Woe is me... NOT!

I sit at home tonight and look around. Candle burning, glass of wine in hand, all decorations are packed up and I realize how fortunate I really am. We all complain about this and that, I wish I had this, I wish I had gotten that for Christmas, if we could just have that much money to have that remodeled. But in all reality is that the important part of what life is about. Yes a smooth life makes living much easier, but dont you think that the speed bumps make us more of who God wants us to be? He never said that he would take away the pain of the speed bumps, He never even said that there wouldn't be speed bumps. Look at who you have become because of those ups and down. We complain about the little things, and yes there are some things that are HUGE issues that we encounter. The little aches, the little pains, the disgruntled people in our lives, the more expensive bill that we have to pay, but look at it this way: Because you have those hiccups in life, you are alive. *Think of those who this Christmas didn't even have the energy or will power to put the decorations up. *Think of families in CT who this year changed their lives entirely. *Think of families tonight as the bitter cold and wind blows are trying to block the cold with coats and cardboard. *Think of those who this year who are having to explain to their children that Santa some how must have accidently missed their house. *Think of maybe your neighbors who just need a quiet smile, or a gentle hello and the joy it could bring to their heart. So I look at how fortunate I am and the life that Bo has provided for both of us. We are blessed. We are overly blessed. If you are reading this now, I ask that you make a promise to yourself this year. Try to do something for someone daily, weekly, monthly to make them smile. Just as a friend posted on Facebook: Give today, as it is better to give than to receive anything.

You did what?????

It has been a while I know since I have blogged. No excuse, just haven't done it lately, but I felt that with this weekend's bucket list check off I should blog about the experience, the emotional journey, and the physical journey. So about 15 months ago a friend mentioned that we should try and do a 5K. Key word try! I had always danced and been active, but never had a drive to run. We started the program in July with Fleet Feet and in October of 2011 I ran my first 5K. I got the bug then. I ran a few other 5K's and then began the training for 10K, with the Cooper River Bridge in mind as a goal race. That training was what I would call a little physical on your body, but it was accomplishable. I was exhilarated to reach the end saying that I had run my first 10K. Then I got this crazy idea, as all runners do, that I would train for a half marathon. I thought at least I can try and then if I am not able, then I will stay with 10K's. So 16 weeks ago training began. We met every Monday/Tuesday/Thursday/ Saturday for our scheduled runs. I did fine and was very excited with each mile that I ran. Towards the end of training though I had what we thought in the beginning to be plantar fascitiis, a runner's nightmare, so I began phsyical therapy and it wasn't getting any better. I had to back off running and began to think that a half wasn't feasible. After more therapy we discovered that it wasn't PF that it was bursitis in my heel. I kept running because I had a goal in mind and I wasn't a quitter. This continued and a few weeks ago I was running a basic 4 miler and at mile 1 my knee just quit. I couldn't run anymore. I couldn't go, I couldn't bend it, I could barely walk... It felt like the walk of shame back down Augusta Rd and back to Fleet Feet! Phsycial therapist said that it didn't look torn or terribly swollen, so I doped up on Advil for weeks and kept icing my knee and foot. We fast forward a few weeks to Saturday 10/27, I had not been having trouble with knee terribly and was excited and scared both. Getting to the start line and being ready to run is the most awful waiting time in the world. I was fortunate to have a pacer named Pete who was the most wonderful man. God sent him to run with me without us even knowing each other's last names. We had a goal of running a 2:30 race. I wasn't sure that I could make that as I had never run that pace before, but I was willing to give it a try to see. I did ok for about the first 5 miles with that pace, and then my body starting acting up. My hands were beginning to swell severely and my steam was dwindling. Pete mentioned that my body wasn't processing electrolytes as they should. He offered me a sodium pill, but I was so queezy that I couldn't at that time. So the emotions kicked in and I had a breakdown. A breakdown that I couldn't do this, that my body wouldn't let me. So I gave into the pill and took it hoping it would help me. Honestly I don't remember looking back at my hands but I do think that it helped my stomach... So onto mile 8, which I hit another wall. I had to walk, which I didn't want to do, but was required to get through. Around mile 10, my blessed Pete had convinced me that I could do this, that I wasn't a quitter and I needed this! He was truly my saving grace. So I round the corner and come up River St and I see Wayne. Wayne has been my coach and cheerleader through this entire journey. As I ran up Main St. to see his BRIGHT yellow shirt and clapping his hands and screaming out for me was amazing. He came to my side placed his hand on my back and said, " we got this girl!". I was tearing up and telling him I was tired. He encouraged me and said, " you got it! ". As I came to the top of the hill and rounded at the ticket booth I saw my husband, dad, and step mom. To see them was enough to help me get through the last 1/2 mile. By this point I think that I was delerious and just wanted to be done. So I came into the stadium and hear my name called and Pete says, "we are almost there girl." So I look ahead and see the clock, which is always my inspiration to blast it. I did and finished in 2:41:48. We didn't want it to hit 2:42. I get to the end and we hugged and cried, and hug and cry... Was it in the time that I had hoped for?, no, but hey I finished, and I finished with a smile on my face. So I sit and write and still am in awe of what not only I accomplished this weekend, but what every runner who ran a race accomplished. Whether you ran a 5K, or the Marine Corps Marathon, we all did something that we didn't think we could! If you have said to me through this journey, "Congrats!," "Proud of you", " I know you can do this", or anything encouraging, then you helped me cross that finish line on Saturday and I am forever grateful!

Some TLC for Your Marriage...

All week I've been following Proverbs 31 Ministries and they have been posting 7 days of marriage tips! I have loved them and couldn't wait to share them. I hope it blesses your marriage. Day 7: keep in mind that time affects all of us and no one remains the same as we were as we were dating. Life's circumstances can make us lose our sense of humor, change us physically, act less romantic ect...Take time to find these two people who fell in love and reconnect. (Trust! They are in there) Day 6: love bears all things, believes in all things, endures all things ( 1 cor. 13) Choose to believe the best in your spouse, even when they aren't communicating well. Sometimes it is hard to find the right words to express yourself. Some folks find it hard to communicate with words at all. Grace, Grace. Day 5: be intentional. Every day, look for a way to bless your spouse either secretly or openly. A thankful heart, a giving heart, will repulse the weeds of blame and discontent. Day 4: greet your spouse with a kiss. It's a mood enhancer. Science says touch releases endorphins, so you begin to associate seeing your spouse with a pleasant feeling. And you can't say anything you'll regret when your lips are otherwise occupied. Voila! Mood enhanced! Day 3: make it a point to give your spouse the best of you:the bet of your smiles, best of your touch, best f your words... Don't always bring them what's left of you after the world as drained you! Day 2: nobody is perfect. Don't let the world at large find out about your spouse's imperfections via your mouth. "the heart of her husband trusts her..." ( proverbs 31:11) Day 1: be the person you'd like to be married to. If you'd like a little more grace for your faults, give a little more grace for theirs.... If you need more love and understanding, give more love and understanding to your spouse. I'm amazed at how reading these can change your marriage... 7 little tips:)

What Drives You?

Stop and ask yourself.. What Drives Me? Why do I do what I do? Is it for the money, is it for the love of the task at hand, is to impress others? I think that there are things in life that you have to stop and ask yourself,"Why am I doing this?" I always seem to default back to running, but it has become a true passion. One of those things that you look for. Look for what makes you smile in the thing that you are doing. I have become to look forward to the end of the day because I know that with the end comes running. I can then run and forget all the world for about an hour or so... It allows me to stop and forget the crazy around me and just focus on me. Focus on what my body can do and what God has blessed me with. You know that you need it. We all do, be honest. You dont take time for yourself and you need to. Whether it is running, biking, treadmilling, walking... whether it is knitting, reading, working on computer, designing... FIND THE PASSION AND STOP FOR YOURSELF. You have to. I have seen that with me and my life that running is that drive. The feeling of a runner's high is nothing that can be described... Meeting a goal of the fastest mile you have ever run... I am honest... Right now in school I am struggling to find the smile. With all of the paperwork, report cards to fill, notes to take, grades to write down in all kinds of places, children to keep calm, parents to talk to, and emotions to swallow. It is hard. I educate children and make them hoefully successful citizens in life. That is my real job. To have them leave my class with more knowledge than they came with... And days like today to see them in their elements: playing outside, running the school race, being with their friends are things that bring tears to my eyes as they are growing up and they are becoming young men and women. But stop and think; in both of my passions I have a love. You have to have a drive in what you do. If you don't, then find a new passion!

Body Art: Art or A reminder...

First I am posting this just to see what reaction and response I get... This is something that I have been thinking about lately and am beginning to ponder the thought of body art. Now some say tattoos, some say body art, what ever you call it, it is what it is. Yes some may take it offensively, so say it is trashy, some may think it is art. Me personally I have nothing against it. I am not the one to say what you put on your body is my choice, it is that: YOUR CHOICE. Therefore I am not criticizing body art, when in fact, I am intrigued each day more and more with it. So here is the million dollar question to those who are tattooed or not tattooed... Do you see your body art just as that, or do you see it as a reminder of something? I have to be honest, the more I am beginning to run I am seeing myself wanting a tattoo. I want someting as a daily reminder to keep going, keep running, keep perservering. Which is why I have thought seriously about a tattoo on my foot of perserverance. That way each day that I put shoes on I will see it. See it as a reminder to perservere in life, whether it be in running, life struggles, or daily routines. I dont want it in a place that I can't see it, because then you don't have the reminder... We are told in the Bible that we are to push through, perservere in our walk with Him. Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. Ponder the thought: If you saw something everyday as a reminder does it make you strive to move closer to that goal. Running, Weight loss, a closer walk with Christ... So just a thought for the day...

You Want Me to do What?

As a teacher I have been required to read a book called Ten Things Every Child with Autism Wishes You Knew. As I read and catch up on the reading for our meeting I have realized sadly that I may fall under the category of those who sometimes always instill the "cant's" in children. Now don't get me wrong it's not on purpose. I don't have a dream that all children can't do certain things, but I wonder if I just don't have enough confidence in them and their abilities. I have had children with autism in my classroom and have fallen deeply madly in love with them! I love their zealous of life, their inability to see things as cant's, their true unconditional love!

Two children in particular come to mind and they always have a spring in their step. One student was in my classroom and the other spends time during recess with us. I love both of them as they run to me with arms wide open wanting that daily hug..."Hi Mrs. McDonald!" They always say hello with a smile on their faces, and seem to be carefree.

So when we as society place labels on them as oh they won't be able to.... Or I hate that they will never...we need to stop and realize that If we continue to think that about them they will live to those expectations. If you know me you know that I have HIGH expectations for my children in my classroom and I have learned that in 10 years what you expect of them is what they will do! Just minimal expectations will get you minimum work, high expectations will produce high work effort! Turn the can't do's into can do's.

So whether you teach, work for a business, or own a business have high expectations and watch them soar!

Addictions...

Ok first I must apologize for not being a good blogger since the end of December.... Since then though lots has somewhat changed internally...mentally and physically.

Many of you know that in August I began running. I never had run before. I was the type who had danced for 15 years, went back and taught for another 8, but never had I run before. Then my friend Ashley Ruff mentioned that we should try this 5k group was starting at Fleet Feet in Greenville. I was hesitant at first but I thought I would at least give it a shot. We started with the group and I hated running. Yes I said it hated it. I couldn't understand why in the world anyone would ever want to run, get out of breathe, and then go back for more! I stuck with it though because things I start, I finish! When we completed our first race the Spinx 5k I sorta caught the bug. Ashley and I ran three races total all 5ks and then we were told of another opportunity. There was a 10k training group! Sign me up. I will succeed! So now we reach my first addiction. RUNNING! I love it. Just being a beginner I am not supposed to run everyday and it's killing me. I love to break through the wall and get that high of running forever. As of today 7 months later I can run 6.2 miles! Thank you Lord! I find myself wanting to run every race that is around. Next being the Reedy River and Cooper River Bridge.

I am amazed at how running takes you to a place of relaxation, crazy I know, but I just can allow an hour of my time to not focus on my issues, my stresses, and run. Run until I just can't go any more. The accomplishment at the end of a run is something that I can't explain. Which brings me to my next addiction.

Bucket list! I am not sure why but over the last few months I have gotten the urge to make a bucket list of things to accomplish in my life. Leaning to sew, learning to knit, running a half marathon, baking more, going to Vegas, going to Alaska, sky diving,.... The list could go on and on. I'm not sure if it is because I'm getting older.. Realizing that life is short and that I need to take advantage of each day....

I am amazed that God has given me the ability to conquer my first addiction and literally after ech run I thank Him for blessing me with a healthy body to run with and here's to hoping I can accomplish the bucket list which grows daily