Two and a Tidbit For Tuesday ~ Support Edition

Help Get Little Bug Man off the Roads

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LBM is trying to win his very own Comfy Sack!

just for being so darn cute

Hubbs and I started our day early with his PT test.  This is something the men in my life have always done and I have never taken part in.  Sunday morning however, I was able to tag along and see what my father, my husband, my uncles and my son have all been doing to prove they were maintaining Army level physical fitness.  I was a great opportunity to support Hubbs in something that he takes a lot of pride and believes in. 

He did better than he has in several years (thanks to my presence) and bettered his run time significantly.  Although his 2 mile run is not a race the competitive nature he and I share believe otherwise.  

He came in a close third, of course allowing two out ranking officers beat him for diplomacy's sake. 

After such a great start to our day we didn't let the frequent downpours get in the way of providing some exercise for the kids...all three of them.

Army Son whimped out due to being glued to his XBox but I'm still cutting him a bit of slack. 

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until June 1st

(that will be day # 388.  What a nice way to celebrate!)

Thanks for the support!

Its all about change

Change

I'm not very good with change.  I enjoy my routine.  Life is a series of moments string together by days of relative routine.  I like it that way.  This weekend we not only celebrated the ending of one year and the beginning of the next, my family also celebrated the ending of one stage of life and the beginning of the next. 

For those faithful followers, you already know that in 6 days my eldest will be leaving for basic training and with that knowledge you know that my son's life is beginning a new stage.  He will begin to write his own future.  But his life is not the only one that is beginning a new stage, mine is also.

When I had children I knew that part of my responsibility was to raise them to become a type of person who would benefit the world around them.  Part of the raising included letting them go out into the world.  I knew that.  I embrace my son's journey.  What I didn't realize was the impact that his impending absence would have on me. 

My son and I are very close.  He has a special place in my life.  It may sound odd because you don't have 19 1/2 years of life story to understand it all but my son is my biggest supporter (my father was but he passed away 4 years ago).  In our odd family dynamic it has always been my son who went with me on runs, encouraged me to push myself, enter races, and work harder...

Odd.  Maybe this post should have started out entitled...Odd.  But as much as I encouraged him, he encouraged me.  Maybe because I was rather young when I had him, maybe just because he is a special young man, whatever the reason; I feel as though both of our lives are changing.  While I am excited for the changes my son is going to encounter, I am apprehensive about the ones facing me. 

I pray that in this latest role as a parent of a child, who has left home, I can be whatever it is my son needs me to be and nothing that he does not.  So there will be no sad faces, no tears (that he sees), there will be encouragement and love.  Just as he has shown me in our years together.  I am more proud of who my little squirt (sorry, son!) has turned out to be than I ever would have dreamed all those years ago.

  This step is only the first page in the book he is writing of his future.

Each day will bring him more and more change...there it is again, change.  Maybe change is more about progression.  Now that's something I can understand as a runner.  The slow clicking away of miles in a long race.  Progression, hum.  The progression of life and our roles in it.  Perhaps this progression is what takes a mother and son and makes them both friends.

Now that is change...progression, I will like.

Think of my son as he starts this new journey.

The family at the going away celebration.

The kiddos

My oldest wearing my Daddy's dog tags with Grammy

sharing a moment with Daddy's picture.

We know he would have been so proud.

On the running front and more about my son:  Tonight this great eldest son entertained his younger brother while mom endured the squeaky treadmill for 11 miles!  My eldest son is just the best! 

His little brother loves him too. 

Tomorrow I may brave the cold cold cold weather we have been having and run outside. 

 I miss the fresh air but I'm not sure I want my nose to freeze shut. 

Speaking of progression, you really need to progress on over to my post You Might Remember to get the details on how to entry the great giveaway sponsored by One More Mile!  The winner gets to pick...yes, the winner gets their pick of one item from the entire website!  Does it get any better than that?! No!

Enter today; the deadline is January 6th at midnight!

Great Giveaways

don't miss out on these...

Teamarcia at Running Off at the Mouth

Starbucks card at Adventures in Running

Oh what have I done!

Today was a much better day for me than yesterday. I got up with a plan for the day and stuck to it! Even with the time change, I got up early and got the kids ready for Sunday School and church. Which has been something we have struggled to accomplish lately. So, yipee for me.



After church my oldest watched the two little kiddos so I could run a solo 6.5 mile loop (48:51). When I got back oldest was sitting behind his gaming computer with littlest asleep in his lap. Noise and all, littlest slept. I had to take a picture.


My oldest has joined the Army and will be leaving January 11th. (a.k.a. sad day for mom!) He is hoping to pass the Army PT to complete the work he has been doing (tests and finishing his associates degree) to elevate his rank and pay grade once he starts. I told you all that to explain why after the 6.5 loop and waiting for the littlest to finish his nap on big brother I ran another 2 miles with my oldest while pushing the littlest in the jogger.


He has to complete 2 miles in a minimum of 15:54 to pass the 2 mile. He does(unlike me, where does he get this?) NOT like running. We ran in a little slow. He was about 15 seconds off passing. Littlest and I were 16:21.


So for me I had a good run day. Not the 10 I wanted by close enough. When I push that jogger I always feel like I should be able to count each mile as a mile and a half!


After all the running the kiddos all joined in for the rest of the PT test. Push ups and sit ups. Yippee! To pass my son has to do about 45 of each in 2 minutes. He has a long way to go on push ups and is on track to pass the sit ups.


The rest of the day was productive and busy. Getting things done, preparing to head back into the work and school week. Just like always trying to fit way too much into a day.

As it started to get dark outside super early (yuck), I realized that today would be the perfect day to start my P90X workout program. I wanted to use it over the winter after my oldest leaves for the Army and I lose my daily support for running without any littles with me. But I thought why not?


What have I done? I doubt that I will have use of my arms tomorrow. Which really won't matter because I fairly certain that my stomach won't allow me to stand up completely after all the ab and core work I just did!


And to think I am supposed to do more tomorrow.


Maybe I'll just run, instead.