I frequently think back to the few simple words that one of my gymnastics coaches, Missy Marlowe, told me when I was a teenager. She was spotting me through a conditioning exercise on the uneven bars, and I was completely exhausted. I specifically remember feeling like I wanted to give up even though I still had 3 more repetitions to complete. I’m sure she could see that on my face. She looked at me and said, “You can always do 3 more of anything.” And I did. I pushed through and I completed my last three.

I thought about this a lot throughout my gymnastics career. 3 more routines with ripped hands, 3 more push ups, 3 more sprints. And though it benefitted me as a gymnast, it has benefitted me even more in life. I’ve made it through my last 3 hours of a night shift, my last 3 minute of running, and my last 3 months of school. And I know I will continue to make it through the tough stuff in life by applying this principle.

You can always do 3 more of anything.

I’ve been thinking about my best friend tonight, and I couldn’t help sitting down and writing a bit about him and what a best friend is. He and I became best friends before we fell in love, and we have been best friends ever since.

– A best friend is someone you can talk to about anything: There is nothing in this world that I can’t talk to this man about. He listens, he is understanding, and he doesn’t judge. I feel completely safe to tell him anything about me and I know he will love me unconditionally.

– A best friend is someone you love spending time with: I love hanging out with him more than anyone else in this world. He is adventurous and fun, yet he enjoys and evening watching a movie on the couch as well. No matter what we are doing, I am completely satisfed because he is so great to be around.

– A best friend is someone that makes you laugh: He has a great sense of humor. He makes me laugh every single day, even on the tough days.

– A best friend is always there for you: He has helped me through some of the most difficult times of my life. He has held me when I am crying. He has helped me solve problems that I don’t know how to solve. He is always available when I need him, even if it is the middle of the night.

– A best friend is not afraid to correct you when you are wrong: He helps me find better ways to do and handle things, and does it in a way that is loving and kind. His intent is always genuine and sincere.

– A best friend helps you be more confident: He never fails to tell me how beautiful I look, or how proud he is of me and the thing I am donig.

– A best friend makes you feel loved always: Not a day goes by that my best friend doesn’t tell me and show me how much he loves me. He makes me feel that I matter more to him than anything.

I am sure there are more characteristics that make up a best friend, but these are just a few that come to my mind when I think of my best friend. I sincerely hope and pray that everyone in this life will have the blessing of a best friend. I don’t know what I would do without mine.

When I was a little girl, I had the nickname “Question Girl.” There was even a song that went something like “She’s question girl, question girl, QUESTION girl.” And so, you can imagine when that song was sung to me I was asking questions… many of them. Most of my questions seemed to start with the word, “Why.” “Why does it work that way,” was especially popular.

I have always been very interested in why things are they way they, how they work, and why they work that way. I remember a specific story that will illustrate my curious self well. When I was about elementary school age, I got really frustrated with pi, and by that I mean 3.14.. The number you multiply by the circumference, radius, etc. I so curiously asked my mom, “Why is it 3.14 and how did they get that number?” She replied, “It is just the number that a very smart mathematician came up with in a way that it probably too difficult for you to understand. You just have to trust that it works and plug it into your equation.” I answered, “But it just bugs me to use a formula that I don’t even know how they got? It’s like I’m just plugging numbers in, not knowing what I actually am doing?” My patient mom replied, “But you just have to. Someday you can learn how they got pi, but at this point in time you don’t have to worry about it and you just have to use it.” And so, I grudgingly would, though it irritated me. Similar conversations were had throughout my years of math, and my mom would always respond patiently, I might add, the same.

The desire to know the HOW and WHY benefitted me greatly in my education, especially in nursing school and in my prerequisites leading up to nursing school. I never wanted to just memorize structures in the body. I wanted to know HOW they worked and WHY they did what they did. I wanted to know HOW the retrovirus HIV causes so much destruction, despite fact that it isn’t even considered a living thing. I wanted to know WHY metoprolol (a medication) lowers blood pressure, all the way down to the minutely small receptors that it binds to. I didn’t just want memorize that metoprolol is prescribed for high blood pressure.

As you can see… This HOW and WHY desire has benefitted me throughout my life and education. However, our greatest strengths are often our greatest weaknesses. It does not come without it’s downsides, and that’s because we can’t always know the how and the why. My young brain was too small to comprehend how pi was determined. I’m also now unable to comprehend some of the complexities of life, and it can be really hard on me at times.

I don’t know why some prayers aren’t answered the way I think they should be. I don’t know why some people are given trials that seem too difficult for anyone to have to bear. I don’t understand how God can hear the prayers of billions of people at a time, or how Christ took upon Him the sins of the world. I wish there was a textbook that explained it all. Of course we have the scriptures and the prophets who have helped us understand more about these things, but no where can I read the molecular structure of how God can her billions of prayers at once.

Sometimes I find this really frustrating. However, I have found that I have to set my analytical mind aside and TRUST… as I once had to do with pi. I have to have faith that God hears and answers every prayer, because I know He has answered mine. I just have to let go and believe, because the feelings I have in my heart tell me that these things are true. I don’t have to know why they are. I just have to know they are.

About my last post, I hate to say it, but I think I have to take back #3. I worked out like crazy yesterday and almost every muscle in my body today aches and burns. My calves, quads, hamstrings, inner thighs, butt, back, abs, obliques, pecs, deltoids, and lats are so incredibly sore that when I move I feel like I am physically abusing myself. After my work-out session, #1 remained true, my heart loved it. #2 remained true, my bones loved it. #4 remained true, my brain loved it. And #5 remained true, my metabolism loved it. However, #3 turned out to be a lie. My muscles hate me right now, and they are letting me know it every time a move, and even when I don’t. In a couple days, my muscles will be glad, but right now, they are mad.

You may be wondering why I did this to myself. Especially after my last post about wanting to treat my body right. Well… I didn’t mean to. That’s the problem. Sometimes I think I am still a gymnast and can not only do the skills I once did, but the exercises as well. And again, that’s part of the problem, because many of those things I still can do. My body just punishes me in a way that it never used to.

Another problem here? My competitive nature. My last name may be Rees… but I still have “Smith blood” and with that comes a ridiculous amount of desire to win, and when I saw a fitness competition started at www.trickcomp.com, I just couldn’t help myself. And of course, I had to try more than once, which never should have happened.

But it did, and my muscles will heal 🙂

Why Do I Exercise?

 1. My heart loves it. With every pounding thump in my chest, my heart is getting stronger and telling me “thank you.”

2. My bones love it. I am a thin, petite woman… a walking, breathing, osteoporosis risk. But every time I get out there and run, my bones are telling me “thank you.”

3. My muscles love it. With every burning step and every burning crunch, they are getting stronger and stronger. I can feel my muscles telling me,”thank you.”

4. My brain loves it. I get an increase in endorphins that cause my mind to relax. I can see everything more clearly and my tension is released. I can hear my brain telling me, “thank you.”

5. My metabolism loves it. Thyroxine is released and all of my cells get to work, fueling on my body’s glucose, and my energy levels are increased. Once again, my metabolism is telling me, “thank you.”

 I exercise because it makes me the strong woman I envision myself to be. I do it because it gives me confidence. I do it because it is who I have always been, and who I will always be.

Why did I feel so warm inside when Casey had a little written schedule in his wallet for our date that he had planned last weekend?

I’m sure many have heard of the book, “The 5 Languages of Love” by Gary Chapman. I wish I could say I’ve actually read it, but I’ve known about it for a long time and about the 5 languages of love he suggests. I just love this concept and I completely believe it is true. Chapman believes that we all feel love in different ways, and knowing this about our loved ones can help us love them in the way they need to be loved. Of course we all feel love in all five of the different ways, but he believes that each of us has one way that speaks volumes above the rest.

I think it is so fun to figure out what someone’s language is and to love them that way.

The following are copied directly from the website:

Words of Affirmation: Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

Quality Time: In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

 Receiving Gifts: Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

Acts of Service: Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

Physical Touch: This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive

http://www.5lovelanguages.com/learn-the-languages/the-five-love-languages/

Since I was 11 years old, I always wanted to be a Registered Nurse when I, “Grow-up.” Well.. 1 week ago, I became one. I guess that means I’m a grown-up.

Though I’ve technically been an “adult” for years now, I’ve never especially felt like one. I’ve been in school, working part time, and Casey and I have been kidless, still feeling like kids ourselves.  But in the last 5 months, I have begun working full time and actually making a financial contribution to the family. I finished school. Done. Over. No more papers, no more tests. I had the blessing and opportunity to be pregnant back in the spring for 11 short weeks, and I have always felt different since that time. Like I was beginning to make the sacrifices and love the baby like a mom does. And to top all of this adult stuff off, I had a real job interview for a real job last week.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am still in my 20’s, still young, and still love being young, but the transition in the last few months has been life altering, and I am loving it! I always told Casey when I was in school that I was sick of school and that, “I want to be a real person!” So.. I guess you could say I’m a real person now, and I am loving it.