Teryn, Robbie, Brenda and I proudly displaying our medals!
My little sister, Brenda, and I right before her 15K Run!
We did it! The Gasparilla Distant Classic was a success! At 5am on Saturday, February 23rd, my sister Brenda's 42nd birthday, the four of us drove from my brother's house to downtown Tampa.
Teryn, Robbie and Brenda ran in the 15K, while I ran the 5K by myself. Next year, my goal will be to run ride beside them. It was such a fantastic day! I beat my last time by 15 minutes! Training is paying off.
I can now say that I love running! Who would have thought? I love how I feel when I run, after I run and the benefits that it's having on my mind, spirit and body.
Here are some of pictures from the day.
It's settled. We will make this an annual event for our family and we're already looking forward to the next race we run together.
Running the race of life can be challenging, but it sure is wonderful running it with family:)!
There are very few things I enjoy more than being with my entire family! So, this week, I decided to take a vacation and spend it with them. With my oldest daughter, Teryn, granddaughter, Salem, in tow, the three of us made the trip to Orlando. Being in Florida with my mom, sister and brother and their families is better than a cruise, a trip to Hawaii or anywhere else on the planet.
Not only do my siblings and I enjoy being together, but the kids and grandkids do too! We hardly see them from the minute they wake up until it's time for bed. This leaves lots of free time for the adults to talk, enjoy good food and wine, play games, watch a movie, cook out or just literally do nothing and talk. What a great concept to actually love being with people who share your DNA!
Our father was an avid runner and we have each taken up his passion (even me in the past 6 months!). Each year he ran a race called the Gasparilla in Tampa, Florida. Thousands of people from all over the world show up to put on their best pirate garb and run 5K, 15K, 1/2 and even full marathons. This year, I'll be running in the 5K with my sister-in-law. The rest of the clan will be doing the 15K.
We may not be running in the same race, but what we will be doing is encouraging and cheering eachother at the start and finish lines!
We're topping off our time together with a Busch Gardens visit on Sunday. Yes, I love these people. Being with them are the happiest times of my life. My life is going to dramatically change in the next 30 days, so this week I'm enjoying my time by creating more memories with some of the greatest and my most favorite people in the world.......my family! I only wish the rest of my daughters were here with us. They are truly missed. Next time.
As my family found out yesterday with the death of two grandparents, life is way too short to waste not being with those you love.
Love and relationships are worth fighting for. I'm thankful that the ones I can always count on are my family:)
Forty years ago today, Roe v. Wade was established. On that day, the lives of 54 million people was determined, including my own child.
As a young, single, mother of two small children, I found myself in a crisis pregnancy. The only option I was given at the time was to have an abortion. I believed, like so many others, that since our own government said it was safe, it was a decision that I could live with. I was wrong.
Although, I have come to a place of restitution with my decision to have an abortion, it's still one that I will regret for the rest of my life.
My passion for the work that I do stems from that fateful day 25 years ago when I walked into a Planned Parenthood Clinic and allowed the doctor and nurses to take the life of my own child. They never asked me if I was sure this was what I wanted to do. They never told me my child was anything more than a "blog of tissue". They only said there was nothing wrong with this decision and it would not affect me in any way. They lied. Immediately following my abortion, from the very moment I slid off the table, my life has never been the same.
Of the millions who've lost their lives since abortion became legal, how many doctors, politicians, teachers, parents, firefighters, military or policemen have we lost that could have had a positive impact on this country?
Maybe the man or woman who would have cured breast cancer, the politician who could have made a real difference in the world, the firefighter or policeman who could have saved the life of a child or the teacher who would have instilled greatness in a child who had no hope are among those that have perished? So many lives snuffed out that that will never be heard from again.
I believe in a woman's right to choose, I really do. But, she deserves to know all the facts. When Roe v. Wade was legalized, it should have also been mandatory that every woman making that decision had to view an ultrasoiund of her child BEFORE she made that final determination.
There is NO doubt in my mind that had I been able to see an ultrasound of my baby at 6 weeks, I would have heard and seen my child's heartbeat and realized he was alive. That one act could have saved my child's life.
Today is not a day to celebrate, but one to mourn.
It's 2013. The older I get, the faster the years seem to pass by. Why is that? When we're younger, the days drag on forever. It feels like just yesterday I was celebrating 2010.
A new year. People are busy making new resolutions, vowing to change, promising themselves that this year is going to be "the best"! All of those things aren't necessarily bad, however, a calendar's date changing doesn't mean we won't have the tendency to fall into some of the same bad habits.
I don't know about you, but I was determined to make some changes before the clock struck midnight on December 31st, 2012. One of those changes was fairly significant and life altering. My goal was to begin 2013 on a positive note, rather than wait for a ball to drop before accomplishing something.
Towards the end of 2012, I started cooking classes (I need to learn more than 5 signature dishes!), I began a fantastic new work out program that I love, disciplined myself to keep my daily devotions schedule and refused to allow stress to dictate how I live my life.
I also took a long, hard look at myself and found a few things that called for some adjustment. Still, all in all, I realized I'm pretty pleased with who I am.
By the time December came along, I was ready to get 2012 over with. The beginning of 2012 began with a relationship ending. Something I definitely didn't see coming. Or did I? There are certain behaviors that I can't and won't compromise in a committed, monogamous relationship. Don't get me wrong. I have no problem with forgiving others. None. As a matter of fact, I'll even forgive for the same offense more than once. But, when a person continues the same destructive behaviors over and over again, it's a fairly good indication that it is what it is, it's not likely going to change and so it becomes decision time. During the past year, I've been continually reminded by his actions that I made the right decision by ending the relationship. To some degree, I may still be licking my wounds, but everyday I grow stronger, wiser, more determined and content. I wish him well, but he was definitely not the man God has for me. Most definitely.
So, now it's a new year filled with new beginnings and adventures. I've got my family, health, work that I love and great friends I'm blessed to share my life with.
Christmas Eve is tomorrow. It's hard to believe another year has passed. So much happens in a year.
If you had told me what was going to happen in my personal life during 2012, I don't think I would have believed you. But, it's true. My life is not as I knew it just 12 short months ago. Some of the memories of 2012 have not been pleasant. Even though I can honestly say I wish some of the happenings of 2012 had had different outcomes, still I feel blessed.
I made a decision just 4 days ago to sell my bedroom suit. And today, it's gone. I was ready for change. The empty room has already taken on a better look than it did just an hour ago. The plans have already been laid out for what's going in there. It's going to be beautiful, comfortable and all me:).
I'm very excited about 2013. So much is just around the corner for me and my family. We're working on projects together and my work in the non-profit world continues to thrive and grow. My daughters, son-in-law and granddaughter live close by and now my brother and his family will be living near us within the month! It's just beyond words how the Lord is bringing our extended families within driving distance of one another. This is truly an answer to prayer.
This time of year, there is nothing like being surrounded by family. These are the people I would rather spend time with than anyone in the world.
I am anticipating wonderful things happening in my professional and personal life in 2013. Pretty exciting stuff. I am faithful to those in my life and my God is faithful to me. And when we choose to do the right things, there's no telling what's coming! May this season and everyday of the year, I never forget how good my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been to me. Without Him, I would not be smiling today.
My 16 year old daughter found out yesterday that one of her close friends was killed in a car accident. To say she is totally inconsolable is an understatement. He was only 16 years old. A star football quarterback, wrestler, very well liked and such a good friend to her.
How do you comfort your teenager when they can't comprehend that this person is gone forever? It's quite difficult. So, I just listen. I listen to her tell me their stories, I look at their pictures, hold and comfort her and reassure her that I'm here when she needs me.
I give her the space she asks for. I don't take it personal when she says, "I want to be alone" or "please don't hug me right now." She's hurting. I'm hurting for her.
Life is so fragile. My 16 year old is experiencing a close death for the first time in her young life. I don't have the heart to tell her that as the years go by, she'll have to face this again and again. For now, I'm just going to love her through it.
RIP Grayson Weeks and thank you for being a good friend to my daughter.
