Frogs....?

Growing up I had the opportunity to go on many hikes.  It would be a fair statement to say that I loved nature (still do) and would spend as much time as possible outside.  Many thought it was to avoid chores, and perhaps that was in the mix, however, I just loved the sights and sounds of being outdoors.

Early in the school year, during my 3rd grade year, I was transferred from one school to another due to a boundary change to help with overcrowding.  Even though the new school was a rather long walk, I didn't mind for most of  the year as the neighborhoods I walked through were owned mostly by older people, and the yards were beautiful.  However I hated the new school.  My only solace came at lunch time when I would take my home-packed lunch and walk the couple blocks to the church (you could do that then because lunch was an hour long, and you didn't have to stay at school, many went home for lunch and came back for the afternoon part of school.) Behind the church was the most wonderful creek called the most boring name....City Creek.

I would sit at the edge of the creek, in my own world, watching the water as it tumbled over the rocks, sounding like tiny silver bells, when occasionally a small frog would jump up and surprise me.  I would laugh and yes, I would talk with the frog as if it could talk back.  I would make little beds for them out of the moss and leaves beside the creek, playing with them as I would play later that night with my Barbie at home.  It was my own small secret world filled with joyful splashing water, pretty little flowers, the twig and moss fairy homes I had made, and frogs.

As I got to know some of the other girls at school, I would invite them to come and have lunch with me.  However when the little frogs would jump out of the creek, these silly girls would screech and scream.  I would roll my eyes and unfortunately the screech usually meant the end of a budding friendship for me.  Eventually I stopped inviting silly girls to my beautiful creek and vowed that when I became a mom, I would teach my daughters that nature was something beautiful, not something to be screamed at.

Just a little over 10 years ago that I met a new friend.  She isn't like those silly little girls who screeched and screamed when a cute little frog appears.  She adores frogs.  Her love of frogs extends so far into her life that she surrounds herself with them.  One day I asked her "Why frogs?"  My good friend Geri Crumb taught me a valuable lesson that day.  She said that frogs for her is a physical representation for an acronym.  F.R.O.G.

When I see a cute little frog, no matter if it is in nature or in a picture I always think of my friend Geri, yet in my mind, I hear "Fully Rely On God!"

Reflections of the Journey

I have been giving some thought to the progression of the difficulties that I have been going through for the past couple of months or so and the journey of overcoming them.  Here I was sitting on the precipice of a new phase in my life.  I had some health issues, but we were overcoming those.  I was ready to take my new degree and charge boldly into the world, conquering the information highway of health care records....then boom....car wreck.

During the journey of recovery, with physical therapy, occupational therapy and sensory therapy, I have become not only physically stronger, but spiritually stronger.  I have thrown my entire heart into doing my exercises daily and I am actually stronger, more balanced than I have been in years.  At the same time I have thrown my soul into prayer and the scriptures.  Truly feasting on the them in a manner that I haven't taken the time to do in many years-if ever before.  I can say that my soul delights in the scriptures. The Bible, Book of Mormon, scriptures for the next weeks Sunday School lessons and Relief Society lessons, Ensign, Friend.  I just keep on reading. They calm me and strengthen me.

I have also rediscovered my love of music.  I do not know why I allowed my life to be swallowed into silence, however music--all kinds fills me up inside in a way that is hard to describe.  When I am doing my exercises, I can do more for longer while listening to music on my MP3 player (which we keep constantly changing the play lists on) than when I just watch the others around me in the chatter of mundane things.  I close my eyes, and just work on which ever machine my PT specialist has me on...moving to the beat of whatever song is on, from Hymns to Jazz, Reggae to Rock, I have listened to it all and keep on moving.

Over-all I am a more balanced, stronger person than I was before this journey began.  I am still ready to go out and join the world of health information and health care records, but now the person they get will be a more whole person than before.  Stronger in spirit and stronger physically.  It will be good for all of us.