Inspiration

Yes, it's 31* F here in southeast Texas and everythig has shutdown. It is true that Southeast Texas weather changes every 5 minutes. We have now froze over twice in 5 days and this time it may last for two days. We have been out I work/out of school for two days, which we have to make up - yay (sarcasm). 

However, I have not let this inclement weather demolish my workout plans. My husband has been an inspiration. He got up before work today and drove me to Baytown to workout at the gym in the big four wheel drive Ford (due to frozen roads). 

I figured I can't be mad at myself for my body if I don't start working hard myself. I managed 3.75 miles yesterday on the treadmill. Today I'm going to get on the elliptical, the bike, and do a hard core ab/back workout with some legs. I will start feeling more confident in my body in the summertime. 

Half Marathon

I am headed into Week 2 of my half marathon training; I'm feeling pretty good. Tonight I managed 4 miles in 45 minutes which isn't my best time, but I was not winded and was able to maintain a heart rate of 151. I was pretty impressed with myself.

Upon getting a better pace, my sleep habits have been better. No real insomnia at night and it's a much better sleep. I have started my vitamin D supplements again. I read an article that said lack of vitamin D could lead to insomnia. I had no clue they were linked. 

Anyways, I'm impressed with my ambition I was sure it wouldn't last to the second week. If I last 4 weeks, I have promised myself a new watch. The Garmin Forerunner 220. It's a dream :-)

The half marathon I have my eye on is set for April 6th. I think if I can stick to it I will reach my goal! 

Slowly, but surely...

I am so proud to write that I spent the better part of my day planning and preparing meals for the week. I have, for so long now, stated that cooking was my biggest downfall. Well, today I made some changes. I was able to freeze 14 frozen smoothies in a bag, make lunch for all week, make dinner for tomorrow night, and make 24 oatmeal cups for breakfast. I even cleaned up my mess!!!!! Wow, I'm tired. 

To make things even better, I started T25 tonight. I only did the stretch DVD, but it was a leap forward to getting my butt back to working out. 

I'm ready to get up early tomorrow and get moving :-) New Year - New Me :-) (optimistic)

Childhood Dreams

2014 started off, January 1st, with our first hike together up a mini-mountain on our West Texas Deer lease. It was only a preview to us of what we will be experiencing this year! We have officially planned our Spring Break vacation to Big Bend National Park for 5 days and 4 nights. We have planned to stay in the Chisos Basin Campground in the center of the park. We are going "old school" on this trip. No electricity, no air conditioning....we will have some water at the campground and a fire pit. However, we are taking a backpacking hike in the mountains for 1 night. We won't have running water, either. We are going to throw everything we need into backpacks and take off.

We have decided that family vacations like this are just a small part of what we want to do with the boys. I still would like to take them to places like Disneyland, but I also want to take them backpacking through Europe, as well. I want the to be versatile in their upbringing and well-rounded young men. The outdoors are the heart and soul for our family and the true foundation.

Sean and I have come to realize that while people spend large lump sums of money on dwellings, clothes, accessories, and vehicles. We tend to go mediocre. It isn't because we don't like the finer things and definitely not because we don't have the money; it's because we have a different view on life. We are home I would say a solid 3 months out of the year, including the summer time when I'm off. We are constantly bouncing around Texas. If we aren't in the hills of West Texas, we are in the thicket of East Texas, or on the water at Lake Sam Rayburn whether it be fishing, hunting, hiking, or just camping we are always mobile. 

People may laugh, but this year for our 5th wedding anniversary I have asked for a paid hunting trip. I want to go on a hunt to kill a  Red Stagg with my bow. I know it's an odd request from a woman, especially when I could have done just about anything I wanted. I had contemplated taking a cruise to a beautiful sandy beach and spend days basking in the sun with Sean, but to be honest neither of us really care for sand. Not to mention, we couldn't be able to enjoy it and take the kids, too. :-/ So that really didn't define our relationship nor is it really even a part of it. Now, don't get me wrong we do take the kids to the beach once or twice a summer, but we do it to surf fish while they play. I also thought of going to Switzerland or to Austria, but we have already spent a week in Germany. A very special week - my 26th birthday was spent fulfilling one of my life long dreams.

Sean asked  me last week, "What is one thing that you have wanted to do since you were a child?" It took me a while to think. I still haven't answered him directly, but I have concluded that I always wanted to go to Germany. As a small child, I took interest to Germany because of heritage. My mother's father was German - not that I ever met him. I had always been intrigued by the beautiful pictures of the castles as a little girl, especially Cinderella's Castle. I was also fascinated by train travel, customs, and traditions. I never imagined going to Germany was going to be something life would allow. However, my husband has put forth such great efforts at his place of employment they paid for us to go to Germany for a company party. It was a true dream come true for me. Sometimes I still can't believe I was able to go in person. I was able to experience Cinderella's Castle, ride a train, visit Hamburg, talk to locals, visit Munich, see the countryside and stay at some really nice places along the way. Traveling to Germany was just a fantasy hope as a child like the kind you dream of when you are looking through magazines or watching television.

Growing up the one thing I wanted most since I was a child was finding true love and happiness. I wanted to find a man that would love me for me. I dreamt I would marry a man that would share the same desires, wants, and hobbies that I had. I, like all little girls, set up my own Cinderella fairytale - thanks to the media. Growing up, I found that my knowledge was often intimidating to the opposite sex. I have always been an outdoors type of gal. I love to deer hunt. Believe it or not, there are times when I look over now and tell Sean he's talking too much or to be quiet he's too loud. It makes me giggle because there are times when he has to do this too me, but we share this love together. We share the mutually respect for nature and God's country. I like to fish. I used to love doing it much more than here in the past few years. It's been tough to fish a lot with little ones. However, Sean and I have still enjoyed all types of fishing and have spent much of our time on Lake Sam Rayburn with our boys. Sean used to bass fish tournaments with his uncle when we were newly married. Growing up, I knew I wanted a country boy. I looked up to my brother a bunch. Probably would have to say looking back, he was my role model and the foundation for my love of the outdoors. I have fond childhood memories of fishing with him in an aluminum boat for hours on Old River, or the times he picked me up from school to go dove hunting. I knew I wanted a life with someone who could kick back by a fire, drink a beer, stare at the stars, tell some stories, listen to Willie or Waylon, and just be happy with sitting in a lawn chair watching the squirrels fight. So, what I wanted as a child was to find my best friend and spend forever basking in the glory of nature.

So, I guess where I am going with this is that both my childhood dreams have been fulfilled. I wanted nothing more than a wonderful man by my side. A man that would help me raise a family and endure good and bad together. Sean fulfilled my second childhood dream of going to Germany coincidentally. Ironically, no matter how cliché this may sound, he gave me opportunity to view Cinderella's castle, but all along he helped me begin writing my own fairytale. 

With that being said,  the root of marriage/relationship has always been outdoors. The first time we met Sean took me out to the marsh and we rode around the river. Our first true date, we went mudding' on four wheelers. Our first weekend getaway, we spend fishing on Sam Rayburn. Our first Christmas married, Sean bought me my very first bow - Diamond Razor Edge 2009. Whether it be in the deer stand or boat, we spend hours talking about our boys' future, planning finances, trips, and even our meals for the week. We can have serious conversation to just planning everyday life during these special times. Some might say this is why I've never shot a deer because we talk to much. Heck, we planned our Big Bend trip in the deer stand this past week. We ended 2013 and began 2014 in the deer stand together like most of our years together.

Since 2014 is the year we celebrate 5 years of marriage, I find it truly special to say that I'm getting to spend the entire year doing the one thing I wanted most my entire life. I get to spend my time outdoors - hiking, camping, fishing, and hunting. I also get to do it with a man that loves me for me. The man who fulfills all my dreams. He loves me in my good times and in my bad. He loves me in sickness and in health. The man who isn't intimidated by my gift of gab. 2014 will be a big milestone in our life. A year of celebration. A celebration of family and love. I don't remember who, but someone once told me "Celebrate your marriage everyday like you did on the first day."  

In 50 years we can look back at think of the memories made together and with our boys. We have shared all of our milestone's with our kids from the very beginning. I consider myself to be a very fortunate lady to be able to celebrate my marriage the entire year with my best friend traveling and seeing new places together. Hopefully, one day our boys will be able to look back and say that their parents showed them how to truly love. I guess I can now answer Sean's question by sending him this post. 

There are two things that I wanted most growing up: 1 - travel to Europe (Germany actually was the specific place. A childhood wish) 2 - You. You have giving me all my dreams and made them come true - a wonderful man. 

Now you (Sean) ask, what do I have to look forward to if I have fulfilled all my dreams? I  get to look forward to the great plans God has for us in the future. Its like being at the top of the rollercoaster and seeing all the great twists and turns ahead and the rush of excitement you get a the pit of your stomach. I feel that rollercoaster ride everyday. It's even better than an actual rollercoaster because there is no end in sight. I'm truly bless and I couldn't love you more. I look forward to making dreams and wishes together with you and sharing our future together. I'm excited about 2014 and all the years we have to come. :)

2014

We started off 2014 the right way. We took Jacob on his first hike. We climbs a big hill in Barksdale, TX. We had a lot of fun. Jacob really did like it. There will be more weekends of hiking in our future to prepare for Colorado vacation.