My First 10K

Well, I did it!  I ran in and completed by first 10k.  Completing #4 of my 101 Goals in 1,001 Days!

For those who don't know a 10k is 6.2 miles.  6.2 looooooooong miles!  I ran in the HEB Bayou City Classic downtown on Saturday, March 13th.  There were about 2,000 runners/walkers.

I began running on January 18th and at some point decided to set a goal and train for a 10K.  So, after two months of training I put my running shoes on and drove downtown.

[So, here's something you don't really think about too much.  Port a Johns.  Yes, Port a Johns.  That's where you have to go to the bathroom before the race begins.  So. Well. No.  I don't like them and wanted no part of them.  I pulled off the freeway at the last exit before downtown and visited McDonalds' restroom.  Never thought I would be excited to go to the bathroom at McDonalds! :) This was just a little side note that I figured the ladies might be interested in.]

I arrived downtown and was getting nervous.  I forgot to mention I even called Brian from the McDonalds parking lot because I was anxious.  I found a parking lot fairly close to the starting line, parked and then found myself waiting in line for almost 15 minutes to pay for my parking spot.  There is one computerized machine where everyone in the lot has to pay.  However, this wait calmed my nerves.  I chatted with the other runners who were of all ages, shapes and sizes.  Thinking back I think God provided this time for me.  I was able to get the jitters out.

After paying I locked up all my belongings in my glove compartment and jogged over to the starting line.  I got there in time to hear the National Anthem being butchered.  Yikes!  Then the wheelchair participants were off.  I stretched and again chatted with runners around me.  Then, we were off.

It took me about 2 minutes to actually cross the starting line, there were so many people.  [When Brian ran the marathon I think it took him 10 minutes to cross it.  A crazy amount of people ran it!]  I began running.  It was kind of exciting and I could feel my adrenaline pumping as we all ran together.  After only half a mile, I realized my shoe was coming untied.  I ended running all the way to the first mile marker before I decided I needed to tie it before I fell down.  So, I did.  And I double knotted this time!

As I approached mile marker 3 I saw a glorious sight!  Brian and the girls waiting at the side of the road cheering me on.  I heard, "Go!  Mommy Go!" while Sophie jumped up and down waving a pom pom.  Brian wore a big smile and little Lydie was sitting in the grass focusing on the cracker she was trying to eat before she was interrupted by the screaming.

I gave a few hugs and was off again.  Just after the family was the water station, I grabbed a water and tried to drink it while I jogged.  Ok, so it looks easier than it is!  I pretty much spilled the first half of the cup on my shirt.  I slowed to a brisk walk, finished the water, threw the cup away and jogged off.

Around 4.5 miles I was starting to work harder.  Running toward the sun wasn't making it any easier either.  Just ahead I saw a pedestrian bridge crossing the street and the silhouettes of three people.  (Note:  you can see the bridge in these first two pictures).  One was a tall, thin man, one a litle girl with flowing hair and another a toddler.  Yup, you guessed it.  Brian, Sophie and Lydia!  It was so cute to see Sophie jumping up and down and Lydie with her arms outstretched on the chain link fence.  (She looked like she was about to be frisked or something).

Around mile 5 I drank more water and kept on running.  The course we ran was supposed to be a flat course.  If your drove it, you would think it was flat.  If you are running it, not so much.  So, around 5.5 miles I began to climb my last hill.  I thought I was going to have to stop and walk.  But, NO, I told myself!  You did not just run 5.50 miles of a 6.20 mile race to stop now!  So, I kept going.

As I, finally, turned the last corner and saw the finish line 200 yards ahead, I tell you, I was so grateful, I almost wanted to cry.  There on my left was my fan club, cheering me on.  I waved, smiled and put my fist in the air and crossed the finish line with a smile.  It took me 1 hour, 16 minutes and 29 seconds.  That's about a 12 1/2 minute mile.  A little slow, but having never run a race before and never stopping, I was satisfied.

A big, BIG, thank you to Brian, Sophie and Lydia for coming out to cheer me on.  I didn't think it would help that much, but boy was I wrong.  It was a HUGE help!  So, thanks! 

Also, thanks for all my friends who prayed for me and sent me words of encouragement.  A special  note of thanks to Lisha for dropping off a bottle of water with a sweet note of encouragement on my doorstep the day before the race. 

No plans to do it again, but...you never know!  Maybe I'll be running a half marathon next.

Maybe not!

Love,

Michelle

101 Things in 1,001 Days

#49.  Create a Weekly Meal Plan and Stick To It

This will be complete tonight!  I tend to do my grocery shopping on Thursdays, so last week I made a meal plan for Friday to Thursday. 

We didn't necessarily have awesome meals, but I stuck to what I said I would make.  I did switch a few nights, but not the needed ingredients.

We had a whole chicken one night and I ate leftovers throughout the week.  We also had fish, hamburgers, tacos and more.

The best meal was Sunday night when we had the Aldersons over to congratulate Skeet on being the official candidate for your church's senior pastor!  I made shrimp, pasta and a different, but yummy asparagus and avocado salad! :)

I'll knock out #4 - Run a 10K on Saturday!  So, wish me luck!
Oh!  And I'll complete #59 -Have dinner with the Aldersons every Sunday for a month on Sunday!  :)

Now off to accomplish little chores all around my house.  Not very excited.

Love,
Michelle

"C" Words

The past few days have been an emotional roller coaster for me and instigated by someone I hardly know and a child I've never met.

The first "C" word is "Cancer."

You have now all had a reaction to the word and thought of someone, probably close to you, that has suffered from cancer or had a scare.  Cancer's reach seems ever pervasive these days and it is making me think twice about my approach to life and my approach to mothering my little girls.

Let me explain.

There is a lovely, young woman with a loving family who is suffering from brain cancer for the second time.  This time; however, they have given her a very short time to live.  She has made arrangements for her memorial service and is heading to Sea World with her family this weekend.  She is spending as much time with her sweet children and husband as she can before God brings her home.  I found myself thinking about how I would be reacting if I was the one going through this and I found myself amazed by her strength and faith.  I can imagine all sorts of things, but she is actually going through probably one of her greatest fears, leaving her children behind.

There is (was) a beautiful, little girl who spent a little over a year suffering from a neuroblastoma.  At only 2 years old, Jesus was rocking her as of Tuesday morning.  This family found so much support from their faith in God's ultimate goodness and from their community.  They started a blog that I stumbled across on Monday.  I found I could not stop reading it.  Not because I had a morbid curiousity about their daughter's struggle, but because their faith was so evident and challenging. 

"C" is for "Courage"

These two people I've mentioned have courage by the ton!  To fight and not give in to the sadness.  Of course we cannot see behind closed doors and I know there was sadness and tears, but I think their ultimate outlook was one of hope and faith seasoned by their vast amounts of courage.

"C" is for "Caring"

So many people have come around these families.  But what I began to think about was the little girl's mother, "Edith."  On Monday afternoon Edith tweeted, "Mommy is rocking Layla."  My little girls are perfectly healthy and it hit me that I don't enjoy mothering them as much as I should.  I will get to rock my girls tonight and the next night and the one after that.  Edith didn't know if she would ever get to rock her little girl again!

I was challenged by this.  There are days when I lose my patience with the girls and in the past few days I've found myself thinking, "Mommy is rocking Layla" each time I was getting frustrated.  My heart would soften.  The girls still get in trouble and are corrected, but with a much gentler spirit.  I have always looked forward to their time at school, but as their last day was yesterday, I was wondering how I would handle being home with them all the time.  Well, I may still struggle with it, but what an amazing opportunity.  I get to be their mommy and I get to be at home with them.  I GET TO!  Thanks, Lord!

There are so many others around me who have or are dealing with cancer.  Brian's Aunt Joan passed away from lung cancer in the late 90's.  Brian's Aunt Ginger is is remission from breast cancer.  Brian's dad passed away from colon cancer in 2003.  Brian's cousin's daughter, Jordan, is battling T-cell lymphoma, Brian's mom is doing chemo for the third time to evict ovarian cancer from her body.  And this is just family!

"C" is for "Chemo"

Chemotherapy, which seems to be the primary choice for cancer treatment, is pretty much the hardest thing you have to go through, besides having the cancer itself.  Poisoning your body in the attempt that the cancer cells will be killed.  You can lose your hair, have painful mouth sores, long-term nerve damage and those are just the side effects that seem to plague my mother in law.

"C" is for "Cure"

The ever elusive cure.  I'm not sure that science will ever come up with a complete cure for cancer, but it certainly is worth praying for!

"C" is for "Christ"

In the end, we all will no longer walk on this fallen earth.  We will need to choose where our faith and beliefs lie.  I believe in God.  I believe He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to save us from this immoral world of sin.  Dying on the cross and rising again, Christ proved himself to be God's son and His death and suffering has washed us clean.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

May I remember God's sacrifice, His truth, His love and His goodness.  May I choose to be more like Him when striving to love my children as He as loved me.

Love,
Michelle

101 Things in 1,001 Days

Updates!  Two more items accomplished!

#65.  Visit a friend in the hospital.

Last night I received a call from a friend whose husband was in a car accident after having a stroke.  She was sitting at the hospital waiting for the neurologist to visit and was just beside herself.

So, I picked up dinner and went to sit with her awhile.  I spoke to her this morning and her husband is doing much better.  No permanent paralysis and no other permanent physical injuries, just bumps and bruises.  The only negative side effect is some short-term memory loss, which the neurologist is hopeful will resolve itself.


#77.  Teach Sophie to write her name.

I've been working with Sophie on writing her name.  She is getting much better with letters and numbers.  I know preschool has been a big help with this too! 

This morning I asked Sophie to come and sign Aunt Suzy's birthday card.  I told her to hold the pen and I would help her.  She said she wanted to do it all by herself.  And I said ok, give it a try.

So, slowly, very slowly, she wrote her name!  It looks great, except the 'H' is sideways, but I was happy for her.  Although, she was much happier.  She said that now she can sign checks and pay bills!  Isn't she sweet?


Love,
Michelle

101 Things in 1,001 Days

Added a few items.

74.  Make a special dessert for someone who deserves it.  - Completed this yesterday

75.  Shop for groceries at Walmart for one month - will be doing this for the month of March

76.  Take the girls out of daycare (to spend more time with them and save money)  - their last day is March 10th

Ok, that's it for now!

Love,
Michelle

101 Goals in 1,001 Days

The first time I saw this idea was on my friend Katie's blog.  (BTW, you should check her blog out, it's awesome!  http://www.intentionallykatie.blogspot.com/)

I have a lot of goals, but I rarely make lists or verbalize them all.  So, I am going to post my list below and let you know throughout the many days to come when I accomplish them.  I will update this post and cross off each accomplishment.  (Gee, I hope I can come up with 101!)

To help myself, I am backdating my list to start January 1, 2010.  This way I'll have a bit of a headstart.  Some of my goals have been met and some are in progress and since it's my list, I guess I can! :)

So, I have until September 27, 2012 to complete them!  Wish me luck!

1.  Start a blog.  1/11/2010
2.  Start running. 1/18/2010
3.  Lose 80 pounds.  in progress
4.  Run a 10K.  3/13/2010
5.  Teach Sophie to read.
6.  Buy Sophie a bike.
7.  Buy my girls a dollhouse.
8.  Attend a family reunion.   planned for 7/28/2010
9.  Spend 30 minutes each day with God for one month straight.
10.  Read the Bible every day for one month.
11.  Visit Cassidy at college.  2/25/2010
12.  Have Phoenix friends visit.
13.  Have my mom visit.
14.  Pay off my car.
15.  Pay off my student loan.
16.  Become a LifeTime member at Weight Watchers.
17.  Go a whole week without raising my voice to my kids (or hubby)
18.  Go a whole week keeping every dish in the house clean.5/18/2010
19.  Go one month without letting the laundry pile up.
20.  Take my kids to the playground twice a week for a month.
21.  Have Sophie make dinner for the family.
22.  Let Sophie have a friend sleepover.
23.  Do another Beth Moore Bible study.
24.  Attend a Women's Retreat. 03/26/10 to 03/28/10
25.  Teach the girls to swim (or have them take lessons)Sophie is taking lessons now
26.  Update Sophie's baby book.
27.  Update Lydia's baby book.
28.  Update our photo albums.
29.  Clean out the guest bedroom.
30.  Clean out all the closets.
31.  Clean out the garage.  3/25/10
32.  Have a date with Brian every two weeks for two months.
33.  Have the Master shower re-done
34.  Put in granite countertops
35.  Get a new kitchen sink and faucet.
36.  Go to DisneyLand or DisneyWorld
37.  Take the kids to the Houston Zoo   1/1/2010
38.  Take the kis to the Bluebell Creamery   2/19/2010
39.  Take the kids to a Houston Astros game
40.  Visit El Campo
41.  Go to San Antonio with the girls scheduled for Labor Day Weekend with Brian's family
42.  Go to Sea World  scheduled for Labor Day Wekeend with Brian's famili
43.  Go to Schlitterbahn
44.  Keep the computer desk clutter free for two weeks.
45.  Keep the kitchen desk clutter free for two weeks.
46.  Keep the butler's pantry clutter free for two weeks.
47.  Go through the girls' clothes and give away to GoodWill.  3/23/2010 - 3/25/2010
48.  Go through the girls' toys and give away to GoodWill
49.  Create a weekly meal plan and stick to it   03/11/2010
50.  Do 25 random acts of kindness (4/25) 
51.  Read a spiritually awakening book  - Read "Prodigal God" April 2010
52.  Read a novel (it's been a long time!) 4/17/2010 - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Book 7)  I've read it before, but wanted a fun, quick read.
53.  Blog every day for two weeks.
54.  Make all the beds, every morning, for one month  in progress - began 5/11/2010
55.  Go camping with the kids.
56.  Visit two state parks in Texas.  Brazos Bend State Park 3/19/2010  Huntsville State Park 5/13/2010
57.  Visit Brian's aunt in Dallas.
58.  Have one play date per month for three months with Jack & Kate
59.  Have dinner with the Aldersons every Sunday for one month. 3/21/2010
60.  Have a couple (we don't normally have over) over for dinner.  Arringtons on 5/13/2010
61.  Work out 4 days per week for one month.
62.  Pick up the dog's poop (ewww) twice a week for a month
63.  Play in the snow with the girls.
64.  Get my haircut.  1/29/2010  (It had been over a year!)
65.  Visit a friend in the hospital.  3/2/2010
66.  Surprise a friend.
67.  Play in the rain with the girls.
68.  Sign Sophie up for a Tumbling or Dance class
69.  Find the perfect fitting bra 4/14/2010 - Maybe not perfect, but pretty darn close!
70.  Fast from TV for 3 days
71.  Fast and pray for 1 day  3/16/2010
72.  Go on a short cruise with Brian
73.  Take a spontaneous road trip (at least one hour away)  3/19/2010
74.  Make a special dessert for someone who deserves it  2/28/2010
75.  Shop for groceries at Walmart for one month in progress for the month of March
76.  Take the girls out of daycare (to spend more time with them and save money)  3/10/2010
77.  Teach Sophie to write her name. 3/3/2010 (She's been able to do it with some help, but this morning when we signed Aunt Suzy's birthday card, she said she wanted to try by herself.  And, she did it!)
78.  Catch up on all the ironing! 5/18/2010

Ok, this is as far as I can get right now.  Plus, I had to pull a few from my friend Katie.  So, thanks Katie!

Any other ideas?  I'm hurting for more!

Anybody else think this is interesting or fun?

Love,
Michelle

Trip to the BlueBell Creamery

Today we visited the BlueBell Creamery in Brenham (about 45 min. from Tomball).

Sophie, Lydia and I went with a friend, Caren and her son, Carter.  Sophie is only a few months older than Carter and they had a great time together.

Fortunately, Caren has a Tahoe, so once I maneuvered myself around the inside of the SUV installing our car seats, we were on our way.

The first tour of the day is at 10:00am and lasts about 30-40 min.  It isn't the most kid friendly tour and I have to admit I didn't really learn much.  My friend and I enjoyed our time together more than the tour.  The cost is $5.00 per adult and children 5 and under are free.  I should mention that everyone gets a scoop of ice cream after the tour is over and they have 24 of their 55 flavors available to choose from.

Note:  When our kids are older if they specifically request to tour the creamery we'll take them, otherwise, we'll visit when the bluebonnets are in bloom and drop in for a scoop of ice cream for only $1.00.

After finishing up our yummy ice cream we headed back to town and picked up Chik Fil A for the kids (of course!)

It was a fun day!

Love,
Michelle