Surprise

Paul and I are so excited to share with you that we are expecting a baby boy this August!

As of today, I am 21 weeks pregnant, and I feel great...minus the sore lower back and stuffy nose.  I actually can't believe I'm so far along.  Where has the time gone?

Yes, my mom did know I was pregnant.  She went to my very first doctor's appointment with me and got to hear the heartbeat.  A few days before she died, she said something about having grandsons....so I figured then that she was speaking prophetically and that I was having a boy.  I wasn't shocked in the least bit when we popped the balloon and the blue confetti revealed what my mom had already told me!

We are over the moon excited and can't wait to start this new chapter in our lives!

Mom's Memorial Service

It is with great sadness that my siblings and I let you know that our sweet Honey passed away this morning at 3 am.  She was an exceptional, faithful, loving, and wonderful woman who never doubted for one minute that she would one day walk the golden streets of Heaven with Jesus.  She's up in Heaven dancing with HIM right now---we just know it. 

We welcome you to come celebrate our beloved mom with us. 

Details for her memorial service are below: 

This Saturday, March 1, at 2 pm. 
Trinity Church Dallas - 4300 Cole Avenue, Dallas, TX 75205 
http://www.trinitydallas.com/ 

Per Mom's wishes, a contribution can be made to You Can Free Us http://www.youcanfree.us/ in lieu of flowers.  This ministry was incredibly near and dear to her heart. 

Life Changes Quickly

I've been debating whether to write a blog about this, which is why it's taken me so long.

2 weeks ago, I took my mom to the ER because she was in an unbearable amount of pain.  During the visit, the doctors found that her entire liver was consumed with cancer.  To repeat what the doctor said, "There is so much cancer that you can't distinguish the cancer from the liver."

She came home a couple of days later and we immediately set up hospice.  So, for the past 2 weeks, we've been living through her declining health.  We've been dealing with her decliding liver function.

It's all happened so quickly--the decline, that is.  One minute you are having High Tea at the Arboretum (top picture), and then next, you're helping her do daily tasks, like get in and out of bed.  Talk about her Memorial Service find their way naturally into conversations.  Her precious jewelry sits in the jewelry boxes of my siblings and me.

I find myself making breakfast in the morning, crying over my cup of tea.  Blow-drying my hair - crying.  Driving home from work - crying.  Waking up at 3 in the morning - crying.

There's no book written on how a 27 year old should handle losing her 52 year old mother.  So for now, I'll continue to cry my way through.

Elie Saab: Haute Couture

I am totally in love with Elie Saab.  Every collection he's produced has been fabulous, in my opinion.  His most recent 2014 collection, which just debuted in Paris, has not let me down.  I can only dream of the day I'd have a chance to wear one of these beauts to a gala!

Wouldn't the white pearl jacket & skirt be just amazing to wear to work???
What about that little purple number?  I'd wear it as my Easter Sunday dress.  
Which is your favorite?

Happy New Year

It's been a while, hasn't it?

I stopped blogging consistently last year because I felt like all I talked about were sad things happening in my life.  Or if I wasn't talking about those things, I felt guilty that I was thinking about other things.

As a quick update, my mom has moved in with us permanently.  Over the holidays, we moved her out of the house she's lived in for 15+ years, and now she is with us full time becasue she could no longer live alone.  This is sad, because she's only 52, but it's also wonderful because we get to see her every day and I know she's being taken care of.

The Mr. and I are continuing on with all the random projects we've got going on.  In 2013, we completed our Master Bath Remodel (pictures to come) and bought the cutest little house that we were able to rent out only 15 days after closing.  (We like to call it "Starting our Empire".) The tenant even signed a 2 year contract!

And today, in fact, we are having the large cottonwood tree in our front yard cut down.  Branches have been dropping from it for the past year, and an Arborist told us it was dying, so the Mr. wanted to make sure the tree didn't fall on our house.  Perhaps I'll post pictures of that too.....maybe!

So, while we struggle with the sad things in life, I am reminded of all that we have to be happy about.  I can't wait to share more happy news to come!

Focus T25: The Workout for Busy People

Hey, all you busy people out there! This new program from Shaun T (creator of Insanity) requires only 25 minutes of your time every day. Ask me more about Focus T25, or sign up for it today. Why delay toning your body any longer?

www.beachbodycoach.com/AMELIA486

60 Day Beachbody Challenge

Raise your hand if you’ve never struggled with your weight…..anyone…anyone?  Didn’t think so.  It seems like as soon as I hit 27 (back in April) I’ve been putting on the lbs.  I DON’T know why, and it’s super frustrating.  I had to take action, and quick! 



 

Perhaps my weight gain is related to my Paris Vacation.....oops!

A little over a month ago, I began a 60 day weight loss challenge, affectionately called the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE, where I drink 1 Shakeology shake a day and pair it with a Turbo Fire workout video.  At first, I was a bit timid about committing to drinking 1 Shakeology a day, but now, I LOVE IT!  Sometimes, I have one for dinner too if I get home late from work. 

Shakeology is super healthy for you, chalk full of essential vitamins and power-foods.  I definitely feel more energized than ever.  (For serious, I had a cholesterol bump next to my eye that has been there for at least a year, and it’s completely gone.  I noticed it started going away when I began drinking Shakeology.)

Paul (my meat eating husband) has even started requesting a Shakeology shake daily too!  So, because we both love it so much, I became a Coach, so that I can share my love for the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE & Shakeology with all of my friends and family.  (On a family vacation, I made it for my FIL a few times too—and he enjoyed it.)

As far as the diet’s going, I’ve noticed I’m more toned than before.  I weight about what I did when I started, but I think that’s attributed to the fact that I’ve gained more muscle (and muscle weighs more than fat…and I’m only 1 month in.)  The Turbo Fire workouts came with a 90 day class schedule, so I have decided that instead of just doing the diet for 60 days, I’m going to do it for 90 because I’m loving it so much!

If you are interested in the BEACHBODY CHALLENGE or in trying Shakeology, click here to order it.  You can do a “Challenge Pack” which is for a workout program and a month’s worth of Shakeology, or you can just get Shakeology on its own.  If you have questions, I’m more than happy to give you my honest opinions and answers. 

I don’t mean to be all “sales-pitchy / infomercial” about this, but I really am happy with the results I’ve seen so far, and I’m not depriving myself—which makes this whole diet thing 100 times better.