Tee Time

{this post was imported from my old blog}

Sundays are my favorite days. I think they are simply wonderful.
I absolutely love going to church, having brunch, and relaxing for the day.  There is just something about Sundays that warms my heart and makes me giddy. This past Sunday was no exception. The weather was screaming to us to enjoy it! Kyle's first weekend home, fresh out of surgery rotation and the big exam, it was about time to have some fun. After painting our guest bedroom on Saturday, we needed to enjoy the great outdoors and the gorgeous 60 degree weather.
After a great church service (we are doing a series on the book "Sacred Marriage," one of my favorite books which I've read many of times...highly recommend to all), and trying out a fun new restaurant, we ventured onto the golf course with Josh & Patti. I did marry a dutch, which also can be translated into "cheap frugal"- thus, our booties walked the course like champs (and thankfully so:). Too bad, I've been known to be a pretty great cart driver (insert story of me flipping the cart into a tree)

oh what a good hubby... fetching wifey's ball

Patti may be the most graceful golfer I've ever seen. Or maybe it's because she doesn't swing 100 miles an hour at the ball like someone I may know..

This is that golfer who may or may not swing way too hard, sometimes.

Look at that form.

They warned us some holes were closed. Somehow we ended up here, climbing over these in the middle of our fairway. The nerve!

We are rugged.

4 hours later, our shoulders hurt and our stomachs were growling. "Hangry" began to kick it ...homemade venison nachos were calling our names....

(and venison burgers. Hubby can whip up a wicked burger)

...and we dominated.

Ahhh...What Sundays were made for :)

Celebrating VDay

{this post was imported from my old blog}

I have a love/hate relationship with the fact that Charlottesville is such a transient community. It's like Cville is a little launching pad for whatever next adventure awaits. Since we will also be packing our bags in a year, I cannot complain too much that some of my closest girlfriends new adventures begin this summer (one year too early;) Now it is crunch time. Time to get in all of our laughs and "why-didn't-we-ever-try-that.." before what I refer to as dooms season. That is what I am calling it since 4 of my girlfriends are leaving this summer (more to come on this)
Courtney, Julie & I decided to celebrate Valentines Day together last Sunday. We spent the morning in church, went on a great hike, and ended the night laughing over Thai food and putting down an entire carton on strawberry banana frozen yogurt. I'll let Julie off the hook on the later happenings. Naomi joined us later with our requested treat and it didn't take long for three of us to dig our spoons into the creamy mess like it was the last ice cream we would ever possibly have a chance to consume.
The hike was a rock scramble, covered in unanticipated snow and ice. If you know me at all you also know I am a bit on the clumsy side. However, I am proud to report that I only tripped once, slipped twice and valiantly helped lead the way through and over the mountain (can you picture my arms raised in victory?)
I am ashamed to say that I've only been hiking a handful of times while we have lived there. We have Skyline Drive and Blue Ridge Parkway only 15 minutes away, each with breathtaking views and endless trails. I got the itch again after this one and cannot wait to take our spring visitors on more (get ready Kelly, Griffin & Stephanie). In expected behavior, I already have a list of the next ones that I'm itching to go on!

Orchid Station

{this post was imported from my old blog}

I know it's Valentines Day and therefore this post should be about lovely dovey stuff. However, Kyle is still on an away rotation, so I sit at my desk with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a love note from the one and only. As I enjoy the smell of fresh flowers,
...I leave you with this post instead.

There is a small store located just north of Charlottesville. The road winds like a roller coaster until you come upon this short dirt path that leads you to two greenhouses. As you walk in, you can only get excited about how beautiful the flowers are. Every color and combination you can image fills the houses, leaving only a small aisle for you to walk through.
The purpose of the trip was for me to practice macro photography in manual setting only; causing a perpetual cycle of frustration and excitement. There were many hurdles to overcome (bad lighting, little space, etc) which was perfect as it forced me to adjust to various situations.

The Big Picture and The Little Things

{this post was imported from my old blog}

Since returning from Christmas vacation, the weeks have been a blur of busyness. Kyle's current rotation has taken a toll on our time together, his time to relax and our time with friends. Over the holidays, I knew the dreaded surgical rotation was looming over us. I had talked to many friends who had previously completed the time and each had their own stories of the misery it produced. I prayed al ot about being able to serve Kyle during this time, that God would prepare me to do so with a giving heart. I prayed that I wouldn't get caught up on him not being able to help take out the garbage or do dishes, but I would unselfishly be able to carry the weight of our home and life for two months. This is a big prayer. Not only for me, but for Kyle. It's difficult to feel as if you are carrying life's burdens and joys alone, or putting the burden onto someone else. The solution is, of course, the day surgery rotation is complete. There is a much bigger picture in store for us though. This is my husbands dream, ENT surgery is his goal, his passion. Fast forward 10 years and a more regulated "normal" schedule may be a reality. However, the precedent we set now will pave the way for our decisions going forward. We believe that God has given him his gifts and passions for this purpose, and thus, He will prepare us to walk through the unavoidable challenges it produces.

These seemingly long weeks have been a glimpse of what residency may look like. This past weekend was a hopeful reminder of a God who deeply cares about relationships. Who knows what we need before we even ask. As my time has been limited by small group, class and work, we both needed a few good laughs. A reminder of a bigger picture, through the little things.

Making up songs and having random break dancing episodes to our impromtu lyrics about cooking food
Rolling on the ground laughing after I neglected to catch a ball of dough and it proceeded to nail me directly in the face
Making a complete mess in the kitchen while making homemade pizzas (our favorite)
A Sunday morning with two batches of pancakes, one healthy & one not-so healthy, one with masses of fruit stuffed inside, and one with masses of syrup covering the plate
Cranking up the country music as we scrubbed the toilets
Taking a midday snooze just because
Dancing barefoot and laughing at how our song from three years ago still seems to represent us so well
Standing on the tub trying desperately not to cut Kyle's ears while trimming his hair


The little things. The things that make us, us. The things we treasure. I don't think I'll ever forget the feeling of dancing for the heck of it, and knowing that despite the insanity of schedules, we couldn't be happier. We will continue to struggle and work through things, together. That we'll continue to encourage one another's dreams, having the assurance of a Savior who will carry us through. Having the reminder that there is always an opportunity to care for the other, laugh with one another, celebrate and dance.

(...and because every post is better with a picture...circa 2009 New Years Eve)



Health Nut

{this post was imported from my old blog}

I've been a bit reluctant to post this but my hope is that it is helpful for you now and in the long term. It has taken a lifetime (but much more concentrated in the last three years) of trial and error, reading, praying, and learning to understand what living an healthy lifestyle means. Every woman, I do not care what size, shape, hair color or shoe size you may be, deals with this. This is  BIG topic which I am pretty passionate about. However, right now I'll stick to some basics & helpful steps instead of digging into depths of body image issues. Again, these are things that I have been challenged with and have learned.

Lately, my mind has been swarming with health issues, primarily because it's a new year. The first of the year always brings the much anticipated resolution: losing weight. People vow over and over again to get back into shape, until they lay their eyes on the slice of strawberry cheesecake, just peering at them through the bakery window. Eyes widen, the skys open, sunshine rains down and the world is good again. That is, until they realize the clothes they just purchased on the year end sales racks just don't quite fit. Goal gone. Another piece of cheesecake please.

Why? We need instant gratification. Why? Because we are humans living in a me-culture, who need need need, want want want. And by golly, if we don't get it, all hell may break loose. This mentality absolutely plays into our health.

I'm guilty of it. You're guilty of it.We are swimming in the same water.

I have learned that there are no quick fixes. Healthy living is just that, living- a lifestyle. You have to make the conscience effort to care for your body. This isn't about quick fixes to get those stubborn extra three pounds off that no one else notices, or a skinny end-all. Most importantly, it's about caring for the body you were given.

In some cases, getting healthy will mean gaining weight. In others, maintaining a healthy lifestyle may mean losing weight. And for other woman, it may mean beginning to incorporate exercise for stronger bones and muscles and preventive purposes. My reasons were the later two.
There are two things to ask yourself, and they can be quite difficult to answer:
First, what is your primary goal?
Second, is it a healthy goal? These do not have to be mutually exclusive goals.
For example, are your reasons for wanting to lose weight because your best friend is skinnier than you or is it because you want to be able to play a game of football with friends without passing out after the first quarter?
Is it because your self value is founded on the the size jeans you wear or are you looking to prevent yourself from being a health hazard in the future years.
Ask yourself the hard questions. Have a friend ask you the hard questions. It's imperative to growing as a person & seeing yourself through the eyes of our creator, not the world's definition.

Here are a few things I've discovered have helped me begin to live a healthy lifestyle. These have helped me eat better, curb my sweet tooth a bit, and exercise on a regular basis. As a disclaimer, please do not think I have these down. I may know them in my head,  that does not relate to me doing them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Again, healthy living is a process. A new years resolution will only work if it becomes a lifetime commitment. In order to do that, we all need very practical steps and a heavy dose of reality.


-Claim it. Repeat it. Have a friend say it to you. You were made in the image of God. In the image of our Creator. Thus, no editor from Star magazine will determine my or your self worth. This truth needs to be so far embedded in our hearts because the world will always tell us we are not good enough in some way, shape or form.

- There are no quick fixes. Fad diets may work temporarily, but will not maintain. There is a big difference. (Not to mention some can be very harmful!)

-Diet Pop- just say no. I get free pop, coffees & teas at work. All I need to do is walk across the hall and the array of beverages is waiting for me to enjoy them. In addition to the long term damage they can cause, it also is a big ole' teaser. Diet pop makes you crave sugar more than you typically would, and thus you are more likely to eat more sweets on a daily basis. 

- Allow yourself to cheat. You've heard it before & I'll say it again. You can enjoy the cheesecake in the bakery, just not every day. There are ammmaaazzzing foods, drinks & desserts that you can/should indulge in, just not every meal. Mod-er-a-tion.

- Set realistic goals. "I will never ever eat a cookie again. Ever" Hum.. liar. Yes you will. Instead, try "I will not have dessert today." When you set smaller goals and conquer them, it gives you the confidence & assurance to set bigger goals.

- Realize that exercise and healthy eating go hand in hand. It's extremely difficult to lose weight if you only do one or the other. It's also much more difficult to stay at a healthy weight without maintaining both.

- Think ahead. On Tuesday & Thursday night I have small groups, and there is usually dessert. Thus, I try to eat healthy throughout the day and "save" some calories so I can enjoy the dessert goodness. Or, on Wednesday mornings there are always pastries available at work. Knowing this ahead of time helps me determine what to have for breakfast or lunch. (wow, I realized I always have dessert around me!)

-Buddy up. It's much, much easier to go to the gym or on a run when you are with a friend. It also makes it more enjoyable!

-Back to goals. Set workout goals. This will help you make it more of a lifestyle rather than quitting the gym after three weeks into the new year. For example, the Spring is full of races. Do a 5K or a 10K. By registering, paying the money, and having a set date, it will help you stay on track. If you're like me, you may find you enjoy running or walking and begin to do it for fun. If you're not, you can find another event such as joining a softball league.

- Know your habits. I am a bored & emotional eater. (Clearly, I just like to eat) I am more likely to snack all day at work because I'm bored or stressed. It has nothing to do with actually being hungry. Thus, I limit what foods I bring to work or bring carrots or celery (aka low calorie but healthy snacks). I also have learned that the more I concentrate on running or working out, the more fearful I get. So instead of persistently analyzing my routes, I'm beginning to just wing it.

- Learn to cook at home. Some of you may be laughing at me right now. But, whatever, my pride is slowly crumbling from this post anyways. The more I've been cooking, the more I enjoy it. I'm learning more about different foods & playing with ingredients. You can also have full control of what goes into your meals.

- Eating healthy does not equate to not eating at all. Depending on your age, weight, height and activity level, a woman's body needs between 1,400- 2,200 calories daily. There are many sites you can go to get an estimate of what your body needs to function.

- Most people think salads are the way to go. Be aware of two things: If you have a healthy salad for lunch, many times it will not fill you up. As a result, you will eat more throughout the day as you make up for never being full from a meal. Secondly, steer clear of creamy dressings, loads of cheese or loads of bacon. Not only are they high in calories, they are high in fat and completely change the nutritious make up of your "healthy option". To still get the flavor, you can dip your fork in the dressing with each bite instead of pouring it onto your salad. I quickly realized that by doing this, I ate about a fourth of the dressing provided.

-I sit at a desk 98% of the time at work. In order to compensate for sitting the majority of the day, I try to get up and walk around the hallways at least once an hour. Take the stairs. Go to the bathroom farthest away rather than the one two doors down. Little things to get your blood flowing during sedentary hours of the day are great for your body & mind. (Just try not to become that person who wanders. We have one, it's odd)

- Nutrition Facts. Read them. It's helpful to understand the food you are eating. I was shocked when I first began paying attention to what my meals consisted of. It helps you make more conscience choices.



Whewww.. this was a long one. If you have set your healthy goals for 2011, I hope this helps you think about the reasons why and provides you some healthy habits to adopt.