Enjoying the Adventurous Life

Where did the time go?

2011-12-15T17:03:00.003-06:00

It occurred to me while driving to work earlier this week that I haven't blogged for a loooong time. I guess we got so busy that I sort of forgot we even had a blog. So sorry! Let me attempt to fill you in on our happenings...

In November, we traveled to Nashville so that I could participate in a half-marathon. Despite some crazy hills and some even crazier wind, I managed to have my 2nd best time. As I rounded the corner onto Broadway and saw the finish line, I counted out the stop lights and made a sprint for the finish. By chance I noticed Jeff waving frantically on the sidewalk; he is so dang supportive!!

As Jeff and I began preparing for our five-day Thanksgiving weekend, I received news that my aunt had taken a turn for the worse and I packed my bags and headed north to Michigan. Auntie had contracted MRSA, a staph infection, and required a surgery to clear her spinal canal of the infection. I was there for 5 days and it was a serious roller-coaster ride. It seemed that every day the doctors would report yet another problem. When I left to head home, she had been moved to ICU and had been labeled stage 4. I am happy to report that while things are not great, the tumor in her brain is shrinking. Praise be to God! We continue to hold her in our prayers.

The start of December brought another half-marathon opportunity. I participated in the St. Jude half-marathon in Memphis, and my-oh-my, words will never be able to express the power of that race. It wasn't my best race; my body quite literally fell to pieces at mile 8, but the pain I felt in my body pales in comparison to the pain felt in the little bodies of the patients at St. Jude Children's Hospital.

I have heard comments that there is nothing good in Memphis. That Memphis is the murder capital of the country. Blah, blah, blah. But Memphis has St. Jude. And nothing brings this city together like a race for St. Jude. The streets were packed, nearly every mile. Because I ran as a St. Jude Hero, I was wearing a special shirt, and people kept patting me on the back and high-fiving me as I ran by, yelling encouragement and thanks.

I started to feel the power of St. Jude as we turned a corner at mile 4 and began to enter the St. Jude campus. Patients, former patients, parents, relatives, and staff were lined 5 people deep on the sidewalks cheering for us. One young lady held up a sign that said, "I'm a survivor, because you are a runner." By the time I exited the campus, I was completely undone emotionally, so totally overwhelmed that I actually had to pull over and catch my breath, not from running, but from the tears. Each day as I pass the hospital on my way to/from work, I say a prayer for those children and their families, that God may touch their lives...because they have touched mine indeed.

We are wrapping up 2011 and both of us are very much looking forward to Christmas vacation. I love that we get to enjoy it together; being on the same schedule is certainly a perk to Jeff joining the teaching field. As we look back over 2011, it so blatantly obvious that the Lord has blessed us in so many ways. We were discussing being thankful, and when I asked Jeff, "What are you thankful for?" He simply replied, "What am I NOT thankful for??" So true.

As we look ahead to 2012, it is our hope and prayer that continue to be blessed and thankful, that your Christmas season is a time of joy and love, and the Jesus would be at the heart of your celebrations.

Merry Christmas and happy new year!

Fall in the South

2011-11-04T12:00:00.002-05:00

Fall has officially arrived here in the South. For a couple of weeks the temps were perfect and it really felt like a perfect summer day in Seattle. We enjoyed it very much. Yesterday, the temps dropped to a crazy 44 degrees and we contemplated turning on the heat!

It has been a crazy fall, for sure. We have been very busy with teaching and traveling, and trying to see as much of the South as we can. A couple of weeks ago we traveled to Chattanooga for a half-marathon. I did relatively well, with only minor concerns with calf cramping and the like. It was the first time I had to go to the aid station after a race. Such is life! As for Chattanooga, we loved it!! It is a beautiful city and they have really worked hard to create a beautiful river front area. Can't wait to go back again!

Last weekend, we took a day off from work and made the 11 hour (one-way) trek to Michigan. For those of you who don't know, my aunt has been diagnosed with brain cancer. There is a tumor in her brain stem. The doctors have told her she has three months, but Auntie is stubborn and is planning on beating this thing. Anything is possible with God!!! Michigan is beautiful and it was nice to finally visit...plus, I got to see Indiana, which is another state that I've never visited. Jeff and I have this game we play, checking off the states as we go. Perhaps someday we will be able to report that we've been to all 50.

Last weekend, I also ran another half-marathon and rocked it. The first 11 miles were super-solid, and I felt the fatigue set in as I started mile 12, but I got a PR and I am pleased. Yet another medal to add to the growing collection.

Next weekend, we will be traveling again to Nashville...for another half-marathon. :) I can't help myself; it's a gold guitar shaped medal. Silly, I know, but it is what it is.

We are looking forward to a five day break for Thanksgiving (they know how to do it right down here) and feeling thankful for many things.

We pray you are enjoying the fall as well. Be blessed, sweet friends!

Left Speechless

2011-09-10T13:23:00.002-05:00

It was a typical morning...I woke up, I took my sidekick for a run, I sat down with a cup of coffee to idly check Facebook while waiting for my husband to wake. I opened FB feeling happy and satisfied with my running progress, and was instantly stung by the words that I read. Our dear friend in Ireland, Jean Carley, passed away suddenly this week. WHAT?? I read it again, thinking that I must have read it incorrectly. And then I read it yet again, as the horrible news settled into place in my head...and my heart.

While we have not seen Jean and her husband, Robert, since we left Ireland two years ago, I feel that we had a bond with them that unites us still. Robert and Jean were one of the first to invite us into their home, to make sure that we were settled, to make sure that we felt welcome. Jean and I worked closely together, as every Friday I prepared the church bulletin with her by my side. I fondly remember several occasions where I sought Jean's counsel in my feeble attempts at 'mothering'; she listened intently to me as I told stories of Seattle, a place she had always wanted to visit, and hugged me when I was homesick. Jean was a natural counselor, one who had left the counseling field to work at the church she loved.

It's always perplexing to me how we are to resolve the battle inside us when we receive news of a loved one's passing. As Christians, we are called to rejoice because we know that our loved one is dancing before the throne of our Heavenly King. And yet, our hearts break. I feel devastated with the sadness of this news, even as I know that she is in a better place...and I've no way to reconcile it.

Jean Carley was an amazing woman of God, and I love knowing that she has heard the words that we all strive to hear from our Lord, "Well done, good and faithful servant" but there is a gap missing in the world of St. Mark's Church, there is a gap missing in our hearts. Jean Carley has made a considerable impact on this world, on Dublin, on St. Mark's Church, and on me. Please pray for Robert and their children as they learn to journey on without Jean. May she rest in peace.

Thoughts from a Potentially Crazy Place

2011-09-05T19:09:00.002-05:00

Yesterday morning while walking my pooch, I had this thought process that could only come from the crazy parts of my mind. In exactly 22 days, I will turn 38. This is actually coming as a shock to me because a couple of years ago, I lost track of a year (no joke), and have spent the last two years thinking I was 36. (Did I mention that we were going to talk about the crazy parts of my mind today??) Imagine my surprise when, at lunch a few weeks ago, both my dad and my husband were like, “Um, hello? You’re going to be 38.” Wow! 38! I had no idea! Weird, I know.

So I’ve been pondering 38, and it is starting to have me panic a little. I mean, it’s a stone’s throw to 40. Now, I know 40 is not old, and I’m not even panicking about that. I’m panicking about the motherhood aspect of life. Background: I married young, and it didn’t work out. I had an opportunity for motherhood, and God changed His mind. He’s free to do that, because I know He has my best interests at heart. And I know that there’s a baby in heaven that I am very much looking forward to meeting someday. But…I married Jeff as part of a package deal. As y'all know, he has three beautiful grown daughters whom I love, but I am still seeing my own opportunities at motherhood vanish.

I know, I know…there are tons of women who start at this age. Alas, I am not a celebrity with unlimited resources, so things like AI and adoption seem expensive, and perhaps unlikely. I’ve turned it all over to God, and we’ll see what happens. Again, I know He has my best interests at heart.

But here is where my thinking went totally crazy, what if, in lieu of motherhood, and in honor of ole birthday numero 40, I do an Iron Man? See, I told you my thinking was from a crazy place. Racing can never replace motherhood, that’s not my point, but if I’m not going to use this body to reproduce, why can’t I get this bod into peak performing shape??

I don’t know. I’m shaking my head at myself as I type. Stay tuned...I already have my sights on a marathon and a half Ironman in 2012. Bring it on. Or bring on a baby. Up to you, God.

Teaching High School

2011-08-21T16:20:00.002-05:00

Three words: I love it.

I was extremely nervous the first day of school. It didn't help that it was one of those mornings when nothing went right. I had every desire to be at school a good hour before it started. Although we just purchased a second vehicle from my dad (part of the reason we went to Branson), our original vehicle failed to start on Monday. Jeff and I agreed to leave the house so that I could drop him at work, and still be at my own school early.

However, we got to Jeff's school only to find that he had forgotten his keys at home. We went back home to retrieve them. After I left Jeff's school, I got caught in hardcore city traffic, a seriously intense thunderstorm, and then, just as I crossed the bridge, the low-fuel light came on. I pulled over for gas, and was feeling slightly sick to my stomach from nerves and stress. It doesn't help that I thought school started at 8:15, and learned as I pulled into the parking lot that it starts at 8:00. What a crazy first day!!

High schoolers, at times, feel like very tall eighth graders, but for the most part, I love teaching this grade level. I can have intelligent conversations with my students, and, for the most part, they are 98% college-bound, motivated students.

It was a rough first day, but a great first week!

A Trip to Branson

2011-08-14T18:26:00.002-05:00

This weekend we took a quick trip to Branson, Missouri. This trip was three-fold (did I just make that up?) We were able to have a lovely lunch with my KC parents, Dad and Vicki. We picked up our 'new' car. And, we enjoyed a romantic getaway.

I don't really have too much to say of Branson; it was crazy busy and didn't really seem like my style of town. The shows weren't generating much interest on my interest-ometer, and the traffic was driving me batty. Maybe going back for a second opinion would be a good idea, but mostly at this point, I see it only fulfilling the purpose of meeting up with Dad and Vicki.

Romantic getaway was much needed and wonderful. Not that anyone was asking. ;)

Reflecting on Our Journey

2011-08-07T11:13:00.002-05:00

For those of you who know us quite well and talk to us on a regular basis (or are friends with us on FB), you know that this blog doesn't receive full disclosure. I type out updates, and try to keep the truly challenging, painful, frustrating details to myself. I do this for several reasons--the lack of privacy involved in the World Wide Web, and because really, for some of you, if you knew everything that goes on with us, you'd worry. A lot.

In church this morning, I was reflecting on all of the ways that God has changed my life, and I was truly, utterly amazed by His grace in our lives. I titled this blog 'Enjoying the Adventurous Life' a long time ago, and while sometimes 'enjoying' it is a challenge, I can always count on life being adventurous...and I can always count on God coming through for us.

We moved this time because an opportunity was presented to my husband. An opportunity for a new career. An opportunity for success. An opportunity for us both to serve. We have moved before (numerous times) but this time felt easier than the others. No, it wasn't necessarily a joy to be apart for six weeks. No, I didn't love driving the Penske 3000 miles by myself through two detours (thank you Missouri River). But by God's grace, both were certainly manageable.

If you know our history, our relocations have often times involved bouts of 'homelessness' (although we can't really say that since we have always been blessed with friends and family who have shared their roofs with us) and financial distress. But we have continued to trust in the Lord and walk by faith, and God is blessing us. No homelessness. No missing income. It has been easier this time, but it hasn't been easy. A week ago, I was preparing to write a post sharing all of my frustrations, and just one week later, I am rejoicing in the Lord's faithfulness.

He is good. All of the time. And this morning I stand before the throne with an appreciative heart, with hands lifted high, praising my Heavenly Father for His love, mercy and grace. I am always amazed by His grace.

Grandbabies!!!

2011-08-04T09:02:00.006-05:00

It should be fairly obvious to anyone who knows us well that one of the reasons we moved to the Mid-South was to be closer to certain members of our family (nothing wrong with the other family members, just taking advantage of the opportunity). More specifically, we wanted to be closer to the grand babies. In his short life, we have only been able to see Mason twice, and we had yet to meet the newest member of the family, Matthew, who arrived in May.

We were itchin' to see them so we hopped in the car and took a road trip to Ohio this past weekend. What fun! Mason and Matthew are good boys; cute too, if we do say so ourselves.

Additionally, we visited with Travis and Chelsea, of course. They are great parents and it is fun to watch them interact with the boys.

We also acquired a new member of our Memphis family. Meet Molly.

She will be with us for a couple of months while Travis and Chelsea get ready to move. It is certainly an adjustment having two dogs in the house!

Nashville!!

2011-07-27T16:28:00.004-05:00

This past weekend, we took advantage of having no obligations and hit the road for Nashville. It's just a short trek for us, and we thoroughly enjoyed a weekend getaway--our first in our new locale, and our first since being reunited. We were even blessed to have already found the perfect Southern-style dog-sitter for Miss Bailey Mae.

We took our time and hit a couple of wineries along the way. The first winery, Century Farm Winery, was a bit of an adventure. We pulled off the highway and traveling just a few miles into farmland. As we parked the car, we were hesitate to exit our vehicle because the winery looked like it was located in a remodeled garage. We decided to brave it, and stepped foot onto the property. We were promptly greeted by that famous Southern hospitality, and ultimately fell in love with this winery. Highlights: getting photographed for a newspaper article on wine tastings.
Picture courtesy of the Jackson Sun. Maybe you won't want to take my word for it, but those hands are mine!

From there, we hit the road, and another winery. Not quite anything to say about the second winery. It's not like anyone there wanted to take my picture or anything. (Although, my face and my husband were not included in the published pictures, so maybe Mr. Jackson Sun didn't want to take my picture either. Hmmm...)

On to Nashville, where we met up with long-time friend Amber and her family, enjoyed many of the sights (some of them just drive-bys) and enjoyed some seriously Southern food, including corn fritters, hush puppies, fried catfish and sweet tea...all eaten while listening to a musician on the banjo. Does it get any Southern than that??
The Winery at Belle Meade Plantation is definitely a new favorite. A non-profit winery that not only makes great wine, but puts its profits back into the preservation of Belle Meade Plantation.

The Grand Ole Opry

In front of 'the only full-size replica of the Parthenon'

Holy HOT July

2011-07-22T07:51:00.002-05:00

This weather is out of control. I know plenty of people warned me, but it is HOT, HOT, HOT here in the South. I suppose the heat itself wouldn't be so bad, but the humidity pretty much sucks the life out of a person. Oy! I was reading on another blog where the author had posted some jokes about the heat difference between Arkansas and Arizona. Ben, the author, said in what I assume was a snarky tone, 'Oh, but it's a dry heat, and that makes all the difference.' I admit that when you get to triple digits, it's just hot...but there is something to be said for that dry heat. I prefer it myself. Was I hot when we lived in Arizona? Yep. Did the heat sucked the life out of me when we lived in Arizona? Nope. Anyway, it does no good to complain about the heat. You move to the South, that's what you get. Duh. Here's hoping for the beautiful fall and spring that locals say makes it all worth it. Interesting that nobody has mentioned winter. Hmmm...

We've officially settled into our digs. Settling into a routine would be a different story...but since this is now the home of teachers, summer vacation is meant to be a time of unstructured flexibility. It's been an interesting blend of interviews, pounding the pavement for interviews and a whole lot of down time. In the land of interviews, Jeff has had two and is currently waiting to hear back from the principal regarding interview #2. We are hoping for a good report. We pounded the pavement yesterday delivering his resume to schools, and he got two favorable responses. I know God has got this under control.

As for me, I had a job interview last week that actually turned into two interviews at once. Two principals in the same district wanted me for their school. On Friday, I was told that they wanted to hire me but could not hire me until the Board approved me, which strikes me as weird because in the Northwest, when a principal calls after an interview, it's either a yes or a no...not a 'May I have your permission to recommend you to the Board?' Of course I said yes. Meanwhile, I had another interview scheduled and chose to attend just in case. I was offered the job immediately...as in, I hadn't even left the room yet. I would like to point out that this has never happened to me. I was pretty proud of myself! But alas, I had to put that offer on hold until I heard from the Board of the other district. It was fascinating to compare the pros and cons of teaching Sophomore English and teaching Elementary PE. A teeny tiny part of really wanted to say yes to PE, I mean seriously, no essays to grade there! BUT, in the end, teaching PE would have involved a 50 minute commute (one way) and a $32,000 pay cut. Um, no thank you.

And then, after I spoke with my new principal to accept my official offer of Sophomore English (which scares the hell out of me, by the way) and junior varsity soccer (which also scares the hell out of me), I got a phone call from yet another district to interview for the job I originally wanted. Sigh. I am believing that God's timing is perfect in this process. What really bothers me is that we came here so that Jeff could become a teacher. I had really, really hoped that he would get the job first, that he would have that opportunity to taste success in this area...but alas, that is not God's plan for this particular process. I really want to say, 'Dear God, thank you so much for the opportunities you are pouring out for me and blessings that you are sharing with me, but I am not the only one in this relationship looking for a job. Please share these opportunities and blessings with Jeff too. Amen.'

This entry has been a long one, but I felt like it was a little overdue (sorry!!) and that there was a lot to share. We hope that y'all are having a great summer and enjoying whatever weather you have. We are headed this weekend to do some winery tours...a perfect way to forget about the heat!

Alive and Kickin'

2011-07-01T10:01:00.002-05:00

In case you were worried. We're still alive. :)

After a wonderful weekend with the parents in Eastern Washington, my sweet pooch and I began the long journey to our new home and my wonderful husband. After close to 3000 miles, hundreds of gallons of gas, four days (which equals countless hours), two detours, five highway grass fires which prompted one 911 phone call, Bailey and I arrived in Tennessee. Whew! What a journey!

We had a sweet reunion with Jeff, and immediately got busy looking for a new home. Nothing like a time schedule to keep a girl motivated...hotel check-out is in two hours and the rental truck needs to be emptied and returned by tomorrow morning. Thank goodness I am picking up the keys to our new place in an hour.

As always, life here is interesting. The job outlook is not quite as promising as it was advertised. (Isn't that the way?) And even though Jeff is promised a job through his program, he hasn't received his placement yet. At times, the stress is palpable. It's way too easy to turn into a Doubting Thomas...instead, we are both choosing to stand firm on God's promises of provision. He didn't bring us this far to kick us in the teeth now; after all, I doubt that my only purpose in that long-haul journey was to call 911.

Keep us in your prayers...and I will keep you posted.

Dodging the Inevitable

2011-06-23T10:46:00.003-05:00

I should be cleaning the bathroom or packing something, but right now, I'm sitting in a recliner, laptop propped on my lap, watching a chick flick, and contemplating starting a new blog.

Procrastination. You gotta love it. Occasionally.

An Update! ...Finally

2011-06-19T15:40:00.002-05:00

Wow! It has been a really long time since I have updated our blog. I suppose I should apologize to the three of you who check it on a regular basis, but I also happen to know that our most loyal followers already know that life has just been, well, a little crazy in that last month.

We are in full swing with our next move. In fact, it is fair to say that half of us has already moved. Jeff left for our new city three weeks ago, and has already started his new gig. While he is stressed to the max and completely exhausted, we both know that God is stretching and growing him for something great! I sure do miss him though.

I have two more days of school and then I will be on my way. I cannot wait to be, once again, wrapped in the safety of my husband's embrace.

We had hoped that this move would be smoother than any of our other moves, but alas, this one too has been spiritually battled. It seems that any time a person steps up to follow the call of God, the enemy of our souls will try to find some way to convince us to turn back. But my God is bigger, my God is greater and stronger, and I know that my God honors obedience and sacrifice. He has always provided, and I know that He will do it again.

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T13:51:00.004-05:00

It is Mother's Day...normally this day has me wrecked to pieces. But today, as I listen to the sermon online, and reflect on Mother's Day, I've come to realize that God has an important plan for me. I have a student who calls me his 'School Momma'. I have three amazing step-daughters. God might not have plans for my womb, but He indeed has plans for my heart--to share a Mother's love, a tender, nurturing, protective love, outside of my own flesh and blood.

I pray that I would be able to be a light in this world, and that I would be able to leave a legacy, that I would be able to give a Mother's love to those who need it.

Please God, let it be so.

One of the Best Gifts Ever

2011-05-01T09:21:00.003-05:00

A few weeks ago, my mom sent me a box with a few things that I had requested from my grandfather's home. I held the box with excitement, wondering what treasures it held. Mom told me the box would make me cry, which, of course, piqued my curiosity. I had only asked for bread pans and a rather large mixing bowl--not your usual tear-jerker items.

I opened the box and tears filled my eyes as I reached in and pulled out the old metal measuring cups my Gramma always used when baking. Yep, I wept over measuring cups. I texted my mother; she replied, "Keep going."

I removed a few more items and a handful of crumpled newspaper, and quite literally started to bawl my eyes out. The gift waiting for me in the depths of the box was that good.
This is a Lutheran Book of Worship. More importantly, it is my grandparents Lutheran Book of Worship. And it certainly rates as one of the best gifts I have ever received. If you know anything about Lutherans, they are pretty habit-bound--not in a Nun sort of way--but they sit in the same seat in the same pew, and, much like my grandparents, that means they use the same Worship Book every Sunday. And although they thrive on Christian fellowship, don't you dare sit in their seat. Okay, mostly I'm kidding. Sort of. My grandparents did indeed sit in the same spot every Sunday, and used this hymnal every time they were in church. Their names are printed inside, and I remember several times Gramma would get out of the pew to track down this exact hymnal.

When we met with the Pastor to plan Grampa's memorial, he handed us the new red hymnal to select songs. I had asked him about my grandparents hymnal and he told me he would try to locate it for me. The morning of the memorial, Pastor informed me that he was unable to locate it. I chalked it up as a loss, a very disappointing loss, and chose to forget about it.

Until I found it in my box. I know some people would look at it and say, "It's just a book; big deal." And others would look at it and say, "So what? You don't even attend a Lutheran church anymore." But this book is a huge deal to me, and here's why. This book represents my Christian heritage. Being raised by my grandparents for a large part of my childhood ensured that when I was with them, I went to church with them. In my teen years, when I chose city life and my mom over farm life, my grandparents still made sure that I was in church for Easter and Christmas. And when I got saved in college and wanted to become a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, I got to sit next to them every Sunday.

This is the book that they used to worship our Lord and Savior. It is the book from which they prayed. It is the book from which they confessed their sins. It is a book that represents their faith over the last 50 years, and I love holding it and knowing that the woman I am today has a lot to do with the Christian principles my grandparents were instilling in me over those critical formative years. I honestly feel that when I'm holding this book in my hands, it's like holding hands two of the people I have loved most in this world.

Oh, and for those of you wondering where the book was hiding...it was on Grampa's bookshelf. Of course.

Headed Back to the Classroom

2011-04-29T09:01:00.004-05:00

As part of our 'Top Secret' Mission, of which a good portion of you already possess knowledge, Jeff is headed back to the classroom. I'll leave you wondering about that for a little longer, but one of the things he has to do is pass the PRAXIS. This is Jeff and his study-buddy preparing for his test.
Please pray that we get good news when the scores arrive a few weeks from now!

I have to admit...

2011-04-24T19:24:00.000-05:00

We are harboring a secret...and it involves your address book.

Breakdown of the Race...Or, Race Breakdown

2011-04-24T18:58:00.007-05:00

I've had many requests for a post about my half-marathon in Wenatchee last weekend. I haven't yet found too much pride in the accomplishment, only because my time wasn't what I hoped (and thus, we won't be discussing it here). I ran injured, which either shows determination or stupidity--however you want to look at it.

I haven't been running in the mornings because I find it hard to get enough fuel for a morning run. But we both knew that I needed a hearty breakfast to run my race. Jeff took me to Denny's (yes, I just said that) and I fueled up on eggs and hashbrowns...and Aleve.

I took a short warm-up run, which didn't feel too badly. My regular running partner was on-hand for the assist.

I got to the starting line and queued up with the other runners. And took off for the toughest run of my life.

Miles 1-4 rocked. No pain, total mental clarity. I was in the zone. I should mention that mile 4 brought a frozen iPod. Thank goodness I had a spare mp3 player in my pocket. (No kidding.)

Mile 5 brought a huge hill that took me from river level up to freeway level. The hill killed my hip.

Mile 6 brought me to Jeff--the perfect coach who gave me a friendly pep talk.

At 6.5, I tried the energy gel. I really need to stop trying those. My body does not like them. At all.

Mile 7 took me past Jeff again, who had revived the iPod and informed me that despite how I was feeling I was headed for one heck of a PR.

Revived and reinvigorated, I took off.

Mile 9 brought serious foot pain from the blisters. (Picture post-race, obviously)

Mile 10--my hip had seized up, my hamstring had cramped. It wasn't pretty. Mile 10 also took me past the medic. I saw the medic. I grimaced at the medic. I contemplated the medic. I hobbled away from the medic, determined to finish on my own accord.

Mile 11 brought tears.

Mile 12 brought peace in knowing that I only had one mile to go.

Mile 13 brought me to the overpass that led to the finish. Thank you God for the finish.

The FINISH!!

And despite the pain, it was my second fastest time. Not the PR that could have been, but at the end of the day, I can admit that I gave it my best effort. It was a beautiful run, and I would recommend the Wenatchee Half-Marathon to anyone. I have my medal, I have my sweatshirt, and I have my 2nd fastest time. On the flip side, I have a hip injury that needs to heal and blisters turned callous that need a pedicure.

Back to the Grind

2011-04-11T16:44:00.002-05:00

Today was the first day back to work in, what feels like, a very long time. I missed four days for bereavement leave, and then we were on Spring Break (still formulating a post about our travels).

I woke up at four o'clock...perhaps from nerves...perhaps from going to bed at eight.

I'm not sure what prompted it, but I was in tears on the drive to work, just thinking about my Grampa.

It's always hard to corral the kiddos after a break, even more so when they've been corrupted by a substitute for four days prior to break. Now I'm not slamming subs. Heck, I've been one myself, so I know how difficult that job is. But you know that kids try to pull out every stop under the sun, and subs almost never hold them to your standards...mostly because subs are not mind readers and rarely have a full understanding of what the teacher's standards really are. I've walked in those shoes. I know what it's like.

But I am still tired. Still sad. Still injured (although that particular issues seems to be healing quickly--Praise God!).

I had this moment in my day, in the midst of growling at a disrespectful student, when I realized, once again, that you just never know when God is going to call you home. Best get busy living, instead of moping around. And really, isn't the best testimony of our faith to live like we are confident of what's beyond this life??

My flesh wants a pity party, but my spirit is eager to get back to living life to its fullest.

The "Are You Kidding Me?" Moment

2011-04-10T20:47:00.002-05:00

First things first, we've returned safe and sound from our varied Spring Break travel (more about that later) and we are looking ahead to our half-marathon travel this upcoming weekend.

It's been on the books since December.

My training has been quite productive, despite the fact that I blew off a couple weeks because of soccer practice. My heart and lungs feel stronger than ever.

One major problem.

The "Are you KIDDING me??" element...I'm injured. I hate to claim it. Like the start of a cold, I'd rather just ignore it and hope it goes away. But the thing is, it hurts. Badly.

I'm not even sure how it happened. The run was typical. The post-run was, well, painful. We joked around about me hobbling about. I asked if anyone wanted to rub my left glute. But when push comes to shove, it's really not a laughing matter. I can't run. I can barely hobble.

My sweet husband urged me to go get a massage today. Praise God I had a massage therapist who knew about sports massage, and did a whole lot of stretching mixed in with the massaging. But my hip is still inflamed, and I'm worried about my race.

Surely God has this under control. Surely God, who created the heavens and earth, knows exactly how to care for my wounded body. Surely God, who designed my body in His perfect image, can handle this.

I'm hoping to run. Mentally, I'm ready to run. Decision deadline = Thursday...stay tuned.

Movin' On

2011-04-06T18:18:00.002-05:00

What a week! I never thought I would experience a week where we lost two family members. As you already know, Grampa passed away last Monday...and Bruce, my sister-in-law's father, passed away on Friday. Suffice it to say, it was a rough week.

Grampa's viewing, internment, and memorial service were very therapeutic for me, as I reckon they were intended to be. It was a relief to see him at peace, but heartbreaking to know that we will never be together again this side of heaven. I miss him. There are moments when I seem to be perfectly fine, and moments where the lyrics of a song or a kind word from my husband can reduce me to tears. But, as a Christian, I can count on one thing for certain...Grampa wouldn't have it any other way at this point. I have great expectation that once I glimpse the face of Jesus and witness the throne of God, there's no way I'd give second thought to returning to earth. As I'm sure is the case for Gramps.

I will miss him, just as I miss my Gramma, with an ache that has dulled over time but has never quite left my heart, but I know that I will be with them both again someday. That's the promise Jesus has given to me. To all of us.

And so I'm movin' on...quite literally actually. Since I left Spokane International Airport on Friday, I've done nothing but move. I met up with my husband at Sea-Tac and we hit the friendly skies for Dallas. We were able to meet up with my Dad who happened to be in Dallas for a bowling tournament (very timely of God to put into place a Daddy-Hug, because I certainly needed one of those!) and then our road trip continued.

Currently we are in Abilene hanging out with our sweet friends the Smiths! I will post more details and pictures, of course, about our spring break adventure when we get back home, but for now, we're looking ahead and enjoying our time together. I feel a bit guilty that I didn't linger in Cheney, nor will we be in Washington for Bruce's service, but I believe that both Grampa and Bruce would want us to celebrate their lives by living ours.

Both were true gentlemen of a generation that no longer exists...where you stopped in the car in the middle of the road to say Hey to your neighbor, where you lent a helping hand regardless of the time of day, where you met strangers with a smile and a handshake...and both will be greatly missed.

Perhaps the Worst Phone Call Ever

2011-03-29T09:43:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was the official end of our soccer season. We celebrated by having a Staff vs. Team game (we clobbered them with a 6-0 win) and then eating tons of pizza while handing out awards.

Normally I am not away from my cell phone. Even when I'm teaching, it is near-by and I check it during passing time, because, you never know...

Normally, my phone only sees action in the way of super sweet text messages from my Sweetie, who likes to remind me during that day that I am loved and missed. Yes, our relationship is that sappy.

But yesterday, I didn't have my phone with me. Knowing that I would be running up and down the field (trying to score 'legit points' for an actual cross-training workout), I left it safe and secure in my classroom.

But when I picked it up and was notified that I had 5, yes 5, voice messages waiting for me, I knew something was up.

Sometimes in life, you think that you're thinking the worst, only to discover that it can, and does, get worse.

The first thought to enter my mind upon receiving notification of the un-fab five messages was, Grandpa. Here I was thinking he'd fallen and was in hospital, or something along those lines. Oh no, much worse.

You know when someone says your name a certain way that it is much, much worse, especially when they don't answer the phone with hello...just your name.

My amazing Grampa passed away unexpectedly yesterday. I don't know all the details. Probably I don't even need to know them. What I know is that I am very sad. Sad that he's gone. Sad that I didn't get to say goodbye. Sad that I didn't get to see him one more time, or say I love you one more time. I hope he knows how much I loved him, God I hope he does.

My Grampa is dancing with the angels before the throne of God. He has been reunited, at last, with the love of his life, my Gramma. He no longer has to feel the pain of old age and deteriorating joints. I should be rejoicing, but I'm just sad.

In hindsight, I realize that this news of his passing is not the worst news I could receive. It would be far worse for him to have fallen...to be in a hospital hurting...to endure months of healing, if healing even occurred at all. 'Tis better that he is in heaven with our Lord and Savior, free to dance and rejoice at all the everlasting has to offer.

I love him, and miss him so much already. Dance with Jesus, Grampa; just dance and rejoice!

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

2011-03-19T16:04:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I last posted...or has it? I can't remember. That should be a sign of the times around here. Busy, busy, busy! There are so many areas to update!

Soccer:
The Good--we have one week left! Woohoo! We've enjoyed coaching, for the most part, but it's been a long six weeks.
The Bad--never fails, it's always raining. It rained so hard on us Friday that our water-resistant winter coats were leaving puddles in the hallway in the two minutes it took my frozen fingers to cooperate to unlock my classroom door. (Maybe that should go under 'The Ugly')
The Ugly--we were able to secure a win, but despite that apparently random moment of improvement, our girls have been in a steady decline for the last week. We scrimmaged the Varsity yesterday and despite the fact that they stopped playing defense so that we could score, our girls still couldn't score. Ugly, very ugly.

Running:
The Good:With my half-marathon approaching, I'm about to start the taper. I love the taper.
The Bad:I've had some really tough runs lately, mostly because I'm playing the role of 'Weekend Warrior.' I think coaching has ruined my motivation for running during the week. I just can't get home at six o'clock and then think about going for an hour long run in the pouring rain.
The Ugly:I've got a ten miler next Saturday. 'Nuff said. Someone better get her runs in this week, or it could be uglier than ugly.

Weight Loss:
The Good:Despite losing focus (blame this on soccer too!), I borrowed the scale from Karla and weighed myself this morning. First weigh-in since Feb. 5.
The Bad:I'm up two pounds. Although, I was thinking it was going to be WAY worse, so this isn't all that bad.
The Ugly:No Ugly here. My body works hard for me when I ask it to do so, as such I'm not going to bash it. Yes, swimsuit season is around the corner, but I'm not going to be afraid!

The Job:
The Good:Love what I do! Jeff loves what he does! Looks like Jeff's job is secure for next year!
The Bad:If you didn't know, I was hired on a leave replacement contract for one year. I'd love to stay, but it's time to start polishing the portfolio, just in case.
The Ugly:The Tacoma News Tribune headline for Friday announced that the Washington state budget gap is $5.3 billion WORSE than expected. Lovely. No amount of polish will help my portfolio if there are no jobs to be had. Thank you, Washington, thank you. I'm trying to keep my chin up. Really I am. But hopefully your still updating your address books in pencil, because we are considering ALL of our options.

That feels like a pretty solid update. Off to enjoy a very rare sunny Saturday! WAHOO!

Kiss Those Archives Goodbye!

2011-03-04T21:37:00.002-06:00

A long time ago, I saw an advertisement for turning your blog pages into a book. I started the process while we were still living in Arizona, but that task got interrupted by our move.

Last week, I decided I wanted to surprise Jeff with a book of our 'Irish Adventure.' I located the website, selected my criteria, and did some proof-reading. Tah-dah! Our book arrived today, and it is so cool! Jeff was so excited when I put the book into his hands.

I guess one could say, I'm officially published.

And now I can delete the archives, because, well, I have a book. Er, uh, I mean Jeff has a book. It was a gift after all.

Takin' It To the Streets

2011-02-26T20:44:00.003-06:00

Today was a seven miler. I wasn't motivated. At all. Usually I get up first thing, and get 'er done, so to speak. Today, I woke up, and I put it off. I snuggled in. I drank coffee. I played on the computer. I fiddled with my iPod. I toyed with my Nike Plus. I cuddled the pooch. Anything to avoid running.

Finally, I at least put on my running clothes. And then fiddled with my iPod some more. I adjusted my running mix, and then I finally made my way out the door. Finally. Maybe I was able to flip the switch in my brain (remember, I'm a mental-midget when it comes to long distances...and freaky weather--it was snowing lightly) or maybe it was the new toy distracting me, but I ran THE best seven miles of my life. I rocked it. I owned it. I kicked it to the curb.

Lately, when I run outside (which isn't often because I don't do bad weather), I've been running laps around our complex, which (according to my new Nike Plus is 1.13 miles). Today, I figured I would be bored to tears running around the complex seven-ish times, so I pulled myself up the boot straps and took it to the streets.

I gotta be honest, M-Town sucks for running on the streets. Sidewalks are sparse, shoulders are thin, and what the heck is with the crown on these streets?? I swear at one point, my left foot was riding five inches below my right. Yeah, that's gotta be great for the posture and the pelvic rotation that I'm already battling. Thank the Lord, I already know a really good chiropractor. But I digress.

The run was brilliant. No struggles (except that crazy crown-thingy). I was the Energizer Bunny. I was Wonder Woman with better support, and less chance of chaffing.

I know I've already said that I love my new Nike Plus (man, I should just do a commercial for 'em) but I must tell you, that little gadget changed my run. Not only will it tell me at any moment where I am in my mileage on a run, but it also tells me how long I've been running, and what my current pace is. Sweet! That's going to be totally helpful during races.

I programmed it for a 7 mile run, so halfway through, the lovely voice kindly informed me that I was halfway done. From there, it kept me apprised of the mileage left to go. Happiness is hearing "One Mile to Go!!" The other thing that I love about this gadget is that at the one mile to go point, I knew I was listening to the last song on my playlist. Lo and behold, that clever woman inside my Nike Plus started the playlist over. Isn't she brilliant?? We're going to become fast friends, that gal and I. Plus, there's the Mini Mii...running apparently thrills her. Look at her doing her leaping splits. You go, Girl!

Mini Me Madness

2011-02-25T21:06:00.004-06:00

I love new toys!! I just got the Nike plus sensor for my iPod. My friend Karla has one, and I'm always amazed that she knows exactly how many miles she's run, how many calories she's burned, and how long it took her. I have a few long runs coming up and I'm not so good about mapping my runs ahead of time. Sometimes, I just want to hit the road and have someone or something else tell me how far I've gone. Alas, my very own Nike plus! Hooray!

I just created my mii for the Nike plus, and she's already driving me crazy. Check her out...

I literally just made her and she's already complaining that we aren't working out enough. Geesh woman!!

'Oh Joy! The real ocien at last...'

2011-02-25T17:42:00.007-06:00

If you know me at all, you know that I simply love Washington State history. One of my favorite topics, of course, is Lewis & Clark. I must admit that I'm a bit like the geeky historian in "Night at the Museum" who practically drools at the opportunity to meet Sacajawea. So of course I get excited about vacations that exist on part of the trail, that's right, thetrail.

Jeff and I needed a retreat, so we took advantage of Mid-Winter Break, and headed for the ocean. Long Beach, to be exact. Our accommodations were fine, and came to us at a winter discount rate (Hooray!), and a short walk to the beach, where we enjoyed sunsets, long walks, biting winds, and snow flurries. We loved it!

We even made a little tent structure out of a tarp that we brought with us. We are so inventive!

I had to complete a 40 minute run on Thursday, so I grabbed my watch and iPod and took off down the Discovery Trail, where I was enthralled with informational placards regarding Lewis & Clark. I love to read their journals, and snicker at their misspellings. If I hadn't been running, I would have definitely been reading! My run was quite the event. We woke up to snow, and as I approached the trail, it started snowing again. I'm admittedly a bit of a mental-midget (sorry if that offends) in that, I am prone to letting anything interrupt my run. Raining? No thanks. Hills? Nuh uh. Battery on the i-Pod died? Guess I can't go.

Snow?? I've never experienced this dilemma, and let's be honest, I've been blowing off way too many workouts lately, so I negotiated with myself and committed to five minutes. After five minutes, I was completely enthralled with my run. I was loving it. The trail was a weaving path that worked with the rolling inclines of the dunes. I'd run up each little knoll and was instantly rewarded with a view of the ocean. I ran out 20 minutes, and came cruising back feeling very bad ###. I was extremely proud of myself. Job well done.

As for the romantic retreat for me and my guy...perfection! It was a much needed time to enjoy each other's company, talk, dream, and relax. Thank you, Lord!

I am not a stalker.

2011-02-21T08:33:00.003-06:00

I love my blog. I love having a place where I can go, usually with a hot, steamy cup of coffee, to process my thoughts, feelings, and ponderings, but sometimes my blog creates awkward moments for me.

For instance, the day I typed up a post after our very frigid soccer game. I typed it up while Jeff was, mostly, reading over my shoulder, only to have a friend send me a message that simply stated, "You might want to edit your blog." Uh oh. My first thought, of course, was 'What did I say??' No, no, it wasn't anything offensive...just lacking in thought and missing some words. No worries, easy fix.

But then there's the really awkward moment. The one where I'm sitting on the couch leaned into a blog, reading away, when my husband comes around the corner, sits down and says, "Whatcha reading?"

Usually I mutter back, "A blog."

And he'll say, "Whose?"

And this is where it gets weird, perhaps rightfully so, as I reply, "I dunno."

Usually at this point, Jeff clears his throat awkwardly, as if to say, "What, are you a stalker??" But you see, the blog world is linked, by design probably. It is through the blogs of people that I really do honestly know that I've discovered fantastic writers that inspire me...to either get my butt out the door for a run (thanks Ben via Karla's blog), or to try a new recipe (thanks Pioneer Woman via Jessica's blog), or to consider a different eating lifestyle (thanks Gluten-Free Goddess via...how did I find you anyway??).

I assure you. I am not a stalker. Just an avid reader, always on the prowl for new information. That's not stalkerish, is it??

And now that I've really thought about it, I am starting to wonder who exactly is reading my blog. I thought there only three faithful readers, but I have noticed that there is a total stranger signed up as a 'Follower'...does that seem odd? Creepy? Peculiar? Who are you, Pal?

Life in Blog-Land is always interesting. Off to refill the coffee cup!

Sunny Six

2011-02-20T09:24:00.003-06:00

Sometimes, as a runner, I forget valuable lessons that I've learned along the way. Unfortunately, those lessons, like the lessons in life God wants us to learn, will continue to rear up before me until I finally figure it out.

Two weeks ago, I took time off to let my shins recover. A much needed break. As any runner knows, continuing to run on an injury opens the door for a more involved injury and a longer, usually unwanted, break. Last week, coaching, weather, and life took over my running schedule...bad news when you have a six-miler looming over you.

As I peeked out my window yesterday morning, the sun was streaming in at me. It was gorgeous! I was thrilled because anyone who lives in the Pacific Northwest during the winter months knows that the heavy cloud cover and lack of sunshine certainly has the potential to dampen one's spirits. (Side note: I just read an interesting article on the Vitamin D needs of Pacific Northwesterners (did I just make that word up??) during the winter. I'll save that for another post.)

I got dressed, grabbed the leash and Bailey and I headed out the door. Things were going well, until we turned the corner to hit the lake trail, and then the wind hit me. Rather, the wind went right through me, and I was instantly chilled to the bone. My eyes teared up, my nose instantly sprung a leak, and out of nowhere I was choking on phlegm. Awful. Lesson Number One: Weather can be deceiving. It may look warm and bright outside, but Mother Nature is only wooing you into the elements. Be prepared. By the end of two miles, my hands were ice, my feet were bricks, my lungs were on fire from the exertion, and my mouth resembled that of a trucker. Not a proud moment. Bailey and I decided to call it a day, and we went back into the apartment. Lesson Number Two: It takes WEEKS to build endurance, but it takes no time at all to lose it. Dang.

I grabbed some water, did some high quality stretching, and gave myself a pep-talk. After ten minutes, I decided I was not finished for the day, and out the door I went again...with a very reluctant Bailey in tow. I should mention that my dog absolutely loves to run. The very second she sees me in my running garb, she's doing her happy dance at the door. The mere fact that she didn't want to go should be indicative of the weather. We ran another two miles, with me dragging her the last half mile. I deposited her at the door, and ran off to the Fitness Center where I finished my six miler with two on the treadmill.

I have seriously mixed emotions about my six miles. Does it count if you take a break after two miles? In the grand scheme of training, shouldn't you complete the whole thing in one fell swoop? I mean, it's not like I'm going to pull off to the side of the road and have a chat and a rest during an actual race.

On the other hand, I dodged the mental collapse that was on the brink of ensuing, and at the end of the day, I did run six miles. To my credit, my second 2-miler was four minutes faster than the first, and my treadmill 2-miler rocked (although we all know running on a treadmill is so much easier than running outdoors).

I think I'm just going to roll with the punches, and claim my six miles. It's over. It's done. Seven miles next week. Maybe I ought to try harder to get my runs in this week. That seems like a super idea, ya think??

I Could Have Frozen to Death! (Maybe.)

2011-02-16T21:02:00.003-06:00

The latest adventure in my crazy life is that I've agreed to coach soccer at our school. We had 50 girls try-out, and our 'original coaching team' didn't want to have to cut 20, so they hired me. Little did they know that I have no experience in this field. I've never coached. I've never played soccer.

Oddly, I love it!! Except for today's experience...we played our first game in a wind, hail, rain, snow storm. It was not pretty. We were on the brink of freezing to death. I'm sure that's not an exaggeration. One of my players even started crying mid-field because she was so cold.

Stay tuned for stories from the soccer field. Did I mention that I have the hottest Assistant Coach EVER?? Yep, that's right, Jeff's offering a helping hand. Thank God because not only does he know how to coach...he actually knows the rules to soccer. How helpful!

In other news, I haven't been great at getting my own workouts in. By the time we get home from practice, it is difficult to be motivated to go running. Plus, according to my calorie-counting tool, Livestrong.com, coaching warrants me 332 calories an hour, and since practice is two and a half hours long, that's a lot of spent calories.

This weekend is supposed to include a weigh-in, but I'm opting out. PMS, not tracking calories, and missing workouts is NOT the recipe for a successful weigh-in. Might as well just postpone it instead of wallowing in disappointment. That's the truth of my reality.

**Sorry to those of you who read the original posting of this...my fingers and brain were clearly still frozen from our game.

Weight Loss & Workout Review

2011-02-05T13:34:00.002-06:00

I'll take -2 over a +anything any day of the week. I wasn't sure what to expect for this morning's weigh-in because I haven't been so committed to working out this past week. The work schedule beat out the workout schedule this time around, and it shows on the scale; although I did manage to record in my food log all week. But once again, it's about progress and not perfection (I simply will not feel badly about enjoying myself on our date night to Stanley and Seaforts.)

My workouts this past week included a run on Tuesday and a run this morning, followed by a five mile walk with Jan. Not a lot of movement going on. My goal for next week is to be committed to each workout on the training plan, and complete four yoga workouts.

All in all, I've lost 11 pounds since New Year's Eve. Nothing to complain about there!

A Case of the Blues

2011-02-04T20:14:00.003-06:00

It may be February, but I've got a strong desire to shuffle around my world muttering, "Bah humbug." I've no idea what ails me, but it's fair to say I have a solid case of the Blues. My darling husband, being sensitive to the needs of his beautiful bride, has shipped me off (gently, of course) to our dear friend Jan's house. Coming to Jannie's is always good for the soul.

First of all, her house is on an inlet and over looks the water. It's perfect for watching sunsets, ooing and ahhing over seals and other wildlife, and observing tugboats at work. Nothing quite soothes my soul like just sitting and watching the water.

Secondly, Jannie is the perfect hostess. She has a huge heart, and doesn't mind if you crash at her house just to crash, or if you come to sit and visit with her. Her graciousness is one of the traits I most admire about her.

Many times in my single days, when my world seemed too crazy or overly stressful, I would seek solace at Jannie's house. Nothing is wrong in my life at the moment, but I seem to be lacking zest and joy. Here's hoping and praying that a weekend away can lift the funk. At the very least, I know I'm in good hands.

So About Your Address Book...

2011-02-03T07:45:00.002-06:00

You can leave it as is, as far as we are concerned. We've decided to stay put in our current home for another year. And this, my friends, is a record for us. We've officially stayed put in one place for an entire year. AMAZING! I know, I know, based on our track record, some of you didn't think we could do it. Snicker, snicker.

Lessons Learned

2011-02-01T20:04:00.002-06:00

It's almost always interesting where I work. Today I learned this:

If a police officer tells you three times to stop, and each time you reply, 'F*** you' and keep walking, there will come a point when he will grab you and slam you into the wall. Even when you're 13.

Yep, that just happened.

Goodbye January, Hello February

2011-01-31T08:03:00.002-06:00

My oh my! Where did January go?? January is notorious for being a super-long post-Christmas month, but I am pretty sure I blinked and missed it. Guess that's what happens when you spend two weeks of a month fighting bronchitis. Alas, we are on the mend in the Kantola household.

Not too much to report from last week. In my bio-family, we have a saying, 'No news is good news!' Strike that last thought. Last week brought us a dead clutch. Oh joy. My darling husband is generally quite skilled at car repair; unfortunately, he reports that he has fixed everything on a car EXCEPT the clutch. Nice. We'll be praying about this one.

In the world of weight loss, it was a pretty good week for me. I won't know until next weekend the official outcome, but I got my workouts in and I tracked my eating every day. Progress, not perfection.

In the world of running, my friend Karla and I ran a 5K charity event on Saturday, which was very interesting. I've always said that I don't run in the rain...apparently I do. Saturday turned out to be a very cold, very rainy, blustery, stay-in-bed-and-snuggle kind of day. I hauled myself out of bed and ran my surplus mile with Bailey (in the training plan, it was a four mile day), and then hopped in the car with Karla to head for the 5K. It rained; it poured; I was drenched after standing in line to pick up my bib. I told Karla I was opting out. We sat in the car waiting for the start time. I told Karla I'd keep the car warm for her. Start time arrived, and wouldn't you know it, I was standing in the wind and the rain again, ready to run. I hate it when my friends won't let me be a quitter.

It was the muddiest, coldest, rainiest, possibly worst 5K I have ever run, but I'm glad I did it. And here's why: This race wasn't my fastest 5K ever, and I don't even mind. Karla's sis-in-law was running her first 5K ever, and I chose to stick with her. (Side note: I ran my first 5K with friends, and got left behind...which resulted in tears...and the potential for years of therapy) Sis-in-law shaved five minutes off her PR, and I got to share that achievement with her. Very cool! Plus, I got to feel a little bit like Jillian (without the yelling. Okay, maybe I'm more like Bob), which means that maybe my secret dream of getting my personal trainer cert might not be such a bad idea after all. AND, I was able to run the whole way WHILE having a conversation (which is huge in the world of endurance sports) AND I had fun. Plus, the post-race Starbucks was even more enjoyable, considering the heat of the cup helped the feeling return to my hands.

I 'heart' running. :)

5!!

2011-01-22T11:52:00.002-06:00

Today was a regularly scheduled weigh-in, and I am thrilled to report a five pound weight-loss for the past two weeks. Hooray!! I am now officially down nine pounds since the start of the year!!

Because of my bronchitis I haven't been able to work out this week. I am looking forward to getting back to the grind of daily workouts. Soon. Hopefully, very soon.

Medical Mania

2011-01-22T11:37:00.002-06:00

Illness settled over our home last weekend, and by Monday it was fairly obvious that I needed to get to a doctor. My body had been fighting the 'crud' since well before Christmas, and I was exhausted. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I don't go to the doctor easily. Further, when my own husband starts encouraging me to go to the doctor, it usually means I'm pretty ill. So I went.

My first clue about my upcoming medical experience was the fact that my good friend Karla DID encourage me to go to a different clinic.

Clue #2, I walked into the clinic and all three nurses at the front desk looked up at me, turned around, and walked away. Nice. Maybe they need a lesson in Customer Service. I should have turned around and walked away myself.

Now picture this, I'm sitting up on the exam table waiting for the doctor. In walks the doctor, after the appropriate 15 minute wait. And here, my friends, is why I will never (repeat, NEVER) go back.

(Door opens)

Doc: WHAT THE HELL TOOK YOU SO LONG TO GET IN HERE? I COULD HEAR YOU COUGHING DOWN THE HALL!!

Me: Oh, hello. Well, I was kind of counting on my body to do what it was designed to do.

Doc: WELL IT'S NOT LIKE YOU'RE 20 ANYMORE!! YOU'RE NO SPRING CHICKEN!

Me: Excuse me, but that WAS rather insulting. (And then very flippantly) I suppose the next thing you're going to tell me is that I'm too old to have babies.

Doc: (and I'm not joking here)If a 57 year old woman is dumb enough to ask that...

Me: (sputtering) DO I LOOK LIKE A 57 YEAR OLD WOMAN????

It wasn't a good day. And it didn't really get better. And when, at the end of my appointment, he said he'd need to see me again in ten days, I had the good sense to keep my mouth shut.

May I be so bold as to say that my confidence in the medical field has not been restored?

The Bailey Blues

2011-01-18T12:56:00.003-06:00

As if the weekend weren't crazy enough with my own illness, we woke up Sunday to Bailey running around the apartment freaking out. Jeff took her outside, thinking that she just needed to 'go' and then he came back to bed. She continued to act crazy, so I rolled out of bed to further investigate. I turned on the light, and my heart fell to the floor. My very sweet, very cute puppy (is it wrong that my dog is nearly 3 years old and I still call her my puppy??) had morphed over night into a rottweiler. By that I mean, her face was so swollen that she resembled a rottweiler, of sorts. Her jowls were puffy, her eyes were almost swollen shut. It was awful.

In a panic, I got Jeff out of bed, and together we formulated a plan. When Bailey got stung by a scorpion in Arizona, we were advised to give her a Benadryl. Relying on this past history, we gave her a Benadryl, and we began to keep a close eye on her. Within two hours, her face was very nearly normal. Just when we thought we were 'out of the woods', she started acting crazy again.

After researching her symptoms on the internet, we determined that she was suffering from a fever. After an aspirin and more hugs, kisses, and pets, and a very long night, Bailey had bright eyes and a wagging tail come Monday morning. Whew!!!

Apparently, she was bitten by something, a spider perhaps, and I have consequently washed all of her bedding. I wish to NOT repeat this experience. Ever.

MLK

2011-01-18T12:42:00.002-06:00

As an educator, I have attended MANY assemblies honoring important dates, events, and people from history. As a former ASB Adviser, I've even planned MANY of those. But this is the first time in my life when I have taught at a school where white students are actually the minority. It puts a completely different spin on one's perspective.

Assemblies at my current school tend to make me twitchy. This population of students have a difficult time sitting still (can't blame them really, since two-thirds of them are sitting on the gym floor) and behavior gets hard to manage after approximately 20 minutes. Friday's assembly was vastly different. Students were quiet. Students were respectful. Students were engaged. Students were politely responsive. Until the end. Our ASB finished their MLK Assembly by starting the very famous 'I have a Dream' speech in a truly cool way. From the four corners of the gym, individual students shouted a line from the speech. It then transitioned to an audio of the speech...and by the end, this is where is gets very cool, a group of black eighth graders had stood up and were reciting the speech with the audio, escalating to an amazing crescendo of 'FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST! THANK GOD ALMIGHT, FREE AT LAST!' I had tears in my eyes and goose bumps all over my body. It was an unplanned response that spoke volumes.

I could take a pessimistic view of this, and ask whether or not these children of poverty are, indeed, free. I could ask whether or not the youth of today have the characteristics that defined Martin Luther King Jr's character--integrity, determination, truth, the desire to work hard and even die for something...

But alas, I am content to be proud of these students for recognizing greatness in a man that, through his life, initiated change. Who had a dream that one day 'little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers' because this truly describes my classroom. Every group of students comes with their own set of issues, but every group of students come with their own set of strengths and accomplishments, and truthfully, I wouldn't choose to be anywhere else. So proud. So very proud.

Thank you Dr. King for making a difference!

Workout Review

2011-01-18T12:36:00.003-06:00

Since I'm not currently using Facebook, I can't utilize my handy-dandy 'Biggest Loser' app to track my workouts and gains 'meaningless points that still manage to motivate.' Here's my review of last week's workouts:

Monday--30 minute run, as per half-marathon training plan

Tuesday--ditched my 30 minutes of cardio...was feeling exhausted and unmotivated

Wednesday--supposed to be a rest day per plan, but I was suffering from guilt from blowing off Tuesday's workout...cleaned house at a 'moderate' pace for an hour. According the LiveStrong this counts for an equivant caloric burn as Tuesday's would-be cardio. Weird. I'm either a slacker in the living-room aerobics area or a maniac in the clean the house area.

Thursday--had a late night at work, got back to the complex close to six, drove directly to the fitness center without stopping by the apartment first, and ran a glorious 30 minutes. Felt great!

Friday--blew off aerobics. Again. Bad trend. But in my defense, I was not feeling well.

Saturday--ran a very fast (for me, anyway) two miles per plan. Came home and crashed...the exhaustion of the week is much clearer since I spent Saturday night, Sunday, Monday, and today fighting a respiratory infection of some sort. Headed to the doc to determine a 'get healthy quick' plan.

You just can't trust the Weather Man.

2011-01-12T07:10:00.004-06:00

This is the article from the newspaper on Sunday.

The print is probably too small to read the details, so let me help you out. "The weather service says an approaching storm system could generate from between a couples of inches to more than a foot of snow." Um, hello, did someone say a foot of snow?? There is no way this area could handle a foot of snow. The cities around here shut down with just an inch or two.

Alas, the 'big' storm hit last night, and I'm looking out my window. There's about an inch...and it's already raining. BUT, we scored a Two-Hour Late Start. SWEET!!

Wish us luck, we're going in.

Holding My Tongue

2011-01-10T20:01:00.002-06:00

My experience as a teacher has taught me that there will be times when you must carefully weigh your words. With 30 kids constantly seeking your time and attention, it gets difficult thinking before you speak and carefully deciding what to say. Thank goodness I am a professional and I've honed that particular skill, because today was one of those days.

Student: Mrs. K, I have a question.

I walk over & squat down to eye-level (notice the professional prowess in that move--my classroom management instructor would have been proud)

Student: I have a question about my step-uncle. Well, he's not exactly my uncle, but I call him uncle.

(And to think I expected a question about Ancient Egypt...)

Student: If someone comes to America and they avoid the passport people, is that wrong?

Me: Well, technically it's illegal.

Student: But he's a good person.

And that, my friends, is where it gets complicated. There's a time and a place to explain my own political views about illegal immigration...and trust me, they are strong views. But I took the high road, and reassured my student that indeed, his uncle is a good person, working hard to provide for his family back in Mexico. I made an analogy about adults who sometimes speed--they're still good people (probably in a hurry) but speeding is illegal. He seemed to get it. Until, as I was walking away, he asked, "But is it bad?"

There comes a time in the classroom when a teacher needs to end a conversation with one student in order to move quickly to stop someone from throwing a pencil. With a quick backwards glance, I muttered toward him, "Only if you get caught." Maybe I dropped the ball. Maybe it's not my place. This isn't the same world I started teaching in 13 years ago. Geesh.

Official Weigh-In Complete

2011-01-09T19:17:00.003-06:00

Unlike my dear friend Karla, I'm not yet at the point of full disclosure. I have weight to lose, and sure enough, I'm losing it. The official weigh-in results show a weight loss of 4 pounds. Hooray! Of course, being me, I'm doing a lot of rationalizing. For instance, last time I weighed in was at night while I was fully-clothed. I didn't weigh in under the same circumstances this time, SO my weight loss is probably more like 2 pounds. Whatever. It's progress. Progress is good.

I've given up Facebook for the next three weeks, so it's likely that I will be posting here more. Read what you'd like, skip what you'd like. Your choice. Mostly in the next three weeks, you'll probably be reading a lot of details about my workouts...which currently involve a lot of running, yoga, and aerobics with a little kettlebell action thrown in for good measure. This body-o-mine is changing.

As I type, there are huge fatty snowflakes falling from the sky. This causes mixed emotions, of course. Snow days are fun...but snow days require make-up days. Make-up days are not fun. Vicious catch-22 really. However, now that Jeff and I are both working the same schedule, for the same employer, snow days are even more fun. I'll keep you posted.

First Week Completion

2011-01-07T18:51:00.002-06:00

Wow! That week went by FAST! There are two things of which I am very proud this week.

1. I've completed every scheduled workout this week. As a result, I have a strong sense of accomplishment for the week, and my motivation is still high. I've been completely beat this week (for example, I fell asleep on the couch at 6:30 last night) but my mental clarity and overall attitude have been amazing. I may have even laughed a few times with my students...and I might have even snarled less at my husband this week. Amazing stuff! :)

2. I had a formal observation this week (#3 of 4 total). Today in my post-observation meeting, I got rave reviews from my evaluator. She even let her poker-face slide for a moment to tell me that she hopes I can remain at my school (I'm currently on a one-year only contract).

Overall a great week! Proud moments all the way around. I may even borrow the scale from my workout buddy and check my progress. Maybe. Let's not get carried away.

Word On the Street

2011-01-04T21:59:00.002-06:00

I have received fascinating intel.

Preparing for a high school reunion will, apparently, turn you into a super model.

(Note for my informant: I sure hope your wife was, in your opinion, already super-modelesque PRIOR to the reunion 'remodel')

And if I need more motivation...

2011-01-02T21:23:00.002-06:00

You might recall in my last post that I mentioned I had about 40 pounds I'd like to lose. Here's a conversation that motivated me.

Jeff: Ummm, isn't your 20 year reunion this summer?

Me: Crap. Yes.

Jeff: Are you going?

Me: Ummm...I don't know.

Jeff: Yeah, I know what you mean.

As you can see, we have some of the most meaningful conversations sometimes. Aside from that, what is it about high school reunions that:
1) instill a need to become thin, beautiful, witty, and successful??
2) fill me with dread? I mean, nothing against the people with whom I went to high school, but the 10 year was a bit, uh, well, lame. Word on the street is that they get better. We'll see.

Motivation to work on those extra pounds...but maybe I should decide if I'm even going first.

Well, hello 2011...we're glad you're here!

2011-01-01T09:49:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year!

I always love this time of year...the first few hours of a new day in a new year, where I can wrap my hands around a warm cup of coffee and dream about the endless possibilities that a new year has to offer. Dreaming, planning, hoping, and praying. What do you have to offer us, 2011??

I'm the kind of girl that makes resolutions, and then forgets them in a month. Usually I get too busy or I decide that I just don't care. I think the only resolution that I've actually carried out was the year I promised my brother I would stop watching soap operas. Happily I can say, I've never watched another daytime soap. But this year, there is so much rattling around in my heart...not so much resolution by nature, but more hopes and dreams--a baby (seriously, could the ticking GET any louder?? And thank God for a husband who's 'been there, done that' and willing to do it again), a house, travel plans to see loved ones... It will be exciting to watch it unfold, God willing.

My actual resolution for this year is to run six half-marathons. Yep, you read that correctly. I think we know what I'll be doing this summer! I'm doing this for three reasons:
1. Because I can...or at the very least, I need to show my brain that I can. My body is willing to go the distance; it's my brain that bails out.
2. Because I have officially become 40 pounds over my goal weight, and it is impacting my mental health, and if I want to live life to its fullest, those pounds need to go away.
3. I really want to use the six half-marathons to raise money for Zest 4 Kidz, an Irish charity that stole my heart while we lived there. I will be researching how to do that, and then setting up a plan.

With that in mind, I'm off to conquer this first day of 2011. May this year be everything you desire it to be.

Cancun

2008-04-22T21:42:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Al and Vicki, we were able to visit Cancun for spring break where we experienced the first official Denton Family vacation. The turquoise waters of Cancun are amazingly beautiful. Jeff and Kim thoroughly enjoyed their time together relaxing under the palapa and playing in the waves. We even woke up bright and early one morning to enjoy the spectacular sunrise.