Last night I had received a voice mail on my cell. It was from a woman who said that I didn’t know her, but she just read my book and wanted to talk to me. I thought, “Oh goodness…this could be good or bad!” Turns out, her story is almost exactly like mine. As she told me her amazing story, she cried on the phone. I cried right along with her because I was so honored that she trusted me enough just through my book to reveal the very intimate details of her life. As I heard her quoting her favorite parts of my book, my heart was so full of joy that I cannot even put it into words. The realization that my dream had come true just hit me. I touched a complete stranger with my book! It is such an amazing feeling. It meant the world to me :0)
I am sharing this with you because I want you to know that you can reach someone from the most unlikely places. This lady is a friend of a friend who works with a lady that I work with. She bought her my book because she felt she really needed to hear it. This is why it is so important to stay positive and believe in yourself. I have been struggling with so much these last few weeks and there were times where I really doubted myself and the success of my book. Then, when you pray and hand it all up to the “Big G”, he will give you everything you need. I needed to hear that woman’s story last night. She has uplifted me in a way that she will never know and she is a complete stranger!
So, be proud of yourself and your story. We all have one and it is what makes our journeys so unique. We can all relate to someone, but the most important thing, is no matter what our situation, we all feel the same emotions. Anger is anger, sadness is sadness, hurt is hurt, and joy is joy. Be proud of your life and what you have done. If you aren’t happy, then do what you need to do to make yourself happy. Don’t wait on on something or someone else to do it for you. You are the only one who can control you. I can honestly and whole heartedly tell you that when you change your attitude and mind set – there is NOTHING that can stop you. Love who you are and where you are going. You were designed for greatness and that is what you get if you believe.
As always, a thought for the evening…
“”Life is not measured by
the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments
that take our breath away.”
~ Unknown

PS – I have not forgotten about the video but I will get it up soon…it is much harder than I thought :0) My new goal is by this Thursday and then I am only a couple weeks behind…whoopsy!

Wow…I can’t believe it has been a week since I have been on here. I REALLY need to work on that! I have had several technical issues…in fact, this is my 3rd attempt at this blog tonight! I am just going to say that there have been many issues…both technical and personal that has lead to my delay of blogging.
I will do a video blog tomorrow as I think I have it figured out and it will be easier than typing it all :0)
As always, a final thought…
“Whatever the struggle, continue the climb. It may be only one step to the summit.”
~ Diane Westlake

This weekend was really productive for business…I love those weekends! I was starting to get discouraged, but then you meet people who share your passion and business sense and gets you all back on track. I started interviewing for the sketch artist for the ChaeMae clothing line. That’s right…I hope to have a plus-size clothing line for all of us beautiful ladies!
I also reconnected with some of my KD sisters this weekend. I really needed that because I so love being a part of that amazing sisterhood. No matter what happens or how much time passes…when we are back together, it is like nothing has changed!
The challenge is going, but I have to be honest and tell you that I was not so good this weekend. I will get refocused for the week and get myself back on track.
I got to have an incredible coaching session with my mentor. It gets to be overwhelming when you start a dream from nothing. Where do you start? Who do you contact? Will I fail? Will I be a success? This weekend I reconnected with people who brought back my spark and one, was a stranger. It is amazing how easy it to get off track, but on a better note, it is just as easy to get back on. I send out a huge thank you to those who helped me this weekend and some of you didn’t even know it. I am recharged and some big things are about to happen. Keep in touch so you don’t miss a thing!
As always…
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
~ Henry David Thoreau

Well, I have to share a story with you. I got home from work, took Maggie on her walk, and fell into my big comfy chair. As I sat there, tired from the day…I thought, well, I don’t feel like cooking and my bff is working late, so what can I order? This little voice inside my head was like, “No! Don’t do it…” but my will power was getting low. So, I picked up the phone and dialed Pizza hut to order a pizza because I was too tired to cook. After 2 rings, I hung up the phone, got up, and made my self something to eat. You know something is starting to work when you can make yourself feel guilty!
I wanted to share that with you because it shows that at the end of my first week, I was already having moments. As I sat down to eat, I checked my DVR list and saw that I had taped Oprah today. Turns out it was the second day with Whitney Houston :0) Hearing her interview was exactly what I needed to hear. Her new album has a song “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength.” As she sang the lyrics, I realized how it spoke to every person out there. You don’t know your own strength until you are pushed and make yourself use it. You can have all of the people supporting you and love surrounding you, but if you don’t look to yourself as well, you will never get through your obstacles. She doesn’t want to call this her come back because she has always been here…instead, she wants to call it her came through! I think that is perfect! Everything we go through is all part of our path and when we detour from the path God created, he always provides signs back to the route if we listen, believe, and follow our hearts. We are never alone in our battles and all we have to do is ask for guidance.
Tonight was one of the many tests that I will have through out this challenge. I will fall and need to pick my self back up again, but the point is that I learn from it and use my strength to help me get to my goal. As I prepared my lunch for tomorrow, I flashed back at the evening and was proud of myself. It is okay to be proud of yourself…you should be proud of the actions and things you accomplish. Sometimes people look at it as being arrogant , when in reality, you are just keep yourself in a positive mindset that will keep you focused on your journey. Be proud of yourself and what you do…we all do pretty amazing things!
As far as an update with ChaeMae,LLC…I am currently in the middle of recording the audio version of my book and there will be a promotion coming out soon with that. I will be giving away some free audio’s, so make sure you stay tuned for all of those details. I have also sent out notice that I am in need of a sketch artist to help me with the design for my clothing line. I am so excited to get this going…cute clothes! Lots of fun things are happening :0)
I leave you with this tonight…I think it is perfect!
“I didn’t know my own strength
And I crashed down, and I tumbled
But I did not crumble
I got through all the pain
I didn’t know my own strength
Survived my darkest hour
My faith kept me alive
I picked myself back up
Hold my head up high
I was not built to break
I didn’t know my own strength”
~ Whitney Houston

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiUoIDQOcC8

Hello all! Well, I am having more issues with this video than I anticipated. I have to do a lot more figuring out before I can get it up and running, but I will get it by Thursday :0) As promised, here are my starting inches…
R leg: 36 inches
L leg: 35 inches
R Calf: 24.5 inches
L Calf: 24.5 inches
Hips: 64 inches
Waist: 49.5 inches
Chest: 54 inches
Neck: 15 inches
Shoulders: 26 inches
R arm: 19 inches
L arm: 19 inches
Every month we will put up the new weight and measurements. So, I guess I need to post the starting weight :0) I have to tell you how hard this is for me. I have only told a handful of people this number and now it is out there for the world, but I need to put it out there so I can deliver the entire journey. My current weight is 368 pounds. Well, it is what it is and now it is out there. It is going to be exciting to see these numbers go down!
As far an update on the challenge, it has been 5 days and I have to be honest and tell you that I could have been better during my football games. I didn’t go too crazy, but never the less, every little bit does its own damage. Tomorrow is Monday and I will be back on track. I know there are going to be slips and it doesn’t mean that this challenge isn’t important to me, it only means that I am human and can fall to the will of carbs! I will do this and can do this…that is my mind set and I will not fail :0)
I am sorry again about the video. I should have it up this Thursday…it is just about figuring out how long it can be to upload and still fit in all I want to say! I tend to love to chat :0)
Well, I wish you all a happy Monday and I will talk to you tomorrow. As always, I leave you with this thought…”Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson