Time is short

Three weeks from tommorow is Christmas Eve. Christmas is by far my favorite time of the year. First, I love celebrating the birth of Jesus. I try and make sure that the "holiday" is focused on that. Really when I think of it though, it really is about the things that Jesus has taught us. Things like loving your neighbor as yourself, be kind, compassionate, generous to those less fortunate. I really don't care if I received one gift but I love giving. Not overpriced meaningless gifts either. To me I really feel when I give a gift to someone, it is because I put my heart and sol into thinking about it. I can't afford the finest things, but I like to give things that come from the heart. I think a lot about my friends and family this time of year. I hope and pray everyday for an opportunity to make a difference in someone's life, no matter what it is. It's the season to look back and reflect on those things and the relationships that have been formed in the past year. This has been a tough emotional week for me too. We came to December 1st yesterday and it hit me like a ton of bricks. Aside from the fact, I have very little "prepared" or Christmas, it is getting closer to the day I have to leave a place that I have grown very fond of. I feel as if I am looking at my life unwind from the outside of some bubble...like it isn't really happening. I can hear the excitement from people when they talk about the change and how great it will be. What can I do but embrace it? Change is never easy, but change brings opportunities you may never have pursued before. I know this, and this is what will keep me going. This is all I have right now. I will not go backwards. I have worked far too hard to get where I am and failure is not an option for me. I just wish I could get rid of the pit in my stomach that I have and the emptiness I am feeling.
Christmas means happiness, I'm happy, I'm a happy person. I'm joyful, fun, and energetic. I am powerful, positive and driven and I will not quit. If I must write it 100 times a day to remind myself, I will. Thank God for your blessings everyday...

I was dreading this day

Im supposed to be very happy about our new adventure, but Friday was one of the toughest days of the year for me emotionally. The two nice mover guys showed up right after I dropped the kids at school. I took the on a quick tour and everything was fine. I saw them bring in the boxes, and everything was still fine. I heard the cutting, wrapping, and taping begin and I got a little sad, but I was fine. I got into my car to go to work and like a ton of bricks it hit me. Like someone had just slapped me across the face and said get outta here! I've never felt so alone as I did in that very moment because no matter what, I'm not quite ready to go. Luckily, I have a little over a month left here, although it will be different. I'm strong, I'm positive, I'm a hard working go getter and I'm gonna be the best thing the state of Missouri has ever seen! I do believe that, but a part of my heart is being left behind in blono... I just really like this place.
When I finally made it home after work, the movers had just left and the pictures below were extremely final. I guess all I have left to say to myself is to suck it up because it is what it is!

On a more positive note, I am looking at buying a new car! Well, it's not new (2007), and new to me. It's so pretty! I drove it all of last week and when we went in Saturday to wheel and deal we were still a little off on the price. Not too far though and I'm going to try to be confident that we can get there. The sales person told me to go ahead and keep it this week too, and she will get back to me on Thursday. She knows we will be very busy the next couple of days. Let's get some 70 degree temps so I can put the top down without looking like I've lost my mind!

Moving

Brrrrr, chilly out today! I was very thankful the sun was shining! It's hard to believe that in just a short amount of time we will start to see snow falling from the sky again! It's also hard to believe the time is coming so fast for us to finally be moving. For something I have been trying to put out of my mind for months, it is front and center everyday now. All day today we ran around town getting just "one more thing" to help sell the house here. We talked about actually moving all of our stuff into the new house in st Charles in just over a week and what I need to have here to survive the last 6 weeks living here in normal with no furniture. Luckily, I'm not really a TV person so I could care less about that. It will all work out.
I would be fooling myself if I said I'm ready for this move. I'm more used to the idea than I was three months ago. I would love to brag about how great it's going to be and how excited I am about our new adventure, but I just can't. I have fears about the future and although I know deep in my heart everything will be fine, I'm scared. I know that I have an inner drive that will not let me fail but yet a part of me fears failure. I have the most wonderful husband and family and friends but right now at this moment I feel very alone and sad. It will be fine and I am strong. I just need to keep reminding myself of that.

Saturday Funday!

Today was a little chilly waking up but I got up and headed to the farmers market for some awesome radishes and spinach, then headed over to iwu to run the bleachers. No eggs today at the market so I was a little bummed , then went to iwu to find out it's homecoming and too many people around to run the bleachers. I was bound and determined to be strong and not lazy, so I headed to the trail and did sprints and jog and some other stuff. Then I came back to my car, grabbed my KB and went to work with that for a while. Since I didn't have a set workout, it wasn't quite as good as I would have liked, but I was glad I did something. After all of that, the family fun started. We planned on heading out to funks grove and hiking. We stopped at Radars farm to get a pumpkin on the way there and after seeing all of the fun stuff they had to offer, we ended up staying for many hours. Bob, Rachael and I completed and got all ten stamps in the pumpkin maze which was actually tougher than I thought. We walked forever!

We had tons of fun though and we were excited when we "won"! Bob and Rachael enjoyed fresh apple cider and I enjoyed a nice cold water. On the way home we stopped at Ropps and stocked up on fresh cheese (my favorite thing!). Rachael wanted smoothie king and we headed there too. It was a great fall day to be outside and enjoy each other! Rory spent the day shooting baskets and playing wiffle ball with his friends and is still outside. Below are some fun pictures and our fun day!

Tea time

Although it had been an unseasonably warm October, it is still fall and that means it's time to break out the hot tea. Last year I learned about white tea which is phenomenally good for you! I make it in my tea infuser, which is right here

It is good and good for you and I drink it all day long! It's especially good in my favorite mug which reminds me to stay focused always!

Fall is my favorite season of the year, so pretty in the Midwest with the leaves changing. I love it! I love the football season, I love the crispness in the air. I like when I get to pull out the comfy sweats and the hoodies and snuggle drinking hot tea. I love the smells of the burning leaves. It's just an awesome time of year!

Russian Kettlebells

I've been seriously trying to get in shape for a little over a year now. I've been very committed to it and still have a long way to go but one my new favorite things for exercising is this:

I'm not sure how long I have been using the kettlebell, maybe a few months, but now I have my own and I love it. I love it because it helps me achieve a great workout. I love it because it is not easy, but quite a challenge for me mastering some of the exercises. I love it because I want to excel at everything I can do with this heavy hunk of metal. We got back from a long day at the St Louis zoo and the whole way home, all I could think about was what kind of workout I could get in. After unpacking and throwing a load of laundry in, I grabbed my kettle bell out of the back of my car (properly of course) and proceeded to the backyard to kick out a great workout in a little over 20 minutes. I did push myself and in that time I was completely sweated through my shirt and ready t call it a night. I liked that Rachael watched me and helped me count and write down my exercises for me. She was great motivation too because I wanted to show her how I could keep going. She watches what I do, she mimics me a lot and I want her to know how rewarding taking care of yourself can be! One last thing, 6 days until warriordash. I'm ready.

St charles Missouri in October

What a fun family day for us. Left BloNo around 10:15 for the kinda long trip to the St. Louis area. Rory and Rachael actually were nice to each other in the car and aside from the occasional drama from our drama queen Rachael, the day went well. The kids like the house we are about to buy and are excited about the yard, deck, pool, their rooms. We saw a bit next door mowing the lawn, a little younger than Rory, maybe ten or 11? Also, it looked like a teenage girl maybe his age but not for sure. Rachael looked hard for someone who looked her age, but no luck so far. After looking at the house, we checked into our hotel and headed to old historical St. Charles to eat. After a late lunch, we walked down the riverfront and enjoyed the beautiful fall day. Rachael was running in her flip flops and somehow a bee got between her flop and the bottom of her foot, stinging her and leaving the stinger in the foot. Among the crying, I managed to get the whole stinger out and we now know that Rachael is not allergic to bees. After I carried her back to the car, we visited both of the kids schools and then headed back to the hotel where the kids swam. I can say now I'm wiped out, but we plan a full day at the zoo tomorrow.

New house

Well, Tuesday we made a huge decision to buy a house in St. Charles , Missouri, right outta St. Louis. It's really nice and I think once we get the idea of actually having to relocate in our brains, it will be good for our family. It's a four bedroom, 3 1/2 bath house with a nice yard, a nice deck, walkout basement and a huge master bedroom. My favorite part is that I get my own bathroom. Yay! Oh, and the yard.. I like the yard and the deck. I love the trees and being able to be out with nature and God's creation.
I look forward to new adventures and new careers and new friends but the whole situation is bittersweet. The thought of leaving the people I have grown to know and love in the twin cities will be very difficult but sometimes change is good. I know that this is not what I planned, but I will make the best of it and it's gonna be a great thing. I have big plans, and dreams are gonna come true for all of us. Lives will be changed for the better, guaranteed!

Rachael first day of school 2010

Trying

Vibram five fingers

These are the best shoes ever! I absolutely love them! Everyone should own a pair. If this post works... With the picture, then I have truly been successful. Cross your fingers!

Christmas 2010