my fave moments

Highs, Lows, & Buffalo

At the dinner table we will share our highs, lows, and buffalos.

Highs- the best part of your day

Lows- the bummers

Buffalo- the part of your day that you didn’t see coming

As a type one diabetic, I expected to have high blood sugar and low blood sugar but I was not prepared for the enormous cost that would come with it. Y’all- I am expensive! I spend a mortgage payment every month on my healthcare. I am extremely grateful for the technology that has given me freedom to live a life that allows me to swim as long as I want with my children, to complete a high intensity work out, and live my every day moments with little fear that my sugars are going to prevent me from living.

In the dark, yucky parts of my heart I fall into the comparison trap that opens the door to jealousy. The truth is, jealousy believes the lie that God owes me and comparison is the thief of joy. My only win is to fight back, to stay in my lane, & to celebrate all the wins.

“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 a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 This is not the promise that life will not have heartache and trials. This is the promise that you have a good God in heaven who gives you a purpose in the pain, hope while lies tells you it’s hopeless, and a promise that God sees you and cares about your highs, lows, and buffalo.

The irony of the picture above is that is a screenshot of my current blood sugar level. It looks perfect and it’s easy to gloss over the fact that I have very little figured out. My sugar can reach 300 and 55 without much warning other than the beeping of my phone. The picture doesn’t express the body aches that come after a rollercoaster day where my sugars have more up and down arrows then a steady straight line. While most people will never know the depth of your struggles, God knows the plans that he has for you- plans to give you hope and a future.

Saying Yes.

This morning, I received an email informing me on updates that have been made on this site that my sweet husband keeps paying for even after years with no activity. I could have easily brushed by it, but yesterday’s stirrings still lingered on my heart and mind.

It’s been 15 months since Bradley came to me with this massive size God dream to become a Chick-fil-A operator. I have only spent the first ten years of our marriage adjusting to the demands of being a production wife with his current media company. I am a twin, so it’s safe to say that I have never been alone which is a gift because I don’t choose to be alone. My preference as a social introvert is to have opportunities to be silently together. Ha! I hear how nutty that sounds, but I claim the crazy.

Since April, we have been In The MESS. Running a media company and being entry level employed at a local Chick-Fil-A while raising two daughters. We are officially in the messy middle of this glorious season of life. The most challenging aspect of our mess is TIME.

Last night, Bradley’s questionings were verbalized while I sat and tried to listen to the truths behind the emotions. The end was still the same, we will follow God anywhere without a guaranteed outcome. Obedience is consistently a hard decision. Its a choice that is made with the trust that the person asking is asking with our best in mind- even if we can’t understand how.

Almost seven years ago, I felt the whispers of In The Mess form in my mind. It still doesn’t make sense. I have no idea what the desired outcome could even be, but I do know that I will follow Jesus anywhere. I trust Him and that He has my best in mind.

As I encouraged Bradley to dig into his next shift at the restaurant, I saw this email for this site. Here I am, one more post in out of obedience. I will choose yes today! I will choose to believe that I could possibly encourage one other person to dig into the challenge in front of you with JOY.

It’s a GIRL!

 

Millie is going to have a LITTLE SISTER!

It never fails. I am the worst at the gender gut feeling. Both times, I totally thought it is a boy. We found out at 14 weeks this time, so I’m looking forward to our 19 week scan. The entire growing a human thing absolutely blows my mind. The past two months have been full of highs and lows.

High- dreaming of our sweet girl

Lows- so many doctor appointments, establishing new normals in caring for diabetes, and accepting the high risk pregnancy status (I hope I can write a post soon with more details about my type one pregnancy.)

BUMP UPDATE-

I feel like my belly has popped a lot faster with this pregnancy. I’ve been working hard to maintain control over my diet and continuing to exercise. For me, diet and exercise is KEY to blood sugar control. I have doubled my carb intake to make sure the babe is getting what she needs, and I now feel more pregnant in yoga when my belly has to be accommodated for in some poses.

Surprise! 

Bradley and I decided to go on a little get away because Bradley had been traveling for work. It was one of those seasons where he was gone more than home. Savannah was a BLAST. We rode the ferry to River Street, ate lots of yummy food, and RELAXED. When it is just the two of us, our vacation style is totally chill. One of my favorite moments from this trip was eating pizza in bed.

One day we were exploring all the shops and Bradley wanted to try this cookie bar. You could taste a sample of their bite sized cookies. Bradley LOVED the cookies, but I had to spit the cookie out as soon as it touched my mouth. It was so strange! Next we went into a candy store where the smell left me gagging. Hmmm… at this point, it wasn’t so strange. I told Bradley that I thought I was pregnant, but he was able to convince me that it was all in my head. On the way home from Savannah, we were looking for food on a Sunday. If it wasn’t Sunday, Chick-fil-a would be a no brainer. As I found myself walking into Taco Bell, it was as official as a positive pregnancy test.

Wow!! My heart is still trying to soak in this HUGE miracle! If I’m honest it is very obvious that God is at work, but I’m still battling doubt. I keep pushing down the thoughts to guard my heart because I’m so early. I want to shout from the rooftop of God’s MERCY without these voices holding me back. I want to CELEBRATE what God did today without worrying about tomorrow. In my quiet moments with God, I hear Him whispering truths that He spoke over Joshua: BE STRONG & COURAGEOUS (not because of my ability but God’s ability). When I look at my giants, I want to see through the lens of what I can face with God on the front line. My giants don’t seem scary when I place them next to God’s strength.

As I begin this pregnancy with Type 1 diabetes, I want to share my journey in hopes that someone else in a similar journey can have someone who understands. I realized the other day that I felt alone because I didn’t know anyone who experienced obstacles that I experience. Well, we all have unique stories which means we are not alone. We are in this together.

I am a FIRM believer that pregnancy tests you physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In knowing this to be true, I’m ready to fight back with God leading the way.

For my Type1 journey, I experience the most success with being thoughtful about what I eat and staying active. I’m not an expert but willing to share the highs and lows.

When I was pregnant with Millie, I felt silly taking belly pictures. Now, I wish I had more pictures of the insane way your body adapts to grow a sweet baby.

Well, here’s to the beginning of this precious adventure. Check out that awesome insulin pump keeping my sugars in check. 😜 Hope this leaves you encouraged by God’s strength and hopeful that God is still in the miracle business!

A little peek inside my kitchen

I wish I could say that I love to be in the kitchen, but I don’t. It is a TON of work to cook/bake and then clean all while dancing around a toddler. When I’m baking in my sweat pants, my toddler always grabs the loose fabric and ends up face planting on the hardwoods.

That leads me to my first tip-when you are baking with a toddler, always wear tight pants. HaHa! (kind of joking- kind of serious)

In order to understand my next tip, you need to hear a little background. My sweet daughter is an adrenaline junkie and an adventure seeker which means all of our cabinets are childproof with magnetic locks. We have this plastic wrapped, magnetic key that unlocks all the cabinets. In the midst of a huge baking spree, this key is thrown everywhere. I may have already destroyed three of these keys. HOW?  The little, plastic magnet attaches to the metal pans without me noticing. After the pans are already in the open, I discover that another one just bit the dust. YIKES.

Tip number 2- Plastic melts in the oven. UGH!

Baking can make the biggest mess, but there is something about it that I LOVE. It is an INCREDIBLE feeling to watch my favorite people sit down to enjoy something that I made for them. I get the satisfaction of knowing that I used the BEST ingredients and choose their favorite flavors to fill their stomachs. Food has a way of bringing people together and giving you a moment to reflect on the gifts surrounding you at that very table.

This holiday season, I just want to encourage you as you are preparing meals in your kitchen. Make it fun. Turn up the music and turn off that critical voice inside your head. Embrace the chaos and the little babe wrapped around your leg. Sit on the floor to mix your ingredients, so your toddler can feel apart.

In the mess… CHOOSE JOY!

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Blueberry Muffins, Whole Wheat Bread, & Cheesy Biscuits

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Cheesy drop biscuits

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Baking is hard work.

 

 

Camping Adventures

A little camping adventure is the perfect way to welcome Fall.

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Outdoorsy is not the first adjective that comes to mind if I am asked to describe myself. In fact, I don’t think you can be described as outdoorsy unless you have Chacos. Side note- After camping and hiking, I totally see the convenience. Chacos would have been the perfect companion for my 4AM bathroom runs to the outhouse.

Here’s a couple of tips for first time campers like myself:

  • Bring along GREAT friends to share in the thrills.
  • Pick friends that are experienced campers. 🙂
  • Make sure your tent is big enough for your air mattress to fit inside.

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  • Get to your campsite before dark
  • To add some coziness, string up some lights around your campsite. (You’re not aloud to add lights on the tress, so we put up rope and attached the lights to the ropes.)
  • Cook yummy meals. Don’t be afraid to get creative.

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  • Plan inspiring adventures.

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  • Soak in all of the grand views.
  • EXPLORE!

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“Lift my head to see your glory.” -Hillsong Young & Free

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Hope you enjoyed the lighthearted camping tips. 🙂

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Back, Back, Back it UP

Way back in the day, I used to be a competitive cheerleader. I absolutely enjoyed everything about it and found myself at the gym everyday. Since being diagnosed with diabetes, I have reignited my love for going to the gym. Lately, I have been attending Yoga classes and creating my own workouts. Yoga has been so FUN, helped balance my sugars, and reminded me of my tumbling days. The rush of mastering new strength and balancing poses has got me hooked.

At Yoga the other day, we were challenged to do a backbend which used to be a piece of cake, but now I’ve found myself totally unable.  The last two weeks, I’ve been working on just lifting myself off the ground. Are you ready to see my progress?  backbend

Hopefully in another couple of weeks I will be able to straighten my arms and hold it longer.  What’s your fitness goals? How are you challenging yourself?

My Secret Weapon

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Salted, Dark Chocolate Almonds- YUM

My sister-in-law is GETTING MARRIED! In our culture, it’s almost a requirement to celebrate with SUGARY GOODNESS. These salted, dark chocolate almonds are a HUGE help in fighting off food envy that comes with attending parties. The parties have desserts that are packed full of sugar, white flour, and many unknown ingredients. My almonds are a delicious treat, and I know what I’m getting myself into. A small handful of these will satisfy my sweet tooth without going overboard.

When you’re looking for your healthier alternative, make sure you do your research!

  • Read the nutritional information.
  • Be careful with heavily marketed brands- there may be better options available.
  • Compare the ingredients and nutritional facts.
  • Don’t forget to keep an eye on the serving size. 🙂

I would love to hear your party tricks in the comments below.

Ain’t nobody got time for that.

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Have any of y’all ever been on Pinterest only to walk away thinking, “ain’t nobody got time for that”? Maybe it is just me or the fact that I’m balancing cooking with a toddler between my legs, but I constantly reject recipes because it just seems IMPOSSIBLE. Well, my hope is to continue to post some meals that are YUMMY and EASY.

My current favorite meal is baked chicken, sweet potatoes, and veggies. You can switch it up to meet your taste buds. I use the Simply Organic Chicken Seasoning, but for the true cooks out there- do your thing (I just need a definite shake, pour, and taste great method.) I cut up my sweet potatoes to allow them to get more crispy and sprinkle them with cinnamon. Did you know cinnamon is suppose to help lower blood sugar? Finally, my veggies are complete with a little garlic salt. I LOVE my veggies to be crispy, and I cook all of this in just ONE PAN!

food2Confession: I’m not a detail person! I just bake on 400 degrees, keep an eye on it, and check the chicken temp to see when it’s finished.  Seriously, give this a try! I’m going to make this same dish for a couple that just had the cutest little baby boy. It’s that easy! Let me know how you season your food and thoughts on this recipe in the comments below.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

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Y’all my amazing husband just came home from completing a hike up the Keyhole Route on Longs Peak. I’m NOT an expert on what that means, but I’ve gathered that it’s a 14er and HARD. I couldn’t be more proud of him for taking on these adventures and pushing his body. He got home last night in the middle of chaos! I was putting Millie to sleep when my angel dog once again alerted me that I should check my sugars. It has been a huge adjustment learning to check my sugars while I’m in full mom mode. It’s extremely frustrating because I don’t want my health to take away from my time with her. My sugars dropped to 40 (my lowest thus far), and I had to press pause on our bedtime routine.

I had envisioned Bradley coming home with the baby in bed, hugging his neck, and him being excited about his balloon. Instead, he jumped right in to finish bedtime routine while I crash from feeling so sick.

This morning, I was determined to make up for last night and celebrate him with breakfast. Once again life happened, and things didn’t go as planned. Miller was past due for a nap when the food was ready, so this celebratory breakfast was more like a balancing act of setting the table, giving insulin, and comforting a screaming baby.

As I sit here, disappointed that nothing went as planned, I can’t help but smile at the picture of our breakfast. The truth is life can be INSANE at times and far from perfect. See the picture above didn’t give a pure reflection to what all went on behind the scenes.

My prayer is that this post can be an authentic peek into my life, allow you to laugh with me over the disastrous celebration, bring hope because perfection is over rated, and join me in discovering how to be grateful in the midst of failure.

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