Valentine's Day thoughts

I made some yummy peanut butter cookies with Dove Chocolate hearts (real cookies... not "fake cookies" like the healthy ones they hate,) and wrote each of the kids a special Valentine's thought.  I thought I would share them here since they give a little insight into our relationships right now. Things change so quickly, and blogging seems to happen less and less, so I wanted to have a record of this for the future. 

Dear Jack,

I love you so very much.  I don’t think you will ever know how much that is.  I know we don’t always see eye to eye on everything but that doesn’t matter.  I pray every day that we can get along and work together so we can enjoy our time together.  I want to laugh and have fun with you every day!  I know you will do great things, buddy.  I am proud to be your mother.  ♥♥♥

Dear Lucy,

Happy Valentine’s Day!  You are growing into such a beautiful, confident, smart young woman.  You make me proud every day.  I know as you are getting older, you are finding me dorkier, (in all honesty… the secret is out…. I am kinda dorky) but please know that I could not love you any more than I do.  Keep being the sweet, kind, sensitive young lady you are.  Much love!  ♥♥♥

Dear Cassidy,

Hey babe!  You make me so very proud every day!  I am impressed with your organization, your perky spirit, and your kindness.  I love to hug and hold you --- and love goofing off with you.  You are a great dancer, an amazing reader and a wonderful, thoughtful big and little sister.  I love you to the moon and back, D! ♥♥♥

Dear Isaac,

You will always be my baby—the one I want to cuddle and hold and kiss.  But each day I watch you become older, and more aware and wiser.  I love your sense of humor and that you still ‘need’ me to comfort you.  But I also love that you are independent and confident at school.  It makes me so proud to hear what a good leader and example you are to your classmates. Keep it up!  I love you so very much Zeekie Zoo!  ♥♥♥

week 6: I'm strong because...

This week's topic was "I'm strong because...".
I am really liking this project because it is causing me to stop and really think about how I want to interpret each prompt.  There are so many things that make me strong mentally, emotionally and physically.  My first thought when I read 'strong' was my body-- the positive changes I have been seeing since changing my eating habits and initiating some weight lifting routines.  Then my mind went to the support I receive from my family, husband, and friends.  But when I sat back and thought about what gives me strength in every aspect of my life, I decided that my faith is truly what gives me strength.

When a morning starts out the wrong way (and it seems like it does all too many mornings!) and one of my children and I are at odds, they usually get out of the car, head for the bus as my heart sinks. Why couldn't I have controlled myself?!  Why couldn't they just listen better!? What am I doing wrong? Then my mind usually starts searching for ways to make it up to them, to make it better, to make myself stronger so I can avoid this happening again.  I usually end up saying a little prayer asking for strength and patience... and forgiveness.  And I am able to move on, feeling my load lessened a bit.  And throughout the day ideas pop into my head that I am able to use to try to mend and strengthen our relationship when they return home.

When I feel overwhelmed with something specific...or just life in general, I rely upon my faith. Whether it be reading a few verses of scripture, saying a prayer or humming a hymn, I take great comfort in my knowledge of the gospel.

Every Sunday I sit in church and marvel at the wonderful feelings I have there.  I feel so many feelings as I listen to talks and lessons as many of them speak so dearly to my heart.  They confirm the things that I believe, they give me ideas of new things to try, they help me to be aware of others and increase my desire to serve them, they motivate me to be a better form of myself, but most of all, the gospel provides me with strength.  Strength in knowing I am never alone... that I am loved infinitely, that I am worthy, and that because I am trying I AM ENOUGH.  I know I can conquer the obstacles placed before me with the strength the gospel provides me.

week 5: rule of thirds

In photography, the rule of thirds is a technique that is used to help to create an image that is appealing to the eye. Technically it takes into account lines and intersecting points, and visually placing the subject in an area pleasing to the eye.  The resulting image is supposed to flow nicely and lead the eye to the most important part.  I tend to lean towards placing my subject to one of the side of my image.  I did this before I even knew about this 'rule' simply because that is what looked good to me.  As I have studied photography a little more I am learning how to use this rule for my landscape shots-- and am hoping to practice its use a bunch once we are on our cruise in a few weeks :).

This past week I got to spend the day with one of my favorite people. We headed to Tomahawk to browse a few shoppes we like, and to warm up with a sandwich and cup of hot chocolate for lunch. The light streamed into the little coffee shop so beautifully and felt so warm on my face, even though it was a measly 6 degrees outside.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity, so I grabbed my phone for a selfie. I genuinely love spending time with Marta- she fills me up and makes me happy.  I am so thankful that besides being a mother, that I am rediscovering my identity as a woman and friend. My photo this week depicts these other roles that I fill.

just because

I just cannot resist this little one.  We were reading on the couch together as we typically do in the afternoons he is home with me.  A tickle fight ensued and the light, and those eyelashes they just screamed at me that I needed to photograph them.

the look on her face

I think the look on her face just about says it all! lol!

week 4: personal style

I will admit it.  I am a Joanna Gaines junkie! When Christmas was over, I was all too excited to redecorate our mantle and binge watched a few Fixer Upper episodes before I brought a bunch of things to the living room. Armed with some inspiration things got arranged, and re-arranged and removed and switched but I think I finally like how it looks.  For this week, at least.  For my personal style photo, I give you this photo of part of the mantle:

I feel like it is a great representation of what I love.  Items that are rugged and old;  full of texture, or smooth and ball-jar blue; and old barn wood...well I can never get enough of that.  I love my succulents (they are hard to kill!), my hubby's classic books and those beautiful magnolia blossoms.... well you probably know why I like those.  My style happens to be neat yet eclectic. Old farmhouse meet newer house because there just aren't many farmhouses up north here. I love objects that make me smile, or feel happy. I am drawn to objects that feel old and used but purposeful and appreciated. Things with character.  Oh, and photographs,  It probably wouldn't surprise you that I am also surrounded by photos of my family.  (I could literally have wallpaper if I wanted to...)

lifestyle changes

Andy and I have a cruise planned for the end of March.  We will meet our good friends Leslie and Matt in Puerto Rico, explore San Juan for two days then sail south to experience places like Barbados, St. Lucia and Antigua. To say we are excited is a major understatement. We have had it booked for almost a year-- and I think planning and preparing has been half of the fun!

This vacation, along with the fact that I have a few extra pounds wrapped around my middle got me thinking.  I want to look good and feel good.  The start of the year and "New Year's resolutions" combined with the fact that I will be wearing a swimsuit a bunch motivated me to make a change.   While I have been exercising regularly for a few years now, my workouts have been heavy on cardio, lacking in weightlifting, and my eating habits have been less than desirable.  I love carbs. And cheese. and sugar!!!  I got into a terrible habit of having a rather unhealthy snack (typically chips and soda!) about 8 o'clock each night.  I am going to blame it on pregnancies... because then I was legitimately starving by 8 or 9 at night!  For some reason that habit stuck.  And those extra calories stuck right around my middle.

So what have I done? I have cut that snack out.  In it's place?  A big old glass of water.  I have been eating breakfasts and lunches high in protein and fruits and veggies, and making meals that use real, unprocessed ingredients as much as I can.  My take on clean eating.  I have a new found power to pass donuts up and actually have a partially eaten bag of licorice left from New Years sitting in the cabinet.  I don't completely deprive myself--- because I know I would never be able to stick with this "diet" (I hate that word) if I didn't.  If I am hungry I grab a banana. I don't starve myself at all but I have a new appreciation for feeling actual hunger, rather that grazing on simple carbs and guzzling sodas like I used to.  I am deliberate in what I choose.  If I crave something sweet I have a few chocolate chips and call it good.  And when I got together with some friends at Rhinelander's new bakery, I had a piece of cheesecake- but I spread it out over the day and saved a taste for Andy -- because YUMMM! I am finding that once in a while, a treat becomes what its name says--- a treat!  I am hoping that by not creating too many rules that I will be able to turn this way of eating into a new way of living.  It has been nearly a month and I am going strong and feeling really good about it.

The other thing I added to my workout routine is some weightlifting.  Making new muscle burns calories, and that is what helps to shrink that pretty little belly I have. I mix up what I do and as long as I feel sore later that day, I am happy.

I have been incorporating these habits into my routine for about a month now, and as of this morning I am down 4 pounds and am able to see a difference already in how toned my body is.  Another huge benefit I have seen in my increase in energy and a spike in my mood.  I wake up feeling motivated and good about myself!  I am raring to go -- seeing results makes me want to continue and gives me the motivation to keep with it! And one other huge thing?  Before my diet change, I would get headaches in the afternooon on the days I worked out. Now that I drink a large amount of water- (skipping soda almost 100% of the time-- that is huge for me!), and make sure my body is getting the fuel it needs to be strong I don't get headaches anymore.  I FEEL BETTER.

It has not been an easy road but the benefits of this lifestyle are prodding me forward.  I am so lucky that Andy is on board 100% as well.  You should see how well he is doing. He put on a bit of weight after his surgery but now that he has clearance to exercise a little longer and harder he is really seeing good results too. I am so proud of him.  Of us. I am proud of us.