Gratituesday: Crossfit

Gratituesday is a weekly blog post (that I try to keep up with) I got involved with over here. You should join, too! If you do, be sure to let me know in the comments as I would love to read what you write about. This week, I am grateful for Crossfit!

I started it this week. And I LOVE it!

A little background: I signed up to participate in the local angel's race sprint triathlon on May 1st (ahhh!) and that wasn't even enough to get me back to the gym. I knew I needed to start a strength-training routine as soon as possible. So, when I heard about crossfit and saw the kind of results my friends were having with it, I started researching online. Strength training, cardio training, accountability, short workouts, a challenge, and a routine? All in one? Amazing!

And amazing it has been! (Well, so far.)

For the first time in a long time, I am excited and motivated to be active. I may have had trouble walking up and down stairs over the weekend... and I may not be able to currently lock my elbows (tiiiight muscles!)... but I know this is just the beginning.

Already just the first few days have been fun, encouraging, and soooo motivating. I am excited to see where the next few months with Crossfit will take me: physically, mentally, emotionally.

So pumped!

What are you grateful for this week?

Gratituesday: Spring is in the air| and I'm late

Gratituesday is a weekly blog post (that I try to keep up with) I got involved with over here. You should join, too! If you do, be sure to let me know in the comments as I would love to read what you write about. So I promised myself that I would complete 52 consecutive weeks of Graitutesday posts this year.

I really, really want to do this. But even just seven weeks in I've already had a few that were posted a day or two late. Honestly, I am okay with that. However, the last thing I want to do is completely skip a week... that would ruin the whole consecutive idea. So this is just me trying to stay caught up (in a weird, sort of skewed way).

Today's gratitutesday post is 6 days late so I'll be back tomorrow with another one, right on time!

Last week I was especially grateful for the little burst of spring that showed up. It came just in time for me, giving me the opportunity to open all of my windows and doors and let the winter air out of my house!

It was a great pick-me-up for the winter blues I seem to have been experiencing. :)

(Ahhh... and I'm grateful for such a short and sweet gratituesday post.)

What are you grateful for this week?

congratulations sarah & nate! | personal

I was blessed with really great roommates during my college years. Sarah was my first roommate at Liberty University. She was so perfect for me at that time in my life - telling me like it was and not putting up with my drama. She helped teach me to accept the truth while also not being offended by it. She was with me when I went through my first real break up, some of the hardest family times I have dealt with, and during a time of huge change in my own heart/soul. Not to mention she is one of the most patient and accepting girls I know. I love her. :)

So when she let me know earlier this week that she was headed to town with  her boyfriend, I was really looking forward to spending time with them. She has visited a few times the past couple of years, each time to take a class or a test here at Liberty for her master's degree. But when her boyfriend stepped out of the room they were in to ask me (over the phone) when the local florist made their deliveries, I became a little suspicious. This wasn't a special occasion... Sarah was in town to take a test and that was it. It wasn't her birthday and valentine's day had already passed. Was he going to propose tonight? Then, a few hours later, we were once again on the phone making dinner plans and his only request was that we go to "somewhere nice." My suspicion grew.

Fast forward an hour or so and Sarah calls me and says "I'm engaged!!!" Ahhhh!! I totally knew it! I cannot tell you how exciting it was for me to be in the same town with her that very night! We are rarely ever in the same town and this was the first time I was actually meeting Nate. I was so excited and honored to be able to be there to celebrate and share in their joy.

Tommy and I stopped into their room on our way to dinner and I grabbed a few shots of them being oh-so-cute!

Congratulations, guys! I am so very happy for you!

happy valentine's day! | personal

I know, the day is almost over! But I didn't want to let it pass before wishing you all a Happy Valentine's Day. I hope you had a sweet day full of love and appreciation from the people in your lives. My valentine is actually out of the state right now so we will be celebrating our holiday this coming weekend after he returns home. Even though we said we'd celebrate this weekend, he still had some flowers delivered to me today! Having flowers delivered in a ProFlowers box is becoming a tradition with us. Unfortunately, Tommy has missed every valentine's day, anniversary, and (my) birthday since we got married. (Each time it is because he is required to travel for his job. Stinkin' military ;)) So even though it's always a bummer that he's gone, I am beginning to grow fond of the familiar box that shows up on our front steps on all the special days. I like that it's becoming a little tradition with us. Plus I know he will return home and quickly designate a day to make up for the day he missed. Yeah, he's kind of romantic. And I kind of like it. :)

So anyway... for those of you who are spending tonight alone, you aren't completely alone out there! I'm off to curl up on the couch with the dogs and catch up on some TiVo'd shows. I'm so cool.

Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Gratituesday: the birds are singing

Gratituesday is a weekly blog post (that I try to keep up with) I got involved with over here. You should join, too! If you do, be sure to let me know in the comments as I would love to read what you write about. On Sunday I woke up pretty early (like 6am early) so I sat down at my computer to churn out some work before everyone else woke up (my dad was visiting). As I was sitting there working away, I heard a few birds singing outside. The sound made my heart smile so big! Is this it? Is spring just around the corner? Apparently the groundhog says so!

I know we all experience a winter funk, but I think I redefined the low for myself last week. All I can say is that I am so glad that week is over, that I still have friends (hah, seriously), the birds are singing, and that spring is right around the corner. Altogether, I feel completely refreshed and encouraged (and really loved).

Okay the birds didn't do all of that... but they really did lift my spirits a bit and so far I've heard them singing both mornings since Sunday, so I hope they are back for good!

So this week... I am grateful for another simple thing... the singing birds.

What about you? What are you grateful for this week?