homesick

This week I've felt really homesick. I don't know why. I've just felt "off" this week. I really miss my family. I miss being able to go shopping and plant flowers with my mom....getting coffee with my best friend, Brooke....going to the lake with friends.....and hanging out with my brothers. It's just been a "down" kind of week. I hope I can shake whatever I have going on soon. I'll see my family 4th of July weekend AND for my niece's birthday! 2 weekends with my family is totally what I need right now.

Lead Me

I found this on another blog and fell in love with this song.

With all the weddings, engagements, anniversaries, and baby announcements this season, I think this song can apply to any type of relationship...married, engaged or dating. Everyone needs someone to lead them and be willing to fight for their relationship.

No one can do life alone. God created us to share our lives with someone...to have a partner. Finding that special person to do life with is a precious and amazing thing.



I look around and see my wonderful life
Almost perfect from the outside
In picture frames, I see my beautiful wife
Always smiling, but on the inside

Oh, I can hear her saying

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, but what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone

I see their faces, look in their innocent eyes
They're just children from the outside
I'm working hard, I tell myself they'll be fine
They're independent, but on the inside

Oh, I can hear them saying

Lead me with strong hands
Stand up when I can't
Don't leave me hungry for love
Chasing dreams, what about us?

Show me you're willing to fight
That I'm still the love of your life
I know we call this our home
But I still feel alone

So Father, give me the strength
To be everything I'm called to be
Oh Father, show me the way
To lead them

Won't You lead me?

To lead them with strong hands
To stand up when they can't
Don't want to leave them hungry for love
Chasing things that I could give up

I'll show them I'm willing to fight
And give them the best of my life
So we can call this our home
Lead me 'cause I can't do this alone

Father, lead me 'cause I can't do this alone

workout update

I had said awhile back that my goal was to start working out regularly again. I am happy to report that I have been on track with that. I am feeling better than ever. It started slow, but better to start slow than to push myself too hard in one day and be too sore to return the rest of the week. I see people do this to themselves all the time. While I am not back to running my 6 miles, I have been doing a short 45-60 minute workout at least 3 times a week.

Cardio:
I have done 1-3 miles either on the treadmill, elliptical or bike first...about 10-15 minutes of cardio. Then arms, legs and abs. I get bored easily, so I like to mix it up. I hope to soon begin doing 10 minutes running, 10 minutes on the elliptical and then 10 minutes on the bike. That makes for a great cardio combo and all in 30 minutes working different muscles in multiple ways.

Arms:
I like to use free weights for my arms. I don't want to have string bean or Olive Oil arms...I prefer to have a little shape to them. Here's one of my favorite arm machines....

Abs:
I LOVE the ab/exercise ball! I hate doing crunches on the floor - it hurts my back, so I prefer the ab ball. There are a variety of different exercises you can do with it.

My favorite ab "machine"....the captain's chair!

Legs:
I took a body sculpting class last year and I fell in love with the band. It's a great glute workout.

I know some people prefer to workout at home, but not me. I have to be in a gym environment. It's a great way to pick-up new workout ideas. I hate getting stuck in a rut doing the same exercises. At home, I get too distracted...cleaning, the TV, the computer, etc. At the gym, I get into the zone and can focus better. My motivations....to be healthy, my brothers in the military and the beach. Happy exercising!

meaningful words & numbers...

Love love love these ideas....check 'em out! I'm totally a DIY-er at heart. I get it from my mama. :)

http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/2011/05/my-up-cycled-teal-top-table-some.html

http://jaimelyn11.blogspot.com/2011/06/my-up-cycled-dining-room-table.html

new favorite recipe...

 Mexican Chicken

INGREDIENTS:
3-4 boneless chicken breasts
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can of rotel
2-3 cups of shredded cheese (cheddar or whatever you'd like)

DIRECTIONS:
boil 3-4 boneless chicken breasts
cut into small bite-size pieces

mix cooked chicken with 1 can cream of chicken, 1 can of cream of mushroom, 1 can of rotel.

place 4-5 small tortilla shells (I used flour shells, but corn works too) into a baking pan/dish. I used a 9x13 pan.

put chicken mixture on top of tortilla shells.

sprinkle shredded cheddar or Mexican shredded cheese on top
bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

I put a little cayenne pepper in my chicken mixture, because I like a little kick. We made 3 chicken breasts and it was more than enough for just 2. Great recipe for a potluck or family function or just because. :)

Really easy and delicious! My favorite recipe. Enjoy!

Happy endings are not for cowards

I read this blogger's post, Learning to be a Wife, today and I wanted to share. She has a very good message. Read on... 

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Happy.

I've been reading books by Jill A. Davis and I stumbled upon a quote I really love: "Happy Endings are not for cowards." It reminded me of Garth's best man's speech. He toasted Garth for being brave enough to take the step to marry me.
I found that interesting because I never thought of it that way. Being brave. I was in love and knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this man. But it was brave. We took a leap of faith. We didn't know what hardships would come our way. And they will come our way. But we knew we wanted to walk through life together and fight the good fight.
My parents just celebrated 30 years. They chose to make it work though I'm sure life wasn't always roses. When over 50% of American couples are divorcing, they chose to stick it out. Cowards? I don't think so.
We have to fight for what we want. We have to work at our marriage. We have to work at our bodies to keep them in good shape. We have to work at our relationship with God because living His way does not come all that naturally. To write our happy endings takes work. Strength. Tears. Laughs. It is not for cowards. 

Posted by Lindsey at 6:24 AM 

self reflection

Another blogger posted about this, so I thought I'd do a little self-reflection today too...

Do you ever have those moments in your life that you think, "I never would have imagined myself doing ____." Or, "Is this really my life?"

I graduated from college 6 years ago....high school 10 years ago. Wow!

1. I live out of state....meaning, not in Michigan anymore.I never would have thought I'd move to Indiana....the Hoosier state...of all places. 

2. I love my job! I have been at my current job in higher education for almost 5 years and I'm still loving it. I never set out to work in higher ed, it just kind of happened. I am so thankful.

3. I'm an Aunt and Godmother!  I feel so blessed to have such a large, extended family and siblings who I'm extremely close with. With twin brothers, 3 step-brothers and a step-sister, I have become an Aunt (2 nieces and 2 nephews!) and I am proud to be my niece, Ella's Godmother.

4. I LOVE to cook. I loved helping my grandma make homemade noodles when I was growing up and watching my mom whip up an amazing meal with very little for a family of 5. I was never really taught how to cook....it has been more of a trial & error experience.

5. I'm a runner. I never thought I'd say I enjoy running, but I do. I used to HATE having to run the mile for gym class. Now, I can run up to 6 miles. Some day, I'll run a half-marathon.

6. I'm a homebody. I will choose staying at home, cooking dinner with a few friends and enjoying a glass of wine ANY NIGHT over going out to a bar, etc.

7. I attend a Church. I wasn't raised in the church. Now I am happy to have found a Church I can call home. I am actively involved as a volunteer and look forward to Sunday services and meeting with my Community Group for Bible study every week.

8. I was married. Growing up, I told myself, I'd never get divorced. Well, life happens and there are some things beyond your control.I have grown and learned so much about myself since then.

9. I'm almost done with my Masters degree! I am so excited! It was something I had thought about doing for years, but wasn't sure if it was going to happen. I will walk in May 2012.

10. Blind date love....I never thought being set-up with someone by a friend would actually work out, let alone grow & become love. I am so happy it has. I enjoy each day with him.

11. High Heel Pro! In high school and college, I was not very good at walking in high heels. Now, I wear them every day....can walk backwards in them, dance, and even chase after my dog in them. 

12. OMW! Y'all wanna a soda? Yes, I now say things like "y'all" and "soda" and "oh my word!" on a regular basis. I've been saying them for years. It's the Southerner in me that wants to come out. :)

What about you? Anything about your adult self that surprises you?