A Rock In My Shoe...A Rock In My Life

I had a rock in my shoe today. I found this somewhat odd as the rock was in my running shoes and they've never been worn outside.

I'd been wearing them for over an hour as I did my P90x video. It wasn't until I was running on the treadmill that I even noticed the irritation rubbing against my heel. Somehow, without any knowledge on my part, that rock snuck in and started messing with my life. 

Perhaps I am waxing philosophical due to General Conference this weekend. Or perhaps I just always look for analogies as a way to figure out my life.

Whatever the reason, I found myself pondering how this rock, this seemingly small irritation is like so many things in life. So often, I try to ignore the little things, thinking, hoping, they'll go away on their own or somehow, magically, take care of themselves. And yet, that rarely seems to happen.

Contrastingly, I sometimes forget that if I'd just take care of the little things...starting small...eventually I'll get bigger results. This can be both positive and negative.

For example:

*A chip in the windshield would cost about $20 to repair. If that chip is ignored, left alone to withstand the elements, it will spread, most likely resulting in a full-blown, $150+ windshield replacement.

*A single, cracked tile is annoying to replace. Yet, replacing an entire floor, significantly more complicated.

*Making an appointment to check out a cavity...a pain. Letting the problem go and ending up scheduling a root canal...literally a pain.

*Any home-repair project is not fun to deal with. However, procrastinating these projects until you need a Cleveland Heights Point of Sale inspection...well, let's just say that a 20 page report is not unheard of around here.

*Folding the laundry daily, rather than saving it for the 18 load marathon session. (Of course, this can be altered depending on which tv show you'd like to watch guilt-free.)

*Washing/rinsing the dishes prior to the Bran Flakes (or Rice Krispies or mushy Lucky Charms) drying and encrusting themselves to the bowl/highchair tray/floor would make life so much easier.

Ahhh...the examples from my own life could continue on long and lengthy...so let's move to the more proactive portion of this rambling.

Regarding Health:

Committing to drink 8-12 glasses of water each day sure beats setting myself up for failure by saying I'll:

* Lose 25 pounds

* Run 25 miles per week

* Lift weights 3x per week

* Exercise 6 days for 1 hour each

* Eliminate all sugar, treats, chips and "fun foods"

I know, I've tried it both ways.

With Children:

*Teach them, train them, nurture them...while they are young. 

*Set boundaries and stick with them. 

*Discipline. 

*Love them. Laugh with them. Play with them. 

Do all these things while they still want me around. That's the key. As hard as it is to imagine, my kids aren't always going to want me around. 

I better do the little things now...because someday, all too soon, these "little things" (my kids) will be "big things." And unlike the rock in my shoe, once they are grown, I'm not going to be able to stop and "fix" things. 

In A Marriage:

Same principles apply, it's the little things. 

*If there is a communication issue, resolve it. If it's still being brought up months or years later, it's not resolved.

*Serve. It's that whole theory of, "A-peanut-butter-and-jelly-sandwich-tastes-better-if-someone-else-makes-it." Enough said.

*Laugh...together. (Although, laughing at each other sometimes works too.) Greg sings a mighty version of the Eagles, "Love (insert WAFFLES) will keep us alive."

Yeah, the list could go on, but in the midst of writing this, my two little girls have disappeared. If I really want to love them today, I better find them before they write on another wall, or spill the sugar container all over the floor. Again. (We try to limit that to a once-a-day occurence.)

Interestingly, just as a FYI note: 

I "posted" this entire blog in my head before stopping to take care of the rock in my shoe.  

Clearly, I have a long way to go.

Boring...How I Like It.

I am nothing, if not consistent. Some might even call me boring. I prefer routine, but however you term it, it works for me. I make no apologies.

I'm the type that wakes up and does the same thing every day. I don't even need to leave the house in order to be happy. I can find plenty of intellectually stimulating situations within the walls of my own home.  (YOU define 'intellectually stimulating.')

I shop at the same grocery stores. (It's efficient to know where everything is...and when you have 4 children with you...efficiency is SMART.) I buy the same brands, make the same meals and eat at the same restaurants.

I even wear the same clothes. But before you get the totally wrong idea, know that I do go out on a limb and spice up my wardrobe with 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves, or (usually) long sleeves. I venture out when it comes to crew neck, v-neck, turtleneck, pima, cotton, 95% cotton/5%spandex, thermal....you get the idea. 

Of course, those variations almost always come in black or white. (Black is more "kid-friendly" and white...well, it can be bleached.)

                       

So then, isn't it interesting that I am married to a law enforcement professional?  I don't know too many law enforcement personnel who went in to their line of work thinking it would provide routine situations everyday. If anything, they wanted the exact opposite. 

                    

Take Greg, for example. As a police officer/SWAT team member, he tells me what goes on at work. But, if I want to know the real details of a raid or an arrest, I have to eavesdrop when he tells his dad about it (retired FBI).

The faster the foot pursuit, the happier he is. The harder the dog bit someone -- the cooler it makes the story. The bigger the gun, the better. Tased someone and they crashed to the ground? Sweet. Interviewed a murder suspect? A rape suspect? A drug dealer...all in a days work...and it's exciting.

It used to strike me as really odd that while the kids and I were at home reading bedtime stories, he'd be out running through backyards, jumping fences and chasing bad guys. Now, in  a twisted sort of way, that has become the routine. 

Granted, many would look at our family "routines" and think they are anything but. But, it works for us...or, it doesn't. Either way, isn't that some sort of consistency?

Little Girls

   

    

 

Believe in yourself. Believe in your capacity to do great and good things. Believe that no mountain is so high that you cannot climb it. Believe that no storm is so great that you cannot weather it. You are a child of God, of infinite capacity.

Believe that you can do it -- 

          whatever it is that you set your heart on. 

                            ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

Is there anything more beautiful, anything that speaks more of divinity than a lovely little girl? I have little great-granddaughters, bright-eyed and beautiful, who sing and smile and touch my heart with thoughts of heaven. When I see them in their innocence, I recall the words of the Lord, "Except ye....become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

                             ~ President Gordon B. Hinckley

For the Record

Clearly, I have the kindest friends and family. To those of you who even insinuated (albeit, sarcastically) that this could possibly be my p90x BEFORE photo...well, may blessings and sunshine rain down upon you. (There's an interesting thought, huh? Raining sunshine. It could happen in Cleveland.)

There is NO WAY this could be my photo -- in high school or college (as was Greg's photo), let alone, after having 4 children. And, quite frankly, there is NO WAY I would post 'before' photos and subject myself to such embarrassment and ridicule.

My kids took one look and all concluded the same thing. Brynnley summed it up best when she said, "OOOH Mom! You're BAAAD! You're wearing a belly shirt. YOU shouldn't wear something like that!"

She is right....on all levels.

Shoot -- I can't even pretend.

PS -- I think I am starting to like hummus.

BRING IT!

                            

Greg works all kinds of crazy shifts. His schedule rotates from 6am-6pm every 28 days. So, he's either getting up at 4am and getting home at 7pm, or sleeping at 3pm so he can go to work from 5pm-7am, only to try to sleep in a house full of people until about 10am. I don't know how he does it.

As a result of this "ideal" work schedule, he can't sleep much of the time.  I've tried to convince him that folding laundry is a very efficient way to fill the 1am-4am hours -- but he's not a believer.

Consequently, he watches tv - - usually during prime "informercial hours." And boy, is he a sucker for infomercial purchases.

As a result of his latest 'investment', we have a new workout routine. I was more than ok with my previous routine, but what kind of supportive wife would I be if I had turned down his proposal for us "to get in the best shape of our lives?" Such a sales pitch. ENTER: P90X.

                                                       

"P90X is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days...The secret behind the P90X system is an advanced training technique called "Muscle Confusion," which accelerates the results process by constantly introducing new moves and routines so your body never plateaus, and you never get bored!...All you really need is some 'grit-your-teeth' commitment."

Yes, apparently, we think we can relive our athletic glory days. Too bad high school was many years, many children, and many sleepless nights ago.

                                        

It's been a week -- and so far, so good. Or so I thought. 

We set the alarm every day during Spring Break (no small feat for "anti-mornings" me.) We've been sore -- but that's always a good indicator of a challenging workout, right? I pushed through -- despite my illness. It's too soon to see any really visible results, but we've been consistent and tried to follow the program. (Sidenote: -- I even spent 20 minutes looking for hummus at the grocery store. I'd heard of it -- knew it was some sort of dip -- but had never been very motivated to actually try it.  I was thrilled to find out it is "wholesome chick peas, olive oil and garlic." Can you say YUM with a capital Y? (No offense meant to you hummus lovers - - and actually, it's really not bad.)

The initial workouts consist of: weights, push-ups, pull-ups, plyometrics, yoga, abs, bands and kenpo. I do better with the exercise than I do the nutrition, (I know - I need to get over the idea that high protein intake just equals high calories) but like I said, we're trying.

So, imagine how happy I was yesterday, when before church Cannon said, "Mom, it kind of looks like you are going to have a baby." Ouch. 

I'm a tough girl though, so I let that comment roll off my less-than-rock-hard-self and recommitted to another week of "doing my best and forgetting the rest."

Keeping in line with the program, being the fully committed individuals that we are, we took the obligatory "BEFORE" pictures so that we can also, eventually, take the "AFTER" pictures. It's a little scary to post these photos for all the world to see...but hey, we're committed, right? Please just be kind when passing judgements. And bear in mind, that I have given birth to 4 children, the smallest of which was 8lbs 12oz, 21.5". Stop scrolling now if you don't want to be subjected to our 'before' photos.

       

BRING IT!

Charlie Bit Me

I'm not feeling great today...therefore, I am rather unmotivated when it comes to doing the things I really need to get done. In an effort to boost my mood, I found this. Enjoy!

This One Is For You, Dad