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Saturday, February 22, 2014

Change!

A lot has changed in the last month. I will be living out my dream of teaching full-time in fifth grade. I will start in just 2 weeks! My days begin at 5:30am waking kids for early band and make breakfast and lunches/snacks. Then wake kids for elementary and Jr high then I get ready and off to school by 7:15am. Home around 4:15 then carpools and fun with the kids, make dinner and then scriptures prayers and bedtime. After family is loved on and tucked in bed for the night I spend hours looking for materials for the classroom and my lesson plans. Exercise is a second thought. It will become a priority again but for now other things are of utmost importance. Family then classroom.I am fluctuating about 10ish pounds but doing alright.
Yesterday teaching. We won some prizes for the chocolate bar fundraiser.
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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

2 Years have Passed

Ever since I made the commitment (found in the post below.) to Jack (Elder Dalton) 2 years ago it has been in the back of my mind keeping me on track.  When I completely feel apart and my weight jumped up to 254 lbs I knew that no matter what I needed to get back down to close to 200 lbs before February 4th so that I would keep my side of the commitment.

Jack has been such an amazing missionary. His weekly letters and pictures have been inspiring. He has been a very obedient servant of the Lord and through his obedience he was blessed. Today he returns home from South Africa. Thank you Jack for helping me along my journey. I love you and are so thankful for your service to The Lord and your example of a stalwart missionary! You are one of my heroes!

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Same shirt 2 years later in honor of Jack’s return .

Monday, February 13, 2012

Elder Dalton

 

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Trish Austin has been Jack’s personal Trainer as he has lost weight.  I really wanted to coach Jack through this change but he is a wise man.  He sees me as a “mom” figure and he wanted someone that would push him and that he didn’t already have a close relationship with to be that person for him.  I gave my advice and helped with information and support but Sister Austin transformed this boy. 

I must share how she came to be his trainer. As I sat in their living room weeping with Jack and my best friend Stace (his mom) I thought of the tough road ahead of him.  (Jack was asked to lose a substantial amount of weight before his mission papers would be accepted.) I shared little bits and pieces of what I had learned and knew that there was a reason I had my journey just 2 years before.  I needed to be there for Jack to know that this is possible.  A person can truly change physically and in a short amount of time.  I prayed so hard in my mind that I could tell them what they needed to know. At that time her name came to my mind. Another friend had recently spent a few sessions with Trish and had told me what a great trainer she was.  The only reason she had been to her was because she had won a free month of training.  I do not think it is by chance that these events happened so that I would know what to tell Jack and Stace who they could seek out for more help.  Our Heavenly Father knows ALL and he puts people, Earthly angels, in our path that will help us achieve our goals and to gain even greater happiness.  What a blessing it has been to watch this transformation happen .  Jack is truly ready to serve the Lord! 

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Elder Jack Dalton flies out tomorrow to Johannesburg, South Africa and will enter the Missionary Training Center there.  I am so proud of this boy!  My heart is bursting with love, excitement, pride and so many more emotions I can’t describe.  This young man is a spiritual giant.  He has done what he was asked to do in order to serve the Lord and he did an amazing job at it with a fantastic attitude. 

Jack is one of my heroes.  I know how difficult it is to lose weight.  I can’t imagine being 19 years old, working full-time and losing weight at the same time. The people of South Africa will be greatly blessed by Elder Dalton. 

I committed to Jack that when he returns in 2 years that I won't be any bigger than I am now and he committed back.  We have to stick together!  Living a healthy life is a challenge and a fight against the natural man but we are strong and we will win the fight! I will see you in two years Elder Dalton.  I can’t wait to see what these next two years have in store for you. 

RETURN WITH HONOR

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