RainyMay.com | Michelle Harris

More Than Vanity

About five years ago, after losing 20 pounds, I joined our local gym. To anyone else Team Fitness may just be a gym but to me it has been a big change agent. You see, 5 years ago I started a routine of working out for an hour a day, five days a week. I had no idea how much this schedule would add to my life.

The first thing that I gained from the work outs was health. It didn't take long to realize that the reason I was always complaining about not feeling well was because I wasn't healthy. Our bodies were meant to break a sweat! Not only did I start feeling well but my lower back problems began to slowly get better as I learned so much about body mechanics: core strengthening and stretching! I am walking proof that exercise gives a person a better quality of life.

I must admit that what started out as vanity gave me more than I can explain. Not only did I start to look better, I started to have an amazing amount of energy. I experienced a reduction in stress as I began to take it to the gym and leave it there. Along with the physical benefits also came a whole host of emotional gains as well.
I liked the way exercise made me look and feel so therefore that led to more self confidence. I competed in my first duathlon, something I never dreamed I would do. That race gave me such a feeling of overcoming because I was really nervous to even try something like this.

When I was a girl I wasn't involved in sports. For one reason or another my brother was the one encouraged to be the athlete in the family. To find out at 37 that I was pretty competitive myself, was quite the discovery! I love to ride my bike (thanks to Kat and Cole for getting me started!) out on the trail too.

Another benefit was that I got such joy from being a Christian 'in cognito'. I felt excited to see who God would put in my path that I could encourage or be encouraged by. I loved to see how Jesus would create connections to reveal Himself through the ordinary activity of exercise.

Today was my last day at Team Fitness because of our move to Federal Way. Today will not be the day I give up all that I have gained from the place.

My first item on my list of to do's when we get to our new home: find a gym!

All Work And No Play

Hello blog world, it's been a while. Preparing to move has pretty much consumed all of my waking hours lately.

Yesterday I spent the day cleaning mold out of the window sills, washing the windows(wow, there is so much more light in my house now), and I cleaned quite a bit of black gook out of my oven.

Today I will clean out the fridge and then I think I will treat myself to a pedicure. All work and no play.....what is the rest of that cliche? Oh yeah, makes Jack a dull boy. Is that it?

Our move day is this Tuesday and Wednesday. I'm anxious to get settled in our new home and look forward to getting to know someone. Anyone. I'm afraid we will be friendless in Federal way for a while so if you know me and want to send out an encouraging word I'd gladly receive it. I've never been much of a loner and I don't plan on starting now.

Monsters

My daughter Cambria and I went on a shopping spree at Costco yesterday. I bought a 24 case of Monster energy drinks! What kind of mother am I, you may be asking. Well, she said if I bought them I would be the best mom ever. I asked her if that could last for at least one year and she agreed.

We are celebrating her 14th birthday at our house tonight with a group of about a dozen teenage boys and girls. The volume is going up and I am guessing the Monsters have kicked in. Scott and I are contemplating a long evening walk....do we dare leave them alone? I'll let you know how it turned out later but for now my sanity is my priority.

This Old House

We are preparing our house to rent it out. It is weird. I am cleaning from ceiling to floor and it looks and smells wonderful. Why didn't I do this sooner. We have taken out some furniture so it appears larger so it will be more appealing to the potential renters. The better the place looks the more I want to stay.

I have lived in this home for seven years now and have so many wonderful memories with our children as elementary students. Where did the years go?

I drove up to the house today to see a new lawn ornament: the for rent sign. I cried.

The good news is we found a place to dwell. We will be living in a beautiful 3 bedroom town home with lots of extra space. Everything is new and the girls are fighting over who gets the room with the walk in closet. They have a connecting bathroom between their rooms that they are really excited about. I am looking forward to a large soaking tub. Time to go buy some bubble bath:)