Lady Traveler walks, hikes, and rides far and wide--without pain!

There will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, 
ever-ascending, ever-improving path.
But this, far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb.

AFTER surgery:
Bike riding in Huntington Beach CA October 2016

AFTER surgery:
Hiking in Moab Utah, September 2016

'Lady Walker' 5 months after surgery
 Moab Utah 2016

BEFORE:

April 18 2016: One year ago I had my knee-replacement surgery


In the 1970's when running became the craze,
at the age of 32, I became an avid runner.
Running was my thing for over 40+ years.
I couldn't wait to run out my door to places unknown.
My motto:
You cannot discover new roads
until you are willing to lose sight of your front door.

So off I ran, like the wind.
Well, okay, more like a gentle breeze.

Besides my daily runs, I ran 10K's (6.2 miles) every month,
my first was the Los Angeles Marathon.
Picture this:  The finish line was in the
Los Angeles Coliseum!
And yes, I felt quite elated by the whole affair.
In 1979 I ran--and finished--a half-marathon with my faithful running buddy,
Mary Haworth. She was a young 54 at the time.

In all my running years, I never had a running injury,
but soon after moving to Huntington Beach, CA,
I had a work injury.
In 1999 I slipped and fell on a wet, solid concrete floor,
right smack on my left knee.
OUCH!
Through gritted teeth, I bore the pain for a year.
I even painfully hiked up to Masada when we traveled to Israel in 2000,
proving what a determined woman I was.

However, when I returned home, it was evident that I needed to have minor surgery,
which enabled me to run and hike again.
YAY!

Unfortunately, through the years the pain returned and increased,
and eventually x-rays showed that my left knee was bone-on-bone.
So last year, in 2016, I made the decision to have knee replacement surgery.
And I'm so glad I did!
Although I cannot run, I can now walk, hike, swim, bike-ride ...
... all the things I love to do ... without pain!
DOUBLE-YAY!!

I guess you say that this traveling bionic gal can also be called Lady Walker.

The moral to my story:
If you're in pain and contemplating whether to take the next step to bring a better quality to your life,
I suggest that you pray and seek wise counsel until you have peace about your decision.
Eating right, exercise, and prayer will make us stronger,
and our travels much more rewarding.

I wish you oceans of healthy travel blessings in the days to come!


So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering,
dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith.
I Thessalonians 3:7

www.sharonleaf.com

Daughter's 50th, and other Surgical Moments

Sunrise at Hunting Island, SC 2016

May your footsteps set you upon a lifetime journey of love.
May you wake each day with His blessings
and sleep each night in His keeping.
And may you always walk in His tender care.

Hello... how are you?
Now, may I ask,
when does one have the time to write?

I know, I know,

a writer must make time to write.
Just as a
painter must make time to paint that priceless picture,
or the photographer must make time for those magnificent photo shoots,

So, lets talk a little about guilt
because I know we all go through this
at one time or another.

Confession:
I'm guilty of sleeping until after 7,

sipping my first cup of coffee until 8 or 9 while reading, watching TV,
or watching a sunrise.

By the time I put on my face,

get dressed, make the bed,

eat breakfast, clean kitchen,

put in a load of laundry or two,

take Popcorn for her morning walk,

It's lunchtime.

And so the days go.

However, I do have lots of fun in-between.
No guilt there.
After all, I am retired.

Between the process of all my long-awaited 

pre-op surgery appointments, classes, etc.
over the last two months,

I have been spending lots of time at the gym

swimming and working out

to prepare my body for my upcoming knee replacement surgery.
Brownie points here.

Jacquie's 50th Birthday Bash
Family & Friends
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!"

And then there was my daughter's big

50th BIRTHDAY KARAOKE PARTY
last Saturday night.

I always over-extend myself at her parties

because I have so much fun

singing old and new songs from

all genres.

Now I'm hoarse and my knee really hurts.

But worth all the pain for a night

of pure celebration.
More brownie points.

Speaking of age...
Golly, I don't feel 70 until

I realize that I now have a daughter who is

50!

I'm old,

But young at heart.

And that's what matters.
More brownie points to feeling young.

As I continue to prepare for my surgery,

which shall FINALLY take place this Monday morning,

My heart is full of thankfulness

for the many blessings in my life,
including the best ortho-surgeon in the south
(thus the long waiting list for surgery).
I also know that I am in the hands of the great physician,
Jesus,
not to forget my Robinski and family and friends.

Then after three weeks of in-house rehab,

Robinski will gently load me into 

Moon River,
(I named her just the other day; so appropriate, don't you think?)

our 40-foot American Tradition coach,

and off we'll travel to Myrtle Beach for a week...

or more.

Moon River is ready to travel

I know I'll find time to write on the road.
Then: no more guilt.
But don't expect too much while

I'm mending from my surgery.

Strangely, as I write this blog,
I feel the guilt melting away.
After all, what is really meaningful in this life anyway?
Yep,
God, Family, and Friends.

So as you read this,
I hope you are being set free from the guilt you may be feeling.
Make sure your priorities are in order,
then go out and make this a beautiful day.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

I shall soon return as
Lady Traveler aka the Bionic Woman!

Until next time,
Keep traveling on your journey of love

Stand at the crossroads and look...
ask where the good way is,
and walk in it, 
and you will find rest for your souls.
Joshua 6:16

Here's wishing you oceans of springtime blessings.

www.sharonleaf.com