You can't do that

It's amazing how being told "you can't do that" makes me want to do exactly that.

It takes me back to middle school, when a softball coach told my dad that I would never be good enough to make the all star team. My dad told me what the coach had said, and then asked me if I wanted to prove him wrong. For the next year, I busted my tail and made the "B" team, and the following year, after even more practice, I made the "A" team and ended the season with the highest batting average on the team. Not bad for a girl who's not terribly athletic.

I love a challenge...

Or in high school when my parents said I couldn't date a certain boy. Oh my goodness, how I wanted him after that! (I dated him anyway... but they were right... he was trouble.)

I am stubborn...

And now I'm an adult, and I have a total love-hate relationship with running. Even though I ran a half-marathon in 2008, even though I'm on the board for a major marathon event, even though many people think I'm a runner, I dread it. I haven't wanted to do it for a long time...

Until I was told I couldn't. Two months of being sick and five rounds of antibiotics meant I barely had enough energy to go to work, much less work out. So I gained 10 pounds. And because I couldn't work out (and because none of my pants fit), it made me crave running. I was desperate for it.

So last week I was finally healthy, off antibiotics, and able to run. The weather was gorgeous, and I ran three nights around the lake by my house. I did crunches, and lunges, and push-ups. It was pure bliss.

Who knew it'd take two months of being sick to revive my love of running. I needed to be told "no" to appreciate it. Now I can't wait... I'll be back up there tonight.

Recuperating

It's amazing how just a few minutes of stress can totally wreck you.

Yesterday, while at breakfast with some friends, we got a call that Mr. Right's dad had been hurt in a horse accident, had hit his head and been knocked unconscious. For just a few minutes we couldn't get any important details... was he conscious? Was he moving? How bad was it? As we drove to the hospital and waited for more information, we did all we knew to do... we prayed.

After a half day in the downtown trauma ER, we got the very good news that other than some bumps and bruises, he was going to be fine. We are praising Jesus and thanking him for protecting my father-in-law from what could have been a very bad situation.

We left the hospital tired, but went on with our lives and had a very full day. It didn't really hit us until today... our nerves were frazzled. Exhausted. In need of some rest and some quiet. But a nap, a movie, a quiet dinner, and a molten chocolate cake later, and we feel recharged and ready to go. And we continue to thank God for protecting our family and give him all the credit and glory for performing a total miracle.

We are blessed.

"You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing, you have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord, my God, I will give you thanks forever."
Psalm 30:11-12 NLT

Our little cabin in the woods

I have a deep love for sipping coffee while sitting on a rocking chair on a covered porch. It's one of my greatest loves. And last weekend, I got to do just that for two whole days. Let me tell you, it was glorious.

A very generous couple from our church let us stay at their little cabin in the woods, a mini-ranch in Graham, Texas, about two hours from home. This little house had no neighbors, no cell phone signal, and no paved road. It was nestled amongst wild trees and fish ponds, far from street lights and road noise. And responsibility.

It was just what Mr. Right and I needed... I've been sick for most of our first two months of marriage, so I haven't had the energy to be as adventurous as I typically like to be. But praise Jesus, last weekend I was healthy and energetic and we thoroughly enjoyed our mini adventure.

What we did:

Slept in

Sat on the porch in our PJs and drank coffee

Read

Hiked the ranch, which was gorgeous

Fed the fish

Took a 3-hour nap (such a luxury)

Will went on a 7-mile run, while I sat on the front porch and hand-quilted my newest project (he's training for a triathlon, so no days off for him!)

Ate like kings

Watched a John Wayne western

Had a really sweet time of prayer together

Admired sunsets

Laid in a hammock and gazed at the stars

Talked a lot about our first two months of marriage and dreamed about the future

What we did not do:

Check email

Talk to anybody

See anybody

Do anything responsible

It was such a special weekend, one that I will forever cherish. We are so grateful to the special couple who let us borrow it.

What a blessing.

He meant well

We were having such a chick-flick movie moment...

I was in the laundry room, folding the last bit of our week's clothes so I'd be READY to tackle my week. Organized. In control. Relishing a peaceful evening with Mr. Right.

My wonderful husband was in the kitchen, making me comfort food (beef stew and cheesy cornbread because I'm sick... again). He walked into the laundry room, with a spoonful of stewy goodness, and sweetly offered me a taste.

He fed me the heaping spoonful...

And just then I realized that the soup was SCALDING HOT. Probably the same temperature as the surface of the sun. It was so hot I had to spit it out, and the rest of the spoonful dripped down my face and all over the laundry room floor.

After the burning stopped and Mr. Right knew the burns were only minor, we laughed. And laughed. Not exactly the way it happens in the movies.