the important things

Started the day at 4:30am, when I awoke to take my Mom to the hospital for surgery.  We got to the hospital at 5:45am to start the pre-op process. 
By 8am,  I was saying goodbye to her as they rolled her away for surgery. 

It's now 2:56, and I am so thankful that she's resting in her room.  I talked with her long enough to know her pain is being managed & that she's ok.

Doc says everything went fine.  It's a good day to be reminded of the important things in life.

crutch

Dan & I are midway through a time of consecration. 

We decided, with all that's going on in life, that we really wanted to intentionally set ourselves aside . . . to listen to God.  We need to hear from Him, be encouraged by Him & find direction from Him.

As I was in prayer, I asked God what to do during this time.  The word "crutch" kept coming up, so I asked Him to tell me what that meant.  He told me to give up anything that I use as a crutch.  Sooooooo . . . I've been without radio, TV, sugar or caffeine for 7 days now.

It's actually been a really good experience.  I've got new focus.  I'm feeling better physically.  Dan & I have had time together.  Stay tuned . . .

lunch break

After gaining so much ground with my thyroid this last year, pretty much all ground was lost over the last 2 months.  Been losing handfuls of hair & exhausted all over again. 
So talked with my doc the other day & dug out my boxes of herbs.  I had even planned to meet a co-worker to ride bikes into work from my house (about 12 miles) to get some exercise. But after talking to Doc - no go.  Says, because my body is so exhausted & depleted, that I can't do any exercise besides walking.  Sooooo . . .

. . . been hearing about a nearby lake (tucked behind all of the small businesses, so you can't see it).  So I threw on my tennis shoes & started following people who looked like they were doing the same thing. 

And lo 'n behold . . . there it was!  A perfect 40 minute walk.  The perfect distance for my lunch break!  I gotta get all the vitamin D I can get before winter :-)

101 things

101 things that I'm grateful for this week . . .

1. Dan's at home with me
2. a healthy daughter
3. Liz & Erin
4. a job
5. health benefits
6. my Mom & Dad
7. a place to live
8. a/c that works in my car
9. grocercies I like to eat
10. lots of grass in the front yard
11. Chester the dog
12. a great boss
13. Jeff & Katie
14. computer access
15. a bike route to work on Thursday
16. people to eat lunch with
17. salsa friends
18. Ishabor, Pete & Joanna
19. text messaging
20. family
21. fun nail polish
22. high heels
23. new work clothes
24. lakes
25. bikes
26. legs that work
27. curly hair
28. Grandma & Grandpa's house
29. cousins
30. VBS
31. Pirate camp
32. internet access
33. Uncle Jess
34. bluetooth
35. the radio
36. JLo's new album "Love?"
37. the Bible
38. good sermons
39. stainless steel water bottle
40. cold filtered water at work
41. Advil
42. Dr. Archer
43. spreadsheets
44. online travel tools
45. warm shower
46. rooms with doors that close
47. Subway sandwiches
48. dancing shoes with double straps
49. memories
50. hospitals
51. Facebook
52. bankers, tax guys & lawyers
53. organizers for my desk
54. forgiveness
55. reimbursement checks
56. plants on my desk
57. Otter box cover for my iPhone
58. pictures of friends
59. New City Church
60. redemption
61. new beginnings
62. Mama Juana's
63. a new haircut
64. help moving again
65. Cai & Solvei
66. books
67. daily mail service
68. sonic toothbrush
69. paychecks
70. wireless
71. bus lines
72. Antonio
73. safe travels
74. craigslist
75. MAC makeup
76. sunshine
77. diffuser & hair products to make my hair curly
78. envelope-free ATMs
79. PODS
80. my comfy bed & sheets
81. Netflix
82. Karen and Heath
83. parks within walking distance of the house
84. a boss who doesn't micro-manage
85. music
86. an extra car seat for my kiddo
87. U-Haul
88. fun jewelry
89. an organized HR director
90. good babysitters
91. cash in my wallet
92. fun screen savers
93. voicemail that turns into email
94. a good sit on the couch
95. time with Dan
96. have I mentioned a healthy & very happy daughter :-)
97. a fun ring tone
98. snacks
99. cold soda (or "pop" as they call it)
100. ice
101. love

resilience

As of late, I've got a new appreciation for the word "resilience".  I've always had a sense for what the word meant, but lately, I FEEL what it means.
It means . . .

• leaving my beloved friends in California & mourning their presence . . .
• while driving across the country & starting life over from scratch . . .
• while my husband is out of town for the week . . .
• while my car overheats & the A/C breaks when it's 100+ degrees . . .
• while starting a new job & supporting a brand new CEO . . . 
• while learning everything at the same time . . .
• while leaving my daughter for 10 hours/day . . .
• while helping her process what's going on . . .
• while moving yet again after only 4 weeks of being here . . .
• while packing up everything we own at 4am so I can pick up my car by 7:30 . . .
• while I rush to be to work by 8 . . .
• while thinking about having to move again in a few more months . . .
• while mourning what I thought would be a turn for the better . . .
• while waiting for important paperwork that could change our lives . . .
• while processing all of the loss & all of the pain . . .
• while trying to manage all of the details in my 35 minute commute . . .
• while trying not to cry during the 3 short hours I see my kiddo each day . . .
• while trying to arrange childcare for a 3rd time in 2 months . . .
• ALL while not having danced in forever . . .

I give myself an A+ for resilience.  A nap would be good at this point.