Pictures are worth 1,000 words

2020 will be a new decade!  Can you believe that?  I’m still amazed at the fact that 2019 is almost over much less we are entering into a NEW DECADE!!!  Where in the world has time gone?

On Social Media there is a new challenge floating around.  I am sure there are plenty of people that have taken part in it.  I absolutely love seeing them.  The best part is to see what people write about their own pictures and some are so very critical of themselves and then you read the comments from friends and family.  On the other had you have people that have had some drastic changes and they are so proud of what they have accomplished and of course the Congrats in the comments.  It’s really interesting to read.  So my question is this....Have you done the Decade Challenge?  Well, I did.  I had an eye opening experience doing the challenge.  It’s something that has “bothered” me for some time but this was the perfect timing for me to be able to share it.

Here is what happened for the Decade Challenge with me.  I’m wondering if may have happened with any of you????

So, obviously it is 2019 and we are to post a current picture next to one that is from 10 years ago.  Simple, right?  WRONG!!!!  My current picture was NOT a problem.  I probably take some type of “selfie” 5 out of 7 days of the week because of my business and/or running.   That was super easy.
I honestly thought finding one from 10 years ago would NOT be that big of a deal.  I would go into Facebook and look through the photo albums.  I scrolled.......and scrolled.....and scrolled.....and scrolled more.  I thought “well this is ridiculous!”.  I went to my Husbands profile and scrolled.....and scrolled......and FINALLY found one but it’s actually not quite 10 years.  It was a moment!  

A BIG MOMENT!

I knew that I was one that would hide behind a camera.  Years ago I would just cringe from having my picture taken.  It was before we had all of the fancy cameras and such.  Me in the picture would JUST NOT HAPPEN.  At that point in time, my thoughts never went to the fact that when my children or family looked at pictures for memories, I would not be in them.
 Let me say that again......when my children or family looked at pictures for memories, I WOULD NOT BE IN THEM!  Let that sink in for a minute.  OUCH! Then the tears!
The bottom line......MAMA, STOP HIDING BEHIND THE CAMERA! Your family and children are NOT going to look at your pictures  and pick them apart.  They are not concerned with your messy hair, your 5 pounds that you gained, your postpartum weight, or your menopausal metabolism.  THEY JUST WANT YOU!!!

My challenge for you, especially with the holidays coming, GET OUT FROM BEHIND THE CAMERA!  Be IN the picture.  It doesn’t have to be perfect.  JUST BE REAL!!!!!!

Grandmother and Granny’s Biscuits

THANKSGIVING is coming.  It will literally be here before we can blink.  I think it comes earlier and earlier every year.  At least that is the way that I feel.  Some people made plans for this year last year and some are making new plans this year and haven’t planned their menu yet.

I had a crazy idea to start a Facebook Group for Thanksgiving ideas and just called it “Talkin’ Turkey”.  I thought it would be fun to talk ideas, fun, kids activities and recipes.  Little did I know when I made the group I would have over 100 women!!!  Who knew?? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️.   It is going to be absolutely amazing.  I have a ton to share and I hope they all enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed getting everything ready!  If you want to join, I would love to have you.  Just drop a comment below and I’ll send you the link.  We start on Monday, November 18th.

I thought I would take just a minute and share one of my favorite memories.  It is really hard to narrow them down but amazing food and family were always the center.  Our family was always in South Carolina for either Thanksgiving or Christmas.  We were always surrounded by Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, and cousins and nieces and nephews and anyone else that came.  I always say that my Daddy is from the city and Mama is from the country.  The recipes and the cooking are still the same.  Everything made with butter, whole milk, lard, white sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk and TONS OF LOVE!!!

 Granny’s biscuits were perfectly pinched off, rolled out in her hands and flattened by hand and every biscuit was the exact same size.  Grandmother’s biscuits were rolled out with a rolling pin and cut with a biscuit cutter or a tea glass.  Both were amazing and I would give anything to make them the way they did.  It was one of those things that there was never a “real written recipe”.  I would love to have a dozen of each to have on Thanksgiving.

My Mama’s dressing.  Well, let’s just say, I left home at 19 and today I am 51 and I have come close a time or two making dressing that taste like hers but never comes quite close enough.  There is something about the right amount of sage, broth, the bread combination and the right amount of celery, onions and butter.

What about you?  What are some of your favorite Thanksgiving memories?  I’d love to hear from you?  I could write and share for pages and pages and I just might make a few more post about memories for Thanksgiving.  Treasure your family and the time together!  Be Thankful!!!!

The Tuckahoe 25K

This past Saturday I did something that I had only dreamed about.  This was something that other people would do and it was on my “Some Day List”.  I had every reason in my head to NOT show up on Saturday.  The excuses were just flowing in my head.  This was equivalent to running 5 5K’s all at once on a trail I had never run.  I hadn’t even trained on a trail.  I had only been running on the road and now I was supposed to show up for a race.  I was scared out of my mind.

I had a bunch of friends that were all running and they were so encouraging and of course the “Race Dictator” was in charge and we already knew it would be an epic race.  The night before I got out my shoes......my new trail shoes.....to my surprise, I had come home with 2 left shoes.  SERIOUSLY!!!!!  I was so upset.  My sweet Hubby says, “Run to DICK’S!”  I knew that was not an option and wearing my other trail shoes would have to do.  

The day of the race was amazing.  We could not have asked for a better day.  Cool in the morning and a little warmer in the afternoon but not much.  I had my music, my phone, my friends, beautiful weather and it was time.  I took off and things were going pretty well until around mile 5.  Completely lost power in my phone.  AS IN NO BATTERY LIFE LEFT....5%.  I had 2-3 more hours to go on a course I had never run.  I was in panic mode for about 20 minutes.  I decided I was out there in the middle of this trail/park and continuing was the ONLY option.  I slid on a root/hill and my right knee was NOT happy.  Walking it was.  I knew if I stopped, IT WOULD BE OVER!  

Let’s just say- There was a lot of catch up on prayer time during the trail walk.  He knew what He was doing.  

I was between 2 groups of people.  I would walk with a group and then they would just kind of disappear and then the next.  It was just an amazing day!!!!  I FINISHED!  I walked across the finish line.  I got a high-five and a hug from the Race Dictator.  Yes, I cried.

I am still in shock that I actually did it.  It’s Tuesday and the soreness is gone.  For a lack of a better way to explain it, it’s kind of like childbirth.  You forget the pain after it’s over.  It was a race of determination and grit.  The question I keep getting is.....”Are you going to do it again?”  The answer is a RESOUNDING YES!!!!

Tuckahoe 25K 2020- Let’s Do This!!!!!