My weekly weigh-in revealed, (which I’m going to count for two collective weeks as I was on vacation last week), much to my delight, an eight ounces loss! Not too bad for a gal who was premenstrual, been stuck in weeks of a plateau and vacationed to a beautiful foreign land that was adorned with delicious Dutch chocolates (my Achilles tendon – CHOCOLATE!)!
In my proactive attempt to start vacation week off on the “right foot” I laced up my sneaks and went for an invigorating early morning run before we left for Dulles airport.
Every airport is a booby trap for this booby and I went into my snacker’s destructive minefield, past the inviting aromas of the Cinnabon stand, prepared for war! I packed trail mix, Kashi bars and raisins for on-hand, power-packed snacking to not sabotage myself and continue to teach my boys balanced eating.
Aruba is one beautiful island! Aruba is actually part of
Holland (I know, surprised me too as it sits just about a dozen miles
north of South America – the whole European influence thing threw
me!). They speak Dutch, Spanish, English and Papiamento (which is a
language that incorporates the three prior languages). I loved Aruba SO much that I want to share some of our vacation candids with you (and I’ll spare you my bathing suit shots for fear you’ve eaten recently…
Wait a minute, that’s not Arubian wild life! That’s our boys living the wild life in Aruba (proudly postured with their manly henna tattoos!). Are they a crack-up or what (or are they cracked-up?)?! I now have two new favorite, melt-my-heart photos of our little men:
How sweet it is to be loved by them!
This former Mrs. Lazy Bones lounged and exercised! I’m getting “there” with the whole balance gig! During vacation, I exercised and lifted in the resort fitness center. Another
day, I partook in a stretching and toning class, surrounding by varied
four legged creatures, which my camera lens and I were quite drawn to!
Talk about having faces only a mother could love, huh? (I am talking about the lizards now!) 
I also participated in one water aerobics class. I haven’t taken a water aerobics class since college! That was really fun! I was surrounded by quite an inspiring natural landscape, painted with swaying palm trees, a majestic blue sky and four hunky men – Dave, Dad, Jake and Cal in the pool beside me.
This is only a portion of the enormous pool where not only did I aerob-o-cise, but dunked Dave, lounged on rafts and played mad rounds of ball and splash with our sons!
Pinch me, would ya…this is actually my life!
I unquestionably seem to be more inspired when I exercise out in the natural elements (and being at a spiffy resort didn’t hurt my inspiration either!).
Another day, Dave and I took the boys horseback riding. What a day! (Particularly, to not be a horse!)
What I’ve also realized is that I really enjoyed the change in my exercise routine and that I need to spice up my routine (and in other places too, but I’m keeping this blog G rated!).
We also did some sight seeing to the Butterfly Museum. The guide was so informative and the variety of butterflies was breath-taking!
We also did some night outings. Here I am (adorned with my newly purchased Arubian made necklace and earrings set) with our sons in the capital, Oranjstadt.
Oh and YES Ma’am, I certainly did indulge in Dutch chocolates, to include a jar of a Nutella-like creamy hazelnut-chocolate spread which was, in the words of the Upside Down guys, “DE-LIGHT-FUL!”. No photos of that one as no one needs to see the Fink Family have chocolate ring-around-the-lips!
I continued to state my mantra of, “I can have chocolate, but chocolate can’t have me!” I enjoyed the chocolate but didn’t let it control me and that’s freedom! THANK YOU GOD! I also enjoyed a variety of fish dishes to include tuna, swordfish and grouper, which I did NOT cook, so it tasted even all the more YUM-MY!
The God-inspired nugget imprinted in my heart that continues to captivate my thoughts arrived this past Father’s Day. I was very blessed to have my father, healthy (THANK YOU GOD!) and willing to travel to Aruba with us! The past six years Dad has had many major surgeries. He’s fought three different types of cancers and won,(thank you for ALL my devoted prayer warriors covering him…and me!) quintuple bypass surgery (the overachiever that he is), had his colon removed, his knee replaced and a partridge in a pear tree!
So, he’s as good as new, really cute and single – any takers out there? He cooks, does laundry, and vacuums with the best of them, (okay, only when he really has to…that gene sure wasn’t mutated in me!) but also has four crazy daughters that come with the package! (Wait a minute, I don’t think I’m making a strong case here…
See, I told you he was cute!
Dave selected the church we attended on Father’s Day. Upon arrival,the doors were closed. So we went to Plan B. The only other service that we knew of that was in English was at St. Anna’s Church. It was just BEAUTIFUL and the pastor spoke a passionate sermon on how we should not be like the Israelites and forget the ways God has blessed us. How we need to honor our fathers and remember the way the Holy Father has blessed us as well as our biological fathers. Look at the church, isn’t it just gorgeous?
What happened inside the walls there, specifically, the walls of my heart, was even more beautiful!
The church doors and windows were kept open to invite Aruba’s ample wind supply to permeate the sanctuary. In the middle of the service, this little onyx-colored dog hobbled straight down the center aisle, only to collapse and rest his weary body on the altar, which I believe was a beautiful message, “right at the foot of the cross”. Surrendered and at rest.
How can I envy a dog?
What intrigued me was, the dog was clearly debilitated, and inside this church (just to restate the obvious!). His stride was both limited and crooked. He walked slowly but appeared certain of his destination – the front altar step. He was comfortable and at peace where he rested. He knew he belonged. He had no idea he was the only dog in the house. And now, I am sorry to say that I had a re visitation of Pharisee-me which ruled it inappropriate to enjoy the service and moment enough to photograph the dog!
During communion, the choir sang, “Por Ti Sere”(or in
English as I do not speak Papiamento), “You Raise Me Up” by Rolf Louland/Brendan Graham. The choir sang in both English and Papiamento. Never had I thought of it as a worship song to God and it was just BEAUTIFUL!
You raise me up so I can stand on mountains
You raise me up to walk on stormy seas.
I AM STRONG WHEN I AM ON YOUR SHOULDERS,
You raise me up to more than I can be.
The grand finale that tied the series of events together and got my tear ducts a tad cleaner, occurred at the end of service when
the priest and associate lay clergy made their procession down the
familiarly traveled center aisle. Do you know what the coal-colored
family member did? He rose up and followed. Only this time, at a
brisk pace, clearly rejuvenated by his refreshing rest. Both his rear
legs worked uniformly to assist to carry his fragile body. No one, not
even one person tried to “shoo” him away. There were a couple of
smiles and laughter, even some fellow tourist inspired Kodak moment
snapshots.
My Heavenly Father helped my earthly Dad raise me into womanhood. But you see the catch, is right there in the third line down of the refrain.
I am most strong, when I AM ON HIS SHOULDERS.
I need to stop and ask for help when the going gets tough. Not just with both my Dads but with my family and friends too.
When I struggle to get my butt up and moving in action against my food addiction, or to portion control my meals and snacks, I need to continue to petition for help. When it gets too much, that is the precise moment I need to boldly follow the example of the suave Arubian dog at St. Anna. I need to take my tired body straight down the center aisle and rest at the foot of the cross.
At the proper time, my Heavenly Father will raise me up, as He did Jesus,the dog and me from my old life. I know it was God’s wisdom to help raise me up, the morning of our flight. How desperately I need the help getting motivated! He’s there for me! In the middle of my run, I ran past a brother in Christ, Chris, who was also out for a morning run. I panted a, “Hi Chris!” and he surprisingly responded, “Hey Steph!” (I don’t think he recognized me as I can look quite Phoebe-on-Friends-like in my running stride!)
As a child, when I got tired, my earthly Dad carried me. I AM STRONG WHEN I AM ON YOUR SHOULDERS. Dad can no longer put me up on his shoulder now as I’ve grown quite a bit from my pig tails days. But my Heavenly Father can carry both Dad and I!
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)
As I struggle with balanced private time, eating, exercising and managing my emotions – all key elements in my recovery of food addiction, I am compelled to negotiate the repetitive necessity that sometimes, I just need to take my weary bones, and collapse at the foot of the cross. Like the dog, all of us are welcome to do so, just few partake. My arthritic affected Dad opined the dog probably received relief from the altar’s cool marble floor as he laid out his old achy bones. We too can stand up, once the True Master has touched us with relief.
I leave you today with the Footprints poem. God surely left a magnificent impression on His daughter’s heart while in Aruba, through the least likely venue, an old broken down dog with a sweet heart.
Footprints in the Sand
By Mary Stevenson, 1936
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was one only.
This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”
The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”
Whatever you’re currently struggling with, I ask you, are you trying to figure it out yourself and carry the burden alone? Does it feel too heavy (too much?)? If so, what will you do? Suffer alone? Or chose to boldly go forward (perhaps limping from injury) and rest at the foot of the cross, in the open, available and comforting arms of Christ?
Look one more time at the statue of Jesus that was outside St. Anna’s church. His arms there and now remain open wide. Will you jump into your Daddy’s arms or keep limping alone?
