Weekend inspiration

 A weekend to remind me of oh so many things. 
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While not a lot really occurred this weekend, there were, however, plenty of small moments that awakened me and reminded me of what I'm here for. I'm thankful for this time in my life and I'm enjoying the journey. 










1. This girl can HEAR! Rik'kel is now sporting a beautiful, new, pink headgear that enables her to hear. She has been learning sign language and is pretty good at it, but she is also as you can tell, a huge fan of her sense of hearing. I heard she just kept looking around and taking it all in when they first put it on her. I'm so thankful for her smile. She reminds me to smile every single day. Her smile is so contagious.

2. The Sisters
 This weekend my mother in law
and her sisters went to the beach for the first time by themselves. I am so proud of them for being an example of having faith and living your life. They all recently lost their mother in March and they have each found their peace and are showing just how important family is. They have endured many trials together and separately, but they are great examples of how the love of family and faith in our Savior will bring you through anything. I'm so thankful for them and so glad they had a great weekend! 3 of the sweetest, most fun and organized women I know <3

3.  This weekend I was able to make it to Salisbury for a rematch of the SU-CNU conference championship game. It was as usual intense and exciting. Thankfully, the Gulls were able to capture another thrilling win in overtime for the conference title yet again. I am so glad my sister was there again. She remembered the feeling after an overtime win from last year but this time she got experience it from a coaches standpoint. While this can be challenging and quite different she has handled her experience with poise and gratitude. I look forward to watching her coach her own team one day soon.

4. Quality time. What else do you do when you're in the car for 4 hours on a Saturday? Sing your favorite songs, talk about how much your life has changed, your hopes, dreams and worries, Laugh, and laugh some more of course. Even though we travel a good bit I am thankful Andrew is always by my side to offer me such quality insight. He is one of the best listeners out there and I am of course a great talker. :) We make anything we do fun and I'm so glad. I hope we always remember the small things. 

((Oh AND I also got to go to church with my mom, go to a friend's beautiful baby shower and enjoy pizza night with the in laws and Ruthie.))

  I'll sleep with a full heart tonight.

Fall...in love

As most people know, I looooove pictures. I take pictures of everything. I think I just love a moment so much that I want to look back on it and c h e r i s h it all over again. Don't get me wrong, there are times when photos just aren't necessary but sometimes they capture things we don't quite see. I have been blessed enough to be side by side my husband for almost 10 years. We started dating in high school, our senior years. We've been together ever since- for better AND worse. After my college roomie/a best friend of mine took our wedding pictures that were absolutely amazing, I began thinking what I could do to create a tradition for us. She helped me decide to start an anniversary shoot every milestone year in the same place to capture our relationship during each part of our lives. We decided to wait until the Fall and were able to take our 1 year anniversary photos at home with our new dog-ter Ruthie, 

at Andrew's grandparents house where our wedding photos were taken and at Fair Hill. It was a beautiful and cold day and captured some wonderful snapshots that I will keep and compare with our 5, 10, 25 and 50 year photos. I hope you take time to cherish those around you and continue to make memory books and memories. (P.S. Andrew really does not love getting his picture taken but did so for me and I must admit is SO photogenic!)

Thankful. dankbaar. 感激的. grato. agradecido. ddiolchgar.

Like most people, November seems to bring out a sense of Thanksgiving to my heart. I don’t know if it’s the rapid changing of the leaves outside that are so vivid and bright or maybe the endless dinners and parties that occur in this month to celebrate our thanks.

There are always many, many things for us to be thankful for; some of us more than others, for sure. While it is sometimes difficult to see past our imperfections or disappointments, we really should find a sense of peace from what we do have. I know I am thankful for so much that sometimes it’s overwhelming to think of how blessed I am. My health, my friends, family and husband are treasures to me that I truly wouldn’t be the same without. My faith is strong, and I am constantly inspired by a church that shapes me and enables me to grow.

 I have always loved this month for so many reasons. One of them is that my birthday falls in this month and as a kid I always felt so special that I sometimes shared my day with Thanksgiving. I think part of this was because I knew my family would be there to celebrate. When I traveled to New Zealand in 2010 I was away for the months of October-December and I was not in the States for my 22^nd birthday. At first, I was a little bummed to be missing this awesome day I always loved and treasured. However, being on the other side of the world showed me the importance of celebrating Thanksgiving and experiencing the blessings around you. It also reminded me that we are a lucky country to get a day off to be with our families. A gentle reminder we get every year. Teaching kids about this and about traditions really touched them.I got to Skype my family on Thanksgiving with my students a day early! I even got to celebrate my birthday twice J 

I guess I’m trying to say that I realized while being away that this time of year in The States is special. It should be treasured and it should make you stop and look around. There’s so much beauty and inspiration surrounding us. Take time. Be inspired and give Thanks.

I'm thankful for...

My life would suck without you..

I know it has been a while since I've posted but that doesn't mean my life has been anything less than exciting. I got to spend the summer watching my sister's new puppy, playing lots of field hockey since June and began coaching and teaching this Fall. I've been blessed to see my sisters meet two guys who have put huge smiles on their faces ever since. My cousin Skyler turned 16 today and it makes me feel so lucky to have spent his entire life with him. I've been watching this boy since he was born and he has turned into a teenager who is unlike most. I'm so glad he has the courage to be himself. Coaching has been wonderful this year and Andrew and I have had so many exciting moments. I'm looking forward to creating new memories each day to come and enjoying the weather, sunshine and constant blessings that are bestowed upon me constantly.

  Love the life you live. 

Living on love

    
          It just seems that everywhere I turn lately death and pain are scattered throughout. However, just as often as I see the struggle I also see courage and inspiration. I have overcome my own losses and struggles and although they feel so unbearable at times, I know that we all have struggles and we all know pain. I think it's important for us all to stop giving up so easily on the things we desire and stop giving up on each other. Each moment of each day really does make a difference in your life. Those moments add up to memories that can truly last your whole lifetime. Lean on those you love and trust and allow them to bring you up. Stop trying with the people that continuously hurt you and drain you- You don't need that negativity. Have FUN! (Rest Easy- D.S., H.F. 2014)

                                   Laugh. Cry. Try. Hope. Ask. Give. Love. Thank. 
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  





 

4:13,13.1

     As many of you know, I recently completed my first half marathon! While I had a difficult last few miles it was an amazing day and a wonderful experience. I've always been active but was never quite a runner. This proved to be a new challenge for me and for my sister who is a collegiate athlete. We made a pact to run and train together and we did. This whole experience taught me the importance of preparation, dedication and inspiration. There were many days I just wanted to give up and give in but I didn't. I found inspiration from friends, faith and the beauty of nature around me. I' began training in December for the race on April 26th. In the month of March I was completely overtaken with stress, sickness and unfortunately my husbands grandmothers death. After two weeks of pain I went to the doctor (I really avoid the doctor if you can tell lol ) and was diagnosed with fifths disease and mono. Needless to say I was knocked off my feet. I couldn't walk some days let alone run. I missed almost a month of training after being on track to run 11 miles pretty easily. When I finally ran again I really debated giving up on the race because I couldn't run as fast let alone as far. Some people thought I was crazy for doing it but something inside of me said keep trying. I ran as best and I could and before the race I can say I was back up to 6 miles. I am so glad I did the race and so thankful that I took the chance to try something new. I have gained a new mental strength that I didn't know I was quite capable of having. I am working on new Goals now such as: field hockey, soccer, softball, p90x3 and crossfit. And golf! I will continue to remain active in different ways but running will alwayss be there for me when I need it. I think another Half marathon may be in my future.

Don't give up on yourselves and don't be afraid to start and start again and fall down and start again.!

You are my SUNSHINE

          The first part of my blog today is dedicated to one of the most influential and beautiful people I will ever have the privilege of knowing; my grandmother. She has forever been one of my main influences and even at an early age her gentle spirit and her unfailing faith always enamored me. I knew even then that she was an Angel here on Earth and I would always want to be like her. Over the years I remember spending days and nights with my cousins singing to her and sharing animal crackers and saltines with her at the counter. We were with her every Sunday for church and always wanted the seat on her lap (some of us even tried to sit on the lap far after our weights should have allowed us!). She was always so loving but always so honest. She has been just the right balance of patience and firmness. She has been by my side through the loss of my grandfather (her husband), moving away, going to college, graduation, the start of my career and the start of my marriage. I, in every way, want to be a woman like her who never gives up on people and who prays for the best of everyone. She is a wonderful grandmother, mother, wife, daughter and sister. She has endured physical and emotional pain that I would wish on no one but she always rises out of those situations a strong and beautiful woman. She has taught me about God’s grace and the beauty of being a good person. I owe a lot of my good qualities to this woman and I know all of my cousins would agree. She has forever molded our lives and I will surely pass on her goodness and grace to my kids forever and ever.

 

 

Every day when school got out
I'd get off the bus and I'd run down
That old dirt road where you were waiting for me
On the front porch in that blue swing
You'd be smiling and we would sing
'Amazing Grace' and 'Jesus Loves Me'
You were like my mother
You were my best friend
You were everything I want to be
And all the good inside of me
There's never been
Never been another
That loved me like you did
My grandmother, my angel

  

   

The next part of my blog today is dedicated to the princess of our family: Kasey. She is a

stubborn, loud and irreplaceable girl. She wears her heart on her sleeve and has one of the biggest hearts I know. She is still in high school but she is very mature for her age in some respects. She has really learned to become independent and driven even when the odds have been stacked against her. She is so beautiful and has a spirit that is like no other. I adore this girl and I know that God is going to use her for amazing things in this world. She shares a birthday with our grandmother and rightfully so- she adore her just as much as I do! Kasey, I love you girl. You're a great role model for so many other girls and I will always be here for you. I love you from the bottom of my heart.

 

I am so lucky to have such beautiful people in my life and I hope they realize, blog or not how important they are to me! Make sure to tell those special people in your life how you feel about them!