* Be Kind * Work Hard * Have Joy * Be True *: 08/01/2009

Sunday, August 23, 2009

What a RUSH!!!

I participated in my first ever triathlon, THE RUSH, last Saturday and it was AMAZING! I loved it. I feel really strong and proud of myself for accomplishing something that was so hard. I trained all summer and the early morning bike rides, runs and swims really paid off. I felt confident in myself at the beginning of the race because I knew that I had done all that I could do to prepare.

My final time was:

2 hours, 9 minutes, 55 seconds.

I'm ready to have a go at it again next year and I'm hoping to shave a few minutes off. In fact, I think I'm "triathlon hooked" and my goal is to do three next summer. Then, the summer after that, I'd like to train for the Olympic distance. (1 mile swim, 26 mile bike, 6 mile run.)

I think one of the greatest parts of this whole experience was training with my girlfriends. Even though our training sessions weren't always together, I knew that we were in it together. I gained great strength from knowing that I wasn't alone. We each overcame our own weaknesses and I learned so much from watching every one's growth. I am so proud of these ladies and I feel truly blessed to call them my partners and friends!

Our numbers and ages were marked on our calves and arms and we felt pretty tough. I was none too sad when my markings were still visible the next day at church! (I know, I'm so vain. But I think I earned a few minutes to feel boastful!)

Shelli, me, Jaci, Kris

Random stuff I loved, learned, or want to remember for next time:

When they say, "don't do anything new or change anything from your training the night before the race," they MEAN IT. I changed my bike seat out at the last minute because I was embarrassed that the cover on mine was all torn up. My seat did not stay in place during the ride and I had to stop twice to have it fixed. grrrr. Darn pride got in the way that time.
I would love a road bike but don't necessarily NEED one. I did just fine on my Grandma Bigelow's old cruiser! I think Grandpa was watching from heaven!
But...I still WANT a road bike.
I should wear a different color swim cap than everyone else so I'm visible to my family while in the water.
Triathletes come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Anyone who works hard enough can do a triathlon. The oldest competitor there (that I saw) was 69 and did the olympic length.
I have "cheerleader in my genes," as one friend put it. I loved cheering people on and couldn't pass, or be passed by anyone without giving them a little shout out! All the competitors had a very friendly camaraderie and that made the race so enjoyable.
Eat a good meal as soon as I'm done.
Train more hills for the run. That was tough.
Don't do cheesy thumbs up and victory arms every time you see the professional photographers. See for yourself. It's embarrassing.
Don't dawdle in the transition areas. You can still enjoy the moment without wasting so much time!
Volunteer for more "stuff." All the helpers weer so nice and helpful. The race couldn't have taken place without them. (What would Rexburg do without the LDS missionaries? They were all there!)
Even though I look no better in spandex then I did a few months ago, I can wear them with pride now because I feel like an athlete and I worked my rear off. SPANDEX PRIDE!!!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

I'm not sure I can do this for another 11 years.

This post could also be titled:

Do you suppose I'll cry when I send her to school EVERY year?
7:30 in the morning until 3:30 in the afternoon is a long time.
First grade = Lots of Firsts.
Will she find her classroom?
Will she eat her lunch?
She's not big enough to go to 1st grade. Her backpack is bigger than she is.
I hope she's not as nervous as I am.
Is it 3:30 YET?
No, I'm not homeschooling, but I've considered it.

Well, I was hoping to do this whole post just using bullets and cute little titles, but I'm tired and that's just not working. But I want/need to be done. So, I'm going to leave what I've got and just get to the point.

The gist of it is, sending Sirri to school today was really hard for me. I worried about her all day. All day. I could list all the things I worried and fretted about but that list would be long and would probably go unfinished as well. (Plus, anyone who has ever sent a child off to school knows what I'm talking about.) I just worried.

3:42 slowly rolled around and the bus finally pulled in and guess what? It wasn't the happy ending I was looking for. I took one look at Sirri and new something was wrong. Sirri took one look at me and she was in tears. Full on alligator tears. And my heart broke. I hugged her shaking little body and could instantly feel the raging fever. Poor Sirri had spent her first day at school sick. Not to mention that she had insult added to injury when someone was mean to her on the bus. Grrrr. I really hate the bus.

I just wish all my worrying would have been in vain.

So, now I'm going to go to bed and try to sleep even though I know I'll worry about whether I should send her to school tomorrow and hope and pray that her second day can be better than her first.

Ist Grade Here I Come!

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Tinkle Tinkle in the Pot

Sung to the tune of

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Tinkle tinkle in the pot
Ready to train her mom was not
Meg is such a big girl now
She did it on her own, give her a bow
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
Ready to train her mom was not

Tinkle tinkle in the pot
A pain in my rear this was not
It's so much fun, lots of cheers we do
And now when I go potty Meg cheers me too
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
A pain in my rear this was not

Tinkle tinkle in the pot
What a cutie I have got
She loves to tell her poo, "bye! bye!"
as down the toilet it does fly
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
What a cutie I have got

Tinkle tinkle in the pot
In her undies she will not
No more diapers in my home
Now my baby seems all grown
Tinkle tinkle in the pot
In her undies she will not

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

I've never experienced the feelings people have on the anniversary of a loved one's death or of a traumatic event. It is hard for me to understand the specific struggles and emotions that particular day obviously brings. It isn't that I am feeling insensitive to or belittling their feelings, I understand them to be real, I've just been lucky enough, so far, to never have experienced them before.

But this week, I am beginning to understand.

This week is the one year anniversary of Sirri's cancer diagnosis. Of course, our story has a truly happy ending and for that our family is eternally grateful. That is why my extremely strong and absolutely heart sick emotions this week have surprised me so much.

This past week our lives and activities have been nearly identical to one year ago. The kids started soccer, we've celebrated birthdays, we attended the same family reunion in the same park, we had a doctor's appointment Monday morning. It has all been so eerily familiar that I have not been able to help but feel a bit of dejavu.

Rarely does a day go by that I don't think about Sirri's cancer. The majority of those days I laugh in the face of fear and relish in the fact that we kicked cancer's rear end. But then there are moments that the thought of a return diagnosis paralyzes me with horror. At times I can not help but think how lucky we were to dodge that bullet and I'm just waiting for the next round to strike. I hope that as the years go by the degree of dread will lessen, but I also imagine that I will have a bit of fear in my heart until the day I die.

This week has been full of those days of dread. The days that I am terrified simply by the word, "cancer." This week has been full of days with my children that are too short and long sleepless nights filled with worry. It has been a week reminding me that our lives will never be the same.

But, during Relief Society on Sunday our teacher taught about having faith through adversity and if we replace fear with faith we will feel less discouragement and heartache during our times of trial. This was truly a message from heaven for my aching heart.

As this week is winding down I'm beginning to feel more calm. Sirri had a CT scan on Monday and a visit with her oncologist today. All is still well and her prognosis continues to be that the cancer is unlikely to return. We are blessed. Truly blessed, I know.

This week I have also reflected on the people in our lives who were our life line when we needed it most. We are so blessed with wonderful family and amazing friends who may as well be. I know that Heavenly Father is watching over my family. I am thankful for the reminder this week to continue to celebrate life. I am thankful for my sweet Sirri and the rest of my family. I am thankful that this challenge, in the end, has made us stronger.

As the American Cancer Society would say, "Happy first birthday, Sirri!" Here's to MANY more.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Connor's First Fishing Trip!

This post is from dad.

(a very proud dad at that)

I decided to take the day off from work and take Connor on his first fishing trip along with grandpa Jensen and my cousin's boy John (who is 13). The day goes as follows:

Of course I have slacked this year in buying my hunting and fishing license so we needed to be up early and get to Wal-Mart and meet grandpa at 8:00. Well, see, when you tell a five year old that we are going fishing in the morning, the five year old does not sleep very well.

I woke at 5:30 to get ready for the day and to gather my fishing gear (that sadly I have not used in quite some time). I showered and got dressed and went to round up my gear. When I came back in the house around 6:00 there was Connor standing in the living room with the biggest grin on his face.

Since Connor was up so early we had some time to kill before we had to pick up John and get to Wal-Mart, we sat around, ate breakfast and Connor kept asking, "when can we go dad?" After several excited, "when can we go?" dads' we loaded the gear and picked up John. We drove to Wal-mart and I got my long over due licenses, we went over to the fishing pole rack and choose a fishing pole that had Connor written all over it. He chose his pole and like a kid on Christmas morning he carried his pole with the pride of a first time father to the cashier. Connor was the newest and proudest owner of a brand new fishing pole.

We met up with grandpa Jensen around 7:45 and we all headed up to Sand Creek. Connor and I were just behind a big enough bush that we could not see grandpa and John. I set up Connor's pole with a worm and marshmallow and cast it into the water. I had to reline my pole and I didn't even get the line half way off when I looked over and saw Connor's pole just a bouncing.

Connor started to scream...yes I said scream. I told Connor to get his pole and start reeling it in. This was a sight to see since Connor has never reeled in a fish before. John came over to see what all the excitement was about and then started to coach Connor on how to land his fish.
Connor was so PROUD of his first fish.

The rest of the fishing trip I had to take a lot of bragging between Connor and John at how they were out fishing me. They both ended up catching 7 fish and both lost 5 or 6 more to my measly 4 fish. It was so fun to take Connor on his first fishing trip that I think I will do it again....and again.... and again....well you get the picture.

I think I created a monster....a fishing monster. Fishing is all Connor has talked about for a week and when can we go again. Thanks grandpa for teaching me to love fishing so I can pass it along to Connor.