Re-living Exercise

Early morning wake-up calls at the Martin B & B

Apologies for my delay in posting for a few weeks.  I'm excited to report that a jaunt to North Carolina for Ethan and I to meet my newest nephew, Jackson, was a huge success!  Despite the initial air sickness from Seattle to Charlotte that Ethan experienced -- for f-i-v-e hours -- the trip was a great one!  Thanks to Dramomine and Mrs. Renae's peppermint essential oil recipe, the air sickness stayed away for our return trip.  The fires that began in Willow, AK while we were in NC have subsided, but now the work of rebuilding for many of its residents is beginning.  The rain in recent weeks has helped the firefighting efforts throughout the state, but it is difficult watching others go through such trials.

As you may have guessed from the title of this post, we are "back" into somewhat of an exercise routine - or at least trying.  I say "back into" because everyone knows that it is nearly fruitless to exercise while on vacation - particularly in 100+ degree temperatures, a near similar humidity rating, and fully surrounded by something (anything) that is deep-fried or smothered in chocolate.  The juicing that we had been doing will have to be re-started, and any weight that I lost before the trip found its way back to my belly and thighs at the bottom of a deep fried chip basket -- right next to the old fashioned chopped BBQ sandwich.  You may be wondering -- why all the exercise frenzy and why so sudden?  I'd like to espouse ideals about how exercise makes us feel healthier, look leaner, and adds years to our lives.  And while all of those ideals are true, our reasons go deeper -- much vainer (or perhaps, "in vain" - we shall see).  As my dear sweet husband puts it, "We don't want to be the 'fat' family members in the wedding photos!"  Beyond that, I'd like to be around for awhile longer, if the Lord tarries, to watch ALL of my children mature into adults, and when the time is right, to be around as a grandmommy.

As most of you know, our eldest son, Alexander, is marrying his longtime sweetheart, Madison, in December of this year.  In 171 days to be exact!  Which isn't a very long time for us to lose at least 15 years worth of the weight we have gained!  How did we get to this place? Honestly, I'd like to say that my weight came from "having Ethan."  Of course Ethan is 10 years old now and active as all get out, so I'm not certain anyone is buying that reason anymore!  He runs amok through the neighborhood with his new friends Brody and Hunter, searching for lost dinosaurs, ancient villages, and warring with armies from long ago.  They use toy guns, sticks, and knives and climb over fallen birch logs, through muddy bogs, and up steep inclines. They ride bikes for hours, and they run when they are not on their bicycle seats.  Actually last night, as Ethan made his way into our driveway to put his bike away for the evening, he had to pause to run inside to escape the moose that was lurking in the shadows by his Daddy's workshop.  For real...

First moose sighting in our yard in more than a month (June 2015)

It has been an interesting phenomenon for Michael and I to observe from our comfy seats on the couch. Bahaha!  Reminiscing about our own childhoods, we recalled summer days spent away from home from dawn to dusk - where we only needed to tell our parents where we were going (or what houses we would be between), and we only had to be home in time for dinner or dark -- whichever came first.  Of course we can't tell Ethan to be home by dark here -- we wouldn't see him for three months!  But it has been amazing to watch him branch out since we returned from North Carolina, make new friends, share all of his toys, and let his imagination lead his playing.  He would rather be outdoors playing than watching TV or gaming on systems, and I REALLY like that.

Independence Mine Summer 2015

Ethan and I have hiked quite a bit since arriving in Alaska, and all of us enjoy that type of activity together.  We just haven't really had the time to do much of it together this summer.  Alexander hasn't had a day off in over a month (until this week), and Michael's poor body doesn't know if he's supposed to be awake or asleep due to his work schedule.  Ethan and I have finally recovered from our jet lag, so this week has been the first "normal" week we have had in quite awhile.  So...after observing Ethan and his increased energy level after only a few days outdoors with friends, we decided we would increase our energy level, too -- by getting rid of our cable TV and by taking Ahtna (and ourselves) on a hike a bit more strenuous than Hatcher's Pass or Independence Mine.  Please don't be misled...Hatcher and Independence are not for the faint of heart. And now that summer is here, the prairie dogs and badgers abound - as Ethan and I learned on our most recent visit there.  We could've shaken hand and paw with a badger, but we decided better of it...it was quick enough to escape a photo op, but slow and close enough to scare us down the mountain.

Michael suggested the Bodenburg Butte in Palmer (also known simply as "the Butte") which he, Ethan, and Johnnie File climbed in the early spring.  His only concern for us was the 400+ steps to the summit. But we were determined we could make it, and we definitely need the exercise.  One trip to the top of the Butte should melt off at least 3 inches and ??? pounds, right?  The summit's elevation is just shy of 900 feet, so it should be fairly easy, right?  WRONG!!

Atop the Butte, Facing Matanuska Glacier

Matanuska Glacier

One website says that good "footwork and decent agility are recommended," giving the allusion that any aging 40-something woman with arthritis in her knees and a 2-month puppy with short stocky legs should be able to make the easy 3-mile round-trip with limited or no problems. Bahahahaha! Trip duration is estimated at approximately 1-hour each way.  Four hours later as we reached the parking lot to head for home, I was thankful for so many things:  thankful for the unbelievable gift of the Lord's creation, and my ability to share it with my family; 

Pioneer Peak from Atop the Butte
(June 2015)

thankful for Him allowing me to reach the summit - even though I was panting harder than the dog on most occasions; thankful for the park crew and volunteers we met along the way who worked hard to preserve the trail and make it a bit easier for people like me to reach the top; thankful for the stranger at the top who was willing to take our picture to capture this memory because I know that one day I will not be able to ascend those stairs;

Making it to the Top!

 thankful for the day-campers at the top who helped me appreciate this season of being a stay-at-home mom; thankful for the children and other dog owners along the trail who helped us with Ahtna's socialization training; thankful for a caring and encouraging husband who was concerned about how my knees would handle the trip and who was willing to go as slow as necessary so we could all make it to the top; thankful for children who aren't "too cool" to spend time with their aging, "slow" parents on wild jaunts like these; and so much more...

Growing as Brothers, but still missing Andrew!

Not surprisingly, Ethan and I are a tad sore today. Okay I am ALOT sore today, but not nearly as much as I expected to be.  My knees actually feel pretty okay. And Michael? Well, he had to keep tugging his pants to keep them up while we hiked.  You see he's been walking at night during his work shift as he does perimeter checks and other "police" things.  Alex frugally bought a Bowflex off Craigslist (that's my boy!) a few weeks ago and has been using that and doing pushups every chance he gets. So the Butte hike was "just right" for them.  Ethan and I will keep hiking while they are working, and I imagine that as fishing/hunting seasons rear their heads later this month and early next month, our re-living exercise won't seem quite as overwhelming.  Now I just have to hope that filleting fish, field dressing grouse and ptarmigan, and helping to pack out a moose does the trick on those inches around our (my) waists.  :)

Re-living exercise is fine, but we're learning that re-living our faith with our children is definitely more meaningful.  So now, we aspire to do that -- whether we are the thin or not-so-thin people in the wedding photos.

"For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." I Timothy 4:8