Blogging Challenge -- Days 14-18

Hey everyone! Where in the world have I been with my Blogging Challenge posts? Well, I'll tell ya. I've had the pleasure of hosting some nasty virus for the past 4 days. Today is by far the best day yet, but I'm still feeling rough. This thing started off like a cold, then turned into what felt like the flu and then progressed to something resembling a stomach virus. Lovely, I know. That's a good part of the reason why I haven't blogged in a week. BUT I wanted to get back to it today and answer questions 14-18 of the blogging challenge. These questions are all really interesting to me and it's funny how a lot of them are harder to answer than I would have ever thought. They are really making me think...which is a good thing! Hope you enjoy! :D

14. What's on your iPod? I really like a variety of music! Country music is definitely my favorite, but I also like pop, contemporary Christian, and 90's music. Scrolling through my Pandora stations I found: Matchbox Twenty Radio, The Grinch Radio, 3 Doors Down Radio, 90s Pop Radio, Today's County Radio, Lady Antebellum Radio, Today's Hits Radio, Hillsong Worship Radio, and Passion Worship Band Radio...to name a few.

15. List 10 things that make you awesome:

1. I am one big, recessive gene (red hair, green eyes, left-handed, fair skinned).
2. I enjoy running long distances.
3. I am very organized.
4. I've jumped out of a plane.
5. I'm a good friend (or at least I try really hard to be).
6. I love to encourage others.
7. I have the best husband, son, and puppy around!
8. When I want something, I work hard to achieve it. I'm driven.
9. I have always adopted my pets from the local animal shelter.
10. I exercised throughout my entire pregnancy, up until 3 days before I had my son.

16. What's your biggest accomplishment? Gosh, this is a hard one. There are a lot of things that come to mind, but one of the biggest accomplishments I can think of is how hard my husband and I have worked for what we have. We started off with very little and have worked so hard and come so far. We still don't have much, but what we do have, I am proud of because I know the hard work that went into it. I'm proud that together we have overcome a lot of obstacles, especially financially, and stayed dedicated to what we wanted. I'm thankful that what I have wasn't handed to me because I don't know if I would appreciate it quite the same.

17. Why and when did you start blogging? I started blogging in August of 2013. I have always loved writing and found blogging to be a way to rekindle that passion. I wanted to share bits of my life with people and hoped that someone would find my posts encouraging and relatable. I figured if I touched one person's life with my blog, that would be wonderful!

18. Where are you happiest? I am happiest when I am with those I love, my family and friends. Yes, that corny, but it's true. The older I get, the more I realize the importance of my relationships and how those are the things that will carry on when everything else fades. At the end of my life, the reflection on the relationships I had will bring me far more joy than anything else ever could.

Blogging Challenge Days 2-4

Well, I've already completely slacked! I didn't post at all over the weekend, but I plan on getting back on track this week with my blogging challenge! Today I am going to answer the questions for days 2-4.

2. Favorite Quote -- "Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering.”   ― Ida Scott Taylor

I love this particular quote because I am a worrier and I tend to overanalyze most things. I critique the past and struggle to move forward while also worrying so much about the future that I can't enjoy the present. This quote is a beautiful reminder to focus on the present which I tend to need reminding of.

3. What makes you happy? Well this question could be very long if I answered it fully. Lots of things make me happy! Dessert before the main course, going running on a fall day, the beach, and someone making me feel special all qualify as answers. But the first thing that popped in my mind as I read this question was my family. My family's life is pretty hectic, so any time I am spending uninterrupted quality time with my husband, son, and puppy I am very happy! They are my happy place without a doubt.

4. Best Childhood Memory -- While this may seem cliché, one of my favorite and best childhood memories was going to Disney World! I went with my family when I was in 7th grade and it was one of my favorite family trips. I have such good memories from that trip and still remember it really well. It was such a fun and magical place despite the fact that I was already 13 years old. I absolutely loved Disney World! I remember taking pictures with the characters, riding every single ride, and spending the evenings playing cards and laughing with my mom, dad, brother, uncle, aunt, and cousin. My family was in a really good place at that time and the memories we made on that trip were unforgettable (in the best way!).

Well that's all for today!