I want.

Ever since I entered the field of Social Work I've been reminded time and time again that I will always work long hours in this field. While they are often flexible, you cannot get away from putting in more than the typical 40 hour work week. The hours are always exhausting and test my patience. Who invented the 40 hr work week? I'm trailing off now...

Anyway, while I eat lunch at my desk I usually find myself blogging and surfing. Not necessarily posting (obviously since my last post was month ago) but what I like to call blog hopping and internet window shopping.

As I go through blogs and different sites, I catch myself thinking I wish I was that creative, I wish I was that funny, I wish I had an eye for decor, I wish I had a house to renovate, I wish I could write like that,I wish I had those boots, I wish, I wish, I wish. I had to stop myself today and immediately post something here. I find myself wanting more all the time. It's so easy to get caught up in the wants of life. I have to stop myself everyday and remember I need to be more than just okay with what I already have. I may not have an eye for design, lofty words, a house to renovate, or artsy pictures to post, but I have many things to be proud of and thankful for. This is not the popular or politically correct statement to make but I know it to be true. I believe we will always be reaching for things we don't have and never be satisfied without Jesus. I believe my life will always be about me until Jesus changes it.

So while I sit here at work, I must admit that my heart is heavy. Heavy because I mess up all the time and lose sight of Him and heavy for the people who don't know Him. I have the incredible opportunity at my job everyday to pour into people and solely focus on them. This has been an incredible lesson because it helps me understand I'm not the center of the universe and people need to know Jesus. My prayer is that I learn to lean into Him more everyday and not rely on myself. I am a selfish person who wants to focus on me. Thankfully, He's not finished with me yet and can change my focus.

"Father break my heart for what breaks Yours. Give me open hands and open doors. Put Your light in my eyes and let me see, that my own little world is not about me"

Sorry if you were expecting pictures of cute puppies or house renovations. But I needed to share.This is my heart exposed. If you want some blogs to follow that are not about how to make your house look better and what to wear this season (which don't get me wrong, are all wonderful kind of blogs and very fun!) you can follow these: http://www.drmatthewrobinson.com/, http://www.bethbutton.tumblr.com/, http://www.jovannagomez.com/, http://www.deaninserra.com/

A Teaser.

Okay, in order to get my baby picture pushed further down the blog, I am posting a teaser picture of the kitchen in our house. (Sissy, you will get yours!!)

Remember what it looked like the day we closed back in June:


After an online consultation with Maria Killam here's the lovely after:


This weekend we are going to the Food & Wine Festival, dressed in our 80s garb to complete my 30th birthday celebration! What's more, I'll be seeing the husband, who's been interning in Los Alamos, NM since August! This time, it's been three long weeks since I've seen him. The first time, we went almost two full months without seeing each other, it was brutal. You long-distance lovers, I have no clue how you do it.

I'll be back next week with more pictures of my favorite spot in the house!

An Ode to Lynn Soon

30 years ago on Nov. 2nd the world was made a better place because my dear sissy was born. Here's a trip down memory lane. She might kill me for some of these, but it's only because I love her:) Happy Birthday Lynn!

Sweet baby Lynn

Birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese!

 

She might kill me for this one...but come on, look at ME!

Lynn & MC sworn in after passing the FL Bar!

Bridal Shower with Mommy

With her one and only, Michael Phelps...I mean Matthew Small :)

We are so proud of you Lynn. We love you, here's to many, many more birthdays!

Let's Get Physical!

You can relax, this isn't another weight-loss post. I figured I would spare you today. Next week is my 30th birthday, and to celebrate the end of my youth, I will be journeying to Epcot for the Food & Wine Festival for a weekend of debauchery. A while back, I thought the idea of throwing an 80s themed birthday party would be just the ticket, but plans fell through. Instead, my friends have lovingly agreed to dress up at the Food & Wine Festival!

I am shopping for my outfit this weekend. Any tips or suggestions?

{Shall I get physical?

{I think one of my friends will be sporting the look from Flashdance}

{And let's not forget this woman.}

I'm not sure if I want to dress up like a certain icon from the 80s. I may just sport a skirt with neon tights and an off the shoulder shirt to keep things easy. I was thinking more of a "Fame" style than anything else. Help me!

Doggles.

Because it's Friday. To make you smile:

{Kobe}

{Cooper}

Have a great weekend!

Before/After...I Ate Pizza.

Two years ago:


This is me at my "feel great" weight. Well, actually this is me at my "feel spectacularly amazing, but hard for me to maintain" weight. And, I exercised amidst studying for the bar exam. So, I have zero excuses.

Two weeks ago:

As you can see, I've really piled the weight on. Oh, and I must give a shout out to my dear friends who just got married! The husband and I were in the bridal party, how fun is that?!?! It was an amazing wedding.

It's taken me a while to even post a picture of myself, but I'm just going to confront it head on. I HAVE GAINED WEIGHT. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT MYSELF RIGHT NOW. Are you hearing me, third-person Lynn?!?! Are you?!?!?!?

What I Ate for Breakfast.

Yeah, so I've gained a little bit of weight. There, I said it. Since the wedding, which was two years ago now, I have slowly been putting on weight. Ugh. I went through a period of running approximately 18 miles a week, where I went back to my "feel great" weight, but then I got injured and had to stop all forms of high impact exercise, and BOY OH BOY. My appetite remained voracious, but my physical activity consisted of typing.

I'm about to turn 30 (*gulp*), and I seriously need to learn some self-discipline. It's never too late, right? I am an emotional eater-I feel stressed at work, and I want to eat pizza. Why?! If someone could answer that for me, it would save me a trip to the therapist.

This morning started out really well. Woke up and went running with my friends, just two miles. Then I ate this for breakfast:

{a bunch of spinach and 1/2 cup of OJ = breakfast of champions}

{@10 am, I ate greek yogurt and honey, which I am OBSESSED with}

Any tips or theories are always welcome! Let's hope I can really change my habits for the long-term, because I'm well aware that yo-yo weight gain is extremely unhealthy.