60 Degrees in January? YES PLEASE.

I totally wore my rainbows today. It would have been WRONG not to.

Today was a very nice day. A. VERY. NICE. DAY. This day was such a boost to this sunshine-loving-California-girl's spirits. It got up to 62 degrees or so here in central Ohio, quite unusual for the middle of winter. I think everyone around here capitalized on it. Audrey and I descended on the park with some good friends and enjoyed the heck out of it. I should have been snapping pictures right and left, but the kids had runny noses which doesn't make for awesome pictures. Plus, quite frankly, in my excitement to spend time outside, I forgot my camera. GREAT.

I did have my phone with me, so I snapped a couple of me in the SUNSHINE. I just love the word. I could say it all day long. SUNSHINE SUNSHINE SUNSHINE. Ahhh. It was windy too.

SUNSHINE. SUNSHINE! And wind blown hair. 

Thank God for this day. I doubt we will see many more days like this before spring actually rolls around. But here's to hoping!!!!!!!!

Snow Days!

It's COLD, Mommy!!

She LOVES it though. 

 

"Stir Crazy" personified. These long winters drive us crazy. COME ON SPRING! We want to play outside!

Sometimes we contemplate shipping ourselves to somewhere with a warmer climate. 

As I was rereading my prior post, it occurred to me that my ultra-positive tenacity to motivate myself this year may come across as offensive or unfair. Let's face it, life is hard and we must often trudge through difficulties we didn't ask for and don't want. Often it is impossible to dig oneself out of discouragement or a bad spot. Trust me, I know. Thank God for His grace with us and His faithfulness to come to our rescue should we ask. With that said, I apologize if I came across too strongly or put anyone off who actually reads this blog. While it's good to be motivated and to have goals, I can be awfully blunt sometimes, regardless of how well meaning I am. Love ya'll!

My schedule today is quite open. Therefore I am going to try to get some writing done. We'll see if I actually get anywhere! I found a fun frame in which to share a fun quote, after which I decided I must go make more coffee. *nod*

Have a good day all! I hope to post again soon! Time for more pictures eh?

Realizations, Reactions, Resolutions.

While on my recent family road trip, I did some thinking. Possibly even some reprioritizing and mental rearranging. I learned some things about myself. Realization dawned in regards to the way I have been doing certain things and motivation to change appeared in it's wake. Additionally, I was inspired by my own family and the families we stayed with. I could expound on this stuff for a few dozen pages (and I know I'm being vague, but I'll go into more detail below. Relax! :p), but I will summarize my epiphanies thusly: 1) Don't sweat the small stuff. 2) It's never too late to change or make things better, within the realm of your ability. And 3) it's unbelievably easy to be lazily (or stubbornly) complacent without even realizing it, chalking it up to our current circumstances or attitude being "where God wants me". God is certainly the ultimate Authority, but not to blame for bad attitudes or moods or for not making the most of the situation He has put us in.

With that said, here are my goals for 2012 in no specific order, in response to what I have learned recently.

1. Be more enterprising. If I see a need, fill it. Small or large scale. Don't wait for someone else to do it.
2. Get my diabetes under more strict control. I recently switched to injections from my insulin pump, which wasn't working as intended, and I have been doing better overall. (I'm a huge advocate of pumps, don't get me wrong. I had been using one for so long that scar tissue underneath my skin in many rotating site spots began to be an issue, and it was just time for my body to take a break from it.) However, for a long time I've sat back and felt discouraged or helpless about not having enough supplies to test my bloodsugar as often as I should be (2-4 times per day instead of my preferred 8-10), mostly due to financial circumstances. Someone recently reminded me that there are ways to get more supplies (legally of course - what were YOU thinking?!) and I shouldn't sacrifice my health just because I can't pay more for them. Remember what I said about it being easy to be lazily complacent? Yeah. I've often felt beaten in the game of life. And I didn't even realize it. I've gotta fix this stuff myself, no one else is going to do it. Thank you Captain Obvious! It's like I just learned how to be an adult or something.

Working on my book. :)

3. Lose 15-20 lbs or fit into a size 6, whichever comes first.
4. Finish my book and begin the heavy editing process. I've already started back to work on it. :)
5. Organize my house and get rid of or donate things we don't use. This includes cleaning out the dark, scary, unfinished basement.
6. Overhaul the master bedroom. When we first moved in, we painted the room red (Katie will remember this well, she helped me with it!), which was nice for awhile. For some reason the red feels dark to me now (it probably has something to do with the 27 layers of paint we had to do to cover the primer!), and after 5 or 6 years I am ready to change it to something bright and cheerful. If Eric will let me, HA. The overhaul would include getting rid of the old waterbed, which is dying a painful death anyway. A comfy new bed and bedspread would do WONDERS.
7. Stress less over the little things. Stuff is gonna happen. When we can't or shouldn't step in or do something about it, sometimes it is best to just let it happen. Let it go. Life goes on. Busting a blood vessel probably won't help. People stress over anything and everything, and often because of a combination of things. Sometimes for good reason. From what I have seen and experienced, there are two ways to stress. One way is caused by or experienced in a tense moment, and it dissipates after the moment passes or is worked through. The second is an underlying, ever present, elevated level of stress that is high on a daily basis. (Thank you Doctor Christy.) The second way sums me up lately. Time to change that. The combination of things causing stress for me is A) sleep deprivation (SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), B) high bloodsugar, which make me feel angry and on edge, and C) not having sufficient quiet time with the Lord.

Consequently, 

8. Sleep more. Go to bed earlier. As I type this, my inner night owl groans. But daytime Christy is happy! Don't worry, large amounts of caffeine will continue to be consumed.

9. MAKE TIME for sufficient quiet time with the Lord. This includes real prayer in which I specifically give the current and future events in my life to the Lord. This is huge because the more I am in the Word, the more peace I have as I trust the Lord. Therefore, I stress less.
10. Remember that the little moments are what count. In a recent conference at church, I was reminded that we as humans concentrate so much on the BIG moments in life but in reality, there are only a handful of them in one lifetime. The majority of our lives are made up of conversations, emotions, actions and reactions, thoughts, words, etc. etc. I want each one of those to reflect Jesus and who He has made me.
11. Spend less time on me while Audrey is awake, and when she is asleep, make the most of "me time". We have a lot of fun together. I'm just usually so caught up in what I'm trying to do that I miss out on sweet moments or things we could be doing together.

Clearly I would prefer that a vacation be taken near a beach. Any beach. :p

12. Take a family vacation. Yes, this would mean Eric would have to take a week off from church stuff as well as work stuff. But it would be the first time we go away together as a family unit.
13. Take care of my family first but make time to pour into other people. To enjoy friendships. To do my part in giving God the opportunity to be used in the lives of those around me. God can use anyone at any time really whether they wish for it or not right? But I figure it's best to do my part and give of myself so that He can use me.
14. This is more of a PS. I really really really want to get a sweet camera this year. Chances are it won't happen, but I just HAD to put this on here. I can dream!!!! :) I want to start posting amazingly beautiful, super high quality photos!! *bouncebouncebounce*
15. Another PS. I'll work on being less serious in my next blog! WHEW!

All of these things are easier said than done. But it's good to have goals and to be motivated. What's on your to-do list?

Road Trip!

Ready for a ginormous post about my vacation? Wheeeeee!

I did take this one of Kims on my cell. Hehehehe~

The day after Christmas, we embarked on a 10 day road trip, starting with spending a night at Kim's place in Atlanta. I LOVE the area she lives in. I didn't get any pictures though, stupid me. 

We had breakfast with Kim's roommate Naomi and her family, which was great. They have 14 kids altogether and they are an amazing family. Seriously, I would probably be a basket case with that many kids around, but they seemed to have a great system and a lot of love for each other. No doubt it took a lot of hard work and some tough times to get to where they are now, just like any other family. Fun getting to know them!!

Making the world's biggest cup of hot chocolate.
 It was delicious though, I must say. 

Next we drove (at least 13 hours in the car.. I lost count) to my grandma's (affectionately known as Grams) in Ft. Myers, FL. The weather was chilly for the Floridians, but we enjoyed even the cool weather. It was like summer for those of us who had news of snow back home. We took lots of walks...

Kims with her wig-looking hair and Mumzy :D 

I couldn't resist taking this one. I need to buy her some bigger clothes, teehee. With it still being winter in Ohio, I figured she could suffer through a few days in the warmer Florida weather wearing last year's warm weather clothes!

Hanging out at Grams'!

Reflective!

Grams' housing division has a beautiful pool area, dubbed the "big girl pool" by Audrey. Any pool bigger than our kiddie pool in the backyard is a "big girl pool". She wanted to swim in said big girl pool every hour of every day we were with Grams. Unfortunately it only worked out to go once, but she enjoyed every last second of it.

Big girl pool! big girl pool! big girl pool!!!

SO excited.

Beautiful Mumzy!

We had a lovely day of shopping (and pictures of course.)

Excited about a huge fountain in the middle of the lake!

Fun with photos!

Audrey is very into posing right now. :)

And she loves her Auntie Kim!

My beauty!

During one of the days in Ft. Myers, we went to Sanibel Island... it was absolutely beautiful. I'd been there before years ago, and I've loved it each time.

From my cell phone - on the way to Sanibel

LOVE my sister!!!!

Silly! <3

A few shots from Lenny's camera (which I am in love with) - the happily engaged couple :)

The crew.

Awwww. Great picture!

Back to pics from my camera (*cry*). Audrey posing again :)

We LOVE the beach. How I wish we lived closer.

We hit the shops on the island also. So fun!

Love this shot!

Singing and dancing.. we do a lot of this.

Much love for these two!

From my cell - love the clouds!

Leaving the island

I love the sunsets in Florida! And this one isn't even good in comparison to most!

Grams taught us all to play Hand and Foot Rummy when we were kids. When we get together with her, we always play. One of the best card games ever. It takes a long time to play but it is great fun. 

This time we taught Lenny how to play. You're part of the family now Lenny - sorry!!! :p

Kims and I visited the work out room in Grams' condo community. While we used the treadmill and bicycle, Audrey pumped iron.

After visiting with Grams and Aunt Vickie for a few days, we drove three or four hours north to Titusville to visit Sandy and Beth Robertson, long time family friends.

While we were there, my parents gave a great talk at Sandy and Beth's church about their ministry and life in Mongolia.

Part of Sandy and Beth's backyard. They LITERALLY have an island in the middle of a lake directly in their backyard. It was amazing. I could explore places like this for hours and hours.

My fellow explorer. :)

Playing at the park at Chain of Lakes.

Chain of Lakes is a dotting of little lakes and inlets and rivers that all connect and there is a wonderful path that surrounds them all. An amazing place to walk, run, bike, you name it. 

At the top of Kings Tower

We love our walks! 

From my cell - eating italian with friends!

From my cell - playing on the playground in the Robertson's yard

From my cell - New shoes! Getting to be such a big girl!

Sunset over Chain of Lakes.

Helping with dinner!

Auntie Kims reading Audrey a bedtime story :)

Amidst all of this, we missed Daddy a lot. We talked to him every day on the phone and sometimes we were able to borrow a computer to video Skype with, which was nice. He even read Audrey a bed time story over the webcam once. Priceless!!

After spending a few very nice days with the Robertsons, we said goodbye to them and also to Kim and Lenny as they began their trek back to California. My parents, Audrey and I packed into the rental car and took off for Raleigh, NC, our last destination. My dad's brother Jim and his wife Ginny live there. On the way, we stopped in Savannah, GA for lunch at Paula Deen's restaurant. I can't for the life of me remember the name of it. But it was a neat place to eat.

From my cell - it takes decent pictures sometimes! Or maybe it is just this photogenic pair! :D

It occurred to me too late in the trip to take a picture of Audrey's Sammy the Sock Monkey everywhere we went. So I will post this one cool pic of him in Savannah.

We had a coffee at a sweet little cafe on the riverfront. Audrey pretended to sleep and could not stop giggling. 

So wonderfully silly!

My Uncle Jim and Aunt Ginny have a beautiful house and an amazingly gigantic dog. She's a 200 pound English Mastiff named Mocha. SWEETEST thing you'll ever meet. Also somewhat intimidating if you are not used to massively oversized dogs. I adored her.

A bad pic, but added to show her gigantic paws.

My dad took some good shots of Mocha to show her size comparison: 

With my Uncle Jim and Audrey.

Such a well behaved dog. Her manners were impeccable. :p Audrey warmed up to her after a day or so of getting used to Mocha's sheer size. 

With my cousin Jody at her office. We had lunch there with her - it was a blast!

Playing the piano at Uncle Jim and Aunt Ginny's.
Audrey kept asking me to play the Toy Story theme...
it was great. "You've Got a Friend In Me!" 

 While in Raleigh, we had the opportunity to see an excellent Rembrandt collection at the NC Museum of Art. It was well worth it. And we had fun. :)

 I didn't get to take my pictures, and couldn't use my camera in the exhibit itself. Ah well. My Dad got some great pics though - check out his blog!

My Aunt Ginny... she gets me. :)

Thanks for reading the world's longest photo journal. You might wanna stretch your legs or something so atrophy doesn't set in. Also, forgive me for the disjointed style of this post. It was so long that it had to be put together over a period of 3 days. -.-