No room for running!
I hate it more than you, though not naturally, but I also love it more too! Today I went for a run, against the wind, with 2 children in a jogging stroller, and a dog on a leash. I ran 3 1/2 miles that way, until Victoria wanted to get out and run. Then the dog who I let be free turned her freedom into the worst kind of confinement. I ended up pushing home 2 children and a dog, who all then piled into our Town and Country and headed deep into the city to 1 of 2 Veterinarians open on a Sunday. It was like going to an emergency room at a regular hospital, except that they were amazingly nice and helpful! I felt terrible for my dog, but all in all it was the best possible experience. She ended up not having broken her foot, and she was able to be picked up at 10:30 instead of being there all night :) I was glad to bring my baby home. It sucked that I only ran a little less than 8 miles that day, but sometimes life just has to go on and it doesn't have room for running!
Our Easter Dinner and 2nd Dessert
For Easter dinner yesterday I had shopped and planned all week. I searched high and low to find an UNcooked ham. Adam's aunt had hand written me a page long recipee for her Coors Ham that we ate for Christmas at her house. She is new to the family and boy did she win me over, not only did she hand write the recipe, but she did it immediately and while she had several guests in her home. The fact that she was willing to give me the recipe alone and then that she went through the inconvience of getting to me was even cooler. Back to my holiday plans. This was the first holiday that I would be hosting with my side of the family that live here in Las Vegas. Adam's mom, sister and brother would join us later after their church service was over. I had carrot napkins to hold my utensils, made sure I had enough dinner plates to go around, and spiffed up the yard and house. For most of my family this would be the first time they had been to our new home of almost 2 1/2 years. I guess I should have hosted a long time ago! Anyways, on Saturday I got the first call of cancellation, by the end of it all we were down to Adam, I and the kids. Adam did not make assumptions that I had of dinner plans and invited my friend, Sara. So, by the time Easter dinner was done I had entirely different dinner guests, but perfect dinner guests. Sara, hers and John's children, and her 3 Icelandic family members, and my mother-in-law who couldn't make it to church that day because of health complications sat down to dinner with myself, Adam and the kids. His br0ther stopped for a minute, but had already eaten. So he hung with us for a few minutes. Although my "Ham" ended up being PORK, yes I know ham is pork, but all pork is not ham, and it wasn't until I cut into it and it wouldn't slice, but crumbled that I reallized that I didn't have what the butcher's assistant at Vons told me I did. Let me tell you in the Whole Pork Leg I found not one bite of HAM.
Dinner other than not having ham went off without a hitch. Kala especially loved my jello eggs, and my mother-in-law especially enjoyed Sara's Icelandic cake. I made a chocoholic cake whose name Sara's aunt laughed heartily at. I'm not sure how it translated, but it must have been funny. Her aunt ended up enjoying my cake more than anyone else I'm pretty sure she had seconds. When Sara left to put the girls to bed we stopped at Adam's sisters just to visit for the holiday and they ended up turning off their movie they were watching and we visited eating a second dessert and talking for like 2 1/2 hours. We just thought we'd stop for a 1/2 hour, maybe an hour, but both company and conversation were so excellent that we had a hard time pulling ourselves away to get Victoria home for bed. She did have school in the morning. Easter was awesome. I fell asleep with my head on Adam's chest while a movie I picked out, that he has been suggesting for weeks played. I had a wonderful day, awesome friends and family, phone calls to and from people we couldn't spend the holiday with, plenty of exercise, yummy healthy food, and delicious desserts twice, and it all ended comfortably, tucked into my cozy bed cuddled up next to my favorite person. What a day! Thank you for rising from the dead for more than one reason, Lord! You Rock in so many ways! Thank you for the blessings!
Thank you Heidi!
During the first 7 miles of our run yesterday, Adam and I ran together with Kenny. Ginger our dog had also joined us. She was our pace dog ;) After the first lap we had learned the rigors of our route. The first 3 1/2 miles were a slow steady uphill grade, not too bad knowing that immediately following were 3 1/2 miles down. However, though I had run this route before it had never been as windy as it was yesterday! The wind blew so hard that at times it threatened to blow us off the road. The one consolation is that while it wasn't intensly hot it was warm, but the wind spared us of the heats usual effect on the human body. At the end of that first lap Kenny turned around and headed out on number 2, while Adam and I went in the house for replenishment. (gatorade, other electrolyte replacement, and water)
We were able to see time today. When we headed out for lap number 2 we could see how far behind Kenny we were after our short stop. He had about a 1600 foot advantage on us, which he maintained for the entire run. In fact he increased his advantage by not stopping after the second 7 miles either. Kenny is a machine!
During our 2nd and most of our 3rd lap Adam and I ran together. While on the 2nd Adam got so frustrated with the wind that he began yelling. He was really mad. I thought why waste your energy that way? Pour it into your run, face the challenge, and run harder! Besides being a little perturbed thinking he wouldn't be losing it like this if he was running with Kenny, until we reached Kenny and he admitted to doing the same thing, and then I knew it must be a man thing.
I had a different perspective though, thanks to a friend, Heidi. To begin the Easter celebration of resurrection, the people that we gather together with to worship God met together to watch the sun rise. After the sun we shared some thoughts, then some refreshment. Heidi, had shared something that encouraged me to watched for God in the things going on around me, and as I ran I could feel God in that wind. On the way up the hill the 3rd time He gave me some lift, encouraging me to continue and cooled my back. However it during the 2nd lap that I reallized it was the power of God in that wind that made me enjoy it so much. Even when my downhill slope should have been easier, but wasn't with the wind blowing in my face. I knew I was feeling the power of God in that wind and while it was difficult I know He was challenging me, and I felt that wind swoop me up and carry me away. I was working to get down that hill, but it didn't really feel like work. I was inspired to face the challenge and I had more energy on that run, than I have had since months ago when we ran a simple 12. I left Adam after making sure he was cool with running alone and finished the last 2 miles strong. It was not my might, nor by my strength, but it was awesome to have been swept away. I didn't even need old people Icy Hot when I was done! Yes, ordinarily I put it on after a Sunday long run, I am getting old. I'm not there and might never be, but I'm not 17 any more!
Not enough of a good thing
I came across some little notecards the other day that said, "There's never too much of a good thing." Although I don't agree with this statement in all situations, last night I found myself wanting more of a good thing. Adam had put on a cologne that I know we cannot buy anymore. It was made by Bath and Body Works, Bergamot Coriander. It smelled so good and I just try and savor the scent. We watched a movie that I do not want to savor, Brokeback Mountain. I have a hard time watching cheaters, and that's all I have to say about that. That movie made me sad. I don't think it was worthy of all the awards it won. It was O.K. The scenery was beautiful, but it was hard to see what was always going on and hard to hear. It was not some end all be all love story that even made me feel something for the lead characters. It was a lot of supporting characters being betrayed by the 2 leads that were not very honest. I kind of wished I hadn't watched it at all. I am not against people who make decisions that make their lives miserable, but it is really hard to watch it in the movies and even harder in real life. May God continue to bless the lives and marriages of those I love and may He work in the lives of those who make vows to love, honor and cherish and don't honor those vows. I am so greatful that the love Adam and I share is not something that runs out or has to be bought. It seems the more we give the more loves there is to give and recieve. It's something replenishable that we can never have too much, though I will do my best to always cherish what I have.
