Young Living Essential Rewards March '15

Young Living Essential Rewards Feb. '15

Oh Life.

I figured it was time for an official update of my life since the last time was a long time ago and much has happened since. I know a lot of this info has already been put out there on the facebook world, but for my own record of thoughts, or for those that missed it the blidingly fast newsfeed, here you go. :)

We moved back to the Gainesville area in June. We are currently renting a house and it is just so dang nice living with my husband again. We cannot even begin to explain how thankful we are that Luke's family was willing to take 5 of us in(for the most part, and 6 on the weekends!) and help us out during a difficult season in our lives. It was not easy, but I am very thankful for how everything worked out and I really enjoyed getting to see the kids have a close relationship with their grandparents, and my sister in laws/brother in law. I also loved being close to my Mom and Dad and getting to see them more often. We are also thankful because our friends Andy and Cassi let Luke live with them for 4 nights out of the week. It seriously would not have worked had it not been for them. We will not be able to pay them back for that, and we will forever be thankful.

We went to the beach in July with Luke's family. Its kind of a tradition of going to our favorite spot on Dog Island. We love the privacy and the time there. Only downside was, I threw my knee out the week before and it made standing/walking/swimming/going up and down stairs very interesting for the trip. But we had fun none the less.

We sold our house in Stone Mountain via the Short Sale process at the end of July. I cannot even begin to tell you how happy we are about that. We lived there for almost 3 years and it would a rough season in our lives at Luke lost his job not long after we bought it. We rented it out for a while after we moved, but it was all a bust and ended up losing tons of money on it in the end. We sold the house for what we owed on it, so thankfully we didn't owe anything to the bank, but we did not see the 30,000 we put down on it, and the short sale will effect our credit for a few years. But we are just thankful that we can put this all behind us and focus on creating a more secure financial future for our family.

Kids started school in Aug, and it has been a great start to the year so far. I am mildly adjusting to getting up early to get them off, but they ride the bus there and it doesn't come till about 8, so its not too bad. They are doing well...Kate has had the hardest time adjusting, but this month has shown some improvements, so we are happy about that. I am enjoying being able to run errands with only one kid, getting things done during the day and having a bit more free time. Micah is loving the extra attention, but can tell he gets bored with me..he's used to having way more excitement happening at all times! :)

I was in a little car accident about 2ish weeks ago. A young girl did not stop in time as we sat at a stop light and she hit us from behind, pushing us into the car in front of us(not sure how fast she was going, but it felt fast!). It managed to cause most damage to my van and the insurance company ended up totaling it out as the repairs cost more then our van was worth. Which was sad, cause while it had a ton of miles, one sliding door didn't want to work, and the dvd/cd/radio went out, she was mechanically sound..and I knew I didn't have to worry about getting somewhere. It took a while to find a suitable replacement, and also trying to getting enough money back from the insurance company to pay for one, but we finally ended up buying another Odyssey that was a couple years younger then ours, and with a little less miles..We are hopeful we will get many more miles out of her and get to enjoy it for a while. Did you know you have to pay taxes on privately bought cars now? We didn't know till the day we bought it, and had to pay a hefty sum on it. We appealed the value of our car so that we could get some of the money we spent back, but it will take a couple weeks. Oh don't worry Tag Office. My kids love rice and beans for every dinner. ;)

My knee is mostly better. Still have some pain when I do certain things, and the leg is a little weak from lack of use, but I am ready to get back at working out. Even my hubby has said that he is excited for me to get back at it, because he knows how much it meant to me, and not just physically. Mentally it was so good for me...after we deal with the financial backlash of the car taxes, I will be back at it!

So thats about it right now! :)

My hurt, Your hurt

Isn't it interesting that our best intentions to encourage someone are often times a dismissal of someone's feelings? How many times have people said or complained or poured out their heart and we the listeners try and say "well, at least it isn't like this guy", or "can you imagine how much worse it could be if you were so and so.."..

Feelings and emotions don't need comparing. They need to be heard. When someone says they are having a hard time mothering, we should not say "well at least you aren't a single mother doing it by yourself". This does not undermine the sweet single mama having to make a go of it. Her job is hard too! But we should not put down one Mom's frustrations for another Mom's.

Listen to that Mama, friend, family member, spouse...validate their feelings, even if you don't understand why. Give them a hug, tell them you are there, treat them to a lunch out or a coffee, or babysit their kids for a break. Meet one another where we are instead of downsizing one person's feelings and experiences.

It is a beautiful thing to allow yourself to be a pair of listening and understanding ears.

Cross fit awkwardness.

Ok. So, you know like 4 months ago, I was down 20 lbs with 30 to go. Awesome success in my opinion. Well, 4 months of stress filled days due to our living situation and life circumstances and my lack of desire to work out made me put it all back on. Its my fault....I accept complete responsibility. But it still sucks. I'm sad, humiliated, frustrated and honestly afraid to try again. I know I can do it, since I have, but I hate having to do it all over again.

I've been toying with the idea of joining a crossfit gym for months. I am tired of just running and workout DVD's just aren't my thing(though I'm trying with some P90X.).. But isn't it sad that the only things holding me back are superficial? I'm afraid of being judged(no one wants to be the over weight person in a room of fit and muscular folk, I mean lets face it..our bodies just don't look the same while working out). I'm afraid of the social dynamic. I've become quite introverted lately and I've always had some social anxiety that I can normally deal with, but this setting where you become real and vulnerable in front of people makes it a little harder to process. I'm afraid of failing. What if I can't do even 1 push up or pull up, or what if I'm too big of a wimp and puke or cry while working out? I don't want to fail.

So, yeah. Thats where I'm at...frustrated, feeling stuck and not really sure how to move forward.

The Lately.

So its been forever. But for posterity sake, here's some news you can use.

We recently moved. Again..yes. We are as tired of moving as you guys are of hearing about it and more. Our house in Stone Mountain has been a complete money suck this year and after fixing lots of stuff on it, and then having our renters not pay, we are over it. Our renters have a week to get out, and then we are going to try and short sale our house. Its not the best case scenario, but better then letting it go into foreclosure as far as our credit goes. We are hopeful that it all goes to plan and we can have a better 2014.

Our setup is not ideal, but its working for now. I am living with Luke's parents an hour from where Luke is staying during the week to work. I hate not seeing him for a large portion of the week, but we are just trying to make the most of it, being thankful for family who took us in so we could live relatively free, for friends who let Luke crash with them for 4 days, and for the time we do get on the weekends together. It's been really hard for me, but the kids are managing it pretty well and for that, I am very thankful. I am praying that lots of good and glory come from this season of our lives.

Due to our circumstances, this year hasn't felt very Christmasy..ever have years like that? I have tried to do special things to keep up the holiday spirit, but its certainly been lacking this year.

We are almost finished with schooling for the holiday break. We technically were done as of Friday, but we got behind a few days with moving and all the stress of that, so we are catching up. Can't wait to be able to sit back and enjoy a lazy day! :}

Meandering through my mind.

Things that have been engrained in me in the last week.

Other people's choices, wants, and needs have to be put above your own. I know this seems sooo the moral/Christian thing, but it does not come naturally. This past week I've felt hurt over a situation beyond my control, and yet I let it stew all week complaining about it, and realized today how selfish it was of me to feel like my needs and wants were more important then theirs. The sting is still there, but I'm trying my best to let it go and let God handle the feelings part.

Friendships take effort and lots of it. I'm sucky at it. Honestly. I got lucky growing up that anyone wanted anything to do with me, and when we moved to North Ga, and I had to start over with new people, it was eye opening. I can't just text people and hope that keeps the relationship alive. I have to meet people where they are and engaging them(by TALKING to them/visiting with them in person). You have to make and carve out time. Or it won't happen. Its a two way street that requires both people making an effort.

And no, those two didn't go hand in hand. ;)

My family is awesome. Both sides of my family. I seriously don't know what we would do without them. I already knew this, but I just have moments where it wells up and the thankfulness is overwhelming.  Luke and I spent all weekend getting to enjoy time by ourselves thanks to Luke's parents since they watched the kids, and then spent all day with my family and were loved on. Luke and I have had a rough go the last couple of years, specially this past year..but its moments like this weekend that we are left feeling a little less weight on us.

I adore my husband. Seriously. After spending 10 years with the guy, he is seriously my best friend and my rock. He is constantly pointing me to Jesus(even when it frustrates me cause I just want to be angry/sad..etc.) and genuinely loves me, flaws and all. He lets Christ love me through him and I am taken aback by how blessed I really am. We are in this. For the long haul....we have promised that we don't get to give up, or settle in our relationship. There is always room for improvement and I'm thankful he is worth fighting with and for. :)