Hiking, softball, gymnastics, swim lessons, birthday parties, voice over class, Las Vegas, Happiness meetings, Vacation Bible School, playdates, father/daughter dance, writing camp, Texas road trip, typing class, building a deck, landscaping a yard, doctors and dentists appointments, Donor Dash, golf clinic, vacation in Rhode Island, Diva Dash, Fall Fling planning, Relay for Life, climbing Mt. Bierstadt, school shopping, meet the teachers and the zoo! Add in visiting my dad in the hospital, rehab and extended care, giving him his IV meds when he was at home and working out.
That about sums it up!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Time for a Dazzling Poof
I've spent the past few days telling anyone who will listen to please pray for me on Saturday morning at 9:30am. That's when I'll begin the Diva Dash. "What is the Diva Dash?" you may ask. "It sounds fun, it sounds sassy!" Those are the exact thoughts that got me into this mess. The Diva Dash is a 5K obstacle course - climbing walls, swinging on ropes, jumping through tires, etc. - that my friends Michele and Stephanie talked me into. I was persuaded because I've been working out and I was feeling strong and capable. I was persuaded because they used the F word - Fun - and God forbid I miss out on any of that! I was persuaded because Stephanie has a way of talking me into anything. (Thank goodness she's not into drugs!)
From the moment I clicked confirm on the registration, I began dreading "this stupid Diva Dash"! What was I thinking? I've only been working out for two months. And although I'm proud of myself, when I say working out, I mean 20-40 minutes on the elliptical, or the rowing machine or the bike that you're sort of reclined in. No actual "training", no upper body work - was there a picture of a woman wading through waist deep water on the website? Again I ask - what was I thinking???
Well, I attended a meeting that Michele and Stephanie were at tonight. As we walked to our cars, working out carpooling and our name (Dazzling Divas), I started laying the ground work. "If I don't like an obstacle, I'm going around it!" "I am NOT going through water!" And so did they. "Oh, okay, Roxy." Stephanie says in her sweet melodic voice. "We'll see." says Michele with a smirk and a sideways glance. I got into my car still throwing out threats. "If I have to go through water, I won't be on this committee with you next year!" They both grin and wave.
I was only in my car a minute or two before the thought hit me. Of course this race is going to suck! I've been calling it "stupid" since I signed up. I've been telling everyone how scared I am and how nervous I am and "what was I thinking - I can't do this!"
Aha! Negative Poofing! As much as my mocking started as a joke, I have completely managed to freak myself out about "this stupid dash." Well I only have about 36 hours left, but it's time for a turnaround. It's time for a positive poof. No - it's time for a dazzling poof! So shall I begin again?
To anyone out there reading my blog: please pray for my friends and I on Saturday morning. We're doing the Diva Dash. It's a super fun obstacle 5k race. I'll admit, I'm a little intimidated - but I'm with two of my friends who I always laugh with. The three of us are going to be doing crazy fun things together for the next twelve years - at least! - and this is only the beginning. So please pray for a safe race, for facing our fears, stretching outside our comfort zones and side-splitting laughter.
And to Michele and Steph - thanks for "roping me in" again. I'm sure the memories we make on Saturday will be ones we cherish for a very long time to come. I can't wait!!!
From the moment I clicked confirm on the registration, I began dreading "this stupid Diva Dash"! What was I thinking? I've only been working out for two months. And although I'm proud of myself, when I say working out, I mean 20-40 minutes on the elliptical, or the rowing machine or the bike that you're sort of reclined in. No actual "training", no upper body work - was there a picture of a woman wading through waist deep water on the website? Again I ask - what was I thinking???
Well, I attended a meeting that Michele and Stephanie were at tonight. As we walked to our cars, working out carpooling and our name (Dazzling Divas), I started laying the ground work. "If I don't like an obstacle, I'm going around it!" "I am NOT going through water!" And so did they. "Oh, okay, Roxy." Stephanie says in her sweet melodic voice. "We'll see." says Michele with a smirk and a sideways glance. I got into my car still throwing out threats. "If I have to go through water, I won't be on this committee with you next year!" They both grin and wave.
I was only in my car a minute or two before the thought hit me. Of course this race is going to suck! I've been calling it "stupid" since I signed up. I've been telling everyone how scared I am and how nervous I am and "what was I thinking - I can't do this!"
Aha! Negative Poofing! As much as my mocking started as a joke, I have completely managed to freak myself out about "this stupid dash." Well I only have about 36 hours left, but it's time for a turnaround. It's time for a positive poof. No - it's time for a dazzling poof! So shall I begin again?
To anyone out there reading my blog: please pray for my friends and I on Saturday morning. We're doing the Diva Dash. It's a super fun obstacle 5k race. I'll admit, I'm a little intimidated - but I'm with two of my friends who I always laugh with. The three of us are going to be doing crazy fun things together for the next twelve years - at least! - and this is only the beginning. So please pray for a safe race, for facing our fears, stretching outside our comfort zones and side-splitting laughter.
And to Michele and Steph - thanks for "roping me in" again. I'm sure the memories we make on Saturday will be ones we cherish for a very long time to come. I can't wait!!!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
My Dad's Smile
Well I am feeling great right now! And no, it's not the glass of wine I had. (Thanks again, Steph!) It's that this has been an amazing day!!! The last couple of weeks - and especially the last couple of days - have been up and down with a lot of stress. My dad has been in and out of the hospital with one thing after another. I am normally a pretty positive person - thanks mostly to The Secret and The Happiness Project - but even when you're positive about an outcome, sometimes the "going through it" part is difficult.
There are so many pieces that I try to fit together in these situations. First and foremost, I try to stay positive. Not just for myself, but for all involved. Next, I try to be supportive - doing whatever I can to make the people I love more comfortable. I try to be understanding. We're all stressed out - trying to keep our focus on my dad while trying to make sense out of how it effects each of us individually. Of course, we're all tightly wound in these circumstances, so when someone loses it, I try to not take it personally and forgive. In addition to all of that, I try to cut myself some slack when I fall short and figure out how to rejuvenate when I'm depleted.
Sometimes that's a tall order to fill. Today however, all of the pieces fit into place. Now I don't mean to diminish the stress of the situation. My dad did have surgery. There are always the possibilities of complications or things not working out the way we hope they will. So of course there was stress and worry. However, I kept my positive attitude. I was sure that he would come through the surgery and that it would be successful. It was! Emotionally, we all came together and made each other laugh and kept each other going through the "waiting, waiting, waiting" period. But today I lucked out. One of my friends blessed our family by bringing us breakfast and coffee (as well as lunch yesterday) so no worries about who was going to get which kind of food and when. No decisions had to be made. No one had to worry that while they were out getting food, the doctor might come - food was already there - woohoo!
She also blessed us with a beautiful prayer. It was not only touching, but it brought me back to being thankful for all that I have been blessed with already. I lucked out again in that no one went off the deep end today. I can't speak for anyone else, so maybe someone was on the edge. But outwardly, we all held it together and were able to keep each other laughing. I had a lovely dinner with the women of my family and I am thankful for each one of them. (Thanks for letting your mom stay out late, cuz!)
When we got the results of the surgery, it was mostly good news - only one small worry left - but my dad did great! The doctors - who I like to refer to as "the best of the best" and "Dr. Hottie" did a wonderful job and are very focused on the big picture - keeping my dad and his appendages in tact. I feel like he has the very best care he could get. The staff is great and we have not one complaint about them or the facility (knock on wood).
However --- all of this pales in comparison to one little thing - my dad's smile! When we first got to see him after the surgery, he was still pretty drugged and yet still in a bit of pain. No one likes to see someone they love in pain, so seeing him cringe at the cramp in his leg was unpleasant to say the least. It wasn't long before they started to get his pain managed and he started to wake up a bit. I understand that normally in these situations, most people take comfort in talking to their loved one or hearing a certain phrase or a certain tone in their voice. And of course all of that is good for me too. But here was the best part of my day.....
One of my sisters was sitting behind him, one was at his side and my mom and I were facing him. My sister sitting behind him made a comment and he responded to her. I immediately laughed out loud. Both of my sisters and my mom asked, "What did he say?" (he has a very loud vent in his room which makes it very difficult to hear him speak) And my answer was this, "I have no idea, but by the smile on his face, he thinks he's being funny!"
There are so many things I love about my dad. But I have to say that his desire to laugh is on the top of my list. It's the thing that gives me the most confidence that he's ok. Of course, he's not smiling or laughing all of the time. He's going through a lot, has been in a lot of pain and I know the worry gets to him. But he still wants to laugh. He still wants to make us laugh. And watching him smile as the four of "his girls" fought over who was his favorite and who got to give him the last kiss goodbye for the night was the best gift he could give me today.
With Father's Day being tomorrow, I can't imagine what I could possibly give him that's better than that. A new pair of slippers just won't cut it. So I guess when I visit him tomorrow, I'll do my best to give him what he still desires - a good laugh. And then we'll both get a gift - because if I'm successful, I'll get to see that smile!
There are so many pieces that I try to fit together in these situations. First and foremost, I try to stay positive. Not just for myself, but for all involved. Next, I try to be supportive - doing whatever I can to make the people I love more comfortable. I try to be understanding. We're all stressed out - trying to keep our focus on my dad while trying to make sense out of how it effects each of us individually. Of course, we're all tightly wound in these circumstances, so when someone loses it, I try to not take it personally and forgive. In addition to all of that, I try to cut myself some slack when I fall short and figure out how to rejuvenate when I'm depleted.
Sometimes that's a tall order to fill. Today however, all of the pieces fit into place. Now I don't mean to diminish the stress of the situation. My dad did have surgery. There are always the possibilities of complications or things not working out the way we hope they will. So of course there was stress and worry. However, I kept my positive attitude. I was sure that he would come through the surgery and that it would be successful. It was! Emotionally, we all came together and made each other laugh and kept each other going through the "waiting, waiting, waiting" period. But today I lucked out. One of my friends blessed our family by bringing us breakfast and coffee (as well as lunch yesterday) so no worries about who was going to get which kind of food and when. No decisions had to be made. No one had to worry that while they were out getting food, the doctor might come - food was already there - woohoo!
She also blessed us with a beautiful prayer. It was not only touching, but it brought me back to being thankful for all that I have been blessed with already. I lucked out again in that no one went off the deep end today. I can't speak for anyone else, so maybe someone was on the edge. But outwardly, we all held it together and were able to keep each other laughing. I had a lovely dinner with the women of my family and I am thankful for each one of them. (Thanks for letting your mom stay out late, cuz!)
When we got the results of the surgery, it was mostly good news - only one small worry left - but my dad did great! The doctors - who I like to refer to as "the best of the best" and "Dr. Hottie" did a wonderful job and are very focused on the big picture - keeping my dad and his appendages in tact. I feel like he has the very best care he could get. The staff is great and we have not one complaint about them or the facility (knock on wood).
However --- all of this pales in comparison to one little thing - my dad's smile! When we first got to see him after the surgery, he was still pretty drugged and yet still in a bit of pain. No one likes to see someone they love in pain, so seeing him cringe at the cramp in his leg was unpleasant to say the least. It wasn't long before they started to get his pain managed and he started to wake up a bit. I understand that normally in these situations, most people take comfort in talking to their loved one or hearing a certain phrase or a certain tone in their voice. And of course all of that is good for me too. But here was the best part of my day.....
One of my sisters was sitting behind him, one was at his side and my mom and I were facing him. My sister sitting behind him made a comment and he responded to her. I immediately laughed out loud. Both of my sisters and my mom asked, "What did he say?" (he has a very loud vent in his room which makes it very difficult to hear him speak) And my answer was this, "I have no idea, but by the smile on his face, he thinks he's being funny!"
There are so many things I love about my dad. But I have to say that his desire to laugh is on the top of my list. It's the thing that gives me the most confidence that he's ok. Of course, he's not smiling or laughing all of the time. He's going through a lot, has been in a lot of pain and I know the worry gets to him. But he still wants to laugh. He still wants to make us laugh. And watching him smile as the four of "his girls" fought over who was his favorite and who got to give him the last kiss goodbye for the night was the best gift he could give me today.
With Father's Day being tomorrow, I can't imagine what I could possibly give him that's better than that. A new pair of slippers just won't cut it. So I guess when I visit him tomorrow, I'll do my best to give him what he still desires - a good laugh. And then we'll both get a gift - because if I'm successful, I'll get to see that smile!
Friday, June 15, 2012
Distraction: Who Am I?
*Sigh!*
The last couple of weeks have been very up and down for me. My dad has been in and out of the hospital (currently in) and we've been very busy. I spent the day at the hospital and I will do the same tomorrow. There's definitely a part of me that wants to detail everything that's been going on with him, his health and his care. However; there's also a part of me that just wants to think about something else for a bit. So.....selfishness and my "it's all about me" attitude wins out and I'm going to blog about my personal little distraction.
Back to my Happiness Project! I realize that this is only my second post of the month, but I have scrapbooked (digitally) three or four times and I went on a hike on Tuesday. What I'm still so jazzed about is riding the success of last month! I've been to the gym four times this month - which doesn't sound super impressive compared to last month, but I was out of town for four days, so it's a little impressive. While I was out of town, I walked - a ton! - and I already mentioned my hike this week. So the exercise is still going well. But here's the amazing part.....
As I said, I was at the hospital all day today and I have to be back early in the morning. Here's the strange part: at some point today, I thought, "maybe I'll work out in the morning before I come back." So I checked the website and my gym doesn't open until 7:00am on Saturdays. Bummer - I have to be at the hospital by 8:00, so that won't work. Then I realized that it's open until 10:00 tonight. Here's the stranger part: I thought, "I could go when I get home tonight." Wait for it..... here's the strangest part: I actually went!!!
Who am I???
I am not that girl! You know - that girl that I make fun of and call a "freak" because she goes to the gym at 9 o'clock at night! Well, hold onto your hats, my friends, because apparently I am that girl. I got home, packed my gym bag and headed to the gym. And just to put the icing on the cake - I got to see one of my friends there - woohoo! I got in a workout, I soaked in the hot tub, took a shower and I feel great! Physically, my body is relaxed, my mind is clear and I'm focused. Mentally, I'm super proud - albeit surprised - that I went to the gym instead of plopping down in front of the TV.
Of course, my dad is still on my mind, but I feel like I've cleared my head and can think even more positively for him and be a better support for my mom. Someone should tell people about the positive effects of working out (haha). And just to brag a bit more ('cause I'm on a roll) I'm on day eight without soda! I was averaging about one every five days, but currently I'm at eight. My dad's hospital stay will be a good test of my soda craving since it's definitely a comfort food for me. But I didn't have one yesterday or today, so I'm feeling good about it. And even if I do - it's one soda and I'll start again. Again - who am I?
I'm a girl on a mission! And I only have nine minutes to get to bed only one hour late, so I'm done for tonight. Please send good thoughts and prayers my dad's way and hopefully soon I'll be able to give a good report from both of us!
The last couple of weeks have been very up and down for me. My dad has been in and out of the hospital (currently in) and we've been very busy. I spent the day at the hospital and I will do the same tomorrow. There's definitely a part of me that wants to detail everything that's been going on with him, his health and his care. However; there's also a part of me that just wants to think about something else for a bit. So.....selfishness and my "it's all about me" attitude wins out and I'm going to blog about my personal little distraction.
Back to my Happiness Project! I realize that this is only my second post of the month, but I have scrapbooked (digitally) three or four times and I went on a hike on Tuesday. What I'm still so jazzed about is riding the success of last month! I've been to the gym four times this month - which doesn't sound super impressive compared to last month, but I was out of town for four days, so it's a little impressive. While I was out of town, I walked - a ton! - and I already mentioned my hike this week. So the exercise is still going well. But here's the amazing part.....
As I said, I was at the hospital all day today and I have to be back early in the morning. Here's the strange part: at some point today, I thought, "maybe I'll work out in the morning before I come back." So I checked the website and my gym doesn't open until 7:00am on Saturdays. Bummer - I have to be at the hospital by 8:00, so that won't work. Then I realized that it's open until 10:00 tonight. Here's the stranger part: I thought, "I could go when I get home tonight." Wait for it..... here's the strangest part: I actually went!!!
Who am I???
I am not that girl! You know - that girl that I make fun of and call a "freak" because she goes to the gym at 9 o'clock at night! Well, hold onto your hats, my friends, because apparently I am that girl. I got home, packed my gym bag and headed to the gym. And just to put the icing on the cake - I got to see one of my friends there - woohoo! I got in a workout, I soaked in the hot tub, took a shower and I feel great! Physically, my body is relaxed, my mind is clear and I'm focused. Mentally, I'm super proud - albeit surprised - that I went to the gym instead of plopping down in front of the TV.
Of course, my dad is still on my mind, but I feel like I've cleared my head and can think even more positively for him and be a better support for my mom. Someone should tell people about the positive effects of working out (haha). And just to brag a bit more ('cause I'm on a roll) I'm on day eight without soda! I was averaging about one every five days, but currently I'm at eight. My dad's hospital stay will be a good test of my soda craving since it's definitely a comfort food for me. But I didn't have one yesterday or today, so I'm feeling good about it. And even if I do - it's one soda and I'll start again. Again - who am I?
I'm a girl on a mission! And I only have nine minutes to get to bed only one hour late, so I'm done for tonight. Please send good thoughts and prayers my dad's way and hopefully soon I'll be able to give a good report from both of us!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Let's Try This Again
I sit here wondering what the best way to start is. It's been so long that I think that some sort of explanation is in order - although I'm not sure it is. Maybe I should set up my new plan about my intention to blog more regularly. Maybe I should start with a "let's bring you up to date on me" post. Then it occurred to me - just start typing! So you'll probably get a bit of all of the above (although not a complete "bring you up to date" - that would take hours upon hours, which I don't have).
I guess what I really want to start with is that I'm still doing The Happiness Project and I still love it! I've had some months that were better than others. Not that I didn't like the focus of certain months, just that I wasn't as dedicated. I realized (you're going to be shocked) that if I actually write down what I'm going to focus on, I do a much better job. I have two Happiness groups going and sometimes life it too crazy and I pick my subject for the month too last minute and make up my goals for the month on the fly. That doesn't seem to work too well for me. However, the months that I take the time to re-read the chapter that I'm working on, write down my goals and maybe make a scrapbook page to signify that month, I do amazingly well.
Last month was a complete success! I revisited the first chapter about vitality. I had gotten out of the habit of going to bed on time and that had been the only thing that had really stuck. The biggest problem I find with bedtime this time is my schedule with my kids was so crazy (last month of school) that they were going to bed later and I really need a bit of downtime between their bedtime and mine. I did ok, but I'm worried about summer since their bedtime is later. None-the-less, I made huge improvements in this area - getting to bed between 10:30 & 11:00 (my goal is 10:00) vs. between 11:30 & 1:00.
My next task was giving up soda. I'm not a diet soda kind of girl but I know how bad the real thing is for me. I've kicked the habit a couple of times before, but this time it just wasn't working out. So instead of my all or nothing approach (which usually works for me) I decided to take baby steps. Just go one day without it. Then the next week, go two days. I'm happy to report that currently, I've only had a soda every five days. I'm trying not to say that I'll never have one again (then I'll want it too badly) but the longer I can go in between, the better I'm feeling.
The biggest thing I accomplished, however - is that I joined a gym near my house. First of all what you need to know is that I would never say I'm a gym girl. Next what you need to know is that this particular gym is outrageously priced (in my opinion) and I'm not overjoyed with paying that amount of money "just to work out." So here's why I did. I had asked one of my friends if she thought the price is too much. Her answer was, "If you go, no amount of money is too much for your health." Ok - good answer. So that helps out with the money part. Plus, I decided that I would give myself three months. If I didn't use it enough for me to justify the price, I would stop (nice thing about this gym - no contract). That's the first part.
The second part is that everyone I know goes to this gym! Ok - there might be one or two of my friends who don't go there, but almost everyone else. Being the social person that I am, my thought process is that if I can go with a friend, I'm more likely to go. Even if I can't schedule something with a friend, there's a good possibility that I'll run into someone I know - which will make for a pleasant experience while I'm there.
Lastly, the child care is active-based. My kiddos won't just be plopped in front of a movie - they'll be moving. One of my goals is to get fitness ingrained in my children's lives so they're not struggling with it at 40 like I am. Plus, if my friends are there - so are their friends. Built in play-date. Yay me!
Well, I am happy to report that I started May 3rd and in the month of May I went to the gym eleven times. I did some sort of other exercise (hiking and such) eight days in May. Of the eleven days at the gym, I worked out by myself only three times - so the whole friend thing is a huge plus. Again, summertime worries me a bit. Don't get me wrong, my kids love, love, love the gym. However, in May I did go several times while they were at school. I hope they love it as much when they're going multiple times per week.
I also had a garage sale and was able to purge some stuff and I've finally (with help from a friend) put some bigger items on Craigslist. Of course, my goal it to continue with the workouts and the reduced soda intake. In a month or two, I think I'll do vitality again and focus more on healthy food, but for now it's time to move on.
This month I'm working on my passions. Hence - this post. One of the things Gretchen has said recently (or maybe it's not recently - but I just read it) is if you're having trouble getting something done, do it every day. At first, I thought that was a silly thing to try. If I can't get it done weekly, how on Earth am I going to get it done daily? Well, I've been doing it with the picking up of dog poo and it seems to be working out (if you know me, you know how huge that is) so I'm going to try it with my passions as well. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll blog everyday, since scrapbooking and hiking are also on my list of passions. But it won't be months again before I post something. I'm also wanting to research what else I might be passionate about. I have a ton of things I'd like to try, so I'm going to pick one or two of them and see if anything sticks.
And as I pause to re-read what I've written, it turns out that the "just start typing" thing was a good idea. I didn't focus on any of the things that I was originally thinking - not in detail anyway. But this was just what I needed: to focus on my happiness, to write it down. I think that means for June - I'm off to a great start!!!
I guess what I really want to start with is that I'm still doing The Happiness Project and I still love it! I've had some months that were better than others. Not that I didn't like the focus of certain months, just that I wasn't as dedicated. I realized (you're going to be shocked) that if I actually write down what I'm going to focus on, I do a much better job. I have two Happiness groups going and sometimes life it too crazy and I pick my subject for the month too last minute and make up my goals for the month on the fly. That doesn't seem to work too well for me. However, the months that I take the time to re-read the chapter that I'm working on, write down my goals and maybe make a scrapbook page to signify that month, I do amazingly well.
Last month was a complete success! I revisited the first chapter about vitality. I had gotten out of the habit of going to bed on time and that had been the only thing that had really stuck. The biggest problem I find with bedtime this time is my schedule with my kids was so crazy (last month of school) that they were going to bed later and I really need a bit of downtime between their bedtime and mine. I did ok, but I'm worried about summer since their bedtime is later. None-the-less, I made huge improvements in this area - getting to bed between 10:30 & 11:00 (my goal is 10:00) vs. between 11:30 & 1:00.
My next task was giving up soda. I'm not a diet soda kind of girl but I know how bad the real thing is for me. I've kicked the habit a couple of times before, but this time it just wasn't working out. So instead of my all or nothing approach (which usually works for me) I decided to take baby steps. Just go one day without it. Then the next week, go two days. I'm happy to report that currently, I've only had a soda every five days. I'm trying not to say that I'll never have one again (then I'll want it too badly) but the longer I can go in between, the better I'm feeling.
The biggest thing I accomplished, however - is that I joined a gym near my house. First of all what you need to know is that I would never say I'm a gym girl. Next what you need to know is that this particular gym is outrageously priced (in my opinion) and I'm not overjoyed with paying that amount of money "just to work out." So here's why I did. I had asked one of my friends if she thought the price is too much. Her answer was, "If you go, no amount of money is too much for your health." Ok - good answer. So that helps out with the money part. Plus, I decided that I would give myself three months. If I didn't use it enough for me to justify the price, I would stop (nice thing about this gym - no contract). That's the first part.
The second part is that everyone I know goes to this gym! Ok - there might be one or two of my friends who don't go there, but almost everyone else. Being the social person that I am, my thought process is that if I can go with a friend, I'm more likely to go. Even if I can't schedule something with a friend, there's a good possibility that I'll run into someone I know - which will make for a pleasant experience while I'm there.
Lastly, the child care is active-based. My kiddos won't just be plopped in front of a movie - they'll be moving. One of my goals is to get fitness ingrained in my children's lives so they're not struggling with it at 40 like I am. Plus, if my friends are there - so are their friends. Built in play-date. Yay me!
Well, I am happy to report that I started May 3rd and in the month of May I went to the gym eleven times. I did some sort of other exercise (hiking and such) eight days in May. Of the eleven days at the gym, I worked out by myself only three times - so the whole friend thing is a huge plus. Again, summertime worries me a bit. Don't get me wrong, my kids love, love, love the gym. However, in May I did go several times while they were at school. I hope they love it as much when they're going multiple times per week.
I also had a garage sale and was able to purge some stuff and I've finally (with help from a friend) put some bigger items on Craigslist. Of course, my goal it to continue with the workouts and the reduced soda intake. In a month or two, I think I'll do vitality again and focus more on healthy food, but for now it's time to move on.
This month I'm working on my passions. Hence - this post. One of the things Gretchen has said recently (or maybe it's not recently - but I just read it) is if you're having trouble getting something done, do it every day. At first, I thought that was a silly thing to try. If I can't get it done weekly, how on Earth am I going to get it done daily? Well, I've been doing it with the picking up of dog poo and it seems to be working out (if you know me, you know how huge that is) so I'm going to try it with my passions as well. That doesn't necessarily mean I'll blog everyday, since scrapbooking and hiking are also on my list of passions. But it won't be months again before I post something. I'm also wanting to research what else I might be passionate about. I have a ton of things I'd like to try, so I'm going to pick one or two of them and see if anything sticks.
And as I pause to re-read what I've written, it turns out that the "just start typing" thing was a good idea. I didn't focus on any of the things that I was originally thinking - not in detail anyway. But this was just what I needed: to focus on my happiness, to write it down. I think that means for June - I'm off to a great start!!!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Living in the Moment
I am in the middle of my "crazy, fun" season. October through February is a crazy busy time for me. For a good chunk of it, I feel completely overwhelmed. However - it's all fun stuff, so I never complain about it. Ok - "never" is strong. I do most of it to myself, so I don't feel that it's right to complain. Unfortunately, I've noticed myself complaining a lot these past couple of weeks. Tonight I figured out why.
I haven't been "living in the moment." Obviously, with the holidays upon us and all of the festivities and all of the extras that I have to do, there is a fair amount of time that needs to be spent on looking towards the future for planning purposes. There also needs to be some time looking back (how did we arrange the nutcrackers last year?). But the most important part of all that planning and all of the traditions is to enjoy them while they're happening.
This year - just in case I'm not usually busy enough - I volunteered in both of my girls' classes for their Halloween parties and I was slotted to help with their girl scouts service project collecting food for needy families for Thanksgiving. Add to that all of the extras that the schools do to make school fun (never forget to send the stuffed animal on the day they get to bring stuffed animals to school - never!) and I am in complete overwhelm overload! Now in my defense, I've been complaining nicely. I haven't used a sour tone or bad words. It's been "jokingly" complaining.
Well, tonight I decided it had been too long since I blogged, so I was looking through some writing ideas and I came across "My Creaking Body". This was an idea I had when I hadn't hiked for a month and I noticed my body "creaking" more often than it had been - literally! My knees cracked, by back strained, I grunted every time I got out of a chair. I wanted to write about how much I had come to love hiking and how it was benefiting me. But when I sat down to try to write I realized that I've only hiked once in the past month and today, my body isn't creaking. Hmmm...I thought - why is that? What did I do today?
Today was the service project with my daughters' girl scouts troops. Two things hit me next. One was that I'm definitely onto something with getting exercise vs. creaking. We hit the streets today - going door to door asking for donations. Granted, it wasn't strenuous exercise by any stretch of the imagination, but I wasn't sitting and I was outside. The other was something that one of the other moms said towards the end of the event. She said, "This is so fun."
I'll admit, at the time she said it, I thought, "yeah, whatever - you're a better mom than I am." But as I was pondering why that particular thought popped into my head is when it hit me that I'm not "living in the moment." She was right - it was fun. The kids all had a great time. They raced house to house to see who got to ring the bell, they got excited when someone gave more than just one can and they even got one of the dads to pull each of them in the wagon. They got to decorate the bags for delivery, eat cookies and drink hot chocolate. It was even fun for me - I got to see some of my friends, meet a few new moms and see the joy in my children's faces as they enjoyed a beautiful day outside.
But I had been too caught up in what I had to do to help the event. Too caught up in the fact that I had to help at all. To be honest, I was still reeling from having to help in their classrooms on Halloween. So here's my "a-ha moment" for the day - or more appropriately, my "a-ha reminder moment" - enjoy it! Live in the moment. Treasure these moments that are going to pass all too quickly. And I'm not just talking about the "they're only small once" moments (although those are certainly important). I'm talking about all the moments. If you - ok, if I - have said yes to doing something, enjoy it. We've all made plans with friends or family out of obligation or even for fun and thought, I could be doing something else that's a better use of my time. And maybe that's true. But the point is, you've made the plans - you can grumble through them, or you can enjoy them. The choice is yours. No one is going to make you have a bad time and no one is responsible for you having a good time - only you.
What I'm most thankful for today is that this "a-ha reminder" came to me at the beginning of the season. I'm sure there will still be some amount of stress involved in the planning of events big and small. The good news is that as the time of the event gets closer, I'm going to remind myself to live in the moment - and be thankful for the busyness that keeps my body from creaking!
I haven't been "living in the moment." Obviously, with the holidays upon us and all of the festivities and all of the extras that I have to do, there is a fair amount of time that needs to be spent on looking towards the future for planning purposes. There also needs to be some time looking back (how did we arrange the nutcrackers last year?). But the most important part of all that planning and all of the traditions is to enjoy them while they're happening.
This year - just in case I'm not usually busy enough - I volunteered in both of my girls' classes for their Halloween parties and I was slotted to help with their girl scouts service project collecting food for needy families for Thanksgiving. Add to that all of the extras that the schools do to make school fun (never forget to send the stuffed animal on the day they get to bring stuffed animals to school - never!) and I am in complete overwhelm overload! Now in my defense, I've been complaining nicely. I haven't used a sour tone or bad words. It's been "jokingly" complaining.
Well, tonight I decided it had been too long since I blogged, so I was looking through some writing ideas and I came across "My Creaking Body". This was an idea I had when I hadn't hiked for a month and I noticed my body "creaking" more often than it had been - literally! My knees cracked, by back strained, I grunted every time I got out of a chair. I wanted to write about how much I had come to love hiking and how it was benefiting me. But when I sat down to try to write I realized that I've only hiked once in the past month and today, my body isn't creaking. Hmmm...I thought - why is that? What did I do today?
Today was the service project with my daughters' girl scouts troops. Two things hit me next. One was that I'm definitely onto something with getting exercise vs. creaking. We hit the streets today - going door to door asking for donations. Granted, it wasn't strenuous exercise by any stretch of the imagination, but I wasn't sitting and I was outside. The other was something that one of the other moms said towards the end of the event. She said, "This is so fun."
I'll admit, at the time she said it, I thought, "yeah, whatever - you're a better mom than I am." But as I was pondering why that particular thought popped into my head is when it hit me that I'm not "living in the moment." She was right - it was fun. The kids all had a great time. They raced house to house to see who got to ring the bell, they got excited when someone gave more than just one can and they even got one of the dads to pull each of them in the wagon. They got to decorate the bags for delivery, eat cookies and drink hot chocolate. It was even fun for me - I got to see some of my friends, meet a few new moms and see the joy in my children's faces as they enjoyed a beautiful day outside.
But I had been too caught up in what I had to do to help the event. Too caught up in the fact that I had to help at all. To be honest, I was still reeling from having to help in their classrooms on Halloween. So here's my "a-ha moment" for the day - or more appropriately, my "a-ha reminder moment" - enjoy it! Live in the moment. Treasure these moments that are going to pass all too quickly. And I'm not just talking about the "they're only small once" moments (although those are certainly important). I'm talking about all the moments. If you - ok, if I - have said yes to doing something, enjoy it. We've all made plans with friends or family out of obligation or even for fun and thought, I could be doing something else that's a better use of my time. And maybe that's true. But the point is, you've made the plans - you can grumble through them, or you can enjoy them. The choice is yours. No one is going to make you have a bad time and no one is responsible for you having a good time - only you.
What I'm most thankful for today is that this "a-ha reminder" came to me at the beginning of the season. I'm sure there will still be some amount of stress involved in the planning of events big and small. The good news is that as the time of the event gets closer, I'm going to remind myself to live in the moment - and be thankful for the busyness that keeps my body from creaking!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Thank you, Pastor
Three weeks ago, the pastor at my church announced that because of medical reasons, he would be stepping down. As he was making the announcement, the tears started to roll and only stopped periodically for the rest of the day. I've spent the past few weeks trying not to think about it because every time I do, it makes me so sad. Well, today is his last day leading us in worship, so I guess it's time to think about it.
I grew up with religion, so this isn't the first time I've had to go through a change in a church. It is, however, the first time that I've been so sad about it. I was raised Catholic and was never close to any of the priests. Two and a half years ago, on a recommendation from a friend, I signed my girls up for vacation bible school at a Lutheran church. The pastor only spoke to me two times that week - but I could tell you what he said to me in both conversations. I liked him from the moment I met him.
We went to services that Sunday because the kids from VBS were going to sing the songs they had learned that week. As we walked out, several people introduced themselves to us. It felt so warm and welcoming. I realize that some of my friends would have hated that. They'd prefer to slide in and slide out unnoticed. I used to prefer that too - but this was so much better. The pastor invited me back and the next week, since Mike had the girls, I went by myself.
The pastor's sermon seemed like it was written for me. Furthermore, he was so engaging! I've sat through my share of sermons when I had to work hard to concentrate to pay attention. Not so with him. The other thing that seemed amazing to me (although this is how it should be) was that he seemed to be passionate about what he was preaching. It wasn't just something he was reading or had memorized, like he had said it so many times it had become monotone - he truly believed! And wanted to share his passion with us - with me!
As I walked out to my car, I paused in the courtyard for a moment, took a deep breath and thought, "I'm home!"
I had stopped going to church a few years back and had tried several times to find a new church. None of them - not even the church I grew up in - had this feeling for me. It was amazing, like God was just waiting there for me - waiting for me to come home.
Over the next few months I had several conversations with the pastor. He explained the differences between being Catholic and being Lutheran, he gave me insight on the history of the church and he answered my questions. I loved those conversations! First of all, I grew up learning rules and do's and don'ts, but I had never learned about the history. I heard the readings at church on Sunday, but had never read the Bible myself. I actually started reading it a couple of years ago, but he really helped me to see the Word. It's like the light went on when I truly got the concept of grace, when it clicked that we're all sinners and forgiven through Jesus.
I could go on and on with my many "a-ha moments", but one of the best parts was him - my pastor. He didn't meet with me because he had to or because it was just part of his job. He didn't answer my questions with mundane, rehearsed answers. He talked with me, he was patient when I didn't understand, and he taught me with examples that were relevant to my life. I commented to him once that he was the draw for me to come to that church and he replied, "You never choose a church for the pastor."
Now that he is stepping down, I realize that he is right - and sometimes wrong. He's right in that the pastor is not the reason you should choose a church because he could leave that church on any given day for any given reason. However, he's also wrong because I know that he's the reason I came back to that church after VBS. His willingness to explain the differences to me, to answer my questions, to engage my children in services, to invite me to Bible study and my girls to Sunday school, to teach me the meaning of forgiveness and share his love of God with me - he's the reason I went back.
He's not the reason I'll stay. That church truly is my home! I felt it. I know it. I treasure it. I love the people there and I will be forever thankful that he was there inviting me to stay. I might have found it anyway. But I might have left after VBS Sunday and not come back. I'm sure he'd say that he's not the reason, that God's the reason I finally found my way home. And he's right. God had him in the right place at the right time to help me find my way.
So thank you Pastor! Thank you for being such an important part of my journey! I will be praying for your healing and your happiness and thanking God every day for having blessed me with your friendship.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; May the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you Peace.
I grew up with religion, so this isn't the first time I've had to go through a change in a church. It is, however, the first time that I've been so sad about it. I was raised Catholic and was never close to any of the priests. Two and a half years ago, on a recommendation from a friend, I signed my girls up for vacation bible school at a Lutheran church. The pastor only spoke to me two times that week - but I could tell you what he said to me in both conversations. I liked him from the moment I met him.
We went to services that Sunday because the kids from VBS were going to sing the songs they had learned that week. As we walked out, several people introduced themselves to us. It felt so warm and welcoming. I realize that some of my friends would have hated that. They'd prefer to slide in and slide out unnoticed. I used to prefer that too - but this was so much better. The pastor invited me back and the next week, since Mike had the girls, I went by myself.
The pastor's sermon seemed like it was written for me. Furthermore, he was so engaging! I've sat through my share of sermons when I had to work hard to concentrate to pay attention. Not so with him. The other thing that seemed amazing to me (although this is how it should be) was that he seemed to be passionate about what he was preaching. It wasn't just something he was reading or had memorized, like he had said it so many times it had become monotone - he truly believed! And wanted to share his passion with us - with me!
As I walked out to my car, I paused in the courtyard for a moment, took a deep breath and thought, "I'm home!"
I had stopped going to church a few years back and had tried several times to find a new church. None of them - not even the church I grew up in - had this feeling for me. It was amazing, like God was just waiting there for me - waiting for me to come home.
Over the next few months I had several conversations with the pastor. He explained the differences between being Catholic and being Lutheran, he gave me insight on the history of the church and he answered my questions. I loved those conversations! First of all, I grew up learning rules and do's and don'ts, but I had never learned about the history. I heard the readings at church on Sunday, but had never read the Bible myself. I actually started reading it a couple of years ago, but he really helped me to see the Word. It's like the light went on when I truly got the concept of grace, when it clicked that we're all sinners and forgiven through Jesus.
I could go on and on with my many "a-ha moments", but one of the best parts was him - my pastor. He didn't meet with me because he had to or because it was just part of his job. He didn't answer my questions with mundane, rehearsed answers. He talked with me, he was patient when I didn't understand, and he taught me with examples that were relevant to my life. I commented to him once that he was the draw for me to come to that church and he replied, "You never choose a church for the pastor."
Now that he is stepping down, I realize that he is right - and sometimes wrong. He's right in that the pastor is not the reason you should choose a church because he could leave that church on any given day for any given reason. However, he's also wrong because I know that he's the reason I came back to that church after VBS. His willingness to explain the differences to me, to answer my questions, to engage my children in services, to invite me to Bible study and my girls to Sunday school, to teach me the meaning of forgiveness and share his love of God with me - he's the reason I went back.
He's not the reason I'll stay. That church truly is my home! I felt it. I know it. I treasure it. I love the people there and I will be forever thankful that he was there inviting me to stay. I might have found it anyway. But I might have left after VBS Sunday and not come back. I'm sure he'd say that he's not the reason, that God's the reason I finally found my way home. And he's right. God had him in the right place at the right time to help me find my way.
So thank you Pastor! Thank you for being such an important part of my journey! I will be praying for your healing and your happiness and thanking God every day for having blessed me with your friendship.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; May the Lord lift up His countenance on you, and give you Peace.
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