So today’s post has nothing to do with disordered eating, exercise or anything else but rather is about my family: that is, my husband and my pooch. Both had VERY big days today!

This morning, my husband was sworn in as an American citizen!!!!

I was so choked up during the ceremony … when I think of the sacrifices that he’s made to come here and spend the rest of his life here with me, instead of in his home country … it just means the world to me. He truly epitomizes the word “selfless.”

For anyone unfamiliar with our tale, we met when he was a senior at the U.S. Naval Academy (’01) and I was a senior at American University, through mutual friends. (Leave it to me to meet one of ten foreign national students at the Academy, but that’s neither here nor there … !)

Anyway, we dated senior year and then he had to move back to his home country (El Salvador) to serve in the military. We did international long-distance, maintaining our relationship the best we could. It wasn’t easy, but he always told me to keep faith in him, that we’d eventually be together forever. I’m sure glad I listened to my heart. 🙂

After I finished graduate school the following year, I went to El Salvador to teach English for 8 months. Then we did more long distance for another few years between D.C. and San Salvador. After his tour of duty in Iraq in 2005, we went to Italy to celebrate … and he proposed in Florence!!! 🙂

The next few months were spent trying to plan our wedding, buy a house in Michigan, relocate to new jobs, etc. And right before our wedding in November 2006, we moved to Michigan and have been here ever since. 🙂

After being married for three years, we were able to start the next stage of the citizenship process. He had his naturalization interview April 12, and then today … got sworn in as an American!!! To tell you we’re ecstatic hardly does it justice. When I heard the National Anthem, I couldn’t help but well up … or watching him take the Oath of Allegiance … there’s just something so beautiful about it!

Then we went out to lunch to celebrate at a Japanese restaurant where we were able to perfect the art of chop-sticks that we’d been practicing in Korea (though there, they use metal chop-sticks, which we both prefer now).

I went for a bike ride while he studied for school, and then … we took Rocco to Puppy Pre-School!!!

Today was the first of four classes, and it was so awesome watching him interact with the other puppies. He was REALLY, REALLY shy … which is soooooo not how he is!! It was quite eye-opening. You can learn so much from watching animals.

(Has anyone read The Art of Racing in the Rain? It’s written from the perspective of a dog. My friend gave it to me before my flight this past weekend and let me tell you — it was one of the best books I’ve ever read. Hands down!)

Anyway, it was quite a busy day. Hubby had a work event tonight and now the pup is asleep — totally tuckered out — at my feet.

I have been journaling on MyDailyPlate.com again the past two days to get a handle on my sugar intake (so I can decide what I’d like to cut it down to) and oh boy … I’ve got some work to do! Yesterday I did much better than today, as my meals were planned and today they weren’t. Today I needed grab-and-go things and just caved to my sweet tooth.

The good news is, I’m seeing it now — and that helps. Awareness is always half the battle! Looking forward to snuggling up and watching Modern Family tonight and then just crashing as early as possible. I’ve been positively drained lately, and traveling this weekend and having a jam-packed week hasn’t helped. I know I need more sleep; I just need to make it happen.

Sorry for such a non-blog-related post but this is what’s top of mind tonight!! 🙂 🙂