Running is So Mental!

So, wanna play a mental game?

Forget your ipod. I did. Three miles: check.

His Pain is My Gain!!

Yahoo!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I owe Steve a big "thank you"; because of him, I am coming to Maine for sure!!

Right now Steve is sitting in the Denver airport waving goodbye to his flight. He was bumped from his flight and given some major incentives. One of which is a voucher for a free flight anywhere in the continental United States. Wahoo! I will be there for sure! I am in!

But because of this, Steve has to sit in the Denver airport for 3 hours more. He will reach Chicago and get to his hotel about 1 a.m. And, then he has to be at the airport around 5:30 a.m. to reach his final flight to Peoria. What a pain; I am so sorry!

I am sooooooo excited that I will be in Maine! That I get to run the race with 5 other family members. It will be something I remember for a long time.

Failure For a Day, Loser for a Life

On the way home from the gym this morning, I was listening to Glenn Beck. I came in midway through a monologue, but I feel like I caught the part I needed to hear. Glenn Beck was talking about people wanting it easy. No one wants to work for anything anymore. Then he segwayed to a man who had known what he wanted to do with his life, even as a little child. He loved candy and wanted to open his own candy shop. He opened one in Pennsylvania. It failed. He tried again in Chicago. He failed. He tried again in New York. He failed. He wanted to give up. After a pep talk from his mom, he decided to try again. This time, because of a lack of money, he decided to try in the country. Which lead to being surrounded by cows. Which made him wonder if milk would make his candy better. It did. And Milton Hershey became a success.

Glenn Beck then went on to talk about failure, and being a failure versus a loser.

I took heart.

You see, yesterday I received and email from my brother's wife, who is also my friend. In the email she was asking if we (my twin and me) wanted to do a 1/2 marathon with her and our cousin. She turns 40 in June of next year and wants to be physically and spiritually better than she is now. Immediately wanting to support her in this goal, I emailed back that I was in.

Immediately, I had "runner's remorse".

Last night and this morning, I have been plagued by doubt about my ability to do this.

I have been running for the past year and am very comfortable with the 3-5 mile range.

13 miles seems so long.

After this morning, I realize it is better to be a failure trying than to be a loser always wondering what if. Wish me luck...I hope I don't die trying.

Go TEAM Cousins!!

Customer Service

It really begs the question: Who are they serving? Is it the company they are working for or is it us the true customers?

I really think its the company they work for!

So, you see, our phone has been partially out of working order since Monday. I can place calls out, but no one can call in. (Actually, its been kind of nice.) However, what if...

On Wednesday, I place the dreaded call to Customer Service. At first, I was happily surprised; I didn't have to go through the myriad of if you want this, then press 1; if you want this, then press 2. I actually reached a person after only pressing 1 once. Yah, that's where any happiness ended. All the person could tell me was that the problem would be fixed within 72 hours. Umm...sorry to tell you, it's already been going on for 72 hours. I know, it was the pat answer they give everyone. And, when I asked her what if it wasn't fixed within 72 hours, then what? Like a rot machine all she could say was: it will be fixed within 72 hours. At this point, and maybe from the beginning, all I wanted her to say was: I am sorry that your phone isn't working. Let's see what is going on. That wasn't going to happen. I know it's not her fault, but she does work for the company that provides my phone service. Or, at least she did.

So, this morning, Saturday, I call again because our phone was still only partially working. This time the guy tells me that they can't guarantee a resolution time. But, hey, they are offering a temporary number. So, I asked the guy: Are you going to, out of your good conscious, give me a credit on my bill? Or do I need to call? No, I needed to contact billing for that. Um...yah...wouldn't want customer service to actually do anything for the customer. Oh ya, and no empathy from him either. I tell you, it really goes a long way. After his lack of empathy, I couldn't handle it anymore. I asked him to cancel our service. He said I needed to email billing for that. I insisted he get me his manager. He insisted he couldn't. I did the unmentionable, and I swore at him. Right before I hung up.

So, it was great glee, when a few moments later, I heard Steve say: No wonder my wife got frustrated with you. Satisfaction. So that guy and girl, now work for the company that used to give us our phone service. Satisfaction.

So, it begs the question: Who does customer service really work for?

Prayers Needed Please

As many of you know, I am the only little bird that has left the nest. All of my family still lives in Maryland, and I live in Utah. Being away from my family is hard. It's hard for me to miss the birthday parties, the swim meets, the Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas mornings and any other fun thing that is going on.

But, it has always been even harder for me not to be there during the hard times. My extended family has gone through some trials: we lost one baby boy way too early; we almost lost another baby boy due to pneumonia; my brother has had many complications because of his diabetes; and we lost a beloved uncle to cancer. And, I have been here. In Utah. 2500 miles away. I have always felt like there was nothing I could do. I hate that helpless feeling!

But, I could always offer my prayers for them.

I don't really know who reads my blog; I assume it's mostly friends and family. So, most of you may know about Austin Shamy already. In case you don't know, he is a darling, 2 year-old who has been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. He needs our prayers. I have a strong testimony on prayer. Please, take the time to remember him in your prayers. They will help.

If you are more interested in learning about this journey for this Spiderman loving little boy and his family, click here. Warning, make sure you have a box of Kleenex beside you.

My Heart Will Ache

This post started one day when I walked into my bathroom. Seems ordinary enough. It is.

Except for that it was right after my kiddos had taken a bath. And as always they were playing with bath toys. This time, walking into the bathroom, instead of seeing a "mess" to clean, my heart went right into my throat. I was touched by the toys on the rim of my tub, and the play that must have occured during the bath.

I didn't see it.

I was cooking dinner.

But, I know; I know because I've seen them engaged in this type of play before.

And, I love it.

And, I know that it won't last for much longer. Because, you see, no one responded. No one seems to know how to stop time.

So, this incident started the wheels turning about what else would I miss when my children aren't so little anymore. I could only capture a few on camera. Well, how do you really capture the essence of babies and children on camera? It is and it isn't these specific things, but also what they represent: the creative play, a time of innocence, and especially the pure love. And, so much more.

Here is what I was able to capture:

Pic 1: the toys on the tub as I found them that day.

Pic 2: The play where ordinary objects serve in a different way than intended. For example, Laney's "purse" that she takes with us everywhere. It's really a tooth fairy pillow. Laney's a girly girl and anytime I ask her to get her shoes on she returns with her shoes on and her purse on her arm. Or Tyler's pencils being used as a wand to play Harry Potter.

Pic 3: the size of little hands. I have always loved when my children would place their little hands on the side of my face or rub my arm. And, who can forget the hands under the door. There is just something about those little hands.

Pic 4: We are always finding pictures on our bed from Ethan.

Pic 5: Little panties and little bums. What is it about little bums? Whenever I find myself holding babies, I always pat their bums. And diapers on bums, especially when they start learning to crawl are soooo cute to me.

Pic 6: Tyler is a list guy, just like his dad and grandma. This one made me laugh so hard. He complied a list of pets that don't have fur (due to Steve's allergies.) Then at the bottom he said: Please, I even have names for them. Too cute!

Pic 7: Along with the little hands it's the little feet. Especially the little pitter patter they make as they run and play happily around the house. I will miss this so much!

Pic 8: Laney is such a little mom. She loves her dolls. Espeically "Ca" (short for Jessica) who she got for her birthday. And she loves to put them to sleep anywhere, as long as there are covers! I found these babies in my bed one day and it was so cute to me.

Pic 9: Along with pictures, we find love notes from Ethan. Usually left on our pillows so that we can find them as we are going to bed. I have found too many to count. He is such a such a cuddle bear with a big heart!

The Awesome 80s Prom Party Update

So, I am eating crow.

It was such a fun night!

We had a blast dancing to Push It, Thriller, Like A Virgin, Poison, and many other 80s hits.

The setting was perfect. It was a warehouse very Footloose-esque. Decorated with streamers, lights, confetti stars on the floor and complete with a disco ball. They even had the photography station set up just like prom. We smiled for the camera.

Dressing up was actually so fun for me this time. No really, I mean it. Maybe it was because my boys kept telling me I looked HOT! Or maybe because I am an 80s girl at heart. It brought back so many memories of putting on the blue eye shadow, the side ponytail, and the big earrings. What a blast from the past!

Thanks to our very nice neighbors who happened to be walking by at just the right time to take pictures for us! We appreciated it so much!