What is next...

It would seem that I have settled in to life here in Arcadia pretty much. Matt & I each go to work, come home, have dinner. Some nights we work out together. We watch television; we play on the computer. On Sundays that we are not feeling too lazy, we go to church. Pretty routine life, I'd say. And a pleasant one, at that.

I can't help but feel a little disconnected from church, however. Attending a Presbyterian church is somewhat different (in my opinion) from attending a non-denominational church. Different music, different routines. Although I like everyone I've met at church, including the minister, I can't help but feel as though I'm on the outside a bit. I've decided to remedy that. I want to get involved with the church, make it my home.

That's why I offered to help out with the youth group. And my offer was met with enthusiasm by the pastor of the church, so I feel like they could definitely use an extra pair of hands. I'm really excited about having the opportunity to be around young people and watch God move in their lives!

Matt & I stayed after church today to have lunch with them, and I have to say how incredibly bright and fun they seem to be! I cannot wait until Wednesday, when I get to be around them again, and be a part of their Bible study and fellowship. I hope that I am able to provide something helpful to them, whether it is in the form of being a positive role model, or being an adult they can identify with, or even someone to listen to problems without judgement. I just have to have faith that God moved me to offer my help because He has a purpose for me to fill.

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Here's to Our Health!

Yesterday, I mixed business and pleasure. Since one of my employees was scheduled to work, but really wanted to go shopping with her mom, I agreed to work the Saturday shift at the Y. Matt had never seen where I worked, so I persuaded him to come to work with me. He actually really didn't want to go; he had visions of working in his studio editing audio files while I was gone. However, there is very little I cannot convince him to do, so he came with me.

I'm sooooo glad he did. It worked out really well. While I finished up some invoices and various other tasks that I hadn't finished Friday, he read his magazines in my office. Then, he went out to the fitness floor and worked out. Matt hadn't been to the gym in a while, but he surprised himself with his endurance. He emerged from the gym with pride and the desire to get in shape and live a healthier lifestyle.

He and I are on the same page. Although I have never had any struggles with weight or eating, I am now at my three-week anniversary of being smoke-free. It has been a rather difficult habit for me to break. Matt & I are working together now to support one another's best interests in regards to health. I am making an effort to help him eat more healthy foods (this involves me not eating everything that I want to in front of him) and he has been trying to run interference with me and other smokers (this means we haven't been frequenting our favorite Irish pub in Punta Gorda). Together, we are going to take advantage of our free Y memberships and work out together at least twice per week.

I am so happy that we are going to take better care of our bodies! Our life together is so wonderful, I want us to live as long as possible.

The Lesson I Learned (A Year Ago) Today

For a year, I've wondered how today would feel. To my surprise, it mostly passed by like any other normal day. I was so incredibly busy at work that I scarcely had time to reflect on the fact that a year ago today my grandmother died. I really didn't pause to be sad or shed any tears until I was safely at home, in the kitchen with my husband. There was a moment earlier this evening, as I sat at the YMCA booth at the Hardee County Back to School Health Fair, that I saw a woman who looked so much like Grandma, that I nearly dissolved into sobs then and there. But, I held it together, like any other professional would. It has, after all, been a year.

I talked to my mom, and she had a much more difficult time today than I. She said that she kept thinking about different sweet little habits my grandma had, and how much she missed them. She said that she looked at the clock all throughout the day today and mentally figured what had occurred at that same time a year ago, when we kept watch at Grandma's bedside, knowing that she was going very soon. In comparison to my mother, I had a very easy day, with little time to dwell on such things.

But, I wish I could dwell. I wish that I had known during all of the precious moments that I had with my grandma how desperately I would want now to remember every single detail. Now, I'm falling into self-pity. And I don't want to go there. I am extraordinarily fortunate to have had her in my life for twenty-six years, and I cherish every moment of that time, even the moment when I was holding her hand at her side and watched her draw her very last earthly breath.

My perspective today is to relish every moment I have with those I love. And keep savoring my sweet memories for years to come.