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December 29, 2017

Weekly Wins {The One Before The New Year}

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Last weekly wins of 2017, wow. I had a few thoughts running through my head for this post, but then life and now the post is live. And I've decided to make it general

Weekly wins for the last week of December...

>>> LIFE! Living it. Breathing every day. Being able to move.

>>> Family! There for you when you need it, no matter what. Extended family through marriage and throughout the USA. So much wonderful family.

>>> Health! Moving well. Eating decent. Not hurting all the time.

>>> Options! Things change and you must adapt. Grateful for OPTIONS.

Wishing you a wonderful Friday and CHEERS to 2018 new week < 3

December 28, 2017

Year in Review { July - December}

HELLO, loves! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas weekend. Insane the holiday has come and gone, huh? I didn't mean to be gone so much last week, but something completely unexpected happened and I had to step back and plan life. I don't mean to be vague, but it is something I'll address in the new year, not this week because everything is still incredibly fresh. Let's look back at the second half of the year, shall we?

J U L Y
Family came to visit for the 4th of July
My Heart




We traveled to Michigan for a wedding. It was gorgeous and a ton of fun.


An advanced BODYCOMBAT training brought me back to my instructor center. Cheers to finding my mojo again.


Thirteen hours on a Saturday brought another kickball championship and a very tired Sunday. It was nice winning again, even if it was with a different team, and the extra cash didn't hurt either. I also debated on an August training and heard from all of you I should JUST DO IT, so thank you!

A U G U S T

Le Husband's family came down to visit and Mama B came into town for a funeral. 


Life got into my head and I had some issues trying to figure out my purpose and gifts. 

On the same note, I also started to really feel my age and y'all came to my rescue with advice. 

Hurricane Harvey made landfall and devastated multiple states and countries. So many organizations jumped into help mode and people were so kind donating money, time and services. 

S E P T E M B E R

The first week of September brought our  FOUR year wedding anniversary. 2016 - 2017 proved to be the HARDEST year of our marriage with more downs than ups, but we persevered, learned about ourselves, each other and recommitted to USE.

I shared the wonderful news of SPORTYSPICE'S pregnancy. We had known since the beginning of July and it was such a hard secret to keep. Oh and did I mention she competed a fitness competition at 12 weeks?

My second attempted at the NASM PT exam resulted in a PASS and I FELT SO ACCOMPLISHED!

Sportyspice and I pulled off an INCREDIBLE SURPRISE 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY for BABYSPICE and it was quite a wonderful weekend. She was surprised and it was lovely being a family of five.


I finally created a fitness class schedule I loved and our downstairs bathroom was finally completed. 

O C T O B E R

I shared what's new with me which included a new blog, an injury, and lots of friend love.

Babyspice came to visit me for a weekend.


Wrote about what I believe in.

After hearing a sermon I felt called to share how I was putting down the bricks in my life.

Visited family back in Ohio and had fabulous time with our lil nephews.

N O V E M B E R

We flew to Ohio for a quick wedding weekend with family.

I auditioned for the role of BOOTCAMP COACH for Gold's Gym and was thrilled to join the team.

Most of my month was spend getting ready for, anticipating and BEING with my family in Arizona for the Thanksgiving holiday. It was magical and wonderful and just amazing. 



During a gender reveal we found out SPORTYSPICE is expecting a lil girl in MARCH! #teampink

We unexpectedly lost a soccer friend to an aneurysm and I was reminded HOW short life can be and vowed to 'live like Chris' and be more kind and friendly to others in his honor.

D E C E M B E R

The month of holiday cheer got started with a fun traditions post. I also shared 10 things I wanted to do in the December.

My heart was so full of joy as we celebrated our first Christmas in our new home. There was a lot of looking back as I realized how happy this Christmas was from the sadness of last Christmas.

Lots of fitness and BOOTCAMP and we also took T-Bone out to dinner for the holidays.

I suffered my first canceled flight on my way up to DC to celebrate Sportyspice's baby shower. Thankfully I made it up before the party the next day and it was wonderful party. The family also celebrated Christmas early which was lovely.




An unexpected life moment happened right before Christmas which flipped my world around. As mentioned above it's something I'll talk about next month. But, I didn't let it steal my Christmas joy and Le Husband and I traveled up to Ohio for family Christmas which was the best extended weekend.

The end of the year will be wrapped up with a new plan in place, setting goals, finishing the house and getting ready to crush 2018 with style. I hope you haven't found these posts too boring, I love looking back, especially during a hard year. It helps keep things in perspective and I'm honestly in awe at how much this year as brought us here in Tennessee. 

December 27, 2017

C H R I S T M A S in Numbers

1 || the number of days early I arrived in Ohio.

5 || the number of people who greeted me at the door when I arrived.

2 || the number of little boys who came running to give me a hug.

9 || the number of months of our youngest nephew who gives the sweetest lil cuddles.

600 || the number of minutes slept from Thursday night into Friday.

110 || the number of pounds I squat pressed on Friday at the gym.

6 || the number of adults at dinner Friday night.

1 || the number of husbands who fell sick with the flu on Saturday morning.

1800 || the number of seconds I stood in the checkout line at Kroger on 12/23 to get ingredients for homemade soup.

7 || the number of Christmas movies watched while Le Husband slept.


2 || the number of church services I attended solo on Christmas Eve.

17 || the number of grandkids huddled upstairs waiting for Santa to arrive Christmas Eve.

720 || the number of minutes slept  before Christmas morning.

4 || the number of healthy people in the house, woohoo!

2 || the number of people who prepped the stairwell to be painted while we waiting for the kids.

2304832 || the number of times I heard the word Playmobile

15 || the number of times I helped lil CL reload his nerf gone.

6 || the number of boxes Le Husband wrapped my gift in for fun.

2 || the number of plane tickets I received as a present.

8 || the number of glasses of mimosas the were consumed by the ladies in the morning.

5 || the number of people in my favorite Christmas picture.

25 || the number of people at Christmas dinner.

10 || the number of cookies consumed.

A BAZZILLION || The number of times I counted my lucky starts to have such an incredibly supportive second family. I know inlaws aren't always the best, but I am truly lucky to have a husband who values family so much and who's family welcomes me with open arms every time I visit. Christmas this year was much easier than last year, with lots of small moments left giving thanks for my blessings. I hope you had a wonderful Christmas friends!


December 26, 2017

MAMA B!!! Today's Your BIRTHDAY!

Today I'm wishing 

The KINDEST
  Sweetest
Craziest
Mom Jeans wearing
Christmas sweater loving
Godly disciple
Most generous
awesome cooker lady
with the BIGGEST HEART in the WORLD
and most important
BESTEST MOMMY EVER

 THE HAPPIEST OF BIRTHDAYS!

*WE LOVE YOU MAMA!!!* 
 

  



 








December 25, 2017

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S


 

 





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Christmas Print - Luke 2 - 8x10 - Red, Gray, White
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Wishing you all the grace, love, happiness and JOY 
this BLESSED CHRISTMAS DAY!

December 24, 2017

ALL IS CALM...ALL IS BRIGHT


NOT A CREATURE WAS STIRRING...


Twas the Night Before Christmas
By: Sister St. Thomas, B.N.D. de N
"Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
St. Joseph was searching, walking up roads and down;

Our Lady was waiting, so meek and so mild,
While Joseph was seeking a place for the Child.

The children were nestles, each snug in their beds,
The grown-ups wouldn't bother, there's no room they said;

When even the innkeeper sent them away,
Joseph was wondering, where they would stay.


He thought of the caves in the side of the hills,
Lets go there said Mary, it's silent and still;

Made pathways of light for their tired feet to go.
And there in a cave, in a cradle of hay,
Our Savior was born on the first Christmas Day!


The Father was watching in heaven above,
He sent angels, His couriers of love.

More rapid than eagles God's bright angels came;
Rejoicing and eager as each hear his name;


Come Power, Come Cherubs, Come Virtues, Come Raphael,
Come Thrones and Dominions, come Michael and Gabriel.

Now fly to the Earth, where My poor people live,
Announce the glad tiding My Son comes to give;


The Shepherds were watching their flocks on this night,
And saw in the heavens and unearthly light.

The Angels assured them, they'd nothing to fear,
It's Christmas they said, the Savior is here!


They hastened to find Him, and stood at the door,
Til Mary invited them in to adore.

He was swaddled in bands from His head to His feet,
Never did the Shepherd's see a baby so sweet.


He spoke not a word, but the Shepherd's all knew,
He was telling them secrets and blessing them too.

Then softly they left Him, The Babe in the hay,
And rejoiced with great joy on that first Christmas Day;


Mary heard them exclaim and they walked up the hill,
Glory to God in the Highest, Peace to men of good will!"

Oh Holy Night
Sweet hymns of JOY in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!
CHRIST is the LORD!!!




Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
We hear the CHRISTMAS ANGELS,
the GREAT GLAD tidings tell
Oh come to us, abide with us
our LORD EMMANUEL!
Christmas Carol of the Bells
Ring Christmas bells,
Merrily ring
Tell all the world
JESUS IS KING
Masters in the Hall
This is Christ, the Lord
Masters be ye glad!
Christmas is come in
And no folk shall be sad!

Joy to the World
Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing,

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Wishing you and yours a blessed Christmas Eve. 

And if you're offline the rest of the week I wish you a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!