"You can do it! You can RUN!"

I am just LOVIN' life lately. LOVING IT.  I think I just may be out of the postpartum depression, and let me tell you, even the possibility of that being true makes me want to do cartwheels of joy-maybe even attempt a handspring. (I haven't done one of those since I was like, 10.)

Anyway, here's one thing I love about life: I'm human. Yes, in an "everybody makes mistakes" kind of way, but what I really feel like celebrating right now is the beauty of being part of the human family. Of being able to connect with complete strangers in a way that's almost magical, and is miraculous.

I was out on a run, working on my cardio strength by doing 1 minute sprints followed by 2 minute recovery walks. It was a blast, but also a slap in the face. I knew I'd lost some fitness during my postpartum recovery break, but I was stunned at just how much. Like I could only go at top speed for 45 seconds before my body just mandatorily slowed itself down. I was in one of my sprints, thinking to myself that Rudy or Julia better never be more than a 45 second sprint away from me in any emergency, when I whizzed past a little Abuelita out on an evening stroll. I called out "Hi!" to her as we passed and slowed to my recovery walk about 20 seconds later. It just so happened that this was also my turn around point, so I found myself walking back towards this woman.

I know NOTHING about her story, except that she immigrated to the United States from some other country at some point in her life late enough to still have a very pronounced Hispanic accent. Her dark eyes seemed to radiate the strength, courage, and diligence that such a life experience likely taught her. As we passed again she said with energy and love I didn't expect from such an elderly woman I'd never seen before in  my life, "You can do it! You can RUN!" and I believed her.

That little moment carried me all the way home on what felt like winged feet. How did that woman know those were just the words I needed to hear? How did she know my heart was beginning to harbor seeds of doubt and fear that I'd ever really be fit again? She didn't, but God did, and He put us in each other's paths that night, so that we could connect as sisters in the human family in a way that will bless me for a long time yet to come.

I hope that I'll be ready to reach out to others with that same kind of warmth and kindness so that God can work through me like He worked through that beautiful woman out for her evening stroll.

Thank Goodness for Rudy

I had some errands lined up for this afternoon. Once the kids were up from their naps (or in Rudy's case, nap attempt), I started working on getting us out the door. A good hour later, after changing 2 diapers, nursing Julia, handling a meltdown and a half from no nap Rudy, searching for my wallet, searching for my keys, grabbing Rudy's shoes and getting them on his feet, preparing a snack, loading the diaper bag, finding the coupon I needed, finding the specific toy Rudy really wanted to bring with him, dressing myself in presentable clothing, and strapping Julia into her car seat, I opened the door to find....

NO CAR.

Apparently, Jason and I had a misunderstanding about whether he was taking his scooter or the car to work today.

Rudy must have noticed my slumped shoulders and fallen face as I soaked in the reality that the car was not to be had nor the errands to be ran. He said to me, "It's OK, the car won't be gone forever, it will come back. While we wait, why don't we go outside and play in the sand?" 

That was a valid observation and quite a mature suggestion from a no napped 3 year old. I decided to go with it, seeing as my frazzled head was still just throwing a fit about all the work I'd done to get us ready for errands that were no longer a possibility.

We went out to the backyard, Rudy beelined for the sandbox, and I slumped into a chair with Julia. A few minutes passed, then my little man  appeared with a bottle of bubbles in his hands. He started blowing bubbles, then offered me the wand. I took it, and next thing I knew, we were all giggling as Rudy went chasing bubbles all over the patio like a knight out to slay dragons. We blew bubbles until my knees were sticky with bubble juice drips and my cheeks were tired from blowing. And then we moved on with our day and enjoyed our errand free afternoon out in the sun, doing nothing in particular. 

Thank goodness I've got Rudy around to remind me how to let go and enjoy what I've got when I've got it.

Marvelously Monstrous Mother's Day

I had a beautiful Mother's day. Full of all the things I love, and completely devoid of depression. I used to take savoring the lovely things in my life for granted. Not anymore. Now I know what a miracle joy is, what a blessing that delicious feeling of a giggle rippling over my lips is. Today was filled with little miracles and bounteous blessings. 

Like going on a daybreak mommy and me walk with Julia, smelling the sweet scents of blooming trees and quietly being alone together in the perfectly cool morning air.

Like filling my belly with homemade granola, nursing my daughter, and snuggling back into bed for a 2 1/2 hour nap that left me feeling fresh and ready for anything.

Like waking up from my nap to Jason's gentle nudge into awareness followed closely by Rudy's boisterous presentation of the card they had crafted while Julia and I snoozed. And then coming out of the bedroom to a freshly tidied front room, kitchen, and dining room, and the best beans and tortillas a girl could dream of.

Like sitting close to my husband with our children wriggling joyfully around us through church services.

Like scrambling through a gentle rainstorm with Julia in her weather-guarded stroller bubble of comfort and Rudy wearing my nursing cover like a super hero cape. Laughing, running, holding hands with the coolest three year old I could ever ask for.

Like being 'saved' from the rain by 3 little girls in our congregation with umbrellas and lots of enthusiasm to spare that helped Rudy keep enjoying the fun of running through the rain for the full 3/4 of a mile it took to get home.

Like warming up from head to toe under the warm hum of the blow dryer.

Like having a great friend stop by for a visit.

Like cuddling up with each of my children individually to lull them into dream land as we listened to the rain dancing on our patio.

Like listening to my favorite love song just before bed and eagerly awaiting my stud of a husband's return from his night shift, knowing that his 'weekend' starts tomorrow.

Ah, life is good, and I'm so glad that I can recognize and savor it!