A Beautiful Walk!

Hey my friends! Hope your day is going very well! A little chilly this morning. But still a beautiful day!!!!

Thinking this morning about some different ways that make days special! Specifically what are ways, things that you do on a pretty regular basis that make your day special?

The opposite is easier. To think about those daily things that make your days frustrating, hard, and discouraging. We all have some of those realistic days. The more we focus on those experiences, life seems to be a pain in the bottom. So much of this life is based on what we focus on day to day!

My journey with a terminal brain tumor has helped me focus on my gifts and God’s grace. The best way to get me locked into that truth is to start each day with a walk!!!

In July and August I was walking 5 plus miles every day. The norm at that time I was walking with my weighted vest and felt great. I had finally accepted the reality that I was going to be around longer, and I finally had gotten ahead of this brain tumor. Mid-August we found out that tumor was active again. A mixed bag that day. I knew the tumor would be active but did not expect it then.

Was done with another surgery or chemo. One of my key Dr.s encouraged me to do another special 30 minute radiation that did knock my tumor back, but it is active again. Seizures have been going on probably the last month, and I am having several of those each day. My energy level is very low, and my body is not feeling very well each day. But I still WALK each day.

I still walk each day. These days my walks are a mile- some day’s as much as a mile and I half :) That walk each day continues to be that special time of each day!

The weather has nothing to do with my walk. Today it was in the low 30s, wind was blowing 15-20 miles an hour, and it was a “beautiful day.”

Several weeks ago my very good friend John took me to his beautiful farm about 45-60 minutes away. I put a picture in this post. Rides get uncomfortable quickly. We arrived, first thing I did was take a nap, got up, had a snack, worked on a few things, and then went for a walk. His place is beautiful! I had been there many times in the past. I took off in a direction I was comfortable with. My walk ended up being much shorter than I had planned. Got tired quickly and headed back to the cabin/house. I prefer cabin- it’s a beautiful place.

My walk was short. I would stop and look around at God’s incredible nature. It was a beautiful day!!!

Each day on my walk, I experience the reality of God. I experience and see Him in many different ways each day. That always gives me life, hope, and grace.

I am not ready to leave life here. I hate this for Natalie, my kids, grandkids, family and friends. Birth and life are part of this life. We don’t get to choose the beginning or end. We do get to choose how we will live the time we have.

I want you to put energy each day to how your life will be. Some of you do that well. Some of you struggle with that. Start slow, find one little area of your life that you are grateful for. Figure out a way each day to remember to be grateful. Be constant and that truth will grow. Over time your gratitude for life can grow. Not because every thing is good and easy. You start to remember, you are loved by God. He is present in the good and challenging times of this life. I believe when you and I learn to walk closer with God, we will be okay when life gets hard.

Part of that reality and comfort is,,,,,, “You are Loved and of Great Value…….”