*I published this in 2019, but this trip was for Tristen's senior trip in the summer of 2017
We just got back from a week of sand, surf, and shrimp at Galvestion. It was an amazing trip, where we did a whole lot of NOTHING.
Our house was ocean front. A cute little shabby chic house on stilts, that swayed in the ocean wind. It felt like one of our little Kansas earthquakes about every 30 seconds. I drank coffee on the deck every single morning, and Danny laid in the hammock every afternoon.
I was a little worried about the weather. Tropical Storm Cindy was suppose to hit while we were there. People started sending texts and checking on us, so I looked at the weather and chuckled. The part that was suppose to hit us was just a mix of green and yellow on the radar...a nice soft rain back in Kansas. There was one night where the rain woke up Tristen, as his windows had the metal shields down on them, and it was loud, and he said the wind was blowing the house pretty good. But we never heard it.
Tristen learned how to skim board on this trip. We had plans to go parasailing, and then had plans to go do surfing lessons, but he instead worked on mastering his board. We laughed a lot, and he got pretty bruised up from his attempts, but was pretty good at it by the time we left.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
We Went To The Beach
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Well, HELLO!!
Holy cow!! Has it really been over a year since I've blogged anything?? WOW!! Thought I'd bounce in here and give you all a very over due update on our family!!
Jacob:
Jacob graduated last spring, and has officially finished his first year of college towards a criminal justice degree! His mother did well through this process. She hardly cried when she dropped him off at college, but cried every time he pulled out of the driveway when he was home for visits. He is currently back home, has moved in with a buddy of his, and is working for a rancher this summer.
He was one of thirty accepted out of 200 applicants to the Kansas Collegiate Law Enforcement Academy, but a few days before he got sick and was unable to go.
He is a volunteer firemen for our community, and stressed his mom COMPLETELY out in March. He decided to come home from school one weekend because there was a high fire risk, and he ending up helping fight the Starbuck Fire. I laid on my couch and listened the scanner off and on all night long that first night.
*He reminds me of my Dad, which breaks my heart at times, and fills it with joy, all at the same time.
Tristen: Officially a SENIOR and his mother CAN NOT believe it!!! He is working as a life guard this summer, as well as working in the same wood shop his Dad works in. He keeps busy, and has quite the social life and love for his cell phone. He is still active in 4-H, though his projects have scaled back tremendously as he has grown. He got to go with his team to state golf, which was quite the experience. He played very well that day! He's enjoying the life as the only kid left in the house. Still can't decide WHAT in the WORLD he wants to do when he graduates, and some days I think he stresses over this way too much. He doesn't listen to his parents when we tell him that it's ok to not know yet. Tristen is the more patient of my two boys, and enjoys being around little kids more than his brother. We had an incident in November, that I think needs forever memorialized in this blog. I received a call from the school, that Tristen had done a BACK.FLIP.OFF.THE.STAGE and had LANDED.ON.HIS.FACE. After a trip to the ER...because I was SURE his NECK was BROKE...he was cleared of injury. Except the shiner that would soon develop!! Almost 8 months later he STILL has a bump under his eyebrow!
*He turns my hair grey, makes me laugh a 100 times a day, and his wit and humor amaze me.
Danny: Fills his days daydreaming of the empty nest that seems so close now! ;) We have plans to go to the beach very soon, and he's got some really big plans of doing absolutely nothing except a little fishing! He keeps busy with the endless honey-do's, fair board president, fence building, pig raising, cattle raising, baseball watching, (GO ROYALS!) and boy raising, in addition to his full time job at the wood shop here in town.
Becky: And me... This past year was full of a lot of personal changes. I can't tell you what happened, but for a long time I felt stuck. Like my brain was dying. Or a better way to describe it I guess is I just felt lost. My kids are almost grown..I have no idea how to be this person in the stage of life.
So one day I decided it was time to step it up, and I decided to take on getting my CDA in family child care. This required me have 480 hours of professional work experience, have 120 hours of formal early childhood education training, pass a written test, prepare a CDA portfolio, and pass a verification visit with an observer. It took me right at a year to complete everything. I was officially awarded my CDA on August 2nd!
I also finished my 2nd half marathon in May. I took 15 minutes off my last half, walked outside of the runner's world set up at the run, and barfed all over my new Saucony's. But it was totally worth it! HA! (And then I was the girl who had to walk THROUGH the HYATT, to get to our room... with BARF on my shoes.) I'm signed up to do another in October, and I'm hoping to take a little more time off. I'm still slower than snails, but I finish! I also hit a PR for my 5K time in December. The things I do for fun these day were not even on my radar 4 years ago. I try to remember that when I start to feel bad about slow weight loss journey!
I've enjoyed the Iris show in my yard this year. This beauty above came from a sweet older man at the farmers market in Dodge. He tossed it in with the rest of my purchase, and told me it was GUARANTEED to make me smile. He was right!
The garden is in, and everything has enjoyed the spring rains we've been receiving! Along with my normal vegetables I plant, this year I added several rows of different kinds of flower seeds in hopes of attracting even more pollinators.
Thanks for checking in on me, and if your still reading this tired old blog, BLESS YOU! Maybe I'll start blogging a little more. Or maybe I won't. ;) But I promise it won't be a year before I update again. I have blog shame!
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Me in 2016
I love New Years. It always feels so fresh and clean.
I've started thinking about a few things I want to work on in 2016.
1. Finally continue on my weight loss journey, after a "slight" pause since my Dad died. I've learned so much about myself during this time. I've got a few kick butt and fun things lined up to get me going, including a diet bet with 50+ other people, and a 12 week weight loss challenge group.
2. Be better at saving money. Blah. I suck so much at this, and don't want to anymore. I'd also really love to have our savings account happy and ready for next Christmas, so that stress isn't there next December.
3. This year I'm going to learn Calligraphy. Weird and random, I know. But I've always wanted to learn.
4. Write here more. Its not that I don't have the time. I just don't MAKE the time. And I love writing. And need to write.
On my business end of my life, I'm doing some pretty amazing things, which includes a little bit of learning, and a few changes. One of those being changing the way I do my billing, (from hourly to a flat weekly rate) and will hopefully be more consistent income for my family. This one is actually really huge for me. I hate change. And hate upsetting or inconveniencing people. What I finally realized one day was in exchange for people not being inconvenienced, I was the one being constantly getting the bad end of the stick. (I made $2.75 an hr one morning this week.)
Its all part of the "Becky grows a spine" journey. I may have the start of a nub!! ;)
Happy New Years!!
Monday, December 28, 2015
HOORAY!! An Update!!
I last updated in October, after my first half. I've had 3 days off, and as I'm writing this, there is a blizzard warning here in Kansas, so I've got plenty of time to update you on us.
October:
2 weeks after my first half, I did Run for Missons. I also sweet talked Tristen into running it with me. He kicked some butt and ended up running the entire thing and finishing in 23:58.(7:43 per mile) I was super proud and have started harassing him about cross country next year. I didn't do nearly as well as him..;)...but was only a minute something short of my "someday I want to run a 5K in this time" time. Slow and steady. It was a wonderful cool and wet day to run. And sadly, it was literally the last time I have done anything active. I'll be needing to change that soon!
November:
We spent Thanksgiving with Danny's family. We ended up renting the Vet's Building here in town, because the family has grown so much. BUT--weather came rolling in and some were not able to make it. I had already invited my momma, and then we called my brother and his family when I found out they were home. There was a LOT of food!!
FINALLY felt more like myself this Christmas. My Dad has been gone for 2 years now, and this was our 3rd Christmas without him. Still feels a little wobbly and awkward. Last year we were dealing with the loss of Danny's Dad, so this year we quietly tip-toed and where just thankful to "be".
This was a really busy month. Tristen got a job at our local grocery store, where Jacob works also. He seems to really be enjoying the extra cash!!
Jacob may have muttered something about never having kids as he walked away.
If you've made it this far, thank you for checking in on us!!! As I'm finishing this up, the wind is howling and the storm is just getting to us. There may be a post soon about "the blizzard of 2015!"
*Update on the "Blizzard." Nothing. Not even a snowflake. Not a one!*
Sunday, October 25, 2015
Prairie Fire--The Race
*Hi there. Yes! Another blog break! But I have a good excuse! I've been having issues getting logged into my flickr account. So frustrating. I have several things I'd like to blog about. I always give the excuse "I'm living life instead of writing about it", but there are a few things I'd like to get into my blog, so I don't forget! This is one of them!! I hope that as the fall settles in, I can find a little more time for writing!! Thanks for sticking with me! =) *
Sunday, October 11th, 2015.
I FINISHED Prairie Fire 1/2 Marathon.
13.1 Miles
I used a training plan that was16 weeks. I ended up having the last week disrupted due to a murder suspect on the run in our county. True story!! So I was a little nervous as I'd only been able to hit 9 miles.
I'd also like to add that I didn't lose ONE.STINKING.POUND through training. (But I maintained at least!) But did lose 3 the week after the race. I was SO hungry during the last 6 weeks. I wanted to eat all the time. I could never ever train for a full...I'd probably gain 50 lbs.
I had wanted to "quietly" dedicate my very first half to my Dad, and wanted a piece him of him with me. So ended up putting his 7 year AA sobriety chip on my shoe lace, and tucking it inside. I love it so much..I think it will just stay there forever.
You know those zombie movies? Where everyone is still walking with arms straight out?? Yep. That's totally how it was those last 3. I tried to run. My body felt like it was underwater. I walked. Like a zombie. For 3 miles.
The most amazing experience through this entire thing..is doing something your mind is telling you is totally insane and you must stop. And plowing through and finishing anyway.
I ended up hitting a pretty hard wall around mile 10. Was CERTAIN mile 11 wasn't ever going to com.
I also can't tell you what exactly happened at mile 12.5. But I totally emotionally fell apart. You would think after 12.5 miles the excitement would carry you in, but it doesn't. You start to think you are never going to get there or WON'T be able to make it there. I could HEAR the finish line, and the cheers. But I was convinced I wasn't going to make it.
I can tell you what song came through my headphones at this time. The One I'm Running to by 7eventh Time Down. Not a coincidence I'm sure, and I found myself trying to talk myself down from panic, and hanging on to every single word.
And until I hit the bridge that would take me it...I still didn't believe it. As strange as it sounds, I never thought about quitting, but had started to doubt if I would finish. Doesn't make sense, huh?
I don't have a glorious running in, hands in the air victory finish like some.
But I finished...13.1!
First thing I wanted, was a shower. You know that first shower you take, after you've given birth? Yep--same feeling.
This experience is most definitely in the top 5 proudest moments of my life. There is nothing I can type here that can tell you how I felt.
Some of my favorite moments from the race?
At mile 2, there was a lady with a mega phone yelling "You are ALMOST there" Ugh. It made me smile and shake my head.
There was app you could download, and people at home could track you, if THEY had the app. It had a "cheer" option. People at home could pick out the cheesiest of cheers and they could come through my headphones. This was fantastic.I loved it so much. I didn't know at the time who they were from, (It saved them, so I could look when I was finished." just that someone I love, was thinking about me.
We ran the course with the full marathon people. There was just 2 different loops where they cut off from us for an extra 6 miles each, and then they would merge back in with us. Oh gosh...it was like corvettes merging in with a bunch of Yugos. Those people were like machines. I was in awe of them, and how they were still managing conversations, and would support other runners as they whizzed by us.
The signs were HILARIOUS.
They had bands at many mile points. It was very cool.
I crossed the line, found Lori, and sat down. My stomach was yucky, but I got part of a Gatorade and a bottle of water down. I saw and watched the Marathoners coming in, and they were handed 32oz Michelob Ultras as they crossed. No. Just no.
It was just an incredible experience. All of it. From training to the race, I learned so much about so many things. I'm not sure 1/2's will ever be "my" thing to do regularly, but am not against doing another one...someday. Which supports my theory races are a lot like birth, and a little bit of amnesia sets in so you will do it again. HA!
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Ha Ha Tonka State Park and Bridal Cave
Wednesday we ventured into town, for groceries and a bit of sight seeing. I've had Ha Ha Tonka park down on the must-do list since we booked this trip. Mostly..because it looked beautiful. And it was FREE. HA!
It didn't disappoint! We were able to make it to the castle ruins, the springs, the natural bridge, and did 1.75 mile trail before rain caused us to leave. We went back the following day and saw the river cave. We saw many different kinds of wildflowers, and mushrooms, wildlife here and there, animal tracks..so much fun!
Oh gosh. It was so pretty. The Indians used to crawl though and marry in front of the columns. They used to knock on them in celebration, and due to this there are chunks taken out of some of them. People still get married in there today. Our guide told us they have had brides with trains that go back around in the cave, to brides in bikinis that come in off the lake.
One of the things I loved most about this cave was Mystery Lake. They took out a small section out so you can look down on it. Its called this because..its a mystery to why or how there is wood and a ladder at the bottom. The lake is 20 foot deep. They took a team down to carbon date it, and it started disintegrating when they touched it. So they just left everything.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Lake of the Ozarks
A few years ago, Danny and I decided to let our boys pick where they would like to go for vacation...within reason...the summer going into their senior year. Jacob picked going to Lake of the Ozarks, where he wanted "a house on the water, in the middle of nowhere, and he wanted to fish for a whole week."
I found myself in a bit of a panic after we started in on the roads, and my phone switched to "SEARCHING" for service. It had NOTHING. I found later that if you went out to the middle to end of the dock, you had a few bars and at least could send a text out. We also had no internet. Dan and I discussed the feelings that came with being totally cut off, and came to the conclusion that it must be left over "sick-dad syndrome." We've taught ourselves to not be far from our phones or out of reach for so long, in case something happened. After the first day, I realized it was just fine to be out of reach, and actually enjoyed it by the time we left. And--who REALLY needs internet when you are at the lake???
Our house really was in the middle of no where. It took 30 mins of winding roads and hills to get us to and from town. I'll add that about halfway there, my motion sickness kicked in. I never felt sick when we were going TO town, but always did going BACK to the house.
This was the view when you came out our front door.
We had an amazing time. We ended up catching about 100 fish in our time there. We also enjoyed lots of other wildlife. As we went down to one of the roads going to our house for the first time, a red fox ran into the trees. We saw lots of deer, Pelicans, Egrets, chipmunks, lots and lots of different birds I've never seen or heard before, a flock of geese with goslings that just casually swam right by us one day, a big alligator turtle with 2 little babies that would sun on a log, and swim by like we were casual neighbors, and a cotton mouth snake who must have lived close, as we saw him several times. We also saw a pair of cardinals in the exact same spot every time we went to town. We even started looking for them, and always found them.
The morning after we arrived, Jacob got up early to fish, and was chased down our bridge by a hummingbird. I guess he thought Jake's red hat was a tasty snack. The next time we went to town I picked up a cheap feeder, and was delighted to see them visit and keep pretty close. The day we left, I went to get the feeder and stood still by it, while a hummer sipped for the last time about a foot from me. He thought I was rather annoying but they certainly were not afraid of us.
To save on our budget, we only ate out twice. It was only suppose to be once, but we ate at a place no one was really impressed with the first time, so we decided it didn't count. ;) I had menus planned for the entire week, and we cooked our meals at the house. I found it fun before the trip to plan out and came up with a few new things to try. One being:
Smore's DIP!
Friday, May 8, 2015
Praire Fire Spring Half
Last Sunday I checked off a bucket list item. To finish a Prairie Fire race.
Back in December, during a random evening I was feeling very ambitious, I signed up for the back to back challenge. This means I would do a race in the spring, and then one in the fall, and come home with special swag if I completed both. And I love me some swag. So, I chose a 5K for the spring, and a half marathon for the fall.
The weekend and race were amazing. Lori and I took off on Saturday. We shopped, ate new food, and giggled randomly in the darkness when we should have been sleeping.
The race was just a wonderful experience. This was the biggest race I've ever done. With the 5 and the half, they announced there was 2,400+ runners.
I ended up taking over 4 mins off my last 5K time.
Which I will take!
This winter, after an attempt to run on a really cold day, I noticed I was wheezing. Not long after I was diagnosed with exercise induced asthma. (Yes, my post before this was about my cholesterol. I'm a mess.) This has taken me a little bit of getting used to. All this time I was convinced the reason I couldn't breathe was because I was fat and out of shape..which is still true! But I ended up being a little shocked at just how much AIR I WASN'T getting. It makes a world of difference when you can breathe!
These are the only race pictures that will see the light of day. My other ones...well, ..have you ever seen the beginning of Turner and Hooch? I look like the dog running in slow motion. Don't remember?? Here..
Friday, April 3, 2015
I Lost
A couple of weeks ago, Danny and I had went to our local health fair to have a lab work up. We placed a $5 bet on who had the better cholesterol levels. I knew I had that bad boy already in the bag.
I lost.
By a lot.
***I STINKING LOST!!***
ME!! The vegetable loving, greek yogurt eating, walking miles, race loving, ME ...LOST to my 3 at a time Jeno pizza, hostess donuts by the bag eating, bacon loving, husband
=(
I opened up that envelope and ugly cried at my table. Danny quickly assured me he was SURE it was not so much as my diet, as it was my genes, and to make an appointment with our Dr. He was right.
This scares me so much. My grandmother and my father lost their lives from cardiac issues, as did one of my grandmother's brothers, at a really young age.
This wasn't going to happen to me. Come on! I don't smoke, eat pretty healthy already, I've lost weight, read labels, I give Danny so much crap for what he eats. I exercise pretty faithfully spring-fall..(Stupid winter)
I feel a lot better now that I have a plan with my Dr.
I was so stinking blindsided by this, and I really should have actually been expecting it.
I've also begged both of my siblings to go get theirs checked.
Danny's cholesterol numbers and some of his other tests weren't that whoopy either, so our kitchen has had a major food purge.
Let the adventures begin!!
Please pass the oatmeal...and the fish oil.
Bottoms up!!
BTW--have YOU had YOUR cholesterol checked lately?
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Spring is HERE!!
I swear I'm here!!! Super busy, yet...there seemed nothing of importance to write about!!!
But Spring is here, and that is something to celebrate! It felt like the longest winter of my life...but we were also grieving for the second winter in a row...that makes for some really long and dark days. I'm also convinced I suffer from seasonal depression. Just when I think I can not stand it anymore, here comes spring!!
Let's see.. Golf has started for both my boys. That means our routine is shot, and we are trying to figure out the new one!! 9 more weeks until summer, and this mom can HARDLY wait!! Tristen has his first job, working at the same place as his Dad. Jacob was recently made part time supervisor at the grocery store he works at. I've got all the cool weather crops in my buckets, and will get my tomatoes and peppers in just as soon as they hit the shelves. Danny has his potatoes in the ground. The guys will be going to a pig auction this weekend, to pick up pigs for fair projects.
With spring comes babies, and we have several nestboxes of baby bunnies. Danny recently built is own barn, for his own project, and is already wanting to add on and expand.
We recently went to one of our favorite shows...The Windy Plains Spring Fling. This year it was held in Garden City. The last show I went to was in October, and that was just Tristen and I. The last show we went to as a family was almost a year ago. I was happy to load all of us up, and head out, with no thought at all at winning anything. I just wanted to see the people and be stuck in the car with my family for a few hours!!
Jacob no longer has rabbits, so he asked to take comments for a judge all day. He seemed to really enjoy his time. I received a 1st place Black SR buck Havana in one show, always getting beat my friend Sarah. Her rabbits are killer. (She later won BIS in BOTH shows in the Open, and also added a reserve or 2nd in the other)
Tristen won breed and best opposite Dutch in both youth shows. He was a bit shocked to see several exhibitors of Dutch and several varieties show up. (There aren't very many Dutch breeders in Kansas, these people had come in from Colorado) He won with a set of blues in one show, and a tort buck and a black doe in the other. He was trying to convince us to leave, before the Best in Show judging. He was tired, and "Dutch usually don't win BIS." Sarah and I both tried to tell him that yes, they do..and that we were not leaving.
The first show he put his tort up. I heard them announce the 1st and 2nd Reserve, and then I heard Best in show today will be the DUTCH.
Tristen's jaw hit the floor. And then the "we told you so's" started in.
This is Tristen's very first Best in Show and he won some cash. The tort was DONE and refuses to sit still any longer.
His tort, Wiggle, has done well for him every time he has shown him. But a few weeks after his last show, T and I were feeding in the barn, and heard someone start choking and coughing. It was him. The idiot had a mouthful of feed, got a drink, and choked up. I'll save you the details, but had we not been there, he would have been found dead in his cage, with us wondering what in the world happened.
Sometimes I think a kick butt show is almost better than a really bad one--Sunday found Tristen busy evaluating, culling hard, and breeding even harder, making soon-to-be hopefuls for the fall season.
I also came home with a breeding pair of mini satins, and a obber sweet Champagne buck, for a family in our town who is just starting in rabbits. And a very cute Havana doe I can't wait to grows a bit more so I can breed her!
On the way home, I thought about just how many places, experiences, and people we have met...that all started with a couple of 4-H rabbits named Carly and Bulls-eye.
Happy SPRING!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Christmas Vacation
The weekend after Christmas, my crew packed up mid morning and headed to Kansas City for a little mini Christmas vacation.
In a funny turn of events, I was laying on the bed girl talking with my sister on Thanksgiving Day, and it mentioned that we had got tickets to surprise the boys on Christmas morning. She acted shocked and then started laughing...she had gotten Tarquin tickets to the same game for Christmas!!!
So we met up and enjoyed a nice meal together Saturday evening. After our dinner, the guys and I headed to the Plaza to see the lights. I have heard about these lights for many years. This is one of the things Danny always talks about when he talks about his childhood Christmas's. It was so beautiful!! We were even stopped in the road for horse drawn carriages to cross...and now I've added going and doing that some year to my bucket list!!
The game was a dream come true for 3 out of 4 of us. The other one of us...well, I enjoyed the experience. But I'm not a cold weather person. Or a crowd person. Heights bother me. And loud and obnoxious drunk people annoy me. (Sheesh--I sound like I'm 100 years old, don't I?) But it was amazing to be with my guys!!
Friday, December 26, 2014
Christmas 2014
I'm sitting here at my table, the day after Christmas, and can't believe another one has passed already.
This Christmas was different AGAIN, with losing Danny's dad just a short few weeks ago. I feel like we still are trying to figure things out even still from losing my dad a year ago. I crave the holidays that feel whole and complete. Maybe they will again someday. Or maybe they won't ever be again. For the second year in a row we had sympathy cards mixed in with our Christmas cards. I have many of moments of didn't we just do this? and I can't believe we are doing this again.
That being said, I think we did great this Christmas. I carried on my theme from last year. Took pressure off and if we didn't REALLY want to do it, we didn't do it. We didn't get lights hung on our house. Christmas still came. I didn't want to make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning. Danny threw in 2 rolls of Cinnabon cinnamon rolls when we were last minute shopping and called it good. Christmas still came. We laughed a lot. Some of us cried. We watched a lot of movies. Baked a lot of cookies, and one of us cried like a baby during Silent Night at the candle light service. (Is there anything more beautiful?)
Danny and I were about to burst with excitement about one of the gifts we got for our boys. Our daycare elf, Mistletoe Max, stuck around to help deliver it, Tristen has a love/hate..mostly hate..relationship with Max, so it was just icing on the cake I found a cute little elf jersey in the Halmark store.
Anyway, back to the gift: We got them Kansas City Chief tickets!
And Tristen thought his ticket was a "stupid letter mom wrote from the elf" and almost didn't read it!! HAHAHA
Danny got me a Garmin watch to help with my running...so...I guess I HAVE to start running more now. He also gave me a skillet that says "Peace Love and Taco grease, some warm winter boots, and an Ipod dock so I can listen to my music MUCH louder while in the kitchen now!!
My boys scored as well, but the favorite gift came from Grandma Glennda. She got both of them a little remote controlled drones, and feared they were too old for them. They literally messed around with those things all stinking day. I don't think any boy/man is "too old" for "toys" like that! We got Tristen a big drone, that records while it is in the air. Its pretty cool, and has already had to have been rescued several times from our Mulberry bush in our yard.
So--Tristen following his Black OUT, Burn OUT, theme....meet SLEIGH OUT.
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
The Great Santa Run
I have NO idea why, but from the moment I saw an ad for Wichita's Great Santa Run, I wanted to go. Keep in mind this was back in September, when I was a lot more active. Before doing The Santa Run, I hadn't done anything since Thanksgiving Day. And before that, the run in Haviland. But decided--WHAT THE HECK!
There were 380ish people running this race. It was the biggest one I have done to date. It was also the most FUN!!! Christmas carols where blaring, Santa was there, EVERYONE was dressed in Christmas attire, hot chocolate was flowing, donuts were appearing--you just couldn't help be anything but in the Christmas spirit!!
There were Santas, and reindeer, and tutus, men in Christmas themed boxer shorts, Christmas trees, and bells...And everyone had a smile and a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
This fireman had lights that worked all the way around his air tank. I bet he was exhausted when he was done.
I started off strong and then decided to just enjoy the experience.. which is code for...I totally fell apart. HAHA!! It wasn't the worst 5K I have ever done, but it wasn't my fastest. BUT--it was THE BEST TIME I have EVER had at a run. SO MUCH STINKING FUN!! I figured that made up for it! Nothing like stepping over antlers and Santa hats that had fallen off other runners.
COOLEST MEDAL EVER!!
I've got several posts in my head. Just need to work on getting them here. I promise I'll update soon!! In the meantime..hope all of you have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Thank You
Tuesday, December 2nd, our family was hit with another hard loss. Within 6 hours of being exactly a year apart with my Dad, my father in law passed away.
Chuck and Diane, with all their children: Danny, Tony, Chris and Sarah
Lying in bed this morning found me with my heart full and my eyes open, with my fingers needing to write.
How do you say THANK YOU, to a family who made the journey from Hungary to America, risking it all in a time that was treacherous, to find a better life?
He was 11 years old when his family fled their country. I had known this since I had entered this family, but at the funeral home, listening to Chucks sister tell part of the story, the hair on my neck stood up and I REALLY finally understood. She talked about being a little girl, 8 years old, and her mother telling her they were going to for a walk and that she needed to put on 2 layers of clothes. And of them stopping at her grandmothers house, and her wrapping up food for them. Her mother crying, and her grandmother saying "You act like I'll never see you again." They couldn't tell anyone they were leaving. And she never did see her mother again. It took them a year before they made it to Kentucky, where Chuck would later meet Danny's mother. This story has been on Tristen's heart, and in the hunting section of Wal-mart, I felt him also grasp the full story. "If anything had been different, I wouldn't be here, would I?"
And because of Chuck's family, and their journey, my husband is first generation born American.
How do you say THANK YOU to a man who fought in Vietnam, not meeting his daughter until she was 7 months old. A man who wasn't born in America, but He KNEW what it was to be an American. He was one of the most patriotic people I have ever met, and his knowledge of world history was just absolutely crazy.
How do you say THANK YOU for raising the man you would marry? The man who would help me bring my babies into the world?
How do you say THANK YOU to a man who adored your children? (Well, not just mine. He adored ALL 13 of his grandchildren!) He taught them about food, and about chess, about saving money and being thrifty, about stamps and coins.. He taught them to be yourself.
How do you say THANK YOU to a man whose most important thing in life was his family. He was happiest with kids running around playing, and adults with bellies full, sitting around socializing.
How do you say THANK YOU for the life he lived? For the example of determination, and grit, and hard work.
How do you say thank you? I have no idea.
Except..
Thank you, Chuck Bruckner.
Thank you.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
RUN RUN!!
This past Saturday I completed my 3rd 10K in a year. After my last one, I experienced some health issues we've figured out, but I wasn't really sure I'd ever be able to do another one. (Quick--stop reading, Melanie! ;) )
But--I did!!
I didn't beat my fastest record, but I did beat my time from this race from last year. And I ran the fastest mile I have EVER ran.
The difference between the miles is pretty comical. Mile 1-3 I felt like I could finally call myself a runner, and kept up with the pack. After the 5K ended and I took the 10K turn off, I kinda questioned why I do this to myself! HAHA
Miles 1 and 4 were my fastest. The 5K course in it town, mostly on paved roads, which the 10K'ers do, but then it splits and the second half of the route is cross country.
See..totally not kidding!!
I was so happy to see this pumpkin! Only 2.2 more miles to go!!
After this part, it was all super sandy dirt roads with a bridge that makes me dizzy as I cross it. I passed mile 5 and then kinda fell apart at 5.5. . I'm not really sure what happened, if I just needed a little more fuel or if I just went to hard in the beginning, but I might have went faster if I had crawled. =P It was also very unseasonably hot that day, and that certainly didn't help. Was thrilled to cross that finish line.
These pictures were taken from the photographer that was there.
Taken right at the starting line. See me in the pink shirt and black pants?
See how I'm going one way, and my foot is going the other? THAT'S what GoRun was talking about! Perfect picture of it!*shaking my head* BTW--my feet felt GREAT!! Not even ONE blister!!
At the finish line!! 6.2 miles! I did it!!! I'm ALIVE!!!!This was quickly followed by "Good Lord..I need to sit down." =)
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Progress
Hello? HELLO! Is this thing on?? I'm not sure I have have any readers left out there, but here I sit. I thought I'd update everyone on my journey.
My weight loss has come to a stand still since my Dad died. Because until recently...I honesty did not care. I'm grateful I have gained hardly any weight back, but it sure isn't moving the other way either. So..it IS time to get busy again. It's for sure a 2 steps forward, one step back thing.
I completed a 10K in Garden City Saturday. I ran A LOT. I have been working on a running program, and until this, I had only done 2 miles. I'm not really sure what I was thinking when I signed up, but I did finish and managed to take a personal record by taking off over 3 mins off my time from a 10K almost exactly a year ago. Maybe soon I'll actually TRAIN for a 10K and see what I can do! HA!
I got REALLY tired around mile 4.5-5. The road we were coming off of seemed like it would never end. And then a song came on through my headphones that reminded me of Jamie. And of my Dad.
My heart and lungs are strong enough to do whatever I ask them to do. I'm alive. I suddenly felt super silly for feeling tired, and told myself to NUT UP, BUTTERCUP. I plowed through those last few miles and felt great as I crossed that line.
My recovery time has been much easier this time. I had some butt/ back of the thigh pain, and was super stiff. But--no blisters, no shin pain, no knee pain. God Bless you, GoRUN, for my new shoes!!
I also realized that while I may not think much is changing scale wise, I CERTAINLY would not have signed up to do 6 miles, "just for fun" a year and a half ago.
Progress is STILL progress, no matter how slow, or what form it shows itself! Must keep telling myself this!
Monday, September 8, 2014
Feels Like Fall
Today in SC Kansas, it feels like falls.
The boys have started school. I have a junior and a freshman in my house. Tristen had the normal freshman jitters, but after the first day of not being able to find his classes and almost walking in to the girls bathrooms, he claims its "just school" now. I don't really enjoy sending my boys to school. It nothing to do with a school issue. I just like having them around. ;) This year I get to sleep in bit longer. For the first time ever both my boys are in the same school in the same town we live in. Now, the time Tristen was getting out bed, was the time he was getting on the bus in previous years.
This season also found us with another first. For the first time since Jacob was a 4th grader..I have no one playing football. My feelings change a lot on this. As tired and worn out as I'm feeling these days, I'm mostly thankful, mixed with just a bit of sadness.
Tristen sent off his German Chocolate Cake Friday morning to the state fair, and was THRILLED to see it earned him a blue ribbon!
Our family recently went to Kansas City and took in a Royals game. Tristen and Danny are huge fans. Jacob and I..well, we enjoyed the experience. ;) Out of the 4 of us, 3 of us are not city people, and couldn't wait to be back at home to our sleepy little town. It WAS fun!
My garden has really produced this year!! I have many jars of canned jalapenos, banana peppers, and okra. My freezer is full of pretty tomatoes that I'll turn into salsa when things slow down a bit.
I'm sure every family goes through this, but Dan and I are on a mission to de-stress our family as much as possible right now. This has resulted in a step down on a board, downsizing on a couple of things, asking for help, and the admittance of "if it doesn't get done right now, the world will not end," and not feeling guilty about saying NO when asked to do something I don't have time for or just don't want to do. (I'm getting better at this one.) My boys didn't complete their record books for 4-H this year. Guess what.. I'm almost positive they will still grow up and be productive members of society.
Back in January I started a running program and then had to stop for health reasons. I have recently found one that I LOVE, and have really taken off with it. I'm slow. Painfully of slow. But I love it. Recently I started having some knee issues, and decided I probably needed new shoes. So, my very loving, tired of hearing her complain, husband drug my butt to GoRun to be fitted. I wasn't sure what to to expect, but the very sweet girl looked at my shoes, and how they were wearing, watched me walk away from her, and then back, and then made me run on a treadmill while a high speed camera recorded my feet.
I'm not sure why it bothered me so much. But I was MORTIFIED! and HORRIFIED. Its really no wonder my knees had been hurting. Or that my ankles just haven't snapped right off.
I over pronate. When I run, I turn my foot out, land on the side of my foot, roll it in, and then step and repeat. Danny loved it, and made sounds like we were passing a really gruesome accident on the high way. After trying on a stack of shoes, I put on the ones that were MADE FOR ME. They have taken away every ache and pain I had. Like walking on clouds. I highly recommend getting fitted! I just wish I would have done it sooner!!
And this past weekend, we partied hard as this little cutie turned one year old.
I'm constantly amazed at how fast life can change in a year, both good and bad.
