Thanks Mom...

So when we decided to run in the Air Force Marathon, we had to make a decision about our children.  Do we take them with us.  Do we have someone come and watch them.  What should we do.  Both options were a possibility.  The race was in Ohio and Eric's family could have watched the girls while we were running and Alex and Emily could find a friends house to stay at for the weekend or we could have someone fly here and stay with the everyone at the house.  Since one plane ticket is less than two we decided that someone should come here.  My mom gracefully volunteered, so we were set.  Taking care of two little kids can be very exhausting especially when stairs are involved.  The girls had fun with there grandmere and I was grateful to be able to leave them with someone who loves them.  She made sure each day was a fun filled adventure.

She decided to take them to a ceramic studio where you choose what you want to paint and then they fire it for you.  It was pajama day so the girls where thrilled about that.  They decided they would wear their new pajamas that grandmere got for them.  The picked out ornaments to hang on the tree.

 Savannah is concentrating so hard to make hers sun look just right.

 Always looking great for the camera

 Brittlynn made a snowman ornament.

One of the best parts about this adventure was the little bunny they had in the window.  It is the little things in life that make you happy.

Here is the finished product.  The back of the ornaments have the girls hand prints.  What a great gift. 

Another adventure was eating lunch and playing at the park.  Originally they tried playing at McDonald's in there play place, but there was a mean girl there so they went to the park and they had a blast.

Later that after-noon they went to the road show where they were able to watch Emily perform.  Something we love seeing.  The youth had less than 24 hours to put there performance together.  We were sad we could be there to watch, but I am glad Emily had some support.  

The next adventure was getting the girls ready for church.  This can be a challenge to some, especially with two girls who are so particular about everything.  

They both got to wear beautiful dresses and my mom even took time to braid Savannah's hair for the special day.  

I saved the best adventure for when I could be there....the zoo.  This is one of my favorite places to go here in Colorado Springs.  We have a membership so we got often, and it never get old and there is always something exciting that happens. We always start with the giraffes because we love them.   

 We actually saw the goat today.  That doesn't happen all the time.

 The girls were more than excited to pose for the camera every chance they get.

 Brittlynn wasn't scared of the carousel ride...this was a firls 

 Our tiger was in rare form and we got to see her play in the water.

 Britllynn loved holding the bird.  She did such a great job at it

 Savannah finally got a bird and held on to it just long enough for the picture.  She is still kinda scared of the birds.

Thanks again mom for making a wonderful weekend adventure for the girls.

Running

We finished it is over and we never thought that we could do it.  What is it that we did...Eric ran a marathon and I ran a half marathon.  Okay Eric knew he could do it but I doubted myself the whole way.  Why would I doubt...lets start in the beginning

When I was 13 years old (junior high) we were required to run 1 1/2 miles for PE.  As I crossed the finished line I fell to the ground out of breath and wondering if my life was over.  It was official I hated to run.  In high school you had the option of regular PE or swimming, and I choose swimming.  Did I tell you I hate running.  While in the MTC one of my roommates wanted go running.  She couldn't go alone and some how she convinced me to run with her.  I think we ran 2 miles.  I am not sure how I did it.  She was patient with me and very encouraging.  So I started running more often before I went on my mission.  It wasn't long runs...but I was running.  I didn't hate it...but I didn't consider myself a runner.  Years later...I meet Eric.  He was always exercising and one of the things he did was run.  So I decided to go with him running.  He was patient with me and I finally ran 3 miles without stopping and I wasn't dying.  The only problem was he ran faster than I did and I felt like I was holding him back.  I stopped running with him.  We got married, moved to Texas, and it was hot.  I didn't run.  He ran...but I didn't.  I would do the treadmill at the gym and that was it.  Then Savannah came...then Brittlynn was on her way. I walked, I started swimming, but no more running for me. Eric deployed he ran a 10k for the first time.  He loved it.  He loved running.  We moved to Colorado.  I went walking with my girls...and did some exercising in my home.  I tried to run outside when Eric was around, but it killed me.  Eric ran and he loved it.  I finally convinced myself to join the gym. So I would have more time to exercise.  My friend Audra some how convinced me to go to treadmill boot camp.  I ran and I died.  The summer past and Eric went to Alabama for school.  He ran even more...he loved it even more.  He go a bug in him.  At home I became obsessed with the gym.  I started to go to treadmill boot camp.I had friends that were training for a marathon that I would go with...and  I liked the teacher.  I was at the gym 5 days a week.  I did everything.  My friends all ran a 5k...I was out of town and I missed it.  I ran while I was in Illinois...not much, 3 miles was my limit.  I ran because I knew it was good for me, and all of my friends were running....it was really peer pressure.  I was a regular at treadmill boot camp, and I was getting better...but I still didn't like running.  

Eric and I signed up for a 5k in Dec 2011.  He promised he would stay with me.  I just wanted to finish.  All of my friends ran too fast, I would never run with them.  My goal was to finish without walking.  I did it...just under 30 minutes.  I started off too fast and Eric took off, He loves running and didn't want to slow down or be passed.  

After this Eric decided he wanted to run a full marathon.  I told him if he ran a full I would run a half with him.  He decided it would be fun to run the Air Force Marathon in Ohio.  We thought it would be a good idea...maybe a little easier with the change in elevation.  Some how I committed myself to do something I thought was impossible.  Eric became obsessed.  He got the books and read everything about running a marathon.  

My friends and I decided to run the Boulder Boulder 10k...That is 6 miles...I have never ran that far in my life.  I just wanted to finish...but I wasn't sure how I would do.  The race started and they were all gone.  My friends are way faster than I am.  I kept running.  I didn't stop I caught up to my friend Angela around mile 5.  We finished together in just over and hour....I ran, I didn't stop...I was slow.  

Training started for Eric.  He was excited for everything...he was excited for his marathon.  I started training. I ran outside a lot by myself.  I hated running.  It thought I was going to die at the end of each run.  What was I thinking signing up to run a 1/2 marathon.  My friends (Angela & April) got back from their summer vacations.  I ran with them.  They killed me. I was slow...I slowed them down.  I kept going running 4 days a week and cross training one other day of the week.  Then something changed.  I don't know when or how, but I didn't die at the end of the run.  My friend April was excited...I got faster.  I didn't love running, but I don't hate it.  (On a side not my abs look amazing) The week before my race I ran 10 miles.  Mile 8 I slowed down...walked some and barely had energy to finish.  How was I going to run 13 miles.  I was discouraged...and I doubted.

Race day was finally here.  Eric was so ready...and so excited.  He couldn't wait.  He was excited to finish what he had trained for.  I just hoped that I could run the whole time.  I prayed that I wouldn't fail.  I had prepared myself for this day.  I just didn't want to fail.    

We go there early in the morning.  It was cold...it was dark.  

 The sun came up and we were more than ready to start.

 There was a fly over by a B-52

 Eric was in position ready to run.

 I got three jumpers coming in with the American flag.  I am so glad I choose Air Force the do great things to start a show.

 I finished...I ran the whole time I accomplished my goal and I ran faster than I had ever ran before.  Finishing the race in 2:01:25 that was at a 9:16 pace.  My legs were tired.  I didn't want to move, but I wasn't going to die.  It was time to wait for Eric.

 There he is in the bright yellow shirt finishing the race.  4:26 was his time.  He reached his goal he finished under 4:30.  He thought he was he was going to die.

 Eric's family came out to support us on our race day.  Its always nice to have fans to cheer you on.  

The lesson learned.  In life there are impossible tasks that you might not think you would ever accomplish.  With diligence, perseverance a trust in the Lord...all things are possible and he won't let you down.  You will not fail, and in my case you might come out better than you ever thought possible.