MY SILLY BOY

Ky is constantly keeping us in stitches with all his antics. Below are just a few picts that show his hilarious personality. He is such a cutie most of the time - and we love him to pieces - even when he is spouting "NO!" at the top of his lungs. He is doted on by everyone and that just keeps his antics going - the bigger the audience the bigger the goofball he is! He is a joy - I dont know what we would ever do without him!

Ky is a HAPPY boy after eating his new favorite food - mac n' cheese!


Ky loves to color - notice the CAR kept tightly in his other hand though - he never goes ANYWHERE without them!


This is where I found Ky one day - just hanging out under the coffee table.....


this one says "all boy" - I was outside and turned around to come in and saw him like this - I just busted out laughing - I snagged my camera - and he is not posing -he thought it was so funny I was laughing so hard I couldnt get him to stop - thank goodness for clorox wipes and window cleaner!


This is just "classic Ky" - he is constantly making funny faces like this - this is when he was really little - but he still makes faces just to get us to all laugh - who needs TV when you have a 2 year old!

KELSIANNE IS GETTING SO BIG!

It has been amazing to watch Kelsianne grow and change the last couple of weeks. She is a MISS CHUBBERS! Which is quickly becoming her nickname...Her other nickname is "tootsie" - because even though she is not brown she has lots of ROLLS - her arms, legs, cheeks, double chin...hahaha. I have put so many outfits away already and she is getting into the 6-9 month clothes for the most part. She is also in #3 diapers! I cant wait to go to her appt next week and see how much she weighs - my guess is at least 15lbs if not more!

She has done tons of stuff this week with all of her growing.

She is laughing on her own - all I have to do is smile big at her and she just starts giggling and laughing - it is very funny and very contagious - although it is also very short-lived - every time I try to get to the camera she just stops. She does that with the regular camera too - she is just not sure what to do with them...makes it hard to capture all the cute & fun stuff....

She also really loves to chatter. She has so many volumes to her voice and she gets funny looks on her face too. She scrunches her eyebrows together alot when she is chattering - it is like she is thinking extra hard and trying to get us to understand her.

She is also still spitting up big time. Caiden was a projectile spitter - Kels is more like a gurgling fountain - she hiccups or burps and it all comes gushing out. We have stopped using burp rags and have moved to having to use hand towels - and sometimes that isnt even enough.
We are used to it but I am always so hesitant to let anyone else hold her and always have to warn them when they do take her. She got a friend of ours at church pretty bad on sunday - I felt horrible - but my friend just laughed it off - she is so sweet to me and our family. I still felt like I wanted to crawl in a hole though - it is so embarrassing to have Kels urp/gush all over the place or on other people - esp when we are somewhere I cant help clean up enough or let the other person be able to change their clothes....

Kels is also grabbing things on her own. She loves her little playmat with all her hanging toys - esp when she pulls hard enough to get them to play music. She also loves to grab hair - and not let go. I have to keep mine pulled back all the time and remind my girls to do the same. It is amazing what an iron grip one little fist can have!

She is also rolling over! She has been doing little tummy crunches for awhile but she surprised us all when she rolled over when she was playing and then rolled all the way over. I think that one was just a fluke though because when she rolls she gets herself stuck on her tummy. Part of that is that she gets distracted by sucking on her fist - which she has also learned to do this week. She starts to roll, gets her hand by her mouth, and in her mouth and then gets herself stuck. It is kind of funny to watch her try to do 2 things at once. We have had to go over things again with the kids about where it is safe to leave her - always a challenge to make sure when they have her that they are keeping her safe too.

It amazes me that she is doing so much - but she has lots of help and attention from everyone around her. It wouldnt surprise me if she does things early just trying to keep up with all the other kiddos. She continues to be a joy to all of us and we are so blessed to have her in our family!

scrunch...


scrunch...


ROLL!


What a pretty girl! Dont you just love her eyes!


Kels playing with all her new toys

ADVENTURES FROM "BERRYLAND"

We got the chance to go back to our friend's house several more times to pick berries and I REMEMBERED to take my camera!
It was fun to watch the kids and their friends react to the yummy berries, the stickery bushes and trees and all the cows.
Colton was as enthralled as ever - picking and putting as many berries into his mouth as possible. The last time we went he was so excited he yelled at me "wow - look mom it is berry land!"
Ky spent his entire time running around squealing and chasing the poor cows. His new favorite word is "ow" - for every animal except a dog. He had a blast just running around through the pasture and trying to catch the cows.
The big boys werent so enthralled - the last time we went Caiden brought his friend Adam with us. The boys were NOT impressed with all the thorns on the berries or the trees. They went around like walking wounded bemoaning the fact that they had been stuck too many times. They were perfectly content to make a big show of picking a few big berries (and in the process getting themselves all stuck) and then show off all the spots they were bleeding to each other - boys! (see my eyes rolling?) They also spent a lot of time running around - so much that the berries they did pick ended up as juice instead - thank goodness for ziplock baggies.... :)
The big girls did a great job and were a great help to get lots more berries picked. Kaeli doesnt really care for berries but she was willing to help pick if I used the big, long handled clippers to let her get to them safely. Ceana seemed to enjoy the outing and the eating.
We picked tons of berries but they didnt last long enough for me to do any canning. It has been such a special treat to have fresh berries this late in the season that we have just enjoyed eating them. Colton has esp enjoyed taking them in his lunch every day - not sure what he is going to do when he finds out they are all gone - prob go get the ones out of the freezer.
It was a grand adventure and we will look forward to it again next year!


Colton is in "berryheaven" eating as many berries as possible - I still cant believe he never got sick from eating so many!


Ky chasing the cows


Ceana happily picking berries


caiden picking berries


Kaeli as her usual so cooperative self when I ask to take her picture

KINDERGARTEN IS GREAT!

Colton has surprised us all by falling right into a solid routine and schedule for school. His teachers have nothing but great things about how well he is doing. He has not shown any of the concerns that we have been preparing for and is adjusting extra fast to his new classroom and peers.I am thrilled that he is doing so well - it truly is a blessing that he is showing "typical peer" behaviors with his teachers and his classmates. It is so unexpected but a very pleasant surprise.

I have been able to go in and visit and help in colton's class lots already which is a great relief after that first day. We have even taken the dogs in with us when we have walked to school which the kids thought was great.

Colton seems very happy at school and looks forward to getting all his things ready. He esp loves to be able to eat lunch at school and loves getting to take chocolate milk every day. He also loves that his good friends are also in class with him. Colton, Jared and Corben have been friends since they were babies. His friend Nick from primary is also in his class and it is funny to see how the 4 boys stick to each other like glue most of the time. Colton's teacher tries to move or re-arrange 1 or 2 of them and all 4 end up moving together. It is pretty funny and his teacher has a good sense of humor about them. They remind me of the cars on the movie CARS that move all together on the highway - that is how the boys move too - as 1 instead of as 4 individual boys - it really is pretty funny. It is also fun that they have each other to share this new experience with.

It seems to be a good pattern for Colton to be able to go every day and he has fun counting how many days he has at school vs how many at home. He thinks it is great fun to tell me he gets to "go to kindergarten, kindergarten, kindergarten, kindergarten, kindergarten - and only 2 home days! I get to go to school LOTS!" It is good for me to know that he is so excited and happy at school.

Colton & his teacher Kathy Hensley


The Three Muskateers - Corben, Colton, Jared


Playing on the new kinder equipment

STILL RUNNING CRAZY

I have been wanting to sit down and post and I have TONS to share from the last week - esp about the kids. It seems that every time I think I get a moment things go all crazy again - or I am just too dead-dog tired by the end of the day because it has been so crazy!

We have had SO many fun things happen and I cant wait to share all of our news and picts soon!
Tomorrow is Friday!!!! So that will hopefully mean a way quiet afternoon with no homework or lessons or stress and a mostly quiet weekend to look forward to.

Watch for more to come soon -k- and we will get you all caught up on all our fun!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Well, here we are at the start of another school year. I cant believe it and I just cant seem to understand how the Summer flew away so fast.

For the kids that means starting fun new adventures, being excited about everything, being with old friends and looking forward to making new friends. We were thrilled to find out that Caiden has 2 other classmates this year that are his friends already! Good solid peers and families - our answered prayer!

It also means the start of crazy schedules - esp on Tuesdays. Ceana left the house yesterday morning at 7AM and didnt get back until 9PM because her piano lesson and YW are also crammed into her day! Tuesdays are going to be our "bezerk day" for scheduling for all of us...

It also means trying to get back into a regular routine and schedule and hopefully setting some good habits in place - again. I will be walking the boys to school every day - rain or shine. It will be good for me to get out every day and hopefully get rid of all that "baby fat" and just get to be outside with the kids. Caiden is thrilled about us walking to school since he gets to ride his bike every day. He has worked really hard this Summer to learn to ride his bike so he could ride to school and other places with Preston and the big girls. The big girls will also be riding their bikes to school together too since they are attending the same school this year. Kaeli also is looking forward to this as she likes to be on her bike as much as possible.

For me the start of school means my children are continuing to grow and change - which is good and sad at the same time. It has been esp sad for me today as Colton has started Kindergarten and is officially in what he calls "big school". He has been so excited and I was all ready to be with him to enjoy his first big day only to walk him to his classroom and have the teacher say "bye parents" and actually close the door on us! That was VERY unexpected for me. In the past we have had a kindergarten teacher who welcomed parents, and siblings, into her classroom with open arms. I have to say I was about in tears - esp knowing Colton was only 1 of 5 children in his classroom today for their "staggered start". I am missing out on his first special day of school and I am not ok with that. We were given the OK to come and have lunch with him but I will have missed everything else he has done this morning. It really hurts my heart.

Also sad for me is how quiet the house is - when Kels is not screaming. It has been so wonderful for me this Summer to have the kids here with me and for us to have time to talk and play and just be together. As I sit here this morning with Ky playing quietly and Kels trying to nap, the house is much too quiet for me. This quiet means that all the kiddos are off doing their own thing, getting started on their own routines and schedules, having their own adventures. I know this is part of growing up, part of life, part of preparing them to someday be on their own as adults. For now though, I wish I could hold onto these moments when they are young and just stop time, at least for awhile.

This new school year will hold many adventures and many challenges for all of us. We will just take one day at a time and do the best we can and hope to make the most of all of the experiences ahead of us.

A BERRY Fun Afternoon

Good friends of ours have cattle and a large property in the west hills in Monmouth. Yesterday they invited us to come and pick blackberries. Today after I dropped Caiden off at school I took the little boys and we went out to our friend's house.
I was SO going to take my camera - and I forgot it! I was really sad too because of all the boys' antics I could have captured today.
When we first arrived at our friend's house his cats were eating on the porch. The minute Ky saw them he jumped out of the car and ran over to them yelling "eow!" I am not sure where he learned to say "meow" since we are never around cats. The poor cats didnt know what to think of him and ran under the car. Ky was not to be sidetracked though and got right down on his stomach on the ground and got face to face with the cat - yelling "eow!" the whole time. It was pretty hilarious.
Our next adventure began by us piling into the back of our friend's big truck. Colton thought that was way cool except he had to have Paul put the tailgate up "so we dont fall out." Colton laughed his head off as we bounced and rumbled through the cow pasture to get to the berry bushes on the far side of the property. Ky wasnt too sure he liked all the bouncing though but he loved looking at all the cattle and yelling "ow, ow!" (cow). It took all my arm strength to keep Kelsianne's car seat from bouncing too hard too. It has been a VERY long time since I have ridden in the back of a truck...it did bring back lots of memories from growing up and roaming my grandparents' farm.
Colton spent our 2 hours shoving as many berries into his mouth as possible. I KNOW more went into his tummy than went into his bucket. He kept telling our friend Paul "these are really good!" to which Paul would reply "that they are." and then laugh and laugh. Colton was pretty funny.
I thought Ky would enjoy eating and picking too - boy was I WRONG. I was surprised that when he tasted the berries that he didnt like them at all. A little later all the cows discovered we were in their pasture and came to investigate and to see if they could eat our berries without being discovered! Imagine 500 pounds of cow trying to sneak up behind you thinking you cant see it stick its face in the berry bucket - dumb cows....
Ky was fascinated with the cows - and there were quite a few and they were BIG! I thought Ky would be afraid but he just stared those cows right in the eye and gave them what for - shaking his fingers at them and everything! He also spent a lot of his time chasing them around. I actually felt bad for the cows! It was hard to discipline Ky and try to get him to stop because I was laughing so hard. He was perfectly content to tromp through the pasture (and the cow patties - EW!) to chase those cows. He was not afraid at all and had a blast scaring the wits out of even the biggest cow!
We only lasted about 2 hours and gathered about 1/2 bucket (the other half was in colton's stomach) before Kels and Ky were both WAY cranky and needing lunch and a nap. I was sad to have to go so soon but was pleased to know we were invited back whether Paul and his wife were home or not. We will for sure be returning in the next couple of days!
We again piled into the back of the truck with Kels and Ky screaming their heads off and Colton fussing about holding the berries and worried about "his buckets" of berries falling out of the back of the truck. (visualize me laughing and rolling my eyes) Ky did stop crying long enough to say bye to the cows and wave to them - that was pretty funny too.
We are looking forward to going back to pick more berries. They will be wonderful to have for the winter - if we dont eat them all first! We had a very BERRY fun afternoon!

Once In A Lifetime Experience - Rory's version

I see that Preston has already posted and he shared a ton. It was such a HUGE day though that I thought I would add a little more.
When all was said and done and we were on our way to dinner Ceana asked if Preston and I had fun running the marathon - we both looked at each other and at the same time emphatically said "NO!" and then laughed a bit. Was it a great learning experience and one that I am glad to have shared with Preston and other family? I would have to say just as emphatically "YES!"
I want to start out with all of the tender mercies of that day - as long and hard of a journey as Preston & I took - there were very many blessings for both of us.


1) Cool, Comfortable weather.
The forcast had predicted thunderstorms, lightning and rain. It was cold and a bit windy when we started out but the sun was out (much to the consternation of my whole backside that got fried) and the clouds kept the weather comfy.


2) A moderate breeze blowing from behind.
The breeze helped "push" us along those last long miles. It also helped to keep me cool as I dumped water over my head at the last few way stations.


3) Aid stations along the entire route.
There were aid stations about every mile that provided water, gross gatorade, oranges, bananas and Ibuprofen. I was so thankful for each station and the enthusiastic volunteers who manned them. It seemed just as I was really struggling and needed help the next way station would be within reach. I was especially thankful for the medication as I had my whole right side burning from the extra exertion and my right foot that had been rubbed raw from my shoes.


4) Being able to tag along with others.
Unlike Preston not being in the back I WAS the very last marathoner in our group participating in the half marathon. I happened to overhear a conversation being carried on by a group of 4 ladies. I hesitantly joined their chatter and was almost instantly included in their little group. Two of the ladies had been training for months and had all the nifty gadgets in place to keep everyone on track. We walked and talked and then jogged to small goal sites (a tree or sign or way station) when we needed to pick up the pace or when we just needed to get each other to try a little harder. I know that I never would have finished if it wasnt for them and knowing I needed to keep up with them. Through our chatter and encouragement of each other we were able to keep going mile after mile.


5) Having Preston catch up with me at mile marker #23.
Doug had come along the route with his kiddos to chat with each of us on the road. I had kept watching for Preston to pass me the whole time and came to find out from Doug that Preston was just a mile behind me. I kept watching for him and hadnt seen him yet. I continued to worry as I watched the "courtesy car" (the one that scoops you up for being too slow or in case of injury) continue to go back and forth and watch as ambulances and police drove in the opposite direction - wondering if his ankle had finally given out. I found myself talking to Preston at every mile marker after I had seen doug - somehow thinking if I talked out loud to him he would some how hear me and keep on going. At mile marker 23 (out of 26) I had just passed the way station with gross gatorade in my tummy and the water poured over my head when I heard Preston's voice. I quickly turned around to find him right behind me! It was the most wonderful thing for me to have him there beside me. I was really starting to struggle (even more than I had already) and as I took his hand in mine and we talked about how things had been going I felt a new energy in me. We chatted and laughed about how we had done even better than we thought. I was thrilled to know that we would cross the finish line together and that we didnt come in last and we came in a whole lot sooner than we thought. Walking those last miles together was a true blessing and running across the finish line (despite the fact that my feet were screaming with pain) hand in hand felt glorious to me and made it all worth it!


6) Knowing my sis-in-law was successful and NOT sick.
My sis-in-law Heidi has been training to run the half marathon for the last couple of months. She did great with the runs but then would have her body completely freak out and she has been very sick after every run. Her training routes were shorter than the actual marathon run. I had been so worried for her that she would be extra sick after running so far and long. I was thrilled to find out that Bart (preston's youngest brother) has stayed with her the whole race and that she was feeling good and didnt get sick at ALL after the race. It was a true blessing for her and for me to know she was able to enjoy this experience to its fullest.


7) Enthusiastic family members and other participants.
Preston & I did come in after all of the other family members who participated. It was great as we rounded those last few turns to hear encouragement and congrats from other participants. It was also fun to watch preston's mom and some of my kiddos run along the last stretch with us yelling and whooping for us that we had finished. Just as we were ready to cross the finish line we also got the big announcement of our finish from the awards grandstand - which was pretty fun to hear. I was also great to have Preston's mom and our kiddos say "there is ice cream, do you want ice cream, you need ice cream" as we were just trying to catch our breath! The time to stop and get more water and a treat was fun and much appreciated.


8) The beauty of Idaho wilderness.
I was amazed as I walked mile after mile at all the beauty surrounding me. We were bussed quite a long ways out of the city to our start point - right out into the wilderness. I often wished I had my camera with me to capture the striking colors of the mountains, the delicate softness of late summer flowers or the grace of horses running through a field. We are so caught up every day in being surrounded by cars and roads and houses and buildings we forget about the beauty the Lord has made for us. I was almost glad I was just walking as I got to enjoy the scenery much more. Later that night as we were driving home from dinner I was able to just stare out the window and actually see stars and find constellations and the soft haze of the milky way and watch as satellites blinked and moved through the sky. What a glorious place this Earth is - what a marvelous blessing it is for us to be here!


9) Fabulous pool and hot tub at the hotel.
I was so thankful for the heat and the cool of the hot tub and pool at the hotel. My body really needed both! We also got the extra blessing of spending some fun time with Preston's brother and sister and their families at the hotel. The kids had a blast swimming together and the adults just enjoyed visiting and chatting about our individual experiences and feelings. It was great to be able to share our stories with each other and with other runners who were there. It was amazing to listen to the varied responses from each other and other participants. There was one gal who said this was her 1st marathon and she was raring to go do another (just hours after we had finished). I really believed her when the next morning I was slowly crawling to the hot tub to work out all the ouchies to see her working out on all the machines in the hotel gym! She was smiling and waved at us like she was on holiday - she probably will do this again and I bet more than once! People like that WOW me - we all have our different gifts and talents and it looks like she had found hers. I know my gifts and talents are to be found in other places though - and even as good of an experience as this was - it is nice to know that I can continue to learn and grow from this and apply it to other places in my life to enrich my individual talents in the future.


10) Being able to say "I FINISHED!"
I think that participating in this marathon has been one of the hardest things I have ever done. Something I am not sure I would ever have the strength to do again. Not something I am sure I would CHOOSE to do again. All those questions I asked were answered and yet I am still not sure why anyone in their right minds would do this over and over. The pain was and has been terrible and intense. My hands were very swollen from gravity and my body trying to hold in fluid. As we ran across the finish line my feet like they were being poked with thousands of pins and needles. When we got over the finish line I couldnt get my shoes off fast enough and I knew there would be damage - but even Preston was surprised at how much I had hurt my feet. I have been eating Ibuprofen and Tylenol like candy for several days as well as soaking and stretching and it still has not been enough. Since being home I have had to tend to all the muscles in my body I didnt know I have as well as keeping my "stress finger" and my feet cleaned and bandaged often.

Yet through all the pain and the reality that this was HARD there is also a satisfaction in knowing I have done something I never thought I could do. There is a feeling of accomplishment every time I look at the medal I received. There is an awe that it wasnt a dream - that I really did do something amazing. I am a better person for this experience and I am better for the people who surrounded me whether family or strangers - because of them, because I TRIED to do something harder than I have ever done, I AM better. That in itself is pretty amazing to me. The other amazing thing to me is that our family had this experience together. I hope that as the kids have seen Preston & I do something extra hard it will send the message that life can be hard but also so rewarding and that you really can do anything you put your mind to. This experience has had many teaching moments - esp for me. Now that the journey is through it will be nice to sit back and enjoy sharing the memories and look forward to all the teaching moments it will continue to provide - for me and our family. Pretty sweet.

Preston & Rory @ the FINISH Line



Preston's sister Kari showing off her WELL EARNED medal!


Preston's youngest brother Bart and our sis-in-law Heidi - WAY TO GO!

Once in a Lifetime Experience

For me, that sums up what happened today. What happened today will be the one and only time in my lifetime. :+)

(Preston commandeers the blog while it's Rory's turn to take the kids to the pool...)

As you've all read, Rory and I lost our minds and participated in the Pocatello Marathon today. How did it go? In Rory's words:

1. We finished!


2. We finished with time to spare (ahead of our goal)!


3. We weren't last!
   

The day started way too early, squeezed tightly into a school bus that took us up into the hills. It was cold and dark and scary - I was having flashbacks of my first ride in a cattle truck at Basic Training. They kicked us off the bus and we all sat around trying to stay out of the wind. Then all too soon they were announcing "10 minutes ..." "5 minutes ..." "5, 4, 3, 2, 1" and BANG the gun went off. They actually did use a starter's pistol. Probably woke up a few horses on the ranches nearby.

The first 12 miles or so were downhill. According to the chart prepared by the race committee, the elevation change was from 6000 down to 4500 feet! Based on previous training difficulties I was expecting to have some issues with my ankles, which did start up. By about mile 7 I had taken some ibuprofen and the ankles started feeling better. It was either the meds or the fact that my quads, thighs, calves and feet were hurting too much to notice the ankles.

By the time I got to mile 13 (where Rory started her race) I was definitely not part of any "pack." I had been passed many times (even by a 12-yr-old kid!), passed nobody at all, and was wondering what in the world I was doing out in the desert all by myself. As I rounded a turn onto the flat part I looked back up the trail and didn't see anyone at all. I was pretty sure that meant I was the last-place marathoner. But hey, I was still running! I did notice a group of 3 guys ahead of me that were walking, but they were pretty tall and their walk was almost as fast as my run.

Anyway I pretty much kept with those three guys for the next 7 miles or so. I would pass them for awhile, and then they would all "kick it in" and run just before the next aid station. One of the guys was wearing a shirt that proclaimed he had finished a marathon in each of the 50 states, so I didn't feel too badly about my position overall.

Close to mile 20, Doug and his kids pulled up for a chat. For those who don't know, Doug ran a marathon several months ago and afterwards decided he was going to run the Pocatello. That started the insanity within my family that caused several of us to also sign up. Then Doug went and pulled a hamstring or something, so there he was driving his truck and asking how my marathon experience had been going.

After a couple more miles my walk was probably faster than my "run" so I started alternating. About 1/2 mile walking, then 1/2 mile running. Eventually I caught up with some more people who were part of the half marathon (all the races ended at the same point, so we shared part of the course). I was pretty sure I could see some familiar orange shorts walking 100 miles an hour up there, and knew it must be Rory. By the time I got to mile 23 (her mile 10) I finally caught up to her. She was doing great!

We were able to walk the final 3 miles together, and finished about 30 minutes earlier than we had anticipated. Rory's toe was bleeding and my feet were on fire, but we made it!

As we went through the finish line our kids, my parents and brother were all there to greet us. They were already doing the awards ceremony, but stopped the announcements to tell their audience when others were crossing the finish line. Probably 200 people gave us a cheer as our names were read over the loudspeakers! And sure enough, the 3 guys I had kept pace with and then two other marathoners finished after we did. (Finishing was our goal, but actually finishing ahead of someone else was just "icing.")

Some really awesome news was that my baby brother Bart (who is getting married in 5 weeks, but he's still the "baby") finished first in his age group in the half marathon! Way to go!

As I mentioned earlier this was my first and last marathon. You only need to finish once to be able to tell people you're a "marathoner." I can't imagine why I would ever want to put my legs and feet through this again. I wish my other family members well who have plans to compete again in the coming months and years - I'm going to pump up my bike tires and get my exercise THAT way. :+)

Thoughts Of A Runner?

As I sit here in the dark my brain is going a million different directions.
It has been a long night....Ky was up several times very upset and didnt settle back down easily. My husband who is usually unconscious 2 seconds after his head hits the pillow and sleeps so deeply tossed and turned and hardly slept at all. The little bit of sleep I did get was filled with nightmares.
Both Preston & I were up and wide awake way before his alarm went off at 5AM. Adreneline already pumping at the thought of this day's coming events.
As I sat with Preston this morning watching him get ready, with a spoonful of PB in his mouth and laughing lightly as he signed the word crazy at me, I again wondered what we were doing taking on this monumental activity and if we really are out of our minds.
First of all, yes, we are completely out of our minds for taking this on.
Second, my brain wonders what it is that draws thousands of people to this sport again and again, race after race. Is it the almost nauseating feel of the adreneline pumping through every inch of your body, is it the thrill of victory, is it knowing you took all those crazy thoughts of defeat and failure and looked them straight in the eye and told them to take a hike? Is it throwing all those thoughts of "I should have...I could have..." out the window and just go for it anyway? Is it knowing no matter what happens you did your very best and that this experience, filled with success or failure, has somehow made you a better person?
I am hoping in the coming hours that I will find the answers to these questions - provided I survive long enough to find out.....
Preston & I have not talked much about our feelings about this day other than to admit we are both nuts and that we can't belive this day has actually arrived. I know he was nervous as I watched his hands shake as he dressed this morning. I wonder what thoughts run through his mind as he has loaded the buses with 100's of other runners. He has trained so hard for this day, will it all see him through? What are his fears, his hopes, his goals? His biggest goal is to finish this race, no matter how long it takes.
My goal is the same. My biggest fear, howeverl is that it will take too long and that I will be as slow as a snail and by so doing will get scooped up by the race patrols and DRIVEN to the finish line. My life this last several months has been spent caring for a new baby and a large family. It has been spent doing laundry and finding myself finishing large volumes of reading material on all those sleepless nights. It has not been spent in training, and all those thoughts of "I should have" are overpowering my brain. At this point all those thoughts are meaningless as I look at the clock and know in just a short time I will also be on a bus and on my way to the starting line of this crazy adventure.
All I can do is my best - my best at where I am today - and not worry about what my best would have been if...No matter if I face success or failure I can honestly say that I tried and that is something important to remember. Trying will always bring growing experiences to apply to life or to share with others. It is not the success or the failure or the destination but the journey that makes all the difference.
Here's to the journey......