Isn't it ironic?

This week we have been blessed and we have been saddened.  You could say we (and by "we" I mean my husband) got to see the gift of life and the unexpectedness of death within 2 days.  No, I'm not talking about a birth; I'm talking about the uniting of a family that was 2.25 7 months ago and became 3 four days ago.  It was very different from any homecoming I've ever seen.  Let's just say my homecomings have been short and sweet.  There is no "formation" or "marching" or even stories told by the commanding officers (I wouldn't know a CO if he told me to get a haircut).  He arrives on 1 bus where I'm waiting 25 feet away, he gets off the bus, we take a few pictures, and "bounce" as my husband would say.  On this day, we waited 3 hours after rushing to get there because my friend got a text that said they would be there in an hour!  2 bags of snack-sized chips, 2 water bottles, and several announcements by a very moto Marine about ETA later, we were finally in place to receive her man.

Two days after this momentous occasion, my husband would be in Arlington National Cemetery to bury a comrade, a teammate, a brother.  He remarked at the homecoming about the irony of seeing a reunion and a death in such a short timespan.  You see, we don't get to walk blissfully ignorant through this life.  Every single day there is a reminder of how short life is.  I know how cliche that statement is, but you try being married to a military man for 1 year and tell me how much more aware of it you become.  This life is so fragile and delicate yet hardened and steadfast.  We have no choice but to laugh with those who laugh and mourn with those who mourn.  We cannot turn a blind eye to the news or pretend that increasing tension in the Middle East has little to do with us.  It has everything to do with us!  We are not special or chosen, we just do it.  We face every day with the the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the gospel of peace,  the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6).

This is not the first time my loyal husband has rushed off to bless another man he calls "brother".  I respect these times when he feels such devotion to others.  In fact, it makes me incredibly proud.  It is within this realm alone that I believe these men are so attached to one another that they would drive 12 hours in one day to attend a funeral.  The willingness of one to die for the other is fantastical; it's something you see in the movies but don't expect to happen in real life. But even with a burial in sight, my husband understands the importance of giving a homecoming its due as well.  Because no matter the job of the Marine coming home to his family, no matter the size of his family, he's still a Marine who's taken the same oath of service to God, country, Corps.  He's still a Marine who's been away for longer than he or his family would like.  He's honorable.

I find it an honor like no other to live this life next to my man.  God is strong for me and I am strong for my Marine.  I will gladly take the reunions, the births, the friends, hardships and struggles, and deaths over blissful ignorance any day.  We are more than conquerers though Him who gives us strength!

Popular Belief Debunked

Contrary to popular belief, I am not perfect when it comes to all things food.  An interesting thing occurred to me this evening after my workout, which consisted of running ONLY because of a severe case of tennis elbow.  I crave sweets all day!  Well, let me clarify.  The insatiable craving occurs from about 11 a.m. to post-workout, whatever time that may be.  After the workout, the cravings are gone unless I eat.  Once I eat (anything), the cravings begin again.  What is this?!  Now that I've identified a problem, it's time to find the answer.

I've been reading The Anti-Inflammation Zone by Dr. Barry Sears (don't judge, you know I love that man) and am becoming more and more concerned about the inflammation that is lurking in my body that I know is there and that which I do not know about.  He calls this screaming pain inflammation and silent inflammation because that associated with pain means there is enough localized inflammation to trigger the pain sensors.  This I have and am very aware of!  The silent inflammation is a kind of low-key response that does not initiate a pain sensation but is found all over the body especially inside the circulatory system and is ultimately going to kill us all!  Anyway, I'm not very far into the book, but I know that diet plays a huge role in the presence of inflammation and I am desperate to eliminate mine.  Inflammation, that is.  So maybe I should eliminate all nutritional intake.  Okay, I'm not going anorexic or anything, but I just want it to be EASY!!!  It's so not!  I want to be strong, lean, and healthy.  I don't want injuries and I don't want to feel like I'm as big as Gloria (the hippo in Madagascar).

The other revelation you might not be aware of is I'm lazy!  Yep, I said it.  I'm notoriously lazy and I fight the urge to do absolutely nothing every single day.  That's why I thrive when I'm on a schedule.  I need structure to be productive.  I need timelines and deadlines to accomplish goals.  Am I the only one with this secret?  I think not.  It's an epidemic and it's called Chronic Laziness Syndrome.  I have it, countless friends have it (they're all in denial :-);  I notice more every day.  My digression here is to give you an idea as to why being perfect nutritionally is so far out of reach for me.  I don't want to cook enough chicken to last for 3 days.  I don't want to prep endless amounts of broccoli that will last for a week.  I don't want to portion out everything healthy into little rubbermaid containers that are divided like the plate of a 5 year old.  All this requires hours in the kitchen on any given day (I know, because I have done it) and my sinful self says "I don't want to!"  But!  I do want to increase my mental acuity and fitness level and reduce injuries.  I also want to get lean so that my jeans don't make me have a muffin top.  I want to boost my immune system and reduce screaming pain inflammation.  So how do I get to where I want to be if I'm lazy?  I acknowledge that I have a condition and resolve to overcome it.  Then I make a plan and practice self-control by implementing the plan.

Run with me, all you who are lazy and procrastinating!  You'll be better for it!

Call me Scrooge...

I know I'm not the only one who cares nothing about the holiday that is approaching fast. You see it all over Facebook.  Either you're giddy with Christmas fever or so over it.  Personally, I haven't been joyful, ecstatic, celebratory, blah, blah, blah, about Christmas for as long as I can remember.  Every year I ponder the question of "why not be excited" for a moment but as soon as my ADD mind moves on to what's my speed (I was driving tonight when the thought occurred), it rarely recurs until, well, next Christmas.  I guess I've just accepted that I don't care that much about the retail payload, that I just don't like Christmas music, that there's a 99.9% chance of temperatures in the 60s with NO snow, that traffic will be triple what it normally is from black Friday to December 26, and that those incessant bells accompanying the red bucket will be making my ears ring for 6 months.  Yes, I'm a Scrooge.

But why?  Again, that is the question (well, at least for today).  I am a believer in Jesus Christ, Immanuel, Prince of Peace.  Why am I not joyful and in the mood to celebrate in song and nog and mistletoe?  Why do I feel like hurling when the scent of cinnamon pine cones slaps me in the face as soon as I walk into EVERY store?  Why doesn't my heart warm at the sound of O Holy Night?  The bible says, "BEHOLD, a child is born".  That word behold tells me "TAKE NOTICE!  THIS IS A BIG BIG DEAL!"  And I don't mean blue light special on aisle 9.  It means the God of the universe has arranged for a play date that turns very serious at age 9.  It means, "it's time!".  The old testament is rife with references to this very birth.  It also means that in 33 years, every sin you and I have ever and will ever commit is paid for with bloodshed.  So why can't I just focus on that?  Is it because I am bombarded with  "Christmas" and not Jesus?  You may say, "what about all the little phrases like Jesus is the reason for the season and the carols."  As true as these utterances are, they seem cheap in comparison to the what we are actually celebrating.  It seems that if you live in America you celebrate Christmas no matter what your religion is which takes away the uniqueness of it.  And so, I fear, the hype that surrounds such a pivotal event has hardened my heart.  This makes me sad.  For years, I have pondered my state of mind on this and come to no conclusions.  Perhaps my friend, Jesus, can chime in on this one and show me the Christmas light.  

To Blog or Not to Blog...

That is the question. It has always been the question.  I have an aversion to the idea of spewing one's life across the pages of mass media.  Mostly because every time I think I want to do it, I can't come up with a single topic or dramatic story that won't offend someone.  So, then I think about all the blogs I know of and have read (that amounts to about 3) and am totally turned off by the drivel people "blog" about.  Does anybody really care that your cooking skills are off the chain?  Is your sex life going to change anything except your own health status? I'm convinced that none of this matters to anyone but you.  Is it an attempt to attract the attention you feel your "talent" deserves or possibly an outlet for information/feelings/blah blah blah?  Because of this, I think, "I can't blog.  I don't want to be like every other sap that blogs."  But the truth is,  I actually have a whole slew of unemotional nonsense bouncing around in my central neurological organ that might be kinda fun to let out.

So blog, it is!  I took a poll once to see what my pals would read.  The options were nursing school, CrossFit, nutrition, or the life of a super secret ninja wife with the former 3 options complicating the latter.  Of course, the votes ran the gamut, thus resulting in no blog.  I guess if I'm going to spew, I'll just have to incorporate all of these things as they are all significant parts of my life, which no one is that interested in anyway.  Between now and tomorrow, I will see what I can come up with that may pique one person's interest.  Wish me the proverbial luck!