Quote of the Day: At the timberline where storms strike with the most fury, the sturdiest trees are found. Hudson Newsletter
From Waking the Warrior Goddess: Custom # 24 Go to bed by 10:00 P.M., and get up before 6:00 A.M. “A good laugh and and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor’s book” Irish Proverb
Exercise log: Today I walked w/ Kathy English and Sue O. We went 2.94 miles and then I came home and stairmastered another 2.07 making my total 5.1 for the day. I still need to make up a deficit of 3.33 miles which I will do next week. It was very windy but still I’m so grateful that my friends will walk with me. When you’re used to running the distance, it takes a lot longer to walk it but I love talking to them and it makes my day!
So, I thought I would write about my husband, Joe, today and what a great support he is and always has been for me and our children. Sue Buehner described him once saying: “Joe is a JEM”. And it stuck. I am so grateful that my children have always looked up to their father, sometimes taken advantage of his good nature and willingness to do anything for them, but always they have been able to look to him as a source of goodness and honesty. They love his conversion to Mormonism story, how he dared to challenge his family’s belief in Catholicism- knowing that it would hurt his Mom and Dad, knowing perhaps that they would never accept him and his religion. Joe’s conversion was and continues to be a strength for our boys as they served missions and continue to do so.
There is a great book in trying to understand your mate or children. It is called The Five Love Languages- How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate by Gary Chapman. Anyway, Joe’s love language is Words of Affirmation meaning he likes to be recognized for the good he does for his family and friends but a close second has to be Acts of Service since he is always doing so many acts of service for his family. He’s the most committed son to his mother, Irene, I’ve ever seen. When we we first married, no one would eat the last cookie in the jar, both of us wanting to save it for the other, it always went stale. I loved that about our commitment to each other. I’m also grateful that Joe knew really quite young what he wanted to do in life- be successful. He was committed in school, driven to earn for his education, responsible and yes, a bit “nerdy”. One of our favorite family moments is when Michael, at about age 4 (I’m not lying), was looking through Joe’s Oly High yearbook, and in spotting his dad, exclaimed “Oh, my gosh! My dad was a nerd”. Our children are the beneficiaries of their father’s nerdiness! I cannot imagine taking on this cancer diagnosis without Joe. It has hurt him a lot. I know he would take it on for me if he could! Oh, one more thing before I stop gushing about Joe, thanks for making the bed every morning- he knows it means a lot of me to have the bed made, so he gets in there to make it before I can! I love you, Joe!
Last night Christine Holding brought over a delicious chicken soup dinner, salad and rolls. Also, a book by John Bytheway called I hope You Know How Much (I) We Love You! E-mails and phone calls from Laurie Hymas, Rich Forsberg and Suzanne Harmon. Thanks Julie Cowley for your visit and I Love Lucy DVD set. I love what Julie said in her card: “Laughter is the best medicine”. I truly am so blessed.
I’m going to try to hang on to my hair for 2 more days- I can pull it out, almost handfuls, not quite. We’re going to have a Buzz (the hair) Party w/ family either Friday or Saturday. Not quite sure if we’re going to let Maggie take the first cut, we’re afraid she might try it on herself or someone else.
Joe and Taylor at Moose- biking in the Tetons last Summer 2010 Indian Wells- March 2011, Joe and Joanie (married 31 years!)
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