2009...the longest post ever

Ok, I know it's 2010 and I should be posting about New Year's Resolutions, but I am a little behind in my posts always. If I was to title 2009, it would be "The Year of Change". Starting with my cousin's snowmobile accident on New Year's Day and ending with my New Year's Eve celebration at my sister and Brother-in-Law's (BIL, as I like to call him) new apt...there was enough change to make anyone exhausted. With much prayer and preparation, I completed two marathons this year in January and April. I attempted my first triathlon this summer, in addition to watching both my sisters graduate (1 high school, 1 college), and assisting with my middle sister's wedding. It wasn't the wedding that was so hard to fathom, it's the marriage. My sister now has a different last name, different family, and different home. She now calls our house "Mom and Dad's", has a Christmas tree with all the ornaments Mom has given her over the years, and allegiance to someone other than our family. Her name is no longer on our Christmas cards and her room is "the room that used to be Megan's room" (as my mom called it today). I think that this will be a work in progress to accept this. My youngest sister is now a freshman in college, where she is growing and learning exponentially. She is amazing in so many ways and is discovering how she can be independent, one day at a time. My parents continue to work insane hours, but I seemed to have joined their ranks. As much as I hate it, I sometimes work way over 40 hours. However, I have come to accept this as part of my job and am actually enjoying this. Our system has failed our children in so many ways, but I feel at least I have made a small dent in that. This is my calling for now and for that I am grateful. That, I guess, is the best I can hope for at this point in my life. My parents continue to creep up in age...my dad will be 55 in 2010 and my mom turned 50 this year. I don't feel like they are old, but it is weird that my dad is almost able to get a senior coffee at McDonald's. My grandpa had a stroke this summer, likely due to the stress of family events. He lost part of his vision in both eyes and has a major blockage near his brain that is taking a specialized team of experts to possibly remove it without killing him. My extended family talked with me a few weeks ago about my grandma's health. They are worried that she has lost too much weight and is displaying the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. Her sister is placed in residential care for Alzheimer's. The biggest change this year possibly was my Uncle Jeff's death. He died of heart failure that likely was a result of years of heart disease. My cousins were a month and a half from being 16. He was 47. My aunt has grieved much, as can be expected. We have attempted to support her through this time, but there is no consolation for such a permanent loss of a spouse.

As much as I could lament over the difficulty of trials this year, I have so many things to be thankful for. Megan and Bradley were married on a whole lot of faith and little money. Neither had jobs lined up after the marriage. However, in the wake of my uncle's death, they opted to move to Ohio with my aunt. Bradley received a job after months of prayers almost as soon as my cousins had received their license. Bradley had no contacts at the company and no previous experience. Not to mention, there is still a recession occurring. They found a beautiful apartment within their price range in a convenient location almost as soon as Bradley had received his job. They are now settling into life in Ohio well and loving it. They have met people in the church who they enjoy and my sister is now subbing in various schools in the area and working at Panera Bread. She is not teaching as she had hoped, but it is a really good way for her to get into several school systems and see which ones she likes or does not like. She loves Panera and already says that she would like to work there in the summers when she is teaching. Megan read Kristen and I bedtime stories the other night when we were there and made all of her stuffed animals kiss me. Her kids will really love her when she has a classroom. Landon's knee healed extremely well from the surgery. In fact, it healed so well, the surgeon attributed the healing to God, stating "I am good, but I am not that good." He needed further surgery, but his knee had healed so well, what was once shreds of muscle became a functioning knee. Landon's dad was pushing him in a wheelchair at Easter, but was able to see him up and walking before his death in June. In fact, a few days before his death, he was at my little sister's Open House telling the story of Landon's miraculous healing of his knee. We were able to go to Tennessee and New Mexico this year for very little money. Someone donated the time share condo in TN to us because her points were about to expire. We were extremely grateful. My job has thrown many curve balls, but I feel as if I am getting the hang of it. I don't know if everyone else has as many bumps as I have out of grad school, but I feel comfortable in my job. I have a lot to learn, but I feel as if I am learning a little more everyday. I look forward to 2010 being a year of growing, learning, and trying new things, in addition to mastering some old things. Plus, I really need to get organized.

Winter Running Part 1

I am trying to figure out this winter running thing. Two extremely nauseous runs=one disgruntled me. I am attempting to figure out what to wear when. Twelve degrees. That was the temp. of my run this morning. Yeah, it's double digits. Barely. As I pause in the middle of an attempted speed workout, I pick some berries off a tree to take home and soak in the sunshine. I took them home and put them in a vase, probably in desperation to bring some life indoors. It is pink on the horizon as the sun comes up to remind us again that it has not forgotten us. It feels some days lately that the sun had abandoned us. Oh, glorious ball of warmness, please light up the day and warm us up to the predicted 34 degrees. So, as I figure out this whole winter running mess, bundle up or enjoy living in warm climates. Just keep running, because the sun will eventually figure out it belongs on this side of the world.

New Mexico, 1/2 marathon, and the great, wild west

Ok, so I have again been delinquent about posting anything. This should speak volumes about the crazy, busy work schedule. So, here is the quickie update.

A few weeks ago, my dad and Kristen ran their first 1/2 marathon. Although my dad was adamant to run 13 the week of the race, I am sure that he was glad he didn't. They loved the run and finished together (the announcer said that it was a great way for my sister to spend the day with her dad). My dad is already attempting to convince my mom to run the race next year, but she is not quite so convinced.



My mom and I went to Albuquerque for a few days. She had a conference and I tagged along for a relatively cheap trip. In true me fashion, I took little time to explore the city running and spent much of the time my mom was in a conference out and about. One of the things I love about Albuquerque: the city loves art as much as I do. Everywhere you looked, it was there. Green chile, biscochitos, turquoise jewelry, and mountains I could not explore.:( That sums up New Mexico.:) Maybe I should start wearing cool ponchos...

Bad dog

We have a bad dog who needs constant redirection. In efforts to keep him out of certain areas of the house, my dad put up a board. Thus far, it has been effective. Now only if we can stop tripping on it...

My Wednesday

Tonight, I saw a super cool girl play volleyball. Even though the Warriors gave them a run for their money, Tayler and the Eagles won. :)


On the way to taking a couple of kids to kids' group tonight, this is the conversation that occurred in my car:

Kid 1: If you drive a car in the middle of the desert, you will run into a cactus.
Me: I have been in the middle of the desert and I have not ran into a cactus.
Kid 1: You have?
Kid 2: If you drive in Mexico without any hands [on the wheel], then you will run into buildings.
Kid 1: That can happen here too.
Kid 2: Yeah, you're right, it can.

Seriously...I don't know where they come up with this stuff, but it is amazing to hear kids' minds at work. :)

Birthday week continues...

In honor of birthday week (because there have been so many birthdays), Angie was born today.

(Sorry, cuz, I had to gank this from your Facebook.)


Tomorrow is my cousin Lindsay's birthday. Happy birthday!

Birthday day

Today is the birthday day! Today is my my grandpa (Pa)'s birthday, Harmony (my roommate from college)'s birthday, and Rebecca (my friend from grad school)'s birthday! Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!