17

Exercise: Spin class with the always fabulous Krysta.  25 miles!  Woot woot!



So I've been reading The History of Love as of late.  Thus far, it is hauntingly beautiful.

I picked it up years ago at a half price book store, and I honestly can't remember the motivation to do so.  Curiosity?  A recommendation of one of the employees, perhaps?  Or maybe the title.  For I hear, the best place to understand something is to start at the beginning.  Explore its past.

Nonetheless, it sat on that bookshelf for countless hours/days/month/years, until the day came when a moment of honesty led the inquisitive girl to learn of love.


"Once upon a time there was a boy who loved a girl, and her laughter was a question he wanted to spend his whole life answering."

13, 14, 15, &16

I've been thinking quite a bit about the concept of light.  It started with this talk from last week's Women's General Meeting from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

Charity, a dear friend of mine, invited me to go and will I forever be grateful for that invite.

At the beginning of her talk, Sister Wixom invited the younger girls to stand and sing "Teach Me to Walk in the Light."  The conference center was peppered with countless little girls dressed in their best outfits, complete with little bows and sparkly shoes.  As they stood up timidly at first, glancing back at their mothers with shy smiles, Sister Wixom start to hum the first few notes of the song, and as she did so, the conference started to fill with these tiny voices of pure love. Innocent, heart overflowing voices that, as humble as they sang, pierced me to the core.

We joined in on the second verse "Come little child and together we'll learn..."  So many thoughts flooded me.  Of my future family and the realization that I will one day bring my little girl to future gatherings and hopefully have her experience such a moment.  Of my duty to be a leader to these impressionable minds. Of the truth that in that moment they were entirely teaching me how to walk in that light.

It reminded me of the power to change.  To choose to dwell in the light.

It's a developing thought, one that I plan on researching over this next bit.

Friday: stairs at work
Saturday: walk the three miles to and from conference
Sunday: 30 minute walk before Sunset
Monday:

8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Getting ready to walk out of work yesterday after a very busy and very productive day, I was finishing up a few tasks when Dr. A called from his desk "There's been another shooting at Fort Hood..."
"Excuse me?" I said, my voice laced with disdain as I thought he was somehow kidding with April Fool's recently in our wake.
"Yeah, it's on the news," he said, more sensitivity in his voice.
One look at his face and I saw this was no joke.

Now I know there are thousands of soldiers on Fort Hood, around 70,000 to be more accurate.  But I couldn't help the immediate concern I had for my friends back home.  I consider them family, really.  How I learned to so much from them... how I changed so, so much for the better simply by loving and serving them, and letting them love me.  I know it sounds cheesy, but there is something to be said when you get to the point with people that you drop all barriers and be your real self with them.

And so my stomach dropped as I reached for the phone.  First call, and then second.  And that was far to slow, so here is one of those times that I admittedly am grateful for Facebook.  One message later, and fears were abated.

All are safe and accounted for (how I feel for those who were not so lucky).  And my gratitude for each of my soldiers, my fellow friends, is deep tonight.


Exercise:
Sunday:  helped friends move (not a super workout, but I'm counting it)
Monday: walk
Tuesday: Spinning class and additional core class
Wednesday: Stairs
Thursday: calisthenics