The (end) to the story

  I figured I owed it to anyone who read my blog post about the apology, to let you know how it "ended".

  Yesterday I seen the lady, and made haste to get to her so that this thing wouldn't go on any longer.  I apologized, and she forgave me.  Not only that, but she recognized and acknowledged how that must have been difficult and thanked me for my apology!

  The reason I quoted the word "end" is because I told her that the way I acted those 2 summers ago was not who I am, or was, and that it is discouraging to me that this was her first impression of me.

  Now that I think about it, that is/was indeed who I am, but since I am living for Jesus, I want to be who He is.  I, in and of myself  am a selfish, consumed mess of a person who prays daily to God, and is so incredibly thankful for His forgiveness through His son Jesus Christ, and am grateful that He gave this lady a heart to forgive me.  I sure hope I practice forgiveness and patience as I hope others do in me.

  Who knows, maybe her and I will be friends out of all this.  All I know is that God is amazing and there is no limit to what He will accomplish!

My apologies

  So a few years ago, I was at a frozen yogurt get together among friends.  There was this other lady there who took her child out of Mt. View and put her into the school that my children are attending for the first time this year.  My friend Wanda asked this woman during the frozen yogurt thing what was better about the new school.  The woman went on to say somethings, and I got defensive.  I said some things that were pretty shrewd, things that I can't even believe came out of my mouth.  The next day I realized the error of my ways.  The things I said were nothing Jesus would have approved of, and were certainly not spoken out of love.  The next day I got on Facebook and made a public apology for my actions, but the woman (whom I had no idea what her name was) was not a friend of mine, so she never seen it.  The reason I apologized publicly is because my comments were so asinine that everyone within ear shot deserved to be apologized to.

  One of the other moms from my daughters class was telling me about this girl who was going to be my daughters classmate and that she looks like and reminds her of my daughter...her name is actually a nickname we call my daughter some times.  This morning I was curious to see what this little girl looked like.  I spotted her right away because she did have some similar features, then I really wanted to see her mom to see if she looked like me...she didn't look like me.  Can you guess by now who she looked like?  OUCH!  It was the woman!!! The one I was so rude to.  We made eye contact.  I was trying to deny in my mind that it was her, trying to look as deeply as possible to see some where, some way that this could not possibly be the woman, I didn't even know her child was in the same grade as mine.  It did not matter how hard I looked, or how much of that river in Egypt I tried to grasp...It. was. her.

  So now what?  I could swear she recognized me, I could swear she held anger and discontent toward me, I could swear she was going to go to the principal and tell him everything I said.

  I don't know how much of that is true, but I can tell you that there is a strong conviction to find her again, and explain who I am, and finally get the chance to apologize face to face.  Weather she forgives me or not, I am still sorry for what I did.

  I told my daughter that apologizing is hard for a reason.  It is hard so that we never want to do the thing again that made us sorry.  This is so true.

S.A.D season is coming, here are some tips to help stave off the symptoms

  I have lived in the Pacific NW for about 12 years now, 4 of those years were in Sitka Alaska.  I have learned ways to deal with Seasonal Affective Disorder.  This video points out 3 ways.
1. Light therapy
2. Exercise
3. Socializing
  I can tell you folks that these things do make a difference, but may I add one more?  Of course I can, this is my blog...
4. Read the bible, and pray.
S.A.D. creeps up on me when I least expect it, and it is a battle I face in winter time.  I really do think of it as a trial in my life.  The things I do to keep this disorder at bay are all things that are good for me and in the long run improve my quality of life.
My symptoms of S.A.D include
Headaches
Anxiety
Cravings for refined sugar
Depression
I personally combat all these symptoms with the prescription above, and actually number 4 should be number one...but you all knew I was going to say that.

  I used to really let that stuff get the best of me.  I used to complain about it A LOT.  I used to let it consume me.  I am so glad that it doesn't have that power any more.

Please contact your doctor if you suffer from this disorder, he or she can help you, and if you need medication...I did at one time :)

Take care friends.

Girding up the loins for school!

With the promise of school starting on September, I am trying to get things in order.  I thought it might be time to get a new printer.  I have had mine for roughly 8 years.  The reason I didn't want to get a new one was because it was perfect and did just what I needed it to do.  Yesterday when I went to get new cartridges, I couldn't find one of the numbers.  Then I went online and found them, but thought to myself...

"if you cannot find your cartridges...it may just be time for a new printer"

  Also, I really needed something wireless.  I was excited because I was going to be able to print from my PC desktop...The one we bought in 2003.  I am guessing you know what I am going to say next.  Yep, the software is not supported by the computer, or something like that.  Basically the computer is too old.  Is that insane?  Something I bought in the two thousands is too old?  Why does time fly so fast?  I am so grateful this is only a 15 month school because I just don't know how long I am going to have to make a career out of such a physical job!

This is what I decided on...not bad for $50

  My daughter was on the computer last night playing something called Moshi Monsters, and it kept freezing on her.  She said, "mom why is it doing that?"  I told her it's just the internet trying to freak me out because it knows I am starting an online school on September 17th."  At least that's what it feels like.  If that happens, this is what I will look like!

  I can't tell you how glad I am that this in an online school.  I get really nervous when it comes to starting new things, I am a person of habit, and I think that is why I love running so much.  I love to have new things, but doing new things is a different story.  All that to say, I would be really nervous at the thought of walking into a new classroom with all kinds of new faces.  Maybe that's my problem with my girls going to a new school.

This photo is labeled College Classroom...I am like 20 years older than these people!!

  I believe I have already expressed being worried about being sedentary and my muscles becoming weak and packing on the pounds because I will be sitting in front of the computer all day.  Even with my runs, that can be dangerous depending on how much I eat.  So I got myself (with my birthday money) a Nike+fuelband!  I am on my second day of using this thing.  I love the Nikefuel aspect of it, if I were to compete to earn the most fuel with others it would be even more fun, but I am so leery of connecting online with strangers.  I have already earned a lot of fuel with the nike+ running app, and can see how I compare with others so that is nice.  I also love that I can set goals for myself and when I complete a goal I receive rewards.

I am actually feeling excited for this 1/2 marathon coming up in October.  My first half in July I think I was more nervous than anything, but I was thinking this morning on the run how I don't have to run fast, then I was thinking I would run fast because the other people would be an inspiration to do so.  I also was thinking about the fact that the first mile is about the crowd thinning out, so it won't be as painful as when I am running all those free radicals out during training.  Yesterday I told my runner friend Christina that I was going to be doing the Girlfriends Half Marathon, and she said she would run it with me!  Yippee!!  How exciting is that?  I think we would do great together because even though I have always been nervous to run with someone, I think this will be different because we will know how to respect the "zone" and it will be so nice to have someone to express concerns with, or just to point out how beautiful the scenery is!