Summer Slacker...

I guess I've been a blogger slacker this summer. I wrapped up working the old job at the end of July and have been off since then... But it is amazing what I found to fill all that free time, as it has been an incredibly busy summer. However, the kids are now back to school, fall sports (that would be football, volleyball and soccer for us) are in full swing, and I start my new job today. Just waiting for the IT person to show up at our house to hook up the new computer.

Let's see... In July we traveled to the U.P. for our first family camping trip in a few years. It was amazing. The weather was beautiful, the company was great, and we had a wonderful time. Below are just a few pics...

The campground had an indoor pool, that was perfect for the one rainy day that we had on the trip...

Visiting Mackinac Island, near Arch Rock for this family shot.

Canoeing down the Tahquanemon River....

My three kiddos... Robby on the left, Jessi sitting in the middle, and Jason exploring out on the edge on the right.... This was in the Pictured Rock National Park/Shoreline.

After vacation and wrapping up work for one company, it was full swing in the football volunteer duties. We had over 350 kids sign up this year between flag, cheer and football. I ordered all new uniforms and spent lots of time sorting, assigning and handing them out. My next big "gig" was volunteering to help coach - as the highly unpaid assistant - for the 7th grade volleyball team. I am loving it though, even though it's only 1 week in, but so far - so good. It will be a chore to balance her volleyball and soccer with his football, and still do the youth football for the 3rd - 8th grade teams, but I can't think of much else I'd rather be doing... other than it would give me more time to train and run.

After running the 1/2 marathon in May, I did one 5k at the end of May, and a 10k a couple weeks ago. This coming weekend I have a 10 mile run, and then in October is another half. But for the most part, my training to a vacation just like my job did.... back on track though.

I also finished my bachelor's degree!! So glad, so very very glad, to be done with school. There is a reason that most college students are in their 20's and not their 30's with three kids and a job.... whew.

So there is the "short" recap of my summer!

Crazy Life

It seems like forever since I've been on here, and I haven't had time to read anyones updates either. Only two weeks left of school and I will have one less thing to worry about, and a lot less homework to do! Not to mention that I will finally have that degree. I haven't been running lately either. I think I need to get signed up for the next race to give me that little bit of extra motivation.

The summer camp sessions are on as well, it was volleyball last week, football this week, church camp at Lake Ann for the oldest two next week and Y camp for the youngest - I'll be fnishing my thesis in a very quiet house next week! Then it will be a week of "nothing", then family trip to the UP, then wrestling and soccer camp, one more football camp, and then our football program for our flag kids starts up, then another volleyball camp, and then football starts in full swing.  Craziness... But I love it. Not sure what I would do with absolute free time, other than maybe read the stack of books I've been collecting and had no time to actually read.

So anyway... I'm still around, and hoping to catch up on reading all of your blogs soon!

Truth

At the end of the day, we know the truth as it is reflected in what we see around us and what happens to us. It may be Karma, it may be paying it forward, or simply and truly that God is just and answers prayers, whatever you believe, at the end of the day, truth is truth, and we are who we are, that person we are alone with at the end of the day is our true self, and that is when we see the truth, do you like yours?

Is your true self all that you can be? Is the person in the mirror at the end of the day someone who you can look in the eye? I can. I know in my heart and soul that I love, I care and sometimes maybe too much, but as honestly as I can. I offer forgiveness to all, friendship to many, and love to those that are capable and willing to give it in return, and to some who may not.I may not like certain individuals and the negative traits that they harbor, but I'm capable of looking past those and finding hope for the person they could be. At the end of the day, I know who I am, and what I've offered to others, and I can look myself in the eye, and know that I am a good person, who has raised good kids, has a good husband, and loves God and the world around me.

I know my truth. I know my core values - love, faith, happiness, strength, integrity, community, creativity... I know what makes me - me. I wish everyone the same love for life, love for others, and love for themselves. The world would be a much better place if everyone could find their flaws (I know my flaws as well - accepting them as part of my truth) face their flaws, and move forward with life.

Box of Chocolates

I'm re-using an old blog today. A friend of mine had posted a question on facebook about whether life was really like a box of chocolates, and I was instantly searching through old posts for this one. It was one of my favorites, and as I re-read it, I realized it still applies to me today. I still don't know exactly what it is that I'm searching for, but I'm constantly praying for guidance and hoping that I am at least headed in the right direction. There are many paths in front of me right now, and I'm hoping that the chocolate that I end up with  is a great one!

Life is Like a Box of Chocolates

What I Learned at My First Half Marathon

So I did it! I finished my first half marathon, and was almost dead on to the time that I wanted to be at. I had set a series of goals for myself and I hit the top three. First of, I wanted to finish on my own two feet. My sister and I had seen a t-shirt at the running expo that said, "If found on ground, please drag across the finish line." I didn't want that to be me! Although I made my sister promise to drag or roll me across just in case... Secondly, I wanted to be able to RUN the entire 13.1 miles - and I DID! We didn't stop to walk at all, we didn't stop to stretch or to take a potty break. We ran the entire course, and the first 8 almost 9 miles is all UPHILL! Finally, my time goal was to finish at a 10 minute pace for my first one, which would be a time of 2 hours and 11 minutes. Well, we finished at a 10:02 pace, for a time of 2 hours, 11 minutes and 19 seconds. I consider it goal achieved. I think there is a 30 second grace period on this... (new rule of mine).

So, for the next one, I'm hoping to be closer to 2 hours 5 minutes or less... Now, I just have to figure out which one that will be. All in all, the race was fun. It was a little scary at first. Cincinnati was in the midst of THUNDERSTORMS! My brother in law pointed out that I can now call my self a true runner since I've finally ran in the rain. My sister was nice enough to follow that up with, not only did you run in the rain, you PAID to run in the rain... It rained the entire time. It did let up after the first few miles and it wasn't storming and coming down quite as hard. By the 5th or 6th mile, I was sweating so bad (it was probably 67 degreees with 95% humidity at that point) that the rain and the puddles felt heavenly!

Anyway, here is my list that was going thru my head that first night after we got home, and what it was I had learned from the whole experience. So here's my Top 20!

20. I'm sooo looking forward to this thing called "Recovery Week",
19. That there should also be a "Recovery Sleep" period as well ... A mandatory 12 - 15 hours would be a good start;
18. That icing and ibuprofen are part of the prize, and should be included in the post-race handouts;
17. Even 14 hours after the start time, that one's endorphin levels are still at an all time high and fighting with the bodies need for that "recovery sleep;"
16. Those endorphin levels would be great blog stimulants, if I wasn't too sore to get out of bed and get the computer;
15. Only crazy people would pay to run in a thunderstorm, across two very large steel bridges...
14. That I am one of those crazy people;
13. Wet hills are VERY slippery, and man hole covers are worse, but the yellow lines in the road were the sneaky little slippery spots on the course;
12. I really wish sometimes that I had the freedom to urinate like a guy... those lucky dogs that we spotted lined up in the bushes...
11. I can drink a WHOLE LOT (about 60 oz) of gatorade and water within 2 minutes of crossing the finish line, without feeling sick...
10. I can simultaneously hold 2 bottles of water, hold the running blanket around me, while devouring 2 little bowls of pineapple by pouring them down my throat, and reach for a donut at the same time...
9. While attempting previous feat, I did not care that I yell at my kids for eating like heathens...
8. The pain in my foot was thoroughly outweighed by the sight of food;
7. That soggy feet take a long time to "de-prune" after a couple of hours in wet socks and shoes;
6. Noticing blood soaked the back of my shoe was a source of pride, because I hadn't even noticed the sore that developed on my heel...
5. In all seriousness now, making it the last two miles through the foot pain was totally motivated by my sister and the runners around me, but that it was MY own inner voice telling me "don't stop now;"
4. That when you are exhausted and fighting pain on mile 12, that giving high fives to a bunch of kids who are cheering you on, is an incredible sense of motivation;
3. It's heavenly to hear your six year old say, "Dad, did you see mom's medal? It's awesome..." and then have that six year old ask you, "Mom, are you going to hang this up in your room?"
2. Obtaining goals is awesome, but I'm already looking for another one to run, so that I can beat my time...
1. and that (#2) means I'm hooked - Yes, world, I'm a runner now!

The Battle of the Thin Mints

It appears that I may have been a bit overzealous this year in the Girl Scout cookie ordering department... Somehow, through three separate clever sales girls, I am now the owner of 4 boxes of thin mints, 1 box of peanut butter tag-a-longs, 2 boxes of the new cranberry thank you berry munch, and (get this) 8, yes EIGHT, boxes of Samoas. I have to stock up on the Samoas (the carmel, chocolate, coconut ones...) because there are only like 15 cookies in a box, and those are the favorites of the two main cookie eaters in this house (my hubby and the oldest son).

So now, here I sit, surrounded - literally they are lining up in circles around me waiting to attack - by Girl Scout cookies. And me, well being race week, I've been avoiding all the extra sweets and sugars and stocking my body up on good carbs and protein for race day fuel, but I'm surrounded by cookies! I had three thin mints on Monday night, and nothing since then. Part of me is grateful, hoping maybe they'll be gone after my race is over on Sunday, but not even my bottomless-pit kids can eat 15 boxes of cookies in a weeks time. The other part of me is thinking if I can avoid them for a week, I should be able to avoid them until they are gone. But then the last part of me, the weakest part, wants a darn cookie. The frozen thin mints taste soooo good with a fresh cup of coffee.

Temptation and resistance, I never thought this would become the hardest part of my marathon training! Right now, I'm blogging to help resist the urge to eat a few with the pot of coffee that I'm brewing. Lunch instead will be turkey sandwich and cottage cheese, please... But, I think I'm going to go for my quick two mile easy run first, just to make sure I have my priorities in order. Eat to fuel the run. Next week I can go back to my normal motto... Run = Eating whatever the He!! I want! Besides if I am burning approximately 1300 to 1600 calories on race day, maybe I'll just pack a box of thin mints as my after race reward! I wonder how many thin mints equals 1300 calories....

Crossing off the Days

Only 5 days until my first 1/2 marathon at the Flying Pig in Cincinnati! I received my confirmation email and bib number - 17686. I'm so excited it's crazy! I never, ever thought that running 13.1 miles would do anything other than make me say "he!! NO!" But here I am, five days out and obsessed with that 13.1 miles that is waiting for me. My nerves are still on edge, although I do think I've brought them down a few notches. My sister keeps giving me pointers, and I've been reading reports of some people that finished the Borgess 1/2 this past weekend. Where there's a will there's a way, right?

I did miss my last long run before the Pig this past weekend though. I had planned it for Sunday as Saturdays are full of soccer games for us, and then on Sunday it stormed for most of the day. I did get a little indoor core workout in, but not my last long run. Oh well... if I wasn't ready before that run, then it's kind of too late anyway! I did run a good 5 miles this morning a t 9 minute pace, and will finish up another couple short and sweet runs before the end of the week.

My new worry is the race week diet! I'm trying to follow one that I found online, but this "dieting" thing is all new to me! Oh well, if nothing else, I'll stick to eating "healthy" all week, and just filling up on some good old-fashioned pasta the two days before. Not going to worry... my new motto for the week. I'm just going to keep looking forward, and in doing so, I'm going to enjoy contemplating the next decision before me. The deadline for the early discounted registration for the GR Marathon in October, is May 15th. My sister is running the full marathon at that one, and she thinks I can be ready, too. I have a couple weeks after finishing the Pig, to evaluate my body's reaction to 13.1 miles to see if doubling that is something I want to do. Or, do I want to keep training for 1/2's (if I find it as enjoyable as my enthusiasm leads me to believe that I will - craziness again that 13.1 miles is sounding enjoyable). I think I've gone over the edge!

Ah well. If looking forward to 13.1 miles means that I am really a "runner", then so be it. I've definitely been called worse things in my life. However, I do think I owe my sister an apology for telling her she must be crazy when she started running her first marathons!

The World of Middle School Track

This week has been fun for me. I've entered the world of middle school track meets! Since I am a "new" runner, I obviously wasn't a track star in school. Only ran one year (8th grade), as I preferred sports like volleyball and softball that required very little running. I went into this new season after hearing all the warnings about middle school track; such as comments like, "it's just track," "it's a social hour," or even better, "it's a waste of time." I have watched my kids in all kinds of sports, as they have all been blessed with that athletic gene, and on top if it, that competitive gene as well. So for my son, 7th grade track is not about social hour, as he doesn't do much, especially not a sport, "just for fun." After watching the first two meets of the year, and seeing how my son and some of the other kids have done at them, I would have to disagree with the warnings that were given to me. Yes, there are always those kids at middle school and even high school that are in it for the social factor; however, the majority of the kids that I was blessed to watch, are in it for the win, or at least to do the best that they can. Some are already keeping track of their best times, the schools best times, etc... 

However, prior to trying to become a runner myself, (I apologize in advance to any runners that I may offend) I may have jumped on the "running is not a sport" bandwagon, and my sister ran cross country and track. Now, after attempting to become a runner myself, I realize that the old saying about "walking (in this case running) a mile in someone else's shoes" definitely applies to this sport, and this sport at this level. These are middle school kids, and I'm sure we all remember "that" age. That age where your feet were 4 sizes too big for the rest of your body, when you were faced with surging hormones, bad acne, crushes and heartache, fitting in, etc...

These kids face their own type of fears every day, and when they are on the track they do not have a time-out, with a team huddle, and teammates to slap them on the shoulders and drag them out of their emotional downward spiral. Even in wrestling, which is huge in our family, the wrestlers are on the mat "alone," but the coach is right there in their corner, the teammates and fans are just feet away. On the track, the closest contact for these kids rounding turn three, is the person they are trying to beat, and that person isn't going to stand over their shoulder and say, "c'mon, you can beat me..."  When they get to that turn, and still have another 200 to 3000m to go, they have no voice to propel them forward but their own.

From my own last year of running, I have come to realize how mental this sport (and I know now that it really is a sport) really is. I may be very athletic, and running did come kind of natural once I started, even late in life, but I'm not as mentally strong as some of these middle school kids. There was one kid from our school that ran the 800 with my son. My son is quick and has placed in both meets, but the other kid was barely finishing lap one when the rest were finishing lap two. I know many many adults that would have stepped off the track right there, but this kid kept on jogging along at his own pace, and when he crossed the finish line, the team cheered him on, but on lap two at the first corner and for the next 600 m. He was all alone. So no matter if it would have taken him 2 minutes or 5 minutes to finish the race, the fact that he finished shows that he has learned one lesson of this sport already. And it's a lesson that I'll take with me next weekend at the Flying Pig, to keep going, to keep moving forward, and that no matter if I get passed by someone three times my age, that it's my race. I'm out to beat the goals I set for myself, and to do the best that I can. I would love to place in my age group someday, but being my first, I just want to finish. And in finishing, realize that I've already accomplished one goal in itself.

Here are a few pics of my son - I'm so proud of him. He cleared 8'9" - personal record for him - on the pole vault.

Countdown to the Flying Pig

I have 11 days until I will attempt my first ever half marathon... I'm literally "running out of time" in my training schedule. I'm thinking of all the workouts I didn't squeeze in, all the weights I didn't lift, the hills I didn't run, did I do enough core work? Is it like a test? Do you think you can "cram" for a 13 mile run?? I'm telling myself that I'm over thinking it all, but it doesn't help that the "nerves" and "butterflies" have set in so far ahead of the actual run.

I have to stay at a different hotel than my sister, who I'm running with (she is in charge of dragging me over the finish line in the event that I pass out, need to crawl, trip and fall and land on my face, etc...) and I'm worried about getting over the bridge (my hotel will be in Kentucky) and to the race and finding her somewhere near the starting point at 6 in the morning. I don't really want to carry my cell phone, but I want to make sure I find my motivational, strength, pacer, and support partner for this event! I also have a friend riding with me and need to find her at the finish line.

And then there's the matter of my shoes. I went 2 weeks ago to get new ones because my old ones were giving me black toe nails, this started happening after my training had led me beyond the 10 mile run mark. I figured a month to break them in would be plenty of time. However, I let the sales lady "convince" me that the Asics fit my high arches better and made me run "more neutral" than the Saucony brand that I had been wearing (with no problems other than the black toe nails, and that was only after 10 mile runs - anywhoo...). I HATED them. I returned the first pair for a second pair, different style, and still hated them. Went yesterday and exchanged them again for the Saucony ProGrid Ride 2, but I just wore them today for a 6 miler... Do I keep wearing them for the next 10 days and for the half? Or should I just play it safe with my old ones? The toe nail is already black at this point...

There are issues of "Race Etiquette," which I really know very little about since I've ran one 10k. I do know to step towards the right when someone yells "on your left." But there seems to be a whole slew of race jargon and rules that I don't know about. I need to find the book, "Running a 1/2 Marathon for Dummies"... I would buy that. Do you think they make signs that say "newbie - I apologize in advance for breaking any race rule that I claim to not be aware of" to stick on your back? I'd buy one of those, too!

Then there are the little things. Like what to wear? I need an outfit with enough pockets to hold my ipod, my sportbeans, maybe my cell phone. If it's a bit chilly I can wear my jacket and I'll be good, if it gets to warm, the jacket will be out of the question. I could unzip the sleeves of the jacket, but then the zipper rubs on my armpit and causes a great deal of discomfort. Maybe I should just buy a vest so I don't have to worry about zippers on the arms. Should I by a hat? A visor? I don't really like running with sunglasses - I sweat way too much. I'll probably pack like I'm going for a week, for one little run. Gloves, hat, pants, long-sleeved shirt and jacket in case it's chilly at 6:30 am. Shorts, tank, vest, in case it's warm. Then there will be the in-between layers. Short sleeved shirt over the tank? How many layers will I feel like stripping off? Just wear the minimum and hope it warms up quick? So many decisions... and I'm running out of time!

Time to Reflect...

So I had tears in my coffee this morning. It wasn't from the lack of sleep, getting up at 5:30 to run 10 miles, or the 10 mile run itself. They were "good" tears. The "good" kind you get from those inspirational moments that really make you stop, reflect, and think about your own life. I was reading this blog: What Have You Got to Complain About - if you have time you should definitely read and watch the video.

What do I have to complain about? I thought, prior to watching this video, that my grumblings of receiving my 60 day letter within the next 30 days, and facing my office relocating out of state, was justified. I thought whining about my sore knees after running 10 miles was justified. I thought that complaining about my son having knee problems was justified; and, I thought venting about my crazy busy life was justified as well.

However, after watching this video. I have not a single complaint about my life.

God has given me a job that gave us a full YEAR's notice that our office was moving. They didn't walk in unannounced and start handing out termination letters. And, in this state of economic upheaval, myself and my husband have had steady jobs this whole time. When I do get my 60 day letter, I also get a severance package that will allow me to be at home with the kids this summer if I choose.

God has also blessed me with athletic genes. I took up running at age 33. At age 35, I will have worked my way up to my first 1/2 marathon in just 16 days from now. The fact that I have knees that still work, legs that can run, and a body that keeps up with it all is a blessing in itself. God has also blessed us with this little brown pill called ibuprofen, and these handy little plastic baggies that hold a substance called ICE. I have no reason to complain about a little knee pain.

God has blessed me with three beautiful, smart, intelligent, athletic kids. They have all kept 4.0's, they are all athletic, they are all well-behaved, and they are all HEALTHY. Having a minor knee problem at age 13 is an inconvenience for my son who really might be doing three sports at once during any given season. But, he is capable, refer to the ibuprofen and ice in the paragraph above, of pushing through the pain. So even though this knee problem won't go away until he stops growing, at least he can continue to do the sports he loves. He also has no complaints, and even though he hardly ever mentions it (we have to force those little brown pills down his throat when he's limping around), if he was to complain. I would refer him to the video above, even though I already made them watch it this morning.

Finally, God has blessed me with a husband and family that are incredibly active. I myself take on hobbies that I probably don't have time for - just like running for 90 minutes, or my weekend scrapbook adventure this weekend, on top of 2 soccer games and a wrestling and track meet.... Yeah, life is crazy, life is hectic, but God has blessed us with time, money, friends, family, and the ability to juggle it all.

I know we've all heard it before, "Count Your Blessings," but this morning. After being monumentally inspired by this video, I have thanked God again for the Blessings in my life, and there are so many that I cannot even count them all. Have you counted your blessings today?

First 10k

I finished my first ever 10k this weekend! My sister ran the Martian Meteor 10k with me - she was my pacer. I was hoping to be under an hour for my first one and at a 9:30 pace. However, we (my sister and I) finished with a 55:50 and a 8:59 pace! I was ecstatic to hit an under 9 min pace time! We were 34th (her at 55:50.04) and 35th (me at 55:50.09) in our age group of 203 runners. It ended up being a beautiful morning for a run, it was a bit cold when we got there at 6:30 am, but was almost perfect by the time we started running. And the best part, I wasn't a bit sore, I felt really really good afterwards. Which probably just means that I should shoot for an 8:30 pace the next time.

Life Is Meant To Be Lived...

"Some people measure their lives in pulse rates and sit-ups.
Far better to measure yoursin licks of ice cream,
well-told jokes, mad dashes to be first in the water, belly laughs...

And, when you die, it won't be an erratic shift in your heartrate,
it will be an overdose of mirth, fun poisoning, death by laughter."
Keds Ad

Things happen so quickly in life. I just received a prayer request from my instructor, her little sister has cancer, and it sounds like it has spread rapidly. My cousins just lost their grandmother. Another friend lost his father. On the news you see all the horrors of car wrecks, killings, crimes, etc... And all of a sudden I just want to stop, take a step back...

Life is hard. Life is tough. We work at work, we work at school, we work at staying healthy - being fit and eating right, we work at teaching our kids right from wrong, and we work at making ourselves a better person. But when all of a sudden you realize that tragedy could be around the bend, work seems less important. Life should be lived, and we all have to work, but we all need to take time to work on enjoying the work that we do. Work on enjoying the two minutes that our six year old wants to ramble about pokemon; enjoy the ten minute drive home with our teenagers while you have them secluded in a vehicle and they "must" answer all questions including the too often forgotten "how was your day"; enjoy the few moments of alone time with our husband; and enjoy the beauty in the world around us that we rush past, speed through, ignore, forget and too often take for granted.

Living life means a lot of things to a lot of different people. But me, I want to live my life with no regrets. I don't want to regret not making paper airplanes instead of reading my book; and, I don't want to regret watching the sunrise and set and feeling that loss of "where did this day go?" I want to live my life before some unknown tragedy hits. I don't want to wait until time is too precious. Time is too precious now, we just need to stop and realize it more often. I want to remember the silly, precious, seemingly unimportant moments in life. I want to look back and remember laughing at nothing with the most important people in my life. I want to look back and know that I didn't waste a moment worrying about what to do next, but just took the leap to walk outside and throw a ball around, plant a tree, ride bikes, run through the sprinkler,  pick dandelions, and dance in the kitchen. Those are the briefest, yet most memorable times, and we must take advantage of them when they are given to us.

The easiest sentiment... Live, Laugh, Love. But really, really do it, with all you are go out and Live each moment, Laugh whenever you can, and Love not just your family and friends, but the world and the life that you have been blessed with.  

Calm Between Storms...

That's my current state of life. I'm in the calm between the storms of sports seasons! Wrestling is done, indoor soccer is winding down, and we (after this weekend) will have TWO full weeks until it all picks back up again with outdoor soccer for all three kids and track for one. I'm a bit sentimental on spring sports though. I remember playing ball for what - 10 years - in the spring. When you play spring sports in Michigan, it means you play in a little bit of sunshine, in a lot of rain and mud, in a little bit of snow, then throw in some early morning fog, high winds, and lots of thunderstorm cancellations. Then every once in a while, you'll get a beautiful 80 degree spring day for an early taste of summer.... Ahhhh... of course now, it means sitting in all the above weather conditions, which is a bit tougher than playing in them.

Since I've started running, I've grown to love spring all over again. Running outside in spring time means seeing the grass turn green, the flowers push their way through the dead grass from fall, the trees start to bud, new baby cows in the fields, birds all over the fields and trees, and of course allergies along with it, but, I love it just the same!

Spring time is cleaning out, sorting through, throwing out and starting fresh for the year ahead. I'll have a lot of that to do this year, both personally and professionally. I can't wait to see what life and summer bring to me and mine. While I wait, I'll enjoy life's new beginnings, while I strategize my own new beginnings on all these spring day romps, out in the fresh countryside air.... Welcome Spring!

Springtime

The weather has been beautiful here in lovely Southwest Michigan lately; however, the beauty is only fair game for the release of all kinds of little allergens that make my sinuses go batty. I woke up Sunday feeling like a train ran into my face. It hurt to open my eyes, and the bones under my eyes across to my ears throbbed like someone was bouncing a ball off them. It was horrid. Thank the Good Lord for lots of sinus meds! Nothing makes it go away, but the meds took the worse of it away. I actually even managed my personal longest run to date yet! 9 miles Sunday afternoon!! And, I only had to stop and use the kleenex that I stuffed in my pockets about 5 times....

Of course the next step in the sinus progression is usually losing my voice... every spring and fall it hits in the same way and the final step is no voice for a couple days. We'll see.... I have wrestling on Saturday and Sunday, I might just be cheering my son on in my head.

Other than that, work is super busy, and super close to being done... just over 30 days till the dreaded day. School is going... Financial Management class. Think crash course in business accounting. Can't wait to see how my head hurts after tomorrow night and working and cash flow statements. Running is amazing! 9 miles Sunday and my first ever 10 miler coming up on Saturday morning!! I never thought I'd be a runner, but I love it. And right now, I'm loving the weather on top of it. It's so nice to be able to run outside without the gloves, hats, triple layers, and watching where you step to avoid the ice.

Anyway, Happy Spring!!

Laugh and the World Laughs with You...

Laugh and the world laughs with you. Screw up and your real friends will laugh at you, and they will laugh so hard, to the point that they are crying...

I just had a thought today that it is really nice to know that I am comfortable enough with my friends that they will feel free to laugh at me, and I at them in return. It's always nice to bring laughter to somebody's day, even at your own expense on occasion. I had a roommate in college who was great to laugh at and with, and she loved to laugh at me. I remember falling on the ice one time and she was laughing so hard she was crying and about to wet herself. After she quit laughing so hard that she could actually speak between gufffaws of laughter, she did manage an "are you okay?" And then she continued to laugh... But if we can't laugh at ourselves, our friends, the world around us, then what fun is life?

I am a firm believer that on some days, God sticks that invisible stick out there as we trip over nothing walking thru the store, just to humor himself for the time being. Just like when my son was flat on his back in the mud puddle, and mom was bent over laughing, I think God got a kick out of that as well. What better than to know that people are out enjoying the beauty of the day and getting muddy at the same time?

I'm to the point and age in my life that certain "friends," you know, the ones where you always feel you have to watch what you say around them, just aren't worth the effort. Not that I don't want "friends", I do, and I'm a nice enough person that I'm not going to be rude and just unfriend them, but if I can't be myself, is it really even a friendship?

Glorious Sunshine and a Fabulous Run

Today is a beautiful Michigan, almost, Spring day! The sun is shining; the snow is melting (slow and steady); and the roads are clear of ice. Which, in my new running world, equals a great day for a lunchtime run!

I love the fact that running is now something I can't wait to do. Waiting for my lunch today, I was like a little kid waiting to go on carousel. The cool (yet much warmer than last week) breeze, the splashing mud at my feet and the smells of spring were completely arousing as I ran down the road. My challenge was to do an (as in ONE) extra hill sprint. I sprinted up the hill on the way out, sprinted up the other side on the way back, and the turned at the bottom and got in that extra sprint back up, and then with "Lose Yourself" focusing all my attention, I sprinted up it again! For a total of 4 hill sprints, and three miles, and a lunchtime that was exactly what I needed to energize myself for the remainder of the workday, running kids around after work-day, and homework filled evening.

Ahhh.... Now, it's time to go eat something yummy that I earned for lunch!

A Great Day for some Mud Fun...

My two oldest kids had a youth group "thing" after church this morning, so I promised my youngest some fun time outside. He learned last fall how to ride his bike without the training wheels, and with all this snow he hasn't been able to ride. So, we decided to brave the open road! We live in a rural area, and there's a nice long stretch of road (this is also where I run). Robby wanted to go to the "hill" not up the big hill, but to it, and then come back. This is about 1/2 mile down and another 1/2 mile back. We pulled his bike out of storage, brushed off the cobwebs and hit the open road.

          

We made it past the driveway before the first "wipeout" happened. Don't worry - he gracefully fell to the ground in a dramatic fashion as I caught the handlebars - his helmet is packed away somewhere with all our summer stuff, so I walked along with him. Robby wanted to know if he looked like "roadkill".. he was definitely posing in this photo after his graceful fall to the ground. A couple of times he steered off into the snow banks and gracefully fell into the snow... All the biking and falling made him thirsty, and we were only about 1/4 mile down the road!

 

   

After we turned around at the half mile mark, he really had the hang of it riding home. He did great, and only "purposely" went down one other snow bank. He didn't fall once on the way back - until.....

He asked if he could ride through the mud puddle at the end of our driveway, and being under the full affect of "spring fever" I told him go ahead (what was mom thinking?). So he speeds up to make a splash and before I could get my camera out, he fell smack dab in the middle of it. Being the terrible mother that I am, I doubled over in laughter, and then made him turn around to get a good picture!

   

So we have laundry to do, his shoes need to be washed and dried before school tomorrow! But it was fun, and he keeps asking when we can go again. He wants to try and ride up the hill (and I would like to be able to sprint up it as well - it's a good size hill though!) I told him when he gets stable enough he can be my new running partner - he can bike while I run - but he'll have to be able to make it up the hill!

Unstoppable

I'm always looking for new music to play on my ipod while working out (see last weeks blog: Let Me Count the Reasons). This week I found a new song by Rascal Flatts, the Olympic Mix of "Unstoppable". So I just had to share.

So, so you made a lot of mistakes

Walked down the road a little sideways

Cracked a rib when you hit the wall

Yeah, so you didn't do your best

Pulled you down faster than a sunset

Hey it happens to us all

When the cold hard rain just won't quit

And you can't see your way out of it

You find your faith has been lost and shaken

Here's your chance and it's worth taking

Get on your knees and dig down deep

You can do what you think is impossible

Keep on believing, don't give in

You've got the strength to race, to win

Remember what one dream can do

You are unstoppable

You, you can weather any storm

Don't you know that you were born, to win

Oh, you find a helping hand when you need it most

A lighthouse shining on the coast

That never goes dim

When your backs against the wall

When you stumble, when you fall

You find your faith has been lost and shaken

Here's your chance and it's worth taking

Get on your knees and dig down deep

You can do what you think is impossible

Keep on believing, don't give in

You've got the strength to race, to win

Remember what one dream can do,

You, are unstoppable...

Let Me Count the Reasons...

After today's morning run, which was a really good one for me, I felt so good. It was definitely one of those runs that was invigorating and exhausting all at the same time. Getting ready to shower, I realized that my toe nail was bleeding? I couldn't feel it, it hadn't bothered me during the run, but there it was, blood all over my toes. Then it occurred to me, that maybe, just maybe, I can really call myself a runner now if my shoes are giving me bloody toe nails! I'm sure that sounds incredibly gross to some of you. I remember my roommate in college saying she knew she had the right soccer shoes when her toe nails turned black (now I would not go this far). Now, my shoes are not new, I've had them for awhile, not sure if this means it may be time to get a new pair though, but then my toe nail got me to thinking that I love running. Why?

Well, here's my short list (not including the overall health and wellness benefits) of why it is that I have become addicted to the run - thanks to my sister who, I'm sure, has her own list of loves...

1.  I can experience bloody toes and still be on such a high from the run that I don't care!
2.  It's a great reason to download new songs to my iPod.
3.  When else can you get up, throw on comfy clothes, throw your hair up, skip the makeup, be covered in sweat, and people don't care?
4. It's a great reason to buy cute workout clothes - to wear when you have no makeup and are all sweaty, at least the clothes are cute if you aren't!
5. Getting new shoes is like reaching a goal. 500 miles = new shoes!
6.  I'm starving after a run, and I LOVE to eat! All those protein calories after a run is like a feast for me!
7.  I actually find myself smiling from ear to ear at the end of a run, when I try to kick it into gear, and sprint thru the finish, my body hasn't failed me yet!
8. I love and I will never give up dark chocolate, but I don't feel guilty eating it, because I know I earned it!
9. What better way to see towns you haven't been in before than to run over their bridges and trails to take in the scenery.
10. It's the only sport where there is always more... a football game is always 4 quarters, but a run, well let's try a 10k, then a 1/2, then a full 26.2 marathon, then an ultra, maybe a tri... there is always more! How much do you really want to push yourself?

What makes you run?

Happy Running!

Another Birthday

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. But the life in your years."

~Abraham Lincoln~

I am another year older today, but so far the increasing years hasn't bothered me too much. Maybe I'm in denial, or maybe I'm just that relaxed of a person that it really doesn't matter to me, but I refuse to get "old" regardless of what the calendar says.

I'm going to run more today than I did yesterday. I will laugh more today than I did yesterday. I will enjoy life more today than I did yesterday. I will continue to look for the best in the situations and the people around me. The only difference is, that today, I get to enjoy a piece of cake and I won't worry about having to run off those extra calories - just for today. And for today, when I reflect on the last 35 years of my life, I will think of all I have achieved, fullfilled, learned and grown. Then I will look forward to this new year and think of how much more I have yet to achieve, fullfill, learn and grow, and I will think about how much I still have to do in the next 65 years! And I will look forward to every last moment ahead of me!

Brewing...

Lately there is definitely more brewing than just my morning pot of coffee, and it's not the afternoon pot... It's all the musings in my mind. I just haven't had time to sit down and blog it all out, so it's brewing... brewing and stewing. Developing worries out of nothing, and forming dreams that I have little time to pursue.

So here I sit, brewing up schemes, plans, thoughts and ideas with no time to put them all down. I wish you could take a snapshot of your brain and hold them for later....

Reorganizing Goals

I decided this week that I needed to reorganize, postpone, and/or simply just change some of the goals and activities that I have. I want to run. I promised my sister to train for a half marathon, and I will. But simply put, between work, kids, school, trying to put in that 3 -5 days of workouts has been a challenge in itself. I can get the 2 days in, but I want to make sure I'm really really ready for this first attempt at 13.1 miles. I don't want my sister or anyone else to have to drag me over that finish line!

Work will be "done" the end of April, wrestling will be done in mid-March, and school will be done in June. What in the world will I do with *gasp* freetime?! The thought itself is scary in itself... I know I will run, that's for sure! Back to the changing of my goals and plans...

I have decided against the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinatti on May 2nd, and pushed the 1/2 marathon back until June 6th. I get 10 full weeks after wrestling is done to focus on training, and a whole month of work being done to focus even harder. I will still be doing a 10k in April, but while I might not be in top condition, I know I can at least finish that one without doing to much extra training right now. Then we can also focus on swimming twice a week to get back into swim shape for the Sprint-Tri in August. Now that I know I can survive the swim, the goal is to get out of the water in under 13 minutes this year, get a better bike, and work on hills for that first 1/2 mile uphill run after getting off the bike (grueling torture getting off a bike and running at all, much less UP HILL). I'm sure my sister will come up with some form of training/punishment to get me in shape for this! Then, depending on what comes about after the job is finished... we talked about taking a short sisterly weekend to Arizona during the winter months to run a race down there. Trying to talk my other sis (the non-runner) into training with us as well - she about died laughing at the mention of it though!

On top of that, which really is the "easy" portion of my life right now - running is the enjoyable, me time.. I am making myself focus focus focus on getting my school work done. Four classes to go and I will be finished! And then there is writing, my ultimate goal, that I want to go after right now, but reality tells me I need to finish school and work to have time to actually focus on it... So patience, my dear self, patience...

For now, I will hammer away at a job that is driving me crazy, yet also my saving grace at the same time. Spend my writing moments, writing job assignments for Human Resource Management classes (ugh...), and visualize what it is I will do when I cross that finish line in June after my first full 13.1 miles!

Good Writing...

"Good writing is always about things that are important to you,

things that are scary to you, things that eat you up.

But the writing is a way of not allowing those

things to destroy you."

~John Edgar Wideman~

Any thoughts on freelancing? I've been doing some research, and although my plate is "full" right now between work and school and life in general.... I'm thinking in my upcoming unemployment that this may be another route to explore...

http://www.aboutfreelancewriting.com/

Two Cents on Sportsmanship

" Good character is more to be praised than outstanding talent.

Most talents are, to some extent, a gift.

Good character... is not given to us.

We have to build it... by thought, choice, courage, and determination."

~H. Jackson Brown~

As wrestling season gets under way, I am amazed anew by the lack of sportsmanship. Looking around this week in the gym, frustration grew with the scenes around me. The trickle down affect was in full-swing; parents screaming obscenities and booing the officials, wrestlers - who lost, storming off the mat with headgear slamming the door, coaches cheating their way through, and belittling other teams and their own players, and spectators disprespecting the National Anthem. I can handle tears. I am an emotional spectator; I've a tear in my eye during the National Anthem at any event. I know first-hand, how winning and losing can bring a tear to one's eye. What I cannot handle is the unsportsmanlike conduct that surrounds me. So, again, here is my two cents on sportsmanship....

One thing revealed in my participation in youth sports, is that the adults involved shape the attitudes oand characters of the kids playing as much as the sport itself does. A lack of sportsmanship on the mat or field, is a result of a lack of sportsmanship in the stands and at home. In our football league, we stress participation and learning, along with winning and losing. The kids in our program will be disciplined for throwing helmets and cussing, just as the coaches will be for the same behavior. Dismissing parents from games for inapporopriate behavior is unfortunate but necessary at times as well. Adults need to be held to the same standards as the kids that participate.

Teaching grace and dignity in the face of both victory and defeat is a hard lesson for adults and kids the same. Nothing teaches a good lesson, like having a good or a bad example. Sports will shape character, for better or worse. Losing, but giving 100% and walking asway with head high - that's character. Just as winning and walking away without showboating, showing respect for the opponent - that's character. Coaches can preach this until the kids can recite it verbatim, but until they see the results and examples in their home and in the stands around them, it is a lesson lost.

Motivational Quotes

"Motivation is a fire from within.

If someone else tries to light that fire under you,

chances are it will burn very briefly."

~Stephen Covey~

"Your biggest challenge isn't someone else.
It's the ache in your lungs

and the burning in your legs,
and the voice inside you that yells 'CAN'T',

but you don't listen.

You just push harder.

And then you hear the voice whisper, 'can'.

And you discover that the person you thought you were
is no match for the one you really are."

~unknown~

Just had to share these two quotes.... Between trying to be motivated at work (to a job I'm losing in 90 days), at school (only 4 classes left), in the gym (only on week two of that 1/2 marathon training), and at home after all of the above (when I just want to sleep)... I found these two quotes highly inspirational this week. I can't do all of the above for my family and friends, whether they will reap the benefits of them or not, it has to be done for me, and by me, and for reasons that I find acceptable for doing it all.

Same with anything we take on in life. It's nice to try something that someone else thinks you would like, but it's fabulous to do something new that brings you that inspirational spark, that moment that says "AH-HAH!!" Because when that moment hits you, and it will at some point, it becomes crystal clear, and it gives you that afterburn, kick in the bootie, motivational spur in the rear that you needed. You don't need someone else to tell you what you should do, you need the voice in your head to tell you "this is what I want to do..."

Running a marathon may seem to have no direct "benefit" to my children. There are times that I begin to wonder if my time training is taking away valuable time with my family, but on the other hand. If running makes me happy (and believe it or not I've found that it has.... ), brings a settling of nerves and stress, and also boosts my healthy meter, well isn't that beneficial to my kids in the long run? Of course it is, but doing it for them doesn't get me going. Yes I want them to see that you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to, but I want them to see that (as the old football quote goes), you "don't chase your dreams, you run 'em down and tackle them!"

You go after what you want and desire in life, if it drives you, if it brings out something in you that makes you a better person, if it just simply makes you happy... you go after it. You embrace it with both hands and hang on for dear life, because the most wonderfully inspiring loves that I have, aren't an easy walk in the park to hang on to. The wonderfully inspiring things are the ones that you shackle yourself to, brace yourself, and hold on for dear life, because it's going to be a bumpy ride. But I have definitely found that that ride is worth every gut sinking, heart wrenching, nerve shattering moment.

So I am embracing my self motivation. I am embracing that "can do" spirit that I know is in me. I will set the alarm a little early, go to bed a little late, and drink a couple extra ( three, five, maybe ten... ) cups of coffee, and I will hang on to all of my goals. I will accomplish what I set my mind to. Even if means giving my goals a more flexible "finish line," and a plan that is definitely written in pencil with an eraser in hand. But keeping the goals, regardless of any variations, is what I intend to do. Besides, aren't variations and flexibility part of the fun?

Enough of the self-motivational speech... Time to get up off the couch, run a few miles, do some more laundry, finish up work, make dinner, and visit with friends, all part of my plan of course...

No Giving Up

I spent tonight writing, but it was writing a paper for my Statistical Research class - blah! My brain hurts from the tedium of it all! It's horrid! For some reason, my brain just doesn't work on that wave length. However, the good news is that this was my final stint for Statistics, I can finish it up tomorrow, turn it in and be DONE! Then it's on to my HR Management class, which will hopefully be much more interesting than Statistical Research methods.

Countdown is on to completing school though! Five months... I remember when those 60 weeks seemed like it would never be over, but I'm just a semester of credits away from graduating! Woohoo!!

"Let us not become weary in doing good,

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

~Gal. 6:9~

Step Two: More Info and Sanity...

Finding information on writing and getting published is definitely not hard in this day and age of overwhelming technology. There is more information out there than I can even begin to process, or have the time to process. I could sit here for hours and read and read and find more and more information, and then whammo, my friend Denise (see her blog Life With Four Boys), sends me an amazing blog by Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, and it has even more information. What I LOVE about this blog, was the post she sent me... http://michaelhyatt.com/2010/01/six-keys-to-achieving-big-goals.html (Mr Hyatt's blog hit home by touching on - doing hard things, running a half marathon (which I have committed to do this year with my sister), and writing (my current passion and stressor) all of which have been in my blog and on my mind as of recently).

So besides searching for information, I realized that once people know what you want, they will also help you find information that you need. They will also send you that very needed word of encouragement just when you think you've jumped from normalcy into the back of a wagon headed to Crazy Town with a quick stop in Never-Neverland. I have to thank my good friends Cheryl and Kari for making me realize I am NOT CRAZY....

I think my next step, thanks again Denise, is going to be signing up for a writer's conference. However, I do have to share that Denise told me to take copy of my book and business cards, and of course my response to her is "what business cards?" The idea absolutely terrified and horrified me to my very bones... I'm seriously supposed to have a business card (not sure why that scared me more than the BOOK)? I think I am in way over my head and buried in the deepest depths of the quicksands of overachieving... I told Denise I would make up some business cards alright, and they are going to say:

Valerie Slaughter

Unpublished with Big Dreams

Courage

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"

~Vincent Van Gogh~

And maybe this is what I've been lacking all along, a little bit of courage. Or a combination of what some would call heart, guts, determination, motivation and then that bit of cowardly lion syndrome to top it all off....

Baby Steps...

So my first step on this journey of figuring out if a writer I may someday be, is doing a little bit of research. I've been reading my online friend, Cheryl Pickett's blog: http://publishinganswers.blogspot.com and I have found some very helpful information. If you are interested in all at writing or publishing, she has a lot of answers and info!

Since my true passion has always been children's literature, I loved this quote, which I found on her blog...

"No book is worth reading at the age of 10 which is not equally & often far more worth reading at age 50 & beyond"— C.S. Lewis

I would agree with this quote, as most of my favorite books, the books I can quote and remember, are children's books. Maybe that is just because after having three kids that I've read a few of them hundreds of times each, but nonetheless, they are memorable. And part of me wishes I had little babies to keep reading them too. Remember "Love You Forever"... my oldest loved that book, and we used to read it ALL the time, and I read it to the other two kids as well, but now, who do I read a book to about a mother climbing into her grown son's window and rocking him to sleep?

I also found the below link, which I did remember most of the information from a class in children's literature that I took at WMU "fourscore and seven years ago"... or something like that, maybe eon's ago would be better, simply said a LONG time ago, when I thought for sure I'd be writing for a living, I had a class... Anyway, it was good to reread a lot of the information on the facts of the actual book construction itself of a children's book. http://editorialanonymous.blogspot.com/2008/10/basic-book-construction.html

A better question, why am I blogging this stuff? Well, for me, I am a very unorganized individual. Yes, I admit, that I have never, ever in my life been able to stay on an organized "plan" for anything. I start books, and journals, planners, etc... but unless I hold myself accountable through some other means, it all just disappears. Those planners become lost beneath a pile of clutter, usually "stuff" that needs to be added to the planner, the planner then ceases to have a pen touch it's fine surface after a few weeks and remains blank for the remainder of the year... Bad, I know. Very, very bad... Like running, I have my sister to make me accountable. I tell her I want to run, she sends me a training plan, and she holds me too it. So for writing, well, I'm trying to be organized and maybe by blogging the links I find, it will help to at least be able to find them in the future!

So there they are, my baby steps into the grand adventure of figuring out what I want to be when I grow up....

Writing Blog

My "Aunt Val" or should I say my mom's best friend and my namesake, just emailed me this blog that her son wrote. Just thought I would share, as it was something I really needed to read, and something that hit home, especially after just blogging about this yesterday.

So, without further ado, and for your writing and reading pleasure....

http://www.thirdcoastmagazine.com/blog/

Enjoy!

I Want to Be a Writer

Well, in the face of looking for a new job, or even a new career, and on the verge of finishing my bachelor's degree (finally.....), I realized that when I had a Journalism major and a Creative Writing minor about 15 years ago, that the average salaries of journalists in the area should not have scared me away. Granted, while looking online today, those salaries don't seem to have increased much in fifteen years; however, how does one get their foot in the door without that degree and that dirt poor salary experience?

It is just a tad frustrating to realize that "what I want to be when I grow up" hasn't really changed in fifteen years. I've always wanted to be a writer, it's just one of those "where do I start" and "how do I get started" issues. I've spent hours, literally, pouring over online sites for the freelance writer, for the children's book writer, and I've purchased books on the same subjects, but there is really TOO MUCH information out there. All the information, books, websites, and blogs just bring up more questions.

So now, with a little faith, a lot of homework, and even more soul searching, I think that when that 60 day letter makes it's way into my hands, that I will spend my paid time off (thanks dear employer for that) figuring out how to get started on doing what I always wanted. Degree in management in hand as a backup, I suppose... But at least I'll finally have it!

In the meantime, my writing as of now, is limited to blogging and writing in my actual hard-copy, Runner's Training Journal. Although I am NOT an organized person, and keeping any sort of records on anything is way out of my range of talents, I WILL keep this journal on running. My sister has made me commit to a half marathon, and the only way to keep myself accountable and on track is by keeping this darn journal....

Do Hard Things...

My mom got my oldest son this book, "Do Hard Things" by Alex and Brett Harris, twin brothers and teenagers. They wrote this book based on their blog http://www.therebelution.com/. The rebelution is "teens rebelling against the low expectations of the world and doing the 'hard' things." I skimmed thru the book and really just read the first two chapters before handing it over to my daughter to read, but besides being good inspiration for teens, this book could be a good challenge for us all.

They bring up the point that most kids/teens are considered "good" kids/teens because they don't do the bad things. Because the don't drink, don't do drugs, don't get in trouble, etc... But shouldn't they be considered good for the things that they do, do... Because they volunteer, or help at church, or get good grades, etc... Don't we want to challenge our kids to be better by doing these "hard" and "good" things, and not by just telling them that you are good by just staying out of trouble?

It is such a simple concept, but so true. And really, applicable to all of us. Do I want to be a good parent because I don't beat and neglect my children, or do I want to be a good parent because I love and support my children. There is really a huge difference between the two, but in the world's view, both can and are considered "good".

This book challenges it's readers (mostly teens) to go beyond and to go further and to strive to do the hard things that society assumes is beyond their reach. Who says that a teenager can't raise money for a worthy cause? If somebody were to ask you, you probably would say it's possible, but why isn't it expected? Why don't we push our children to explore volunteerism and community outreach as teens, instead of being content that they are at home on facebook, but staying out of trouble.

So this is my plug, my little platform to shout from for tonight. GET THE BOOK! CHALLENGE YOUR KIDS! Make them believe that they are capable of things that they never would have thought of, that you never would have thought of. These are our future leaders, and we should expect the best from them, and in return, expect the best from yourselves.

Now go out and do something 'hard,' push yourself out of your ordinary boundaries, and stretch your abilities to your wildest imaginings!