Your Soul Wants the Freedom to Sing, Dance, Love

Today, Lenora, we believe God wants you to know that ...your soul wants the freedom to sing, dance, love. As your body needs nourishment - food, drink, sleep, so does your soul need nourishment - sing, dance, love. Life is not all work, work is not all hard toil. Nourish your soul with the food that is right for it, for it is the altar of your own inner temple.

And today I will be attending the Native Omahan Weekend Gospel Celebration today. I started not to attend because I don’t like overcrowded, no air circulating places, but after this message, God is telling me to go and enjoy.

2nd Semester of My Pregnancy: Weeks 6-10

Week 6 (June 17 - 23): This week I only missed one workout, my Thursday morning slow pace run. I had an extra bonus of playing at Dave & Buster's, basketball, football and air hockey. My competitive nature popped out. I missed my Saturday morning group run due to Eve's sin...the cramps. I made up for it Sunday morning but I was unable to complete the full 6 miles. The heat and sun was a bit much and I forgot to bring my water. After I made it to the 5 mile mark, I started walking. I just wanted to make it back to the car before I pass out. 

Week 7 (June 24 - 30): This week was pretty smooth. I hung out Wednesday night, so I missed my Thursday morning workout. I went to the gym in the evening to make up for it, but the gym was overly crowded. I walked in, got dressed, walked around, couldn't find a treadmill, waited a few moments, then just said forget it. My Saturday run was a little strenuous, I have to get used to running in the heat. I made the mistake of starting my run after 8 am. I had 7.5 miles to run. I started off pretty well but by mile 4, I was over heated and out of water. I ended up walking the majority of the way back to my car. Once I made it to my car, I headed straight for the 7-Eleven for some Gatorade. My body stayed hot the entire day.

Week 8 (July 1 - 7): After a scolding from my cousin, the personal trainer, I changed my weight training to 12 reps, 3 sets. I started with 12 reps, 1 set, then moved up to 12 reps, 2 sets. I also promised her I would increase my sets to 4 in August. She made me feel so guilty about my weight training and eating habits, I had nightmares. I felt the difference through the various muscles that ached. I ran in the Irving Marathon Summer Series Half on Saturday. It was extremely hot for me and the trees triggered my allergies. Two and half miles of the course was a trail. I don't like trails because of the potential of injuries. I tried to run my 3:1 but when I slipped, I decided it was just best to walk in a fast pace. Unfortunately, the entire trail was in the blazing sun. When I reached the mile 13 marker, I just walked until I made it close to the finish line, then I ran the short distance. I still finished under 3 hours. Today will just be a recovery 3 mile walk.

Week 9 (July 8 - 14): I only missed 2 workouts this week. My butt is lazy on Wednesday mornings. I had planned to make up the workouts missed on Friday, but a date to a concert changed that, oh well. I did my 3 miles on Saturday morning and I actually made it to hot yoga. It felt so good to be able to stretch, really stretch. I'm beginning to catch a cold. I have a bad summer cold, real bad. I was suppose to be the finish line cheerleader for the Too Hot to Handle, needless to say I didn't make it. I really wanted to be there to support my running buddies Chris and Desi.

Week 10 (July 15 - 21): I am sick, I didn't make it to the gym Monday morning. Tuesday, I barely finished my 3 miles on the treadmill. The treadmill I was on was directly under a high blowing fan, I was so congested. Hopefully, I will feel better by Saturday morning. Saturday morning I was able to get in my 4 miles around Lancaster Rec Center. I was hot outside but I was able to finish within a good time. I didn't burn out this time. Sunday I went to Hot Yoga by Candlelight. The temp and humidity was much high than Restorative Hot Yoga. My younger daughter attended with me and I was a little jealous of her flexibility, but as young as she is, she should be flexible. It felt really good to be able to stretch my muscles. I might actually buy a membership.

THE AC OUT AND THE HEAT IS ON

I've been living in my home for 10 years. In those 10 years, I have never had an issue with my air conditioning unit, that is until the professional came to service it. Now the compressor is shot and the motor is barely pulling. My temper is hot and so is my home. The only positive, I grew up in the era before AC units were a part of the standard home equipment; I know how to bare the heat...fans. The unfortunate thing, I have become ill from sleeping under the fan. I haven't slept well because my windows are open. Tiger has been pacing the house because he has been standing guard. I've started pricing replacement units and became depressed. Looks like I will be eliminating some things as I save to pay cash for a new unit.

The Full House

Last night I received a call a little after midnight, maw, can you come get me. Now the motherly instinct in me kicked in, I thought I was going to have to make a hospital run. The call wasn't from my daughters, it was from someone else's son. A young man that was convinced if he moved here, the person making the claim would assist him on getting on his feet. I believe that was the original plan until the thought of saving money and not having to pay daycare anymore and having someone doing all the housework, overruled the right thing.

Now this young man sits at my house, homeless and clothesless. His clothes were disposed of by the people he was staying with. The big question everyone is asking is why? Why treat someone so badly, that you convinced to move in with you. Karma is the word that comes to mind. Anyway, my emptynest attitude doesn't want the additional body in the house, but the motherly heart of mine wouldn't allow this young man to sleep on the street. So I opened the door for him. I had him write his game plan for the next five years.

I contacted some people I know and they are working on obtaining him some clothing and other personal items. He is very grateful because he said I didn't have to help him. Then he asked me about playing rent and what house chores I would like him to do. My true desire is for him to get enrolled in college, obtain his degree and become the child psychologist he dreams of, if his basketball career doesn't pan out. I think he will, if he can get pass all the negative in his life.