Strength Returning

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 Twelve inches of snow fall overnight.

We end up with over 16 inches of snow over the last 3 days,

but the driveway is cleared each day by my husband.

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was up shoveling today before I’m up, but he does wake me to say,

“You should see how how fast and hard the snow is coming down!”

This is what was done before I start to shovel.

My husband did more up by the garage then down by the street.

He left the street for me not knowing if I was going to be able to shovel, but God did! God knows I enjoy the stuff by the street.

Today, I knew I would be able to shovel which is miracle.

Running in the snow and wind has made me strong enough to believe I am able to shovel.

The running I have been doing 3 of the last 4 days in wind, snow, and cold shows me running is returning to an everyday occurrence as it was 10 years ago! God is so Very Good!

My husband has been doing all the shoveling for the last few years because I couldn’t anymore. And even this year with all the running accomplished, I had no thought of being able to shovel! So, knowing I am able to shovel 12 inches today is a miracle happening in real time!

Knowing it is warm outside I put on boots, mittens, and cover a tee-shirt with a sweatshirt. With each shovel load I pick up 12 inches of snow and throw it over to the grassy area.

The snow is a bit on the wet side and it is sticking to my hair and hat. Inside I find the back of the sweatshirt has been soaked by the wet snow.

My shoveling widens the path already done and I also make it across the bottom of the driveway where the plow adds extra snow. I cross over to the mailbox, clearing it for the mail truck to drive up to the box. Knowing it is time to go inside for water, I see our neighbor finish the driveway with their snowblower.  I have the desire to go back out and finish it for my pride  but I am thankful.

Our driveway is over 50 feet long and it is double wide. Ten years ago I was able to shovel the whole thing. I am believing it is possible again. There is a shift happening again.

Fifteen years ago when God gave me the new bones and nerves I asked Him to show me how to clean house and He did. It is time again to ask God for help stepping out into the future He has planned for me.

God Bless each of us with Wisdom and Courage to do what needs to be done wisely. I also ask God to Bless us with Strength to do more than we know.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD.

First Winter Storm

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Of course, I am out running in our first winter storm!

Somehow my body isn’t willing to get moving when the weather is nice and 40 degrees and sun. It is always ready to move when it is hot or humid or freezing and blowing wind.

The wind is blowing 20-30 mph with snow coming in bands off the lake. There are times I need to put my mitten up to protect my face from the wind and frostbite.

Are you surprised I see no one else out here!

I dressed appropriately in layers and layers. It feels like 20 degrees so I put on double pants and socks with 4 layers on top and the hood of the sweatshirt tied the hat down tight.

Thankfully, God showed me where to find my neck piece. It keeps my neck warm without the bulk of a scarf. The temperature has been cold enough and I have looked everywhere but my neck piece was nowhere to be found. Then one day, I saw a piece of it sticking out from under a piece of fabric. God is so Good!

It is strange to wear the hat with the bill all winter but I find the bill blocks out almost all of the light when I run in the dark. It does help keep the snow off my glasses or out of my eyes to some degree. When the rain is coming it is very helpful.

I did run 3 miles in the open West wind. There was a calm point just before the last big wind and a shift to more NW wind. Getting home I offer each dog once around the block. It is a bit warmer since the wind is slightly blocked by the houses in town.

The run did take more out of me than I expected. Getting my strength back is important and getting my weight back down to fit into most of my clothes is also important.

It feels so good to be able to run when all summer I could only do a run/walk for the whole 2 miles at the cemetery. It was a bit embarrassing to not be able to run. But now I am running at a good pace some times and each time I go out it gets better.

Exercise is so important to life. Getting up and moving as often as possible is good for our bodies to feel better. It lifts our spirits to get outside even in the winter.

God Bless each of us with the ability to move and get stronger each and every day. Amen.

I do have days I cannot get off the couch but my body recovers and is up and moving soon after.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD.

 

The Blessing of “Forgive Me”

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Introducing myself to our new neighbors as I do,

she responds:

“I don’t want to hear anything about God!”

From that point on I have no idea how to talk with Pam, our new neighbor. I wave when I see her, but she never responds.

One day I decide to visit our common neighbor, Donna.  Going over to say hi, I find Pam sitting on the couch. For a while we sit in silence until Pam tries to start a conversation.

“I’ve quit eating chocolate.”

Donna responds, “I have also quit eating chocolate.”

God gave me the perfect response,

“I have found the most wonderful thing called, chocolate bark.”

But I keep my mouth shut! What am I afraid of? rebuke ? anger?

Pam departs saying, I know you watch me visit and come over when I leave.

I respond, “Once, only one time did I see you leave.

This was our relationship for 10 years.

This last month I was bringing a tomato over for her husband.

He had knee surgery.

Pam answers the door.

Surprised to see her at the door, words tumble out of my mouth!

“Forgive me, I have had no idea how to talk with you because you don’t want to hear about God.”

I did go on and give some of my backstory of why I act the way I do.

Pam responds much better than I expect.

The next time we meet at the mailbox,

Pam asks, “How are you doing?” 

She smiles at me.

It is such a change and all I did was apologize.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Good Signs

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Rain today but yesterday shining sun!

Today I knew if running was happening it would be late. It did happen at 10:00 P.M.! It was not fast or easy but it was a successful 1.5 miles run with 1/2 mile walk.

It was a Blessing to have Sam decide he was willing and able to run with me. He even wanted to run faster than I did. All I had to do was offer, “treat” and he came willingly. I didn’t even have to give him the treat, he came with just the mention of it.

We had baked potatoes with roast beef and salad for dinner. I made my salad and put the roast slices on my salad and had a potato on the side. This is a picture of how most of my salads look. It often takes me an hour or two to eat it but it does give me energy!

My body enjoys eating this salad.

The reason I mention this is for years I have had problems swallowing especially meat. It got to the point I was dreading the thought of eating.

It has much to do with bad thoughts that close up my esophagus just before food reaches my stomach. Some day I will talk more about this, but today eating was enjoyable! There was no thought of any problem. I was able to just eat and enjoy the food like I used to. God is so very Good!

Yesterday, my body kicked in for me to go out at 4:00 P.M. and the sun sets at 5:30. The temperature was at 45 degrees when I started and dipping into the 30’s as I pack up.

It is interesting what I start out to do and what actually gets done. You can kinda see the little sprouts of grass sticking up in all the dark dirt. I know I need to get as much of this cleaned out so when I put flowers and bulbs into this area it doesn’t fill up with grass.

This picture is a two day process of cleaning it out and adding brick to make a boundary of what is done and not done.


 

 

 

This is the section I went after to clean up that I had no thought of before I started to work.

 

Basically pulling dead flowers and finding the grass that started growing underneath the flowers.

 

I have never not gotten the bulbs back into the ground before winter takes over. So I am taking every chance that I have to take back my garden. My hope was to finish before fall but that is gone so it is do what I am able each day.

 

 

Strength is returning with each day I keep at it.

GOD BLESS US ALL WITH THE LOVE OF GOD FILLING EACH CELL IN OUR BODIES BRINGING HEALING! AMEN.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Working The Flowerbed

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Trying to beat the cold weather and finish the flowerbed.

This week has been one where my body shut down after accomplishing much last weekend. Knowing there is not much time left I decide to weed the easy part that has been taken care of for a couple of years. This is the area I planted flowers this late summer.

I will pull the Zinnia’s that have frozen with the freeze and snow!

It does also have the sun shinning where I am going to sit. Learning about sunshine and how good it is I do stand in the Autumn sun for my face to absorb the goodness. I am Thankful the sun is also shining on the spot I am choosing to weed.

 

 

 

Charlie chose to come outside with me as I weed! Yeah! He used to come out with me as I worked in the yard most of his life. He used to go smelling everywhere but now he sits with me and watching and hoping to see another dog.

Charlie is getting older, some days he sleeps quite a bit and other days he will actually walk/run with me at a slow pace for a mile. It is good to have him join me outside and sit with me as I clean out this small area.

The goal is to do something when able. 

Sometimes the little bit of weeding will turn into a much bigger project as my body starts to move. Other times like this day, I do a little bit and am thankful to have the ability to move.

In this picture are daisy plants growing  and Marigold flowers that were frozen but I was not able to clear that area before it got dark. It takes a bit of work to get the full root connected to each weed especially when they are so small.

GOD BLESS EACH OF US WITH 

THE LOVE OF GOD

FILLING EVERY CELL IN OUR BODIES

BRINGING ENERGY FROM GOD!

AMEN.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

 

 

 

Getting Better!

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My run today was successful!

It is amazing!

Yesterday, was a day off, I needed rest!

My body was exhausted making my ability to walk around the house difficult. My walk becomes very slow and to turn my body pauses to think about how.

Resting yesterday gave me the ability to run today! The temperatures are in the 40’s and the sun is out, making it easier to run.

The snow and cold temperatures have stripped most of the trees of their leaves and the wind helped. Today, while running the wind tried to take my hat. It surely was a day to keep my head down.

My run started out at 13 mm but soon the wind and my tired body slowed down so my two miles end up at a 16mm & 17mm! Much better than last January at 20-22mm!

This flag shows the wind while running!

The rising temperatures melted the snow.

 

 

 

The day of rest, gave me the ability to go to choir practice without pain. God Is So Very Good!

I am writing this because for some reason God wants me to tell my real life struggles.

Today, after running and going to choir practice my back muscles started seizing up. Sitting  probably worked on my back muscles and shut them down tonight.

This shutting down is different. It is a single thread of muscle going straight down my back, seizing up. This means is my head has no ability to look down or side to side.

My eyes get a great workout when this happens.

Today, I have described two different ways scoliosis shuts my body down. The first is making walking difficult. The second one I am able to walk but my it really feels like I am in my body cast again not able to turn my head.

Hopefully, by Friday, I am strong and pain free so I am able to take advantages of the warmer temperatures to plant the tulip bulbs again. The time is up to get them in the ground.

GOD BLESS EVERYONE WITH A BLESSED DAY FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Payment Due

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Back and neck muscle are rebelling!

The 24 hours of work (running 6 miles, moving furniture, and vacuuming) are taking their toll today.

My muscles are shutting my body down. After some rest I will be able to make food, eat, and hopefully walk later on. The muscles did fine during church today! Standing to Praise God and sitting to listen to the sermon went well. I was even awake and alert!

After church the muscles said, “Enough!”

Back in my 40’s I learned the 24-48 hour window is when muscles start to fully come asking for payment! It baffled me for a while because I thought it was the next day that muscles felt the work. Does it take longer to really feel aches and pains as we age?

My husband and I did walk 1.5 miles to get our 10,000 steps. But before we start walking, we check the weather app to find Winter is entering  our neighborhood, now.  We need to dig out warm gloves, hats, and boots.

I’m heading to bed early to rest my muscles so I am able to go to Prayer Meeting in the morning. Last week my body couldn’t move and I missed our Prayer Meeting.

There are some things that need to happen like rest so here I go. God Bless!

Leaving some pictures from the walk we had today!

GOD BLESS each of us with healing and pain relief.             Hopefully all is well with each of you as Winter enters and Autumn departs.

Oh Yeah, I picked my lemon from my tree. I gave my first two for first fruits offering and this will be my first one to try. It is much larger than what I buy at the store.

 

GOD BLESS all who read this with The LOVE OF GOD and THE JOY OF THE LORD Filling every cell in your body, bubbling up and overflowing to all those around you!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD, GOOD, GOOD!

Hope Renewed

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A year ago I couldn’t make myself get up and dust the TV!

Today I took the living room apart and tackled vacuuming behind, underneath and all around. Chasing spiders and setting furniture free!

Nine months ago I tried to do intermittent fasting but I could not figure out how to get all my food eaten in 6-8 hours.

God has mad a way for me to put off eating until after 5:00 P.M.! He has shown me I am able to do hard work digging up weeds and cleaning out the flowerbed or running 6 miles all without eating.

I believe this started last December when I realized I needed to build muscles to run rather than running to gain muscle. It was after Christmas 2024 I started to do at least one minute plank on the floor and at least 12 push-ups.

When I started doing the push-ups my arms were so weak I could hardly bend my elbows to go down a few inches. It took a few months but eventually my arms grew strong enough to go all the way down. At this point my muscles are able to do 30 push-ups.

Ten years ago at my peak, I was able to do 10 full body push-ups and finish the rest from my knees. I am not ready yet to do a full body push-up but hopefully soon.

Today is the first time in almost 10 years to run 6 miles!

The most exciting part of running 6 miles is the 2 miles at 15mm! I am getting stronger! God is so Good!

The last 2 miles I have dogs. Charlie is no longer the fast runner. Sam likes a soft jog.

For the last 40-50 years my body needed food especially protein to function. I ran on the food I ate because of the void of so many core muscles! After being cut in the surgeries, the nerves refused to grow back until God stepped in the 15 years ago and started them growing back!

I have heard more than once It looks like you can’t hold your head up. Or it looks like you can’t sit up. I had a rod to hold me up but no muscles.

But God does make changes and He wants us to do the work. I have to run. I have to dig. Also the muscle building in my lunges, planks, and push-ups to keep me strong enough to do everything!

The one thing I do is try to encourage people of all ages to exercise and build muscles. It is so important to enjoying life and live a long healthy life. God Bless each of us to move and build muscle!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD GOOD GOOD!

 

Tiny Roots

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God sent me to clean up what has already been done.

My goal for today was to wake up early and work in the flower garden. There is so much to do and not much sunlight, warmth, or dry weather to keep working.

I try to get all the roots but there are many little pieces of dead looking roots that come alive!

My desire is to clean up the mess that is thick with grass, but God obviously wants me to go after the small bits of grass roots to really clean the area

 

 

Arriving at the edge of the garden that butts up against the driveway I find it has become a 10 lane highway for the roots to travel! Some of the roots actually dig into the concrete!

God works in us is do a big clean up feeling like everything is new and good.

After a while He starts doing some detailed work that goes after a precise root that needs to come out to bring more freedom. It may take many passes to finish and keep it maintained.

My whole life I have overcooked meat until it is dry more often than not.

God is showing me is a memory of the 8 of us on the run in a house with a cathedral ceiling and an huge open space with a fireplace and a kitchen. We kids sleep upstairs in one room all 6 children on the floor in separate sleeping bags.

Something in that house was not cooked well or maybe it was the eggnog but I remember being very sick from something we ate and being questioned about who made the mess?

I have been set free from this before but it seems to have returned and I have a ham to figure out how to moisten it so we can eat it.

The fear might have returned after reading a book about a missionary who got trichinosis from wild hogs. She almost died but it leg to the natives learning to cook the meat well.

Hopefully, this root is pulled for good and there is nothing to regrow. We will see. Moist meat is more enjoyable to eat.

God Bless us all with The PEACE OF GOD FILLING OUR SOULS DAILY! AMEN!

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!

Improvement!

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Today, I woke knowing the setting sun is happening fast!

Getting dressed for falling temperatures and heading out to run, feeling good. I dressed well but it was getting chilly as the sun set.

My body is getting in better shape! My Runkeeper app clocked me at 14:31 mm at the start.

It is interesting, I’m not ready to run the whole thing without stopping  but I am getting closer. Today I took a different route and wasn’t sure if I would make it all but I did!

Doubling up every row running 4 miles by myself and ending with speed and filling my lungs deep with oxygen to the bottom of my lungs.

As my lungs were being filled deep, my mind went to my back surgery and the full body cast I wore for 9 months. The doctors gave me blow bottles to exercise my lungs.  One bottle is filled with water and the goal is to push about 2 liters of water to the other bottle. My brother and I made a game of it. Who can do it first and the fastest. We had to fill our lungs to push it all in one breath!

Ending my run with the two dogs. They each got 1/2 mile

It is time to dig out my winter items to cover my ears and neck, the temperatures are dropping. My run ended up with 3 of my 5 miles at 16 mm, pretty good.

I will leave you with some pictures I took.

 

 

God Bless each and everyone with heat as the temperatures drop and the desire to get out and move even in colder weather.

GOD IS SO VERY GOOD!