Inner Peace

I walk the ocean shore

My eyes close and I listen

Waves pull gently at my feet

The sea breeze lifts me up

Carrying the pain of the past

Far away from me at last

Words echo in my mind

As I feel my heart forgive

Time and again I’ve searched

For something that was here

Here within me, all along

The power to say I matter

The truth about my fears

And the peace that fills me

As I accept who I am

And who I want to be.

By Jennifer DeNaughel

© January 2011

Review of "Face the Rain" by Mind Fog Book Reviews

      Face the Rain by Jennifer DeNaughel is a romantic /thriller that reads extremely well from the get go.  Jenna and her two children move to her hometown to start a new life after years of abuse by her ex-husband.  Her son, Erik, hopes to meet his biological father, Ian, who is Jenna’s high school sweetheart. Will the love that Jenna and Ian had in high school be rekindled after all this time? Will the ex-husband come back to get his revenge?

I read many books and this one really tugged at the heart strings. It really has the right combination of romance/thriller to me. The characters have enough background and the dialogue between them was perfect. I could not put this book down at all. Ms. DeNaughel has written a winner and I hope that all women that love romance will read this one. They will not be disappointed at all.

           

5 bookmarks (Excellent)

Carol A. Langstroth, Manager

Mind Fog Reviews

Despite the pain, I finished!!!!

Although my foot is on ice and I am using crutches to get around the house, I am very proud of myself for finishing the one mile walk yesterday.  On my last lap of the walk I stepped down wrong on my heel and heard a pop...it started hurting immediately and I made it another half a lap before being forced to sit down.  Doc Steph came over and checked it out.  I told her that I wanted to try and finish the walk.  I got up and she walked with me to the finish line.  I did it in just over 32 minutes.  I walked home and took off my shoes and sat down.  The pain got worse throughout the day and it still hurts so bad that I can't put much weight on it.  I am not giving up though I am struggling with frustration...I refuse to give up.  I will not go back to where I was. 

My Journey...

It’s 2am and I’m sitting here, unable to sleep, thinking about the Challenge tomorrow.  It will be a one mile walk and I am actually ready for it…I know can do it.  Ironically, I will be doing this walk just two days before the five year anniversary of the day I slipped on the ice and wrecked my knee.  I look back now, remembering the fear and the pain and the uncertainty, wondering if I would ever be able to walk normally again or if I would be forced to use a cane for the rest of my life or worse, a wheelchair.

I fell into a deep depression, feeling so lost.  I would lie in bed at night and cry for all the things I would no longer be able to do, like walk on the beach and climb stairs.  There were times that I wanted to die and be done with it.  I gained so much weight…unable to do things I was once able to do, I ate and I put on eighty pounds.  I was slowly able to get to the point where I could walk, but I was in so much pain.  I was terrified of falling again.  It was so bad that I would refuse to get out of the car if there was ice or any uneven ground.  The idea of taking a bath scared me because I was so afraid I would slip in the bath tub or step in water on the floor and fall.

Now, here I am nearly five years later.  I can not only walk normally, but I have lost over seventy pounds and I am in the North Side Fitness Challenge.  For four days this week I worked out on a treadmill, and tonight I completed a mile in 32 minutes and on a 2% incline.  I am so ready to face the one mile walk challenge tomorrow, and I thank God and the people in my life who helped me get here.  When I think of where I was then and where I am now it brings tears to my eyes.  I have a long way to go, but it is a journey I know that I can make because I can now look back and see where I’ve been…    

My First Workout

I survived...I am still alive and breathing after spending twenty minutes on the treadmill at the gym.  Granted it was at a slow pace but I did it :)  I am proud of myself.  I am also extremely tired haha.  I just might go back tomorrow.  It was kinda fun LOL :D

My First Week of the North Side Fitness Challenge

Well, I spent the first week of the challenge sick so I didn't get to do any of the workouts at the gym.  I did however lose 12 pounds.  Even though I know it is only a combination of water weight and being sick it was still great to see that loss on the scale.  Hoping for more next Saturday.  I bought some exercise ball weights today.  Not sure how to use them, but I am going to do some research online for some workout ideas.  I am finally feeling better so here we go.  Let's see what I can do this week.  Wish me luck!!!

2011 Already...

I had an amazing 2010, it is hard to see it go, but I am looking forward to this new year and what it might bring.  I am starting the Northside Fitness Challenge tomorrow.  Nervous but very excited to finally be doing something for myself and my health.  I know now that I am doing this for me and no one else.  I am taking control of my life and fighting for my health.  After being diagnosed with severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea in October of 2009 I went on a CPAP machine and now a year and three months later I have lost 70 pounds and I am feeling so much better. 

Another wonderful thing that happened in 2010 was having one of my dreams come true.  I published my novel "Face the Rain".  Twenty-five years in the making, in April I finally held the first printed copy of my book in my hands and I couldn't believe it.  It still seems so surreal.  Through this experience I have made so many new friends and traveled around promoting my novel.  I have more things planned in 2011.  It has been so rewarding for me and knowing that my words are reaching other people makes me very happy.  I can't wait to finish my second book which I have titled "Ocean Rose".  Right now I have six chapters finished, I hope it doesn't take another twenty-five years to finish it. 

So many exciting things to look forward to.  My sister has found happiness at last with a wonderful man and they will be getting married in May.  He proposed to her just before Christmas it was so romantic.  My little sister and her kids are everything to me and I am so happy they now have Chris in their lives.  I love you, my big little brother, welcome to the family.

I am going to write more on this blog.  Keep a 'journal' of my experience with the fitness challenge and with my book.  I will also post photos and other random bits of whatever pops into my head.  I hope you will visit and leave comments.  Thank you!!!