Swingset Pychology

Jasper and I walked to the neighborhood park today. I realized it had been months since we had made this little trip down the sidewalk so it was long over do. The weather was a perfect combination of winter bliss: cool temps combined with beautiful blue skies and warm rays of sun, divine.

Our walk was a slow one as Jasper tried to master his foot powered motorcycle. I found myself internally repeating, "We don't have to rush, just enjoy this time."

We made it to the small park consisting of 3 swings and a small playground set with toddler slide. Jasper's first request: Swing! No surprise here, this has always been his favorite part. I get him settled in the toddler swing and begin pushing. The smile on his face is worth a thousand words. He is beyond happy. Why don't we do this more often? Time, that's right I never have enough of it. Life is spent running from one thing to the next, from work, to home, then crossfit and back home to eat and go to bed. When we do have time at home I'm hurrying around cooking or trying to catch up on the growing pile of laundry. Lately it's felt more like a juggling act in a circus than my sweet life.

But here I am enjoying the fresh air and giggles from my guy. My heart is full. I decide to take a swing myself and demonstrate pumping my legs for Jasper. I've done this in past trips to the park but never for very long. Those swings you see are made for kids with bottoms much smaller than my has been for several years and within a minute or so the metal chains always start to dig in and pinch making it an uncomfortable experience. I didn't really consider this until after I was on the swing pumping my legs with Jasper cheering me on. Wait a minute, no pinching, no digging in of those darn metal chains? Here I am swinging away and just enjoying it. Then it hit me, I'm smaller than I was the last time we were here. I can swing with my son with no concern for being too fat for the swing. A smile broke out on my face that still hasn't left, not just because I'm losing fat and gaining muscle, not because I'm creating new healthier habits, not because I'm looking skinnier but, because I know I'm becoming a better mom. Inch by inch, pound by pound I'm proving that I can be a healthy example for my son. Inch by inch, pound by pound I'm getting closer to being the mom that actively plays with her children, the mom that encourages physical activity by example not just words.

This realization today has brought me to sweet happy tears knowing that even if this schedule of trying to make time for everything feels crazy now, in the long run it is so worth. If I can just keep finding the benefit and beauty in everything inch.

Thanks

I've had this blog space sitting blank for awhile now, waiting for the perfect chance, the divine inspiration to type up my first official post. Every time I've thought to sit down and write there is always a reason to not so here it has sat, a blank canvas waiting, waiting, waiting....

As I was driving home from work today I was struck with thoughts of Thanksgiving, preparations and schedules, things to be done. While I was hurrying down the road my thoughts shifted instead to thoughts of thanksgiving, gratitude and appreciation. I thought, "What better way to start my blog about finding beauty in every inch than with a list of things I'm thankful for?" So here it goes...

My Little Family:

What a joy it has been to watch my little baby grow into a little man (two years old, how did that happen?) and to watch my Husband be his father. There are few things in life that provide as much sweet bliss as listening to Jasper's contagious giggle while Erik is doing something to encourage him to continue. I only wish I could soak in each little moment we all get together, save it for the days when the waters aren't quite so calm and peaceful. For now I will do my best to savor each sweet gift of together time we get.

Changed Lives:

I am continually reminded of the dramatic change that God has done in my dad's and therefore my families lives. Each time we all hang out or talk on the phone I am washed in the truth that God is a miracle worker, a life changer, a pain healer. What a tremendous blessing to be able to witness this reconciliation first hand.

Grandparents for Jasper:

Before I was a parent I never really considered what an enormous role Grandparents would play in our babies life. Now I can't imagine life any other way. We are blessed with two sets of parents who love being Grandparents more than most things in life and I'm starting to think that Jasper may be more fond of spending time with them than he is of me. Really though what more could I ask for? So thankful for his Grandparents near and far.

Crossfit Fort Vancouver:

Never did I think I would enjoy working out so much as I do with the people of CFFV. Trust me I will talk more of this again but here I'll try to keep if brief. If you've known me for any length of time you know that finding a healthy balance in my life in regards to nutrition and activity has been an ongoing challenge. I wont lie and say that the challenges are gone but I will say I am having more fun getting stronger and getting my butt kicked over and over than I ever thought possible. I'm loving working for every inch lost.

Growth:

I am so thankful that God is not done with me yet. This is evidenced in the growing experiences he keeps placing in my life. Thankfully, as he has promised, he never leaves me hanging, he's always there to be the strength in my weakness, to push me a little farther away from me and closer to him.

Friends:

We have the most amazing group of friends. I find myself often just stopping and thinking about how blessed I am because of them. This life would be so much harder without friends new and old who listen when I need to talk, who drink when I need to drink, who give counsel when I'm lost, who make me laugh when I want to cry and who share their lives with me.

Thanksgiving, a time set aside to remember all we have to be thankful for, reminds me that I need to be stopping to find the beauty in every inch more often so that I can remember to be thankful for all the amazing blessing I am given on a daily basis.