Friends: Me, Kathy, Gayla and Merrilee


San Antonio Marathon: Sisters Sally,Penny and Me


Brendon's Christmas Party at Beech Elementary

Santa's Unexpected Christmas Present and Celebrity Spotting

Happy holiday everyone.

We woke up this morning to find Santa left a little unexpected animal in our tree. Hanging on for dear life to the limb was a squirrel! The family joined in got pursuit to chase it out the door! It was hilarious watching Ryan with his tennis racket and Larry with the broom run around the den. It escaped past Brendon into the dining room up the stairs followed by the dog. Down the stairs it came while I jumped on the chair. Temporarily we lost the poor creature. Andrew took control of the dog while we searched the living room. After looking under the furniture he emerged from the couch. Ryan in his excitement beat it over its head. Andrew threw a sheet over it and Larry grabbed it realizing it was still alive. He carried it off and hopefully it scampered away. And we got it all on video, may be featured on America's Funniest Video...

We also had a celebrity spotting at the cathedral catholic church. Sitting two rows ahead of us was Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman. I heard very little of the sermon as I was distracted trying not to stare. I was obsessed trying to figure out who the 4 kids in the pew belonged to. I think the baby was theirs but not sure of the rest. I will report they didn't last the entire service, disappeared before communion...

Here's wishing you a memorable holiday!

Blessings

To Run or Not to Run

I have noticed with the upcoming holidays, shorter days, colder weather, and post marathon I have not had the same excitement about running. I have just listed all the reasons I will roll around in my head before a run. I know this mood will not last, and I have to adopt the attitude: Do it Anyway. I have found during the run, I get a sense of charity, I reconnect with my body, the glorious gift God has given me, I give praise, offer petitions and am ALWAYS glad I shoved myself out of the bed. I have developed a new appreciation for the treadmill. This has allowed me to concentrate on the speed. I continue to sign up for races. I have found I do better with a goal. It keeps me focused when the desire to abstain hits.

I completed the Frostbite 5K at the YMCA in Sumner County this past weekend. I achieve a personal best and got 1st place in my age group. The competition was with myself. To run faster, to see if the speed training was working and to motivate me to continue. I was thinking about my accomplishment as I ran 7 miles this morning. I pushed myself to run faster and longer. It was exhilarating to challenge my body and my mind in this way.

Find something that will challenge you. Set a goal and a plan for reaching that goal. The focus will keep you motivated when the urge to quit becomes strong and what came easy is not a challenge. This is the true test of God's service. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. The rewards are worth it.

In Sickness and Health

In sickness and in health... for those of you who are married you remember well these vows. Recently I was able to apply the same vows to my running. I was in Chicago, the cold weather really got to me and I developed a head cold (that has moved into my chest as we speak). The urge to not run was strong. But I knew I needed the physical release and meditative connection with God so I headed to the workout room. (I was not crazy enough to venture into the cold Chicago winds though I was saddened by not experiencing the city in this way). I was comforted by the fact I was in post marathon mode and only committed to running 5 miles.

It was a good thing I only had 5 miles to run. To say it was difficult was an understatement. It was downright painful. I was sweating in the first 5 minutes, I felt out of breath and my body was protesting. I kept on dedicated to finishing in much the same fashion I was in the marathon, to run through the pain and discomfort, to connect with my breath, shallow though it was.

I finished and once again was impressed by the completion of a difficult task. It is during these times when running is difficult I feel more connected to my God. It truly is Him that keeps me going because I knew by myself I would have collapsed 1 mile in.