Writer's Block

For the first time in my life I have writer's block. So like everything else that happens to me, I decided to blog about it. For a woman who loves words, books, writing, and all things social media this is pretty much a nightmare. Don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm out of ideas or anything. I have a TON of blog post ideas rolling around in my head, but every time I sit down to write, the words just don't flow from my head to my fingers as easily as they once did.

I think the biggest problem is I went from writing multiple stories a day to blogging maybe once a week. I'm out of practice. Plus, my work life and even most of my home life nowadays doesn't revolve around the computer. I use to read a lot of other blogs more as well. They would kind of be my inspiration. Reading about other people's lovely lives makes me want to write about my own. Where is the love online people!?! OK that might have sounded wrong unintentionally, but you get the idea. So today I ask you, or implore you rather to help me out. I need to feel, live, and read about your lovely lives to help inspire mine, Every. Single. Day.

Half of Me

My dad turned the big 58 yesterday. It's hard to believe in just a few years my pops will be 60. I try not to blog about my parents too much because they don't really get the whole blogging thing, and they often times confuse my blog posts with Facebook posts. They really, really don't get social media. Which of course, is too bad because I am in love with it. Anyway, I thought I could at least take the time to write about them once a year. This time it's my dad's turn.

I like to think I have the best qualities of both of my parents. There is no doubt I am my mother and father's child. I have my mom's good looks and her way of seeing the world. I have more of her common sense and personality overall. What I get from my dad is a yearning to learn. My dad loves to read and is always learning new things about this wonderful world. It was my dad who helped me for hours with my homework every night because I didn't just want to turn something in, I wanted to find the right answers.

I also get a lot of my interests from my dad. We love sports and could spend hours every weekend watching the White Sox, Bulls, NASCAR, Tennis, even bowling. ((OK I fall asleep during bowling, but still). My mom and brother are a couple of lookieloos but my dad and I go places for a reason. We're more straight and focused than wanderers.

More importantly, my faith is founded on the principles my dad taught me. Dad took us to church every Sunday, and for me that is still very much a part of my weekly routine. Dad taught us to never take what wasn't ours, never cheat or cut in line, and that Jesus died and rose again for our sins. I've read the Bible through twice now and I'm about to start again because my goal is to read it more times than my dad.

So for my dad's birthday I sent a card, called him to wish him a happy birthday, and publicly thanked him for being a good role model. I love my dad. Every. Single. Day.

Kicking Butt

My fitness quest is still on track and I'm loving every sweaty moment at the gym. I've gained four pounds since I started working out with the my trainer about 6 weeks ago! For me, that is a ton of weight. It took me four years to gain six pounds in high school. Then as a freshman in college, I gained three over the course of several months. I've been losing or maintaining weight ever since. I am happy to report I can now give blood and I'm well on my way to my fitness goals. I still have about 7 more pounds I would like to gain, but the most important thing is I feel much better about my physical appearance.

Every couple of weeks I meet with my awesome trainer Sarah. She's friendly, nice, smart, and all about pushing me in all the right ways. She challenges me without giving me anything that's so hard I want to quit, although I sometimes feel like I'm about to fall over. I can make it through my workout routine in a pretty timely manner as well which also helps. She even checks up on me in between sessions by checking the log books. She knows if I'm actually at the gym or not. And believe me I'm there! I try to go at least every other day, sometimes more. I feel so good about myself physically and mentally. I've been struggling with my self-esteem for quite sometime, especially when it comes to the looks department. Going to the gym has helped to give me some of my confidence back. I still have a long way to go, but I love trying to get there. Every. Single. Day.

The Best Part of the Day

I love early mornings when I don't actually have to be up early. No matter what time my schedule says I have to be at work, my two lovely pups, Mister and Missy, have to go to the bathroom around 5:30 every morning. Some days that means by the time we get back and they get fed I only have a few minutes before my alarm is going to go off. On Saturdays, however, that is rarely the case. I don't have to be into work until the afternoon if not the evening on the weekends.

On Saturdays like this one, the thought of not having to get up early makes me want to get up early, although I don't usually stay up. Instead we do the dog routine and at the very least Missy and I head for the couch for an hour long nap. Sometimes Mister joins us to. I love watching the sun rise higher in the sky while I snuggle with my pup. It reminds me that all the other things don't really matter as much. I have what I need. I forget that A LOT! ((you already know that if you've read the last post)) No matter what has happened the Lord has still provided for me and that has allowed me to provide for my beautiful dogs. It just takes a lazy early morning to remind me I guess. I love those early morning lazy moments. Every. Single. Day.