So, I've been a really bad blogger this year, but it's been a really bad year.  In March my husband of 11 years decided that he wasn't in love with me anymore and he left.  I filed for divorce in April, and we are in the progress of learning to coparent our daughter while being as civil as possible in the difficult situation we have found ourselves in.

In May, we lost a close family friend to cancer.  We watched him fight and suffer for eight months, and although losing him was painful, letting him go was the best thing anyone could have done.  I have great respect for his wife and children, who made the decision to remove life support and let him go peacefully on to Heaven. 

Two weeks after we lost Frank, our fifteen year old dog also passed away.  All of this in the first six months of the year!  Needless to say, we all need a break, but the year has kept plugging on, and I have seen my friends and family struggle through so many difficulties this year that remembering our blessings can be difficult.  However, because I know that God doesn't give us more than we can handle, I know that in the end all of the hardship will have taught us a lesson, and we will be stronger for it.

Now, on to the reason most of you visit this blog.  (all two of you, that is!)  I am 1 year and 8 months post operation, and have lost 123 pounds to date, bringing my weight to 218 pounds from 341 pounds.  I am feeling so much better and more energetic, and I am also learning to love myself again.  I've started dating, and met someone who means the world to me, but we'll have to wait to see where that goes.  I'm hopeful, so if you're in the mood to pray for something, pray for this to be a happy and healthy relationship for me.

Now, what you've been waiting for, my most recent pictures... 

This is from June, 2012, about 98 pounds lost

This is August, 2012, around 110 pounds lost

This is just a few days ago, 123 pounds total lost