Recently, my two best friends and I went on a trip to the beach. We brought all of usual stuff girls bring to the beach: too many clothes, too much food, and various necessities for hanging out in the sand all day. It took us three or four trips to get all this stuff in the condo. (I used to ask myself why we bring all this stuff, but I once went to the beach and packed everything in one carry-on suitcase, and that answered the question for me - it's ALL necessary.)
Our first day there, it rained, so no beach for us. On the second day, we woke up and the sky was cloudy, but the sun was trying to peek through, and we loaded up all the stuff in the wagon and headed for the sand. Once we dragged the wagon and the cooler through the sand to our desired spot with a perfect view of the ocean, we put up the umbrella.
We have this awesome sand auger umbrella holder that digs deep into the sand, making the umbrella more secure. One of my friends and I twisted and twisted that auger until it wouldn't move another inch. (My friend works out 4 days a week and is very strong, so it was in there good.) We placed the umbrella, secured it in the holder with the screw, and settled in for a nice, relaxing day.
The wind was blowing. Suddenly, the wind blew the umbrella out of the holder, and it tumbled and bounced its way over the sand and into the water. My strong friend followed. She grabbed the umbrella and fought the wind to carry it back to our spot, and we giggled at our misfortune.
This time, we dug a hole before we put the auger in, then we twisted the auger into place until it wouldn't budge. Again, we placed the umbrella and secured it with the screw. We piled sand up all around the auger and packed it down. Then, we settled back into our chairs.
Not long after that, a big gust of wind came up and blew the umbrella out of the holder again. The umbrella bounced and rolled toward the surf, and my friend finally caught it. After retrieving the umbrella, we again laughed at ourselves, and then we heard giggles from the couple sitting behind us. I looked back and said, "I bet we're very entertaining!" They nodded in agreement. Then, we began the task of securing our windblown umbrella for the third time. We dug deep into the sand and placed the auger in, then we twisted the auger into place and packed sand down around it. We secured the umbrella with the screw, and packed sand around the holder and on top of it. Then, for good measure, we moved the beach wagon in front of the umbrella, and braced the cooler in front of it. There! As we stood back and beamed with pride at our ingenious handiwork, I glanced back at the giggling couple, and the man held up a thumb giving us a "thumb's up". We settled into our chairs again, and enjoyed the rest of our day in the sun.
Monday, September 14, 2015
Friday, August 07, 2015
Just a Chapter, Not the Whole Book
In February, we withdrew Leyden from school so she could take a much-needed break from the incredible stress that she was experiencing in the high level classes she was attending. The stress was exacerbating side effects from her JRA medication, and it just wasn't worth the toll it was taking on Leyden. She worked with her Dad until she got a job at a local retail store and she worked through the summer, and is now preparing to start school again. This is not how we expected her senior year to go. We are taking a detour from our original plan, which was for Leyden to graduate in May 2015. Now, she will graduate in May 2016.
Leyden left the school that she has attended since 10th grade, but she will still graduate from high school. Leyden is simply taking a different route to get her diploma... a zig-zag instead of a straight line. Sometimes, we have to get creative in achieving our goals, especially when life gets in the way. Leyden has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and chronic pain and fatigue syndrome, which makes it difficult for her to do what her classmates can do with ease, so this zig-zag was a necessity to ensure Leyden's success.
We are so excited for Leyden to have the opportunity to enjoy a "normal" senior year, while planning for college and applying for scholarships. Her new school is more flexible, so students with health issues have more options if they hit a snag.
I am so proud of how Leyden has rolled with the punches on this detour. She is looking forward to starting school, and making new friends. She has come so far on this journey, and I couldn't be more proud of how she has overcome these challenges!
Twenty years from now, all of this will be a faded memory. This is just a chapter in Leyden's life, not the whole book. The important thing is for Leyden to enjoy her senior year, graduate in a beautiful ceremony, and celebrate with her friends and family!
Leyden left the school that she has attended since 10th grade, but she will still graduate from high school. Leyden is simply taking a different route to get her diploma... a zig-zag instead of a straight line. Sometimes, we have to get creative in achieving our goals, especially when life gets in the way. Leyden has juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and chronic pain and fatigue syndrome, which makes it difficult for her to do what her classmates can do with ease, so this zig-zag was a necessity to ensure Leyden's success.
We are so excited for Leyden to have the opportunity to enjoy a "normal" senior year, while planning for college and applying for scholarships. Her new school is more flexible, so students with health issues have more options if they hit a snag.
I am so proud of how Leyden has rolled with the punches on this detour. She is looking forward to starting school, and making new friends. She has come so far on this journey, and I couldn't be more proud of how she has overcome these challenges!
Twenty years from now, all of this will be a faded memory. This is just a chapter in Leyden's life, not the whole book. The important thing is for Leyden to enjoy her senior year, graduate in a beautiful ceremony, and celebrate with her friends and family!
Monday, July 27, 2015
40 is Knocking, and I'm Still Smiling!
As a
child, I imagined that by 40 years of age, I'd still look young and trim, and I'd have my PhD in
English and be teaching at a university somewhere. At 23, I found myself
divorced with an infant and no degree after
three years of college, making barely over
minimum wage and drowning in debt, but I still hoped that by 40, I'd have a
degree and a rewarding career. I made an effort to complete my courses for college, but it was just overwhelming to work full time and attend college classes at night while raising a baby alone.
I remarried when I was 25, and I dreamed of having all of my debt paid off within 10 years, and finding a way to finish my degree. By the time I turned 30, I had paid off my credit cards, established a career as a certified legal secretary, and had my sights set on becoming a certified paralegal. And of course, I still wanted that degree. At 33, I passed the Professional Paralegal exam, and you know what? College classes can be applied to my continuing legal education requirements, so I still held out hope of completing my degree.
A couple of years ago, I wanted to complete 40 things on my bucket list before I turned 40, and you guessed it - a bachelors degree was on the list. Last year, I decided to try to lose 40 pounds by the time I turned 40. And I checked to see how many credits I'd need for an associates degree.
I remarried when I was 25, and I dreamed of having all of my debt paid off within 10 years, and finding a way to finish my degree. By the time I turned 30, I had paid off my credit cards, established a career as a certified legal secretary, and had my sights set on becoming a certified paralegal. And of course, I still wanted that degree. At 33, I passed the Professional Paralegal exam, and you know what? College classes can be applied to my continuing legal education requirements, so I still held out hope of completing my degree.
A couple of years ago, I wanted to complete 40 things on my bucket list before I turned 40, and you guessed it - a bachelors degree was on the list. Last year, I decided to try to lose 40 pounds by the time I turned 40. And I checked to see how many credits I'd need for an associates degree.
So,
I turn 40 this week. As I reflect on the goals I wanted to reach by
this age, I have to laugh at myself. Lose 40 pounds in a year? Well... cupcakes! Get a
college degree? Must've dreamed I had some spare time and money, ha ha! A
professor? Really? (As it turns out, I sometimes get to teach attorneys and
paralegals, and I really enjoy it.)
I still don't have a college degree, but the burning desire to obtain that goal has subsided. I have a rewarding career, I've obtained professional certification, and I've found fulfillment in a great job that I love. I don't need a piece of paper to know that I'm intelligent, I'm talented, and I'm wise beyond my years in matters of faith. Life has taught me so much more in my 40 years than I could have learned through formal education. My life experiences have shaped me and made me who I am. I'm not sure that I would change any of it...
I've suffered the heartbreak of divorce. But through that marriage and its failure, I learned to appreciate the dependable Christian man that came along and became my husband and "Daddy" to my little girl. I've beaten the odds on my second marriage for 14 years (and counting!), and I have the lessons learned in my first marriage to thank!
I spent two and a half years as a single parent struggling to make ends meet. However, I never filed bankruptcy, despite being told by a credit counselor that bankruptcy was my only option. I paid off all my credit cards, after years of living on a shoestring budget. Through this tough experience, I learned that we sometimes live out consequences that aren't necessary caused by ourselves. Sometimes, it's a joint decision or the decision of someone else that puts us into a difficult situation. But being angry about it, dwelling on it, and worrying aren't going to change a single thing. The best thing to do is get up every day, and do my best. God will take care of the rest!
I've watched with worry and heartache as my daughter battles medical issues with the strength and tenacity of a bulldog. But we know that God is in control. We've met some incredible friends along the way, and we've both learned that when life gives you lemons, it truly is best to make lemonade! Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't get you anywhere. Oh, and life isn't fair!
I watched my Daddy battle dementia and COPD and literally struggle for his last breath. Through this extremely difficult experience, I begged God for peace, and I learned that He will never leave me, and He'll give me peace and comfort whenever I ask. God truly carried me through that dark time, and I look back on it now and fondly remember the solace I found in Him.
In addition to my Daddy, I've buried all of my grandparents, one first cousin, and many other beloved extended family and friends. There is nothing more sad and sobering than losing a loved one, especially one in my own generation. But each person has left a legacy of love for which I am so thankful, and I've found that to love is to grieve. While death is sad because we lose the earthly presence of our loved ones, the hope of heaven is such a sweet promise!
I've learned to trust God with the details. When Brad wanted to go full time with his pool business, we only needed five more weekly services to make it work. We prayed and asked God that if it was His will, to send us the business we needed. Within a week, we had gained exactly five new customers. The day my Daddy was buried, the weather forecast called for rain, and I prayed for it to pass or hold off until after the funeral, and I asked others to pray. The first rain drop fell on our windshield as Brad and I were leaving the cemetery after the funeral. I have learned that God cares about the little things!
I've held the paws and patted the heads of four beloved pets as they crossed the Rainbow Bridge. These pets taught me about unconditional love, and that it is a comfort to the soul having someone in your life that is always happy to see you.
I paid off a car and drove it for almost three years without a payment. (That's one box checked on my bucket list!) It sure was tough to take out a new auto loan after being used to driving a car that was MINE. I love that feeling of accomplishment, and I look forward to experiencing it again!
I began working full time when I was 20 years old, and out of the last 20 years, I've only been unemployed for six weeks. I had the fantastic example of my parents to follow, who both had great work ethic. I've learned that if you're kind and polite, eager to learn, willing to be a team player, and work hard, you will always be able to find work.
I've learned that life is not meant to be fun or easy; life is a series of problems until we pass away. I've discovered that the joy is in the journey! It's not about getting through the valley, it's about who is walking with me and what I'm learning as I go through it. It's not about what I've accomplished in this life; it's about what I have to look forward to in heaven. It's not about a bunch of boxes that I've checked off on my bucket list; it's about growing closer to God and surviving this world with my faith intact, and leaving a legacy that shows others the way to the cross. It's about being true to myself and what I believe. It's about looking back at where I've been and realizing that I've overcome so much adversity, and I'm still smiling. I'm. Still. Smiling!
I still don't have a college degree, but the burning desire to obtain that goal has subsided. I have a rewarding career, I've obtained professional certification, and I've found fulfillment in a great job that I love. I don't need a piece of paper to know that I'm intelligent, I'm talented, and I'm wise beyond my years in matters of faith. Life has taught me so much more in my 40 years than I could have learned through formal education. My life experiences have shaped me and made me who I am. I'm not sure that I would change any of it...
I've suffered the heartbreak of divorce. But through that marriage and its failure, I learned to appreciate the dependable Christian man that came along and became my husband and "Daddy" to my little girl. I've beaten the odds on my second marriage for 14 years (and counting!), and I have the lessons learned in my first marriage to thank!
I spent two and a half years as a single parent struggling to make ends meet. However, I never filed bankruptcy, despite being told by a credit counselor that bankruptcy was my only option. I paid off all my credit cards, after years of living on a shoestring budget. Through this tough experience, I learned that we sometimes live out consequences that aren't necessary caused by ourselves. Sometimes, it's a joint decision or the decision of someone else that puts us into a difficult situation. But being angry about it, dwelling on it, and worrying aren't going to change a single thing. The best thing to do is get up every day, and do my best. God will take care of the rest!
I've watched with worry and heartache as my daughter battles medical issues with the strength and tenacity of a bulldog. But we know that God is in control. We've met some incredible friends along the way, and we've both learned that when life gives you lemons, it truly is best to make lemonade! Feeling sorry for yourself doesn't get you anywhere. Oh, and life isn't fair!
I watched my Daddy battle dementia and COPD and literally struggle for his last breath. Through this extremely difficult experience, I begged God for peace, and I learned that He will never leave me, and He'll give me peace and comfort whenever I ask. God truly carried me through that dark time, and I look back on it now and fondly remember the solace I found in Him.
In addition to my Daddy, I've buried all of my grandparents, one first cousin, and many other beloved extended family and friends. There is nothing more sad and sobering than losing a loved one, especially one in my own generation. But each person has left a legacy of love for which I am so thankful, and I've found that to love is to grieve. While death is sad because we lose the earthly presence of our loved ones, the hope of heaven is such a sweet promise!
I've learned to trust God with the details. When Brad wanted to go full time with his pool business, we only needed five more weekly services to make it work. We prayed and asked God that if it was His will, to send us the business we needed. Within a week, we had gained exactly five new customers. The day my Daddy was buried, the weather forecast called for rain, and I prayed for it to pass or hold off until after the funeral, and I asked others to pray. The first rain drop fell on our windshield as Brad and I were leaving the cemetery after the funeral. I have learned that God cares about the little things!
I've held the paws and patted the heads of four beloved pets as they crossed the Rainbow Bridge. These pets taught me about unconditional love, and that it is a comfort to the soul having someone in your life that is always happy to see you.
I paid off a car and drove it for almost three years without a payment. (That's one box checked on my bucket list!) It sure was tough to take out a new auto loan after being used to driving a car that was MINE. I love that feeling of accomplishment, and I look forward to experiencing it again!
I began working full time when I was 20 years old, and out of the last 20 years, I've only been unemployed for six weeks. I had the fantastic example of my parents to follow, who both had great work ethic. I've learned that if you're kind and polite, eager to learn, willing to be a team player, and work hard, you will always be able to find work.
I've learned that life is not meant to be fun or easy; life is a series of problems until we pass away. I've discovered that the joy is in the journey! It's not about getting through the valley, it's about who is walking with me and what I'm learning as I go through it. It's not about what I've accomplished in this life; it's about what I have to look forward to in heaven. It's not about a bunch of boxes that I've checked off on my bucket list; it's about growing closer to God and surviving this world with my faith intact, and leaving a legacy that shows others the way to the cross. It's about being true to myself and what I believe. It's about looking back at where I've been and realizing that I've overcome so much adversity, and I'm still smiling. I'm. Still. Smiling!
No,
I haven't lost those 40 pounds. I haven't earned a college degree. I'm really just
getting started on my bucket list. And I may (or may not!) have a few wrinkles on my face and lots of gray in my hair. But I have God, an amazing husband, a wonderful daughter, great family and friends, and a fantastic job, and I'm content with my life exactly the way
it is. And that, my friends, makes 40 the best yet!
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)