The Release And The Call

Today marks an end to a 2 year Journey and the start of a new one. It was a bittersweet day today at church.

Ask of God, Ask in Faith. Our theme for the year. Today, the Young Women Presidency was released. After two years with these girls, I have grown to absolutely love them as my own. As our last lesson today in Young Women, the presidency decided to team up and give a "last lesson" We simply bore our testimonies for the girls and gave them these letters from each of us.

 From Me.

From Mona

From Les

My calling in the Young Women has come to an end and I will definitely miss it, especially the girls. After my release, I was then called to the Primary!

I know, I was the Primary Second Counselor for 3 years then the Young Women Second Counselor for 2 years and have returned back to the Primary. But this time as the CTR 6 Class Teacher!

I'm excited for this new Journey and can't wait to go back to the simple roots of gospel doctrine. 

I love this gospel and don't think I say it our loud enough. So with being said, let it be known that 

I AM A MORMON! 

I definitely do have y flaws an a DAILY that I think need some adjusting which is why I believe I have returned to this capacity. I - myself - need to go back and start from the basics.

So here's to sweet farewells and new journeys that are meant to be.

XOXO Via

Keto

 So, Keto.

Keto I wouldn't say is a diet, but a lifestyle. I've been Keto since February of this year. What Keto is, is where your food intake is High Fat's w/ good oils and Low to Zero Carbs. I remember when my cousin Taina first introduced it to me, I thought - that sounds a little backwards, cause anyone on any type of diet would say - no fats. I guess it's what we come to think is correct growing up. Well - the science behind Keto we said by Keto Coach after Keto Coach to be absolute. After doing a little research, I decided to try.

Now no carbs would mean I'm out bread, rice and pasta. I knew that much up front and thought to myself, that's what I eat on a regular. Starting Keto, my own menu honestly consisted of Steak, Ribs, Baked Chicken, 80/20 ground beef, Cheese, Asparagus, Salads and a whole lotta Avocado. It's been 5 months and adjusting to this lifestyle was a lot easier then I thought. I'm down 35 pounds and am in no rush to down another 35. What I do know, is that I take it one day and a time, one workout at a time and one meal at a time.

It gets hard to balance with all the other filler tasks of my day. But I manage. Now that I have adjusted to Keto. Starting well, today, I am incorporating the "Intermittent Fast." I've gone through a few blogs / vlogs and social media posts on different adaptations to incorporating the Intermittent Fast. The plan is to simply eat ONCE a day between the hours of 12 and 3 pm and outside of that time frame will be strictly - water or green tea.

We'll revisit this topic in another say 4 months and report. =)

XOXO Via

Oh, Hello There

So ummm.... Happy New Year? lol

Am I too late for that? haha I remember a time when I was posting once or twice a day and then it dwindled to once a week, now I'm pretty much at once a year. lol

It's not that I've forgotten about my, I've actually written and re-written this post quite a few times cause I really don't know where to start or how, to update. I know right, lame.

First lets throw out the bigger bombs...

Back in December..... I left Leroy.

I know, I know, hold the applause. It's been quite the journey for the past few months of being under wraps. Not that I'm hiding. I just have needed my own space, you know what I mean. With a decision quite this big given our past, I think I would be worried if I didnt take a little break from it all.

So lets rewind.

Things had spiraled downward with him when we moved out to our own place. The freedom of being out on our own, taking on the world and simply having the ability to do whatever seemed to appeal to his own wants. I mean, boys will be boys, yes, but this was a whole different level that I just couldn't get a grip on how out of control things had gotten. So I wouldn't say that me walking was me giving up cause if I'm being completely honest, I really in my heart of hearts tried my hardest to hold it down and keep it together. But you can't really force someone to be or do something they don't want to, so I walked.

I absolutely love Leroy. I always will. But us together in that sense is just not a good thing. After going on  months of being separated, I have finally decided to make it final. Mind you, this is our second marriage at trying to keep our family together. I really needed the time to make sure this is what I truly want. So a few weeks ago, I have filed my divorce and am now ready to take on the world on my own, with my kids under my wing of course. lol

I don't regret any of it. Not at all. I'm glad I married him again, even though it didn't last because after our marriage ended the first time, I remember wishing I would've tried harder and that if I ever had the chance to do it again, I would most certainly give it my all. So this second round was my all. And although it didn't end successfully "together", I have no doubt that it can still end successfully apart.

Closing this chapter in my life is bittersweet but also renewing. It's like I've been given another chance at starting over. Leroy and I get along so much better apart anyway.

I won't lie, it would've been nice to give my kids the life I dreamed of with the whole "family" aspect of it. But sometimes, life throws you a curve ball, you have to be able to adjust and be ready for these change ups.

For the past few months, I 've been focusing on mostly myself. I have been working out and have found my release is found with running with my headphones in. I feel unplugged from the world and it's just me. It gives me a place that I can just let go of negative things.

I'm tons more positive these days and feel like I have found life's true Bliss.

I continued my membership with Vasa Fitness and the days there are no available spots for the kids, I take them to the park and just do what I can there. The kids find it more fun this way anyway. We had stopped by Liberty Park to get in some running and some scootering. lol Then after we fed the ducks. This was tons of fun.

I can't wait to update the kids, things have changed a lot with them. =)

XOXO Via

Forced To Fall

Today I had been thinking back on the past few months for my family. Lately I've been organizing our bills vs income with all the extra costs of our living. Now being out on our own, it is safe to simply say, we are broke. lol Our budget has tightened significantly. But doing the math of it all, our debt/bill to income ratio is in fact in our favor favorably. One bill I would say it kind of a bit much and was not prepared for is gas. Not "heat" gas, but car gas. We've had the Trailblazer for quite some time now and it's been really good us. But then we picked up an Escalade and that damn tank is real hungry. It really makes me miss my little Fusion. The escalade is great. I love how big it is and we all sit and fit comfortably in it. Anyway...

My point, after me thinking about my family is looking back on living in the guest house. It was such a blessing to us. We were real comfortable there. Now thinking about the pros and cons of both living situations, it's safe to say, this is life.

I think back and wonder why I would have walked away from such great blessings. But I've also walked into great blessings.

This is what I've learned....

Making the choice that I did, considering where we are financially. I have had to force my family to fall in order to succeed.

I've never really thought of life this way. I've understood that trials come and we conquer them as they come, but I've simply prepared our family to fail knowingly just so we can fight to succeed.

With us currently at our low financial point, I can't wait to see where the next few months lead us.

I have a good feeling about 2017. I just do.

Here's to ending on a good note, yes it is still a good note for 2016.

xoxo Via

Hello

Has it really been this long?

I mean I know I sometimes go on a little while at time simply cause I either dont wanna sound super-dear-diary like a love sick teenager that writes about her long lost lover ever minute of every day..But a few months... I've been busy huh? Naaa! I've just been busy. haha

Well, just to get you current. I am currently employed at Sutter Physician Services as a Billing Agent. I bill for Doctors Services and I absolutely love my job.

I started this past July and have felt at home there since. I am only part time. One thing I love about the company is their love for their employees. When they hired me I intended to work my pat time job. My initial schedule was 3 pm to 7 pm with the exception of Mondays where I would work from 1-5 pm for Tamara's gymnastics. Things changed in my personal life, schedule wise and I asked to move my whole weeks schedule to 1-5 pm monday through friday. My sup had no problem getting that worked out.

Then discussing neccessitites with Leroy in regards to our kids and work schedules, we needed me home a little more. So when I went to my sup and requested 2 - 10 hour shifts on Monday and Tuesday - she looked at me like - "are you serious?" She went on to say that this type of shift is unheard of. Well, I got it approved. lol

I start my new shift tomorrow I can't wait. In my mind I work Monday and Friday. lol

Tamara turns 7 today and boy.. I couldn't be more proud of her. She has come far in the past year and every day she keeps me on my toes.

Henele is one crazy crazy kid. He still has energy for days. I can barely keep up with him.

Sorry I'm keeping this quick.

I will be back soon with pics. =)

As always, taking it one day at a time.

XOXO Via

Throwback

I find myself filming just about everything lately. And then I upload them to youtube as my storage place. lol I need to one day actually put them on a personal storage so I can't ever lose them. I doubt youtube will ever just "be gone" but... you never know.

I was uploading some recent videos and by habit I started looking back on older ones and I ran into this one.

My heart is filled with warmth and comfort watching this one and thankfully it's 7 am and I can use this to my advantage and start my day off perfectly.

Tamara was and still is the best big sister and oldest child! I completely take her for granted many times and I'm glad I took the time to look back and be reminded of how incredible she is.

Along with that, seeing Henele all baby version got me all tapped into my emotions. Remembering what it was like to have a small baby, small enough to carry around for hours.

Today they are both SUPER heavy. Maybe not heavy for Leroy cause he stays in tune with his workouts. But me.... uhhhh, I try.

Just wanted to post this throwback and ponder on the many blessings I have.

Enjoy your day.
XOXO Via

The World Of Gymnastics

Oh My Goodness!!

Can I just say that the world of Gymnastics is insanely terrifying!!

Here we are at our first Gymnastics Practice with Epic Gymnastics in Murray, Utah.
She doesn't care for Volleyball or Basketball or Softball. Because for the past little while she is constantly doing cartwheels and flips and such, I showed her what gymnastics was and I asked her if this is something she wants to do, she replied YES!

So I googled gymnastics clubs in the local area and Epic Gymnastics pulled up first. They offered a free trial class and I thought - Perfect! A trial class to give her a little taste of what she would be getting into but also something that wouldn't be completely permanent if she chose against it. So I called and scheduled her trial class on March 14 for 6 pm.

We went.

The began with simple stretches and jumping jacks for a warm up. She kept up well with the other girls that have been in the class before her.

Jumping Jacks.

I was surprised by just her stretching compared to the other girls with how much more flexible she was compared to them and this being her first class.

Then when this happened... my jaw dropped. I thought, "What the heck!?" I mean, no offense to the other girls but - my girl - I would've expected her to look like the girls in her class, but damnnn! She's really got something going for her in this sport. I thought to myself, "she really does know what she wants to do doesn't she?"

I'm so proud of her!

Then it got real scary!!

At Epic Gymnastics, they have this big gym with the different events in gymnastics. As a beginner you start off as a Bounder. Each level of gymnastics has a sign off sheet that each participant is to complete before moving up to the next level. After the Bounders Class you move up to the Lighters Class.

At each class that is held for an hour long, you move to different stations within the gym and you rotate to allow other classes to utilize different parts of the gym. They allow no more then 8 in each class to give each student good one on one time with their instructor.

When I saw her group rotate to the low beams my eyes were so big! I don't think I blinked worrying she would fall and hit her head even though the entire floor is matted. It's major scary stuff!

Tamara jumped on and did as her instructor (his name is Peter - but in my head I call him - Hot Peter lol) told her to do and even though she was very hesitant on the beam, she really got the hand of it. When she would stumble off the beam, she got right back up and kept on her task.

I seriously was amazed at Tamara and how much she really fits in with this sport.

I really filmed just about the entire practice. So we can study what she does and other girls to practice at home and at our local gym.

Tamara has shown so much progress in just her first gymnastics class. I honestly couldn't be any more proud. Now even if in the future she decided against Gymnastics, then that would perfectly fine with me. I honestly am proud of just this first class. And even beyond this class, her at school, her at home with her brother. She is growing just gracefully. I would completely credit it to my family and also Leroy's for all their support in incorporating the importance of family.



Under the right flag! I couldn't help but imagine her 20 years from now in the Olympics. =)

How crazy is this new adventure we are entering. I simply can't wait to see where this leads us.

XOXO Via