Grandmas Marathon

I did it! I did it in less than five hours! I will loose five toenails! And, yes, I would do it all over again.

Have I ever mentioned that I have Claustrophobic Tendencies and that in tight places I go slightly CRAZY? The mass created by 5000+ people was quite overwhelming, and I couldn’t tell you how many times throughout the race I had to talk myself out of a panic attack, whether fighting over the few slivers of shade along the side of the road or grabbing lukewarm cups of water from moving targets. Feeling the need to throw a few elbows and the unseasonably HOT weather made me extra grateful that I was simple able to complete the race in just less than five hours.

I am still on a high and can’t quit comprehend that I actually completed a Marathon. But my infected and brutally sore big toes continually remind me that they were pushed to limit.

Everybody’s favorite question is “Would you do it again?” The answer is, yes! Especially if it means my sister would join me.

Goldie Locks, Pooh Bear, and The Littlest Narrator

Sorry I don’t have the time to write the entire script, but know this Josh and I were literally hollowing with laughter as the girls performed their “play”. Thankfully they were planning a comedy so our laughter was welcomed.

Wednesday Without Words

That sinking feeling you get when you know your mind is crumbling…

I know I’ve lost my mind, but to demonstrate just how far gone it truly is I must first ask a Question: Did you know that today was Friday, June 12? I only ask, because all week it has simply been Friday, the Friday I was meeting some friends at the park…well, it turns out, that Friday, this Friday, the same Friday that I was meeting my friends, is Friday, June 12, the Friday I have Dentist appointments for the girls. Appointments, that I scheduled in October, and knew were on Friday, June 12, but didn’t realize was the same day as this Friday, the one that I was going to the park. Imagine if you can the disappointment when I called the clinic this morning to see if I could reschedule, they said the next available apt was in September. My mind, I tell you, is deteriorating…

Wednesday Without Words (Really)

Family Chatter

Andi: “That’s where mommy went in the ditch.” While pointing enthusiastically at almost the precise location where I did indeed go in the ditch.
Josh continues to keep his eyes on the road as a smirk that only a pleased father could wear begins to penetrate his face.
Jordan: “And why dose mommy go in the ditch?” In the most high pitched teacher voice she can muster without losing complete control.
I sit in irritated silence as Josh struggles to stifle the giggles.
Andi: “Because she drinks too much pop!” A connection no one is quite sure where or how she made, but none-the-less always gets included in this scenario.

And then the entire car bursts into a chorus of laughter…

This is the scene in our vehicle almost every time we drive a certain stretch of road from our house to almost any where else we go…Yes, I did go in the ditch a little over a year ago on a very snowy morning. Yes, the girls were in the truck when Josh came to my rescue. And, yes, Josh intentionally drives THIS way just to give the girls the opportunity to remind me.

Confession

I know I mentioned that I am a perfectionist, but did you really truly understand or consider what that meant? Probably not. Maybe through this confession you will gain an understanding, however I do not think you could ever realize just how obsessed I am with perfectionism. Confessing my use of an editor will not release any of my anxieties, in fact it may do the exact opposite. But it will allow me to blog more freely and timely. My Confession: I have had my posts edited. Now I am releasing her from that duty. So I ask you, in advance, to be gentle with your critiques. I apologize for my postings, re-postings and deleting of posts because of my typos, grammar errors, and downright foolishness in my quest for perfectionism (now free from an editor's eye). I am looking forward to the opportunity to blog more impulsively with the knowledge that I will create and make mistakes along the way, and that you will notice.

P.S. Don’t worry, I am unable to critique others' writings; that is why I used an editor.

Wednesday Without Words (almost)

Jordan as the Cutest of all Cute Spoons EVER in Beauty and the Beast!

Andi seeking to be the Kung Fu Master!

Dillon proving again that she does not like to be left alone

Setbacks Build Confidence

I experienced my first true disappointment in my quest for running the Grandmas Marathon yesterday. It was the day marked on my training calendar for 20 miles, a day I had been preparing for. To make sure there was no way to avoid the full 20 miles, I decided to run home from church; the long way. Mistake number one was leaving at noon, making the shade scarce as the unforgiving sun beat directly down; I began to pray for big fluffy clouds to block the hot yellow beast. Mistake number two was underestimating the slight breeze; the unrelenting gusts of 13mph plus crosswinds threatened to push me out of the shoulder and into on coming traffic. The third mistake was skipping lunch, the hunger pains I experienced were probably moderate at best, but coupled with excessive heat and threatening winds it felt much more extreme. These three things served up a well loaded can of Whip A$$ turning my 20 mile run into a grueling 15 mile survival hike complete with a KFC stop for a glass of ice and my Knight in Shinning Armor coming to my rescue...Although I willingly climbed in the truck, I know I could have walked the remaining 5 miles, but I was already mentally defeated and didn’t need to add ruining my average to the list of setbacks. Josh commented on not working hard enough to be soaked in sweat, but I was eager to explain that the wind licked away any moisture before it could be accumulated. All-in-all I remain confident I can complete the 26.2 miles, and that I can do so in less than 5 hours, so apparently not all was lost.