All I Need

Let's catch up! How is your sweet November going??
On some days here in Texas we cuddle up in big sweaters, and on others we sit out on our balconies and work on our tan. The weather throws us for loops, but we've had so many of those perfectly sunny and brisk days that I can't begin to complain!

There have been so many moments of pure joy this fall that I've wanted to just bottle up: I held our friends' newborn baby, had cozy nights on the couch with John, talked for hours with my parents, and spent an entire weekend with my closest girlfriends. Life is so sweet.

But then there are those days where we have to dig a little deeper to realize God's blessings. They test our faith and force us to rely on the notion that we are strong because God is strong. Our Texas weather is a great example of life's unpredictability. No matter what happens, we know that God is there, and there's nothing more comforting than that.

A really great friend of ours unexpectedly lost his dad today and my heart aches for him. We've all been busy writing out our Christmas lists and making sure our family members have our wish lists recorded down to specific colors and sizes. We spend Thanksgiving stuffing ourselves silly and giving little thought, if any, to those who go to bed hungry. John and I served Thanksgiving dinner to community members in need at our church last night, and my heart ached as I watched one elderly man grab leftovers from the nearby tables and carefully wrap them up in a large plastic bag to take home with him.

It's only Monday and already the events of this week have reinforced just how blessed I am at this very moment. God is so good, and I am constantly reminded of His amazing grace.

How have you been blessed today?

xoxo 

March 27

Well, I have been anxiously awaiting this day, and now that it's finally here, I can't wait to share the big news with you!!

I signed up this morning to run my first half marathon on March 27! I have about five months now to get over the nervousness of it all and whip my body into shape so that I can make it through this race with flying colors... or just cross the finish line ;). John is running it with me (this will be his second half), so I'm thrilled that we'll get to accomplish this together!

I've never committed to such a physical challenge before and am ready to take it on! I'm going to start running with the West Texas Running Club next week in preparation and am going to keep attending as many yoga classes as possible to strengthen and stretch.

My mom is a marathoner and has undoubtedly been the inspiration behind all of this. She's going to give me lots of tips on training and refueling my body! I'll be so grateful for her guidance along the way!

Have you ever run a half marathon? What advice can you give me?

In other big news, Scout graduated puppy school a few weeks ago and we couldn't be prouder of our little guy! He has conquered "sit", "shake", "high five" and "stay" - a true gentleman!

xoxo

Monday Highs

Life has gotten a bit hectic again lately and I find myself craving that downtime on the couch...not just on Sunday, but on a Monday night when my energy should be at its peak. You know when you need a vacation from your vacation? That's how I felt today. After a lazy weekend at the lake, life was back in full swing this morning with work projects, laundry, dusting, grocery shopping... and the list goes on. I love that satisfaction of crossing off completed to-do's, but curling up on the couch with a blanket is tops!

Regardless of how exhausted I might feel, it's the busiest of weeks that give me the little nudge I need to stop and smell the roses. The fact that I'm able to stay as busy as I do is a blessing in and of itself, but here are a few other things I'm particular thankful for tonight...

Fall has arrived! By "fall" in Texas, I mean 65 degree mornings with promises of cooler afternoons and changing leaves on the horizon! Those first few mornings of crisp fall air on sunny days are so reinvigorating. I adore them.

My puppy, Scout. My poor pup was neutered today and I realized just how much I miss his company when he isn't around. He's teaching me how to be more selfless, and I appreciate that. Thanks, Scout! ;)

A cozy bed to climb into tonight. Hopping into bed with a candle lit, a cup of hot tea and Beth Moore playing on my iPod is the best way to end the day!

Tomorrow is a travel day - in and out of the big city for a four hour meeting and then home for a few hours of volunteer work.

What are you grateful for on this Monday night?

xoxo

Onward and Upward

Complements of lucysnowephotography via Etsy

Yoga, homemade dinner, QT with John and Scout. How are you spending your Wednesday evening?

xoxo

"Never mind searching for who you are. Search for the person you aspire to be." - Robert Brault

The Only Way

"The best way to live this Thursday is to approach it as if it were our last day on Earth. Confess your sins to God while there's time. Seek restoration of broken relationships while you can. Love and serve your King with all your heart, soul, mind and strength (Matthew 22:37). Love us as yourself (v. 39)."

"If you see the end of this day, you'll be glad you lived it for Jesus. If you don't, you'll be grateful forever."

{Excerpt from Jim Dennison's daily devotional "God Issues"}

Sugar Fix

I got my first real sugar hankering last night since I gave up the poison on Thursday. I reached for the Blue Bell... put it back. Stared at the fridge wondering what might fix this...realized I was craving something creamy and warm...something with banana. So, instead of baking banana muffins or banana cream pie, I made the best banana oatmeal I've ever had, with lots of healthy kicks!

It went a little something like this:

1/2 cup old fashioned oats
1 cup water
1 banana
1 tbsp. ground flax seed
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
1tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. almond butter
1 tbsp. unsweetened dried cherries
1 cup rice milk (or your milk of choice)

Make the oatmeal as directed on the package, slicing in the banana into the pot while the oatmeal cooks on the stove. The bananas will puff up, giving your oatmeal a creamier texture. Once the oatmeal is done, add in all other ingredients and stir. Top it with milk, and you have yourself a complete meal... and a sweet tooth fix!

Enjoy!

xoxo

What Will You Do?

Is your mind ever muddled with the "what ifs" in life? I have to be honest, things are going extremely well for John and me this fall. He was offered a job, my job is challenging me in new ways, and we added Scout to our family! And not to mention that we have incredible friends, a supportive family and our health.

In the midst of everything, I get caught up in the "what ifs" of transitioning away from where we are now to a new life in another city here in Texas (when we eventually make that move next summer). What if we don't find friends as good as the ones here? What if we aren't able to spend as much time together? What if we get in over our heads? Life is full of those silly questions, right?

I do truly believe that because of God's amazing love and protection, everything always works out just as it should. I also believe that setting and achieving goals help us renew our strength and focus on the here and now. With that said, it's time to set some goals, folks! Instead of focusing on results (lose weight - hello New Years Resolutions that NEVER come to fruition!), I want these goals to focus on the processes. At the end of the day, I might lose weight or be in better shape, but those things won't be the focus.

So, here we go!

1. Practice yoga 3 days/week now through the end of the year (Why? I feel my best when I devote time to my myself through yoga - it makes me stronger physically and emotionally. I can't explain it, you just have to try it out for yourself!)

2. Run a 10k (Why? I run 3-4 miles now, but for some reason, six miles seems SO much more difficult! I need to prove to myself that my body can go so much further than I think)

3. Learn to sew (Why? This is a talent I've been wanting to learn for a while! One of my best friends has agreed to teach me! Our first project is to make a quilt and donate it to the Children's Advocacy Center)

4. Read the Bible (Why? I'm embarrassed to say that I've never read the Bible front to back, and I know this is a spiritual journey I need to take)

5. No more cheese, no more desserts (Why? I know this resembles a new years resolution, but these are two of my biggest temptations when it comes to food, and this is more of a test of my willpower than anything. Besides, I hate a sugar crash, don't you?)

6. Juice everyday (Following Kris Carr's method of reducing one bad thing and increasing one good thing, I want to add a fresh glass of homemade juice to my diet everday. I don't use my juicer often enough, but I do know that I always feel so much better when I start my day with a green juice (if you're new to juicing and want to do this with me, start with a combination of apple and carrot - so yummy. If you want to try something bold, add kale, parsley and beets to that - seriously, so good!)

In an effort to not overwhelm myself, I'm sticking to this short list! I'll keep you updated on my progress! :)

What are some of your goals? How will you stick to them?

xoxo