Looking for Windows

I opened the windows today. There is a light breeze coming in the house and the sound of birds chirping. It's finally spring, and I'm enjoying the warmer weather and watching the flowers bloom. My week has been stressful, so I'm savoring this open window time.

Last Saturday, we were visiting family for Easter, and my youngest son, Liam woke up at 3 am coughing. It was the dreaded barking croup cough. He was weezing and struggling to breathe. We have dealt with croup before, so we knew a trip to the ER was in order. We were 3 hours from home. We drove to the regional hospital in the area. The wait times were long and my nerves were shot. My son finally got the medicine he needed plus a chest x-ray, and friendly visits by the nurses. Unfortunately, the doctors were few and far between and seriously understaffed. Finally, 4 hours later and with an inhaler and spacer in hand we were released from the hospital.

We went back to my husband's Aunt's house. Besides a yucky cough, you would have never known Liam had been in the hospital earlier. He was back to running and playing with his brother. The Easter egg hunts we had planned on taking the boys were rained out. It literally rained the entire day. Two boys stuck inside and two overly tired parents don't make a good combination. We napped when we could and had pizza and chicken nuggets for dinner.

I was emotionally and physically exhausted. I went to bed praying for sunshine and health. The next morning, I woke up. I squinted my eyes and looked to the window. The sun was big and bright and shinning in my window. I looked through the window and saw plentiful green grass and the cutest gazebo with a swing in the middle. It was so picturesque, it could have been a postcard of a lovely park, yet it was a backyard carefully designed by a talented landscaper.

I thanked God for this beautiful window view and my son sleeping peacefully through the night. I felt like God was telling me to start looking for these "windows" throughout my day. Not all my days are sunshine and flowers, but these "windows" will sustain me through the thunderstorms.

While my youngest recovers from his cough and croup, we've been trying to do less which means not going to the gym this week. It's been hard, the gym is where I find peace and unstress, but I found some at-home windows to get my workouts in.

I set-up my own circuit in my driveway while my son got some fresh air. I did four sprints around the cul-de-sac, jumped rope, squats, lateral raises, and leg extensions. It felt great exercising outside and Liam wasn't exposed to any extra germs.

So when the dark clouds roll in and it begins to rain, I hope you will look for the windows. They might not open right away, but just wait they will.

A Rainy Day Inspiration

 

It's been raining all week, and the kids have been sick for most of it. My gym schedule hasn't gone as planned. So when I went back yesterday, I wasn't sure if I should work my legs or arms, so I did a little of both and talked a little too much. You can't help but talk when you've cooped up with the kids since Monday. Especially, adult conversation. You know politics, events around town, corn-hole tournaments. Did you know that some people don't know what corn-hole is? It's easy to explain it is another name for bean bag toss, but it's hard to forget that look they give you when they think you're speaking prison lingo.

The rain is bringing me down. It's cold too. I'm wearing a sweater today. I jokingly tell people that I run on sunshine, and it's true. So how I do get through on these rainy, cold weeks? Besides hot coffee, pumpkin spice lattes, and Amino Energy drinks; an inspirational story perks me up.

picture by: Paula Fahey Rahill

 



I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, and I found her. I found Katie. The girl that lived up the street and played Barbie's with my younger sister. Katie's not the young, childhood friend I remember. She's a strong confident woman running a marathon. I clicked on the link that took me to Katie's blog-- Hobo Mom. I read about her humble appreciation of everyone who helped her get to the finish line. I love how running makes a wonderful analogy to life, and if anyone makes that point any stronger, it's Katie. Did I mention she's a single mom and mompreneur.

So, I encourage you to read Katie's blog. She'll make you cry, laugh and laugh some more. It's the perfect pick-me-up on this rainy, cold week. I don't know when the sun will come back out, but I do know you might get a smile on your face and some extra running motivation after reading Hobo Mom.