You guys!! Wow, I haven’t blogged in a while.
I gotta say though that sometimes life gets busy, my family needs me a little more, I get a little overwhlemed…..and somethin’s gotta give.
So, this past month this blog was the “somethin'” that had to give. It’s tough. I am just one lady and it’s hard to do alllllll the things sometimes!
I must say that although this crazy year has been, well…….crazy, I have learned so many life lessons! I’m so grateful. Some of the many lessons I’ve learned are:
- Chill out.
- Recognize that I can’t do everything, nor should I.
- It’s perfectly fine the let things slide. If the laundry isn’t done, the dishwasher isn’t changed and if the house is a little messy…..life will go on!
- Spend less time “doing” and more time “being.”
- Cut out the things in life that really don’t matter
- Cut myself some slack
- Take time to rest and rejuvenate my body and spirit
- Do things I enjoy every single day
- Identify my priorities and then make sure the top priorities come first
- People are always the top priority. The people I love really are the only thing that matters in the end.
So, there ya go. Those are some of my thoughts and some of the things I’ve learned. It’s really been a blessing to me!
This year I’ve learned that I really don’t need to “go go go” and “do do do” all the time! In fact, life is much happier and I’m much healthier when I don’t!
For some reason, I used to think I had to be productive all the time. Now, if my kids need me, I try to be present for them. If someone wants to talk, I listen. If there is an opportunity to spend quality time with someone, I take it. If I recognize an opportunity to love someone, buoy them up or express gratitude….I do it!
It’s quite simple, really.
But, although I’ve been spending more time just living and loving, I also want to step up my game! There are a lot of things I want to accomplish that I’m just not getting to!
I know I haven’t been getting enough sleep lately. For some reason, that’s always been a struggle for me! AND, when I’m tired, I’m not as productive, I’m not as cheerful and I just kind of slog through life instead of really LIVING!
I struggle ALL the time and I’m always learning and re-learning life lessons. My ultimate goal is to take really good care of my physical health so that I have the energy to do all the things I really want to do that are important to me!
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With that being said, it’s been a busy month. First of all, it’s the Christmas season! Yay! I love this time of year! It’s dang busy, but I love it anyway!
The Christmas season hasn’t been quite as busy this year though and it’s been nice.
We went up to my mom’s house last Sunday and made candy houses and reenacted the Nativity story….
We’ve done this tradition for many, many years now and I love it. The kids are getting way too big though! Sigh.
I’m grateful all the big kids were such great sports though and were still happy to participate!
Oh, and just look at my darling little 6 year old as the star!!!! I’m so grateful to still have a little one. He is just as sweet as can be. He is so happy, kind and innocent all the time and I just adore him. I adore all of these sweet kids!
My sister also had a birthday on Sunday and my oldest son’s birthday is on Christmas, so we sang to them….
Oh how grateful I am to have so many good people in my life! I love them all so much!
I can’t believe my biggest baby will be 22!!!! What in the world??? Oh, and I was 22 years old when I had him! Wow. I will make sure to get a picture with him on his birthday!
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Another crazy and not so awesome thing that happened this month is my 17 year old crashed his car. Yikes.
That’s just never a phone call you want to receive. Thankfully, he is fine and no one was hurt, but it’s so not fun!
And, it’s not cheap! Sadly, we thought we had comprehensive insurance on this car, but lo and behold….we didn’t! Gah! I think that might have been my fault.
So, this fix has been very $$$$.
Oh, and last Christmas time we spent over $4,000 fixing the main water line to our house! Super fun!
Kev called that our “Christmas pipe” and so now we’re calling the wrecked car, the “Christmas car.”
Super fun. Such is life.
Oh, and since my 17 year doesn’t have a car right now, I’ve been driving him to and from school and work.
Strangely, I really don’t mind though! I realize how quickly these kiddos grow up, so I’ve enjoyed spending the extra time with him!
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Changing gears….
Ya know, I gotta say that although living a healthy lifestyle is quite hard and time consuming, it is sure a blessing to me!
I’m not perfect at it and I struggle all the time, but I recognize when I fill my body full of good, nutrient dense food, I feel good! Go figure.
I have more energy, my mood is better and life is easier. A little sugar now and then helps too, lol.
I also realize that exercise is awesome! I love working my body and muscles. I love getting those good endorphins flowin’! When life is uncertain and the world all around us seems to be going to pot…..it feels good to sweat!
Right now I’m teaching two exercise classes a week. I teach an online class on Mondays with a bunch of my friends. I’ve also been teaching a live class every Thursday morning at 9:00 (Mountain time) on my Happy Being Healthy Facebook page!
Join me if you want to! I also leave all my workouts up on my page so you can do them any time! I eventually want to get them all up on my YouTube channel as well.
In addition to those two classes I teach, I also try to make it to a couple classes at my gym each week. I have three classes that I really enjoy, but most weeks I only make it to two.
Here are some random pics I’ve taken at the gym this month….
In addition to my classes, I have also LOVED going on walks this year! What a blessing they have been to me! I enjoy getting outside in the fresh air, moving my body, deep thinking, talking to myself and just soaking up the beauty all around me.
Here’s a beautiful pic I took the other day on one of my walks….
My walks help to ground me, help me to feel grateful and help me to refocus on what is most important in life.
Even though it’s winter, I’ve still enjoyed going on walks when the weather allows. It’s actually been quite cool to walk throughout all of the seasons. It makes me grateful for each one!
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Oh, I’ll randomly share the yummy Sunday dinner we had this week.
Kev smoked a turkey, which was to die for! He also smoked the stuffing and some bread. So dang good! I made mashed potatoes and gravy and some green bean casserole.
This has gotta be one of my all-time favorite meals!
After eating Thanksgiving dinner this year, we knew we had to do it again! YUM!
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Well amidst all of the craziness of this year, I’m looking forward to 2020 being over! I’m sure we all are! It’s definitely been a year of growth and learning for me, and for that I am grateful!
I’m just hoping that 2021 can be a little less stressful and I little more normal!
I’m also looking forward to 2021 because I gotta get back to my good ol’ healthy goals. I’ve been slackin’ on my sleep and eating a little too much food, especially sugar!
It’s been fun, but the party has to end. Ha ha.
Sooooo, I’m going to organize a little healthy challenge. I will try to get it together soon and share it with all of you! I’m not going to do a big Facebook group challenge like I did last year. I am just going to organize a self-directed challenge!
It will be awesome, it will help you to feel better, it will help your body to thrive and it will help you lose weight if you want to!
I’m not a fan of extreme diets, but I am a fan of stepping it up and holding yourself accountable! I’m also a fan of setting some good goals and then reaching them!
Sooooo, get ready to hit it hard with me in 2021! I will share the deets with y’all as soon as I get it together!
Until then, I hope you all have a beautiful Christmas. I love you all! xoxo
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