Leah Stirewalt

Out of Deep Waters

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The (Not-So-Wild) West!

November 20, 2013 by Leah Stirewalt 3 Comments

My husband and I just returned from a vacation out west. In addition to airline miles, we traveled another 3900+ in the rental car. We experienced such a precious gift of time together, all while sightseeing this beautiful country.

I’ve shared before that I have a unique collection…newspapers from state capitals. I have such a passion for travel that years ago, I thought it would be a great idea to start collecting newspapers from each state capital, ensuring that I would get to every state in the union one day (because “the rule” is that I actually have to GO to that city to get the newspaper – not just ask someone to bring/send it to me). Thankfully, I’ve had the privilege of getting many over the last nearly nearly 14-15 years.

In my 2013 bucket list post earlier this year, I noted that I planned to add at least one more to my collection this year. Thanks to this recent vacation, I was able to add six more: Oklahoma City (OK), Phoenix (AZ), Salt Lake City (UT), Cheyenne (WY), Denver (CO), and Lincoln (NE). I already had some from the other states we visited last week.

We were able to spend time with family and see some landscape beauties that God created: the Kansas prairies, the New Mexican mountains, the cactus plants in Arizona, the snow-capped mountains of Utah, the plains of Wyoming, a distant view of the Coloradan Rockies, and the GRAND CANYON, among other things. We also visited Las Vegas (that can be a little shocking to behold!) and the nearby Hoover Dam (impressive structure!). We packed a lot into nine days but are so thankful for the time away and the time together.

God even blessed us with the ability to be delayed on our flights coming home, allowing Delta to give us both vouchers for future flights. Woohoo!!!

I’ve also taken a brief blog vacation. I needed a little time away to just – pause – and listen to Abba for awhile. He’s refreshed and refueled me, and I look forward to connecting here with you more often.

Here are a few pics from our not-so-wild west vacation adventure:

On an old caboose in Council Grove, Kansas
On an old caboose in Council Grove, Kansas 
Arizona cactus
Arizona cactus
The incredible Grand Canyon (pictures do not even begin to do it justice)
The incredible Grand Canyon (pictures do not even begin to do it justice)
More Grand Canyon 
Las Vegas at night
My sweetie in front of one of the beautiful Las Vegas hotels
My sweetie in front of one of the beautiful Las Vegas hotels
At the Hoover Dam
At the Hoover Dam

IMG_1406

Utah mountains
Utah mountains
Wyoming State Capitol Building (in Cheyenne)
Gerald Ford Birthplace in Omaha, Nebraska 
A Missouri sunset
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As Promised…

October 11, 2013 by Leah Stirewalt 3 Comments

scaleI’m not going to waste many words…simply put, let’s cut to the chase.

If you stopped by here on Wednesday and read what God’s been doing through me regarding my health, then you know I promised to come back today and share the results from yesterday’s weigh-in.

Friends – I had a phenomenal week! I lost 5.6 pounds, bringing my total to 24.6 pounds GONE in 5 weeks!

I can’t tell you how stunned I was to read that result on the infamous scale. I did absolutely nothing different the week before when I lost less and the week before that when I lost even less. But…that’s the finicky-ness of weight loss! I could come back next week reporting a gain of a pound for no logical reason at all.

I’ve learned that our bodies are constantly changing and adapting to what we’re putting into it. I guess it’s getting used to my new “habits”.

Regardless, I’m one happy gal! I’ve had many “non-scale victories” (loose clothing, loss of 7 inches, etc.), but it’s still nice to see results on the scale too.

Thanks for all of your support! I’ll continue to keep you updated as I travel this journey to optimal health!

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Meet Leah

Leah StirewaltI became "twice widowed" when my beloved prince, Joel, went to his Heavenly home after a brief and sudden illness on February 12, 2017. I’m in a place of shock and devastation, but I intend to use this format to journal my second widow journey, much like I did my first. It’s my open journal, my electronic oasis, and it’s often the place I find true healing as I allow myself to “come clean” with my feelings. Read More...

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