Friday, April 29, 2011

Food For Thought Friday: Are You Who You Want to Be??

What do others see when they look at you? Better yet, what do you see when you look at yourself?? I think self reflection is super important.  It helps you grow & become wiser. If you're real with yourself, what is your attitude, speech, dress, effort, giving, etc. saying about the kind of person you are??  Are you reflecting your true self, or just what you want others to think about you, or perhaps something completely inaccurate altogether?

 I am not saying we should base our value on what others think about us, but if most of the people around us see us a certain way, there is most likely some truth to that.  This can be a higher or lower view of how we see ourself, but I think it's important to consider.

One thing that sticks out to me is my super BUSY lifestlye. I am always on the go, rushing through life, checking off a giant daily to do list.  That is definitely not the life I want to live; so I am really going to make it a priority to slow down....(after June!). :)  Being a "busy bee" is NOT who I want to be.

So...This is your life, are you who you want to be???

Seriously?!? 2 more shots????

You are not going to believe this.  I have been stressed to the max and totally beyond exhausted for the past few weeks.  If you saw my calendar, combined with the fact that we had to work an extra hour every day for the past 12 days (meaning I didn't even get to LEAVE work most says till 5:30....and I'm a teacher, I have to be here before 8!), and add in the whole house deal, & my Specialist's work, and testing, it makes sense.  Plus, these crazy storms have been interrupting my sleep schedule a bit, so I am just plain run down and worn out!  This made my immune system weaker, resulting in some type of infection. I woke up Monday morning with the whole side of my face and throat hurting. I had a lymph node (gland) swollen directly under my chin on my neck....and I'm telling ya friends, this bad boy is HUGE! It looked/looks like an adam's apple!!  No joke! (I keep making everyone feel it....ha! Be glad you don't have to physically come in contact with me or I'd make you feel it too!) I asked our schoool nurse about it yesterday and she said I needed to go to the doctor ASAP because that gland was HUGE!  So, after my pitching lesson yesterday, I finally finished my day around 5:45 and headed to Quick Care. The doctor asked what was going on, and I let him know I just felt dumpy and had a majorly swollen gland. While feeling my throat on both sides, where most people typically get swollen, he asked me how I knew it was swollen. What? Did he not see this giant mass on my neck?? (Seriously, golf ball size!) So, I moved his hands to the 'adam's apple' and he made a ridiculously disgusted face.  He said that was a strange location and he was worried about it because if it got any larger I wouldn't be able to breathe.  He said he was going to give me two shots- an antibiotic and a steroid- and give me an oral antibiotic as well. He also told me if I wasn't feeling better today I needed to come back immediately. Awesome news!  I almost passed out when I heard him say 2 shots. 
Do we all remember my little needle phobia, right?? YIKES! SO, this is the kicker. I had to lie down on my tummy and get a shot in each butt cheek!! The nurse kept asking me to "stop breathing like that because I might hyperventilate."  Oh goodness, it hurt so bad!! He wouldn't let me stand up right away afterwards either.

I was mortified, on top of freaking out about the shots, because I am a pretty modest person, and this (sorta creepy anyway) male nurse had to see my VS thong, pull my pants down, give me some shots in the booty, and watch my butt flex/tense up after he "poked" it....(as he referred to it).

On top of it all, my antibiotic REALLY stresses the importance of staying out of the sun (extreme sensitivity to sunlight) and even worse, getting pregnant on this antibiotic!! Everyone knows antibiotics decrease the functionality of birth control. Geez....talk about pressure!

What a terrible day!! And just to top it all off, I lost the key to the van I'm supposed to use to drive our youth girls to a "Girls Night of Worship" tonight. Fabulous! Oh, and just for extra fun, I am testing students today & have to read the test aloud!!! :)

I hope your day is better than mine. I need to go back & read my WILW to be reminded of all I'm lovin' and happy about!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Thursday's Devotion:Laughter

Learn to laugh at yourself more freely. Don't take yourself or your circumstances so seriously. Relax and know that I am God with you (Matt 1:23). When you desire My will above all else, life becomes much less threatening. Stop trying to monitor My responsibilities- things that are beyond your control.  Find freedom by accepting the boundaries of your domain.

Laughter lightens your load and lifts your heart into Heavenly places.  Your laughter rises to Heaven and blends with angelic melodies of praise.  Just as parents delight in the laughter of their children, so I delight in hearing My children laugh.  I delight when you trust me enough to enjoy your life lightheartedly. 

Do not miss the joy of My Presence by carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders.  Rather, take My yoke upon you and learn from Me. My yoke is comfortable and easy; the burden is light and easily borne.

Proverbs 17:22- A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 31:25- She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

Matthew 11:28-30- “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Geek Night!!

I was totally in my element tonight...the whole costume felt so natural!! Check it out....don't you think I can so pull this off??
Apparently I have a "nerd face" I like to do...
(I have a nerd voice too....it's EXTRA cool & brings the outfit to life!!)
And I do believe the red shoes really set it off!!
 
Now check out me & Chels....who also googled Urkle for her inspiration, and was perfectly natural in geek mode! No wonder we're best fraaaands!
With our Myrna, who was rockin' those pigtails!!
  Haha, fun times in youth ministry!! :)

Don't be jealous....

But in a few weeks, I get to go here.....
With them....
Ahhhh, let the countdown begin!!!!!

What I'm LOVIN' Wednesday

Get ready, friends! I've got lots of LOVIN' goin on today!!! 

I'm LOVIN' that yesterday was our last day of the extra hour!! Finally, back to a normal 8 hour work day!! I feel like this guy...
I'm LOVIN' that there are only 3 more Mondays with students....yay for summer!
I'm LOVIN' that Chels is getting married in just a few short weeks. She will make such a beautiful bride!
I'm LOVIN' that I get to take some sweet girls to an all- girls night of worship this Friday!
I'm LOVIN' that Tay & Jordy are finally tying the knot this weekend!! She will be a GORGEOUS bride too! And I get to see old friends...yay!
I'm LOVIN' that I gave up pitching lessons for awhile...I needed a break! (Yep, that's me!)
I'm LOVIN' that tonight's theme is GEEK night for the youth! I have a stellar outfit in the works! (Check out my inspiration!) OH, adn my HUBBY is speaking!!!! I can't WAIT to hear his message. He's been working really hard on it. :)
I'm LOVIN' that we close on our house in 2 weeks!! AHHHH!!! This bad boy will be ALLL ours!
I'm LOVIN' that I started a new birth control...hope it makes me a little more normal!
Speakin of, I'm LOVIN' that I'm out of my little mood funk!  Whew....that was weird!
I'm LOVIN' that we have CRCT testing this week...which gives me time to get caught up on some work for my Specialist's!
I'm LOVIN' that Laura & Brian had their engagement photo shoot with the fabulous Dana!!
I'm LOVIN' that I added some fun little tabs to my blog so you can get to know me & my hubby a little better! :)
I'm LOVIN' that Emily & Zach picked my nickname to call baby # 2 until he/SHE arrives!! :) And Emily was sweet enough to hook me up with a gift card to Pier 1 for being the winner! SCORE!!
I'm LOVIN' that Rach blogged about her award!
And I'm LOVIN' my sweet, precious hubby, who loves me even in my weird mood funk!!!! 
If he can deal with "hormonal Danielle to the max," he can truly conquer anything!!
 Have a blessed Wednesday, sweet friends! :)
XoXo

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Breakfast: The Meal of Champions

The first thing I do in the morning when I wake up is eat breakfast. I eat the SAME thing every morning....a breakfast I discovered from The Eat Clean Diet.  I scramble four egg whites (and give my dog the yokes- he loves them & it's good for his coat) and garnish them with pepper, & eat a whole grain English muffin plain.  I like the taste of them toasted. I also eat some type of fruit- either a banana or some berries.  I drink a cup of black coffee (no sugar or yummy creamer- and through a straw!) & drink two BIG cups of water.  If we don't have whole grain English muffins, I will trade that out for some Fiber One cereal with skim milk, or oatmeal with Organic Flaxeed mixed in.
Breakfast is SUPER important. It's important to fuel up and hydrate to start your day...to get your brain and metabolism functioning properly.  I hear a lot of excuses about breakfast..."I don't have time," or "I'm just not hungry in the mornings."  If you're not hungry when you wake up, you're probably eating dinner too late at night. And you need to make time to eat. If you want to be healthy, you need to make breakfast a priority.  A HEALTHY breakfast at that....so no, Pop Tarts & Froot Loops aren't going to cut it (although they are better than nothing!). And that means including a combination of lean protein and carbs....the good kind, like fruit & whole grains. :)
I know some people can't do the same thing every day....so mix it up with omelets filled with yummy veggies, whole grain cereal, boiled eggs, oatmeal with brown sugar, walnuts, & raisins, Greek yogurt with real, chopped fruit, whole grain frozen waffles with peanut butter, or smoothies.  Another personal fave is a whole grain tortilla with peanut butter & honey, a pinch of flaxeed, and banana slices. Delish!  I also do what I can to prepare it the night before (because as I said in my previous post I am a SLEEPER and want to get in every second I can snoozin').
Eat your breakfast, ladies!!! :)  No more excuses....Believe it or not, you'll see your waistline will get smaller because you'll feel fuller longer, and eat less all throughout the day. Also, you'll probably notice you have MORE energy. What's NOT to love about breakfast??

I Heart Sleeping!!!

Sleeping makes my heart so happy. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it is really one of my favorite things to do.  I'm definitely known as a sleepy head in my family....and I get picked on a lot for it.  But I don't mind.  People have said to me before, "Don't you feel like you're missing out?" My answer? "Nope." Haha, pretty simple to me. For as long as I can remember, I have always been a napper. When I was little, all throughout middle and high school, and now more than ever! I would nap after school; in the car before softball games & practices; on any car trip longer than 20 min; just whenever I could sneak one in. I LOVE naps!! When I get home and am walking over to my bed for a nap, my heart starts fluttering like I'm going to Disney World or something....it's just crazy! Hahha, I feel a little silly posting, but whatev- it's just what was on my mind today.

So, I am NOT a morning person, at all. I can take a 3 hour nap and still go to bed at normal time with no problems falling asleep.  I can sleep anywhere! I prefer it to be completely dark & silent, snuggling with my sleepies & my hubby.

What about you??  Are you a sleepy head too??

Monday, April 25, 2011

I missed Easter!!

This is the first time I have ever completely missed a holiday celebration. :(

Yesterday after church we went to meet Jon's parents to show them the house for the first time. This was the only time between now and closing we could show it because the current owner still lives there and was going to be gone celebrating Easter with her family.  His parents LOVED it!!! His dad, who is SUPER picky, couldn't even find one thing wrong with it (DUH! It's perfect!).  

SO, apparently I was misinformed about what time our Easter celebration started with my family. I assumed 2:00, because that's what time we do everything.  It started at 1:30.  I knew we'd be a little late, but the rest of my fam is like me, and they're usually late too, so I didn't think it'd be a big deal.  So, at 2:20, my sister-in-law called me and told me they were done....with everything. We wrapped up with his parents at the house and headed home....Jon was ecstatic on the way home!!!! He was SO thrilled his parents loved it and wanted me to be happy with him, and while I was glad they did, I was SO disappointed that I missed our whole Easter celebration & Carsyn's (my niece) birthday. By the time we got home at 2:45, and hadn't even ate lunch yet, they had already ate, had the Easter egg hunt, dyed eggs, sang "Happy Birthday", opened presents, and had cake!! They were cleaning up & had already put the food away. 

I pouted.  I just went upstairs and took a nap.  I wasn't mad at anyone, and I know it was my own fault for scheduling that, but I didn't really see another option.  I bawled for the majority of the evening, and I could right now just thinking about it. I know it seems silly, but holidays are really important to me, and I really enjoy celebrating them and spending time with family.  I'm sure you can tell from my new blog background that I kinda think holidays are a big deal. I was SO sad that I feel like I didn't have an Easter at all.  I don't even have one picture of me & Big Jon in our cute matching Easter outfits, or any pics to create a birthday post for Carsyn.  My mom was sweet and tried to get my to dye some eggs last night, but I just wanted to go to bed. 

One thing I can say about the whole experience is that it did put things in perspective for me.  I know that family is extremely important to God, and I'm certain he loves when we all spend time together in celebration; however, I do believe we get caught up in it all.  We get lost in the details....the menu planning, the decorations, cleaning the house, looking our best, the grocery lists, etc.  And we lose sight of the true meaning of the holidays we are celebrating.  Jesus is risen and ALIVE, and for that I am SO very thankful.

Michael's Speech

At our wedding rehearsal dinner, we opened the floor to friends and family to give a speech or share some encouraging words with us.  My brother, Michael, gave the following speech that left me and Big Jon both with tear-filled eyes.  It was just precious...
From Michael:

I’d like to take a moment and say a few words to Jonathan and Danielle. I could not be more proud of my baby sister. She has found herself one great guy he has done nothing but show me his love and dedication for Danielle. Me and Ragan think the world of you and my whole family is excited about welcoming Jonathan and his family into ours! Looking back it seems like yesterday when she was born and watching her grow up has been nothing short of amazing! I think of her strong faith, great academics, and her impressive athletic abilities. She has always had a special place in my heart, I’ve been bragging on her for as long as I can remember, but as she has become a young adult we have only grown closer. I love my sister deeply! She is the kind of person that inspires me to become a better person. I pray for my sister and I know she prays for my family and that’s priceless! I would like to think that maybe she will be able to take a little from each of my families marriages, to help her strengthen hers and Jonathans. She might be able to see the new love that is shown in Jamie and Stephanie’s marriage, or maybe the playfulness and true love of Greg and Tammie’s marriage, thinking of my own she could see that love and friendship can conquer anything if your heart desire’s it! And see that there are many GOD given blessings in a marriage that has longevity like Momma and Daddy! I think that I speak for everyone when I wish you a long beautiful marriage and may the LORD bless you in abundance! I LOVE YOU Danielle and you too Brother! I am so happy and proud of you both!!

Friday, April 22, 2011