12 high points of 2012

One of my friends posted 12 things that meant something to her or something she was proud of! I loved it so thought I would reflect on 2012 in a positive way!


1. I married my best friend!  This day was not just important and meaningful because I married my best friend.  It was such an amazing week because we created memories with our family that we will remember our whole life!

 

 

 

2.  I rarely talk about my old school!  It's something that I am very proud of!  I worked at a inner city school...When I told people I worked there they would say wow you must be a strong person.  I would laugh and say kids are kids no matter where they live!  I learned so much from them and loved my job!  While there I started a theatre program!  My students even won an award! I miss my school everyday!  These students and staff shaped and touched my life!

 

 

 

3.  I changed my life!  I've gone from a couch potatoe to a healthy person!  I've done two hours spin class!  I've flipped tires!!!  I have actually changed the person I am inside and out!

 

 

4.  I moved away from Texas!  Which was really hard!  I love and miss my family everyday!  It's taught me soo much about my strength and made new friends which can be really hard in a new place!

 

 

 

5.  I never in my mind would I think I could say this!  I have inspired people to loose weight!  If someone would have told me a year and half ago that I would change peoples lives and help them loose weight I would have laughed at you eating my ice cream!  But I can say with pride that I have gotten message from people that say thank you it means the world to me!

 

 

6.  I'm proud of myself for stepping out of the box and trying some modeling!!!  Takes alot to put on a corset and say okay shoot go for it... and then post it on facebook!  I'm proud of learning from great photographers about modeling... Which that I am very blessed to have met Hanna Roller.  The woman who has taken this photo.  She is incredible photographer and person!  Truly blessed to have met her!

 

 

 

7. I am very proud of being put the San Antonio Wedding Guide! 

 

 

8.  This year we got to go to Disney and to visit Ryan Grandparents for Thanksgiving.  Nancy's family was so welcoming to us!  This definally was a highlight to see them for Thanksgiving!

 

 

 

 9.  I am so proud of my husband this year!  He got first class and made a really high score on his exam!  Hes a rock star in my books!

10.  I am just really happy and proud of my relationship with my husband!  We have had such a blast so far as a married couple!  No matter what comes our way we face it together!  We find fun no matter where we are!  Thank you Ryan for being such a great husband!

 

11.  I got a permante sub positon which I was soo blessed with!  The reason I became a teacher was because of my second grade teacher!!!  I've gotten to teach second grade for the past couple months and it has been such an amazing experience!

 

12.  Lastly,  sadly my brother was in a awful accident!  I could have lost my brother!  It was very scary.  He had complete back surgery...the doctors said that he would be in rehab for atleast a year.  God works in such amazing ways!  In less then five months my brother was walking again and back to working!   My brother is a hard working person who can do anytihng in the world!  But because of God I still have my brother in my life!  So out of all the wonderful things that happened this year I am the most thankful that mybrother is doing so well and is with us today!  Thank you God for all your belssings!

 

 

The new Normal

I haven't writen one of these in a while.  I figured it was about time.  Tonight I am alone because Ryan has watch....weird being alone but hey it's better then him being deployed... So I will not complain about one night. I thought I'd  talk about what we have been up to and since New Years is in the near future what my goals are going to be.

Nothing too exciting is going on in life.  Just teaching and enjoying being back in a classroom.. It ends in feb so I'm sure I'm going to be really sad to have to say goodbye to some of these kids... Ryan and I did our first volunteering event!  We helped at the Pensacola Christmas Parade....It was actually a lot of fun!  The parade was beauitful and it was awesome just doing something for the community as a couple.  We also put up our first Christmas tree as husband and wife!  haha I call it our Grown Up Tree because we actually have a full size tree...In the past we have just used those little tiny trees lol Which would end up falling over it because Elie our cat would climb it.  That's whats been going on.... with us

I recently did a photoshoot with a photographer.... as you have seen the pictures....She was an amazing photographer but I still need to loosen up and just love myself more.. I look at the pictures and still see fat and need to tone!  The shocking thing is I don't see huge anymore... I actually shocked now that I use to be that!  I've maintain my weight for pretty much six months... I would love to drop five to ten pounds but I will def embrace where I am and not stress about it.  I actually am very use to the way I eat..small portions its now my new normal!  On the side note I love that show!  Speaking of shows...  The new girl show really freaks me out every week.... She reminds me soo much of myself... The way she dresses and the nerd she is.... but mostly how she deals with things and the things she goes through...Kind of scary sometimes how close it is to my life.



Soooo I'm going to be turning 28 on Jan 10.... oh goodness... I'm getting to thirty... I have no regrets though..... New Years is coming... and I know many people laugh about resolutions... I think mine isn't a resolution I think its just some goals I want to obtain by the end of the year.  I think I'll stick to seven of them... and hope to atleast do 5 of them.. I think I can forgive myself if I don't reach two lol hahah see already making excuses. bad Lisa!


Goals.

1. Gain a close girlfriend.  I know it sounds sooo silly.... I have never had a close girlfriend basically my whole life it may be the fact that I grew up around boys.  But I would like to gain a close girl friend.  Doesn't have to be Penscola either.... (Reconnected with someone from High school we weren't close friends in high school.... neither no why... But I see it happening)

2.Sundays, I will turn off my phone and turn off the computer!  My husband doesn't think its possible!  I think we are on the phone and computer too much!  I'm the worst... So on Sundays I'm going to be a free from phone and free from computer lady!

3. DO A 5K! Goal is April and my husband will stand at the end and I will do a victory dance! To prove to him that I can do it! He believes I can do it! But doesn't think I will!

4. Take a cooking or painting class!

5. Audtion for a play!  ( I miss it and I need to do some of it!)

6.  Parasail!  I want to do it!! I hope I don't die!!!

7.  I want to volunteer atleast five times this new year!


So lets see how I do.... If I don't do them I'm going to have to buy a drink for everyone that I didn't do for my husband!!!

Sorry if this blog was boring..... hope not too boring!

Oh and I'm really excited because my best friend is coming to visit Pensacola in Jan!! Also I'm going to Texas to vist in March....

Ryan and I are doing wonderful... I'm a very very lucky girl....

Oh you are probably wondering why call this the new normal... because my life is starting to finally feel normal.....

tips/random things from me!!

I haven't written a blog in a while... I knew I said I would about weight loss tips....so I thought I'd write a blog about random stuff and throw in some weight loss tips.  I get messages from time to time with questions on what can I do in the gym...how can I drop weight...These are the things I've done...i'm not a fitness expert I'm just normal person who has been there hoping for the magic pill.

The fact of the matter is there is no magic... There is no secret way to loose it...surgery can help....diets can help....but the fact of the matter is you have to want it and you have to realize its not a diet its a life style change... I remember hearing that as a fat person and saying shut the hell up tell me what the secret is hahah now looking at it!  It's all hard work! 

Tip one:  No matter what,..... if you eat shit then you are going to to have to work your butt off in the gym.  There are weekends that Ryan and I eat crap!  But two days does not go by where I'm in the gym busting my ass!  In the end you have got to count calories.  There is no special way...you eat less calories and work out... pounds come off!  no secret!

Tip two:  You have got to want it more then anything!! We spend so much bitching about our weightloss but we have got to spend that energy trying to make a change!  You got to put aside all the excuses and decide that you are worth it!

Tip three:  Do not drink your calories!!!! Biggest peeve of mine!  Don't say you want to loose weight and then go drink your calories!  For example soda!  or the worst yet!!! Starbucks!! I freakin love it but get skinny version!!!!  you can get a grande for under a 100 cals!! if you get a pumkin latte or etc they are around 400 cals!  Do you know what you could eat instead!!!  Right after you drink it you will not be full!! If you eat the cals you would atleast feel full! I think alot of the time we just don't know how much is in something!  My best advice is look it up!!!  Drinks are sooo bad and they will get you!!! Ice cream can get you!!!!!    We got start reading and educating what we are putting in our bodies because its the only body we've got!

Tip four:  You got to work out!!!  I dont care what you do  just please try!!!!  Everyone will start somewhere!  I think the best plan in the gym is going in thinking you can't doing something and just trying!! If you start off and you walk out doing something better thenwhen you started be soooo proud of yourself!!!  It's baby steps!  I'm one of those people who goes to personal training and they could kill me and I'd still go... I think thats what has helped me soo much!  I think the best thing I can tell me people is stop being scared that you can't do something!  Stop saying oooh my body is not going to let me!  It will you just gotta work at it and try!!!  Remember you can't hate on yourself you gotta build... I remember doing pt and sooo bad i couldn't do someting and the trainer said to me STOP being mad at yourself... whens the last time you did this... I said I don't know she goes then how can you expect your body to do this...you gotta build

Tip five:  If you are a person who is trying to loose the last ten to five pounds...which is where I am!! In my eyes then you have to count everything!!! You got to eat healthy!  Cut out the bad shit!!!  Cut out the bad carbs got to eat good ones! 

Tip Six:  I have many other tips Ill do along the way but this is the biggest tip I can offer!  Please do not do low carb!!!!  I did this for a year of eating low carb meaning less then 30 carbs a day!  It is the worst diet for you!!!!  You will gain it back!  Your body needs carbs to loose weight!  You need it to function!  You just got to pick the good carbs!! Don't eat fries eat a sweet potatoe!  Eat the right carbs!  I hate seeing people count carbs!! Makes me soo sad!  The best advice I could say is portion control!  Go back to the basics!!! Eat clean and good carbs!!!  You don't have to do this always but expect to work out harder in the gym when you don't eat clean!


Sooo those are just some of my ideas.... I'll write another later in the week with how I got started in the gym and different workout I tried!!!

So my struggles are still there with weightloss!  I still have to work on the tips that I post on here everyday!  Right now my main struggle is feeling like I'm not big anymore!  I recently went to a photoshoot!  which was a lot of fun but I felt like the fat girl at the photo shoot!  The photographer said it was my turn and the girls were watching me and I looked like a dumbass because I didn't know how to put my hands!  The fact of the matter was I kept thinking how can I pose my arms so my fat arms won't come out in the picture!  If you haven't ever had a weight problem then I don't think you can understand I mean I keep feeling like I have a 100 pounds on me!  People say ahhh you look great you look beautiful and sad to say I'm still see FAT!  They say that my brain has just got to adjust!  After the photoshoot I wish that I had just takin a shot of vodka and forgot about how I felt!  I've got to start to love myself and be proud of myself.

I get messages from people that I have inspired them! You have no idea what that means to me! Many of the messages have made me cry! I hope that I can inspire someone to change their life because its no fun not feeling good about yourself! It's no fun wanting to feel beautiful but feeling trapped. Many people have inspired me everyday! They say I've inspired them! But seeing people getting out and trying!!! Someone writting to me sayin I lost this amount of pounds is amazing and moving! The truth is they inspire me everyday! To never look back but always push forward! That over weight woman in the gym who is feeling like people are judging her at the gym is actually inspiring me to keep pushing! That we can all do it! We can all make a change! this past year the following people have inspired me! I hope that its okay to post their picture! I'm so thankful to have them in my life!!!

 

My friend joey who has lost soo much weight and has a cycling team!!!

 

My friend Eva who has dropped two sizes!! look how beauitful!!

 

My friend Felicawho has lost a lot of weight and Did a 5k!

 

This girl has inspired me when I was bigger!  I would see her running on the track and it would keep me going!  She's a true inspiration!

 

Peyton has lost I believe close to thirty pounds!  She is now a Zumba teacher!  Peyton is a postive sweet person who is just AMAZING!

My cuz.  jes!  Jess always been inspiration to me!  She is a personal trainer!  The thing I love about her is that she is always positive and knows how hard weight loss is!  She has inspired me to make a big change in my life

 

 

So this was my random blog sorry for the grammer problems or if it sounds like I'm rambling because I usually am!  I hope it helps!  I'll post workout ideas later in the week!!

So this is just a random blog with just random thoughts and things going on in life.  First I'm sure people are wondering about my job.  The only thing I can say is the job wasn't safe and I had to quit having to ask a cop to come in my classroom was too much for me.  Also, coming home crying everyday wasn't working for me.  So I'm back to the drawing boards... so I'm just subbing until i can get a job plus it will get my name out there for a teaching position.  I've been going through this and its been soo hard!  I think I was just so excited then boom didn't work out just really sucked!  Plus the job market here is awful!!!!  Thank goodness for my supportative husband who keeps encouraging me when I get down.

Pensacola still hasn't grown on me yet but doesn't feel as weird.  I still miss Texas so much and my family.  But When I do go home it will mean even more!

I recently found a friend that I knew growing up.  She was like my best friend as a little girl.. Crazy how facebook can reconnect people.  It's also funny when you run back into old friends how much you see how much you have changed and grown! 

Sooo I've been watching glee... I'm really missing theatre these days...teaching it and doing it is a way different world.  I miss the people... I miss working with other artist!!! Ugh just so hard to put in words... But going to find a way to get back into it... Some people don't know but I also sing....ts a huge passion of mine.. thought of recording it then posting it see what people think...but I will see.....


OOOOOhh Zumba... so I was really scared to do zumba... Dancing infront of walls of mirrors and with military men in the background yeal sorry scary!!!  But I decided what the heck just do it!  So zumba was fun!  At the same time I felt sooo uncomfortable!!!  It made me realize how much I am not comfortable in my new body.... I think zumba will be good for me just for that sake ...just to help me with getting comfortable in my shell.  I think being so big for so long I guess thats why I'm not use to it.  But it was a lot of fun!  Also, the women were not judging me they were going through the same boat.  The funny thing is the whole time I was thinking that my husband would be soo fun to do this with... ha and I got Ryan to agree to do it with me!  What a great husband lol

So this is just a short random blog!  The end!

 

Grey's always talks about that one person you run to when the world falls apart... My husband is that person... He has loved me when I weighed 261 pounds .. from loving me when I have bad days... He's always there to cheer me on.. Tonight I started thinking of how  lucky I was for God to give me such an amazing person in my life.  I don't know if Ryan knows how special he truly is.   I wanted to write a blog to tell you how amazing my husband is and to Thank him for always being there for me... but most of all inspiring everyday to be a great person.....

My husband has a huge heart of gold!  With that heart he has such strength...He is a Navy Sailor who has deployed to Iraq for about  a year.  While being in the Navy in San Antonio he helped with Habitat for Humanity.

There is one thing that many people don't know about my husband but a couple of years ago my husband gave bone marrow to a complete stranger who had cancer.  Giving bone marrow is not a easy or pain free thing.

How do you prepare for bone marrow stem cell donation?

Before you can donate your bone marrow, doctors give you injections of a medication to draw the blood stem cells out from your bone marrow and into your bloodstream. That way they can be easily filtered from your blood.

The medication, filgrastim (Neupogen), is typically given as an injection once a day for four or five days before your bone marrow stem cell donation. Doctors will monitor your blood counts to see how your body is reacting to the filgrastim. They'll also be looking to see if you have an optimal number of stem cells circulating in your blood.

How is bone marrow stem cell donation done?

During bone marrow stem cell donation, a machine collects your blood stem cells through a process called apheresis. Blood is drawn from your arm and runs through a machine that filters out the blood stem cells. Then your blood is returned to your body through your opposite arm.

Apheresis takes four to six hours. You'll typically undergo two to four apheresis sessions, depending on how many blood stem cells are needed.

Wanna know what comes with this!!!!

•Bone pain

•Headache

•Muscle pain

•Fatigue

•Insomnia

•Nausea and flu-like symptoms

•Sweating

•Loss of appetite

•Tingling

 

You basically feel like complete SHIT!!!  I was there with him for a week in Baltimore.. Ryan took it like  a champ but you could see that it was soo painful.   Ryan got nothing for doing this... he did it to help a complete stranger....  Ryan's dad died when he was very young to cancer so I think in my heart his dad was on his mind when he decided to this... Till this day I can remember that week.. I don't know if Ryan knows what a wonderful thing he did for someone.... I don't even know if Ryan knows what a wonderful beautiful person he is.......

We all are proud of our family and our other half!  Ryans one of those people who doesn't like to be thanked or given awards to... But I just wanted to share what my husband did and to encourage others to good things in the world for people in need... My husband if you are reading this.... I love you... you are everything to me... you have changed my life and you inspire me to be a better person every day! I love you!

 

FEAR

Moving is a pain in the butt!  It's adventure and I love it and I hate it!  I think the hardest thing I would say is leaving my job to find another one.  Switching a teaching certificate is easy but takes a long time!!!!!  You move you apply for your certificate in a different state!  I had to wait almost two months meaning I couldnt apply for any teaching positions until I heard from the state. 

Getting on facebook to see teachers going back to school killed my heart!  Not preparing my room killed my heart!  I think SAISD still has me on their caller list and called me about a big meeting and I wanted to cry!  I actually think I did!  Seeing everyones kids all dressed up and ready for school made me cry!  Im a teacher not for a pay check!  Im a teacher to make a difference in someones life and I can't do it from my couch at home!!!

My first interview was at an alterative school....which I bascially didn't get because I really think that they feared that I wouldn't be able to protective myself lol!  I finally got my letter from the state and was able to interview for a six grade teaching position!  Then finding out that they decided to add a theatre teacher and that I should apply!  When I first started working on my certificate people would tell me I would never find a teaching job in theatre!  Wrong!!!  In San Antonio I taught k through 8 theatre!! Something most people would never heard of!  When looking at teaching here I knew that I would be teaching elementary ed because they do not have many position for full time theatre teacher!!!  So when I had my interview for the job I made sure I was prepared for whatever they may throw at me!  But when they took my hand and said welcome to Workman I seriously was wanting to scream and dance in my heart!!!  I walked to my car....got in and cried!   Not having a job sucks for one thing!! But not being able to teach was killing my heart!!!

I'm soo nervous for monday!!! Like really nervous!  In hopes that I will be everything that they think I would be.  Also, that my students love me... I'm soo nervous to start a new place!!!!  Like soo scared to get back in to the classroom in a new school!  I'm excited but fear is setting in!!! 

God is soo Amazing!!!  I don't think life could get any better!!  Wonderful family, amazing husband, I got on a cover a mag., I GOT A JOB IN THEATRE!!!! 

I'm writting this because I keep thinking of the classroom that I will walk into on Monday... I'm scared soo scared...please keep me in your prayers that I will do well!  That I will make a difference!

So how'd you loose that weight?

I have gotten many messages on how I lost weight.  I think everyone suffers with their weight.  Sometimes people even want to gain it!  Lets see there are many ways I have lost weight!  For one year I did atkins!  I ate 25 carbs a day and worked out twice a day.  The YMCA Downtown San Antonio was my home.  Then I finished my last two years of college and got in a relationship and gained it all back.  I have tried jenny craig, weight watchers,  ha even one time in college my friend kathleen and I did that thing where you drink that nasty lemon drink!!!  We lasted two days.  You name it I have tried it.  My brother guy was really the inspiration.  My brother guy had weight loss surgery.  Gastric sleeve is the name of the surgery.  Meaning that they go in and cut 85 percent of your stomach out and throw it away lol I never wanted to do surgery because I was embarrassed by it.  My brother lost over 200 pounds and looks smoking hot!  My mother one time asked me if I would do it.  I got in a big fight with her and was soo upset by it.  A year later and weighing my heightest I have ever had of 261 I decided that I had to make a change.

So we found belite!  Belite offers weightloss surgery for way cheaper then the United States they offer it Tijuana Mexico and Juarez... Yep Juarez the most dangerous city in Mexico lol.  They pick you up at the airport and then take you across the boarder and take you to a hopsital that is for the embassy.  I know sounds freaking crazy nuts!  But I decided I was going to do it and my mom decided she was going to do it to!  We had enough of dealing with weight.     My husband or fiancee at the time was about to deploy to Iraq and thought I was crazy for doing it but supported me!

On March 11 I had gastric sleeve.  You have to do a diet for two weeks of no carbs then liquid after surgery for two weeks then slowly can eat.   Many people say that weightloss surgery is a easy route! I laugh at that.  I know many people who have had the lab band, gastric bypass, and the sleeve and guess what they gained it all back!  There is nothing easy about it!   Cutting 85 percent of your stomach out hmmm doesn't sound easy to me!  Sounds pretty damn brave if you ask me.  Weight loss surgery has been a big tool for me.  The fact in the matter is that its just a tool and you also hit weeks where you don't loose weight and you have hit the gym.  You have to change the way you eat and think about food!  Nothing easy about it!  Alot of the time eating is very mental and you have to work on that part yourself! But it has saved my life!

It really hit me that I needed it when I went to visit Ryan in Balitmore I got on the plane and the seat belt barely fit! can you imagin how awful and embarassed I felt!! I'm dying to get on one now.  I write this for people who want to know about my  weight loss or who are to scared and want information! 

I think we think of Mexico as this crazy dangerous place.  It was the nicest hosptial that I have ever been to in my life.  The service was beyond anything that I have experienced in my life.  It's been a year and almost a half my mom has lost more then 65 pounds and I have lost around 105.  The most important goals though haven't been on that scale.  The most important things that I have gained are actually things I can do in the gym!  I can run a mile,  I can bike for hours,  I can do a stair stepper longer then my husband!!! who is very fit!  I used a trainer in San Antonio (I call her my Julian Michaels)  She told me I can do anything!  I believe her!  The truth of the matter is there is no easy answer out there but there are alot of tools!  If you take the tools and make smarter choices you can change your life.

I don't go screaming about weightloss surgery on facebook because I think people have different ways of loosing weight.  I also thought people may look down on me for it! But I kind of wanted to just help anyone whoever thought about doing it and was too scared!  I

 

Me and a great friend Bianca 2003

 

 

My whole life I have had weight issues!  I was the chubby kid growing up!  Weight has defined me my whole life!  I wasn't a popular kid in high school nor would I say I was a nerd.  But I was picked on during school.. I heard the awful comments of shes a pig..etc... I remember one time a football player telling my best friend who got me a christmas gift if its not food shes not going to like it.  It hurt me me and stuck with me through my whole life.  As I write this right now I'm embarassed by it.  I actually feel like the girl from Never been kissed telling her story and how that part of my life didn't define me!


Throughout college I continued to struggle with my weight... I was able to loose it off and on!  finally I am down to my goal weight and loosing 105 pounds ... I still hear that guys voice in the back of my head when I'm on a spin bike.  As a teacher I see kids get bullied and thats one thing I wont stand for... I hope that when that guy grows up that he doesn't teach his kids that.  But in the end those comments got me going....  I use to think if someone would actually love me... That's so sad to say that growing up I thought no one in the their mind would fall in love with this mess.  Boy was I wrong... I found a man who loved me no matter what I looked like!    The most important thing I learned was that anything is possible!  I recently got married and my dream always was to wear a puffy dress but I could never do it because I was too big!  So I was determine to get that dress and let me tell you I did!

You may ask why I write all of this...what could make me want to vent... I've had some big news that I would like to share!!! I'M THE COVER OF THE WEDDING GUIDE! This blog is for that little girl who has a dream of being a princess but thinks it could never be possible... For that kid who gets made fun of because hes gay.... people will not define you!!! You define yourself!  I've been dying to share this with you!

My cousin was in Davds bridal with a friend I believe and she had the mag. in her hand and she said omg let me see that!  That's my cousin!!!!  Tonight I got a text of this picture.... and I couldn't help but dance!  The Caterpillar turned into a butterfly.  Never let anyone or anything define your dreams!  Sorry its blurry its from a phone..

                   Me before......

 

 

 

Me Now!

Thank you to the San Antonio Wedding Guide for making my dreams come true!

Thank you to the best photographer and video   Limelight photography!

Happily Ever After!!

When thinking of  the word Love ...When growing up the first thing that pops in my mind is Disney and how the prince always saves the princess and they live happily ever after.  Growing up I always wonder if I would get my happily ever after.... I think we all do.... Luckily god gave me my happily ever after.   These days when I think of love I do not think of Disney.  Because love is not perfect and love isn't barbie and ken!  Love is battling life together and loving each other through it all.  In this crazy world that we live in it's hard to find love like that.  Love that doesn't give up.  Love that is soo strong that you are still be married after 39 years...and when you around that love you can still feel it sooo strong.

Ryan's Grandparents are everything that I hope my happily ever after turns into!  Tomorrow they will have been married for 39 years of marriage!  If that doesn't inspire you I don't know what will! I met them two years ago.. I went to Michigan to Ryan's brothers wedding.  Nancy is kind, sweet, caring, compassionate, funny woman.... I look up to her in so many ways I don't think she will ever understand.  There are people that you meet in life and you just hit it off.  I remember when I first started talking to Nancy on facebook before meeting her...we just hit it off.  Michael is a heart of gold, sweet, caring, loves to pick on me, and in Michael I see Ryan.   Ryan is just like his grandfather!  His grandfather is his hero! I can see it in his face when he talks to him and about him.  Me growing up in a family where my dad left me it brings joy to my life to be surrounded like men like Michael who love and cherish their family. 

I recently asked Nancy how Michael and her met..They had met in high school and dated then broke up and then they connected back when they were in the 30s.  She said that she fell in love with  because he knew the meaning of family. love, respect, honesty, and  how to treat women. Listening to this brought such joy and inspiration! Two people through 39 years of marriage loving each other with such passion and joy!  When looking around at people in marriage these days I see people who don't value each other at times... or they just give up!  These people inspire me to fight for whatever I want in life and never to give up.

When they came to our wedding we were on our way to take them to eat some Mexican food.  Ryan and his friend were in one car.  I was in the car with the grandparents and my man of honor abel.  I was trying to give Grandpa Michael directions and at the same time Nancy was talking and he couldn't hear me over her.... Abel and I could not stop laughing at them yelling at each other because they couldn't hear.... Grandpa Michael said you know one time we went on a trip and I bet her she couldn't be quiet for 20 mins!!!  He said she tried really hard!  Abel leaned over to me with tear in his eyes from laughter and said you know this is sooo you and Ryan!!!

I smile at this moment remember that very memory!   Disney always had it right... Nancy is the princess and Michael is her prince and today they are living their happily ever after. May this inspire you to find your happily ever after!!!