Afraid of the dark

I discovered this week that my kiddos and I have something very fundamental in common...we are all just a bit afraid of the dark! Yup...that's right. A trait of mine that has not faded as the years have worn on. Since childhood, the dark has always frightened me. I imagine looming figures, hiding bad guys and all sorts of other evil where there is no light!

I didn't realize just how nervous it makes me until I have been forced to run in the pre-dawn hours these last several weeks. With the time change looming still a few weeks ahead of us, even at 6am it is still pretty darn dark out there! It doesn't help that our little community up here has a lighting ordinance that only allows one street light per street, and oftentimes they are not working properly! Ugh!

So I have had to make the choice to either forego the running, or suck it up. Of-course the former is really not an option, so off I go! (Though I must admit to dragging my feet before each run in hopes that the sun might just miraculously rise! Lol) Tess has become my early morning running companion now. The consensus is (and I have sought several other opinions on the matter) that someone would be outta their mind to mess with a girl who has a full-grown German shepherd leashed around her waist! I hope that's true. Tess has great hearing too...she hears EVERYTHING! She is a good running partner, for sure! AND...just to comfort you (and myself) all a little further, I have started carrying one of Ty's decent-sized pocket knives clipped to my waistband...just in case. ;) Just call me a ninja! Lol! He suggested it was a better option than the pepper spray I had considered. When he was in the sheriff's department, he said it took a solid 30 seconds or so for it to affect him when they all had to be sprayed. All that to say that I HOPE nothing awful ever happens and if something does, I have a bit of protection. Oh! And of-course, I say a little prayer before each 'adventure' as I like to call them! God is a good running partner too! ;)

But still...I get scared. Lol! I'm such a girl!

Makin' playdough

The weather hasn't been the best for playing outside the last two days, so instead of going stir crazy here at home, or spending money out and about running somewhat useless errands, we decided to make homemade playdough today. Actually, it was cornstarch clay. So...we busted out the Redlands Playschool recipe book from 1980 (when I attended there!), got all spiffied up in our little aprons and got to work! The kids had a blast! Each took turns adding ingredients and mixing. Once our concoction was cooled, Luke chose orange and green ("like pumpkins" he said) to add to our clay. And for the next hour, while I whipped together tonight's dinner, they played happily near the kitchen. Days like this make me just love being their mommy! :)

Instead of doing work...

...I opted to good around with Ellie and the video camera today while Luke was in school. :) Just wanted to record her little voice and thoughts as a two year old, so that someday I could look back and remember. :) Just thought I'd post it for those of you who are far away (Aunt Nancy, I was thinking of you mostly!) Don't feel like you have to watch the whole thing...it's like...um....over 5 minutes long! Sorry! I didn't have the time to edit it down. :) Enjoy!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Off and running!

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

I think that is an ancient Chinese proverb, right? My journey officially begins today, though mine isn't 1000 miles...it's 13.1 (15 actually, if you're counting how far my training takes me!). A half marathon. 18 weeks of training and the start of a journey towards many things. Not only will this be a journey of running 13.1 miles, but it is also one of faith and of proving a few things to myself.

For someone who less than a year ago didn't believe she was capable of running THREE consecutive miles, the thought of running 13 admittedly seems daunting! The next 18 weeks will certainly put my determination, my body, my resolve and my self-confidence to the test! I must admit that at the bottom of this mountain, I am feeling nervous, overwhelmed and unsure. :( I guess that is where the faith part of all this comes in, right? In some part of me, I know that if I work hard enough, I will be able to do this. After all, its not that big of a hurdle.....gosh a lot of people run much farther, much more regularly than me! If they can do marathons, I can do a half! Right?! But I'd be a liar if I said I wasn't nervous 'bout it! So...off I go...taking my first step today! My first 6 of 388 (ish! Lol) miles of training! Yikes! Wish me luck!