Why hello there, bloggy readers.

Sorry it has been a bit since I have updated the ole blog. I again, have had a ton going on and the blog sadly got pushed down to the bottom of my priority list.

But no more, I say!

So lets do a little “housecleaning” post, shall we?

So, the most exciting news of all…

I got bangs!

Ha. That is no where near exciting or cool but…hey, its news right? Right.

I also just finished out my first semester back in graduate school after my surgeries. I am pretty pumped to have made it through. And I made good grades too! (Woohoo! What, What!)  It was a definite challenge this time…but this ole gal finished. So if you feel led, I am accepting gifts and flowers to award me for this accomplishment.

Anywho.

In other news, my very smart cousin (that I talked about here) Jordyn, is graduating from the University of Georgia with honors this weekend! Such an accomplishment, y’all. And she looks like a Barbie! So that makes her cool too. I mean she OBVIOUSLY takes after me in the looks department. (HAHA) That was me being funny.

Moving on to the next order of business, my good friend Rachel Greene just opened up her very own jewelry business and etsy shop!

Here she is. Isn’t she the cutest?

Well anywho, I don’t usually do a lot of giveaways and/or endorse any shop but for this girl… its worth it. Why is it worth it you ask? Because she is so talented and I want all of you to get the chance to buy or win some of her amazing jewelry! So be on the lookout for  the upcoming giveaway and highlight post! Her ad will also be in my sidebar, so you can check out her etsy shop and stay up to date with all the new jewelry she adds.

Okay peeps, that is all I have for now.

Check ya later.

living abundantly,

Dana

And I am so, so excited about that.

This sista needs a break. A vacation of sorts. I need the sun, fresh salty air, and copious amounts of time with my family and friends. Without any stress involved. Just a day without worry.

That is all I really have to say.

P.S. Isn’t my niece the cutest?

living abundantly,

Dana

So as most of you faithful bloggy peeps know, a year ago I had this crazy surgery called a pancreatectomy and islet cell transplant. A YEAR AGO.

Can you guys believe it? A year!

Just for kicks, lets take a trip down memory lane. Not to wallow in the sadness or intenseness of those days..but to celebrate how far God has brought me since those dark, dark days.

The night before the surgery! Gosh, I love my brother. I adore him. (Don’t tell him I said that though. Don’t want him gettin’ all prideful.)

After my liver decided to fail on me. Silly liver.

Those bad boys (islet cells) live in my liver now.

Waiting room.

Me and my mom.

Me and the Ben.

Guys, I gotta be honest. Those are hard to look at.

I thought it was important to remind myself of how much God has done since those days. How far He has brought me physically, yes.

But also how God took that situation and made it something good. Yes, those days were unthinkably hard but it brought people to their knees in prayer and vulnerability with God. So all in all? We will tally that under the column of WIN.

Look how faithful our God is…

God has given me another precious year to spend with the people I cherish. Another year of laughs, tears, long talks and fun memories. I couldn’t be more grateful.

Sure, its been tough. And sometimes I get frustrated, thinking I should be further along in my recovery. But then I look at these pictures and I think…

Oh, what a difference a year makes.

And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:1-5

living abundantly,

Dana

Little Miss H 

Oh, the joys of being an aunt.

I don’t think I could ever list them all.

I’m feeling even more blessed and excited today.

Can you guess why?

 I get to be an aunt again! My brother and his wife, Lauren, are going to have another precious baby!

And I will have two best little friends.

I do believe I’m the luckiest.

living abundantly,

Dana

I recently have been experimenting with a “french braid illusion” type hair style. You see, I can french braid. The only problem is I french braid with a 63% success rate. So that means, 37% of the time I end up with a messy, sad attempt at a french braid.

So I went a looking for a look that I could pull off 100% of the time. And guys, I found it. As usual, I am going to direct you towards the tutorial I found my inspiration from. Because as always, I think other people are better at giving the step-by-step how-to’s for hair doing.

So. Go HERE for the step-by-steps. There are some beautiful pictures of the “how it should look” outcome pictures. So don’t judge me on how mine missed the mark. But per usual, I enjoy a little messier version of most hairstyles.

I also have a large amount of hair that sometimes refuses to be bobby-pinned back by 2 bobby-pins. HA. My hair laughs in the face of those silly tutorials.

“2 bobby pins? Try 20!”–my hair screams back at me.

So I improvise where needed.

Here are my tips for this look. When “braiding” the first braid, only pull hair from the front side of the braid. This will give you a clean line to start your second braid. When finished double twisting/braiding the first “braid”, pin it back out of the way so the second braid does not “pull” hair from the first. Also, if you have curly hair, it might be easier to blow-dry it “straight” before attempting this look. Although I prefer the curly look when doing up-do’s..it sometimes proves difficult. As you might see in my outcome pictures because I chose NOT to blow dry it. Hindsight is 20-20, I suppose.

So anywho. Enjoy this look. Share it with your beautiful friends! Or keep it to yourself. Whatevs.

But I do want you to share your “outcome” pictures with me! So I can post them with my next hair-adventuring post.

And here is a couple pictures from my weekend to brighten your Thursday afternoon.

So good to be back blogging! I’ve missed you bloggy friends.

Later my taters.

living abundantly,

Dana

P.S. Visit my Mary Kay website for all the newest Spring MK products we have! So many new fun skin products and make-up for your summer look!

After looking at this picture, I now completely understand the saying:

“a picture is worth a thousand words”

Why, you ask?

Well bloggy peeps, its because this picture brings a thousand words (or more) to my mind…

love, joy, friendship, family, loyalty, honesty, laughs, together, support, unconditional love, beautiful, FUN, faithful, acceptance, community….

But when I look at all of these faces in these special pictures, the word that comes to mind every time is blessed.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude when I see so many people I love in one place. God has given me these precious gifts for a time. These precious gifts I call family. My family.

My family extends outside of my circle of “biological” family. I have been blessed with one big, happy, diverse, (at times dysfunctional) and incredible family.

I am so undeserving but God never stops giving. I well up with tears when I think of how these people have changed my life and made my life that much sweeter.

I am blessed beyond what I ever imagined possible.

Do you have a picture(s) that stirs up these same emotions? I would love for everyone to share! What does family mean for you and who does it include? I can’t wait to see all of your sweet families. Your gifts. Send pictures via email to: theabundantlifeblog{at}gmail{dot}com

*Just a reminder, if you were following my blog before on Google Friend Connect, I no longer have that function on this blog. So make sure to follow the abundant life by clicking the ‘subscribe’ button in the left sidebar or follow with ‘blog lovin’. 

living abundantly,

dana

]]> http://theabundantlifeblog.com/?feed=rss2&p=2300 3 http://theabundantlifeblog.com/?p=2269 http://theabundantlifeblog.com/?p=2269#comments Fri, 09 Mar 2012 04:26:41 +0000 Dana Whitfield http://theabundantlifeblog.com/?p=2269 Continue reading →]]> What up.

So I have a little glimpse into the days of silence for you-s peeps. I refer to my little vacation away from zee blog as ‘the days of silence’, in case you were wondering. Quite ominous and dramatic, huh?

Well anywho, I figured all of you were just lost without pictures of this beautiful mug for 2 months.

So wha-la!

Pictures.

BAM.

(above) Here BTB and I are adorned in beautiful Christmas attire. It just isn’t Christmas without a cheesy-tacky-sweater-goofy-smile picture. Right? Right.

At my family Christmas partay. Tacky-ness galore.

Me and my bro. Like my real brother. Not in a ‘wassup bro’ kind of way. But the biological kind. The best kind.

BTB and his goofy, tacky hairstyle.

Where I go to church every Sunday. Very hip.

This is BTB and I’s way of saying “Happy New Year Fellow Humans!” Do you see we are making the number 2012 with our fingers? Yes, we are that clever.

Me and my Casey!

(above) This little guy. I just love him.

The BTB and I on our 2 year anniversary. That’s 25 years in Hollywood marriage years. Impressive. Happy 25th anniversary to us!

(above) The little stinker. “Who me? No, of course I didn’t just throw all of grandpa’s decorative rocks in the lake….”

Okay. So do you guys feel caught up in the life of me?

Not yet? Don’t worry. I will be back tomorrow with further updates on the ever exciting and ever changing…Life Of Dana. dun-dun-dun.

living abundantly because I’m on spring break babay,

dana

P.S. You may notice I no longer have ‘Google Friend Connect’. GFC was a tool followers of this blog could use to be updated on my blog updates and I could also gauge who/how many readers are reading each post. GFC is no longer WordPress friendly. Therefore, if you want to follow my blog —> subscribe to the blog via email or blog lovin’. You will see both of these options on the left sidebar. COOL? Cool.

Hey all my bloggy peeps! I’m baaaaaack. muahaha.

As I’m sure you have noticed, I have been taking a little vacay away from the ole blog. I decided a couple of months ago that I needed to take a step back from my blog. I needed some time to clear my head and really reflect on whether I wanted to continue blogging. And if I did continue to blog, what would my purpose be?

A couple of months ago, I had reached a sort of road block in blogging. I got busier because I started back graduate school (wooohooo!) and the busier I became, the more my health declined. I became so stressed that I didn’t have room in my brain or energy in my bod to even think about a blog post.

But after much thought and prayer, I have decided to continue blogging! Do I hear clapping? Why yes, I think I do! You guys are all too kind. Oh, is that a standing ovation I see out there? Wow, you guys are just too gracious. I’m blushing, really.

Haha.

On to the future of this here bloggity blog. This blog will have much of the same content it did before. However, there will not be a focus on how many people read this blog or paid sponsorships or anything of the like. This blog exists only to share my journey in life and chronic illness, along with a dose of sarcasm and my silly life stories.

That okay with you’s guys? I sure hope so.

I can’t wait to catch you guys up on the happenings of these last few months. I have many pictures and stories to tell.

Lets start with a little medical update. If you are new here, I definitely encourage you to catch up on my transplant surgery and chronic illness story —> here. My story is a long one, so grab some popcorn and prop your feet up.

me, back in zee hospital.

A little short medical update: This past month my health has been declining and I have been having extreme amounts of pain. This was discouraging and frustrating. I had to be hospitalized for a week in January and was just in the hospital again this past weekend. My doctors were not sure what the problem was until today. I had an upper endoscopy and they found I have a very large ulcer around the connection between my stomach and intestines. When they re-routed (for lack of a better word) my digestive system, they stapled it back together. This puts you at a high risk for ulcers. I have developed at least one.  The endoscopy also revealed my liver is still not completely healed from the emergency surgeries I had last April.

Anywhoo, thats whats going on around here. I will give more details later! I am confident my doctors will come up with a treatment plan that will get me back on track and feeling better.

Also, real quick: Thank you to everyone who has been emailing, commenting, etc while I was on my little blog hiatus. You guys sure know how to make a girl feel loved.

later taters!

living abundantly,

Dana

-BTB

Isn’t that what this season is all about? Gratitude? Yes, I do believe it is. So guess what my peeps? I’m so very grateful for many things.

I would love to say that I spend every hour of every day in awe of life and I constantly give thanks. But…I don’t. Because I do this thing called life. And it takes up a lot of time. So that is why I think Thanksgiving and this season is so good. It literally is a day that we set apart to be thankful. Um…genius. I need this. I need a day that reminds me to get out of my head for a minute and realize how good I have it in this life.

So what am I grateful for? Oh bajeezies. I have so much to be grateful for. I know, I know. How cliche. “She’s blessed. We GET it.” Well guys, I must be cliche today, in my belated thanksgiving post. Because really, how could I not?

I’m going to keep it short-ish.

I’m just so incredibly thankful to be alive.

Thankful for how far I have come since my surgery.

I am thankful for the opportunity I was given with these surgeries and the possibility of living with less pain. An opportunity I never thought I would get. A miracle opportunity.

Yes, we hit some bumps along the road. Some major complications and I almost lost my life in this journey. But those bumps along the way have taught me so much about myself, my family and the people I love, and my God.

Because of the miracle of life, I am able to enjoy a fiance that loves me so completely (shout out to my boy BTB), a family that sticks with me through the hardest times, and friends that I truly consider family.

I am able to enjoy even the simple things like coffee with seasonal creamers, a roof over my head, the smell of fresh ink on paper, Christmas lights on houses, the smells of Christmas filling stores and homes, my niece’s giggles and toothy grins, my niece calling me “nay nay” for the first time, trying on my first wedding dress complete with lace and veil – seeing my mom’s eyes light up when she sees me dressed in white, my bestie’s belly laughs and honest truths, and BTB’s sweet smile and tight hugs.

I just can’t get enough of life. I am beyond blessed and highly favored. Gosh, I just can’t imagine if I wasn’t here to experience even the small, beautiful things in my life. Its amazing what a little perspective can do for a “bad” day.

I highly recommend making a gratitude list. Even the small things: like 2 feet to walk around on and a jacket to wear when its cold out. We all have things to be grateful for. Even in the worst of times.

Oh and the winner of the Mary Kay Giveaway is Amanda! I used random.org and their random number generator to choose the winner. So congrats Amanda! I will be sending you an email to get your information to get you your Mary Kay goodies! Woooo!

Later my taters.

living abundantly with gratitude,

Dana

P.S. Today is my Mary Kay Cyber Monday Sale. 20%off ALL day long. Don’t miss out! Check out my website! OR contact me via danamichelle@marykay.com