Gratitude #18. Apples.
My absolute favorite fruit in all the world is the apple. Green ones, red ones, crunchy ones, juicy ones. Two memories I treasure concerning apples are: picking them for the first time in an orchard on Vashon Island WA with my YW's group, making cider with my amazing cousins family when Mister James and I were newly weds. I LOVE apples! Picking them, cutting them, dipping them in peanut butter or caramel, apple juice, apple pie, my apple phone and now my apple athletic club!
Yep, you heard me right! A gym! I have never belonged to a gym and have never really done regular exercise before. The two times in my life I was "dedicated" to fitness were in college and on my mission. I think mainly because of motivating room-mates and on a mission it's built into your morning schedule. But in my own, nope! I don't consistently keep goals to exercise, ever. That is hopefully about to change! James and I made the leap of commitment to put our health and exercise a priority when we signed a contract to our local Apple Club this week! It was a big commitment with tight budgets and schedules with kids, but we decided now is the time to invest in our health, not later (fingers crossed). This time we've got to show some drive and commitment because we're dumping good money into it! That was the first step to being more serious about this goal. Here in Idaho there isn't a whole ton to do for exercise in winter unless you ski or something, which we don't. So excuses can enfold because you can't go outside ;). We can't do that this winter!
A great blessing that allows us to do this is my little writing job. My Cook'n articles I write each month earns me just about as much as the monthly Apple Club fee. So as I write about delicious food I'm earning money for gym time! Seems like a pretty good trade. Of course that money could be used elsewhere, but we have chosen to put it to our health. I'm excited to swim and run, to weight lift and go to classes for yoga, Zumba and more. I'm excited for James to get time to work out and be fit again. I'm excited for Jane to get swimming lessons. And I'm excited to instill into our children the importance of taking good care of their bodies! I'm grateful for apples!!
