The Same 365 Days

Here we are again at the close of one year and the beginning of the next.  It's a familiar place.  A place where we can either relish the successes of our past year or eagerly proclaim that the new year will be our fresh start closing out a year of challeneges.

This is where my year began. 

You can click the link HERE and make your own accessment of whether or not I achieved what I wanted to in 2010.

I won't bore you with a recap of my year.  We each had the same 365 days to change and grow into the people we look at in the mirror today.  So if you have been following you already know the moments that I have shared with you, the ebb and flow of my little journey.  And now to look back might change the way I feel about the path I have already traveled.

Beacuse sometimes looking forward our choice seems like the right one but with the benefit of time the way we view our decisions changes and sometimes seems like a mistake.  But maybe it's more about the journey regardless of which turns we took to get there.

Again this year I find inspiration in odd places through my days.  Currently my running life has been held hostage but circumstance thus putting me on the treadmill watching movies while I run.

I just finished the movie Inception. 

I find a quote from the movie meaningful right now.

"You're waiting for a train. A train that will take you far away. You can't be sure where it will take you. But it doesn't matter - because we'll be together."

The train for me is life right now.

I don't know where it is taking me but I am excited about the journey.

I hope that my trip will take me through amazing places and experinces.

I hope that my journey and all the challenges that I will face in traveling it will help not only be but will influence those around me.

The train could be life or a situation you are facing but whatever it is for you I hope you boldly board that train with your ticket in hand even if you are not quite such where it will take you because on this journey we will be together.

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

2 Timothy 1:7

Three Things Thursday

I don't know what you do to keep your workouts interesting but one treadmill plus bubble wrap kept my kids happy and going all evening.

We had our first rainbow at the VA house.  That rainbow had great timing too.  We saw it the day Army Son flew out.

Promises.

Today is pizza burger day and that meant I had lunch in the elementary school.

Of course we got in trouble for talking to loudly...

okay the principal scolded the entire fourth grade not just us.

But it felt like being back in school again...I wish I could have stayed for recess!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Oh! What a Night!

There are days when I really wonder how on earth I survive.

okay, that's an overstatement I know many have it much more difficult than I but...

Take last night for example, after dragging myself through work working all day, the kids and I went to the grocery store (I really dislike running errands after work!) and then headed home. 

That is to say we got home later than usual.

I got the kids settled in and even though I have a cold I hopped on the treadmill with movies from RedBox.  After the first mile or so I could breath so much better and the kids were playing contently and I was completely engrossed in the movie Inception.  I might have ran a bit longer than I should have.

Once I realized I'd better stop I did want any runner first parent would do I rounded out my miles stop as soon as I could.

A quick dash into the shower and thanks to a easy to make supper we were quickly eating while doing homework.  Well, S'ghetti girl had actually gotten most of her homework done solo and I simply had to check it while wrangling/feeding/swatting/cleaning LBM.

Then it was off the baths and dealing with S'ghetti girl's rat's nest long hair.  After removing the tangles from hair and dirt from bodies I thought I might actually get our evening back on schedule.

But no.

That's not how it is when you are doing the married-single-parenting-must-run-a-zillion-miles-a-week thing.

The house was filled with white smoke.

Our pellet stove.

God Bless trying to do the earth friendlier thing.

After way too much time and another round of smoke filled house I gave up and decided that I would at least get to see my daughter before she went to bed. 

And that is about all we got to do, see each other.

Do I regret running and taking that time for myself?

Not for a minute.

I know there will be days when I don't get it all placed neatly within the lines.

I know there will be days when I feel like I can do everything and love it.

But mostly there will be days filled with experinces.

While the kids didn't enjoy the smoke filled house, they got to see mommy handling it, they got to help and honestly it was nice to see how well we worked together to try and get it all done.

Day # 240 ~ Tuesday p.m. run before the smoke

This morning we started a new day.

I wonder what experinces it will bring.

What kind of day are you having?

Brrr, it's cold in here...

...that should be OUT here.

It was freezing cold out this morning.

No it was beyond freezing.  In fact even the ice along the road thought it was cold.

So what did I do?

You know after taking yesterday off work because I and nearly the entire family is enjoying head colds.

Well I went for a run outside of course.

And I couldn't wear any of my old winter gear I had to wear my new stuff from Christmas that isn't quite warm enough to cut this morning's idea of cold.

But this morning, I matched!

Day # 239 ~ a.m. run 3.5 freezing miles

What am I the only one who knows you can sweat out a cold? 

And shivering while you are sweating has to speed up the process, right? 

How'd December Go?

Miles Ran: 266.6 (Year total: 2,670.1)

Rest Days Taken: 0 (December 31st was Day # 236 of the streak 1833.1 miles)

Highest Mileage Week: 12/20 - 12/26 (DM Weeks) 69 miles

Races: None, so sad.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Reese's Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Which Outfit did I Wear the Most:

What We Are Watching: Sorcerer's Apprentice

Funniest Kid Quote:  It's not a quote it's an endless conversation with S'ghetti girl.  She constantly tells us the story line of your latest Professor Layton DSi game...in detail.  If you have kids, you know what I mean.

Current Triumph: Losing 4 pounds and adding cross training to my nearly daily routine

Thanks Amanda for the HBBC

Current Goal: Personal: To be more open to change

Running/Fitness: Prepare for my March Ultras

Current Blessing: Having Army Son home for 2 weeks

Current Excitement: Having Army Son home for 2 weeks!

Current Concern: Having to let Army Son go back

How did your December days add up?

Today running will wait

Today is the day.  Army son flies back.
I am so happy that we got to have him with us for the past two weeks.  He was able to see friends and family.  He shared in the holidays and many life long traditions.
I know that his 20 years of life have been filled wth change.  However these past two weeks have shown me that even though our relationship has changed it is still there and Home will always be a place Army son will return to.
So this morning hugs and kisses will be shared and maybe a tear or two but I know Army son will continue on his path that will always include a road back home.
We love you! Be safe.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre

Happy New Year - Resolution Run

The wonderful Amanda asks those of us bustng our booties to join her Resolution Run virtually and I was in!
Early this morning (okay early is relative on New Years Day) I toed the line with my cows and cold air.
I enjoyed getting outside for my 6.5 miles of calmness.  After 266.6 miles in December I just enjoyed starting my new year with a great habit, taking time for me to be a better everything else.
Happy New Year!

-- Sent from my Palm Pre