Circle of life

Hello again. Been awhile. U set out to do a task and think oh blogging no deal, Ill have time to do it. Lol yah right!  

So today Im attempting to play a bit of catch up if I can, internets being a bit dumb. 

So, Ive been an Rn for one full year now! Wow! Although its been only a year, this job continually reminds u how fragile life is. 

I feel like this blog has been about me having a "heavy heart" and bout lots of thankfulness...guess that is where Im at in life this year. 

Right at this exact moment, I have a heavy and happy heart. Im very thankful for the gift of life, family, friends and love!  

Ten years ago today we laid nana bea to rest...cant believe how quickly ten years goes by!  

Then last night another one of God's special angels was called home. 

And today find out a close friend is expecting!  

The circle of life continually amazes me. 

My heart is happy for the new gift of life, for the chance to go home in 5 days and for the wedding soon approaching. 

Heavy heart for a close friends loss and for other struggles with those around me. 

Although I never lived near nana bea, she made an amazing impression on my life and I miss her dearly! 

To my dear friend whose life was just flipped upside down...cherish the love and memories u were blessed with, those will always be with u!  We all love u and r here for u! 

Prayer request please for lots of people around me! Heres to hoping next four nights fly by! 

Proud to be a "wogger"

Yesterday am, Brittny and I decided to go for a "run" or a "jog" and to do some squats and ab workout. 

Well, we went to the high school track in Jetmore, which was inhabited by millions of mosquitoes and was soooo humid.  But, we decided to go ahead and work on some C 2 5K. We made it through 75% I think....using our own version. :)

But, we did get through day one of our squats and ab workout.  After the run, I felt a little discouraged.  I have had more success at the gym lately, than I did today.   Honestly, I was a bit annoyed at myself that I was huffing and puffing so much, and felt like I had made a bunch of excuses about as to why I didn't complete my entire run.

Shortly after the run while I was stretching and rehydrating, I decided to label our "run" today as a "wog"-- a combo of a walk and a jog.  So, instead of looking at the workout as a negative, I am going to look at it as a step in this whole process.  I have graduated from being a "walker" to being a "wogger" -- one who is in between a walker and a jogger.  Next, will be a "junner" and then a "runner." :)

I need to remind myself, that each day my runs will be different, and different factors contribute to the quality of my run. Instead of focusing on the negative, I will now strive to focus on the positive of what I have accomplished, and how far I have come in the last few weeks.  Gaining weight & becoming out of shape didn't happen over night, and neither will running. 

I need my friends and family to help keep me accountable and focused on the goal ahead --- which is now a 5K this October with a bunch of girlfriends! :)

 

 

Updates -- Moretti Vaca

Be aware, this post might be a bit long & and a tad mushy.  Allot of catching up to do.

Quick version:

• Rental house is Ulysses is feeling more like a home.
• I'm actually starting to "like" Ulysses, we'll see if I ever love it. :)
• Work is great---I'm cutting bk to two days a week in August.
• Lots of vacations soon to come.
• Taylor's come for a visit next week & then O'Leary's come for one week after.
• Ben actually has had 3 WHOLE days off in the last ten days!  Wow!
• Ben is enjoying his new job, although challenging at times, he is liking it--for the most part! :)
• Still no solid offers or showing on the house in Cimarron--contemplating renting it out.
• Loving the apartment convenience in Jetmore & hanging out with Megan.

Recent vaca:

A week ago I headed to visit the Moretti family. For the last few years they have lived "high up", but now they live more "flat" and I can go visit them w/o getting sick! :)

Most of you who read this know Sally the older sis of Liz & I...but some of you may not know the story of Sal becoming part of the O'Leary fam.

Here's my version....

"Once upon a time, there lived a young pre teen gal name Sally, and two "adults" named Pat & Cindy.  On multiple occasions paths crossed for these three people--Pat working @ Sal's school and Cindy being secretary of the church Sal went to (I think).  But, none of them ever thought that they would be united as a family.  Some people call it "God's Plan", some divine intervention and some a coincidence. Whatever your preference may be, these three were meant to be brought together.  After a few years of "bumpy roads" for all three, one day they all took a "hard turn right" and BAM they crashed into each other and formed the beginnings of the "O'Leary Family."  A few months after being joined together, a "Little Billy" joined their family and a few years after that of a "Lizard" also joined them.  Thus, the creation of the O'Leary Family."

No matter what version you hear, Sally makes our family complete! 

This story reminds me of the saying "it takes a village to raise a child."  Life is never perfect and often extremely hard, but with the right "village people" in your life, your imperfect and complicated world becomes manageable, full of love, and although never perfect, a place that completes you!

While visiting the Moretti Fam, we did allot of swimming, ate allot of Chipotle, walked allot, went to music lessons, but most of all laughed allot! 

Quick "mushy stuff":

Bella & Glenn, it amazes me how much you grow each time I see you. It has been such an amazing treat to see your personalities develop and the people you have and are becoming.  Thanks for letting me "float" with you for a few days!

Sally & Jorge, thanks for hosting me, I'll be bk soon--hope you don't get sick of me!

Sally & Liz, I am not complete without both of you.  The older I get, the more fun I have seeing the different traits the three of us "share" with one another.  I am truly blessed to know that real family is not created by blood, but by circumstance and love. 

Mom & Dad, thanks for seeing such an amazing example of love and respect for all of us!

"Celebration Stuff":

Happy Father's day to all of the "fathers" in my life! 

Dad, you are an amazing dad...although a bit goofy & odd at time, you are a loving and gentle man and have set an amazing example of what a man should be.  I appreciate & love you beyond words!

The "other dads" in my life, thanks for always steering me in the right direction when it as needed, thanks for setting good examples of being a "good man" and mostly thanks for all of the love that you have all showed me. 

Pictures:

Below are a few pix from my trip and a few of my fav of the "O'Leary fam".

               

 

Ulysses adventures!!!

NSo, weve been in Ulysses for few months now. At first i was def not a fan...but my mind is slowly changing.

Im still not a fan of being 1+ hrs from friend and lil sis and still not ready to give up my job, my thoughts have turned a bit more friendly to Ulysses. 

This week I joined the fitness center...way nice, good size, great classes including yoga 4 x a week!!! So new plan to keep busy down here...work out and yoga most days!!!  

Today was first time Ive checked bmi in awhile...encouraging is it is getting better, discouraging is still lot longer to go. In time right!!!

In the nex few months bens parents coming to visit, then denver, then mom and dad here in ks, then road trip cali, alanas wedding and fun in so cal!  And thats just the first part of the summer!  I luv summer!!!

Below r few fotos of planting, my new hair did and my new fancy pool. 

Then come august...im going part time at wk!!! More to come soon! 

Proverbs 31:25

Proverbs 31:25
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.

Today, the below pics made me think of this verse. I look at these fotos and feel like I was living in the moment without a fear or worry in the world. Then I jump onto pinterest and look @ tatoos and first one to pop up was this verse...hmmm starting to think someones trying to make a point!

Or seeing the wording "let it be" over & over again throughout the last few weeks...again someones trying to make a point!

Life def has had its challenges--esp in the last few months. Currently, my life is "bananas" as I like to refer to it as, but Im more happy and content then I have been in a longggg time...now I just need to learn how to laugh without fear fod the future..cuz fear if the future def has been no stranger lately. But what will be will be.

My hopes and desires for this summer...learn how to accept and even appreciate the cards Ive been dealt and to learn how to laugh at fears instead of dwell on them.

Apartment life

Well last weekend was bananas. Moved into apartment and all big furniture to ulysses. Cim house just has closet, kirtchen and bathroom stuff in it still.

Still no buyers for cim, prayers there appreciated. Below are some pics of apartment, my new owl stuff (btw obssessed) and of nanni & papas hutch refurbished as a new entertainment ctr.

This is my first week of a full day on days...verdicts still out on my thoughts of it.

So far, its been kinda fun have girl time, watch silly "girl show" as ben would call them, alone time and way nice walk few feet to wk.

Below r also a few fotos of storms from today. Ks amazes me with the weather.

Less than 3 months til alana & bretts wedding and another ca trip!! So stoked...and bk to gym hard core tom! Here comes achy muscles!

Thats all for tonight!

Weight...why do we let it define us?!?

I think as women (and some men) are always on a diet, cutting something out, trying new fitness crazes, etc...arent we all sick of it?!?!

Today I went to the dr cuz my ear was hurting, sure enough ear infection. But he says to me "ur getting skinny", a nice compliment...but then it leads into an interesting conversation. He says what have u been doing. I said besides tracking my calories here and there on my fitness pal app, dojng yoga & running here and there, attempting to make wiser choices, I mainly just stopped caring! He laughed. I proceeded to tell him of course I try new things for a week here and there, but honestly Im eating salt and vineager chips mult times a week, drinking pepsi & coffee still, eating out and cooking with butter from time to time.

Sure I still "care" just not as much as I used to. I think there have been mult times where I let being overweight, "obese", large etc define me and at times make me a lil blue.

So now, while I do still care I am not obssessed bout it. Im larger, yes probably always will be to an extreme, and Im okay with that. What I now want is health. The closer I got to 30 the more health problems I seemed to find myself with. Over the last 1.5 years I have seen how loosing a few lbs here and there have helped me become alot more healthy.

The dr proceeded to tell me 11 more lbs and ull no longer be "obese" just "overweight". I just laughed. He said whats so funny (again). I told him I am the smallest I have been in at least five years, probably longer and Im happy. Sure Id like to be more toned, but Im in the smallest size Ive been for a long time and im happy. My bp is controlled and on lower dose of meds, my labs are all normal, my cholesterol is great, for the most part Ive had regular periods for bout two years and I feel more emotionally stable. So, im not gonna let a little chart that some man probably created define me. He again laughed and said good.

So, while I am by no means perfect, and still will obsess from time to time--hello Im a woman! Im happy were Im at, will continue to work towards better health...but Im still gonna eat slt & vineager hips, drink whatever I want (moderation), eat butter & dessert and enjoy my life!