Monday, December 8, 2008

Warm Fuzzy Sunday

I would have to classify yesterday as one of those warm, fuzzy kind of days.

Scott wasn't scheduled to work, so we had the entire day together! Our Sunday School lesson was from I Thessalonians about "When You Started Out." Several of our SS family shared about their salvation experience. The lesson prompted great discussion as we talked about loving others and about what kind of example we are to those around us. We were reminded that there are actually people imitating us! Our actions and behaviors are so important!

Then, I actually got to sit with hubby in worship, since the choir didn't fill the loft in the morning service. We had a great afternoon together and returned to church in the evening to be part of our choir's annual Christmas program. The choir dressed in 1800's Christmas caroling attire and sang traditional Christmas carols and it was a wonderful time of worship together. The children's choir sang with us in part of the program, and it tendered my heart to hear their sweet voices singing.

The perfect ending to a perfect day happened at Taco Bell of all places! After church, we headed there to grab some tacos to take home. We went through the drive-thru and the line was sooooooo long. We were trapped - people behind us and in front, so we just had to wait. Even though it was irritating to sit in a drive thru for 30 minutes, it gave us opportunity to sit and talk awhile.

As the young lady in front of us was picking up her order, I remember that she looked so bubbly and happy. When we got to the window to pick up our order, the man told us that she had paid for our order. I asked the cashier who she was. He said that he didn't know, and that she didn't know us. She told him that she just wanted to do something nice for someone since it was Christmas! WOW! It made us both feel so warm and fuzzy. It wasn't an extravagant gift, but such a kind expression of love.

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." (I Corinthians 13:13)

It really is contagious. We can't wait for the opportunity to pay it forward!

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Thanksgiving/Christmas/Birthday Celebrations

Thought you might enjoy a pic of my family at our Thanksgiving/Christmas/Birthday celebration! I was taking the picture and don't get many photo opps of the whole family together. I think they are absolutely wonderful!


Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Living Waters 5K and Sacroiliitis

Since many of you have asked when I plan to post again, here goes! As for half-marathon progress, there really isn't any. I took a rest after the shinsplint episode. The first time I tried to run after my resting period, I had a backache for about a week, so more rest! I was getting a little anxious since my daughters-in-law and me were going to run in a 5K on Thanksgiving weekend.

Thanksgiving was wonderful as we celebrated my birthday, one of my daughters-in-law's birthday and my granddaughter's birthday, along with Thanksgiving and Christmas. You see, my son and daughter-in-law from Missouri rotate Thanksgiving and Christmas every other year, so they can share those holidays with her family. So, on the year they come for Thanksgiving, we celebrate Christmas as well, since we don't get to see them again at Christmas. After stuffing ourselves with turkey, ham, and all the fixings, we opened birthday presents and Christmas presents. It was so much fun.

Later that evening, Addie and I decided to take a practice run to get ready for the 5K on Saturday. We took the 3-mile path I use in my neighborhood and I actually ran at least 1 mile of the route. It felt great to push through again, but the back pain started again within an hour. It was so bad on Friday! Addie had to drive her old ma-in-law around and help me in and out of the car. A little shopping humor: my cell phone rang while we had stopped in a thrift store and it was my mother. Apparently I was talking very loud, since Addie had to shush me up. She commented that not only was I incapacitated, but apparently had also lost my hearing. We had a big laugh with everyone around us in the store, and I told my mother I would call her back when we were out of the store. I love the relationship I have with my daughters-in-law. We really laugh alot when we are together - mostly at me, but that's ok.

Saturday morning rolled around and I was determined to do the 5K with my girls in spite of my pain. I planned to get up and wash and curl my hair, since hardly no one ever sees me before I do that. The girls said we were running a race and I wasn't allowed to do that, so here you see it and surely understand why I don't let anyone see me this way. This was at the end of the 5K and we all did just fine. Not one of us took last place and I actually achieved my goal of finishing with better than a 15-minute mile. My time was 41:29:1 even with an injury. Whoo hoo!!

Addie, Mary, and me!

So I was pretty much down in my back the rest of the weekend, but we did it! I went to the doc on Monday and the diagnosis - "sacroiliitis". That's a funny diagnosis for a funny lady, right?! The verdict is that I can't run for awhile. I have to take steroids, anti-inflammatory and do some exercises to strengthen my back.

The half-marathon in February is off, but that doesn't mean we can't do another half-marathon when I am well and able to train again.
OK - that reminds me of a song. Are you surprised?
"I'm trading my sickness, I'm trading my pain
I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.
I am pressed, but not crushed; persecuted, not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
I am blessed beyond the curse for His promise will endure and His joy's gonna be my strength."
Everybody sing along with me now.
That's it for now! Stay tuned for more in the continuing maladies of Gramster.