13.1 Miles....check!

I'm one of those crazy women who loved childbirth...I delivered each child without drugs...seeing what my body can do...this body that is healthy and thriving...the body our God gave me to work and do good things with...

So when this past weekend came around...I put it to the test again. I ran my very first half marathon! I trained for a few months seriously and got on a good running program. I said to my hubby just moments before the race began...'This is kind of like our wedding...you prepare for months and it's over with in just a few hours'.

Sunriver, OR is my favorite place to go with my family. It has a peaceful feeling every time I pull into the village. I love the smells, the sites, the feeling I get when I'm there...calmness. I had a few days to get ready before the race started. I had pulled my groin two weeks ago and had run only once since then...I was nervous and wondering if my left leg was going to hold out for that long. I had been getting good miles and a great pace...I was happy with my training...until the groin pull...it hurt and I was nervous that I wasn't going to be able to run. I rested and iced and took lots of ibuprofen...I did all I could...

Friends...I was so happy that morning...I worked so hard to get there...just something that only I could accomplish. No one could make my feet move. As the timer went off and I started (me and Lady GaGa) we moved through the first mile dodging people, getting off the trail to pass some others, a feeling of 'I can do this' was so overwhelming! I don't think I stopped smiling...At mile 7 I grabbed my water and looked over at this gal and said 'Whose idea was this?'...still smiling...but getting a little tired. I was half way there...I can do this...At mile 8.5 I came out of the path of trees and into a clearing and there, I saw my mountain. What a view...It gave me everything I needed to push forth to the end. When I got to the finish line I was so happy...I cried...hands over my head...I did it! I didn't care about the time...My garmin was not working, so I had no idea about my pace...it was about me and the ability to do something new and finish strong! I ran the WHOLE thing...not once did I stop!

I'm happy with the new endeavour! I love that I have found running. Something that I can get excited about for me...a mom, a wife, a woman! I chose to keep going...A year ago I found running and now, I'm a runner too!

Father's Day Preview...

Just trying to get caught up...

Enjoying the first few days of summer...

Pictures that I took for Father's Day...

It was a warm morning...

bees were stinging...

kids were tired...

thirsty....

mommy was a little crabby...

So glad I got a few before we all melted down!

Bouncing here and there and everywhere~

Can you name the cartoon song?!?!

Have you missed me friends? It's been a while! Life has a way of getting away these last few weeks...my home has been busy...

Here's some updates:

~The two year old is sleeping in undies at night! yay! No more diapers after 7 1/2 years! WOW!

~I ran 11 miles last Saturday. I can't believe I actually ran them...The heat was exhausting, we were at 98 degree last Saturday! This weekend will be 12 miles and the weather will be low 80's! Phew! Then I'll taper down my miles until race weekend. Race weekend is three weeks away! I'm so excited that I can barely contain myself!!

~School is almost done. We have one week left...the big final spelling test is today...I can't believe I'll have a second grader!

~I've been busy creating 4 'Letter Creations' for ladies who saw my work at the Bible study luncheon...so fun to be able to get paid for these!!

~Last week of babysitting...I've been watching some kiddos for 4 months and I'm almost done. It's been nice to make some extra cash...but I can't wait to have summer break with my kiddos!

I can smell the sunscreen...the weather has been HOT...and we've been drinking a lot of smoothies. Don't tell the kids I put spinach in them! They LOVE them!

Here's the recipe:

1 Cup of Milk

1 Yogurt container (I use vanilla or blueberry) Low sugar!

1 Cup of Frozen berries or mangoes or peaches

1 Banana

1 Big Heaping handful of fresh spinach

Blend until creamy and serve them up! You can freeze the leftovers in kid's cups or homemade Popsicle holders and have extra when its hot outside! The kids are eating these almost everyday and I feel good knowing they are getting some good green veggies!

Have a great weekend!

Our Newest American Idol!

Love that he is singing this song...this is one my favorite song at this moment!

I'm so glad I voted for Kris...loving it!!

A few snapshots...

'Pictures of you...

Pictures of me...

Hung up on your wall for the world to see...'

~The Last Goodnight

A little gift I made for a dear friend...

A little gift a dear friend made for me...LOVE the camera strap!

Thanks Debbie!

Seeing it. Feeling it. Loving it! Kindness is all around...

God even gave me the strength to get through an

8 mile run this past weekend...

: :

Not to mention that it was 90 degrees...

Thinking of you friends...

Life is getting a bit busier towards the end of the school year...

Three weeks left!

Kindness...

The past few months I've been in a study with some gals at my church...it is a great group of gals...most of us are young moms and have lots in common. It has been a great year of getting to know these ladies. Next week my mother in law and I are going to give a practical on our relationship to the entire women's study (200 women). Our study has been about mentoring and being mentored....

Our last week's study was on kindness...things you have done for others and how you've experienced kindness from others. I've been so blessed these past few months and I'll share a bit more on another post...but I've been very fortunate.

Have you ever had the nudge to do something for someone and you kept putting it off? I have this one dear friend who has stepped in to help me this past year and I just kept thinking of ways to show her my appreciation...she's a kind soul. I knew in my heart I wanted to get my butt in gear and show kindness to her...yesterday during our study we went around the room and shared moments of when you've been showed 'kindness'...when it was her turn, she couldn't think of anything...my heart sunk...here I've been nudged by God to do something and I haven't...I just got 'too busy'...or had other excuses... I was so sad...

My busy lifestyle caused me to miss out. I'm learning to model kindness...why is it that sometimes I'm nicer to other people instead of my own family? Why would I raise my voice to my child who spilled the crayons but later help their friend who did the same thing? My heart is learning to serve my family...I read in my book about how a gal prays for each family member as she folds that person's clothing....are we joyful or resentful in our serving. Are we being kind...

Just wanted to share a bit of what I'm learning this week...

Are you learning something new?

by George, I think we've got something...

On my list of 100 things about me, you'll see that I've had a 'steel thumb' most of my life. I've been able to keep three children healthly and thriving...why not plants? But look...do you see some green? It is growing...I hope it will be edible in a few months...The new grass we planted to finish the back yard makeover...look, it's growing too! Hopefully, I'll have a new hobby and be able to give away some veggies!

The training for the half marathon is going well...I'm into week 3 (7 weeks left!) and doing great. I conquered my hill again last night, a 4 mile run at a 9:03 pace...feeling good, this Saturday is the long run and I'll be doing 6 miles. Getting more and more excited about this summer and all that is in store for our family!

Feeling a bit anxious and wanting to craft or rearrange my furniture...spring always brings a cleaning change...maybe I'll rearrange the bedrooms today...any one else rearrange like a crazy woman?! I think today I may get my feet dirty...here's to playing in the dirt.