Christmas Recap...

As far back as I can remember I have always loved Christmas. Growing up we always decorated the day after Thanksgiving since I have been married I have decorated starting the first of November. This year however I have not been in the mood to decorate or to do a lot. It took me until the 23rd to even finish all my Christmas shopping and I still felt like I was forgetting people. I am actually kinda of looking forward to even taking the decorations down. I really explain it. Maybe its because I have been doing so much work to get things packed up and put away so we can show the house and get it sold that pulling out more stuff didn't really make any sense. However we did have a wonderful Christmas. We spent Christmas morning with Jeremy's parents and ate lunch with them. We were able to skype with Jeremy's brother in Oregon before we headed out to my parents house for Christmas with my aunts and uncles and cousins and nieces and sister in law. My older brother wasnt able to make it home this christmas from starting his new job as a truck driver. My in-laws on top of helping us pack a lot of our stuff, cleaned our roof, and power washed our drive way they also paid for a two night getaway at a hotel or condo of our choice. Jeremy and I took advantage of that and we spent two nights at the Hilton Garden Inn and we were able to have a nice quiet couple of days. We were able to catch up on Scandal. It was nice and quiet. I know the days are coming to close much to soon where we will have a house full of kids for now but sometimes its nice to get away. We got back today and I think I am coming down with a cold not fun. I feel tired and have a scratchy sore throat. I am hoping I can go to church in the morning seems like forever since I have been in church. 

CH..CH..CH..Changes

So I got on here and realized I haven't blogged since February. My bad! I wish I could say it was because I was so busy traveling the world or going to school or changing the world in what people would consider big ways. However in my last blog it seems like so much has happened and changed. In June my brother and sister in law and 3 nieces moved in while they were looking for a new place to live. It's been an experience of having a full house after it being just Jeremy and I for a few months. It's had a lot of ups and a couple of downs. Good prep for when we have kids. I don't think I have ever looked forward so much to school starting than I did this year. I even enjoyed school as a kid but never wanted it to come as bad as this year. The girls are doing great in school. This year was Maddie's first year in school can't believe she is old enough to go to school she did good in pre k however this year was more of a big deal as it was kindergarten. (not to discredit pre k teachers and what they do)

Jeremy and I took a very much needed trip this fall to see my family in Iowa. We had been there 3 years ago for a family reunion and a wedding shower for us. However it had been over a year since we had a vacation. This was also the first time we had been anywhere that it was only Jeremy and I traveling together. We stayed with family in Iowa and enjoyed an mostly unplugged couple of weeks. We were blessed to be able to go back 3 weeks later for our anniversary. It was another relaxing mostly unplugged almost 2 more weeks. While there God really confirmed a lot to Jeremy and I. A huge door was opened earlier this year for a dream God had given both of us 3 years ago. God has continued to confirm to us that this is the right direction of for us to... move to Iowa. We are very excited about the change that is happening and we are excited for the new season and chapter in our lives. We are not sure when we will be moving as we will have to sell our current house before we move. We have contacted a real estate agent and just got all the paperwork to sign to set up a listing. We are just waiting on a repair estimate/completion before we list.

So even though I haven't posted this I have some updated information. Our relator has come by and we have decided on selling our house as is and keeping an acre for future plans or purposes. We are excited for this next chapter in our lives. Over the next few weeks and months as you think of us please say a prayer as moving can be stressful but when one of you is limited in what you can do it is even more stressful.

A break

Finally after so much busyness in our life, I am getting a ten day break from most of the work in my life. I know I know a stay at home wife and no children. What in the world do I do. Well a lot really, I work with my husband in our non-profit, my husband has cerebral palsy and that requires a lot of extra work, keeping up with our house, babysitting 4 days a week, church, working out 3-4 days a week all adds up to busy busy busy. You know you are busy when you and your husband and I finally get to sit down at the kitchen table and he looks at you and goes I miss you. I mean its not like I have been out of town and its been days since we have seen each other I have been home every night but we haven't had any time with each other. I found out today that as of Tuesday I will have ten days off from my babysitting 3 days a week. I will only have my one day a week babysitting. So my plan is to run away from home that's right take my honey and run away from home. Actually we are going to try and get away for a few days at a hotel here in town just to leave all responsibilities at home and get out of our everyday environment, oh and also to try and make a baby. Yes that's right we are definitely trying to have a baby this year. I think that getting away will help not to have the stress of day to day life for a few days. Now to pray that my bestie doesn't go into labor during the few days we are away.

2013

Zumba last night and gym time today with my bubby. This year is the year of change and health and moving forward and not staying where I have always been. 2012 was all the preparation for the battle and victory this year!


This was my facebook status for January 9. Zumba and gym time things some might consider mundane however its the last part that I want to focus on today. I believe that 2012 was a year of preparation and battle. For me personally it was preparing and starting the battle of overcoming being unhealthy and overweight. I thought I had started it in 2011 but that was all on my own strength. I know it was in my own strength because I gave up. In the beginning of 2012 God moved my husband and I to a new church. Almost a year now has passed since then and everyday we sit amazed at how God placed us in a church that has provided healing for hurt and hope for dreams. We have both grown so much in the past few months. One thing I really wanted was someone who would lovingly hold me accountable to losing weight and someone who knew how to make "regular" food just healthy and not having to buy "diet" food. I also needed but didn't know it was someone who could bring the spiritual to table. I had to learn that in my own strength I would fail and fail, again and again. I found that someone in our pastor's wife who has lost over 100 lbs and kept it off for over 3 years off. 

I never thought that the day would come that I would look forward to going to the gym or zumba or working out in general. I look forward to it now and miss the days I don't get to do it. Its been a slow and uphill battle yet I am not stopping no matter what. My goal for this year would be to lose at least 50lbs. I am learning everyday to relay on God for the strength to continue this journey and to finally know that I will obtain victory in weight loss and health.  I am going to start keeping up my other blog www.findingmylifewhilelosingmyself.blogspot.com

30 by 30

So next month I turn 27. I can't believe it 27. It is way closer to 30 than I would like it to be. I mean it's scary how fast my life has flown by; it seems like just last week my parents dropped me off for my first day of kindergarten and yesterday I graduated high school. Reality is its been 9 years since I finished high school and 22 years since I was dropped off for my first day of kindergarten. Its been 3 years since my love and I went on our first date and tomorrow will be 3 years since we became each others boyfriend/girlfriend. In the past 3 years I have grown and changed and matured and learned so much. I am hoping though that the next 3 years and my 30's are much more relaxed than my early 20's have been. I ready for things to settle down a little. Well as I creep ever so much more closer to 30 way faster than I would like. I decided to make a list of resolutions, I guess for lack of a better word, that I would like to accomplish before I am 30. Some of them are easy and can be accomplished quite quickly and easily some might take the next 3 years to accomplish and some are completely in the control of God. But here are my 30 goals for the next 3 years (I might add some more as I check them off.)

• Read the Bible at least 10 times
• Take a cruise with my husband
• Have a baby
• Reach my goal weight
• Possibly have/adopt second baby
• Get my associates degree
• Become a notary
• Become debt free
• Get one years worth of income into savings
• Go cross country
• Start my bachelors degree
• Learn to play the piano
• Run a 5k
• Have the ministry completely self sufficient
• Take cooking classes
• Learn another language
• Have dream house plans picked out
• Purchase brand new never been driven vehicle
• Run/walk a 10k
• Read 100 Books (got any suggestions)
• Do a public speaking engagement
• Purchase a Mac laptop
• See my husband healed
• Finish decorating all the rooms in my house
• Go to New York
• Go camping in a RV
• Upgrade wedding band for both of us
• Do not go into debt
• Purchase an income property
• Buy brand new pots and pans