I’m 7 days late, I leave in 7 weeks & I need 700 dollars…

***Just to clarify…I am 7 days late in my mind in posting this blog.  In no other terms am I late.***  

You see, our internet at home has been malfunctioning.  In order to post this, I’ve had to type out my thoughts and prayers into a word document on the way to work and upload it while sitting in the car in front of Don's office because the computer auto connected to his work internet.  This message will self-destruct.  Wait, no it won’t.  It’s the internet!

Anywho – HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I still can’t believe that it’s 2014.  Like…whoa.  I feel like this past year has flown by in an array of love, laughter and life.  So, for the New Year update on the family:

 

• Don is great.  His job is awesome and he has stepped up within our church to lead the weekly men’s group.  He has had no resurfacing of his skin cancer and will be following up for his yearly scan in the coming months.
• EJ IS POTTY TRAINED!  OMG – I can’t even.  This boy amazes me.  ERRBODY said that he would do it when he was ready and at almost 4 ½ years of age (ripe, I know…) he did!  Other than that, he is hilarious.  He has a comedic bone in his body that I hope he is able to hone and refine over the years, because honestly…you just can’t help but laugh at some of the stuff he comes up with.
• Evie is 2.  2 ½ to be exact.  She ACTS like a pre-teen with the angst of the world on her shoulders.  While most of the time she is sweet, funny and a blessing to be around…she has such the dramatic dark side.  We’re working on loving discipline tactics with her.  Any and all suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

As for me, well, most of you know that I just celebrated my 6 month surgiversary (anniversary of my gastric bypass surgery) on December 26.  As of this past Monday, I weighed in at 268.2 – a cool 122 pounds down from my starting weight of 390.2.  I’ll take it and run with it!  Here’s a before and after shot of what that looks like:

Every New Year brings a sense of peace and hope about it for me.  I hope that this year brings greater things for His kingdom than last.  As you may or may not know, I went to Nicaragua last year on a mission’s trip.  Here’s the blog announcing that I was going and here’s the team’s trip blog if you’d like to get some back story.  The minute I set foot back on American soil last year, I committed to returning to Nicaragua this year.  The trip is March 1 – 8 with the same team as last year and I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am.  Don and I have been saving for the past year, but I need some help again closing the gap.  The t-shirts last year were SO popular, so this year we’re doing it again!  Here’s this year’s design:

All credit for the catchy verbiage goes to Gary Recher!

So that the net is a little more, we’ve decided to charge a little more.  Brace yourselves:  We’ve raised the price from $25 each to $30 each.  We’ll be taking pre-orders throughout the next month so that we can place 1 big bulk order and then deliver them all before I leave on my trip in the hopes that while I’m gone, you’ll maybe wear your shirt one of those days and lift up the team in prayer when you do.

What do you say?  Want to buy a t-shirt?!  Please?!   Please make checks payable to Hub City Vineyard if you would like a portion of your donation to be tax deductible.

Again, I’d prefer your prayers over your money, but sure would appreciate your help again in reaching my goal.

Praying that this finds you well and full of hope for this year!

Love always,

Chan

Sunday, SUNday, SON-DAY!

Gosh, I just love Sundays!  My church is awesome.  And when I say, “my church”, I mean EVERYONE who helps me strengthen and continuously renew my faith on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis.

Sure, I go to this AMAZING building each week (sometimes multiple times a week), but it’s the people and the love that is contained in it (and always outpours from it) that IS the church.

If I haven’t before, I’d like to take the opportunity…RIGHT NOW – To invite you to church.  Any church.  Anywhere.  Any day of the week.  If you are struggling with the lies and mundane in and out of the day to day and are missing hope…try Jesus.  I know it sounds way beyond corny, but maybe this time is THE time for you to fit in.  If not at my church (Hub City Vineyard), then at a church…any church.  Here’s a few “myths” (lies) and my version of their correlating truths:

Myth:  All Christians are hypocrites. 

Truth:  Yep.  We are.  But so is EVERYONE, right?!  That’s why we NEED to stop judging each other and just LOVE.

Myth:  I don’t need church if I’m spiritual. 

Truth:  Church is community.  Jesus hand-picked 12 normal guys to start up a community so that they could keep each other accountable and encourage one another.  I know I need that…Don’t you?

Myth:  Church is a waste of time. 

Truth:  Never once has going to church been a waste of time for me.  No matter who is speaking, no matter what mood I’m in, no matter anything – God cares enough for me…for all of us to give us SOMETHING from any service. 

Myth:  No one in church will accept me because of my past/present. 

Truth:  Try us.  There’s a saying that if everyone threw all of their problems into a pile, everyone would choose their own back than anyone else’s.  No, I may not understand EXACTLY what you have gone or are going through, but I can empathize with and pray for you.

Please, if you have any questions, reach out, I’d be happy to answer them.  If I don’t know the answer, then I’ll let you know and will work on finding that answer for you.

Hub City Vineyard services are at 9:15 am & 11 am every Sunday morning. 

Also, if you don’t have plans for Thanksgiving, please come over to our house.  We’ll have plenty of food and would love to have you join us.

Have a blessed Holiday week no matter where you are!

Love,

Chan

Quality, not Quantity...right?!

Whoops!  Almost 4 months have gone by since I’ve blogged.  Whew, I’m not so hot at keeping this ma-bob updated!

SO…since my last COMPLETELY TMI, in retrospect, post, things have been fairly AWESOME!  Don and some sweet friends have just wrapped up my final 30^th birthday celebrations over the course of this weekend and I feel better entering this year, decade, whatever than I have any that I can remember!  In 20.5 short weeks, I’ve dropped 99 pounds!  I was pushing a 30/32 dress size and am now comfortable in a 14/16 or 18/20 depending on cut and fit.  Something that I continue to find amazing is the amount of support and enthusiasm that surrounds my progress.  I’ve met some amazing new people through different groups centered around WLS.  These people are as dear to me as some of my closest and longest standing friends.

Enjoy the same comparison shots you’ve already seen if we’re Facebook friends:

10.5 weeks post-op:  60.8 pounds down!

16.5 weeks post-op:  86.6 pounds down!

20 weeks post-op:  99 pounds down!

In other, non-weight related news, the kids are great (at a new daycare with an amazing lady whom we all adore), Don is amazing (could be reminiscent of the birthday celebrations) and I feel like I’m in a great place in so many areas thanks to the sweet words given to me by all of the birthday cards and also some extensive prayer time with some sisters in faith a couple of weeks ago. 

I’m also working diligently on group fundraising for this year’s HCV Nicaragua trip!  If you’re a 31 fan, please check out the 12 Days of Thanksgiving that we’ve got going on right now!  Also, if you’re interested in a Chick-Fil-ACowlendar, let me know!  They’re only $6 each and make GREAT stocking stuffers!

Praying that this finds you well and at peace!

Love,

Chan

I'm full of it.

Well – maybe not currently, but I have been off and on far too much over the past week or so.  Post-op for gastric bypass isn’t all sunshine, rainbows and dancing unicorns.  Sometimes it’s more like playing leap frog with a unicorn.  Also known as, not so pleasant.

Just like everything, there is a cycle to doing what you need to do after surgery.  IF you can get in your fluids and protein, this cycle can be pleasant and happy.  If not, and you struggle, things become…well, stopped up.  Little known fact:  constipation causes all sorts of other health issues.  I wasn’t able to drink or eat without severe pain & nausea and when you aren’t eating or drinking, nothing is happening on the flip side.

Thankfully through prayer and a little medical assistance (enter Phenergan, Colace & Milk of Magnesia), things are going much better.  On top of that, I had an incision pop open after the other had finally stopped draining.  I know, I know…gross.  Sorry, just being honest and I feel like it’s my doody duty to document this for myself when memory puts fog and glitter on everything that’s happened and also for those that are thinking of doing this. 

That being said, I wouldn’t change much.  I would have taken the medical assistance sooner and let my husband coax me to take just one more sip or try just one more protein this or that. 

Overall, I’ve been feeling great!  I fit into my smaller clothes from the other closet and even some of those are a little loose!  I’m not scared to sit in a booth, my car fits better (if that makes sense) and I’m ready to start working out as soon as I have the release from the Dr. on Thursday.

The one thing that I’m really looking forward to is picking up my kids again.  I miss being able to comfort them when and how they need.

I’ve been taking progress photos every other week and they really show my progress, but I’m not sure how I feel about sharing them.  I thought that it would be most reflective of change if I were just in my skivvies, but therein lies the problem.  Maybe in another 6 months or a year and after some toning happens on my part…  I think I’m most self-conscious because even though there’s definite change, I still look so much like the “before” picture.  Here’s a face comparison from April to July:

And for those of you that that like rough data and charts…here’s a little progress chart that I’ve been putting together:

Hope this finds you all well and loving life!

Love always,

Chan