Heavy Heart

Leukemia Awareness

I have a heavy heart this week and today. A dear friend and co-worker has been in ICU fighting his second round with Leukemia. They have given him chemo and it is apparently more than his body can handle. There is concern he may not make it through this. So we are praying without ceasing for him, his wife, and their 13 year old daughter.

If you are a person who prays please add my friend to your prayer list. Thank you!!

8Ks and 5Ks...It's All for a Good Cause

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I am not a runner...I am not really a jogger...I'm a walker. I'm ok with this. And I think I've officially gone to the dark side when it comes to "races" I admit I enjoy them. I like the atmosphere at the start and the end. It's a big feeling of "we're all in this together." And some of my races have been fun runs, some have been get fit runs, and a few have been fundraisers.

Currently I'm anticipating my 8K this weekend. I'm looking forward to it and I hope we have good weather. I got new shoes for the event, they are Brooks. I love their clothes and so far I love the shoes.

One of the races I did last year was for the Wounded Warrior Project and I'm looking at doing one for WWP again this year in April. I've signed up for another 5K in April already for Be the Match, the organization that works to help find bone marrow matches for those fighting leukemia and other blood diseases. The race is called Be The One Run and I'm running it in honor of my co-worker James who continues his battle with leukemia. And is most likely going to need a bone marrow transplant. So this cause is very near and dear to me.

I'm also looking at doing the Color Run in DC if it works into my schedule. And I'd like to get to the point where I can do the Wicked 10K in October so we'll see how it goes.

How are your fitness goals going?

Weight Watchers...Will you remember me?

So I've decided to go back to Weight Watchers. I admit I went back and forth on it a lot. Because to be honest WW and I have had a love/hate relationship. But when I talked to so many people who had great success on it and then I read Jennifer Hudson's book I decided it was silly to keep avoiding it. When I talked to J about it he felt like I had done the best when I was doing WW so he supports it whole heartedly.

I haven't done the Points Plus system so I look forward to learning about it. I also know that the program only works if you work the program. So I've decided I will give it my full focus and dedication. I haven't decided whether I'll make my weigh-ins part of my blog or not. I'm leaning toward including it on a panel on the side. We'll see.

I admit I'm excited about starting a "new" program. And I'm hoping the enthusiasm will remain. As a side note J has offered to give me money toward new clothes when I reach my goal. I know it may sound vain but this is a pretty darn good incentive for me.

Bubble Issues and Meeting In-laws

Inspired by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop...


5.) Describe what it was like meeting your in-laws for the first time?


Ok so this one was really easy...but I must first preface this by saying at the time my husband and I started dating I still had pretty major bubble issues thanks to my ex husband. I was not really comfortable with people being in my space until I said it was OK. Keep that in your mind as you read this tale...


J and I started dating in February. He met my parents in April on Easter Sunday. So we planned a trip for August over his birthday to visit his family. We arrived at his sister T's house. And I met T, her husband J, and my J's other sister M. All of them gave big huge hugs from the get go. Hi this is Meg...{BIG HUG and KISS on the cheek}...an my girlfriend. Now I will say to this day I still adore T and she and I get along great. But I was a bit overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection. 


Then we left there and went to his parent's house. I didn't even get in the door before I got the BIG HUG and KISS on the cheek. On the outside I smiled through all this because until I told them a year later they didn't know how uncomfortable I was. J's sister T smacked him and said he should have told them so I wouldn't be so overwhelmed. No harm done. I love my in-laws and they are wonderful people.


So  I encourage you to head over to Mama Kat's and check out the other stories and even link up.

Book Review: I Got This by Jennifer Hudson

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I read a lot, magazines, online, and books. Usually a book takes me about three to four days sometimes even up to a week. But last week I bought Jennifer Hudson's "I Got This" book and I finished it in a couple days. It was great! I loved reading about her journey to fame, her faith, her family, and her success at weight loss with Weight Watchers.

The way she wrote it felt more like a good conversation with a friend than a book. I felt like she just puts it out there and you can take or leave it. Throughout the book when someone would tell her something (mainly her Mom) she would respond "whatever" and of course the person was usually right.

Overall I thought it was a well written, enjoyable book that is definitely worth the read whether you're a Jennifer Hudson fan, a Weight Watchers fan, or just someone looking for a good book.

Whatcha been reading lately?

P.S. This book inspired me to watch Dreamgirls which happened to be on demand...that was a good movie too!

Fear

So right now I'm blessed and I get to talk to my husband on the phone almost daily. At some point we will go back to email only conversation but for now I will enjoy person to person. And we've had some pretty interesting conversations.

One of late has been about fears. I knew I had fears about the "what ifs" of him being in dangerous situations what I didn't realize is that he does too. And I asked him to "unpack" it a bit for me. He said in the past he'd gone into dangerous situations that he hadn't really worried too much about whether he got home or not because there wasn't anyone to come home too. (He's wrong...he has a very large family that would have missed him horribly) Now though he has me and he says now when he goes into dangerous situations he worries about making it through to come home to me. At first this concerned me because he's always had the "I'm Captain America and I'm unstopable" attitude. But the more I thought about it the more I determined that having a little fear is a good thing. I think it keeps him humble and focused. And I think he stays on top of the people under him to make sure they are trained well too. As it says above...[Courage is realizing something else is more important than Fear...]

He has often told me that he loves his job (most days) because it isn't all about him there is a bigger purpose and cause at play. And in his mind he fights in other parts of the world so that we don't have to fight at home. I'm proud of what he and his fellow sailors do and the sacrifices they make. (as well as what all the branches do and the sacrifices they make)

Are there times when your spouse surprises you or shares something you didn't know?

MilSpouse Friday Fill-in #69

1. What is your favorite/most unique anniversary/birthday gift from your spouse? suggested by Bel at Being a Better Me

This will sound strange but one of my favorite gifts from my husband was the set of towels on our registry. He sent them to me for our second wedding anniversary (cotton). The reason they are special to me is because of why he sent them. About a month or so before our anniversary I received a big box from Bed, Bath, and Beyond. When I opened it, it was all of the towels we had registered for on our registry. I was so excited because our towels were getting a bit old looking and I loved these towels. Well I read the card and they were from Aunt So&So. I didn't think anything of it because J has a LOT of aunts and uncles on his mother's side she is one of 10 children. Well then I get a call from Bed, Bath, and Beyond telling me that there was a mistake and that a couple with our same names had an aunt who mistakenly ordered off our registry. So I had to give them back. I will admit I was disappointed. I told J the story and he felt bad so he gave me the entire set for our anniversary with a note that said..."this time you get to keep them because they are just for you. Happy Anniversary Baby." So although they may not be the most romantic gift to some they were very sweet to me. 

2. What’s your first thought when you see it’s snowing (or what would you say if you don’t live somewhere with snow? suggested by Poekitten from Many Waters
Snow lots so I don't have to go anywhere and I can stay home and play with the puppies.

3. What’s one thing in the past month you would have changed?  suggested by Erika from Chambanachik
My dear friend and co-worker had his leukemia come back in February after 6 months of being in remission so I would definitely change that and have him healthy. 

4. What was your favorite thing that happened in February? 
Getting to talk to my husband a lot on the phone because of his schedule. It always makes deployment easier when you get to talk to them.

5. What are you looking forward to in March?
Hmm March brings my first 8K, and although that's a mixed blessing because I want to do it I'm also a bit nervous about it.

Now take a moment head on over to Wife of a Sailor and link up!