6 Months from today. 182 days to prepare. 4369 hours to go. 262, 080 minutes slipping away.
That is when Sea To Sea takes off from Seattle, WA. I wonder what that first day will be like. The excitement of anticipation and nervousness. Even with the time change, I'm hoping that by this time, on that day, I will have completed my day's cycling quota, have my tent set up and be enjoying dinner with my summer community. I'll be on my way home.
If there is anything that I have been reminded of this year is the fact that life can change in an instant and often does. I have quite the journey to complete in this 6 month time frame. To be ready and prepared for the actual Sea To Sea trek.
Last year at this time, Sea To Sea wasn't even on my thoughts. I wonder what surprises will be put before me in the new year.
When I think about preparing for Sea To Sea, I wonder if it is even possible. Can I truly grasp what this adventure will require of me? What I will learn from it? How it will change my world? How it will change who I am?
The next 6 months will be a challenge, harder than I had ever thought. All I can do is put my faith in God, with the assurance that I am suppose to be doing this.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen"Hebrews 11:1
That's really what Sea To Sea is right now. I look forward to making it a summer of memories.
Happy New Year!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Christmas Bells
Merry Christmas!
This year I have a great story of giving. Not by me but by those who care and love me. Every year I like to find someone who needs a surprise and deliver a small gift to them on Christmas Eve anonymously. This year I have been the recipient of such a gift.
I have been stewing over the last month about the purchase and adoption of some baby ferrets. Something to bring joy, hope, love and comfort to Murphy and myself after a very sad and tumultuous few months. I had been struggling with the financial burden that it would be for me at this time with a reduced income due to the accident and the need to save for Sea To Sea.
On Friday, after a depressing OT evaluation, my friend Karen called to check up on me. She has been concerned about a drift towards sadness that she was afraid would lead to depression. Once again the topic of conversation lead to ferrets. Karen invited me to come to their house for the evening. A chance to get away and be surrounded by people who loved and cared sounded great. I packed up Murphy and headed to KW- My first long drive( 1 hr) since the accident. It was a challenge but I didn't get lost!
Saturday morning we packed up the whole family, Geoff and Karen & their 3 kids Theo(9), Miranda(7) and Emily(5). Off to the pet store we went. There we found two 11 week old males-light coloured sables and a 7week old speckled female. After some cuddling, I was convinced that I would take the larger of the 2 males. The other one was clawing at the cage, they had been together their whole lives. "Come on", said Karen,"You can't leave that one behind. Don't worry about the money. Merry Christmas from us". Such an extravagant gift of love from people who already give me so much. Especially when it means that they are looking after 3 ferrets now while I am away on Sea To Sea.
So Milo and Chester(Karen picked this name)came home. The next day at church there was an envelope in my mail slot with instructions to take it home and open it. Inside was a note: Dear Gayle, please put this to a baby ferret fund. Merry Christmas! and $250 cash. No name, no one to thank again for such a gracious and generous gift. I call Geoff and Karen to tell them that I would be purchasing one of the ferrets back from them due to this kind gift. They were just happy that the babies came home
I can't even describe how much fun and joy has filled my home as Murphy adapts to his new brothers. The new babies are like 4yr olds who have been adopted to Disneyland! Everything is new and exciting including their brother and Momma. Karen was right to insist that they not be separated!
I hope that their silent benefactor reads this blog. I want them to know how much their gift means to me. How much love, joy and hope their kindness has brought to Christmas and to my life. At a time when it is easy to be reminded of how much has been taken from me in the accident, I now have 2 constant reminders of how much I have been given in life.Their bells jingling as they race around the apartment.
I don't know if they will ever reveal themselves. I don't know if I will be able to figure out who they are. One of the receivers of my secret gifts once just out-rightly said to me- I know it was you. It couldn't of been anyone else.
It is overwhelming for me to be surrounded by so many good people that it could be anyone. That quiet kindness is so prevalent in my life.
I wish that gift for everyone this Christmas. And if you are reading this and know or find out who our benefactor is-direct them to this blog. Thank them. Honestly, words cannot express my gratitude. Hope and Love are the best gifts you could ever have given me. Ditto to Geoff, Karen, Theo, Miranda and Emily.
Merry Christmas. God bless us one and all!
This year I have a great story of giving. Not by me but by those who care and love me. Every year I like to find someone who needs a surprise and deliver a small gift to them on Christmas Eve anonymously. This year I have been the recipient of such a gift.
I have been stewing over the last month about the purchase and adoption of some baby ferrets. Something to bring joy, hope, love and comfort to Murphy and myself after a very sad and tumultuous few months. I had been struggling with the financial burden that it would be for me at this time with a reduced income due to the accident and the need to save for Sea To Sea.
On Friday, after a depressing OT evaluation, my friend Karen called to check up on me. She has been concerned about a drift towards sadness that she was afraid would lead to depression. Once again the topic of conversation lead to ferrets. Karen invited me to come to their house for the evening. A chance to get away and be surrounded by people who loved and cared sounded great. I packed up Murphy and headed to KW- My first long drive( 1 hr) since the accident. It was a challenge but I didn't get lost!
Saturday morning we packed up the whole family, Geoff and Karen & their 3 kids Theo(9), Miranda(7) and Emily(5). Off to the pet store we went. There we found two 11 week old males-light coloured sables and a 7week old speckled female. After some cuddling, I was convinced that I would take the larger of the 2 males. The other one was clawing at the cage, they had been together their whole lives. "Come on", said Karen,"You can't leave that one behind. Don't worry about the money. Merry Christmas from us". Such an extravagant gift of love from people who already give me so much. Especially when it means that they are looking after 3 ferrets now while I am away on Sea To Sea.
So Milo and Chester(Karen picked this name)came home. The next day at church there was an envelope in my mail slot with instructions to take it home and open it. Inside was a note: Dear Gayle, please put this to a baby ferret fund. Merry Christmas! and $250 cash. No name, no one to thank again for such a gracious and generous gift. I call Geoff and Karen to tell them that I would be purchasing one of the ferrets back from them due to this kind gift. They were just happy that the babies came home
I can't even describe how much fun and joy has filled my home as Murphy adapts to his new brothers. The new babies are like 4yr olds who have been adopted to Disneyland! Everything is new and exciting including their brother and Momma. Karen was right to insist that they not be separated!
I hope that their silent benefactor reads this blog. I want them to know how much their gift means to me. How much love, joy and hope their kindness has brought to Christmas and to my life. At a time when it is easy to be reminded of how much has been taken from me in the accident, I now have 2 constant reminders of how much I have been given in life.Their bells jingling as they race around the apartment.
I don't know if they will ever reveal themselves. I don't know if I will be able to figure out who they are. One of the receivers of my secret gifts once just out-rightly said to me- I know it was you. It couldn't of been anyone else.
It is overwhelming for me to be surrounded by so many good people that it could be anyone. That quiet kindness is so prevalent in my life.
I wish that gift for everyone this Christmas. And if you are reading this and know or find out who our benefactor is-direct them to this blog. Thank them. Honestly, words cannot express my gratitude. Hope and Love are the best gifts you could ever have given me. Ditto to Geoff, Karen, Theo, Miranda and Emily.
Merry Christmas. God bless us one and all!
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The Sunday of Hope
Today is the first day of Advent. The time of preparation for the celebration of Jesus coming to us. This first Sunday is the Sunday of Hope. Hope for change, hope for grace, hope for freedom from whatever binds us- hope that my church lights the candles in the Advent wreath in the right order!(Maybe next year!)
This has been a week of remembrances. It was 9 years ago today that my father passed away. He had suffered from Alzheimer's and I'm not sure he ever knew that I was sick. It was 1 month ago that I was hit by the car.
It's been a tough month, I'm not going to lie. And I'm not sure that it will get easier but that has never been part of the deal. Find hope....begin healing....embrace life.
I have a lot to be hopeful for. The same day that was the day I had my first diagnosis was also the first day I got back on a bike. It was a stationary bike and 15mins was all I could do...but it was a start. It reminded me that I still had a goal...a hope...the Sea To Sea journey. It's going to be harder, longer but there was never a promise that it would be easy. In my life, the best things never did come easy, challenge was always a part of the deal. Also this week I got notice that already I had received online donations...people responding to my request of 100 people giving $100. It reminded my that there are others with hope for me. Encouraging me. Supporting me so that we can give hope to those who are trapped in the cycle of poverty.
This week, with the help of my friends, my apartment came alive with my Christmas decorations. It also give me hope that although things aren't the same, they can be familiar and comfortable.
I think this is comforting for my ferret Murphy too. He is sad, it has been a tough month for him too. First he lost his brother and best friend. And then Momma hasn't been herself. I think the Christmas tree is a place of comfort for him. Familiar and warm.
I need to help him. Support and love him. Find the money to get him a new friend and bring him the comfort and hope that others are giving me. Trusting that God will provide.
And so, I take each day as it comes. preparing for Christmas, preparing for Sea To Sea riding not yet on my bike but on hope- mine and those who love and care for me.
This has been a week of remembrances. It was 9 years ago today that my father passed away. He had suffered from Alzheimer's and I'm not sure he ever knew that I was sick. It was 1 month ago that I was hit by the car.
It's been a tough month, I'm not going to lie. And I'm not sure that it will get easier but that has never been part of the deal. Find hope....begin healing....embrace life.
I have a lot to be hopeful for. The same day that was the day I had my first diagnosis was also the first day I got back on a bike. It was a stationary bike and 15mins was all I could do...but it was a start. It reminded me that I still had a goal...a hope...the Sea To Sea journey. It's going to be harder, longer but there was never a promise that it would be easy. In my life, the best things never did come easy, challenge was always a part of the deal. Also this week I got notice that already I had received online donations...people responding to my request of 100 people giving $100. It reminded my that there are others with hope for me. Encouraging me. Supporting me so that we can give hope to those who are trapped in the cycle of poverty.
This week, with the help of my friends, my apartment came alive with my Christmas decorations. It also give me hope that although things aren't the same, they can be familiar and comfortable.
I think this is comforting for my ferret Murphy too. He is sad, it has been a tough month for him too. First he lost his brother and best friend. And then Momma hasn't been herself. I think the Christmas tree is a place of comfort for him. Familiar and warm.
I need to help him. Support and love him. Find the money to get him a new friend and bring him the comfort and hope that others are giving me. Trusting that God will provide.
And so, I take each day as it comes. preparing for Christmas, preparing for Sea To Sea riding not yet on my bike but on hope- mine and those who love and care for me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
