I have a lonnnnnnng way to go.........

So here we are again! The same ole same ole I LOVE junk food however it does NOT like me and the scale says so! :( This makes me sad but it just means I have to do what I have to do EXERCISE! My general thought of this idea is BOOO HISSS BOO, however I have to be and want to be healthy and this I am not!

I have joined a gym and have gone 2 days in a row now and done cardio!(do you hear the roar of the crowd). Seriously this is huge deal! I have to start now I will be 31 in just a few weeks and isn't going to get easier anytime soon! I am so thankful that I have the love and support of my husband and children, although they seem to be okay with my new added softness :)

I understand that this is not a new problem I have come across, but it is still SUPER FRUSTRATING to anyone who tries to loose weight. Somehow its not near as troubling when I am putting on the weight....(hmmm there might be something to say about this......)

Anyway I am publicly announcing today that the changes are starting and no there will not be a before picture but maybe when I loose 50lbs I will post a before and after..right now its just too depressing....

So if you too are taking on a weight loss challenge I will be your biggest fan and loudest cheerleader!!!

~ Kristy

What else is there to say other than YEEEEEE HAW!

This is what I LOVE about having boys! We watch The Duke's every night at 7 :) It is the best time with the boys! Well one of the best times. This is a show that we all can watch together and laugh. The boys love all the tricks the cars can do and all the chasing and I think daddy might like looking at Daisy and I have to admit the Duke boys aren't half bad themselves. :)

But seriously this is such a cute, fun time for us. I am so thankful for all the chances we have to make memories with the boys and how in 15 years I will be able to tell them how every night at 7 we had to watch the Duke Boys :) Because in 15 years they are not going to be wanting to sit down every night with mom and dad and watch a show. I hope against all hope they will always want to do this but in true reality time changes all things.

So for now I embrace the Dukes of Hazzard! It brings back memories of my own childhood and enables us time to connect as a family and laugh out loud together! It also allows me to teach the boys how to give a good ole YEEEEEEE HAW!!!!

~kristy

LOVE

I love music!!!!! It is just amazing to me how a song can say so much and make you feel so good!! The song doesn't even have to be your favorite or even one you have just heard! I can just be in a random place and a song comes to mind or I hear someone say the few lines of one and I become hooked!! What's even better is the song may or may not have a meaning or a memory to you!

I love to sing LOUDLY !! You know what I mean, like when you sing like you wrote it! I love it even more when others sing with me :) Oh and then with music it makes you wanna dance and that always takes music to a whole new level!!! :)

I hope that everyone finds someone to sing with and a song to sing too this weekend!!

~kristy

love day but feel it everyday

So today is marked as the holiday of "love". Well I appreciate just like any other girl a holiday to get a gift from my man! I feel that daily I am blessed with love from my husband even when I don't deserve it. Its taking a while and A LOT of growing up to realize how blessed in the husband department I am. Here are just a few of the things that I love about my husband and our relationship.

I LOVE how he tries to get me to smile.

I LOVE how he loves our children.

I LOVE how he hugs and kisses me when after a long day of work.

I LOVE how he is as lazy with housework as me.

I LOVE how we dream together.

I LOVE how we can work as a team.

I LOVE when he holds my hand.

I LOVE that we are growing together and closer.

I LOVE that he tries.

I LOVE that he has the patience for me to be me.

I LOVE that he is steady and stable.

I LOVE that he puts pictures of me and the boys on his desk.

I LOVE that he is a stickler for routine and rules.

These are just a few. However I love a lot about him these just sometimes seemed to rarely get said out loud.

So Happy LOVE Day Babe!!!

Love always, Kristy 

whew almost......

YIKES is it Friday at 5 yet......................this week has seemed long, the weather has even taken us in and out seasons this week. We had spring, fall and winter....so I believe we are due for some summer this weekend which would be perfect then we could all enjoy it!!

So what does everyone have planned for the big SUPER BOWL this weekend???!!! Me personally could careless about the actual game however greatly enjoy the social aspects, food oh and ofcourse the comercials :) Although if I did have to pick a team this year I would choose Green Bay mainly because I like their colors and they don't look like bubble bees :)

Oh and another fun thing coming up that gives a reason for more social gatherings, Valentines Day!!! Except I choose to celebrate Valentines the entire month of February instead of just a day! I call it the LOVE MONTH!

Do other people have traditions where the take a "holiday" and make it their own? I am always curious to know what others do when special things come up during the month. If you can post a comment to this post and tell us what your favorite "holiday" tradition is (not including Christmas). Clearly everyone likes Christmas, you either love getting loot or love watching people open their loot.

For me personally it just the simple tradition of celebrating birthdays. We get an entire birthday week however on our actual birthdays we generally go out to dinner just the four of us. I always get excited about birthday weeks I think Andy and the boys do too but not sure, might just have to bring up this as a dinner question tonight...

So now its your turn...............


Happy Thumpping Thursday!

~kristy

choosing today and try really super hard everyday

Family road trip to Glenwood Springs, CO

Today I am choosing to be present! I am here living in today not yesterday or tomorrow! I think I am might be coming down with a cold and feeling kinda blah . So I have decided that today I am going to own it! So today is a little less pep in my step and umph in my thoughts, but its okay! I am not going to change or try to change it.

There is something very liberating about becoming present in your own moments. I haven't been able to understand or even comprehend this until recently. Since I have, I have to admit I LOVE IT! It is the best feeling. I really wish I could do it everyday all day. It is just still not that easy for me, however the times I do it's enjoyable. The fun thing about learning this is to encourage others to try and teach our kids. I like when I say something to Andy about being present and his comment to me is "you sure are keeping it real huh?" and I just smile. That's right because what is real is now and you have a hard time seeing it if your not there! I think it becomes entirely exhausting trying to cheer or perk myself up daily so being present it is today!

“The art of life is to live in the present moment, and to make that moment as perfect as we can by the realization that we are the instruments and expression of God Himself.”

~kristy

Hole in my tongue

Today is one of those days that I feel by the end of it I might have a hole in my tongue:) These are the days were I am so appreciative for the fact GOD is a lot better at this then me! I am amazed at how easy it is to want to jump back at someone or say WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!! However God has this a lot worse then I ever will. I am pretty sure it has to do this ever second at all of us sinners. He has to be exhausted, I am just thinking about it! However I am always grateful for what he has given for us and the ultimate sacrifice he gave! I thank him daily and praise him with my heart and mind more so when things are great! I figure he is central complaint station. People always sending their worries and struggles etc., which don't get me wrong I do my fair share!!! I just hope that everyone as often as possibles says their thank yous and praises for all their blessings specifically not just generalized. We generally tend just give just our general worries you know.....

Any who today I am so thankful that I have the ability to love and praise the Lord as I choose and when I want to! Also it is so comforting to know all the blessings that flow daily from his hands and that I get to take part  in them daily! I have a window by my desk and I love to look out it at least 5 times a day and say WOW God you did good! I am so grateful for the ability he has given me to love, feel, smell, hear, taste, give, enjoy, laugh, cry, and of course bite my tongue! :)

So today and really everyday take time in your day to bite your tongue and just be thankful! God really does have an amazing since of humor!!! :)

~kristy



loving all life will bring....

WOW!! How in the world are we already back to a Monday!! I so enjoyed my weekend with my husband, boys, friends and family. Wow I guess now that I type it out I did get to spend a lot of time with different folks!! It just never seems to be enough time however I am grateful beyond words for the time I had with each of them.

Our boys are just growing up so fast and changing hourly, I don't think I am taking enough time with them sometimes which makes me sad. I just try to make sure that I praise, love and enjoy them as much as possible!

Then me and hubs ahhh its so nice when we get our couple time! Its my favorite, its just so nice to be able to reconnect after a long week. We have made so much improvement as a couple over the last 8 months it so great to be able to relax with one another and enjoy each others company! One of the things I do like about the boys growing up is that Andy and I get to spend more and more time together. :)

Of course there are also our AWESOME friends!! Man there are just not enough words. When I look back and even today they are ALWAYS so supportive and have so much love for our family and even us as individuals. It is truly the BEST!! We were so lucky to hang out with them this weekend and kickback and forget the weeks events and enjoy love and laughter together!! It soooooo makes workdays worth it!!!

Last but not least we have great family support around us! Both sets of our parents our WONDERFUL! They are also so very giving of there time, love and support! I love spending time with them and enjoy their company. Over the weekend I got to enjoy some nice alone time with my mom and sister just catching up. Believe you me this doesn't happen very often so it was a nice surprise.

I am also so super excited because tomorrow begins the MONTH OF LOVE!! Yup Valentines month! Love it!! You can tell someone different everyday how much they mean to you and how much you love them!!! It's the best!! Oh and plus its another reason for my BESTEST friend to have yet another amazing party!! WOO HOO!!

I hope everyone was able to enjoy their weekend with loveones and friends!! I am hoping that this week will have more blessings then stresses!!!

With TONS of LOVE
~kristy

Settling.....

I am slowly starting to settle my emotions down but when it comes to my body I am never willing to settle! I don't think that anyone should EVER settle with what doctors say about your body when it is telling you something different!

Over the last couple months I have had to stay on track with what my body has been telling me, and although it hasn't been easy it will eventually come out. Everyone needs to remember they are with their body for 24 hours and when your in the doctors office the doctor sees your body for 15 mins! This is a huge difference!!! This is why we should all stand true to who we are and what our body is telling us. Don't give up and don't let people tell you that your nuts!! I have finally reached a verdict with my condition and it only took 3 months, 4 unhelpful spine injections, and a uncountless scans and xrays to determine my spine is fractured. I was so ugly this last time and instead that they do a scan of the area that was causing such pain. Believe it or not they FINALLY found the problem. They had kept telling ahh no its nothing there and finally they heard me! I am excited about moving forward and beginning to heal!!!

Stay true to your heart and mind!

~kristy

Blah Blah Blah (pluging my ears) I am not listening!!!

Have your kids ever done this to you? When they plug their ears and say blah blah la la la I am not listening! Well mine have, and I normally respond with boys that is not nice and if I am talking to you I must have something important to say!

Well I am eating my own words today. I have to go back to my oncologist today to have one of my test redone...:( So I have already decided that I am walking in and once the doctor starts talking I will then put my fingers in my ears and say blah blah la la la I am not listening :)

That is why I have asked my husband to join me so maybe he can listen :) No I suppose I will lead by example to my children even though they won't be present for the retest. So in order to do that I found a quote to help me open my mind and heart along with my ears to hear what is being said.

"  If you want to be listened to, you should put in time listening. "

By Marge Piercy

~Kristy

Happy Birthday Bryce!

Bryce is turning 8! We love you so much! You make our world bright and have brought more love into our lives since you were born! You have taught us so much, love, endurance and many other traits! To you on your birthday we love you!! :)

Here is a quote I hope you will understand fully one day!

"The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate."
~Oprah Winfrey

game of waiting....

From our trip to Colorado travling up Pikes Peek

Wow how quickly an event can change things. So I had a follow-up appointment with the back doctor today. Needless to say I am drained...frustrated and just plain ole worn down. I have been seeing doctors about this problem since mid November and have spine injections and am still in so much pain :( So now we have added two more appointments to this week....more scans and exrays tomorrow and then a reading of them on Thursday.

I am coming to the conculsion that being unique is not always a blessing as my dad said! However this is a good week of learning and practicing patience. Most importantly working on NOT allowing my negative thoughts to take over me! With the Lord guidence and grace this too will pass.

~ kristy ~

Whew.....exhausted and more to come....

They should make 24 hour energy drinks!

What a weekend we had, I LOVE celebrating birthdays!! We had a birthday jam packed weekend. Two of the boys friends were having birthday parties at the bowling alley and they were back to back. So we were able to enjoy the bowling alley from 2 until 6:45 what a long day. However it was so wonderful to see the amount of love and celebration at both birthdays! The parents of the children among the ciaos were able to enjoy watching the children play with their peers. What I also loved was the love and joy that were in the parents faces. We were able to celebrate a 5 year old birthday and an 8 year old, and the parents had these overwhelming faces of joy and pride like it was the first day they had seen their children :)

Sunday was our baby boys birthday party :) He is turning 8 this week and it just seems down right crazy! How are we parents of an 8 year old already!! It has gone by so fast! So after the party fest on Saturday we were looking forward to watching our son enjoy his party with family. He loves spending time with his cousins and his grandparents! However what I loved most was I was being able to soak it all in! There was never any frustration that the house wasn't clean enough or the food wasn't set up right or any of that nonsense. Andy and I were able to watch and enjoy our boys and the family love that surrounds us! We are truly blessed and loved!! So after our family left we just were able to kick back and relax and watch football!! In a house of 3 boys on a Sunday night little chance there is anything else on :)

So here were are today starting a huge week for us! First I return to the neurosurgeon today, Bryce's big 8th birthday. Then on Wednesday I have my follow-up/retest at the oncologist. For us it seems like a lot compared to just going home and doing homework and packing lunches. However it just makes it all seem easier because our home is a team and we pulled together when the stress comes along. Now don't get me wrong this hasn't always been the case but we are making things a new and working harder then ever to be the team our family should be. It helps that we have so much love and support around us that show and lead by examples within our friends and family! We of course are love being able to tweak it to our likings and not everyone else. There is so much freedom in this for me! More important I love that my husband and I are able to work as team to guide and raise our children and build and grow our couple relationship and reminding each other that it takes work.

So here is to this week with pending results and celebrating life, love, friends, family! Hope everyone had a great weekend and a great week!!

~Kristy

attitudes change like weather.....

COLORADO (from our amazing family road trip)

Isn't funny how fast the weather can change? Earlier this week I was starting to get spring fever because it seemed to be so much warmer even thought it was only 44 degrees. Now today it is a blustery 19 with the windchill :/

It reminds me how quickly my attitude changes. Some days it changes in minutes other times it takes hours and days. I have enjoyed that part of me this week. I have been to lowest of lows to high and down again. Don't get me wrong there are some days that I even say to myself ENOUGH already make up your mind. Today though I am LOVING this about ME! I am also greatful that those closest to me can deal with it or at least put up a good front. :)

I have noticed this in my kids and it something I enjoy in them. This morning Ramsey was crying at 6:50 because Bryce punched him over a move he did on the PlayStation game. On the way up the stairs I said Bryce why is your brother crying, Bryce says "cause I punched him" I say, "Bryce why are you punching this early in the morning" he replies with scrunched eyebrows "cause Ramsey did something to mess up my play"

Then as Ramsey is approaching the top of the stairs still crying I said "Ramsey did Bryce hit you? " Pouting mouth and pushed out lip he says "yes". I said to both boys its probably not a good idea to be playing such an intense game this early in the morning. Bryce turned around and stomped off to get ready. Ramsey stood behind still pouting. Then I asked him if the tooth fairy was able to make it to his room last night and his eyes lit up and he had the biggest smile ever and said "YES!" she left me two dollars!!! :)

See its just a matter of saying the right thing at the right time and being able to hear it as it is given! This is one of the reasons I feel so blessed, I surround myself with people that are there and willing to say whats needing to be said. The weather changes its mind constantly and some day it chooses to stay consistent! The weather here in Virginia is one of the reasons I love this state! So enjoy your ever changing moods and weather!! I will also apologize ahead of times if you have had to deal with more of my lows then highs.(sorry hubby I know you take the brunt)

p.s. I am really hoping for some serious SNOW from the supposed storm coming in on Tuesday! :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

~Kristy

Time is healing

Well today is the first official blog from me. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. So here we go.....

I am figuring out that things take time and so does healing....whether its a wound......injury......heartache.....or just the internal thoughts. I have been dealing with extreme back back for about three months now and have become very frustrated. I have had 4 spinal injection with little to no relief. Yesterday was # 3 and # 4 and this morning I woke up in as much pain as I was before the shots. Soooooo needless to say very frustrating.

This week I have also gotten a call back from my oncologist that I need to come back and have one of my test reran..... so needless to say it seems like this week is full of punches. Although as I am coming to realize everything take time....its own time! No healing  is ever the same for people. Even though I am six years out being cancer free that call back this week took me back to the first call when I was diagnosed. So much uncertainty....and then with my back even though I have now had 4 shots I am just a disappointed today as I was when the first one didn't work. However neither of these thoughts are first off a reality yet... I have no idea what the retest will show and it takes up to 7-10 days for the shot to fully take effect yet I am still wanting to be so sad and be really withdrawn.

So alllll of this leads me back to the title of this blog, time is healing. Eventually I will get to a point that I won't get back to that first call back from the doctor and won't think cancer. Also I will get to the point I am back and pain free. However just like heartache and headaches everything takes it own time frame and mine is different from yours and your is different from mine.

So I will close today's post with this.....Time will heal all things.

~Kristy