Thursday, April 26, 2012

this present season

i have a tendency to get ahead of myself sometimes... whether it's looking to the next big thing or wishing i was further along in my plans in life. so this has definitely been a season for me of learning to be present. to just enjoy where i am and who i'm there with. to slow down and enjoy the moments that so easily slip by. i suppose that's contributed to some of the blog silence lately, but i feel like there's so much to share with all of you!

so let's dive right in shall we?

the boyfriend
it'd be cruel to not make this first since i know some of you are dying to know the details about this one! a month ago i got setup on a blind date with jeff... we have lots of mutual friends and connections but ultimately it was my mom who got the ball rolling to get him my number. we had a great time and by the end of our first date he asked if we could hang out again... our 2nd date he cooked me dinner at my house and to sound as cliche as possible- the rest is history. he's smart and kind and funny and so very sweet and i am so thankful that God has put him in my life. the last month with him has been very healing for me in a lot of ways and i am just so happy! we made our relationship 'official' last weekend, announced it on facebook and can't do anything but laugh at everyone's excitement for us. it's been fun. and just another thing that God is teaching me to stay present in. the whole dating and getting-to-know-you process is special and i want to enjoy every moment!
*i feel like i should thank my 5yo niece kyra. remember this post? yeah that was almost exactly 1 month before i met jeff. her prayers worked!

weight loss
i officially hit my 70lb goal on april 2nd and have even lost a few more pounds since then. i stopped tracking on weight watchers about 2 months ago because i just got burnt out. i needed a break. i had done it for so long and i didn't want to hate it. the fact that i'm still losing makes me feel like i really get it now and i know what my body needs in order to lose and/or maintain. it's been very empowering! i'm wearing size 6's and smalls and i still do a double take when i see my reflection or pictures that people have taken of me. i've come a long way and i'm proud of all the hard work i put in to get myself to this place.


the house
back in january i posted some home goals for this year and i am happy to report that i can cross some items off the list! a month ago i had my deck put on the back of the house and i love it! it has been so lovely to have an outdoor space and i can't wait for the weather to continue warming up so i can enjoy it even more. i've added some cute outdoor furniture and lights and it's so cozy! yesterday they installed my front storm door which adds so much light to the front of the house. while they were doing all the work i also had them install the dimmer in the dining room which makes such a difference! i also got around to dusting the ceiling fan in the kitchen... still have to do the one in my bedroom but now that i got that pillowcase dusting trick down it should be no problem! now that all the construction mess is over maybe i can get around to making my collage wall?


family
many of you read my sister's blog so you might have heard about what my poppop is going through as he was just recently diagnosed with bone cancer. my sister's post expresses so well how we all feel about this so i will just say that prayers are appreciated in this season. he should be going home on hospice care this weekend and we're all hoping to enjoy whatever time we have with him. i love this photo that my sister took last september at the hospital when my nephew was born. it means so much to me now!

**************************
thanks for reading my long update! no promises on getting better about updating this... too busy being present... but we'll see.

have a wonderful day!

grace and peace,

 

23 comments:

Katie @ Loves of Life said...

I love this in every way. So happy for you, about everything. The guy. The body. The house. And I love PopPop too, so much.

xo

Unknown said...

so happy you are jeff are official!

congrats again on my 70 pound mark AND still losing!

Unknown said...

and praying for your grandpa.

Shannon Dew said...

You, as always, are so inspiring! So happy that you have found a great guy, you totally deserve nothing but happiness! You look great but more importantly you can tell you FEEL great! YAY you!

Jo-Anne said...

Oh Susan you look so happy and so beautiful. I too am so happy for you on these things. Your new guy sounds great, I love how happy you are with your weight loss (so AMAZING!!!), and the work you've had on your house sounds awesome (I loooove the deck and it really is amazing what a difference a dimmer switch can make. We have one too and I just love it). You so deserve these things.

We are praying for your family as well and wishing you all the best.

Lindsey said...

That last line.. "Too busy being present" I read as "too busy being pregnant.." woops! I blame your sister as I just read her post :) So glad this season is one of being present. Makes those moments all that more special.

Lauren said...

LOVE everything about this post, beautiful picture of you and your pop pop!!! I'm praying for your family!! Enjoy this season you're in!! Love ya :)

Sarah said...

What I notice most between your before and after pictures showing your weight loss is how big your smile is. You seem so happy but the smile being bigger is really icing on the cake!

Taylor said...

So happy for you!! The guy looks great, you look fantastic, the house looks gorgeous and I'm fervently praying for your family during this rough time.

Meg G said...

God is so, so good! And I am happy for your on all accounts. From following your Instagram feed, I have been patiently waiting (and hoping) to get the scoop on the new (and super cute) man-friend.

With all the negativity and suffering everyday, it is so very refreshing to read your blog and see how God works.

All the best to you! xoxo

Sacha♥ said...

aww, so happy to hear that you both are a cute couple.

well done with your weight loss, recently I'm joined WW. I've lost 4lbs in a week. You look really well.

I really love the photo of you and your pop pop, put it up in a frame :) Hope he is not in pain.

All the best for you all <3 Thinking of you and your family, and praying for your pop pop too xoxo

Lucy Marie said...

I love this in so many ways. I knew when you became FB official that we'd see a blogpost around here soon :) I'm so happy for you, Suze.

Samantha said...

Hooray for the boy, your body and for this wonderful season in your life. Thank you for being such an inspiration to keep pushing forward. And prayers to your family during this hard time!

Hailey @ Me and My Boys said...

Yay for the update! Congrats on everything! You look so happy. That whole enjoying-the-present thing is working for ya! :)
Lots of prayers for you and your family.

Mrs. S said...

What great things in the post!! love it and so so happy for you-- you deserve it all!

Becca said...

This post is awesome in so many ways! So happy for you, you look gorgeous!

Jessica @ Wanting Adventure said...

Congrats on the weight loss - it's your and your sister that made me get off my butt and start Weight Watchers. 20 pounds later, I'm loving it! Thanks for giving me the push.

Ruth Witmer said...

So, so happy for this new season in your life. I think I am almost as excited as you are. lol You are beautiful, inside and out and I couldn't be prouder to call you my daughter. I was checking daily for your next blog post as you are one of my two favorite reads! :)
Love,
Mom

Amanda @ Our Oklahoma Nest said...

So, so happy for you!!!! You deserve it all! YAY! :)

Rachel said...

I'm such a big whimp! Crying while reading this, of course. I'm so happy for you. You are such an amazing person, Sus...can't say that enough, and can't stress enough how much you deserve every bit of this happiness!

Sending prayers up for this new relationship of yours...makes my heart smile to see you so happy with him.

So proud and so encouraged by your weight loss--70 lbs! That is INCREDIBLE! Makes me want to push a little harder every day!

And of course, praying for your PopPop. Katie made me cry on her post...so prayers have been said numerous times over the past few days for you, him, and your family.

Love you, precious friend. So blessed by you and so thankful FOR you!

Anonymous said...

LOVE the Jeff news, and the weight loss goal being met. Sorry to hear about your PopPop. :\ Praying for strength & healing, in whatever form God sees fit.

Perfectly Imperfect said...

I am so happy for all the good things you've got going on in your life girl. Your boy is cute! ;)

And I'm so sorry about your PopPop. Definitely praying for you all at this time...

Noe said...

I don't know how I've missed this post, as I am just reading it now. Can I just say that it made my day? I'm so happy to hear all is well in your life.
Prayers for pop pop, God Bless him!
xoxo