Regret

I regret to inform you that my motivation didn't last long.  Guess you must have figured that out.

Since it has been quite a while, I would like to share a few things. . .

First,

there are no words to describe the beauty of the sunrises and sunsets near my home. 

Second,

there is a roadrunner living in the windowsill of my garage.  We call him Reggie.  My husband thinks it may be Regina.

Third,

my first born returns from his first semester of college in one week.  Is it just me or did he just graduate from high school one week ago?

And lastly,

speaking of my first born. . .you may be interested to know that he has been called to serve here!

Motivation

I finally put my finger on it.  I'm not motivated.  Good thing Dr. Oz set me straight.  While recently watching his show he spoke right to me when he explained you have to act first, then motivation will follow.  I mistakenly thought it was the other way around. 

I gave it a try, with things like exercise, eating right, and even posting on my blog.  Turns out, he was right.  As I make an effort, motivation kicks in and sees me through.  Not only that, but I'm motivated to act again.  Genius. 

Be Strong

"Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest."  Joshua 1:9.  This is the Young Men and Young Women theme for the 2010 year. 

I think of this scripture often and it reminds me that I'm not alone.  It reminds me that my children are not alone when they are away from me.  It reminds me to be brave and stand up for my beliefs.  It reminds me to take heart in each new day and opportunity I'm given.  It helps me negotiate life. 

Aha!

I figured it out.  It hit me yesterday.  When my father died, I quit journaling.  I didn't want to write it down, or express my thoughts about it.  Too difficult.  Time slipped away and it was years before I started jounaling, now known as blogging, again.

So every day for the last week I've logged into my blog, but refused to write.  Then the Aha! moment hit me.  My first born has left home and I really don't want to talk about it.  Too difficult.  I realize a bird has left the nest and others will soon follow.  I realize I'm getting older.  I realize bigger moments like missions and weddings are literally right around the corner, and I just don't want to talk about it.

So I won't.     

Obstacles

 
I'm out of rhythm.  Can't seem to find a routine.  Every day is a different wake up time.  Don't know when to schedule in exercise, scripture study, or blogging.  I'm still reacting to everything as it hits me, instead of preparing for it's impact or perhaps even preventing an obstacle from slapping me in the face.  I'm hoping time will help me sort out our new routines. 

In the meantime, I wish my college boy was scheduling time for blogging.  He could write of funny stories that happened on campus, or detail what he ate for dinner last night, or acknowledge if he has clean clothes to wear or talk about obstacles he has to overcome.  I'd be a "follower" for sure, never miss a post, and maybe even make an occasional comment.  But since it's time to officially cut the apron strings, I'll settle for the occasional phone call.  I'll climb the obstacle that is called letting go.

Two Items of Business

Item One:

I was a substitute teacher for first grade today.  At the end of the day a child said to me:  "Mrs. Clark, you are so weird.  Promise me you'll never come back."  Nothing like a slice of humble pie. 


Item Two:

My son leaves for college in the morning.  Nothing like two slices of humble pie in one day. 

Press Forward

Phineas and Ferb are always telling me "there's 104 days of summer vacation. . ." but we only got 80.  My kids have already put a big, red X over 8 school days and only have 172 to go.

Schedules are crazy again.  Nights are short.  Days are long.  But there's one thing I have decided I must do, and that is press forward.  As Timon once said, "You got to put your past behind you."  You must learn from the past, mind you, then continue to press forward.  There is always hope in a new day.  Most things in life, dare I say all things in life, can be overcome. 

So as Kuzco and Pacha once said before they fell over a waterfall with sharp rocks at the bottom:  "Bring it on."