Well, Spring is in the air definitely. I've been eyeing my yard for the past
month waiting for the temperatures to rise enough to get out there and start
raking and preparing the yard for some minor landscaping.

A lot of positives have happened this month:

- I've been jogging more, 1/2 mile a day - 5 days a week, so that's a plus.

- I am also able to fit into 42" pants, down another size! My shoes are
loose - I think I should be in size 10, so that's a plus also!

- Brenda and I started facilitating a Financial Peace University class at
our church (www.daveramsey.com/fpu) with 9 other couples. We are all
committed to get out of debt and build wealth using God's way!

- I also got word that I was selected to volunteer at this year's Unity
Music Festival(http://www.unitymusicfestival.com)! Unity is a Christian
music festival that features many popular artists that this year will
include Audio Adrenaline, Newsboys, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, &
Superchick (my favorite!). This is another step out of my comfort zone, it's
going to be a growing experience for me and a self-confidence booster!

I am also gearing up for this year's Lakeshore Pregnancy Center Lifewalk
coming up in June. I have some goals in mind and a reward for those who
donate when I reach each one of my goals! A Win-Win-Win!

I have to admit, I had been a bit lax in my calorie intake and walking over
the past month so I was preparing for a gain when I stepped on the scale
this morning. To my surprise the number 269lbs stared back at me! One more
pound gone, another 44lbs until my goal of 225lbs.

Right now I am staring at a photo I have on my cubicle wall of Bren and I at
the zoo circa 2001. I still cannot believe how much my body, attitude,
determination, & faith has changed. 481lbs... 481lbs... I'm not sure if many
people can grasp that amount of weight. Most can understand being 10lbs or
20lbs overweight, but I was 'super-obese' meaning I was more than 200lbs
overweight. In the past 2 years I have lost the combination of my wife and
son, and I did it without the aid of pills or surgery.

I hope to continue to be an inspiration to others, if I have been an
inspiration to you - I am glad. Please pass my story along to others so they
might be encouraged by what I have been able to accomplish through your
support and my faith in Christ Jesus.

Thank you for supporting me, your words of encouragement have been
inspirational to me!

I want to leave you with some lyrics from the song "History" by Matthew
West. This song along with "Get Up" by Superchick has helped me get through
some low points where I went over in calories or something else happened in
my journey to get me off track. Reflect on the words and remember that
history is miles away...

"History" - Matthew West

It's been a bad day You've been looking back And all you can see is
everything you wish you could take back. All your mistakes. A world of
regrets. All of those moments you would rather forget. I know it's hard to
believe, let me refresh your memory.

[Chorus]
Yesterday is history. And history is miles away. So, leave it all behind
you, but let it always remind you of the day - the day that love made
history.

You know you can't stay right where you fell. The hardest part is forgiving
yourself. But let's take a walk into today, and don't let your past get in
the way

Would you believe that you are history in the making, in the making? Every
choice that you are making, every step that you are taking, every chain that
you are breaking, History is in the making. Every word that you are saying,
every prayer that you are praying, every chain that you are breaking,
History is in the making. History is in the making. History is in the
making...

Matty (I weighed more than Jared from Subway)
481/269/225
(starting weight/current weight/goal weight)

First mini goal achieved - 104lbs lost 10/26/04
Second mini goal achieved - 137lbs lost 01/28/05
Third mini goal achieved - 183lbs lost 09/30/05
Fourth mini goal achieved - 204lbs total lost 01/30/06
Fifth mini goal - 231lbs total lost by 05/31/06