Cati Goes to Haiti

We like to go on dates! Sometimes life carries you quickly and sometimes it seems to drag on. Sometimes it seems to do both at the same time. I saw numerous memes about how January had 15 years or 543 days in it, and I must say, I share the sentiment. It felt like a really loooooooong month. But when you have a long month, that means much can be accomplished? Right? I've never been one who was big on New Year's Resolutions. They seem heavy and nearly impossible to meet unless you have the grit and determination that seems so fleeting. So, I didn't really make resolutions persay. I did set some goals to be accomplished at any point during the year, so as not to put so much pressure on January 1 and really, the month of January as a whole.  Sure, some of those goals I started working towards straight away and will be continued through the whole year... >> Getting into a healthy routine {working out and *trying* to eat a better diet} >> Build and refres...

This bizarre thing happened on a flight. It's been a while since you have heard from me. Life has been a little bit hectic as usual, plus I did a little traveling. Okay, a lot of traveling. I had the privilege of spending a whole month in the States and it was much needed. It had been almost 8 months since I had seen anyone in my family and to say I was ready to see them might be the biggest understatement of the year. I was definitely feeling the pressures of burnout and needing a break.  I was able to travel around and spend some time with family and friends. Some highlights include a girls weekend in Tulsa with my cousins Kristin and Jennifer, a garage sale in KC, and a long weekend in Memphis with Cody and Kaley, plus finding my wedding dress, dinners with friends and family and squeezing in some down time. My favorite memory was probably one evening in Memphis, Cody, Kaley, and I sat around their living room and talked to Wood on speaker phone. It was so great for them...

I sweat A LOT during my workouts. It's been a while since a formal update on life...so here it is!  If you've been reading my blog posts you know that life has been a little hectic the last few months. I'm happy to report that life has slowed down a little bit. Around the middle of March, I started on a new fitness journey. When I moved to Haiti, I quickly lost 40 pounds (think heat and eating less). Unfortunately, as my body adjusted to my new Haitian diet and the stress of life crept in, I gained almost all of that weight back and was not happy with myself. I had no energy, I didn't feel good, clothes didn't fit right, and the list goes on. I made the choice to join a Beachbody group and really press play on accountability and taking care of my body. Shout out to my coach, Kaitlyn Davidson, for accommodating my special needs living in Haiti and being an encouragement to keep on trucking. I'm down a few pounds and can tell I have more energy and am on m...

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is fixed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For the Lord God is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3-4 I shared this verse in my last blog and it has continued to be my anthem for the last six weeks. I'm constantly putting this verse back in the forefront of my my mind. It's easy to let life get you bogged down.  To-do lists are never ending. Kids are constantly calling your name. There seems to be meetings for this thing, that thing, and the other thing. Responsibilities become overwhelming. You feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders.  Many of these things might not feel unfamiliar.  Many of these feelings have been familiar to me over the last several months.  It's a lot. It's heavy. Overwhelming sometimes doesn't begin to describe it.  But, I have good news. It'll keep.   The last four things on your to-do list. They'll keep until a la...

My brother and SISTER-in-law! It's been a whirlwind month since my last post. If you haven't read it yet, pop on over to check out my plans for next year ( Cheers to Year Three! ) The last four weeks have flown by.... I spent almost 3 weeks in America at the end of May/beginning of June -- the main purpose of my visit (other than just seeing all my peeps) ....my brother got married! This trip was filled with lots of traveling for wedding things (bachelorette parties, rehearsal dinners, a wedding) plus all of the travel I normally do when I'm home to see people. I didn't even keep track of the miles this trip...it was A LOT!  It was a beautiful time home. I was ready. I was ready to take a rest from Haiti. That by no means that I'm miserable or unhappy (quite the opposite really...it's also difficult to leave). But, life in a foreign country is hard sometimes. It's not the things that you grew up with and have always known. Sometimes it's uncomfor...