Who We Are

I read a post at Thistlewood Farms today that blessed my little heart.

And got me to thinking.

Jamie Eaton

Thinking about how I see myself at this stage in my life...and also about how others see me.

Which led me to pondering how interesting it is that depending on our environment, family size, activities, passions, and relationships, who we "are" changes in the eyes of others observing.

Yet all along, in our own eyes, we're still every environment, we're still the same mom/sister/daughter, each activity is still in us, every passion still part of who we are, we're still every friend we've always been. 

Only others often don't see all of that.  They only see the you that is now.

Which is why, in my pondering, it suddenly occurred to me that twenty years ago this year I pursued a passion that is still very much a part of who I am ~

1st Bodybuilding Competition - Fairbanks, Sept. 1995

Only it looks a little different now :-)

Recommitting to Free Weights ~ Jan. 2015

 See, in my own mind I'm still that weight-lifting gal you see in Picture One.  The passion for lifting is still very much in me.  The thing is, these last few years have been more about pursuing morning runs and chasing children than lifting weights.

Which brings us to Picture Two, which is me last week in the Anytime Fitness bathroom, taking a selfie as I commit to pursuing free weights once again.

And oh,  how good it feels!!

We set goals as a family this year, sitting in a circle on our king-size bed and writing each person's goals down in a notebook.  Precious, listening to each of our children share his/her heart!

One of my goals is to do 10 unassisted pull-ups.  I gave myself the year, but you know what?  I think it'll be sooner than that.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

So here's to not only the amazing goals we will, with God's help, accomplish this year, but also to the "amazing right under your nose":  YOU!

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made."

Psalm 139:14