Happy Trails

I'm feeling overwhelmed these days with how excited about life I feel for so many reasons. On our drive home from our date in Boise last night, Todd and I talked about all the things we were grateful for and how happy we were with where our lives are at and where we're headed.  It left my heart filled to the brim with a burning cheery glow.  I have to write down what's brimming in my heart.

For starters, I have such a wonderful husband who loves and supports me in all that I do. He listens to me.  He understands me.  He loves me.  He seriously makes me feel like a rock star. I don't know how else to describe it. He definitely makes me know for darn sure that he is my biggest fan and I just adore him. Our relationship is funner, stronger, deeper and more meaningful every day.

Our children are such a light in our life. They're so smart and sweet and fun. I'm very grateful that our house is built and the move is over. I can take back some of the focus that took, and put all of it on my children. I've been so busy these past few months, I feel funny saying it, but I missed them. That's a sure sign they probably have cause to say they missed me too. I look forward to just being with them and loving and teaching them more than I've been able to as of late.

We have so many awesome friends in this area and abroad. Family members and friends. They make us better people just being who they are. My friends get me and accept me as I am. There was a time here where I was very lonely and what I would have given to have a friend I could pick up the phone and call or have a girls night out with and be myself and say whatever I wanted.  I'm surrounded by solid friends now.

Todd and I are blessed with wonderful families.  I got to spend a lot of time with my parents and siblings last month when they came for New Year's.  They left me feeling loved, fulfilled, and very grateful for such a cool family unit.  We had a great time together.  I miss them all tons.  My in-laws are also fantastic people.  I learn so much from them living close to them.  I have found some of my closest friends in my sister-in-laws and love Todd's parents and family dearly.

We have the gospel in our lives and it strengthens us to have the light and understanding of God's plan for us.  I am grateful for a sound testimony of the Savior, of who I am as a child of God, and of my purpose in life. I know God loves me.  The more I watch for signs of that, the more I am astounded how many times He says he loves me in his own way each and every single day. 

I have a mission reunion coming up in a little over a month and I'm so excited to see my president and some of the companions I had while serving and teaching for a year and a half. Todd has recently found many of the people he taught and baptised on his mission on facebook, and is reaping the joy of hearing how one seed planted led to many conversions and they keep on making a rippling affect from one person to another, blessing so many lives. Todd and I are both grateful for that precious time in each of our lives, the things we learned, and the people we had the privilege of knowing and serving.

We are feeling healthier and stronger every day. Todd started back up doing triathlon training this time with the additional help of distance coaching.  He's improving very quickly and looking good!  He's gearing up to do the Boise Half Ironman race in June again. 

I'm feeling more myself these days reaching back to the deepest roots of my identity- I'm strong. In more ways than one, but I have always identified myself as being a person of great strength. Not feeling so strong anymore after 3 pregnancies and a bit of self-neglect, left me feeling kind of lost and down on myself. But I feel like a strong woman again. I've consistently eaten healthy and exercised regularly for a long time. And my body is really thanking me for it. I have less visits to the chiropractor now than I have in years. And several chronic health issues of mine are finally fading away. I'm realizing what a gift our bodies really are when we honor them by taking care of them and by taking an interest in exploring our physical talents and capabilities. It blows me away how quickly our bodies are eager to make giant leaps of progress and do things we never dreamed we could do.  I really feel like getting healthy allows us to feel so much more joy in all areas life- even writing blogs about how stinking happy we are about everything.  Likewise, feeling unhealthy can affect how we feel about ourselves and influence everything in life.

I've been blessed by seemingly very deliberately placed individuals in my path that help me along my way. For instance, I prayed for help to get healthier and fit because I just kept hurting myself doing it on my own.  And a CrossFit instructor moved next door and turned his garage into a gym. There are only a handful of CrossFit instructors in the state of Idaho.  Any more blunt and God would have to strike me with lightening to prove he's watching over me!

I'm grateful for having a few fun hobbies that I love!  I'm excited to have the space to put my messier hobbies away without burying them off in boxes in the garage every time I'm done using them so they can be more readily accessible the next time I decide to use them!  I feel like I can actually develop my talents more- finally being more organized.  And having more time now.

I'm grateful for our new home and the memories we'll make working together as a family to bring to life our visions of what this home/property will become. I'm grateful to have been able to be the architect and designer of it.  I'm a very methodical person and I got to make every wall and every surface intentional.  It's surreal to be in a home where everything about it is exactly as I would have it be.  I wouldn't change a single thing to like it any more.

OK, it's getting late.  I feel like I could go on and on.  As with everyone, the more we think about the things we're grateful for, the more grateful we become because additional reasons to be grateful will come to mind.  I hope my loved ones feel their lives are bright and filled with silver lining.  We're all so blessed in our own individual ways.  God knows us and how to tell each of us He loves and watches over us.  Look for the ways He does in your own life.  You will feel overwhelmed. 

Not to give the impression everything is perfect in my life and I have nothing to complain about.  But I'm just in a good place right now.  The only thing that could make me any happier right now would be for my husband to come home from guys night out :-)  A good old friend of his is in town and they were excited to meet up with friends, play basketball and then do a lot of catching up at Denny's.  I think I'm tuckered out, though.  Good night, World.

P.S. Devan and Tawna and anyone else who has asked, I did take some pictures of the house today and promise to post them very soon!  Just need to weed through them today.