I am almost positive I wrote a blog more recently than the last one, maybe I messed up & screwed up posting it? Because that's entirely possible. Anyway, it's been a few weeks & time to check in. Let's see...Marathon Makeover started & we are going into the 3rd week now. I walk 2-3 times a week with Carla & Kristie and we also Zumba together most days. Saturdays we meet with the MM group so I am getting in a LOT of exercise!! It has been great getting to know them better and I am glad to be making new friends, doing something we really, really love & enjoy so much. It will make it all the sweeter when we do a half-marathon, especially St. Jude.
In other news, I'm down -9.7 pounds!! Probably more after that awful stomach virus I suffered through a few days ago. Gah!! That was the WORST ever!!!! I never want to be sick like that again. I figure I suffer enough with my sinuses, I should be exempt from anything else.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
4 and Fabulous!!
Today is a very good day for a couple of reasons. The first one being is that my precious son is 4 today. I cannot believe it has been 4 years since he came into this world and totally changed mine, but it has. He is a very loving, thoughtful and silly child and he makes our life so interesting. We asked him what kind of party he wanted & he chose to go to "Toto" (Kyoto) and come back home to open presents with his family. He loves his family and it makes my heart happy that he wants to spend it with just us & his grandparents. I got him a "spongebob" cupcake cake and took it to his school so he could have some kind of party. His teachers are so nice & were very accomodating & that means a lot. Nonnie & Bop Bop were there and Connor was so excited to have us there. His diddy had to work or that would've made it a perfect day. Afterwards, the grandparents took him to Toys R Us to let him pick out something from Bop Bop. Tonight we will go to Mt. Fuji (just like Kyoto but better, he's a kid so his taste buds aren't as refined as the adults') and we'll come home for leftover Spongebob cupcakes & presents.
The other reason that today is a very good day is that it was my first weigh in at Weight Watchers & I lost 6 1/2 pounds!! I was a little worried because some days I didn't eat all that I was allowed, plus exercising, so it could've backfired on me. For me, it's a fine line between eating too much and not eating enough. I love to Zumba & I don't "eat" the points I earn from that, to me it's a waste of time to gobble up what I've burned off thru exercise. Now I have to go ahead and get it in my head & be OKAY with the fact that next week, and possibly the next few weeks, I may not have a loss. I've done WW several times & usually when I have an awesome first week, my body takes its sweet time adjusting to the changes I'm making. I just have to know without a doubt that I am doing good and the right things and to not feel discouraged if that scale doesn't move like I think it should.
Marathon Makeover started this past Saturday & I am really excited to get into that. We have a 5k coming up in March, right around the corner!!
Have a blessed & happy day, much love!
~DMB
The other reason that today is a very good day is that it was my first weigh in at Weight Watchers & I lost 6 1/2 pounds!! I was a little worried because some days I didn't eat all that I was allowed, plus exercising, so it could've backfired on me. For me, it's a fine line between eating too much and not eating enough. I love to Zumba & I don't "eat" the points I earn from that, to me it's a waste of time to gobble up what I've burned off thru exercise. Now I have to go ahead and get it in my head & be OKAY with the fact that next week, and possibly the next few weeks, I may not have a loss. I've done WW several times & usually when I have an awesome first week, my body takes its sweet time adjusting to the changes I'm making. I just have to know without a doubt that I am doing good and the right things and to not feel discouraged if that scale doesn't move like I think it should.
Marathon Makeover started this past Saturday & I am really excited to get into that. We have a 5k coming up in March, right around the corner!!
Have a blessed & happy day, much love!
~DMB
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
40 and fabulous!
My 40th birthday came and went without any major fireworks. It was still a great day, I got so many well wishes, well over a 100 on facebook alone! That may sound pathetic, like my life revolves around facebook and that I consider it real life but I don't look at it like that. The people that I'm friends with are people I actually know. True, I don't hang out with half of them but who has the time? So it did mean a lot to me. Last year I was thinking of having a giant birthday bash for turning 40 but the more I thought about it, the more that just is not me. A situation where the sole purpose of a large group of people gathering for ME just makes me uncomfortable, like I think I'm the queen or something. When I've had wedding & baby showers in my honor, for some reason I just feel suffocated. Sure I can act like I'm having a ball & be my usual silly, cutting up self but I'm cringing on the inside.
So I did not go that route with my birthday. Instead, my husband & I are going to Memphis this weekend with our good friends Ray & Kay (I'm going to start calling them KRay) and eat at Ruth's Chris steakhouse. I know my husband is getting me something from my Mikimoto wish list, he has to order it & he knows I don't mind (actually prefer) getting my gift a little past my actual birthday, because I'm a grown-up and all & I understand that sometimes a little thing like getting paid is necessary first.
Zumba started back Monday night after a week of no classes because of the holidays. It felt great to be back & made me realize how important it is in my life. The ladies I've met are so much fun and I am becoming friends with them. Last night some of us went to the bar that has the best food & had a great fellowship, laughing & talking & making plans for the future. Our awesome instructor Liz & I talked about dancing. She competes at the amaetuer level but she looks & carries herself like a pro. I don't know when she'll offically become a pro, but to her Zumba students, she already is. I'm going to really step it up with my own dancing, it's fun, it's healthy, and it ignites a fire in me. So it was really inspiring to talk to her about it.
Family game nights have offically started in this house. The husband and kid went out & bought a Kinect while I was out last night & when I got home they were involved in a boxing match. Then they wanted to bowl & insisted that I participate, so I whooped them pretty badly. They are playing right now & my husband is egging me on, telling me I "don't want any of this" like he's all bad. He wouldn't be struttin around talking smack if he seriously thought I was going to get out of this chair. But my back is sore from last night, I'm just watching tonight. And I missed Zumba & a dance class tonight from taking a nap & I'm pretty pissed at myself. Way to start out the new year!
We have to figure out the supper situation so that's it for now!
Much love!
~D
So I did not go that route with my birthday. Instead, my husband & I are going to Memphis this weekend with our good friends Ray & Kay (I'm going to start calling them KRay) and eat at Ruth's Chris steakhouse. I know my husband is getting me something from my Mikimoto wish list, he has to order it & he knows I don't mind (actually prefer) getting my gift a little past my actual birthday, because I'm a grown-up and all & I understand that sometimes a little thing like getting paid is necessary first.
Zumba started back Monday night after a week of no classes because of the holidays. It felt great to be back & made me realize how important it is in my life. The ladies I've met are so much fun and I am becoming friends with them. Last night some of us went to the bar that has the best food & had a great fellowship, laughing & talking & making plans for the future. Our awesome instructor Liz & I talked about dancing. She competes at the amaetuer level but she looks & carries herself like a pro. I don't know when she'll offically become a pro, but to her Zumba students, she already is. I'm going to really step it up with my own dancing, it's fun, it's healthy, and it ignites a fire in me. So it was really inspiring to talk to her about it.
Family game nights have offically started in this house. The husband and kid went out & bought a Kinect while I was out last night & when I got home they were involved in a boxing match. Then they wanted to bowl & insisted that I participate, so I whooped them pretty badly. They are playing right now & my husband is egging me on, telling me I "don't want any of this" like he's all bad. He wouldn't be struttin around talking smack if he seriously thought I was going to get out of this chair. But my back is sore from last night, I'm just watching tonight. And I missed Zumba & a dance class tonight from taking a nap & I'm pretty pissed at myself. Way to start out the new year!
We have to figure out the supper situation so that's it for now!
Much love!
~D
Sunday, January 2, 2011
A blessed life
The title of my blog, Our Blessed Life, is basically what our life is, very blessed. For whatever reason, this household has been spared from any major illness, loss of job, financial difficulties, divorce, or any of the various troubles so many people we know are facing. Don't get me wrong, our life isn't perfect, we have our share of problems. My husband has health problems but thankfully, nothing life-threatening. It's chronic & will never go away, but as far as we know, it isn't deadly thank goodness. We have had to watch our spending just like everybody else has, but it's not because of job loss. So while it isn't perfect & we do have our share of problems, they are so insignificant and nothing compared to what so many are going through, that it makes me ashamed to even mention them.
Which brings me back to the title of the blog. I discussed changing it with Mahboo, Dana Parker Gault (more on her later) and told her that it felt like I was bragging about my life but I didn't want to slap God in the face by not acknowledging what He has done for us. She assured me that it wasn't bragging, just recognizing what God has done in my life & that I was focusing more on the positive aspects of my life instead of dwelling on my problems. And I am more than capable of throwing down with pity parties, in my opinion, they can be good for you. Because a few hours later or the next day, when you feel better, it causes you to take some kind of inventory of what caused you to feel that way & go about making any changes you need with a clear head. But I don't like to wallow in self-pity and I do what I can to shake myself out of it. Usually just quiet time & a good night's sleep make all the difference. People who are negative just drain me, I can't take their self-pity for too long. While I try to be supportive & offer advice or just a shoulder to cry on, after awhile I just can't be around that person. Life is hard enough without taking on someone else's problems, especially when they seem content to wallow in their misery. Far be it from me to rain on their pity parade, so I'll step back and let them do their thang.
Anyway, enough of that. Now is the part where I sing the praises of my lifelong BFF, Dana Parker Gault. She is so much more than my BFF, that really doesn't even do her justice. I have a lot of friends that I consider my BFF and I love all of them, they are all very important to my life. DPG is different for so many reasons. For one, I've literally known her since we were in our mom's wombs. Sybil Morgan & Peggy Parker were friends & neighbors who both happened to be pregnant at the same time, and I've often wondered why they both named us Dana because I don't see myself naming my baby a name that my friend is using. I guess they both really liked the name & one didn't "steal" it from the other and they just used it & it wasn't a big deal. Maybe my mom can comment & verify or correct me on that. Anyway, we grew up together, playing together when we were toddlers, going to school together at Oakland Heights and later to West Lauderdale. And we are there for each other, up to and including yesterday. Or she was there for me, when I fired off a message to her on Facebook heehee. We call each other "Mahboo", a southern sounding way of saying "my boo". She has her own sister, but as far as I'm concerned, she really is my sister from another mister. She gets me, she knows every bad thing I've done (and wanted to do), she appreciates my sick sense of humor and she is completely loyal. I know that if I called her & told her that I wanted to kill someone, instead of lecturing me, she would probably think that the person deserved to die if I wanted them to and she would help me figure out how to get away with it. And she knows I'd do the same for her, probably even do the killing for her. I guess I need to make sure it's understood that we have NEVER had such a conversation, I just know how it would all go down because of how deep our friendship is.
She is probably the sweetest person I know, always upbeat and has nothing but kindness oozing out of her. Don't get me wrong, she will take you to task if you need it and I've seen her do it. Probably been on the receiving end of it too. She is an awesome mom & wife and not to get into her business too much, it really is amazing to see because her own example has fallen way too short. She loves her family and shows it in ways that really count, the small things. Her daughters are growing up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted little ladies. I love her daughters and I have my eye on 2 of them for being potential wives for my son. I also love her husband Jason, for the way he treats her and is so supportive of & appreciative of her. He has the same dry, sick sense of humor that I have and I love that he gets me too. He always makes me feel more than welcome in their home & he & I can sit and have conversations without her even being in the room. We mostly cut up and laugh but we do have serious discussions about work, politics, and other topics that you don't associate with lightness. They are a precious family and I consider them my family.
So you will read about her a lot here, peppered into my conversations because while I may not see her often enough, we don't let too many days pass where we don't touch base in some way. We're not up each others butts and we give each other space because neither of us require entertaining from the other on a constant basis. She knows I'll drop what I'm doing to help her solve a problem or just listen to her if she needs to verbally work through something. And she will do the same for me. And the best thing about our friendship is, neither of us will tell the other what we want to hear. I know I can count on her for honesty. She'll tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear and she'll get tough if need be. But mostly she'll just keep it real for me, like a sister does.
Maybe I have emptied my brain for the day of all these thoughts I've had. I'm three for three now on this blog, hopefully I can keep it up at this pace!
Happy Sunday, love to all & be blessed!! xoxo
~DMB (code name from DPG)
Which brings me back to the title of the blog. I discussed changing it with Mahboo, Dana Parker Gault (more on her later) and told her that it felt like I was bragging about my life but I didn't want to slap God in the face by not acknowledging what He has done for us. She assured me that it wasn't bragging, just recognizing what God has done in my life & that I was focusing more on the positive aspects of my life instead of dwelling on my problems. And I am more than capable of throwing down with pity parties, in my opinion, they can be good for you. Because a few hours later or the next day, when you feel better, it causes you to take some kind of inventory of what caused you to feel that way & go about making any changes you need with a clear head. But I don't like to wallow in self-pity and I do what I can to shake myself out of it. Usually just quiet time & a good night's sleep make all the difference. People who are negative just drain me, I can't take their self-pity for too long. While I try to be supportive & offer advice or just a shoulder to cry on, after awhile I just can't be around that person. Life is hard enough without taking on someone else's problems, especially when they seem content to wallow in their misery. Far be it from me to rain on their pity parade, so I'll step back and let them do their thang.
Anyway, enough of that. Now is the part where I sing the praises of my lifelong BFF, Dana Parker Gault. She is so much more than my BFF, that really doesn't even do her justice. I have a lot of friends that I consider my BFF and I love all of them, they are all very important to my life. DPG is different for so many reasons. For one, I've literally known her since we were in our mom's wombs. Sybil Morgan & Peggy Parker were friends & neighbors who both happened to be pregnant at the same time, and I've often wondered why they both named us Dana because I don't see myself naming my baby a name that my friend is using. I guess they both really liked the name & one didn't "steal" it from the other and they just used it & it wasn't a big deal. Maybe my mom can comment & verify or correct me on that. Anyway, we grew up together, playing together when we were toddlers, going to school together at Oakland Heights and later to West Lauderdale. And we are there for each other, up to and including yesterday. Or she was there for me, when I fired off a message to her on Facebook heehee. We call each other "Mahboo", a southern sounding way of saying "my boo". She has her own sister, but as far as I'm concerned, she really is my sister from another mister. She gets me, she knows every bad thing I've done (and wanted to do), she appreciates my sick sense of humor and she is completely loyal. I know that if I called her & told her that I wanted to kill someone, instead of lecturing me, she would probably think that the person deserved to die if I wanted them to and she would help me figure out how to get away with it. And she knows I'd do the same for her, probably even do the killing for her. I guess I need to make sure it's understood that we have NEVER had such a conversation, I just know how it would all go down because of how deep our friendship is.
She is probably the sweetest person I know, always upbeat and has nothing but kindness oozing out of her. Don't get me wrong, she will take you to task if you need it and I've seen her do it. Probably been on the receiving end of it too. She is an awesome mom & wife and not to get into her business too much, it really is amazing to see because her own example has fallen way too short. She loves her family and shows it in ways that really count, the small things. Her daughters are growing up to be happy, healthy, well-adjusted little ladies. I love her daughters and I have my eye on 2 of them for being potential wives for my son. I also love her husband Jason, for the way he treats her and is so supportive of & appreciative of her. He has the same dry, sick sense of humor that I have and I love that he gets me too. He always makes me feel more than welcome in their home & he & I can sit and have conversations without her even being in the room. We mostly cut up and laugh but we do have serious discussions about work, politics, and other topics that you don't associate with lightness. They are a precious family and I consider them my family.
So you will read about her a lot here, peppered into my conversations because while I may not see her often enough, we don't let too many days pass where we don't touch base in some way. We're not up each others butts and we give each other space because neither of us require entertaining from the other on a constant basis. She knows I'll drop what I'm doing to help her solve a problem or just listen to her if she needs to verbally work through something. And she will do the same for me. And the best thing about our friendship is, neither of us will tell the other what we want to hear. I know I can count on her for honesty. She'll tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear and she'll get tough if need be. But mostly she'll just keep it real for me, like a sister does.
Maybe I have emptied my brain for the day of all these thoughts I've had. I'm three for three now on this blog, hopefully I can keep it up at this pace!
Happy Sunday, love to all & be blessed!! xoxo
~DMB (code name from DPG)
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year 2011!
Hope everyone is recovering from their partying & celebrating New Years. As for this family, we slept in, not because we partied hard but because we are recuperating from the sicks. In fact, my husband just left to go to Urgent Care for the second time this week for his sinus infection. Seems his decadron shot has worn off & the prescriptions he got were sub-par. That's what he gets for not going to our regular Urgent Care, because there was a 2 hour wait, and went to one where he wasn't known and I guess that's why he didn't get the good stuff. I think I am over the worst of my stomach bug, which wasn't really that bad to begin with so by tomorrow it should be history.
Just praying our little one doesn't catch anything. Sometimes I am blown away at how healthy he is. He'll be 4 in a few weeks and I think he's been truly sick maybe maybe 3 times in his life. Maybe that's God's way of sparing this family (and my sanity) because my husband is the sickliest person I know. I have (more than) my share of sinusitis but that's about it. Yeah I've had a stomach bug but it wasn't really anything that ruined my life. But my husband? Ugh, he can't even be regular sick. Like when he gets a stomach virus, he is the one to wind up in the hospital on I.V. fluids for dehydration, when most people just get through it and move on. If our child was sickly, I don't know how I could or would cope. I think of that as another blessing, that our child is very, very healthy. And he's incredibly sweet and happy. We make good baby!
This is where I think I will tackle putting my NY resolutions into print. You may want to skip over this part because I know reading other people's resolutions isn't always fascinating. I'm doing this more for myself, to see it now and maybe come back in a few months to see what I've actually accomplished. Okay...
1. Continue with the resolutions I set for myself in 2010, of which I am proud. This was just a generic "try new things" type resolution and I just need to kick it up a notch. I started taking ballroom dance lessons and I LOVE it! I found that West Coast swing is really the dance for me, it's not hard but for me it has been challenging. If I could get into competing...I can't even think about that because it seems so out of my reach but it would be great. So continue with WCS and try out some more styles. In fact, the husband & I are signed up, and deposits paid, for a workshop at the end of January. I think waltz, fox-trot and a couple other dances are on the itinerary so by the end of that workshop, I should be able to show off a little. Those aren't really complicated dances at all, hell even my husband should be able look like he knows what he's doing. I highly recommend taking ballroom dance lessons to anyone. If your spouse or significant other won't go with you, go anyway. He or she will see what fun you are having and will join you in no time. But if not, you'll still be having major fun and meet new people and feel great. It is good, clean fun and if you feel awkward, don't worry, everyone feels that way at first. Just get in there & do it!
2. Pursue photography more. NOT that I'm wanting to become a professional, although that wouldn't be a bad thing, but because I love looking at photos and enjoy it. More of just expanding my interest and maybe it'll become a great hobby. My goal this year is to get my OWN fancy digital camera, a Canon Rebel or something. My husband has a Canon something-or-other, a T1i maybe (?) and it's awesome. But it's not mine. It's not technically his either, it's his work camera and is subject to being snatched from my mitts at any time. I can't just assume it will be available to me whenever I want it, even though I act as if it is. But I digress.
3. Running. This will be the big one for me. It's something that has always interested me and has always intimidated me. I have no idea why, maybe it's because people that run are really disciplined and have their act together? Not that I consider myself scattered but I just have a hard time with that one. But I'm not going to have a hard time anymore! I'm going to join a group that trains you for marathons and I am beyond excited. I will forever be indebted to Kristie & Carla, two awesome chicks from Zumba class who got this ball rolling. Kristie mentioned on Facebook that a lady here in Tupelo wanted a team for the St. Jude marathon to form in memory of her son, who was lost way too young a month or so ago, to cancer. I was all for it but knew that you have to train for something like that & it was Carla that suggested Marathon Makeover for those of us who were interested. I cannot believe that in a year from now I will have done a marathon but do it I will! And I have no doubt, when I cross the finish line I will be sobbing. But I don't care, they will be tears of joy for myself, for doing the un-thinkable and even moreso for those whose honor & memory we will be running.
4. Getting back to church. I know my mom will read this, so you can spare me the lecture because it's not needed. I know this is something we must do. My husband & I are both Christians, we both grew up attending & involved in church and while we send our child to a church pre-school, we have been terrible about getting him in Sunday school. When he turns 4 in a few weeks, he'll be expected to go in "big church". I cannot believe that he will be old enough for that, he is getting further away from being a baby. :( But back to the original point, I feel as if we've failed him where church is concerned. This is something that I am not proud of, very much the opposite. I'm ashamed of myself and I don't like seeing that in print. But I'm hoping by putting it here that I will hold myself accountable to sticking with it. My secret shame is out, you all now know it and I have to do what is right for my child's salvation. We talk to him about God & Jesus and say prayers with him but who am I kidding? That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what he needs. I should've put this as #1 but it took me this long to even go there in my head, never mind getting the nerve up to write it. But these aren't really in any particular order in terms of importance, I'm just going with the flow here.
5. This last one is just an all-around feel good one, shouldn't really be anything to work on. Mainly, just make more time for family & friends, travel, eat better, make an effort to stop any bad habits, try to be a great friend to all of my friend, etc. We have several couple friends with kids that we enjoy getting together and playing games with and I'd like to do more of that. And have more date nights with my husband, more family date nights with my husband and son & maybe family game nights. Connor loves his family & basks when he knows we are doing something as a family, just us 3. There will be a day right around the corner when he's too busy for us and I want to soak it all in, now, while he's still sweet and I don't have to compete for his attention. He got a bike for Christmas & I love riding mine, so I will see to it that we ride a few times a week. It's fun, it's healthy for all of us and a great way to spend time with him.
I think that list is pretty do-able. Nothing too out there, right? The Zumba instructor thing may wait until later on in the year, it's not like it's a now-or-never thing. I think the main thing is to really enjoy life this year. I've kind of always just went through the motions but I want to rock it out this year and going into my *sob* 40's. Set the tone for the next decade you know?
If any of you that are reading this want to share your goals or resolutions, I'd love to read them. Leave me a comment, maybe we can inspire each other. Hope 2011 is a better year for all of you, and especially this country. Lord knows it's hard to stay positive when this world is in the shape it's in so let's pray for better things for this country and the world in general.
Love to all and Happy New Year!! xoxo
~Dana
Just praying our little one doesn't catch anything. Sometimes I am blown away at how healthy he is. He'll be 4 in a few weeks and I think he's been truly sick maybe maybe 3 times in his life. Maybe that's God's way of sparing this family (and my sanity) because my husband is the sickliest person I know. I have (more than) my share of sinusitis but that's about it. Yeah I've had a stomach bug but it wasn't really anything that ruined my life. But my husband? Ugh, he can't even be regular sick. Like when he gets a stomach virus, he is the one to wind up in the hospital on I.V. fluids for dehydration, when most people just get through it and move on. If our child was sickly, I don't know how I could or would cope. I think of that as another blessing, that our child is very, very healthy. And he's incredibly sweet and happy. We make good baby!
This is where I think I will tackle putting my NY resolutions into print. You may want to skip over this part because I know reading other people's resolutions isn't always fascinating. I'm doing this more for myself, to see it now and maybe come back in a few months to see what I've actually accomplished. Okay...
1. Continue with the resolutions I set for myself in 2010, of which I am proud. This was just a generic "try new things" type resolution and I just need to kick it up a notch. I started taking ballroom dance lessons and I LOVE it! I found that West Coast swing is really the dance for me, it's not hard but for me it has been challenging. If I could get into competing...I can't even think about that because it seems so out of my reach but it would be great. So continue with WCS and try out some more styles. In fact, the husband & I are signed up, and deposits paid, for a workshop at the end of January. I think waltz, fox-trot and a couple other dances are on the itinerary so by the end of that workshop, I should be able to show off a little. Those aren't really complicated dances at all, hell even my husband should be able look like he knows what he's doing. I highly recommend taking ballroom dance lessons to anyone. If your spouse or significant other won't go with you, go anyway. He or she will see what fun you are having and will join you in no time. But if not, you'll still be having major fun and meet new people and feel great. It is good, clean fun and if you feel awkward, don't worry, everyone feels that way at first. Just get in there & do it!
2. Pursue photography more. NOT that I'm wanting to become a professional, although that wouldn't be a bad thing, but because I love looking at photos and enjoy it. More of just expanding my interest and maybe it'll become a great hobby. My goal this year is to get my OWN fancy digital camera, a Canon Rebel or something. My husband has a Canon something-or-other, a T1i maybe (?) and it's awesome. But it's not mine. It's not technically his either, it's his work camera and is subject to being snatched from my mitts at any time. I can't just assume it will be available to me whenever I want it, even though I act as if it is. But I digress.
3. Running. This will be the big one for me. It's something that has always interested me and has always intimidated me. I have no idea why, maybe it's because people that run are really disciplined and have their act together? Not that I consider myself scattered but I just have a hard time with that one. But I'm not going to have a hard time anymore! I'm going to join a group that trains you for marathons and I am beyond excited. I will forever be indebted to Kristie & Carla, two awesome chicks from Zumba class who got this ball rolling. Kristie mentioned on Facebook that a lady here in Tupelo wanted a team for the St. Jude marathon to form in memory of her son, who was lost way too young a month or so ago, to cancer. I was all for it but knew that you have to train for something like that & it was Carla that suggested Marathon Makeover for those of us who were interested. I cannot believe that in a year from now I will have done a marathon but do it I will! And I have no doubt, when I cross the finish line I will be sobbing. But I don't care, they will be tears of joy for myself, for doing the un-thinkable and even moreso for those whose honor & memory we will be running.
4. Getting back to church. I know my mom will read this, so you can spare me the lecture because it's not needed. I know this is something we must do. My husband & I are both Christians, we both grew up attending & involved in church and while we send our child to a church pre-school, we have been terrible about getting him in Sunday school. When he turns 4 in a few weeks, he'll be expected to go in "big church". I cannot believe that he will be old enough for that, he is getting further away from being a baby. :( But back to the original point, I feel as if we've failed him where church is concerned. This is something that I am not proud of, very much the opposite. I'm ashamed of myself and I don't like seeing that in print. But I'm hoping by putting it here that I will hold myself accountable to sticking with it. My secret shame is out, you all now know it and I have to do what is right for my child's salvation. We talk to him about God & Jesus and say prayers with him but who am I kidding? That doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of what he needs. I should've put this as #1 but it took me this long to even go there in my head, never mind getting the nerve up to write it. But these aren't really in any particular order in terms of importance, I'm just going with the flow here.
5. This last one is just an all-around feel good one, shouldn't really be anything to work on. Mainly, just make more time for family & friends, travel, eat better, make an effort to stop any bad habits, try to be a great friend to all of my friend, etc. We have several couple friends with kids that we enjoy getting together and playing games with and I'd like to do more of that. And have more date nights with my husband, more family date nights with my husband and son & maybe family game nights. Connor loves his family & basks when he knows we are doing something as a family, just us 3. There will be a day right around the corner when he's too busy for us and I want to soak it all in, now, while he's still sweet and I don't have to compete for his attention. He got a bike for Christmas & I love riding mine, so I will see to it that we ride a few times a week. It's fun, it's healthy for all of us and a great way to spend time with him.
I think that list is pretty do-able. Nothing too out there, right? The Zumba instructor thing may wait until later on in the year, it's not like it's a now-or-never thing. I think the main thing is to really enjoy life this year. I've kind of always just went through the motions but I want to rock it out this year and going into my *sob* 40's. Set the tone for the next decade you know?
If any of you that are reading this want to share your goals or resolutions, I'd love to read them. Leave me a comment, maybe we can inspire each other. Hope 2011 is a better year for all of you, and especially this country. Lord knows it's hard to stay positive when this world is in the shape it's in so let's pray for better things for this country and the world in general.
Love to all and Happy New Year!! xoxo
~Dana
Friday, December 31, 2010
My first post on my brand new blog!
Here I go! Ok, so I've been interested in blogging for awhile & decided to finally start my own. There are several blogs I enjoy immensely and have gotten a lot of inspiration from them & hope mine is as interesting as those I visit. Another reason is that while I enjoy Facebook & am a true addict of that social network, I mostly keep things light on there. I can be very cynical and a major smart alec but I utilize FB like I would a cocktail party, in that I can talk about most anything but I don't get into anything too deep & mind my manners. You just really have to watch it on there & I keep myself toned way down. Anyone that truly knows me should have noticed that about me. So anyway, I decided to start this blog as a place to not feel the need to check myself. It's my blog & I'll cry if I want to. ;)
As I am sitting here typing this, it's New Year's Eve for 2011! This is so not how I intended to spend this festive evening. I'm sick, the husband is sick, it looks like it may be bad weather and I decided that I could stay at home if I wanted because that's what I do. I give myself permission to do or not do whatever I want or do not want to do. No one can guilt-trip this gal or make me feel obligated to do something. Sorry if that's harsh but that's how I roll, it's never anything personal.
In three days, I will turn 40. I have very mixed feelings about that number. On one hand, obviously it's better than NOT turning 40 (or any other number). But on the other, it's just so officially grown up sounding, like there are no more excuses for being a screw up. At this point, you've either got it or you don't. However, and I know this sounds so cliche', but I really feel good about myself at this stage in my life. I guess your 30's are about trying to figure out who you are and your 40's are maybe about finally being comfortable and okay with it? For the first time in my life, this past year I started feeling very comfortable & confident with myself and that was a great feeling. My faults are many, but I'm a damn awesome person. That's not to toot my own horn because I'm not like that. But I know my place in this world & I think I make contributions that are worthy. I made a vow when I turned 39 to make the last year of my 30's a great year & I feel good about that, I think I accomplished that goal. My vow for 40 is to just do it again & then some! One good thing that comes with age is that I think you set reasonable goals for yourself & I don't believe that anything I want to accomplish is so far out there. Except for maybe becoming a Zumba instructor. That will majorly require me to get way outside my comfort zone & while I want to do it, it does frighten me. Something about all eyes being on me just makes me want to disappear. Honestly the very thought makes feel like hyperventilating. But I can do baby steps.
My blog is kind of plain at this point, I know. I'll try to spruce it up a little and figure out how to do cool graphics & fonts & add pictures soon. I have access to one of the greatest IT guys around but sometimes he & I clash when he shows me how to do stuff, so I may have to wing it on my own.
Hopefully those of you that read my blog will appreciate my honesty and who I am, even if you don't agree with me or if I annoy. My goal is to write at least once a week, and if I write every 2 or 3 days, or *gasp* every DAY, then great! I look forward to and encourage comments, even if something you have to say isn't a rave review. Happy New Year to my faithful friends, I love you all!
As I am sitting here typing this, it's New Year's Eve for 2011! This is so not how I intended to spend this festive evening. I'm sick, the husband is sick, it looks like it may be bad weather and I decided that I could stay at home if I wanted because that's what I do. I give myself permission to do or not do whatever I want or do not want to do. No one can guilt-trip this gal or make me feel obligated to do something. Sorry if that's harsh but that's how I roll, it's never anything personal.
In three days, I will turn 40. I have very mixed feelings about that number. On one hand, obviously it's better than NOT turning 40 (or any other number). But on the other, it's just so officially grown up sounding, like there are no more excuses for being a screw up. At this point, you've either got it or you don't. However, and I know this sounds so cliche', but I really feel good about myself at this stage in my life. I guess your 30's are about trying to figure out who you are and your 40's are maybe about finally being comfortable and okay with it? For the first time in my life, this past year I started feeling very comfortable & confident with myself and that was a great feeling. My faults are many, but I'm a damn awesome person. That's not to toot my own horn because I'm not like that. But I know my place in this world & I think I make contributions that are worthy. I made a vow when I turned 39 to make the last year of my 30's a great year & I feel good about that, I think I accomplished that goal. My vow for 40 is to just do it again & then some! One good thing that comes with age is that I think you set reasonable goals for yourself & I don't believe that anything I want to accomplish is so far out there. Except for maybe becoming a Zumba instructor. That will majorly require me to get way outside my comfort zone & while I want to do it, it does frighten me. Something about all eyes being on me just makes me want to disappear. Honestly the very thought makes feel like hyperventilating. But I can do baby steps.
My blog is kind of plain at this point, I know. I'll try to spruce it up a little and figure out how to do cool graphics & fonts & add pictures soon. I have access to one of the greatest IT guys around but sometimes he & I clash when he shows me how to do stuff, so I may have to wing it on my own.
Hopefully those of you that read my blog will appreciate my honesty and who I am, even if you don't agree with me or if I annoy. My goal is to write at least once a week, and if I write every 2 or 3 days, or *gasp* every DAY, then great! I look forward to and encourage comments, even if something you have to say isn't a rave review. Happy New Year to my faithful friends, I love you all!
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