Thursday, May 23, 2013

Laser Tag and Carrot Cake

Just a few of Asher's favorite things that he got to enjoy on his 9th birthday!

"I'm Nine!" He giggled as he broke through his celebration decorations first thing in the morning.  He had to giggle silently since he was the the 1st kid awake that morning. He has been getting up every morning before school to run a mile and this day he wanted to run 2! A kid after my own heart. Joel ran those 2 miles with him and it brought such sweetness to my soul to hear them chatting every time they passes the house.

All Asher ever wants for his birthday - carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

And a laser tag party with his family and closest friends.

Asher says is wasn't a good day, it was a GREAT day! He has such a sweet spirit, never complaining or whining, always thinking of other and seeing the best in the world. I hope that never changes. 
Happy 9th birthday Asher!

Thursday, May 9, 2013

On the Sidelines

On the sidelines....not my favorite place to be. A week go, I was set up to be running a 10K with my sights on a 1/2 marathon on June 1st. These weren't just any races to me...I have been doing speed work and training 6 days a week in order to set personal records. Not only that, I have a dear dear friend flying in from Montana to run the 1/2 marathon with me - we have been counting down the days! So why the sidelines you ask? My last run before the 10K, I trip on the edge of the asphalt, roll my ankle inwards, and fall down an embankment. Not one of my finer moment as I am howling at my running partner while sitting in some thorns, and spectators on the trail call an ambulance.  I do have to say that my running partner Susy and I have reached a new level of friendship! Even though I am yelling at her while she she is trying to extract me from the thorns, she held my hand and prayed over me.  She made a million phone calls for me and took Josie during my ambulance ride and ER stay. I know her heart is broken just from seeing the how ordeal. As much as my heart is broken (I think I cried more tears over my race dreams disappearing than I did the pain), I am so blessed to have such a special friend. One that runs with me, complains with me, runs with me some more, laughs with me, pushes a stroller when I can't, leaves me in the dust, runs with me again, and is by my side in prayer and tears in the pain. My ankle is not broken, but is a borderline 2nd/3rd degree sprain. That just means it is really really bad. As I write this post it has been a week since it happened. I am more mobile thanks to a walking boot, but in constant pain every time I bear weight. Life has been put in this strange holding pattern of no cleaning, no carpools, no food (as in who can drive to the grocery store), and maybe a shower every other day. It has been hard on the whole family but we are managing to limp along one day at a time. I have another appointment in a week to see how healing is going...the hope then is that maybe I can get on a stationary bike and be driving by then, and maybe I can still "run/jog" on June 1st but there will be no personal records.  I am trying to remain hopeful!

In the meantime, being on the sidelines has shown me something in my kids that I never new existed - a spirit to run.  Maybe I just focused on my running too much and never gave them the chance. Joel and I disagreed on giving Asher my bib for my 10K race even though they let us switch it to the 5K. I didn't think he could run that far, especially by himself. Joel's positive attitude (and Asher's) won me over. Joel predicted a 40 minute 5K for him, I predicted a 35 minute. And I guess since Asher was running, why not sign Anna up for the 1 mile fun run. Then Josie said she wanted to race too...so Joel decided to push her in the stroller. While Jesse and I sat on the sideline and cheered out little hearts out! And my kids shocked me! Anna ran a mile in 7:15, being the second girl to come in. And Asher rounded the corner coming towards the finish line smiling from ear of ear finishing in 27:53! I was so shocked and unprepared that I didn't even get a picture! He placed 68th out of 275 people! Now both kids are begging to be signed up for more races and have been running a mile just about every other day in "training". I am ecstatic that my love for running may be something I get to share with my kids now. I never would have given them this chance this early if it weren't for this injury.

 The sidelines pre race. It was a chilly morning!

Another pre race photo.

My speed demons.

And I can't forget to brag about Joel! He ran the 10K with Josie (who kept bragging about "her race" too) and did reach a personal record, finishing in just under 50 minutes! I know he was a little disappointed because he had a different goal, but I know from experience how a stroller slows you down. He did amazing!