My sweet 9 year old...

Another year.  Another birthday.  Caden is 9 years old.  Wow.  Time is passing by way too quickly.  My sweet, sweet Caden is growing up.  I pray he remains sweet.  :)

~jen

The Journey

I'm beginning my third week of my new job.  It's been an emotional journey thus far.  I'm quite sure the journey will only continue.  One day during my first week I observed another nurse.  We went to see a couple of patients in one of the nursing homes here in town.  I can't remember the last time I was in a nursing home so I was a little taken back after walking in.  It was hard to not personalize my surroundings, but I did.  I immediately thought of my sweet great-grandmother who resided in a nursing home.  I thought of my aging grand-parents.  I thought of my parents.  Then I thought of myself.  I kept telling myself I don't want to get older.  I don't want to be an "old" person.  I want time to stand still.
I can't make time stand still.  We will all die.  It's the natural process of life. While I know that statement is true, it doesn't keep me from still wishing to make time stand still.
The journey continues.    
~jen      

Changes

change

Verb: Make or become different

Noun: The act or instance of making or becoming different

I'm on a path of change.  Several weeks ago I started attending aerobics on a semi-consistent schedule.  That has changed to a consistent schedule.  In the past I made excuses to miss aerobics.  Not any more.  I'm beginning to see the results of consistently working out.  13 pounds.  My overall goal: 120 pounds.  That's a whole person.  That's an enormous goal to think about.  So, I've broken that overall goal to mini-goals of 10 pounds.  I've reached my first 10 pound mini-goal.  11 more mini-goals to go.  This isn't a race.  I haven't set a time-line.  Well, I take that back.  I have set a few time-lines.  I'd like at least 30 pounds gone by the first of August.  I'd like another 40 pounds gone by the end of the year.  And hopefully before Cody graduates, I'll be close to my overall goal.  But, like I said, this isn't a race.  It's a marathon.  It's a lifestyle change.  Recently someone asked me why the change.  Honestly... I don't like who I am anymore.  I want to change.  

I have several cheerleaders.  My friends and family are cheering me on.  My biggest cheerleader is Caden.  Several times he has to go with me to the club.  He's too young to stay at home by himself.  He's too young to swim at the pool while I work out.  He's too old to go to the daycare at the club.  He's too young to "work-out" at the club.  So he sits in the club and plays the Wii, or watches TV, or plays on his DS while I work out for an hour.  He has never once complained.  Not once has he said, "I don't want to go".  He's probably been my biggest supporter.  Cheering me on with every pound lost.  An eight year old is helping me change.

      

Another change... tomorrow I will start a new job.  I'll be working as a Case Manager with a local home hospice health care organization.  I am full of emotions.  Excited.  Scared.  Nervous.  I hope I am strong enough to handle the emotional aspect of this job.  I am looking forward to starting this journey.  

Life is full of changes.  We have two choices when it comes to change... be in fear of it, or look at it with excitement.

~jen