RANDOM THOUGHTS

Dyna-Flex Power Ball

Now this is something kinda cool! As most of you know, Chris had wrist surgury to fix a broken wrist that just would not heal. After the surgury (that went great), Chris was unable to move his wrist for nearly 7 weeks. After the 7th week he was told to start using it and that strength would start to come back to his wrist as he used it. Well week after week Chris' wrist still failed to show signs of improvment, and with ski season here we both were getting nervous. So while I was at REI I went looking for something that would help his wrist gain strength. Sure enough as Chris started to use the power ball his wrist has started to gain strength. I have also used it more for fun, and have noticed strengthening and tonening in my arms. Below is a link to the Dyna-Flex as well as a discription as to what the product is.   

http://thewritersedge.com/dynaflex.cfm

Building strength while improving coordination in your hands and forearms with the Dyna-Flex™ Power Ball.

• Easy-grip outer sphere allows increased control and prolonged usage
• Variable resistance is achieved by increasing or decreasing the speed; therapeutic for hands, wrists, arms, biceps and triceps
• Aids in the prevention of repetitive stress injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Get the edge in rock climbing and any other sport that requires control and a strong grip
• The faster the unit runs, the brighter the lights will be until your whole hand is engulfed in a bright glow
• Generates up to 32 lbs. of gyroscopic pressure when maximum RPMs (13,000) are reached

My Space

Here is a site that I know several people from Church participate with, but it took me until this past week to start it. It's My Space! A fund place to connect with people from the past or the present (hey maybe even the future). I was leery at first but once I realized that I could create a name and a blog that only people whom I invited to, I wouldn't have to worry about unwanted visitors (SPAM). If you haven't already checked it out, do it. It's pretty fun... You even get to have theme music and videos. I have just reconnected with an elementary/Jr. high buddy of mine. If you would like to be added to either mine or Chris' blog just leave a comment here on our web page and we'll send an invite.

Check it out...........

http://www.myspace.com/

The Perfect Couple

So you want to see what a perfect couple is hun? Well thanks to our friend Jason Brady everyone can do so! Click on the link to check it out! (May not be a kid friendly clip...)

www.flashfunpages.com/couple.swf

Need Some Shut Eye!!!

That is not a question in the title.... it is a fact!!! I need some shut eye, and for some reason I am not getting any! I have spent the last two nights lying awake, not able to sleep at all. This is not totally a new struggle, but it has been along time since I have not been able to sleep at all. Sure I always have the occasional wake up too early or can't fall asleep, but this whole no sleep at all is just plain wrong. So I have started to look up some different sites on sleep. Click on the link below to visit the Doze Family to learn more about sleep.

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/doze/

Free Time

Although I have only had a few days of it thus far, I am really enjoying it. The question I have to answer for myself throughout the day is; "Am I using this free time in the most time efficient and meaningful way?"

I must be honest now, and say that as I am writing this as I am watching infomercials on T.V. while the rest of my house work is being neglected. But, that is exactly why I am writing it!

When we do have free time, are we using it in the most efficient way, or are we wasting it?

I have to ask myself many times over; "is there something more important that could be getting done, instead of what I am doing at the current time?"

For example, right now as I am looking at the infomercials on T.V. talking about exercising, I could be exercising myself. Or instead of taking that hour nap, I could be cleaning the house that is driving both Chris and I nuts. There is always something more that I could be doing, instead of wasting the time away.

I know that it is important to have down time and relaxing time (much of this goes back to my post on white space) but for me, it is also important to be wise with the extra time I might have. For example: spending more time in The Word, with my family, with my spouse, etc., being more diligent in keeping a clean and organized house, exercise and pre planning meals so we don't just eat junk, and so on. Obviously all of these items are things that I personally want to work on and prioritize with my free time.

What are you doing with yours? This actually makes me want to see what God says about this topic, I think that I am going to start looking into it.

Well for now, these are my thoughts and I hope they provoked some for you as well...

When Do Teens Become Adults?

Do you remember when you first realized you where an adult? Although the main stream population for America believes that once you are 18 you are an adult, not everyone dose. Is this really true, are you an adult at age 18?

While I was taking lunch yesterday, some of my co-workers were arguing about this very topic. For those who are a little more radical, they claimed that children are adults as early as 12 years old. On the other hand there are those who where more Conservative, claiming children are not adults until age 27.

Why the extreme gap? What makes a person an adult or not an adult? Is adulthood solely cultural or are there certain things that make a child into an adult? What do you think?

Do I Dare Say!!!

So I am really hesatating even bringing this up, but this is my "daydream" web log so I will. Why not, right?

Okay, so what is the topic? It is about babies! Yep, babies! That is what has been on my mind. I know that Chris and I have not even been married for a year, but that is what is on "my mind". There are so many things to think about in life and for me this is one of those that must take careful consideration and loving thought.

That is why I am talking about it. You see, this past weekend I received a packet in the mail from the Children's Administration offering to pay my schooling tuition and a monthly stipend. Great, right? That was both Chris' and my first thought, but what is the catch (don't worry I'll get to the baby stuff latter)? The catch is that I would have to work for the state, the same amount of time that they paid my schooling and in addition to that I would have to move to any where in Washington State that a job position needed filled. That my friends is a problem. With Chris working on his career in the Tacoma Public School District as well as working on his Ed.D at Seattle Pacific University, the whole notion of moving (possibly) to some odd place in Washington for a desk job (which if you know me, drives me absolutely NUTS) is unreasonable.

Okay, so now you ask, "what dose all of this have to do with babies?"

Well, After "first considering this offer I was trying to think of a way where I could still have a child before I turned 30 (not that having them at 30 is bad) and still get to spend the first few years with him/her. So trying to rationally (or irrationally) think this out, I decided that Chris and I should maybe consider trying to have a child in the next year, so that all of this could be accomplished.

So with this all thought out in my head, I went to Chris on Sunday afternoon to present him with my case! First of all, I learned that sitting down at the kitchen table to tell your husband that you would like to start to try having kids should be done with ample amount of padding on the floor to lessen the fall. Second, don't try so desperately hard not to smile (because of your excitement) that you look as though you are giving him puppy eyes. Third, rationally write out all of the reason why you think that you would like to start having children before you present your case to your husband. This should be done so that you have a well thought out plan of discussion.

Well after I got done presenting my feelings towards the matter at hand, Chris looked at me with the most serious face and asked, "Are you serious?"

It was at that moment that I knew that Chris was not any where near having the same feelings about starting to have kids and that I would have to either; A: persuade him, or B: genuinely reconsider and listen carefully to what my loving and caring husband had to say about the matter.

What is the results?

Well, Chris and I have prayerfully considered both sides of the discussion and have decided that having a child is ultimately in God's hands and that we would continue to pray about the matter.

So where dose that leave me and my feelings? In the exact same place and Chris', but that I think that I am still going to wait until I am finished with school (unless God has other plans). I do know that I will not be taking up the Children's Administrations offer to pay my tuition. I do not want to be tied down by a contract that may ultimately lead to not be the best outcome for our family.

Okay, I guess that is all for now!

Love,

Mareesha

SOUP

It was a very long day yesterday! I had woke up at 5am sick, but knew I had to get my self out of bed and to work up in Issaquah by 7am. I draged my feet for most of the day, trying to accomplish everything on my list. It was only 10:30 when I started to crave soup, by 2pm I finnally made it from behind my desk to eat, and that is when it all started. I was hungry, my throat hurt and all I wanted was SOUP! I went to the loacal PCC grocers in hunt of my soup, it took me awhile but I found it. "Chicken tortilla" taste so good when you want something warm with a kick!

By 4pm when I got in my car to drive home my need for soup hit me again! By the time I got home all I could do was think about soup! Not just any soup, but cheesey broccoli soup!! So... Chris and I spent about 45min. driving around Tacoma interviewing waitresses about the type of soup offered at their restauraants. Yep, Chris waited patiently fo me to choose a place to eat just so I chould have my soup!

So where did we end up at? Ruby Tuesdays! And it was pretty good I might add...

Chris deserves a big Thank You!!!

White Space

For the nearly the first six months of Chris’ and my marriage I was driven crazy by the extra time I had on my hands or also what I call “white space” on my calendar.  It is funny how I always thought that I would be a happier and a more fulfilled person, if I just filled my time with multiple responsibilities and jobs.  I figured that I would gain the respect and appreciation for my hard work and determination.  Boy, have I been proven wrong!  Now, the more and more I load my calendar full the more and more I wish I could turn back time to undo my commitments.  (No, I do not have a problem following through on commitments.  In fact those who know me would say that being too committed is my weakness.  It kills me to call someone up and tell them that I can not follow through on something and it will eat at me for weeks.)

 

I am learning that the more and more I seek fulfillment in the business world the less and less I seek fulfillment in my spiritual life.  The results from my parade of “I can do it all!” have not been devastating, but eye opening and I am sure if I continued to ride on my “little float” they could have very well resulted in devastation, disappointment, and destruction.

 

All of this became a reality for me when my husband asked me when we could get away next.  I paused, ran to get my blue book and in frustration shook my head.  April 1-3 busy, April 8-9 busy, April 15-17 busy, April 22-23 busy, and April 29-1 busy.  I kept looking on through the months to follow and found a similar pattern with all the days in-between filled with appointments, flights, deadlines and events.  I could hardly find any white space left on my calendar to write in time for my husband. For about 3 days I had a self deliberation that continually ran over and over in my head and I spent much time in prayer with God.  At the end of it all I declared that I would make more white space available for those whom I love and care about and for those who will lift me up.

 

You see, I found that it is not the success or fulfillment of the business and secular world that made me happy, made me feel loved or even lifted me up.  In fact, it pulled me down!  I discovered that those things that I thought I would find happiness in only left me feeling lonely and lost.  I stopped spending time with my husband, my friends and most importantly I had forgotten to leave any time for God.  I found that it is not these worldly successes that will make me happy or where I will gain the respect and appreciation I thought that I wanted.  It is in my relationship with God, my family and friends that I can and will find what I am looking for.

 

So what is it that I am changing?  First I am learning that I can say “NO” to requests and that not everything that comes my way do I need to say yes to.  I am learning also how to say “I was wrong” and to step down from responsibilities that have overloaded my schedule and are affecting my productivity in other areas of my life.  I have learned that the white space on your calendar does not mean that you are not successful or unproductive, but it can mean that you have a well balanced life style in work and play.

My Turn

Chris has been having fun with this new website all day and now it's my turn to create a page!  This is a section where I will share my thoughts, vent my frustrations, and dream about a brighter future.  Feel free to join me and add your thoughts and opinions.  More to come soon...