Sunday, July 27, 2008

Life challenges, but I'm not complaining

It is 100+ degrees outside today and our home a/c is not working. You know, things only break when you try to use them. I am sitting here doing the mundane things of life, like paying bills, balancing my checkbook, updating data on a program that I use. All things I can do while sitting under the fan to try to stay cool.

Today is a day of rest for us. Not just because it is Sunday, but also because we have been trying to stay very active. We have moved it up a notch recently. We have begun to play doubles in tennis 3-4 nights a week. We have converted our mountain bikes to street bikes and have been trying to ride longer distances. Yesterday I went with my daughter on an adventure and we rode about 16 +/- miles. It was on a bike trail with small inclines, nothing so demanding as a 45 degree hill. Today my legs are a bit tight and I feel myself going slowly down the steps. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to complain about the aches and pains of my body after punishing it like that, but it is a new type of soreness I haven't felt since I used to ride horses as a youth. Saddle sore and stiff muscles from sitting here all day working on computer projects. I have tons of pictures I want to edit and get printed, but between family activities, babysitting little Jack and working I am a little tight on time. I have no adventures planned at the moment which is a little odd for me. I usually have at least one adventure in the making at any given moment. This coming February we are celebrating 35 years of marriage together and we have yet to come up with a single plan for how to acknowledge it. Lots of ideas and suggestions but not one selected yet. I like the idea of having several adventures to do, not just one on the actual date. When plans solidify I will keep you posted.

There is so much joy in my life with little Jack to share life with. I pray for him all the time. I pray for his dad and mom too that they will find the strength to do the day to day parenting when I know they are tired from working and getting little sleep. Jack still doesn't like to go to bed early.

I saw a white standard poodle the other day when riding my bike. It was a pretty dog and I got all misty eyed thinking about my legacy of the four standard poodles we raised. They were wonderful companions. Andy was a little quirky, but a great friend for many years. I miss him as he was before he became old and frail. His beautiful brown eyes and wet drippy nose.

I love summer. I am not complaining about the heat because I recall the terrible ice storm in December and the 4+ days of no electricity that we endured. I can handle sitting by a fan waiting for Monday when the plumbers can be called. Sleeping in the ice cold house was no fun.

I have the greatest family I could ask for. My kids are wonderul, sweet and perfect for me. I love them more than life itself. They are all unique and have their own specialness that is perfect. I pray for them every day. I have seen God's hand working in each of their lives whether they realize it or not, God is answering my prayers. That is exciting to see.

I am tired and hungry and beginning to ramble so I am going to go eat something and go to bed.

Until we meet again...be sure to eat your 9-13 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily.