Hustle & Bustle

I can't seem to figure out where all of the time is going?!?!?! I feel like this year has flown by so stinkin' fast! I had big plans of sending out cute Christmas cards, getting my Christmas shopping done really early, and having a well planned, relaxed holiday season. HAHAHAHAHA. I think I have learned my lesson this year. I should never have planned ahead like that. Lol. Instead of being on top of things, the opposite has come true! I barely have any of my Christmas shopping done, no Christmas cards will be going out from the Jacksons this year, and I feel incredibly behind!!! I need time to simply slow down just for a week or so! Can't a girl catch a break? ;)

On a happier note... I do finally have my Christmas decorations up! Lol. I am trying to pull it together and know that even though it's not as organized as my OCD self would hope, it will all come together eventually.

Does anyone else feel like this? Am I alone? What's stressing you out this Holiday season? What's making you happy and thankful this Christmas?

Being Sick...

Today I am finishing up day 4 of being sick. I am getting pretty tired of it and am more than ready to get back to my normal self! I went to the doctor and she told me that I have a viral upper respiratory infection, along with a good 'ole common cold, and fluid in my ears. I was excited that is wasn't strep again or the flu! I was quickly brought back to down to earth when she said that she couldn't do anything to help me since it is viral! :( She said I just had to rest, drink lots of fluids, try over the counter decongestants & meds, and rest some more! She said it would take 7-10 days to run it's course. Are you serious??? I don't have that many days! I am probably one of the most impatient people in the world and this whole pulling back and resting thing is not the easiest for me. I just thought I would vent on here tonight. I was supposed to sing last night for church and tonight for church but couldn't because I can't stop coughing, sneezing and sound like a man! I am hoping and praying this ends sooner than later! :) What is annoying you tonight?

Random thoughts from Robin...

I have put off updating our blog for a long long time now all because I felt overwhelmed that so much has happened and I couldn't possibly get it all on here. BUT, tonight, I have decided to overcome that and start back. Instead of trying to catch you up, I have decided to start back with today. Here we go...

Today is Monday, our day off. I love this day every week! :) I love to be lazy and hang out with my hottie husband all day long!!! I love cleaning together, cooking together, snuggling and watching tv together... basically almost everything we do on Mondays is TOGETHER! I think that's why it's my favorite day!!!

What's your favorite day of the week and why???

Life is so busy right now...

I don't really even know where to start... So much has happened in June and I failed to blog about any of it. I think I am going to look back in my journal later and try to catch everyone up on here soon. I don't know, maybe it's just better to start from where we are today, a little of what we have learned along the way and move forward rather then look back...

Maybe I am just over analyzing, who knows?!?!? Well, for now, I guess I will just share my current thoughts off the top of my head. FYI: This is always a dangerous thing as I can be one of the most random people in the entire world and I really don't think God created me with a filter of any kind.

Moving on... Today I am sitting in my little shack fixing to head down to Alvin, Texas to see my handsome husband as he is at Middle School camp. I miss him and am excited to get to see what they are up to and how God is moving in the student's lives. I just got home from a morning( really a day) full of contemplative meetings. 

Side note: (WOW, I can't seem to stay focused.  I am even more ADD than normal, sorry) Life seems to be flying past me like someone is holding down the fast forward button. Does anyone else feel this way? I don't think I am doing much more than I normally am, but somehow feel like I am just out of control and can't seem to get my thoughts, my messy house, my life in general, or anything else in order right now! 

Alright, back to my day. I started out the day with a meeting about "Why" we do what we do. It really made me think back through the past month and the lessons God has been teaching me. So often, I get caught up in the process and the results not coming out like I had hoped or planned for... I forget the "why" I am who I am am and what started me on this journey in the first place. Is this making any sense??? I really need to start asking myself "why" a lot more and evaluating my every move on a deeper level! It's definitely a good thing!

I have been challenged today and am feeling all kinds of emotions ranging from confusion, frustration, peace, dissatisfaction and motivation to find more of God. I have a new stirring and hunger inside of me. 

I love visuals, so here are a few photos to help you visualize my feelings! :)

Weight!

Alright, here are my thoughts for today...

I had this conversation with my friend Cheryl the other day and we couldn't figure it out. Maybe you guys can help me out. Why is it that the things like eating right, working out, and resting; which we know are good for us, are the things we continually avoid? 

Maybe it's just me, but I know it's good for me and I even feel better about myself and have more energy after I work out and exercise. BUT, for some reason, I struggle to stay motivated. Why is that??? I seem to find anything and everything to do that gets in the way of me doing what's best for me and my body! :( 

Help me... do you have any thoughts, tricks, or ideas of how to stay motivated and be more self-disciplined???

My Adventure Book

Wow. Blake and I went on a double date late last night with our sweet friends, the Scranton's. We saw "UP," the new Disney movie. It was too cute but way sadder than I expected. It actually made me think the whole car ride home and even now as I type this. Are cartoons supposed to make you cry and truly contemplate life?!?!? Maybe I am just overemotional and vulnerable because of where we are in life right now. It seems that tragedy and sadness is hitting a lot of our friends and loved ones. It has made me think about life and death this whole week. You never know how much time you have left or what God's plan is for your life. Wow, my mind is flooding with all kinds of thoughts on life right now...  

Oh, if you haven't seen the movie yet, you may want to stop reading... I don't want to spoil it for you!

Anyways, it starts off about a precious love story and made me very nostalgic. I have been crazy emotional lately and very extra attached to my sweet husband's hip. The movie made me think about the moment I met Blake all the way through today and all of the memories we have made together. The laughter, the tears, the big life changes we have carried each other through, the tragedies we have been there to hold one another through, the crazy hectic times, the sweet relaxing moments. Even in the short time we have known each other, 7 years, there have been so many thoughts that come to my mind right now.

How could I have gotten so attached to someone in such a short time? I found myself crying as Ellie dies in the movie and leaves her best friend, the love of her life behind. I starting thinking about Blake and myself. What if one of us dies and leaves the other behind? What if it happens before we get to live out all of our dreams together? What if it happens and we have regrets of not making more of the sweet time that we have together? It was really beginning to bother me and eat away at me all throughout the movie. Then, at the end of the movie, it made me change how I was thinking...

I have now been encouraged to not worry about the future and dwell on the time that we "may" or "may not" have together, but instead hold onto and cherish every single little moment that we get together today! I love my husband and cannot not imagine my life without him. I thank God for bringing us together and for all of the incredible blessings He has given us over the years!

In the movie, Ellie made a book and called it "My Adventure Book." It was a scrapbook with all of her dreams and goals in it. She made it as a child and didn't realize that as she got older her dreams, goals, and priorities would change. I am now looking at my life-long dreams and goals. Which ones should I strive after and which ones should I realize are just a childhood fantasy? I am not sure yet, but I do know that "My New Adventure Book" will not be full of the things I want and hope to do in the future but instead, full of the pictures and stories of the fun things (the adventure) that we are getting to walk through together every single day!

Thanks Ellie for making me look at life through your fun eyes! :)

The past 2 years in a nutshell

Blake,

I love you more than I ever dreamed was possible. I am so blessed and thank God every single day for giving me such a sensitive, loving, caring, strong, man of integrity for my husband! Here is a look through the past 2 years of our marriage and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life making more sweet memories with you by my side!!!

Love you,

Robin