What I Like About You

A few days ago, I celebrated 7 years with my husband. Where did the time go? No really... Where the heck did it go?

My advice after 7 years - Marry your best friend, don't stop dating them, stop thinking about yourself and your needs & think of theirs, and cling to God cause He's the only way this whole marriage thing works out.

Look at me, talking like I know something. Ha.

My husband is the best. Perfect? No. But the best? Yes.

Goodness, I love this man.

I got to thinking about what drew me to Daimian in the first place, and what I still like about him today. I made it a point to articulate those things to him on our anniversary.

- I like his sense of humor. He doesn't find farts or burps funny, but actual humor. He is both silly and clever.
- I like that he likes Jesus. He really likes Jesus and that makes me really like him.
- I like that he isn't a Seahawks fan.
- I like that he loves to learn. The man is constantly reading, researching, listening to podcasts, always learning.
- I like that he likes to clean, because my house would be messy if it wasn't for him.
- I like that we can talk sports.
- I like that he's strong but isn't afraid to shed a tear sometimes.
-And I like that he likes me.

I am a lucky girl, y'all.

Don't settle, ladies. Marry a good one.

Happy Anniversary, my love. Here's to year 8.

Weakness

I had someone tell me the other day that they were intimidated by me.

By me. Brittany Dunn. Me.

I instantly chuckled, not trying to be disrespectful, but just so confused as to why I am intimidating.
They told me it is because I am tall, because I walk with purpose, and I talk with confidence.
Isn't it funny how we are perceived by others and what we see in ourselves? Often, it is so different.
In my mind, I am not someone to be intimidated by. Here's why:

- I am 27 and still afraid of thunderstorms

- I sleep with some form of light on, and I try to convince myself its so I can see when I go to the bathroom, but really, I just don't like the dark.

- I am very self-conscious about my weight. I hate being the fat friend, the fat daughter, the fat wife.

- I am weird. I make funny voices, make up weird names for people, and change lyrics to songs to make them realll dumb and cheesy.

- I want to write a book... REALLY badly... But I always get started and think about how silly I am and stop.

- I wake up often feeling bad for my husband for being stuck married to me.

- I cry... All the time. When animals die, certain songs that hit me, when my husband is really nice to me (which is often), when I see people who are lost and need Jesus... My eyes are always wet.

- I hate folding laundry & I avoid it as often as possible

- I have a list of books a mile long that I want to read and never seem to get around to it.

- I wonder every day if I could've done something different to help my dad and maybe he would've stuck around.

- I feel a lot more confident in talking about sports than I do about Jesus, no matter how much I study, and it makes me feel guilty, which I know isn't how Jesus would want me to feel

- I have serious doubts in my coaching and teaching abilities

This seems like a depressing, silly post. But as I sat here today, typing this, I don't want to be intimidating. I want people to see Christ in me; to see my weaknesses, my scars, to see my broken places and see that the reason someone like me can still function as a human being is because God Himself has redeemed me and is working in & through me.

"'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

I went to the gym yesterday.

I went to the gym yesterday.
I haven't been to the gym in a while.
My working out has been sporadic and inconsistent.
All the weight I have lost so far has been diet related.
Why?
I hate working out.
I hate running. I hate squats. I hate ellipticals.

But yesterday I went to the gym because my body needs me to work out.
My weight loss needs me to work out.

And let me tell you today, amigos, I. AM. SORE.
I literally have not felt my thighs this sore in years.

And you know what is frustrating?
I was an athlete once.
I practiced basketball and lifted weights 6 days a week, every week for months.
I spent hours per day working out, running, lifting, BEING an athlete, BEING healthy.

Yesterday, when I was struggling to get through a half hour leg work out, I was almost in tears.
Not because I was in pain (even though I really was), but because I used to do this and do this well.
Why did I stop? Why did I give up on myself? Why did I let the athlete in me take a back seat?

I want to be that athlete again.
I want to coach athletes, but I also want to be one myself AGAIN.
I will be. I know I will be.
But the journey sometimes is discouraging.