Destiny

Are we all destined for something? Something great...something mighty? It's easy to say but it's not easy to do - stepping out of our comfort zone and taking a chance.

I've been rolling these thoughts around in my mind for the past week or so and after a semi-lengthy conversation with a friend, the true realization hit. Perhaps our true destiny lies in the here and now, in the seemingly mundane day-in and day-out of our daily lives? Are we looking for opportunities to be a blessing? Are we looking for the chance to help change or shape a life, truly making a difference for someone else?

You might think, well...I'm nobody important, what can I do? That is absolutely not true. We are all given life on this planet with a purpose and a calling. How you choose to use your purpose is up you. Do I have my life all figured out? Absolutely not, but I'm still learning and shaping and forming it from my life experiences each and every single day.

Thinking about destiny reminded me of Esther - a Jew who was placed in a castle, and not only became Queen but also saved the lives of her people. Her calling, her destiny - because she wasn't afraid to step out of her comfort zone and take a chance. She was reminded "And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14) What if "such a time as this" is right now - in our seemingly ordinary daily lives?

We have 24 hours in a day, that's 1400 minutes and a whole lot of seconds to use. You might think, well, I work full time, go home, maybe get in a workout, make dinner for my family, go to bed, then do it all over again the next day...what's so special about that? But wait a second. Just stop and listen. What if there's something we're missing in the repetition? Something in those day-in and day-out tasks? How can we make the mundane not seem so mundane anymore?

Maybe it's in an extra smile to a client or coworker, or showing a little extra compassion to someone in need? It's true a smile can go a long way and it's a start...but what if we truly sought to find the magic in every day? What about those magic moments that slip by if you aren't watching or don't seem to notice? Take a child's laughter at a park for example - completely worry and care free from the world around them? How about a hug and a listening ear to someone who feels like there's absolutely no hope left for them in the world. Do you know how amazing it is to see the light in their eyes and a tear stained smile on their face once hope finally comes around? 

A simple hug, a smile, listening and caring about someone else's needs....it's in the thank you for caring, the hugs, the smiles from strangers, the random acts of kindness, the laughter of a child, hope, freedom, joy....those magic moments that make life worthwhile. Look for them. I promise if you look hard enough, you'll find them.

At the end of my life, I don't want to look back and realize that I missed it, so I'm striving to make the most of every day, the most of time spent with my family, smiling at random strangers, lending a listening ear when needed, caring for those in need...and maybe when I'm old and grey, I'll be able to look back over my life with a smile and know that I fulfilled my my calling here on earth, my destiny.

Fitness Friday - May 11

Currently Training For:

• Dopey Challenge 2018 - Walt Disney World
• Rock n Roll New Orleans Half Marathon 2018 - New Orleans, LA 
• Warrior Nation 5K
• Contraband Days 5 Miler
  

Saturday - Tour LaFitte 10 mile bike ride
Sunday - Rest Day
Monday - Tone It Up Workout of the Day & 2 mile after dinner walk
Tuesday - 3 mile run
Wednesday - Rest Day 
Thursday - Tone It Up Workout of the Day with PT Routine & 2 mile after dinner walk
Friday -3 mile run

This week happened to be an extra fun one, since it was also Nurses week, too! :)

On Monday, we went on a 2 mile after dinner walk and since Brayden didn't have a nap at his Mimi's house that day, he was OUT! After dinner, I did 2 rounds of the Tone It Up routine of the day. It was nice to use muscles I hadn't used in a while!

On Tuesday evening, I made it out the door for a 3 mile run just as the sun was starting to set. It was a beautiful evening!

It was also a solo run which was nice!

For Nurses Week, my coworkers took me out to lunch on Tuesday to Great Harvest Bread Company. I ordered a sesame chicken grain bowl and oh my gosh...this is seriously my new favorite dish! So good!!

My lower body was kind of sore after Monday and Tuesday's workouts, so I was excited to see a lymphedema rep was stopping by to show us their tools and feed us lunch! I also took a rest day on Wednesday.

This compression device was like heaven on my legs!

After the leg compression, I was also talked into trying the head and neck compression device...

Yeah, that happened!

Oh the fun things we get to do at work sometimes!

We took Brayden to the park this week and someone had left behind some sidewalk chalk. He couldn't figure out how to carry all three pieces of sidewalk chalk together, so this is what he came up with! Hey, whatever works, right?!

On Thursday, I arrived at work and was super surprised with flowers for nurses week from my parents! The are gorgeous and smell oh so good! My parent's are so sweet!

Last night after dinner, we set out another 2 mile after dinner walk, this time minus a nap! I also did the Tone It Up workout of the day as well as my physical therapy routine.

Speaking of Physical Therapy, I was discharged this week! My therapist felt as if she's given me all the tools I need and says I'm doing great! Not going to lie, I'm going to miss seeing her as my therapy sessions were actually kind of fun!

Another change this week is the elimination of excess sweets. I feel very fatigued and tired often and decided if I eliminated excess sugar from my diet, I might start feeling better (obviously).  It's basically a process of making better food choices and it's working so far!

This weekend is looking to be another fun one! We are FINALLY going to order a new shed since the tornado took our last one. We are also FINALLY getting rid of all of the pile of debris in our yard from said tornado. (It's pushed in the corner and we haven't had a chance to do anything with it yet due to work schedules.) It will be nice to have it gone!

I also plan to go for a long-ish run as the Lake Area Runners 5 miler is next weekend!

Hope everyone has a great and safe weekend! Happy Mother's Day!

Fitness Friday–5/30

TGIF!

Here’s how my week looked:

Saturday – 3 mile run around Disney’s Vero Beach Resort
Sunday – EPCOT day (lots of walking)
Monday –  Bridge and Boot Camp workout with the running group
Tuesday – Unexpected rest day (Niece’s1st b-day party right after work)
Wednesday – Rest Day (special event at church night I had to help set up for)
Thursday – Softball with Jason (now my arm HURTS…I’m getting old!)
Friday – Running after work

Saturday, I’m thinking I will try for 10 miles – it may turn into 8 though, we’ll see!

On Monday night, we celebrated a 1st birthday with our niece, Leigha. she lives in Kansas so we don’t get to see her often. She sure is a cutie!

Last night, I picked this guy up for the first time in years. Jason and I threw the ball around for a while – he tossed grounders, fly balls, made me run for some, made me dive for a few…it was so much fun! I forgot how much I missed it. Talk about a workout, too! I was drenched by the time the sun disappeared! We’re definitely going to do that again sometime soon!

This arrived yesterday, my new toy! I’m so excited to figure out how to use it…hopefully this will help my scrapbooking by encouraging me to get caught up! Anyone have one? Are you a fan?

What’s on tap for your weekend? Hope you’re enjoying the beginnings of summer!!

Legacy

Last week, the unthinkable happened. A young lady I went to school with passed away shortly after giving birth to her beautiful daughter.

It was a fluke, something no one could prevent…or even stop. What happened to her was so incredibly rare, most physicians will never encounter it in their medical practice. Once the signs and symptoms present themselves, it’s very difficult to survive. Unfortunately, it was her time to leave this earth – only 27 years old, a medical student, so very young, vibrant, and full of life.

The whole situation is awful, but my heart truly goes out to her husband, incredibly excited about the birth of a baby one day only to have a horrible tragedy happen the next. He’s a brand new dad with a newborn – I can’t even fathom how he feels.

Since her passing, I’ve read countless comments, statements, and seen many photos – all beautiful words of her life lived here on earth. In unexpected situations like this, I can’t help but think of a song called Legacy by Nichole Nordeman. The chorus is one that really hits home for me.

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

When our time comes, what do we want others to say about us? What kind of impact are we making now, while we are here on this earth? Are we touching lives, helping others, loving enough?



What kind of legacy will we leave behind?

No one knows their day, time, or hour – each moment we have, each breath is a gift. Don’t take anything for granted.

I don’t really have a question today, all I ask is that you be in prayer for this sweet family and her friends…her funeral is tomorrow. Please pray for her husband in the weeks and months to come, after the funeral is over. Pray for his comfort and strength while raising and caring for their beautiful little girl. Your prayers are very much appreciated!

Keep Short Lists

I’m stepping off the Disney/Vacation bandwagon for a moment to share something that’s really been on my heart and mind these past few weeks.

In my line of work, every once in a while, something happens that helps me refocus on the things that are truly important. Cancer doesn’t care whose life it invades. It doesn’t care about the person’s story, how old they are, how many children they have, or who their family is.

Working in oncology these past eight years has taught me that nothing is unchangeable or impossible. Our lives can change in the blink of an eye (either good or bad) before we have a chance to catch our breath. Life is SO short. I know that 80 or 90 years seems like such a long time, but it goes by incredibly fast. I spent a few moments at my grandfather’s house this past Saturday for the first time in a long time, and I was amazed at the emptiness there. Walking in the door with him not sitting in his usual chair, greeting me with a kiss and a “Hey, Kid!” was almost more than I could take. It amazes me to think that life ends so quickly. Sure, I know all about the dying process and what to look for when life is about to end, but it still amazes me that a person can be here, alive and breathing one minute…and gone the next. The craziest thing is that NONE of us know when that date or time will be!

Nothing that happens on this earth to us is a surprise to God. He already knows what choices we are going to make and what directions our lives will take us. It’s what we do with the choices we are faced with that makes a difference. He knows our birth date, and he knows the date we are going to be taken away from this Earth.

We were placed here on this earth for a reason and for a divine purpose. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I know that I want to fulfill God’s plans for my life while I have the chance. I want to make a difference and leave an impact while I’m here.

Working in Oncology has taught me a lot about life and living life to its fullest. Above all else, it has taught me that I need to take advantage of the time my family (and I) have on this earth, spend as much time as possible with those I love, hug more often, say I love you every chance I get, and truly LOVE those around me.

I’ve been re-reading a trilogy from my teen years, and a sentence in one of the books caught my attention. I thought the quote was a perfect way to sum all of these thoughts up:

“Keep short lists. Learn to forgive quickly and go on because one day you’ll wake up and find that somehow you got old when you weren’t looking. Your lists won’t matter at all then.” –Robin Jones Gunn

Maybe this all started with my birthday and turning 31? No, I think it was actually a culmination of things – my birthday was definitely a factor along with thoughts of my grandfather, and case studies I’ve been working on this past week. I don’t want to grow old, but its inevitable, I don’t really have a choice in the matter. Age is what you make of it and I love Walt’s quote that says, “That’s the real trouble with the world, too many people grow up!”

Sorry if any of my thoughts came off as sounding morbid, I just wanted to share what’s been on my heart and mind lately.

Have you ever faced a situation that helped you refocus on the important things in life?