SNOW DAY!!!

"There are far better things ahead than any we leave behind." - C.S. Lewis

Today is a snow day for me.  The snow is not deep, but the roads are incredibly dangerous; therefore, my man all but ordered me to call in to work.  He truly does love and protect me.  There have been at least three car accidents within two miles of my house this morning alone.  

I am safe and warm, though.  My morning coffee sits beside me in my adorable owl mug that was given to me for my birthday by my son and his sweet wife.  Buck, our chocolate lab is curled up on the sofa near me, snoozing.  Ellie Mae, my feisty mini Schnauzer, just abandoned her perch near the front window to snuggle in beside me for her morning nap.  It is a good day!

Today is the last day of 2014.  As I sit in the silence of my home, I reflect on all that the Lord has done over the past 365 days.  This has certainly been a blessed and amazing year! 

In February, Todd underwent surgery to clean out his sinuses and correct a severely deviated septum.  The details are pretty gross, so I will just say that the surgery not only helped him to breathe better than he ever had, but it ridded him of a horrific smell he referred to as "a dead bird" in his nose.  We all took bets on what type of bird the doctor would remove.  As it turned out, there was no bird, but it was definitely full of something "fowl."  Haha! I'm so punny!

Todd built the most adorable building in the spring to house "Fox & Hound Hair Studio." Our daughter, Emily, opened the doors to the salon in the Spring and has been super busy since.  She also moved into a sweet little two bedroom house in town, and has decided to finish her prerequisites for nursing school in the spring.  

Eric and Caitlin, our son and daughter-in-law, own the fitness center in town, as well as "Pork Choppers," a helicopter hog hunting business that outfits aerial hog and varmint hunts.  Feral hogs are a real problem to farmers and ranchers in most of the U.S.  This service is helpful in keeping their population under a little better control, and gives the client an unique hunting experience.  (Maybe Eric should hire me to write some of his ads.)  Todd and I are very proud of our young entrepreneurs and their success!

Not all blessings are pleasant or easy to receive, as we all experienced in May.  Todd and his siblings had to say "Farewell for now" to their sweet Momma on Mother's Day.  Her long, heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer's finally ended, and she was made whole again.  We all marveled at how her son, Bobby, was probably the first one to greet her as she entered Heaven, swooping her into his arms and giving her the best Mother's Day gift ever.

The circle of life continued as two precious babies made their ways into our lives and our hearts this past year.  Dylan Reece Shaver made her appearance on April 22 to my nephew, Zach, and his wife, Hanna.  Then on October 25, Reese Andrew Shaver was born to my other nephew, Andy, and his wife, Jessy.  It has been 16 years since we had babies in our family, so this has been a double blessing!  My sister, Michelle, is the happiest I have ever seen her with these littles in her life!

Each of us had birthdays this year.  We are thankful for that.  Caitlin and Emily turned 25. Eric just turned 28 yesterday. I celebrated the 19th anniversary of my 29th birthday, and Todd hit the BIG 5-0!!!  Todd's birthday gift was to drive a NASCAR race car, which he did in November!  He had his very own fan club in tow, with the kids and me, along with our friends, Randy and Brandy Huckabee.  It was a wonderful day!

Of course, there were also the HUGE blessings of my fabulous new job and the surgery that has forever changed my life.  I truly feel that God has blessed me WAY beyond what I deserve!  Then again, I'm so glad He doesn't give me what I really deserve.

That is 2014 in a very small nutshell.  Now, as I sit here reminiscing on the things we are leaving behind, excitement begins to well up within my spirit as I contemplate what is in store for us in 2015! If C.S. Lewis was right, I can't even imagine what awesomeness awaits us as we step into the New Year!

Thank you for sharing this past year with me!  May God richly bless you and yours in the year to come!

200 In My Rear-View Mirror

As I look back on my last post, I find it hard to believe that over one month has passed since I posted anything.  One month, a family Thanksgiving celebration, Todd's back going out, injections in various joints for both of us, and preparing for Christmas are behind us now, and the Christmas season is staring us in the face.  Where does the time go?  And how does a holiday that has been scheduled for the same date each and every year for centuries "sneak up on us?"  Those are million dollar questions that may never be answered.

After surviving my "great and terrible fall" on November 20, 2014, I thought it would be a good idea to join the health club at work.  Some of the gals I work with are members and go work out during their lunch break, so I could join them.  I had a little trouble with my knee swelling about a week after the great and terrible fall, though, which slowed me down a little and led to a visit to the orthopedist's office. There, 1/4 of a cup of fluid was drained off my knee, and a steroid was injected.  The details that followed are really boring and irrelevant, but suffice it to say there has since been a MRI, a lovely hinged knee brace that matches all my outfits (NOT), and physical therapy that began today.

When I joined the health club, I decided that a few sessions with a personal trainer would benefit me. I dodged his phone calls for a couple of weeks, partially because I knew it wouldn't do me any good to go with my bum knee...and partially out of sheer fear!  There are a couple of things this gal does not enjoy.  One is sweating. The other is pain.  On top of that, my extreme lack of athleticism is a tiny source of an often crippling lack of confidence.  But, by golly, I paid for those sessions, so I decided it was time to suck it up, buttercup! Finally, I answered his phone call.

I met with my trainer, Richard, for the first time last week.  Really nice young man who wasn't at all the intimidating drill sergeant I had imagined.  During the first session, I think he was just trying to figure out what he had to work with.  I'm sure I impressed him as I demonstrated my brute strength.  I was able to perform the three sets of ten in each of the upper body exercises he prescribed at a whopping 7 POUNDS!  Heck! I almost impressed myself!

Before the workout, he measured and weighed me, establishing a baseline.  As the scales stopped at 201 pounds, I gasped.  He attempted to comfort me, reminding me the number would change.  I said, "You don't understand.  On October 29, I weighed 231 pounds.  I've lost 30 pounds!"  It was so exciting!!!  In addition to the pounds lost, I lost an inch in my upper arm, 4 inches in my waist, and 5.5 inches in my hips!!!  Whoot! Whoot!

I had a more intense training session today.  My heart was pumping! I broke a sweat (and didn't die!) I could feel the burn...and LIKED it!  He had me slamming a medicine ball into the floor, swinging a giant rope, trying to walk with my feet in a giant rubber band, and doing some more upper body stuff, this time against my own body weight (slightly more than 7 pounds).  It was invigorating!!!  I can't wait to go back!  After we were done, it was time to weigh...

When I was recovering from the surgery, my first landmark mini goal was to be below 200 pounds before Christmas.  Knowing how my weight tends to fluctuate with water retention, etc., I truly never expected what I saw when the scale stopped calculating.  It read "199." 199 POUNDS!!! Not only did I achieve that landmark goal, I am now on the other side of 200 for the first time in FOREVER!!!  I keep pinching myself to see if this is all a dream, but THIS IS REAL LIFE!!!

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve, our little family's traditional evening of celebrating together with a meal and the opening of gifts.  It is also a time to reflect on the blessings and trials of the past year and begin to look forward to the new year.  As you observe this holiday season, may your home overflow with joy.  May you have at least one good belly laugh.  May your heart be filled with gladness and thanksgiving as you realize the blessings you have received.  And most importantly, may you remember that precious, perfect baby King that was born in a lowly stable to save all mankind.  Merry Christmas and God Bless You!