Donald E. Clark 1949-1996
He was a wonderful, kind, strict, funny, hardworking dad. He was also agreat friend, great mechanic, kind neighbor, and a gentle giant. I amgrateful to have had him as my Dad and I am amazed at how well he knew me.My Dad taught me how to change the oil, repair a transmission and how towork hard. But he also taught me the importance of reading the scriptures,being a good listener and being kind. I, of course, took all of that forgranted. I have his journal which helps a bit. I only have a few picturesbut I have lots of wonderful memories.

It will be 13 years on Jan 7th since his death and I have not stoppedthinking about him. Everyday the pain is as raw as that first day withouthim. I believe that we are an eternal family, I will see him again. Butuntil then I will long to hear his voice, to feel his reassuring hand uponmy shoulder and to see his great smile. I know he would have loved myhusband and my children. I hope he would have been proud of my life and thechoices I have made. But above all I just wish I could have seen his face onmy important days.

Monday, October 21st would have been my Dad's 59th birthday. I still love him so much.

It is the last day of Summer and I wanted to share my kids' smiles with you. We have been through a lot of emotions and it hasn't all been easy. But check out the happiness that these kids shared the last few months.

These kids are amazing. Enough said!!! AMAZING!!!!

The Sunday of the concert started off a little rocky. At about 12:25pm that Sunday our middle one (or #2 we call her, if we need to discuss something about her while she is in the room) started with the stomach flu, I will spare the details, but NOT fun. And not to mention this was the third night in a row being woken up like this, I think the kids were getting us back for making them share a room, or something. So needless to say we were tired, and unable to attend church, which I was feeling guilty about since I knew no matter what, Hell or High Water, I would be at the United Center at 6pm to get in line for my tickets for my guys, otherwise known as BON JOVI.

We started the evening with a romantic dinner at Maggiano's (one of our very favorite restaurants), then we took the thirty minute drive into Chicago. I love Sunday traffic. We got to our destination VERY early but we didn't care, we were there to have fun, even if that meant chatting with our neighbors in the Will Call line. That was surprisingly fun, and the people watching was fanastic. From 5:00-8:30pm we people watched and WOW, some things haven't changed since 1985, if you know what I mean. Big mall bangs, Jean jackets, and Acid wasted jeans. I am not one to verbally make such statements...to anyone but Matt. BUT WOW!!!! There were some blasts from the past there. Then Chris Daugherty, the American Idol runner-up from a few years ago. He was great. He seemed to own that show, he could have kept playing and from where I was rocking...no one would have cared. He was great and not bad to look at too. :)

Then the "Men of the Hour" finally made their stage entrance. Jon was raised from the underbelly of the stage to a roaring welcome for his adoring fans. All the guys looked great!!! We watched 75% of the show and then it was our turn. SIDE STAGE!! It was great. The only downside was that Jon didn't make it over to our side, but Sambora was there and it was awesome. The fiddle player was pretty and engaging to our little crowd. After we got back to our seats...it ended all too soon. There is no complaint, now a mere six months later, it seems like yesterday. It was worth whatever my crazy, wonderful, amazing husband paid for the tickets and the night will NOT be forgotten.

Here we are all five of us are sick and just getting snowed in. I have acrock pot full of bad carb chicken noodle soup. And hopefully after the soupwe will get to go to bed early and feel better. I am sort of glad it happensto be a day that we all get to do nothing (besides Matt who works all dayfrom home on Fridays). I just feel bad that we all have this nasty cough andcold...and what I was promised was just allergies, just yesterday.

Here is hoping that the thought "March = In like a lion, out like a lamb" istrue. I need to have the peace and beauty of April and true Spring.

I love this site SugarFreeSheila.com. Ok, so I have been searching since starting this blog of some other great sites and blogs. This site by Sheila Pike-Pereyra is quite amazing. I love its simplicity and the depth of information. It is a virtual library for anything Atkins or Low Carb. She is a beautiful woman who made changes in her life, and she shines because of it. She has a passion about helping people realize that changes can be made in a sweet and non-judging way. It has and continues to inspire me to continue on my journey to Better Health.

Please check it out, you won't be disappointed. Unless, you don't like blond, babe-a-licious women. HA!HA!! It has great pictures, articles, personal stories and helpful ideas to help make the lifestyle change that will give you part of your life back.

I JUST PLAIN LOVE IT. ENJOY!!

I don’t think I am consistently aware how important Good Health is. I mean, I see my little ones run around all day and wonder if that was possible that I ever had that much energy. And when I am living a VERY healthy lifestyle I know that I can achieve high energy, but when I cheat or my life gets in the way (Ie, like right now, sitting at the hospital with my mother law, with nothing fresh to eat. But the positive is an abundance of ice chips and water).

After I was jolted into remembering how important it is to have health (and age) on my side, I am sorrowful and embarrassed by the silly stuff I eat and drink just to get a food high, when all along I could be doing healthy things for my body. I know my exercising, about five times a week, helps a lot, it is better then being sedentary (if you can call a mom of 3 under 8 lazy). But, I am realizing that I have much to do starting today to get into better health. I am blessed to have this reminder.

I had an ah-ha moment while I was on the Reformer today. I realized that I am strong...maybe not as strong as the next person. But I am physically strong and I am emotionally strong, except for the average mother of three overwhelming moments. I am NOT perfect but I am trying to become a better person, and for me that is a whole body experience. For me happiness is partly how I feel about the way I look and partly the life that I am living. Let me explain.

I love my family and my friends. I like my house, although I would love it a whole lot more if it were closer to more of my friends and still in the area where all my family lives. I wish that I had a perfect, sugar cookie life and could have my family on one block, but lets be honest...that won't ever happen.

But the things I don't like about my self and my life are these; my weight, my hair ☺, my disorganized existence and my lack of motivation to fix any of these before mentioned issues. I know these are NOT that important but they are what life is made of right?? Don’t you agree? I guess what I am saying is I wish I had more self-esteem and more reasons to be proud of myself (which are one in the same). And I am working on that need, everyday! I workout 5 times a week(...sexy core baby!...), read my religious books, and try to be a good human being. For that I am proud. (Wait a minute! You sound happy!)

So after three weeks of working out, trying new activites ie: pilates and fitness yoga, I am still having a hard time dealing with the diet restrictions. I know it would help lose the unwanted weight, but it is a struggle. But I am determined to figure it out. I have been cranky, unreasonable and VERY sleepy and I tend to blame it on all the dieting/working out. But is it? Anyone have any experience with these feelings and Atkins? Am I alone? (I'd raise my hand but I know I don't technically count on questions like these.).

I wonder if I am overtly frustrated because of the weight issues or just my life in general. Don’t get me wrong, life is great, kids are great, my marriage is AWESOME. But I am so overwhelmed and frustrated and not being able to get anything accomplished around the house, going to school and this new goal of weight loss is just ONE MORE THING. So I wonder, does it ever become easier? Or is it just the weather? I hope it is the fact that the kids are cyclones of fun chaos and the cold weather (Cyclones...that's great! They are cyclones, sometimes cyclones of fun and sometimes not so much.). I just hope we get a warm, sunny day soon!!!

Or maybe, just maybe, Matt is right, the hot tub would solve a host of problems(Um...okay, I'll keep it clean, my dear.). HAHA!! I love that man! ☺

Okay, Okay, I was doing just alright until I read Matt's post...and ate a bagel. He is such a great writer (whatever). Here's the deal: I have been trying to lose some weight for the next exciting adventure in my life, my face to face meeting with Jon Bon Jovi in less then a month. Okay he may not notice me among the amazingly svelt blonds that will also be in the crowd with me on stage at the United Center in Chicago in late February. But in my mind he is singing to me! :) Don't worry, Matt knows all about my Bon Jovi crush as I understand his crush on Salma Hayek, and boy do I agree, she has a great personality and oh yeah, a GREAT body (Salma, there's some happiness, thanks Ter!).

But back to the reason I am blogging. I have tried Atkin's before and I will admit I have only done it right once. Eight years ago I tried and I hated the diet. Then the middle of last year I lost some weight (from the babies I have had) and was doing awesome, then had some surgery which stressed me out and had me running for the chocolate and Pepsi. I love Pepsi as much as I love Bon Jovi, if you can imagine that. So here I am trying to lose the twenty-five pounds still left from three kids, one husband, a few vacations and one HUGE addiction to carbs. So together we will see how it goes.