Thankful Tuesday

Feeling really thankful today. Thankful that my family and friends are all safe from hurricane Sandy. So many people in surrounding areas were not so lucky. My prayers go out to everyone affected by this storm.


New York City

Milford, CT. Nick lived here for awhile. Thankful that he is safe in MA.

WHAT IF????

WHAT IF???
I joke around a lot about the "negative committee" that meets in my head occasionally, but some days.....it's NOT a joke!

I have been focusing WAY too much on "what ifs?" lately.
As I have said before, I've been a little stressed over not having a job, especially with the layoffs at Ray's work....Christmas coming up, etc. In addition to the money though, I've been having a hard time adjusting to being at home alone so much! Being alone a lot gives me WAY too much time to wander around thinking....WHAT IF????
WHAT IF Ray gets laid off?
WHAT IF I don't find another job?
WHAT IF someone gets sick?
WHAT IF one of the kids needs something and we can't afford it?

And then there are the running related WHAT IFS......
WHAT IF I plan my next marathon and then can't afford to go wherever it is?
WHAT IF I start training and my asthma acts up?
WHAT IF my knee gets worse?

And of course there are those relationship WHAT IFS.....
WHAT IF being so stressed hurts my marriage?
WHAT IF there is a problem with the kids?
WHAT IF I really AM like the old used car that the moron of a doctor called me?
WHAT IF....WHAT IF.....

After a morning filled with these WHAT IFS, I kept trying to make myself get out the door for a run. I looked around the house and thought.....Wow, it's pretty late and the house needs a lot of work....WHAT IF I take the time to go out for my run and Ray and the kids get home and the house is still a mess?? Ummm....Yeah, because THAT has NEVER happened before??? Like THEY CARE??!!! OMG, I can't believe how NEGATIVE I can let myself become some times!

After arguing for awhile with that "negative committee".....I decided that no matter WHAT happened, I was going out for a run!

I decided that instead of going on any planned route that I would just head out the door and just RUN! No music and NO.WHAT. IFS!! Instead, I was going to think about all of my many blessings.... all of the things I have to be thankful for!

The first thing that came into my head was the fact that if ANY of those bad WHAT IFS came to be.....I would have my family by my side! As I was thinking of all of the wonderful reasons that I have to smile everyday.....I was also remembering bits of some Bible verses that I've read about worry, and although I couldn't remember them exactly....I remembered enough of them for comfort, and after I got home I looked a few of them up.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?’” (Luke 12:22-26, NIV). (Also see Matthew 6:25-34)

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

“An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up” (Proverbs 12:25, NIV).

 

I ran for just over an hour and I felt so much better, not just physically, but also mentally. It was as if someone had "slapped me upside the head" and said, "Hey....knock it off....STOP with all of the negativity-doom and gloom!" I guess it really is true that.......

So.....will I stop thinking "WHAT IF".....completely?? Of course not!! However, I'm going to REALLY TRY to balance the WHAT IFS out with more positive thoughts! Even the WHAT IFS can be more positive...Like, "WHAT IF I start REALLY listening to and believing some of the positive quotes I post on my blog and sometimes on Facebook??"  One of the quotes that keeps going through my head is not from some famous person, but from my own sweet husband! When we were planning our wedding vow renewal/30th anniversary party which would be outside, and the weather forecast called for rain and possible thunderstorms and I was panicking over everything, Ray hugged me and said, "Don't worry.....we've made it through bigger storms!".........Yes....WE HAVE and we will continue weathering the storms together!!

So when I start with the negative thoughts, I will try to run,walk or workout in some way, but I will also remember that I have other resources.....I have my husband, my family, my friends, my GOD.....Yep....I am BLESSED!!

Our Beautiful Alex-Senior Pic's

Senior Pictures

I LUVVVVV this girl!!!

Not too much to say that I haven't already said about Alex--She's beautiful, bright, sweet, brilliant, compassionate, funny, goofy, loving, nerdy, determined, amazing......She's PERFECT!!!!

 

 

 And did I mention that she has some sort of an alien in her mouth??!! We aren't sure just what this thing is in her mouth.....only that it looks SCARY!!

Dance in The Rain.....

Words to live by!!

Happy Birthday!!

Today is Ray's 57th birthday! I'm not sure yet what we are doing tonight to celebrate, but I'm really glad we are celebrating together! We have definitely had our ups and downs and challenges over the last 30 years of our marriage, but I believe it is stronger now than ever before! I don't want to get all gushy here, but I do want to say that I am very blessed and that I love my husband with all my heart! I'm looking forward to the next 30 years!!

Date Night!

Drumming away at Black Eyed Sally's!

Alex and Ray--Boston Labor Day Weekend 2012

Pam, Conor and Ray--Labor Day Weekend 2012

Our Beautiful Girl Is 18??!!

Wow, where have the years gone? It doesn't seem that long ago that we were running around the mall in MN, searching for Alex's lost Pooh Bear! I've never seen such a sad little face as the one who was asking us to PLEASE find Pooh Bear!

Alex requested a Pooh Bear Cake!

Alex has grown into such a beautiful young woman......one who has known since 5th grade what she wants to do with her life! She has such amazing goals and aspirations and I have no doubt in my mind that she will accomplish her dreams! In addition to being beautiful on the outside, Alex is SOO beautiful on the inside! She has a brilliant mind, beautiful heart, and she is soooo strong! I don't think she gives herself credit for any of these attributes, but she is amazing and I can't even begin to describe how proud I am of her and how much I love her! I can't believe she will be going away to college next year, but I know that she is ready to begin her wonderful adult life! Of course, to her Dad and I.........she will ALWAYS be our sweet little girl!!

Nerd Girls Gone Wild??

Alex and her Teavana Teapot!

The Girls!