The Power of Prayer

As 2010 winds to a close, I have been reminded several times of the power of prayer.

These reminders have come in many forms - even by reading some blogs.

A dear friend of mine found out she has cancer and had surgery today.  

I've prayed.

I have faith.

My eldest son is on a freight train traveling at a 1,000 miles an hour toward disaster and I can't stop him.

I'm praying.

Others are praying.

I have faith.

My girlfriend whose marriage recently fell apart has had a miracle occur.

Her husband came to her to work things through.

He's making wonderful efforts.

I prayed.

I had faith.

So, when life seems bleak, pray.

Never be afraid to ask for prayer.

Never be afraid to pray for others.

Have faith.

There is power in prayer.

Time For New Beginnings

Time for New Beginnings. . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Addison, Blue Mountain Arts, 1989
"This is a time for reflection as well as celebration.
As you look back on the past year and all that has taken place in your life,
Remember each experience for the good that has come of it
    and for the knowledge you have gained.
Remember the efforts you have made and the goals you have reached.
Remember the love you have shared and the happiness you have brought.
Remember the laughter, the joy, the hard work, and the tears.
And as you reflect on the past year, also be thinking of the new one to come.
Because most importantly, this is a time of new beginnings
    and the celebration of life."

A Prayer For Christmas Morning...

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven,
    and crowns another year with peace and good will.

Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus,
    that we may share in the song of the angels,
    the gladness of the shepherds,
    and the worship of the wisemen.

Close the doors of hate and open the doors of love
     all over the world…

Let kindness come with every gift
     and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ brings,
    and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy
    to be thy children, and the Christmas evening
    bring us to our bed with grateful thoughts,
    forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

from A Treasury of Christmas Stories.Henry Van Dyke
edited by James S. Bell, Jr.
Harold Shaw Publishers, 1993

Let the Races Begin...

Last night I started thinking about the upcoming week.

I actually felt my brain starting to overheat.  LOL

Today is our major cleaning day and my daughter and I have an appointment at the salon and while we are out, we have a few stops to make on our way home.

Tonight hubby and I are having dinner with my oldest friend and her husband (a Christmas tradition).

Tomorrow, church and then the Pastor and his wife invited us to lunch.

Then baking will occur.

(During this time, hubby will be... fixing our daughter's car, grouting the new tile, painting and staining stair railing parts, and a few other misc. repairs that need to be completed)

Monday I have to work

Tuesday I have to work, my daughter has an ortho appointment and cheer practice and we have a dinner and event for my son's elementary school

Wednesday I have a hair appointment and a cub scout den meeting and we have to bake cookies for my son's class cookie exchange.

Thursday I have to work my son has his book club meeting and we have a cub scout pack meeting and I have to have everything baked and ready for my son's class party on Friday.

On Friday I have to pick up my son's birthday cookie for his class, get his class party ready, host his class party and my daughter has a basketball game in the evening.

On Saturday (my son's birthday) he has a scout event at 8 a.m., my daughter has a cheer event (they run from about 8 a.m. till 6 p.m.), and we are having a birthday dinner for my son.

On Sunday we have church and we're hosting a party for about 30 people to celebrate my son's birthday.

Somewhere in-between all this "stuff" I have to find time to cook, clean, do laundry, and grocery shop.  Sleeping and showering and working out must also occur.

I'm pooped and really need to get moving (and motivated) to clean this house!!  Clean now - fun later.

Ladies...
Start your engines

A Post With No Title

I was watching my girlfriend's daughter perform at a recent cheer competition.

This was an emotional moment for me as my girlfriend and I are reconnecting after being apart for 8 years.  This is a blessing beyond words.

During this time I received a text from a dear friend of mine, asking me to call her right away.

Upon explaining to her (via text) my location and circumstances she sent me a text in response

"He's packing and leaving"

"He" being her husband of 26 years.

My heart ached for my friend who is devastated and alone and many many states away from me.

Shortly after the performances, the reconnecting, the rejoicing at watching my daughter showcase and my girlfriend's daughter take first place in her division - I listened to my dear friend sobbing over what had happened in her life.

She said words that pierced my heart and have made me look differently at my marriage

I have taken my marriage for granted

I have taken for granted that my husband loves me, really loves me - despite my issues, despite my mistakes (and there have been many), despite everything - he loves me

Marriage is a commitment, not to be taken lightly or for granted

Marriage isn't a promise of perfect or happiness, but a promise to be there every day

Nope, there are bills and leaky faucets, taxes and children, distractions and obligations to work and grown-up things

Sometimes we have to fall back in love with that person who has seen us at our worst, the person who stays up late with us and paces with us when we have a sick baby or a troubled teen

I'm guilty of not loving my husband fully

I'm guilty of taking my marriage for granted

In the good moments

In the bad moments

In the everyday and mundane moments

It is up to us to see the beauty and love in the little things

My girlfriend was truly what I would call the perfect wife.

Honestly, she is amazing.

Her husband left her for another woman who he says made him feel alive

Her told my girlfriend that he loved her, but he didn't love her "enough"

Despite all that, my girlfriend simply wants her husband to come back to her - to realize that he loves her

I'm in awe of her.

My head is just spinning over the words, the hurt, the whole thing

Marriage is a gift.  A precious and priceless gift.

It is in this moment that I realize my life is full of precious and priceless gifts.

I hope that my sharing might help one person, touch one person.

It's far too easy to see and dwell on all the negatives - it can become the focus if we let it

Despite all the things in my life that are sad - I am blessed and I am thankful

What Would YOU do?

So...

We're redoing the stairs (yes, it's Christmas and we're insane)
The risers will be white, the treads stained.

Here comes the question...
The handrails and balusters  (those kooky spindles)

The handrails (and base) will be stained.

Should the balusters (those kooky spindles) be stained OR should we paint them??

Frankly - I'm leaning towards staining them simply because of the upkeep issues.

But, I do love the look of them painted.

So, I ask you...What would YOU do??

Shhhh...

We're expecting snow.

I'm afraid if I talk about it that it won't come.

It needs to come.

I need to listen to Bocelli and watch the snow fall gently from the sky.

I need that peaceful, gentle, wonderful feeling that comes from being home while it snows.

Treadmill Tales...

Not many treadmill tales when you do it at home.  

I'm generally the only one home and unless I flub up, nothing interesting happens.

But I've jumped over some hurdles recently and thought I would share.

Because you never know who's reading your words,

You never really know who could be encouraged by them.

Some days I do not want to work out.

I would rather do a thousand other "things" but not work out.

Seriously.

But, I have been forcing myself to do it, at least 5x each week.

I do not exercise in front of people (a.k.a. the family)

I do not exercise when people are home

I'm very self-conscience.

Last week my hubby came home early from work and I was doing a dvd and then would hit the treadmill for a mini walk/run day.  His being "home" made me lose it.

My husband has a tendency to sabotage my efforts.  

Not intentionally, but he does it.

Candy, ice-cream, eating out, he loves to surprise me.

Sometimes he even gets angry that I leave work to go home to workout before

I pick up boy #3 from school.

Not intentional, but it happens.

(to clarify, we own our own business and work together - I set my own hours)

So we had a blow-up.  

Usually I clam up, add some bricks to my walls, and keep it all inside.

This time was fireworks.

But, you know what happened?

He heard me.

He listened to what I said.

He argued a bit that he didn't mean to and I was being crazy.

He argued that he goes to work at insane a.m. and deserves to come home early.

He argued that he goes in to work at insane a.m. because he can get his best work done

when no one is around and there are no distractions or interruptions.

(do you hear the bells going off?)

It was at that moment that he realized that I was saying the exact same thing to him.

I get in my best workout when I can focus on me.

For however long that is.

No phones, no kids, no husband, no work issues, no PTA issues.

My tiny bit of "me" time that is carved into every afternoon.

I also discovered at that moment that I'm a better person because of that "me" time.

My mood is better, I look better, I feel better

And I'm not giving that up so I can be lazy in my tiny block of time each afternoon.

I felt so much better because of this "discussion" (a.k.a. argument)

The icing on the cake?  

I tried on a shirt several sizes smaller than the ones I have been wearing for years

And it not only fit, but looked great.

Bye-Bye plus sizes.

Hello New Me.

Simplicity...

Christmas Tree 2010

Ah the holidays.  

 I've never been overly excited about them.  

They always seemed too stressful to me.

Sad really.  

Even as a child they felt stressful.  

The past couple of Christmases I have been rather grumpy.

This year I have been attempting not to be.

We have gone really simple this year.  Barely any boxes were opened.

I was very picky about what would be set out this year.

I only put up one tree.

The small tree.  My rustic tree that makes my heart happy.

Simple.

Stress-free.

With a smile on my face.

Still Thankful...

Yes, it is the day AFTER Thanksgiving, but I'm still thankful.

Today I am thankful for...

Love

my home

Simple Joys

health

Happy Thanksgiving

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer 

Lord, so often times, as any other day 

When we sit down to our meal and pray 

We hurry along and make fast the blessing 

Thanks, amen. Now please pass the dressing 

We're slaves to the olfactory overload 

We must rush our prayer before the food gets cold 

But Lord, I'd like to take a few minute more 

To really give thanks to what I'm thankful for 

For my family, my health, a nice soft bed 

My friends, my freedom, a roof over my head 

I'm thankful right now to be surrounded by those 

Whose lives touch me more than they'll ever possibly know 

Thankful Lord, that You've blessed me beyond measure 

Thankful that in my heart lives life's greatest treasure 

That You, dear Jesus, reside in that place 

And I'm ever so grateful for Your unending grace 

So please, heavenly Father, bless this food You've provided 

And bless each and every person invited 

Amen!

--Scott Wesemann

Thankful Wednesday...

Today I am Thankful For...

The Bible

Prayer time

My Children

The ability to Exercise

Thankful Tuesday...

Today I am Thankful for...

Forgiveness (where would we be without this)

Friendship

My husband

Being Thankful...

Today I'm thankful for...

A two-day work week

Coffee on a slow moving morning

Time To Be Thankful...

It's that time of year when the stress can become overwhelming and somewhat depressing.  

This year I refuse to be anything but thankful.

Everyday I'm going to do my best to find joy in the simple things.

Just be thankful.

Today I am thankful for a full fridge and pantry.

Today I am thankful for laughter.

You Can't Explain Crazy

Do you ever sit down and try to make sense of things that are senseless?  I have a friend Michele and we have a very similar and unfortunate similarity that we both lost our families in a crazy twist of reality.  To someone outside of the situation it seems almost impossible.  To those directly effected by this turn of events, it truly is several kinds of crazy.  She and I have accepted the cards that we've been dealt.  And we live by the motto, 'that which does not kill you, makes you stronger'.

This has been a hurdle of sorts that my husband cannot seem to embrace.  It's been difficult for me as I cannot get him to understand crazy.  How can you explain what truly is insane?

Today, the conversation between us found it's way to that dreadful topic yet again, and I finally came to the explanation that I felt comfortable with and I am hopeful that he will finally let it "be".   You can't explain crazy.

Once I got past being frustrated at having had to have the same conversation that we've had at least a hundred times in the past 18 months, I felt a strange sense of peace.  Because I finally figured out how to explain that which is unexplainable.  You can't explain crazy.

It doesn't have to make sense, it just is.

Because, really, you can't explain crazy.  Can you?

Monday Musings - Randomness

 1.    I miss Sex and the City - I am ever thankful for the complete series and both movies on DVD

2.    Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers

3.    Only on the days that I could sleep forever, does the alarm clock wake me up

4.    I do not understand why adults allow their children to be rude, disrespectful, and behave like animals.  Sorry, but children need rules, boundaries, manners, and consequences for not obeying.

5.    After seeing that some adults don't feel that they need to follow rules, have manners, or boundaries, makes even more confused.

6.    Someday I really want to visit New York City

7.    I have discovered that in some things I truly lack patience.

8.    I adore coffee

9.    I wish I had a fireplace in this house.

10.  I know exactly where I would put 2 fireplaces in this house

11.  Sometimes I find inspiration in the oddest places

12.  I want life to slow down - just a wee bit, and not every day - but maybe every other day?

13.  Being insecure sucks

14.  I hate Thanksgiving dinner.  Yup, I said it - I do.  Always have.

15.  I love my iPhone, yup, I do

16.  I am going to change my hair color (again)

17.  I'm in need of a new skin care line of products - my old ones just aren't working out for me.  Any GREAT suggestions???  I'm 44 though - so I need help.

18.  Why do pores get so big ???  I despise it!!

19.  I have been complaining all last week about the 70 degree weather here in Chicagoland.  It's November and it's supposed to be cold!!

20.   Big Big Changes are in store for me.  2011 - I'm ready for ya!!

21.   I had lunch with a dear friend and another childhood friend that we haven't seen in, oh, 26 years.  I overcame my complete anxiety and relaxed and guess what!?  It went just fine!!!

22.   I have a LOT of reading to do.  Fingers crossed I don't lose focus.

23.  Sometimes I need to be reminded of things that I forget are blessings

24.  I can't sing.  I wish I could, but oh boy I can not sing!

25.  I am determined to enjoy this holiday season

26.  I'm exhausted, but feel content

27.  Secrets kill.  Just sayin'

28.  Every day is a fresh start.

Forgiveness...

Forgiveness is giving up the hope that the past could have been any different.

Oprah 2010

Stinkin' Thinkin' & a Post-It From God

I kinda feel bad that I shared my icky recordings that play in my head.  I've been praying a LOT about this "baggage" that I've been carrying around for so many years.  God does not want us to be weighed down by all this baggage from our past.

Today I found myself racing through my day because of an abundance of work that God has blessed me with and as I was driving quickly from work to errand destination #1 I was listening to K-Love (my favorite radio station) and I got a post-it note from God.  (I LOVE when that happens)  The disc jockey was talking about how the other day she received a letter from a listener describing how the listener is annoyed because she doesn't pronounce the "ing" at the end of words - it always sounds like she says "in". The listener was so annoyed that she said she would not listen to her show anymore.  The disc jockey then said that she was troubled by this letter for a long time.  The negative words kept repeating over and over in her mind.

We all do this.  The negative things people say to us we seem to hang on to.  For days, months, years.  We hang on to them and never let them go.  They seem to become a prominent thought in our minds.  Pushing back all the positive thoughts so that they become lost.

And there we have the post-it note.

God doesn't see us in those negative lights.  He doesn't want us to hang on to those negative words, thoughts, moments in time.  We are all much more than that.  We are all capable of anything and everything.  He wants us to let go of all that negativity and embrace the positive in our lives.

So every time a negative thought comes into my mind, I will not allow it to remain there.

I will also carefully choose the words I use when I speak to others.  I want to lift them up, not tear them down.

Running On...

So, I want to be a runner.  At my age, kind of a scary thought.  But, it's a dream of mine.

I got a great book, I talked about it before, and it has a plan.  I'm a gal who needs a plan.

But what if the plan and you don't move at the same pace?  Do you quit or just keep moving?

Yup, I noticed that my pace doesn't quite match the pace of the book.

Plus, I've got this baggage.  I've got LOTS of baggage.

And nope, it's not Louis Vuitton.

Baggage is really difficult to deal with.

I hear voices in my head.  Voices from my past that play over and over in my head like a recording.  "You're never going to amount to anything"  "You can't do THAT"  "Can't you do anything right?"

I've also got to deal with WHY I have a weight problem to begin with.  That's a whole 'nother kind of baggage.    I wasn't always heavy.  In fact, I was really thin.  My mother was always heavy.  My sisters also heavy.  Once at a family event, my mother introduced me as "her anorexic daughter that she had no idea where she came from".  At Christmas time my mother used to tell me that my sisters got more gifts because they were heavy and my clothes cost too much because I was skinny.  My sisters once made signs that said "People Against Ethiopians" (meaning I was sickly skinny) - my mother encouraged them and laughed along side them.

When I got pregnant, I was bedridden and developed some things that caused me to gain a lot of weight. My mother and sisters laughed at me and called me names and made fun of my weight gain.  I lost the weight after I delivered, but I can still hear the jokes in my head.

After my last pregnancy, I developed a depression problem and was medicated and had a series of life changes that caused me to gain even more weight.

I think a part of me actually thought that somehow my mother would accept me "more" if I was heavy.  Nope, didn't happen.

I was always a blonde and my mother and sisters had dark dark hair.  I stuck out like a sore thumb.

My mother often said that she is convinced the hospital gave her the wrong baby.

Why do I say all of this?  Well, let me be clear.  I do not want pity.  But I have had these flooding thoughts as I have sat in prayer so that I could overcome these issues.  I never understood why I had such an unhealthy relationship with food.  I never understood why I was always clawing to get my mother's approval.  I never understood why I doubted that I could ever do anything outstanding.

Things that are said to us are carried around like baggage.  They remain with us forever unless we can leave them at the cross.

I am learning to do this.

It's time that I got my life in order and achieved what I was meant to.  I need to be all that God intended for me to be.

Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me is the biggest lie ever told.

But, in Jesus Christ I am learning that...

I AM worthy
I AM free
I AM loved
I CAN

Tuesday Tid-Bits

1.  No school today for the elementary children - the schools are being used for voting.  Fingers crossed for the election.  (nope, not touching politics here)

2.  Halloween was fun and simple.  I cook big for the day, but simple stuff in crockpots (chili, sloppy joe, and tacos) and everyone can stop by and eat when they want.  This year was super big and super fun.

3.  It's November and Thanksgiving is right around the corner.  This year we're going to create a new tradition for my family.

4.  Christmas!?  Oh my - it's getting super close.

5.  I got to meet Kat Von D - she's more beautiful in person (didn't think that was possible) and her charming personality really is sincere.  LOVE her!!

6.  Finally cooler weather is here and I'm loving every single minute of it

7.  I can't sing.  Honestly, I swear I'm tone deaf.  I have a horrible voice.

8.  I'm sticking to working out 5-6x a week and I'm really feeling better!!

9.  I'm struggling with my sugar addiction - it's frustrating, but I'm praying about it

10.  I can't believe I'm sharing pictures of myself.

11.  I'm determined to enjoy a joyful and calm holiday season

12.  My husband and I are "dating" again - it's really wonderful  (yup, we're dating each other)

13.  I'm getting ready to take my daughter on her first "college visit" - very difficult

14.  I'm slowly (and cautiously) knocking down my walls of protection that I have built - very scary for me

15.  I should be folding laundry right now, but I really want to sit here and savor my coffee

16.  I'd really rather be sleeping

17.  I want more free time every day

Simply Saturday...

Do something wonderful - just for yourself today.  

Go ahead.  I. dare. you.

Thinkin'...

...Today I felt like Dorothy, except my house didn't land on a witch & I don't have sparkly red shoes

...my butt hurts (just sayin') this exercising is definitely working

...I feel so much better when I eat right

...I feel even better when I exercise

...shhhhhh....all the laundry is done

...I hate having to tell my children that I cannot afford to give them something

...I'm learning to live with the above statement

...I absolutely LOVE our new church

...I love that my very first friend (when I was 6) is still my friend

...The "what-ifs" are getting easier to deal with

...I've never had asparagus

...I bought asparagus and I'm making it tomorrow night (I hope I don't screw it up)

...If you have an awesome recipe for asparagus, please share it with me

...I'm trying to eat more vegetables

...I also bought brussel sprouts

...I have been spending at least 30 minutes each morning in peace and with God

...Did I mention that my butt hurts?

...I kinda fell off the exercise wagon, but I'm back on

...my bathroom scale doesn't work - I need to find a really good one

...my son made a mistake and learned from it (yup, that do be a miracle)

...I love that I'm laughing out loud again

...I discovered that I have an addiction to sugar

...I have an unhealthy relationship with food

...I have been praying about the above 2 issues

...I could fall asleep and it's only 6:50 p.m.

...I'm going to force myself to stay awake for a wee bit longer

...Did I mention my butt hurts?  LOL

Just Thinking...

...someone should have warned me how painful it is when your children grow up and don't need you quite the same anymore.

...I definitely prefer colder weather to hot weather

...The bible really is a good book

...sometimes being stubborn is a good trait

...forgiving someone doesn't mean you have to let them back into your life, it just means you're not holding on to or allowing negative emotions to take a foothold in heart

...loving my children unconditionally comes naturally for me

...my mother always said she wished she never had children, I still don't understand why she felt that way

...I  am so thankful that God gave me three wonderful children, who aren't perfect, but bless my life in ways that I could never have known without them

...When I give thanks for having the things and the chores that I do have, I am a happier person

...the holiday season is rapidly approaching and I'm trying not to dread the holidays, but to enjoy and embrace them

...I've been really thinking about some major changes that I need to make in my life

...I'm happiest when I have days/time where nothing is scheduled, things get accomplished, but at a slow relaxed rate

...I'm a better person when I have time to myself in the quiet of the early morning

...I do not feel good when I don't make healthy eating choices

...laughing and smiling are amazing for the soul

...being authentic to oneself can bring a joy that is indescribable

...pumpkin spiced coffee, pumpkin spice candles, and a clean house - ahhhhhh the joys in the little things

My Baby...

Today my "baby" turns 20 years old.

I'm not certain how that is even humanly possible, since I distinctly recall his first birthday and all the planning and preparations.

I can vividly recall the moment I found out I was pregnant (yes, I fainted in the middle of the doctor's office) and the second they placed him before me when he was born.  In fact I remember that entire day - completely and clearly.

So, I'm not sure how it happened, but somehow 20 years has passed and I am screaming - I want more time!!!  I want to hug him more, to watch him sleeping, to read him another bedtime story, to lie next to him on the sofa while he sucks his thumb and we watch another Barney video.

My baby boy is 20 today.

And I love him unconditionally.

Happy Birthday my sweet son.

Jumping For Joy

Church shopping is NOT fun.

Not like shopping for a fun pair of shoes or a new purse.

I just couldn't find that feeling I was searching for.

I bet I've visited more than a dozen different churches

I know I've called at least three times that many

And for 5 years I have come up empty

So this week for some reason I felt compelled to try just one more

I chose a church that was recommended to me when we moved (5 years ago)

I swear it's the only church I didn't try (and I can't tell you why either)

So, this morning we went there

Within 5 minutes of praise and worship I knew

I knew I was HOME

The search has ended!

Simply Sunday...

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 

1 John 1:9-10 (NIV)

I came across this today and it spoke to me, so I wanted to share.

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/encouragement/

Happy Sunday

Taking a Moment...

Lately I've realized that I'm just going going going

Wednesdays are my day "off"

Every other Wednesday I do a bible study with a dear dear friend

This Wednesday was completely "free"

I had a list a mile long that I was determined to accomplish

I did nothing except workout

I sat in the peacefulness of my empty house

I sat in the quiet solitude of my own thoughts

I cannot begin to describe how much I gained from those few moments

I will take time each and every day, even if it is 10 minutes to just be alone

No television

No radio

No computer

No lists or interruptions

Just "be" in the moment

Time passes by all too quickly

We cannot stop it

We can only stop ourselves

Even if it is just a moment.

I Wish That

... it was as easy to lose weight as it was to gain it
...I didn't have any gray hair (don't tell my hair colorist)
...I laughed more
...God would leave me post-it notes
...I didn't suffer from the what-ifs
...I understood why
...I had more energy
...I could sleep better at night
...I would have finished college
...I had more time to read
...I danced more
...I could stitch faster
...I would have held my babies just a wee bit more
...I would have understood the deep value of friends earlier in life
...I wasn't such a worrier
...I felt more confident
...people would value people over money
...I knew the answer
...my eldest would stop being reckless
...pores shrank as you aged
...I could have a do-over
...there was more "extra" time
...that someone would have said, "You're Gonna Miss This"

Tales from the Treadmill (The Home Edition)

Okay, so we all know I'm back to working out 

after many months of not working out since I had my surgery.

This time I'm working out from home.

I really like it.

No fancy clothes, no monthly gym membership, no long drive to the gym.  

So, I bet you're wondering what on earth I could tell you about.

Or, maybe you're not and I'm going to tell it anyways.

I was on the final stretch of my learning to run program. 

 Just a couple of minutes from being done for the day.

So, I'm huffing and puffing along at a speedy 

(okay, I'm old and not a runner - so go with me) 

6 m.p.h.

I only have to do this for 1 minute.  

You can do anything for 60 seconds, right??

So, I'm rocking along - and then I'm not.

The belt stopped.

Seriously.

Stopped dead.

No warning, just stopped dead.

And for this mere 2 seconds I am thrilled that no one saw this sad display of grace.  NOT.

After 8 years my faithful treadmill has died.  

It has done this "act" more than once lately, but thankfully never while I'm running.

Until yesterday.

So, it is going to that junk pile in the sky.

Hubby, loving me like he does, went out last night and bought me a new one.

Nothing out of control or expensive, 

but one that won't cause me to fly over the control panel upon sudden stopping.  

Today I rock Physique 57,

 but I may have to try out the new treadmill for a few minutes

 - just because.