Blessed....Why?

Some days Jesus reminds me of just how blessed I am. Today was one of those days. Nothing spectacular happened. Nothing tragic in our lives. Just a perfectly normal day. I think what started my Thankful spiritual reminder was working. Weird, I know. As part of my job I call on the Emergency Room at hospitals. As I stood there watch everyone buzz around me I realized that people's worlds were changing as I stood there. I saw a family gathered with a man in a neck brace and multiple fractures, 7 I think. I overheard a conversation about a young girl who had overdosed and her parents says she hanging with bad, older kids like, "16-20". That means she is young!
I read a blog written by a young mom experiencing unfathomable heartache with her 2nd pregnancy. Her baby is sick and no one is sure why or if it will survive.
I sometimes question why I was given 2 perfectly healthy, smart, well behaved(mostly!) children. They are giving and fun kids.
I have stood in the ER as a family member clings to life. I have stood at the foot of a hospital bed and watched my mother fight with everything she had to survive cancer. I have witnessed my dad fly away in a helicopter as he was transported to a facility to help him. I remember thinking on those days, "Does anyone realize how my life changed today?" No,, most people don't. As we go on with our perfectly normal life, some one's life changes in an instant, a test results, an ultrasound or MRI. I'm blessed. I prayed for those people today.
Lord, keep me humble. Never allow me to forget that some one's life is changing and they need Your peace. Thank you for the everyday, mundane tasks of my life. May I praise You in those as much as I cry out for You in the troubled times. Continue to remind me to Praise You in the Storm and as I see the rainbows.

Training Update

I am sure most people don't really care how my training is going for my next half marathon. But since this is my blog and I think only my parents and MAYBE a couple of friends read it I'll humor myself. My training is going well, thanks for asking! I am following a training schedule that I did in the past, Hal Higdon. http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

(Just in case you feel the urge to join along in solidarity!) I'm on week 5.

I have to say I am proud of myself. I am actually sticking with the plan and not skipping many days. If I do skip a day it is usually the strength and stretch days. I know it's important but if something has to give that is it!

Melinda and I do the long run on Sundays and it helps us get through it. Running is actually becoming easier and I have started to look forward to it after the first 10 minutes! I have discovered that no matter how great of shape I'm in the first 10 minutes is torture!

I wish I could say I've dropped 15 pounds....not so! 3-4 maybe. I think in my mind because I run I can eat more! I'm trying to stop that thinking!

Seattle, here we come!

Live from Big Spring---Again!

Here is my view of Big Spring today......This is off the porch at Bean's World Cafe. It is a beautifully cloudy day. I was told about this place by a doctor's office staff. It is run by a church and all the staff are volunteers. As I am sitting on the porch waiting on my Spicy Chicken Fiesta Sandwich, I feel a cool breeze, hear birds and they have Christian music playing, and free WiFi!!! They have a fabulous dessert and coffee bar as well. This may be my new hangout every 2 weeks!

I wish I had a video camera to show you the old building directly in front of me. It has holes in the mortar and birds crawl in and out of them . They have apparently made homes in there. This is the older part of town with old store fronts and brick streets. Most of the buildings are abandoned. It is so cool!

Just got my food, you don't even want to know how delicious this sandwich is! Jalapeno cheese bread= yummo! I'd post a picture but I've eaten too much of it already!

This really a part of my job I enjoy. It is not very often I get to sit and enjoy a quiet meal all by myself. It's not that I don't love my family it's just really nice to sit and not have to talk or clean up a mess or take anyone to the restroom! I wish I didn't eat so fast, a bad habit from going to school for 13 years and then working in schools for 10 years. I eat REALLY fast!

I am not getting to run at lunch today, I guess I'll have to do it tomorrow at lunch. I really have begun to look forward to my runs. Not so much the tired part as the alone with my thoughts part. I enjoy pushing myself and that feeling of accomplishment I feel afterwards.

The locals are starting to show up and are staring at me because I am at a table for 4 and they are having to sit at small tables, whoops!

Reese's Soccer Game -#2

Well, Reese had her 2nd soccer game and the first that Shane and I got to see. For as feisty and aggressive is Reese usually is, is as unaggressive and calm as she is on the soccer field! It is the weirdest thing! She has been at soccer games, literally, since she was 3 months old. I though she'd be overly aggressive. I finally asked her why she doesn't take the ball. You know what she said????? "Mom, it's not mine!" We spent 4 years teaching her to take turns and not take things that aren't hers and it totally backfires! I told her it was o.k. because they were playing the game with whoevers ball was out there and it was fine. She asked if her "teammates will trust me if I take it?" What????

She has another game on Saturday pending weather. It rained ALL day today! We offered to pay her if she takes the ball away and scores. I am not above bribery!

Landry FINALLY has a game on Monday so I will post pictures of her after that.

I am totally in love with my kids this week. I can't explain why but all we want to do is cuddle and hang out. I think part of it is Shane is gone and no one cares if we are total sloths! Also, I am beginning to see Landry change. She is becoming a preteen and I am fearfully awaiting the days when she can not stand me! I know it's coming and hold and rock her as much as possible right now.

I'm off to bed to join 2 snugly girls. That's the great part of Dad gone. We all sleep in my bed!

A New Challenge

I have run 2 half marathons before. (13.1 miles) The first one was in Jan 2004 and the second was in Jan 2007. I missed the pattern by 6 months! My third will be June 26, 2010. The first one I did was in Disney World. The second was the Phoenix Rock and Roll. This one is the Seattle Rock and Roll.

My friend Melinda and I have done them all together and this is no exception. It is so much more fun with a running partner to pass the time with. I am pretty sure she and I have solved all the world's problems while running. We use it as free marriage/parenting counseling.

We are T-11 weeks and counting and it's time to turn up the training. Of course in West Texas it is also time for Mother Nature to turn up the wind!! I am running on a treadmill right now. I HATE the wind so I spend most of my lunchtimes at the gym on the treadmill. We will start doing long runs on the weekends and build up to almost the full distance. I have a rule, I will not run 13 miles until that day. I want to do it once and once only!

I cannot explain why I enjoy doing this. i have never loved to run. In high school I was a sprinter and I use that term loosely! I wasn't fast but I also did not like to run for long distances. Once my coach told me to run a mile and I asked if he really meant all at once??? He would fall over if he knew I will run 13.1 miles all at once! After these races there is such a sense of accomplishment and empowerment. I highly recommend doing something in your life that you think will be hard just to show yourself you can do it!

Easter 2010-Closer to God

We spent Easter 2010 closer to God-in Ruidoso! This was the 3rd time we have skiied this year. We really wanted the girls to do it as much as possible to make sure next year we didn't start from square 1.

This trip our friends the Halls went with us. We have been friends with them for almost 10 years and their 2 boys are very close in age to our girls. Hayden is about to be 8 and Harper is 20 days older than Reese. It made for a riding and skiing companion for everyone, including parents!

Friday the kids had ski lessons. Reese and Harper each had a private lesson while Hayden and Landry shared a teacher for an hour. The kids did well and really improved this weekend.

All and all it was a good weekend. No injuries to speak of and all kids accounted for!

Now, I'm officially ready for warm weather!

Kind of...

I've hit a patch where I feel like I "kind of" do most things. I kind of exercise-2 days a week or so. I kind of cook- meaning I heat up frozen food some days. I kind of clean my house-shove things in corners so I don't trip during the night. I kind of work-yes I still work full time but lately I have DREADED work and feel so valueless at work. I kind of go to church-Shane and I go to worship while the girls are at Sunday School.

I feel no passion right now for anything. I don't like that. I want to be passionate about something. I NEED to feel passion.

I don't want to just exist in life, I want to make a difference. I need to find my passion....I'm tired of just kind of being here. Politics? Write a book? I'm on a hunt.....