Blogging is Just Not Happening for The MOB

My doctor always asks me every single time I see him "What do you think about the whole time you're running?" He thinks its so boring.  Well I usually have lots to think about and blog about but for the past 10 months all I have been thinking about is weddings, but of course,  I'm the mother of the bride, The MOB.

I've enjoyed every minute of being the MOB!  All my  MOB duties and long bubble baths looking at Brides magazine have gotten me through this long icy winter.  I've had so much fun planning with my daughters, Esther, the bride and Andrea, the maid of honour.  I'm very thankful for my daughters for being so patient with me.  I must admit I might have gotten a little obnoxious at times.  Everyday when I got home from work I'd ask Esther, did you pick anything new today, has anything come in the mail today?  Or if Esther and Andrea were looking at the computer together and said - "That's nice", I'd say "what what what let me see let me see".

The day I went with Esther and all her bridesmaids to look for her wedding dress was such a special day for me.  She looked sooo beautiful but the best part for me was seeing how Andrea and Esther were together.  The way Andrea helped Esther in the change room put on her dress and was so excited for her little sister.  It reminded me of when she was so excited to have a baby sister and took care of her.

Then there was the day I went shopping with them for my dress.  It was at the same bridal store and this time it was my turn to come out and stand on a stage,  except this was a smaller MOB stage.  I looked down at my girls looking at me and telling me it looked really nice and suddenly I just felt so blessed.  It hit me that those 2 beautiful creatures sitting there looking up at me were MY daughters. My beautiful grown up daughters.  It was a special moment I will never forget.

This week I went into Esther's room to put something away.  The floor was covered in her crap as usual but I stopped a minute to look at the crap.  There was the usual remnants of a McDonald's meal that her and Jesse, her fiance, had shared, games not put away that they had played and a lot of wedding stuff and decorations.  All of a sudden I broke down crying.  Along with all the fun wedding stuff comes the part where she is leaving.  I love that messy room!

Esther and Jesse, kindergarten sweethearts.  Jesse in the back, striped shirt, huge smile. Esther front middle, red skirt, fountain ponytail. 

 

Esther loved dress up clothes especially this Cinderella dress, she practically lived in it. Her wedding dress is "The Cinderella" dress from the Disney dress line.  She didn't do this on purpose we just realized it when we saw this picture.

Good Music, Great Run

I used to run without music but now I can't imagine going without it.  Listening to music just adds so much to my running experience.  When I'm running and listening to my music I'm in my own little world. The lyrics help me to forget the distance and pain and inspire me and give me peace.

I have an old MP3 player with not that many songs on it but the right song always seems to come on at just the right moment.  For example one time when I was struggling up a hill a U2 song came on "It's not a hill it's a mountain, when you start out the climb....".  Those lyrics got me up the hill.

One time I was feeling confused about what to do in a situation.  All of a sudden it got really windy and then the song "Consuming Fire" came on.  "Come like a rushing wind, clothe us with power from on high, Lord have your way."

Another time I was on a run when I was having one of those days when I felt down on myself and wasn't doing anything right.  Then this song came on "Even when I fail you, I know you love me.  In every season, I know you love me."  It was so comforting to hear those words just when I needed it.

Then there was my most memorable lyric moment.  It was at a time when I was having a particularly hard week stressing over my 20 year olds.  I belonged to a running group at the time but really didn't feel like being social but knew if I didn't go I would feel even crappier.

Our group ran on a path that went by the lake.  As we approached the lake I could hear the waves roaring.  It was a beautiful winter night and it was lightly snowing.   The lake looked really eerie but spectacular.  The moon shone on the dark wild waves and the snow sparkled in its light.  I suddenly imagined Peter walking on the water to Jesus and how scary it must have been to walk on those waves.

When Peter didn't keep his eyes on Jesus or started to doubt he would start sinking.  Those waves were like my life.  Wild and out of control.  I had to remember to keep my eyes on Jesus and not focus on the waves.  I suddenly felt such peace.

Then the song "Here In My Life" by Hillsongs came on.  It started " I have never walked on water, felt the waves beneath my feet".  Talk about a God moment!! 

I ran with such a feeling of peace and freedom!  I will never forget that night.

I was debating with a cyclist one time about cycling versus running.  He said runners always look so serious.  Well maybe its because they're  just really into their music.  My son put a song that he wrote for me on my MP3 player just before he moved out west.  It sure helps running to it when I am missing him and then there is at least one runner out there who is smiling her face off. 

Little by Little in 2014

In January I like to set goals for myself.  I'm a person who needs a goal to work towards.  Last year I had my "Winter Blah Plan" where I committed to starting a diet to loose my 10 lb Christmas food baby,  signing up for a Half marathon in Feb/March to keep me running through the winter and doing my devotions and reading inspirational books over the winter.

This year I got the idea for my plan from our pastor who started a sermon series in January called "Money Matters".  At first I thought blah blah blah, I've heard it all before and I don't like hearing about money because I'm not very good with it especially saving.  I always beat myself up about it.  But our pastor pointed out 4 important points that caught my attention.

1. Pay down debt.

2. Save little by little.

3. Set financial goals.

4. Trust in God's providential care.

That statement "save little by little" really struck a cord with me.  I can do that?!  That sounds doable.  It doesn't have to be a big amount just a little by little adds up!

I thought I can apply that to the other issues in my life as well.  Relationships that Im having difficulty with I don't need to fix in a day. Just do something positive to make it better every once and awhile, as long as it's moving forward little by little.  Children I'm worried about, just love them and pray for them and do what I can, little by little and leave the rest up to God.  Health problems with friends or family, take it day by day etc.

In December I set a goal to run everyday till Christmas (my 140K "Journey to Bethlehem") and that really helped me discipline myself to go running everyday.  The idea was to exercise everyday, even if it was just a little.  By doing this I found that I had less aches and pains, less concern with calories and my mood was better and more consistent.

So my original January goal was going to be run everyday of 2014 and do by devotions and work on my budget everyday.  Well........I quickly realized that was not going to happen!
So I changed it to:
Do my devotions everyday, do my budget everyday and TRY and workout at least 5 times a week.  Doable???  We'll see.  I know I can achieve my goals with God's help little by little.