52 Lists - Week 6: List The Ways In Which You Can Love Others

I'm sad that I missed the weekend in terms of blog posts. I don't usually do much anyway, but I couldn't even do that much this weekend. It was just jam packed full of activities. Between birthdays and game nights, we pretty much went non stop from Friday night to Sunday night. It was a crazy fun weekend, but it's nice to get a breather.

And now it's Monday, and time for another list! With Valentine's Day coming up, the topic is certainly appropriate. Valentine's Day is traditionally a romantic holiday, but I really like to expand the theme of love to encompass all types. It's a really good time to emphasize to the kids not only how much we love them, but how we can show love to others.

The original 52 Lists series can be found on Moorea Seal's blog HERE and you can find my other lists HERE.

So what are some of the ways I like to show love to others?

Tell them! Have I mentioned how much I love my husband? And my kids? And my awesome sister? What about my amazing friends?! I think we could all stand to express our love and appreciation with words a little more.

Gifts. I'm a big fan of gifts. Not because I like "stuff," but because to me it represents the fact that someone took a moment out of their day, with me in mind, to find something they thought I would appreciate and enjoy. I like knowing I was on someone's mind, and I usually feel that if I like something, someone else probably does too.

Notes and cards. Talk about the basics, right? But I think taking a moment to write something down is special. There's just something lovely in the written word, especially when those words express love and appreciation. They can be saved and cherished, reread when someone is feeling down.

Acts of service. What better way to express love than to go out of your way to do something for someone else? When words don't say enough, actions speak volumes. 

Cook something. Or bake. Or de-frost... I think it feels pretty good when someone makes a point to know what I like and prepare it for me. Doesn't that combine a lot of things into one amazing act of love? Thoughtfulness, acts of service, gifts... 

Spend time with someone. Hang out with them. I'd like nothing more than to make people feel wanted and appreciated. I want them to know their presence and company is valuable.

Hug someone. I love hugs. I don't get enough hugs (just sayin'). I love holding my kids. I love feeling my husbands arms around me. Of course, not everyone is as touchy-feely as me, but I think most people appreciate a kind touch or gesture.

Speak well of someone. Sometimes it's easier to show love to someone when they're right there, but harder when they're not around. I think it shows great love and respect if you can speak well of someone when they're not around.

I'm sure there are many other, more specific ways to show love, but I think these are the basics. No matter how you do it, the most important thing is to show love to someone in some fashion. Let people know they matter. 

Have I mentioned I love you? Yes, YOU! It means so much to me that you took a moment out of your day to read these words. Thank you  =)

7 Years

I've shed a few tears today, I can't lie. Amidst the excitement and joy, there's a little bit of sadness. My precious baby, my first born, the one that changed my life, is seven. Another year gone, another year older. He's grown from that tiny little baby, into a rambunctious toddler, into a little boy going to school for the first time and now...he's just a boy. He's not little. He's a boy. A kid, not a child. He has opinions and thoughts and dreams and ideas. He has a fully developed personality and I'm not sure I can take it. I wanted to just wrap him in my arms this morning and tell him it wasn't his birthday. It's a mistake, stop growing up!

Good grief, when he turns 13 I'm going to be an absolute wreck...and I don't even want to think about when he turns 18.

There's joy there too, though. I'm so proud of this little man. I can't believe how amazing he is. He's so kind and loving, smart and funny. Am I biased? Obviously, yet it's all true. He told me this morning that he hadn't had peanut butter in a very long time. "Not since I was six" I couldn't help but laugh.

It really doesn't seem like that long ago that he was born. I know everyone says that, but I suppose it's because it's true. I remember laying in the bed, watching the paper print out of the heart monitor, seeing his little heart beat right there on the paper. Those little lines represented the little boy inside me, waiting to come out. It took three days, but I'll never forget the moment I heard him cry for the first time. I cried. I think Nate may have cried too. That moment changed us forever. We've made a lot of mistakes over the last seven years, but when I look at that little boy, I think we must have gotten a few things right.

He's grown into such a kind and caring boy. When I ask him to do something for me, he'll often respond, "I'd do anything for you, mom." And then my heart melts into a puddle on the floor. He's constantly praising Julia and telling her "Good job!" He has a great sense of humor and a thirst for knowledge that I envy. I've never seen a five or six year old boy google things, or search youtube for tutorials, but he does.

But when I stare into those eyes, or watch him breath as he sleeps, I don't even think of that. All I feel is such a deep love and desire to just hold him forever that it takes my breath away. I feel the sand in the hourglass slipping away and I just want him to stay like this forever.

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Wednesday is for Weight-Loss

Have I mentioned I've been going to the gym at 6 am? Because I have. I have mixed feelings about it. First of all, I know enough about myself to know that the earlier it is in the day, the more likely I'll actually go to the gym. As the day drags on, I'm able to come up with more and more excuses not to go. I'm much better off just getting up and going, then it's done! Secondly, I found an awesome gym buddy. I had been going on my own, but it sucked. It's so much more fun to go with someone, not only for accountability, but even just to have someone to talk to. Music is good and all, but friends are better!

I feel really good about going and I feel like this is a routine we can stick to (though we are probably switching to evenings on Wed/Thurs because seriously, 5 am is ridiculously early). The only bad thing is, duh, it's early. Which isn't awful, but the thing I dislike the most about it is that my husband is a complete night owl. He stays up till 2-3 am most nights. Now, I usually went to bed around 11-12, so it's not like I'm missing a ton of time with him, but we still spent a few hours at night watching shows most nights. Now that I have to go to bed so early, we've lost a bit of together time. It's sad, but I think it's an ok trade-off. We still have a lot of time together and by investing this time into getting healthy, I'm helping to ensure we have a lot more time together down the road.

Since this is the last Wednesday before February begins, I want to take this time to tell you about next months challenge. This isn't my monthly habit. I'll be sharing about that later. This is a workout challenge that has been floating around the Internet for a while now.

Source: The Berry

Fab Ab February. Better start getting ready now for swimsuit season, right?! Seriously though, who doesn't want fab abs? So starting on Saturday, I'll be fabbing up my abs. Sounds cool right? Not dorky at all? Right.

Do it with me! I'll be super impressed if you can do it because I'm not sure I can (100 sit ups by the end of the month? Eek!)

Have a healthy Wednesday =)

Not-So-Tasty Tuesday

So yeah, I have nothing. No menu plan, no shopping list, no motivation. It's annoying because I never know what we're having for dinner. What is wrong with me!? Get it together, lady!

Does that ever happen to you? I'm sure it does. I certainly hope I'm not the only one! I know my life is much easier when I take the time to plan and prepare, but sometimes I just can't bring myself to do it. I'm tired, not feeling good, not inspired...whatever the excuse is, it doesn't ever make me feel better. Now I just feel frustrated and annoyed that I don't have any idea what to make for dinner. I think I'll pull some chicken out of the freezer and do something with that...

I've been getting up at the crack of it's-not-even-dawn-for-another-2-hours in order to go to the gym with my friend. Since she works and I have 2 kiddos, it's pretty much the only time we have where we can get together and go, although we're considering going in the evenings on Wednesday and Thursday. Someone else will just have to pick up the dinner-time slack! Those 5 am mornings are rough. In any case, it's been good, but my sleep schedule is way out of whack. I slept till noon on the weekend, which I rarely do and then ended up sick yesterday so I slept really late again. Which meant that when I went to bed early last night because I was getting up at 5, my body completely rebelled. It had had enough sleep and was ready to party. By the time I got to sleep at 12:30 am, I knew I was in big trouble. I barely dragged myself out of bed this morning, but I did it and I'm glad! Now I'm just waiting for Nate to get home from school and then it's nap time...

Is it any wonder I'm all out of sorts? I crave continuity and order. If one area of my life is out of whack, other things fall by the wayside. No sleep, no menu plan. Did I mention my bed hasn't been made in days? Ack! Oh well. I'll get used to this schedule and then everything will go back to normal.

In the meantime, I'm going to push through this week because I'm super excited for this weekend. It will be ridiculously busy, but also AWESOME. My baby boy turns 7 on Friday and the girls and I are heading over to my friends house to make his Minecraft-themed birthday cake. On Saturday morning, we'll have his birthday party, and then that evening is game night with our friends. Sunday...well, do I even need to say it?

SEAHAWKS ARE IN THE SUPERBOWL!!!!!!

Yeah, we'll be watching. And someone ELSE will be doing the cooking!

52 Lists - Week 5: List The Things You Are Grateful For

It's pretty easy to find things to complain about. For example, I feel miserable and achy. My head hurts, my tummy hurts, the weather is icky, my husband left a chip bag on my desk and I think my rose bush is dying. See? Easy!

That's why it's so important to make a concerted effort to think about things we're grateful for. While it's easy to find things to complain about, it's also easy to take our blessings for granted and when you put those two together, you usually end up miserable. 

That's why I'm so glad that this weeks list is things I'm grateful for. The 52 Lists series can be found on Moorea Seal's blog HERE and my previous lists can be found on my blog HERE. 

Here we go, in no particular order!

My husband, who bears the burden of providing for us.

My children, who bring so much joy into my life.

The plush blanket given to me for Christmas, which is amazingly soft and cozy.

My dog, who is literally the sweetest dog I've ever met.

My cat, who is so soft and cuddly and has a bit of an attitude.

My kindle, which brings me so many hours of entertainment.

My mother in law, who has always been there for us.

My friends, who are such bright spots of joy in my life.

My camera, which lets me explore the creativity I never thought I had.

My music, which lets me express the wordless desires of my soul.

My sister, who I look up to and am so proud of.

Chocolate, which pretty much needs no explanation because it is the delicious taste of heaven.

My husband, again, for his unwavering love and commitment to me and our marriage.

My health, which could be much worse, all things considered.

My parents, who left marks on my heart that have not diminished with time.

There are so many things I'm grateful for, such as nice pens and Tums and pretty earrings, but these, I think, are the biggest. I hope you'll take some time to reflect on the things you're grateful for, and if you do, I hope you'll also take a moment to share them with me in the comments section below.

Have a blessed Monday!

Inspire Me...

Wednesday is for Weight-loss

So guess what?! This is my 100th post! Can you believe it? I can't! It's actually not, because my sister posted a few times, but it's the blogs 100th post so yippee!

It's been 3 weeks since I started January's habit (technically 2 1/2, but this week is the third week) and so far, so good. I said 5 days a week, but it's been 4 times/week so far, which I'm completely happy with. I was sick one week and this past Monday I didn't go due to the holiday and my kids being out of school.

I've also started a new schedule. I had been going in the morning while Nate was at school but this week I started going with my friend at 6 in the morning, before she has to go to work and I have to get the kids up for school. We've done it twice and hopefully we'll keep going, but man, that is EARLY! Luckily she doesn't work tomorrow, so we're going to be able to sleep in and go a little later in the morning. It's really awesome to be able to go with my friend though.

Anyway, here is another one of my motivations for getting in shape and working out:

Source

Have a healthy Wednesday!