Run Karen Run

I just got back from a run.

Did you know I'm a runner?

Well, I'm not a runner but I'm slowly learning to be one. I've always been intimidated by running and have told myself (and everyone else) for years that I could not and would not ever be a runner.

I can't breathe right. It hurts my back. I don't enjoy it.

But this morning, I proved myself wrong. Something I LOVE doing. I enjoyed my run. I breathed just fine. My back feels great. And even more than all that, I am appreciative of what my body was able to do. And I appreciate that I can show my children that hard things can be done, that hard work pays off, and that all that matters is that we try.

The other part of my run that I loved was the music. Every morning, Lindsay and I walk together and it has become a lifeline for me. We take turns being each other's therapist (although it usually leans in my favor as that girl is a wise one and has brilliant insights) and I love coming away each morning feeling like I'm known. My girlfriend Erica commented to me a few weeks back that I see her and what a gift that is, to be seen and I couldn't agree more. Lindsay knows me and sees me and I am blessed to be surrounded by people who take in all of me and love me regardless. And so while having an exercise partner is lovely, it's the time spent talking and building each other up that I've really come to rely on. But this morning, after talking for two miles, we put on our headphones and turned up the music to help us run. And I got lost in the music and my run flew by.

I love that. Getting lost in music. It's always amazing to me how music can carry you from one place to another and it was essential for me this morning. I've been bogged down in my own head for a few weeks now but I feel like I ran it out. My head is clear, my confidence is returning, and it will all be okay.

Who knew a run could do all that?


My favorite track from this morning's run? Here.

If Only We Could Clone Him

Yesterday was my husband's birthday.

And I didn't write about it yesterday because I didn't know what to say about him.


Other than Happy Birthday, which is sweet but doesn't really say it all.


What do you say about the man who gets better year after year? The man who becomes more generous, more selfless, more focused and devoted to his family? The man who bends over backwards to take care of those around him? The man who consistently comes up with ways to make my life easier? The man who shows his children every single day how much he loves them by investing all of his time and energies into them? The man who has spent the last week laying 400 square feet of concrete, preparing a talk for church this morning, dealing with a flooded basement at one of our rental houses, visiting the doctor for a certain "snip" procedure, and holding down the fort so I could Relay my buns off, all without one single complaint or whine?

I guess you say Happy Birthday my love. You are everything to this family. We would be lost without you and I thank my stars for you everyday. I hope your 36th year is the best one yet.

Two.

Dear Austin,

Two years ago you came to our family. We didn't know we were missing you until you arrived. You've shown each of us how to love in a whole other capacity and we are grateful for you every single day. I hope you continue on just as you are now: full of wonder, eager to smile, devastatingly sweet, mischievous, breathtakingly shy, and with enough personality to light up every room you're in. The rest of us have an intense love for you and you seem to know how much we needed you. You have completed me as a mother and made me work harder than ever to be all that you deserve. I love you, sweet son, and wish you the happiest of birthdays.



Love,
Mama

One Last Call

Did you know...

Approximately 1,529,560 new cancer patients will be diagnosed this year?

569,450 people are expected to die this year from cancer, about 1,500 people per day?

we will spend upwards of $263 billion fighting cancer?

And that's only in America.

Our Relay For Life is only two days away so I'm making one final push. Please donate what you can so we have the chance to drastically change those statistics. Every dollar counts and every dollar is appreciated.

Click here to make a difference.



*Statistics found here. Picture via here

A Day Late And Many Dollars Short

Yesterday was my dear friend Erica's birthday.

But it was also the last day of school and I was distracted with a capital D.

But Erica deserves a ticker tape parade and a private concert by the Beatles for her birthday so I couldn't let the day pass without my two cents.

So here goes.

Erica was my first friend when I transferred high schools as a Junior, something I do not recommend. We could not have been more different upon meeting but we took each other in and formed a friendship like no other.

Erica was my first roommate when I went away to college. We lived like an old married couple and loved every minute.




Erica is one of my tall and beautiful girlfriends. (I'm blessed with several.) I used to be intimidated by her beauty but she has always made me feel just as tall and just as beautiful.


Erica and I have a soul connection that will be in place for our entire lives. She is wickedly smart, hilariously funny, charmingly quirky, unfailingly loyal, and 100% true to herself. She mothers like no one's business and provides experiences for her kids that don't even occur to most people. She has a love of world travel, thought-provoking books, perfectly cooked asparagus and would spend all day hiking if she could. Her outward beauty pales in comparison to the woman she is and I wish her the best this life has to offer on what is now the day after her 35th birthday.

Happy Birthday E-Dogg. Thanks for being one of my girls. I love you.

Take That Mr. Jobs

Did I mention I got a Droid?

DROID!!!!!

It is my new best friend.

It is a gigantic chocolate and peanut butter piece of awesomeness.

If it were a movie, it would win the Oscar.

If it were a date, it would be a private-jet-to-Venice-for-dinner.

If it were music, it would be Yo-Yo Ma playing for Andrea Bocelli.

It is the Brad Pitt/Taye Diggs/Matthew McConaughey of phones.

I am in love.

All my ranting and raving about the iPhone finally caught up with me and I was given a Droid by my loving husband.

And it has never dropped a call (which AT&T did for us about 7 times an hour.)

And it doesn't cost us $100 a month.

And it does everything that an iPhone can do, and then some.

Oh yes, iPhone lovers of the world, I said it.

It's amazing to me all the things that it can do and I am taking full advantage of all it has to offer. Just this morning, a polite little British man (whom I've named Simon) talked me through my workout, letting me know my time, my speed, when I needed to pick it up a bit, etc. And I did! Simon really spurned us on! Lindsay and I had a fabulous morning thanks to Simon.

And I love the co-pilot feature. I love the silly little games and how easy it is to use. And how I can browse Facebook or my blog roll any time I have time to kill, which is frequent (it is baseball season after all.) And I love that once again, The Rizz waited me out and got us both Droids for a whole lot less instead of giving in to my constant and unrelenting iPhone whining.

That man is a genius.

How Time Flies When You're Too Busy To Remember What Day It Is

What the June is going on?

Really? June? Not sure how that happened exactly but since you're here and packed to the gills with fun and food and celebrations and Relay's, well, I say howdy-do to you.

So glad you made it.

As is the norm around here, we've been busy, busy, busy. We ran off to Portland two weeks ago to swim with cousins, eat with family, shop with sisters and amuse (read: ANNOY) the staff and community at large of the Waterford Retirement and Assisted Living Facility.

I'll tell you what: I'm ready to move into that place right. now. (The Waterford, not Portland, although I do love it there.) That place is a-mazing. It's beautifully furnished and comes complete with a beauty parlor, coffee shop, bank, internet cafe, swimming pool, card room, elevator and restaurant. How much easier would my life be if I could just worry about getting myself dressed each day and then rolling down the hall in my scooter and join my friends for a day of socializing and leisure? Although I'd probably never make it down to breakfast in time because I'm sure that even in my 70's, I'll still be wasting time in front of the mirror trying to decide what to wear.

Some things never change.

After Portland we came back home to that crazy time of year known as The Last Two Weeks Of School. Everyone around here goes crazy with anticipation as the summer looms over us, teasing us with all it has to offer. It's a wonder we get anything done. We have much planned for the next few months, including trips to here, here and here. Throw in lots of time in the pool and about 50 backyard BBQ's, and we'll be all set.

Yesterday we made the rounds of graduation which is basically a day where The Rizz and I stuff ourselves silly as we go from house to house. We only ended up making it to four parties yesterday but they were all wonderful. My favorite part? Besides the Costco cake? Parents of happy graduates coming up to me and telling me how much my husband influenced their child's life.

"So and so is going to study chemistry at college you know, all because of your husband."

"My son said that Mr. J was hands down his favorite teacher over his entire school career."

"Your hubs was a lifesaver for my child after his father died. We would have been lost without him."

I know I'm bragging and being prideful but I can't help it. If you have a child who will ever go to high school, you should plan on moving here just so they can have my hubs as a teacher. He's amazing.

And my little Squish also had her very first ballet recital yesterday and I might have cried just a titch as she made her way across the stage. She had been scared to death to do this but did it with gusto and a huge smile on her face. She and her best bud Kaiya was beautiful.


See?



Told you.

My mother was also here last week and I know I've said it before but can I just say that that woman is a LIFESAVER? Seriously, she cooked, she cleaned, she loved on my kids and made them each feel so special and loved. She watched them all so Rizz and I could run around yesterday congratulating everyone and did it all with a smile on her face. My kids LUCKED OUT in the grandmother department. They have two of the very best I know.

This week will bring us more baseball, end of the year parties, one last ballet class, a father/son campout and a quick trip to Seattle. And we're ready for it all.

Welcome June. We've been waiting for you.