So I am 24 today.

Honestly, I feel a lot older. Not in any bad way, I'm not jaded or tired, but I am at a very different place in my life that I thought I would be when I considered my future as a teen. And I am also in a very different place than most of my age-based peers. My circle of support, my social group, consists of a bunch of 30-45 year old married-with-kids, not weekend binge drinkers working on their masters or trying to navigate the job market and make their rent. It's hard to believe where life has taken me, but I wouldn't change a thing. Quite the contrary, it has turned out better than I could have ever planned it, myself. So a lovely family, amazing marriage, and fabulous daily life later, happy birthday to ME!

On weight related ramblings - I was 215.2 today, so my salt retention has tapered off nicely. And I am about 30 pounds lighter than I was at this time last year, YAY!

I had another great day of scheduling, and I've worked out five of my six scheduled days I was able to. I did mostly 1-2 mile walks with upper body weight work at the same time, and it has definitely been intense.  Not only that, but my NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis, google it kids!) is worlds higher than what it was, due to reducing my sitting time from several hours throughout the day to, literally, an hour of time while still awake.  I'm up and about constantly and it feels GOOD to be so on top of everything.  My calorie burn is much higher, though i cannot quantitate it with my daily weighing due to pregnancy adding pounds, I can FEEL the difference in my metabolism and my energy. I am more tired at the end of the day, and consequently sleep better too, but while I am awake I have an amazing amount of energy compared to how felt even a few months before the pregnancy, when I was about the same weight but much more sedentary and lazy. Activity breeds energy, as counterintuitive as it sounds, it's absolutely true!

So it's been a good year. A wonderful year. Filled with lots of challenges and lots of changes, and a fair share of heartbreak too. But that's the way life goes, and mine has been wonderfully blessed. I am invigorated for another year of life, healthier and stronger than ever before. I have so much to look forward to, and at this point my biggest struggle is just to take it all in with the amount of appreciation, humility, and thankfulness that so many blessings deserve.

Thank you Lord, for these days you have given me!