Another Four Miles on the Fourth

July’s race for 2018 was the CRMC 4-Mile run which was on Independence Day.  This is the same four-mile run we did last year, with the same course.  The money from the race goes to support a local hospital.

This year, we had more friends join us for this race.  Cinderella decided that she wanted to run this race this year as well, so she also joined us.  Why she wanted to run this race so badly, I have no idea.  I tried to remind her that race time was at 7:30 am, that it was a 40 minute drive, so we would be getting up very early.  She insisted that she still wanted to run this race.

A friend and I went together for packet pick up the day before the race.  This was her first time to run this race, so after packet pick up we went and drove the course.  At least we knew what the course was this time!

I was immediately reminded of the steep hill at the beginning of the race and the hill at the end of the race as well.

Race day morning was ugly.  All the excitement of the race had worn off, and getting up and out of bed at an unreasonable time no longer seemed fun to Cinderella.  However, she did get up and get out the door.

We were plenty early, which worked out well since my oldest daughter still had to register.  There was a playground nearby that kept Cinderella and Sofia the First occupied.

Start time was finally here, and we were off.  The sun was bearing down and felt very hot so I was trying to run wherever there was shade.  After about the first half mile Cinderella decided she couldn’t run any further.  We did some walking and I tried to encourage her to do some more running, but to no avail.  Then I tried running ahead quite a distance, but that didn’t work either.

Finally, I decided to suck it up and walk with her.  She was extremely cranky, and being around her was not pleasant.  I reminded her that I was five times her age.  At one point she asked me to let her win.  I told her not to worry, that I would let her go ahead of me across the finish line.

At the three-mile mark was a water sprinkler that felt really nice.  Shortly after that was a group of cheerleaders.  For some reason, Cinderella decided that was her cue to run; and run, she did.  She took off like a bullet and there was no reason for me to even try to keep up!  She crossed the finish line before I did, and it wasn’t because I let her win.  She was so excited to get second place in her age group!

Afterwards, we went to the same local diner as last year and had breakfast.  Seeing men in uniform was yet another reminder of the great country we live in and the sacrifices individuals and their families make every day so we can enjoy our freedoms.  Thank you to all that have served.

Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof, Leviticus 25:10

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A Sentence a Day for April 2018

April is gone, and May is here.  It seems as I get older that time goes by faster and faster.  Earth is spinning so fast, that I expect to go flying off of it at any moment.

April has always been the busiest month of the year for us with October running a close second.  I’m not really sure why.  My guess is that in April the weather is usually starting to get nice, so there are tons of activities to go to.  In October, there are always a ton of activities to go to, and my guess is due to the fact that winter is just around the corner and soon we won’t be able to go anywhere.

As you can see, there are several days that I did not make an entry; and I chose not to go back and try to recreate one.  Life is busy right now and that’s just the way it is.  As the weather gets nicer and the days get longer, that means more time outside and less time inside looking at a screen.  Surely that’s a good thing.

1. Sunday.  Wow!  A white Easter.
2. Monday.  I was shocked when I woke up this morning and there was still snow on the ground.
3. Tuesday.  I was not heartbroken to attend a meeting tonight instead of running since it was cold, cloudy, and very windy.
4. Wednesday.  It was a beautiful, sunshine-filled day for a four-mile run.
5. Thursday.  Another beautiful day, but we are expecting snow tomorrow.
6. Friday.  The warm weather did not last long, and all soccer games have been canceled for tomorrow.
7. Saturday.  It was cold today but the sun felt wonderful.
8. Sunday.  Snow again!  When will it ever end?
9. Monday.  I took Cinderella to see a movie (Big Sonia) about an amazing woman who survived the holocaust.
10. Tuesday.  Tonight’s run was short, but for the first time in a very long time it felt really, really good.
11. Wednesday.  I love that running is starting to feel good and that I’m starting to feel like myself again!
12. Thursday.  I RAN into The Princess at the park this evening while running.
13. Friday.  I cannot believe that tomorrow’s race has been postponed.
14. Saturday.  It was a cold, windy and miserable time to sit outside for Cinderella’s soccer games.
15. Sunday.  Snow for the third Sunday in a row!
16. Monday.  I stayed home today, did some work around the house, and finished our taxes.
17. Tuesday.  Running is starting to feel good again!

1. Wednesday.
2. Thursday.
3. Friday.
4. Saturday
5. Sunday
6. Monday
7. Tuesday.
8. Wednesday.  This rainy day was perfect for shopping at the JBF Sale.
9. Thursday.
10. Friday.
11. Saturday:  Cinderella is 10!
12. Sunday:  Fifth Sunday is the day that we, “Go to church and don’t leave until the food is all gone.”
13. Monday:  A beautiful, warm day to recuperate from the busy, food-filled weekend.

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I’m trying to remember that, I really am.

I’m trying to ignore that my stress levels are through the roof, my eating is completely out of control, and I’ve gained a few pounds.

I want to believe that we will find the answers for Cinderella that we’re so desperately looking for.  I want to believe that one day things will be “normal” for us.  A few weeks ago I had completely lost hope.

But now there is a glimmer–a glimmer of hope.  And, after all, “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.”

 

Cinderella’s first 5K.

This is how I ruined Christmas.

Barbie ball under the tree.

May you accept the greatest gift of all this Christmas season–the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Romans 15:13

305 lbs. 5 People, 5 Tons of Baby Paraphernalia

Once the Couch to 5K program was over, it was over.  It was up to each one of us as to whether we were going to continue any kind of running or exercise regimen.

One of the ladies in the group, Marie, wanted to continue to run regularly, so several of us continued to meet once a week.  We met on Tuesday nights and would run an out and back that was about a two and a half mile run.  My daughter and I also started running together even though she runs at a much faster pace than I do.  She literally ran circles around me.

We continued to run in the evening because that fit our schedule.  As winter approached and Daylight Savings time came to an end, we began running in the dark.  Darkness was what brought my running to and end the winter before.  However, my daughter and Marie were determined that we were going to keep on keeping on, so we did.

We soon discovered how treacherous running on the sidewalks at night can be.  If there was an uneven spot in the sidewalk, I would find it and trip.  A few times my daughter caught me, a few times I fell palms down with my phone in my hand.  After a few incidents, I was blessed with a running belt as a gift.

Running at night was almost like it’s own little sport with it’s own equipment.  The year prior I had bought a reflective vest but hadn’t used it much.  It was now a necessity for every run.  I tried to wear bright-colored clothing along with a light–not only for my benefit, but for the benefit of oncoming traffic as well.  I eventually fell and got scraped up enough times on the sidewalk, that I started running in the street to avoid injury.

In October we did the Pumpkin Run at a farm.  It was my first off-road race, and it was tough going.  It was still a fun day with perfect running weather.

October also brought us a new granddaughter, this one belonging to my son and his wife.

It had come to the point that my job was detrimental to my health.  I gained a few pounds and was not feeling up to par.  I left in the morning before anyone else was up, and often came home after dark when everyone was winding down for bed.  I might as well have packed my bags and left for two days every week.  It was adding a lot of stress to the family, and they weren’t handling it very well.

Worse yet, I watched the drivers.  They were all battling diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and the list goes on.  Some were battling the physical that they’re required to take every two years.  To sum things up, their job was killing them.

I took a weekend off in October so we could take a trip.  My oldest daughter and granddaughter also went with us.  It was five people and five tons of baby paraphernalia, but we had a great time.  My daughter and I even did some hiking/walking on the trails where we stayed.

When we returned from our trip, I handed in my resignation.  I agreed to stay until the end of November if they were willing to let me stay.  I was very saddened because I liked my job and the people that I worked with.  My reasons for leaving had nothing to do with the job, but 100% to do with my personal life.

In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid.  What can man do to me?  Psalm 56:11

4 Miles on the 4th

We celebrated July and Independence Day with the CRMC 4-Mile run.  This was a 4 mile run in a small community, and the funds raised went to support their local hospital.

Packet pickup was on Monday.  Cinderella and I made a day of it by getting a haircut and then heading up to packet pick up.  We got our packets and then went to attempt to find the route for the race.  I had a map of the route of the race, the only problem was that it did not indicate the direction.  It did not take long to find the arrows already marked on the road indicating where to turn and for me to realize that we were going backwards.  I turned around and we then drove what we thought was the route of the race in the correct direction.

After that, Cinderella and I found a local diner, and we both had a delicious and inexpensive meal.

I was a little apprehensive about this race because I had not been consistently running distances over two miles.  My last race was a 6K (3.8 miles) and I had walked a lot of it.  My goal for this race was to run a majority of it and to finish in at least the same time as the last race even though it was a longer distance.

On the morning of the fourth, we had typical summer weather (hot and humid) but we were blessed that it was cloudy and overcast.  When we lined up for the race, we lined up going in the opposition direction I thought we’d be going, so I didn’t know what to expect.  I had told my daughter that it was a pretty flat course, and she’d be fine.  The first thing we did was run up a big hill!

Evidently, I had somehow missed the first leg of the race.  I was not mentally prepared for the two big hills that were in that leg.  I decided I wasn’t going to wear myself out on the first mile and then be pooped out the rest of the race, so I did go ahead and walk some of the hills in the race.

I was about the same pace as a guy that told me he had been running for 30 years, hadn’t done any running in the last 11 years, and was starting to run again.  After I told him I had just started running two years ago, it seemed like he was trying to be an encourager.  Evidently, we had opposite strategies, so we kept passing each other.

The race was exhausting, and I definitely felt like I had reached my max.  However, not only did I reach my goal, I actually finished over a minute under my last race which was a shorter distance!

Afterwards, we hung around for the awards and then went back to the same local diner for breakfast.  It was a great way to kick off the Fourth and enjoy the freedoms we have thanks to so many that have gone before us and made many, many sacrifices.

So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36

 

305 lbs. Making Progress

The summer went by very, very quickly.  I did the Couch to 5K program again in hopes of improving my running abilities.  Running was still hard.  There were days that I struggled.  I was still towards the back of the pack, but I was no longer the very last person.  Doing it with a group of friends was what made it fun, and I was determined to run every step we were to run.

I liked running very much, but I wasn’t in love with it yet.  It was still difficult at times.  There were times when our group met or when we had a race, that I dreaded it and didn’t want to do it.  I always made myself do it because I always felt so much better afterwards.  But, before we started, there were often thoughts of dread going through my mind.

I was relieved when August and my birthday rolled around.  Knowing that the eights stink, I was very glad to no longer be 48.  I was determined that life was going to be better.

August also meant that it was time to start getting serious about school again.  God led me to an organizing system for homeschoolers that I was sure was going to be the answer I was looking for.  It was a compact, easy way to organize our school and also encouraged Cinderella to do what she could on her own.  I was really expecting this system to be a miracle worker for us.

August was also an eventful month in that my oldest daughter and her husband bought a house just down the street from us.  Hopefully, this would mean more time with them and our granddaughter.  Is there ever enough?

Now that school was in session, my schedule was even tighter.  All the errands and chores that I used to do during the day now had to be done in the evening.  Our Couch to 5K group was still meeting three nights a week, so most of my grocery shopping and errands were done on my way home from running.  There was no such thing as spare time.

When September rolled around, the Couch to 5K program came to an end.  The big finale this year was a different race in a nearby city, hence a different route.  We made the mistake of not previewing the route before the race, so we did not know what to expect.  It was an out and back, so at least we knew what to expect on the way back!

This race was on a Saturday, so I had to get the day off.  Cinderella wanted to run in the race so I signed her up for the one mile fun run.  This race included a one mile fun run, a 5K, and a 10K.  All the races started at the same time, they just had a different turn around point.  The only problem with this is that Cinderella didn’t turn around at the one-mile mark.  She kept running, and I was afraid she would end up in the next county or something.  Thankfully, she stayed with people she knew, and ended up running the 5K.  Unfortunately, the one mile fun run was not timed, so she did not have a bib and there was no record of her time.  Otherwise, she would’ve gotten a medal simply because she was the only one in her age group.

This was a small race with few people in each age group, so many in our group received medals.  After watching my teammates work so hard all summer, it was great to see them receive medals at their very first race.  Cinderella was very disappointed that she didn’t get a medal, so my son-in-law gave her his–which she still has to this day.

In the end, I was glad that I did the program again.  I tried to be an encouragement to my friends that were new to the program, but they ended up being a great encouragement to me.  I always hoped that some lightbulb would come on and I would suddenly realize what I needed to change to become a much faster runner.  That never happened and still hasn’t happened.  Still, my endurance was way up, and my speed was increasing with each race I ran.  I was making progress, and I was content with that.

“Mom, you’re not old,

you’re only 58!” said my 8 year old to her 49 year old mother.

From the Mouth of Cinderella

“I don’t like funerals.  They’re too deadly for me.”

 

Cinderella Was Here

Numbers 32:23b:  and be sure your sin will find you out.

On Top of the World

You can’t help but love the creativity of a young mind.