tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85922485548348059112024-03-24T13:44:36.423-04:00Writing to Save My Husband's SanityA place for my notes on life, God and anything else I think about.BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.comBlogger163125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-17827620966197051702015-02-11T13:23:00.001-05:002015-02-11T13:23:15.522-05:00Beauty (or, thoughts working in a nap room at a daycare)A dark room. <div>Sound machine on. </div><div>Young kids fighting sleep. </div><div>Each personality so different</div><div>Each one full of joy. </div><div>Full of dreams</div><div>Hopes</div><div>And love. </div><div><br></div><div>May we instill in them a desire to keep their dreams and hopes alive. </div><div>To always see the beauty in the world. </div><div>For heartache to not crush them, but build them up. </div><div>For them to realize that what makes them beautiful is their soul. </div><div>Their hearts. </div><div>Their minds. </div><div>The things we cannot touch or see in a photograph. </div><div><br></div><div>May they always know the beauty they bring into the world. </div><div>Into my life. </div><div><br></div><div><br></div>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-45292275544349512015-02-08T18:44:00.001-05:002015-02-08T18:44:32.482-05:00Running UpdateLong time since I have posted ANYTHING. <div><br></div><div>So here is a quick update </div><div><br></div><div>After our first half marathon, we decided to do roughly a run a month for the year 2014. TONS of fun :-)</div><div><br></div><div>We started off 2015 by heading back home to Orlando to run in the Walt Disney World runDisney event, which was AMAZING. our goal this year is to run in Disney's coast to coast challenge. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pWsVHClRc2c/VNf03sAV4RI/AAAAAAAACQs/0LDQMUwhKXQ/s640/blogger-image-1132313703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pWsVHClRc2c/VNf03sAV4RI/AAAAAAAACQs/0LDQMUwhKXQ/s640/blogger-image-1132313703.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Other than running, life has been decently depressing. July we tried our first round of IUI. Big failure. But we had figured it wouldn't work the first time. Unfortunately, days after finding out we had to go to sister in laws baby shower. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We tried again in September. Another failure. We celebrated four years of marriage once again knowing our family was not growing any larger. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Then the holidays came, and the joy held a bitter sweetness. We celebrate with my husbands family because we live near them, and we are the only ones without a human child (we have fur babies but no one else seems to want to count them). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So we rang in the new year, and celebrated 4 years of heart wrenching infertility. I guess that's why I haven't written in over a year. There's just been so much heartache for us, and I HATE sharing only bad things. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So, onto some good things!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Last March we moved into my in laws basement. Mostly to save money for those expensive fertility treatments, but also so that we could pick up and move when Chris graduated and got a new job. Good news, Chris is about a month and a half away from graduating. We are praying that he will get a new job in this new field within the next two months, and then we can move out of the basement late April, or May. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Once that happens, we plan on looking into the adoption process. Figuring out what we need to do, where we need to get our finances, etc. Maybe I'll blog more about it all. I'll have to see how I feel this coming year. </div><br></div>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-80756638132627888482013-11-13T16:33:00.001-05:002013-11-13T16:33:02.444-05:00Marathon CompletedFirst, it's been a while. <div><br></div><div>Marathon training can really take a lot out of a girl!!</div><div><br></div><div>So for anyone following who isn't Facebook friends with me... We finished our marathon in 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 34 seconds!! Okay. So it's not a super impressive time, but at least we finished! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YHb_aOjMMxE/UoPwDIX5KiI/AAAAAAAACNs/mbe4tcf54Rw/s640/blogger-image-1346350766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-YHb_aOjMMxE/UoPwDIX5KiI/AAAAAAAACNs/mbe4tcf54Rw/s640/blogger-image-1346350766.jpg"></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A photo of us after we finished the marathon! I was STARVING!! According to my run keeper app, I burned around 2500 calories. I think that's a pretty good reason to be hungry :-) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Other than a couple issues with pain, we made it through unscathed. Hub's was very emotional as we crossed the finish line. He was so happy and thankful we were done. I was mostly hungry. It never really hit me until after I ate some food that it really happened. That we really finished. That we actually ran 26.2 miles. Yikes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Now we just have to plan for our 2014 year. Out plan is to run a race every month (nothing longer than a half marathon though). </div>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-14608954083370209702013-05-16T07:22:00.001-04:002013-05-20T15:27:37.705-04:00Running Partners - Some extra thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-cgL-iSXatSc/UZTBh1ekA-I/AAAAAAAACLI/a9O8gu9HNrI/s320/blogger-image-1792597306.jpg" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875); color: #0000ee;" width="320" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I came across this passage today while reading, and seeing as I just posted about how much I love my husband for being my running partner, and how great it is having him there to support me. How great I feel being able to support him...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, <em>NLT</em></span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">Now this really applies to so many areas of our lives. It's basically why God made Eve. Because together, she and Adam would be better off than if it was just Adam. Together they had more of a reason to work hard and live and basically do anything.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">When people start diets, one of the most important things they can do is have an accountability partner. Programs with higher success rates, like Weight Watchers, has this in abundance. You have your group that keeps you accountable to your goals. Studies have shown that working out with a friend is better than working out alone. You keep each other going and often have fun together in the process. These studies also show that people with an accountability partner are more likely to stick to their diets, and reach their goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">It's the same with running. Running with my husband forces me to run harder, faster, and longer than I would if I were doing it on my own. When I run by myself I often end up wondering if I look stupid. I let myself get tired and walk a lot more than if my husband were with me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">While I am blessed that my main accountability partner lives with me, I still have others. My husband isn't really on a diet, so I still need friends to help me out with making sure I'm eating healthy choices and sticking to what I plan for my diet. I cannot emphasize enough just how much this has helped me in my weight loss goals!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">And I'm loving that there's a verse to support it in the Bible :-) </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;"> </span></div>
BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-44857309270092161392013-05-15T10:19:00.001-04:002013-05-15T10:23:52.832-04:00Changes<span style="font-family:Courier New;">I’ve been thinking a lot about how much I have changed over the past year and a half.
<p>Some of it small.</p>
<p>Some of it big.</p>
<p>Some of it has been me finding myself.</p>
<p>Some of it has been me finding God.</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p>When I first started my blog, I intended it to be a place where I can write down all my crazy thoughts. All the things that run through my head, and happen in my life with some of my friends.</p>
<p>A place to do all of this without having to worry about completely annoying my husband and driving him completely insane. Hence, the title - Writing to Save My Husband’s Sanity.</p>
<p>Sometimes I’m not sure that’s the most appropriate title. </p>
<p>Partly because if I were being perfectly honest, I’d have to admit that I still drive him completely bonkers. Partly because I often talk to him about things involving people I know and how frustrated they make me in real life. Things I’m too chicken to place on my blog. Also because they are momentary feelings and feelings I don’t want saved online for all to see. (Not that anyone really reads this thing). So I question changing the title of my blog, but to what, I don't know.</p>
<p>When I first started writing I was going through a lot. A lot of issues with my own self esteem and with God. A lot of wanting to be a good wife, and practice for one day being a good mother.</p>
<p>Yet, my thoughts and feelings on so much has changed since I started. Sure, I still wonder if I should be wearing skirts instead of pants sometimes. If I’m being more obedient to God by wearing skirts. And I'm still going through a lot. Struggling to understand and come to terms with the hand we've been dealt. Struggling to understand my infertility and the other health problems that come with my condition. I worry I am failing God. That my doubts and struggled with everything are letting Him down... But I also remember that no matter what, I’m LOVED by the most High King. The Almighty. My Lord and Savior.</p>
<p>I just want to pause here to think about how amazing that is. How amazing is the love that God “lavishes” upon each and everyone one of us. How desperately He wants that personal relationship with each of us. I recently read a book entitled <i>Captivating</i>. It reminded me of just this same thing. How much God loves each and every one of us. The book really delves into a woman’s heart, and how God wants to be someone who will romance her, and sweep her off her feet with His love for her. Can I just say WOW!</p>
<p>But I still have questions. Questions about what is appropriate. While I don't believe you HAVE to wear skirts to be modest, I still struggle with whether or not one article of clothing is more modest than another. I question whether my posts get across the fact that I was trying to do research. That I was going through a lot at that point in my life. That I still am. That I don't have all the answers and am trying to figure things out.</p>
<p>Because of all these questions, and because I feel that my opinions on modesty are sometimes different now than when I first started blogging them, I have to ask myself...</p>
<p>Should I alter the older posts to reflect my current views? Should I delete them so that I won’t confuse anyone who maybe sees them and finds them strange? Or Should I leave them, and maybe post a link at the bottom to one of my current posts on fashion and modesty that better explains where I stand on the issues?
</p>
<p>It could be that I'm just in the mood for some spring cleaning</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-14126204176089914622013-05-14T21:02:00.000-04:002013-05-21T09:07:10.562-04:00Running Partners<span style="font-family: Courier New;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"></span><div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H4VyUWEJk50/UZLjqBQbXwI/AAAAAAAACK4/9gT9FruXr4c/s640/blogger-image-1790922300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H4VyUWEJk50/UZLjqBQbXwI/AAAAAAAACK4/9gT9FruXr4c/s320/blogger-image-1790922300.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New;">
I have been thinking a lot lately about the changes in my life.<br />
Over the last year or so I have moved across the country, started attending and gotten involved with a new church (very different from what this girl grew up with mind you) and started finding out a whole bunch of stuff involving my health and our journey with all this crazy infertility stress.<br />
Then this year started...<a href="http://draft.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a> My husband got his health straightened out and decided he needed to run a marathon with our church. You can read more about that <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/”http://writingtosavemyhusbandssanity.blogspot.com/2013/01/training.html”">here</a>. So, we started. And through the soreness, aching muscles and intense pain, we pushed. We kept pushing. Through the sweat, the tears, and the occasional issues with sugar levels and getting dizzy (me not hubs) we persevered. <br />
Then I realized something. <br />
I HATE the feeling of rest days. I get antsy. Anxious. I want to MOVE. I want to RUN.<br />
Seriously. When did this happen? When did I actually start to enjoy running? <br />
I mean, i USED to like running. when I had to run the mile in PE class. Pushing myself to get faster, better times. Pushing myself to beat all the guys. All of a sudden, I’m feeling that same energy again. That same push to keep me going.<br />
I’m also enjoying learning about myself. ABout my body. How far I can push myself. I have learned that while I wanna give up around the halfway point and need encouragement to get going, I’m finding that the last portion of the run gets me wanting to push farther and faster. I want to get back to the car and to my water bottle. Hubs, has a different problem. He enjoys the whole thing. Around the halfway point is where he is still feeling great, and encourages me. But when we hit the last portion - the one where I feel excited and pumped, That’s when he need the encouragement to keep pushing through. <br />
It’s one of the great things about having a running partner. :-) They encourage you and support you when you feel your worst. <br />
I guess this just means that I have one more reason to love my husband for being my running partner. He pushes me to do better and go farther.<br />
</span><br />BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-26396583137463649192013-05-10T11:25:00.002-04:002013-05-21T09:07:55.323-04:00What are we Teaching?<span style="font-family: Courier New;">
</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mlc3ztb8PXk/UY03ii-sPLI/AAAAAAAACKE/FmGKKyQ0YGI/s640/blogger-image-1941793086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Mlc3ztb8PXk/UY03ii-sPLI/AAAAAAAACKE/FmGKKyQ0YGI/s320/blogger-image-1941793086.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Courier New;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
I work with kids a lot, and I enjoy every minute of it. I've always loved working with kids. And our journey with infertility doesn't make it any harder. In fact, it makes me love spending time with them even more.
Crazy?<br />
Maybe. <br />
Maybe I'm just thankful that God has placed me in a position where I get to spend so much time with these young kids, teach them and most importantly, learn from them.<br />
But then comes the hard part. The constant reminder of "what kind of example am I setting?"<br />
<a name='more'></a>
This hit me really hard yesterday. I had been watching my nephew all day, and when his older sister came home we got to spend some time together. She seemed a bit bummed out that she will be repeating first grade, but overall happy. As it got later, I was getting a bit anxious. I needed to get across town during rush hour traffic. Around here, that can turn a 30 minute trip into an hour long trip. I made a commitment at church to work childcare for a class, and I said I would be there at 6. 5:30 was coming on pretty quick, and I was getting a bit nervous.<br />
My niece is 6 and rather perceptive when it comes to the emotions of others. So she asked me why I didn't want to spend more time with her and why I was in such a hurry to leave. I explained to her that I would LOVE to spend more time with her but that I had to get to church.<br />
Then she floored me. She looked up at me. Sad.<br />
"Do you love church more than me, Aunt Becky?"<br />
I was floored.<br />
How do you answer that sort of question. How do I explain to a 6 year old how important my faith is, and how important God is in my life?<br />
So I knelt down in front of her, and I told her. "I don't love church more than you, but I do love God more. I love God more than EVERYONE! You know how I married your uncle Chris?"<br />
*nods*<br />
"Well, I love God more than I love uncle Chris. God is more important to me than anyone."<br />
"Why?"<br />
At that question I was so thankful that I had found a nesting egg earlier. A nesting egg with John 3:16 scripted on each egg that fit one inside the other.<br />
<div p="">
<br /></div>
So I talked to her. I told her that God loves each one of us so very much. That God gave up His son. His only son. The apple of His eye, to come down and die, so that we might be forgiven.<br />
"If He loves me THAT much? How can I not love Him that much? When I became a Christian, I knew it meant that God had to come first.<br />
Then my heart broke.<br />
"What's a Christian?"<br />
We then had a little chat about following Christ and placing Him first in your life. I can't help but wonder, even amongst church going families, how many of the kids that I interact with in our church nursery and preschool groups, know what it means to be a Christian. Have even heard the word spoken?<br />
My niece went to a Christian preschool. She was taught to pray before her meals and every night before bed. But she had no idea what I meant when I said I was a Christian.<br />
It made me question what kind of example we set for kids. Are we expecting them to just blindly follow along and do these things, or are we teaching them real lessons regarding faith and Jesus? Are we demonstrating to them how God should ALWAYS be #1 in our lives? Or do we just teach them the basics and pray it will get them through?<br />
I don't know if I did the right thing. I don't know if I will ever know. I just know I couldn't lie...<br />
</span><br />BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-8356258070410372062013-04-30T18:42:00.001-04:002013-05-15T09:25:06.245-04:00Nephew Time<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Got to spend time with my nephew today. Made me a very happy auntie :-)<br />
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWh_rN8HyWM/UYBI4pFcNbI/AAAAAAAACHA/OBRyKTiUGG4/s640/blogger-image--974730270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RWh_rN8HyWM/UYBI4pFcNbI/AAAAAAAACHA/OBRyKTiUGG4/s640/blogger-image--974730270.jpg" /></a></div><a name='more'></a> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bh_7t_ZuZUM/UYBHHeYmOgI/AAAAAAAACGk/x-uaJqwDwW8/s640/blogger-image--323676069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-bh_7t_ZuZUM/UYBHHeYmOgI/AAAAAAAACGk/x-uaJqwDwW8/s640/blogger-image--323676069.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rYpoHhoLlgo/UYBG-xoOELI/AAAAAAAACGM/qqjm99iY6Tg/s640/blogger-image--1728897386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-rYpoHhoLlgo/UYBG-xoOELI/AAAAAAAACGM/qqjm99iY6Tg/s640/blogger-image--1728897386.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OSEXFEeTFkM/UYBHJy1ztpI/AAAAAAAACGs/QukJtKnAFw0/s640/blogger-image-356996658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-OSEXFEeTFkM/UYBHJy1ztpI/AAAAAAAACGs/QukJtKnAFw0/s640/blogger-image-356996658.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4nPjGBq3ZrE/UYBI0kkgqfI/AAAAAAAACG4/VHY2CWHPn7Q/s640/blogger-image--2138871598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4nPjGBq3ZrE/UYBI0kkgqfI/AAAAAAAACG4/VHY2CWHPn7Q/s640/blogger-image--2138871598.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1MlCQkaNxvw/UYBHDrunWwI/AAAAAAAACGc/Jvo8Wa-vUHg/s640/blogger-image--1052158142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1MlCQkaNxvw/UYBHDrunWwI/AAAAAAAACGc/Jvo8Wa-vUHg/s640/blogger-image--1052158142.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WQRRY_ME1T0/UYBHB2x7amI/AAAAAAAACGU/ycRlVmsPmOI/s640/blogger-image-1484032860.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-WQRRY_ME1T0/UYBHB2x7amI/AAAAAAAACGU/ycRlVmsPmOI/s640/blogger-image-1484032860.jpg" /></a></div>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-91794980021483773552013-04-18T18:43:00.001-04:002013-05-21T09:09:23.621-04:00Weight Loss Update (including pics)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Dy6N019A_4/UXB2-IDOXVI/AAAAAAAACFU/4xHJtoa7lAE/s640/blogger-image-233329009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6Dy6N019A_4/UXB2-IDOXVI/AAAAAAAACFU/4xHJtoa7lAE/s320/blogger-image-233329009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace;">I haven't really lost much weight per se, but I have definitely been dropping sizes! it's a great feeling, but it's also REALLY annoying with nothing fits!!!</span></div>
BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-81887041507293930892013-04-18T07:37:00.001-04:002013-05-15T09:28:05.142-04:00Insurance, Infertility, and Birth Control<span style="font-family:Courier New;"> I like reading commentary articles, blog posts and a bunch of stuff like that. It's always fun, even if somewhat aggravating, to read what others believe and how they feel about certain issues. Some I laugh at, because you can see they don't have any clearly thought out arguments for or against something. They just have a gut instinct. I can respect that, but I have to laugh when they try to turn gut instinct into logical argument. Others are thought provoking and make me question my own beliefs on the issue. Or maybe they reaffirm my desire to remain undecided on a certain issue.
<a name='more'></a>
<p>Then there are those that I actually find hurtful. Like the recent April Fools joke that made me want to cry because it involved lying about being pregnant to freak another person out. Something which many couples in this great country, and around the world are struggling to do everyday. My hubs and I included. So I was hurt in the sense that it makes it seem like it's soooo easy for everyone to get pregnant, but then I was also hurt because it made it seem like the point was to be all "oh no! not another kid" when I truly believe that children are a blessing from the Lord, and should always be welcomed and a reason for excitement. Never "oh no!"</p>
<p>And what would these women do if their husbands were actually excited when they told them the "news"? How hurtful to them would that be?</p>
<p>This time it was no different. A friend of mine on facebook liked a photo from a group called "Chicks on the Right." I have never heard of this group before, and while I don't belong to either party any longer, I wanted to read what they had to say to see if I would potentially enjoy getting their updates. On their page was a link to their website, and <a href="http://chicksontheright.com/posts/item/24050-infertility-insurance-coverage-for-gay-couples-seriously"> THIS</a> post, discussing a proposed CA law. The law would ensure that infertility be covered. This would be HUGE for couples like my husband and I who have to pay out of pocket for ANY testing that needs to be done just to continue finding out whether we are completely infertile, or just have a much lower than normal chance of conceiving. When I read about it, I thought, "hmm... maybe we should move to California..."</p>
<p>Now, the author of the post in question was raising a fuss over one particular part.<blockquote>"Coverage for the treatment of infertility shall be offered and provided without discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, domestic partner status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation."</blockquote> Their focus was on the part where it says "domestic partner status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information" and postulated that this meant that gay couples would receive infertility treatment. At first, the picture they painted was kind of funny I admit. Two guys go to a fertility clinic and complain about not being able to get pregnant... well... biologically you CANT get pregnant so, there's no infertility to treat. Why would they need infertility coverage?</p>
<p>Their argument makes some sense. Unless you know what it means to deal with infertility. And you remember that a gay couple can be two guys OR two girls. Maybe the two guys have been trying to use a surrogate, and are finding that they cant seem to get her pregnant. Testing for that SHOULD be covered because it is part of their basic health as men. And I'm sure prices vary around the country, but here in MI we had to pay completely out of pocket (just over a 100 bucks) just to TALK to the urologist and have him recommend what tests he thinks my husband should have done in order to see if there was even the possibility of something wrong on his end. Those doctor visits add up pretty quick. What if the two women are using healthy donated sperm and are unable to get pregnant? They could have serious health problems that could affect other areas of their lives.</p>
<p> In my case, and what I'm most familiar with, the problem is PCOS. Which has my sugar/insulin levels out of whack, which can lead to full blown diabetes. I also have too much testosterone (free androgens) and that causes a host of other problems. Often times, infertility can cause physical health problems. Not only that, but mental health problems as well.</p>
<p>So we have to deny these health coverage benefits to gay couples simply because they're gay?</p>
<p>Let's also not forget how much a law like this would help heterosexual couples unable to conceive as well. The focus should be HEALTH not another attack on the gay community.</p>
<p>And does anyone find it strange that we can get free birth control on the grounds of reproductive health, but then have to pay for this area of our reproductive health out of pocket?</p></span> BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-9260692624421840792013-03-29T22:47:00.001-04:002013-05-15T09:28:44.384-04:00Bad Week<span style="don't-family:Courier New;">been having one of those weeks where NOTHING seems to go right. And today just seemed like the icing on the cake. <br />
<br />
<p> finally got our bed frame we have been wanting to get for a year now. We used some of the tax return we go to actually complete out bedroom! That was a plus... Except...I ended up leaving my adorable mini binder with my coupons in the store at the register. </p><br />
<p>my brain was NOT working. </p><br />
<p> so we go and we are halfway home from Ikea (about 30 minutes) when I realized. I simultaneously realized we couldn't go back because of all the errands we had to do on hubby's one day off </p> <br />
<p> it was also one of those days where slow drivers, people laughing too loudly, and smells just drove me bonkers. I was constantly snapping and totally ashamed of myself for acting that way. </p><br />
<p>I did previously mention that this has been building up all week and today has been one of those "I just wanna cry my eyes out days," right?</p><br />
<p> so then came the big one. </p><br />
<p> it was posted on Pinterest as an April fools joke. For the majority of the population, I can see why it would be funny. But for me, and a few of my friends, it's a joke that would break our hearts, and our husband's hearts</p><br />
<p> it was a joke where you buy a cheap EPT and have a pregnant friend take it. Then take it home, pretend you took it, and show it to your spouse</p><br />
<p> the lady who took it had a one year old and her husbands reaction was hilarious. A commenter wrote about doing it to her hubs when their child was 5 months old. </p><br />
<p> I get. I do. I really get it. </p><br />
<p> but my heart broke </p> <br />
<p> why?</p><br />
<p> I may never see that positive line show up on a test. Hubs may never get the joy of that moment when he realizes that he is going to be a dad when I show it to him</p><br />
<p> sure, we could adopt and raise a family that way. And we desperately want to once we are in a slightly better financial situation. And while welcoming a child into our home in any capacity would be a great joy for us, that positive pregnancy test could be one of those things we would miss, if my fears are confirmed. </p><br />
<p>yes, the joke could be funny. But it can be hurtful too</p><br />
<p>so I'm asking the few people that read this, think before you speak, or pin, or post. You may not realize how much something could be killing someone else inside, though they'd never be able to tell you.</p><br />
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-12957125692107440432013-03-27T18:55:00.000-04:002013-05-15T09:28:44.345-04:00OversharingBeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-15699602950428908402013-02-20T13:29:00.001-05:002013-02-20T13:45:05.020-05:00My Bible Project <span style="font-family:Courier New;">At the beginning of the year I started a "read the bible in a year challenge. i may have mentioned this already, but if i haven't, you can find out more about the challenege i am doing <a href="http://rachelwojo.com/read-your-bible-in-a-year-challenge/">here</a>. Its been really great, and though i have fallen a few days behind due to my mother coming into town for a weekend, it has been an amazing experience so far. There's even some awesome bookmarks you can print out. They are super cute, and as much as i love them, they weren't working in my Bible...
<a name='more'></a>
<p>I have one of those tiny backpack sized bibles. it fits in almost every purse i own. i also have the bible on my phone, but flipping between books and chapters on it is not as quick as flipping through the actual paper and ink version. i don't remember it having any of those useful ribbon bookmarks, and on this plan, you are reading 4 books at one time. not to mention my bible study reading.</p>
<p>the other day i was looking all over meijer to see if i could find some thin ribbon to use to make into bookmarks for my bible. it was all so thick i knew it would look funny in my small bible. i needed thin ribbon. and i didnt have time to stop at hobby lobby while running my errands. so i just came back home and sat around dreaming of ribbon bookmarks for my bible</p>
<p>then, while getting some thread and a needle to fix some shirts that got holes in them, i found some ribbon. it was probably some of that string that is inside dresses and blouses to help them hang on a hanger better.</p>
<p> but it was thin.</p>
<p> really thin.</p>
<p> perfect thin.</p>
<p>and free. i love free</p>
<p>so i cut it, and held the edges close to a flame so they wouldn't fray.</p>
<p>i then managed to sew them together on one end, and slide them between where the binding and the "pleather" cover had a space between them. i used double sided permanent double mounting tape i bought back when i was trying to be more interested in scrapbooking.</p>
<p>and i must say, i love it. i think it's perfect. i only wish i had a fifth ribbon so that i could mark where i am for my bible study group. maybe i should raid my blouses and dresses to see if i can find some more...</p>
<p>and without further ado, here are the picsof my "handiwork". hopefully this will hold up well :-D</p>
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pKX6DPD96kM/USUWDwCxVhI/AAAAAAAAB-w/FTVpxGkvUwo/s640/blogger-image-1211904284.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-pKX6DPD96kM/USUWDwCxVhI/AAAAAAAAB-w/FTVpxGkvUwo/s640/blogger-image-1211904284.jpg" /></a></div>
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a7B8DdjJtkw/USUWA57-11I/AAAAAAAAB-g/00rEsiwkK64/s640/blogger-image-1259998239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a7B8DdjJtkw/USUWA57-11I/AAAAAAAAB-g/00rEsiwkK64/s640/blogger-image-1259998239.jpg" /></a></div>
<br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qnj-hE3Elto/USUWCOM475I/AAAAAAAAB-o/P6g2fmpsSHI/s640/blogger-image--2006109809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-qnj-hE3Elto/USUWCOM475I/AAAAAAAAB-o/P6g2fmpsSHI/s640/blogger-image--2006109809.jpg" /></a></div>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-17102227679203987472013-02-20T09:37:00.001-05:002013-05-15T09:30:25.375-04:00Marathon Training and Weight Loss Update<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Okay, so the title today is a bit misleading. Mainly because I haven't actually been doing much training due to the cold weather. I also can't tell you if I've actually lost any weight because I don't own a scale. I know, my marathon goals and weight loss goals are going to be SOOOO easy to keep up with. :-P
<a name='more'></a>
<p>However, I do have one way to tell if I'm getting any improvements. My clothes! Half my bottoms I can pull down without unbuttoning them! Huge progress for me! Before this last weekend, I had 3 pairs of jeans that I could wear. A size 14, a size 15, and a 12. :-) the 14 and 12 were from american eagle, and the 15 was some random pair of jeans we found in the juniors section at kohls. Then the 14s started falling down a bit too easily. I'd throw a belt on, and that would help, but it wasn't a great solution. The 12s started to get a little loose as well. loose enough that they were pretty baggy on me about 5 minutes after pulling them out of the dryer. gotta love it! and hate it. it really sucks when clothes dont fit...</p>
<p>so, when my mom was up this past weekend, i got two new pairs of jeans. and i am so excited bevause they were size 10s!!!!! and fit me REALLY well! Okay, one was a size 10. the other was a size L from Fredericks of Hollywood. Who would have guessed that a lingerie store would sell some pretty cute jeans that fit REALLY well???</p>
<p>Marathon training is still on hold for some warmer weather, but I am working on losing weight (so that I can run easier, less bulk to carry around) and I've been working on building strength to help me as well. Hopefully in about a month I'll be able to start training!:-)</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-47761366540990902852013-02-14T08:03:00.000-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.370-04:00Happy Valentines Day!<span style="font-family:Courier New;">While I find the actual history of Valentine's Day to be rather gruesome and not something I want to celebrate, I LOVE the greeting card version. Hearts and Flowers and chocolates. All the wonderful things us women love to receive from our husbands. :-)
<a name='more'></a>
<p>Hubs and I aren't doing anything special for today. Unfortunately, I work in the church nursery in the mornings watching kids while the women enjoy their bible studies, and he works EVERY Thursday night. So, not a great year for us to celebrate. So we're just doing the card thing this year.</p>
<p>But since I love my husband so dearly, I thought I would post up some photos of us. Some of my favorite pics of us over the years. Hard to believe, but we will have been together for 6 years this august!! </p>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AF7s4nXeOT0/URzgxN0vbgI/AAAAAAAAB-A/-w6VMJF8V6E/s1600/GF+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AF7s4nXeOT0/URzgxN0vbgI/AAAAAAAAB-A/-w6VMJF8V6E/s320/GF+dock.jpg" /></a>
<p>this first one is from our latest trip to Disney World. We took a terrible photo on the dock where we had our first date (well part of it anyway) and showing off the restaurant where we had our reception</p>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9zSnFYJxeA/URzg3eINnFI/AAAAAAAAB-I/jf6E6Rm8Opc/s1600/Disneyland+Honeymoon.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W9zSnFYJxeA/URzg3eINnFI/AAAAAAAAB-I/jf6E6Rm8Opc/s320/Disneyland+Honeymoon.jpg" /></a>
<p>This one is from our honeymoon to Disneyland. we really are Disney nerds</p>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_n6bog74Wk/URzg_xcwX2I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/5UxdxgA-xds/s1600/hobe+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G_n6bog74Wk/URzg_xcwX2I/AAAAAAAAB-Q/5UxdxgA-xds/s320/hobe+beach.jpg" /></a>
<p>From the first time he went to Miami. We didn't want to pay to go to the nicer beaches for a quick walk (since it was chilly) so we went to the free beach that is actually pretty gross, but got a GREAT shot!</p>
<p>So it's Valentine's Day, and my valentine is just about the greatest guy I could have ever asked for. Time for me to go let him know how awesome I think he is :-P</p>
<p>By the way, tomorrow morning I'm going to be writing about the difficulties of finding a sentimental card that is perfect, and how frustrated I got during the search that I wanted to cry. LoL. Don't worry. I didn't.</p>
</span>
BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-27690165072209352912013-02-01T21:36:00.001-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.357-04:00Random Musings...<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Being sick really sucks. Thankfully, whenever I am sick, I tend to get over whatever it is pretty quickly as long as I get rest. So far, I have managed to kick this cold's butt!! Woohoo!! Oh, and even better, I managed to do it with minimal meds. Some OTC Tylenol for when it got REALLY bad and at night so I could actually get some rest. Yay for my body's natural immune system deciding to kick it into high gear
<p>But, whether it has been the OTC stuff, or just my general weirdness talking... I had some pretty random thoughts occur to me...Some kind of silly fluff, like most of my posts, and some... well... we will get there.</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p>First off, I was randomly (not sure why) thinking about this past election and FL and my brother in law. Specifically a comment he made and blasted to the whole world, that was highly false. He blamed FL for voting for Obama because of all the illegal immigrants voting in south FL... Well, 1)we all know illegal immigrants can't vote. No matter what state or county they are in, they cannot vote in a United States election. 2)South Florida's hispanic immigrants, who have become citizens and CAN vote are largely Cuban, and have predominantly voted Republican. Except for the younger generations, for whom this was their first election voting. Obama won FL because of the Puerto Rican vote along the I4 corridor, and Puerto Ricans are US citizens by birth, and have been since about 1896 (If i correctly remember the information my wonderful cousin posted on facebook about when Puerto Ricans got citizenship). Then it dawned on me... HUBBY'S grandmother is CANADIAN!!! I have more American citizens as ancestors going back the same about of generations as my husband!!!! Which led to the realization that I am more American than my loving and wonderful WASP (white-anglo-saxon-protestant) husband. Though to be fair, he grew up Catholic and still hasn't decided where he stands on Jesus.. so maybe he's a WASP without the P...</p>
<p>Yes, my mind does weird things sometimes</p>
<p>Then I realized something else... I am still waiting for a period that should have come a month ago. No, I'm not pregnant. Sorry to disappoint. It's just my annoying body and this stupid thing called PCOS. Stupid body...</p>
<p>So, I guess there's no chance of my even being able to figure out if I'm even ON a cycle anymore. UGH!!! Infertility issues BLOW! Like, seriously. I think this has been the most painful thing I have ever had to deal with. I have had a chunk of the fleshy part of my finger practically ripped off. I have serious back pain all the time. To the point where it sometimes hurts when I WALK! I have COLLAPSED because "mother nature" is very cruel to me in the cramping department. Yet this is the worst pain. Why?</p>
<p>Because it's all emotional</p>
<p>It's my heart breaking OVER and OVER</p>
<p>Every negative pregnancy test when I'm "late"</p>
<p>Every time I took my temperature and saw NO change up or down for the entire month while charting.</p>
<p>It's like my heart is being ripped to shreds. Torn into millions of tiny pieces, and each piece a <p>Now, I KNOW that God will give us a child when HE sees fit and not before then. I know that when HE does, I will be so grateful and I will thank Him, and realize that no other child would have been better for us. That this gift He has bestowed on us, is the PERFECT gift for us.</p>
<p>It's not the trusting that's hard. It's the waiting. Waiting while everyone around you plans their families. It's the waiting while others announce their miracles. It's the heartache that accompanies looking at photos of friends kids, while also loving their little ones more than you can express. All because your heart is longfing for nothing more than to love.</p>
<p>I look at women, like my dear friend, who have been on this journey of infertility longer than I, and I just want to shout out praises to them. I want to tell them how wonderful and beautiful they are. Remind them, that though they aren't having kids, they are still feminine, and womanly. And gorgeous.</p>
<p>I want to tell them these things because... I don't feel like I am any of those things. I feel ugly. And like anything feminine or womanly about me has been forcibly taken. I feel like a mass of skin and bones. All my organs intact, but nothing truly functioning the way it's supposed to.</p>
<p>I want to cry with them, and rejoice with them, and I want them to rejoice in who I am.</p>
<p>I want us to remind one another of the one thing we all have that no other women have... strength. We have the strength to carry on and smile for other when our hearts are breaking. We have the strength to love, and laugh while undergoing one of the deepest despairs we will ever go through.</p>
<p>And when we have a victory. Whether through treatments, or adoption, and we finally enter the realm of motherhood... Our rejoicing will be all the greater, and we will truly appreciate the happiness that comes with it because of the heartache we faced in getting there.</p>
<p>But until then, we must remain strong. For ourselves. For our spouses. and for the precious ones that God will bring into our lives, in so many various ways.</p>
<p>And, now that I've spoken on my super serious topic, I think it's off to bed. I just finished <i>Eragon</i> by Christopher Paolini. I read the first two books in high school, but I'm rereading them so I can read the last two which came out while I was in college and just this past year. And... I have to catch up on my Read the Bible in a Year Challenge. Being sick sort of gave me ZERO focus on anything, so I have a couple days catch up to play. :-)</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-81917915274128760352013-01-29T16:03:00.000-05:002013-01-29T16:03:51.244-05:00Merits of King David<span style="font-family: Courier New;">This past weekend at church, we talked about differences. When we have differences with someone. When our relationship with someone is getting strained and something about them is driving us crazy, and we want so desperately to cut them down... We talked about David, before he became king. When Saul was chasing him through the wilderness trying to kill him. David had at least 3 times that he could have killed Saul, while Saul sat or slept. Completely unaware.
</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Courier New;">
So what are we to take from the story? Well, mostly that vengeance belongs to the Lord. We shouldn't treat people ill or cut them down simply because they are mean to us.<br />
Now, I know we all have people in our lives that drive us batty. For me, it's someone I wish I was closer to for someone else's sake. She's a very nice person most of the time. We just have VERY different personalities that rub each other the wrong way ALL the time. Or maybe it's because our personalities are so similar that we rub each other the wrong way. It's the sort of the thing where she yelled at me a few times, telling me off for being inconsiderate, but then she is also herself very inconsiderate, especially when it concerns me or my husband. Sort of been a pot calling the kettle black sort of thing. I'm sure there's a lot of reasons why we don't get along. We don't really have much in common. We rarely enjoy the same books and movies, and we have very different views on everything. Now, I'm not denying my inconsiderate nature. I can be extremely selfish, and I can say things without realizing how they sound to others. It happens. I'm human!<br />
Anywhoo...<br />
This past Sunday was no exception. Once again, we had to butt heads over some stuff. Now, I admit, the first bit to set me off, also set off my husband. It's a topic we are both very sensitive about. For the last two years, we have been trying to get pregnant. I knew we were going to have problems because I've never been... regular... So we found out I have PCOS, and I know I have written about some of this before. Well, we also found out more recently that hubs has some problems too. Which is going to even further lower our ability to get pregnant. We haven't yet gotten all the results from doctors yet, because there's more tests they want to run. And we decided we can't make new medical bills unless we have the cash available to pay it off immediately. and a $200 test that insurance won't cover doesn't count as an emergency.<br />
Now, this person, whom I don't get along with very well, has lately just started trying. A few months in, and she does nothing but complain about how they haven't gotten pregnant. Sunday, it seemed like it was a lot of her moaning and whining. This is one of the ways she can be inconsiderate. She knows we have been trying. She knows we are having trouble. She doesn't stop to think about how it makes us feel.<br />
Finally, even hubs snapped at her. One short, catty comment to her.<br />
Unfortunately, what felt to me like hours of her whining and moaning and blaming her parents, left me rather... short. On patience.<br />
I may or may not have also been very short with her when she began trying to "educate" me on another topic - cold weather running. Is she a runner? No. Not in the slightest. I've actually never seen her even exercise. Now, I've said before that hubs and I are going to run a marathon in September. We're actually really exciting about it, and as long as the weather was above 0 we figured we could still run. We did research and bundled up. After the first time we went, we decided it wasn't for us. We don't plan on going again until it starts to warm up more.<br />
So I wasn't proud of myself. I even apologized for it, because I knew I needed to. Now, I didn't get an apology back even though I told her how badly she hurt us both... But it's okay. I can live with it. It just reminded me of how far we are from having a kid. It just reopened an old wound that I had thought was mostly healed. So, I spent the entire night in tears, devastated. Once again in tears because I may never get to experience pregnancy. We both agreed we would go for adoption if that was a definite. So parenting and raising part of the next generation would still be an achievement. and to be fair, having a child of my own is not something I feel super strongly about. I have wanted to adopt since I was about 14.<br />
There's just a lot that I know I may miss out on. And while I'm waiting, I have to bear the heartache that comes with years of waiting.<br />
This song has been resonating with me a lot though lately. Anyone else out there with a broken heart over anything, I'm sure you can relate as well.:-) Enjoy!<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1CSVqHcdhXQ" width="420"></iframe>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-2680343890841212772013-01-21T08:58:00.001-05:002013-05-15T09:30:25.377-04:00More Training<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Got more training in. okay, only sort of. yesterday, i spent about ten minutes on the wii fit and did a ten minute free run... the one where you can change the channel and watch something else while you run in place... that counts as training, right?
<p>no?</p>
<p>okay fine...</p>
<p>Well then at least I went running with the hubs today. It's about... 17 degress outside, and i could tell that it was making it more difficult. breathing while running felt like little ice daggers were going down into my lungs. might have something to do with the cold both hubs and i have. otherwise, it felt good to be out and running. we did about a mile, and i found out something fun.</p>
<p>the other day i jokingly told hubby that i could run faster than him. well, what do you know? i CAN!!!!</p>
<p>Well, that's my training update. Now, to go back to working out. which is what im doing when im indoors so i can work up my stamina and get my heart used to the workouts.... did i mention before about how seriously out of shape i am?</p>
<p>Oh! and Before I forget, hubs and i are running the marathon as part of a group from our church. We are running with the Hope Water Project. It's a great cause all about getting clean water to the people living in the Pokot region of Kenya. If you are interested, here is my <a href="http://www.socialply.com/fundraisers/422">page</a> where you can learn more about the hope water project and donate money if God so moves your heart. If you don't have the money, don't worry. I have no idea who donates or doesnt. My goal is $1,000 and last I checked I was at $20.</p>
<p>Oh and on a side note, I think the English have it right when they write their pound sign AFTER the dollar amount. Makes so much more sense to me to right 20$. That even reads like 20 dollars rather than dollars 20. :-P</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-76209484343180549172013-01-20T15:54:00.003-05:002013-05-15T09:30:25.382-04:00Training<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Well, it's official. Hubs and I have signed up for the Detroit Marathon! 26.2 miles of running. Through Detroit and into Canada for a bit, then back to Detroit. And I have to be honest... I'm a bit terrified. Why? Well...
<a name='more'></a>
<p>I have been wanting to lose weight for a while. Like, 5 months after my wedding a while. I wanted to lose weight before my wedding as well, but that is a bit of a different story. 5 months after my wedding I felt like I had ballooned. I gained over 20 pounds. I was really hard on myself and hid behind my clothes. A LOT. It wasn't that bad and I knew I still had a pretty good figure, and most people had no idea how much i ACTUALLY weighed. Most people were shocked when I told them I was near 180 (mind you, I'm only 5'4" so that's drastically into the overweight category), so I was actually not too bad. The hard part was clothes. Nothing fit right. I couldn't seem to find clothes that fit me well and I struggled with that. A LOT.</p>
<p>Then we moved to Michigan and I lost a little weight. No. That's not right. I didn't really lose much weight. I lost some size. I was really happy. I had been close to getting into a size 16 (again, remember my shortness), and finally my 14 pants were starting to feel a bit looser. Then, I was able to fit into some 12s. They were REALLY tight, but they zipped and buttoned so I was happy.</p>
<p>But I still wasn't really losing weight. I was still kinda big. Then, I got my confirmation on a PCOS diagnosis, and was started on some medicine to regulate my insulin/sugar levels. I have lost almost 10 pounds since then!</p>
<p>I'm starting to feel better but realize I still have a long way to go until I get back into a healthy weight/BMI range. But I lack motivation. I look at outfits and think "oh how cute! If only I could fit into that!!!" So I daydream about losing the weight, and... That is about where it ends. Daydreaming.</p>
<p>Last Sunday, during a series our church was doing titled "Finding God in Unlikely Places" The second in a three part series, this one focused on "finding God in a marathon," seemed to have a big effect on the hubs. We left church that day with him determined to have us run the marathon.</p>
<p>I've always wanted to run a marathon. Seriously. I have. I just never actually expected to be signed up and doing it. Especially at the request of my wonderful, loving hubs, who has never really shown any interest in anything more athletic than watching a game on tv.</p>
<p>I'm thrilled that he wants to do this, and wants to do this with me. I'm just scared I will lack the motivation to get the training in so that I'll be able to finish. I'm scared that I'll look at this as a way to lose weight, and then won't lose weight or size. I'm scared I'll look like an idiot trying to run and get so embarrassed I'll quit very early on. </p>
<p>The running doesn't scare me. I've actually always enjoyed the feeling of running. I just lacked the discipline...</p>
<p>Looks like God is going to be using this year to teach me about more than taking leaps of faith (like quitting my job with no back up only to find that hubs prefers it and realizing it means completely trusting God with our finances). Discipline.</p>
<p>On another note, our Dave Ramsey "money makeover" is working out pretty well so far. We managed to save up the baby step 1 emergency fund a lot faster than either of us thought we would, and we had enough left over to start working on getting things we need for the marathon. After all those expenses are done (and we are only doing them because of God pulling on hubby's heart to run the marathon- even if he doesn't want to admit it, it was a God thing) we start baby step 2. paying down all our debts. which include a car payment and student loans!</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-4696030604987665182013-01-10T10:12:00.001-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.367-04:00Liebster Award Nomination<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Wow! Got to be honest. I'm really touched and sort of confused at the same time. My dear friend Katie, from over at <a href="http://confessionsofasouthernfashionista.blogspot.com/">Confessions of a Southern Fashionista</a>, nominated me for something called a Liebster Award. I had NO clue what it was. Thankfully, in her post where she nominated everyone she explained a bit about it. :-)You can read her explanation <a href="http://confessionsofasouthernfashionista.blogspot.com/2013/01/liebster-nom-and-award.html">here</a>.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUXnRC9ARyY/UOzmSTGzPmI/AAAAAAAAAr4/E7X1_i2W4wQ/s1600/leibster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="159" width="160" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kUXnRC9ARyY/UOzmSTGzPmI/AAAAAAAAAr4/E7X1_i2W4wQ/s1600/leibster.jpg" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>
<p>There are a few simple rules to understanding the Liebster Award.
<ol>
<li>It's an award for blogs with less than 200 followers. The idea is to introduce people to smaller blogs, that don't really have much of a following yet.</li>
<li>In order to accept a nomination you are supposed to answer some questions that are asked by the person who nominated you.(I'll get to those in a minute)</li>
<li>You are also supposed to nominate 11 other bloggers.</li>
</ol>
</p>
<p>Not too difficult. Just a bit frustrating when you aren't sure you even know 11 other small bloggers, and I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to nominate her back?</p>
<p>Yep, just checked. I can't nominate her back....</p>
<p>Oh well, guess I'll have to do the best I can!</p>
<ol>
<b><li> Who's your favorite fashion designer?</b></li>
This one has to be the hardest for me. Not because I don't care about fashion. That's not it at all. I just don't know many designers except for the basics of what you can pick up at Macy's or other department stores. I'm generally more a thrift store, Ross, Marshall's kinda gal. I shop discount stores. So, this question is kind of hard for me. I like a classic look... and as anyone who reads my blog and knows me, I love modest looks. For instance, I love Blair on Gossip Girl. Her choices are feminine and beautiful and she rarely wears anything that is super indecent (well, except for when she is in the boudoir of course). But I prefer Vanessa's more relaxed, comfy and ready for anything FEEL. Maybe Katie should help me out with this....I'm Miranda and Charlotte. Classic, basic, and feminine. lol
<b><li> What's your favorite color?</b></li>
blue. just about any shade of blue too. That was easy. NEXT!
<b><li> Gold or Silver?</b></li>
hmm... white gold. or silver. :-P I just dont care for yellow gold. IT does NOT complement my skin told that well. LoL
<b><li> If you won the lottery would you spend the money, save it, or both?</b></li>
Well, I'd set aside the appropriate amount for taxes, pay off the car, pay off student loans, buy an inexpensive second car, maybe a small house(something under 100 grand) and then let the rest sit for a while. Save it, and work on making improvements to the small house we just paid for with cash. The rest would be saved for various things... a vacation fund, a fully funded emergency fund and some investments for the future. Wow. Okay, I've been reading a little too much Dave Ramsey....
<b><li> If you had to live in any other decade, which would it be and why?</b></li>
Oh, this is a good one. Especially since, if I lived in another decade, I probably wouldn't have been able to marry my husband because of the whole being hispanic and not looking super white thing, and I would have to have money in this time period... Edwardian, early 1900s to the 19-teens. i LOVE the fashion and the elegance....
<b><li> Who's your fashion icon?</b></li>
I don't think I really have one... But I will say that i think Kate Middleton always looks fabulous. There's few celebrities whose closets i would feel comfortable mimicking, but she is one. I do like a lot of what Katie Holmes wears as well.
<b><li> What's your favorite hobby?</b></li>
Honestly, surfing the web :-) but I also love reading, video games, and learning of any kind
<b><li> If money was no object, where would you travel in the world?</b></li>
Probably...Europe. I'd want to see all of Europe. I'd want to travel to Germany and eat REAL German good. I want to go to England and see shows air on BBC the day they come out rather than having to wait until they are online or BBC America... Oh! and Ireland! I would love to visit Ireland! Oh but above All those....I would want to travel to Israel. I want to visit the Jordan River, and Bethlehem. I would love to also to missionary work there... Specifically work that is done to foster peace between Israeli and Palestinian youth as a way to help grow feelings of friendship and love across the borders, rather than feelings of hate and hostility.
<b><li> iPhone, Droid, or Blackberry?</b></li>
Well... I have an iphone. and I do enjoy it... but I'd be happy with anything my husband got me.
<b><li> If you could only live in one city for the rest of your life, would it be
NYC, Paris, or Milan?</b></li>
NYC. The idea of walking everywhere or taking trains strongly appeals to me if I couldn't live a bit more out in the country.
<b><li> Which show inspires your fashion choices more, SATC or GG?</b></li>
Hmmm.. This is tough. I would say... SATC. It's been on for so long and I actually remember seeing the 4 of them in magazines growing up... It's just sort of what I grew up with. GG is fun and cute and I Love the clothes... but it's not the same for me.
</ol>
<p>Wow! Some of those were not easy for me!</p>
<p>So without further ado, I will nominate a few blogs myself... since I don't have the full 11... I am going to add to the list as I find more I feel I can nominate.
:-)</p>
<ul>
<li>Hillary, at <a href="http://acaptivatedlife.blogspot.com/">A Captivated Life</a> She's brilliant and doesn't write much because she's currently studying. Divinity School! I'm so proud of her!</li>
<li>Emily, at<a href="http://ejsweet.blogspot.com/"> My Sweet Life</a> Again, she doesn't blog often, but I love her, so I forgive her.</li>
<li>Traci, at <a href="http://wisdomofthenarrowroad.com/">Wisdom of the Narrow Road</a> I thought she had a different blog, but now I can't find it, and she just started this one</li>
</ul>
<p>Unfortunately that's all I can think of for now. Got to go find some more!</p>
<p>Now for my questions...</p>
<ol>
<li>What is your favorite book and why?</li>
<li>Do you use HTML code when you write your blog, or just let blogspot or wordpress fill it all in for you?</li>
<li>What has been one of your most life changing moments?</li>
<li>What would your dream job be?</li>
<li>Who is one of the most important role models in your life, and why?</li>
<li>If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would you choose?</li>
<li>Who is your favorite musical composer?(and I would never have though of this question if I wasn't with my hubs)</li>
<li>What tv show is currently your favorite?</li>
<li>What has been your favorite vacation?</li>
<li>What are your goals for the new year?</li>
<li>If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? (it can be something as simple as natural hair color to something more extensive)</li>
</ol>
</span>
BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-26710947218188793382013-01-02T20:59:00.002-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.351-04:00Winter Wonderland Adventures<span style="font-family:Courier New;">This backwards transplant has a lot to learn about living in a cold state.... Last winter, we did NOTHING. I think I watched a lot of TV, and went to work. Oh and we went to church... That's really about it. We didn't even really have the money at the time to do anything else.
<p>There wasn't even any snow last winter to let us do anything like have a snowball fight, or go sledding, or make a snowman. All things I have never done.</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p>In the middle of winter growing up, we usually... went swimming. Or to the beach... We would open all the windows if it was a cooler winter. So moving up north... that sort of changed things for me.</p>
<p>This year, there has been snow. So, hubs took me sledding on New Years Day (though I did have to do quite a bit of begging...) and I got to have my first experience going sledding!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/307662_10151412651771934_1419789647_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="960" width="720" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/307662_10151412651771934_1419789647_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74560_10151412651341934_1877524483_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="960" width="720" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/74560_10151412651341934_1877524483_n.jpg" /></a></div>
<p> And hubby, being as wonderful as he is... got me proof that I have actually been sledding! Yay for camera phones. Though I'm not sure if I should be praising him too much... He did force me to eat snow a little later. And I must say.. trying to brush it off when your gloves are ALSO covered in snow... feels a lot like REALLY cold sand.</p>
<p>Now I just have to get him to take me again :-P This transplant is having a lot more fun than she ever thought possible in the cold.</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-29920945770919210632013-01-02T20:45:00.000-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.359-04:00New Year, Same Ole Me<span style="font-family:Courier New;"> Once again, we find ourselves at the start of a brand new year. Personally, I don't understand why the new year is in the middle of winter. I think it would make a lot more sense to have the new year begin with spring. But, I didn't make the calendar... <a name='more'></a>
<p>It just seems to make more sense to have our new year be when everything is changing. When we can air out our homes that have been stuffed and highly insulated against the winter cold for the past 5 or 6 months (something this FL girl is only now learning about). So I'm refraining from making any real resolutions this year until the first day of spring. Until it starts warming up and I can both spring clean and clean up personally.</p>
<p>But since it is part of the holiday, and that's really what we are celebrating, I will make a goal for myself. That goal, is ultimately to modify my behavior on the whole. I want to be more at peace with myself and others, and I want to have more meaningful conversations with those around and relate and empathize better with others. I want to be a better Christian in how I relate to people. This is an ongoing thing, and while some (hubs included) may not see it, I have been slowly working on it for years. It's a slow, on going process, but that's what I need. I need to change my thinking so I can change my behavior...Dr Charles Stanley says it this way:
<blockquote>"A thought leads to an action
An action leads to a habit
A habit leads to a character
A character leads to a destiny"</blockquote></p>
<p>Romans 12:2 reminds us of the following:<blockquote>"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but BE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND..."NIV (emphasis mine)</blockquote> You can't change who you are and be a true follower of Christ if you cannot change the way you think. Now, no one is every going to truly master this. We will all have our moments of selfishness and moments where we become, as Lysa Turkheurst called her book "Unglued." But that doesn't mean we stop trying.</p>
<p>My verse for this year, and one I'm going to be working on memorizing word for word, is from James. <blockquote>"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."James 3:10-12, NIV. </blockquote></p>
<p>Every time I read those words, I am convicted about the things that come out of my mouth. I am reminded that just a few verses before we are reminded how the tongue is a "restless evil, full of deadly poison."</p>
<p>Okay, that was a bit more harsh that I remember it being when I read it in the NLT... Maybe it's a translation difference? Either way, the point still stands. How can we claim to be Christians, and not even TRY to control our tongues. How can we even begin to love one another as Christ has loved us, if we cannot speak well of each other. This year, I want to continue my efforts of watching what comes out of my mouth. Watch my tone. Watch the specific words. And THINK about the things I am going to be saying BEFORE I say them, and not after.</p>
<p>So for the most part, this year is going to be a whole lot more of me. The same ole me, just in a new year :-P</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-61704754957790164202012-12-22T14:44:00.002-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.375-04:00Frustrations and Moving On<span style="font-family:Courier New;">
<p>I'm really terrible about writing stuff on here. I keep thinking I should attempt one of those 30 day challenges... but then I think "it'll take me over a year to finish because I'll keep forgetting!!" Maybe a challenge is what I need to actually get me to use this blog for the purpose it was meant. A place for me to write everything down so I don't constantly pester the hubs with stuff about which he doesn't care.</p>
<p>So that's been one frustration that's been going on...<a name='more'></a>The other has been a bit of a... well, I probably shouldn't talk much about it in case said person who is the cause of the frustration, mostly political, were to mosey on over and find my blog and read it.</p>
<p>Let's just keep it at, this is a wonderful opportunity for me to practice patience and prayer rather than reacting with my gut instinct. NOT EASY!!!!</p>
<p>This holiday season is also a wonderful opportunity for me to practice MOVING ON!! As in, okay, this upset me. Now, let me be like a duck and let it roll off my back. Another thing I'm not so great at...</p>
<p>Through all this I just have to remember that God is blessing me with these challenges and allowing them to happen to me so that I can grow from them. At least that's how I'm TRYING to see them. I believe He lets most things happen (like recent events) because we have free will. If He were to stop everything bad from happening, we would never be able to fully appreciate the good. I love what they said the other week at church. We shouldn't look at all the bad in the world as proof that God doesn't exist. Instead, we should look at all the good that exists in a world with so much bad as proof that He does.</p>
<p>Oh, I also quit my job without having anything serious lined up. So, until I find a new job, we are going to be working very hard at TRUSTING God to provide in ALL things. Going to be a very intense crash course.</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-52254451471822236922012-12-22T14:09:00.001-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.372-04:00Christmas Decorations 2012<span style="font-family:Courier New;">
<p>The decorations are up! Well, they have been up. For a while. I posted some pics on Facebook and instagram but I feel like if I don't have the option to write as much about it all on those mediums. Especially when it comes to talking about the decorations :-)</p>
<a name='more'></a>
<p>First up, our card display. Usually we would place our cards in the branches on the tree, but this year I felt like we had too many ornaments and not enough tree. So I tried something different. The only problem is that I taped up the string to the wall, and it falls down.. a lot. Since we are in an apartment, I didn't want to put even MORE holes in the wall. I also didn't have the money to buy some command hooks (they aren't expensive but they add up quickly! So, this will have to do for now.</p>
<center>
<a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2E48ynSSpQI/UNYFe5dxzPI/AAAAAAAAB70/ZRUhu_WXu7o/s640/blogger-image--856529095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2E48ynSSpQI/UNYFe5dxzPI/AAAAAAAAB70/ZRUhu_WXu7o/s640/blogger-image--856529095.jpg" /></a>
</center>
<p>I really like this picture of our tree. I like the way the lights came out. It's our new 7.5 ft tree we got on black friday special for 60 bucks! more than 50% off! It was an excellent deal, if only for one reason</p>
<center>
<a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kjcPXlUp6Vs/UNYFDtt5ABI/AAAAAAAAB7U/_kLCOAboiNw/s640/blogger-image-628166794.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kjcPXlUp6Vs/UNYFDtt5ABI/AAAAAAAAB7U/_kLCOAboiNw/s640/blogger-image-628166794.jpg" /></a>
</center>
<p>It can change to colored lights! Which makes the hubs VERY happy. I like clear. He likes color. Now we get the best of both worlds. Oh, and they're LED so we save money! That's my FAVORITE!</p>
<center>
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uvpg6_bOCJ4/UNYFNYPwVAI/AAAAAAAAB7k/T1zpixsei5Q/s640/blogger-image-646227051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-uvpg6_bOCJ4/UNYFNYPwVAI/AAAAAAAAB7k/T1zpixsei5Q/s640/blogger-image-646227051.jpg" /></a>
</center>
<p>And our stockings. Which are not hanging any longer. "Santa Hanka" has brought us too many early stocking stuffers and they're too heavy. Since the edge isn't entirely flat the stocking stuffers kind of fall... and they've since broken... Not REALLY noticeable breaks, but breaks. Like the back of mine (the church - I messed up with our stockings and put them on the wrong buildings) the snow is cracked so badly in the back that you can see into the inside of the church... Poor "village" people dont even have any pews to sit on... And hubby's Santa's Workshop... a side of the building is now missing. So it looks like next year we'll be needing new ones...:'-(
</p>
<center>
<a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fz5nmXtTNhg/UNYFUxr6fqI/AAAAAAAAB7s/hDm4ZdqYSdQ/s640/blogger-image--1879393452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-fz5nmXtTNhg/UNYFUxr6fqI/AAAAAAAAB7s/hDm4ZdqYSdQ/s640/blogger-image--1879393452.jpg" /></a>
</center>
<p>and finally... the cats. Our only "kiddies" that we have. So they take center stage. They think they're our presents. :-)</p>
<center>
<a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MMOLBgAjHrE/UNYFH9SLV2I/AAAAAAAAB7c/OLq6SyX1oOE/s640/blogger-image-1912628822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-MMOLBgAjHrE/UNYFH9SLV2I/AAAAAAAAB7c/OLq6SyX1oOE/s640/blogger-image-1912628822.jpg" /></a>
</center>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8592248554834805911.post-27014283499460822892012-11-07T10:30:00.000-05:002013-05-15T09:28:44.354-04:00Turning 25 and Election Day<span style="font-family:Courier New;">Yesterday was my birthday. It was also election day in this great country where I live. So, while this may seem a bit selfish, I HATE when my birthday falls on election day. Although, I would hate it if my birthday fell on Thanksgiving a bit more, so I guess I'm glad I was born 3 weeks before my due date :-).
<a name='more'></a>
<p>So, I hate when my birthday falls on an election day. Thankfully, hubs and I planned on being out of town on my birthday (though it didnt happen) so we did absentee ballots and voted early so we didn't have to do it on my birthday. Unfortunately, Michigan doesn't do early voting, so it was our only option.</p>
<p>Hubs went out of his way to make my days special, went with me looking to see if we could find any ps3 systems and how much I need to save to buy one. He also played some video games with me for a short while, something he usually isn't too fond of doing, so it meant a lot.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, we still had to deal with all the election drama, and hubs and I are .... a bit different when it comes to politics. Not that we don't agree on WHAT should be done, just not always on HOW it should be done. I'm extremely moderate. I like a few things about all sides of the political spectrum, and hubs is staunchly democrat. So, he was very happy Obama won last night. I went to bed and slept to find out this morning. Why? I voted. I did my part. Everyone who voted did theirs. After that, it's just a matter of letting the voices/votes of the people be heard. I can't change it, and any speeches I miss, I can watch online later.</p>
<p>Plus, I was super tired!</p>
<p>Yes, I value my sleep and health more.</p>
<p>Not to mention that neither candidate is going to change anything for my hubs and I. We live in that pocket of society, where you're above the poverty level, but because of school and no public transportation in our area, we have too many bills to really save very much or even afford healthy balanced meals for every day of the week. We are in the small sector of society where it won't matter who is in office, we are still gonna have to forge on, and pray that things continue working out.</p>
<p>So my thoughts on the election, it's over. Obama won. While he wasn't my first choice, I knew it was going to happen, so there's really nothing to be surprised about. Other than that, I just celebrated turning a quarter of a century old, and I have so much to be thankful for, as we continue on with the calendar towards thanksgiving.</p>
</span>BeckyAnnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04303203232665181765noreply@blogger.com1