Struggles

I have been absent from the blog for the past few weeks. I have missed reading all the other blogs, writing out all my thoughts, and just having me time while I blog. Yet, my heart has just not been in the place to blog. My husband and I have had some spiritual battles and that required most of my time. Prayers were all my mind could gravitate around. The verse from Jeremiah 29:11 kept me calm. I leaned on that verse more then I have ever leaned on a verse before.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

 Another verse I leaned on as well was Philippians 4:13. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

How great is our God? He carries through every struggle that we face. As long as we lean on Him & His word, we are fine. I can't wait to be reacquainted with all the bloggers I have missed over the past few weeks. Sure, we still have the hills to overcome but we are out of the hardest part Praise Jesus!

How do you blog?

I loved this idea. Thanks to Kiki & Julie for posting this idea first. I love to read what others are doing with their life and how they well do it. :) If that makes any sense. I figured I share my blogging style too.

Where do you blog? My MacBook is my laptop of choice. It has my life story on it I swear. Normally I will set up camp at our kitchen table in our tiny little home. I have everything I need within arms length. My total lax water bottle, my planner, & my iphone. Of course our bulletin board with our invites, pictures of family, and little things is hanging right by me.

When do you blog? I tend to post blogs right before my night shifts at the ED. Sometimes on my days off, I will blog while Mr. Mueller is at work.

Do you schedule posts? Sometimes yes and sometimes no. It honestly just depends on the post, the day, and how I feel about it.

Where/how do you think of posts? I have always loved writing. Yes, I was that nerd that would love when a test had essay questions on it. :) I think of post all the time. I get my inspiration from everywhere. Whether it be my crazy life, stories from the ED, other bloggers, my dog. Seriously, when it comes it comes. I don't try to force a blog at all.

When do you read blogs? How often do you read blogs? I love to read blogs. Next to writing, reading is at the top of my list. I normally read some blogs right before I post & then after. Sometimes I just want to read so I will open up my blogger dashboard and read. And on occasion I read while I am on my break at work, so my time about 4:15 am.

So tell me how do you blog? Go ahead copy and paste and blog away.

1 Month Challenge

One month ago exactly I said, I DO, to my best friend and soul mate too. The month has flown by way to quickly. As I tried to savor each part of our special day and the days after it but they all went by in a blink of an eye.

Yesterday, God really pushed me to be the wife he has made me to be. To be encouraging when my husband is down. To be there for him when he needs me to be. To push him to be the best he is no matter what. To love him no matter what. I called it the one month challenge! The hubby has been having so major tummy trouble and after some convincing he called his doctor. Very typical that guys don't like anything that includes the word doctor. Anyways, his doctor was awesome and is giving us a very healthy alternative to help his tummy troubles disappear. I am so happy that he had a wonderful doctor who did not just prescribe medicine or a bunch of expensive testing. However, the appointment left my husband extremely upset and discouraged. The doctor took him off gluten, dairy, soy, and corn for 2 months straight. All of the good foods in his book are gone. Things that taste good are gone. Poor guy. God showed me to how much my husband needed me yesterday. I know it won't be an easy journey for either of us. Learning to cook with foods I am not use to won't be easy either. But I have to respond myself, my husband needs his wife to support him no matter what. I will def have to keep reminding myself of that as our lives go on. But oh he is so worth it!

Sunday Verse

hopes dreams & goals

~To visit countries over seas

~To participate on a mission trip in Africa

~To complete one marathon

~To run the Tough Mudder with the hubby

~To have kiddos

~To grow old with the one whom my soul loves

~To have the dream job with people in the exercise field

~To reach young girls and show them their inner beauty!

~To be the best hockey/lax mom there is 


What are some of your hopes, dreams, & goals?

You are Beautiful

What defines the word beauty in our culture today? As I walk through the store and look at all the different fashion magazines I see the fashion icons of today's society. Actresses, models, singers, song writers, all of these women that have done something in our world today to become an icon for so many other women to see. These icons just aren't your average person you see walking down the street anymore, they are somebody whose looks, actions, and even signature means something. This all is having an affect on many young girls in today's world. So many young girls cover the face with lobs of makeup or wear less clothing to make a statement. They don't realize they have raw beauty. Inside and out, they feel like the girl on the cover is who they should become, and not shine through themselves. I just want to reach out to every young girl....and scream YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. I have such a heart to help them, but I can't reach all of them, I can't even reach half of them. But how cool is it that some companies are trying too!? The other night I was on YAHOO and find an article about Dove and their newest campaign called real beauty. Their goal is to reach out to women across the world and tell them, hey you are beautiful just the way you are, others think so too. I love this idea!!

As I read further in the Yahoo Article I got down to the comment section. Yes, there were positive feed backs from mostly women. But then guys & girls both were commenting with negative feedback. Some were making comments about how Dove was choosing average and above average women to be in the campaign and ugly women were not chosen. That is when my jaw dropped. This is what is problem. People categorize people by pretty, gorgeous, beautiful....and ugly!!! This is not okay...every person is beautiful inside or out, God did not create ugly he created good.

So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 

-Genesis 1:27-

Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.

-Genesis 1:31-

I love that. God designed us in our image and it was GOOD! God was pleased. He didn't design and create ugly he created beautiful good!  How awesome is our God!? Yes, people look different and maybe created differently, but let me tell you not one person is ugly. I encourage you to love a girl a little extra. Your mom, sister, aunt, grandma, you name it and take time to say, "hey you are beautiful."

                                                                                                                                           

If you are interested in reading the article & checking out Dove's Campaign. Here are the links

Yahoo: Dove

Dove Real Beauty Sketches

*disclaimer: I was not hired by Dove to write this article. This was my own opinion on the subject.

A Fresh Start with Wild Card Wednesday

First and foremost I want to express my greatest sympathy to those who were affected at the Boston Marathon. My heart goes out to all the families, runners, and citizens of Boston who have experienced such a traumatic event. For such a fun day of runners accomplishing their goal of a long marathon to be ruined. I will be praying for them in days to come.

 

So,  it is time for Wild Card Wednesday! Such a fun link up way to get to know some pretty awesome bloggers! If you don't participate already, head over to the hostest with the mostest blogs and check em out! Who knows you may develop some new friends along the way! 

So, my hubby and I have decided we needed a fresh start. The past year has consisted of lots of stress, fast food, junk food, and some extra weight. It has become a bit ridiculous because money we were getting we were spending on going out and eating instead of cooking. Not cool! When we did eat at home it was fast and we liked to eat munchies too...ya know double stuff oreos, chocolate, chips, the norm! So finally we said this is enough. So yesterday, we got on the bus of motivation. I have to say it is so awesome to have an accountability partner in my husband to better our lives together. I am so thankful to God for him. We consulted nutritionist & dietician friends of ours and figured out meal plans that work for us. I am so excited to see how God leads us on this adventure together and I can't wait to share our progress with you all as we go. I ask that you keep us in your prayers though, because I am sure there will be days we don't feel like it and just want to give up. If you have any tips or tricks I would love to hear it as well!