1. My middle name is Marie. When I was born my Dad wanted to be creative with my name, so he went with Amy Marie Yoder, mainly for the initials. 

2. I have flown by myself since I was a young child. It’s so second nature, it’s like getting in a car. Although I don’t get to do it as much as I used to.

3. I am a connoisseur of chicken salad. I have probably tried almost 100 varieties.  The little corner grill near my house continues to hold 1st place. The secret ingredient is cream cheese, no wonder.

4. I douched my eye when I was a young child which resulted in a trip to the ER. I was exploring under the bathroom sink and thought I would “wash my hair” like my Mom did. I’ll never live this one down.

5. I have always wanted to play a musical instrument but never had the patience and perseverance to follow through. One of my goals for 09 is to learn to play my mountain dulcimer.

6. I love to travel…my goals in life are to visit Alaska, Italy, Greece, Australia, New Zealand, San Francisco/CA wine country, various Caribbean islands, to mention a few.

7. I enjoy watching some of Jake’s children’s shows. Franklin, Little Bear, Calilou, Curious George and Clifford are a few of my favs.

8. I love my job and consider it a great privilege to work there. I often feel guilty to be so blessed and some days can’t wait to go to work.  I am the Director of a Pregnancy Care Center ministry.

9. I have an addictive personality. It used to be geared toward food. Almost two years ago I had weight loss surgery and lost 120 pounds. Now my addiction has transferred to a love of shopping. I am a clothes-hound and have major issues with purchasing costume jewelry.  Thank God for yard sales and Goodwill.

10. I’m also now addicted to coffee, I can’t start my day without it. Actually I am addicted to flavored creamers and just add the coffee for the caffiene part. Over the Holidays I consumed a ton of Peppermint Mocha creamer. I’m sad to see it off the shelf now, but how sweet it will be when it returns.

11. I love 80s music, still listen to it all the time. It brings back good memories of days when I had very little responsibility. Some of my all time favs are Faithfully (Journey), Every breath you take (Police), Your Love (The Outfield), She’s a beauty (The Tubes), Boys of Summer (Don Henley)…too mention a few.

12. I am proud to have two grandparents that are still living at a very old age. My grandfather will turn 100 next week and my grandma will be 95 this year. They have been married for 76 years!!   God has blessed them with great health. No heart problems or other major issues. It is remarkable!

New Year’s Day was not a good day for me. I had an attitude and was pretty much feeling blah.  My mood has improved since then, now I am thinking about the year ahead and working on some goals.  This is what I have so far…

1. To have a more structured detailed time with the Lord. To really seek His face not only for daily decisions in my own life and home, but also for the ministry.  I do this already, but I feel lead to really get more specific and of course, the daily thing is always an issue.

2. To get rid of CLUTTER!  It is all consuming in my life. I have issues with it at home and work.  Since losing all my weight, I have 3 closets worth of clothes that are taking over my bedroom. Not to mention the issues I have with paper clutter. Enough moving it around from room to room. And my office at work, well someone needs a lesson in filing.

That’s all I have so far. Of course, each year I vow to get on an exercise program. Still struggling with that one. It’s really hard to be disciplined with this one, especially since I have lost all my weight and maintained it for over 5 months without the help of exercise. Not a real motivator!

Well the list will grow in time, but it’s a start. Need to get it in writing because they say your goals are 80% more likely met if you simply get them in writing.

Here’s to 09!

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I am home today with a sick toddler who has a stomach/intestinal virus.

Here is the scene earlier:

Jake:  “Mommy, hurry come here.”

 Me:  “What sweetie?”

 Jake: “My butt just threw up!”

  OH THE JOYS OF MOTHERHOOD! 🙂

At the PCC, I am working on launching a new ministry to encourage Dads.  In my research I came across this PSA from the National Fatherhood Initiative. Enjoy!

I have not been a faithful blogger these days. Life has been too crazy busy to allow it. However I have the honor to be off work tomorrow and join my precious Jake on his first ever preschool field trip. We are heading out to an apple orchard/pumpkin patch with a slue of 2-4 year olds. I am sure this outing will leave me with much to blog about. Stay tuned…

I am crazy busy with work right now. Our 10th anniversary Banquet is less than a week away. I am super excited, but will be so thankful when it’s behind me.  My new employees are doing great and jumping right in there, which is a big help!  We have been so busy with clients, we barely have any open appointments these days. If you think of it, pray for us as we seek to shower these girls/women with God’s love.  We are seeing an increase in abortion minded women, who just need to be fed the truth in a loving, non-judgemental atmosphere.  So many of these women don’t have a clue of what abortion entails, they just see the quick fix, the eraser. We try to get them to think beyond the immediate crisis, and to consider all the facts and options.  I love my job!

Earlier this week I took on my latest venture. GETTING IN SHAPE!  I met with a personal trainer and joined a local all women’s gym.  Even though I may be “skinny” now, as my friends say, I am still weak and oh so out of shape. When you lose a ton of weight, you unforunately also lose alot of muscle.  So here is my attempt to build back some muscle and get toned up.  No I am not striving to be all, female weightlifting competition powerlifter, just want to be in shape.  Of course, I will still need plastic surgery in the future, but not really excited about that. It’s a major deal. Plus Hubs and I need to first answer the nagging question of…any more kiddies in your future?  The verdict is still out on that one.

Anyway, my first meeting with Steve (picture, if you will, Hans and Franz) was Monday. He was really cool and very impressed with my weight loss journey. Steve had big plans for me.  And who was I to disappoint.  However, on Tuesday I could hardly move. My staff was laughing at me all day, as I grimaced and shuffled about. I knew I would be sore, just had no clue it would hit me that hard. Oh well, you know what they say about “no pain, no gain”.  I am happy to say that the pain has not kept me from the gym. I took on that bad boy again yesterday. Two days in one week…hey it’s progress.

Today is 18 months to the day that I had gastric bypass surgery. I am thrilled to share with you that this morning, I made my goal. Thank you God!!

Time, oh there is never enough in the day, they say. The older I get, the more truth I find in that.  The past several months my life has taken on a much faster pace. Hubs has been working long hours, six days a week for awhile now. Work has been very detailed with preparations for our big Banquet.  So many great events going on at our new church. Life has just been flying by.

I have grown to cherish our family time more than ever. And I really strive to make that time, quality.  As summer wraps up and J returns to preschool next week, I look forward to Fall and I pray that life slows down a tad. That we can take time to stop and smell the fresh apples, take a trip to the mountains to see the leaves change, visit the pumpkin patches. You know, enjoy all that Fall has to offer.

Until then, I see J’s bathing suit hanging on the doorknob, waiting to enjoy the pool a few more times.  I look back on how my son has taken to the water like a fish. Swimming all over the pool (with floaters on), jumping off the side, with no fear at all. And I am reminded that, this stage of life is short and I need to enjoy it while I can. His young life is flying by and before I know it…he will be a teenager. I shutter! 

And that’s all I have to say about that. For life calls…

I am in need of a yummy dessert recipe for a cookout this weekend.  Here’s the kicker, it needs to be low sugar or diabetic friendly.  I would love to use my Splenda brown sugar mix, or just splenda. I like chewy bar type thingies but am open to any low sugar dessert that tastes great and is not hard to prepare. You know, something that WOWs the people and they say, “Oh my lands, I would have never guessed it was diet.”  Maybe I am dreaming but I figured I would just put it out there and see what type of response I would get. So ladies, or gentlemen, let’s hear those great recipes!

On the 26th of this month, it will be 18 months since I had weight loss surgery. I have ONE pound to go until I reach my personal goal.  Will the dreaded scales be nice to me?  Stay tuned.

 

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