The war continues...

So as many of my friends and family know (unless you are blind) I am fat.

I have literally been trying to lose weight for the past, oh I don't know, 15 years or so. I have weighed as much as 402 lbs and as low as 230 lbs in my adult life, the latter of the two being while I was on my mission in Guatemala where hygiene was a revolutionary idea and parasites were plentiful.

A few months ago I had a little scare from my doctor when she put it so tenderly as only a medical professional could, when she asked me, " Do you want to die?!". It was hard for me not to laugh for a couple of reasons: When faced with the reality of your potential end of mortality, what else can you do but laugh at the fact that (in my case) you put yourself in this situation AND her heavy, almost incomprehensible East Indian accent. Not that accents are funny but hers was. Ah, the irony. Food, although necessary to ensure the proper function of the body's organs and to sustain life, when abused can kill you. Food, you so crazy!

I have high blood pressure and have now been on medication for the past two months. I have started to exercise and eat better and am now down to 369 lbs. I have been newly re-inspired by the hard work and dedication shown by my friend Brad Naef who has lost 100 lbs. Woot, woot Brad. My blood pressure is now on the road to Normalville and I plan on dropping him off there for good. The good news is my cholesterol, blood sugar and triglycerides are at normal levels which is a surprise to me because um, I'm fat. So there is the trade off: My arteries are clear for blood flow but my heart can still explode at any moment causing a sudden and oh so final death. So, my reason for writing is this: I want you to know that I am dedicated to changing my life in every aspect. I will more than likely see most of you who will read this at least a few times a week. I want you as my friends to check up on my progress. Ask me how I'm doing. Keep me honest and in line in other words. And when you have something yummy at your house for dinner and I'm over don't feel like you have to adjust anything for me. I will adjust for you. I have set a few weight loss and personal goals for September and December of next year and I will reach them, with your help it will be easier. Thanking you in advance, Mese.



At my biggest 400+ lbs.




And on my mission in Guatemala. Now this picture is awesome for a couple of reasons. #1, I'm extremely thin and dark and my hair is nappy. #2, How did I lose weight? Look at that cow! My food is literally starving! Don't forget to check out the ruins in the back.

26 Days To Go

We have changed our background in honor of the upcoming holiday. You like? I like. Being that the holiday season is a time where we reflect on things we are thankful for and gifts in general I am always forced to consider the gifts that I treasure in my life. As is the tradition this time of year I will be naming them in the form of a list:

1. Knowledge of the truth

2. Knowledge that Christ was made a sacrifice so that I could be saved from myself.

3. The right to choose to be optimistic in a world filled with trials and the ease of pessimism.

4. Knowledge that Heavenly Father loved me so much that he allowed me to meet and marry Anna Marie Nancy Knapp even though I will have to work until the day after forever ends to repay him. She is a saint. I mean that with all of my heart. I don't know anyone with a greater capacity to love and forgive on all this earth. She deserves more than what I am but Heavenly Father in all of his wisdom knew how much I needed her and will ultimately be able to justify the multitudes of blessings she will receive for having been my eternal companion. I love you.

5. Marlowe for making me a Daddy and for giving me good sense and proper perspective.

6. Little Mason for helping me to want to try to be more patient.

7. The BANNING BOYS.

8. Life's challenges including (even especially) those that were completely avoidable...or in other words those challenges that I brought on myself.

9. ALL of you. If you're reading this post it's because our paths have crossed and somewhere along the way we decided to stay in touch. Thank you for being our friends. And finally...

10. Chili Dogs. Don't laugh. It's not funny. On Black Friday Mason, Randy and myself left at 4:45 am to check out the day after Thanksgiving sales at Wal Mart. I mentioned that Anna had told me that Wienerschnitzel would be opened at 5 am. We laughed. I joked, "Who would eat a chili dog that early?". Me, I guess. I didn't even know that I needed it but I could not get the thought of a chili dog out of my head. I was going to sneak over to get one when Randy pointed out that he couldn't find Mason. We walked to the van and he wasn't there either. We turned towards Wienerschnitzel and I felt a tear starting to form in my eye. For there was my faithful friend Mason in his XXXL red and white striped shirt that could have camouflaged 500 Where's Waldos, sipping on a large diet coke and waiting for his pastrami dog. We were brothers in hot dogs that morning. I joined him and ordered a chili dog, no cheese extra mustard and washed it down with a lemonade and Pepsi cocktail. Some moments bond people for life. This was not one of them. It was just funny that we ate hot dogs so early. The end.

TAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! You're it. Let us know what 10 things you are grateful for.

Our Blog Page Just Got a Whole Lot More Entertaining

So, as most of you can see, my husband has been posting some messages on my page. At first it was just temporary because he had a few things that he felt would get looked at more on my page that he wanted to share with as many people as he could. Well, the good news is.....he has decided to officially join forces and just have one blog between the two of us. His old page is no more. You will know he is posting by all the comedy or lots of great music and such. I will most likely be posting about the usual: kids, family, and life. Like I said, his will probably be a lot more entertaining than mine. If you need a good laugh please check out the post just previous to this one. I was cracking up, almost crying, and it's only 6 am.

Speechless...

Is what you'll be after you view this. There truly are no words. Please share your thoughts.

On the other hand...

Sorry for the misleading words in my last post. To make up for it I thought that I would introduce you guys to someone on the extreme opposite end of the musical spectrum as our Korean friend. If any of you don't know this about me I am very passionate about music. Good music rather. I define good music as anything that is pleasing to YOU. Great music however should transport you from where you are listening to a place of elation and melodic bliss. Anything well structured with a creative rhyme scheme on top of a jazz chord or two usually does it for me. Two words: Mario Biondi. His voice is amazing. His voice is deep. Deep as in profound and also as in low. He makes Barry White sound like Michael Jackson. He's an Italian from Parma and sings in English regularly. This one might actually change your life...musically anyway.

Life will never be the same...

No tricks this time. This is Mese. We live in a day where a multitude of technological advancements afford us the opportunity to share experiences faster than ever. Something extraordinary happens at 2:00 and a friend on the other side of the world can know about it by 2:05. I have been lucky enough to have experienced something that has literally changed my perspective on life and now I feel a profound urgency to share it with the people that I love. Please watch this video as I am sure that it will burn into your core and you will NEVER EVER be the same. Please share your experiences with us as way of thanks for you will be grateful for having seen it.

Halloween and Homemade Costumes

This year for Halloween, we were forced by a lack of funds to get very creative with costumes. Marlowe and Mason dressed up as Dora and Diego. I had fun studying exactly what they wore and what color their clothes were. Using our local thrift stores, Wal-Mart, pieces of costumes from past Halloweens, and some paper and a marker, we were able to come up with everything we needed for about ten bucks. Mese's costume, Mr. T, which he came up with the morning of, was a huge hit at the family Halloween party. Somehow he always does that. Every year he has no idea what he is going to be, but at the last minute he comes up with something amazing. His costume was very budget friendly too and, yes, that is his real hair. It was a lot of fun. Thank you Darcy Patterson for the pictures.