Thank you all so much for the congrats on my 15K race yesterday! I had a blast! Both during the run…and after too, of course. How could I not when it involved eating? And coffee. Can’t forget the coffee.

After the race, Lee and I wanted to have more time to hang out together, so we hit up J. Christopher’s for brunch.

I had never been to J. Christopher’s before, even though it has quite a few locations around the Atlanta area. It had a fun, laid-back atmosphere perfect for some post-race dining.

It also had a menu with quite a few delicious sounding options. I couldn’t make up my mind between two particular choices –  an omelet or pancakes. Luckily, I subbed out the muffin struck up a deal with the waitress and managed to get the best of both worlds.

I ordered the Billy Goat omelet, which featured a combination of goat cheese, roasted red peppers, and mushrooms. And oh how I appreciated an omelet that didn’t come out loaded down in grease!

Then had a large, delicious pumpkin pancake on the side. It could have had a bit more pumpkin flavor, but you better believe I still happily ate that sucker up!

I mean c’mon! Does that not sound like the perfect meal for me? Or what? Goat cheese and pumpkin?! I was clearly a happy Tina.

Speaking of happy Tina, time for one of my favorite parts of the week! Enjoy, friends!

FFF Features of the Week

I never expect you all to keep up with every post I write, so each week I play catch up with my favorites. Find the posts that I enjoyed writing the most, that sparked the most discussion, or that had the most cuteness…as well as one of my favorite blogs for you to check out. Have a great night!

Featured Personal Post: Body After Baby Month 9

Stuffed With Emptiness Post: “I’ve Tried To Love You, But I Can’t”

Featured Workout Post: Review of Insanity

source

I still die.

Featured Recipe Post: Pumpkin Hot Chocolate

And it is sooooo easy!!!

Featured Positive Post: Can Self-Love Ever Have Negative Side Effects?

Featured Fun Post: Seven! Seven!! SEVEN!!

Fun Facts Friday really is fun. And apparently I’m not the only one who burns grilled cheese sandwiches.

Featured Cuteness Post: Makenzie’s WIAW

A day in the life of Makenzie and what my toddler likes to eat.

Featured Reading: Clare @ Fitting It All In

I think her tagline about sums it up. She works super hard and is a very busy lady, but never fails to inspire with her balanced lifestyle. And being a good friend in the blogging world.

• What meal combo would be the best of both worlds for you?

Please welcome Stephanie as she shares her story for today’s Self-Love Reflection. It is immensely touching, with an inspiring message of loving yourself and life.

My name is Stephanie and I write about health, balance and seeking adventure on my happy living blog, Love Life Project. I’m so happy to be guest posting on Faith Fitness Fun! Tina’s blog is always joyful and encouraging. I’m glad to be a part of it.

At this time last year, I was newly married and glowing with the knowledge that I carried a baby inside of me. I wondered at every new feeling of early pregnancy: the strange churning in my stomach, the aching breasts, the need to go to bed at 8:00 PM every night.

My husband and I argued good-naturedly over names and talked about all of the things that we would do with our child. We discussed how we’d reorganize the house so that our little one would have a room. As Halloween approached, we started talking about what kinds of Halloween costumes we’d dress our baby in the following year. I half-joked that before too long I wouldn’t be able to tie my shoes. On October 31st of last year, I lost my pregnancy.

It hurt, both physically and emotionally. My heart was broken and I grieved. I missed my little bean with all of my being.

My loved ones empathized and supported me, although I don’t believe that anyone else missed my baby the way that I did and still do. I felt angry and sad and lethargic and lonely. All I wanted was to be pregnant again. Despite my grief, I knew that I’d be pregnant again soon. It had only taken one month the first time; I was obviously someone who got pregnant quickly.

Milestone dates came and went, and all the while I told myself that it was just a matter of time: I’ll be pregnant again within the first month. I’ll be pregnant again before Mother’s Day. I’ll be pregnant again before my birthday. I’ll be pregnant again before my due date. I’ll be pregnant again before the one year anniversary of my miscarriage. In 16 days, it will have been exactly one year since I lost my baby. I’m still not pregnant.

Logically, I know that this isn’t necessarily something to worry about. My husband is in the air force, and he isn’t always around at the right time. People tell me – over and over again – that it will happen if it’s meant to happen. I can’t help wondering, though, if maybe it won’t happen. Maybe it isn’t meant to happen.

Have you ever had a toothache or a canker sore? You know how you touch it gently with your tongue, testing to see how much it hurts? As the one year mark approaches, that’s how I’ve started considering the possibility that I might not have a baby. I touch the possibility gently with my mind, and then back off. Little by little, I’m starting to imagine how life might look if it were just me and my husband and our dog. On many days it doesn’t hurt as much as I thought it might.

This is my family. This is enough.

I have a good life. I have a husband who loves and respects me. We have close-knit families – parents, siblings, nieces and nephews. I love my house and my big goof of a dog. I'm taking better care of myself and starting to explore my creative side.

Even if it turns out that luck has kicked me in the uterus, I know that I can live a rich, happy, full life. For now, I'm seeking a balance between being hopeful and planning for a future with kids, and loving myself and my life right now, as it is. That's what self-love is to me: trusting that the future is wide open while still understanding that what really matters is what and how I'm living today.

What’s holding you back from truly loving life right now? What richness in life can you (or are you) focus(ing) on instead?