Run Like A Girl

I was overwhelmed to receive this necklace as a gift last week. Our friends had purchased it for me and had my Dad deliver it. Last year Kenton and I fund raised for Team In Training. We decided to do it after we learned of the Leukemia diagnosis of a friend's daughter. Having lost my Grandfather to cancer, we knew how devastating the disease could be. Our experience was memorable, to say the least. The best part was to hear of their daughter, Kaley's, remission.

This season Kansas has a record amount of people raising funds for Team In Training. Two of the Team members are selling these necklaces to support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 75 cents of every dollar raised for LLS goes directly to the cause.

Consider supporting their efforts by purchasing one of these. Help kick Cancer's Butt and Run Like A Girl!

Kim Rosen or Sherry @ 316-263-4311

I Promise

Psalm 106:12

¹² Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.

Saturday the doorbell rang and as Judah opened the door he said, "Oh Yeah!! Looks like the miracle God was going to do already happened!!"

Your Love Is Better Than All Things...Even Mouse Trap

I'm a terrible parent. I am lazy. I have a short temper. I expect too much. I deal with my shortcomings quite frequently.

Today, I was never more proud of my son. Given my proclaimed parenting skills, I can take no credit.

A family at our church is in the process of fund raising in order to bring their adopted children home to America. They have been lead to adopt special needs children from the Ukraine. Through their journey, we've learned more about the devastating reality of these children in other countries. Essentially, children with disabilities and special needs flood the orphanages. And if they are not adopted by about the age of 4, they are institutionalized. From there, rarely do the children live past 10, and a majority die with in the first year.

So this family has been raising money to rescue some of these kids. They have chosen to adopt a little boy and a little girl.

My heart swells with joy for them. They are taking on a huge challenge all in the name of "real religion." I'm overwhelmed with how incredible their hearts are.

James 1:27 (New International Version)

²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world

In order to raise the money one of the things they are doing is selling enchiladas at our church on Sunday. I had volunteered to bring ingredients. I had just checked the email and saw what was needed. I walked to the kitchen and began lunch with Judah. I started talking to him about why they were selling food. I explained in kid terms the best I could about what takes place with these kids. When I got to the part about what happens in the institutions, i got stuck. His face had already dropped and he had stopped eating. The way I explained what happens is by saying that, "kids have to be hugged and loved, and if they don't get that, they can die. These kids don't get hugged and there's no one to read to them or love them."

I had feared I went too far. I had begun crying at this point, just because I was facing the harsh reality for the first time as well.

We talked more and thought about what we could do to help bring these kids home. He first wanted to have a lemonade stand to raise money. I thought that was a good idea, but maybe not the best. I just encouraged him to remember that, "God will do crazy things when we give away."

We watched the video that the Watson's had put together. I got all extra emotional this time. He kept asking and asking questions that I didn't have answers for. Eventually he said, "I think I should give all my money away."

For fear I had manipulated him, I asked, "Are you sure?"

He said, "Yeah, I want to see what God's going to do."

Note that he's been saving all his money for months to have enough to buy the board game "Mouse Trap." Just last night we counted and he has enough.

I was overwhelmed, tears pouring, looking crazy, I'm sure. Then he says, "Living is way more important that mouse trap."

Ah, Judah, my baby boy. What did I ever do to deserve you? I've never been so proud in all my life. Being able to be titled as your mom is of the highest honor. May my heart grow to be as pure as yours. Pure enough to give everything away all in the name of love.

Karis and Jake Watson are incredible as well. They are doing the Lord's will and bringing a new world to two small, precious, beautiful, deserving children. Consider helping them meet their goals.

http://watsonsfamilyblog.com/

One Good Shout Out Deserve's Another

I've gotten a new routine this summer. It's a schedule that causes me to need to be in bed early on Sunday and Tuesday nights. I've been meeting a few people for some early runs every Monday and Wednesday mornings. Early means, out the door and running by 5 AM. To many people that may not be early, to me it's way way way early. I was spoiled during the school year. I'd wake at 7AM and not run until 9:15 due to Judah's school schedule. So, I'm adjusting and hopefully getting use to it. I'm on week three or four and the 3:45 alarm isn't so shocking anymore.

This morning, I hit snooze for the last time and rolled out of bed. I've been going to sleep in my running clothes so I can cut down on stumbling around in the dark looking for things. I grabbed my socks, my Garmin, and my phone and wondered to the bathroom. Today I was greeted with a "better than Folgers in my cup moment."

There was a note taped just above the toilet paper roll (guess someone wanted to make sure I'd see it).

I read closer, "What?!!!" With excitement I read the news that Kenton had discovered. I had been chosen as Steve Runner's Blog of the Week! For those of you who don't know who Steve Runner is, well for starters, you should! However, he's a podcaster from Oxford, MA. He's got a great show that mostly focuses on running. He records a large portion of the show while he's on his run. I've been listening to him for several years now. He and I have informally gone on several runs together through the years. I love his podcast cast for many reasons, but one is that like my blog, it's not just about running, it's about life, the stuff that goes on when we're not running too. He's a great family man and I love it when he and his teenage son get into a round of banter. I also love that he runs for his son. I can relate completely to that. He has a goal of breaking 4 hours in a marathon and he speaks so passionately about how he needs to do that for his son. Those have been my words exactly. I needed to qualify for Boston, for my son. Judah needed to know anything was possible too.

So, be sure to check out his podcast, Phedippidations. It's free at iTunes. And check his website, or follow him on Twitter.

Some of my favorite episodes are when he records running the Boston Marathon. He gets invited as a guest runner most years and to hear the sounds and review of the course gets me all tingly as I prepare my self for the 2010 Boston Marathon. I can't wait to meet Steve when I get there!

Thanks Steve! In your words, "Run Long and Taper!"

Revenge Of The Parents

What's the line? You know the one Peter Parker was fed before he became Spiderman. "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility."

So, as parents we have power and we do our best to never hand it over and hopefully never abuse it either.

Sunday was Father's Day. We were in between events for Kenton and Judah had been doing his best not to be the self-centered, only child, 5 year old, that comes so naturally to him (And every other kid/human on the Earth). With a few minor setbacks, the day had gone pretty well. It was hot and we needed to run somewhere. He heard us mention that we were going to get a drink before we got to our next stop. Immediately he chimes in, "Well, can we at least go to Quick Trip, so I can get a root beer?"

When the assumed entitlement came in to play, Kenton and I quickly read each other's mind and took Judah for a nice long ride.

"No, Judah were going to get some water," said Kenton. "Yeah, from a water fountain," I added. Hearing his whine ramp up in the backseat just added more ammo to our irritated game.

Long story short, Kenton convinced Judah that he was a water fountain enthusiast

and hadn't seen the newest fountain installed in town. I picked up on the sarcastic game and played right along. I directed Kenton to the new "Double Bubbler" in town. I had run a new bike and running path a few days before and had noticed the new fountains installed. So eventually we had concocted this story that Judah was having such a hard time understanding. It lead us to stand out in the 100 degree weather, taking turns at the new fountain, and Kenton just boasting about how sharing this "double bubbler" drink with his son on Father's day was just a perfect way to celebrate. All the while Judah just kept looking so confused and saying, "I can't believe you're so happy about a water fountain." Why are you so excited Daddy?" "Are you serious?"

We held our composure and took several pictures to really play it up.

So, yes, we're total nerds. And, yes, we're horribly mean parents. However, I feel this ridiculous shenanigan is much healthier than the head ripping rant I felt like going on when that pattened whine started vamping up in the back seat.

So, given the choices, I think we were responsible with our power, maybe a little drunk with the power, but I think we knew when enough was enough.

Plus, after it was all over we went to QT, our original intention in the first place.

I Love This Game!

A surprise step out the door prompted me to run in and change my shirt. I wasn't going hit the road running with white today! It poured on us all morning. I love my faithful Saturday morning runners. Rain or shine, we get those miles in together!

Nothing fancy about the speed today. Dodging puddles and taking water breaks can slow a run down.

Today's 12 miles brought my weekly total up to 52 miles. It's been a good week!

Stay dry and run on!

Split Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Avg Speed Max Speed Calories Summary 01:40:48 12.01 1,623 1,574 08:23 06:47 1,150 1 00:07:58 1.00 156 84 07:58 07:24 96 2 00:09:02 1.00 142 129 09:02 08:10 96 3 00:08:24 1.00 208 181 08:24 08:08 92 4 00:08:16 1.00 158 106 08:16 07:38 97 5 00:08:57 1.00 131 166 08:57 07:38 95 6 00:08:18 1.00 106 106 08:18 07:53 96 7 00:08:27 1.00 85 104 08:27 08:03 94 8 00:08:55 1.00 156 144 08:55 07:44 95 9 00:08:15 1.00 137 129 08:15 07:35 97 10 00:08:04 1.00 93 121 08:04 07:29 95 11 00:07:51 1.00 173 161 07:51 06:50 95 12 00:08:11 1.00 77 144 08:11 06:47 102 13 00:00:04 0.01 0 0 09:16 08:47 0