#powerful

#powerful

Tomorrow will mark two weeks since I've exercised.  Boo.  But breathing and staying upright have sort of trumped running.  I'm so excited to get back out there!  

Today's Lenten reflection word is powerful.  I cannot think of anything I've done over the last few years which has made me feel more powerful than TRAINING for a marathon.  Obviously it was physically difficult but what makes me feel powerful is the fact that I set such a huge goal for myself and I stuck to it.   I ran so many times when I really didn't want to, when things were piling up around the house, when I felt like I was neglecting friends.  The end goal was important to me and I knew the training was temporary so I stayed focused.  I had lots of time to pray and seek direction and the greatest gift of that time is the fact that a year later I am still benefiting from all those hours with God.  

I think I'm convincing myself to run another marathon.  

I really need to run!!

#place

I'm officially OVER this week.  

Just when I'm starting to feel pretty good, Emma gets sick!

So it goes.

Today's Lenten reflection word is place. 

Initially I thought my picture would be of a place.  A peaceful place, a happy place or maybe a quiet place.

Instead this is my photo...

#place

Leaving work this afternoon I got a flat tire. 

It was not awesome.  

It was 20 degrees outside and I was looking at a 45 minute wait for AAA. 

 Five minutes into my wait a man from the Pine Lawn Public Works stopped and told me I was going to get a ticket if the police saw me just sitting there (never mind the flat tire).   He apologized and said if he wasn't on the clock he would change my tire.

  I'm sure he would have.  

Then the guy pictured above pulled up, hopped out of his pizza delivery car and while shaking his head mumbled  "You're gonna get a ticket, you can't just be here".  

Without a second thought he got a jack out of his trunk and put my spare on.  

I felt shocked and silly but grateful.

I could have felt scared.

Suspicious.

But that would have been ridiculous.

I could see both the Pine Lawn Police Department and the school at which I work from where my car was broken down. 

But I could have chosen to be scared.

Suspicious.

Wondered what his angle was. 

 And in my worry  I would have missed the fact that 

this man was taking care of his neighbor.

How many times do we miss what is right before our eyes?

Over the last few months I have never been more aware of my place of privilege.

How much my privilege causes me not to see.  It's as though my eyes have been closed when I was so sure I could clearly see.

I am in Normandy to teach and yet I am the one learning.  

And sometimes it's more than I can handle.

#Remember

I still don't feel like myself.  

  I'm doing my best but this morning I forgot to put dinner in the crock pot before leaving for the day.  Around 2:00, while in the middle of a gigantic mess in the library with 5 5th grade boys I realized this.   Since I knew they'd be no help in the sympathy department I kept quiet and thought....pjbs tonight??

 Once home we scrambled around and the girls were able to put together a pretty awesome pizza for us.

Feeling a little puny  I said---well so much for the word remember since I totally forgot dinner! 

 And El responded---Mom!  REMEMBER, mistakes happen. 

How are these people part of my tribe? 

 I am so darn blessed!

#remember

North

What a week!   Flu 2015.   I'm getting better but I'm still not there.
We're behind on our Lent photo photos but I know we'll catch up.

#path

 Past Delmar

and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive 

and Natural Bridge Road

Those streets I've been told to avoid.

Past burned out houses and boarded up schools.  

5 miles from home

So close.

Where everything seems familiar but nothing is the same.

So far

Where I never quite catch my breath.

and I wonder

I wonder

how

is 

this 

ok?

Ash Wednesday

It's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. 

How I love this season!
I had planned to get ashes this morning and attend service tonight.
A nasty virus has other plans for me though.
I wanted to share some ideas for our family reflections and talk with the girls about what they want to focus on.
Instead the girls are heating up soup for me and entertaining each other perfectly.
I am really thankful for those girls.
Over the next 40 days I'd love to write here often.

One of the other things I'd like to do this year is this photo a day project.  I'd really like to get the girls involved too.  

#announce

Lucy made this "lemonade" for me this afternoon.  Water, fresh squeezed orange juice and brown sugar.   To me, this picture is an announcement of love.  I am so lucky

In January

I really love January at our house! 

Routines are set, school is still fun, and things just seem to flow.  

Other than the fact that I'm trying to lose 5 pounds without much success, I'd say Yay! for January.

This month....

Lucy received an Amazon gift card for Christmas.  She used it to purchase Teddy a sweater.  Sometimes money can buy happiness.

If you're looking for Eleanor, try the basement.  She's flipping and flying all over her new gymnastics mats.  

If it's a Monday afternoon and you're wondering where to find Lucy and me, try the zoo.  I feel like those Humboldt penguins are my friends.  We have spent some SERIOUS time watching those guys lately.

Bad photo, but can you even believe how adorable that baby is? 

 Lucy and I are sometimes the only ones in the ape house and if we try hard we can imagine we're in Indonesia hiding somewhere just watching these amazing animals. 

That's when I think, I'm not really sure it gets much better than this, being part of such wonderful imaginary play with my favorite 4 year old.

I would love to know what her inner dialogue sounds like.  

One night last week I asked her to get off of the dining room table....not safe.

A few minutes later she returned  and asked "Now can I get on the table?  I'm safe!"

Trains! 

 I love how just when I think we're done with trains someone gets them out and they're back!

Add in Kevin's 39th birthday, Acro class, play practice, homework, regular work, travel for Kevin, lots of meals, fun with family and friends plus absolutely NO snow...boooo! and you have January!

Happy New Year

Happy 2015!

We've spent the day hanging out together and thinking about some goals for the upcoming year.

Plus we went on an awesome walk.  

It was really a hike but that word makes Eleanor break out in hives so shhhh!