Onward...

Life throws a lot of curve balls at us, thats for sure...
Some times we are blessed with wonderful things and other times a whole lot of heart ache.

Speaking of which, the I have been pondering the following questions lately:

How do we continue on with daily life when we are feeling so blue? Especially when everyone around us seems so happy? 

I guess there will always be someone in a different place in life, filled with more hardships and sorrows or seemingly happier than you. I think this is something all of us deal with. But every person's feelings and situation MATTERS. Nothing is insignificant. By the strength of God we are able to continue on this journey and strive to take life's "curve balls" as a teachable moment. 

How do we share our joy with others without being insensitive to where they are at? 

I think you should be grateful for the mountain you are on if you are experiencing a high moment in life. But I think empathy and sympathy as well as being conscious of your word choice can be more powerful than you know. 

So how do we move on from something that seems impossible?  I think you just live one day, one hour, or even one minute at a time...whatever you can do.

ciao

rhythm156

Dreamt about for years on end
Just how perfect those traits would be
How a person could possess a love so strong
For something so perfect...
All the hopes and wishes for what is to come
Linked to you.
Your heart beating strong,
A miracle indeed.
The ride is not always smooth, they say.
This is proven true,
Up down and around...
God sent His little angle to take you to Him
For I guess it is there you belonged
Forever I will feel that rhythm
Will I hold those memories
And will I search for peace
Love you.

[graciejoy]

Waterproof mascara

As I was nearing the end of my weekly grocery shopping trip, I remembered I needed to get new mascara... Lets just say the selection at Cub foods was not flourishing and the prices were quite higher than usual. In order to not spend a ridiculous amount of money on mascara and throw off our grocery budget, I resorted to buying "Falsies waterproof mascara." I thought, hey, how bad can it be? Little did I know how awful it is to take it off and deal with the stickiness that it brings to my normal [and not sticky] lashes. I then had to go buy eye makeup remover (which I have never bought before). Im tempted to get a new one even if i am only half way through the tube, but I know Sam would not approve. It now takes me much longer to get ready and deal with these dang eye lashes. ugh.

Word to the wise, unless its your wedding day, you are attending a funeral, or plan to cry a lot, steer clear from waterproof mascara and skip the hassle! Not to mention that it is not that healthy for the lashes we strive to grow and flourish.

Lesson for myself: Spend a few extra dollars or drive an extra mile to get a better deal on a good mascara that washes OFF :)

Let the new year begin!

I am excited for what the new year has to bring, as cliche as it sounds!

In 2011:

• We will be living in our first house!
• We will be going on a cruise (Feb)
• *fingers crossed* I will get into a hospital as an RN in the Twin Cities
• I have at least one amazing friend who is getting married!
• I will hopefully run a half marathon (Shooting for Grandmas)
• My baby boy (Theo) will turn 2!
• And who knows what other small miracles the year will bring... ;)

Our first new years together in 2005!

As this next year is approaching, I am gong to try and remind myself of the following:

• Its OK to sit and relax for a little bit!
• Everything does not have to be super clean ALL the time
• Think more about others rather than myself 

What a season!

Wow how this Christmas season has crept up on us! This year more than ever I have been trying to embrace the holidays and the true meaning behind it! Despite the blizzards and blistering cold, a warm cup of coffee has continually warmed me up and allowed me to unthaw and be grateful for all that has been and is!

On the note of Christmas, can I just say how much I love love getting Christmas cards/ letters/ pictures in the mail?! It is so fun to check the mailbox and find several updates on those we care about! In spite of the many hardships I know so many people have endured in 2010 and before, there is still so much to be thankful for and to rejoice in! Christmas cards always remind me of that :)

Update on my P90X journey....
Well, it has been going pretty well! Im on day 17 now and feel so much better already! Yes, the workouts are hard, but they have really grown on me! I have been sticking to them 100% for all six days a week! It makes me not even be able to imagine going back to working out 2-3 times a week now! The diet has been a bigger battle, as this phase includes practically 100,000 (ok, so really 5) proteins a day. And being a vegetarian, the things I used to use as protein: nuts, beans, cheese, peanut butter DO NOT COUNT AS PROTEIN for P90X! This has been the hardest because I have been trying my little heart out to have 5 servings a day of (egg whites, protein powder, & veggie burgers). Protein powder is my new best friend, and I have gotten quite creative in where/ how to intermingle it into my meals! I am working on my courage to try tofu again, and slowly work that into my diet. I think I just need some good recipes and a lot of mind power to get over how gross it looks!
All in all, I am pretty proud of myself for sticking to this and hopefully it will pay off in the end and change the way I eat/ work out for the future!

Other news: Our offer was accepted on the house we want!! Now for the inspection, and finalities of it! Hopefully we can say it is ours soon! We are so excited for this new adventure in being home owners! It is in such a cute neighborhood in South St. Paul! The house has been completely renovated (flipped) and is all ready for the Dittrich's to move right in!

I am especially thankful for those who are dear to me! I am blessed to have wonderful friends and family, an amazing husband and a pretty darn perfect dog :)
Love and Grace this holiday season!

Christina Joy

I said I was done...

After another bad (but may in fact be the worst) night of this job + some alarming realizations about some situations around me, lets just say I had some major fume to blow of.

*[Hint of one of the negative occurrences of the night @ work, I got peed on...all over...by a pre-school aged kid. ON PURPOSE. because he/she could not handle being told NO]

After ranting to none other than my lovely mother and husband, I decided to do my previously planned P90X 75 minute workout at 12:30 am. And it was just what I needed! A lot of hard work and concentration on things other than my problems {most menial in the grand scheme of things} And here it is, now 1:40 and I should be excited to shower and curl into bed with my puppy and man, but I just feel so energized!

Thank you God for creating exercise and for those around me for keeping me on board with this! Day 6. Its hard hard hard, but so rewarding when my muscles are almost to sore to go up the stairs the next day :) Then I know I really did do something to work those muscles!

I am going to force myself to go start the process of this thing called *sleep.* Unfortunately the meaning has become so twisted and abnormal lately due to my array of shifts, but I guess I should be grateful that tonight is a night to sleep AT NIGHT!

Adios.

The first day of the rest of my life...

I had a wonderful birthday week and feel so loved by so many people who made an effort to make me feel special! Thanks to those of you who did :) A special thqnks to my mom who always puts herself last and  others first! She is so loving, kind, loyal, encouraging and just plain hilarious! I am truly blessed by her more than she will ever know :) Hopefully someday I can be half the person she is...

Oatmeal masks with Mom on my Birthday

Today I am starting P90x with a great person who I know will keep me accountable! (and I may be able to offer a few laughs in return as she watches me to the workouts) so here it goes...I am serious about doing it 100% and NO CHEATING! Results here we come! I will keep you posted on the progress! Its time to kick it in to full gear and quit being so unhappy with myself!

Thats all for now! Ill let you know just how sore my body is tomorrow!

Christina