Moving Forward...

Hey, friends.  I hope your Friday is off to a good start!

Today marks the one-year anniversary of Grandad's death, so I'm remembering him and feeling thankful for our relationship and for the hope of heaven. ❤  Also thinking of Babah - we talked a bit this morning, and I'm grateful for that and for her resilient spirit.  Here are a few of my favorite pics with Grandad:

Sarah and I met for lunch on Wednesday and had a great 3+ hour chat covering family events, future vacations, attachment styles, redefining boundaries, and so much more.  I'm thankful for this connection, and always appreciate deeper conversations where I really feel seen and heard.

I got my Century Club free tshirt from Peloton on Monday -- huzzah!  =)

And starting this week, I've been pressing into a new routine with early morning workouts!  It's motivating having someone to workout with, even virtually... and by that I mean it gives me a more valid reason not to hit snooze, and it's an empowering way to start the day -- I've noticed I definitely feel better and look more put together (because I have more time to shower and get ready) when I get up and make myself do this!  I'm trying to switch it up more now that I've hit my 100 rides goal... I have done yoga, bootcamps, spin classes, and strength training, along with some outdoor walks and jogs around my neighborhood after work, trying to move up one milestone in each category on the app by the end of 2020 - yay, Peloton!  (*Also thankful for cute new workout clothes from Old Navy's recent sale. lol)

Another lovely side effect is that I've closed all 3 activity rings on the Apple Watch the past three days... it's much easier when your day starts at 7am and you workout for 40 minutes first thing! lol  Must adjust my night schedule so I can keep this going (and by that I literally mean turning Netlix off sooner).

In family news, my awesome niece and nephews started school yesterday.  It's been another difficult summer for them, and I'm praying they have a great first couple days back!!  ...And that CHA is able to stay open where they can have a more consistent schedule and social routine.  No one is sure what to expect this year.

This collage is from their "Meet the Teacher" day on Monday:

And Mom took these bright and cheery pics early yesterday morning.  (It's T-man's first year of Junior High, and he had football practice before school, which is why he's not in the pics taken at CHA.)

I'm four chapters into my second time reading Boundaries.  Both authors are Christian counselors and they write with clear, helpful logic and authority on this topic.  (Hi, Elizabeth!  Whenever it works for you to read this, we can chat more about it.  We're only a year behind on our original book study schedule. LOL)

I especially love the way this book defines what is and what is not your responsibility - I'm not always clear on that, and I want to grow there.  After struggling with building internal resentment over investing way too much time and energy in things that were never my responsibility, I am realizing I need to redefine and clarify certain lines, and to put more focus on growing and changing the one life I am fully accountable and responsible for right now, which is my own!

On a slightly related note, my tentative plan is to shut down this blog within the next month.  I know.  I've been pondering that for a while and praying about what's the healthiest thing for me moving forward here.  Writing will always be a good creative outlet, and I will continue to keep a record of the things that matter most.  My boundaries on what I'm willing to share here have been inconsistent and have understandably changed a lot throughout the past twelve years, as have my opinions and beliefs on any number of issues I once wrote passionately about.  Life changes us, and I'm at peace with myself right now.  I am a *much* healthier person than I was when I started this blog, and I want to feel free to keep changing and growing, not pressured to present a certain image, and not limited or held back or misunderstood based on old expressions that no longer fit who I am and what I want and what I stand for.  I have written several posts that offer solid encouragement and hope, but I know I have also unintentionally hurt people here sometimes, and I've made certain things public that should've been more sacred and private.  It's a tricky balance for me, but that problem will obviously be eliminated if it is all private.  The idea that anyone anywhere can log on and read all of this and see the pictures I post has always bothered me a bit.  I know my regular readers are few and in my closer circle, but there are enough views from other countries that it makes me cringe sometimes.  And those in my close circle can obviously connect with me in other places where we can have more balanced, two-sided conversations.  I have one friend and one family member that I connect with daily, and many wonderful others who know the big stuff and don't feel the need to know the daily details, which is perfectly normal.  Google Photos is its own time capsule at this point, plus I have my daily calendar journal, so I'm not worried about forgetting things.  Anyway, just wanted to alert those of you who are faithful readers.  Thank you for caring enough to check in here.  I believe this will be a healthy change all around and hopefully lead to more two-sided connections and more thoughtful future book writing as opposed to random ramblings!

I think that's all I've got for today.

Hope you have a fantastic weekend ahead!!