The Perfect Weekend

What does the perfect weekend look like?

At one point in my life I would have said hanging out with friends all weekend. In another season of life would, spending the weekend with my darling would have been the ideal.

These days its a good mix. Take this weekend: Friday I spent the evening hanging out with a couple of my girlfriends at a charity fundraiser. 

I spent Saturday morning sipping coffee, had an afternoon nap, and woke up just in time to make my pot luck dish and head over to Lori's house for our Disciple 3 meet-up. 

Today I attended church with my parents, followed by fellowship and Bible study with the CrossTalk ladies I love and admire. After church I hit the greenway for an 8 mile run, then the grocery store to grab some fresh food for dinners this weekend.

I got home around 2ish, put away groceries, showered, then settled in for a little screen time and NFL football. I split my attention between the tied Colts/Panthers game and Percy Jackson's Sea of Monsters. Currently, Jay is napping on the couch next to me, so I took the opportunity to do this blog on a full-size keyboard.

While I can think of a few scenarios which could make this weekend better, I consider it a great blend of down time and socialization. As my mama's favorite band Alabama would say, That's Close Enough to Perfect for Me.

What have you been up to this weekend?

What does your perfect weekend look like?

Linking up with Jaime for Stream of Consciousness weekend.

Thank You, Part 2

Thank you Jesus. My life is so incredibly blessed, the stressers I face are almost laughable. Almost, because while they seem small in comparison to the struggle of others, they sure press down hard upon me.

Yesterday, I entered gift #6000 into my journal. That, itself, is a gift - to still be recognizing, recording those glimmers of heaven. Another day, month, year has been presented to me. I can appreciate it, if only I allow myself the time to meditate on that which surrounds me.

With the changes coming, both actual and anticipated, the temptation to become a malcontent will be great. The paradise I enjoy now isn't staying the same, and may well be ruined.

This doesn't give me license to complain or even become annoyed.  The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.
Praise the name of Yahweh. Job 1:21

5959) Opportunity to help random lady at the grocery store
5960) Pre-mother's day dinner with Mama & Mamaw
5974) Nature walk + talk with the girls
5989) Words of grace to share with the hurting on Mother's day
5995) Watching new TV shows with Jay
6000) The Princess's 11th birthday
6006) Enthusiasm over new training plan

Do you look at changes with dread or excitement?
What this past week have you been thankful for?

Refocus: Thankful Thursday

A case of the Mondays

A fat day

Murphy has come to visit

Whatever you want to call it, today has been one of those days. Without going too deep into pop-psychology, I feel very fragmented right now. I don't have any major decisions or obstacles ahead of me (that I know of at least), but for some reason I'm feeling overwhelmed.

My darling jumped to my rescue last night, helping me get jump-started cleaning the house for our weekend guests. At work, the one-bite-at-a-time strategy seems to be working as well. My brain just doesn't want to auto-lock on any one task.

In times like this, I find reviewing my thankful list to be helpful. Its been a while since I've done that for the blog, so I'll pick a random number to start with.

5555) Dishes to put away, my material blessings 

5600) Purse found, nothing missing

5665) Chatting with Jess before the Shamrock Marathon

5700) Biscuits and gravy

5775) Asheville dinner - watching the train

5800) S.H.I.E.L.D. watching

5885) Free date ideas

5900) Bible study teaching materials, knowledge

Honorable mention: 

5952) Dino nuggets

5954) Clean toilets

As I posted on Facebook last week, the fact these two made my list is a good indicator that I've gotten busyness get the better of me. 

What do you have to be thankful for this past week?
 

Three Easy Ways to Be Blessed

Don't ya just hate those blog titles that barely have anything to do with what the blog post is about, but try to draw the reader in and commit to reading before its too late? Me too. *wink*

Instead of my standard Thursday list of thankfulness for the past week, I wanted to expound a bit as to exactly how these three things have brightened my life.

1) My Love

This past weekend an attraction near our house opened. My darling love, who likes the business on Facebook, saw that they were running a $5 special on Saturday. 

We certainly didn't want to miss out on a great deal, so we headed that way and stood in line for an hour. The weather was beautiful this past weekend, but as the sun went down the air started to get crisp.

I was in the first car, then Jay, then a buddy of mine who came over to hang out on Saturday. Not exactly date night, but I certainly and grateful that Jay likes my friends and vice versa.

2) Fitness

While it may see odd to be thankful for something I often consider a chore, or whine about completing, I'm very thankful for the role fitness plays in my life.

Whether its bundling up to enjoy a run outside with friends, taking it to the treadmill for some easy solo miles, or even heading to the fitness center for a class, I'm blessed to be healthy enough for activity.

This week, I've found myself pushing through the hard miles, basking in the strong miles, and enjoying nature as I've logged miles in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Sometimes music gives me a tranquility when I'm able to zone out and focus on the music. Other times my accomplishments help me realize just what I'm capable of when I put my mind to it.

3) Friends

Last Tuesday for a friend's birthday, we headed to Knoxville to enjoy a night of Painting with a Twist. The perfectionist in me hates arts and crafts. If I don't get everything exactly perfect, I quickly grow frustrated with myself.

The instructor did a good job with step-by-step directions on how to achieve the look we were going for - included how to get the faded effect as seen in the starter picture of my art, with only 2 colors of blue and a dab of white.

The "twist" helped me tell my inner-mean-girl to be quiet as I made the imperfections into really cool aspects of the painting. Of course anything can be fun with these girls. I am certainly grateful God brought them into my life!

What blessings have you found noteworthy 

in your life this past week??

Blessings in the New Year

I've finally caught up with my thankful posts, so this list reflects this past week, since passing my 5,000th entry.

5025) Trophy wife dinners with clients

5028) NYE morning with Jay

5033) Tree topped - 70% off sale! 

5040) Trivia Crack app

 my buddy Jay aka SID and I the night at the pasta dinner before the Pistol Ultra

5054) Inspiration to do more

5058) Sunday church with the parents

5063) NFL playoffs

5067) Coffee, bitter & strong

5071) Booking this summer's cruise

5076) my Great-Aunt Iris's legacy

5081) Gear for cold miles

For what have you been thankful this past week??

To 5,000 and Beyond!

To finish out 2014 on a note of gratitude, I want to share some of my entries leading up to my 5,000th thankful item. Hopefully 2015 will be a new year of journaling as well as consistently sharing my blessings via this blog.

4882) Beautifully played instruments offered as worship

4893) Sunday evening foot rubs

4906) Finishing Christmas cards

4912) Work Christmas bowling party

4921) Clean borders (Daddy)

4936) Visiting with Mamaw & Papaw

4947) Fun white elephant/dirty Santa w/family

4952) Candles, flickering

4960) not-so traditional Christmas eve {hard thanks}

4975) Sausage toss

4987) Gifts hand picked by the Princess & Little Man

4993) Funny movie with the family

5000) Jay sleeping normal hours through the holiday

5016) Small group Bible study discussion

 

For what have you been thankful this holiday season? 
Hope you have a blessed new year!!

But Seriously...

I guess I just couldn't bring myself to write this blog, now that I (sorta) know the end of the story, I'm ready.

Last month, before Jay and I went to Maine I received an ominous phone call from my dad. His doctor found something suspicious and wanted him to come in for a biopsy. They performed the procedure while we were gone and got the results back the week following.

Sitting just beside my driveway, while getting the mail, my daddy told me over the phone he had cancer.

For a while, I clammed up about it. I didn't want to talk about it. I didn't want to think about it. I told a few friends, but asked them not to mention it to me. I even told Jay I didn't want to talk about it.

During a run one Sunday, I had my breakdown. Scared and upset, I ran the first 6 miles doing all the worrying I'd pent up in my head. My daddy has cancer. I even said it aloud. All the not talking/thinking about it had left me numb. Something about the words made it real.

Along the route, I saw a dead bird on the ground. Not sure why I found that dead bird comforting, but I starting humming His Eye is on the Sparrow. Life is hard, all too often. But.

At the turn around, I abandoned my concerns to the Lord. No matter what happened, He is in charge. He has a plan. My daddy has cancer. BUT. My daddy has Jesus.

After a month of waiting, last week he had surgery to remove the disease. He'd been told radiation might be necessary afterward, depending on margins and what not.

This time, after only a week and a half of waiting, he learned his margins looked good and no further treatments are needed. He's still got some recovering to do from the surgery, but the scary part is over.

From where I'm sitting, its easy to say cancer sucks, but God is good. He wouldn't be any less good had the outcome been different. However I'd be lying if I tried to pretend I'm anything but thrilled with the news.  Praise the Lord. Not because He did what makes me happy, but because no matter the storm, no matter the damage, He is worthy of our praise.

Twas a week before Christmas

What a better time to pause and give thanks? Hopefully I'll be caught up on my sharing by the new year. I have super awesome news to share, but I'm leaving that for SOC Saturday. No, I'm not preggers, moving, or getting a promotion. Its nothing to do with me, directly at least. But it truly thrills my soul.

And now, the list:

4744) Daddy's perfectly cooked burgers

4753) Extra day with the in-laws

4760) Christmas in a candle

4772) Green Bay Packers on TV

4789) Library full of options

4792) 2 parents

4793) a bike

4794) a non-leaky roof

4804) Bible study Christmas party

4819) Beautiful Star song at church

4822) Family who cares enough to visit

4839) Throwback Thursday - happy memories

4845) New running kicks

4851) FREE books!

4864) Comfy new outfit

4873) Run plans with friends

I've at least caught up to last week. For what have you been thankful for this Christmas season?

Stones to Remember

When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ² “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, ³ and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” ⁴ Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. ⁵ And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, ⁶ that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ ⁷ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever. Joshua 4:1-7

The perfectionist in me cringes at the thought of being so far behind posting my thankful list. However I truly do need these reminders right now. Holidays are changing for my family, partly do to family members with health issues.

While my winter blues always come for a visit when the time changes and the days get shorter, this year I have some life stress to accompany it. I am so thankful for the journal itself  - both forcing me to pause to consider my blessings and giving me an opportunity to remember them.

4554) Audiobooks from library

4562) Scruffy beard kisses

4578) Clear direction from God (at auction on our anniversary)

4581) Sleeping on the couch like an old married couple

4592) Clear, crisp view from Mt. Cammerer

4608) Money for groceries

4616) "Ain't Nothin wrong with dat!"

4622) Sense of tidiness at home

4635) Snow!

4646) C.A.R.E. card writing with ladies from Bible study class

4655) Sunset reflecting off the river

4663) Melissa - understanding what I need and acting accordingly

4677) Sharing books with family (Mama, Aunt Karen, Aunt Caroline)

4682) His eye is on the sparrow

4693) Trying something new - cooking asparagus

4701)The little man's funny story about his dad

4716) Seeing Mocking Jay Part 1, with my sister and BIL

4725) Early Christmas gifts

4731) Card/board games

For what have you been thankful this past week?

Happy Thanksgiving!

This was supposed to auto post on Thanksgiving Day. It didn't, so we're just rolling with it and going a week late.

I'm going to pick up where I left off last week sharing my thankful list. I'm trying to post 1 item from every 10 grouping. We'll see how much longer I have the patience for this before I just skip to the current. I think, however, its good for me to review from weeks ago and give myself a bit of perspective.

I'm typically susceptible to the winter blues, this year circumstances making it worst than normal, so I'll welcome the positivity that comes from gratitude.

4323) Acadia National Park passport stamp - finally!

4334) Snacks in the car (post RI Cliffwalk)

4342) Home run markers - Camden Yards

4353) Travel safety

4366) Family support and love

4375) Ragnar prep meeting

4381) Hiking with family - physical ability

4392) Feelings may lie, but knowing I am never truly alone

4400) Being known for openness of service

4413) Rainbow streak in the sunset (Ragnar team picnic)

4421) Ragnar - as life distraction for me and daddy

4433) Gorgeous scenery for my first leg

4447) Warm hoodies and blankets

4457) Leg 2 - beautiful starry sky

4467) Leg 3 - sunrise

4474) Free massages at final exchange

4483) {another} free massage at the finish line

4494) Fun idea for hiding Jay's birthday present

4504) Eric Church concert 

4519) 13.1 - snow flurries!

4523) Post race yummies

4531) Holding hands with my darling

4549) First fire of winter

Hopefully you are having a great holiday with your family. 
For what are you giving thanks today?

Thanksgiving Countdown

...or is it a count up? I considered doing a thanks-a-day post on Facebook as is trendy for the month of November. Instead I have tried to commit to writing 5 things in my journal every day. I've had some good days where my list was seemingly endless, and some bad where it was a struggle to find one good thing.

These date back a few weeks months, but as Blanche Devereaux says "Better late than pregnant!"

4078) Jay's help deboning a whole chicken

4088) Papaw's 82nd birthday

4094) Good hiking weather

4107) Stranger's tools when Jay's Durango broke down

4110) Bible not damaged by water spilled on nightstand

4120) Ziplining with the girls

4135) Saturday football nap

4142) Fog in the field on a cool morning

4152) Talking to random Honor Air veterans

 "I'm the only lady, so I get the flowers!" she joked

4164) Daddy + Jay = Two peas in a pod

4172) Fog clinging to the Virginia Mountains

4184) Golden delicious brandy beer

4197) Firecracker sound @ York cliffwalk

4204) Chatting with Maine Marathon finishers

4210) Bible study at sunrise

4222) Reading while looking out the side porch into Somes Sound

4230) Oopsie gone right - Champlain Mountain hike

4242) Beech Cliff Trail (iron rung hike)

4253) Jay, looking out for me

4267) Seat warmers

4275) Glow of the full moon

4287) Red glow of the sun, just before cresting the horizon

4293) Picnic lunches

4309) Sense of humor on whale watch

4311) NACHOS!!!!

This doesn't get me any where near caught up, but I thought I'd pause there. Maybe by next week, I'll actually have listed items from this month!

Andrew's Bald - Trail Report

A couple of weeks ago, for my grandfather's birthday, the family got together and hiked to Andrew's Bald and back, then took a side trip up to Clingman's Dome. My grandmother says its rude to mention someone else's age, but I'll remind you that last year Papaw Delmar won first place in the 80+ division of a local race.

At the top, we chipper and ready to head off. Since the bulk of the elevation is taken care of on the drive up to the trail-head, the trail actually descends to the bald. This makes hikers experience the climb on the way back.

The views from the bald weren't that that remarkable, in comparison from those seen from the parking area, but we certainly enjoyed the hike down. Of course there were far less people at the bald, where we sat to enjoy our lunch.

While there, we encountered a park ranger and all proceeded to "Delmar" him.  To Delmar: A verb meaning to talk to anyone or anything.

My dad is constantly fussing on Jay and me about our need to get pictures of ourselves on rocks or ledges. The picture above is his imitation.

We grabbed some pictures then started the hike back up. I tried to stay towards the back of the group because I knew some of the members of our party would have a bit of difficulty making the climb. And no, I don't mean the 8X year old man.

At the trail junction sign, we could either go left and take a 0.5 mile trail to the tip top of the mountain or we could return 0.1 to the trail-head and the parking lot.  We decided a half mile would be no big deal, and it would be worth the view.

Forgetting the half mile was a part of the Appalachian Trail, and some of the steepest climbs in the park. We eventually made it to another trail junction, and realized we had yet another 0.3 miles before connecting into the Clingman's Dome path. Thankfully, this trail pretty much followed the ridge-line and didn't include much elevation gain.

At the viewing tower, we attempt to gain our bearings. Depending on the clarity of the moment (which at that elevation can change at any time), the posted/labeled pictures help.

At one point, the family started Delmaring the dude in the red shorts (above picture). He had ran the Andrew's Bald trail - passed us going down as we were traveling up. He managed to make the tower around the same time as us.

We imposed on the kindness of strangers, and managed to get a picture of the whole group together.

The paved path isn't as easy as one would think. Losing 300 feet of elevation in only a half mile makes for slow going downhill, unless one is so inclined to roll like a snowball down to the bottom.

Everything about this hike was perfect - the clouds, temperature, and most of all the company. Not a bad way for an octogenarian to spend his birthday!

Site Seeing - Thursday's Thankful Three

A couple of weeks ago, my whole family (parents, sis + hers, BJay) loaded up and headed to Cincinnati. Since we were kids, my parents always took us on a family vacation. A few times, our destination involved a plane ride and a far off place - Hawaii, Grand Canyon/Las Vegas, Ireland.

For the most part, however, we didn't take lavish vacations. The destination wasn't the point, but rather an added benefit. The goal of family vacation was (and still is) enjoying one another. How better to do that than loading up in a car, driving for hours, and eating bologna sandwiches, chips, and cucumbers on the side of the road?

This summer, when I was lamenting the lack of vacation this summer I decided to mimic those memories. A quick trip to the grocery store and we were all set - Jay and I ate our sandwiches by the pool and I felt like I had instantly transported to the good ole days.

I'm very thankful we're still able to make memories with my family in a similar manner. Instead of one room and having to share a bed with my sister, we have 3 rooms - one for each family we've evolved into. But trips like these keep us a tight knit family,

Wow - what a rambling set up for me say:

My sister and I 

ran

that

town.

Friday night the crew (minus my mom and niece) went to see the Reds play the New York Mets (my sister's favorite team). The next day Kelly and I got up early and took to the streets. We ran from our hotel, to the Newport side of the "People Bridge" then across the river into Ohio.

My sister is a running freak of nature. After having never ran, or followed a training plan, she busted out a 4 mile run with me earlier this summer. She's not a speedster (she is my sister after all), but I remember the work I put into making my body run 3.1 miles without stopping.

I decided to push her a bit more, after all, there isn't much difference between running 4 miles and running 5 miles. We encountered a bit of traffic on the bridge thanks to walk events on each side of the river. I think the Kentucky side was to raise money for diabetes research and the Ohio side was a downs syndrome awareness walk.

My goal was 9 miles for the day, so I dropped her off back at the hotel and gave her the instructions to retrace our steps and find me if I wasn't back in an hour.

Despite these pictures being weeks old, I wanted to post my thankfulness for this trip.

For my sister, my running buddy, my friend
(today is her birthday!)

For memories made

For family tree with strong roots

For what are you thankful this week?