On my quest to run 3 miles in 30 minutes isn't going so well. Why? The weather. In the last 2 weeks, I've been able to run twice. The 1st time, the weather was just perfect. The 2nd, I was going against the wind - one way...and then it helped me on my way back, which of course was awesome. I did make an attempt to run on the treadmill last Thursday, and lasted .82 miles. Yep, point. eight. two. miles. Bored.
This week, due to the new schedule at the gym, I've had to switch things up a bit...
Monday - 4:30 Weights, 5:30 Kickboxing
Tuesday - 5:30 Weights, 6:30 Kickboxing
Wednesday - Day off
Thursday - 5:30 Weight, 3 mile attempt (on the treadmill...ahhhhh!)
Friday - 3 mile attempt (treadmill), 4:30 Weights

And then Saturday and Sunday I will run as well.........but I will only do so if I can run outside.

The weather has just been crappy! Back in high school, no matter what was going on outside, my coaches made us practice. I remember doing sit ups in the mud, while it hailed. No joke. But I don't have a coach. I have me. I have promised myself, and am forcing myself to hit the streets this weekend - NO MATTER WHAT!!!! We'll see how I do. Rain isn't going to hurt me. Put a rain coat on for goodness sakes!!!!!!! Geez Dawna.

Oh and my one (favorite) instructor at the gym, Deborah, has got us doing the 100 push up challenge. By July 29th, 100 push ups...training started last week. Eeek!

2 Years and counting....

As of this past weekend, we have officially been in Erie for 2 years.
For some reason I can't find some of my pictures...and I'm actually frantic about it, so I'm going to use what I have....

There were a few more people that helped us pack up, not sure where they are actually. But TJ, Alex and Leroy - you were not forgotten. (Just not sure why you weren't in this photo) This was a really sad day for me. I'm getting choked up just thinking about it. In a flash, our lives were packed up and squeezed into this truck. Neil and I created a life here - knowing we'd leave it eventually because we hated it there - but still, it was our first home.

I love this photo:

Our apartment.

What we looked like for 2500 miles...

8 months after being here, we bought a house and very shortly after (a week) we brought home this little munchkin who we call Cali. Look how cute. Seriously.

And this is Neil enjoying our backyard last summer. I just noticed that he is wearing socks with his sandals. I'm slightly embarrassed right now. What is he? Asian? (I'm allowed to say that, I'm asian...but I would never do this. This is a crime! How did I not see this?!!!!!)


I need to find my pictures. There on this computer some where. Hopefully. Despite the cold winters, we have really enjoyed living in Erie. Spring, Summer, Fall, family, friends, no traffic, good food, the Lake, my job and this house....It is all that we had hoped for. God truly blessed us. We are so thankful.

May 18th

Today, it was confirmed that I will have my braces (finally) removed on May 18th. How long have I had them on? Well, let's see....

As of today, roughly 3 years, 7 months and 22 days.

Day of removal: 3 years, 8 months and 7 days


I've been nervous and excited all at the same time for many things in my life, but this....This is more like FREAKING OUT and jumping out of my skin - mixed emotions to it's highest point. I almost don't want the day to come, because I don't know what I'll do with myself. I know I'll cry, that is inevitable...and I'm pretty positive it'll happen the moment my eyes awake for the day.

Until then....
(aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!)

*I've changed this post now 3 times due to schedule changes....

Team Jack

Wow, I just realized what big smiles we all have on our faces. We just finished a 6.2 miles walk, running the very end of it because we wanted to finish within 2 hours... To be here, and be a part of this really meant a lot to me. I don't know Kevin and Taiya (the couple to your left) very well, but when the opportunity came to walk for this cause - Neil and I jumped right on it. As you can see, we are the only non-family members here... but we felt like family, and it will be a day I will never forget. (Taiya and Carly swear they didn't plan their outfits for the day - but come on!)

Kevin and Taiya lost their baby in child birth just about a month ago. Taiya heard of the March for Babies event, just a week before the walk...and the 2 of them decided to go for it. They got their team set up, and set a goal on an amount they'd like to raise. I mean, with only a week... they each put a low dollar amount. Kevin told me, during the walk of course, that he kept jumping up his goal because it kept being surpassed. How great is that?

The Fallons have many plans for next year already....team shirts, loading up on carbs the night before....I can already see this being a yearly tradition, and I am so happy to be a part of it.

Brooke-lyn

One of my bestest friends Brooke came and surprised me on my birthday. (I know this is late, but I just now got around to uploading my photos from my camera.)

Now...my goal of taking more pictures this year - didn't exactly happen while she was here. But I did take a few...
Here we are at the Erie Zoo. It was super dreary this day...as you can see.

This is us at Niagara Falls... It was cold!!! It was so amazing though.

And here is Neil trying to feed this black squirrel. We have never seen a BLACK squirrel!! We were freaking out. And then it was actually going up to him.



**Oh, and on a side note - this is me with Flat Kobe.

I just re-read my last blog.
Whoa.
Today, I was running around town trying to get pictures for my nephew Kobe - he sent me a colored picture of himself, "Flat Kobe" and I needed to take him around my community for a class project. So, today was the day. I really hope I'm not all that late returning this to him... (On the letter it said, "please return before school ends in May." What does that really mean?

Well. As I was walking along Presque Isle with my bestest friend on four legs - Cali - I started to appreciate my life, and was thanking the Lord for all that He has blessed me with. I know there is a lot I need to work on in my heart, but I do feel blessed.

I may complain a lot. I tend to be dramatic about stuff...yes, I do realize I'm dramatic... But a majority of my life has been about God's timing and living life with the attitude of the glass half FULL. Not sure what's going on with me, or with my attitude, but I don't like it.

Patience

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God...
...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances."

-Philippians 4:6 & 11

I have an issue. I am not a patient person. And I really feel God is teaching me patience. Actually, it's more like a Class on Patience, with a student count of ONE...and I'm on the 3 year plan. I'm not happy about it. I find myself fighting. Like, actually fighting in prayer. That doesn't make a bit of sense, I know. It ends w/laughter because who can really fight the Almighty?
It's literally one thing after another, after another....after another. From buying a house, decorating the house, to buying a car, to having kids, down to the construction of my teeth ....everything has been this waiting game. And just when we think something is going to come through - bam! There's a hold up. (Now, we have a home - and thank the Lord every chance we get for it.) But everything else... my patience is wearing thin.

I NEED HELP!!!
I am literally going crazy. I feel like, everything I ask for - gets put on the back burner.

(I know this isn't true, and I know in due time - all of the desires of my heart will be answered.)

Neil and I cannot begin to count our blessings, for we are truly blessed. This blog is mine, and mine alone - and I can vent if I want.

I just hope God will give me my degree already, and let me pass...

Thank You?

So...funny story. I was asked to work today in the office. It's Friday. I never work on Fridays, but I don't dare say no at an opportunity to earn extra money. Of course. So, since the beginning of this week - we had the most amazing, perfect weather - high 70s, just gorgeous. I started to dread coming into work today.

I said a little prayer: "God, please let there be crappy weather on Friday since I have to work, and I can't embrace this Spring weather you've blessed us with."

Yeah. I said crappy.

Well, as I left for work this morning - it started to snow. Thank you Jesus...I think. Snow though? Oh well. Bad weather is bad weather, right? (At least it's not sticking....)

On a fun note, this is what I drive up to when I get home....So pretty.

Brace Face coming to an end....

.....and I'm bittersweet about the whole situation. I had an orthodontist appointment last Monday, and my doctor, Dr. Cardot said "See you in a month, and we'll schedule the day to take the top braces off."
I'm slightly FREAKING out about the whole situation. So many emotions....

March Maaadness

I started the month off slowly getting off the "healthy eating" train...and within hours of landing in CA, I was completely off. (There was no way I'd be in CA for 5 days, and eat healthy...who are we kidding?) Weeks that followed, I did not improve these old habits of snacking, drinking soda, laziness... nope, I did not. Why? Birthday. I had it set in my head that my Birthday week would be filled with crap eating anyway....why eat healthy now?
But guess what? Birthday week is over - and boy did we celebrate!!! I'll have to post more about it in another blog because I have a few pictures to share - that I'm just too lazy to upload at this very moment (hence the word LAZY)...but it was a good time. Ate a LOT, and didn't make it into the gym all that much. (I even slept for 3 hours today, 3pm-6pm...with no attempts to make it to my 6:30pm Weights Class....laaaazzzzy and bleh.)

Neil and I, as you all know, love food. With the history in Neil's family, he should not be eating the way he eats. And we've come to the decision to eat healthy together. When I started the year off eating "clean" I did it alone. As of tomorrow, according to him "what you cook, I'll eat." We've decided that during the week, only healthy eating. Saturdays and Sundays, we can venture off a little bit. I mean come on, Spring is here - and grilling season is around the corner.... Burgers and hot fudge sundaes... We couldn't do without!

Today is Neil's last day of Spring break, and we're ending the vacation on a sluggish, but oh so yummy note: Chinese take out! And yes, today is Monday. But vacation ending trumps Monday. So there.

*Plus my goal of becoming a runner by the end of the year isn't going to happen on it's own. But now that the weather is nice, I'll take the attempt to the streets....

Tomorrow is a new healthy day! (I hope so anyway)