Chocolate Guide

Valentine's Day: Part I

I can never get Jerray to give me a big smile, but he is proud of the work he did on his poster. We had the lamest Valentine's Party ever today. It wasn't for lack of being able to have one, but since we were out of school on Tuesday and Wednesday, I decided not to send home a note on Thursday asking parents to bring things in. I figured I might get a backlash for asking them to do something last minute. I had a few kids bring things in anyhow. HH had made them treat bags. My student teacher's lesson went over, so they got a little fifteen minute celebration. :(

Two days in a row Jerry makes the blog....this time it was for his "deranged criminal" getup for showing the "cruel and unusual punishment" prohibition in the eighth amendment.

Yet another reason why I always carry my camera with me....seriously, bringing your own parts to the auto shop. I guess that means they never guarantee their work, because they can always fault the parts you bring in.

HH is hard at work in cooking class. It was so delicious. I love this chef, and have taken a few courses under him. He ran two french bistros in Chicago for ten years, so he always cooks with yummy things like heavy cream, butter, bacon, etc.

The happy couple stopping for a picture. This is our second cooking class together. The owner talked about doing some grilling date night classes as the weather warmed up, and we both expressed great interest in that.

We were totally digging the Winter Olympic Opening Ceremonies tonight. I would have loved to have been there in person. Going to the Olympics is one of my personal goals I want to achieve in life.

Show Us Your Life: Valentine's Day

My best Valentine's Day so far was last year with HH (of course!!!)

Here is the recap of last years Valentine's Edition. After all, what says love like a fancy dinner at the culinary school, to only be followed up by dinner at White Castle....and custom made heart boxes!

This year is even going to be better!!!

Tonight: Date Night Cooking Class and watching the Opening Ceremonies for the Winter Olympics

Tomorrow: An Evening Under the Stars (HH and I's first "big time" event...they take professional pictures and all!)

Sunday: Relive Your Prom with Alex and Rachel (Rachel made me jewelry, and HH bought me a corsage.)

I'll repost later with all the picture updates.

On Trying to Meet People Where They Are...

Meeting people where they are at is easier said than done most times, but it is often a worthwhile pursuit. HH is much better at doing this than I am. I think this is often because he takes more time to really listen than I do.

Last night when I was sharing with the ladies about my WLS journey, one lady asked me, "Just how did you get that big?" Because of her attentiveness, and overall niceness in all the other classes, I decided not to view the question as a personal attack, but rather a sincere question. As I told my story, I stopped and listened to hers. It turns out that she had never had a weight problem until five years ago, when she had a knee injury/replacement. It was only over the last five years that she had put on about fifty pounds. I could have passed judgement, but by taking time to learn about her, it was easy to see how weighing what I weigh seems impossible to her.

I remember the words my husband used one night during a conversation about some people who were close to us, "You seem to think that the world is out to get you, and they are not." This doesn't only apply to close friends, but overall, most people are not trying to be intentionally mean....and I need to learn to not take things (especially dealing with my weight loss) as such a personal attack.

Bunch O' Pictures

HH and I were bracing for the big storm, and he was perplexed at this "mystery" can. Needless to say, we didn't purchase this can.

Jerry once again makes the blog. "Look Mrs. F, I'm a pirate." I love this boy.

I am HH's bulunny. For the Valentine's Advent calendar today, this was waiting for me in the microwave.

This was waiting for me the other day in the glove box of our Highlander.

I know I look rough, but it is getting pretty late here!

I'm "out" at cooking class....three ladies know that I had WLS and lost a boat load of weight. They were really sweet and encouraging.

One Hour Delay

Ok...it is weird going back to work when you have had a "weekend" in the middle of your work week. The kids are on a one hour delay, and teachers have to report as normally scheduled. I am having HH take me to work.

We have our taxes finished to go to the tax lady. That will happen this afternoon. HH is also driving me to cooking class tonight.

HH and I ended our unexpected weekend with watching documentary number four: Jonestown: The Life and Death of the Followers of Jim Jones. We both learned a lot, and wow was he a scary man.

Challenge Day 10

Apologize. Think back to something over the past few days or weeks when you should have apologized for something.

I find myself apologizing a lot. Marriage has revealed a lot of selfishness in myself. I have another person I need to think about, and many times I drop the ball. I don't feel that I act disrespectfully towards my husband intentionally, but many are the times that I need to apologize.

Such a time arose YESTERDAY....It was over taxes. I am a type A personality, and always want to get my taxes to the tax lady as soon as possible. I had been waiting on two documents. HH has had one of those documents for a week. It upset me, and I know it wasn't a mountain, but I did need to apologize to him about how I acted.

Challenge Day 9

Ask his opinion on some area related to his expertise or interests. Philippians 2:4 says, "Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."

I really value HH's opinion. He sees things from a very different perspective than I do oftentimes. I love that. It broadens my thinking. He has many areas of expertise and interests, but I used this challenge in reverse. I have been a teacher for nine years now. My work world experience has been teaching, and a little bit of babysitting on the side. I have really been talking with him about school situations, and it is awesome getting a perspective that is not from the "school world."

Challenge Day 8

Relay a compliment to him. Reflect back over the past several weeks. Did someone say something positive and honoring about your husband?

This day is so easy to do! People compliment HH all the time, to him personally, and to me as well. HH is a genuine nice guy, and is very willing to be a servant. When we were at the Feed My Starving Children Event, he cleaned up a big water spill in the men's bathroom, because he didn't want anyone else to get hurt. I can give many examples of his generosity. His sweetness is often commented on by my co-workers, but I'm sure that I let a compliment or two slip between the cracks. I told him about how sweet his Valentine's Day heart was, which was personalized with the candies I like the best. Many of my co-workers just thought that was the coolest thing.

There is a Keith Urban song with lyrics that say, "I want to stand out in the crowd for you, a MAN among men." My husband absolutely does this.

Documentary Marathon....

I watched Killer at Large this morning. There wasn't a lot of information I didn't know already in this documentary, but if you are newer in learning about the fight of obesity, it is certainly a good staring point. I liked that they addressed the crappy quality of children's lunches, and how much further your dollar will go when you are buying junk food items.

I am now watching a documentary called Skid Row.