Flower Endorphins

This morning I woke up with an unusual desire to exercise. I haven't done one bit of exercise in any form for over 2 weeks due to my injury. You wouldn't think that cutting off part of my finger would prevent me from aerobic activity but even a quick trip up the stairs or hurrying across the house to get the phone got my heart pumping just enough to bring on the painful throbbing in my open growing wound.

Who starts exercising 1 week before Christmas? Isn't that supposed to come 1 week after Christmas in a determination to repent of the past year of exercise ignorance? Well, what motivated me to exercise this morning was the constant puffy state that I have been living in. You know, the one that is brought on by too many carbs and sugars and not near enough greens and veggies. I decided I was sick of living on the verge of a headache and I was the only one who could take control of it.

I stuck in a new DVD that was given to me for my birthday:

I nearly died this morning! As my heart started pumping I was able to ignore the slight increase of throbbing in my finger but what really got to me was the sugar slugging through my system, reminding me of the 2 week emotional binge that I had succumbed to. Previously I had been able to make it through the entire 45 minute torture but this morning I barely made it through 30 minutes and plopped to the ground in an attempt to stretch my exhausted muscles.

As I lay there I realized the obvious: my abs have sagged to flabs, I have jiggles in places that haven't jiggled since my last baby was born, I was so out of breath that I sounded like a panting dog, and I might not make it off the floor for the rest of the day. All because of 2 weeks neglect? Really, it has been complete neglect for the last 2 weeks but prior to that I was only halfheartedly giving any attention to my physical needs. And now I am paying for it. So one week before Christmas I am determined to get this saggy body toned up.

If any of you show up at my door this week you better have a bag of carrots NOT a plate of sugar. The kids have strict orders to eat, hide or throw away any sugar that comes our way BEFORE they tell me who brought what.

I headed upstairs to put together a healthy breakfast for myself, feeling a bit discouraged at the acceptance of what I have let happen to myself, and this is what I saw:

How could I not be cheered by this? It is the middle of winter and on my kitchen counter sits a vase of gorgeous summer blossoms in all of my favorite colors! I don't think any happy endorphins made their way through my sugar sludge system during my 30 minute attempt at exercise but one look at this beautiful evidence of love sent a surge of happiness that healed my battered attitude and put a smile on my face. No long could I droop in my lazy past.

As I made breakfast I thought back 2 days to the special delivery that came to my door. It was a long box from a flower company (of course not anything from Rexburg, since there seem to only be 4 flowers available in our frozen city). Inside were special instructions for clipping, watering and arranging the buds so that 12-24 hours later they would blossom into a full bouquet of color. Even the setting up of the flowers was a gift. I felt like I was out in my garden. I loved clipping the stems and carefully putting it all together. It seemed like such a summery thing to do, which I completely enjoyed as I mentally put on hold the cold gloomy winter awaiting me outside.

If a watched pot never boils it could also be said that a watched bud never blossoms. I went to bed imagining what they might look like the next morning. Throughout the next day the tightly closed buds began to open their colorful petals and by the time I went to bed the 2nd night I was catching a glimpse of just how beautiful they would be in full bloom. The next morning when I dragged my tired body upstairs and saw them sitting on the counter they took my breath away and put an immediate smile on my face.

The typed card that came with the flowers didn't have a name on it. For 2 days I wondered who would have sent me such a wonderful surprise. It was an enlightening exercise realizing that I have many wonderful friends and family members who would do something so thoughtful. I really could not pick out one person that I could absolutely be sure had done it. Then in an e-mail exchange I found out that it was my sister-in-law. Jessica, you gave more than flowers. You relieved my discouragement and brightened my spirit after a very tough month. Thank you!