30 Days of Thankfulness!

Gonna do it. But not on Facebook. Too many eyes!!!

On this FIRST day of thankfulness....

I am thankful for my supportive husband. Lyndon is the most selfless husband I know. He's always putting our family first. He realizes what we need, what we want, and how we want to get there and he does his best to make it happen. He sacrifices so much and always steps up to the plate so I can get to the gym. That's been a big priority for me lately. I just feel so much better when I get a workout in. He makes it happen. I know there are so many husbands out there who don't step up to watch the kids, make dinner, pick up the kitchen, etc. He's so good in these areas. We have such a wonderful team. I am so thankful for him!

Long overdue update

What's going on?? I'm feeling a little more creative and mouthy these days so guess it's time to blog a little!

1) Leaving Friday - on a jet plane - New Orleans/Jamaica/Grand Cayman/Mexico. Jealous? After this crazy Washington weather - ready for some sun!!!

2) Still working too much. 40 hours for the state - and my beloved Zumba job.

3) 2011 #1 instructor at the Valley Athletic Club = moi. Hello!!! Very proud - and surprised because I'm not a hard body like the rest of the instructors there. They are all super fabulous and I wish my body looked a little more like theirs - it's obvious that a body is NOT what brings in the peeps. It's about heart, energy, smile and attitude. No doubt.

4) Paid off both cars now. BIG Dave Ramsey advocate. Have faltered slightly in the last few months - boat purchase, previously mentioned vacation purchase - however - no car payments!! :)

5) Mom is doing fabulous. Cancer free - getting checked every 3 months! Love living in every moment.

6) The kiddos are awesome. My heart for them grows bigger and bigger every day.

7) Considering buying a home here in Olympia. However - Lyndon is not done with school and I don't want to work here at the State forever. BUT I love my Zumba/Valley job so not sure I can ever give that up. I could - but it's not the right time yet. Maybe once he finishes school, we could find something else. But really....we have great people here.

Nothing else to share. Will get back to posting some more pictures soon. Maybe after the vaca??

Love to anyone to still checks in on us. I will talk about Isaac and his progress/where he's at soon. I honestly don't love to talk about it much anymore. Causes too much anxiety.

XO
Rebecca

One of my biggest fears

Today (and for awhile now) I keep thinking I may be making decisions in my life that I later will regret. Random thought, I know....although not totally random. Check out this link where a nurse reveals the top 5 regrets people make on their deathbed.

Job, location, time with kids..... realizing money isn't the most important think but it sure makes things more manageable. I know pretty soon I'm going to have to make a big step towards happiness.

Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my family, my marriage, etc. We are happy and healthy. That by far is the most important thing. I'm talking about the outside extremeties of that......I want it all.

Blogging at work (from my iPhone) is probably not a great way to spend my time but just had to get it out there! I think I might need a Life Coach. Isn't that what people do these days?? Or some might suggest I find my way back to church. . . .

Vacation Countdown!

We are on the short countdown to our first vacation in a VERY long time! Since we moved back to Washington, we have taken a day here or there but most of our vacation/leave time has been consumed by Isaac's accident and surgery. Finally we have accumulated enough to take some much needed R&R. Our family and my parents are headed to Lake Chelan for a week. Can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to this. Hoping it renews and refreshes my spirit and my love for Washington. We are bringing the boat, the tubes and the fishing poles! I promise there will be pictures!!

Good News about my mom!

Yesterday my mom was tested - first time since her breast cancer diagnosis back in September. All tests came out clear. She and I had dinner downtown last night and she ordered a celebratory dry martini. Her first drink since September!

So for another three months, we can breathe easily!

Restless

That's it - I confess. I'm completely restless! For six years, I couldn't wait to find a home base and settle down. Well here we are, here we have the capability of settling down, making the Pacific NW our permanent home but now all I can think about is the next adventure.

In a way I'm disappointed in myself that I just can't be happy where I am, but then I'm happy that I have dreams and set my sights on bigger things. I'm thankful my family (mom and dad) gave me both roots and wings. There is a huge world out there and I have loved experiencing so much of it so far. Just not sure I'm quite done yet.

I definitely miss the south - mostly the weather. We were so active there. And I do miss my stay-at-home mom roll just a little bit as well. Are there greener pastures elsewhere?

So stay tuned. I'm getting antsy.

Return of the Blog?

Hmmmmmm. The blog. One of those things that I wish I had more time for because anyone who knows me knows I love to talk and share my opinion on a bunch of random things.

It's Friday morning and I've taken a few hours off work this morning to prepare for our Memorial Day camping trip. Don't you think I'm making a great use of this extra time? Not.

Time. Something I think about quite a bit these days. I don't have a lot of it. Well I guess I have as much as the rest of you but my time is spent 9 hours a day at a job where I where my hat as an accountant, I somehow fit in a workout during most days and the rest of the time I spend with my family and sometimes my friends. It doesn't seem like a lot but it really is. Which is why I am constantly pondering what I can do to get and give more time to my family and something more meaningful in my eyes. A stay-at-home full-time mom? Not really ideal for me. But a home-based business? A part-time job? Something along those lines - I know it will eventually come up. So I just keep waking up and trying to make the most of each and every day. I've at least learned in the past couple of years to do that much!

One of my other hats is my part-time job as a Zumba instructor at the Tumwater Valley Athletic Club. Filling a huge passion of mine. Helping and instructing others. Plus I get paid to work out. Not bad and my classes have been pretty darn packed and successful this year!

Ten random thoughts from me this morning:

1. If I could take the summer off, I would spend 2 weeks in Maine and 2 weeks in North Carolina. Home to some wonderful friends.

2. Sometimes I regret moving back to the Pacific NW. Remember those awesome beach blogs from about three years ago? Ya, me too. Just wish I could have moved my people to me - I do love seeing family and friends much more. BUT - I miss sun, hot and warm beaches.

3. I'm really happy I don't live in a state where tornadoes occur. However, earthquakes scare me just as much. If not more. No warnings.

4. Sometimes who I want to be is different from who I really am. Accepting that can be hard.

5. Women who don't find value in maintaining close friendships with other women frighten me. I stay away from them.

6. Our lives have been much improved by taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course. Normal is broke people!!

7. I really want to move into a different house. Where, I don't know. But I want a master bath and a nice kitchen with a pantry. On a cul-de-sac. And a bigger yard. Hot tub would be a bonus!

I'm going to end with seven. That's all I really have time for.

Til next time......and I hope it's less than three months before I find/make the time!