Uber Emotional

Ok, maybe not uber emotional, but I have been pretty emotional this past week. Perhaps it has been a combination of just really pushing myself during my workouts, or maybe it was dialing my nutrition in more, or perhaps it was talking with my coach and just being reminded of what I have gone through, maybe it is because I see that I can help others through my journey, or it could have been due to my utter amazement at how God always has just what I need to hear when I need to hear it - most likely, it was a combination of everything.

I am a little less than a month away from when I intentionally embarked on this journey and decided to publicly share it via this blog. SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED during this time! So. Much. I had some time to myself this morning and went on a little journey back to September 2014...

Began a dedicated, intentional journey in September after hiking in Seattle.

Marital struggles proved to be the first of many challenges to pop up.

Doctor mentioned Multiple Sclerosis as a possible reason for symptoms I was experiencing and had been exasperated by the stress of my marital struggles.

Began AI diet and supplements, in an effort to address what appeared to be auto immune "flares".

Really began focusing on resting in Christ to be less stressed.

Began and completed Whole30 Challenge!! This helped to build confidence that I IN FACT had the ability to begin and complete something.

Set goals for 2015: Spartan Sprint, Spartan Super, Figure Competition - along with getting into the Word, exercising and eating clean every day.

Introduced to F.I.T. power hour from Kim Dolan Leto. Inspired by her book; I felt it was a
confirmation to continue in the direction I had been going.

A skin cancer threw me for a loop and knocked me off track for a little bit. I kept moving forward after uncertainty of degree of severity and was very relieved once all came back normal.

Minor attack came from no where. Still not sure what caused it, but I didn't dwell on it and marched on!

Finished Spartan Sprint!! This increased my confidence to complete something physically challenging, without crashing.

Outlined and began fleshing out renewal of mind...ongoing. God still has me working on this. All in His timing. But I KNOW that my thoughts are directly related to my physical experience.

Decided to not do figure/bikini competition and chose to do the Ultimate Oxygen Challenge instead.

What a year this has been! I look back at just this year a lone, and think of how much God has seen me through. I am so grateful! And yes, a bit emotional about it. This pic to the left was taken before I began the journey. The image below is me yesterday. I see a huge difference.

In the first I see a woman who was really struggling to look past the obstacles right in front of her. A gal struggling to let go and let God lead in her life. In return, she was really experiencing some crazy symptoms that had her and her doctor completely bewildered at what was going on. I also see a woman who didn't really want to be seen and felt very uncomfortable with being vulnerable and opening herself up to the judgments of others.

In the second image, I see a woman confident in who she has become in Christ. A woman who grew confidence more and more with each obstacle she chose to trust God in. I see a woman who is more healthy and grounded than she probably has ever been. I see a woman who has already won the challenge she accepted, simply because she has come to understand it is about the process and persevering, rather than achieving some outcome. I see a woman ready to take on more. I see a woman grateful for the new life Christ has given her and cannot wait to see what's next.

Yes I have one more month to go, and it would make more sense to have done this post then, but it happened today. Perhaps because my kiddos begin school this week, which means practices, games, homework, youth groups, and the like are beginning to kick in full swing - an my time will be limited for writing.

Have a great week and thank you for following along with me on this journey that feels like it has a new beginning every day!