DO I or DON'T I???

I thought I would ask you guys what I should do...I exercised for the first time yesterday. I'm not talking about the "normal" exercising like doing 20 minutes on a stationary bike, lift a few weights, once you feel your muscles getting a little fatigued you stop. Oh no, this torture...I mean exercise was with a personal trainer mom whose son is on my son's team. For the past few days about 5 or 6 mom's have gotten their butt's out of their chairs and headed to the track. I watched (I was only wearing flip flops), while a few of the mom's shouted out, "Hey Lis, you need to bring your running shoes tomorrow!" I actually thought about it, they seemed to be jogging pretty slow. I started thinking, "I can do that, maybe I will bring shoes tomorrow." That was until they started on the lunges around the WHOLE track!

Now, I'm one of those people that know how to hide all my nasty, flabby "junk" in a pair of cute longer trendy shorts, pants or capri's. I didn't realize I had such a special talent at camouflage until a few of the ladies said, "You must work out, you look great." Ha Ha Ha Ha, if they only knew...I will not get in a bathing suit this year cuz my butt and legs look NASTY! So I proceeded to point out all my flaws to them. Next I realized that I was complaining so much, I HAD to work out with them, great...my mouth always gets me into trouble.

Yesterday, I went home and tried to come up with a good excuse to tell them...couldn't find one, put on my LONG sweats in 85 degree weather. I headed to the field, late to make sure I didn't have to work out the whole 2 hours. OH MY GOSH, I was dead, I couldn't even make it the four times around the track (1 mile), I had to start walking. I haven't really worked out in about 2 years and a lot of these moms work out everyday! My kids were yelling at me, "Cmon mom, your in last, stop being such a woosie!" I wanted to smack them down!LOL! Then the lunges, my thighs were screaming, "NO NO NO, What are you doing?" Then back to the running (1 mile), lunges, running (another mile), lunges, finally ending with the dreaded series of ab workouts!!!

I think the trainer wasn't too excited that I joined in with the other mom's. She was trying to motivate while I kept saying, "I haven't worked out in two years...must walk!" Then I dragged a few of the motivated mom's down to my level. I had a little crew of walkers, while only two mom's and the trainer continued jogging. Yep I'm a bad influence.

Today I could barely walk, I hurt EVERYWHERE...even my neck. To top it off, I'm supposed to do it again. I hate the way I look, but the thought of doing it again makes me want to puke! So, do I suck it up, and head to the field in my workout gear or sit down read a book, come up with a good excuse and rest my aching legs? Someone help me? I HATE TO EXCERCISE...I HATE MY FLABBY BODY!!! Quite the dilemma....

GOOD NEWS!!!

First and foremost I want to thank ALL of you SO much for your encouraging comments, and prayers! It was amazing to me how many friends and family "showed up" with love and support. We often think of blogging as just a past time, something that's fun and often meaningless. However, when things go wrong or you're struggling, all of your "blogging friends" are the first one's to be there for you. The comments you left were uplifting, inspiring, and encouraging...THANK YOU!!

Now, about my good news...I made an appointment with the Orthopedic Specialist today first thing this morning. Luckily they were able to get me in today. He checked everything out and said it appears to be just a bad sprain/strain of the Achilles tendon. He said he will probably be able to completely walk on it again in a week and a half or so. They took his cast off and we just have it wrapped with an ace bandage. He is able to put a little bit of weight on it. They didn't do an MRI because he didn't show any signs of a tear. He said if he does not improve as expected to bring him back in, but he thinks he will be as good as new. He was amazed that he only received that slight injury after a bike vs. car accident.

Once again, I am the most grateful and thankful mom in the whole world! When things go wrong in one area of our lives...Heavenly Father is standing right beside us, holding our hand, wiping our tears, carrying us, and watching over us. May we always remember that we do not need to go through troubles and trials alone. Jesus died for us...his love is greater than any problem, hurt, anger, or fearful situation. Just let go and TRUST, you will be amazed at the miracles that will happen in your life!

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Sad and Scary Day (Part 2 of 2)

I started trying to exercise, alternating between going to the gym and running with my dog, while my son skateboarded with us. We arrived home still sad from the days events, changed and decided to run/skateboard with Allie (our dog). I took off first while Elijah looked for his Ipod and would catch up with me.

I was halfway down the block, running, Ipod blaring...when I noticed an older man, in a silver Honda, stepping on his brakes, leaning his head completely out of the car looking at something behind me. My heart started racing, I quickly looked behind me, wondering what had caught his attention. To my horror, it was my son on his skateboard. The man was unaware that he was with me, Elijah was trying to catch up to me. My son also noticed the man and the weird look on his face. The man turned the corner a few minutes before we rounded it. He was still looking at us and pulled into a driveway that we would be running directly past. The driveway was blocked by thick green bushes, hiding him from our view as we approached it. I looked behind me to talk to Elijah and noticed another man in an old beat up, white, tan, burgundy and rusty Chevy van, parked across the street, also looking at us, he started his van as we approached the driveway. I tried to remain calm, hoping that it was just my imagination, but wanting to be cautious. I stopped and told Elijah, "When we're almost there I'll sprint and you ride your skateboard really fast past the driveway." We went quickly past and did not see the man. Relief came over me, feeling a little stupid for being so paranoid.

All of a sudden the silver Honda pulled out of the driveway...slowing down, looking again...he swerved as if trying to make an illegal u-turn, (we were running on the sidewalk, against traffic) and if he was successful, he would be directly facing us, we would be trapped. Traffic suddenly picked up blocking his attempt, he almost hit a pole in the middle of the street and had to jerk his steering wheel, driving past us.

We were at a spot where there were no houses or people. I told Elijah, "We need to get to the top of the hill before he can turn around again." My son was scared, I was exhausted from running so fast, but I had been attacked when I was younger and was now feeling very vulnerable and scared for our safety. We crossed the street and were close to the park that we run through...the man came from nowhere, made a u-turn and was now directly facing us waiting for us to reach him. I started pointing at him to let him know that I see him and know what he is doing. I told my son to get on his cell phone (we were never able to get his license number because the sun was directly in our eyes.) I started sprinting again and tried to look tough and confrontational, my heart pounding so hard and quick, I felt sure my son could hear it, as we approached his waiting car. We looked directly at him...he quickly put dark glasses on and tried to hide his face leaning down lower in his car. We made it to the park (now also deserted for some reason, very unusual for that time of day). We both were so scared and just kept running, looking behind us, sprinting, and looking, until we headed out of the park. We were approaching a light (where the park exited)...the Chevy van that had been parked, slowly passed (he had circled the block), looking around as he drove. We were hidden from his view, but could see him. Once he passed...I ran, and ran, and ran...we finally made it home safely. Both of us scared to death, realizing that it wasn't our imagination and we could have been in real danger, the men appeared to be working as a team.

When I got home, my husband was there, we got in the car and drove around...wanting to get a license plate or something to report to the police . Unfortunately, there was no sign of the men. I have not been that scared in years...my son said he was afraid that he would have nightmares about it.

I received a little taste of how an attack/kidnap could easily happen. The scary thing is, my son (13 years old) had been going to play basketball alone in the park for the past week and a half. You never know how long they could have been watching him and luckily, I just happened to be with him on the day that they might have decided to make their move.

We live in a nice neighborhood, the homes and park we run through is in a million dollar neighborhood. It can happen to anyone, anywhere and at anytime. Please be aware of your surroundings...you never know who is watching!