The Starting Line

Here's a glimpse of the mass of starters at the line. (Don't look for me...I was so far back it took me over two minutes to actually cross the starting line once the gun sounded!)

The Big Ten

So...I haven't officially posted about it. I think most of you already know. But after my LOST running excursion I figure I'd better keep quiet about the whole thing. But now it's time to say it. It's just taken me this long to get the guts up. You know, if I type it I can't back out. And I have this very real, very gripping fear of failure.

But here goes.

I'm running a 1/2 marathon on June 3rd. (that's only 20 days away...TWENTY DAYS AWAY!) Forget that we go to Costa Rica (COSTA RICA!) for nine weeks after that (NINE WEEKS!), this is about the running.
Lots and lots of running.
13.1 miles. Thirteen point one miles.
I just competed ten miles tonight.
I didn't get lost. I was running with a buddy.
And because I know Hollie will want to hear it....it felt good. Really good. I could finish. For the first time I feel like I will finish this thing. I can do it. My knees ache, my ankles are sore, my toenails are falling off (NOT KIDDING HERE! I know it's completely disgusting. ButI'm losing two.)
I'm living on Tylonol Arthritis, but I'm running. Who ever would've guessed that the girl who has the Running in Hell theory would do something like this. Wow. Thirty has done wierd things to me!

Handbag Tag

OK...first, I can't believe I even typed "handbag". Kelly, you know I really, REALLY love you. I don't consider myself a purse person. I have never bought a purse (Jr. High not withstanding). The purse I currently carry is on "lease" from my sister (thanks Lib) who tries to bring me into the adult world of women (she would banish my chunky shoes forever if she could!)
I digress.
Here is my purse:

I like that it's small. I'm not a big bag kind of a girl. If I had my way I'd still carry a backpack. But that's only becuase it fits on your back and can carry books. I like books.

Here is the inside:

















and here are it's contents strewn upon my floor. (I feel
so....naked!)

description:
(what a sorry, sorry life I lead!) OH! But that there were notes on my ideas to end world hunger, or a cure for the common cold scratched onto a Panera napkin....*sigh*
~Diaper and wipe (because let's face it, Henry's the second and you realize how much less the second one really needs a diaper bag.)
~make up and purfume and chapstick (that's pretty much all the make up I own...I never wear the lipstick or the purfume.)
~wallet (as small as possible)
~key to Jayson's car
~key to Harry Winson (dog) bark collar (it's only in there because it's magnetic and stuck to the key.
~chicken scratch directions to Evy's play friend's house.
~a perscription to be filled, and a gas reciept
~my licence (expired with a temporary stapled behind it--Oops!)
~a pen
~miscellanious cards, and expired coupons and a movie ticket stub
~my cell phone
~2 copies of my Gram's med list for when I have to take her to the hospital. (Yes it's that often, and yes, I do need two copies)
~wet wipes, baby sun screen, clorox wipes (germ-a-phobe anyone?) The clorox wipes are great for public toilet seats and little girls by the way. :o)
~more miscelanious expired cards
~immunization records and over seas travel med lists for the kids. (well, at least that's semi-exciting!)

and because I laughed at Kelly's picture, here's the inside of my 'empty' purse:

















That was very....enlightening.
I tag (if I absolutly must) Jacki and Rachel (see their blogs on my links)

3-OH happy day!!

How do I even begin to express my gratitude, my surprise, my wonder, my elation? Jayson threw for me the most amazingly wonderful surprise birthday party two weeks ago. (I say that like every friend in the world didn't already know!)
The lengths to which my husband went to make my birthday unforgettable could go down in romance history.
We started our weekend on my birthday by taking the kids to a local play area to spend some good family time. I was aware we were going "somewhere" overnight. in fact, we'd go from that destination to another undisclosed location for another special night. When I was led out to the truck (here after the Birthday Mobile) I found the windows to be completely blacked out with craft paper and a dark sheet hung between the back and front seats. I was put in the back (child safety locks on!) and given a choice between two gifts "red" or "blue" (they were both movies I could watch for our journey (since I couldn't see out the windows.)
Our first stop was P.F. Changs for a really yummy dinner. Then Jayson took me to a favorite store (Ann Taylor Loft) where I got a dress, shrug, and shoes for the following night's activity. (I was thinking musical at this point)
After a 3 hour drive we made it to our destination. I was blindfolded and led upstairs. We were at a beautiful B&B over looking some great lake (I later found it to be Lake Huron.)
The bed was amazing! what a gift to be able to sleep without little voices asking if they could sleep in our bed tonight. Or little cries needing a cup of water. No one woke me up in the morning, and I stayed in bed as long as I wanted. I even got to nap a bit in the great big beautiful bed. Those who know my love of sleep will agree that this would've been a great enough gift in itself. But it was only the beginning.
Jayson had packed the Wii and we played video games all day (I wasn't aloud to leave the room). We did go to lunch and I had a great BLT and some yummy waffle fries (my favorite kind).
Finally it was time to head to our next destination. I was thinking Chicago....NY seemed too far away. To see Wicked maybe?

I had to change into my dress in the back of the Birthday Mobile (a feat if I do say so!), but Jayson was merciful and let me stop at a gas station for final touch ups.
He blindfolded me and had me wear an Ipod into our location. I was pretty embarrassed at the thought of wearing those things into a fancy restaurant or a theatre. Then I opened my eyes.

There I was surrounded by dozens of friends and family members shouting "surprise" and singing me Happy Birthday. My eyes fell on a friend from a nearby suburb I hadn't seen in a year or so. I was so surprised to see my friend Bethany. Then I saw Carolyn through the crowd. Carolyn all the way from NC! FOR ME!!!! Then Shae, I haven't seen him in 5 years or so. WOW! Shae came all the way from MN for my party? Then I saw my dear friend since second grade, Leanne, and her new baby Anders in from WI. She'd come all this way for me with her new little babe?! Then I realized I had no idea where "here" was. It turned out to be a building our church owns right near our home. My friend Hollie decorated it so beautifully I hardly recognized it. Low lights, calla lilies everywhere. There was even a Deejay (Hollie's husband)complete with disco ball and all my favorite songs (Jayson had asked me weeks before to compile my theme songs for him. I thought he wanted to have them for himself; little did I know!)
There was an amazing spread of food all made by my chef Brother-in-Law Zac: Beef Wellington, Tomato basil tartletts, fresh mini cheesecakes... AND my sister flew back from MN for the party! OH LUCKY ME! OH HAPPY DAY!
I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't take everything in. There were people at my party from nearly every life stage I'd been through. All my worlds colliding here, because my wonderful husband and friends worked so hard to show how much I mean to them. I was dumbstruck. I could not believe it. (Even typing it I still can't believe it!)

Now, here you need to know I love gifts. Not big extravagant things, but things that really show thought. Personal things. Things from the heart. A homemade card over a store bought one for me every time. A scavenger hunt over a fancy dinner. Jayson had gone to great lengths to show his love for me with a combination of extravagance (because he loves me extravagantly) and immensely detailed and personal. It was unbelievable.
The perfect gift.
Then my friend Carolyn, who is a wonderful singer/songwriter/musician in her soul gave her gift to me. Her gift to me was a song she'd written about our friendship. I bawled like a baby.
The gift of a song.
My friends Amy and Matt made a "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" game up with video and sound effect and all. it had everyone laughing, and learning some pretty obscure facts about my life!
The gift of laughter.
My super-multimedia savvy friend Tony worked many hours with Jayson compiling a beautiful video of pictures and videos from my whole life. He used his gifts in my honor. It was beautiful and so humbling.
The gift of remembrance.
Then Jayson opened the mic and one by one friends and family came up and told me such beautiful things I could hardly believe were about me. Seriously. I can't believe that my friends see me like that. I so hope I can be that friend. That I really am that woman.
The gift of truth.
Hollie made sure the placed looked beautiful. I love aesthetics and everything was perfect. Jacki shuttled around out of town guests and made sure they were comfortable. Gayle's house was a make-shift bed and breakfast.
The gift of hospitality.
Zac's loving preparation of all the food. He stayed in MI instead of going back to MN to prepare all the food for my party. He chopped and shopped and baked and cooked so everyone could eat, drink and be merry!
The gift of food.
Friends traveled from states away, got sitters for their kids, left their families for a weekend, or their spouses they hadn't seen in a week. For me. To celebrate.
The gift of sacrifice.
Jayson worked for months, in complete secret, to make sure I knew who he saw me as. What my life has meant thus far, and who I am to my God.
The gift of love.

There were cards, and little gifts, and wonderful words and gift certificates too.
Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you doesn't even begin to express what I feel.

"A faithful friend is a strong defence and he that hath found such a one hath found a great treasure." Ecclesiastes 6:14

Praise God! I am rich beyond measure in all of you.

** if you have photos or video from the night, would you please be kind enough to burn it to a disk and send it to me? thanks!**

LOST

Those of you who know me may have thought initially that this was going to be a post about the ABC television series. Although I do have my thoughts and assertions this is not, in fact, about why Locke has all of the sudden become so dumb or how funny I think Hurley is (especially his line about the "Red. Neck. Guy.").
No. This laugh will be at my expense.
First I must start with a confession.
I have been running.
(I know, I know. My whole theory about running in hell and all--but that's for another post.)

I set out Monday for my first solo run. You see, I've been running up to this point with a dear friend. She has told me I'm ready to run solo if I want, but I just couldn't. That might officially make me A Runner. And I'm not ready to call myself A Runner. I just run occasionally. (Still mocking those who run in inclement weather--I mean seriously go home and read a book by the fire, it's a BLIZZARD for pete's sake!)

Ok...back to the story...

The sun was setting with a dazzling display of pinks and lavenders. The snow was white and fresh and crisp and the whole landscape radiated that dazzle winter can sometimes hold. I quickly dressed (before I could change my mind), grabbed my ipod, laced up my running shoes, and told Jayson I'd be back in a half hour. I put my cell phone in my pocket and then took it back out. I had on bulky mittens and I didn't want to drop it. It already doesn't ring and my contract doesn't come up until November. I know, it wasn't the brightest idea, but I was only going 2 miles and wasn't going to be gone long at all. (Do you sense the foreshadowing here?!?!)
I set out with music and winter and sunset filling my senses. The realization of how much I loved that moment was hitting me as I picked up the pace and crossed the highway. I was filled with a mixture of pride and a sense that I would be eating my fill of crow if I actually admitted how amazing this experience was. I thought about how satisfying it was to my multi-tasking sensibilities. I was exercising, getting some quality alone time, AND having a great worshipful God Time as well. I set my mini goal in my head and flew an extra block past it. The pink sky gave way to inky blue ans sunset turned to dusk and the last wisps of pink settled beneath the horizon. It was getting dark, but I was on the home stretch.
I decided to cut across a few apartment lots on my way home. The easiest route would have me about a 1/4 mile on the highway and it was dark. It would also be windy and cold. Directly across from the street entering our neighborhood is a small community of condos. I figured I could cut across and find that street and come out right in front of our neighborhood. I ran on considering how I could do this every day. I thought it was taking me a while, but decided it was probably because I was getting tired. I looked to my right and I could still see the lights of the Highway, I just couldn't get there. Right turn, right turn. The road twisted left, Right turn. "I should be there by now..." I crossed more parking lots and thought to myself how many condos and apartments were tucked back here. I had no idea. I saw some railroad tracks and knew I was a bit off course. I cut through a couple of back yards. I was sure I could see the lights atop the apartments at the beginning of our street.
Finally I gave up trying to use the roads. I cut directly for the lights of the Highway crossing a few more backyards to get there. I finally came to a corner. When I looked at the signs I was in disbelief. I couldn't be where the signs said. It was more than 2 miles out of the way. Not to mention over a MAJOR roadway I had no recollection of crossing. I ran a few blocks further and found I certainly was that far from home.
I ended up stopping in at the library and asking to use their phone. I'd been gone a little over an hour and was about 2.5 miles from my house.
If I believed in aliens, I would say I'd been abducted by them. I still can't figure out what I actually did to get so lost and have no clue. I have no idea how I could've crossed the major road I did and not know that, either. Jayson picked me up at the library and I couldn't even show him how I'd gotten there. I still don't know.
You live in a place 3 years you'd think you would know it. I guess I don't.
And despite my 5 mile solo running adventure I'm certain I'm not ready for running by myself yet.