A Still Life

Grateful for this quiet moment while my sweet two are sleeping/resting. It’s rare, these moments alone at home. Grateful for warmer weather and the signs of Spring. Grateful for the simple joy of a fresh magazine. Grateful for sweet porch furniture, almost 12-years-old now, that my beloved bought for his first post-college apartment. Grateful for this life we have built together. (Not grateful for the gnats flying around my face, but they come with those signs of Spring.) Grateful to work with a fun friend and fine pastor who dropped of good books to enjoy. Birds and windchimes and soft breeze, oh my. Grateful for pink toes and flip flops. Grateful for crazy neighbors emerging to greet one another. Grateful for fabulous Nikole and her Mondays of gratitude. Grateful.

The only time I really wish I had a fancy camera is when something beautiful and small starts happening around the house. Like the daffodils sprouts that were hiding under the last of the leaves or the deep purple peony shoots that are emerging. The lovely treat indoors is the explosion of orchids by our front door. If they all bloomed at the same time, we’d have well over a dozen blooms. I may enlist the aid of a camera-rich friend to capture the wonder of these orchids. I kind of think I’m like these orchids. They are slow and steady in their growth and only bloom after a long, long wait. Something’s coming soon, and that’s exciting.

For accountability and posterity, here are the stats after 5 full weeks of enacting the Master Plan.

• # of workouts in 5 weeks: 23
• total inches lost on arms/waist/hips/thighs: -11.5″
• BMI reduced: -0.9
• total pounds lost: -5.6#
Victories and goals for the upcoming 5 weeks, too.
• started (clumsily, slowly, but whole-heartedly) learning to run this weekend
• made an appointment to meet with trainer at the Y this week to move into weights and vary cardio
• talked with neighbor about attending a total body conditioning class on Saturdays (starts in 2 weeks)
• am walk/jog/walking a 5K with another neighbor and dear friend on March 5
Good month. Good start. Thankful for the lovely cheering section and excited to see what the next 5 weeks hold.

When you have Lego loving fellas in your house, there is always a chance that the camera holds secret treasures like this one:

On a morning excursion to pick up some yummy items for our weekend menu, this lovely reminder from area artist, Happy, was waiting for us at Farm to Family as invocation and reminder and blessing.

If you live in Richmond, you really should make stopping by Farm to Family part of your weekly routine. I spoke with Suzi briefly this morning and learned of their big plans for summer activities for families. It’s an exciting thing to support local business and local, sustainable farming practices with my time and with my dollar. In these winter months, I’ve slipped into quick and easy shopping habits at the large supermarket where folks carry groceries to the car for me. (When I’m out with two kids, that kind of help matters.)

But I can make different choices and better choices each week. As the season of soups, stews, and chilis winds down, I am welcoming a fresh season with return to daily and weekly practices that support wellness; that includes what we physically consume and how we consume as shoppers. I need this reminder often. Each moment counts. Each moment is precious. Each moment can be redemptive, if we choose it and claim it. Glad and thankful for that blessing from Happy and friends today.

I’ve declared today my day of rest after six very good and very full days. The house will be put back in order, energy will be refreshed, and projects will be fun. First item is a fun little gift for the daughters of one of my oldest friends (now friends for more than half of our lives, I remind her). Another friend shared this cute tutorial with me, and I decided to play with the idea for two sweet sisters. What do you think?

The new life of fitness and healthy choices is still underway and thriving. I don’t feel particularly compelled to write about these changes with daily or even weekly updates. There are plenty of people online already doing really amazing things, offering helpful tips, and providing daily humor and inspiration. I am thankful for their presence and stories.

I am also thankful for my friends who join me each time I climb onto the elliptical. Unlike my cooking music or driving music or warm weather happy music, I have discovered an almost alternate personality that comes out when I want to move fast. My workout playlist is a tad silly, very fun, and always motivating. So to Britney, Katy, Justin, Gwen, Gaga, and Miley, many thanks.