I'm Back.......

Hello Everyone!

I can not tell you how much I appreciate all of you that take the time to read my blog posts. It means a lot to me to share with all of you, the things that go on in my life from work to family to my thoughts in general. I have had amazing support from you, my readers. Your support has gotten me though some rough times as well as celebrating the great times too.

During the last month my family and I have been going through one of those rough times. I have blogged about it and you have responded in kind. I have posted about work in between when I could...I wanted to keep my blog going and what not, but I do realize that just putting something on here isnt always the best thing....I want to give you something worth reading about.

So, before I starting going lax on my blog I had been informing you about my weight loss journey. I want to pick that up again. I found that having you keep me accountable was a huge part of it. Having someone to share it with has made if fun and worthwhile as well. It also helped me be an inspiration to others.

This being said, the first thing I am going to do is work on my "Weight Loss Journey". The next thing I am doing is getting my business back in order. I want to bring to you quality natural and handmade products, and not just those that I personally sale. I want to highlight others that are in the handmade world and deserve the recognition.

Another thing I want to get back into is the Sunday Stills. This is something that actually got me out of the house, got me to use my creative side not just in pictures but made me use my brain so to speak.....I like that,lol.

I have been down for about a month now. My family and I have went through another miscarriage and it was as hard as the last 3, it has taken a huge toll on my body, as well. I want to get back to where I was, when I was healthy. That is my goal. I want to get to a healthy weight of 175lbs. Although that is not a foreseeable in the near future and obtainable goal, it is my end goal. With your help I will reach it.

When I started my weight loss journey I was 315lbs, in about a month and 1 week I lost down to 280. (which was an amazing feat for me!). I used Diet Magic to help me get there, and wow was that a ride! I had to quit taking it when we got pregnant, or at least realized we were. so for a month I hadnt taken it.....I gained some baby weight BUT....today I weighed in at 285.5lbs so my weight gain was only 5.5lbs. Which to me is a huge deal, considering most diet products you take to get "skinny" dont keep the weight off and when you stop taking them, it all comes back.... not in this case.....

Anyway, the journey is back on....I took my first pill this morning, and my now beginning weight is 285.5lbs. I am asking for you to help me stay accountable. I will keep you up to date on what I am experiencing. I am a distributor of this product. I joined so that I may get the product cheaper, once I saw it was working for me and that I could help others get the same results.

I dont want to be fat anymore. I dont want my daughter seeing that fat is "okay". I dont want my daughter to see me struggle in life. I want my daughter to see mommy is healthy and happy and there with her every step of the way. I dont want my husband to be burdened with a sick and disabled wife.....that is where I am headed....Are you? Join me on this Journey, lets help each other get where we want to be. Lets get healthy together!

So, Here's to a new beginning! Here's to a second chance!

Again thank you for being here for me,
~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Barns

This weeks Sunday Stills Challenge is

~ Barns~

As I am just now getting back into the swing of things and havent posted a SS Challenge in a while, I decided I was going to walk out to the barn and take a shot,lol. Although it may not be one of the better barns around here, it stood still and posed long enough for me to get these shots,lol.

I hope you enjoy them, and I promise to really work hard on getting better shots for Challenges to come!

To check out other great pictures for this weeks challenge visit: Sunday Stills, who knows you may want to join the fun!

~ Mary

Sunday Still Challenge.......(Sports)

This weeks Sunday Stills Challenge is sports. The thing that came to mind was a "family sport".

Here is my daughter bowling for the first time!

If you enjoy taking pics and want to join in the fun then join us at Sunday Stills! Check out the comments section for links to others that have also posted their Sunday Stills pics!
~ Mary

Sundays Stills ~ Pets

This weeks Sunday Stills Challenge is Pets!


Here you see Kaitie with HER puppy "BO"


Here Bo is chewing on a stick while enjoying the warm sun, Not to mention the full belly he has going on there! LOL.

These photos were taken during Thanksgiving week. We went camping with my Brother and his family in Texas that week. It was a great time!! More photos to come of that vacation, soon.

To see more favorite pet photos from others that are participating in the Sunday Stills Challenges, Check out the Comment section of this Sunday Stills Post!

I hope you have enjoyed these and look forward to sharing more with you in the future!

~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Fall

This weeks Challenge is all about "Fall" and there is still color out there,lol. Here are various shots around my area! I hope you enjoy them!

Get in on the fun! If you would like to see more wonderful pics go to: Sunday Stills.
Get out and do something good for yourself and Satisfy Your Senses!

~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~" C"~

Todays Sunday Stills Challenge is "C"


COLDCANDLE

CUTEI hope you have enjoyed todays pic's! If you would like to join the fun go to Sunday Stills to see what others have posted and what the next challenge will be!
~~~~~~~~~
Do something good for your self today and Satisfy Your Senses!
~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Mechanical Transportation

This weeks challenge is Mechanical Transportation

We were asked to get photos of "Mechanical Transportation". It has to run on fuel an take 2 or more passengers.
This is what I came up with:

This is my brothers Harley, always proud of that bike,lol!


Here, Kaitie, is showing Grandpa how it is done!

This pic is of the Train that all the kids, in the "Hippy" program, got to take a ride on. They had to do it in two trips, there were over 200 riders that day, I believe.
Thank you for stopping by to check out my Sunday Still photos! Can't wait until next Sunday!! See ya then!
~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Rule of Thirds

This Sunday we were challenged to do "Rule of Thirds". This was a bit hard for me, because I am one that tends to always "center" the photo.

This year my daughters birthday landed on Easter so we did the "Easter Egg Hunt" lol. She was very proud of all her treasures.

"Easter Treasures"

This photo pretty much explains itself!

"Beauty after the Storm"

I Hope you enjoyed these photos and this weeks theme. Check out SUNDAY STILLS to learn more or even join us in our weekly challenges!

~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ The Open Road

Sunday Stills Challenge this week is The Open Road:

I have included several "Road" shots this time. The first one is of this past winter, when we had the big winter storm. This is the road going to our home once we reached the top of the mountain. Many were un-able to get up the mountain much less get off of it.

Here is when it "thawed out" and once the water started receding. And this is just one of the low water bridges towards the bottom of the mountain. Took a long time to clean up.


This shot is actually even further down the mountain and where you see water is actually a low water bridge. There was NO crossing that one.


This shot is from our most recent trip to the Kansas City area, just up from Bartle Hall (probably misspelled too lol) This is where I realized that we really needed to get out more, when my daughter got so excited and yelled "Mom look, look, look, theres a HOTEL!" um yeah we kinda like our mountain teheheh.

Now this "Road" Picture is kinda special. This is of one that cant wait to GET ON the Road! She is also the reason we travel the roads we do,lol.


I hope you enjoyed these and I hope to get out a bit more and bring you more pictures from our part of the mountain!
Get out into the world and Satisfy Your Senses! Thank You Ed for this great challenge.
If you would like to get in on the fun of Sunday Stills then click HERE to visit the Sunday Still site! Cant wait to see what you come up with!

~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Clouds~

This weeks Challenge was Clouds. These are photos of Storm clouds around our Home.

I love to sit outside and watch the storms roll in. I am in awe of the power behind them and the peace after the storm.

I hope you enjoy these photos, thanks for taking the time to check them out. Please feel free to leave a comment!

If you would like to get in on the Sunday Still challenges or see what others have submitted (Click HERE)!

I wish you a wonderful day!!
~ Mary

Sunday Stills ~ Toys

When it comes to Toys, Kaitie is all over it!!




She knows exactly where to find the best toys.....




These shots were taken at her FAVORITE local park............



And the only thing that makes having all these toys to play with so great is.....


Sharing them with your Best Friend! (also at another local park)

Sunday Stills ~ Nuts~

First of all I want to thank Andrea and Carrol Baker for introducing Sunday Stills to me! Now I felt that this was truly an interesting photo topic , for being my first one.

So, I tried to keep it somewhat "clean" considering the topic!

These are photos of my wonderful, crazy Brother. The collective thought in our family, when we think of him is "Are You Nuts?!?" So, when I saw what this weeks challenge was, my thoughts went immediately to him, and I knew that these were the perfect photos.

Brad is and has always been the "funny" one in our family. He is always trying to get a laugh out of you, no matter what is going on or what he has to do. And I must say, he's pretty good at it.

Here you see him at the Out House that is still on our Nanny and Granddad's land. (and as you can see behind him that it is boarded up and no longer in use, thankfully,lol)



These were taken this past Christmas at the big family get together.

Can't you just see the gleam in his eye!

He was recently Medically Discharged from the Army, after doing 2 tours in Irac. Bless his heart for having such wonderful Humor!

Thank you for letting me share my "Nutty" brother with you! Can't wait for next weeks challenge!

~ Mary