The first step I took feels like so long ago.... and tomorrow I'm participating in my first Half Marathon.
It all started in April, when my friend asked me if I wanted to do the Nike Women's Marathon with her (You can read that first post here). We wound up not getting in, but by the time we knew that, the goal of 13.1 was already in my head. I thought about doing one sooner than the October race and looked at some other races around the area. Eventually, I set my sights on the Seattle Marathon: It will be a very hilly 13.1 through downtown Seattle. If you've ever been here, the course starts at Seattle Center, heads down 5th, along Lake Washington, and through Madrona and Capital Hill.
And here I am... I've logged 145 miles to be ready-ish. There have been a lot of hiccups along the way from old injuries -- I've had a twisted knee (not from running) and some hip tenderness (definitely from pushing up hills). That twisted knee was just a few weeks ago and has set me back; now, I'll be walking most of the half tomorrow rather than running. But the point is that it will get done: it won't be pretty and it certainly won't be fast, but I am going to get that finisher's medal.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Friday, November 23, 2012
Photo Friday
** Every Friday, I will post a picture from our life. Enjoy!!! **
Feeding the angelfish at Grammy and Papa's house, Jacksonville, Florida, November 2007
Friday, November 16, 2012
Photo Friday
~ Every Friday, I will post a picture from our life. Enjoy! ~
Tank life at the Seaquarium, Seattle, July 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Photo Friday
** Every Friday, I will post a picture from our life. Enjoy!!!**
Sunset on Kata Noi Beach, Phuket, Thailand, April 2011
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Day Zero
I'm numb.
This day seemed so far away when we moved here last year. Even this summer when we had our family time. But, as time always does, it caught us quick. Ronnie left today.
We woke up at 2 am to drive him into the squadron and drop him off. The sky was clear and the stars were bright. Especially Jupiter. It was high and bright and stable. Eventually, after our last hugs and last kisses, the girls and I left him to join his guys for the next 9 months. We got back home and crawled into bed.
Before I fell back asleep, part of me prayed there would be a call saying "nevermind, we're going to catch next week's flight" or "hey, the war's over and we don't have to go." The more rational part of me prayed for their safe travel and for Him to watch over them and bring them home safe and sound. At some point, I fell asleep.
The alarm went off as usual at 6:30. I knew I had to get myself together enough to get the girls fed, dressed, and off to school. Even though I didn't feel like it. I wanted to hide under the covers. I remember thinking that maybe if I hid long enough, he would come home sooner. Instead I drug myself to the coffee pot for a jolt of energy and headed upstairs to get the girls, with a smile affixed to my face.
They got off on the bus and I climbed back into bed... And then the tears came. The ugly, body-shaking, soul wrenching kind of tears. The ones that you can only let fall when you know no one is looking because you are so vulnerable in that moment. The ones that you let fall when you also know that one person is right there to comfort you. Except he wasn't. He was heading to catch a plane that was going to take him 7,000 miles away from us.
I decided to allow myself to wallow until there were double digits on the clock. I made a deal with myself, the big girl panties went on at 10 am. There was homework to do, parent-teacher conferences to attend, miles to run, and grocery shopping to be done. This house won't run itself, papers don't write themselves, and the food and laundry fairies haven't been around for a long time. And so I did...
Day Zero has now come to a close. The girls are bathed and in bed. And I'm sitting here alone on the couch. Tomorrow will be better, and the next day will be better than tomorrow, and so on and so on. Day 275 can't get here soon enough.
This day seemed so far away when we moved here last year. Even this summer when we had our family time. But, as time always does, it caught us quick. Ronnie left today.
We woke up at 2 am to drive him into the squadron and drop him off. The sky was clear and the stars were bright. Especially Jupiter. It was high and bright and stable. Eventually, after our last hugs and last kisses, the girls and I left him to join his guys for the next 9 months. We got back home and crawled into bed.
Before I fell back asleep, part of me prayed there would be a call saying "nevermind, we're going to catch next week's flight" or "hey, the war's over and we don't have to go." The more rational part of me prayed for their safe travel and for Him to watch over them and bring them home safe and sound. At some point, I fell asleep.
The alarm went off as usual at 6:30. I knew I had to get myself together enough to get the girls fed, dressed, and off to school. Even though I didn't feel like it. I wanted to hide under the covers. I remember thinking that maybe if I hid long enough, he would come home sooner. Instead I drug myself to the coffee pot for a jolt of energy and headed upstairs to get the girls, with a smile affixed to my face.
They got off on the bus and I climbed back into bed... And then the tears came. The ugly, body-shaking, soul wrenching kind of tears. The ones that you can only let fall when you know no one is looking because you are so vulnerable in that moment. The ones that you let fall when you also know that one person is right there to comfort you. Except he wasn't. He was heading to catch a plane that was going to take him 7,000 miles away from us.
I decided to allow myself to wallow until there were double digits on the clock. I made a deal with myself, the big girl panties went on at 10 am. There was homework to do, parent-teacher conferences to attend, miles to run, and grocery shopping to be done. This house won't run itself, papers don't write themselves, and the food and laundry fairies haven't been around for a long time. And so I did...
Day Zero has now come to a close. The girls are bathed and in bed. And I'm sitting here alone on the couch. Tomorrow will be better, and the next day will be better than tomorrow, and so on and so on. Day 275 can't get here soon enough.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
October Round-up
I can't believe November is already here. Our October was fast and furious. It started off with this
We bought a pop-up camper!!!! I had one growing up and it was always a lot of fun. We figured up this way, you need more than a blue tarp to keep you dry and warm. I can't wait until next year when we get to take it out as a family and break it in properly.
The next weekend, this happened:
The annual father-daughter dance at the girls' school. They got all dolled up and went out dancing for the night, leaving mommy at home.
Then this....
We had a test drive of the emergency card information at school. Somehow, Holly managed to shut her middle finger in a door. The bone is broken and she had to have a few stitches, but other than that, she's doing well. We have some rehab on our hands as soon as it heals up, but the docs at Madigan were really great. Of course, Ronnie was no where near home when this happened, he had taken off to hike up Mt. Rainier. Like I said, it was a test to see if I can handle all this on my own.
We bought a pop-up camper!!!! I had one growing up and it was always a lot of fun. We figured up this way, you need more than a blue tarp to keep you dry and warm. I can't wait until next year when we get to take it out as a family and break it in properly.
The next weekend, this happened:
The annual father-daughter dance at the girls' school. They got all dolled up and went out dancing for the night, leaving mommy at home.
Then this....
We had a test drive of the emergency card information at school. Somehow, Holly managed to shut her middle finger in a door. The bone is broken and she had to have a few stitches, but other than that, she's doing well. We have some rehab on our hands as soon as it heals up, but the docs at Madigan were really great. Of course, Ronnie was no where near home when this happened, he had taken off to hike up Mt. Rainier. Like I said, it was a test to see if I can handle all this on my own.
Friday, November 2, 2012
Photo Friday
~ Every Friday, I will post a picture from our life. Enjoy! ~
Making Terracota Soldiers, Xian, China, May 2011
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