Life's an adventure!

We're home.  Without our car.
Turns out it's pretty banged up.  To the point that the insurance co. needs to go check it out and decide if they want to total it.
So, my parents, in all their gracious kindness, borrowed a van yesterday and hauled our brood 4 hours home only to turn around and drive 4 hours back.  Saints, these people.
At every turn of this saga, one of my parents would say with a big grin and a hug, "Life's an adventure."
Never were more true words said.
I've been mulling that over the past day or so.  I attribute my "rollin' with it" attitude to them.  It is the thing about myself that I may appreciate more then anything else.  It has saved me endless stress, I'm sure.  And, if I'm honest, it is the one thing that can get pretty annoying too.  Sometimes I get tired of rolllin' with it.  I'd kinda like to whine and complain and make a big stupid deal about something.  And I do occasionally.  It feels good to whine...for about 2 seconds.
The conclusion I've come to is that it takes too much energy to whine for very long.  I have an extremely limited amount of energy and conservation is what keeps me going...and coffee.
I like this adventure we're living.  I'd rather it be a little less adventuresome at times, but most of this crazy we chose so we keep rollin'! 

Merry Christmas

As I'm sitting at my parents' this morning, not going to church, without Chad and half our Christmas presents at home, I'm reminded, yet again, that our best laid plans are sometimes interrupted.

The plan was to go home yesterday morning in time to get to the gym and for Chad to get to work on time.  Our plans were derailed with an incident involving a deer the evening before.  Bambi's mom (sorry!!) decided to jump in front of our car and did what we thought was manageable damage.  The next morning, Christmas Eve, we made it about 30 minutes down the road when we concluded we weren't making it home without a mechanic's help.  After stalling at the top of an off ramp, pushing the car into a truck stop and some help from the cashiers, we found a mechanic that was actually open on Christmas Eve.

At this point we were still hopeful we would get home that night, as we thought the damage was a coolant line.

Turns out we busted our radiator beyond repair and our car had a rare setup that requires the car to be essentially dismantled in order to replace a radiator.  Poor mechanic was so kind.  I felt horrible that he was here on Christmas Eve working.  He said it would be the evening before he would get it done as the new radiator wouldn't get in til 130.  So, mom, dad and Dan came and got us and we headed back to my parents, without our luggage/stuff, thinking we would be back that evening.

Phone call around 130.  Wrong radiator came in and now the car wouldn't get fixed til Wednesday morning.
With Chad having to work and a now HEFTY bill for the car, we had to get Chad home.  My parents, again, selfless and beyond kind, offered their car for him to take.  So he took off for home and the kids and I are here til Wednesday with only our clothes we are wearing, when we'll get the car, pay the bill(ugh), and head home.

Now the good parts...we get a few more days at my parents.  Never a bad thing.  My mom's dear friend down the road heard we were without most of our presents and delivered a bag of gifts for the kids and one for me!!  Tears ensued.  My sweet friend had given us her camera to give to Autumn when she heard that is what she wanted.  I was able to go pick it up and wrap it for her to have here! Being the procrastinator I am, I still had a few things left to get and was able to pick those up so the kids did have a few things to open.

It's easy to throw a pity party, but I can't stay there. I'm bummed we aren't together on Christmas.  I'm bummed our "big" present is at home.  I'm bummed Chad is at home alone on Christmas, although he'll sleep the day away since he has to work tonight.  I'm bummed I didn't think to grab extra clothes so my boys are in PJs til Wednesday and I'm in baggy jeans and a sweatshirt.  I'm bummed we aren't in church this morning because I'm too proud to take my kids to church in their PJs(I know! No one would care.) 

But really and truly, its ok.  Pity parties make me grumpy, anyway. We are warm, loved, and cared for.  We are quite literally out of money, but we're safe.  We're not together, but it's not the first time, and we'll celebrate on Wednesday.  We were blessed beyond measure by friends and family.  My kids are super low maintainence at my parents which is a welcome break for this over-worked momma.  I'm so very grateful for this day.  This unplanned, interrupted, not what I expected Christmas day. 
Merry Christmas!!

Evil

It's several days now since Sandy Hook Elementary was shot up by a lone gunman.  It's what every one is talking about.  Every news outlet leads with a story about this town in Connecticut that I'm sure I would have never heard of had this not happened.  Newtown.

Everyone seems to have an opinion, a thought, a prayer, a solution, or a reason.  I have nothing.  Literally nothing, but what I heard said in a news story that "evil visited" that school that day.  That resonated with me as the only thing.  The only opinion, thought, prayer or reason that could for one second make sense of the senseless.

We as a society don't do well with things that don't make sense. 
We want things to fit together nicely.  Nothing about shooting 20 kindergarteners and 6 adults can be understood.  Evil.  Pure evil in the shape of a 20 year old boy with a crazed mind.  There is no comfort in that. 

I think of those babies and the adults who tried to stand in his way, how that community is shattered.  I think about the gunman's family and how they must have struggled with him throughout his life.  I think about my babies and how I quite literally can't protect them from evil on my own.  And, there can be no comfort outside of Jesus in this mess.  I can't logically understand how God could allow this to happen.  I can't in good faith provide any sort of reason or opinion on why those children and adults were killed.  All I know is that when tragedy beyond understanding comes upon us, we can only find peace that passes understanding in Christ.  It's not easy.  It's not logical.  And it does not fit nicely with the emotions of 26 senseless murders, but it is the only place I feel safe. 

Willpower

I am seriously trying to use willpower to keep myself from getting horribly sick and I think I'm failing.
There are horror stories going around town about the kind of nastiness that is sweeping through the schools.  Only 6 out of 21 kids in a class one day.  Violent vomiting.  Influenza A and B.
Caleb was sick for about 2 days this past week and he likes to get up close and personal when he's feeling puny.  I'm sure if there were germs that wanted me to be sick, I've got 'em.
I'm right on that line of getting nasty sick and just moderately but still functioning sick.
I will not get sick.  I will not get sick. I will not get sick.
Who has time to get sick?? Not me!! 
So I will drink my tea, go to sleep and pray I feel semi-normal in the morning.

Gym Rat

The majority of my childhood/teen years were spent in a gym.  Basketball gym.  My dad always coached and I played or my brothers played or sister played.  We were in the gym ALOT.
I loved it.  To this day walking into my old high school gym floods me with good, happy emotions.  I love the sounds of sneakers squeaking on the gym floor, shouts and hollers echoing off the walls, the smell of the waxed floors. 

This adventure of starting a CrossFit gym is beginning to conjure up those same feelings and connections.  Our first week has been really incredible.  We super love our initial groupies and are excited about our newbies starting!
I find myself wanting to go down the street to the gym.  Where I use to grab a ball and shoot around at the basketball gym, now I sit on the rower for a few 100 meters, do a few pull-ups, and work on some Olympic lifts.  I love hearing the door open and our people coming in for their wod.  I love hearing them joke and chat together as they get warmed up.  I love coaching.
I am certain that may wane some as time goes on...or maybe it won't. We're still honeymooning right now :)  What I am sure about is we're really happy we ventured down this path. And I super like being a gym rat again.

Mystery solved

Mr. Groves, a retired school teacher and recent widower, comes to the coffee shop every morning and sometimes for lunch.  He quickly became my favorite and I believe the feeling was mutual.  He has such a beautiful demeanor about him. He radiates a gentle spirit and we became fast friends.  He tirelessly plays UNO with the boys when they come and took a particular liking to Autumn. 
So when he decided to tell me this morning that he was our anonymous donor, I really was not surprised.  It is just something he would do.  The reason he told me was because he wanted me to know that he really does care for our family and he and his wife had done this every Christmas and he was so happy to do it.
So I did get to cry and thank this sweet man who really not only made our Christmas season extra special, but I told him where some of that money went so he knew that his generosity affected children and families he has never known!

Anonymous

I honestly do not know why some people do some things. Good things, bad things, nothings.
We have been the recipients of many a good things. 
Yesterday, I stepped out on the porch to grab the mail, sat on the couch and opened a few Christmas cards (Seriously, people??  It's the first week of Dec.  How do you get these done??  Never, not once have I done Christmas cards. It's sad.)
Anyway, one did not have a return address and the card had a cute German shepherd in the snow on the front...and 6 $100 dollar bills in it!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm not even kidding.  WHO does THAT????????
I'm still in shock and honestly humbled beyond words.  We knowingly stretched ourselves tight this year with opening a business, but this kindness goes beyond our needs!  I immediately put that $ in the bank and sent a good chunk to where our heart is, House of Love and Hope in Haiti. 
What a ripple affect this person created??  I hate that I can't hug this person and cry and tell them thank you.  That is what my heart wants, but with an anonymous gifts, I'm out of luck.  So I will be keeping my eyes and ears open to "re-gift" some of this kindness shown to us!! :-)
Merry Christmas!!

Confession

Hi, my name is Sarah and I am not a morning person.  Basically anything before 7:00 a.m. hurts.  Sometimes really badly. 

Maybe if I got up at that time enough, I would become a morning person, you say? Nope.  I have had my share of mornings to test this out.
Most recently, I have tested this theory out as we offer a 6:15 a.m. class at CrossFit Pathos and with Chad at work at that time some days and our friend/fellow trainer, Anna, in a different town, that means little non-morning person me will teach some of those times.  Chad was laughing at me this morning as he left for work and I dragged myself to the bathroom at 5:20 a.m.  I was a sorry sight.

Really and truly, it's fine.  I can fake being happy to be up before the sun.  And if I'm going to get up that early there are worse things to get up for then something I truly enjoy like coaching CrossFit. 
I am just one of those people that believe not much should take place before noon.  Very few things actually. Getting out of bed before noon is probably good.  Eating breakfast before noon, also beneficial.  Um, I can't really think of anything else.

And so in the hopes of "being real." I just wanted to get that out there.  Those of you who know me already know this, but still.  It's valuable information to repeat. 
My name is Sarah and I am not a morning person.

Blood, sweat and tears

Starting a business is no easy task.  I knew that heading into the beast, but it really has gone smoothly.  A few hiccups here and there, but nothing major.
I was in tears on Tuesday due to computer issues that were holding up the single document that would allow us to sign our lease and move forward. It was a painful reminder of how dependent we are on technology!
This weekend we literally poured blood and sweat into getting the building ready for Monday.  My hands are pretty banged up from mishaps with tools or dragging rubber flooring, but I was very glad for my already calloused hands!
And I can honestly say our CrossFit training played right into the set up of the gym!  Functional training usage at its best!!

 

We spent the large majority of our time cleaning, prepping, planning, cleaning, setting up, cleaning, organizing, and did I mention cleaning??
This place was D.I.R.T.Y!  Dirt and grime, dust and debris. 
We were covered in filth the first day and a little less filth the second day. We're hoping with a few more spray downs, mop ups, and more flooring down the road, we'll be able to keep it relatively neat.
We are so ready to get this going and hope that our gym is an integral part of this community for a LONG time!