You Say Hoary, I Say Hairy

Yesterday morning's frigid temp's yielded a beautiful sight--hoar frost!

All that is needed for this breathtaking display is the combination of freezing temperatures, low winds, low-lying fog and clear skies. The clear skies allow the plants and other surfaces to cool more quickly that the surrounding air, and the moisture crystallizes in a thick, hairy frost.


I know I've said it before, but I just LOVE the scenery yielded by our pre-school commute.


Round-trip, it is less than 10 miles, is solely confined to back country roads, sprawling farms, a lazy winding creek, 2 covered bridges...oh, and a construction site with enough diggers, graders, and dump trucks to endlessly delight my kiddos.


This morning's frost was a feast for the eyes, like God had sprinkled sugary feathers over everything.


While I'm still itchin' for spring, it was a reminder that there are blessings in every season.

Just like my impatience for spring, I've been struggling with impatience in being physically made low (my knees taking a long time to recovery). BUT, there IS blessing for me in this season. And it doesn't take long to discover it, once I stop whining (whether spoken or suppressed).

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Day 1 and 2 (Week 1) of my exercise routine went great. I definately felt some unused, hidden, wimpy muscles were being worked. Saturday, Day 3 started out bright dark and early at 6am--a frigid 21 degrees. After my 5 minute warm-up walk I began my first run.

Something didn't feel right. Ouch. What is wrong with my knees?

Just power through it. It'll probably get better if I keep going. It's cold out, but I'm not. This weather is actually invigorating.

Second run, ouch ouch ouch! What is going on?!

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I toughed it out through half of the runs and walked the rest of my 1/2 hour. I was hurting but I just wanted to finish. I didn't think I had pulled anything. I had often struggled with shin splints in high school when I played sports. I always just powered through and then rested.

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6 days later: I've been hobbling around ever since, taking ibuprofen, icing, resting, and it's only getting worse. I finally went to the doctor. I've strained my medial patellar retinaculum-a muscle on the inside of your knee-nothing too serious, albeit painful. I was sent home with a prescription, some exercises to strengthen my creaky ol' knees, and the advice to take extra care to warm up on those cold mornings. Pounding the pavement is hard enough on the knees.

Evidence of God's kindness: the nurse practitioner following the doctor that day shared with me that she knew what I was going through. Active as a teen, she didn't really get much exercise till she started a similar 5k training program at the age of 35, and injured the same part of her knees.

It was the encouragement I needed. I had been wrestling with discouragment all week, wanting to feel better so I could get out and exercise, but being physically unable. Just the fact that I now desired to exercise was evidence of God working in my heart. But I had also been secretly fearful I'd experience a setback in this new venture. I fought to tune out the, "See? Why try? Give up." echoing in my head.

This past week I've come to the realization that I need to trust God even for my body's ability to function and work properly. Silly, because I would have told you I believed God created me and sustained me, but again I was functionally faithless until faced with injury.

I took the first of my medication yesterday, the next dose to come in the morning. All evening I was in agony. I guess it just took awhile for it to kick in. Thankfully it did in the wee hours of the morning because I was literally in tears. This morning when I pulled myself out of bed I couldn't believe the change. I could actually walk! It could still be awhile until I'm back to normal, but each day I feel slight improvement.

Today I am thanking God for many things...that His mercies are new every morning, for reminding me of Truth throughout the lows of this past week, for medicine and the care of the medical community, for a week in which I could rest without too much difficulty in our schedule, and the care and concern of loved ones.

Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.

Onward...

What's Different This Time...

A few weeks ago I posted on how, in my struggle with my weight, the role of food in my life, and my solution attempts, I've been functionally Godless. I'd recognize that God was the one bringing convinction, but when I'd seek to do something about it, I would proceed in my own strength and wisdom.

For those of you who are wondering why the food we eat has anything to do with God or spirituality, let me encourage you to keep reading.

First of all, one of the things God impressed on me a few weeks back was that He needed to play the central role this time. I've been asking Him to show me how to do that, and what resources I should use. I've been so encouraged and filled with hope because He has and continues to do so.


First of all, I'm using my cravings as a prompt to pray. Praying about our struggles seems like a no-brainer, right? But I never did that when it came to this issue! Now, when I really want to snack on what I'm craving instead of practicing restraint or choosing something beneficial for my body, I pray.

As I've put myself out there and shared, I've had others who struggle with the same thing reach out to me. I never had that before. New friendships are being born and having their partnership and accountability has fueled me.

I found an excellent book to read during my quiet time with the Lord each morning. MADE TO CRAVE: SATISFYING YOUR DEEPEST DESIRE WITH GOD, NOT FOOD by Lysa TerKeurst. Her writing is super honest, funny, and theologically spot-on.

I am thankful for how God has been leading Pete and I to make healthier food source choices in the last few years. While we still have much room for improvement, that part of the equation isn't the biggest issue. My attitude towards food and lack of exercise get top billing. This book has been so very helpful in showing me the deeper, spiritual issues at work in my heart.

My hubby agreed to do the Couch to 5k program with me for the next 9 weeks. It's free, the schedule can be found easily online, and combines walking and running--slowly but steadily increasing your ability to run 3 miles.

Running scares me. Years ago I was super athletic. Now, my unused muscles are protesting and the hills are alive with the sound of groaning. But I'm doing it! Pete is faithfully kicking me out of bed (figuratively speaking, of course) at 5:30am three mornings a week, and I'm lapping my neighborhood in the pitch black dark--my headlamp keeping me from slipping on any ice.

A few quotes from Lysa's book.

"Is it possible we love and rely on food more than we love and rely on God?" ..."I had to get honest enough to admit it: I relied on food more than I relied on God. I craved food more than I craved God. Food was my comfort. Food was my reward. Food was my joy. Food was what I turned to in times of stress, sadness, and even in times of happiness."

"Does God really care about our food?" ..."Yes, I think He does."..."God never intended for us to want anything more than we want Him. Just the slightest glimpse into His Word proves that. Look at what the Bible says about God's chosen people, the Israelites, when they wanted food more than they wanted God: 'They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved' (Psalm 78:18). Yikes."

"...a funny truth to share about the healthy eating plan I chose. Basically, I eat what a wild animal eats--meat and things that grow naturally from the earth. Only I cook my food and use manners. I was immediately encouraged by the possibilities of this new eating plan because I have yet to see an overweight animal in the wild lamenting over excess cellulite."

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Thanks for all of you who have expressed that you are praying for me in this area. I truly appreciate it.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

Looking at this...

and imagining this...

Sunshine...it does a body good.

Family Photo Outtakes

This just makes me laugh.

Natalia was in fine form this evening. (She also insisted on keeping a piece of rolled up paper tucked inside the "bowtie" of her dress all day.)

Grooveshark

My recent Favorite Things post included a link to a free listening music website called Grooveshark. On the day of my post I had trouble opening it, as occasionally in the past, but it has failed to open for me since then. Grrrrrr.

Tonight my wonderful hubby found the old version online and it works!!!!

Here is the link in case you too were wondering what was up.

A Day In The Life

We were driving home from Grandma's today. Adam was zonking out in his carseat. He was a whirlwind until the very last second, as usual when he's getting tired. Natalia noticed a manure spreader driving through the glistening snow-covered field we were passing, and asked why they were doing that. I briefly explained why they needed to get rid of the manure that was in the barn.

"Mom, do all animals poop?"

(Here we go. Potty conversation #5, 934. This is my life.)

"Yes, Natalia. All animals poop."

"Do barns poop?"

"No, barns are objects made of wood. They are not living things. Living things need to breathe, and eat, and sleep......and poop."

"Do bears need to poop?"

"Yes, bears are living things."

"Is my winter hat a living thing?"

"No, your hat is an object, not a living thing."

"Then why does it hibernate in the closet until next winter?"

Ummmmmmm.....