I’ve spent the last few months trying to train for a half marathon. I wasn’t super successful. I put in a ton of effort in the beginning, then it got super hot. I was going to really train when the kids went back to school, but then I cleaned the house instead. I wasn’t planning on running, simply walking an doing my very best. So two weeks ago, I started walking for real again. I did nearly 9 miles and 9.25 miles plus a few shorter ones. I worked really hard, but still wasn’t super successful.
This morning I woke up, got dressed, ate some breakfast, got in the car, and was driven close to the starting line of the Prairie Fire 1/2 Marathon in downtown. My Frosted Flakes threatened to re-emerge, but I kept them down and started walking. Well there was a little running at the beginning. And I just kept walking. Through the rainy times, through the not so rainy times, I kept walking. And in the end, I ran across the finish line almost exactly when I thought I would. 3 hours, 32 minutes, and somewhere around 15 seconds after I started. Approximately. I’ve very proud of myself. Even though I wasn’t the winner. Even though I wasn’t in the top 10. Even though I was probably close to last. I’m proud that I got out there and did it. I didn’t give up. I didn’t stop. I just kept going. And now, well now I can say for the rest of my life that I’ve completed a Half Marathon! And even more scary, I might even be back next year!
Special thanks to my neighbor Holly who walked with me! I’m super proud of her too!
******Official time: 3 hours 30 minutes 26 seconds. Not to shabby for a walker!
8 years ago today Mark and I woke up, left our only child with Grandma and Grandpa, and headed off to sign a ton of paper work and get the keys to the house we had been planning, designing, buying stuff for, and waiting to be finished for months. We packed up all our stuff, loaded up our 13 month old son and moved in.
In the last 8 years we have:
- painted, a lot!
- tiled, floors and back splashes
- framed, sheet rocked, and carpeted a basement
- planted grass, trees, bushes, rose bushes, and invested in multiple bags of mulch and rocks
- put in a sprinkler system
- built a fence
- built a deck
- brought two new babies into the world
- built furniture, shelves, and so much other stuff
- brought a dog into our family
- ripped up carpet
- put in hardwood floors
- painted some more
- had parties
- entertained family and friends
- made new and everlasting friends and neighbors
- watched our children grow and changed
- lived, laughed, loved, triumphed, faltered, smiled, cried, and enjoyed life.
- Did I mention painted?
All of this has turn our house from simply a house into a home. It turned a house into an oasis of peace and happiness. A place to rest your head, fall asleep, and wake up refreshed. A place where the evils of the outside world were kept at bay. A place where we could raise our family and feel safe (well, as safe as you can in today’s world).
This last week leading up to the 8 year mark has been a test to all I’ve held dear about our home. My personally oasis, by happy place, my place where I can relax, breath, and think has eroded. And while I know that the evils of the world has been outside my door all along, I could live in a happy naivete until this last week. While I’ve never seriously wanted to leave my home, leave it all behind, I found myself feeling that way this week. Wishing I has someplace else to be. Wishing I could simply walk away. In time, I’ll be okay. In time, I’ll be able to look down the street and not think about it. In time, hopefully, we will be given answers, and in those answers I’ll find my peace.
This is so much more than a just a house. It is more than the roof over our heads and floors under our feet. It is more than a place to hang our hats, purses, backpacks, and drop off our shoes. It is a home filled with love. And for me, that is enough.
I have these children, they enjoy playing and making up their own little worlds.
This is one of the children. He likes to ride his bike. Especially around the block when I let him.
Then there is this kid. She also likes to ride her bike, but I don’t allow her to go around the block by herself. Although sometimes she doesn’t listen and does it anyway.
She also likes to play with the strollers we store in the garage. This one is the kiddy stroller. She is looking for her bestest friend and duck, Puddles. He has gone missing.
And while she is search for her friend and duck, she must carry the stroller, apparently.
Ah, look, the duck has been returned. YEAH! I suspect that the two older brothers she has took said duck. More than likely!
Thank goodness things all turned out for the best. And the children are all still having fun, playing games, and discovering more fun little situations to play as they spend time together!
Yeah, I’m pretty behind, but now that I am home alone for much of the day, I have time to catch up on blogging (and reading and other stuff I’ve been putting off in the name of being a mommy!).
So this was E’s last day of Pre-K. Singing for everyone.
Saying good-bye to one of her favorite preschool friends who will not being going to Kindergarten at the same school.
And a moment for a picture with her teachers. Who we will all miss dearly!
It was a very sad day for me. It doesn’t seem possible that sweet little E who wasn’t even born when P had Mrs. Debbie (seen here on the right) as a 3 year old. How time does fly when we are having fun!
