Blessed Life... Sometimes you also use moments to bless others!!!

This weekend was such a blessing.   We celebrated Life and Love.  My husband celebrating 50 years of life and the two of us honored to have spent the past 25 years totally in love.   As I reflect back now on each moment not only were they blessings to us, in some way I feel like we offered blessings back out to others in equal measure.  As well everyone shared blessings with each other too.  There was so much magic in the air.  (that will have to be saved for another posting in the near future).

My heart rejoices at each moment that I reflect on this weekend.  I keep recalling them very fondly; as if I'm trying to bottle them up... At the vineyard they mention how many cases of wine they have made all in varying volumes depending on the grapes and the process to make them it could be few or many.  I feel that in this life we have planted seeds throughout our days and in some way this weekend was a little about harvesting some of the fruit, bottling it up, and placing the cherished cases in a special place to be taken out, poured out in good measure, sipped, enjoyed as needed.  I have a warehouse full of blessings for which I look forward to enjoying in the days, weeks, and years to come.   Some of the fruit / blessings which are bottled:

Blessing:  Having Family and Friends travel from North and South some many miles away to celebrate with us; to join with our local friends --- what more to say than, "So Blessed."

Blessing:  Having these same amazing people surround each moment of the weekend with love, laughter, and good times. So grateful to each of you for the gift of your presence with us.

Blessing:  Special times wine tasting.  Although I was not feeling 100% (thinking the shot in my shoulder wasn't a blessing after all) and side effects not expected.  However, sharing two of my favorite vineyards was so relaxing and memorable.  Looking around and watching each of you, enjoying the scenary and breaking bread together, a true sign of sharing and caring.  Breathing in the care into each pore of my soul - cherished.

Blessing:  Special time golfing.  Ron surrounded by the majority of the Abates along with a great golfing friend David H enjoyed 18 holes of Hit and Wait. 

Blessing: Small talk, catching up, every single conversation with each and every one I encountered this weekend.  I still hear the voices ringing through my head and heart. 

Blessing: An amazing venue for the celebration - we could not have chosen a more perfect location and to be able to return there every week and remember these precious memories will be cherished every time we walk into and enjoy a meal at ChopStix (Midlothian).

Blessing:  Our friends and fellow parishoners the band Judes Ferry.  I believe they were equally blessed by the first strum of the guitar, the first tap of the drum, and first "ah" that came from the microphone.  Someone was ready to dance.  Our dear friend, Pam Sperbeck offering them up for the celebration - the gift of her talent, her voice, and friendship speaks beyond words could every profess.  Every twirl on the dance floor was a gift back to the band.

Blessing:  OH how blessed.... Ron joining the band to sing a new favorite song Every Good Thing by the Afters.  The smiles, the "woots", the cameras, the videos, everyone was equally blessed with your gift back to them in song.

Blessing:  Stephanie pulled together a beautiful tribute of life and love, packaged together a video to share with us all.  Reflecting back on the moments, the memories, and sharing these little bits of us back with our newer friends.  My daughter, my heart!!!!

Blessing:  Late nights huddled together to enjoy a good beer, wine, drink... laughter and storytelling.  It's always great to hear stories from the crew!!! 

Blessing:  Having my mom come and feeling a bit of my dad with me in spirit.  The love of a parent, the first love you ever know grows with each moment you have with each other.  Having her as my family their to celebrate was priceless to me. 

Blessing:  Having Chris Sills and his college friends join in our celebration.  My heart leaps at the friendships he has made these past 2 years. 

Blessing...Blessing....Blessing...  I can hardly count them all. 

Sometimes you also use moments to bless others and share with them.  I also know that I gave away many such blessings away this weekend so that each who were able to attend could also experience when they too want to take it out, pour in good measure, sip and enjoy. 

Blessed!!!!

Word of the Week: Mindfulness

“Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; On purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.”

As I look back on my week, I find that I'm reflecting on how I've been living more mindful.  It comes across in many ways:

• Thoughts & Reactions - as an over thinker and many times an over reactor (even if I keep it bottled inside); I've found this week that I'm more mindful of the thoughts and reaction that I'm allowing to occur.  I'm learning how to see the good and the bad, the positive and negative and subsequently shift through them quite uneventfully. 
• Words & Actions - often I try and regulate what I say because I want make sure it's perfect and/or comes out the right way (my way).  Well I'm more open to free speaking and at the same to a bit of free living.  Allowing all that I do to align to being present and completed with purpose. 
• Living, Breathing, Believing - everything is this moment, this day, this life has meaning above and beyond the moment, day or life.  Seeing the beauty even in the muck and/or beyond the muck is very enlightening. 

At the same time, this week I've found I've taken more time to contemplate, observe, align, and then do.  It reminds me a lot of a friend Jennifer Urezzio and her gift of being able to see your personal: Soul Language.  She reminds me often to talk to my soul and make sure that it aligns to truth before taking the next action.  When aligned to my truth it will be freeing. 

Mindfullness - Aligned to my truth.

I've had a few examples this week when being aligned to my truth and being mindful have truly benefited a better outcome.  Do you have moments like that as well? 

One such moment was at 3:30am when an outside alarm to our septic pump went off; there are many things I could have reacted to about that moment.  My mind could have gone to so many places and it really did try however, I was able to pull back, align to truth, and see in this situation and/or beyond this situation that it was going to be ok.  My mind went to $$$ (cha-ching) this is going to be pricey, we have the party next week (25th Anniversay/50th Birthday), we have a trip planned for a 2nd honeymoon in the fall (just received my gift card I selected to help with the cost of the trip - what a waste that was) , the kids in college, etc... my mind was so ready to run away but I didn't allow it to go to these places nor to belittle each of those precious upcoming moments which are going to be blessings for me, my husband and I as a couple, our family.  NO I stopped them before they came and just allowed myself to remember how beautiful these moments will be.  The good news came when the service guy came and reset the pump (No Issue). 

So many similiar situations I can recall this week where my mind, my actions, my reactions could have gone so far away from my centered truth - but it was stopped/blocked/moved beyond and into the realm of Mindfulness.

Exhaling Freely

I recently read in a book I'm reading - the author exclaimed:   Reading is my Inhale and Writing is my Exhale. Reading gave her the chance to breath in and Writing gave her the breath to exclaim and let out all that is within her.  This really resonates with me, though I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a good writer by any means.  Grammar is not a strength for me nor do I acclaim to be good at writing.  I've been known to use there, their, and they're interchangeably and probably drive some people crazy.  (Note: If that's you, you may want to exit now as I'm not looking to be perfect this is free writing at it's best).  

However, it resonated with me to have a safe place to exhale and allow life to flow from the end of my finger tips.  I changed the name of my blog this weekend because it became apparent to me that this is a safe place that gives me some what of a voice.

See I hold a lot in.  I'm an over thinker.  I'm a day dreamer.  I can create stories in my head from the simplest thought.  However, I also protect my voice and you'll find I'm more of a listener.  I'm practicing some vulnerability and have been finding my voice in so many ways.  W

What will you find on my site from now forward - eclectic ramblings and the simplicity of my life.  I'll be exhaling freely and hope to have you come along for my journey.  You may check me sharing my healthy lifestyle (a daily struggle) or anything life centered.   Please offer a comment at any time and I'm glad you are following along.

A picture is worth 1000 words....

The adage "A picture is worth a thousand words" comes to mind as I look at the difference 7 weeks makes.  I think I may have shared here the situation I found myself in 7 weeks ago when I went to the mall and ended up buying a shirt.  Well in summary I didn't like how the shirt looked on me so I left it there and drove away but as I drove away I could picture a healthier me in the shirt and went back and grabbed it.  Well here is an update 7 weeks later.  These pictures probably say 10,000 words and I'll share a little about what they are saying to me: 

The top was the first picture I took when I came home that day from buying it.  The bottom is TODAY (7/13).  Same shirt, same pants. 

Well some of the things this says to me:

Keep your eye on the prize - even if it's just your minds-eye with time, effort, support, and Perseverance you can change, mold, re-shape. 

I see the molding and reshaping.  Honestly these last few weeks I have felt the molding and reshaping.  I look in the mirror and I'm in awe of what these past 7 weeks  are rewarding me with.

I like so much about how I'm looking and feeling in this moment.  

It's been work and there is more work to still achieve.  I'm looking forward to it because I like how Healthy is Looking on me.I like that when I look at my neck and declate (spelling?) area, my arms are starting show a bit of tone, I have a waist-line (YES), my hips are trimming, my thoughs... Everything is molding and reshaping Beautifully. OH and I do feel so healthy!

Striking through Excuses - Seeing Results

Oh the excuses I could make....

I'm striking through them, each and every one of them because I am starting to really enjoy the progress that I'm making.  This morning I could have used many of these execuses.  You see I'm 5 weeks into training with a personal trainer and taking AdvoCare supplements. 

The decision to start using a personal trainer did not come easy as it takes financial, time, and mental commitment.  When we first made the decision to have Andrew Lee train us, we also went back and forth with many excuses.  He wanted us to meet him at 6am Thur, Fri and Saturday.  The studio he trains at is 30 mins from our house.  This meant we'd have to wake up at 4:45, be out of the house by 5:15 and have everything we'd need for work days (Th/Fri) ready as well; add to that the financial and mental commitment --- needless to say I was on/off/on/off for a few days. 

Originally the thought was let's do this for our son who was home from college, let's go with him and he'll learn some of the basics which we knew we couldn't share with him.  However, with each session I have to say it's more personal.  It's now more than ever about what we each need.  We motivate and push each other and rejoice with each accomplishment.  I'm so proud of each of us, however, I'm proud of the fact I can push through the excuses because I see the rewards that perseverance has to offer.  

I'm far from where I'd like to be however, I'm much closer today than I was 5 weeks ago.  Heck closer than I've been in more years than I could imagine.  I'm honored that I can totally push through the excuses.  I have some amazing visuals to help me see the changes my choices are making.  I see within my body melting and forming; I feel within my body a renewed sense of energy; I'm aware of the choices, thoughts and positiveness that is surrounding me.  I'm experiencing amazing results.

Andrew also introduced us to AdvoCare and I have to say their products are helping shift me and my family toward a renewed energy and fulfilled nutrition level.  Spark gives us sustained energy, MNS-Max3 gives us all the vitamins/minerals we need along with metabolishm, fat burner, and muscle build to see shifts in our body, and Catalyst - Andrew touted it as a woman's answer to "Butt Be Gone" and yes I'm seeing a shift in my hips and rear however, it's definitely firming and melting my boobs so it's been a miracle Boob Maker for this aging lady!!!

Excuses be Gone - Results are showing themselves and they want to keep molding a better me!

Sidewalk fighting brought out the Champ in me!,,,

Something happened after I took a fall during our warm up jog at training this past Thursday;  besides the bump on my chin, scraps and bruising, something shifted inside me.  I wore the "badge of honor" on my chin and the flame for health in my heart. You see, I felt a desire for my health flame up within me. A renewal that came in the moment my husband grabbed my hand to help me up. Nothing was broken and I wasn't even shaken; I didn't finish the lap however, I jumped right in after cleaning myself up and kept working out. Between exercises, placing ice on my chin - I felt committed.  A sidewalk and I got into a rumble, I think I came out the winner.

After the workout was over and the days that followed, I have felt an urge greater than ever to keep moving strong.  I consider my past 8 years of trying but not committing, not fully putting my heart into it, looking for quick fixes, gaining, losing, gaining, repeat.....  Trying every diet, lifestyle, and exercise plan. However the one thing that was missing was my commitment.

My body is giving me so many signals that this journey is worth living and the rewards of my commitment are the physical changes I'm experiencing inside and out. I'm in awe and wonder at my new commitment to me, my health, my happiness and my life. I'm also blessed to be on this journey with my family, a great trainer and numerous friends. 

Today July 1:
   Week 3 Day 1 26 min walk/jog (wog)
                            + 15 stretch and abs
           Day 1 = 41 min.