I’ve been told before that as positive as I tend to be, my world must be filled with rainbows and sunshine. Well, today it is storming. Both literally, and figuratively.

Have you ever had one of those days that just suck? From the moment you wake up nothing goes smoothly and you are in no physical/emotional/mental condition to handle the problems, no matter how minor, well? That has been my day and it isn’t even 11 o’clock yet.

Attractive, huh?

Well, I didn’t sleep well last night because of the storms that were rolling through and shaking our house with thunder. Not a huge deal, but definitely didn’t have me waking up on the right side of the bed this morning. When I did finally wake up, I could tell I was in a negative mood. I even wasn’t much in the mood for my prayer time. Yes, I still prayed but my heart wasn’t as connected to it as normal. I think it is normal to have those disconnected days, but they sure don’t help on days I really need some extra positivity. And this entire week is one I need extra positivity. Something about the week before I find out if this month is the month for finally getting pregnant gets me in a tizzy. Fluctuating between serious hope and a “yeah right I know it’s not yet” negativity make for an emotional rollercoaster this week every single month. Sprinkle some PMS in there and you got yourselves a party.

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While waiting on Makenzie to get up I was battling back and forth with whether or not to go to the gym. I didn’t really feel like heading out with her in torrential downpours, but I was also having an “I feel gross” day where I knew a quality spin class would leave me feeling better. Vanity and selfishness won out. I got ourselves out the door.

Lo and behold that was not the right decision. Pulling in to the gym parking lot, I was reaching over to do something with my bag and a spider came crawling out towards me from beneath it. Spiders, bees, and cockroaches are the three insects I just do not handle well. I freaked, jerked the wheel, and collided with the concrete median. Leaving my front tire extraordinarily flat and my rim looking like this:

I go into the gym and check M into the daycare so I can remedy the situation (aka call the hubs), but that is a no go. His phone is dead. Just flippin’ fantastic! Then I try to log into my email to send him a message telling him to call me. The gym computers aren’t working. Are you kidding me?!!!! Finally I get access to a computer that functions; reach my man; have him get short with me about calling AAA and managing to damage my wheel so much in a parking lot; don’t hear from him for 30 minutes all the time wondering what I’m going to do because I don’t have the AAA information to get them here. Turns out Peter left work to come help me, apologizing in the process…but he was redeemed immediately upon coming to care for me.

Now things are manageable. My car is driveable again. Even if I will look like I’m big pimping for a couple of days.

I will either go back to the gym this afternoon to make up the spin class or do a workout at home. I plan on curling up with a book for awhile after I publish this post because Peter is home and will be helping with M for the day.Plus, who wouldn’t feel calmer after eating one of these? Thank goodness for leftover goodies you get and don’t eat over the weekend. This mini (yes it’s mini despite the picture’s appearance) icing cookie was just what I needed. May not be as healthy as my typical yogurt, almonds, or bar snack…but it was the icing on the terrible awful why did this happen morning cake.

I loved reading all of your comments about blogger meet-ups. I would love to be one of the few of you who had the chance to go to different blogger events and meet quite a few friendly faces. And I have to say, I love the idea of an Atlanta blogger meetup. We need to start planning that! I wouldn't mind organizing it for sometime in the next couple of months, if anyone who would be interested in going can email me ideas or suggestions on where to meet, etc. Lastly, those of you who haven't met someone yet, I'm sure you will soon. And thankfully we have the blogs to connect even across many, many miles of distance. 🙂

This brings me to today's post. Don't you just love when the reality of something far exceeds your expectations? That is what this blog is becoming for me. I first started this blog as a place to get my thoughts out on the numerous things that run through my mind. I had no expectations except to write and express myself since it is something I have always loved to do...and also to keep Peter from going crazy having to listen to all of my ramblings in detail over and over and over again. There is something about writing that brings clarity, perspective, and a release.

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In January of this year I began posting regularly, and more than just my sporadic posts on my competition prep diet + workouts I had previously done. Since then, I have seen numerous benefits to the world of blogging and even my humble blog that is in the mix. It has far exceeded any expectation that I ever had when starting this thing out.

Without a doubt, the biggest blessing I have experienced is the relationships. Being able to connect with like minded people that I don't come into contact with often in my everyday life is amazing. I can share things here that I would never share elsewhere. You all know my deepest feelings of my relationship with my father, things only a handful of other people know about. You knew first that Peter & I were trying to conceive and the emotional battles that has brought me as well as the growth.  I can share my passion for random things like a new workout and know that you all will be just as nerdy  excited about it as I am. Being able to have so many virtual cheerleaders cheers me up every single day.

Meetup with Em

Meetup with Lindsey

Meetup with Mandy (who I met from the Oxygen forum & is now a best friend)

Meetup with 2 Other Awesome Ladies (no longer blog/journal)

And there are other things I never knew would come from blogging and pouring my heart out to anyone who stumbles across Faith, Fitness, & Fun. Things like helping people to change their lives for the better. Even in the last week, I have had a good handful of emails from people with such moving comments or questions reaching out for my support. I don't know why they choose to reach out to me, as I don't consider myself anything special, but I do know that I am thrilled to support anyone who needs it and help them to reach their full potential as the amazing women they are. From faith to fitness to emotional struggles to pregnancy and beyond, people are relating to me and I am proud to lift them up, in the same way they are lifting me up as well. I thrive on taking the time to reach out to them and give them the advice and care they are looking for. It blesses me more than anything.

Keep Each Other Strong

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Even better? I am learning a ton from your blogs as well! Amazing recipes, workout ideas, experiences on things like becoming a personal trainer, confidence boosters, etc, etc, etc. The list is never ending. I cannot rave enough about all that your blogs have taught me. Thank you for sharing all of your wonderful insights and helping me to grow and accomplish new things. Thank you!

learning through the computer & your blogs

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And lastly, something else that is beyond my expectations are the new goals I have. I want to share my Triple F Philosophy with as many people as I can. Knowing that the blog can be a platform to do so excites me to no end. I think how I would love to do things across the spectrum from big to small. Write a book, contribute articles to magazines, speak in my community or church about these topics I am passionate about, start up programs at local gyms for young girls and/or women to promote self respect and love, etc. The notion that my blog will just help me develop to possibly pursue these goals in the future astounds me.

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I know those ideas are lofty ones and I'm not assuming I will do any of them. I know my blog isn't anything spectacular or as well read as some others. BUT...Who knows where the future will take me. Who knows where this blog will take me. I have no set expectations, but I know the reality will be better than I could imagine. After all, it already is. And I have YOU to thank for that.