The Early Bird

For YEARS I have wished to be a morning person. I set my alarm early thinking of all the wonderful things I could accomplish in the wee morning hours heading to work feeling productive and ready to face the day. I come up with grand ways to rewarding myself. I attempt going to bed early to assist in the whole getting a good night sleep so I'm well rested and ready to wake up. I nap on weekends thinking that I'm just short on sleep during the week and so I'll catch up and then be ready to start the next week. I look at all these morning people and tell myself it's just a matter of practice and I will be one of them, leaping out of bed excited about the day as soon as the alarm goes off...

But all is to no avail. As I sit here at 10:52 writing this blog I believe I'm going to come to grips with the fact that I'm not a morning person. I like the idea of being a morning person because it's so quiet and serene in the morning. The day is full of promise. And something about the sun coming up makes me happy. But, the actual act of waking up and getting out of my bed just really isn't doing it for me. I have determined that while I love the idea of being the early bird that gets the worm, I am not.

And so instead of beating myself up about it I'm going to start just realigning my day and all the things I want to do in the morning, but never do because I hit the snooze button 80 times and wake up with just enough time to get ready and get out of the house. I will plan to read my bible at night, sit by the fire at night, have a cup of tea at night, pray at night, eat dessert or a bowl of cereal instead of enjoying a nice breakfast (which never ever happens because I'm rarely hungry in the morning), sit with the dog on the couch instead of going for a walk (which isn't going to happen as long as it's cold anyway!). I will try to convince myself that it's also serene and peaceful at night - which many times is true. And I'll work on redirecting my idea of the day being ahead of me, to a good night sleep and the next day being ahead of me. We shall see how this works. It's possible that it won't work at all, but then again, clearly the pretending I'm a morning person isn't working so it's worth trying something new...

13.1

Today Brandy and I ran the Charleston Half Marathon! It was actually a very fun run, much better than our last half marathon, which we did at Kiawah a few years ago. We had run our marathon a year before and so we decided that 13 miles wasn't all that far and we didn't REALLY have to stick to our running schedule...not so much a good idea. We were in PAIN! So, our goal this time around was to a) follow our training schedule, and b) try to run it in 10 minute miles and finish in under 2 hours and 15 minutes.

So, yesterday I went to pick up our race packets and my dad bought Brandy and I cutie shirts that would make it easier to find us in the crowd and were made of that sweat wick material so our sweat wouldn't make us cold. I mean, seriously, how cute are we?

We also had some sweet $5 sweatshirts that went over them for the start because it was FREEZING outside this morning. We dropped those around the 4 mile mark and made our way along with the rest of the runners from downtown to North Charleston. Round about 8 miles my legs decided that they hated me and that I should stop running...obviously I did not, thankfully Brandy was there to pull me through. This was just before 10 miles where my dad, Nikole and Melody were standing to yell for us.

My legs were very happy about this and gave me a little more running without screaming in exchange for a cup of gatorade at the next water stop. But soon enough they were back to being pissy about the whole continuing to run thing after they told me they really wanted to stop. We persevered, however, and soon enough we were running the final mile through the old navy base and onto the finish line (the back side of the 5K and 10K start sign was finish).

And we ended up running in 2 hours and 11 minutes - a mighty fine time if I do say so myself. I wish I could have kept the little legs going just a little faster the last few miles to get us down to just over 2 hours, but I will totally take it. It's 25 minutes faster than our Kiawah time and we did finish in front of the 2 hour 15 minute pacing team, which I was kicking my butt to do (there is something painful about being passed towards the end).

We stayed around and watched the top mens and womens full marathoners finish - the top man finished in 3 hours and 38 minutes...in case you are trying to figure it out it is just over 5 minute miles...for 26 miles. And the top woman finished in just under 3 hours, putting her at an average of 7 minute miles. I find it amazing that humans can do that. The extra standing around actually really helped in the legs not tightening up to the point we couldn't walk afterward. It seems counter-intuitive, but as it turns out sitting down after is actually NOT the best option :)

We got lot of compliments on our shirts, which had the Jeremiah quote from my 2011 post on them - I think it's a sign! :) The race numbers also had our names on them which was cool because then people along the route yell for you. And we had someone yell 'go sisters'...and some people say Brandy and I don't look alike!

After some shrimp and grits, bagel and water at the finish, then Bojangles chicken and mashed potatoes after we got home and then a nice shower I am feeling good to be done, and glad we did it.

Oh, and just for fun we are also laying a tile floor in my kitchen and dining room this weekend...thankfully my friend Susan let us borrow her husband to assist my dad for the past few hours today because Brandy and I have been nearly useless...we have served as great cheerleaders from the couch :)

C is for Chocolate

Anyone who knows much about me knows I am pretty much obsessed with chocolate. And thus, my friend Nicole sent me this picture which indicates to me that there is an amazing item in the world that I need to own...and then eat...the 5 pound Hershey's chocolate bar...

I also wouldn't mind owning a chocolate diamond, which I didn't know existed until 2 months ago!
How have I not known about so many chocolate items?

Snow Day in Charleston

Who would expect having to call all my speakers and facilitators and e-mail all my participants to cancel a meeting in coastal South Carolina because of...SNOW and ICE! I mean, that's crazy. And then I woke up this morning with all state government offices closed, which means SNOW DAY!!! I mean there is not actually snow, but there is ice. So, I am sitting by the fire, skyping with Brandy and Maia, and Kaylinn is ripping stuffing out of a stuffed snowman, chewing bones like a wild woman, and taking random naps throughout the house. It's pretty hysterical.

2011

Well, it's a new year. I can't tell you how many times last year I kept saying 'I can't wait until 2010 is over', and yet, now that it is, I almost wish it wasn't. 2010 was the year my mom died. That in itself could qualify it as the worst year of my life. It was also the year that I ended my marriage. It was the year that my sister learned just how hard it was going to be, if not impossible to get pregnant. It was the year that my dad found out he had to go through the rest of his life without the love of his life. And it was the year that my baby sister lost her mom the week before she turned 18. If it wasn't bad enough that it was the worst year of my life, it was the worst year of my family's life.

And yet, now I'm looking at 2011 and realizing this will be the first year that I don't see my mom's face and hear her voice on the phone, or call her up to get a recipe, or sit down for a cup of tea in the morning when we both wake up. This will be the first year where there is an entire 365 days without her, and that really doesn't make me all that excited about this year. I will have my first birthday without her being the first to wish me happy birthday. I will have my first wedding anniversary both without a marriage to celebrate and without a mom to say that it's going to be ok. And on August 19, 2011 I will look at the calendar and know that it's been an entire year since I said goodbye. Those aren't great firsts to look forward to.

And yet, I'm sure there will be moments of joy, and moments of laughter, and memories I will never forget, just like there was this year. There will be new experiences and new friends, just like there was this year. And, I think slowly my heart will keep healing, just like this year. But I can't help but be a little afraid of any heartbreak that may happen this year...just like last year.

I've never really been much for New Years Resolutions, although being someone who loves to plan I also have a weird affinity for them. In essence my resolution this year is to be more thankful. I don't think I'm un-thankful, but I do think I take things for granted sometimes. Last year at this time we were gearing up for my mom's bone marrow transplant and much like my friend Rachel said she did with her dad, I think I didn't really consider the possibility of my mom not making it. I took for granted the idea of always having here there. It's not that I didn't enjoy the time I had, or make room in my schedule to have time with her, it's just I always deep down kinda assumed we would still have more. So I'm going to make it a goal to take less for granted this year.

I'm also going to make it a goal to help those who do not have things that I do have as a way to remind myself to be thankful for what I have. The verse that keeps coming up no matter where I look the past few days is 'And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, show mercy, and walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)'. So that is my New Years Resolution - I will act justly, show mercy and walk humbly with my God. Happy New Year everyone.