennifer, April, Elizabeth and Linda

Senior Trip to Daytona!

Missy, Me, Tina, Misti and Bridgette

Since it is the season - Prom Pictures!

Terry and I - 9th grade prom

Jason and I - after prom 9th grade

That was the best time!  I will always remember the Shoney's waitress incident!

Another story for another time!

Donnie and I - Junior Prom 1991 (top) and

Senior Prom 1992 (bottom)

And finally,

Linda Austin and I - Huntington 1993

I dearly loved this woman!  She was like my second mother!

The world is missing one GREAT woman!  RIP Linda!

Mr. King (My other favorite teacher) and Steven Tudor - 1991

Oh, I really can't believe it has been 20 years that Steven has been gone!

He was definitely a GREAT individual!  I loved him like a brother!

You are missed by everyone Tudor!  We love you still!

Finally NEW clothes

Yes ladies and gentlemen, you heard it right here!  Johnny has finally broke down and purchased some new clothes!  WOO HOO!!  Now, in all fairness, he has gotten some new things along the way (a huge thanks to my mother-in-law for helping in that fact).  However, he had not went out and purchased things on his own.  But today was the day!  I was so happy.  And you want to know the best part, it was the look on his face. 

I say that because when you are a bigger person, you can not find clothes to fit at regular department stores.  You must purcahse items from speciality stores.  However that changed today.  Today, when I saw my husband picking up t-shirts, etc and actually placing them in the buggy for purchase, I wanted to scream YIPEE!!  I was so happy for him and he was excited (even though he did not want to admit it).  So, here is to NEW clothes and a NEW lease on shopping!!

This is a shirt Johnny was wearing before surgery.

Look how big it is now!

This is one of the new shirts we bought today.

What a difference!?!?!



I have always been proud of my husband!!  But honestly, I can not express how proud of him and the changes he has went through in the past 7 months!  CONGRATS JOHNNY!!

Blink and the years are gone

As I sit here writing this blog post, I am definitely happy and sad all at the same time.  In two days, my son will finish with Eighth grade and make that transition to high school.  Tear!  I sit here and wonder where 14 years have gone.  However, though I am a little sad to see him take this next step, I am happy/excited to see what new adventures high school will bring him.

Over the course of the last few days, I have seen some friends post about preschool and kindergarten graduations.  It seems just like yesterday when we attended JJ's preschool graduation.

June 9, 2003

Then a few short months later, it was time for his first day of kindergarten!

August 2003

And now here we are:

8th Grade Spring Fling - May 19, 2012

Again, blink and the years are gone!  Mom and Dad love you very much JJ!

Rolling in the Cinnamon

YAY to the person whoever invented cinnamon rolls of any type.  In my opinion, they are gooey deliciousness.  Several months ago, I found this recipe on Pinterest for cream cheese rollups.  OH MY GOODNESS!!  They are absolutely fabulous!!  The best part is that it is only has six ingredients:

Now, I know what you are probably saying, "White Bread?  Why does this picture have loaves of white bread in it for cinnamon rolls?"  That is what makes this recipe SO great - they are made out of white bread!!  It is hard to believe that something so good and gooey comes from white bread.  However, 20 minutes in the oven and you get these wonderful things.

Try them!  I promise that you will LOVE them!!

Beautiful Day to...

Yard Sale!!  Today was our annual church yard sale at Kanawha Salines by the Women In The Church.  Don't we look great in our matching shirts?

Now, last year I really did not find that much because quite honestly, nothing would really fit.  However, this year was a totally different story.  I was actually putting things back down because I knew they would be too BIG for me.  What a great feeling to have!!  I did score some great items including this little number.

Notice the tags are still on the top.  The tag read $119.00 and I got it for FIVE DOLLARS!!  Yes, you read that right!  I was thrilled!  And the best part is that when I got it home, it fit perfectly! 

I am kinda in that "in between" stage right now with my clothes.  My clothes are getting loose and bigger (not a bad thing at all).  However, I am not "quite" into the next smaller size.  So, I have decided yard sales are going to be my best friends this summer.  "Hopefully" I can find some great finds (like today) and then not feel bad when I can't wear them anymore.  Plus, I need some church clothes.  I am getting tired of wearing the same three outfits all the time -- LOL!

So, it was a great BLESSING today when I found 8 outfits (dresses/pant suits), 7 tops, 2 pair of pants, 1 coat and 6 pair of shoes.  Great day to say the least!  Also, I wasn't the only one who found some great treasures.  JJ found this cool desk to put into his room at his nana's and papaw's.

Plus, he got to hang out with his little buddy, JJ. 

Yep, we have two JJ's in the church.  I like to call them "Big JJ" and "Little JJ". 

Hope you get a chance to go yard selling sometime this summer!  I plan on hitting a bunch of them myself.

Have a great evening everyone!

Missing My "Boy"

Who would have EVER thought that last year Johnny, JJ and I would have been blessed to meet such a wonderful person like we did when we meet Trent Stevenson.

Now, tonight as the Power starts their homestand, I am a little sad knowing that when I get to the ballpark, I will not be greeted by this wonderful young man's smile.

Though Johnny, JJ and I will miss Trent, I wish him nothing but happiness in all his future endeavors.  I know he made the right choice and I know he is very happy to be back home.  And I also know that it was not "Goodbye" Saturday but a teaful "See you soon."

I am just thankful that my family and I were blessed to have such a wonderful person come into our lives.  He has truly became like a brother to JJ and a son to Johnny and I. 

We love and miss you Trent! 

Decisions, Decisions

So, I changed the name of the blog again.  I just did not like the old name and I PROMISE, this will be the last time I change it.  The reason I changed this time is two fold.  First, as I have stated before, it is hard to write everyday about weight loss.  When I changed the name the last time, it still seemed to be more about weight loss.  So, I decided with this title, I would have more room to move.  I will still be talking about weight loss some but it is not going to be every single post.  I will also keep posting updates about Johnny (see below).  Second, I am hoping to try and write more than every month and attract more readers.  So, for those who have been following, I hope you like the new setup.  For any new readers, welcome! 

Now, with all that said, I know some of you are probably wondering "How is Johnny doing?"  Well, I can not tell you how proud of him I am!!  He is down around 165 pounds now!!  He has finally started to buy some new clothes.  All I can say about that is THANK GOODNESS!  Here is my honey seven months post surgery.

Again, thanks for following through all the changes.  And welcome to "The Wonderful Craziness Called My Life."