Happy Birthday to my Fitness Role Model!

Four years ago, when I met Max's mom, one of my first thoughts was "I want  to be more like her." 

Having come from a generally inactive and unfit immediate family and a home where there were at least 10x more candy bars than vegetables, I had never really had a good healthy role model. I didn't know what a healthy lifestyle was, or how to live it, or what sacrifices would be required. (My cute little habit of eating an entire family-sized bag of Snickers as an 'afternoon snack' had to go, unfortunately.) 

She was the first one to demonstrate moderation to me and teach me that exercise could be enjoyable. (Gym teachers putting all the weak/slow kids on one team during dodgeball while yelling "Isn't this fun?!" did not do the trick, surprisingly.) Even more importantly, she taught me that a healthy lifestyle could be balanced, fun, and and enjoyable.

I think the most inspirational thing about my mother-in-law is that her inside matches her outside. Her personality is caring, kind, beautiful, young, and healthy, and that is matched perfectly to her appearance. People always think she is half her age! =) And if that's not motivation to stay fit, I don't know what is.

Happy birthday, Mom =)