Paul and I took a drive out on the grid roads as they call them here - in Ontario we call them concessions - and they are good enough to get out on again. After a few good dumps of snow Paul restricted me from walking out on the grid roads because he felt it was too dangerous. So we walked together at the Northern Lights Sports Palace. Thats quite a big name, but it is an excellent facility for such a small town as Melfort. So we walked there - I hate walking inside but I am finding its all about mind games. At first I didn't want to walk where anyone could see me. I could hear people asking, "who is that?" and "what is she doing out here?" And sure enough people would meet me days later and say - "I saw you on the highway - what were you doing?"
OK, so people are going to talk, that is part of the marketing thing - get them wondering, the salt treatment. So I bought a traffic vest and wore it while I walk, now they are really talking. And I'm good with that.
Besides, I am doing something bigger than myself and people are going to take notice - what should I expect?
But this past past week has been a blow out. I am sick and am trying to recover before pushing again. These days are hard as I wait out the sickness. But the good news is my body is responding to the new lifestyle and I am losing weight and feeling strong in other ways.
It seems like a small step but really its just a simple step ;)
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Web site
I completed the design element of the web site for Simple Steps today. I am really happy with how it came together and that the photos are all mine. The little guy lives at the Village of Hope, his Mom works there in the kitchen. That photo is from my first visit to the village. The last time I was there I was amazed how much he had grown! I really didn't even recognize him except his eyes gave him away.Hopefully the web site will be up and fully functioning within the next couple of weeks.
Last Laugh
Its strange but not everyone responds in a positive way when I explain to them what my summer of 2007 will entail. In fact, just the other day I met someone who I really like and they asked, "So what is this thing you are trying to do?" As I explained it became clear that she was patronizing me. I was disappointed.
Later as I went over the conversation in my mind I realized that this next year is the only time when nay sayers can indeed have their say. After that, I will be doing the walk and crossing the 3000 kms. Then they won't be able to laugh any more.
So I decided it was their time right now - let them have at it, BUT MINE IS COMING. APRIL 22, 2007
Doing it for the kids ;) Simply stepping out of the box.
Later as I went over the conversation in my mind I realized that this next year is the only time when nay sayers can indeed have their say. After that, I will be doing the walk and crossing the 3000 kms. Then they won't be able to laugh any more.
So I decided it was their time right now - let them have at it, BUT MINE IS COMING. APRIL 22, 2007
Doing it for the kids ;) Simply stepping out of the box.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Patience, Patience, Patience
We have had record snowfall just in March already. I am completely shut down from walking outside so I have to resort to aerobics, or walking at the sports complex around the top of the seating (which I hate).
But spring is coming and no matter how much snow we get by next month I should be making treks on the back roads again.
Training never goes fast enough, neither do the kms when I am walking, and I find myself repeating one word over and over - patience, patience, patience. Take it easy, you'll get there, keep doing what's right even though you don't see big changes. That's the way growth, long term growth evolves - slowly. Nature teaches me that fast growth equals fast death and long slow growth brings longevity of life. Patience.
The race of life is not a sprint, it is a long, tedious journey that is taken one step at a time. It's not complicated, it's not higher science - I have been meditating on this verse from Gal 5:6 "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Simple Steps of love: getting up to get your husband a pill in the middle of the night, cleaning the toilet, speaking your appreciation to the person you admired, giving up your sleep for your children, trying to do more for others than you do for yourself, sharing a portion of your blessings with those who are in need.
Simple Steps taken for a long time toward the same direction will take you the right place - before the throne of God.
Simple Steps - patience, patience, patience.
But spring is coming and no matter how much snow we get by next month I should be making treks on the back roads again.
Training never goes fast enough, neither do the kms when I am walking, and I find myself repeating one word over and over - patience, patience, patience. Take it easy, you'll get there, keep doing what's right even though you don't see big changes. That's the way growth, long term growth evolves - slowly. Nature teaches me that fast growth equals fast death and long slow growth brings longevity of life. Patience.
The race of life is not a sprint, it is a long, tedious journey that is taken one step at a time. It's not complicated, it's not higher science - I have been meditating on this verse from Gal 5:6 "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
Simple Steps of love: getting up to get your husband a pill in the middle of the night, cleaning the toilet, speaking your appreciation to the person you admired, giving up your sleep for your children, trying to do more for others than you do for yourself, sharing a portion of your blessings with those who are in need.
Simple Steps taken for a long time toward the same direction will take you the right place - before the throne of God.
Simple Steps - patience, patience, patience.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Walk Launch Date!
I am stoked! I have just consulted with the weather network to find what the average temperatures are for Burlington in April/May. They say that the average temperature is around 12 degrees. One of my concerns is walking in the heat. Foot health can be easily compromised when you are going for long distances. So choosing to start early in the season may increase my chances of being rained on, or devoured by mosquitos/blackflies but those are offset by the cool walking days.
So, I have set the date of APRIL 22, 2007 as my launch date! Just thinking about getting started makes my feet start to tapping. So I'm gone walking...
One Simple Step at a time.
So, I have set the date of APRIL 22, 2007 as my launch date! Just thinking about getting started makes my feet start to tapping. So I'm gone walking...
One Simple Step at a time.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Gave it Away
Walking for long stretches gives you lots of time to think. Often I visualize situations that might come up during the walk.
Scenerio 1: I wake up in my cozy tent, in my cozy sleeping bag and hear rain on the tent for the fifth day in a row.
What are the implications of rain while walking on the side of a road? Trucks washing me with their spray every 3 minutes; shoulder of road gets muddy or washed out, visability lowered, hypothermia becomes an issue if you are wet/chilled, wet shoes lead to poor foot health, discouragement sets in as you feel like the weather is working against you (my Dad told me to never fight against nature cuz it will always win).
Plan: Have extra shoes available, wear the right rain gear, set your mind on walking into better weather - the prairies are drier than northern Ontario.
Scenerio 2: I get sick (flu, bronchitis, head cold) and have reoccuring injuries that makes walking painful.
The problems I forsee here are: not allowing an injury to heal and therefore jeapordizing the whole walk, and losing my mental stamina and will to go on. Others who are travelling with me may out of kindness encourage me to not continue.
Plan: I will always respect my day of rest on Sunday. I will see a Dr as soon as possible. I will give away my right to stop walking.
It is no longer within my right or power to stop walking - I have empowered only one person to make that decision. My husband Paul is a very wise man who is balanced in his decisions and who will not allow me to give up easily. We will have a procedure in place that must be followed to change the plan. He will have many options for directing me such as, "Stay where you are for 3 days." or "Keep going but walk shorter sections between rests." or the ultimate which I will not even write so that it never becomes a full thought - because thoughts become actions and I will not, will not.
Scenerio 3: The people who are travelling with me to support the walk begin to fight and cause problems.
I find interelational problems very draining and I would need to protect my mind from this enemy of courage.
Plan: I will visualize myself in a bubble emotionally separate from the others around me. I will recognize that I can't become entangled in these relational spats as it will deter and discourage my goal. I will focus my mind on my own goal of finishing the route. I will remember I started out on this venture in my mind alone, and I have to isolate myself to gain my goal.
Well, thats some I have thought through. I still have a year and a month before I get to exercise my plans. But I have already given it away - my rights over my body. It is a freeing thing and success seems even more possible now. Thats one less thing I have to carry on my shoulders as I walk.
Simple steps, simple steps, simple steps, simple steps, simple steps.......
Scenerio 1: I wake up in my cozy tent, in my cozy sleeping bag and hear rain on the tent for the fifth day in a row.
What are the implications of rain while walking on the side of a road? Trucks washing me with their spray every 3 minutes; shoulder of road gets muddy or washed out, visability lowered, hypothermia becomes an issue if you are wet/chilled, wet shoes lead to poor foot health, discouragement sets in as you feel like the weather is working against you (my Dad told me to never fight against nature cuz it will always win).
Plan: Have extra shoes available, wear the right rain gear, set your mind on walking into better weather - the prairies are drier than northern Ontario.
Scenerio 2: I get sick (flu, bronchitis, head cold) and have reoccuring injuries that makes walking painful.
The problems I forsee here are: not allowing an injury to heal and therefore jeapordizing the whole walk, and losing my mental stamina and will to go on. Others who are travelling with me may out of kindness encourage me to not continue.
Plan: I will always respect my day of rest on Sunday. I will see a Dr as soon as possible. I will give away my right to stop walking.
It is no longer within my right or power to stop walking - I have empowered only one person to make that decision. My husband Paul is a very wise man who is balanced in his decisions and who will not allow me to give up easily. We will have a procedure in place that must be followed to change the plan. He will have many options for directing me such as, "Stay where you are for 3 days." or "Keep going but walk shorter sections between rests." or the ultimate which I will not even write so that it never becomes a full thought - because thoughts become actions and I will not, will not.
Scenerio 3: The people who are travelling with me to support the walk begin to fight and cause problems.
I find interelational problems very draining and I would need to protect my mind from this enemy of courage.
Plan: I will visualize myself in a bubble emotionally separate from the others around me. I will recognize that I can't become entangled in these relational spats as it will deter and discourage my goal. I will focus my mind on my own goal of finishing the route. I will remember I started out on this venture in my mind alone, and I have to isolate myself to gain my goal.
Well, thats some I have thought through. I still have a year and a month before I get to exercise my plans. But I have already given it away - my rights over my body. It is a freeing thing and success seems even more possible now. Thats one less thing I have to carry on my shoulders as I walk.
Simple steps, simple steps, simple steps, simple steps, simple steps.......
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
First Blood
Well not as dramatic as that - but I have sustained my first injury from pushing my body further than I have ever gone before. I even went to the Dr to see if Paul was wrong when he told me that the terrible pain was from using my trekking poles when I walked 18 kms on Friday. The Dr agreed and prescribed Ibuprophen alternated with Tylenol to heal this injured muscule.
Man! does it hurt when I move it in just the right or is that the wrong way. The pain takes over every other function of my body - breathing, thinking, moving. Oh yeah boys, and it not only stabs but then it resonates for what seems like 5 min but I know it is only 5 sec.
But pain is my friend, right? Sure, it brings my attention to a part of my body that can go undetected for years if it were not for the voice given to it by pain. OK! I am listening. My plans, actions and expectations change because of the communication of pain. My focus now is to help this muscle in my arm to heal - I wont push as hard when I walk, wont use my poles, am taking medication 4xs a day. I need my whole body to be functioning well for the walk ahead. Even one muscle, small as it is can cause me to be hindered in my goals.
Pain is my friend in other ways too. The pain of a broken relationship, failure at work, moral fall disappointment with life, all chase me like mad dogs to bury my face in the chest of my Lord Jesus. My tears are all caught in heaven the Bible says, and I am promised comfort and maturity. Those are grand rewards and well worth any pain.
Remember, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6
Man! does it hurt when I move it in just the right or is that the wrong way. The pain takes over every other function of my body - breathing, thinking, moving. Oh yeah boys, and it not only stabs but then it resonates for what seems like 5 min but I know it is only 5 sec.
But pain is my friend, right? Sure, it brings my attention to a part of my body that can go undetected for years if it were not for the voice given to it by pain. OK! I am listening. My plans, actions and expectations change because of the communication of pain. My focus now is to help this muscle in my arm to heal - I wont push as hard when I walk, wont use my poles, am taking medication 4xs a day. I need my whole body to be functioning well for the walk ahead. Even one muscle, small as it is can cause me to be hindered in my goals.
Pain is my friend in other ways too. The pain of a broken relationship, failure at work, moral fall disappointment with life, all chase me like mad dogs to bury my face in the chest of my Lord Jesus. My tears are all caught in heaven the Bible says, and I am promised comfort and maturity. Those are grand rewards and well worth any pain.
Remember, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6
Monday, March 06, 2006
SimpleSteps in Training
I heard a story about a young boy who was watching an artist sculpt a granite block. The boy would visit the artist at his work regularly and one day realized that he knew what the statue was. He asked a childlike question, "How did you know the lion was in the stone?"
(I am unable to correctly credit my source for this story because I have no idea where I heard it.)
After my children grew up to be admirable adults and I had worked myself right out of my job (being a mother) I found myself searching. Seeking to understand the shape and dynamic of Denise DeGraaf became a full time pursuit. Like an intepid explorer I sought to follow that which I could hear faintly calling me from places I had never been.
Failure was part of my journey of mapping the coastline of my future. Working in a financial institution required 120% output. And after 6 months of arriving early, working late, skipping coffee breaks and lunch hours the sweet HR person suggested that I find something that I was good at.
I was not disappointed to be released but it did take some time to accept the fact that I couldn't do EVERYTHING. Yes, it was my belief that I could do anything I chose to. POP! (that was my bubble bursting)
Fast forward to January 2006: I am driving alone for 4 hours. God always meets me so powerfully when we are alone in the truck. A Brian Doerkson Cd Today was playing and the lyrics in one of the songs jumps into my throat and slides down into my heart and I begin to cry out to God,"Lead us Lord, into a life of fruitfulness; Prepare our hearts to risk again; And as we trust, taking simple steps of obedience, we know that you will lead us Lord."
Fruitfulness (I felt so barren), risk again (failure had beat me), simple steps (move forward), and you will lead us Lord (He hasn't forgotten about me) - these words were like drops of fresh hope. It was then at that moment when my heart was stretching to touch Him that He gave me a gift.
I would walk (simple steps) 3000 kms from Ontario to Saskatchewan (home) and raise $100 per km for the Village of Hope, Burkina Faso West Africa.
There are many reasons to not do this walk: 1. 48 year old woman, 2. 243lbs (when I started), 3. never done anything like this before, 4. too many logistics to work out, 5. too many dangers along the way, 6. what if I fail.
There are more reasons to do this work/walk: 1. 48 year old woman, 2. 243lbs (when I started), 3. I have wanted to walk long distances for 20 years, 4. the whole project is bigger than I am, 5. I am not afraid of following God anywhere, 6. you only fail when you stop trying - I will be failing if I don't try, 7. I want to live for others who don't have as much as me - I believe God has given the world enough for everyone to live but some are chosen to be givers and some play the role of accepters, both are blessed in their roles. 8. The people in Africa have something to give to us - we have been raped by our affluence we need their help.
The other day when I was doing an 18km walk I began to think about how I needed to look inside myself and see what was in there that was beginning to take shape. I asked God the question the boy asked of the artist, "How did you know the walker/giver was in the stone."
We both smiled.
Please pray for me as I train and work on the logistics of the project. Thanks for believing in me.
(I am unable to correctly credit my source for this story because I have no idea where I heard it.)
After my children grew up to be admirable adults and I had worked myself right out of my job (being a mother) I found myself searching. Seeking to understand the shape and dynamic of Denise DeGraaf became a full time pursuit. Like an intepid explorer I sought to follow that which I could hear faintly calling me from places I had never been.
Failure was part of my journey of mapping the coastline of my future. Working in a financial institution required 120% output. And after 6 months of arriving early, working late, skipping coffee breaks and lunch hours the sweet HR person suggested that I find something that I was good at.
I was not disappointed to be released but it did take some time to accept the fact that I couldn't do EVERYTHING. Yes, it was my belief that I could do anything I chose to. POP! (that was my bubble bursting)
Fast forward to January 2006: I am driving alone for 4 hours. God always meets me so powerfully when we are alone in the truck. A Brian Doerkson Cd Today was playing and the lyrics in one of the songs jumps into my throat and slides down into my heart and I begin to cry out to God,"Lead us Lord, into a life of fruitfulness; Prepare our hearts to risk again; And as we trust, taking simple steps of obedience, we know that you will lead us Lord."
Fruitfulness (I felt so barren), risk again (failure had beat me), simple steps (move forward), and you will lead us Lord (He hasn't forgotten about me) - these words were like drops of fresh hope. It was then at that moment when my heart was stretching to touch Him that He gave me a gift.
I would walk (simple steps) 3000 kms from Ontario to Saskatchewan (home) and raise $100 per km for the Village of Hope, Burkina Faso West Africa.
There are many reasons to not do this walk: 1. 48 year old woman, 2. 243lbs (when I started), 3. never done anything like this before, 4. too many logistics to work out, 5. too many dangers along the way, 6. what if I fail.
There are more reasons to do this work/walk: 1. 48 year old woman, 2. 243lbs (when I started), 3. I have wanted to walk long distances for 20 years, 4. the whole project is bigger than I am, 5. I am not afraid of following God anywhere, 6. you only fail when you stop trying - I will be failing if I don't try, 7. I want to live for others who don't have as much as me - I believe God has given the world enough for everyone to live but some are chosen to be givers and some play the role of accepters, both are blessed in their roles. 8. The people in Africa have something to give to us - we have been raped by our affluence we need their help.
The other day when I was doing an 18km walk I began to think about how I needed to look inside myself and see what was in there that was beginning to take shape. I asked God the question the boy asked of the artist, "How did you know the walker/giver was in the stone."
We both smiled.
Please pray for me as I train and work on the logistics of the project. Thanks for believing in me.
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