Will it be fun?

In a conversation with the kids yesterday, we were discussing the concept of fun.   While anticipating the evening with my parents, E wanted to know if the evening was going to be fun.   We talked about how anything in life can be fun, it just depends on how we look at it.   If we determine ahead of time that we are going to have fun, then we most likely will have fun.  It is something that my parents taught me as a child.  (Besides that, when is an evening at Grandma's not fun??)   

A couple of weeks ago, my brother-in-law passed on an e-mail that tied into this thought process:
 
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.  His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.  As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. 

 I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
 

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'
 

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.  Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.  Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. 'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up.  I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.  Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
 

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!   

 

With life moving along as such a busy and hectic pace as of recent, I have been enjoying the days and the activities that life brings.  Each day brings its challenges and blessings, but I am choosing during this time to enjoy the days and what they are bringing to my life right now. 

In Awe... Again

I was on my knees, wondering what the future was going to hold.  With tears in my eyes and fear in my heart, I gave it up to Him, totally and completely, holding nothing back.   I surrendered all the control I thought I had, when in all actuality, I had none and asked once again for His provision. 

Today, I am left speechless and in awe....again, because He provides as he always does. 

Much Needed

As the speed of life kicked into full force after the nice relaxing holidays, we have for the past four weeks found ourselves running, running, running.   Not a pace I like to keep life at, but it seems inevitable right now.  So, we say a prayer, put a smile on our face and do the best we can. 

With a long weekend due to end of quarter for the kids at school and Mark taking a day of work, we have had three days to just take a breath and enjoy life again.   Friday we went to the cities just to get out of town for a little while.   It was a nice day away.   We didn't do anything majorly exciting to tell you about, just got away.     

Saturday I spent the day making a big pot of soup for dinner.   I have been craving this soup for some time, but with the busy schedule have not had time to make it.   My parents came over and we had a nice visit.  After a great workout at the gym and a great church service today, we came home and have done absolutely nothing except enjoy each other and doing the things we each want to do.  

Friday night as I was sitting next to Mark, he asked me what I was thinking.   I looked at him and for the first time in a month I could honestly say that my mind was calm.   It wasn't running with thoughts, schedules, work, etc.   It was quiet.   I savored the feeling.  Tonight as the weekend comes to a close, I am fighting the busyness away as my mind keeps trying to process the week ahead.   I know it is busy and we will be running like crazy again, but right now, as I sit in my family room with my kids playing wii and Mark reading a book, I am not ready to take on the week just yet.   Monday will come soon enough and I can process it all then.

For now, the calm is going to rule for a few more hours as I continue to enjoy the weekend that was much needed for all of us.

Can I Start Over?

My morning started with a stress-free morning in which I could just enjoy my children before sending them off to school.   After a 2 mile run at the gym, I was treated to a hydro-massage while listening to music:

Thinking that was one of the best ways to spend my morning, I was then able to walk with my mom and have some much needed catch up on life time, time we have not had of late.  


I am wondering if I can turn back the clocks and do it all again?  

An Amazing Man

Yesterday was Mark's birthday.   I cannot tell you how much this man means to me.   I know his presence in my life is not an accident, or just a chance, rather he is in my life because God brought him here.   Our lives would not have crossed paths otherwise I am pretty sure.   Through the years, I have grown to love Mark even more than I could possibly have known.   He is my biggest fan in life no matter what I am working on or trying to achieve.  Right beside me encouraging me and loving me through each success and failure that we have encountered, I have found self-confidence in life.  I love the conversations we have and the laughter we share. 

He is a great father to our children.  His first question upon entering the house every night is to ask the kids how their day at school was.  The requests to play games and spend time with him are not ignored even when he is tired from a long day at work.   Mark encourages the kids' interests and helps fulfill the desire to learn and find the information that they are looking for.  

Mark, I love you more than I can ever put into words.   On a day that celebrates you, know that you are loved and cherished, not only on your birthday but every day of every year.  Thank you for your constant love and support.   Our lives are definitely better because of you. 

I Think I Can, I Think I Can.... Right??

Here we go.   I am about to embark upon another journey, and truthfully, this one scares me to death.  Being a person who thrives on setting goals, I am in the process of setting a goal that I am both really excited and intrigued about and so completely terrified about. 

This past weekend a couple of friends mentioned that they were going to run the half marathon in the Med City Marathon.   I can't remember exactly how we came around to this, but all of a sudden one of them asked me if I would want to run with them.   I don't remember what I said at the moment because my mind was reeling.   "Could I actually do this?  I have thought about it before, but could I actually run half a marathon?" 

All day Sunday I processed what it would look like, the training, the time commitment, etc.   Talking with Mark and with my dad, both said sure, I could do it if I wanted.   Ah, there is the key, is this something I want? 

I won't go into the many hours of brain power I have put behind this decision, but as of last night, I told my friend I "think" I am going to do this with you. 

The "think" is in there because the race in and of itself intrigues me.   Last year E and Addy ran in the Kids Med City Marathon and loved it.   When E came home from school talking about it, I wondered if a marathon were something I could ever do.   As the months went on and May approached, I had done no training and really made no preparations for it.   So we participated in the kid's portion of the race and went on with our summer.  

When asked this past weekend if I would like to run in the race, it brought up the thoughts and feelings of I would like to do it, but will I like it?  I have never been in a physical condition to enjoy exercise and running.   It is not something I have developed the love for yet, but I am excited to see what happens when I do get to a place where I feel like I am physically in shape.   

The excitement is what I can accomplish with this goal.   I know that upon crossing the finish line, I would feel a great sense of accomplishment.   The fear is on the training and the idea of what if I get into this and I find I really dislike running?   Thirteen miles is a long time to run if running is not one's thing. 

Since I don't know if I like running or not, I am going to move ahead with the training and the preparations, and come May I may be running in a race, or not.   If not, I will have had months of exercise and there is nothing wrong with that. 

Now to get my running shoes......

What Do I Really "Need"?

Today we received another letter from India.    Two days ago, a letter telling us about Vivek's bible studies that he is in and thanking us for the pictures from Arizona arrived.   This proves to me that the communication between us and our children is slow at best, being that I sent those pictures six months ago, but I am very happy that the pictures brought enjoyment to Vivek.   

The second letter brought a whole new dimension to what we as a family are doing for these children.   Part of our contribution to these children since we don't financially sponsor all of them is to send birthday money for each of them.   Today's letter was a thank you note for Vivek's birthday gift.   The letter reads as follows:

"I bought pant shirt, shoes and Jacket."

"I like it because my previous old clothes were torned from some places, I even don't have new sandle to wear on free time.  Winter season is near so I took shoes and Jacket as gifts from your side on my birthday.  For your love and care I with my whole family thank you for everything.   May God Bless you fulfill all your needs and worries. "








This letter arrives at our house on a week where I am wondering what life will look like in certain areas this year.  What does summer look like?  What about after that?   In reality, what matters is that God is providing.   My needs-- the basics of life-- are taken care of.   God has always provided and I need to have faith in that.