a Good Choice

There are people that come into your life that you never really know the impact or joy they will bring you.  Jeremy Bobos is one of those people.  I have had the privilege to know Jeremy since he was born.  I have also had the honor of watching him grow from a toddler to a teen and into a young man and now grown man. I have been able to see him develop and grow into a gifted and talented speaker and youth leader.  He has a God given gift of connecting with teens and speaking truth into their lives. 

 

Jeremy has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of teens - including my three girls. For that alone I am grateful!  My times spent with Jeremy are filled with laughter, joy, warmth, silliness, and making memories that will last forever....Jeremy, you are a gift from God.  Phil 1:3

Choices....

This is Summer's Best Week!  It is a summer camp for teens from churches throughout the state of Illinois and from Indiana (even one from Wisconsin).  I have been directing this camp for 25 years and going to camp for an additional 10 years through Junior High, High School and College. 

The picture to the left is from Geneva Center Conference Center in Rochester, Indiana,  where I attended as a teen.  I have many fond memories of that camp...its where I fell in love for the first time, where I forged forever friendships that I still have, and most importantly, where I became a Christian and now know I will spend eternity in Heaven!  I will never forget that boy, I will never forget those memories, I will never forget those friendships!  I love that I am called into this ministry to teens.  I rarely forget those students who have come to this camp over the past years.  No one can take those memories away from me.  No one can take my faith away from me either.

The path shown at this camp is the path to two different cabins....the guys cabins and the girls.  It was where many camp couples said their good nights....it was also very, very dark at night.  There were no street lights, no city lights and the not much of the star light could through the thick canopy of trees.  Needless to say, there was much screaming in the dark from being scared of what lurked in the darkness.  Sometimes what lurked were friends trying to scare the snot out of you.  It usually worked. 

In life there are many things that lurk in the darkness of life that are even more dangerous than that of a dark path at camp.  As I start out on this, my 25th year of camp directing these teens, I pray for them.  I pray that God will reveal Himself to them in a real way.  That the teens will see that there is NO WAY for them to be good enough to earn their way into heaven.  It is a gift.  I pray that they will also see that there is NO WAY to lose the gift of Heaven and fellowship with a real living God NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO!!  That is the beauty of GRACE.  You can't earn it, you certainly don't deserve it.  It is a priceless gift from a flawless Savior who gave the ultimate sacrifice because he LOVES ME AND YOU!! 

I am praying for these students.  Our theme this year is REVOLUTION GENERATION.  This generation has the power to change their schools, neighborhoods, families, town, country and world!  Let's empower them with the strong WORD OF GOD!   What about you?  If you were to die tonight and stand before God and He said to you, why should I let you into heaven, what would you say?  If you say cuz you were pretty good, I guarantee its not good enough...

"A" Choices vs "B" Choices

I find my self every day faced with so many choices.  Some are easy, some not so easy.  I am often torn by my desire to do what I want to do and do what is best for me to do.  When I choose what I "want" to do -even when it isn't what is best to do- I find myself in a place I never wanted to be...that is a "B" choice. 

When I chose what is best according to what I am taught in God's Word,  "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8  then I find myself at peace..."A" choice.

So, yesterday after Physical Therapy and after reading an awesome article sent to me by one of my long distance friends and runners, Linda, I was ready to make a healthy choice. I got some shorts and tank top on, grabbed my iPod, and headed out on Mackenzie's bike.  I had intentions of only going a few miles...but something took over.  It was a desire to use this disappointing time away from running and use to to continue to move forward in my health and fitness.  I also am using this as time to cross train and continue to keep my goal of 30 pounds and 3 months before a 5K. With music in my ears and the wind in my face I headed out knowing I was making an "A" choice and not a "B" choice.  If I had chosen to stay at home, sulk, give up, then I would have ended up in a place I never wanted to be...still over weight and not ready for a 5K in October.  The "A" choice is an opportunity to trust God and what He has in store for me.  It is also an opportunity to press toward my goal - even if it doesn't look like what I thought it would look like.  Today I'll ride twice the ride I did yesterday....oh and I'll do my Physical Therapy three times, too....

Choices - and things out of my control

 God has been at work in my life...Even if I don't realize it.  I am stupid sometimes and stubborn and make bad choices.  Its a good thing that I have a God who is patient, loving, strong, able, wise, perfect and loves me more than anyone EVER could.  As I work myself though what this blog thing is all about I am sure that there will be many transformations.  For now, I am aiming for reflections of choices and impacts of those choices...good and bad.  Driving on the highway one has many choices; which exit, which direction, which lane, which speed, etc.  My life can, at times, be compared to that.  I am on a journey.  Which path will I choose, which stops will I make, what speed, you get the point...Life has a lot of choices.

I don't always make the best choices.  I make a lot of mistakes.  I never want to portray that my family, kids, life or me are in anyway without blemish or sin.  I am the worst when it comes to sin....that is why I love what was done on the cross for my sins so much.  I can live FORGIVEN and can forgive others in the same way....but back to the title of the day...

As I blogged about in a previous post, I have begun to get in shape and run. I am striving for a goal of losing 30 pounds and running a 5K by October.  A reasonable goal I think...that is until something out of my control happens.  For control freaks like me, that is hard.  Last week I ran 2 miles and was pleased with my time.  However, later that day I felt quite a bit of pain in my right foot.  We were walking around Chicago all day, so I tried not to think about it much.  I ran 2 miles again the next morning and felt pretty good.  No pain.  But, again, later in the day I was in a great deal of pain.  After getting a lot of advise from friends on Facebook I took Sunday off and went to the Dr. on Monday.  I have stiff Achilles and that has given me plantar fasciitis, and a spur has resulted.  I realize this is not a life sentence. It IS treatable. 

I wear a boot to help with the stretching of the Achilles.  I cannot run for 4-6 weeks - the same amount of time I will be in Physical Therapy.  So... I have a choice.  Do I sit around and sulk?  Do I complain?  Do I rest?  Do I cross train?  Do I do other things that can have a positive effect or negative effect.  I am choosing to cross train, do my PT and more, and to stay positive and on track for my weight loss and 5K.  I have a choice.  I am choosing to keep getting in shape and not let this set back get the best of me.  Thank you Linda and Claudia for the articles and encouragement!  It was a great help!

Makin Memories

 A Day in Chicago !

I love making memories with friends and family. Sometimes its over something planned and sometimes unexpected..(.like Cheri and I falling in the river on the canoe trip in my first post of which I still am laughing). A simple trip to Chicago was a great time to spend with Grampa Freemire and Rose. It was a great day for walking around, laughing, holding hands and makin memories.

We headed out on the Metra into the city to see some sites and spend time together.

We walked from the train station to Buckingham Fountain and from there to Millennium Park, where we did the traditional photo shoot by the Bean!

The Bean is a very touristy spot where people are fascinated by taking pictures of themselves in the reflection of the Bean.  You will meet people from all over the world around this sculpture.  On this particular day Scott was asked to take a picture from 2 adorable Chinese girls and I was asked by some people from Norway to take their picture.  My girls, they, too are from a different land...the land of teens - loving their reflection and each other!

Designed by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, the Crown Fountain features two 50-foot high glass block towers at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers are activated with changing video images and lights, and water cascades from the top of each.

 

 During the warmer months kids and adults alike love to splash around in the water and cool off. We were no exception. All the girls had a blast cooling off and people watching!

Chicago offers so many different types of foods. Although it is most known for Hot Dogs, Italian Beef and Deep Dish Pizza, the city has a wide variety of ethnic foods to choose from.  We chose to head out to Greektown!  You just can't do Greek without doing some Saganaki (Flaming Cheese!  Oopah!)

So at the end of the wonderful day with Dad, Rose, my girls, and first and ONLY husband, Scott, we were able to make memories, have fun, great food and spend time building bonds of family that can never be broken.  For Scott and I, every time we head into Chicago, it reminds us of our dating days, falling in love and reminiscing of the spark and thrill of fall love.  You always have a choice...God leading me to Scott made a difference that changed my life forever.  One day I will share the choices and differences of what God did in my life in how I met Scott!   

I had a choice...it made a difference!

Back in January I had a choice...it made a big difference in my life!  I was a walker.  I loved to walk year round.  I was trying to lose weight and nothing was working.  I saw Doctors and had tests. They all told me to get moving!  I WAS MOVING, I thought! I was walking. Then one night I was out and wondered if I could run to the upcoming street light...I could!  I wondered if I could get to the next one...I COULD!  I kept that up until I had done the 2 mile loop by my house!  I was so happy.  I can say that because of the suppot of a  long distance friend, I have kept running!

In May, my daughter, Molly, and one of my long distant friends, were both encouraging me to do a 24 Hour Run Molly was doing at her school. You can check out the specifics at http://www.physedfred.com/ .  Basically, you are on a team and someone is running at all times during the night, in a relay.  You run 1 mile at a time.  You run about every hour and a half to an hour and 45 mins.  I ran a total of 12 miles - one mile at a time over 24 Hours!  I can't tell you how proud of myself I was.  I had a choice, it has made a big difference in my life.

                                         

There were over 200 students from Lundahl Middle School that participated in this.  My other two girls also did this when they were at Lundahl!

I am now being encouraged by two long distance friends to do a 5K. At first I laughed. Now I am in training. I am praying that I will be held accountable and pushed me to do this. My goal is to lose 30 more pounds by October and then do a 5K. I even have several friends and a daughter or two who are going to do it with me!

I will post from time to time about my running.  It's a challenge for me. I don't love it while I am running, but I love how I feel afterwards.  I can tell you the difference in my life that it is making far exceeds the weight loss and muscle toning.  God is at work inside me.  He is changing me in ways I never thought possible.  I am just as excited about what He is doing inside me as the changes going on outside.  I had a choice in January....it made a difference.  I have a choice everyday to run or not...it makes a difference.  I have a choice in how I live my life everyday....it makes a difference.  From how I treat others and myself to my actions, thoughts and deeds. 

My Miracle Girl

Happy 16th Birthday, Mackenzie!!

Mackenzie Diane Freemire - Second daughter of a second daughter - free spirited, talented, beautiful, gentle spirited, giving, loving, encouraging, crazy, intelligent, wise, God loving, compassionate, patient, kind, peacemaker, family clown, comedienne, artistic, dancer... I could go on and on about her.  I can tell you that she is a joy.  She is also a miracle.  She has seen so many difficult times.  At 5 months the Dr.'s thought she had Cystic Fibrosis and was hopeful she would live into her teens!  She did not have that.  She had "failure to thrive" - a very fast metabolism.  We had to add melted butter to her baby food!  Can you believe that?

At 9 months she broke her leg in her growth plate and was told she would most likely not run, skip, jump, walk normally - that the growth in her leg would be stunted and not grow to be the same length as her other one.  She is now a beautiful dancer who brings me to tears when she moves...she is art in motion! 

When she was 14 months she had croup so badly she was hospitalized and in an oxygen tent.  Then when she was in 6th grade we discovered a strange growth in her inner cheek.  We spent many hours and weeks and months traveling to Children's Memorial in Chicago as they worked to find out what the growth was.  She had a lymphatic malformation or Lymphangioma.  The growth was not fatal in and of its self, but if it burst she cold bleed out.  They performed surgery on her telling Scott and I that there was a great chance that she would not smile, pucker or whistle if they hit a very fragile nerve...in other words half of her face would be paralyzed.  As you can see, God had other plans.  She has a wonderful smile and a happy disposition.  She finds joy and happiness everywhere.  The room lights up when Kenzie comes into it.  There have been many other trials and tribulations, but God is sovereign and ruler of all and He has plans for her!  Boy does he ever.  I can't wait to see what He has in store.  She is my sunshine!

HAPPY SWEET 16 MACKENZIE!!! You were my gift from God 16 years ago today!  I love you!

Craziness

When my family gets together you can guarantee something will happen that will be a memory that is talked about long after the event is over.  As time goes by the story will become funnier, crazier and even embellished.  One thing is certain, we all had fun.  This canoe trip was no exception.  No pictures of the actual memory will be posted.  You'll have to take my word for it. 

My family traveled to Rochester, MN to visit my sister Cheri, her husband, Kirk and two of her kids, Nate and Danae ( and Mike - Danae's BF) for the long weekend.  Friday we went canoeing....that's where the fun began. 

We headed out to Lansboro and rented two kayaks and three canoes for the 8 of us.  Cheri and I were in a canoe together thinking it was the "safe" canoe since we had the camera and cooler.....biggest mistake of the trip.  At our first stop I ended up in the drink when Cheri decided to lean out one side and get out without notice..next thing I knew I was wet... then Scott Bailey had a little war in the water....

What happened after we got back in the canoes was epic.  Cheri and I went ahead of the group and got pretty far ahead, so we thought we should wait up.  I grabbed a branch hanging over the water to slow us down and help us to stop. That was the beginning of the end. We flipped the canoe.  We had the cooler and camera (in the cooler)  everything started to float away.  I mean everything...flip flops, shorts, water bottles, cooler, camera, paddles, life jackets...and the canoe without us in it.  We were laughing, panicking and desperately trying to gather our belongings and save the camera, but mostly we were trying to save our life's!!  The water was shallow and swift where we were...no standing up possible without serious injury.  Instead, we were dragged by the water down the rocky river bed getting bruised, bloody and broken.  We saved all items...except only the memory card from the camera remained alive...the camera is now in a bag of rice hoping to dry out.  All during and long afterwards Cheri and I laughed so hard we couldn't speak....and still cannot speak of it without laughing so hard we cry.