Persevere, Encourage, and Connect

Have you ever heard the legend of Pheiddippides?  According to legend, Pheidippides was sent from Marathon, where a battle had raged, to Athens letting the people there know of the outcome of the battle. After allegedly running 150 miles without stopping he burst into the assembly and announced the victory over the Persians and then collapsed and died.  Some legends say that he ran there and back and lived.  Who knows?  All I know is that we derive the term marathon from this legend.

  Now, I am a runner.  I like to run(not 150 miles).  It does something to my brain. When I go periods without spiking my serotonin levels, people around me pay for it.  I, however, am not a long distance runner.  30-45 minutes is enough for me.  I thought at 1 time that I wanted to run a marathon but after looking at the training schedule decided that I didn’t have 4-6 hours per day to devote to running 4-5 days per week.  As educators, we are in it for the long haul!  Some of you reading this have run to Athens and back and have finished the race.  Some are nearer to the end and some are closer to the beginning but we are all running.  Ask any veteran educator and he/she will tell you that perseverance was the key.  We want to finish well. 

 1 Cor 9:24-27 says:

²⁴ In a race all the runners run. But only one gets the prize. You know that, don’t you? So run in a way that will get you the prize. ²⁵ All who take part in the games train hard. They do it to get a crown that will not last. But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
²⁶ So I do not run like someone who doesn’t run toward the finish line. I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air. ²⁷ No, I train my body and bring it under control. Then after I have preached to others, I myself will not break the rules and fail to win the prize.

Notice, he didn’t say that you were going to win but to run as if you were.  We should never fail to see the prize before us.  What prize do you envision?  A scholarship for college?  Independent learner? Life long learner?  What prize do your children see for themselves at the end?  As they get older, ask them.  Let them have a say(within reason) in what they want for their lives.  Then, begin to run toward that goal with them.

Are you training your whole body and those  of your children?  A great runner doesn’t just work on his legs but works his core and arms and trains his mind for the long run.  How are we training the minds of our children?  Are they getting a well rounded education?  Are we teaching them self-control?  I think that is a fruit of the Spirit that is sorely lacking in the world and I realize that it is sorely lacking in me.  Do we have our kids training for the long haul?  Do we have around us a great cloud of witnesses to bolster us when we fall?  Do our kids have friends that are racing for the same prize?  Moses had people hold his arms up when he could no longer do it himself.  Jesus had the disciples accompany him to pray for Him.  We know from scripture that they fell asleep. TWICE!  When He needed them the most, they were sleeping.  They couldn’t endure!  Imagine how they felt when they knew what He had to endure.  He was headed to torture and death and they were sleeping.  Sometimes, I feel like I am sleeping.  I feel Jesus tell me, “You couldn’t even stay awake for 1 hour.  Look at what I have entrusted to you.  Be vigilant!”  Persevere!

Many of you know my story of AJay and I won’t bore you with the details but suffice it to say that at 10 weeks pregnant, we were told that there was a 50/50 chance that the baby and I could die.  At 19 weeks I went on bed rest.  At 23 weeks, my waters broke and I entered the hospital.  The Lord brought to mind Romans 5.  We will all suffer trials!  But suffering brings perseverance, perseverance character, character brings hope and hope never disappoints! For 11 weeks, I lay in the bed at Mission while someone else mothered my other children while I carried this one child.  I let God develop my character from my perseverance during this very trying time.  What choice did I have?  2 really: 1 to be grateful for the lesson that I was being taught and to do so with grace and joy or 2 to kick, scream, cry and whine about where God had placed me.  With God’s grace, I was able to endure it with strength.  God’s strength not mine!  I was weak and He was made strong in my weakness.

Now is our time to endure, to keep running steadfast, stay up praying.  Our calling to be parents and educators can be exhausting.  It can bring trials and suffering.  We don’t get the break when our children leave us for 8 hours a day for 180 days out of the year.  What do we get instead?  We get to watch the light go on in our child’s eyes when he masters a concept.  We get to mold and shape our children into godly young people who look for something more in life than what can it benefit me.  We get the blessing of watching our children!  Yes, we only have them for a short time( about a ¼ of their lives) to make them into god-fearing, responsible, life-long learners.   How we endure during this time in their lives will be modeled by our children with theirs.  Are we persevering with grace and mercy or are we kicking, screaming, and whining? 

She Blinded Me With......

Many of you will have sung "science" in your best Thomas Dolby voice but the fill in the blank is........white thighs!  Yes, Ma'am!  Spring is sprung!  The weather is warmer.  Trees are blooming.  Flowers are poking their heads out of the ground.  My husband no longer looks like a candidate for Duck Dynasty.  His no shave November turned into no shave March. 

But, I digress.  I went for a run in my running shorts today!  I apologize to the neighbors for the absence of color that is my thigh times 2!  I could see drivers shielding their eyes!  The whiteness that emerges from a long winter covered by jeans and cords and boots is a color not on the color wheel.  It is the absence of all color at all.  And I exposed them to the world yesterday.  There was no gradual ease into it.  There was a just a cold turkey approach to the process.  That is just how I roll! 

1 bit of good news!  Because of the exercises that I have been doing this winter, at least wasn't jiggling as I ran.  Some people have asked what I do so I am going to publish my workout routine.  I do this 3-4 times per week mixed with cardio.  Apparently,I am at the age where talking about bone density is a necessity.  Weight bearing exercises help your bone density.  When did I get so old?  This will help that!

My workout:
Jumping jacks.  Start with 25-50.  I am now up to 100

Traditional squats.  I use dumbbells at 5# each to add to resistance.  Start with feet shoulder width apart. Hold weights by your side.  Stick your behind out and sit down until your thighs are parallel to the floor.  Stand back up.  That is 1.  Start with 15 in a set.

Around the worlds.  I use the aforementioned dumbbells and hold them in front of me by my legs palms facing out.  Circle your arms around until they meet over your head. Return them to starting position. That is 1 set.  Start with 12 in a set.  You can do this lying down but I do it in a standing position.   

Plie squats.  Dumbbells. Feet shoulder width apart toes pointing out.  Lower yourself down until your thighs are parallel to the ground.  Raise up into the starting position.  That is 1 rep.  Begin with 15 in a set.

Push ups.  I alternate these incline and traditional.  Start with as many as you can do.  I could only do 5 when I began.  Now, I do about 25 per set.

Secret squats.  My friend, K, showed me these and boy, howdy do they work.  I call them stripper squats as I don't know what else to call them.  Dumbbells.  Feet shoulder width apart.  Lower yourself into a squat and remain in the static squat and raise yourself up onto your toes.  Lower your heels back to the ground all while remaining in the squat.  I wouldn't do too many of these on your 1st day because the next day you won't be able to walk.  12 reps in a set.
(I will sometimes alternate these with cross over lunges which also work the inner thighs.  Feet together.  Dumbbells. Right foot forward cross it over your left leg and lower into a lunge.)

Go back to jumping jacks and begin again.  3 sets of each in all.  I, now, do 60 squats, plies, and secret squats in each set with 25 around the worlds and 25 push ups.  Not easy but my behind and thighs thank me for it.  Yours will, too!  Leave a comment and let me know if you tried it.

How My Bum Saved My Life & and other funny stuff

When I visit my husband's small hometown in rural South Carolina, I am a minority.  No, I am not a Yankee.  Though, I do hail from the upstate of SC and I was born in NC so that might very well qualify me but that isn't what I mean.  I am very aware when I am here that I am among the 10% of the 770+ of the population that has white skin.  How do I know?  Well, usually someone lets me know.  Today, when I was running, I heard someone call me a "white bred beauty"(beauty was not the word used).  I thought about typing in "white bread" cause y'all know that I am about the same color as Wonder Bread.  I was, also, referred to as a skinny, white Princess(also, not the word used).  I had my head phones on so, I pretended not to hear.  As the car passed me, I did hear him say that I had a nice bottom(again, not his chosen word) so, I was ok.  Do you hear me breathing a sigh of relief?

Apparently, my bum is not just a life saver but it might have peace bringing powers.  Because, just at that moment a car from the rival gang(I could tell by the less than friendly gestures passed back & forth) drove by the other car.  As the new car passed, several young men were pouring forth compliments to my derriere.  Again, I ignored them.  However, since the 2 rivals agreed on that then, maybe, just maybe, there is hope!  What did I do with the number to the UN?

I kept on running and completed 4 miles and if you have never run or exercised in the deep south in August, then you have missed out on a treat.  A treat if you consider pouring sweat and breathing in pudding a good time.  I think that I should get extra credit for running in this harsh environment.  I mean extra extra credit, like a piece of cake or something.  Yummy!  Tastes delicious!  Another great treat is the way it smells on the day before trash pick up day!   WOW!  I was looking around like I was on CSI searching for the dead body buried somewhere.  If you know anything about humidity, then you know that smells don't travel far on the thick, wet air.  Oh my!  My lungs were burning and my eyes were tearing!  It was as overwhelming as too much lemon in your sweet tea.  Just ruins everything! 

I am going back home to my sweet, thin mountain air and boy I can't wait!  I will take the hills and the little things like the ability to breathe over flat land and heavy air anyday!  But, as for my peace making skills, I will be working on those "butt" not too much as I might need my bum to save my life!

Running With the Cows

I am in bit of a slump so I an pulling out some oldies but goodies!  This is 1 of my favorite humor pieces I wrote several years ago when I began running.  I hope you enjoy.  The original post is here!

I know that you have heard of the running of the bulls. This event takes place in the summer all over Spain. Crazy people don their finest white outfits and stand in front of angry, hateful bulls. A rocket is fired and then, they’re off. They run through the streets and try desperately to avoid the horns of the aforementioned, angry bulls. At any time the runners can get off the street by jumping over fences that are meant to keep the bulls out of the proverbial china shops. Success is getting the bulls through the corrida, or bull ring with none of the participants dying.

What you may not have heard of is the running of the cows. This takes place several times per week in my neighborhood. The crazy runner dons her finest sweat attire and sneakers and stands out in front of her home. She adjusts her IPod to the sweet music that will get her through the dangerous twists and turns. She presses play and is off. She begins the run at a fast paced walk to get her muscles warm. Then, she begins to run. What people don’t realize is the peril that awaits her and any passersby. She is a nursing mom. Now, the ramifications of this may not be clear. When she began to nurse, her breasts grew to a proportion that she had not expected. Nursing bras are not known for their great support of the girls. As she runs, the ta-tas begin their own journey. Instead of going forward, they move up and down at an awkward trajectory. She is danger of losing an eye or at least, popping herself in the jaw and biting down on her own tongue. Once, they begin the bounce, stopping them is difficult. There could people who get too close and experience a knock out punch that would make Mohammed Ali jealous. Still, despite the slamming on her stomach and chest, she continues to run. She needs to lose the weight that the baby caused her to gain(as if he forced her to eat a whole chocolate cake in 1 sitting?. At any time, she could get off the street by jumping into neighbors’ yards and sitting for a spell. But, the neighbors probably wouldn’t want her to damage their windows or trees. Success, for her, is getting herself and her chest through her yard and into her home with no one in the neighborhood dying or losing an azalea bush. While her event is not televised, unless someone gets it onto You Tube, it’s counterpart in Spain is widely broadcast and sometimes makes it onto one of those funniest video shows. At the end of the running of the bulls, a bull cow is brought out for one final battle. Well, her American version starts with the cow and ends with the cow for she must go in and nurse her baby. Unlike the bulls, she isn’t put to death for her magnificent run but she probably wishes that she were. Maybe, just for the time being, she’ll just walk with the cows. That might be safer.

'Fess Up Friday

Mamarazzi is taking a break but sadly I cannot quit confessing!  So here goes.  Check out Aubrey and High-Heeled Love(who doesn't love this name?).  She is hosting the confessional while Mama maxes and relaxes for the summer!

I confess that I loved the Mud Run on Sunday. 

I confess that it was a baby on comparison to some of the others I have seen.

I confess that it was not a baby to my thighs, calves, and forearms.

I confess that I want to run a 5K soon.

I confess that I have been hearing the theme from "Good Luck Charlie" in my head and dreams.

I confess that we have been lazy this summer and this isn't on my list of things to do!

I confess that I we need some time away from the kids!

I confess that they need to go to Camp Grandma's for a few days!

I confess that I need to lose about 10-15 lbs and I am not above radical dieting to do it!  Watch out Grumpy times are a-comin'!

What are you confessing this week?  Just cause Mama is vacating doesn't mean you have to!

Yes, I Am Mad Enough!

Mad!  In this case, it is not a negatively used word for an insane person nor is it used to indicate my anger level.  This word is used this time for the state of mind that I and 1299 other people were in to run the Mad Mountain Mud Run.  "Why, oh why would you do something like that?" I can hear you ask.  Well, I love to compete and a mud run is something I have never done.  My friend, Cecelia, got together a team and asked me if I was interested and I said sure.  So off we went.  Since we had never done 1, training was difficult.  We ran!  We did lunges and squats and push-ups.  We read websites about other mud runs.  Nothing and I mean nothing can prepare you for the 1st time your shoes sink deeply into the mud.  The squishing and sliding of the mud between your toes while your toes are tightly tied into your shoes is a feeling that I  have never experienced.  Climbing a HUGE mountain of mulch and then coming down the other side only to realize that there is another BIGGER mountain of mulch to climb over. We crawled through pipes and over haystacks and waded through streams and belly crawled through mud and under barbed wire.  We jumped over and climbed under logs and ran for long periods of time.  My team totally rocked the monkey bars(all except for me, I only did 4). 

My team rocked period!!!!!  We stayed together and worked together.  We encouraged one another and laughed and moaned and jumped and ran and did it all together!  I am truly blessed to have great friends like these!  These Superheroine MudPies rocked the house!  Batgirl, Supergirl, Mudonna, and Black Widow kicked that course's butt and took its name.  We set a goal to run it in under an hour and we did!  1 team member had never run a race of any sort and was not a runner but she is physically strong.  The others of us run but are not necessarily as strong. 
So, what did I learn?  Team work is really, really important.  Not just for the race but for our self-confidence.  We had a friend whose team left her behind at the end and she was disheartened.  I learned that I can do something very hard and finish and finish strong and with a smile!  I learned that as women, we all have different strengths.  If we can pool those strengths, we can conquer the world or at least this 3.5 mile part of the world.  I learned that I indeed need to lose about 10-15 more lbs.  I felt my weight on the things I had to climb and the monkey bars.  I guess P90X is in my future!  I learned that people really want to get dirty.  Yes, yes we do!  It was fun to get muddy and wet and sweaty and not worry about clothes or hair.  My kids had a blast playing in the water and mud. 

Before...Supergirl, Black Widow, Mudonna(look at cone bra), Batgirl

After!

That is what made this race different.  There was a family festival where the families of competitors could play tug of war or muddy volleyball.  There were bands and food and beer and refreshments.  It was a great time and I am ready to sign up for next year!  So is my hubby!  He said that as soon as we walked up, he regretted not doing it.  Well, we are gonna do it again.  My daughter wants to run it but the minimum age is 12!  So, she wants to do a 5K with me!  Yea!  This was a family affair!  What a great time! BTW, did I mention that all the proceeds went to the local Hands On! Childrens' Museum?  No?  Well I meant to!  Are you mad enough!

Rain and Hot Chocolate

No this is not some cheesy 70s love song.  It describes my day on Saturday!  I ran my 1st 10K(6.3 miles) called the Hot Chocolate 10K in Asheville, NC.  I signed up with my friend Mollie and began to train.  The big day came and of course the weather man was calling for torrential downpours.  I wasn't thrilled but hey it wasn't snow was it?  We got there early and got our shirts and began to warm up and, of course, go pee multiple times before it started.  We both ran into some friends there which was amazing considering there were 1300 racers.
They lined us up and we stayed near the back.  There was no way I could finish in under an hour.  So far, the rain is holding and I am ready to go! I put in my ear buds and get pumped up!  The gun goes off and so do we.  The course takes us down a big hill which I know will be agonizing on the way back to the finish line.  We go by the river and through the park(the rain starts to fall in earnest) and back by the river.  Twelve Bones is a BBQ joint we pass on the way out and the way in.  Thank God there were no smells of pork cooking or my time would have been so much longer!  I can run and eat some ribs, right?
As we come to the 6 mile marker, we must begin heading up the hill.  It seems to have grown in the hour I have been gone!  What fresh hell is this?  What sadist thought that this was a good idea?  People are cheering and I am soaked.  I don't know where Mollie is.  I know she is close!  The only thing I can focus on is the timer at the finish line.  You see, I had set a personal goal of 1 hour and 10 minutes.  That timer said 1 hour and 4 minutes!  I began to sprint up that hill!  To shave 5 minutes off my time would be even better and would make being drenched to the bone worth it!  I did it!  I finished in 1 hour 4 minutes and 40 seconds!  Woo Hoo!  Way to go!  That is not a winning time for this race but I feel like a winner.  My knee wasn't hurting and I didn't die so yea!  Until Saturday, I had never run that far before at 1 time!  Now I have!  Maybe I can tackle a half marathon! 

After we finished!  We looked like drowned rats! I am on the left!