Pictures Are More Then Just a Thousand Words...It's Called Reality!

So, I was looking at pictures the other day of myself and realized that something needs to be done. I need to get my rear in gear and lose those 30-50 pounds that I want too. I know that everyone says this after January 1st pops around, but I have done it before and it will be done again.

Tomorrow Today is the day!

I am promising myself to get up earlier on at least two days of the week to get on my elliptical for about 15-20 minutes. This will be the first couple weeks to a month. Then progressively I will up the time and quantity of days. This is added onto the exercising that I do in the evenings already. In the spring and summer, I would like to start running regularly.

I will eat more veggies and just healthier all together. Today, I brought peppers and tomatoes and then items to make a cucumber sandwich. I had a "talk" with my husband the other day saying "If you are at a fast food restaurant and I say get me french fries, I really do not mean that. DO NOT get them for me! This is my other personality coming out". This will be one of the hardest areas for me, cause I love french fries.

I can do it! I just have to make sure that I do this for me and not for anyone else. People are let down by others everyday and most of the time its thought about for a second and that's it. We as human beings are more prone to not let ourselves down. In this case, that selfish attitude is worth it if we are healthier.

I am trying to get my husband to be my personal trainer, but that happened before and it almost called for a lawyer, two houses, two bank accounts, separate names (Well, you get the picture!)...I would blame myself for that cause I am not one that cares for people telling me how to live my life.

Wish me luck or if you see me out in public, give me that drill sergeant evil eye and say "Suck it up, Bethany!"

This Goes Out to the Strong

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in


This was a saying that was written on Elizabeth Edward's kitchen wall. If anyone had to learn imperfections in others, it was her. That is with everything her husband had put her through. I may not agree with everything she believed in, but I will admit that she was one strong woman.
 
Another strong woman was Heidi. It is coming up on 1 year that she left this earth and was made perfect. She was strong; having battled ovarian cancer for approximately 1.5 years. I remember seeing Heidi for the first time since she was diagnosed with cancer in June 2009. I was being picked up by her and Liz at the airport. I did not recognize Heidi; but then a smile came when she saw me. She was still the bubbly and daring girl that I had met in college many a moons ago.
 

I think cancer sometimes happens to the strongest of people to remind us weaklings that life is better then we realize.

2011-Its New Year

Hello all! Its 2011 and a new year. If you did not have the greatest 2010 year, this is your chance to start new. Here is an article that I found on a friend's twitter. Its written to be more attractive to all; not to just someone you are trying to impress (but that would work too!)

http://liveboldandbloom.com/01/relationships/36-ways-to-be-irresistibly-attractive

I think each and every one of these could be for me.

New Year's Resolutions:
1. Lose at least 30 pounds by the end of 2011. I would like to lose more, but this is more realistic at this point. I am doing this for myself and my health and not for anyone else.

2. Make a new meal at least once a month every other week for Kevin and I.

3. Talk Kevin into flying somewhere. I would like to go Hawaii, Guam, Italy, Ireland, Napa Valley, Maine. Those are just to name a few...bucket list!

4. Start using the word "you" a lot more then "I".

5. Ace the big exam I have coming up in the fall. I have already started studying for it.
These are just a few for now. I am sure there are others that I can think of as well. Just maybe I will post those later on.

Hope all my family and friends have a great 2011 and be sure to do something for yourself.

Show your true greatness!  

Christmas @ Granny's Today!

Today is one of my all-time favorite days. Not particularly this actual date, but the event, or occasion, that is happening today.

Its Christmas at Granny and Grandad Burcham's house.

I love my family! Its never a dull moment when all the kids are there (though we will be missing three of the kids today) and everyone is trying to talk all at once. Its a blessing to have such a close family and GREAT! cooks. Some years we will play Bingo (that is if Bailey and I have our way). Its always a blast doing that as well. Course, I am thinking that we need to teach Grandad about the kite tail, the double bingo, postage stamp, etc.

I also am blessed to still be able to say that I have all four of my grandparents still with me today. I wouldn't give that up for anything.

Well, I am going to get ready for the day. Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday. I know I will.

By the way, special shout out to Jessica, Sara, Dustin, and the kids. We will miss you today. Wish you were all here (don't worry! I wont send a postcard). Its definitely not the same without all of you. Cant wait to see you!

Lights On the Christmas Tree

This picture is from Grey's Anatomy (2nd season). I thought this was so fascinating; not sure why. So right after we put up our tree, I tried it. It didn't exactly work for me, though. I couldn't see much! I told Kevin it was because we didn't have enough lights on the tree. If we had it my way, the tree would be nothing but lights and ornaments (my favorite ornaments from my grandparents and parents). I would probably put about 15 strands of light on just the one tree.

So there is one of the crazy things that I have done lately. I am sure there could be about 20 more blogs on the craziness of Bethany, but I don't particularly have the time for all those. Maybe more later or in a little bit if I get tired of cleaning my house.

If I do not blog anytime soon...

Two important people in my life...love you!

I really do not understand how people (or children) can take their parents for granted. I am sure that I have done this on more then one occasion, but I do believe that was when I was younger. I hope that age I am at, I would never use my parents like I have seen others do.

This is for my parents:

To Mom and Dad,
I love everything you have every done for me and my life.
You both have raised us Stremming kids in a loving environment.
Not all the time was it fun, but you were also teaching us about life.
I know that there were some that criticized your "raising" techniques,
But I think the four of us turned out just fine and on certain days, better than fine.
We were all raised to work hard for what we have and never spoiled us to where we expect.
You are both there for us to confide in and also to yell at us for our protection.
When the days are hard, I miss not being able to go to my purple room and just escaping.
I never did mind getting grounded and sent to my room as a child/teen.
In our home, there was always a protection and comfort.
Like in the song "The House That Built Me," I hope that I never get lost in the world to the point that I forget where I came from.
There is something and truthfulness in the advice I was given before getting married,
"Enjoy the last times and days in your parent's home."
"The older you get, the closer you grow to both your parents."
I am grateful to you both and the way you raised me.
I love you two more than words can say.
There is no one on this earth that could replace either of you.
Love always and forever,
Your ever grateful daughter,
Bethany



I am glad that I married a guy that love his parents, as well. I just hope that when we have kids, I have the sense and ability to raise them like I was raised.

The World Traveler...They Who Will Not Be Named!

There is a certain person, whom I shall not mention any names, that just recently moved to a completely different state. This is the jealousy part of me coming out and being shown the world right now. I would love to be able to move from place to place...almost like a gypsy, but with an actual apartment or house to stay in. I am able to travel for my job and I love that; but there is something about moving to a different location totally where no one knows you or anything about you. I like to think this is the secret service (James Bond) side of my personality coming out of me...rabbit trail (need to get back to the blog at hand). Anyways, the jealousy part comes out of me because "they who will not be named" (an yes! I realize I compared her to Voldomort from Harry Potter) gets to start a new life. Its amazing the things that she or he will see on their travels.

I proud of this person for having the strength to move on and around the country. This is for you! The greatest Dr. Seuss book ever written.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!
by Dr. Seuss


Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!


You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.


You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.
About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."


With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street.
And you may not find any you'll want to go down.

In that case, of course, you'll head straight out of town.
Its opener there in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do
to people as brainy and footsy as you.


And when things start to happen,
don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.


OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!


You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.


You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.


Except when you don't
Because, sometimes, you won't.
I'm sorry to say so but, sadly, it's true
and Hang-ups can happen to you.
You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch.

And your gang will fly on.
You'll be left in a Lurch.
You'll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump.


And the chances are, then, that you'll be in a Slump.
And when you're in a Slump, you're not in for much fun.


Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.


You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.

A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right...
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?


Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.
You can get so confused that you'll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.


The Waiting Place...
...for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.


Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.


Everyone is just waiting.
NO!


That's not for you!
Somehow you'll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You'll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you'll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you're that kind of a guy!


Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. there are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.


Except when they don't.
Because, sometimes, they won't.
I'm afraid that some times you'll play lonely games too.

Games you can't win
'cause you'll play against you.


All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
All will be something
you'll be quite a lot.
And when you're alone, there's a very good chance
you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won't want to go on.


But on you will go though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl


Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.


On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.


You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.


So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.


Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.


And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)


KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!


Today is your day!


Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!