January 2010 | DutchBeingMe

Monthly Archives: January 2010

You've gotta live every single day…

Written on January 14, 2010

And now… for your viewing enjoyment — the highlights of my recent vacation to Albuquerque. I had such a good time and really do think that I will go back at some point in the future. The friends I have there are near and dear to my heart… and I really would love to see the area in the summer time as well.

The Sandia Mountains on the eastern side of the city…

BEAUTIFUL.

New Years Eve was a fun night of watching — and playing — various poker hands at Jenna’s friends house. I did very well when playing with someone else’s money… and not so well when playing with my own.

After sleeping for a VERY LONG (and well deserved) time on Friday morning. Jenna and I ventured out to the mall… as well as various other locations… to do some shopping. I found a cute sweater — and then Jenna {almost} made me put on this lovely ensemble. Faux fur sweater and black sequins pants. What a stellar look for me. NOT.

Saturday was an adventure… we took the Rail Runner from Albuquerque to Sante Fe! It was really a great and inexpensive way to get between the cities for a quick (and somewhat spur of the moment) day trip. The ride home was a *WEE BIT* crowded. We luckily got seats {and tried to nap} — but for some it was standing room only for about an hour of the trip.

While in Sante Fe, we went to the Loretto Chapel. This staircase is known as the miraculous staircase… if you want to read more about it — check it out here. It was pretty amazing to see.

Saturday night was filled with lots of fun… we went to a bar and hung out with a few of Jenna’s friends. Here is Jenna and Valerie doing Karaoke… something they would NOT have been able to talk me into doing. I did however get up and do the “Cupid Shuffle” with Valerie before this.

On Sunday we drove down Route 66 — just to say that I had been on it during my trip! I also crossed the Rio Grande more times than I could probably count. I thought it would have looked more “river-like”… not so much here in New Mexico.

We ate at The Standard Diner — a restaurant featured on Food Networks “Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dive’s“. Now that I have my extended cable turned back on, I’m thinking of recording this show to check it out sometime.

After lunch we ventured to the Albuquerque Aquarium. We saw lots and lots of fish… sting rays… sea horses… enough that could really fill up the blog for days. But I will spare you. I promise. I only included highlights.

Here is the awesome shark picture that someday in the near future will be my new Facebook profile picture. Just to scare off the stalkers. Ha!

I took *WAY* too many pictures of the jellyfish. They were SO COOL.

If you are standing at a {mundane looking} tank looking at this fish (as well as others swimming -very quickly- at the top) at the aquarium, be prepared for a rush of water to scare you {nearly} to death. As we stood in front of this tank it happened and made me and Jenna jump — and a little kid standing there screamed. Seriously… there should be a warning on this tank.

I also visited my friend Dani and her family — but didn’t really get any pictures there to show us sitting on the couch… eating dinner… playing with her {oh so adorable} son… and working on how to use the Creative Memories software that I purchase a while back.

Hope you enjoyed my adventure to Albuquerque! And just like the title of today’s blog (and my motto for 2010) says — You’ve gotta live every single day — so that’s what I’m trying to do. I can’t wait to see what other adventures are in store for me this year!

*today’s lyric title is from Nickelback – “Never Gonna Be Alone”

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I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way…

Written on January 13, 2010

I rarely get political on here. I rarely say anything about world events. I won’t say never… but it is rare.

But then yesterday afternoon’s tragedy struck in Haiti. An earthquake with a 7.0 magnitude. Devastating. My heart breaks for the people, especially since I was just to that island in October (for my Dominican Republic Mission Trip.) I helped and was blessed by people that were of Haitian decent, living and working in the DR trying to make the best of their lives. Some of the people have never been to their native country…

…and now the country is broken, torn apart by a horrible earthquake that possibly has left thousands upon thousands of people dead. People that could have been – albeit distantly – related to some of the people I met a few short months ago.

And then while looking at different websites today that covered the story, I saw this story — or actually video — of Pat Robertson saying that Haiti is not a prosperous nation and a nation suffering because they “sold themselves to the devil” years ago.

I’m not sure where he gets this information… but as a Christian I am horrified that at a time of crisis — less than 24 hours since this event occurred –that he makes these statements. Not that I would ever agree with anyone making these statements EVER. This country is largely a Christian country… mainly Roman Catholic… so his statement makes me even more angry because it simply cannot be true. Our God is a loving God, and while horrible events happen like this at times, the heart of God breaks each and every time one of his children is suffering.

I’m not sure if Mr. Robertson is saying that the devil has control of this country — because that is simply not true. God is in control. And God loves His people — all of His people.

We as Christians are supposed to love our neighbors — and if I could drop everything right now (and I wish I could), I would go be a part of a team that could help restore Port-au-Prince to a bigger and better city than what it was before yesterday’s earthquake. In the meantime, the best that we as Christians can do at this time is pray for the country, for the survivors and for everyone in Haiti, and around the world, that lost people they loved in the past day. The other thing everyone can do is to go to Worldvision or Compassion and donate what you are able to help the relief efforts — as well as help the country rebuild in the coming months and years.

And as far as I’m concerned Pat Robertson can say “I must apologize for acting, stinking, treating you this way.”

*today’s lyric title is from Gwen Stafani’s “Sweet Escape.”

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rants

It starts with one…

Written on January 12, 2010

I know, I know… I said I was going to post pictures of my vacation today. I will do my best to get it up there in the next day or two. I tried to do it last night… but got distracted easily by trying to do my taxes, trying to catch up with people on facebook (have I mentioned my addiction there lately?) and finally trying not to fall asleep. And finally, I ended up going to be early. Which was good.

After much brainstorming about blog titles (and inspiration), I’m starting a new thing on the blog today. While listening to my iPod today, I was struck by how many song lyrics would make good material for the blog. So I’m going to see how long I can successfully do this — and have it be relevant to my life. That’s right, I’m just starting to get my creativity on for 2010. I’m really excited about it too. There’s only one catch to it all — it can’t be the title of the song.

And now the real post for today…

It starts with one thought, a commitment to a goal. That’s why I got up this morning at 4:45am and ran 2.5 miles. Seriously. I committed to doing this 25k and now I *must* run. I need to build up my stamina because after this morning, I felt like I was going to collapse. I need to learn to drink more water while running. I need to run further. I need to run faster so that I can finish within my 3 hour goal for this event.

It starts with one reflection on who you want to be. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Who do I want to be? Am I showing others what I want them to see in me? I know that I am a child of God… someone that truly wants to know more about the Bible and to learn the history of those that came before us. But I’m also the person that does want to go out and have a good time with friends. I’m trying to discover how to put this together in my life appropriately.

It starts with one fear… a fear that I will not be accepted by others. I’m afraid that everyone around me will pick up on the awkward comments that I make at times. I’m afraid that I am putting the wrong image of who I truly am. I’m afraid that I will ramble on for long periods of time making people think that I am wordy… or worse, boring.

It starts with one phone call I am awaiting. I’m days away from being an aunt for the first time and I couldn’t be more excited. This little child is already blessed by having such great parents (although my brother worries me a little… he’s thinking that he’s going to be getting more sleep once the baby arrives!) I can’t wait to see and hear about his/her firsts… watching him/her grow up… and just being blessed by being a part of his/her journey in life.

“It starts with one…” is the first line of “In the End” by Linkin Park. I thought it was appropriate for the first blog in my personal challenge.

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life

Progress…

Written on January 11, 2010

Just a quick update on my weekend. I exercised. I tracked what I ate. No really, I tracked EVERYTHING I ate. I’m astounded by this. Why? Because I’ve stepped on my scale this morning and am -thisclose- to being back within my goal range. It might not happen this week (although I still have til Thursday and you just never know what kind of tricks I might pull out of my proverbial hat. You never know… I could just be an amazing wonder here. (Yeah, right.)

This weekend I also started thinking about why it is that I can’t seem to get past the next “step” in my weight loss. I had reached my lowest weight ever on my 32nd Birthday in October (and might I add… what a nice birthday gift that was!)

After much thought about why I can’t seem to get to my personal goal, I’ve come to these conclusions….
~ I’ve not accepted myself as I am now.
~ I’m scared to be thin and what that entails… because I don’t know “how” to be thin.
~ I need to find the confidence that I hid when I was overweight so that I can complete this transformation that has taken place. (I’ve recovered some of it… but there’s still a part of me that’s hiding I think…ummm… I know.)

I know there’s probably a lot more to it. I know I’ve blogged about some of this before… so I apologize if I say the same things and haven’t learned anything new as of yet.

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