The Lis Family: December 2013

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Looking back at 2013

The years seem to be going by so fast. It's hard to believe 2013 has come to an end. This year has been really "chill" for us and laid back. We have learned to relax and love each moment that God gives us together.

In 2013 we:

~bought James a new truck

~celebrated 12 years of marriage

~we started the process of adoption

~went to Red River, New Mexico

~made it to 2 TX Rangers games

~went to the Ft Worth Zoo

~James and I had two weeks alone and went to Oklahoma City and Dallas

~the kids went to Louisiana alone and were spolied over the summer.

~The Lis men went hunting in Arkanasas and spent time in Louisiana.

~my mom visited over the summer

~James' mom spent Easter here in Amarillo

~James' dad moved here to Amarillo

~Makayla and Christopher changed schools to Vista Academy

~James and I started volunteering in the 5th and 6th grade class at our church.

~Jiu Jitsu made an entrance into Christopher's life.

~James Henry played t-ball.

~James Henry wrestled for a semester.

~Makayla was cast in Stuart Little at Amarillo Little Theater.

~Makayla was accepted into Amarillo Youth Choir

~James started back training Jiu Jitsu

~ I got healthy and lost 68 pounds

~Bayou had a litter of 9 puppies!

This is just a snap shot of 2013 because we are abundantly blessed. We are looking forward to 2014 with great anticipation for what God has in store for us.

Happy New year!

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas 2013

We love Christmas at The Lis house. We have certain traditions we do every year such as Christmas light looking. This year we stopped for donuts and hot cocoa while we were out sight seeing.
On the morning of Christmas Eve we woke up and the kids helped me bake cookies and other goodies and we spent the day watching Christmas movies together. That evening we went to the Christmas Eve Candlelight service at our church, which is probably our favorite tradition, it makes Christmas real for us. When we got home we opened our Christmas Eve box which includes new pajamas for everyone, a new Christmas movie and book and new hot cocoa mugs.

We then enjoyed dinner and our new movie. James read Twas' The Night Before Christmas before we went off to bed (another favorite tradition!).

Our den on Christmas Eve, aka the calm before the storm.

The kids always sleep in our room on Christmas Eve and even though they are older they still want to and we let them! On Christmas morning we woke up and dove into our stockings.

We took a break for breakfast, this year it was a cinnamon roll Christmas tree.

Then the present opening began...

Legos

a giant Clone Trooper from PawPaw Roland to go with his giant Darth Vader

It was another year of Imaginext for James Henry

more Legos

3DS game

more Imaginext

her big gift this year...a Kindle Fire HD

from GG and Papa John

Christopher's big gift this year... a new red GI!

This is what the den looked like after Christmas happened....

We were so thankful to have both our dads here with us and to have another Christmas with my dad is such a blessing.

We spent the rest of the day eating Christmas dinner, making new memories and playing with our new toys.

building airplanes with PawPaw Roland

We had a wonderful Christmas, we are spoiled and blessed. I read a quote that said, "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas when you stop opening presents and listen" That is so true for me, to look around and see my husband and children smile and hear their laughs, that to me is the greatest joy at Christmas and better than any material gift.

Friday, December 27, 2013

1 year ago today....

One year ago today my life completely changed. I remember being wheeled into the operating room with tears rolling down my cheeks and the anesthesiologist asking me if I was OK. I laughed and told him the faster he put me to sleep the better I would be. Then I remember waking up to James holding my hand in recovery. One year ago I made the decision to save my own life and change my future and the future of my family.

There have been small moments this year when I have realized just how far I've come. Like, when I ran and chased James Henry around the pond in Red River (I couldn't have ran before). When I tried on my swimsuit and sat and cried in the dressing room at Dillard's because even as a teenager I never wore a size that small. When James and I were wrestling and he picked me up over his head and swung me around. When I see someone I haven't seen along time and they walk past me because they don't recognize me. The first time I RAN a mile on the treadmill.

The real moments come at the Doctor when I'm told I am the picture of health. The mornings when I wake up so rested and full of energy because I sleep so well and no longer snore. When I realize I have not had to refill the prescription for my inhaler in months! The fact that I have learned so much about nutrition and the correct fuel for my body that I am teaching my children good healthy habits.

I look back at pictures of myself and don't even recognize who I was, don't get me wrong I was never unhappy or sad, I was just different than I am now. I feel free now to do things I could not do before.

This past year has been full of change and a lot of "firsts". In the next few months I plan on marking two more things off my new body bucket list. 1) zip lining across the Canyon 2) putting on a GI.

Yes, #2 just might make my husbands dreams come true! Plus, I have already started kickboxing with Christopher.

I am so thankful to God for allowing me the opportunity to step forward and change my life. I am beyond blessed to be married to an amazingly God loving, supportive husband. He is my rock and my personal cheerleader. I am so very blessed.

In honor of my first surgerversary...here are some before and after pictures. Today my total weight loss sits at -68 pounds.