I DID IT!

Yesterday I finished Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred!!!

Friends, I am not an exerciser. I do not work out. Until now. 

And I feel GREAT.

I restarted the 30 Day Shred today. I'm going to do it over and over until I can follow along with the higher difficulty moves.

Oh, and I also did Week 1 Day 2 of the Couch to 5K program today.

This mama is gonna be fit, fierce, and fabulous! 

I just felt like running...

Yesterday, I did my first official training run. The first baby step in my ultimate goal - a half marathon before my 30th birthday. I did it, and I loved it.

I have smaller goals along the way, baby steps to get me to that half marathon. 

 5k in September.

 8k in November.

 10k in December.

Come January, my official half-marathon training will begin, culminating in the Diva's Half Marathon in North Myrtle Beach at the end of April. 

Wish me luck, y'all. I'm finding my strong. And I'm definitely blooming. 

I miss them!

My mama and sister are in DRC right now to bring my new nephew home! I miss them!

My in-laws flew back to Portland  on Wednesday. I miss them!

I have so much to be thankful for, though! How awesome is it that I have family that I love, and like, enough to actually miss?!? ;-) 

My sister and my mom are bringing home a new family member! Such an amazing blessing! I can't wait until I can share his picture here. He's such a beautiful, happy, smiley little boy. I really can't wait for them to get home, though. These next few weeks are going to go by so slowly...although I'm sure more for them than for me!

I don't know when we'll get to see Gram and Grandpa from Oregon again. Maybe after Christmas, maybe next spring. It's hard being so far away from Pete's family. I love them all dearly.

 It's kind of a no-win situation. We live here, close to my family, but far from Pete's. Or we live there, close to Pete's family, but far from mine. Perhaps we should move to Texas and let them all just come visit us!

                                        The kids have so much fun with Gram and Grandpa!

 

 Life is a bit of a letdown when they go home, and they tend to drive their mama a little bit crazy for a week or two after! It's okay though, it's worth it! 

Busy busy busy!!!

Mark and Kathy, Pete's parents, got into town Thursday morning. We absolutely LOVE having them here! The kids are having a blast, and mama is getting some wonderful down time. I'm very blessed to have such wonderful in-laws!

Tomorrow we are getting together at my sister's house to say 'bon voyage'! She and my mom leave for DRC on Sunday at about 11am!!! I can hardly believe that in just a few days my sister will finally have her son in her arms! We're praying for safe, uneventful travels, and that sweet Noah's heart is prepared to meet his mama.

When I'm in Atlanta on Sunday and Monday, the rest of my sweet family will be in Asheville! Praying for safe road travels for all of us, and lots of fun with our friends. Oh, and that this mama won't be too anxious being so far away from her three big(ger) kiddos!

Just for fun, here's a pic of me and my munchkins on a recent trip to the Reed Gold Mine!I can't believe how blessed I am!

So much excitement!

Lots going on in our little world in the coming weeks!
* Peter's parents are arriving tomorrow, and the kids are so anxious they can hardly stand it!
* On Sunday morning, my sister and my mom are leaving for Africa! It's FINALLY time for my sister to go and get her son!
*Also on Sunday, I am leaving with baby Alice to drive to Atlanta for the Bellies to Babies conference. I can't wait to hear Mayim Bialik and Ina May Gaskin speak! And to top it off, I am finally meeting a few of my fabulous online mama friends!! Six of us are meeting in Atlanta and taking our kiddies to the zoo Monday morning!

I have a loooong to-do list to try to complete today...wish me luck!