Pressing On

News from the Boston Globe- Another storm! It's been snowing here. A lot! Usually when my mom calls, worried about us with the severe weather reports she is hearing on the News from the West Coast;  I will reassure her that they are exaggerating. "The media blows things out of proportion" I  tell her. But, this time I think they nailed it. The state of Massachusetts is buried in snow. We got hit a few weeks ago with a blizzard that landed  nearly 3' of snow and then before it had a chance to settle , another storm hit us again. Another 2' causing road, school and business closures.  The News reported a record 60" in the past  three weeks. Today's paper read that we are currently in the second highest rank for a grand total of 95.7" of snowfall!  Trying to get out of my house, clear the walkways and dig out the mailbox so the postman will deliver our mail tells me that yes, I believe the News might have this storm right. It's a crisis they like to...

 I've seen this quote on more than one occasion. I've seen it on book titles, motivational posters and  Pinterest boards. I have found it encouraging and makes me think of course, about personal growth.  When I first began working retail a bazillions years ago, one of my first promotions ( if you could call it that) was to the floral department. Some of my responsibilities were to go store to store once a week and clean up the plant and flower section. I would remove any yellow or dead leaves, dust off the dull Potho and Ivy plants, making them more presentable. And of course, water the potted plants and flowers. Often, I would see these little green plants struggling to survive in the tiny plastic containers they were in. Week after week, I'd water them but for some reason they had not been picked up by a customer. I  was always surprised to see one that was thriving to still be on the shelf. Sometimes I would watch them eventually, week after week; wither away. All...

I'm not necessarily a fan of the treadmill, although, I have one and I do use it. If given a choice however, to run outside or on a treadmill, I will always pick the great outdoors. Unless of course the outside temp reaches below 28 degrees. That seems to be the cut off for me of late. And today my weather app told me it was 3. THREE! DEGREES! Needless to say I didn't have to think about it for even a split second. Treadmill it is. Even Annie, after a record speed trip to potty outback, seemed perfectly content with this. It's cold! I hadn't been able to run for a few days because my knee was bothering me. The last time I did run was outside and it was beautiful. Somewhere in the 40's. Funny how I now consider that semi warm. Running for me is sort of a lifeline. I do get that runners high people talk about, it clears my head and gives me the time alone with God that I need to refocus. And of course, being a lover of chocolate; the calorie burn is a bonus. I know I...

This is that time of year I typically reflect on all that has happened in our lives over the past year. As I look though my photos on my phone I am blown away of the places we have been ( even lived for a short while) and the people we have met and/or reconnected with along the way. What a gift!  I know I can push back a little on the uncertainties of the future here on earth. I can complain about things not going my way or wishing  A. B. Or C had never changed. But life is about progress and its a process. I am a work in progress. As I look back I can't help but think...... If that hadn't happened way back then, this won't have happened as it did. I can then see clearly, God's hand in all of it. Even those very difficult times when I didn't get my way. To which I can now say "phew! I'm so glad I didn't get my way in that." What a gift from God!  My brother-in-law posted the sweetest video of our sons birth in honor of his 27th birthday. I remember...

Some of my best memories are of times shared around the table with family and friends. Something about a table between us seems to bring a comfort and ease that allows us to open up to each other.  To share stories, moments of our days and maybe even revisit the past a little to bring the present to light and hope for the future.  Growing up, it didn't matter what was going on in each of our lives, when my dad got home from work; we came together every night to the dinner table. I would be out front and my dad would whistle ( meaning it was time to come in for dinner). I would get teased from my friends and they would mock " it's dinner" like I was the baby in the group that had to go in for my feeding. I remember being embarrassed but now I'm so thankful for those consistent times around the table with my family. Those were some sweet moments I believe, whether they knew it or not; our parents used to teach us about life. They were also intentional about using th...

If you follow me on Instagram or Facebook you have seen the plethora of pictures I have posted of the fall leaves. They are incredible in the various shades of color and size. Some days, I walk out back and the wind is blowing just enough to create a sense of it raining leaves. It's gorgeous and I pinch myself that I live here to see it. Most people drive miles and/or pay for a vacation to see this in a lifetime. I'm very fortunate.  However, the down side to all those incredible falling leaves is that they of course, end up in our yard, in the rain gutters, on the patio that track into the house and they need to be cleaned up, bagged up and hauled away.  Jim of course, lives for this stuff. He loves nothing more than to work on the yard. I get it, it's that instant gratification of seeing a job that needs to be done and sitting back hours ( or in our case days) later and seeing the results of a job well done. Overgrown grass, once cut, with rows where the mower ran through...

Last week my new running partner/friend asked me if I wanted to run at 5:15 in the morning. I actually prefer to run early in the morning. Especially if I get to see the sunrise or if it's raining or if it's in Arizona to beat the heat. Here, on the East Coast in November, "early in the morning" is a different game. Our neighborhood is pitch black and it's cold. My reply via text was... " argghh, it's so cold and dark" Followed up with, a little reluctantly..." but I will if you want." I know her work schedule isn't easy. I remember the days I would put in a long shift and the pressure of having to go for a run when I got home hanging over my head was grueling. So, I was willing however, not very cheerfully. She replied with " yes, we'll bundle up and bring our flashlights" " Ok, God, I really would prefer to sleep in a little and maybe have a nice solo run later once it warms up... ( because I would now be getting up...