4 Miles

For some reason both James and I struggled with our workouts this morning. We struggled to get up and struggled to really work hard. (And it wasn't from staying out late to see fireworks. With fireworks not going off until 10 pm, we stayed home.)  I told James the only thing that got me through this one was wanting to be able to say “I did it!” at the end. When I was working out while I was pregnant, I would tell myself to go, and if after five minutes I was still tired I could stop (the idea being, of course I wouldn't stop once I got started!). Today I would have. It was not until minute 13 (of a 25 min. workout) that I really started to get the grove going. I seriously thought this was the morning Time Stood Still. Yet when I watched the timer (I do this and up the intensity level each minute for 5 minutes, then drop it back down…then work my way up through the levels again, then drop it down—this usually helps with the workout)–anyway, when I'd watch the timer, the seconds kept clicking away, but I think extra were added to each minute. It was rough. But, I DID IT! (I just had to say it one more time).

With this working out, I'm going to ask for some help from you guys. See, I love to listen to upbeat music while I'm “skipping” away (that's Will's term for the elliptical trainer I use). I really prefer Christan music, I like how it starts my day focusing on God & praising him. (Ok, I have to insert a story here. I'm sorry I'm adding so many asides, it's just how my brain is working today. Last week, James was telling me of this great radio station that was playing only music and how I should try it out. I did, and was enjoying it, until the last 3 minutes of my workout, the time I'm supposed to hit peak intensity, the time I need the music to rock, the song they played was “Nights in White Satin” by Moody Blues. Not what I needed to hear then. And,  can I say, I am embarrassed for how long I thought that song was “Knights in White Satin”, and I wasn't quite sure why knights were wearing satin. Anyway, back to the point of this post…). I have been enjoying my David Crowder Band, Delirious & Passion Worship CDs. But I would like something new. Any suggestions? Now that James isn't in Praise Team at our old church (and Matt and Amy moved), I've lost out on my “in” to the new music scene. Since I know Amy reads this, I'm hoping she'll suggest a few things! I would like upbeat, even techno style would be fun. If anyone else has fun music suggestions, please feel free to email me or leave them in the comments section!

As we were getting ready to go to the park, I was hunting for Alex's outside hat. Will saw (and wanted) his winter hat. He wanted to wear it to the park, but I was able to convience him to wear his baseball hat outside, and save the winter hat for when we got home. Which he did. Just reminded me of the "skater boys" I used to have when teaching.

Today was the kind of day that makes me love living in the Mid-West. We had a hot, sticky, humid YUCKY weekend. Last night, a cold front came through, and today it is cool, crisp—just beautiful (I can't think of enough adjectives to describe it). Growing up in Dallas, this time of year you just expect it to be hot, sticky & humid. Here, we get breaks in the heat that make me enjoy the beautiful weather so much more. (I did hear someone on the radio giving the weather guy a hard time for the nice weather coming AFTER the holiday weekend, but we'll take it when ever it comes!) Since it was so nice out, I had planned on going to the park today.

(Just a quick aside—we have a great deal of parks around us, with lots of different features. I had planned on visiting all of them this spring/summer. Last week I got an email from a friend describing all their plans in the next 6 weeks. Her husband had taught summer school and now they were packing in the activities in the next 6 weeks before school started and summer was over. We're half way through summer?!! What?!? All the things I had planned—fun days out, home improvement projects—not even started! So, this week, we're starting on the fun parts. I will blame the cold wet spring as part of the problem.)

So, today we went to a new park. This park has water features for the kids to play in. Now it is a bit cooler out (only in the low 70s right now), so I wasn't sure if Will would want to play in the water. So I didn't pack swimsuit, towel, etc. (Yes, I can hear you laughing at me right now.) He loved it. Even with lots of other kids running around and yelling (3 day care buses/vans arrived while we were there), he had a great time. I promised him we'd go back, with swim trunks next time.