Pressing On

 How have we gotten by all these years without the GPS system? When I first got married and we would travel by car, Jim would hand me a 15 page, folded up map and ask me to navigate. I do have a fairly good sense of direction and could read a map, even give direction on which freeway, highway or off ramp to take. However, some of our most intense moments were after I would say something like, " Ut oh, that was the exit we were supposed to take" or "We are supposed to be heading South, you are going North". Those long miles of having to reroute to get back on track for our trip were not much fun. We would get lost and angry with each other. If you use a GPS you know by now it comes with a familiar, yet annoying voice who says "recalculating" when this happens today. That means you took a wrong turn or somehow got off course.   The highways and streets over here on the East Coast are not only different from what I'm used to but insane. Oneway streets and...

 I love running. I know that sounds weird to most people but it has become part of my life and what I do.  I started years ago as a way of a fitness program to keep in shape. Later it became an outlet to get me through a difficult time in my life. It just became something I did, sort of like a habit or lifestyle. Jim started running with me years later. One day he suggested we race. I said " like what to the corner, cause I will totally beat you."   He said "No, let's sign up for a race like a 10k or something, and you will not beat me". I said " that sounds horrible, all those people running each other over. But I will if that's what you want to do". We did and I loved it. Shortly after that we were out for a run and Jim says " let's do a half marathon".  I said "What, isn't that 13 something miles? That sounds horrible". But I did and I loved it. It's no coincidence that I began racing around the same time I gave m...

  I love shoes. Particularly flip flops and sandals but I do have a new love of boots. They were one of my first investments when we moved to the colder climate. I had to get a pair in black and in brown. But, because I have weird feet and tend to suffer pain if they are not the right fit or style;  I'm am very particular, comfort is everything. However, I occasionally get caught up in the look of the shoe and throw common sense out the window. I did that with a beautiful pair of black boots only to wise up and return them after one quick wearing. A few of my sweet friends in Arizona gave me a pair of Uggs as a going away gift. I'll admit, I never thought I'd wear those, being a flip flop girl I was afraid I'd suffocate my feet. I have discovered the comfort of Uggs after this past winter. They are furry, comfortable and snuggle up to the skin like a sleeping bag meant to preserve, protect and keep warm. The neutral color allows me to wear them with nearly anything in m...

 One of my very favorite books is The Noticer by Andy Andrews. It's about a stranger who comes to town by the name of Jones. He enters in and out of people's lives taking notice of their circumstances and sees things in a different perspective. His presence and perspective is life changing to everyone he meets. Although, he is a fictional character, Jones has helped to make me look at things differently as well. It's all perspective.   While it might be tempting to see the glass as half empty in circumstances such as, being isolated in a small apartment, not knowing my surroundings or anyone here. Having been uprooted from everything and everyone I know and love to some very unfamiliar territory. It's a bit scary. I can't see the future and the temptation is to freak out with a plethora of what if's instead of trusting that God is in control and I'm not. Or to choose to see things from a different perspective such as, I'm so thankful we have been given t...