thoughts from the deep recesses

My sister-in-law Lorraine was here awhile back. And we got onto the topic of girlfriends while we were visiting. It was a great conversation - I came away from it really relieved that I'm not alone in my struggles and also encouraged that this particular season in my life is a time to forgive my shortcomings with other women as I really build into my kids for the remaining years they're under my roof. Something Lorraine said really stuck with me though, and it's changed the way I view my relationships with other women hugely in the few weeks I've had to ponder it and pray over it. She said "Don't you think people just want to know someone cares about them?" See, I feel a tremendous amount of pressure to be someone for other women - particularly younger women. Since Asia is so gifted at this with the men he mentors, I feel like I'm always trying to play catch up - showing my care and concern for young women - to be the wise, older women to the

In January, I set a New Year's resolution to log 500 miles in 2011. I quickly discovered that I am an impatient person... and that getting 10 miles a week (which is necessary to reach my goal by the end of the year) can be accomplished much more quickly when one runs. So I began to run. Intervals at first. Walk a minute, run a minute. Walk a minute, run two. Eventually, I pushed myself to run a whole mile. And I didn't die. And then, because I'm a goal-setting type, I decided I needed something to work toward. So I signed up for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. April 17th. That gave me a few months to train... And yesterday, I ran it. And I didn't die. In fact, I beat my goal of 33:00 minutes by more than three minutes, finishing the race at 29:50. I never, ever, in a million years would have told you that I was going to become a runner when I was forty two years old. But I have done that very thing. I love running. Not necessarily while I'm d

I saw my first daffodils blooming yesterday on my way to work. Spring is such a gift every year when you live through long, dreary, snowy, cold winters. Truly, I can't think of a nicer thing than spring. I had an epiphany last night that God will redeem some of Asia's food issues in heaven and he will LOVE vegetables. And fruit. And food. One of my greatest sadnesses is that he doesn't really derive any pleasure from food. Food is one of my favorite things in the world... (hence, my need for accountability in the form of my job! Thank you, Weight Watchers for teaching me how to love good food and still stay at a healthy weight.) I look forward to sharing delicious food with Asia someday in heaven. Won't that be lovely? Speaking of good food, we went out last night with some great friends - we were just going to meet them for dessert, but since I had to come straight from work I ended up ordering a hummus plate. Wow . Best.hummus.plate.ever. YUM. The flat bread was str

The buds on my lilacs are getting big. Never mind that it was snowing yesterday. Spring is declaring it's arrival! I've been on the phone nonstop the past few days trying to find alternative ways of getting our immunizations for the trip... if we go to the regional health district, it's going to cost us over $1000. Partly because they charge an office visit fee of $45 per person. That's $225 just to walk in the door. We're finding some pharmacies have access to travel vaccines and only charge for the cost of the immunization... problem is, we can't find anyone who can get the yellow fever vaccine. If we have to go to the health district for that one shot, we might as well get them all there. But UGH! I hate being on the phone. But especially when it feels futile. Kyler has been fighting tendonitis in his right leg... he hasn't been training much at all, allowing it to rest and heal. He wasn't able to compete in the first league track meet, but is hopin