- Is it just me or has this year flown by extremely fast? In my mind, it's still July. Yet somehow the calendar says September. It's true what our parents and grandparents have said - each year goes by faster than the one before.
- Is it just me or do you believe that all women's shoes (excluding athletic shoes) should come with a box of bandaids and tube of Neosporin?
- Is it just me or do you ever find that the task/chore you've been dreading actually doesn't take long to complete once you finally get started?
- Is it just me or do you start checking out mentally when you know you have a vacation coming up? My dear husband planned a trip for us coming up later this month over my birthday and we are both super excited!
For some odd and unrelated reason this post makes me think of the 90's Nickelodeon show "All That" which featured Amanda Bynes playing the skit "Ask Ashley".....Is it just me or did you also love that show?! (and if you did, I know you can still hear the theme song playing in your head, which brings up the question - Is it just me or can you recall things from your childhood easier than what's current? I know I can!) :)
Showing posts with label My Husband. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My Husband. Show all posts
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sunday, June 24, 2012
A little update on life
Hello! Whoa, what a whirlwind life has been lately and it's still going in full force. I want to do document this season of our lives right now - not necessarily because it is very interesting to others, rather because I want us to look back and see how God has poured out many blessings and extra doses of energy so that we can continue to push through. Life right now is very sweet....things are going quite well....just at a pace that neither of us wants to sustain forever. However, we are thankful that the Lord is proving that He can and will do "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine" (Eph. 3:20) including when we need another boost of stamina to keep us in gear. ;)
I type this message from a hotel in Charlotte, NC where Josh and I arrived yesterday afternoon. We are in town for tonight's Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw concert that will begin later this afternoon. Josh was sweet to schedule this trip as a surprise to me. The days leading up to this weekend have been so hectic that we worried the timing was wrong to leave town; we even considered selling the concert tickets to stay in town. The reason is because this isn't just any weekend - it is the last weekend before we move into a new home. We left town with boxes still to be packed up and moved. We arrived to Charlotte exhausted and drained. We agreed to come enjoy this trip and rest up, making every effort to forget about the work ahead of us this week with moving while also working our full-time jobs and continuing to strive for our health (which doesn't include the conveniences of drive-thrus, food delivery,and slacking on our fitness). On top of that, Josh has been working third shift and many overtime hours. That pretty much means he puts me to bed each night and then goes into work while I sleep. Then I am at work when he is sleeping. It's been an adjustment to say the least since our schedules are completely opposite. However he is taking it like a champ and still being my awesome husband (pretty sure if the roles we reversed, I would not be so sweet).
Earlier this morning I visited the hotel gym on my own. You should know this is a pretty big deal for me, but in keeping with our recent efforts for overall health and well-being I made myself peel out of bed for at least a short workout of some cardio and strength training. Funny thing is that it is a little easier to do when my "reward" is hotel continental breakfast and fresh-brewed coffee waiting downstairs....I am a sucker for a real breakfast and someone else making my coffee. :) I want to show you my view right now but am having problems getting the photo to upload in this post. So picture me in the chair with my feet propped up on the ottoman, with a bag of ice stretching over both my knees. I laughed at myself that this very same chair I had used just moments before for reverse push-ups is now being utilized for my rehab. Unfortunately I have known for quite some time that my knees and ankles give me pain and problems, which is the very reason I have quit working out many times before. I am still not sure the approach I will be taking if this continues. I am a wimp when it comes to pain, however I am also more mentally committed to overall well-being now than ever before. I just have to find the right balance between challenging myself in a way to grow stronger while also not causing damage. My sweet husband took me a couple weeks ago to a running store where they performed an analysis of my running form, taking a video to show me how jacked up my ankles are. We purchased the overpriced shoes and inserts that will hopefully help stabilize my ankles. Right now I am not sure if it is helping or not so I will definitely give it more time. I joke (not at all in the make fun of way) to Josh that I probably needed braces on my legs (like Forrest Gump) when I was younger, but it might be too late for that now. To my surprise I am really enjoying the upper body strength training, which was the very thing I most feared when we began working out several weeks ago. I still can't do push-ups "man style" but I will get there eventually. Josh actually showed me how to do them using a staircase which has been my preferred method for now.
We are not doing a particular diet or fitness regimen; we are not counting calories or following a structured meal plan. Instead, we are combining cardio and whole body strength training for fitness and eating more wholesome foods such as lean meats, lots of veggies, fruits, and nuts (basically limiting processed/high-sodium foods). We still enjoy some indulgences (like yesterday was our cheat day and I am not even going to name what we ate). The coolest part is the changes in the way my body feels.....well, other than the soreness that is. ;) I am feeling more energetic and just a lighter feel (I am really not even talking less pounds so much as just more free and peppy). And now that I have been in this new way of health for a few weeks now, it's funny that when we have our cheat meals my body doesn't feel as great. I don't get sick or nauseous feeling, just feel more lethargic and fatigued...plus I can tell when we've consumed sodium (ahem...chips & salsa....cough, cough) because my fingers swell and I just feel weighed down. This is obviously just the beginning of many new things in my life. I am certainly no expert - just a simple girl trying to make good lifestyle choices that will have long term effects. My encouragement to you (and the lesson for myself that I'm still learning) is to get back to the basics and simplify by shedding the excess. This can be the junk we put in our bodies as well as the junk we find stuffed in closets and drawers when it's time to move out. Both situations really are similar because if we protect our bodies and homes from the things that cause them harm and clutter, we can focus on what makes them thrive. I know all of this, yet I still struggle with committing to this very beneficial lesson. It helps to remember that every little bit makes a difference. The healthy meal with a short workout is a step toward my goal, just as cleaning out one drawer. I need to not view life as all-or-none and rather see it as every good process is letting me step closer to my ultimate goals. Feel free to hold me accountable to this - I need all the help I can get! :)
I type this message from a hotel in Charlotte, NC where Josh and I arrived yesterday afternoon. We are in town for tonight's Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw concert that will begin later this afternoon. Josh was sweet to schedule this trip as a surprise to me. The days leading up to this weekend have been so hectic that we worried the timing was wrong to leave town; we even considered selling the concert tickets to stay in town. The reason is because this isn't just any weekend - it is the last weekend before we move into a new home. We left town with boxes still to be packed up and moved. We arrived to Charlotte exhausted and drained. We agreed to come enjoy this trip and rest up, making every effort to forget about the work ahead of us this week with moving while also working our full-time jobs and continuing to strive for our health (which doesn't include the conveniences of drive-thrus, food delivery,and slacking on our fitness). On top of that, Josh has been working third shift and many overtime hours. That pretty much means he puts me to bed each night and then goes into work while I sleep. Then I am at work when he is sleeping. It's been an adjustment to say the least since our schedules are completely opposite. However he is taking it like a champ and still being my awesome husband (pretty sure if the roles we reversed, I would not be so sweet).
Earlier this morning I visited the hotel gym on my own. You should know this is a pretty big deal for me, but in keeping with our recent efforts for overall health and well-being I made myself peel out of bed for at least a short workout of some cardio and strength training. Funny thing is that it is a little easier to do when my "reward" is hotel continental breakfast and fresh-brewed coffee waiting downstairs....I am a sucker for a real breakfast and someone else making my coffee. :) I want to show you my view right now but am having problems getting the photo to upload in this post. So picture me in the chair with my feet propped up on the ottoman, with a bag of ice stretching over both my knees. I laughed at myself that this very same chair I had used just moments before for reverse push-ups is now being utilized for my rehab. Unfortunately I have known for quite some time that my knees and ankles give me pain and problems, which is the very reason I have quit working out many times before. I am still not sure the approach I will be taking if this continues. I am a wimp when it comes to pain, however I am also more mentally committed to overall well-being now than ever before. I just have to find the right balance between challenging myself in a way to grow stronger while also not causing damage. My sweet husband took me a couple weeks ago to a running store where they performed an analysis of my running form, taking a video to show me how jacked up my ankles are. We purchased the overpriced shoes and inserts that will hopefully help stabilize my ankles. Right now I am not sure if it is helping or not so I will definitely give it more time. I joke (not at all in the make fun of way) to Josh that I probably needed braces on my legs (like Forrest Gump) when I was younger, but it might be too late for that now. To my surprise I am really enjoying the upper body strength training, which was the very thing I most feared when we began working out several weeks ago. I still can't do push-ups "man style" but I will get there eventually. Josh actually showed me how to do them using a staircase which has been my preferred method for now.
We are not doing a particular diet or fitness regimen; we are not counting calories or following a structured meal plan. Instead, we are combining cardio and whole body strength training for fitness and eating more wholesome foods such as lean meats, lots of veggies, fruits, and nuts (basically limiting processed/high-sodium foods). We still enjoy some indulgences (like yesterday was our cheat day and I am not even going to name what we ate). The coolest part is the changes in the way my body feels.....well, other than the soreness that is. ;) I am feeling more energetic and just a lighter feel (I am really not even talking less pounds so much as just more free and peppy). And now that I have been in this new way of health for a few weeks now, it's funny that when we have our cheat meals my body doesn't feel as great. I don't get sick or nauseous feeling, just feel more lethargic and fatigued...plus I can tell when we've consumed sodium (ahem...chips & salsa....cough, cough) because my fingers swell and I just feel weighed down. This is obviously just the beginning of many new things in my life. I am certainly no expert - just a simple girl trying to make good lifestyle choices that will have long term effects. My encouragement to you (and the lesson for myself that I'm still learning) is to get back to the basics and simplify by shedding the excess. This can be the junk we put in our bodies as well as the junk we find stuffed in closets and drawers when it's time to move out. Both situations really are similar because if we protect our bodies and homes from the things that cause them harm and clutter, we can focus on what makes them thrive. I know all of this, yet I still struggle with committing to this very beneficial lesson. It helps to remember that every little bit makes a difference. The healthy meal with a short workout is a step toward my goal, just as cleaning out one drawer. I need to not view life as all-or-none and rather see it as every good process is letting me step closer to my ultimate goals. Feel free to hold me accountable to this - I need all the help I can get! :)
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
On the Road & Relationships
Happy 2012! :) I haven't posted in a very long time. Honestly, I had many ideas for posting and would sometimes log in with the intention to post, only to see the photo in my last post and decide I loved it too much. (perhaps a little slow to change?!)
Since that last post in October 2011, there have been so many exciting things going on and thoughts and revelations and moments and trips that I should have captured in print and shared for the few of you out there that read this blog. But alas, I just kept on keeping on living this blessed life. Pictures pile up, life happens, and special moments soon become memories. It has been a cycle, but not a vicious one.
Maybe I'll catch back up someday, but for now I can recap the last couple of weeks. In the past two weeks (well, two and a half now that I'm settled back in), I have traveled over 2,500 miles on my own through eight states in two different rental cars and completed three audiobooks....and that doesn't include the round trip flight I took from Charleston, SC to Nashville. I traveled to two weddings, a baby shower, a Mothers Day family gathering, countless work events, visited friends, new babies of friends, family, and friends whom I count as family; yet I won't dare try to count the numbers of loved ones I've seen lately. There was one stretch in the first week where I channeled my inner Goldilocks and slept in five different beds over five nights. I've laughed, I've cried, I've gone through way too many drive-thrus and pumped so much gas it's probably hazardous to my health. And somehow I only missed two days of work. Sure, I'm worn out from it all....but it's a good feeling of tiredness because while I know I haven't done it all just right, I can rest in the fact that I've given it all I had. Relationships with friends and family are extremely important, they reap many rewards, but one lesson I'm learning as I grow older (and wiser) is that they don't keep themselves going. They take investments of time and effort.
But now the time has come [well, almost]. It's a moment I've been waiting for. Through the absolutely wonderful times I've had the past two weeks, I am looking for a fun adventure this weekend....getting to spend the first full weekend with my husband since Easter. And that's putting it pretty lightly since I haven't mentioned that he has been attending grad school since January, worked second shift the month of April, is putting in crazy amounts of overtime hours, and has had extensive work travel in Seattle, San Antonio & Cincinnati during the semester.
My hard working husband takes care of our family and makes our adventures possible. I am so grateful for him and how he leads us. He is extremely caring and protective of me, which I'm extremely okay with. ;) In the midst of his recent jam-packed schedule, he made the effort to book all my hotels and rental cars (not based on the cheapest choices as I would have arranged, but with my safety and comfort as priority), he took money out of the bank so I had cash on my trips (he knows I wouldn't do this on my own), and he has been earning awards and recognition at work. His work ethic and humbleness are models to strive for. Multiple times each day I am overwhelmed with the blessings we share and I can't believe just how God laid out this path for this life of joy with this man. It's not about the stuff he does for me -- not at all. These are just recent examples of how he goes over and beyond to show love for me on a regular basis and even during hectic times. He seems to naturally understand that our relationship takes time and effort. I guess I'm a slow learner because I'm just now really starting to understand how vital they are to maintain.
I pretty much can't put into words how I feel about my husband and our family and friends. I'm so thankful - a blessed girl for sure! So I don't get too sentimental, I'll leave with a few fun photos from the last couple of weeks:
Since that last post in October 2011, there have been so many exciting things going on and thoughts and revelations and moments and trips that I should have captured in print and shared for the few of you out there that read this blog. But alas, I just kept on keeping on living this blessed life. Pictures pile up, life happens, and special moments soon become memories. It has been a cycle, but not a vicious one.
Maybe I'll catch back up someday, but for now I can recap the last couple of weeks. In the past two weeks (well, two and a half now that I'm settled back in), I have traveled over 2,500 miles on my own through eight states in two different rental cars and completed three audiobooks....and that doesn't include the round trip flight I took from Charleston, SC to Nashville. I traveled to two weddings, a baby shower, a Mothers Day family gathering, countless work events, visited friends, new babies of friends, family, and friends whom I count as family; yet I won't dare try to count the numbers of loved ones I've seen lately. There was one stretch in the first week where I channeled my inner Goldilocks and slept in five different beds over five nights. I've laughed, I've cried, I've gone through way too many drive-thrus and pumped so much gas it's probably hazardous to my health. And somehow I only missed two days of work. Sure, I'm worn out from it all....but it's a good feeling of tiredness because while I know I haven't done it all just right, I can rest in the fact that I've given it all I had. Relationships with friends and family are extremely important, they reap many rewards, but one lesson I'm learning as I grow older (and wiser) is that they don't keep themselves going. They take investments of time and effort.
But now the time has come [well, almost]. It's a moment I've been waiting for. Through the absolutely wonderful times I've had the past two weeks, I am looking for a fun adventure this weekend....getting to spend the first full weekend with my husband since Easter. And that's putting it pretty lightly since I haven't mentioned that he has been attending grad school since January, worked second shift the month of April, is putting in crazy amounts of overtime hours, and has had extensive work travel in Seattle, San Antonio & Cincinnati during the semester.
My hard working husband takes care of our family and makes our adventures possible. I am so grateful for him and how he leads us. He is extremely caring and protective of me, which I'm extremely okay with. ;) In the midst of his recent jam-packed schedule, he made the effort to book all my hotels and rental cars (not based on the cheapest choices as I would have arranged, but with my safety and comfort as priority), he took money out of the bank so I had cash on my trips (he knows I wouldn't do this on my own), and he has been earning awards and recognition at work. His work ethic and humbleness are models to strive for. Multiple times each day I am overwhelmed with the blessings we share and I can't believe just how God laid out this path for this life of joy with this man. It's not about the stuff he does for me -- not at all. These are just recent examples of how he goes over and beyond to show love for me on a regular basis and even during hectic times. He seems to naturally understand that our relationship takes time and effort. I guess I'm a slow learner because I'm just now really starting to understand how vital they are to maintain.
I pretty much can't put into words how I feel about my husband and our family and friends. I'm so thankful - a blessed girl for sure! So I don't get too sentimental, I'll leave with a few fun photos from the last couple of weeks:
Amy's Wedding in Cincinnati, OH
Catherine's Baby Shower in Northern KY
My work trip to Norfolk & Virginia Beach, VA
Jillian's Wedding in Lexington, KY
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Something I'm looking forward to!
Josh is leaving again for Seattle soon. A big downfall to my job now is that I no longer get to go with him for weeks at a time (I know, a good job is not a real problem. So thankful I had the opportunity for uninhibited travel twice earlier this year!). To make a long story short, I have been sad about Josh leaving for several weeks on the west coast. He departs on my birthday and will be gone for three weeks. I realize that this is a short time compared to military deployments and I am very respectful of those who serve our country (and the families left behind), however it is still hard for me when he leaves for these trips.
A few days ago Josh knocked my socks off with a surprise. It was an after-work early-evening Wednesday. We had plans to head out together for a couple of errands before our monthly evening Church service. (Actually it marked a dozen days before my birthday.....so I could sing "the 12th day before my birthday, my true love gave to me....." but that is actually irrelevant, plus I don't sing well!). :)
Josh told me to stay there (I was sitting on the couch for the couple of minutes before we would have to be gone the rest of the night) and he said he had to tell me something. I told him that made me nervous, so he replied that was going to give me my birthday present early. For starters, Josh and I are not really gift givers for each other - we would much rather decide something fun to do together. Bless his heart, he has learned my not-so-sweet natural reactions so well that he prefaced the gift by telling me not to get upset about logistics because everything is worked out; I promised I understood, although I wasn't too sure. He reached into his backpack then pulled out a card and gave it to me.
I opened the sweet card and a piece of paper inside caught my eye. The paper was a printed confirmation for two tickets to go whale-watching in the San Juan Islands (Bellingham, WA) for the last weekend in September. Hmmmm....that's funny because that's exactly the excursion I wanted to do when we were in Seattle in the Spring, however their tour season had not yet opened. Only one problem....now I am back in South Carolina and working a job! I was a bit puzzled about this until I turned to the other side of the paper for a flight itinerary showing my name and round trip tickets to Seattle for the weekend. He even arranged with my supervisor (whom he's never met) for the short time off of work that I will need to take. Yes it's going to be a super short time to make a coast-to-coast trip.....BUT WE ARE BOTH SO EXCITED!!!
We know that me being there over part of his trip will make things so much easier for us the following two weeks that he's still in Seattle. Plus.....WHALE WATCHING WITH MY HUSBAND....definitely on my bucket list!
I am so thankful for my sweet and thoughtful husband. He is such a blessing to me every day and shows love to me like none other. I could brag on him all the time, however I usually keep many of his sweet acts between us. I just couldn't keep this story to myself because two weeks from today I will be with my sweet husband in the Pacific Northwest trying to catch sight of whales and other wildlife. WOO HOO! :)
If you have been whale watching, please share any tips or advice because I want to make the most of this excursion! It's an all-day trip to the islands. There will be a snack bar available plus one meal is included. I plan to take a backpack with some snacks as well as jackets, umbrella, camera, and other essentials because I want to be prepared no matter the weather. Since I learned of this surprise on Wednesday, not a single minute has passed that I haven't thought of whales. SUPER EXCITED! 27 isn't an age I'm too thrilled about, however whale-watching is exciting me something fierce, so at least I get to start off my new age with a bang.
A few days ago Josh knocked my socks off with a surprise. It was an after-work early-evening Wednesday. We had plans to head out together for a couple of errands before our monthly evening Church service. (Actually it marked a dozen days before my birthday.....so I could sing "the 12th day before my birthday, my true love gave to me....." but that is actually irrelevant, plus I don't sing well!). :)
Josh told me to stay there (I was sitting on the couch for the couple of minutes before we would have to be gone the rest of the night) and he said he had to tell me something. I told him that made me nervous, so he replied that was going to give me my birthday present early. For starters, Josh and I are not really gift givers for each other - we would much rather decide something fun to do together. Bless his heart, he has learned my not-so-sweet natural reactions so well that he prefaced the gift by telling me not to get upset about logistics because everything is worked out; I promised I understood, although I wasn't too sure. He reached into his backpack then pulled out a card and gave it to me.
I opened the sweet card and a piece of paper inside caught my eye. The paper was a printed confirmation for two tickets to go whale-watching in the San Juan Islands (Bellingham, WA) for the last weekend in September. Hmmmm....that's funny because that's exactly the excursion I wanted to do when we were in Seattle in the Spring, however their tour season had not yet opened. Only one problem....now I am back in South Carolina and working a job! I was a bit puzzled about this until I turned to the other side of the paper for a flight itinerary showing my name and round trip tickets to Seattle for the weekend. He even arranged with my supervisor (whom he's never met) for the short time off of work that I will need to take. Yes it's going to be a super short time to make a coast-to-coast trip.....BUT WE ARE BOTH SO EXCITED!!!
We know that me being there over part of his trip will make things so much easier for us the following two weeks that he's still in Seattle. Plus.....WHALE WATCHING WITH MY HUSBAND....definitely on my bucket list!
I am so thankful for my sweet and thoughtful husband. He is such a blessing to me every day and shows love to me like none other. I could brag on him all the time, however I usually keep many of his sweet acts between us. I just couldn't keep this story to myself because two weeks from today I will be with my sweet husband in the Pacific Northwest trying to catch sight of whales and other wildlife. WOO HOO! :)
If you have been whale watching, please share any tips or advice because I want to make the most of this excursion! It's an all-day trip to the islands. There will be a snack bar available plus one meal is included. I plan to take a backpack with some snacks as well as jackets, umbrella, camera, and other essentials because I want to be prepared no matter the weather. Since I learned of this surprise on Wednesday, not a single minute has passed that I haven't thought of whales. SUPER EXCITED! 27 isn't an age I'm too thrilled about, however whale-watching is exciting me something fierce, so at least I get to start off my new age with a bang.
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