Christian and the Scavenger Hunt

Yesterday, amid a flurry of activity, from housecleaning to homework-completing, Christian was diligently working on a secret project. I noticed him bent over the table, scratching out words on small pieces of paper, standing with one foot on top of the other, concentrating on what he was writing. He furtively moved from room to room, and back to the table, and then away again. After a few minutes, he mentioned that there was a scavenger hunt, and while I noted that he wanted someone to look at his clues and search, at that time, I was not available. Michaela was otherwise engaged. And Eliana can't read.

He was a lone adventurer.

Today, I was cleaning up (still!), and I came across one of the clues tucked in a book; I was reminded of Christian's endeavors from the previous day, and was curious.

"in a boot" Well. We have a few boots here in this house. I was none too thrilled at the prospect of digging around in boots (Do you know me?), but the game was afoot. Ha.

I checked my boots by the front door. A quick search in Eliana's boots revealed nothing but fuzz. I went to the back door...

"with some markers"

This was only my second clue, and my resolve momentarily wavered. Markers...

We have a few.

Hundred.  

Thousand? (The box in the middle of the top shelf is full of fancy art markers.) (What is up with my marker debauchery?)

I spotted the small plastic box on top of the large box of markers. I had a sudden recollection. The kids had been using them to make flash cards the afternoon before. Maybe, just maybe, these were the markers I was looking for...

Jackpot! 

Like a little gold nugget buried in a pile of rocky soil...

"next to the TV" 

I hurried into the living room. I checked on one side of the TV, and hoped that he was not leading me on this hunt only to find a small family of dusty dustbunnies. I investigated on the other side of the TV.

Voila! 

Giddyup, little mama! I found the hidden treasure! Now it's time for me to ride that pony all over this house, and rein in this mess.

I don't even know what I'm talking about. It's the Benedryl, I tell you.

Christian almost beat me this time. But my persistence paid off. We'll see what happens next time, little fellow. Mark my words...I'll be ready.

Five Walkers

Together one step at a time...

Sometimes, we're stumbling.

Sometimes, we're falling.

Sometimes, we're running...in different directions.

Sometimes, we're not in step at all.

But in the end, we end up five together. And with Grace, we'll keep moving forward, together, one step at a time.

Eliana and the Flash Cards

Today, Eliana asked if she could look at some flash cards that I had made for Michaela many, many years ago. One by one, she read them. It was pretty fun. 

She tried to sound out "Christian" based on the rules that she knows about reading, and after she did that, she adjusted what she had said and figured out that it read "Christian." (She hasn't learned about "-tian" yet, for example.)

The card after that one said "Daddy," which she read without a problem, and which she thought was hilarious for being so easy.

She picked up and read card after card, with very little trouble. 

If we came to a word which follows a rule she hasn't learned yet, I simply explained what it was and she would read the word (like "ph" says "f"). 

She went through quite the respectable portion of the pile of words. And she was clearly proud of the fact that she was reading big words like "elephant" and "swimming" on her own (mostly).

She wasn't the only one who was proud, that's for sure.

Michaela and I agree that our favorite word that she read, just as easily as you please, was "lipstick"!

For the Walker Who Is Weary

For the walker who is weary
When the burden's hard to bear
When eyes become so bleary
That the road leads to despair
For the traveler who's bruised
When the sun is unrelenting
When the path has worn the shoes
And the heart cries out, lamenting 
For the back that's nearly broken
When the steps are barely made
When the knees begin to weaken
And the mind begins to fade
For the pilgrim who is lonely
When the journey is too long
When the thought of homeward only
Seems this sojourn to prolong
For the walker who is weary
Lift your eyes again to see
There is One who loves you dearly
There is One who rescues thee

 

Inspired

Earlier this year I got serious about getting healthier. I cold-turkey stopped drinking soda, I started eating better, every meal, every day, and I dropped my dessert intake by 85%.

(I made up that percentage. But it sounds good.)

I began the Jillian Michaels DVD, The 30-Day Shred. About ten days into that, I started walking each day. Not too long after I began walking, I decided I would add a little bounce to my walk, and managed to do something in between fast-paced walking and jogging. I kept this up until we went on vacation, and even then I tried to do something for a few weeks into my trip. 

And then...I just kind of stopped. 

I really wish I hadn't! 

I can tell such a huge difference, in my strength and endurance, and in my mood. I'm sluggish. I'm not motivated to do much. And I crave sweet things all the time. (Two extra-huge bags of mini-Snickers does not help a bit.)

Not. Good.

At the end of the summer, I kept thinking I was going to start it all back up, and in the beginning of October I said to myself,"I have about 30 days to do the Shred and then start another of her 30-day videos and be done with it well before Christmas!" You see, Wendy and I (Wendy is Mike's sister and one of my best friends) (I wish we lived closer) have had some conversations about how we need to get in shape before the end of the year. Really, it's more like we need to get in shape by summer two years ago, however, it's a little late for that. But now, here it is headed toward mid-November and I have yet to do two consecutive days of the 30 Day Shred. 

I keep wondering what it was that drove me at the end of April, to commit so whole-heartedly to the project of getting fit. I don't know the answer, either. 

I have several friends on Facebook who have completed races, or are planning on completing a race by the end of February, and I can't help but have this tingly excited feeling when I read about their successes. A crazy thought pops into my head every time: I can do that! And I want to do that! (I guess that makes two crazy thoughts.)

Not too long ago (a week or so), an old friend whom I haven't seen in many, many years, shared a post-race picture of herself with her husband, and I commented on it. I said it was inspiring, and then I realized that as I typed those very words, I was finishing off a small bag of fast-food fries. I wrote that too, because I'm nothing if I'm not funny on Facebook. My exact comment was,"Awesome! And inspiring!! (she said as she finished her fries...seriously, I would love to hear more about it)."

A few days later, I received a message from this friend saying that I had been on her heart after my comment, and that for her, the running had been a God thing, and that she has learned a lot from being an "individual" runner. She gave me her number and asked me to call. I wrote that I would try to call, but since I have the girls all day, it's hard to find a time to have a focused phone conversation. 

Tonight I realized that all three kids have choir tomorrow, which means that I am going to have one hour of time all by myself. This is such a blessing! I really want to hear what my friend has to say. 

Here is the thing. I have been waffling for so long again. But there is always this little voice that says to me,"Get moving! Do something! You can!" Then I received the message from my friend. And today I saw that another friend and her husband ran in Richmond, Va. (an 8k and a half-marathon, respectively). And I know two ladies who are running Disney races in the beginning of next year. I just keep thinking this is something that I need to do. I got to the point in the spring that I didn't feel right if I didn't go out for a quick spin through our neighborhood. And it felt so good to make it back to my "walking point" each time. I would reach my final stretch and think,"Just get to that alley. Just get to that stop sign. Just get up this last little hill..." and then I would turn the corner and be done with my jog! It was awesome. 

I'm going to get back there. I won't take no for an answer.