Re-focusing My Goals & Priorities for 2013

This morning I woke up to the warm sun blaring through my bedroom windows. Such a gorgeous day outside here with blue skies and hot sun!

Yes! That is the ocean in the background--Bright blue.

 














I woke up knowing today was going to be a “heart to heart” day. There are SO many things I am wanting to do, I’m being pulled in so many directions. It was time to take a break from my busy-ness, sit down, breath and focus on what my goals, priorities and desires were. Weeding out all of the mess and sewing in good seeds of productivity. So I got out of bed, made myself a green shake, and sent my hubby off to school {He’s currently in the UH Nursing program}. 

My "GREEN" shake!

  After sipping my shake & grabbing my notebook, I found a quiet place to sit and relax. I really focused and prayed for direction in my life, that my goals and priorities would be on track with the big picture. I thought about ALL of the things I want to do and love to do and decided which ones I have space for at this time in my life and which ones I can focus on in the next season of my life.

Ahh, writing everything down suddenly makes life so much easier. It’s like my brain isn’t swirling with “what if’s” and “how can I’s”. It’s just focused and knows exactly what step to take next. It’s amazing to have a plan, and though life doesn’t always go to plan and craziness is always around the next corner. It makes it so much easier when you know where you want to be and that you ARE going to get there.

Now that I feel totally free after that life planning sesh-- I’m off to garden or should I say, WEED! It’s a beautiful day outside & I’m taking full advantage.


Do you ever take a {Priorities} inventory? Weeding out all of the wants and to-do's that are just getting in the way of your clear goals?

XO
Hannah

Finding Our Groovy Routine

Seven days since we stepped off the plane from our fabulous 3 1/2 week vacation in Oregon. It was amazing! I enjoyed every minute of it, but now it's REAL LIFE. Schedule driven, homework filled, salad eating, water drinking, gym going, house cleaning, bill paying, challenge driven LIFE! Whew!

I'm okay though, I am so blessed and really do love my routine {Once I find it again}. I think today was the day where it all straightened out and I finally thought, "I can do this, I have this thing {LIFE} under control!"

I definitely need a Brain-Booster and some time to sit and FOCUS on my goals and priorities, but that's for another day.

Right now I'm just taking in all of the beautiful things my life holds and getting through the next few days without losing it :)

I hope y'all are ENJOYING your January and I'll chat with you later!

XO
Hannah

Happy New Year 2013

The first day of the New Year is a groggy one for most! Most people around the world stay up WAY too late ringing in the New Year, maybe have a little too much to drink and usually wake up so exhausted their day just drags on. Not for me. Although I was sleepy from the 3am bed time! 

I welcomed 2013 with a great group of people! We played a fun game of laser tag, (sounds "teenagerish" but was REALLY fun!) watched the ball drop and enjoyed laughs and conversation. These amazing people I spent NYE with, I've known forever! Dave and I have been back in Oregon for three weeks, visiting our hometown and catching up with people we grew up with. One great thing about growing up in a small town (there are many) is meeting up around the holidays, catching up, and starting right where we left off when we saw each other last year. I love it! 

Such a GREAT group of people!

This evening Dave and I FINALLY got to meet up with our amazing friends Austin and Meghann and meet their adorable daughter, Emma, who is 5 months old.

Emma Grace

She is PRECIOUS. Lots of smiles, which of course, brought smiles to my face. Emma's mommy has been one of my best friends for 10 years and I was so blessed to be able to meet her beautiful daughter and catch up with their sweet little family.

We leave back to Hawaii on Friday the 4th, so our trip is coming to an end. Sad thought, but back to life, back to reality! I'm so blessed and this trip has been wonderful. Just the break we needed to refresh ourselves this holiday season.

xoxo -H

When Will These Sicknesses LEAVE?

Oh my goodness! It seems as though I cannot fight off these sicknesses going around! Yikes!

Over the last two months I’ve had the flu, two upper respiratory infection and the leftover is a dry cough that I can’t seem to get away from. Herbal tea at night, grapefruit extract in the morning, peppermint herbal supplements during the day. I’ve even stooped to taking OTC meds, putting chemicals in my body... {Can’t be healthy for you}.

What is this teaching me? LIFE GOES ON! We just have to press forward, because the world doesn’t stop for us to get better. Work, school, house duties.. The list goes on and on.These past few weeks definitely make me wonder how moms deal with this! It gives me a respect for them like none other. If I had kids in this mix, it would not be good. I’d survive though-- Because all moms seem to! “kudos to moms everywhere”

Anywho! Today was full of tests, homework and now I’m off to bible study. It ALWAYS makes me feel better when I meet up with other ladies. We are all in this together!

XO everyone -- Feel better!

-H

42 Days Left! Just “Stick With It”

Surviving the holiday festivities during my Challenge...

Well, it’s a Challenge!!

 

 

My goals when I started this (My 2nd) Challenge was to build muscle by adding about 5 lbs of lean muscle mass. I wanted to continue eating every 2-3 hours feeding my body with lean proteins, complex carbs, fresh veggies and delicious fruits. The foods have stayed the same, my diet is strict for the most part {Although, I don’t say no to splurges every now and then}. But my gym time has definitely gone down AND with all the hustle and bustle of the last month I’ve been eating only 3-4 times a day. I haven’t noticed my weight go up, but I’ve lost some of my “tone”. NOT GOOD! I don’t want to go backwards. I’ve already lost 30 lbs and 20 inches. I’m not willing to mess up my progress over a few lazy excuses.
So, I’ve revamped my Challenge, I’m not letting my non-progress get me down! The new name of my Challenge is Stick With It! Basically I know I’m not going to see amazing definition or weight loss through the holidays, but I can maintain ALL of my success so far and I can CHOOSE to not go backwards.
Holiday parties, traveling across the Pacific to visit family and of course tasty festive foods will not bring me down. I will accept them in moderation, keeping my eye on the goal!
When I step on the scale January 1, 2013. I will be PROUD of myself!

How great is that? Most people will not feel this way unfortunately, but if you’d like to join me--- I’d love to have some support! We need each other. Cheers to the New Year!

XO
Hannah

Loving the Sunshine with A Good Friend

I received a phone call the other day from a friend whom I've known and who has been a great friend of mine for 18 years. He recently graduated Nursing school and wanted to take a quick trip to Hawaii before he starts his new job. Basically, I received a phone call and 30 hours later was picking him up at the airport. {Great to have friends who live in Maui}

It's ALWAYS fun to have visitors! Our schedule is all messed up, we fall a little behind on our to-do list and spend more money than budgeted, but LOVE every minute of showing our guests this BEAUTIFUL island!

Dave, Matthew & I 



We hit up the beach, trailed through the jungle, tasted tropical fruits & enjoyed everything in the Aloha spirit :)

AMAZING! Sad that he leaves tomorrow, but it's back to the grind for us!

Aloha

xoxo -Hannah

Live Abundantly in Ephesians

I am a Christian. Christ is my first and foremost passion. As Christians or anyone really, it's so hard to get caught up in the things of this world! What we want others to see us as, our worth, our bank account, our looks, our stuff... All of these perishable earthly things. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against ANY of these things. I want to be worth something, I enjoy swiping my plastic knowing there is money in there, I love feeling healthy and having a body that shows it. What I often forget it is Who gave it to me. Who gave me these earthly blessings, my looks, my heart, my passions, my physical/spiritual wealth. Jesus did.

The world is constantly trying to trap us into thinking we are in charge of our own "beings" and the universe is what centers us, while yoga balances us and herbal tea restores us. PLEASE don't get me wrong, I enjoy yoga and drink tea like crazy!! But those things are not what fills me. The ONLY reason I am here right now is because of my relationship with my Lord and the ONLY reason I have the things I do is because of my relationship with my Lord. He is where I find peace, love, harmony, balance, restoration and my center.

This past week was a re-focus week for me. Getting right and remembering WHO I serve! Saying, "My Will for Your Will". There is nothing better. Period.

Having my father-in-law visit last week was great, he is a pastor and has a passion for Christ I have never seen in anyone else! Even though he is my father-in-law and has, over the years, done those "father-in-law" kind of things {I will leave it at that, LOL}... He remains my pastor and someone I respect very highly in my Christian walk. It was because of him 10 years ago, sharing his passion for Christ with his youth group that I began my {serious} walk with the Lord. So spending time with him this week was so nice and refreshing.

I'm currently doing a study through the book of Ephesians.

Do you do a daily Devotional? Tell me about it! Let's connect!

XO ~ Hannah