I have arrived!!!!

We arrived at Steve's Uncle Mike's house Thursday night at 8pm.  It had been a crazy day on the road, and I was exhausted.  By time we ate and got the kids settled, it was after 1030pm before I went to bed.  I of course did not sleep well at all.  I never do when I am traveling, and honestly I hadn't slept well for the last week and a half.  We get up early, get ready, and head to pick up another life runner at the airport. After that we head to the EXPO to pick up our race packets.  We spent a couple hours at the expo, and then checked in to the hotel, and headed to the pre-race banquet location.  I had been in contact with my parents by phone all day.  My mom and dad were driving down for the race, and to help me with my kids while I am running my race. When they arrived, out jumped my older sister, who came along to surprise me.  It was really good to see her.  Ann is so good for me, when I am nervous or upset, she always makes me laugh.  I love to laugh, and my sense of humor has got me through many things in my life.  So when I take my self too seriously, Ann is the  one who always brings me back.  The banquet Friday night was wonderful.  Great food, and wonderful speakers.  I admittedly was distracted, due to the fact that my two year old was there, and very very busy.  As the banquet is winding down, and people are leaving, we head back to the hotel.  My mom had left a little early and got Sarah to bed, so that was nice.  I have to be honest...... I did not sleep well.  I was nervous, and quite honestly felt like I was in some sort of fog, like this wasn't really happening or something.  I went to bed, and tossed and turned all night long.........      

4 days and counting!

I can't even describe the strange mix of emotions I am having!  I go from being Super pumped up, to completely scared out of my mind, to confident that I've done the training and I'll be able to finish the half-marathon on Saturday.  I've been having the weirdest dreams.  I feel I have to Clarify this, I have always been a person who learns more about my emotional state from my dreams than any where else.  The dreams I have had in my lifetime have been something that a science-fiction guru could not come up with....it is some of the most entertaining "movies"  I've seen.  That is always how my dreams play out....like I'm watching a movie.  The last three nights I have had dreams pertaining to running my first half-marathon....in the first one, it was extremely hot, and we were running along a river.  I was so upset because there was no drink stations..... in my dream I'm yelling I need a drink, for the Love of God why isn't there any drink stations!  At this moment, other members of the LIFE runners team come running by me, almost flying at me, I felt like I had to duck and move out of the way!  Then Rob Rysavy (one of the LIFE runners Leaders)  Goes speeding by me and does a triple flip into the river.....  Random I know!  Then I'm on the wrong path, and I'm yelling for Steve to help me, and he tells me you got this, suck it up!  When I woke up, my body was in a position like I was running.  In another dream, I was running along, and I knew I was dreaming, but I was happy because I was running, and then I began to wonder if your running in your sleep, if your brain could actually process that as exercise, and then I felt completely convinced in my dream, that I was burning calories, because I was dreaming about running.....Oh how I wish that were true!

Needless to say, obviously the marathon is on the forefront of my mind!  The first dream tells me, I'm anxious because it is a new course, I don't know where I will be at each mile.  In my training if Steve would try and switch up a course on me, I would about panic.  I felt the need to know exactly where I was, and how far until the next mile, and so on.  Having no clue, but following the path is going to be extremely challenging for me.  As far as all the LIFE runners speeding by me, I think that is my fear of being the slowest, and as far as Rob jumping in a river..... I have no clue!  Steve telling me I got this and to suck it up, is really me.  Since he is the closest person in the world to me, he represented me, and my determination to finish this no matter what! I have been really nervous about getting sick.  All my daycare kids have a cold right now.  Brianna my oldest, has bronchitis, and I seem to be very susceptible to that.  I have had it once each year the last three winters.  I have not been feeling the best.  Last week, I missed three days of running with suspected Kidney Stones.  I didn't go to the doctor for a few days, because I am extremely stubborn, and by time I went she thought I probably passed them, due to the fact that I drink so much water.  But she guessed that was probably what was going on based on the symptoms I described.  I woke up yesterday congested, and this morning with sore throat.

We are leaving tomorrow night to SF, and then Thursday to Kansas City.  I am excited, one of the many emotions I am experiencing!  Please pray for me.  In the end, I know I will do this, because it is not about me, it is about serving my Lord, and fighting for the unborn.  I just have to sort through all my very Human emotions, set them aside, and keep my eyes focused on Christ.  

Where did Sept go?

You know that old saying "Time Flies when you are having fun?"  well time flies when you  have four children, run a daycare, train for a half-marathon, run a committee, do a book club, help with the youth group, make sure homework is done, run to the library, go to the grocery store......and about a hundred other things a day!  I can not even believe it is Oct. I am officially two weeks away from my half-marathon.  Since I last posted,  I have done a 9,10,11, and another 11 mile training run.  That's on Saturdays, during the week I run between 3 and 5 miles a day,  depending on the day.  I am ready! I'm excited and nervous all at the same time.  I have had some minor tweaks and muscle pains, and my shins hurt occasionally, but for the most part, I am healthy and uninjured.  Praise God!  It is truly a miracle.  I am probably the most accident prone person in the world.....If something random and strange is going to happen, it usually happens to me.  I've been pretty cautious this last week of training, I do not want to risk an injury when I am so close to the starting line.

September was gone in the blink of an eye!  The kids getting back into school, and  getting used to all their schedules....fundraisers, orchestra, first-reconciliation meetings, fall festivals, and so much more.  As I look ahead, it doesn't seem to let up much.  I'm looking forward to basketball starting for my 6th grader Brianna.  Last year I was her coach, and hope to take that role on again.  I do have a deep love for the game!  I'm also excited, because I will really be able to run the drills with the kids....I'm in much better shape this year. I got a little boost in the weight loss area, I am down 2 pant sizes, and 17 lbs!  I am learning to celebrate the victories!

  When I was running my 11 miles yesterday, I was truly touched by God.   As Jean (my running partner and friend) and I were running and praying, I was consumed by peace.  I was truly in awe and filled with such wonder, as I basked in the Glory of God!  I look back on this journey (knowing I still have some to go), and I am in awe of what God has taught me in my life.  As I approach the starting line of my first half-marathon, I feel like I'm embarking on a wonderful adventure with God as well!  It still seems a little strange, because he has always been such a huge part of my life, but I feel renewed in my relationship with him, and I am excited!  So today, I am filled with joy, excitement, anticipation, and  peace.  At times like this, there really isn't much more to say, other than.......God is Good!