Learning from broken bones

If you have read my last post in January (I know I'm horrible), then you know that I was going to start running. It started out great. I would go to the gym and run. My times were not going to win any awards, but they were not so bad. I found that I enjoyed the running. In late January I entered and finished my first 5K. The snowball run for Evangel Classical School. It was COLD!!! But I finished without to a horrible time and it kinda started an addiction. But to be honest the busy life interrupted my running for a few weeks. But as my birthday came around I was gifted the entry fee for an adventure 5k. This means you run your 5K but you also have obstacles to go through. Once the starting shot was fired we had to do 30 burpees before we could even start running the course. If you don't know what a burpee is- google it. But it can best be described as hell on earth in the form of an exercise. One or two are not that bad but 30 is a different story. We then climbed a hill jumped a fence, went through a stream, jumped hurdles, another stream, a pond that I swam across then army crawled under barbed wire in mud. After that we ran through a barn where they threw powdered dye on us and then there was a flat, clear field we had to run through to get to the next obstacle. This was about the half way mark of the race. As I exited the barn, I was tired, dirty and hot but still enjoying the race. But then I rolled my ankle. No root, or rock, or hole, just my weak ankle rolled. It hurt but I roll them all the time so I thought I could get up and tough it out. I could not apply any pressure. The Medics had to come remove me from the course and that was the end of the race for me.

Long story short it was broken. There is a little bone in the middle of your ankle about the size of a postage stamp that I broke the front left corner off of. When it broke it also managed to flip upside down and backwards so the orthopedic said I need to have a lypo surgery to have it removed. Well when he got in there he decided to go ahead and perform a real surgery and add 2 screws to my ankle to hold the bone in place. No big deal but that means no weight bearing for 3 months.

If you know we at all, you know that I am very active. I have a large family, a great church and a circle of friends that keeps me very busy. And did I mention I work too! And in all this I never say no. I don't have money to throw at things so I throw my skills, time and talents. Be it singing, making coffee, cooking, organizing events, my plate is full and I LOVE IT. But all that is hard to do when you can't stand on your own two feet. The smallest things like bathing, getting a glass of tea, going to the grocery store, all became Mount Everest to me.

But like I said before I have a large family and a great circle of friends. I had meals catered to me, folks coming over to load the dishwasher, and being waited on hand and foot. Sounds amazing right? It is, in the fact that I know I am loved and taken care of, but for a doer like myself, it is very hard to accept and get use to. I found myself apologizing and thanking every other word. It was HARD to lay there and let people do for me. It still is hard as a lay with my boot propped up as I write this. But I have to look at what I can learn from this. I have to see how God can speak to me through this.

Sometimes its not the easiest thing to let things happen around you when you have no control over them. Sometimes you have to realize that you may have paid it forward to many and accept when its your turn to receive. Sometimes you have to give up control and let other do so they can learn, and develop. And sometimes you just have to lay on the sofa, pray and listen to what God is wanting to do in your life.

One of the things that has happened so far in my laid up stage is the release of the Kingwood Worship album, A Place Called Grace. I was lucky enough to sing backgrounds on this album, but it wasn't until I was laying on the sofa, wondering why this happened, when can I get up? that the song "You Are Faithful" ministered to me more than it has the many times I have taken part in singing it.

He is Faithful.
I am not forgotten.
I can trust Him.
He will never leave me.
He's right beside me.
I know that I can find Him.
Every time I need Him, He's there.
Mountains and valleys, when I don't know it, He is there.

So as I lay here, letting others take the lead. Having to ask for help. Feeling like a burden.
He is there.
Every time!

Accountability

As the new year begins, we all reflect on 2013 and how it has effected us and how we can improve and challenge ourselves in 2014. Last year I made a list of resolutions. But I refused to call them that because so many times that just leads to a list of non-completed items. So with a friend we came up with our list of "Acountabilities."

This would be a list of things we want to do or change in the new year but because of the nature of the list, we would hold each other accountable to the list. I have to say that my list was long, but MOST of the list has a check next to it.

So for 2014 I am making a new list of Accoutabilites. And I am making it public so more people will see what is happening. I HATE to fail. So knowing that I have eyes on me, and maybe even someone quizzing me about the list, will keep me on track.

In 2014 I want to:

1. paint my living room- I have lived in my house for 6 years now and I still have not painted the walls in my living room. I. hate. tan!!!!
2. run a marathon. now you may think- Scott 26.2 miles is a really long distance! But I have a good friend that said its possible and I am going to give it my best. I have already started running, so now I just need to keep I up.
3. write more- this will be a place to do that. I often think about amazing ideas for stories and blogs but it is usually while driving or showering. I just need to follow through and "put them on paper"
4. SAVE MONEY!!!! I will be honest and admit that I am horrible at budgeting. But, I have found a plan that I have already started that, if I follow through, I will have saved over $1500 by the end of 2014. That is A LOT of money to me!!!
5. learn a new skill- this one is still up in the air. I would LOVE to play the piano, and have access to a teacher, but need a practice keyboard. Once I have that I plan on taking lessons. If it is not the piano, I wouldn't mind learning some wood working. I so often will not buy items because I can see how simple it would be to make them myself. Soooo, Pinterest is going to be my new best friend!!!! Maybe I will do both!!!

That is my list so far. In 2013 I took a dream vacation, lost 33 lbs and started taking better  are of my self physically. It was a hard year (read Ripples if you want to know more), but to leave a year with your family, friends, church, health and so many other blessings still intact, how can it be a bad one.

So friends, you have my permission to hold me accountable! You have my permission to ask about the list above! You also have my permission to donate a keyboard or piano!!!! LOL

I look forward to this year tests, trials and blessings!!!