Extra Special Mother's Day

I love how when our family gets together

to celebrate holidays and important occasions, 

there isn't an underlying sadness for what we are

going through. We are all acutely aware of the

horrible thing our mom is trying to conquer. 

 We aren't in denial about it.

But it surely doesn't define us.

It doesn't show at all in our family dinners.

The crazy is still there. The laughter and teasing is too.

Cancer can't take that away from us. 

We don't see a sick woman with no hair

when we look at our mom. She is a spitfire through and through.

Mother's Day, this year, meant more to us than ever before.

Not because we were afraid to lose her, because we wanted

to celebrate her and everything she means to us.
The best way our family does that is through laughter.

My favorite photo of them all...

... and I have the best kids ever.

Color Run 2013

I've always wanted to be a runner. I've always seen myself as
a runner because that's how I want to identify myself.
Running to get rid of stress rather than indulging in other unhealthier habits.
Whenever I run, the feeling that surges through my body is almost euphoric.
 
It has been on my Bucket List to run a marathon for as long as I've had one.
That's when I thought that a 5k was a marathon too... 

Apparently, a marathon is 26 miles.

Maybe I'll get there someday, but for now, my little 5k has
me proud enough to cross that item off my bucket list.

Steph and I signed up for the Color Run a couple of months ago
and I kind of forgot about it until the week before when I panicked.
All decked in my running gear, I barely made it to my sister's garage to
jog on her treadmill one measly time. 

The good intentions were there. Running Apps were downloaded to train.
My outfit was all chosen and ready to go. Babysitter lined up.
I just didn't do the one thing I really needed to in order to
truly be ready for the race... train.

Race morning found me in a bundle of nerves.
I felt a little nauseous. Almost backed out.

I'm so glad I didn't.

We may not have finished first, may even have finished last.
We may have walked a bit more than everyone else.
We may have looked silly.

But walking across that finish line with my friend in tow,
knowing we completed something and had a really good time
doing it felt pretty flippin' amazing. Taking those after pictures all
covered in blue and green and pink made me proud...

Thanks for being my partner in this, Steph.
Couldn't have done it without you...

 

The starting line.

Our first color...

At the finish line...

The After Color Party...

Steph AFTER the Color Party. Poor girl even had blue teeth!

This was such a fun experience.

I did it even though there were some people out there who
didn't think I could... Just goes to show: Don't ever doubt my capabilities.

Live colorfully ;)