{"id":763,"date":"2014-02-12T20:51:27","date_gmt":"2014-02-13T01:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cindiferrini.com\/?p=763"},"modified":"2014-02-12T20:51:27","modified_gmt":"2014-02-13T01:51:27","slug":"write-on-wednesday-wow-we-qualified-for-the-olympics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cindiferrini.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/12\/write-on-wednesday-wow-we-qualified-for-the-olympics\/","title":{"rendered":"WRITE.ON.WEDNESDAY (WOW!)….We QUALIFIED for the OLYMPICS!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joe and I have been enjoying the Olympics, but we admit, the commentaries are sometimes comical. With all the training, competition, preparation, expertise, skill, stamina, etc. it must take for each person to get to that level to compete, it\u2019s amazing what the commentators find to \u201cpick\u201d on in the competitor\u2019s style, performance, and routine. I realize these athletes have been doing what they do for a very long time \u2013 it\u2019s a way of life for them, and they have perfected their skills to amazing levels!<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve never been very athletic. The first time I \u201cmade\u201d a summer softball team, I broke my little finger thinking I caught the ball but covered the mitt too soon. My career ended that first day of practice. Additionally, most athletic events require competition, and I don\u2019t have that in me either. I\u2019m OK if you win.<\/p>\n

But I am coordinated<\/i>. Athletic and coordinated are two very different <\/i>things. I was a cheerleader (back in the day), I can dance (i.e.: move) and I can multitask\u2026.all needing coordination to some degree but I\u2019ve not found any level of professionalism in any of these for me.<\/p>\n

Just last night, I believe we discovered that in some ways, Joe and I are like the couples in the pair\u2019s figure skating competition. And this is how the commentators might view our routine when it comes to caring for our son and managing the life God has given us:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MC<\/b> (Male Commentator)<\/p>\n

FC<\/b> (Female Commentator)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

MC<\/b>, \u201cI\u2019m amazed at how well they\u2019ve mastered getting Joey up in the morning, but you know, they seem to be dragging a bit when it comes to getting him to the cubby for breakfast on time. The timing\u2026oh, the timing\u2026if only they could have fine tuned that little move! They seemed to \u2018get\u2019 that move back when they were competing in the Nationals, but this is the big time now.\u201d<\/p>\n

FC<\/b>, \u201cI know, MC, I think they needed to get him up just a little earlier to avoid Joey\u2019s not wanting to wake up because it was MONDAY! It should have been better anticipated by this pair, don\u2019t you think?<\/p>\n

MC<\/b>, \u201cYes, FC, they just really slipped on this one. It could have been like a Friday wakeup call if they had just anticipated the slippery slope of frustration and sleepiness. And that spin\u2026it was just not at all graceful, but Cindi did seem to get out of the way of Joey\u2019s flailing arms in her direction. THAT she has perfected quite well. She\u2019s gotten pretty quick. Nice move!\u201d<\/p>\n

FC, <\/b>\u201cIt\u2019s also quite amazing how, once he\u2019s up and moving, that Cindi can gently urge Joey to gets his teeth brushed, shoes on, and with fewer prompts. It\u2019s also clear that Joe has mastered the delicate moves of prodding Joey to the car with little confrontation at this point. It really is a team effort. They seem to do better as the week goes by. I guess like anything it\u2019s practice and dedication.\u201d<\/p>\n

MC<\/b>, \u201cHow do you think this competition will fair for them? Do you think they have a chance to place here at the Olympics?\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

FC<\/b>, \u201cSure, MC, I think they have a chance, but like anything in life\u2026.today is a good day, but we\u2019ll see what tomorrow brings! After all, they still have the rest of the day to perform!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I never gave it much thought, but we\u2019re always perfecting what we do – whether at our job, at home, raising a family, learning a hobby, or emptying the dishwasher!<\/p>\n

I run a race, learn new steps, perfect the spins every day that many others probably couldn\u2019t do \u2013 not because they wouldn\u2019t be able, but because they haven\u2019t be in training in the same way I have. We care for a son with special needs and I\u2019m hoping to keep my skills up until I\u2019m old. But I know, in order to do that, I need to keep practicing.<\/p>\n

My husband and I have often been told that we make it look \u201ceasy.\u201d What comes easily is how much we love our son \u2013 caring for him is just second nature. When one makes the choice to do the right thing, rather than what is easy, comfortable, and fun, and <\/i>when accompanied with cheerfulness and a good attitude, we can see that the training can be productive. But it does takes stamina, perseverance, dedication, patience, sacrifice, longsuffering, and a few other things \u2013 all of which are developed over time \u2013 much like the training of an athlete.<\/p>\n

Sometimes an athlete needs to stop and rest to be able to get back in the competition While we\u2019d like to take a day off, we realize it doesn\u2019t happen as often as we might like, and some days are weary, but we work <\/i>to find the little breaks and rests within the 24\/7 job description of this athletic event!<\/p>\n

We treat this race of life in such a way, that we prepare ourselves for the long haul:<\/p>\n