Minnesota

Well, here I am in Eden Prairie with the Hansons.  Kenzie's surgery yesterday was successful and she is off this morning to her first physical therapy appointment!  She hasn't been in too much pain and seems to be handling all this with poise and grace!  She is quite the young lady.  She has had three nursesmaids in Jared, Leanna and me!  As difficult as it may be for her to ask for help, she is resigned to the fact that she does need it and is now accepting it willingly.  Polo has been at her side since she got back from the hospital yesterday and continues his watch over her constantly.

The other kiddos are doing great and yesterday they all got ready, ate breakfast and made it to school/bus stop on time - all on Nani's watch!  Thank God! They are concerned for their sister yet still find a way to get under her skin somehow.

Leanna's been cooking up a storm, as usual, and I am sure that when I leave here I will have gained all my weight back!  LOL (laughing out loud for Gpa Sam)

I'm hoping to see one of Will's training sessions and Gillie's horseback lessons and am looking forward to a little mom and daughter time later this week with Leanna.  Last night we all cuddled together in the living room to watch a movie, devouring m&m peanut butter eggs and leftover popcorn from my stop at Nuts on Clark in Chicago!

Tonight we are grilling lamb burgers and a think a Cribbage team tournament is brewing. 

That should catch y'all up to date.  I've got to get back to studying - oops, sounds like Kenz is back from PT, gotta run!

I Did It!

After a run on the beach in Cape San Blas, FL

Well, I finally did it!  I'm sure you may be asking yourself, what on earth did she do now?

I signed up to get my Certification in Personal Training ~  I have been wrestling with this idea for quite some time now and just couldn't decide whether it was something I really wanted to do or just a passing fancy.  I've prayed about it, researched several options, talked to some experts and finally I signed up.

So, today I embark on what the experts estimate as a 3-6 months journey to study, attend online classes and lectures and eventually take the test.  Most of you know that I have been interested in nutrition and exercise for a few years and have shared my knowledge with some about eating better and incorporating exercise for a more healthy lifestyle.  So it seems this is a logical path to follow since I am passionate about it and I hope that you will stand by me, pray for me and encourage me during this journey!

Simplify Your Life

My devotional reading this morning was from Isaiah 57:10 "You were wearied with the length of your way (in trying to find rest and satisfaction in alliances apart from the true God), yet you did not say, There is no result or profit"

What?  Sometimes the message isn't always clear and I have to do some searching to find out what it means.  The author of the devotional gave one translation of this verse "You are wearied out through the multiplicity of your ways" and she goes on to explain that if we have multiplicity in our lives, the answer is simplicity.  Oh, okay (open hand, knock to the head, like 'oh, I coulda had a V8') I get it!

If we are so busy with things, these things may take our focus away from God - the more we have, the more busy we are and pulled in many directions that cause us to lose focus.  There's that word again, FOCUS!  I admit that I get distracted easily and can sway from the course I've set.  But, when the Lord is calling you to stray from your norm, I think we need to listen.

I have this internal struggle going on as to what to do, look for a job, start a business, relax and explore.  The possibilities keep shooting through my brain  This move to PA and the search for a job has left me searching for direction and purpose in my life.  But, it seems the more I look the more confused I am.  One day I am set with the path I want to take, then something or someone will steer me away.  Or, is it me driving away from that direction?  Who knows.  So, I am trying to spend a lot of quiet time listening for God's direction.  I sometimes feel that it is taking too long, and when my hubby mentions the job thing I get all worked up because I just don't know what is right.

So as I ramble on, I need to get back to my original thought.  The reading today gave me an idea that maybe my life is too full of 'stuff' and 'things' that are stealing my focus away from God and what is important to Him. Multiplicity.  I need to release some things.  I pray that once I simplify, I may see a clearer path to where the Lord wants me to go.

Wondering

Ever get confused about life's decisions?  Dream up some crazy path to take, only to get discouraged by the world?  I am sure y'all feel this at times, we all do.  But, when you really care about something and can't seem to verbalize or convey your passion does this mean it is not the right thing to do?  Or you aren't really passionate about it?

Just wondering.

This Week in PA

Hi everyone, it's good to be back to blogging again.  Today I am fasting because I am having my tear duct surgery this morning, so I am catching up with my writing since I can't eat.  
Last week we spent time with Arizona friends, Kelseys, Gerhardts, Rasmussens and Hynes' sailing the Caribbean.  I'll share some pictures  here and even though they are beautiful they don't tell the story of how great it was to see our friends and enjoy time together.  We were so blessed with weather, safe travels and health and had an absolute blast during the trip.
Here are some pictures.  They don't do the island justice, but hope you enjoy!

On Cabbage Beach in Nassau Bahamas

Driving around St. Marteen

A Conch Shell on the beach in St. Martin

Sunset from our balcony - can you believe this?

At Orient Beach in St. Marteen (1/2 is nude the other half is clothed)
Can you believe the color of the water?

A plane landing over Mahoo Beach on St. Martin

Here's your sign.....

Our ship in St. Martin

Raggae artist, Dread I selling his CD's on Orient Beach in St. Martin

Linda and Bob, me and Otto, Phil and Jill, Lynda and Tom, Susanne and Dudley

A great time was had by all.  Of course it was a teary good-bye for us all at the airport, but we know that we will have these friends with us always, no matter where life takes us!

Please pray for a safe and successful surgery, and that my tear ducts remain open afterward!   Pray for my caregiver too (Otto)!