blessings...

One of my beautiful younger sisters is encouraging us to train for and hike the West Coast Trail next summer. So... here's me actually exercising! I did go for that run by myself on Thursday morning; and it did feel tougher without my husband by my side. The next two days I hiked in Waterton with that same lovely strong sister. Sunday I rested of course. And today I did my workout at home. This includes some arm weights, plank, supermans, releves, plies, etc etc etc. Hard enough to feel good after! Later, I walked to a manicure appointment, over to the post office to get the mail, then up the hill and home again. Following some still-fresh chocolate chip banana bread and a peach, I went for a twenty minute 'swim' (read-mostly just treading water) at the pool. Now I'm home and I appreciate the body I have to live in. To live with! With which to live my life. It means more to me when I use it more and take care of it. Thank Heaven for a body; not perfect, but healthy eno...

I have been out for a 'run' three days in a row now. That's probably my all-time record. It feels great so far; sore leg muscles and everything. The real test will come tomorrow morning when I plan to rise and shine and run on my own, without my superman husband. I guess then I'll know if I'm going to be an actual runner, who runs even with no one to be accountable to. Except myself. High hopes. Definitely one of my very favourite things to do with my little dayhome friends is taking them for a walk down to play in the creek. Today I had only three little boys, which is a relatively easy bunch. My favourite part was when we waded into the 'deep' water and I swung them around kicking and 'swimming'! Their favourite part was seeing the minnows. This all came out on our chat during the hot dusty  walk up Canyon hill.  I'm sure grateful to have this just down the hill. Thank Heaven for sunny days in the cool water.

Sitting here at the desk in the living room alcove, I can hear the dishwasher humming its way through today's kitchen mess. But above this happy sound, I am listening to the bird outside who is keenly expressing something about which s/he feels pretty enthusiastic. It's the sweetest music. Late in the evening, early in the morning when bed still feels like the best idea, when I'm outside gardening or in the house at the computer- songbirds are always a gift. Thank Heaven for this; the sound of a smile.

It's been almost a year since I last wrote here. I haven't gone anywhere; just gotten distracted. I blame it on my love affair with sourdough bread baking. If I'm at home and out of bed, chances are, I am making bread. Since it takes SO LONG (well worth the wait ;) there's usually some (dough) fermenting or being stretched and folded, or rising, or baking, or cooling. Unsurprisingly, there is almost always flour somewhere on me or on my clothes.  Also, I keep reading voraciously, knitting occasionally, and enjoying little children 45 hours a week! This is a much-appreciated blessing in my life as my own children are growing up at an alarming rate. Jack is happier than he's ever been (and he's always been a pretty happy guy :) serving as a missionary in Adelaide Australia. Mary and Emma are going to live and work in Waterton for the summer holidays, and then Mary will be off to college and Emma back home to 'third-wheel' with Kirby and I. (her words, no...