Didn't Reach My Goal, but Still "Normal"

So today was the deadline for my Wii goal. I didn't make it. It was the first Wii goal I haven't made. :( But here is why I'm still proud of myself: I only missed it by 0.2% BMI or about 1.5 pounds. I still made it out of the "overweight" designation, which means I'm "normal".

Ahhh . . . to be normal. :) I remember cheering to Ben, "I'm overweight!! " when I finally got below the Wii obese designation. And now I can say I'm normal. ha! Ben still disagrees with that title and you know what?...he may be right. There is no real "normal". Normal is conforming with a standard or type of social norm. I think what I've done is above normal. I've lost over 40 pounds all on my own. It was hard and I didn't give up.

It's nice to be recognized as being a normal weight for my body type, but I'm still perfectly happy just being me.

Poser and First Day of School

Daila loves to strike a pose and she has awesome dance moves. She is a girly girl princess for sure.

First Day of School

See what I mean?! "Here take a picture, Dad."

Two peas in a silly pod. :)

Chillin with Dad

Back to School Open House

Ritenour School District built a new school for early childhood education. Daila gets to go there this year! We went to the open house to meet her teacher and got some free coupons for Dairy Queen. Now we are all set and excited to go back to school. :)

Sacred Moments

We had a special family home evening tonight. We began a new tradition for our family: father's blessings.

Ben explained to the girls that we both grew up having father's blessings, but that in my family it was tradition to get a father's blessing each year before school started. Even when I was a college student, I would get a father's blessing at the end of the summer before I went back for another semester. Even when we were married, my father gave Ben a father's blessing before he started a new fall semester. We told the girls we had decided this would be a tradition for our family too.

Then Ben asked me to tell the girls a few of my memories of blessings I've received from my father and what they meant to me. The girls and I talked about how we feel having Dad at home. We miss him when he's taking classes because he's gone at night. We feel safe when he's here and they go to him first when they are hurt or need help, because they know he can make things better. I explained that even though Dad can't be with us all the time, when we receive a father's blessing, it's like we take that safe feeling and all that comfort and power we feel from him wherever we go; even to school. It's like he is with us to watch over us and help us with our problems, even though he can't be with us in class. The Spirit was in the room and confirmed what I was saying was true.

Ben reminded the girls that blessings are from Heavenly Father, but given through the priesthood power and require our faith. Janae asked to go first. Daila was eager to be second. The words Ben spoke were sweet and specific to each girl's personality. I asked the girls if they could feel the Spirit and they reverently nodded yes. Anna was last and after each of our daughters had a turn to hear the words their father was inspired to share, I bore one last testimony. I reminded them that they have two fathers: their father here on earth and their Father in Heaven. Tonight, they heard from both of their fathers and felt the love from both of their fathers. My girls are now prepared for school. I can't keep them isolated from unpleasant experiences. I can't keep them from the world. But as they venture into the realm of public education and increasing peer pressure, they are now armed with the strength, safety, direction and comfort of both their fathers. What a precious gift to have your father unified with his Father in your behalf. I will treasure this moment.

(Thanks Dad)

Girls' Day Out

Friday, August 6th was supposed to be our last day with Drew, but his parents ended up having the day off. Soooo we ended up having a girls' day out! We went to get our hair cut. We went to Payless (I got some cute shoes too!). We went out to lunch. And we did some school clothes shopping. When we got home, the girls started trying on their new outfits and we had an impromptu cell phone photo shoot. These are always fun for me because Daila is really getting into posing. It cracks me up. She really isn't bad at it. Perhaps we've found her talent. :) She even hums her own theme music.

Anyway, here are some Voelkel girls strikin a pose:

St. Louis Sight-Seeing Marathon

We didn't make any plans to travel this summer, but we did plan to pack in as much St. Louis fun as possible. Most, if not all, of our adventures were free of charge. Here's what we did:

Footloose at the Muny
Free movie at Wehrenberg Theaters: The Lightening Thief
Six Flags
Swimming
Tilles Park
Missouri Botanical Garden
Butterfly House
Magic House
Zoo (We went to pet the sting rays this year and play in the Zoo room.)
Science Center
Art Museum
Free books through Borders and the Library reading club
Exploring Meramec River