Today is National Pet Day according to google, and google is life....so, um yeah! I can't remember life without a pet, primarily a dog. We always had a family pet or two growing up and I continued the tradition even after moving away from home. Luckily, my husband is also a pet lover. Together we've had (3) pets, all dogs. Tanner, Stormy and Orion Pax aka Pax. Both Tanner and Stormy are Beagles while Pax is a mix breed of Coonhound and Husky. Last, July Tanner was put to sleep after a sudden health crisis but he lives forever in our hearts and memories. After Tanner's death we took some time ..read more

Today, August 21st, 2017 we experienced a nearly total eclipse (99.24%) at 10:18am in the Portland, OR area; with a handful of cities in Oregon experiencing a total eclipse. It was a really cool experience, I do have to say. Of course, there was a ton of hype leading up to the event but when it was all said and done I'm glad I took the 30-ish minutes to be still and watch this rare occurrence. The ability to sit, be still, calm and listen to my breath was just what I needed. I know I can do this anytime anywhere, but coupling it with a spectacular view of natures epic-ness was really specta ..read more

Can I just say I'm so thankful it's February?! I've been sick off and on since mid-November and last weekend is the first that I've felt like I've turned the corner to greener pastures health-wise. Winter is just so hard when you're susceptible to viruses and bacteria. I know this and I make the best attempt to ramp up my immune system in Oct/Nov in hopes of dodging some the icky stuff that gets passed around. So, after spending a week in the hospital just prior to Christmas and spending a week at home on oral antibiotics in hopes to stave off another hospital admission in late January, we a ..read more

I'm not big on the idea of making a New Year's resolution per say, however, I'm big on goals. I guess mostly because I see personal development, exercise, getting healthy, etc a journey and for me that is what a goal represents. I believe as long as I've taken active steps towards my goal I'm succeeding, even if I don't hit the target date of accomplishment. Where the resolution feels so absolute. If the resolution isn't fulfilled no matter what progress has been made if at year's end I don't accomplish it then I've failed, just feels to defeating. I've got my goals for 2016: Attend Church ..read more

I'm in awe that we're eight-days into 2016. I feel like summer just left us but we're already thru all the Fall and Winter holidays. Just astonishing how quickly time goes by. I've left this place and you all hanging for quite some time now. Last year was a great year. I accomplished a few goals, started a few new adventures and enjoyed the path thru it all. Here's a quick recap... My biggest goal in 2015 was to live independently of my g-tube (feeding tube). I was successful in doing so from March until November 13th, when it was permanently removed. Yay! Generally, it takes anywhere from 6 ..read more

Nutrition is such a big battle in my life. Having CF and wanting to be active is a double edge sword. I need lots of or rather a ridiculous amount of calories each day just to keep up with the amount of energy my body requires to fight CF but I also have to compensate for any additional output, like running or biking. It's a difficult task.  I've had many people tell me how they wished they had that problem. That they could consume and consume. Truth is, no you don't. Trust me. If you've ever struggled to loose weight, the struggle to gain and maintain weight is equally as hard.  I ..read more

My goal for this 2nd half marathon was simply to beat my finishing from the 1st half last September. I'm happy and elated to report that on April 12th, 2015 I SMOKED my time. This run felt amazing. No knee pain, no crazy fatigue, lungs held up wonderfully. Only issue was my toe nail rubbed on something inside my shoe and I might loose the dang nail. But, hey! that's a normal runners issue. I will again repeat myself in saying that for me there really is nothing that compares to running in terms of confident building, chest physiotherapy and an over-all sense of well being. I think that ..read more

May is a huge month for raising funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It's during this month that the CFF hosts its single largest event; Great Strides. Great Strides as it's so literally states is when the foundation takes it's great stride to help fund a cure. I know many think, "yup, another way to give over-paid executives more money in their pockets" but I can first hand tell you how completely untrue that is for this foundation. Over the past 30 years, as I can only speak for those that I've lived, the foundation has been the sole organization to place research dollars in the approp ..read more

This little place has a few cobwebs, geez! Funny how things get left behind as others start to nudge their way to the forefront. I do love this little place where my thoughts, feelings and heart can be laid out. Yet, there is so much in my life that I love and want to give my 100% towards, I just can't give 100% to everything all the time. That being said, there are a few things that I must always devote my all to. My health, my marriage, and my family. My health must come before anything, because without it I can't function. I MUST keep up on my treatments, running and doctor visits. In addi ..read more

Fall is slipping away and winter etches in a little more each day. Just last week we began noticing a beautiful layer of frost covering the ground each morning, making our morning coffee routine seem absolutely necessary and comforting. The fireplace is a blaze in the early hours just before dawn and well after sunset. The couches are littered with warm blankets with the sole purpose of snuggling. I love this time of year. I love a fresh start that an approaching change of season exudes. For us, winter is a time of slowing down. We find ourselves at home more, in the kitchen more, sharing our ..read more