Week Two of Stretching

So the day I started stretching was also the day I started Duolingo.

Beag is small and snog is nice....the irony.

I chose to learn Gaelic as that was how I discovered the app:  Gaelic Duolingo was referenced on Twitter (as I follow numerous Scottish accounts.). It was quite fun, which was surprising. I’ve failed at all other attempts to learn another language; even dropping out of my Spanish course in college. To be honest, the method of learning bored me...until now. I’m loving my daily 5-10 minute lesson...and wish I had picked Portuguese instead!!  Now two weeks in, I’m pretty invested in continuing studying Gaelic....but it has made me wonder. I’m doing something I never could do before, simple because it’s being presented differently.

Stretching.....wow.

The Buckeye, my partner.

I am two weeks in, and the Buckeye is ten days in.  We are at 7 minutes a day as of this morning; adding a minute or so more each week.

I know it’s only 5 minutes. But it’s freaking everyday for 5 minutes.

Two weeks ago, I figured I could stretch for 5 minutes a day, and drug an old yoga mat into my office. A few days in, I invited my husband to join me.  It was just 5 minutes...and yet I was SORE. Like I’d had a huge workout sore!!!  Hubby quickly found he felt the same...and this is despite the fact he hikes 2 times a week and I hike at least once. How could we be so sore from simply 5 minutes?!?

Plus walking the dog daily...it’s not like we just sit all day!

The fact he was so sore impressed Hubby we were really on to something....and he insisted we do it first thing every morning. Which meant prior to him leaving for work.

At zero dark thirty.

So for several different days now....the two work days after Christmas and this first week after, I’ve dragged myself from my warm bed to my office....where the ever cheerful Buckeye has our two mats out and waiting.

And it’s so hard.

Hard to get out of my warm bed. Hard to even think of stretching...because I dread how I may feel after.

Nauseous, and lately increasingly sore.

After massive googling, I’m learning to keep my head tilted in one direction.  If I don’t, my tummy gets upset for several hours, not unlike prior yoga experiences.  It has nothing to do with food and everything to do with my neck.  Thus far, I’ve had few days ays without nausea...and I’m hopeful. Because I don’t mind the stretches...and very funnily, the Buckeye does!

We get started, he starts to complain...when all of my complaining is beforehand. In this we are a perfect match...his strength gets me going and my strength keeps him going.

It’s a new camaraderie between us...and it’s so good.  As we form this habit together, I mused that perhaps in time we could mix up other things in the proposed thirty minutes we would allot.

This Buckeye is increasingly happy as of late.

He readily agreed...as he sees our future very much entwined. I’m thinking that maybe exercise just needed to be presented to me in a different way for me to see success...even though we are far from the mere habit of it! As I tucked away the fact I now “know” 175 words of Gaelic, I wonder how many improvements my body has seen since I started stretching daily.  My newest accomplishment? I can bend down and stand back up without using my arms to pull/push myself up. In 5 simple minutes a day.  Add to that the fact my upper back pain is gone. This is just two weeks in....what more awaits?

We shall see:)

Week One in the Books: Stretching

It’s Christmas Day.

This was the first (and last!) day we had gifts under the tree!

It also marked the eighth day in a row I’ve done two things: stretch, and practice Scottish Gaelic.

I also found treasure while hiking, likely for the eighth time.

Stretching.  Three days in, I invited the Buckeye to join me.

Because while we clean up well, we both are about equal when it comes to fitness since his accident a year ago.

Join me he did, and I’m so glad for it.  You see, I would have quit three days ago.  I was getting discouraged by it, and frankly, I was sore.

From FIVE MINUTES OF STRETCHING.

No cardio, no Pilates, no yoga....just five minutes of stretches.

Which DOES burn 27 calories, but still.

The past few days, my thighs have protested. My upper back pain, however?

Gone.

I’m ridiculously pleased I exercised my way out of pain....but even more pleased I no longer work at the building behind me....

Last night at Christmas Eve service I noticed I stood taller, since my shoulders weren’t pulling forward. I noticed my hips went into position better, too, and my overall posture had improved.  With just five minutes of stretching a day.

Eight days in, my body was doing better.  All because I didn’t quit, and that was due to my partner, the Buckeye.

At the Symphony. I remembered to say slàinte at dinner instead of cheers!!!

We decided to stretch everyday together, and add one minute a week to our routine until we get to 30. He’s just as inflexible as I am, and it’s a joy to start at the same point.  Lately we’ve hiked at least once a week together, and often I join him on his evening dog walk.

Constellation hike.

A few weeks ago, he had an unexpected call. He received an order on a product, and we decided to deliver it ourselves. The twelve hour road trip had an unexpected benefit; an hour from home he had an epiphany.  He was done seeking crumbs.

Everyday since has been amazing.

In a blink, the man I thought I had lost was back. 

This man: last seen in March 2018, seen here on 12/31/17.

My husband joined me in stretching daily (although he left Gaelic to me....oh!!! I love it! We hiked Ham and Cheese trail and I was all “Hama agus Cìas!”) and rejoined me in a life of walking by faith, not by sight.  2019 has been a rough year, and yet....

Manchild & Princess, laughing this morning at breakfast.

Joy has return to our home.

True joy, that is our strength and stronghold.  Just as I feel changes with just one week of stretching behind me, and I’m translating a word or four out of my week of studying Gaelic, so too is life in our family changing for the better.

Never has this been more true than this year.

Little steps. Little reminders. Partnership.

Already, 2020 will be better than I ever thought it could be :)

Praying it continues to be.

Stretching. Literally.

So my first thought is “will the . in the title be a . or a ridiculous mix of symbols when posted?!”

We’ll all know soon.

So this was the start to my morning.

I’m telling all of you out of hopes of actually continuing this...not that after FIVE YEARS of blogging I feel there’s any success in utilizing accountability as a factor in my fitness quest.

Actually, the only thing that keeps me returning to exercise is the thought of my grandmother in a wheelchair for 20+ years...and more recently, my mother’s health issues.  While both indulged in habits I have not indulged in (smoking by Nana, overweight by my Mom) I cannot help but see correlations. Neither looked after their health, and I admit I really don’t want to. I fully subscribe to being part of the 80% designed to survive war and famine.

Lol, she’s not really old. But good lord I’m wearing my hair like this when I’m gray!

The Buckeye and I watched the first season of Vikings over Thanksgiving, and I admit it reminded me of a different season in my life. When I tried to convince the King I was worthy of his love, by exercising and getting fit. Over the years I’ve struggled, knowing full well I need to get back to where I was when my hand broke. Between 150-155, and fit.

I’m definitely not there now!!!! 😂😂

It’s not a huge amount of weight to shift: 25lbs. I also have a genuine desire to move it.

Just no desire to exercise or diet.

So I’m trying things...like removing the clothing I love that doesn’t fit from my closet...and telling myself I have to give it away if it doesn’t fit in X number of months.

Problem is....I’m not certain that will work. 

What I do know will work? 

Getting rid of every size 12 pair of jeans...and the 10’s when they get too big.  

I have a double chin I’d like to get rid of, too.

So.

5-2.

But with a twist...hubby needs to go pescatarian.  Keto pescatarian. For actual legit health reasons; so more impetus to do it right.

Hence the yoga mat in my office.

Starting now, before the new year. With stretches.

Quite honestly, it’s a stretch.

I don’t want to do it. At all.  I’m perfectly content to stay exactly the weight I am. 

But, fitness quest.

Begin again.

I don’t want hindsight to be 20/20...I want 2020 to be the year I am proud of. For the first time in quite awhile.

5 minutes down.  1820 minutes to go!

I’ll be curious to see what next Christmas brings!

Changes

So, my little gym closed.

This was sent at 11:59pm the day before it closed!

Remember how much I DIDN’T want to go?!? And how I settled in? And found my groove? And benefitted from the work I did in August on my September honeymoon?!?

All. For. Naught.

I Facebook lived my distress as accountability for walking in. 

Poor Dude at the counter.  

Like Dude so did not deserve my angst, which I tried to dial back when it triggered him (literally.  I felt bad as I know his condition is physiological) but yet I needed to let him know so he could have his management reach out to me.  My old young kid at the counter at my old location (which is growing more dear to me by the moment!) had gotten used to my growls of discouraging banter...!! Still, Dude was super cool and even showed me where the arc trainers were.

They had 7.

This is a still from my video in which I remark that it smells like sweat. Note the 16 and the 45...back in early August that read 1 and maybe 10.

In my Facebook live, I make the comment that walking in alone is pretty difficult; that it’s same reason people don’t go to church.  It’s not fun to do either, but you know you should and supposedly you’ll feel better after both.

I don’t feel better though.

When I left, after a full blown bad asthma attack in the first third, I wanted to cry. I don’t like feeling bad after exercise. I want to have the happy rewarding exercise endorphins.  I know my honeymoon and the huge amounts of walking (AND CLIMBING!) we did were possible because of my month in the gym before we left.  I was just very tired of feeling bad.  So is the Buckeye.

Since his accident, he’s suffered from high blood pressure. He never had it before, and it’s a lingering injury. He takes a cocktail of prescription drugs every morning, while hiking hard two-three times a week to get his body back into shape. Rugby, unfortunately, is no longer part of his exercise regime.  We switched PCP’s this summer to one more proactive in getting him better (with or without prescriptions) and she suggested stepping down on one medication that was used for headaches (and had, in fact, been the drug in March that had stopped the constant headache he’d had since the accident in December.) In August he dropped his dose to the minimum, with awful mood swings...but he stuck it out. The headaches didn’t return, but he certainly didn’t feel better. Right before we left on our honeymoon, one of his specialists changed his blood pressure medications, as his prior regime still wasn’t getting it under control. The debate continued: was his blood pressure elevated still due to the injury or something else?

So while I complain of hating exercise and mild asthma, my hubby has dealt with crippling exhaustion, puddy-headness, and a body that seems to be refusing to heal. Add in brain days and yeah. It’s been super tough.

I love that he’s a trooper...but goodness. 

Two weeks ago, one of my carts needed work. My mechanic and his wife came to the house, and she asked me if the Buckeye had tried the CBD oil yet she had dropped off.  I had forgotten about it; we had decided he would try it after our honeymoon in case of adverse reactions. That night the Buckeye decided to drop the one medication he was on the lowest dose of (and had already had approval to drop from his doctor.) My research on CBD did show it triggered the same area of the brain as the medication he was dropping, so I figured it would be ok.

It wasn’t ok.

It was a miracle.

The puffy-headness, dry mouth and lethargy disappeared overnight. He woke up feeling normal for the first time in ten months. All day he kept texting me, telling me he felt amazing.  I was skeptical, but delighted...and on edge.  Would it last?

Multiple opportunities came up for brain days...many triggers presented themselves.  He remained unphased.  His energy increased, and I researched the drug he had gone off of.

He’d had every single side effect listed.  Now off the medicine, they were all gone.

While I debated whether it was simply going off the one med, or the substitution of the CBD (which his PCP has encouraged him to try) that made the change, I found myself leery.  Would this last? After a year of nothing but trials, I was hesitant to rejoice...even if it did seem like he was feeling back to his old self.

He took the doors off his Jeep😎

It’s like exercise and me: I see brief improvements, but it’s never lasted. Would this be different?

Back at my new gym, I’d settled in to going twice a week. I wasn’t happy, my weight wasn’t changing and I still had asthma but hey; I was going.  My blood pressure (which has always been normal) actually was getting better...110/70, as opposed to 120/80. I knew this only because we used my blood pressure to gauge if the Buckeye’s blood pressure machine was accurate. His had been in the 130/90’s...but had improved to close to normal the new medication over our honeymoon. 

This changed, too.

As the Buckeye continually felt better, we talked more about things we wanted to change. He admitted in his injury he had been unable to focus on little things, as he simply tried to survive. He started trying a bit, and I savored it.  Encouraged, I began researching other things we could do to improve our health. We talked about going back on the 5-2 diet, which we both had done so well on two years before...but I admitted I wasn’t committed to dieting right now. Life had been an emotional struggle for 18 months...and limiting my food wasn’t an option. My exercising was keeping my weight the same, so I felt no need to further tax my soul.  Then the Buckeye stumbled on an article about recent research on a medical condition he has, separate from the injury.  It suggested that ketosis (being in a fasting state) could reverse it.

Well, that made me do a double take.

While 5-2 was effective in this study, the 8 hour diet (eating in an 8 hour window, with 16 hours of fasting) was ideal. The researchers lamented most people couldn’t control their diet...but I saw hope.  So I researched it...and talked to the Buckeye. I’ve often said that breakfast was an invention of the rich, and rarely ate breakfast myself...so this would be an “easy”

diet for me. One week ago, we went on it.  Ate our first meal at noon, and made sure to finish eating by 8pm. Black coffee doesn’t break a fast, so that got us through the morning. The Buckeye also started taking his blood pressure meds at noon with lunch, as he needed to take them with food.  We planned to talk to the specialist about it, but didn’t think much else as we were doing this to try and reverse his medical condition that had nothing to do with his injury.

He’s been very, very happy as of late. Me? I had forgotten what a goofball he was!

Last night he glanced at his blood pressure machine, and asked me to take it. We’ve been awful in tracking it since we got home; since it had been consistently better in the mid 120’s over 80’s instead of 130’s over 90’s we simply weren’t as worried. The new med had worked, it was finally in the normal range with medications. Since he’s started the CBD, and his mood had so drastically improved, I really wasn’t thinking about his blood pressure.

So, I took it.

Then I took it again.

Then I took mine, to make sure it was reading correctly; it was.

So I took his again.

100’s over 60’s.  Three times.

Frankly, we were stunned.  (It also explained something light headedness he’d had that weekend!!)  While we know to be wise, and he’s not going off medication without doctor supervision...we are optimistic.  Further research into both fasting and CBD showed both have proven blood pressure reduction effects.

His hope is to go off all prescription medications. I’m hopeful I’ve got my husband back.

Does make it easier to go to the gym?  No. But I am reminded that making healthy choices doesn’t always mean you see the results.  But then there’s this:

Normally I struggle to burn 200 calories in 30 minutes...but my first time at the gym in a fast? 272.

Every visit to the gym since we went on the 8 hr diet I’ve burned almost a hundred more calories.

And I haven’t had an asthma attack.

Soooooooooo while it’s early, I’m slightly optimistic.  Could this change be a significant one? As I daily see my husband’s physical and mental health improve...I am cautiously less skeptical.  

Time will tell.

In the meantime, I’m not as saucy going to the gym. (Well, that’s a lie. I told the clerk at the desk that telling me to have a good workout was akin to me telling them to have a good bowel movement...)

Perhaps, just maybe, we have good days ahead.  What we do have, regardless, is a partner to go through it.  Even when I’m at the gym alone, or the Buckeye is on a job site.  And that we’ve come to remember, as a result of our honeymoon and the weeks since our return.  We aren’t in this alone. We are doing this together.  After simply surviving, we are adjusting to to getting better. Yes, there are still hard days. Yep, he’s still in recovery and we both need to lose 20 pounds. But we aren’t alone in this journey, and quite honestly, we are better together. 

And that I’m not skeptical about...and very much reassured on.

Hazard yit Forvard

I’m on the plane, just past Greenland and about to enter Canadian airspace.

This morning I “stood on the balcony” with the British Royal Family.

I also danced in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace with my husband, the Buckeye.

He’s been pretty tired; he’s still very much in recovery from that brain bleed 9 months ago.

When we left EIGHTEEN DAYS ago(!!) we were tired, worn out and emotionally drained from the last year. The loss of his job the day he returned from our wedding, and his near death three months later with a long recovery had worn us out. Few marriages are tested this strenuously early on; we both left worried.

Finland assured us we had nothing to worry about. The spark is still very easily fanned into a flame!

We also reaped the rewards of our efforts to get in shape before our trip: while it may not have been my best, it was more than sufficient to have a very physically active honeymoon.  We averaged over 5 miles and 11 flights of stairs everyday in Europe, with only one showing of the Air Monster (in Edinburgh, after climbing eight flights of outside stairs in a pretty urban/polluted environment.)

We had loved Finland, and eagerly anticipated Scotland. Little did we know how deeply it would touch us.

Our touchdown in Aberdeen was likely the toughest of any landings I’ve ever had-in a crosswind with a short runway.

Kinda like our first year of marriage: Bam! You’re here!

Unlike our first year, however, we had an unexpected upgrade from Europcar!  Good lord this vehicle was SWWWWWWEEEEEET.

I had prearranged dinner at our BnB; we sank into a cozy Scottish kitchen and enjoyed lasagne and cobbler with a bottle of white wine. The Buckeye was struggling a bit: his stamina was starting to give earlier each day. I had known this was a possibility and planned accordingly-every day was flexible. We could add things if he felt up to it, but focused on only one main thing a day. 

Shirley’s back garden. If you ever go to Scotland, stay with Shirley in Peterculter!

Our first destination? Dunnottar Castle.  This ruin caught our fancy right after our engagement, and I even blogged about it.

What girl doesn’t want this wedding photo?!!!!?

I had discovered Dunnottar Castle when I researched Gregg’s Scottish roots. He’s actually a direct descendant of the earl marishal’s of Scotland, who BUILT THIS CASTLE. Like seriously, wickedly cool.

Or just Lovely😂😂😂

(The Buckeye says I say that too much now.  With an accent.)

As we had seriously discussed eloping, I was quite surprised when the Buckeye brought up eloping to Scotland, and having it at Dunnottar.  Neither of us knew the other was thinking Scotland, and never before had we talked about Dunnottar.  We had both discovered it separately, when googling the clan castle of the Keith’s.

Because of course we are both clan Keith. Seriously.

Back in February 2018, we very seriously considered a Scottish elopement to Dunnottar; we found out we needed a marriage visa, and we got together the costs. I called my lifelong BFF to make sure she had a passport to be my witness; he decided he’d pull a witness from a local pub😂😂 (I love this man so much-he makes me laugh, and that’s wonderful!)

But my house hadn’t sold, and everyone told us we needed to sell my house first. Like everyone.

And my daughter the Commander commanded us to not elope.

And as I added the costs of Scotland and saw them equal a small wedding in Prescott, I let the dreams of Dunnottar slide. The Buckeye let my unsold house take center stage, and refused to set a wedding date until it sold.

And the Dark Days began.

We had only fought once the entire time we dated, from that point on, we struggled. The house became a noose with each day it remained unsold, and eventually we set a date without a sale. The offer came within 48 hours of us doing so, and it did sell a month later. But I was worn out from the battle...of every month working to make the money to pay the mortgage and bills, spending time on my knees trusting God I’d be ok. The days apart were hard, and the stress was huge. In my mind, I’d lose the Buckeye if it didn’t sell; the increasing anxiety that I’d lose him made the road much tougher.  The sale, I thought,  would alleviate it; instead the rougher storms came right on its heels.

What if we had eloped? It’s a what if I try not to think about...but climbing the cliffs around Dunnottar I couldn’t help but think of the fact we had both separately had thought to elope there.

This day was my favorite day of our honeymoon.

For as I climbed and was overwhelmed by the beauty of the Scottish coast, the magnificence of the ruin and the windswept romance of a wedding there I felt the tears run down my cheeks.

This had been Plan A, God’s Very Best.

He had wanted this for us-this magnificent, over-the-top, so us, so wildly wonderful spot for us to say our vows. Both of us knew it, and neither of us listened.  Instead, we did the “wise” thing and waited for my house to sell.  

The joy we experienced here-it was immeasurable.

The tears were a humbled mix of joy, repentance, awe and regret. My Father God had wanted me to have this magnificent gift, and I had said no.  Grabbing the Buckeye’s hand, I shared my thoughts; he agreed.  He knew.  He admitted he knew then, too.  At that moment he prayed, asking God to forgive our lack of faith, and thanking Him for His faithfulness to us.

In Scotland, our faith was renewed.

These are the coat of arms and motto’s of Gregg’s great (9 times) grandparents.

The Keith clan motto is Veritas Vincit.

So I had a little bonding moment with my great-nine times-grandmother-in-law.

Though adversity we will move forward.

That’s what we are doing...may we find more joy in our future.

There’s many more honeymoon tales to be told, but none more important than this:

We will seek first God’s will for us, and walk by faith.

For we have had the rather rare glimpse of what we gave up, and know the pain of the harder road. Truth conquers, and we will move forward through adversity. 

And we will return.

How this place restored my very soul.

We have couple goals, entwined with personal goals...and Dunnottar represents them both. As we seek to do God’s will first, we are reminded that He always wants the best for us. When we do it our way, even if it seems wise, we forget His way is higher and better.

Even if it seems harder...that’s where faith comes in.

He bought a kilt for his next visit...😍

Our honeymoon reassured us we were a match, and that together we can do amazing things. Our delight in each other was only topped by the reminder that Not only will it be ok, but it can be amazing if we do what God has called us to do.

So we rewind.  Remember the last thing we knew we were to do, that we haven’t. Each of us has a different personal path-but one that leads us parallel to the same destination.  We found those paths again at Dunnottar. God is so good to show us as we wandered.  May our resolve and direction stay true, and we find ourselves again there someday soon.

Hazard yit Forvard.

Unexpected Rewards

We’ve been on our honeymoon for 10 days, with 8 more days to go.  Technically.

Although it started like this, sooo...

It’s funny what our expectations have been.  We thought we’d have a celebratory drink at Sky Harbor.

We did not.

Instead I yelled “Go Blue” when the gate agent said, “Hey, watch this” and yelled out two random letters to which everyone (but me, in the Michigan shirt) yelled back two more letters in a group attempt to spell a four letter word. (For those unfamiliar, Buckeyes can’t spell the name of their state without help. One says O-H and the other says I-O.)

Heh.  The state to which we travelled is a four letter word. 🤪

Anywise, the Buckeye was stressed. He’d planned an 80th surprise party for his mom the day after we got to Ohio, and he realized he was the weak link. If anyone was going to accidentally tell her, it would be him.

He needn’t have worried. It went perfectly, 45+ people showed up, including cousins who flew in. It was a wonderful way to meet the majority of the Buckeye’s family and friends!

So, I thought maybe after the party he would relax, but the next day we drive north to see my people.

My cousin and I both wore sparkly blue Kate Spades because we are the same people:)

My people. Ohhhhh how I’ve missed them! (Pam, how did we not get a photo together?!?)

We actually had a purpose in going to Michigan. While my brother, who is an ordained minister suggested it was because I’m a diva who needed a second wedding ceremony, it was really a chance to remember our vows. It’s been a super tough year.

Vows renewed, we headed to Cleveland.  That’s about 5-6hrs of driving that day alone.

With Swagger, the official Browns dog.

The next day, our actual anniversary, we met up with the Knight’s sister and her fiancé, and the Knight’s college roommate and his wife for breakfast.  Yes, my late husband’s people...and it was wonderful. On to the game with the Buckeye’s brother, sister-in-law and two of his friends, including the one who had packed his reserve when he had a cut away so long ago and had saved his life (just like me!)

Then the Browns lost, and we walked 6 miles and couldn’t seem to get a pizza delivered to our room with any speed.  The Buckeye was worn out, and I worried.

The next day, we drove back to Michigan...via State Route 2...and memories came flooding back of childhood trips to the area we both had taken. After lunch with my lifelong BFF we headed to my old home airport.  Where it took forever.

Boarding flight two at airport three...

And off we went to Finland.

We arrived at 2:30 the next day, and immediately began to explore.

Quite simply, he could not stop pinching himself.  

We wandered for hours, soaking in Helsinki.  Dinner of reindeer was a must do, and we walked back to the apartment exhausted. We had walked almost 6 miles.  The next morning, knowing rain was forecasted, we got up early and went to Suomenlinna, the island fortress.

It was then we knew.

We did almost 8 miles that day, between our island time, walking the city and trekking to a tattoo shop for the Buckeye to get a special piece of ink commemorating his Finnish heritage. The next day we flew north to Toholampi, where both of his great grandparents (his paternal grandmother’s parents) had been born and raised.

We spent almost two hours looking at graves in the church cemetery. 

That day we walked 6 miles again.

Back to Helsinki, and we had the joy of a photography tour of the city.

We could not stop laughing.

And the photos captured something we both had worried was lost.

We did another 8 miles that day, and climbed 18 flights of stairs (we had averaged 14 flights a day, which is not hard when your apartment is on the fourth floor and the elevator doesn’t work.)

I have never been more thankful for the exercise I had done prior before.  August had been simple discipline to go to the gym, to just show up.

Little did I know I was insuring a wonderful trip.

All the weeks of podcasts and “Building the Browns” episodes while on the arc trainer, which was so slow and tedious as my lungs built in strength, had prepared me for a wonderful honeymoon adventure in Finland.

I could walk miles without an asthma attack.  I could climb stairs without stopping. I had stamina to go, go, go.

Because while I watched “Building the Browns” I was actually building up me.  All the complaints, all the whining, all the choices to go against and give something (not often my best, but wait until my next blog) was the actual training my body needed to do exactly what it’s just done: walk an average of 6 miles a day without complaint.

Well, my feet do complain a little. I am 48, after all.

Finnish pastries. Despite the goodies, all of my pants are loose.

Our Finnish part of our honeymoon has come to a close; we are off to Scotland.  As we depart, I am delighted to have the reward of a health body that easily enjoyed Helsinki and all it had to offer.

Made possible by regular exercise, the entire month before.

Remember how dubious I was? 

Every bit of me is thankful now.

No, August wasn’t my best.  But I did it, consistently, and didn’t quit.  My reward has been a honeymoon I was able to fully enjoy...and it’s not over yet!  Furthermore, in all of this we have found something more: we really are a match.

We had both worried before we had left; about stamina, about us. It’s been so very hard, much harder than we’d let on.

Oh, it’s still very much there!

We rediscovered all the little things we loved about each other on these walls: long walks with long talks. No phones (expect for occasional navigation) and the ability to reconnect as we do desperately needed.  Yes, we really are meant to be.  Just as I strengthened my body beforehand, so now we are strengthening our hearts.

It really, truly, is going to be ok.