Grateful Monday

Well here we are to Monday again!  Last week was a bit of a whirlwind for me with the start of the new semester.  I pretty much collapsed at the end of the week and took one, very long nap on Saturday afternoon.  It was a good week but a tiring one!

So to start this week off on a positive note, here are five things I'm grateful for:

• Did I mention I took a nap on Saturday? It was the kind of nap where you crash hard for a couple of hours and wake up not knowing where you are or what day it is. I can't remember the last time I slept like that. 
• Warmer temps over the weekend.  The polar vortex is about to strike again so it was really nice to get outside for a bit.  I even opened our windows on Sunday afternoon to get some fresh air in the house.
• I officially started writing my dissertation last week.  It hasn't been easy.  In fact, it's been super slow and painful, but my first (very short) chapter will be done this week. I'm trying to celebrate the progress.  I also know that it will take me a bit to find my writing groove.  Baby steps!
• My first classes went very well last week.  I'm really settling into this college teaching gig.  I was more excited than nervous before my first class, and that says a lot!
• We just found out that some dear friends of ours are expecting their first child this summer.  I am so super happy and thrilled about this news!  They are going to be fabulous parents.

Have a wonderful week and stay warm!

xoxo

Grateful Monday

To start my week off on a positive note, here are five things I'm grateful for:

• We just came off a fabulous week-long vacation with my parents in Florida.  It was very low key and exactly what we needed!  I'm trying to hold onto some of that sunshine....
• Our flights all went very smoothly and travelling with a two year-old was surprisingly easy. 
• When we got home, ALL of the snow was gone.  
• My semester starts this week and my teaching load is going to be a little lighter this semester.  I'm hoping that helps with the dissertation writing.
• I actually feel pretty good going into this semester.  I'm ready to get the ball rolling and start making some progress!  

Have a wonderful week!

xoxo

Welcoming 2014

2013 was a good year for us.  It was a relatively quiet, smooth year without a lot of change or excitement, and I'm perfectly okay with that.  When I look back to my goals and intentions for 2013, I'm proud to say that I did a pretty good job.  Of course I was better in some areas than others, but for the most part, I stuck with them and they've become a regular part of my life. 

As we begin 2014, I'd like to continue the tradition.  Rather than making a New Year's resolution, I want to just lay out some goals and intentions for myself....areas where I'd like to improve or perhaps refocus a bit. So, in no particular order, here they are:

• Floss daily.  This is a hard one for me.  I despise flossing.  I mean really, there's nothing fun about it.  It's gross.  It hurts my gums.  Bleh.  But every time I go to the dentist, I'm told I need to floss.  So, for once in my life, I'm going to commit to this.  It's 2 minutes out of my day right?  I can do this and my teeth will thank me.
• Continue to be present with Liam.  This is a carry-over from last year, and since I find that this one requires constant attention, I'm adding it to this year's list.  This one can be difficult.  Especially in this technological age where we are constantly bombarded by distracters.  So....I want to continue to stay tuned in and to give him my full attention during our time together.
• Less Facebook.  I have mixed feelings about Facebook.  I really do enjoy connecting with friends and seeing what people are up to.  However, I find that it can be a huge time suck.  So, in an effort to be more present, I want to limit myself to only checking it a couple of times a day.  I just deleted the app from my phone and already I feel a huge difference.  It's just too easy to mindlessly pick up my phone and get sucked in.  Truthfully, deleting it felt strangely liberating.... 
• Eat mindfully.  I plan to do a post on this soon, but I've been making some major dietary changes and it's having a profound effect on my well-being. I want to continue this practice because I am feeling so much better! 
• Pray more and worry less.  I heard this phrase the other day and it has stuck with me:  "Worrying is like praying for something you don't want".  I tend to be a bit of a worrywart so this really resonated with me.  I'm going to use this phrase to help me stop my unnecessary worrying in it's tracks, choosing instead, to focus on my blessings.

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• And finally, I WILL finish my dissertation.  I saved this one for last because it's closely tied to my word for the year.  This it folks.  This is my year of completion, and I plan to do whatever it takes. 

So, for 2014, I have chosen the word faith.  

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Recently, I find myself being called to faith in multiple ways.  I need to have faith that I will finish my PhD.  I need to have faith that I will find a job when I'm done.  I need to have faith that we'll be blessed with another child.  I need to have faith that I am exactly where I am supposed to be....and the list goes on. 

I have also recently found myself being pulled back towards my faith and my relationship with God.  It's not that I ever stopped believing or praying, but I definitely became less intentional about it.  This year I feel called to recenter myself in my faith, a journey which begins with a return to the church.  It's not that I ever disliked going to mass, I just didn't make it a priority.  These days, however, I find that I need that weekly meditational time to keep me centered.  

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I have so many hopes for this year and I must have faith that it will all play out exactly as it should.

So 2014 is about faith. Finding faith and keeping the faith. 

Grateful Monday

Well 2014 sure is kicking off with a bang!  We are completely snowed in and frozen here. 

My poor husband has to do snow removal for the municipality where he works.  He's been working 12 hour shifts for the past few nights and is getting ready to head into work again tonight.  Poor guy.  I know he's exhausted, but he's a trooper~!

So, to start my week off, here are five things I'm grateful for:

• Andrew has stayed safe during his travels to and from work.  Our roads are in terrible condition.
• We are snuggled up in a warm and cozy home.  I can't help but think of those poor people who are homeless.  I also think about the poor animals who are hunkered down trying to stay warm in this brutal weather.
• I officially bought my plane ticket to Paris last week.  This is really happening!
• Somehow, I'm managing to keep this little guy happy and busy while we are trapped indoors.  We've had our moments, but the new toys are definitely helping!

Liam's enjoying his new easel and paints!  A perfect snow day activity.

 I hope you have a wonderful week!  Stay warm!

xoxo

Holidays

Well helloooo!  I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  I am just now dragging myself off of the couch.  I had a bit of recovering to do!

So now I'm recovered just in time for the arctic storm.  Excellent.  Perhaps I should just go back to my couch....

Anyway, here's a little recap of our Christmas.  Despite a little bout with the flu, this year's holiday season was extra special.  I think it's because Liam is old enough to *sort* of understand what is going on.  I don't think he really understands presents and where they come from, but he definitely enjoys opening them!  In fact, ripping off the paper may be his favorite part!

There is just something extra sweet about experiencing the holidays through the eyes of a child.

We were gone for 9 days as we traveled to spend time with family.  We had five different holiday gatherings, and we got to spend some quality time with our loved ones.  It was a wonderful whirlwind. 

Liam enjoyed several days of playtime with his cousins as well.  

These two are pretty close in age.  They're going to be buddies. 

Dressed up for Christmas Eve mass

So much excitement on Christmas Eve

I wish I knew what they were saying to each other....

We  barely got these two to sit still.

He also got to spend some time with all of his grandparents and aunts and uncles.  

Like a little bird wanting Grandma's peanut butter pie

Legos!

Great Grandparents

Checking out Grandpa's new shoes

Andrew's brother gave us matching hats

It was quite the holiday for our family with so many memories to cherish.

Life is good....and we are so very blessed!

xoxo

Merry Christmas

We are headed out to begin our holiday travels.  I likely won't be blogging while we are away.

As you can see, I used a quirky photo booth picture on our holiday card this year.  We definitely don't take ourselves too seriously around here so I decided to give folks a nice laugh.  

Have a very Merry Christmas!  May your season be filled with love and light!

xoxo

Lately

I think I've finally recovered from my trip to Dallas last weekend!  I'm not even going to bother to write a post about the whole fiasco because it's just not worth the energy, but let's just say I came home exhausted!  

The conference itself was awesome.  Getting stranded and having to deal with American Airlines was not so awesome.  My flights kept getting cancelled, and I spent many, many hours on the phone trying to get re-booked.

But alas, I made it home safely!  

Life has been a whirlwind so here's a little update:

• My semester has officially ended!  It was a great semester teaching.  I got wonderful feedback from my students.  I did not, however, make nearly as much progress on my dissertation as I had hoped.  That means its time to refocus and re-prioritize.  2014 is my year to finish!

• While I was away, my boys surprised me and put up our Christmas tree.  You have no idea how sweet it was to come home to those twinkling lights. I was so exhausted from being up all night and seeing the tree nearly brought me to tears.  It was so sweet. Liam is completely obsessed with the Christmas tree by the way.  Every morning, the first thing he does is ask me to turn on the lights!

• I love looking at our tree and seeing ornaments from my childhood.  Growing up, we were given a special ornament each year.  There are so many happy, special memories tied to each of those ornaments.  I have continued the tradition with Liam.  This year, his ornament is a Cozy Coupe.  It's fitting considering how many hours he spent in his this summer.  

• Speaking of holiday decorations, I look at this holiday house tour and this one, and I'm completely inspired.  This year, however, it's just not in the cards.  This year, we kept it super simple with just our little tree and a few other decorations. Perhaps one day, when I'm no longer a graduate student, I'll have the time and energy to really do it up!  

• I just started reading this book.  I was a vegetarian for several years into my mid-twenties. Recently, I've felt an inclination to return to the lifestyle. I do, however, enjoy eating meat. And my husband is definitely a meat eater.  I think this might be the perfect compromise for us.  The book is full of really insightful nutritional information.  I consider myself pretty informed in this area but he's touched on several things I didn't know.

• I have also recently started doing yoga again.  I am using this DVD, which I love!  Since this past summer, I have had lower back pain, on and off.  I decided to take a break from my high impact, cardio workouts and do something more gentle, in hopes that the lower back pain will go away.  I have always enjoyed yoga and have read that it's one of the best ways to combat back pain.  In terms of yoga though, I only really like it when it's challenging.  I still want to feel like I'm exercising!  Ashtanga is a more rigorous form of yoga and I am definitely challenged.  Already I feel stronger and more flexible.  It's kind of remarkable.

• Liam is totally into Christmas this year.  I'm not sure he really understands what is going on, but he talks about Santa a lot!  I just got him a few books to help him understand what Christmas is really about.  This book is my favorite.  I cannot get over how much I love this story....which talks about the trees, the animals and the stars all rejoicing over the coming of  Jesus.  Truly, a beautiful story.

• I am currently drinking this hot chocolate.  So good!  Have I ever talked about my love of mint combined with chocolate?  I can't get enough.

• Which is why I plan to make these brownies to take to my family's holiday gathering.  I hope they are as good as they look!

• And speaking of Trader Joe's, have you ever had Cookie & Cocoa Swirl?  Whoa.  I don't think I should be allowed to buy this stuff again because somehow, I just end up eating it straight out of the jar!

• Andrew and I just finished watching Under the Dome.  I wasn't sold on it at first, but now I'm hooked.  The series was renewed for a second season, which means that the final episode totally left us hanging.  I hate it when they do that!

• We are happily gearing up for the holidays!  We'll be gone more than a week travelling to various locations to be with our families.  My grades are done.  Our gifts are wrapped.  And I'm truly looking forward to spending some quality time with the people we love~!