Hi Joyce My name is Alfreda...Alfie to my pals and I live in Azle Texas. This is about 20 miles west of Fort Worth. I had my surgery in April of 2004. Coming up on my 2 year mark and still have not made it to goal but I like to think of this as a true journey and I'm just not there yet !! haha good to hear from you and glad you found us. Currently I am the 3rd sunday teacher in Relief Society and love it. I'm really not one that likes to get up in front of a group to teach but I know this is for me more than anything and I have learned so much. My hubby is the assistant Ward Clerk. We were married in the Ogden temple and have been married 20 years. No children..3 from his first marriage so I do have grandbabies..6...and 1 more on the way. I am very much an outdoor person. My 2nd love is my animals..we sort of have a little zoo..haha Take care and please stay in touch. Have a great week!! Alfie

Barbara, I'll bet you had a smile on your face while you were saying that prayer! LOL! Good luck on getting your insurance approval! It's an exciting journey once you get over THAT major hurdle! I might bump into you at the Women's Conference. I have to drive up and pick my duaghter up from Utah State for the summer. We thought we'd try and hit the Women's conference before driving home. I'll be the blonde with grey roots walking as quickly as possible like a mad woman to get to the class of choice before it is all filled up! LOL! Maybe we can exchange cell phone numbers before then and at least wave to each other as we run around! Joyce P.S. ...Do you live in the prettiest piece of real estate in the entire country or what? I LOVE Vancouver, Washington!

Yes welcome Joyce. I hope you love this site also. I am a newbie here myself (2 weeks). I live in Vancouver WA and the Enrichment counsler in the R/S. I work for a tax accountant during tax season so it is a busy time for me. I did hear from my Dr. office and they were going to submit my papers to the insurance company. I have nto had a chance to call them and ask how long it is that it usually takes for them to hear back from this insurance. I want to get a date set so I can plan my life. I am going to go to BYU Womens Conf. in Provo the 1st weekend in May and then I am ready. We were planning a cruise to Alaska this spring but have now put it off till later this fall. I know I will be missing all of the food on the cruise but I could show up in a smaller bathing suit also. I want this behind me. I had to say the opening prayer yesterday in Sacrament meeting. Just before I left home I had spilt ceral down the front of me and went in and washed it off. I figured it would dry before I got to the church. Then I forgot about it. As I got up to say the prayer I could see this spot and it took me a second or two to realize that it was the shadow of the mike. I was sure glad because I thought I was a little old to be "leaking milk". Well hope all have a good week. Barbara

I've been a long time chatter on WLS support sites as well as O.H. but never knew there was this delightful little corner tucked away. ... I've read many of your back posts and have been so touched. I had open Rny 3+ years ago. I"m from Chandler, AZ. I made it down to 130 lbs but have had regain up to 150. I'm tackling the regain much like I used to tackle the extra 100 of years gone by......doing the yo yo thing! I'm considering joining Weigh****chers so that I can have the accountability of being weighed once a week. I'll figure in my protein drinks with the points. I think I figured it once and they were 2 points? I facilitate an independent support group which is much like organizing Enrichment night twice a month. It becomes a little too consuming at times but it helps to keep me focused on health. I'm the ward music coordinator and choir director. I teach piano and voice lessons at home and am on leave for a time as the Bariatric Coordinator of Dr. Terry Simpson. I will consider returning to work for him after he has some future changes. He does lap band and was not my surgeon; but he's a fun man to work for and an amazing surgeon. I try to work out 3 to 5 times a week but have had some health issues (bad asthma for 2 months) and will be working hard to build my time back up at the gym. I'm hoping to get some funding so I can walk in the 3 day cancer walk. I'm excited to have found this site. I'm also on the [email protected] site but it isn't very chatty. Looking forward to peeking in here from time to time ..... Joyce

Melody, if I did not already know you were a special gift, this story only proves it. What you are giving her will reach far past today or tommrow, what it gives her is hope and love. What your teaching her is that there is a better life, and that she is special. Hugs for you and many many many blessing each day and far into the future. Kaye