Month of Thanks Day 8

Day 8: 4 Seasons

After growing up in Florida and spending the first 23-and three quarter years of my life living where the seasons were commonly referred to as hot, hotter, and hottest, moving to Colorado allowed me to experience all four seasons for the first time and brought on a new love and appreciation for not only the seasons, but the activities which abound with each as well! Despite no longer living in Colorado, I am so thankful we get to experience all four seasons in Colorado. Below are just a few of our favorite things about each season here in Alabama.

• Changing of the leaves, pumpkin patches, and sitting on the porch enjoying happy hour in crisp cool air in the Fall
• Snow and glistening ice on the barren branches, and snuggling under cozy blankets while drinking hot cocoa or the perfect cup of coffee in the Winter
• Magnolia trees, Japanese cherry blossoms, and hundreds of azaleas in full bloom while being able to kayak down the rivers and enjoy a picnic lunch under the refreshing sun in the Spring
• Farmers Markets, days spent at the lake, evenings spent grilling and watching the lightning bugs flitter in the yard, and weekends spent camping and building bonfires in the Summer

   

Month of Thanks Day 7

Day 7: Life

I am truly thankful to be alive and experience this adventure known as life. Each day is a gift and never promised. After losing our oldest furbaby abruptly this weekend, it truly made me realize to live each day to the fullest, say I love you more than you think you should, challenge yourself by facing your fear and taking risks, hug your loved ones a little tighter, and show kindness to both friends and strangers alike because you never know when you may take your last breath. 

Month of Thanks Day 6

Day 6: J-O-B

I am thankful to have a job. Though my current full-time job is not in the field I love and have a passion for, it is a job which provides a decent salary and a steady income, and I am still able to do personal training, program design, and teach group fitness classes part-time. Though there are days when I am dis-heartened and feel defeated, I am thankful to have an office to go to each day and a pay check deposited into my account every 2-weeks. Though there are times when I feel under-appreciated and under-paid, I know I am good at my job and have made a positive impact in our community and helped save lives. So while my job may not be what I love, I still give my all each and every day and close my office door knowing I am making a difference every day! 

Month of Thanks - Day 5

Day 5: Furbabies

I write today’s thankful post with a very heavy and saddened heart. When I decided to write about my furbabies as my thankful post today, I was planning to write about how I never planned to have 4 furbabies but am thankful for each and all the love and laughter they each bring into my life. However, this afternoon we had to abruptly say goodnight and forever sweet dreams to our oldest baby girl, Star. Star was our nearly 12 year old black lab, who loved a tennis ball nearly as much as she loved her daddy. Today’s post is dedicated to Star and the bed time story written to her by her daddy…

RIP Star!!!! You were with me for high school graduation, crazy times of learning (and times of no learning) at UF, the meeting of the future Mrs. Romer, graduation from my bachelors and masters, the end of my teen years and the beginning of my adult years, life in four states, two cross-country moves, wacky fourth floor walk-ups and huge yards with all the space you could want...you never complained when I brought home extra siblings, stopped playing catch too soon, made you go outside in the snow, or help me with all-nighter of work. You were amazing and I'll always love you!!!

Star, you will be Forever Loved, Never Forgotten, and Always Missed. Momma loves you JaMima and misses you so much!

Month of Thanks Day 4

Day 4: My Legs

Despite having just had meniscus surgery today, I am thankful for my legs. My legs have allowed me to enjoy the beautiful scenes while trail running and mountain biking. My legs have allowed me to climb multiple 14ers during my time in Colorado, including the famous Pikes Peak. My legs have walked the streets of Europe and experienced the amazing waters while snorkeling at the Baths in Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. My legs have crossed a number of finish lines, from 5Ks to half-marathons and run more laps on a track than I can count. My legs have taught me to push beyond what my mind thinks is capable and by allowing my heart to take over, my legs can soar. Whether its hopping on my road bike, pounding a few miles on the asphalt or playing a little game of tennis, my legs have provided me a healthy outlet to relieve stress and clear my mind. So while I may be laid up today and the next several days from surgery, I am thankful for my legs and am looking forward to where else they will take me!!

Month of Thanks....Day 3

Day 3: Freedom

I am thankful for all of my freedoms, rights and privileges. I am thankful to live in a country where everyone doesn’t have to have the same beliefs and opinions and each individual is able to express their opinions and beliefs through both speech and written word. I am thankful for the freedom to own a house, a car, and a gun. I am thankful for the freedom to pursue higher education and the right to vote. I am thankful for those both past and present, who have served to defend our country, our leaders who have worked to establish our rights, and our fore-fathers who had the insight to create such sound principles which are still vital to being an American today!

Thankful...Day 2

Day 2: Adversity

This may sound odd but there is definitely truth behind it! While it is hard to appreciate the challenges life presents during adversity, looking back I have realized those obstacles have not only made me who I am but have made me a stronger person and taught me valuable lessons. Adversity has helped shape my beliefs, my relationships, and my belief in myself. It is because of the obstacles I have overcome that my self-confidence has soared!

Witnessing divorce first-hand as a child helped cement my belief in never going to bed upset, going the extra mile to show someone you care, and the only way to argue is naked (because making each other strip down to argue will end all arguments and just make you smile). Growing up in a single-parent family, taught me to work for everything you have, independence is a vital attribute, and there is no such thing as “man chores” or “woman chores”. Working my way through college taught me, you can’t always have what you, but to appreciate what you have, sleep is overrated, and NEVER give up. Fighting my way through Grad School taught me to believe in myself and I can accomplish my dreams and goals! I realize adversity is truly just a part of life and am ready to face it head on and am thankful to be able to learn from the experiences.

November....30 Days of Thanks!

Day 1: My Husband

I truly feel my happiness and life is centered around my husband. I am so thankful to have such a loving, hard-working, dedicated husband. I was not looking for a relationship in April 2004, but one date led to another. Then May 2007, while packing to move across the country to Colorado to start a new chapter of our lives together, he asked me to be his wife. A little over two years later, we said the two big words, “I Do” on Megan’s Bay in St. Thomas. Our life has been a whirlwind of adventures, full of thrills, hard work, sacrifices, and more moves than most people make in their lives! However, I wouldn’t change any of it…I am happy beyond words and attribute the joy in my heart and the smile on the face to my husband, the man who tells me he loves me every day, will not go to sleep without kissing me goodnight, and takes the furbabies out for a run in hopes of tiring them out to make my evening easier! I love you and am thankful for you!

A Week In Pictures

Okay blogworld, I know you missed me as much as I missed you this past week!! Sadly, I cannot believe I didn't get a single post out or even really read any blogs this past week....craziness!! Because I have obviously been so busy and because you care so much about what I have been up to, here is a quick run down in random order of the past week!!