Things I've Been Doing Instead of Blogging

1. Studying. I had four tests this week. Two down, two to go.
   
2. Running. Wait, wait, I know what you're thinking...I don't run. I don't. Hate it. I'll work on the eliptical all day or trudge up hills on the treadmill. But I despise running. Thanks to my dear friend Dinah, I started the "Couch to 5K" training program today. She swears that it will make me love running. She'll be lucky if we're still friends at the end of it. (I kid, I kid!)
   
3. Reading. I've been trying to get through "Messenger" without crying. Unsuccessful, and I'm coming up on the saddest part of the book.
4. Studying. Did I mention that already?
   
5. Counting down to the Olympics. This deserves a post of its own, which I promise will come at the end of this crazy week.
   

Observations from Marta

Here are a few observations from my train ride to school this morning:

To attend Woodward Academy you must:

1. Be rich.
   
2. Wear itchy uniforms.
3. Switch cars every time the train stops.
   
4. Have an iPhone/touch/pod.
   

If you sit in the seats with little leg room, it's likely you'll get the seat to yourself the whole time.

I really should stop reading books that reduce me to a blubbering mess. The kids look at me like I'm crazy with my sniffly nose and watery eyes.

That's all for now. :-)

Remember to play after every storm

Remember to play after every storm.
Storms aren't necessarily clouds with rain.
They're things that darken your day.

If you've read some of my posts when I initially started blogging, you might recall me mentioning a very special little boy, Mattie. If you don't recognize his name, you can visit his website and learn a bit about this amazing child. I first heard of Mattie when mom gave me a book of his poetry for my birthday. I have a deep passion for children who are differently-abled, so I was immediately drawn to Mattie's story of strength and courage.

Mattie will probably be the subject of numerous posts to come as I am currently reading Messenger written by his mother (who also suffers from the same rare form of muscular dystrophy...she has buried all four of her children). By the way, I don't recommend reading this book in public. I was in tears by the end of the first chapter, and all the Marta passengers around me were surely wondering about my mental state! Of course, this has yet to persuade me from reading on the train, but I thought I would give you fair warning.

So back to the storms. Mattie shared his life philosophy one day with a reporter, much to his mother's surprise as she had never heard him mention his "storms." Most people associate storms with fear, danger, gloom. Mattie looks past the storm. He sees the rain ceasing, straps on his boots, and jumps in the puddles! What a profound concept from a young boy who was confined to a wheelchair.

We all have our storms. Some come in the form of sadness, situational anger or despair, money woes, loneliness, failure, defeat. What a challenge he offers: play after the storm. No matter what it is that you face. If Mattie in his wheelchair strapped to 100 pounds of medical life support equipment can play after his storms, surely I can too.



If you would like to read more about Mattie, Messenger is currently available. Also, I would recommend reading his poetry starting with Heartsongs.

Birthday week!

Two of my very best friends are celebrating birthdays this week. What a special friendship we have shared for over 21 years!!! I love these girls like crazy. We have gone to school together since kindergarten and have been with each other through the ups and downs of middle school, prom, graduations, bad roommates, weddings, and now a baby. I feel like this should be throwback year.

So Miriam and Rachel, I propose we put on our pj's, grab some popcorn and M&M's, rent "Pillowtalk", and play spoons all night long (or until we quit, because those two get pretty violent!!!)

Of all the gifts life may bestow, none is as constant, steady, and sure as the tender heart of a friend.

The simple things

A few days ago, my facebook status read:

"I'm enjoying the simple things. This world and it's craziness do not have to control me."

Sometimes "stuff" just gets in the way, and I let it weasel its way in without a fight. My mom always tells Caroline and me that the only thing we can control in every situation is our attitude (I'm sure someone famous said this, but mom's pretty wise so we'll attribute it to her today). If I can control my attitude, then I should also be able to control what I let affect me. I have a choice in every situation. I can get mad that the train is late or enjoy the fact that I have an extra five minutes to read my book. I can honk at the guy trying to wedge his ginormous SUV into my lane, or I can let him and the next car over. I don't have to let myself get worked up about things that are really not that big of a deal. This allows me to really enjoy the simple things. It helps me to remain optimistic. It brings joy. So I thought I would list a few of the simple things in my life...and maybe you can add some of yours!

Simple Things I Enjoy

• My cuckoo clock playing Edelweiss
• The five minutes after our alarm goes off when the dogs jump on the bed to cuddle
• Baking cookies and giving them away
• The way Leo dances when he hears Charlie's keys in the door
• Calling my sister just to chat
• Reading my Real Simple magazine cover to cover the same day it comes in the mail
• My morning good-bye hug with Charlie
• Sitting on the train instead of sitting in traffic
• Hanging on to all my coupons until the very end of checking out and then watching my bill go doooooowwwwwnn
• Knowing the answer to the final Jeopardy question

What would you add to this list???

Epiphany

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

To-Do Lists

Normally I LOVE marking things off my list. I will even go as far as putting things on there that I've already done just so I can mark them off. I'm not very organized (as the recipes strewn across the table testify) but lists make me happy.

Since I have a few more days until school starts, I decided to make a rather ambitious to-do list while I'm at home. Today's list read like this:

• Go to dentist and pray my broken crown is not a big deal
• Pick up package from post office
• Get book from library
• Deposit check
• Organize recipes

I knew the last item on my list would take a long time, so I was really proud of myself when I had completed 1-4 and it was only 10:30 a.m. If I were to write down what I've actually done today, it would look a little more like this:

• Play with the dogs
• Eat cheeze-its
• Look at recipes
• Watch "Let's Make a Deal" and "The Price Is Right" (because we all know that I love a good game show!)
  
• Make a New Year's card, order it online, and pick it up at Wal-Green's less than an hour later
• Watch "The Great Muppet Caper" (I really have no idea what happened here)
• Move recipes around
• Wash sheets and comforter in guest room
• Check facebook
• Read blogs
• Sit down to work on recipes for about an hour
• Resort to blogging about procrastination and lists

There you have it, folks. I'm definitely not cut out to work at home.