Leslie Sansone's Two Mile Walk

 

I did Leslie Sansone's walking videos for three years before I realized I was fit enough to jog every morning. Jogging is my preferred method for getting exercise but if it's icy or pouring down rain, this is my go-to video as a substitution.  All of her videos are motivating and encouraging. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

A Special Christmas Eve

 

The rich, Belgian chocolate mousse cake was perfectly defrosted and placed on my plate as I cut into it with my dessert fork and slid the decadent piece into my mouth. I sat and ate, savoring every bite until it was gone. It was Christmas Eve and I sat delightfully on the couch with my dog as my husband napped in our bedroom. The calming jazz-inspired Christmas music set the tone as the fire crackled in the woodstove. It was perfect. Just me, celebrating my Lord, Jesus’s birthday with a very grateful heart, completely understanding what was happening. 

Never before would I have been able to pull this off. It would have been more like, “Oh no, this isn’t the way it was supposed to have been. We were supposed to be at my sister-in-law’s celebrating Christmas Eve. We always had done it that way. But because of Covid, two family members were sick and we had to cancel our plans. 

Not only that, my son and his girlfriend stopped by and hung out in the other room. What would they think of me by myself with no plans? I have no plans on Christmas Eve. What a loser. But instead, I was given insight that the greatest gift of all is having a relationship with God himself and the Good News of Jesus Christ, who is my righteousness and my very great reward. 

Because I chose not to give into my doubt and worry, and I continuously deal with my sins to keep my heart pure, in return he gives me understanding. Jesus’s righteousness is my very great reward. He sees me as clothed in my wedding dress. Blameless. He is my groom who has chosen me to marry him. He loves me. My wick is trimmed and my lantern is full of oil. My cup overflows. 

Praise be to Him the Lamb of God, My husband, My Savior. My All, My Everything. Come, eat and have your fill. Enjoy the banquet, with no cost or pressure. No pressure what’s so all.

Merry Perfect Christmas!

Believe and You Shall Receive a Haircut

It was 7:30 pm, I was relaxing in my living room when my son came downstairs and announced that he desperately needed a haircut. The barbershop closed at 8 pm. The place was 10 minutes from our home. He wanted to see if he could squeak in just before closing time. He called the shop but nobody answered. Just ringing and ringing.

On the barbershop's website, he was able to make an appointment at 7:45 pm by registering online. Even though he never talked to a real person who could confirm the appointment, my newfound faith convinced me that since they allowed him to sign up for a 7:45 slot, he was going to get his haircut tonight. I looked at him and said, "let's go!"

On our way to the barber, while driving through town, a train came through our intersection delaying us further as we had to stop and wait several minutes at the crossing gate. Still, I believed.

Next, getting a parking spot was a challenge. I had to parallel park and remember how to do it. Car horns were blowing at us as I stopped traffic to pull up to a parked car waiting for the cars to go by so I could recall how to maneuver through this almost forgotten parking method. Still, I believed.

As I continued to back into the spot and not hit the car behind me and pull up as close as I could to the car in front of me, I told Hunter to check in and I'd meet him inside. He pulled on the door of the shop. It was locked!

I saw the man in the shop sweeping. I rolled down my window and called out to my son, "Knock on the glass!" It turned out he had gone to the wrong door. One was locked, and the other was open! Finally, he walked in and sat down in the chair, and got a great haircut.

Believe and it will be given to you. Added bonus: I still remember how to parallel park!

Until Next Time, Zach!

Saying goodbye to my 22-year-old son, who is moving back to California, is indeed challenging.

He tried to make things work by living in our home state, New Jersey, last month, but to no avail. I understand that his work is in California, and there were no doors opening for him here. After all, the boy needs to earn a living. Yes, this is the pain and heartache of motherhood - saying goodbye to my son again.

The first time I had to say goodbye to him was almost 3 years ago when he first decided to move out to California. My husband and I even made a pros and cons list as to why he shouldn’t go. We tried to convince him of all the reasons why he should stay but to no avail. We knew we had to let him go. It’s part of our job.

Although it was hard for my husband to let him go, it was even harder for me. Boys show their moms their true colors, you know. Their disappointments with the things not going well in their lives. Their sickness. Their sadness. Their pain. Even if things are going right they become little boys again when they are with their mothers. We feel it all with them. All their hurts. I suppose they want us to make it all better like we did when they were little.

But he is older now and keeping him with us is overstepping our boundary lines. So I give him over to the loving care of my God the Almighty, Lord, and maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. Especially his future.

God is preparing a home to settle him down in. He's securing the work of his hands, finding him a wife, thinking of how he’ll fashion his kids, their hobbies, and favorite colors. He’s got him. He’s got the plans for him.

But the feelings are real. They hurt. It’s good. It’s going to be okay. I will call him from time to time and trust in my Lord and my God until the next time we meet. Until then, I have my roles to continue to fulfill: being a wife to Joey, a mom to Harry and Hunter. My teaching job, my writing, my students, my friends.

Parting is really such sweet sorrow. Sweet because I know California is where my son belongs and sorrow because I do miss him when he’s not around. I’m going to miss him not being there when I get home from work. To laugh and share my day with, to watch YouTube and run errands together, and go out for something (usually very expensive) to eat.

My sweet, sweet boy. The Lord’s sweet, sweet boy who is now a young man. I will miss you but you are in very good hands.