Weight Watchers...take three, or is it four now?

Ryan and I have started Weight Watchers several times. Then slowly fall off the wagon, and start again.

This time, I hope it sticks. We have been doing well. Even with Ryan's best friend's wedding, we managed to lose, and we ate a ton. It's a slow journey that's for sure! We have been slowly changing our habits. Eating less. Eating more veggies. And trying to find a time to exercise with our crazy schedules. So far, we are doing it! It's been a month now. And I am encouraged.

One reason I am encouraged is watching people around me on "crash diets". You know the ones, starve yourself and only eat 1/3 of the calories you should, then binge because you are starving. They don't work. Then there's me, trucking along. Eating more vegetables than I have my whole life! And trying hard. But at the end of the day, I have to remember that I am doing this the healthy way. Sure, those on the crash diet may lose quicker, but they are unhealthy and will gain it back quicker. It took me over a year to gain back the weight I lost with WW the first time. So, with that, I am encouraged.

I am also encouraged by my friend Jen. We went to college together and lived just across the hall from one another as RA's. She joined WW 3 years ago, and is now a lifetime member! I have been reading her blog, and recently found her blog about being healthy and her journey with WW. Check it out here!

Another thing that has helped is having the right tools. I use my measuring spoons all the time! I am so glad that I have 3 sets! I wish I could just buy a tablespoon, because I use that the most! My kitchen scale has been huge! I use that to measure portions instead of measuring cups. It is more accurate. But it just died. Sad, I know. But now I get to go buy a nice new digital one! Oh yeah, I am so excited. And I hear that they are great for more accurate baking. Ziploc bags are huge too! I take any snacks we buy and measure out the portions and put them in one of these little guys. Then I write the point value on it. It's so great! Ryan loves it too, it makes it so much easier for portion control! I love using WW online! It's great to put my recipes in and find out how many points that they are! And to track what I am eating! Lastly, recipes. I have found some amazing WW recipes! Like these (click for the link) yummy lemon bars I made the other night. (Sorry if it seems like I am copying you Jen on your favs...but they are great and my favs too! :) )

Lastly, my encouragement is Ryan. I am so glad that we are doing this together. Right now, we are unable to attend the meetings. But having him there, is a huge help. He is constantly reminding me that I have only so many points! I appreciate that about him.

So, hopefully this time we will reach goal weight. I was 30 pounds away last time...now, well I am more than that. So I am hoping by Christmas to be 30 pounds or less away from goal! Wouldn't that be great????

3 is such a wonderful number.

Today marks 3 years. 3 years since Ryan and I went on our first date. 3 years that we have been together.

3 years ago we went to Cafe Mingo on our first date. Had some wine. Walked. Went to dessert. It was a very wonderful first date.

Last year Ryan bought me roses, and took me to The Melting Pot for dinner.

This year, was no different. He showed up with flowers at my work yesterday. Then surprised me and took me to...well, The Melting Pot. A new tradition he said, there was no complaining from me. Except maybe that I ate too much! :)

We had such a wonderful time! I love that he loves to celebrate this day. I know to some it's such an insignificant day, but for us, it's one worth celebrating. Because to us, it's not just another day. It's the day that would change our lives. It was that day, I met my best friend, and husband.

And to me, that is worth celebrating!

Happy 3 year "dating" anniversary Ryan!

I heart Young Life

When I was in high school I was a part of a small group of students and leaders that started up WYLD Life in my town. I had been attending Young Life, then when asked to help start the Middle School Club, I was thrilled!! Since then, I have loved being a part of Young Life and Wyld Life. Both as Student Staff, and as a volunteer.

For those who don't know, Young Life is an awesome youth ministry that is all about sharing Christ. But by building relationships with kids and "earning the right to be heard". I have seen lives changed by the ministry of Young Life. In fact, my life has been changed because of YL.

I had a recent reminder of the amazing ministry being done. In a few ways actually. First, my mom. She has been volunteering for a couple (maybe three) years with Young Lives. This ministry focuses on teen moms. My mom makes meals for their club once a month, and in the summer goes to camp as a nanny. This allows the girls to enjoy camp and bring their babies. My mom loves it because she gets to be "grandma" for the week! Well camp is next week for her. And she is so excited. I love how much she loves Young Life too.

One of the other ways was while we were in Europe. I was reminded of many camps and clubs while we were there. And felt a prompting in my heart to get involved again. Whether on the support end, like being on Committee, or administratively, or as a leader. Being a leader would be hard while I work full time, but I came home determined to find a way to get involved.

Which brings me to my next reminder. I recently met with the Area Director of the Young Life near us, just to talk about ways to get involved. I am thrilled to figure out a way to get plugged in.

Needless to say, this post is really to share just how much I love Young Life. One of my students from the church in Olympia just got back from a YL camp and posted on Facebook how much he loved it. One of my girls is at a different camp doing work crew all summer. I think YL does a great job not only reaching kids who are not plugged into a church, but those who are!

I heart Young Life.

Camp

We still haven't decided what to write quite yet, but I wanted to share this photo of our entire camp. Students, Interns, Czech Leaders, and the team from our church.

We're Home!

Well, we made it home just fine from our trip to the Czech Republic! And what a trip it was!!! There are so many things to share!

But not today. Sorry to everyone who was expecting an update!

We are still processing and adjusting to the time change! We will post updates, I promise!

But for now, just know that we had a great time! We are so thankful to all of you who supported us and prayed for us! The trip was awesome!

Love,
Danielle

Daily CZECH Up-the end

This is it. Our final post before we depart for the Czech. In just a few short days we will be on our way. A day filled planes, trains, and yes, automobiles. A bus to be exact.

So much to do in just a few short days. Packing. Cleaning. Laundry. Loading my favorite music onto my ipod.

Not to mention praying. We want to take time the next couple of days to really pray for our time on this trip. We were told that the camp will be smaller than planned. This could be a really good thing. We are trying not to be discouraged! Please pray with us as we are coming into our final preparations.

As far as finances go! We are only about 1600 short of our goal! Thank you so much!!!! We are so thankful! I cannot even express the gratitude we feel not only for the support we have received financially, but the prayers as well.

Well, this is it. I am signing off. Next time you hear from us on here will be a report of our trip! We cannot WAIT to see what the Lord is going to do!

Daily CZECH Up-prayer update

Here is an email I got from Daniel about the two girls who were in the accident.

Thank you for praying!

Thank you to all of you for your encouraging notes considering the two young girls Esther and Simona whom we wrote you about earlier this week.

Today we were able to go and visit them both in the hospital. Simona took most of the impact in her face, so they have been doing surgeries to reconstruct it. However, she has both of her eyes and it didn't look like she had sustained severe bone damage. Most of the injuries were from glass cutting her face. She was in good spirits though and was even kidding with Kim and I while we were in visiting her. She even said she was so sad that she couldn't go to camp with us. It broke our hearts.

Esther was worse off. From what I understand she was actually pinned down by the bus that they had been riding in. The firemen actually had to cut her out of the bus. Her left arm was totally crushed and they had to put it back together with all kinds of screws and metal parts. Fortunately the rest of very body is relatively intact. She is very bruised everywhere, but no other permanent damage. However, the damage to her arm is bad enough that she will be in the hospital for well over a month. She is still in intensive care, and she was glad to see us today, but spends most of her time sleeping still.

Thanks for your continued prayers for these girls and for their healing. They have a long road still ahead and we want to be there for them.

Also, please pray for God to sustain us as we enter into our first English Camp with our mother church Havirov this week.

We love you all and thank you so much for standing beside us and beside these two wonderful girls.

Daniel