My goal for 2018 is to run 2,018 miles. Or at least 18% of 2,018 to beat last years.
I know there was one day I worked out, but didn't immediately write down the mileage. "I'll remember to write to down later." I foolishly told myself. Famous last words. I didn't write it down so therefore it doesn't count.
While big brother is off dominating the wrestling mat and big sister is gearing up for college prep classes, li'l sis is back home learning the fundamentals of home life hardware.
Same parents. Same DNA, genetic makeup. Same upbringing.
And yet...
Every family has
The Athlete:
Sunday, January 21st -
4th place finish at Archbold Wrestling Tournament
Sunday, January 28th -
3rd place finish at Wauseon Wrestling Tournament
The Scholar:
Bree is in the gifted math program, is in the top 8 in her grade for AR points, finds science fun, and earned the Citizenship Award for being an awesome human being. It might actually be more technical then that but it is an award granted to only 12 students out of the whole grade and she made the cut. That is pretty awesome.
This past weekend, the hubs and I made a quick jaunt down to Florida to visit his grandparents. The weather wasn't great, but the conversation and stories that covered a lifetime made up for it.
In the short amount of time we were there, I managed to read three books! Although that sounds impressive, one of the books was a fifth grade reading level and didn't take much brain power to plow through. However, the message from the second book is one that will stick with me for quite some time. So many passages forced me to dog-ear the page so I could come back and reread over and over again. But there is one specific chapter that I never want to forget. The message is one that I live myself with the prayers, signs, listening, and following of God's will in my career choice. A choice that I do no regret. And a true testament of how good God is when we faithfully follow.
An excerpt from 'The Lucky Few' by Heather Avis:
What I did not know then is that ease and normalcy and niceness are not as important to Jesus as obedience, perseverance, and sacrifice. I didn't know then that easy and normal and nice would do little to build my character or make me a better and more complete person. Somewhere off the rose-petal path where easy, normal, and nice bloom, true beauty lives in the muck. But only the lucky few of us who step off the path will find it. My luck began when God picked me up off the comfortable path I had paved for myself and drop-kicked me into the mud. In the beginning, all I wanted to see was the grime on my clothes and the dirt on my hands. But because of God's grace, I finally stopped looking for a way back to my own plans. And the farther I stepped from that pretty path of easy, normal, and nice, the more clearly I could see the beauty he was creating all around me. Far from my simple expectations, I discovered a richness and depth of life available to everyone. I began to trust. In fact, I no longer needed to see the beauty ahead of me in order to take a step toward it. I began to walk in the wilderness of God's love, and with each step, I watched his perfect will for my life to unfold around me. Today I'm aware of all the time I have said no to opportunities God has placed before me because I think I'm not rich enough, equipped enough, talented enough, strong enough, or crazy enough to say yes. All the times I have mistaken good things for bad. All the times I have allowed the opinions of an ignorant majority to guide my thinking instead of looking to Jesus and his heart in the matter. I wonder how many times we, his children, choose a comfortable no over a terrifying yes - the kind of yes that will lead us to the only place we should ever long to be: in the arms of Jesus. Today I can see I was created for profound experiences far beyond the reach of simple expectations. So were you.
During the 2016 Christmas season, the kids and I worked daily on making beaded icicle ornaments. These beaded beauties were then delivered to our local hospital where the cafeteria workers would distribute them to the residents via their meals trays on Christmas Day.
This isn't the first time we've done something like this.
Back in 2011, Bree and I (and a very tiny Jacob) made 2x4 turkeys for the patients at Rainbow Oncology.
And in 2012, we made and delivered Valentine oven towels:
and floral Easter Eggs to Rainbow Oncology as well.
Thanks to Pinterest and its plethora of ideas, finding generous ways to give back is very easy. And thanks to the crafty talent that flows through my veins, I am always eager and willing to do so. And even greater thanks to the Lord above for the ability to stay at home and have the time and finances to make these donations come to life has truly been a blessing. Especially when teary-eyed nurses pay compliments like:
"Thank you. The patients really appreciate things you've dropped off. It means a lot to them that you take the time to do this."
It fills your cup, it fuels your fire, it drives you to want to do more. However, little did I know we were missing a big piece of the puzzle.
At the beginning of this Christmas season, as everyone was busy thinking up and searching for items to put on their lists, I was presented with a Christmas request per my father-in-law. Instead of a physical gift for himself, he wanted us to use that money to go out and brighten and bless someone else's day, someone who needed that ray of hope more than himself.
Well, that part was easy. The kids and I had worked together to make over 120 beaded candy canes that we were going to drop off and donate as we had in the past.
But this was a Christmas request... a Christmas gift per say. Simply dropping off a donation would not suffice. Just as we can't wait to see the pure joy, excitement, and thankfulness on a loved ones face when presented with a handmade gift so should this be an opportunity to truly give of ourselves, to sacrifice our time, to bring joy not just with a present, but with our presences.
Our presences.
That's what we have been missing in all our years of donating. With simple, small changes in traditions, the holidays can be filled with the glory of God in unimaginable, soul filling ways.
So on Christmas morning, we loaded into the van and headed to Brookview Healthcare Center to hand deliver 78 beaded candy canes to the residents as well as 15 candy canes and lottery tickets to the dedicated nurses and staff.
Jacob (in true boy fashion) delivering a candy cane:
Gabrielle delivering a candy cane:
A few days later, after it was all said and done and sunken into our brains and hearts, I sat down with the kids to talk to them about their experience:
Merry Christmas, Dad Dominique. We hope you enjoyed your present and may it inspire you carry on the Spirit with your presence throughout 2018.
