Back In The Game

It's almost embarrassing to even write here since I've neglected it so badly.  I'm feeling happy of late because I feel as if I'm "back in the game."  I'm ever so aware that my life, just by itself, can have lasting impact.  I have this quote hanging on the wall in front of me...

I am only one, but I am one.

I cannot do everything, but I can do something.

And because I cannot do everything,

I will not refuse to do the something

that I can do.

What I can do, I should do.

Ad what I should do,

By the grace of God,

I will do."

--19th Century American author, historian, clergyman,

Edward Hale

I'm choosing to view my weekdays more as "work" days than Saturdays.  It takes a tremendous amount of discipline to not view each day as "I can do what I want."  I've been in that mode for the the last year or more and it's not working out well at all.  I began to feel un-accomplished in all areas.  Shoot!  I could spend the entire day in my pajamas and no one would know or even care.  It was easy to live up to the impression that I was a busy, productive woman when I left the house, but inside these four walls on Beaver Cove Drive, I felt lazy and in a sense, guilty.

I'm back to school (of sorts) working on a personal training certification that will simultaneously re-instate a group fitness certification that lapsed about 9 months ago due to incomplete continuing ed.  I had been dealing with a few health challenges and made the decision to "retire" from fitness training other people.  I intended to just concern myself with my own fitness and let the people I would normally concern myself with figure it out on their own.  I had "done my time." Or so I thought.  As it turns out, I'm not happy, not caring about other people's fitness challenges.  So.....my work is my study.  Turns out the timing is perfect as I'm right smack in the middle of updating the practical fitness section of my book.  Yep...I'm still working on this book.

I'm dilly-dallying now so I'm going to call it a "post" and get on with my work...study.

Book Progress

Good Monday Morning!

Just a little Free to be Fit update.  I have spent quite a few hours lately, doing the third read-and-edit.  I finished the first part, which is 12 chapters and about 150 pages (draft format).  So funny how God sends confirmations to me.  I spent this week focused on the topics of "change" and "transformation".  Yesterday in Sunday school, what is on the board?  "Transformation" vs "Conforming".  Cool.  Then the man behind the pulpit starts in with his topic: The absence of the wrong thing does not = the right thing.  In other words, you gotta stop the bad habit and REPLACE it with the good one.  That's something else I gave thought to this week.  Joel Southerland did a superb job of communicating  difficult concept and it clarified so many things for me.

This week, I'm reading thru the third read-and-edit of part 1, then it will go out to a team of "readers" for comments and impressions.  Part 2's second read-and-edit will commence as soon as the sendout is finished.

On another note:  George and my "baby" girl turned 20 last week.  Know what that means?  WE SURVIVED!!!!!  We made it through all three teenagers unscathed!!  Ha Ha.  It is so hard to believe it's been 25 years of child-rearing.  I could not be any prouder of my kids.  My goal for them, from Day One has been very simple:  That they each would be right in the center of God's will for them.  It has never changed.  Amen, Lord, Amen.

Gotta run....Have a wonderful day!

SO, AM I DOING THIS THING--OR NOT?

Truth is, it's been a terrific struggle.  First one thing, then another.  Distractions. Catastrastrokes (as my dad calls them).  Crashes.  All sorts of various and sundry distractions.  The answer is:  YES.  I'm going to do this thing!  Which thing?  My book.  It's not going to remain unfinished.  I'm sooo close, but it's not done 'til it's done.

I've not been doing nothing in the meantime.  God is showing me a lesson Mr. Miagi taught Daniel in "The Karate Kid".  Karate yes--ok.  Karate no--ok.  Karate--maybe?  Get squash like bug.  I've learned that God has A--ONE--SPECIFIC purpose for me.  It has been there developing ever since I can remember.  I can look back and see how He is using my natural abilities and talents toward the purpose.  And it's something I enjoy.

I can be "good" at a lot of things.  I've done a lot of things that have come out great.  I'm not going to list all the things I've accomplished, but I suppose it would be impressive.    I have a reputation of getting things done right.  So it only makes sense that when there is a job to be done and a volunteer is needed to do it, people will ask me to help.  It's nice when people ask you to do things.  They are demonstrating confidence in you and your ability.  The end result of this is a life of very little focus.   The big things never get accomplished or even attempted because I'm so busy doing all these little things.  So, God has shown me that I need to find out what it is that He wants me to do...and FOCUS on that.

I asked Him.  And He answered.  My job (at this point in my life) is to educate people on how they can be physically fit (read prepared and able) so they can accomplish their life's work and purpose.  I am an educator.  And encourager.  And motivator.  I know it doesn't seem that important, but it is.  If people's bodies are so out of shape that they can't even walk to the mailbox without huffing and puffing, how are THEY going to get out there and do their lives?  When your body is fit and you have stamina and energy, life is so much more pleasant!  You feel better, think better, do better and live better!

How am I going to do this?  Well, I had this idea that I could start my own little exercise program for a couple of nights a week.  I thought Monday and Thursday nights would work well.  I contacted my home church about using their facility for it, but they weren't quite keen on the idea just then.  THEN, during a phone call to schedule my CPR re-certification, the guy on the phone asked me if I would be available to teach fitness classes on Monday and Thursday evenings.  It is a program he started a year or so ago (at the time) and a job change was going to prevent him from continuing.  And there it was!!  An opportunity.

That was nearly a year ago.  The program is called Body.Work.  The "guy" on the phone is Brett Moore and he's still around, but only teaches one class a month on a Saturday morning.  I teach the Monday and Thursday classes.  You can check it out over there >>>>>> on my Facebook page.

The key for me now is to stay focused.  If people ask me to teach Sunday school, my answer is "no, thank you, my plate is full."  If people ask me to help paint the (          ) room, the answer is, "no thanks, I can't make it."  If the request doesn't somehow fit with God's plan, I decline.  Right now, the plan is to teach at Body.Work. (and grow that) and to arrange my life so that I am working on my book consistently.  I'm trying very hard to stick to it.

ISRAEL

Oh my goodness!!  It has been WAY too long since I've written.  I have so much to report, but honestly can't take the time necessary for a full update now.  I hesitate to do this, but I "promise" a complete report when I return from Israel.  I am leaving tomorrow to spend 10 days with Global Missions Project.  I am traveling with 40 other musicians and we're going to play free concerts under the baton of Camp Kirkland.  I am about half packed.  Yesterday I took care of several appointments.  You know, the important stuff like manicure, pedicure, hair cut, therapeutic massage, dentist, bike store!  It was a pretty cushy day.  I attempted to watch an episode of The Closer before bed, but I don't remember anything but the intro.  Sleep took over.  I really need to scurry.  I have one fitness class to conduct, then home to iron clothes and finish the packing.  After that, I'm going to put my feet up and watch that Closer episode.  Later then!  In HIS Service,

The Countdown Has Begun--One Week

One week from today, I will be somewhere in northern Ohio, riding in my first Pan Ohio Hope Ride.  My training has been going well; I'm riding close to 200 miles/week right now, which is just right.  I thoroughly enjoyed a 60-miler this morning with three cycling buddies.   Next week, if all goes as planned, I will ride from Cleveland to Cincy in four days.  The total distance is 328 miles and it's fairly evenly divided over the four days.  One day is a century and another day there is a 5 mile stretch of hill, which should be interesting for me.  I started my fundraising with a goal of $2500.00 and I am almost there.  Just about $300 short and I am still hoping it comes in.  I am riding in memory of my mother, Julia and sister, Jana...the funds go toward Hope Lodges in Ohio, where family members of cancer patients can stay while their loved ones are in hospital.  I am very grateful to my family for their incredible encouragement and support.  They have been nothing but cheerleaders when I leave the house for yet another training ride.  If you would like to support my ride financially, you can do that by going to: 

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/jbfalldine

If you don't care to support in that way, please just pray for me:  safety, strength, strong mind, sleep well and that I would represent Christ effectively.  I'll be updating my Facebook page throughout the week via my phone, so check in and leave me a word of encouragement.
Thanks So Much!  God bless you,

Mother's Day 2010

This is my second mother's day where I wished my mother a happy day only in my heart and prayers.  Last year was brutal.  Jana had just died, and I was still reeling in grief from Mom's death 6 months earlier.  I feel so much better this year.  My, how time can change one's perspective.  How time can heal deep wounds.  I thought to myself, "this too shall pass" and it did.  The intense presence of their absence really did pass.   I still miss them, but it's a different kind of "miss" now.  Thank you, Jesus.

As I was preparing to teach Sunday school this morning, I wanted to speak something special to the ladies in my class.  Not all are mothers, so I needed a Word that could apply to all of us.  Proverbs 14:1 popped into my head.

A wise woman builds her house, 

but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

I did a word study on every single word and what I found was both surprising and encouraging.  The verse applies to every single woman; not one escapes the admonition.  "Build" is both literal and figurative.  It means repair, set up, make and build.  Similarly ,"House" is a broad word that can be applied literally and  figuratively.  It can mean a house, palace, temple, dungeon, prison, summer estate or home.  In addition, it can mean your family, your lineage.  When I combined as many of the possible variation of "builds her house" I found all sorts of hidden treasure.  Gosh, I am glad I am a woman; we get to do so many things and have so many opportunities!  When something is broken at home, whether it be a faucet or a child's arm or a teenager's heart, we have the privilege of building it back up, repairing it, mending it.   Who but a woman can do such varied tasks?  

Then I thought about our physical bodies; they are houses, aren't they?  You better believe it!  And we are wise to build them up, and fools to beat them down and pluck them apart with our own hands.

There is the next word that was interesting:  "hands."  Here we go again with a delicious word that has broad applications.  This "hand" is her power, authority, influence, means and direction.  See how these can all work together:  The wise woman encourages and builds up the people in her family, but a foolish one uses her God-given power and influence to pick them apart, piece by piece.  What a horrible picture!    Remember, this admonition applies to EVERY woman.  We all have family/houses that need building and repair.  I would guess the building process doesn't come naturally; it's the picking apart that comes so easily.  There have been times when I have nit-picked my children to absolute frustration, totally unintentionally.  They would feel like there was no way they would every be good enough for me.  I know I've done the same thing to my husband.

As I sit here at my desk (in the new chair I received as a gift today), I can think of so many scenarios that the scripture can apply to.  I'm sure you can think of some, too.

This mother's day is particularly special because I am blessed with great kids who love me despite all the mistakes I've made.  There is no greater joy in a mother's life than children that love the Lord.  I really do rejoice in the children that God gave me. There's no better gift...however, I am keeping the chair! 

Proverbs 23:25

Let your father and your mother be glad, 

and let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

LATELY AROUND THESE PARTS

The last few months have been full and slightly topsy-turvy.  It seems impossible that Cinco de Mayo is tomorrow....Happy Birthday, Monique!  I have been doing some traveling:  Spent a week in Springfield, Ohio with my dad in April.  We had a blast hanging out together.  One of the highlights of the trip was delivering Black Beauty (my first Trek FX bicycle) to her new home with my sister, Jolyn, who instantly fell in love with the wind in her hair and on her face as she learned how to "do the gears."  She said, "Are you sure this counts as exercise?  It seems so effortless."  I said, "Now you know why I like all those gears."  Maybe some day Jolyn will ride the Pan Ohio with me?

I spent the following long weekend in Lynchburg visiting David and Chris (and Nick and Brett and Andrea) and George!  We celebrated our 27th anniversary on April 23rd.  George gave me beautiful gifts, but the best one was the hotel room and time to put my feet up and read a good book.  (I read "The Last Song."  It was recommended by a dear friend who suggested I read it with Grace.)  Christian did the majority of the driving on the Lynchburg trip and spending 20 hours alone with him in the car was wonderful.  We don't take the time to sit and converse at home, so we took advantage of the uninterrupted hours in the car.  He's an interesting young man--few words, but thoughtfully spoken.

I have been very undisciplined about time spent working on "Free to be Fit" or whatever my book will be titled.  I did take one giant step by sending three chapters to the artist that is going to do the page layout and covers.  It really bothers me that this project continues to be so neglected by me.  I find it very difficult to make myself be still and work.  The projects around the house are so much more fun and I can instantly see progress when I am doing them.  I'm talking about things ike painting trim, re-arranging furniture and organizing closets.  I have been such a big talker about publishing it; now it's way past time to put feet to my words.

As you know, two trips are in my future, Lord willing.  First in July/August the Pan Ohio Hope Ride and then in October/November, the mission trip to Israel.  Interesting thing:  I have been putting links to financially support each of these trips in e-mails and on Facebook.  In the past few days, I have raised over $600 for the American Cancer Society Hope Lodges in Ohio and ZIP ZERO NADA NOTHING for Global Missions Project for my trip to Israel.  Cancer is a very "present" threat in so many lives and the need there resonates with nearly everyone.  Can you think of a single person whose life hasn't been touched by cancer in some way?  However, the ministry trip to Israel is just as far-reaching, but people don't seem to recognize that.  I am not going to lie; the thought of traveling to Israel is both exciting and scary.  I will get to play my flute along with other Christian musicians in an orchestra under the baton of Camp Kirkland, a church music hero of mine.  That is thrilling enough.  But the added joy of knowing that I will be serving in ministry--literally spreading the truth of the Gospel--is thrilling to me.  I have never been on a for-real mission trip, especially one that is out of the USA.  Both of my sons have been to several countries outside the States, but I've been nowhere except Canada and that was when I was a kid.  (Dad was USAF...we were stationed at Goose Air Base, Labrador Canada for two tours of duty.)  So, this trip to Israel is huge to me.  I keep telling George that the LORD will provide...I have no doubt He has "orchestrated" this trip for me. 

That's about it from here.  I have so many things to enjoy:  Riding my bike as much as possible to prepare for the Pan Ohio.  Working on raising funds for Israel.  Preparing for David to be home for the Summer.  Working on my book.  Rejoicing in God's abundance of blessings.  Thanks for reading.  God bless you.