Sunday At JoZoara

  Some time ago, I discovered a little locally owned coffee shop in Murfreesboro called JoZoara. It's a friendly, warm, cozy place that features wonderful coffee drinks, as well as, delectable foods. After my friend Heather moved here, I introduced her to my favorite little spot and she became an instant fan as well. After several weekly visits, we decided to share our love of JoZoara with others, so we started posting invites on Facebook. For a long time, it remained just her and I.. people just did not know what they were missing. Still, we kept the invites coming and it paid off. I'm happy to say, our little group has grown and you can find several of us sitting on the big comfy leather couches and chairs every Sunday at 2:00PM. 

  I have to admit that I really look forward to my Sundays. It's not just about the coffee and wonderful soups and sandwiches. I enjoy the company of friends old and new, the Grounds Crew, and Teresa, the owner. I think they look forward to our visits as much as we look forward to visiting. We're always greeted with a smile and a friendly hello. I feel like the show "Cheers".. everybody knows our name. :o) 

  You should come join us and see what I mean. Who cares if you don't like coffee... they have other things. Most of all, it's about the company and friendship. Life is short... come play!

Shrinking Fast!

  It's been just over a month since my surgery and I'm doing great! I have lost 33 pounds since my surgery and am averaging about a pound a day. I'll be little in no time. I'm amazed at all the changes I see and feel when I look in the mirror. The first thing I noticed was my neck and face, but now I am noticing changes in other parts of my body. My clothes are fitting looser and I've had to give away some items already because they are just too big. I can't wait to walk in any store and buy right off the rack. :0)
  am surprised at how easy it's been to give up some of the things I loved before... especially sweets. I truly have not missed them. I'm still a foodie and always will be, but it's about the taste for me. Food has to taste good!! However, it is no longer my focus. I still like to look at recipes and am always looking for tasty items that are low fat and/or low sugar. Pinterest has become my new addiction.. for recipes and school stuff!
  One thing I need to do is exercise more. I have the equipment, but now I need to just get with it! I wish I had a workout buddy. That always helps. My goal this weekend is to work on a workout schedule and get started.. no excuses!!! I think my weight loss would go faster if I did exercise more. In fact, I know it would. It's just getting started.....
  I've had some many people encouraging me and cheering me on. I want to thank all of them. It really does mean a lot to me. The best is yet to come!!

P.S. Pictures soon!!!

Back to School

  It's that time of year again!! Cleaning, moving around furniture, boxes, and books, meeting after meeting, then finally greeting 19 smiling, and sometimes crying, little faces. The first couple weeks of school are always a whirlwind of chaos, excitement, planning, and primping. I find myself full of energy, but ready to drop at the end of the day. It's a good kind of tired though.
  Already, I can say that I love my class. They are bright, funny, energetic and engage easily in the daily lessons. It's going to be a great year! I have seven girls and twelve boys. Almost half the children in my class have names that begin with J. I have an autistic child, two children with speech issues, one child with a deformed arm that does not slow her down one bit, and a variety of other personalities. My days will never be boring!!
  This year brings a lot of changes to our school and our whole system... new common core standards, new staff, new procedures and new evaluations. I'm ready for most of the changes and preparing for the others. I know I am going to love the new standards we are teaching. They are much more in-depth and really allow us to TEACH!!!!! Finally!! No more just scratching the surface. The timing is perfect, since they raised the bar for end of the year reading levels in kindergarten.
  The other big change is teacher evaluation... we are all being evaluated 4 times a year if you have a professional license and six times if you are just an apprentice. It's all good though.. I'm ready!
Bring on the new standards, bring on the evaluations and bring on the kids... it's time to rock and roll!!

Home again, home again!

I made it! I left the hospital Tuesday afternoon with six small incisions. After a bumpy ride home, who knew Nashville decided to add so many bumps and holes, I am recovering from my surgery with my best friend, DeDe, playing nursemaid. Everything is going well. My only discomfort is the trapped air they filled me with and trying to adjust to smaller sips and spoonfuls. I feel my energy getting better every day. I'm actually surprised at how fast I am bouncing back. The doctor said I have no real restrictions.. no weight lifting yet, but otherwise, I'm free to do whatever doesn't hurt. If it hurts, stop.
I weighed myself this morning and have already lost 6 pounds!
Here is my first progress picture. Warning, it's a picture of my incisions.

Twas the Night Before Surgery....

Twas' the night before surgery
And all through the day
Not a bite of food was eaten
Just water, coffee and whey.

The Magnesium Citrate
Did it's job with ease
But I've worn a path to the bath
With my constant need to pee.

The house is all clean
The laundry is done
So the adventure can begin
Tomorrow at one!

I'm nervous and excited
To be on my way
Thank you for your love and support
You've ALL made my day!!!

A New Journey

For as long as I can remember, I've always been a big girl. I remember dreading shopping for school clothes because, while my friends all got to shop for the latest fashions in the average size department, I was trying to find something in the husky girls department that didn't look like something my mother would wear. I was always active and loved doing all kids of activities outdoors like hiking and sports, but I always felt like an amazon, even at five feet, five inches. As I got older and my knees started to suffer from years of damage from hiking, snow skiing, ice skating, volleyball and racquetball, I got even heavier. I stopped doing the things I loved because the pain was too great and recovery took longer and longer. I knew I needed to lose weight to get the pressure off my knees, but that is easier said than done. I've tried a gazillion diets and nothing worked for me. Then, last summer, I started taking meds for high blood pressure. I didn't want to be on meds for something I could put an end to just by losing weight, so I made the choice to have weight loss surgery.
It's been a long journey and a lot of hoop jumping to get here, but I am finally here. On Monday, August 1st, I will have my gastric bypass. I'm starting off at 280 pounds and a lot of body fat. As I lose, I'm going to blog my progress and post pics as I go. I'm excited about the new journey. Thank you to all my friends and family who have supported me in my decision. I'll try to make you proud as I make myself feel better!

My Bucket List

This summer is bringing lots of changes for me. I have said goodbye to people and things that are not healthy for me, I've made a choice to be happy, and I am having weight loss surgery. I know that is the biggest change of all. I know my life is going to change. My attitude and people's attitudes toward me will most likely change, too. That is what scares me the most. I know I'm still going to be the me I have always been, but people look at you differently when you are overweight. So it is scary, but change is also a good thing. So with all the changes I am going to experience, I decided to make a bucket list of all the things I want to do in my new life. I'm sure I'll add to this list from time to time.

Kristin's Bucket List

1. Weight loss surgery.
2. Disneyworld with Ryan
3. A cruise/trip to Alaska
4. A trip to Australia
5. Foster care
6. A cross country camping trip that includes the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone.
7. Swim with dolphins
8. Fall in love
9. Move to the ocean or a house on the lake
10. Deep sea fishing
11. Take a train across Canada
12. Write a children's book.
13. Go to NYC for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
14. Skydive
15. Pay off my house
16. TBA