1 YEAR: We Made It!!!!

I think October has to be my favorite month out of the year for several reasons. One is the weather. It's beautiful here in CA but I know how beautiful it is in Texas at this time of year as well. The cooler weather that comes in October always makes me think of Cross-country season in college. After running in the heat all summer long you finally get to run in the crisp cool air and run a few pr's.  Isn't just the sound of football on the tv great? It's postseason for baseball and this year and the last have been a lot of fun with the Rangers doing so well! Greg and I actually started dating in October 2 years ago so that brings back wonderful memories for the both of us. I love fall everything.... including candy corn and Honeycrisp apples. And of course this month is now a celebration month for mine and Greg's anniversary. This is definitely the best month.
I've been pretty nostalgic the past few weeks. All the wonderful things about October really make me miss Texas. I miss my friends and family so much and I have so many wonderful memories with them during this time of year. My niece Hollyn's birthday is October 9 and this year was my first year to miss out on celebrating with her on her birthday. That was a tough one for me.
And I'm sure many former brides can relate to the nostalgic feelings of their wedding day.  Although I'm pretty excited to spend my anniversary with my best friend and create new memories!!!  What a blessing!
Also, I don't think I've mentioned this before but I got a new job. My physical therapist actually hired me as an aide. My personal training job wasn't taking off as well as I would of liked with me being so new to the area.  God always provides doesn't he? I work with a lot of amazing people everyday and I am learning a ton. Being an aide isn't exactly my dream job but it's a great job for me at this time in my life.
And I'm running. Only 20 minutes 3 times a week but compared to running with a lot of pain for 2 years and then not running at all and still being in pain for the last 9 months, 20 minutes of running with no pain is AWESOME!!!!
Here's praying I don't get greedy and over do it lol...
So thank you everyone for all of your prayers! I have a lot of work to do but I am so thankful to run again!
Here are a few pictures from our wedding day a year ago this weekend :)
P.S. GO RANGERS!!!!

Apricots

A couple weeks ago Greg had a wedding to shoot in San Jose and since his mother lives there we were able stay with her for the weekend. We had a lot of fun all weekend at the wedding, playing basketball with Sky and Virginia (who happened to be in Nor Cal that weekend as well), going on a beautiful hike and just hanging out. But one of my favorite parts about that weekend was eating my first fresh apricot and a lot more after that. Boy have I been missing out. The only apricots I had ever had before were the dried ones. These apricots taste like candy. Before heading back to Irvine my mother-in-law Katherine, bought Greg and I a big box to take home. We have a ton of apricots but they wont last long. If you've never had fresh apricots it would be well worth your time to visit Northern CA for that alone. They will seriously change your life. So Dad, I guess you better chalk another one up for CA.

MAVS

I don't think there is much else to be said :D What a year in sports! My two favorite teams ever made it to the championship in the last 8 months. But why did it have to happen when for the first time in my life I don't live in Texas? And no John Wenhold they aren't winning because I'm gone lol...
But all the same I couldn't be happier for the Mavericks and the joy it has brought so many people. This last Thursday I spent most of the day on planes or in the airport. I sported my Dirk Nowitzki shirt and had a blast watching the first half of the game with a bunch of strangers at the airport in Houston as we all cheered for the Mavericks. And I have had a lot of great support here in Orange County. As soon as the Mavs won Greg picked me up on his shoulders and ran me around our friends living room yelling "The Mavs won the ship, they won the ship!" Yes they did!!! And I still just can't get over it!

Here are just a few pictures of some great memories cheering for the Mavericks. Sadly none from this last year since I've been away.

Mavs win in San Antonio 2007

Playoffs 2007

One of many games with my Dad

Christmas break 2009

Mavs vs. Lakers 2010 at Staples center. My birthday gift from Greg

Southern State of Mind

While working out the other day I heard this song by Darius Rucker "Southern State of Mind."  I couldn't help but think how appropriate this song was for me because no matter what state I'm in I seem to be in a southern state of mind lol...
So tonight is a very exciting night for me and the rest of the DFW metroplex.  After 5 years the Dallas Mavericks have made it to the finals again.  And how fitting that they are playing the Miami Heat.  Although I am sad that I can't be surrounded by Dallas Mavericks fans tonight it has been a lot of fun for me to see how many people are cheering for the Mavericks in Orange County just because they can't stand Lebron.  I had a few people at work last week say "Go Dirk" as they were walking out the door.   I'm hoping this year is different than 06 and that the Mavs and Dirk can finally win it all.
An update on my hamstring.  I was able to start PT this last week and I think I am beginning to feel a little bit of a difference.  Only time will tell but I am feeling hopeful.
With all that said I wanted to share a few pictures from the Rangers win against the Oakland A's which I went to on April 30.

 I continued to wear my Rangers shirt throughout San Francisco that evening.  This was at Golden Gate Park.

INJECTION!

A lot has happened since my last blog post.  I had an MRI that revealed that I had actually torn my hamstring and pulled bone off with it from the ischium.  This happened 2 years ago while still competing for Baylor.  I can't believe I ran on a torn hamstring and broken off bone.  I now have scar tissue that is causing me pain.  So my only option was to get a PRP injection.  Or I have to live with it.

Greg and I celebrated our 6 month anniversary on the 16th.  That's a big deal when it's your first 6 months :)  He surprised me with flowers, a card, a date night and best of all tickets to this Saturday's Rangers vs. Oakland game.  We are road tripping to go see my team play.  Do I have a husband who loves me or what?  I am so excited to see my favorite Texas team play!

I also got a job at Back Bay Fitness where I will be doing personal training.  This is so great because I will get to sell my nutrition products as well and train clients :D

And today I had my PRP injection.  It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  I am just praying that it works.  I am not looking forward to the pain I am to experience once the numbing wears off.  But I was surprised with Fro Yo from Golden Spoon (Chocolate and Peanut Butter cup with snickers inside).  Someone knows me pretty well!

I'm missing Texas right now.  Those of you who complain about that Texas heat, you may find this hard to believe but I miss it.  I miss sweating while getting into my car, I miss walking around in my shorts, t-shirt and sandals, laying out, sundresses and the simplicity of Texas. There is something special about waking up at 6 am to go on a run to beat the heat.  I love Texas!!!
Check out one of if not my favorite blog post by Greg of the Texas Blue Bonnets

EXCITED!!!!

So as many of you know I have been struggling with an ongoing injury since my last track season at Baylor.  The injury came on in March of 2009 and I haven't been able to shake it.  I haven't run for the past 4 months because it has just gotten to be too painful.  I have felt so hopeless and feared that I would never be able to run again.  And since moving to California I have felt so lost as to what doctors to see.  But thanks to Greg having been a former track athlete from UCI we got a good recommendation for a Sports doctor here.  I went to see him yesterday and I am so excited because it looks like we finally know what's wrong with me.  YAY!!! I have hamstring tendinitis.  It's pretty severe but we are really hopeful that with lots of therapy and possibly a PRP injection I will be back to running.  I'm so thankful and feel so fortunate to be able to see such a good therapist for this.

You Can Take the Girl Out of Texas...

...But you can't take the Texas out of the girl!

I decided to start this blog as a way of keeping all of my Texas friends and family informed on what all is going on with my life. So here is a quick tid bit on what all has gone on since moving to CA and getting married. CA is beautiful YES! The weather is awesome YES! However, the DMV is awful and so are the crazy Californian drivers.
My first week in CA consisted of about 8 hours in the DMV (4 trips) which resulted in a license that now says I am 8’3. I got a ticket a few weeks later for going through the Fast Track. (We just have tolls in Texas so I didn’t know). A few weeks ago I got a ticket that’s costing me twice as much as it would if I were in Texas. Ok so a lot has gone wrong while I have been here. I forget things and I get lost all the time. For those of you who know me well this is not normal. I am very on top of things and extremely organized. But every day God shows his loving mercy through my husband’s patience ☺. He is also a great Guinea pig as I learn to cook.
Even though there isn’t a lot of southern hospitality here I have met some amazing people. And truth is all we really need is a few good friends. So I guess CA really isn’t too bad. I do live 15 minutes from the beach, I am surrounded by bike trails, beautiful mountains and wonderful weather!
I graduated with my masters this last December and I am now an ME.d in Kinesiology. I’ve just started working as a wellness coach and I am loving it! So if you need any tips on losing weight, gaining energy, kids nutrition or just improving your overall health I’d love to tell you what I am doing!
That’s all for now! Here are a few pictures of my new life in CA! Enjoy!