Happy Thanksgiving, Readers!
Today marks Eloise's 333rd blog post.
It is a special one.
Make sure you read this one all the way through.
I saved the best for last--
just like the pumpkin pie!
For that, I
The ability to write,
freely & openly,
for others to enjoy,
is a great blessing.
I am appreciative that I live in a time and place
where I am afforded to do so.
My greatest blessings are these three.
Eloise is thankful for the joy they bring me each day.
I am thankful to have found a special person to spend my life with.
Love is a good thing.
There is something about the acorn I just adore!
I can't resist the urge to pick one up when I find one.
Maybe it's because of the potential for greatness the acorn holds.
Or, is the acorn itself, the greatness?
Eloise is always on a journey of self-improvement.
I do not desire to become great.
I merely want to live my best life, all the days I am here.
Eloise has been getting really healthy for two years strong with my team.
I just finished the 58 Day Wellness Challenge.
My teammates and I focused on staying healthy during the challenging fall months.
Even the early snow dump of last week could not curtail our wellness efforts.
We found the snow just another opportunity to get strong.
We ran,
and played,
and shared with one another.
When the weather left us frozen,
some of warmed up with a swim!
I am thankful for such a supportive environment to get well.
My teammates certainly encouraged me during my two month hiatus from jogging.
Eloise has healed from her stress fracture,
and I laced up my shoes for the first time today!
Eloise has healed from her stress fracture,
and I laced up my shoes for the first time today!
I created a new workout for myself.
I call it the
I put in 3 miles on my bike through the Community Park trails
then another 4 miles through the Harbor Ridge subdivision.
When the weather is good enough to fit both parts of my workout in,
it's called The Lucky Seven.
I am going to count how many I fit in this season.
I already have one!
This is a lamp post from the Harbor Ridge subdivision.
Oh, how I love a lamp post!
The blue behind it is not C.S. Lewis's Eastern Sea.
It's Lake Erie!
Oh, my zombies! How I've missed you!
I finally found my lock pick!!!
I didn't set any speed records chatting with the neighbors
and taking lots and lots of pictures,
but I am grateful for all my time spent in nature today.
To show you how good my Canon SX50 is,
check this out:
This is Erie's peninsula, taken from the deck of the Harbor Ridge Club House deck.
Here it is again, through my zoom.
By God, I think that is one of my teammates out for a swim!
Here is the water tower.
Again, the shot through my zoom.
I really would love a chance to climb to the top of that.
Thank you Canon, for helping me capture life.
Two years ago, I would have turned around and RAN
in the other direction if I found these while out on a run.
Today, I am brave.
Dog bone in my pocket,
camera around my neck,
phone in my hand--
I'm bravest of the brave.
(Whatever it is, that sucker has CLAWS!)
The tracks I stumbled upon today made me realize I would have made a terrible pilgrim.
As I sit here and write this blog, my feet are sore from today's run.
They hurt every single day of my life,
and some days are worse than others.
I ripped this page out of a health magazine, not for the arthritis drug it was advertising,
but for the reminder to my family where Mother Eloise likes her feet rubbed.
I hung it on my refrigerator beneath #ajo.
You can learn a lot about a person from what they keep on their refrigerator.
Have a gander at Eloise's.
My mother just uncorked another bottle of 6 Mile Cellars wine from the mere sight of this.
Sorry, Mom.
Because this is the 333rd blog post, I need my message to be extra special.
Because I am posting this a day early on Thanksgiving, you have an extra day to
complete your homework.
Ask yourself the following questions:
What do you do when you encounter an obstacle?
What happens when something gets in the way of your planned path?
What do you say to the person who tells you to stop--there's no way through?
The one who cautions, "Don't go down that road--you can't see around the bend!"
I could tell you what I do--but telling all the time gets preachy.
Instead, let Eloise SHOW you something.
It is unforgettable.
That's because he's unstoppable.
Meet Nick.
Nick Vujicic is a handsome Australian,
with eyes that sparkle,
and a smile that warms the heart.
He is well known for is ability to speak and write.
He motivates many.
He motivates me.
You could feel this one coming, couldn't you?
Nick has no arms and no legs.
That didn't stop him from writing.
taking pictures,
or finding love.
If you are looking for something to read this holiday season,
pick up one of Nick's books.
He has penned several.
For you READERS--here is the link to Nick's website.
For you WATCHERS--here is a video showing Nick in action.
I beg you to take 4 minutes and ten seconds out of your life to watch this.
Please.
It's important.
Nick, you are in my heart,
and I am compelled to share your story this Thanksgiving Day.
I am grateful I had the honor to do so on this blog.
You will forever be in my prayers.
I pray that one day you will be able to wear the shoes you keep in your closet.
Prayer works, My People.
The readers of this blog will be mentioned in my prayers this Thanksgiving Day.
I will pray that you find inspiration in my words,
and do all that you can to share the fruits of the spirit.
Make that dish bigger than your turkey this year.
If you are new at prayer, or feel the slightest bit awkward,
I found a simple one for you to get you started.
Pray today, Readers.
Be thankful for what you have been given.
Me?
What am I most thankful for today?
I'm grateful for my own two feet that lead me to the water.
I had a good long drink and it tasted amazing.
There was something in that water, Readers.
Watch the video to find out what was in my cup,
which now runneth over.
Thank you Carrie Underwood for such a beautiful song.
Blessings to you on Thanksgiving and every day after that.
With thanks,
Eloise
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