Thirds

At tai chi tonight we got to the point that is about a third of the way through the form that we are learning. I like that tai chi is easy and relaxing, yet it is mentally engaging because it's also a good memory exercise. You have to remember which foot your weight is in, where and when your arms and legs are supposed to move, which move comes next. It's good for you, and it's effortless really. If only it were as easy to put one foot in front of the other and walk through life effortlessly.

I am also nearing the 1/3 mark for getting through this deployment. Yes, time seems to go fast, but there is still so much time to go. I have been going through a lot of ups and downs lately. Stress from work makes it unbearable some days, and it's hard to keep it together. Unfortunately, life isn't easy. I have had very blessed life thus far with very few struggles, very little pain and stress, but lately I feel like several large changes and obstacles have been placed in my path. My strength and faith are definitely being challenged by a long distance relationship and marriage and the decisions we need to make about our future with the Army. I know that I can't always just float through life and that the easy way isn't always the best way, but it's hard to take it all in. Giving up control and just trusting that God will lead me is so much harder than it sounds. I know that's what I need to do, and I know that I won't feel at peace about the decisions we make until I do.

Tai Chi Beginner Class

I have really been enjoying my tai chi classes. It's a great way to de-stress and just be calm, while also doing something good for my body. If anyone is interested in taking classes, there is a beginner term starting tomorrow night 10/21 at the JCC in St. Louis Park at 7:00. Thursday's class is the first of the term so you can just go and try it out, and then you can continue if you want to sign up for the full 4-8 week term. More info here: http://www.naturalsteptaichi.com/schedule.html There are also beginner courses that start in November at the downtown location at the Open Book, which is a pretty cool place.

Ye Old Weekend

So after my crazy week last week, I also had a pretty busy weekend, but it was enjoyable at least. After my 12 hour sleep I got to talk to my husband online (twice on Saturday actually since he had a day off!), and then went out into the world. My first stop was the Comcast service center to change my name on my account and ask about the digital switch message we keep getting on our tv. After waiting in a long line (outside for part of it) I was able to change my name and found out that we have been getting free cable for the past year and a half! Oops, sucks for you Comcast. I always wondered how we got like 100 channels for $11/month...but unfortunately I had to upgrade our account and get some kind of converter box so that Megan and I can still watch HGTV for hours on end. Oh, on my way to the service center (which I had been to before not too long ago) I was mistaken about which road it was on. So I ended up in Deephaven which was way past where I needed to go. However, the fall leaves were beautiful out there and I found some garage sales so it was a nice scenic drive.

Anyways, after that I drove to St. Paul to go to Mosaic on a Stick. I actually was not that impressed with their selection of materials, but they did have some beautiful work there for sale. I got a few things there and then headed over to J Ring Glass Studio thinking I would get some glass and pick up the tools I needed there. They were lacking in the mosaic tool department, but the glass area was AMAZING. I had to limit myself in how many of the aisles I went down, I just stayed around the outside. There are sheets and sheets of beautiful glass in every color and texture. I got a few small sheets to start with. Since they didn't have the tools I wanted I had to go back to Mosaic on a Stick to get those. I just started on my first small project, a simple rectangular vase. I had fun cutting my little glass pieces tonight with my new tools. I'll post some pics when I finish it.

Yesterday I went to the MN Renaissance fair with my mother-in-law and my husband's best friend, his mom, her boyfriend, and his kids. It was quite the bunch and we all got dressed up in our old time garb. It's fun to go dressed up because people comment or ask to take pictures with you or of you. The people watching at this fair is fantastic. There are all kind of crazies (us included) that dress up and have fun. The taverns are always full of music and laughter, the royalty wanders around with an entourage, the vendors are mostly in character. I ate too much food, and I must say that the cheese curds don't even compare to the State Fair ones. I hope next year I will actually be able to go with my husband. He bought an outfit last fall that he looks super cute in (for some reason I didn't go with him either time he went...kicking myself now). Oh yeah, I was in Florida the second time he went. Here is a picture of me from this year:

Last night I was reading Army Wives, and the chapter I read was about a soldier dying in a helicopter crash. Not the best thing to read right before bed. I'm convinced that subconsciously contributed to my "off" day today. I was in a bad mood, was tired, irritated by everyone and everything...good thing I got to talk to Will online today, that helped me through. I don't think I should read any more of that book while he is deployed, I don't know what I was thinking. The show isn't as bad because they don't really kill off any main characters for the most part since they need to stick around for the show to be good. Although I just watched the end of season 1/first episode of season 2 again with my mom and man that makes me cry. Moral of the story is I'm switching to Harry Potter and other books that have absolutely no similarities to my life whatsoever for my bedtime reading.

Food Shelf

I helped out at the emergency food shelf tonight with my parents. For some reason I never felt like going other times they asked me, but I decided to help out tonight. They had just gotten tons of food in from some food drives that local synagogues did, and it needed sorting and rearranging. I helped stock foods in the store area where families come to pick out food. I had participated in or planned a lot of food drives in high school (that were usually competitions and our class always won!) but I had never seen where it all goes afterward. It was interesting learning about how the food shelf operates. They have a staff of social workers who asses each family's need for food and they can also help them deal with other issues going on in their lives. They have a full time staff and volunteers that donate their time.

Seeing all the food that goes in and out of there really reminds you that there are a lot of families out there that can't afford to put food on the table. I feel very lucky to have never experienced that. It felt good to help out and I will definitely do it again. I will also try to donate items more often. Some much needed items at the food shelf that I was at tonight were:

• personal care items
• cereal
• granola bars
• canned fruit
• snacks for kids
• coffee/tea
• juice
• jelly/jams in different flavors
• diapers

Some places also accept clothing donations and other items like shoes, baby items, etc. Here is a website for locating food shelves and services in MN: http://www.hungersolutions.org/find Donate your time, donate some food, and help out some people who are in a tough place in life!

Mosaic Class

This weekend my friend Hannah and I took a class on how to make mosaics. I was inspired by a piece that I saw in the Fine Arts Building at the State Fair and went home and looked up to see if there were any classes in Minneapolis for learning the techniques. We signed up for a class taught by a local artist who is very talented and really nice and fun too. Her name is Sharra Frank, here is her website. I recommend her for classes, but she only does them once in a while. She also does commissioned pieces and public art. In our class it was just 5 of us ladies and we learned all about the tools, materials, and techniques for mosaic art. The first day of the class we worked on cutting glass and tile and gluing our materials to either a mirror frame or window. I chose to do the mirror so I was gluing my pieces to wood. Hannah did the window so she was gluing right onto the glass. Here is mine at the end of the first day:

Today at the second part of the class we learned how to mix and add grout to the cracks to fill in the spaces. I'm really glad I took this class because I wouldn't have wanted to mess with that stuff figuring it out on my own and Sharra gave a lot of good tips on how to make the process cleaner and easier. Here is me with my baggie of grout!

I wasn't a big fan of the messy part even with gloves on. I don't like touching gooey things and my glass pieces were sharp so I was afraid I was going to cut my fingers. If you know me, I don't do well with blood on my hands for obvious reasons. So after you get all the grout in you have to clean off the glass and tiles and then polish them to make them shine. Here are our finished products:

I am pretty happy with the way mine turned out. I think it looks a little childish because of the colors I chose and because I didn't know what to do with the sun since I couldn't quite cut the pieces the way I wanted to. I will learn how to do that better in time. I am excited to do more and experiment on my own. I always have the impulse to buy or grab old windows and things when I find them, and a light bulb went off in my head and I realized I could do mosaics on them and turn them into art! I have a large mirror that I found in the trash and I plan on using that after I get a little more practice on smaller projects. After class I went to Michaels and wandered around and found some beads and things to use. Next weekend I will take a trip to the mosaic store in St. Paul (Mosaic On a Stick, I love the name!) and get some tools and other materials. This is going to be a fun new thing to do and a way to use my creativity and it will keep me busy!

I also went for a long walk today. It was a perfect fall day in MN, 65 and sunny with the leaves starting to change colors. I found some new trails and wandered, not knowing really where I was going (which is what I love to do). Walking in the woods by myself and not really knowing or caring where I am going is me in my happy place. Unfortunately, I didn't wear the best shoes so I got a blister. I also almost stepped on a little bitty snake while slowing down to assess said blister. I think I walked at least 4 miles. So today I had art, nature, exercise, and I got an email from my husband. Today was a good day.

Inhale, Exhale

One of the things I decided to do this year is take a Tai Chi class. I had been wanting to check it out for the past couple years, and while Will was home in July the two of us went to a free introductory class one Sunday morning. We both really enjoyed it and wanted to keep learning. Unfortunately we can't do it together any time soon, so he (if he has time) will be trying to learn it from books, and I will be taking weekly classes. Tonight was the first class of my 8 week course that I signed up for. I like that the instructor is British so his voice is very soothing with his accent. I also really like that Tai Chi is about relaxing and connecting all parts of your body and mind in order to free up your "chi" or energy throughout your physical and mental body. My instructor says you need to move below the speed of habit, and it's amazing how relaxing it actually is. Your breathing automatically adjusts to your body movements so you don't even have to really think about it. If you close your eyes it feels like your body is just effortlessly moving on its own in fluid motions. I think this is going to be really good for my energy and mental health since I often struggle with anxiety and can feel physically affected by my emotions. Tai Chi is also supposed to be really good for your joints, muscles, and can improve the functioning of your internal organs. I am excited to learn more of the forms. Maybe in a few years Will and I will be one of those weird couples doing Tai Chi by the lake :)