Since I’ve Been Gone…

Hey guys! 

Happy Wednesday to you all! I hope you’ve had a great start to the week and are attacking today with joy and strength! Thanks so much for all of your encouraging comments on my last post and our recent Owyhee River trip. What a blast, what an experience, what an amazing memory that I hope will bring about real life change in mine and the other participants’ lives.

Since I’ve been gone, life has gone on. My brother turned 23 (Happy Birthday, Tay!), my Dad and Father-in-Law celebrated Father’s Day (Happy Father’s Day!), and it rained in Calgary – a lot. There is flooding in many parts of Alberta and BC and a town in BC is even on a water ban for 2 weeks, gathering in parking lots to fill up 5-gallon jugs from safe drinking water sources. Colorado’s been on fire, there’s been the tropical storm Debby in the south, and people’s lives continued on. What an interesting thought – life goes on. I know it’s simple and cliche, but when you’re away and unplugged having an adventure, you’re in your own world and often forget that life continued while you were away. It’s great (needed! encouraged!) to disconnect but good to get back into life too. 

So to my brother, HAPPY BIRTHDAY! You are one of the kindest, most creative, generous, and genuine men I know, and I am so glad we had some good time in Cabo to reconnect. I love you so much! Happy 23rd.

 

To my dad, HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to my favorite dad ever. 😉 You are a man of God who has shown me to place my hope in Christ, always cheered for me at my races, and has always supported me in life. And, on a more superficial note, you keep getting better looking and in better shape with age!

 

And Happy Father’s Day to Maurice, who has treated me so much like his own daughter and accepted me into his family with such loving, hospitable, and open arms. I’m grateful for your laugh and sensitivity and for all your support.

 

Getting back into the groove of the rest of life that kept going while I was gone has been hard, to be honest. We always try to prepare people for the adjustment of coming down off such a trip and back to life and have experienced many such transitions, but this time was extra hard. We are always contemplating life and our decisions and direction when we come off the river, and turning around for work Monday was rough, however much we both enjoy our jobs. 

I was on a run Monday afternoon in between clients and reflected on how neat it was that I was able to spend 8 days kayaking on a river and then transition to running 6.6 miles the next day (still a bit of a shock to my jello-y legs but I did it after not using them much!). It hit me that I want to be able to transition more seamlessly not only between different physical modalities (like kayaking and running) but between different phases in life without dwelling in one place for too long or letting emotions take over one way or the other. I want to be a better life transition-er, and the truth is there is NOTHING for me to be anxious, worried, or uneasy about if I claim to trust in Christ (which I do) and his path for my life. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

HOW do I get this peace? By truly trusting and RESTING in God’s plan, and by choosing not to focus on where I could be or even what I should be doing but rather by focusing my thoughts on what is GOOD. 

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things…And the God of peace will be with you.”

I am encouraged by this text (Philippians 4:6-9) and it’s truth and reminded to trust, to rest, and to focus my thoughts. The run really helped to set the tone for my week and I felt lighter and more joyful about the transition. Cheers to knowing that you don’t have to do it all on your own! And that there is a season for everything. I’ve been enjoying training and getting back into client’s lives and making that transition to being present here in Calgary. It’s been great to see friends and connect on different levels and enjoy the green around me in thanks to the rain and the freshness of every day.

How do you deal with transitions?

What do you need peace about in your life right now? How do you achieve that peace?

Well, I’m off to do a burpee workout (loving the return to strength training too!) with Mikey before heading in to the gym and then out to home clients for the day! Make it a good one! Live well & be well friends,

Bonnie

Dirty and happy post-Owyhee River – how I like to live but how I can’t every day – and I’m okay with that! 😉