Double Digits and Other Tid-Bits

It was about 9:05 on Sunday when I finished running my first 10 miles since my half marathon three years ago. I’ve been training for this marathon with Vancouver Fit, which has made the long Sunday group runs more bearable. No offense to my former training buddies, but having a group of professionals plan your workouts and give you advice has made a huge difference in my own performance. I mean I would have never thought heart rate monitors, VO2 testing, Chi running techniques and training with water would make a difference. Okay… so before Vancouver Fit I wouldn’t even have known what VO2 testing or what Chi running techniques were. Anyway, despite the butterflies before the run I felt good. Isaiah felt good as well; he is in the faster group who runs one mile more than my group, and he ran 11 miles with a blister on his toe…so hardcore. On June 14th we will be running our half marathon.... yipee!

At church we started a new series titled Roots. We read out of Romans 1:16-17 -- “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it written: “The righteous will live by faith.” -- I know that the gospel and its message are intended to show me that Jesus conquered death for humanity. In the verse, the word “power” means dynamite, an intense force, miraculous and life changing. Allowing the gospel message and its power happen in my life is a personal battle for me. Our pastor asked the question, “What are our ‘little saviors’?” What do we use to replace the True Savior? This hit me pretty hard, because I know that I don’t turn to God as often as I should… I fill those moments when I could rest/rejoice/act in Him with shopping, eating, movies, running, reading… Not that those things are bad, but when a need or a hole needs to be filled in my life, I shouldn’t be expecting to fulfill it with anything else but God.

Okay my crazy babble has temporarily subsided. I hope you all enjoy this lovely Memorial Weekend. I think I’ll spend the day in my PJ’s, thinking about summer plans. There are less than four weeks left of teaching and I am so in need of a recharge!

Mom

My mother is one of those "true" moms that the world seems to lack these days. If I'm not feeling well or have had a bad day, she knows. It's like this strange intuition that I won't understand until I have kids of my own. She knows how to laugh and cry with me, and shares in my joys and sorrows with pure and simple honesty. Did I mention that my mother is a culinary genious? Well she is, and she does not hesitate to give Isaiah and I a hot meal whenever we come over. She is thoughtful and loves her kids. I love you Mom and hope that you enjoy your special day.

Happy Mother's Day

Up to date

So I realize it has been a while since I posted. Maybe this faulty blogging pattern on my behalf answers the question of why my "links" list is so stinkin' short. For those who care, here is an update on the recent happenings of my life...

Challenge Games

This is our biggest field trip of the year. Challenge Games is the equivalent of Special Olympics, and my kids LOVE it! Last year we didn't have as many kids attend because the plague (a.k.a. the common cold) swept through the class the week before. This year, I had twice the amount of kids attend. It was crazy but fun! This multi-district event makes this day so special for the kids... they get prizes, treats, recognition, preferential treatment, a gold metal... each student competes in two events with crowds of people cheering them on, it's amazing. This picture is a student of mine whose mother I know well, so I don't think she minds if I post it.

Spring Break

Amazingly enough, Isaiah and I got to visit my Grandma and Grandpa in Arizona for a few days. It felt sooo good to get away! Plus, I hadn't seen my Grandparents for a while... It was short but fun. Isaiah and I were able to warm ourselves back up (only to return to the sub zero-rain-wind-hail weather back home, but whatever), eat the best pizza and Mexican in the US, hike desert trials, smell orange blossoms, and share slow mornings on the patio. I wish we had more pictures. We will definitely treasure the meals and conversations shared with two wonderful Grandparents. They have the best stories!

Day Trip

It's humorous to me that the shortest trip Isaiah and I embark on is the one with the most pictures! We met up with my parents on the Oregon Coast and took part in a day of their mini-holiday. It was so fun being silly, enjoying the long awaited sunshine, and playing on the beach. After an award winning breakfast the Hawk Creek Cafe, we skim-boarded.... okay, okay, Isaiah skim boarded and I posed for the camera. Then we went back to their condo and soaked in the hot tub and whale watched. Oh my goodness, how perfect is that? Thanks Mom and Dad for the good memories!

Other tidbits

Isaiah and I were walking to the Saturday Market one morning and saw a huge group of runners with Vancouver Fit go by, his brother Casey was among them. We felt good cheering them on, and with those good feelings came the idea of... Why aren't we running with them? We could train for a marathon together! So it came to be. Although we haven't signed up we are training for our first marathon set for September. About three years ago I remember finishing my half marathon thinking, who the hell would run another one of these?? Oh the irony of it all.

On a mournful note, last weekend my family piled into the van to go to the funeral of my Grandpa Loren Miller. It was a bittersweet affair for sure, and I will always remember practicing singing Red River Valley with my brother in the car on the way there. I still tear up thinking of that song and what it meant in the life of my grandpa. In fact tears still come to my eyes reflecting on the moments when my Uncles and Aunts would cry, laugh and then cry again while sharing memories. I know Grandpa Loren is in heaven with Grandma Mary, happily walking the heavenly ocean shores.

Thanks friends and family for your patience with my lack of updates. Hope this makes it up. Love you all!