Here I am again...

Still trying to learn to balance it all...and only half way succeeding!  My friend Danielle over at The Writing Life  used to blog in a "Daybook" format.  She gave little snippets of her thoughts, ideas, and life in general each day.  I've decided to take a spin on that format and start my own "Daybook" of sorts.  I am changing Danielle's headings to be relevant to me and my crazy life.  Here's my first attempt:  

Today I'm thankful for:   My church.  Our mission is to be in the world 360 degrees both locally and globally.  This weekend we spent time in the community at a festival giving out free water and doing kids crafts.  Then I had the pleasure of hearing my DH fill in for our Pastor today.  I love hearing him preach and am thankful that our Pastor allows him to do so occasionally.  

On the "Family Front":  DSs 1, 2, and 4 have been helping me with my new "Couch to 5K" running plan (see below).  I love it that they're so supportive of their Mother!  

DS 3 and I went to a concert together last night.  The concert was an "experience"...and I enjoyed the singer we were there to see.  But I enjoyed laughing with my DS 3 even more!  We had a fun time taking in the entire experience including his "phone's" ability to navigate us to and from the concert (with an ice cream stop on the way home).  I treasure those moments.  

My Educational Journey:  Did you know I'm back in school?  I am adding a 2nd Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.  (My first was in Curriculum.)  I'm telling you, my learning curve is STRAIGHT UP!  But I'm enjoying the experience overall. 

My Running Notes:   And while my learning journey continues, I decided that I also wanted to do something to get back in shape and challenge myself a bit.  I AM NOT A RUNNER!  I never have been.  But, I was challenged recently by our local radio host, Carmen Brown's  running journey.  She did a "couch to 5K" and then decided to do a half marathon for her birthday only a few months later.  I was inspired and decided to give it a try.  

I got my shoes...which I am starting to realize is SO IMPORTANT....and, I'm beginning week two.  Tonight I added time to the "run"...which is only up to 90 seconds on and 2 minutes off.  I love that it's doable and that I'm feeling a difference in the run already.  

What I'm Reading:  I'm in the middle of a book that is speaking to me in unbelievable ways:  "the gift of an ordinary day" by Katrina Kenison .  Wow!  This memoir of a time in Kenison's life when she reassessed her family life, the schedule, the busy-ness that often defined them, and then ended up turning it completely upside down.  I have almost commented on this book several times mid-reading here on my blog as I've been deeply impacted by this woman's writing.  BUT I usually reserve my book reviews for the end of the book.  I just realized that this "daybook format" will allow me to share the nuggets as I go and when they occur!  I like that!

On my Mind:  Praying for four families who tragically lost teens in car accidents in our area last week.  One accident took four lives and left one family childless as they lost both of theirs in that crash.  Another took the life of a young football player with a promising future ahead of him.  So sad.  

Inspirational Quote or Thought for Today:

I found this quote on Katrina Kenison's website (see "What I'm Reading").  On Feb. 13th Katrina wrote this following:   I've been thinking of this quote all week. It is really what the gift of an ordinary day is all about: "The little things? The little moments? They aren't little." -- Jon Kabat-Zinn

Can't say every post will be "Daybook" format, but I like having the option on those days when time seems short.   

Every Light Counts

 Our church is launching a project called "Every Light Counts" as the Thanksgiving and Christmas season is upon us.  It's got me thinking a lot about just how powerful each one of us can be in our world.  We can send out a ripple of kindness that helps people see God's love in action.  For our church, we are asking each person to consider getting involved in one of the many servant events that we have happening over the next 5 or 6 weeks:

Serving meals at our local elementary school to families attending school events
Giving shoppers free coffee in the wee hours of black Friday shopping
Helping buy Christmas gifts for children who might not otherwise have them
Heading out to our neighborhood Christmas parade to hand out fun packs and glow sticks to kids
Taking snack packs to more than 400 mall employees after church

Today, while reflecting on the impact a little light can make, I was reminded of the song we used to sing in Sunday School..."This little light of mine...I'm going to let it shine."  And I realized that every person in the world has opportunity to be a light in someone else's life regardless of faith background or beliefs.  I wonder what would happen if we all started looking out for our neighbors?  What if we found ways to be kind when no one expected it?  For our church, we see it as an opportunity to help people know that God loves them right where they are.

I believe it's this type of kindness that could change the world because "Every LIGHT Counts"--yours and mine!  Why not try and be a light this holiday season?

Maybe Sidewalk Rolling Isn't So Bad...

There's no question that life is so very different for our kids than it was for us.  Heck, I'd say it's different for my middle schooler than it was for my oldest boys.  This weekend, though, I have been reminded just how different life really is...it's busier.  Way busier!

DS 3 has become quite the "social character" in the past few months.  He is very involved in our Youth Group at church.  He takes part in Bible Studies, Discipleship with a friend, not to mention all the extra "fun stuff" they do. He's busy at school too.  He's the Junior Class President and the Editor-in-Chief of the school newspaper.  He doesn't miss a chance to dress up and show school spirit. He is in clubs and organizations aplenty! If you could peel back the layers of years I have on him, you might see glimpses of similar time fillers from my own teen years...sans class officer and newspaper. I think, for the early eighties, I would have been considered busy too. Yet they are busier!

Friday night he drove almost two hours to a concert in a sleepy little central Florida town.  In his words, "Mom, it was like the minute the concert in the park ended, the town shut down.  There was only us and one other car on the streets!"  I think he might have thrown the word "po-dunk" in there somewhere.

Saturday morning he was up early and ready to go flying.  He's learning to fly the airplane to the left that he and DH own in a co-op of sorts.  The guy teaching him is the editor of some big aviation magazine and has asked DS 3 to write a piece for it.  They literally spent HOURS together on Saturday as DS 3 flew them to a city north of here and they watched a national skydiving competition.

He wasn't home 30 minutes before he headed out to "movie night" with his friends and ended up spending the night with one of them.  This morning we found out they spent the night "tarp surfing" (which I can find no pictures to properly explain).   If you want to see it, you can go to tarpsurfing.com and get a glimpse.  Anyway, I guess they didn't sleep much at all but had a great time.

Sunday he was at church to run the sound and then he went to lunch with his friends.  He arrived home around 4:30 or 5:00 and announced that he was "tapping out" to catch up on sleep.

Here's my observation.  We were busy.  They are busier.  I think part of the reason is because there's not enough "po-dunk" in most cities today.  We live 24 hour lives.  We are connected 24 hours. We can shop 24 hours.  We can talk, text, and chat 24/7.  Shoot when I was growing up we couldn't even watch TV 24 hours!  And forget talking on the phone...it was connected to the wall and anyone in the house could pick up the another extension and listen in!  Remember when the Star Spangled Banner shut down a TV network?  I think the convenience has created a monster.

Don't get me wrong, I love busy too.  I enjoy being out and about and visiting with friends and family.  I love exploring and finding new and exciting things to do and places to go.  Shoot, I think in many ways it's in his blood!

While I am thankful for living in a city that has a lot to offer...there's a part of me that thinks it'd be OK to, at least occasionally, roll up the sidewalks at a reasonable hour and tell everyone to just VEG!  Yep, DS 3, some days I'd take po-dunk!

I have always wanted to be the person that takes the less-traveled road...I can honestly say this poem has stayed with me since my high school days when I realized just what a difference making the less popular choice could make.  I hope this is a lesson that I am passing along to my children and living by example every day.  

The Road Not Taken 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

...Robert Frost

The Long and Winding Road...

DS 3 took this photo while driving in northern Kentucky. It has stuck with me since he posted it on his Facebook wall for many reasons. First, because I love the view. Second, because it reminds me so much of life in general.

Lately I have been on what seems such a long and winding road. The twists and turns have taken me places I neither expected or, in some cases, desired. Yet one thing is clear every twist and turn has a lesson (or two or ten) to be learned.

This picture is a reminder that there is beauty at every turn. Sometimes we just have to look harder for it. It also reminds me that the road DOES go somewhere. I may not know where it's going to end up...but it does take us where we need to go. And if it's the "wrong road" there are generally places to get off and go a different direction.

For that, I'm thankful!

What Scrolling Does for Me...

When I scroll through my bloglist, I am touched in so many ways. There are stories upon stories upon stories that share the joy of life in so many places. I am touched to know there is such a community out there. And then I get sad because I just don't have (or is it "make") time to get out and read each person's blogposts like I want to.

Over the years blogging has brought me more joy than I can begin to explain to the "non-blogger". (Most people who blog get it.) And the fact that I've actually met some of you IRL is an even bigger blessing to me. With Summer fast approaching, I am hoping to get back out and really dig into blogs again. I want to get to know you better and actually let you know that I am more than a lurker.

Yep that's what scrolling does for me!

Some days are diamonds...

I know I'm dating myself when I reference a John Denver song here...but the song that has rolled around my head today is "Some days are diamonds, some days are stone." It's not so much for the extended lyrics which are the musings of a jilted lover when he consider how life has been "without her"...but his answer is appropriate for many situations beyond lost love:

"Some days are diamonds some days are stones--Sometimes the hard times won't leave me alone--Sometimes a cold wind blows a chill in my bones--Some days are diamonds some days are stones."

This is the thing though...we can fixate on the stone OR we can look for the gems that are often found inside!

Whether it's a diamond day, or a stone day, may we all find the gems that surround us.

Clean up at the salon...

I visited the salon today. This guy has cut my hair four times now. I like him. He's an artist. He has vision and likes to play with the hair and "create it". Today, while in the chair, he told me this story:

A new lady came in to the salon today to have him do her hair. She met him and then asked point blank, "Are you a Christian?" He said he answered "yes I am." She replied, "Good because I only give my business to Christians." Then he told me, "I would have said yes no matter what because I wanted her business." But he said, "I am a Christian of course."

Our conversation continued about how bold this woman's question was. Personally, and please don't misunderstand me here, I think it was inappropriate. While she got the answer she was looking for...it is evident from a little time in his chair (and his response to me regarding her question) that he is not likely an evangelical. I am not sure the last time he set foot in a church. Yet I suspect that these are the characteristics she was looking for.

I have to say I think this woman has it all wrong. When I consider exactly what Jesus would do and who would cut HIS hair were he looking in our city today....I suspect church attendance would not be his criteria. Nope. He'd probably be looking for the most "broken" sin-filled hair dresser in the city. (NOT that mine is...but you get my point, right?) I don't think his first question would be "Don't you want to know ME?" I am SURE it would be "Let me get to know YOU. Where you are. With nothing but grace and love."

Let me also say that I think she probably did little to further the kingdom today either. Her question became salon fodder. If it made an impact, it is a negative "who-does-she-think-she-is" one. And that breaks my heart!

One thing is for sure: there was a lot more to sweep up besides hair in that salon today.

It's Therapeutic...

For me, when blogging slows down, it means everything else is ramped up. My job. My home-life. My thought-life. Church. Family. My daily schedule. Everything.

I also find, though, at these times are precisely when I SHOULD blog! It's not so that the rest of the blogging community can have a glimpse into the mind of Susan. Instead it's so Susan can have a glimpse! In so many ways it's therapeutic.

Even on those days when my posts say little or nothing and don't go very deep, therapy happens. Here's why:

Blogging is a sort of reference point. Our pastor just finished a series titled "Reference Points" at church. Essentially, the point was that we all need reference points in our lives to help us navigate. Like the lighthouse that gives the ship's captain a reference to avoid rocks or the map that helps us know when we will arrive at our destination, a reference point allows us to see beyond the current circumstances and events.

When I read old posts, it reminds me of those times when I thought things were hopeless and I found hope. Or the times when I needed to count the blessings that flowed. The times when I missed opportunities to reach out. And the times when reaching out was so important. It reminds me that I am not alone. And that I can make it when I think I can't. It reminds me to be a knot-tier when I'm at the end of the rope. And to encourage others when they are at the end of theirs.

So, today as I blog I say, "Let the therapy begin!"

Lessons learned while pedaling...

Though it's quite a distant shot, DS 3 and LG are pedaling down our street in this picture. I am pedaling behind them...and shooting the photo (which is a pretty good feat if I do say so myself). Unseen in this photo is DS 4 who was also along for the ride.

We have been working with LG to learn bike riding. DH has run along side her. DS 3 has held her up and taught her balance once she gets started. DS 4 shouts encouragement to her as she makes her attempts to do it all by herself.

Yesterday, we took off to ride around the neighborhood. LG is pretty good once she gets going, but she requires someone to hold the bike steady and give her the starting push to begin.

I started her off yesterday and the three of us followed along. She rode pretty far then hit a stopping point. She didn't fall, but getting started was a chore. We wanted her to learn to do it herself. So we coached from the side while she worked on it. After a few long minutes, she did it! All by herself!

As you would expect from an unsteady rider, there were other stops and starts. And she had a couple of moments of sheer frustration. At one point she announced that she would be "walking her bike back to the house!" I told her "No, you are going to do it. Just take your time and look forward!" She held her hands up and showed me that they were red. I determined that she must have an absolute death grip on the handles! Still, the boys and I reminded her to stop looking at the pedals, loosen the grip and look forward. And gently we nudged her back up on the bike.

Every time I spoke the words, they resonated with me. "Loosen the grip and look forward." I thought, "That's exactly right!" When we are in the midst of a trial. When we can't focus. When we feel whiny and cranky and tired and would rather take an alternate route...perhaps we just need to loosen the grip and look forward.

Soon, LG was able to finish the ride. She rode home a little tired. She was a little sweaty. But she was triumphant. She rode farther than she ever had. She rode alone longer than she ever had. SHE. DID. IT!

The bike ride was refreshing. I enjoyed spending time with the kids. I can't wait until she's even more confident and we can try out some of the bike trails that are around here. But the most important thing that happened for me wasn't the memory making...it was the life lesson that was waiting to gently nudge me home!