i wasn't going to post today. i just wasn't in the mood.
this is how my day started...(actually, it started yesterday).

i woke up with a headache yesterday. that's not uncommon for me, but it's a hassle nonetheless. often these things go away as i get moving for the day. and since i didn't have to work yesterday, i wasn't too worried about it. i was home with the boys and had a great day of nothingness planned.
but, my headache dropped. it fell out of my head and lowered itself into my neck and shoulders--aka "achy". you know that feeling! for me, it usually marks the beginning of the flu.
and then it happened, i sneezed and that triggered my throat to hurt. oh crap, i hate being sick on my day off.
but, the boys were delightful yesterday. they played so well together all day. they ate a good lunch and took good naps. it was a perfect day except for that whole sick thing.
...though i did notice that son #1 was not listening to me.
actually, i realized he couldn't hear me very well and with a sore throat, we were quite a pair: i couldn't talk and he could hear me anyway.
i should qualify that i had all the symptoms that israel should have had. he didn't have any symptoms, except for the hearing-loss.
i woke today not feeling much better, but kept israel with me so that i could try and get him into the pediatrician's office.
guess what? double ear infection! no wonder he could hear me. but, the dr. actually said, "these are so infected, i'm surprized it didn't wake him up during the night." (cue the "failure as a parent" theme song).
so, as you can see, blogging just didn't rank very high on my priorities today.
but, when i finally got a chance to sign into facebook, my perspective and priorities changed. drastically.
for you see, my friend from college is finally getting a donor liver. he's been waiting for a while and today is the day. he is a father of four and devoted husband. he is one of cincinnati's finest, a police officer. and i've been praying for the family for a long time, so i'm so excited for this answer to their prayers.

but, it made my puny headache and my son's double ear infection seem so much less significant. don't get me wrong: i still need healing, as does israel. but less pity for me and more prayer for God to shake the lives of those around me.

today was a better day for the treadmill because...
it's still facing a wall, but it's nearer the TV, so i can watch and walk (which lets you know how to time the walk).
i got up early enough to do it
i had an unusual schedule this morning, so i was able to get up and go the distance, eat breakfast and then do it a second time.

small steps, people. that's what it takes.

so, here's the spring break dilemma:
do you use the time off to catch up/work ahead or do you actually enjoy a break?
i'm not sure how my calendar will reflect it, but i really want to just enjoy a break.
...and then i feel guilty for wasteing time.
...and then i smile broadly because this is the hardest decision i have to make this week. i am blessed.

not a good weekend for treadmilling...
rather, it was a perfect weekend to treadmil: rainy, windy, chilly, etc.
i just did't make it on the beast.
but, it's a new dawn of a new day in a new week. overcoming is about taking one step at a time. like a treadmill, you sometimes feel like you're stepping and stepping and not going anywhere. but often times, the destination is not as important as the journey and what you "get" from it is not nearly as important as what you put into it.