Ready, Ready, Ready, Ready...Ready to Run

I love to run.

This is me after a 4 mile run yesterday.

Oh yeah, it was pouring rain.

I was splashed by 2 cars and honked at 4 times (not because I'm hot, but probably because they thought I was crazy).

It was EXHILARATING!

I started running in high school, but never took it seriously then.

It wasn't until after I joined the Marine Corps that I seriously fell in love with running.

I went through a lot of personal hardships my first few years in the Marine Corps, and running was my outlet.

I went through some pretty low points in my life, and running was my saving grace.

When I was hitting that pavement, nothing else in life mattered.

The natural high I got from running was also something that got me addicted to it.

My very first deployment was to Iwakuni, Japan. 

I was at a rocky place in life, in a terrible relationship, and I wasn't right with God.

Going to a foreign country with nothing familiar to me with new people was scary.

So I ran.

I ran every. single. day.

I ran twice a day.

I ran to work.

I ran back to my barracks from work.

I ran when it was 106 degrees with 98% humidity.

I ran 6-10 miles a day on average.

When I missed a day of running, I got depressed, and ended up getting my aggression out on some random cardio machine at the gym. 

This cycle continued on into my deployment to Iraq.

I found myself using every little bit of free time I had to run in the desert.

If you've ever been to the middle east in the middle of summer, you know it gets HOT...like 140 degrees hot.

It did a number on my knees.

It wasn't until my last deployment to Iraq and after recruiting duty (5 years later) that I finally decided to get my knee checked out because the pain was now starting to become unbearable.

I was in a lot worse shape than I had imagined, and my knee injuries had started to affect my hips as well.

So here I am, 3 years since I finally got my knee looked at.

I ended up having surgery.

I was medically (and honorably) discharged just FOUR short months shy of my actual EAS (End of Active Service) after 10 long years in the Corps.

I guess I'm classified as a disabled vet, but I don't consider myself that.

There are TONS of veterans out there who are REALLY disabled.

And while my days of running 6-10 miles a day are long gone, I have figured out how to hit the pavement knowing the limits of my body.

I'm not running 6:30 minute miles anymore, and I'm not obsessed with it like I used to be.

I've found other things to stay in shape (like Crossfit and Spin).

What's the point of this post?

Simple.

Those days when I was running endlessly was because I was running away from my problems.

I was running away from my faith.

I was running away from God.

It became an addiction and a high...an unhealthy one that ultimately injured me.

It wasn't until I reconnected with God again that I realized that I was using running as a crutch and not as a form of enjoyment.

Today, I can happily say that I run because I really enjoy it.

I love looking at nature while I run, and it puts me in awe that God created all of it.

What are you using as a crutch?

Another Romer Christmas

I'm finally feeling 100% today, so I can finally share with y'all about our Christmas!

I woke up with a HORRIBLE stomach flu, so after Christmas morning, I was chained to my bed, bathroom, and a trashcan.
I am POSITIVE that it was viral gastroenteritis because EVERYONE seems to have the exact same thing, and now my poor husband has it (and is currently bedridden upstairs).
Prayers for my little family!

Christmas gets more fun for me every year as Dannika gets a little older, and can grasp little concepts a little better than the year before.

I love seeing the magic of Christmas through a 4 year old's eyes, and the excitement that it brings.

Christmas has become more about seeing the joy in my children than anything else (besides Jesus, of course!).

 In our home, we do Santa Claus.

Some of my Christian friends kind of gave me the "side eye" when I told them we do Santa.

To some Christians, the whole idea of Santa Claus is like lying to your kids, and it makes Jesus irrelevant.

The way I see it, Dannika also believes that if she has a magic amulet like Sophia the First, she can talk to animals.

She also believes that there are mermaids in the ocean (thanks to her favorite movie The Little Mermaid).

I feel like imagination and fantasy are what keeps my children innocent, and it's part of being a kid.

With that said, we make Christmas more about Jesus in our house than anything else.

Santa, the presents, and the traditions come second.

In fact, the night before Christmas, I was shocked and humbled when my daughter said,

"Mommy, we can give all my toys to the other boys and girls who don't get to have Christmas. I can't wait till Jesus' birthday tomorrow because I love him SO much! I can't wait to die so I can go meet him in Heaven!"

Are you shocked?

I was.

It amazes me how unafraid of death my 4 year old is because she knows she'll be in the Kingdom of God when her time is done on earth!

So on to our Christmas...

The night before, Nick and Dannika went outside and spread "Reindeer food" all over our front lawn for Santa's reindeer...

 We left milk, cookies, and a note for Santa on the table next to the fireplace...

In our house, Santa ALWAYS gets almond milk (we're looking out for his health), and he ALWAYS gets his milk in a motivated Marine Corps 1st Marine Division glass.

Dannika can actually write now, so she actually got to leave him a little note this year!

She's never been so excited to go to bed! I'm sure my child is not the only one on Christmas Eve.

Dannika has been asking for a Barbie Dreamhouse for as long as I can remember.

We didn't get her one before because we felt she was too young, and it would just end up being destroyed.

When went to go take photos with the mall Santa, Dannika told him that she wanted a Barbie Dreamhouse.

She wrote a letter to Santa asking for a Barbie Dreamhouse.

Everyone that asked her what she wanted for Christmas, she promptly responded with, "A Barbie Dreamhouse."

Needless to say, "Santa" brought her a Barbie Dreamhouse.

Imagine how heartbroken she would have been if she didn't get a Barbie Dreamhouse?!

She was ridiculously excited.

Mattis just kinda laid there all morning, oblivious to what was going on.

Along with her Barbie Dreamhouse came every single Barbie accessory and doll imaginable.

My house looked like Barbie threw up all over it when she was done opening everything.

 Nick started having an obsession with bow hunting after spending the Summer in Quantico with one of his best friends who happened to be an avid bow hunter.

When he returned back to Mass, two guys from our church (who are also avid bow hunters) got him even more hyped up about it.

He started obsessing over bows...just a little bit.

He spent hours on his phone googling bows.

So, he got a bow for Christmas from me!

He was one happy guy!

He actually knew he was getting one, because he got to pick it out, but I have as strict rule on receiving/opening gifts before Christmas, so he had to wait!

My hubby got me an awesome new Canon 60D DSLR, 3 lenses, 6 different lens filters, tripod, etc.

I've had my Canon Rebel for about 3 1/2 years now, and I have severely outgrown its' capabilities.

It was time for a new one.

I'm really excited to play around with it!

I'm still learning the ins and outs of it, and I had to break out my MomTog's "UnManual" again.

If you've got a DSLR, and are shooting on auto, you're really missing out on the capabilities of your camera!

I HIGHLY recommend her book to help you understand the ins and outs of your camera.

It's one of the easiest books out there to understand, and well worth the $95!

It's seriously easier than any photography class you'll take, and definitely easier than the manual that comes with your camera!!!!!!

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas.

Keep posting about your Christmases on social media!!!

I LOVE seeing all the photos!

Just In Case...

You don't get enough pics of my adorable son...

And one that I managed to get my daughter to squeeze in on :)

No...it's not normal for 4 month olds to sit up on their own.

My 4 month old is a 17lbs mutant. 

Happy 4 Months!

I hope everyone had an amazing Christmas!

Mine, unfortunately, was spent in bed next to a bucket near a bathroom.

I'll be posting about our Christmas when I'm feeling a little better.

I did manage to remember my son's 4 month picture!

I say this every time, but he changes SO much in just those few short weeks in between each month!

I forgot how fast babies grow and change.

Things he can do that he couldn't do last month:

*Sit up on his own with the support of his hands (like the tripod sit)

*Longer stretches of tummy time, while holding entire torso up on his arms!

*Play with a rattle

*Laugh hysterically and uncontrollably when you make farting noises with your mouth.

*Sucking on his entire hand.

*Sucking on his blankie...well any blankie...and anything soft.

I can't believe how much you keep changing, baby boy!

I sometimes look at you while you are sleeping and wonder how I got so lucky.

You are SUCH a mama's boy, and daddy is not ashamed to admit that!

Whenever I walk into a room, as soon as you make eye contact with me, you stay fixated on me until I pick you up.

If you're being fussy, daddy just holds you up so that you can see that I'm in the same room, and you instantly calm down.

You are such a chunker!

You are 17lbs, and the biggest 4 month old that your doctor has in his practice right now!
You have rolls for days, and we LOVE to squish you!

Your sister is in love with you, and she loves to "baby sit" you for mama.

She tells me all the time that she can't wait till you're old enough to play with her.

I'm hoping she'll still be saying that in a few years!
I can't wait to see what the New Year brings!
I know we have lots of new things coming up...like solids!!
I love you, sweet baby boy!

Merry Christmas Eve!

Just some baby giggles to start off your Christmas Eve...

I've watched this video about a million times, and each time, my heart just melts a little bit more.

Nick is seriously the only person that can make him laugh so hard!

We started our Christmas Eve morning with peanut butter and chocolate chip pancakes (made by my awesome hubby!).

We have a tradition of doing our stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve.

I know Dannika was DYING to find out what had been inside of her stocking for a few weeks now.

We usually do a $25 dollar limit per stocking for stocking stuffers, but over the years, it's become more about Dannika than anything else.

I basically grab anything and everything pink and/or Hello Kitty from the Target dollar section, and it's always a big hit with her.

And thanks to "second baby syndrome", Mattis got like 3 things in his stocking.

Seriously though, he's 4 months old!

He doesn't know!

Target dollar store goodies

Do you watch the show Scandal?

If you do, you'll know what I'm talking about when I say I've been obsessing over the "Olivia Pope wine glass".

You know that gigantic wine glass that she drinks red wine out of?

I'm not much of a red wine fan, I prefer whites (chardonnay and pinot grigio...in case you want to buy some for me).

Nick got me a set of the giant white wine glasses from Crate & Barrel for my stocking.

Obviously, only one glass fit in my stocking (for looks). 

I can't wait to drink wine out of it!!!

I got nick a tshirt, some Under Armour running socks, a mini bottle of Gentleman Jack, a mini bottle of Godiva white chocolate liqueur, some post work out supplements, and of course chocolate caramels.

I spent the rest of the morning pre cooking dishes for Christmas dinner tomorrow.

We are having our Indian friends over for a traditional American Christmas dinner!

They've invited us to their house several times for delicious Indian food, and have always been so hospitable to us.

We figured it was our turn, and show them how we celebrate Christmas!

I hope everyone has a beautiful Christmas Eve filled with joy, happiness, blessings, and family. 

I know that for some people, Christmas time isn't the most joyous time of year.

Many people have lost loved ones, lost a job, are experiencing the inability to provide things that you want to for your family, or any other hardships.

I pray that the spirit of God can lift you up during this time, and that he can bring some sort of joy to you.

And while physical gifts are nice to have under the tree, none of those earthly possessions will come with us or matter when we go to heaven to be in the Kingdom of God!

The greatest gift of all was His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and Christ is too big to put under any Christmas tree!