Gliding Again!!

Last week Denver finally got some good snow for my dear friend, Brook, and I to try out cross country skiing in a nearby park.  This was an experiment.  

• Could my body handle it?  
• Would I know when I should, as my art teacher used to say, "Stop while I'm ahead"? 
• I had to nanny the next day (Yep, that's right, I've been able to work part-time for the last couple months!) so would it be a ridiculously painful day?

But I just HAD to try!!!  

Brook stayed with me more often than not for nearly two weeks while in the hospital last year.  I have memories of her pulling the sofa bed over so she could sleep by me and hold my hand throughout the night when spasms hit.  

One day she took me on a stroll to the hospital gift shop where she bought me some much treasured earrings.  I don't care how many powerful meds they put you on or how much you lose your mind while on them, a woman is still a woman and wants to look pretty!

Once Brook returned to work she took countless calls from family and friends asking this gifted nurse for updates, support, and advice.  She and our friend Amanda (also a nurse) were two of my biggest advocates helping me when I had no clue which way was up and frankly, going to bat with some hospital staff!   

They love to tell me the story of the day my niece helped put make-up on me.  (Note back to the woman comment...) From what I hear, after sweet Zara left the room, Brook and Amanda showed themselves as advocates that day by, well, wiping some of the blush and eyeshadow off my cheeks!  Umm, I must've been sleeping?!  

Anyway, Brook was perfectly content not only skiing for a tiny bit, but doing it in a suburb park!  We laughed as we imagined kiddos and stay-at-home moms peeping at us as we'd ski for 5 minutes, then take a break, ski for another 3-7 minutes then take a break.  They probably thought we were from the south and had never seen snow before with all the breaks and pictures we took!  BUT OH WAS IT FUN!!! 

Okay, so definitely NOT the best angle, but the above shot brings me gobs and gobs and GOBS of JOY because of the stride in motion.  Two months ago it was challenging to do that length of a stride even while walking.  Praise be to God and way to go therapy team!