Write it down. Make it a reality.

It was close to my birthday last year and Ill never forget that moment I had with my dad as we sat in our kayaks on Mobile Bay. Life was about to get a little more complicated. Justin hated his job. He hasn't happy, which in turn didn't make me happy, the company was moving in a different direction and we had no control over it. My dad looked at me and said "Where do you want to be a year from now? Write it down and move towards that goal. You are the only one in control of your life and the decisions you make. If you want something, you have to make it happen. Don't waste life. Do something you love and you will never have to work again."

Well, in 2011- We looked at each other and said we wanted it all. I wanted to be able to stay at home with Connor, work from home, go to the gym when I felt like it, come and go as I pleased. Justin wanted to run a successful gym, to get from behind the desk of a 7-5'er and get back under the bar as a trainer full time. He wanted to be able to make money by doing something he loved and to be able to spend time with his family when he wanted. I mean, that isn't too much to ask right?
But there we were, Justin working 7-5 then going to the gym and not getting home til 8 or 9. Me working part-time. Neither of us doing what we wanted to do. Not even close.

Much of 2012 was spent in the unknown. What was the next paycheck going to be? When was I going to get a full time job? What time was Justin getting home from work? What kind of mood would we all be in? When was everything just going to finally crumble?

Then in May- it took everything falling apart for everything to finally come together. After a very relaxing (and free!) vacation to Orlando to visit Mickey Mouse, family and friends,  Justin came back to work to be told he would be going part time. So he did what any person would do...He quit. AND I FREAKED OUT!
He went to go work for minimum wage at a supplement store. I found a 8-5 job as a receptionist making just enough to pay some bills. Needless to say it was far from what I had dreamed for my life. In fact, it was the complete opposite of what I had said I had wanted. But then an opportunity presented itself and we took the leap. And there on a hot August day..close to a year after my dad and I had that talk on the bay, the phone call came in. It was as close to the lottery as we could get. Justin was offered a head training position at one of the most well established Crossfit gyms in Atlanta on top of the chance to work with the Garage Games Series.

It was happening. Everything we ever wanted was happening. We wake up every morning, without an alarm. We put on workout clothes. We go to the gym...me to work out, him to work. But I guess it isn't technically work when you love it so much right? I work for one of the most amazing baseball academy's in the area....and I get to work from home. I mean, I am finally working in sports and doing something that I want to do. How awesome is that?!?! I get to spend much needed time with Big C AND work. We get to spend afternoons together, go shopping, play video games... or whatever! Neither of us battle traffic. Neither of us rush. We both go into work at night, but only for an hour or two, then we get to come home and spend more time together. We have found an amazing church and have the opportunity to listen to Andy Stanley each and every week. Life is just all around amazing...and we get to live it! If you would have told me a year ago that I would finally have everything I have ever wanted, I would have laughed in your face! But here I am...just living the dream.


So, what is it that you really want to do? Write it down and make it a reality.

How Crossfit saved my life.

December 29, 2003. It is a day I will never forget. I was in a deadly car accident. And I survived. One that I thought changed the course of my life. With 5 transverse processes broken completely off my spinal column, 7 fractures in my pelvis and a cracked tailbone I was told the following:

• You will never be able to run again
• You will never be able to carry a child full term
• You will be on bed rest early 
• You will never be able to do strenuous activities
• You will never be able to have a child naturally

Needless to say I was devastated. That I would have to live my life with restrictions. For 5 years I didn't work out. I didn't run. I didn't lift heavy weights. I restricted myself to an elliptical, a stationary bike or walking. I had it in my head that I was never going to be able to do anything.

4 years ago, Justin and I discovered Crossfit. I started doing workouts at home, following the main page, scaling them to my abilities. I was doing kettle bell swings with a bolder!!! Then we found out there was a Crossfit box opening up close to our home and I was ecstatic! We started working out at Desoto Crossfit and I was addicted instantly!!! I was scared at first, thinking I was going to be able to do much. But I worked hard. I worked through the pain. And I got stronger. I have been getting stronger with each and every workout.

Fast Forward to today:

• I ran my first 5K in under 25 minutes in 2008 (See previous "You will never run again")
• I carried a healthy baby boy, with no bed rest, full term. ( I even worked out the week before)
• I delivered him natural, without any complications.
• I can deadlift 260 pounds
• I can back squat 200 pounds
• I can front squat 130 pounds
• I can flip tires, push a truck, swim, do double unders, pull ups, push ups...get the picture? (See the previous "You will never be able to _______")

I have successfully done everything the doctors told me was impossible. And I am not finished!

With the help and encouragement of Justin and the amazing athletes at Crossfit Eastern Shore, I am competing in the 2011 Crossfit Games! I may not be the strongest. I may not be the fastest. I may not make it to Nationals. I may not make it to Regionals. But I am chasing a level of fitness that most people just watch from the sidelines. So to me, I have already won.

I am living proof that the impossible, is possible. You just have to work for it.