What about now?

So, with the help of my big sis I just added some music to the blog. The song playing is "What about now" by Daughtry. You (all two of my blog readers) may have noticed it was in my playlist that I ran to the other day. While I was running there was one verse in particular, and part of the chorus that really stuck out to me....

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?

Some of you know that this year has been full of change for me...yes, most importantly my Mom's death.....hence the reference to a "broken heart". But, recently I've felt the truth in these words...that the sun is beginning to break, and that it's the start of a new day. But, it's only with a touch of His grace that these shadows of pain and sorrow are beginning to fade. It's the reminder that He is by my side loving me each and every step of the way.

And yeah, Mr. Chris Daughtry....you've nailed it..."What about now?"....

Well, not that it is directly related...although it is to me.....but I've been working on a personal goal of mine, pretty intensely....getting fit, losing weight, etc. Hence the running:) And, when I began this journey, I made a private decision to do it in honor of my Mom. One, because later in her life she struggled with her weight and thus self-image. But, also because I felt that it would be something she would want me to be free of...this battle with not liking who I am. And, for those of you who read this blog (again, all two of you) you know that my motto for the year is "Thirty-three....Being me! Being Free!" So, I opted to set a goal to lose a total of 61 lbs....one for each year of my Mom's life. Now that I've begun, though, I'm not sure if it will be possible b/c I'm losing inches due to weight training. I may get close and feel like any further won't be healthy, but we'll see. Right now I'm 26 lbs. down. I opted to share this now b/c if I waited until the end it might have seemed like an afterthought that it was in her honor. So there you have it. And, that brings me full circle to the end of Mr. Daughtry's song...."What if you are making me all that I was meant to be?" I feel empowed in this endeavor, and wonder what He's going to use it for...me for. Whatever it may be, I pray that it might glorify Him and honor my Mom.

"The whole is other than the sum of its parts." (Koffka)

Single Ladies Put a Ring on it (Beyonce)
Home (Daughtry)
Ready to Run (Dixie Chicks)
Callin' Baton Rouge (Garth Brooks)
Carolina in My Mind (James Taylor)
Morning Song (Jewel)
Sunrays and Saturdays (Vertical Horizon)
Least Complicated (Indigo Girls)
Bubbly (Colbie Caillat)
What about Now (Daughtry)
Wide Open Space (Dixie Chicks)
I'll Be (Edwin McCain)
Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae)
Take My Breath Away (Emma Bunton)
Power of Two (Indigo Girls)

To many these "parts" may just seem like a fun, throw back playlist from my ipod. But, to me, today it is a "whole" lot more (pun intended). It represents 5 miles of running. I've always wanted to run, enjoy it, etc....but never have. This is the first time in my life that I can actually say that I get it....I get why people enjoy it, why they push themselves to go farther and be faster. Wednesday I went out and did 3.2, today it was 5....it makes me feel fit, capable, and motivated to push myself even harder next time. Love that! It's kind of like a game to me now. I have to give props to Dawn for helping me figure out the heart rate bit, to Leslie for helping realize it was 99% mental, and to Erin for inspiring me by just picking up and training for a half. It takes a whole village people, it really does! Ha!

Our Creative Side

Little man decided to kill some time on one of our Wednesday PJ days by playing with silly putty. He exclaimed, "Mom! Look! I made a person!" So, here is a picture of him sculpting and proudly displaying his creation.













And here is our little miss on the back porch "practicing her tricks" so she can "join the circus".
















And last but not least....I'd hate to leave out the hubs (and Poppy, although not pictured here)....here he is building a bunk room in the attic. Right now it's just framing, drywalling, sanding and painting...but it promises to be a grandkids' dream come true!

Never a dull moment when the creative juices start flowing around here. Watch out world! Ha!

The short-handed update........

Well, once again I've let time slip by. I've been recovering from an injury, scrapbooking, knitting, going to Disney, visiting with Cat, turning 33, starting a new Bible study, celebrating the hubs' bday, meeting with my new precious friend/mentor Caryl, suffering through shingles, nursing sick kiddos, working out, praying for my sweet nephew J (as he was hurt and in the hospital for DAYS), sending wishes to my sis-in-law/dear friend for her 30th, doing the normal daily grind, and well I guess that does it! Or maybe I forgot a few things?

Now, I'm gearing up for the next wave of "life"....celebrating 7 years with the hubs, traveling to a family reunion, finding out what my sis is having (baby #4), having Mar and Tucker visit, and returning to Disney! I'm sure there'll be more mixed in there...there always is, right! Ha!

So that's the short-handed version of life for us.

Now for the short-handed version of my heart....Well, God has been convicting me and stripping me (slowly) of my perfectionism and my people-pleasing "junk". He's been teaching me to serve for all the right reasons (not that I'm doing it yet). He's been teaching me to hold my tongue when others offend me. He's been teaching me to care more about what He thinks of me, and helping me to be more free to be the person He's created me to be. There's a lot more behind all of that, but that sums it up.

And, that brings me to my motto for my Thirty-third year....."Being Free at Thirty-Three". Silly? Maybe. I just want to experience more of Him and what He has for me rather than being tied to doing, saying, and being what others think I should do, say, and be.

And, now for my new life motto courtesy of Erma Brombeck:
"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me."

Yes, that's what I am asking and trusting Him for each day...that by the time I put my head on the pillow I would have used it all....all that He entrusted to me for that day! Pray with me on this one as you think of me!

Do any of you have life mottos and verses? I'd love to hear them!