Whoo Hoo! We are now brand new members at our local Mt. Juliet Planet Fitness!! This location is new to the area and recently built by my husbands company he works for.
There were so many impressive qualities. First, no making fun of anyone. “Judgment Free Zone”! The staff were very impressive, greeting us with smiles and welcome to Planet Fitness.
We began with a tour. Oh, what fun!!! Beautiful machines, all shiny and lined up neatly with a television and access to plug in to the stations on each machine. Treadmills, different step machines that I did not know existed, weight machines and workout stations that count down when it is time to move to the next machine. Plus, and I was happy to find out, I could sign up and meet a fitness trainer. I hope to list the target areas I feel I need to work on and receive goals from her to work towards.
Finally, the very exciting and relaxing area located in another area of Planet Fitness. I can feel the goosebumps……the glorious massage and tanning machines! The place I feel my husband and I have definitely earned. We have talked about this area with a dreamy look in our eyes. 😉
Our goal-work out as many times as possible for the next 13 weeks till we see our son graduate and become a Marine! And encourage him and each other with hope for a bright healthy future, loving and pushing ourselves to a healthier, stronger level, and showing our commitment to him by trying so hard to better ourselves not only physically, but mentally.
My Monday morning was not going to be productive. I had a headache and I was exhausted. But I decided to sit and stare at the computer and write something amazing. Ha!
Not one thought could get through the haze I was in. So I glanced out the window and froze. Not twenty feet away stood a coyote munching on something. At that moment, I remember being woke from a deep sleep through the night, to hear growling by my bedroom window. I was so tired that I just did not care what was outside because I was safe inside.
I grabbed my tablet to get a picture and called my husband. He responded with, “That is so cool, Get some pictures,I wish I was there, happy for you getting to see wildlife in your backyard!”
I did not think it was cool. I was googling to see how many people had been attacked by coyotes in our area. I was not going to step out of the house. I was starting to panic, wondering what it had attacked and killed.
I will admit, I wasted a good part of that morning worrying, creating horror stories, and taking blurry pictures of a brownish blob. To find out later it was someone’s ugly collared dog!
Our son just left for basic training for the Marines. And yes, I really miss him. But I am so proud of him. The emotions that my husband and I experienced the first night were exhausting. I will admit we cried quite a bit. We were either crying together or taking turns. We finally decided to go to bed and try to watch a comedy because we were all stuffed up, tired, and wide awake all at the same time.
We wanted to get his phone call that he had arrived and let it go to voicemail so we could listen to it later. This did not go as planned. I had fallen asleep and was disoreinted when the phone rang. My heart was pounding and I was saying “Answer the phone! They are calling about our son. We ended up answering his call and he did great, loud and clear his voice came through!
The next morning we had decided would be much better emotionally than the night before. We were happy to talk about picturing how his first night went. The footprints he stood on. The haircut. The drill sergeants. Staying up all night and the next day. Then finally laying down and being able to get some rest. We talked about the letters of encouragement we would continually send with love and prayers included in them.
Then we slipped back into how much we miss him, but just as quickly how proud of him we are. How he made the decision in ninth grade that he wanted to be a Marine. How he is becoming a man and making very good choices in life for his future.
Then we talked about how thirteen weeks is a long time, so we better make some good changes in our lives also. That when we cried the night before we were just being selfish. We were feeling sorry for ourselves. Not that this was wrong, but we decided if we feel down or want to cry, instead we will pray that much harder for him and all the other young people there.
Fall is in full bloom, with the changing of the colors and the onset of cooler temperatures. This past weekend was a magnificent example of this with God’s beautiful artwork on display as we traveled up to southern Indiana to visit with both of our families. Originally planned as a trip to help my mother winterize her home and enjoy visiting, our trip was updated to allow everyone have a chance to meet and encourage our son before he heads off to Marine basic training.
Saturday morning was filled with delicious foods, courtesy of Bob Evans on the south side of Indianapolis, with my wonderful mother and father in law. Watching their joy and pride in Alex as they shared conversation with him about times past, memories of his childhood, and things to come was so warm on such a cool day outside. Minutes turned to hours, as they often do when you are enjoying yourself. Before long we were embracing each other and saying our goodbyes. The smile on our son’s face could not have been changed. The happiness he felt was obvious without words. Our time together filled his heart with encouragement and faith in his abilities. Our son was blessed with all that we we had hoped for, and as usual, so much more.
Saturday afternoon was filled with outdoor chores. Sounds much more difficult when I say it that way. Considering we were working together outside in a comfortable setting, the simple manual tasks actually were completed with a minor amount of effort and quite a bit of fooling around. Happens quite a bit when you are working with me. Late afternoon led into early evening and my mother’s cooking efforts in the kitchen preparing a special meal were starting to permeate the house. My brother, his better half Linda and his son Craig came over and we all enjoyed another wonderful home cooked meal. As usual there was lots of fun conversations and teasing, with no individual being spared. My brother Mark is a Navy veteran, we are very proud of his service, and were blessed at having the chance for our son to enjoy time with him. Our son was again filled with certainty of his decision, and of his capability to succeed. I am not certain, but it appeared his chest may have even grown over the length of the day.
Evening soon came, and then morning and unfortunately time for us to depart back towards home. Seems to come quicker each time. My mother showered our son with so much love and special treatment this weekend, we had a real tough time getting away. She also provided him was uplifting and encouraging words and efforts, that made our hearts swell.
You see, this season for our family is really on of changing. We are counting down the days before departure to basic training. It is single digits. So blessed to have been able to provide Alex with the time and encouragement from all of his family. So thankful for their faith in him. So thankful for their kind words. So thankful for their love for him. These are things we all share in a huge way.
Just like nature outside is in the middle of a beautiful change, so is our son, and so are we. Isn’t it truly beautiful!
It is disappointing to read on a daily basis the current crisis we are experiencing in the United states and throughout the World with the ebola virus. What was first dicovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa is creating major health concerns again as governements and agencies prepare to fight this infectious disease. Much about this virus remains unknown, according to the Center for Disease Control, with the leading carriers for the disease being animals. Ebola has occured primarily in the African continent, but as we have realised recently the spreading of this deadly disease knows no boundaries.
Those who are most at risk of the disease are those who come into contact with the infected wildlife, blood or bodily fluids of those individuals who are infected, and the healthcare workers attempting to provide care. Seeing and hearing of those wonderful caring individuals who gave their lives or are currently suffering with the virus is very sad, as they and many others are working diligently to show love and care. The disturbing questions and dangers this disease is posing due to it’s ability to spread so rapidly is causing many to overlook their sacrifices.
Understandibly though, there are serious risks that we as individuals and governments need to consider as steps to combat the further spreading. What appears to as a mostly reactionary efforts from those responsible for the care and welfare of our people, needs to implement stronger and more widespread precautions at our borders until this crisis is under control. A much stronger response from our leadership is necessary to enable the resources and attitudes to better defeat this virus. I pray that whatever resources are required and are available currently are put into a position immediately.
Do you feel that the current ebola outbreak is a serious threat? What do you feel we as a country and as a world should do to control and eliminate this current strain?
For more information about this topice, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s website at http://www.cdc.gov/.
Our son has been preparing for his Marine basic training for over a year. Well, that is not completely true. He has been preparing for this departure since his freshman year of high school ROTC. His ship date for basic has always been far off. It seemed far off. Not that it was necessarily set in stone, but far off enough that I was comfortable. Comfortable that I would eventually be able to deal with him leaving home. Always I have been so proud of his choice. Why I did not carry through with my chance to join the Air Force when I came out of Purdue I will never fully understand. I tell you that I know he has made the right choice. In his heart and soul he has been a Marine since he started. He entertained the idea of possibly the Army at one time, but it was brief. He has overcome. He has persevered. He is my Marine.
All of this to say that when his recruiting Sargent called today to tell him his ship date was moved up to the very near future, I realized I am not ready. He is going to be an excellent soldier. He is committed and disciplined. He wants to serve and to make us proud. He has worked very very hard to be where he is at this time. He has always been in God’s tender arms and I know that God will continue to look over my Christian soldier. The reason I am struggling is that I understand that I will not be able to walk down the hall to give him a hug. To stop into his room to see the newest Minecraft or Destiny story line. Not able to take him for a ride into town on a whim and grab some food or treat. You see I am feeling selfish and not ready to let him go.
I am going to miss my son. So proud am I. So blessed am i. So sad to know this first phase of his life is coming to an abrupt end. I love him. I am proud of him. He is my strong soldier. I must be his strong father. Alex thank you for all the wonderful memories. We will have a lifetime of many more to come, but it is time for your Dad to accept and be happy. God grant me the strength. – G
It is extremely difficult to find yourself in an area near a Red Robin restaurant if you are hungry. No, let me correct that, it is almost impossible. Well tonight as we spent time awaiting our son’s final Marine training program for the week, this is the precise position we found ourselves while in the Providence area of Mt. Juliet. I jokingly stated we could just go in and get a drink, or perhaps use the restroom. Yeah, right! Jennifer and I decided with no children in tow, that we would behave very badly. Ordering two of the Monster Milkshakes, a Pumpkin Pie for her and a chocolate for me. and we would just nibble until we were full. That is not difficult considering the tall stack of onion rings on the appetizer menu. And finally, yes, we had to order another delicious hamburger. How could you not!?! Don’t forget with each hamburger you receive the endless supply of steak fries. Oh my, the steak fries……
Milkshakes – wonderful
Onion rings – incredible
Mushroom & Swiss Hamburger – yummy and cooked as we like it!
Steak fries – hard to mess up
Time passed along, the conversation was wonderful, the food was incredible, and the service was extremely nice and helpful.
All in all a well earned A.
Find yourself in a similar predicament, guess what I would recommend? – G
What an incredible surprise we found this evening at the Mt. Juliet Branch of the Wilson County Public Library. Just off to the side in the meeting room area we were greeted with the sounds of whistles, wheels chugging along the tracks and, even if it was in my mind, choo-choo. The Music City Chapter of the Train Collector’s Association had setup a wonderful exhibit which will be in place till Saturday evening. Ron Hurst, a Train Show Official, very kindlly and thoroughly spoke with us about their wonderful organization, the basics of model railroading and stories of how these examples of a time gone by are still winning the hearts of the young and old.
The current models of trains and tracks in place would allow for up to four trains to run simultaneously. Ron provided us with a Model Trains’ magazine and shared with us the different sizes of models ranging from the Large Scale at a ratio of 1 to 25, down to the smallest model Z with a ratio of 1 to 220. Hard to imagine being able to work with anything as small as this with the cars being only 2-3/4″ long in the engine car. The standard sizes I recall with from my youth was a model HO at a ratio of 1 to 87. The models on display at the library are model O at a ratio of 1 to 48, equaling a length of 12-1/2″ for the engine car length. As we stood by listening to the stories and watching the two trains currently operating rolling along the tracks, I could not help but recall fond memories of times with my Dad playing with my Lionel set.
Toys like this are something that our generation can recall and probably most of us has played with a set at one time or another. As the technologies change and we see more and more train tracks being abandoned I can’t help but wonder if the next generations will carry the same feelings or fondness. If you are in the area, take the time to stop in and feel the excitement, and I guarantee you will see the joy in others around you (especially if there are kids), and smiles of a time long ago. – G
Nearing the middle of the fall season, I can’t help but consider how important it is to a consistent healthy exercise program that will carry me into the winter months. Living out in the country has provided my wife and I with many miles of beautiful roads that are safe and offer a variety of things to view. Walking is one of the easiest important exercises one can do to maintain a slimmer waistline and improve your cardio fitness.
The benefits of walking may seem obvious, but by many are overlooked. Perhaps it is due to the lack of contact or extreme effort required during the exercise. Whatever the case may be, walking improves individuals coordination and balance, can help maintain or reduce weight levels, lower the risk of diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. As for my wife and I, it provides a connection with each other for a small amount of time that is worth more than you can imagine.
If you are looking for a positive means to get back into shape, consider taking advantage of where you live. Hopefully you will find the benefits listed above and many more. – G
