Family Vacation

As I reflect back over the past few days, I am overjoyed at the opportunity that was afforded me and my little family to go on a family vacation. I believe this is the first REAL vacation we have been on since my boys are old enough to really enjoy and remember. Who could've guessed that 2 nights and 3 days could be loaded with so much fun!

First was the 6 1/2 hour drive to San Diego from St George! We rented a compact car to drive over and when we went to pick up the rental Friday night the young man working at the desk advised me that he had just given his last "car" away to the client who had just came before me. We reserved the smallest/cheapest car available. Unfortunately for the rental agency the only vehicle available was a sweet, Chrysler Town & Country Minivan! Yep... got it for $19 per day! Woot! We left before daylight on Saturday and as planned were walking on the sandy shore of Mission Beach by lunchtime! I didn't realize how much I had missed the ocean until I saw it. There is nothing more beautiful and awe inspiring than the beauty of the ocean... in my opinion. When I am staring out over the surf I am reminded of how small I am in the grand scheme of things. God has created for us the most beautiful world. How blessed I feel to be able to witness it on a daily basis.

The boys and the beach... Marky, Marky, Marky. Cloudy and sort of chilly weather did not keep him out of the water! I think he's going to be a beach bum like his Mama! After Mark tested the water and Jacob realized that he didn't cry or die... he followed right behind him. Two wet sandy boys! I love it! After we checked into our downtown hotel we decided to walk down to Petco Park where the Padres play baseball. On the walk down... about 20 blocks... Jacob had us stopping at every restaurant and bar to watch the NFL playoffs... he is a serious Saints fan! No idea where he came up with the Saints... Mom's a Dolphin fan...born in Miami and always a fan. Dad doesn't really have a favorite NFL team. I think it's great though. Anyways we had a great time hanging out downtown. The whole downtown vibe was so awesome! I really miss that... that is something I really miss from Orlando and Dallas and Cincinnati is that downtown atmosphere! And downtown SD is so nice and very clean!

Sunday we went to the zoo and then over to the USS Midway late in the afternoon! It was a terrific vacation. Probably the first real vacation we've been on as a family! I know... hard to believe with me being a travel agent... but it's true. We used to go to Disney and Universal and Sea World all the time when we lived in Orlando but they were too little to remember! In Cincinnati we has a membership to the zoo but again... their memories of it are very vague. This was a great vacation and we are really looking forward to doing it again soon!

I deserve to BE a mom they can be proud of!

As I begin week 2 of 2012 and week 2 of my diet, I am happy to say that I have lost 12 lbs so far! Yippee! Only 15 lbs to go... or 20 or maybe 25. I would love nothing more than to be 145 lbs by my 45th birthday! That is "almost" what I weighed when I got married in 2003! I've said it before and I'll say it again... I can't believe I've let myself get here... again!

I guess I've known for a long time that my weight would always be a struggle for me. I have watched my mother (and father) struggle with their weight my whole life. I remember when I was a young girl and the doctors diagnosed my mother with osteoarthritis. It must've been the early 1970's. There were not a lot of arthritis medications and pain relievers available like we have today. But what I remember (and never forgot) was my mom saying that her doctor told her, the best thing she could do for the arthritis was to lose weight! She never did. Well, I take that back she did lose a lot of weight one time a when I was a teenager... she looked great and felt great but she gained it all back a few years later. And never lost it again.

Over the past several years I have begun to reap the blessing of arthritis... got it in my fingers and my knees. FUN! But mom preaches to me on a regular basis... "Julie, don't do what I did!" "Get that weight off now. Look at me, do you want to be like this when you are older?" "Exercise!" "Get healthy, and stay healthy!" Mom bought me my first jumbo-Costco Size-bottle of glucosamine/chondroitin! I was running everyday at the time and my knees were hurting so badly at the end of my run. But after about a week of taking them (helps with joints and stuff) the pain stopped. Very cool. As long as mom is alive and living in my home she will be a constant reminder of why I need to get my poop in a groove and get this weight off once and for all. I do not want that for me! Nope!

Anyways... this is the last time.... I've said it before but this time I REALLY mean it. It has to be. I'm going to be 45 years old this year and I just can't keep doing this. This will be the 4th or maybe 5th time I have done this! The older I get the harder it gets and I am just so done. I'm ready to look good and feel good and have all the extra energy I can get so I can keep up with my little guys! They deserve to have a mom they can be proud of and I deserve to BE a mom they can be proud of!

Day One

Today begins a total health revival for myself! No more sugar - no carbs and no fat for 1 month! I have set a goal to be 145 lbs by the time I am 45. I have about 100 days to do it! I hope that putting this in writing will keep me on track!

New Years Day 2012

I can't believe it's been 2 1/2 years since I last posted on this blog. Right after I made my last post my life changed in a big way. We decided to take a trip out west to visit my mother in Utah and me and the kids have not been back. We decided that St George was where we needed to be. Closer to family, especially my mother.

Since May of 2009, I have started a new business... JT Wills Travel... and Tim has gone back to school to finish his degree in English at DSC. He has 1 more year to go. We have mom living with us and are watching after and caring for her. I love this opportunity.

While the past 2 1/2 years have been some of the most trying times in my life... financially, physically, emotionally and Spiritually... I am grateful for the challenges which have helped me to learn and grow as a person. But quite frankly, I'm a little tired of it. Haha!

I am not going to make a bunch of resolutions that I can't keep. I have decided to take it one day and one month at a time so by the time this year is over I have taken control of my life again. Don't get me wrong... the Lord, will always have control of my life. Meaning.. I will always try to follow His will... but starting now... I am going to spend January getting back on track health wise... exercise, diet etc. By February I hope to have a full time job SOMEWHERE... that will lift some of the financial burden that we have been living under for so long. And each day I am going to try to do all the little things I know I need to do that just makes me a happier woman! ie: saying my prayers, reading scriptures, spending quality time with my boys and attending the temple on a regular basis. For so long the closest temple was 2 hours away! I attended more then than I do now with one right down the road! All these things just make my days so much better.

Happy New Year!