Wrapping up 2011

My living room is filled with wrapping paper, bows, and gifts for our family members (who we get to see in just a few more hours YAY!!!!) We are spending the evening wrapping up framed wedding pictures as gifts this year since everyone has been asking us for wedding pictures lately! With the semester finally over, Danny is finally kicking back to enjoy the holidays.

I CAN'T WAIT to see my family! It's been almost six months since I've seen my mom & dad! I know it's going to be a wonderful Christmas. We are lucky to have so much family surrounding us. Tomorrow we are heading up to Tupelo to Danny's older brother's house, where we are hosting a "Santa and friends" party out on the front lawn. YES, we will be dressed up as Santa, The Grinch, elves, the whole crew! It's going to be interesting to say the least. :)

Looking back on 2011, I can honestly say it has been the best year of my life. Marriage, even with all the ups and downs, has been such a blessing to me. I've also been blessed with my work...now doing what I LOVE, and my friends in our newlyweds small group, who show me how to live closer to God. Can 2012 possibly get better than this?! As we wrap up this year, I encourage you to reflect back on 2011. Count your blessings...we all have so much to be thankful for. Face your challenges in the new year with a positive outlook and there's no telling what you may conquer!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

Taken at our Newlyweds Small Group's Dirty Santa Christmas Party. We got to took home some lovely shelves (actually loved these!) and a card shoe....anyone know what to do with that?!

Ready for 2012?

"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world." -Author Unknown

Have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions yet? Start by making small changes within yourself. Set short, realistic goals, but always work towards a higher goal. It's awesome to strive for something big (set high goals and standards for yourself!) and stay focused by taking it one step at a time. Be a role model to those around you! Eyes on the prize in 2012!!!!!!!!

Selfless for Christ

I am a medical student's widow tonight...my husband has been taken from me for a gross anatomy review as he crams for a major exam tomorrow, as well as a national board exam on Wednesday. It's our first night apart since we've been married. :( Although I feel a little lonely here with my Red Box rental, I completely understand he is pulling this all-nighter at school for a few VERY good reasons!

For starters, he is determined to learn everything he can for the sake of his future soldiers and patients. I admire his drive for aspiring to help those who are serving our country. As a future army doctor, his job will be to serve at a military base for active duty military. When he eventually deploys, he will likely be faced with several life or death situations...where every detail counts. He is applying that mentality to his study habits and learning everything he can in case he needs that crucial piece of information sometime in the future.

I also know that he is putting all this time and effort in for the sake of our family's future. How blessed we are to have job security awaiting us after medical school! We want to give our future family as many opportunities as possible and we know that the hard work we put in now will be worth it later.

How selfless! I thought to myself as he asked me "permission" before leaving for school at 8:00 pm for the next 24 hours. Not only is he sacrificing sleep and the comforts of home, but he is thinking about my desires & approval NOW?! Of course I encouraged him to go and I know he will be glad he did around 10 am tomorrow morning at test time. Selflessness is such a God given characteristic I see in my husband. I truly admire it when I see it in others. We could all be a little more selfless this Christmas and remember to celebrate CHRIST, the real reason for the season. The fact that our almighty God from heaven humbled himself in the form of baby born in a barn with a bunch of dirty animals and then went on to die an excruciating death given to criminals on the cross, all for YOU and ME is the ultimate act of selflessness. He was not ashamed for a second to put it all out there for the world see...all for His people. Give thanks by celebrating Jesus and by being selfless for Christ this season (and every season!).

Training Complete

I am finally feeling a little more pulled together this week as my training at Fitness Lady is almost complete! I have had the opportunity to train with a different employee each day and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet all of these different women! There are lots of women on staff at Fitness Lady that I have had the pleasure of getting to know and one is just as unique as the next. One day I'm working with a girl in college, the next day with a mother of teenage girls, and the next with a sweet grandmother. One thing I'm learning about working at a "women's only" gym is that everyone LOVES to talk and share all the details of their personal lives. Well, maybe not everyone, but the fact of the matter is that as a personal trainer, people inherently trust you to fix their problems (physical and beyond) and in some cases you become their counselor. I love hearing stories about where people are in life and I really am starting to feel a connection with these new people here in Jackson. The women at Fitness Lady have welcomed me into their home...the gym is a second home for a lot of these people...and I am so grateful for that. While some come for the services at the Methodist Rehab or prayer support with our chaplain, some come for a social hour, and others come for a good old fashioned sweat session. Working with members on the gym floor and teaching my Wednesday spin classes are the best parts of this job! I can hardly believe I get PAID to do this! The next thing on my agenda is to complete my pilates reformer training and I am ready to start taking individual clients! Life is good!

A year ago, I would have never seen this coming. I thank God for these continual blessings that I so do not deserve. Despite some sadness and personal struggles I've had in recent history, I am extremely happy with how my life is unfolding. I think the darker times have helped me appreciate these days even more. When I look into my husband's eyes I have nothing but gratitude for where I am today and excitement for what our future holds. I've quit trying to live up to someone else's definition of a successful woman and am trying to let God define who I am.

This weekend I had a moment...a self-centered moment, questioning my self-worth and wallowing....well of course it didn't help the way I was feeling dragging my husband into my pity party. Thoughts like this come in tides, they roll in sometimes and then later go back out to sea where they belong. I am trying to choose the better response to that kind of tide within me and just wait until it goes out. After my moment was over and I sat quietly, actually LISTENING to what my husband had to say, I had the perspective to address the issues I was feeling. When I cooled off enough to listen and think clearly, I realized I had been defining myself based on pre-conceived, silly expectations of which I was failing to meet. Make sense? Didn't think so!

Here's why I bring it up. Maybe you have someone who tries to define you, minimize you, hurt you, rattle you, and steal your peace. The funny thing is – no one can steal our peace. We can only give it away or keep ourselves from experiencing it.

Who defines you? I had to ask myself that question this weekend. And I had to let the answer to that question settle my moment. And then I moved on.

So if you are struggling with someone else's definition of YOU (or maybe even your own silly definition), remember that just as no one can steal your peace, no one has the power to define you. And you don't have to refute or respond or react- At. All. Their definition is just that, theirs. It has no impact whatsoever on who you are, or what you can do. Leave them to their bitterness and move on to something sweet.

Danny and I at Ballet Mississippi's performance of The Nutcracker this weekend:

Employed!!!

Happy Halloween!!

I am officially a spin instructor! After years of cycling, I'm finally sitting on the other side of the room, LEADING and MOTIVATING the class! Wow, never saw that coming!

I am so excited about teaching my first cycling class at Fitness Lady on Friday! I hope to be a fresh new source of motivation for these ladies by leading them in their group exercise classes at this awesome health club! I will begin adding more aerobics classes like kickboxing and bootcamp to my repertoire after I get comfortable teaching spin. I will also start taking on some of Fitness Lady's personal training clients!

This weekend was spent watching Andy Griffith re-runs on Netflix while Danny studied his behind off for Gross Anatomy. We also transferred my data to an external hard drive...sadly, Danny's convinced my MacBook is on it's last leg. It's been with me for several years and I'm really comfortable using it. I guess this is an instance where I've got to stop being so resistant to change and learn to get used to our Dell lap top. How blessed are we to have other computers at the ready when another one dies!? I'll stop complaining and be thankful to able to use such an awesome piece of technology...even when it takes some getting used to!

Speaking of being thankful, our holiday plans are starting to come together for Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. We'll be spending Thanksgiving & Christmas in Water Valley, and the rest of the break (New Years, etc.) in Atlanta and South Carolina. I can't wait!!!!!!!

That about sums up the DNA news for now! Don't eat too much candy tonight!!!!!! BUT, if you do overindulge, join me for spin class Friday morning at Fitness Lady!!!!!!

Website: http://fitnesslady.com

(Beautiful facilities w/ local artists work displayed on walls around the club for sale!)

Fitness Lady on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitnesslady.healthclubs

A Lazy Morning

Don’t you love those mornings when you don’t have to be anywhere and you can enjoy the little things, like sleeping extra late and then having scrambled eggs at lunchtime? My favorite is when Danny intentionally sleeps through his 4:30am alarm clock and stays in bed to snuggle!! I feel the most joy when we’re together, not really doing anything, just being together. Today was one of those days at our house!

As the morning slipped by I started thinking about how we’re going to be together longer than the number of years I’ve been alive, maybe even twice as long if we’re lucky! We are going to share so many of life’s experiences and I know he will be with me for every twist and turn along the way. This brings me so much peace. I believe it’s so important to let your spouse know that they will always be YOURS no matter what hurdles you have to jump. As we held hands, I tried to picture what they might look like 50 years from now. Will they be wrinkled and bruised? Whatever our old hands might look like, they will still fit together. Our bodies will wear down but our love does just the opposite. It will grow stronger through the years…just as it has gotten stronger since we first fell in love.

Don’t let your family wonder whether or not they will always be loved…even in the most heated arguments or through the biggest trials. Let them know you are thinking about them, even if they are hundreds of miles away. Even if it’s awkward or uncomfortable, reassure them that you care & that they are a part of YOU!

Tonight I am going to my first spin instructor training session! I am so excited to begin teaching group exercise classes!!! Fitness Lady is a women’s only gym, featuring some of the best classes and facilities in Mississippi! They offer everything from reformer pilates training, TONS of group exercise classes, bootcamps :), a Methodist rehabilitation center with on-staff physical therapists, and much more! You can check out their website here : http://www.fitnesslady.com

I’ll constantly be on the lookout for new music for my classes so send me your favorite tunes/suggestions for spin class! Ashley@dnafitnessllc.com

Benefits of Multivitamins

Do you remember when Mom used to make you take those Fred Flintsones vitamins? I do! I hated the purple ones…still do! Yes, at the age of 25, I still try to take my Flintstones multivitamin everyday. Do you take a daily multivitamin?

This weekend Danny is studying for a biochemistry exam and I’ve been hearing ALL about the functions of essential vitamins…and the affects of vitamin deficiency. Vitamins and minerals help maintain cellular efficiency by activating enzyme systems that are essential to cellular function. Unfortunately, most Americans are not getting the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamins and minerals necessary from foods. I bet you didn’t know that due to current farming practices, mass food production, processing, and cooking, our foods are less nutrient dense than they were in previous years. In fact, The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that it takes SEVEN CUPS of today’s spinach to equal the nutrition that a single cup provided in 1960! Foods today are also lacking in nutrient density due to farming practices like burning crops rather than tilling residuals back into the soil. Also, when vegetables are picked prior to being ripe, it does not allow the anitoxidants in the skin and pulp come to full completion, leaving some foods lacking in all their potential vitamin benefits.

Ideally, we would be able to get all of our vitamins through our diet, but realistically that probably isn’t going to happen. There are SO many benefits to getting all of your vitamins! New scientific research suggests that dieters who take a multiviamin may be able to better control their appetite while still getting all their essential vitamins when cutting back their caloric intake. I also think it’s interesting that clinical trials have shown that consuming 1,200 milligrams of calcium a day can boost weight loss in dieters by up to 60 percent, possibly by binding to fat in the gastrointestinal tract, which reduces how much fat the body absorbs.

So, ladies and gentleman, take those multivitamins every morning!!! After seeing all these important reasons for getting my proper vitamins and minerals, maybe I’ll trade in my Flintstones for an adult version like Centrum or One-A-Day.

Here's a list of essential vitamins, minerals, and their functions:

Functions of Vitamins and Minerals

VITAMIN A: Promotes skeletal growth, normal tooth structure, healthy mucous membranes, healthy skin, eyes and hair; essential for night vision. NATURAL SOURCES: Fish liver oils, liver, carrots, green and yellow vegetables, dairy products.

VITAMIN D: Promotes bone and tooth development and normal growth; aids utilization of phosphorus and calcium; maintains nervous system and heart action; prevents rickets.

VITAMIN E: Protects body's store of Vitamin A, tissues and fat from destructive oxidation, and breakdown of red corpuscles; strengthens capillary walls; regulates menstrual rhythm; prevents loss of other vitamins; aids blood flow to heart; lowers blood cholesterol and fatty acids; vital to cell health; regulates protein and calcium metabolism. NATURAL SOURCES: Soybeans, vegetable oils, broccoli, brussels sprouts, leafy greens, enriched flour, whole wheat, wheat germ, whole grain cereals, eggs.

VITAMIN C: Essential for the formation of collagen; needed for absorption of iron, some proteins and folic acid; prevents oxidation of other vitamins; aids in metabolism of amino acids and calcium; stops internal bleeding; strengthens blood vessels maintains hard bones and teeth; promotes stamina; holds body cells together prevents infections, colds, fatigue and stress; reduces allergies; heals wounds and burns. NATURAL SOURCES: Citrus fruits, berries, green and leafy vegetables, tomatoes, cauliflower, potatoes, sweet potatoes.

NIACIN: (as Niacinamide): Aids normal functioning of tissues, particularly skin, gastrointestinal tract and nervous system; used with other vitamins in converting carbohydrates to energy. NATURAL SOURCES: Liver, lean meat, whole wheat, brewer's yeast, wheat germ, fish, eggs, roasted peanuts, poultry, sesame seeds, nuts.

VITAMIN B-6: (Pyridoxine HCl) Aids metabolism of protein carbohydrates and fats; controls cholesterol level; aids chemical balance between blood and tissue; prevents water retention; builds hemoglobin. NATURAL SOURCES: Brewer's yeast, wheat bran, wheat germ, organ meats, beef, avocados, bananas, milk, eggs.

VITAMIN B-1: (Thiamine): Helps convert sugar and starches into energy; promotes digestion, strong heart muscle, child growth; prevents fatigue, fat deposits in arteries. NATURAL SOURCES: Whole wheat, dried yeast, oatmeal, peanuts, pork, bran, enriched rice, sunflower seeds, soybean sprouts.

VITAMIN B-2: (Riboflavin): Aids in releasing energy to body cells; enables utilization of fats, proteins and sugars. NATURAL SOURCES: Dairy products, liver, kidney, yeast, leafy greens, fish, eggs.

VITAMIN B-12: Promotes utilization of protein, fats and carbohydrates; essential for formation of red blood cells; builds nucleic acid; prevents pernicious anemia; helps nervous system. NATURAL SOURCES: Liver, beef, pork, eggs, dairy products, shellfish.

FOLIC ACID: Essential for function of Vitamins A, D, E, and K, forms red blood cells and nucleic acid; improves circulation; aids digestion of proteins. May help prevent neuro tube defects (pina bifida), and some cancers. Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. NATURAL SOURCES: Dark-green leafy vegetables, carrots, liver, eggs, soybeans, avocados, oranges, beans whole wheat.

CALCIUM: Builds bones and teeth; aids in proper function of muscles, heart, nerves, and iron utilization; helps blood coagulation; regulates the passage of nutrients in and out of cells; relieves pain and cramps; eases insomnia. NATURAL SOURCES: Dairy products, soybeans, sunflower seeds, legumes, sardines.

MAGNESIUM: Reduces blood cholesterol; forms hard tooth enamel and fights tooth decay; aids in converting blood sugar into energy; helps regulate body temperature; aids nerve function and bone growth; helps utilize Vitamins B, C, E; promotes absorption and metabolism of other minerals; activates enzymes for metabolism of carbohydrates and amino acids; prevents calcium deposits in the bladder, heart attacks, depression, polio. NATURAL RESOURCES: Nuts, figs, seeds, dark-green vegetables, wheat bran, avocados, bananas.

IRON: Present in all cells; one of the constituents of hemoglobin which carries oxygen to the tissues by blood circulation. NATURAL RESOURCES: Liver, meat, raw clams, oysters, oatmeal, nuts, beans, wheat germ.

IODINE: Aids thyroid gland and prevents goiter; helps burn fat; converts carotene into Vitamin A; aids absorption of carbohydrates from small intestine; promotes growth; regulates energy production; maintains hair, nails skin and teeth. NATURAL SOURCES: Kelp, seafood, vegetables.

COPPER: Facilitates iron absorption; synthesizes enzymes and skin pigments; promotes protein metabolism; aids Vitamin C oxidation; produces RNA; forms hemoglobin, red blood cells, and hair color. NATURAL SOURCES: Shrimp, beef liver, whole wheat, prunes, nuts, raw oysters.

ZINC: Eliminates cholesterol deposits; aids in absorption of B-Vitamins, manufacture of enzymes and insulin, and metabolism of carbohydrates; essential for growth; aids healing essential for proper function of prostate gland; prevents prostate cancer and sterility; keeps hair glossy and smooth. NATURAL RESOURCES: Eggs, cheese, beef, pork, wheat germ, brewer's yeast, pumpkin seeds, popcorn.

SODIUM FLUORIDE: Acts systemically to strengthen developing teeth. For the prevention of dental caries by increasing tooth resistance to acid dissolution. Promotes remineralization and inhibits the cariogenic microbial process.