Hi friends! I am so glad the weekend is finally here! How about you?

The weather is getting warmer, yes! And it’s the perfect time to try and get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Now I am the type of person that really needs to get more exercise, and I love to do it with a group where we can motivate each other. So, we created one on Facebook, and it’s called the Sizzler Challenge. And you are welcome!

So what’s it all about? Well, we are women who want to try and get a little more exercise. So we connect in the Sizzler Challenge group.

Women share when they get some exercise in, and we cheer each other on!

And you know what? It works! It really does!

It’s all positive, all encouragement, completely free, no one is selling anything! And you are just perfect for our group! Come join us! If this sounds good to you, click here: Sizzler Challenge

On to my progress recovering from the Broken Ankle: 

Today I met with the surgeon and he was pleased with my progress. Gave me more PT and said the x-rays are looking just as they should. So that is great! Note I am now often getting around with just 1 crutch… woohoo!

When I go in to the doctor’s office, I always see people who are just starting on their broken bone journey. I always try and say something to encourage them. I remember very well what it feels like to be in those shoes! I am so grateful for the doctors and physical therapy team that are helping me mend! And to my dear husband and son Jake and doggy Kasey who are my front line team!

It’s kind of surreal how it changed my life! Looking back over the last few months it has been quite a ride! Rest assured, even though it is a slow going recovery, I am feeling stronger and more confident and am seeing very real progress!

Well this week I wanted to share a story that is near and dear to my heart!

When I was in college, my parents moved to Florida, and I stayed up north to go to school because I wanted to be near where Troy was going (this was while we were dating). So I lived in a dorm during the week up at U of Michigan, and then stayed with my Grandma on the weekends. She was pure love in the flesh. When I would get to her house on Friday’s I would hear her coming to the door saying in her playful high voice, “Who’s that on my front porch?” then the door would open, and she would say, “Get in here, you look so good to me! Look I’ve got duck lumps!” And she would hug me… and of course want to feed me. Honestly she was so sweet! To a college kid, that felt pretty awesome!

Well, all through 4 years of college, every weekend we were together. And she loved my husband Troy who would come over too. She always wanted to feed him too! She would always say to him, “Can I fix you a sandwich?” and then she would tell him, “Here, let me open the fresh chips for you, I can eat the old ones during the week but I want to open this nice fresh bag for you!.” This was the kind of woman she was. She lived in a tiny bungalow, she did not have a lot of money. But she was rich in joy and love for people.

Well, Troy and I got married. And after a few years, we were delighted to have our first son, Shane. My Grandma came to see him in the hospital. And as she sat there holding him, she was in her true happy place! The smile never left her face, and she looked at him with wonder. She told me in all seriousness, “Amy, this is a very special baby! I can tell he is going to be very smart!” Ok… now what first time mama wouldn’t love hearing that?

Shane was a very happy baby, and love to explore and learn. He was very curious. He would cruise around in his little walker and look at everything and would talk as though he was taking notes!

When he was 2, I decided to take him down for a visit to Grandma’s house. She was thrilled to see him! We sat in her family room, and she marveled at him (she loved babies). And he toddled around the room, walking over to see the little stuffed animals she had out, and on a few end tables were arrangements of little knick knacks and of course he wanted to play with those. But I did not know if he might break them, or how she would feel about it, so I said to him, “No Shaney, those are Grandma’s pretties, we can look but we can’t touch them.”

And then my Grandma said to me in the sweetest voice ever, “Now Amy, there is nothing in this house that I have that he can’t put his dear sweet little hands on.  And when you are gone, I will remember seeing him pick each one of those things up, and it will bring me joy! I’ll remember him toddling around this room. Seeing him enjoy these things brings me pleasure!”

I sat there as though I had gently been given guidance by an angel! This is how you love. This is how you set your priorities in life. People are far more important than “stuff”. Indeed, people are a miraculous blessing, and the best part of her week was when she got to spend time with them!

I wanted to look at people through her eyes. To Love First. She always saw the very best in people. Even on the worst day of your life, no matter if you messed up and made the worst mistakes ever, when you walked in her house, she would grab you and hug you close like it was the greatest gift she ever received just to spend another minute with you.

Boy I had a lot to learn. One thing I knew, the world needed a whole lot more people like my Grandma. She loved with reckless abandon! She forgave before you even asked. She knew when your heart was broken and she would wrap her arms around you and you just knew you were going to be ok. Why? Because she loved you, and she believed in you. She would give you the best she had to offer, and it was her delight. Who wouldn’t long for someone like that in their life?

Yes, I think I have a lot to learn. And when we love with reckless abandon like that, everyone wins!

Even if we don’t have someone that gives us that kind of love, we can give that love to the people in our lives! I think when you give love, forgiveness, compassion and kindness like that, it comes back to you ten-fold.

You never go wrong when you start with love. Like a compass setting, Love First. 

I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

I’ll be back Tuesday for another Tasty Tuesday!

Love Always,

Amy

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a