Grandmas

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. It seems to be the purest, most family-centered day of the year. As long as I can remember, Grandma and Grandpa Kaiser would come to our house (or we'd go to theirs) for lunch, Lions, naps, and board games... This year, Grandma decided to go to her new home for Thanksgiving. Yesterday morning, quite unexpectedly, she had a stroke and at 1:00 this morning, she left for her feast. She was the most unbelievable Grandma. She was so full of life, love, and warmth beyond what my simple words can describe. She was so strong, wise, and gentle. Her love for God was so evident in everything she did.

This week will be very hard, but I'm thankful. I'm thankful that she had 78 FULL years on this earth. Even yesterday morning, while she ate breakfast with Grandpa, she was still the same Grandma we've always known. She lived her 57 years of marriage to the fullest. I am thankful for my 28 great years with her. She was there for my birth, my soccer games, my graduation, my senior recital, and she was able to be a part of my wedding. Every birthday she would make me a pumpkin pie, and I still got one last month. Every summer they would make sure I got a chance to waterski, even if it was the only time they took the boat out all summer. Grandma even skied herself within the past 5 years! I am thankful that she raised such amazing children. My mother is an amazing woman and I can see where she got it. When I watch my mom be a grandma to my nieces and nephews, I am reminded of how my grandma was when I was younger. My 3 uncles are strong, godly men. It is an honor to be part of the heritage.

I could go on an on about why I am thankful for Grandma Kaiser. She enriched my life more than she even knew. The holidays will not be the same without her, especially this one. But it's okay, because death is not the end -- not even close. She is dancing with Jesus, more healthy and happy than she has ever been, and for that, I am MOST thankful. If anyone deserves that happy ending, I think it would be Grandma. I like to think that one of the first people to meet Grandma Kaiser when she walked through those gates was a good friend of hers, my Grandma England, who passed away just eight weeks ago today. I cannot thank God enough for both ladies, I loved them so much. They were both perfect grandmas in their own way.

Cherish the ones you love, and praise God that we do not grieve as those who have no hope.

Five Hundred Thousand Centimeters

This morning I ran in the first 5k of my life. The last time I ran was probably six months ago, well before the first snow. That was probably two miles. Three miles and some change is really not that far, nor is my 23:39 something to write home about, but the experience was quite freeing. There is something about running towards a finish line. I get the same feeling climbing Colorado's 14ers (2 down, many to go). When I push myself physically, I am forced to pray and I am able to focus on conquering struggles and achieving personal goals, which I did in part today. Believe it or not, that is partly why I did not train for today's race. I wanted it to be a little harder.

I should probably run more. Yes, because I am way out of shape. Even more, God likes the opportunity to push me up those mountains and speed me up at the end of those races. If it doesn't hurt, it is not worth it. I think I have a newfound desire to run a marathon someday. I'm probably crazy. And yes, I will train for that one.

My bride, take heart, I still have no desire for Everest.

Remember Me?

A late night in April brought me back... along with the recent revelation of my username and password. Not much has changed since the last post. But I didn't move into my house on February 1. April 17th, 2007 was the big day, almost a year ago. And now I have a roommate. She's not so bad, she does her part :)

The love of my life vowed to love me back 2 1/2 months ago... something I thought may never happen. She is compassion, grace, and beauty. She is mine. And she is sleeping in the next room. Sometimes I can't get over it. I hope I never do.

Maybe I'll never post again. But maybe I will. Facebook requires no thought. You just look around at other peoples lives and occasionally send notes to them. Don't get me wrong, I love it. But , depending on your approach, blogging makes you look at your own life. After all, who are you writing to?

I don't know where this will take me, but I have learned a lot in 2 months of marriage. That, along with the recent finding of Spurgeon's Expository Encyclopedia in my basement, may give me something to talk about. I'm still waiting on that inspiration. For now I'm going to crawl back into bed with my sleeping beauty. The sheets should have cooled down by now.