.....nearly FORTY!!!

Yes, I'm going to be forty this year (the end of this year) however this year! And I am super excited! Really I am!
Last year we had decided to eat clean, and we loved it, then the start of this year it completely grabbed a hold of me. The words of my friend...'we have decided to cut sugar out'...I was like ' really, well we don't really have that much'. And then I started to look into it properly. Oh yes we did, and it was a lot.
We decided to watch Hungry For Change. All of us. And made a decision as a family to change for good.
One thing I really struggle with is seeing mothers who go on 'diets' health spurts.That's great,eating lots of salad and juicing as they dish up chicken nuggets and tater tots to the children. If I'm to get healthy so will my children. And I'll make it fun.
Grace was born with many medical problems that we have battled through and defeated, however, her weight was a problem, her thyroids don't function normally she has an auto immune disease, she was getting chunky. Chunky is cute right? Well at 1, 2 years old maybe, not at 8. I'm her mother, she relies on me for everything, food, shelter and I was letting her down. Not today, not when she was swimming her 12 laps down the pool with me!!
It's hard work planning, shopping, preparing all these clean meals,but that's why I have Pinterest...lol.
I feel sometimes that when someone mentions to you something that makes you think...it's a whisper from God, showing and guiding you. I love those kind of whispers.
So I'm training for my first 5k, already suffered an injury, which I thought would keep me down, not a chance, I'm swimming, circuit training and about ready to run again!! Heck I'm excited to be 40 this year...I am gonna look super at my birthday party! I just didn't want to get there and think why do I look like this? Why didn't I lose some weight and get in shape?
I want people to say 'you're 40?!' And feel great, I wanna be an example to my children and an inspiration to my husband! Oh and I have so much I can say about that man I love!
Today I swam my first mile, it took forever but I did it! With my kids swimming around and about me, we have lost over 40lbs as a family since January 1st, we are clean and we are not so mean :)
See that number 40 again, it doesn't phase me! God has blessed me, come on and give me another 40!!!!

Today I am....an auntie!!!

I don't think I could start any other better way to my blog, than announcing the birth of Rory Jane Krout. Born Saturday February 23rd at 12:32pm. Right in front of my very eyes! God never ceases to amaze me, bringing me to my knees in utter adoration of Him and His everyday miracles. Being with and watching one of my bestest friends Sandy labor and give birth to her baby girl was incredible, I'm still elated and overwhelmed, being part of this family brings a deep joy and sense of belonging and I'm so thankful for and everyone of the Krouts. It's a God thing what can I say!!
When I had my first baby Molly my best friend Paola was there, breathing me through, holding my hand, and telling me how amazing I was. I knew she loved Molly quite like no other, but just knew. But now I know.... that feeling of seeing Rory grow from conception to be being birthed, there was an immediate connection, a love like no other, God is so beautiful he let me experience this feeling, let me be the Paola and show me first hand how it all felt. Yesterday I loved her more, because I now feel what she feels, and I will forever.
Rory Jane, welcome to this world, I love you ❤

Today I Am....starting my new blog.

Today I am....... starting my new blog, something I have wanted to start and be able to keep up with! 
I am a food fanatic and this year have really been moved to move back to a very primal/paleo based way of eating. 
Along with changing the way I fueled my body came an urge to run, a crazy hunger to feel my body working, hurting and surging through pain...Yep weird I know!?!
I work full time, I lead an outreach team here in NWA and I love spending time with family and friends.
I love Jesus more than any words can express and try to wear Him daily.

We are now settled here in Arkansas, in the USA. We love it!
We moved here after Neil (my husband) was offered a job by Walmart, we instantly knew it was the path to follow. We knew it was going to be hard, stressful and overwhelming. What we didn't know is what really was waiting for us on the 'otherside of the pond'. We learnt to trust in Him completely.

We are thankful for everything we have and have not got....We have 4 healthy, beautiful children, they are polite, they are very loving, sometimes crazy, sometimes naughty, most of the time Hilarious, and all of the time...MINE! 

Molly is intellegent, creative, positive , beautiful, talented and kind.

Elizabeth is a primadonna(when I'm not looking), intelligent, generous, talkative, beautiful and the 'cocky' one.

Grace, her name says it all. She is our miracle, a gift from God, she is shy, moody,cute, loving and so very pretty.
Max our boy! He is all a boy should be (when others are looking), when its just us, he's a huggle monster, affectionate, sweet,handsome and so,so kissable.

Neil, head of the house-My husband, the love of my life, MY BEST FRIEND!

And Maggie, our adorable yellow lab.

Enjoy, as I try to Blog our way through our little, yet blessed life, trying to be healthy, fit, loving, a good friend, a great daughter, a patient mother and of course a Clean, Lean Mommy machine!!!! xxx