please keep voting!!! We're so close!

My Favorite Photo (I've Ever Taken) 2 Brickfish

sunny beaches...here I come!

Derek and I are taking our first big trip together...to FLORIDA!!!! I am so excited, I can't wait to go. This is a big step in our relationship. Our first trip together will test how we travel together, how well we communicate driving in a totally unfamiliar setting. It's also going to simply test our relationship. Not in a bad way, but relying only on one another and doing something solely as a couple. Yes, I know relationships are usually couple oriented, but here, we have others around such as family and friends that offer advice and can be a little nosy and help guide us through life. This trip is just he and I. I'm nervous yet excited at the same time. I'm ready to see how we handle stressful situations just the two of us, how we work together as a team in the airport. There's always something exciting about the unknown. Another thing that I am excited about is getting me ready for this trip. By me, I mean my body. I’ve sort of let it go. Not to the point where I am fat, because I eat right most of the time, but I have been crazy busy and haven’t had time to exercise, and my stomach is a little flabby and my jeans are fitting a lot tighter. Well, this semester I have signed up for a “guts and glutes” class at the Ryder Center to get my tummy and booty in shape for bikini weather. I am also going to try to hit the gym one or two other times during the week (that is if I’m not working and if Derek isn’t up) to simply run on the treadmill. I know I know…running on the treadmill…that’s it? Yes. I don’t totally feel comfortable doing all those other exercises by myself, mainly because I don’t know what I’m doing and running doesn’t involve anyone else but me. But hey, one step at a time right? At least I’m making an effort to go to the gym. Besides, I paid $16 to do the G&G 2x a week so I better get my but there! All in all, I am excited to see what the next few months have in store for me. Better body, better relationship should equal out to an all around better year, right???

vote!!!!

My Favorite Photo (I've Ever Taken) 2 Brickfish

Talking to God

It's a new year...and I'm already slacking.   I'm supposed to be moving back up to Saginaw tomorrow.  Trouble is, I've only done one load of laundry all day and have been reading this blog.  I found her blog a few days ago, and her photography intrigued me.  So naturally, I randomly decided to read all of her blogs. From the beginning.  Boy oh boy was that a challenge.  Not because it was difficult reading, but because her first blog was dated around 2006(?) and I was determined to read them all.  I know it feel s stalkerish, and I’ve realized that.  But at the same time, reading someone’s blog from that far back is almost, if not more, interesting than reading a book. 

This lady, Sara, has two kids and she lets her life be an open book about her trials and accomplishments within her family.  She also has a great grasp on God and making sure her kids have a great grasp as well.  It’s a good thing to read about because so often these days too many people are afraid to let others know that they have a relationship with God.  I, myself am struggling with that relationship.  But toss two kids, a husband and 2 jobs on top…things can become muddy.  Reading some of her smaller blogs has put a smile on my face to see how God shines through the most imperfect moments of someone’s life.  If she ever reads my blog, she’ll probably think I’m nuts!!  But I would love to let her know that I think making sure her kids have that relationship early on is amazing.  When I have children, I want them to know its ok to talk to Jesus whenever they wish. 

      On the subject of God, my pastor had written and published a book called Eden.  I was lucky enough to get a copy and started reading it as soon as I went on break.  I absolutely loved it!!!  It’s a great read about this scientific group who head to Siberia to unearth a perfectly preserved mammoth only to discover the Garden of Eden.  There are great story lines and plots with in the book and my favorite is about a 30ish year old named Liz who had fallen away from God once becoming  a scientist.  She was programmed not to believe anything without proof, and slowly but surely she was seeing less and less proof of God.  She really started questioning God again when she fell into a cavern unharmed, when she should have died.  She is my favorite story line because she’s like me.  I want to believe in God, but there are so many times in classes where what the Bible says and what studies show don’t add up, which then make me question things.  I’m getting better at just believing because I should, but there’s still a little piece of me that always wants to ask, “Why.”

        I guess that’s all for now.  I’m going to actually check my clothes in the dryer and maybe put some of them into my suitcase!!