Letting Go

Last month, we took the handle bar off the back of my daughter’s bike. She’s 3, but last Fall at age 2 she was riding her bike without training wheels! 

My husband deserves all of the credit. When COVID kept him home for 2 months last year while I worked in the basement, he took her out biking every day. He would have her alternate between pedaling and working on her balance bike. Between the 2, she was set up for success. He took the training wheels off and once we had her steady, we would let go and run next to her. She’s now mastered starting and stopping so we took the bar off the back and held our breath.

But there was no need to worry, she proved to us yet again that she’s more capable than we realize. We rode up and down all the streets of our neighborhood, and as we did I began to cry.

4 years ago that very day, I was laying on the bathroom floor crying, calling the doctor who once again said, “Stacey, it doesn’t look like you’re going to keep this baby.” A month after that I was in the hospital with so much blood loss they had a bucket under me saying I almost needed a blood transfusion, and the month after that I just refused to go to the doctor because they didn’t know the cause of blood loss and I was scared to have them admit me to labor and delivery at 4 months pregnant. 

But here she is, that little human once inside me, grew into a strong, smart and spunky little girl.

Another reminder that God wrote this story, this life we are living.

It made me think about how in so many ways life is about letting go. I just weaned my son from nursing as he is almost 1 year old and we were both ready.

We grow and teach our children to be capable and independent. And with that, we’ll have to continue to let go. To let them dress themselves, go to school, one day drive a car, get married and create a family of their own. This is just the beginning of many things we will have to “let go” as time marches ever forward.

What are you letting go of in your life? I talked to a friend recently who said she has learned more this past year to let go of what other’s think, let go of comparing. Maybe you’re letting go of negativity and bad relationships, jobs, etc. 

Maybe you’ve lost loved ones that you miss so much. People that have made such a profound impact on your life. 

Cherish as much as you can each day. You never know what you will have to let go of tomorrow.

Back to Basics- Health

Where has 2018 gone? Our daughter brought us so much joy this year. How fascinating it has been to watch all of her first milestones, and seeing her little personality come to life.

"I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him." Samuel 1:27

I will try to write again more soon to recap our year, what we've learned and hard trials we've overcome. But it's been an overwhelmingly beautiful year that we have been blessed with.

Again, I've been at the drawing board about what I would like to focus on in the new year. I have decided on : health.

Though I had no issues getting back to my pre-pregnancy weight. (I know you might hate me, but that's another topic I'll try to write on later. Battling gestational diabetes naturally, limiting what I could eat and lots of exercise, baby with food allergies, etc)

I have barely exercised this past year, I actually don't feel as strong as when I was pregnant, nursing for a year, barely sleeping all year has drained me. I know I need to get back to focusing on my health.

I want to maintain healthy eating and incorporate more fish into our diet, exercise more regularly, go back to church more regularly (it was hard with a colic/allergy baby. But I think going is good for my mental health) get more sleep, and visit my friends more.

Life is so short, even if you get blessed with old age. Babies grow too quickly, sunny days speed away, the clock never pauses...

I wish you and your family health and happiness in whatever you do in 2019!

I'd love to hear your thoughts, goals, and/or word of the year. Please comment below!

Grasping onto the Fading Days of Summer

As the heat has been turned up this summer, my energy in the kitchen has slowed down. I've still been cooking, but we've had ourselves many a hodge podge meals this summer.

Tonight's dinner was some grilled scallops, corn on the cob, broccoli, and a caprese salad.

Just the other day, I grilled up some veggis and a brat for my husband, we ate some kind of left over noodles, I brought out a jar of pickled beets and cottage cheese.

We've been fully enjoying our summer. We've been doing a lot of work, but we've also made time for playing on the lake. We have just a rowboat, and my husband truly enjoys the exercise, our conversations, and the evening swims. Best way to end a hot day.

So bear with me this summer as I haven't been posting as much. I feel like I haven't been as creative as I usually am.

I have found Instagram and have been posting many photos of my garden, you pick farms, some meals, fitness and lake adventures. I'd love to have you follow along! @staceypressel

https://www.instagram.com/staceypressel/

And Fall is just around the corner, so there should be more posts soon! I do look forward to writing again.