Weight Loss Journey

This is for any of you that are asking, "how did you do that?". 

Most you who have known me for more than 10 years know that I have struggled with my weight since 3rd grade. My weight gain and loss has always been like a yo yo. I never had any trouble losing weight for most of my adult life. I know what to eat and how much, of course the older I got the harder to lose and the less incentive I seemed to have. This maybe due to the fact that I also have never had any trouble gaining weight either. 

I could say it was in my genes but really it probably mostly due to the fact that I LOVE to eat, especially desserts. 

I decided this past Spring that I wanted to lose 10 lbs. Having small goals would be easier to meet and might encourage me to stick with it. Since I retired (think: last 10 years) I find myself burning almost no calories. It seems it doesn't matter how little you eat, if you are not burning more calories than you are eating, you will not losing weight. 

We have a converted railroad tracks in the county that has been re-purposed to a walking/biking trail. Conveniently it is also near our house. Scott decided that we would walk together most week days becoming accountability partners (he has lost 25 lbs.). That and buying a new digital scale has kept me going. I find that when I weigh twice a week, even losing a 1/4 pound is encouraging. 

I started with Nutrisystem for a month just to get going and from there have just been cutting everything I eat down to half and sticking to it. If I want/need something sweet, I find that a bite or a half piece satisfies and I don't feel like I am dieting (because really who wants to diet for the rest of their life?).

Since June NONE of my clothes fit which can be good and bad, I guess. Good because I have to buy NEW clothes. Bad because new clothes are expensive. Good because I actually don't mind shopping and trying on clothes anymore. Bad because I find that the new clothes that I bought during the Summer are too big now and I only wore them a few times. Oh well!

My main reason to post these before/after pictures is to put this out there so that all of you can hold me accountable too. Forty eight pounds, so far! 
(Actually, I thought I would look more like Marie Osmond the closer I got to 50 lbs.)

Memories and The Promise of Spring

I realized the other day that I had not posted in since June 2011. Facebook has become a shortcut of sharing pictures and information and this blogger has been lazy.

So what led me back to NCGram today was the promise of Spring. When I walked outside for my daily walk, I noticed that the hyacinths I planted last Fall were beginning to bloom.

I love flowers but have never had a green thumb. When we moved to NC, I decided to plant things that reminded me of others (and hope that they survived). We planted a forsythia bush, daylilies and hydrangea in memory of my grandmother. We planted a camellia bush last Fall, it hasn't bloomed yet but seems to be okay. My grandmother always had a yard full of beautiful flowers. I picked what I hope are easy ones and so far most have continue to bloom. We planted rhododendron in memory of my parents. The wild ones are so beautiful at the family cabin. We planted a Japanese maple tree in memory of the one in Scott's grandparents' yard. I have daffodils that Nikki & Josh gave me one Mothers Day. Not been so lucky with a rose tree (from Josh & Nikki), it survived but the beetles kept eating it until I let them win. I had tulips because Amy & I love them, never had much luck though. When I buy annuals for the porch, I always buy geraniums. The year before Daddy died, we took some to his sister for her balcony planter. She had moved to a retirement facility and he thought she was missing her own flowers.

All of this comes back to the hyacinths. When I was little we lived next door to my grandparents and my great grandmother. She had hyacinths planted in the front yard of our house (which had previously been their original homeplace) and she had planted some on my great grandfather's grave. In her final years, her sight was mostly gone and she didn't get outside much, but every Spring I would bring her hyacinths when they bloomed. She always smiled and I think it was because she felt like he was close again. Now I remember them both with this sweet flower.

We are told that smell and memories are closely related because the olfactory bulb is part of the brain's limbic system, an area so closely associated with memory and feeling it's sometimes called the "emotional brain," smell can call up memories and powerful responses almost instantaneously (How Stuff Works).

I hope your Spring calls up wonderful memories for you.

Annabel's & Harper's Second Birthday

Enjoy this video of Annabel & Harper at their party. The girls ate all of the fruit from their cakes but didn't want any of the cake :)

Annabel is blowing very softly on her candles and can't quite blow them out but her big brother comes to her rescue. Also, watch Annabel near the end. She sweetly touches Dora's hand.

Harper had no trouble with her candles and finds the birthday song funny or maybe she was just glad when it ended.

Birthdays and Memorial Day

Last week we were in St. Peters, Mo enjoying our three Scoggins grandsons, spending time with our daughter while Chuck was on a Mission Trip to New York. Chuck came home on Saturday so we did get to spend a few days with him also. Wednesday was Amy's birthday, Sunday was Scott's birthday and then on Memorial Day we went to Eckert Farms for kid's rides, strawberry picking, and a great restaurant. Afterward we came home for burgers & hotdogs with watermelon and homemade strawberry ice cream.

Webb is making "the face" every time you tell him to smile for the camera.

Trip was trying to find the biggest strawberry and Webb was eating more than he was saving.


The boys were exhausted and quickly fell asleep on the way home!

The Cabin in the Spring

We met Josh, Nikki and the kids at the cabin this past weekend. The weather was a little cool but nice. We managed to keep all the kids out of the river (way too cold for swimming). But they did throw every stick they could find into the river, especially Eli and Harper. Annabel is more cautious and usually prefers just to watch.

On the first picture below Josh is showing the kids a caterpillar he found on our walk. Eli asked me if it was a boy or a girl caterpillar. I told him I didn't know how to tell the difference. He said you have to look close, girls always have long eyelashes.....

Then finally the family picture on the porch swing (a must for our family)!

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas with our kids and grandkids! Even the snowstorm that dumped about 5 inches on us on Christmas wasn't able to keep all hearts from coming home. Sunday the kids (ours and theirs) played in the snow and built a snowman. Below are some pictures:

November Celebrations

We were away from home November 12th - November 29th. First we spent a long weekend in Clinton, Il at Scott's brother and sister-in-law's house, Bryan & Kathy. We went to a Fighting Illini football game and saw our nephew, Kyle, play in the marching band.

Then left there for 7 days in St. Peters, Mo celebrating with 3 of our grandsons, Quinn's 5th birthday, Webb's 1st birthday and Trip's 7th birthday!

We came home for about 22 hours and left for Buford, Ga. We had missed Eli's 5th birthday on Monday while we were on the road, so we got a chance to have a small celebration with him.

The next day we (with Josh's family) packed up and left for Palm Beach Gardens to celebrate the marriage of my nephew Jake and his lovely wife Laurel on Saturday after Thanksgiving.

We then left there on Sunday for Ringgold because of the untimely death of Mama's younger sister, Margie. Her funeral was Monday where we celebrated her life. We drove back to NC Monday night. Aunt Margie was on the phone with Mama when she had her aneurysm almost 10 years ago. She told me at the hospital that she would have to wait until she saw Mama again to finish the conversation. We will miss you Aunt Margie but I know that you, Mama and Mamaw are together talking and laughing in Heaven.

Below is Webb after he attacked his cake:

Summer with the Grandkids

We always enjoy time with the grands but everytime we see them they are constantly changing and becoming individuals instead of just babies!

We went to St. Peters in July and tried bowling. I will say without shame that my grandsons out scored me! Below are pictures of Quinn & Trip bowling and sweet Webb just being adorable:


Last weekend we went to Buford for Josh's birthday. On Saturday we went to the park. The girls love it now that they can walk and play on the equipment. The following are Eli, Annabel & Harper.

Memories: Old and New

This weekend Scott & I went to the cabin. Although I didn't think of it until we arrived, it was the perfect place to remember Daddy on Father's Day. He is imprinted on every part of that place. So many good memories, with him in the center of all of them. Someone once said that Heaven looks like whatever you think Heaven should. That's why they call it Heaven. My daddy's Heaven must look like a small cabin on the Ellijay River. I miss you Daddy.



This is a picture of Daddy that is hanging up at the cabin, taken when he was in the military. Just kidding, it is Daddy but I am not quite that old!

On Sunday we celebrated Annabel & Harper's first birthday. They are such a joy! With their sweet smiles, they will soon have the boys lined up around the corner. The following is a video of my girls enjoying their cake! Annabel decided her hands were in the way so she just went for the cake :)

Saturday Celebration with Six Sweet Kids on Scott's 60th

On Saturday we celebrated Scott's 60th birthday. He was thrilled that the kids and grandkids were able to come. We invited family and local friends for a hot dog cookout and cake. I asked Nikki to take a picture of all the grandkids. It has become my new favorite.

Grandchildren in the Spring of 2010

We have been away from home more than we have been here for the past three weeks. We went to Buford for a few days, then to St. Peters for a week, back home for a few days, then to Buford for Mothers Day. I didn't post any video of Amy's boys because Amy was able to post better ones on her BLOG. The following are from this past Mothers Day weekend. The first one is of Harper & Annabel riding on Eli's scooter. As you can tell Harper (the daredevil) was much more into it than Annabel. When Scott tried to put them on together, Annabel didn't feel secure and Harper was mad she couldn't "drive". After dinner out on Sunday we walked to a park across the street so Eli could ride his bike for the first time. It only took a couple of "assists" before he took off and was riding by himself.

An Open Letter to Jeremiah, Johnny and Nolan

I haven't met you yet but I wanted you to know that you were prayed for before you were even conceived. Your parents have waited on you longer than most. I wanted to ask you to be patient with them. When my children were born I really NEEDED a manual. I read all kinds of parenting books but every child is different... It mostly comes down to love. Your parents will make mistakes (probably not as many as you think). But know that they love you and the hundreds of thousands of everyday decisions they make are made with love. You will make them crazy, frustrated and occasionally angry but that is only because they love you. You have control over their hearts. A smile can change their entire day. So while you are waiting on them to figure out this parenting thing, just know that they love you and are doing the best they can. Oh, and the timing on figuring out the parenting thing-it is over when they become grandparents. Then they can relax a little and see that the mistakes were minimal and watch you as you work on the parenting thing.
To your parents, I would say: a baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.

The Final Analysis

I saw this poem this morning in a business as I was waiting on my change. I loved it.

The FINAL Analysis

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the FINAL analysis, it is between you and God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Written by Dr. Kent M. Keith

Winter Weather & Signs

This is our 5th winter in North Carolina. Previous to the current one, we have had very little snow fall. Summer 2008, our county was one of 6 in the state to be rated as Exceptional Drought conditions. Then Winter of 2008 the rains came and the lakes and rivers began to rise little by little. Fast forward to the week before Christmas 2009, we got 6 inches of snow. Last weekend while in Buford, we got at least another 6 inches here. Thursday night it snowed another couple of inches. The weather forecasters had predicted earlier in the week an ice storm for this weekend. Thankfully we only got a little snow and the rest rain. I am not sure the amount of total precipitation we have received this winter but I know it is a lot. We can't seem to dry out before it starts again. I am looking forward to a beautiful Spring and a lush Summer in the Smokey Mountains.

On a different note (or if you believe that our weather is a sign, then it is not so different), I am fascinated by small businesses that advertise things that don't appear to me to be related. The first one I saw after we moved to NC was a business on Main St. that advertises sheet music & pet supplies. I saw a sign in the front yard of a farmhouse that said "Fresh eggs & Used Computers". I am glad the adjectives weren't switched. The other day I saw a new business that wanted you to be sure and shop there for Valentines Day. The sign read, "Flowers, Gifts & Knives". I could only think that the last one was in case you forgot the first two.

Christmas 2009

We had a great Christmas. The addition of THREE new babies this year made it even better. We made cookies for Santa Christmas Eve, Christmas Day dinner and presents after Josh & family arrive, Jesus' birthday cake complete with the blowing out of the candles, and a cookout at the firepit one evening. A stomach bug attacked and caused some problems. I missed the cookout Sunday night. Chuck got it on Monday morning and they stayed an extra day so he could recover. I always take a picture of the kids and all of the grandkids before they leave. Since Chuck was sick, we took two separate pictures this year and combined them (thanks Nikki).

December Snow

We got a little over 6 inches of snow yesterday. We are officially snowed in! The temperature is about 34 degrees today but the sun is melting it some. Scott parked the truck at the other end of the driveway so if we need to get out we can hike a quarter of a mile (uphill both ways, I kid you not) to the truck. I am glad I finished my Christmas shopping other than the couple of things that are coming in the mail. We certainly wouldn't be shopping today. I guess it is the perfect day to get all the presents wrapped!! The second picture is the driveway.

Double the Grandchildren in 2009

I am really looking forward to Christmas this year. For the past four Christmases we have had 3 grandchildren to enjoy the excitement of the season. This year we will have 6! I thought I would put pictures of them right after they were born with their big brothers. Both pictures were taken by my very talented daughter-in-law Nikki. The first one is Eli with his sisters, Annabel & Harper. The second one is Trip and Quinn with their new brother, Webb.

Happy Birthday, Webb

On Friday, November 20th, Amy gave birth to my sixth grandchild - Webb McBrayer Scoggins. He weighed 8 lbs. 5 oz and was 22 inches long. Sharon (Chuck's mom) and I were thrilled when Amy asked us if we wanted to stay in the delivery room for the birth of our last (??) grandchild. This was the first birth that Sharon and I had ever witnessed since we had not seen our own children's birth. It is amazing to see God's hand in the miraculous birth of a child. To the left is Amy and Webb, minutes after his birth and one of the quilt I made him. It is called Beatrix Potter's Colors.

I'm The Favorite

As I was getting the girls dressed this morning, I found these shirts. I bought them before they were born. My mother did not live long enough to hold any of my grandchildren, but I know she watches over them. Everyone of her eight grandchildren loved her very much. I didn't realize until she died that she had made each one feel like they were her favorite. It is a challenge that I try to achieve with mine.

Babies!!

I finished Baby Scoggins' quilt top on Monday and took it to the quilter yesterday. I will post a photo later. My children are telling me this may be my last one. I was thinking about that as I finished it. I don't think I will be cross stitching when my grandchildren are old enough to get married..... so no wedding quilts. My time is running out for keeping the girls every other week, too. They are such a joy. Two of the most precious sights, sleeping babies and giggling babies. It just fills my heart everytime. I am eagerly awaiting the call to go to Missouri to meet my newest joy, just a few more weeks. Life is good. God is good, all the time.