This and That. Highlights.

We have been in our house just over 2 weeks. In that time we have been unpacking only to repack to go camping and today I worked on more unpacking.

Having unopened boxes and disorganizing is like having a rubber band wound tightly on my wrist. It is nagging and cumbersome.


I ran into one of my clients/running friends on vacation! Melissa.

Going away to Silver Lake Sand Dunes was a great time. Camping is not for the weak. It is a lot of work and you have to be comfortable being dirty.
We had so much fun.

Some of our Highlights:

• Family time: my brother and sister-in-law came with their 8 kids along with mom and dad.
• Watching Andy and his brother put the tent and pop up camper together. 
• Making Hobo pies, Oh my, gluttony at its finest. Oh yeah, back to dirty and sticky!
• Although, making Reeses peanut butter smores beat the Hobo pies hands down for me. I didn't care that I had marshmallow stuck to my chin and chocolate covering my fingers. I didn't even mind being miserable all night after eating one. I was pretty sick!
• Going on a late night walk through the woods with Andy, Austin and Juleah, my niece. Andy told this scary story that sounded right out of Forensic Files. I totally fell for it. I kept thinking "Wow! I never heard about this guy!" Austin was clinging to his dad he was so scared. SO fun.
• Mac Woods Dune ride. I have ridden this several times. What makes it so special to me is bringing someone new along. I love to see the smiles of my family that have never experienced it.
  
  
  
  
• Climbing the Dunes. Sand, Sun and Skin. I LOVE the feeling of the sand in my toes and the sun wrapping around my skin.

  

  Alec, I LOVE this pic of him

  
  

  

  Austin.

  I could stay for hours on the dunes. This is a very special vacation to us. This was Ariel's favorite place to vacation. I thought about her so much. I would just go off on my own to think, to reminisce. I tried not to bring her up to anyone. I wanted to go through so many memories but I just held them all in side. It was lonely in my mind. I helped mom build a sand castle in memory of Ariel. As soon as the tears started to come I choked them back. Mom wanted a picture and I stepped out of her photo. I felt so awkward. To grieve in secret is so difficult, so lonely. To feel like you are not allowed to grieve is a horrible feeling. Everything with Ariel's death has been so hurtful and confusing.

Alec knew I was struggling. I took a picture of him and he posed. I asked why he posed like that, "I did the Ariel Pose for you, mom".



• We brought all kinds glow in the dark bracelets. Reba, my sister-in-law and her family came with us on another late night walk in the woods. We laughed so hard and had so much fun with 9 kids. It was one of my favorite times. Andy told his story to all the kids this time and added even more details. We looked like a bunch of Glow in the Dark Zombies coming out of the woods.
• Juleah, my nephew Jo Jo, Nater and I snuck up to the bathrooms to scare Andy coming out. We bent down in the woods to scare them. I had Jo Jo on my back because he didn't have any shoes on. Bent way down low, super quiet, Jo Jo starts farting on me. I couldn't stop laughing and I couldn't get up. I peed my pants in between farts, laughing so hard. BTW..We scared the snot out of Andy!
• I love to get up early and have a couple minutes of quiet time and coffee, It was so peaceful. I would go for a walk or read until mom and dad came to join me. It was very sweet time.

  

  Austin took a "Swag' Photo with Maw Maw on her birthday!

  
  

  

  Down the Dunes I go! A lot of Sand in a lot of places!

We had a great vacation. We had fun as a family sharing laughter and making memories that will last a life time.

A little on RUNNING:

I only ran 2 times in the 9 days that followed the Crim. I only ran 1 day on vacation. We were surrounded by hills that I just didn't want to risk my IT Band flaring up.

I ran Wednesday 10 miles.
At mile 2, I saw a van with a cute blond hanging out the window. It was Lacy. A running friend of mine. We chatted a while and off I went. I was very happy with my run.
Today, I was only planning on running 3 miles. I met Jama and Claudia from our runners club and somehow ended up doing 8miles. To prevent injury I walked all the hills and kept my pace way down.

Our Church has a Woman's Group that meets every Monday. They are having a special night this coming Monday. The theme is Running The Race. They have asked me to speak. I enjoy speaking but I am not a good speaker. I get so embarrassed when I hear myself. I am so excited to share my passion. I have been asking God to give me his words to speak.
I am hoping to share how we all are Running the Race. But we are all Running our own Race. I want to use some of the Mantra us Runners use and Give Gods vision on us Running  the Race.

Do you have any thoughts? What would You say it you were to Speak about Running the Race?

Anita