And the greatest of these is love?

And the greatest of these is love. We all know the quote. It's written on wedding shower invites, wedding programs, baby walls throughout the world, and probably on something you've stashed away to be pulled out on days when you need that gentle reminder. But is love truly the greatest thing? Why isn't faith the greatest thing? Faith is believing in something that you can't touch or see. Faith is the power of knowing that you are not alone in all of life's greatest struggles. And what about hope? Hope for a brighter tomorrow, for a brighter today, and a brighter future over all? Isn't everyone looking to do better, feel better, live better? Isn't hope what carries many people through to tomorrow?

Love is the greatest because it conquers all, it surrounds all, and it protects all. Love gives you faith and hope. It gives you faith that the ones you love will never let you down, and hope that if they do it will help you to rise above. It gives you faith that nothing in life is too hard, but hope that if is you will rise above it and be stronger than before. It gives you faith that in your hardest days you can rely on friends and family to remind you why life is worth living, why every breath is worth taking, and why hoping for tomorrow to be a better day is worth getting there to see. Love will conquer every every fear, every worry, and every doubt. It will surround you in your darkest days, in your brightest days, and in the in-between days. And it will protect you from the hurt from others, hurt from experiences, and hurt from self.

My mantra for life is this: I am strong, confident, beautiful, and I don't need a man to validate my feelings. And that with faith, hope, and love I can do ANYTHING! What is your mantra for life?

Today I feel...

Shoes? She feels like shoes? I know that's what you're thinking. But when I see Converse shoes I think of comfortable, easy, relaxed, and free. I am comfortable in my own skin (though I could stand to lose another ohh 40 lbs to be completely happy but whatever), life is easy when you're happy and honest, I'm relaxing into the decisions I've made and the roles I have in life, and free to be me nerdiness and all. I love the Chipmunks, I love sunshine, I love laughing, I love singing at the top of my lungs and dancing in the car, and I love long baths before bed. I am not gonna make excuses for being a 10-yr-old in a 27-yr-old body. It's who I am...and I embrace it.

Life is good! God is good! And I think I may go buy a pair of converse to celebrate how I feel :)

With Spring comes peace

Spring is here and soon it's gonna be summer time. Apparently on my blog I thought it was appropriate to hibernate during the winter months and for that I apologize. But I'm back with some beautiful pictures courtesy of Photobucket that just made this day better than it already was (fyi I highly recommend morning Yoga sessions).

I want to kick off my shoes, throw myself on the ground, and just soak in the sun and warmth and peacefulness that these pictures make me feel when I look at them.

With my hiberation came a lull in the motivation that I was experiencing. I lost the drive to work out and eat right and just keep up with all that had been going right. I could list a million excuses including but not limited to: work, school, friends in other states and cities, Chloe (my beagle...very demanding), money worries, mission to find love, etc. I could continue this list, but I would prefer this blog not be extremely long. But no excuse is worth it. No excuse will help me to shake this weight and this plateau that I comfortably fell into. This last month has been good for me though. I have started back to the gym and getting back into a routine. Last week I walked/jogged/ran 4 miles for the first time in my life. It was a goal that I never knew I had, but was monumental for my life and gaining back the motivation that I found during the Christmas rush. I will keep it up this time, I will run 4 miles in 40 minutes, and by the end of June I will be 15 lbs. lighter. One lb at a time I will accomplish my goals! Wish me luck!