I EARNED THEM!

Today in our FEARLESS girls fit group I asked a question about imperfections- "What is your least favorite part of your body?" This question was brought on from chatting with a dear friend about her own insecurities... her stretch marks. She has worked very hard to get her body fit but these are one thing that she can't just whip into shape like the rest of her. She shared her insecurity with the world wide web today and I wanted to share mine with you. We are not striving for perfection in our fit fam. Perfection is ugly in my opinion because it's fake. There may be people that we see like fitness models, VS models etc that "look" perfect but most of them have imperfections that we cannot see because they are covered or airbrushed out. My hope is that you will embrace the body God has given you and strive for progress not perfection. I pray that you will enjoy your journey and not wait till you've met your goals to appreciate your body. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL - IMPERFECTIONS AND ALL!

This is my insecurity and here it is for you all to see. I will NOT pretend to be perfect or fool you into believing I just woke up fit one day. NO! I have imperfections but I still choose to make the best out of this body. Every one of these dumb stretch marks bother me (I know Isaac is gonna be shocked I even am showing them because he knows I hate them) but I tell myself that I earned my tiger stripes! I also remind myself of the type of example I want to be to my daughter as well - she has an 8-10" incision down her belly from a life saving surgery. How superficial and vain would I be to let some dumb stretch marks bring me down when she is proud (or trying to be) of her battle wound? Beauty is SO much more than skin deep. I hope tonight you see past your imperfections. I hope you choose to be a FEARLESS girl and love your body even if it doesn't match the worlds standards.

Email me at jilliangallegos@me.com if you would like help getting fit with the support of an amazing team of FEARLESS ladies.  You will be encouraged, loved, accepted and inspired.

The Incident

It's interesting to me how I write about everything on my blog from fashion finds and relationships to cooking and talks with God.  But when something super intense happens I seem to shy away, back off and keep the very intimate details personal.  I almost do a 180.  But really when something happens that tears at my heart, first I run to God and then to you, my friends, is where I want to run to let it all out.

Well as some of you know my husband is a police officer.  About a month and a half ago he was forced into the most difficult decision he has or will have to make in his profession.  He was involved in a shooting which resulted in the death of the man that tried to kill him and another officer. This man was hopped up on cocaine and very drunk when he charged screaming at my husband and another officer with a knife in his hand. The media went into a frenzy and our world felt like it got turned upside down.  

I don't really want to go into the details because it feels as though that's all we've talked about for weeks on end.  The fact is, both officers did the right thing.  But the right thing is never ever easy.

I don't feel like I need to vent the details but I do feel like I want to scream from the top of my lungs to please show respect to the men and women in uniform.  They truly are in the job to protect you and to assist you in living a peaceful life in your community.  I'm sure there are officers out there that aren't good officers just like there are doctors who aren't good doctors or trash men who aren't good trash men. But that doesn't give people the right to categorize all of them negatively.  Everyday they put on that blue uniform and kiss their families goodbye they leave knowing that there is a possibility they will not return.

We were faced with that possibility just weeks ago.

Getting that phone call is something that is permanently seared in my mind for ever.

To those of you who have showed an out pouring of your support.  We are forever grateful because you know the kind of man my husband is and realize that he would only do what he HAD to do to  protect innocent lives.  

To those of you who have verbalized your opposition in a rude manner:

Don't judge these officers for their actions because you were not there.  Don't pretend you would have known what to do because that would be ignorant seeing that you don't know the details.  Don't tell them that following protocol is cowardly because thats what they're trained to do. And please don't pretend that this man who literally tried to murder my husband and other police officer... please don't pretend that his life was worth more than these noble officers.

And that's all I have to say 'bout that.