{the last few weeks}

November 13, 2014 Whitney Saxon

Hello :) I'm back from my accidental blogging break. Here's where the last few weeks went...

Robyn came to visit for Halloween. And, yes, I do mean that Jane Fonda came to visit Zack and Kelly at Bayside...

We also went to Chomp and Stomp, which was my first time and is now one of my favorite things ATL's fall has to offer. (Bucket list #124)

And then it was sweet Sam's 25th birthday. We celebrated with friends and toasted him and the amazing man he is.

And, also, made a cooler out of a pumpkin. :)

And then, at work, I planned a conference for young professionals, which also meant meeting Bill Rancic. Who, I had no idea how dang cute he is!

And after that, Courtney and Ashley (&Max!) came into town so we could have a beach trip. But before we did that, we celebrated Sam's birthday again. And also took this slightly awkward family photo. Why does it look like we are claiming Sam? #thislandismyland

Then, we drove to the beach.

Then, Ash and I drove back to Atlanta, where she got to meet Chris and celebrate Sam's birthday a little more with lunch at Victory and froyo at the Yogurt Tap.

And now, back to normal life in Atlanta!

I spent the week catching up from the insanity of conference planning. And, tomorrow, Chris and I are heading to the mountains. But for now, this sweet little city town of Atlanta is where I am!

Happy almost weekend! :)

on the way things change

November 11, 2014 Whitney Saxon

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In my twenties, I've learned that I am someone who loves physical change, like moving apartments and rearranging a room and starting a new job. But, I am not someone who loves emotional change. I hoard my emotional possessions and am a keep-in-touch-addict and do anything I can to maintain sameness when it comes to my emotional well-being.

And, as it turns out, your twenties is one of the hardest phases to crave emotional sameness, because everything is constantly changing. It's a time warp of a decade - 10 years that feel like 20. The person I am at 28 barely remembers 23 year old Whitney - let alone the 20 year old version. The way life changes from 26 to 28 alone is mind boggling - to think it was just two years ago that

Katie, Melissa and I were in the rat house

with a broken foot. It feels like a lifetime ago.

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And, even crazier, that it has

only been a year

since I went to Africa and quit dating and started dating again. My, how much has changed in just one year.

Halloween weekend marked four years in Atlanta for me and, as is inevitable, in that time, many of my relationships have changed. From new ones forming, to others fading away and others going much deeper, it's impossible to avoid that time changes our relationships. It weathers some and strengthens others - but it very rarely leaves them the same.

The friendships we craved and needed at 21 best not be what we need at 28, or else we're stagnant - and if we aren't growing, what are we doing? We're like the ocean - sometimes moving forward and sometimes backward, but never staying still.

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Lately, I'm dancing between both resisting and learning to accept the way my relationships are changing. There will be those that will grow forever deeper - alongside one another through good and bad, near and far. And there will be those that are absorbed and carved deeply into our hearts, shaping us into the people we are today - even if they are no longer part of our day to day, the nitty gritty.

The beautiful thing is, every day, we have the chance to meet more people and build more relationships. But the hard part is, every day, we still only have 24 hours. And the more people you add in, the more your hours are divided and conquered - the more we must choose who should be in the nitty gritty and who should become more periphery. Not because they are less loved or important, but because as our desires and needs change, so do the people that must be in the day to day with us.

There will be those that once carried and sustained us and whether they continue to walk alongside us with every step or become more distant, they are important and beautiful. Because they made us who we are today and who we will become tomorrow. And that is really the best part of it all.

happy, muddy NC weekend

October 28, 2014 Whitney Saxon

This past weekend, Chris and I headed to Charlotte with our friends Chris and Kristina for the boys to do the Tough Mudder.

Friday, we got into town late and were starving. We immediately headed to Whole Foods for dinner. Charlotte just got a new location and it was a.m.az.ing. It was the nicest one I've ever seen besides, of course, Austin :)

Saturday, we drove out to the mountains for the boys (#teamchris) to race.

Kristina and I had so much fun watching them! They were absolute champs and I loved the Mudder model. It was all team oriented and everything was in good spirit - nothing was about winning or competing. Next time, I'm absolutely participating!

Saturday afternoon and evening, we explored Charlotte and got to know the city a little better. I've not spent much time in the city and loved it! It was great.

Sunday, we went back to Whole Foods for breakfast and coffee, then headed back to sweet ole Atlanta.

I hope you've had a great week! :)

the little things

October 21, 2014 Whitney Saxon

I mentioned yesterday that things have been the kind of busy that wears you down instead of fills you up. The kind of busy where you actually forget to eat lunch, drink water or go to the bathroom. Which is saying a lot because those are three staple activities for me.

That being said, on Monday I didn't want to let the wear and tear of the week get to me. After such a great weekend, I wanted to hold onto my peacefulness - to cultivate more awareness of the good, the beauty and the happy.

So I decided to quickly note throughout the day all of the little things that I'm so fortunate to have - and rarely think twice about - to drive a little more awareness and gratitude.

Let's start from the beginning:

Waking up in a warm bed in my cozy house.

Driving in with the windows down, heat seats and heat blasting.

That my dad is at work early enough for me to call him at this hour.

No commute, because I left early!

Time for a morning workout and having an able body.

Having teeth! (I had a dentist appointment)

Getting a good parking spot at the gym and the dentist.

A friendly receptionist.

No cavities!

Treating myself to Starbucks. It was my first pumpkin anything all season. YUM! Nonfat latte + one pump pumpkin yep!

Jesus jams on in the car.