Acceptance

I have really been struggling lately with how I view my body.  I have fallen into what the media says we should look like and I feel like I am worthless because I do not look like a Victoria's Secret model.  How many real life women actually look like that???  I am a healthy size 6.  Why can't that be enough?  Why do I have to obsess all day about how I look.  This is one thing I have been really trying to overcome.  I want to eat right and exercise, but I don't want being skinnier to consume my life.  Will I really be happier if I were 2 sizes smaller?  Or would I find something else about myself I want to change based on what society says is beautiful?  What I really want is to accept myself for who I am, faults and all.  I want to look in the mirror and not obsess...wishing my waist was slimmer or my thighs were smaller.  God made me the way I am and I want to love myself the way he loves me.  Who cares if there is a little extra bulge around my waist when I sit down?  Does that make me less worthy?  I want to live life to the fullest and be happy.  I want to work at overcoming all of the things that hold me back in life.  First up...self acceptance. 

Lord, please help me to accept myself for who I am and help me to become all that you made me to be!

Goals

Run a 5K (almost there!)
Run a 10K
Run a 1/2 Marathon
Run a full Marathon
CONQUER THE CANYON!  - This is my end goal.  To conquer the grand canyon to end duchenne.  It will take awhile to get to this goal and I will have to raise a lot of money, but I want to do it for me...and for Austin. 

PPMD Conquer the Canyon

Update #1

We have been soooo busy it's really hard to keep up with all we have been doing.  But I do want to document as much as I can so I am going to do 2 updates over the next few days.  I love being busy and spending so much time with family but I also want to make sure it's documented so that we can have memories forever.

Cheryl and Jim made Austin this beautiful Advent Calendar.  This year it not only counts down to Christmas but it is also counting down to the the day we go to California since we leave on Christmas Day.  He LOVES pulling out a box each morning and finding a special little prize.  Thanks again Nana and Grandpa!!!

 (Sorry for the horrible quality pics they were taken with my phone...again I REALLY need and iPhone!)

Austin had his annual Christmas Program at School.  They sang a few songs.  It was really cute.  I took a few quick pictures of him in front of our tree before we left.  He decided to be goofy...like alwasy! =)

Austin decorated a gingerbread house at Jonathan's Aunt Gingers house.  It was very fun and he did a great job!

 (Sometimes it's scary how much he looks like Andy!)

We went to Gray Family Christmas.  We had a great time.  This is the only pictures I got that day.  Austin would not put down his DS. 

 We had our first snow of the season!!!  Yes Brandy and Robyn I know this is nothing compared to what you get, but it was exciting for us.  It all melted by the time we got home but it was a pretty drive to work that morning. 

What I'm missing...

I have pretty much adjusted to life here in Arkansas and our lack of things I love.  Most days it doesn't bother me, but every once in awhile I really start to miss home!  There are a lot of things I miss about California.  Some day I really consider getting in my car and driving back.  =)  But for today I am just going to post a few of the things I'm missing.

Disneyland OF COURSE.  After spending nearly every weekend there we really really miss it!  Luckily we will get to experience the Magic again in a couple months.

Oh the wonderful surprises you can find at Trader Joes.  

I will definitely be eating at in-n-out a few times while in CA!

Newport Beach oh how I have missed you.

  A Real mall