I'm in a good place.

As a prior-military family, you can imagine that we don't really have a routine Thanksgiving that we normally do. In 2009, we spent the day in Fairbanks with new friends after J served his soldiers a big meal. In 2010, we were on a boat floating around Alaska and Canada. Our cafeteria food wasn't quite what we had in mind, but I treasure that time for more than one reason. The photo above was taken shortly before we got on the boat. Then in 2011, I had a sweet (but colic-prone) squishy baby and tensions were high. We celebrated Thanksgiving in Louisiana by ordering a pizza and waiting on his family to get there the next day. Last year, in 2012, I was very pregnant and tired. J's parents came down to Louisiana to fry a turkey with us.

This year, we're planning on making the rounds at my grandparents' houses and counting our blessings.  Chiefly among these are:

These two sweeties. I can't get a blur-free photo for nothin'. I'm thankful for their lively personalities and good health and development! I love them so very much.

My husband- he works very hard for our family:

My health:

This year has been a quick one, but I'm proud of the changes I've made in my lifestyle. Exercising and attempting to eat better has changed my life (and body!). No turning back.

Being back in Tennessee:

I still can't believe it. I look out at our street and can see the church steeple in the distance. We're in town, but we still have an element of seclusion. I feel as if God picked us right up out of the largest city in our nation and placed us in exactly the right home. It was no sweat for him. One day we're settling into our new lives in sunny Florida, the next we're nestled around our dear mountains of East TN.

*Family, friends, a God who never leaves me, coffee, patience, and many many more are also on that list. I'm in a good place, y'all.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
(and a very happy birthday to my sister, Paige. Love you.)

Better With Age

This morning I wrote a long post about something I feel so strongly about but I couldn't post it. It centered around my poor body image and how I've felt recently that all the progress I've made in changing my body for the past seven months has all been for naught. Instead of dwelling on those issues, I aimed to make a mental list of the things I am proud of instead.

When I look at this photo, I see a man who loves me unconditionally. I see my best friend who thinks I get better with age. I see the guy who loved me even when the extra pounds were lingering. Those qualities are good qualities. I wish I could set my mind on the verse I found today that says:

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles or the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4 NIV

I want to focus my heart on the things that matter. I don't want to constantly pick apart what I don't like about myself.

On my journey to becoming more fit and in-shape, I know there will be blips along the way. I'm smack dab in the middle of one right now. I'm struggling- mind and body. But then I see the picture I posted above and am reminded that I didn't use photoshop to feel good about myself. Sure, perhaps this is just a flattering angle. Lord knows there were other photos from that day that made me want to throw away all the bathing suits I have and never buy another. This photo isn't just a trick of the camera, though. There's progress there. I have to see that. I also have to see this man in front of me, my husband, who thinks I'm great inside and out.

"Finding the Good" Part 2

If you missed the first part of this story, you can catch up here.

Thanksgiving Day I woke up in a foul mood. Despite having the perfect little boy to spend my day with and a husband who is safely in country, I had my lame face on. Baby K was fussy and I desperately wanted some space, but I also wanted to be around J and K on this day. I was very back and forth and missing family back in Tennessee somethin' awful.

We decided to go for a walk, then I decided to go for a run, just to get away and have my cry.



I turned on "Lady Gaga Radio" on Pandora and quickly realized how ancient I am because not only did I not know the songs that were playing, but I also only averaged 12 minute miles.

After the run, I sat in the car and felt sorry for myself that I wasn't going to be eating turkey with my family on Thanksgiving Day.

Hubby and I had plans for Pizza Hut.

I started thinking about Thanksgivings past and I realized how completely absurd it was to categorize this year as a bad year. I have so so much to be thankful for. At the very tippy top of that list is the health of my sweet almost four month old!

Later on that weekend, J's parents paid us a visit in Cajun Country. By Saturday evening, we had a Cajun flavored fried turkey on the table, along with mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, green bean casserole, gravy, bread, apple pie, and chocolate cobbler (I'm sure I'm missing something, too)! And wouldn't you know it...Mama got to eat! Baby K was an angel all throughout our meal--and wide awake, too. It felt so wonderful to have my expanding family all at the table.

Of course, I missed my family, but it was so nice to spend the day with his.

My blessings are abundant and I've got pictures to prove it!

Cookin' the bird

My In-Laws

Lazy, rainy Saturday celebration

Psalm 75:1 "We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!
For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near."

I lost count

Maybe it was the cool breezy air that made my heart smile. Perhaps I was coming off a high from fellowshipping with a great group of women at my Tuesday morning bible study. Or maybe I was delighting in the quiet moment of a car ride with my sweet infant son. It was probably a combination of these, but when I passed by the huge American flag, flapping in the wind and contrasted against a lovely rainy sky, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Over the next few moments, I reflected on how blessed I've been in life and how blessed I am today. Why has God smiled on me this way? I thank him daily for not treating me as I deserve (see Psalm 103:10).

I counted my blessings and lost count.

What a wonderful day.

(*Not my photo)