Zoo Moments: Brought to you by the middle child

Here are my "kid in the middle" stories today from the zoo.

Story 1:

Me:  Look guys there is the mama lion and her 2 cubs! She has three, but I don't see the third out and about.
S:  He probably smacked his mom on the head and is in time out. (Said very matter-of-fact)

Story2:
The elephants and the zebras are near one another at the Tucson zoo.  L and S walked over to the Zebras (where I could still see them) and C and I stayed watching the elephant keepers putting out food. We are all having a nice time.  Then, I looked toward the zebras.  There, facing me, was my sweet five year old, S, pants down to his ankles peeing on a zoo tree!! My quick response was a yell (that could be heard to PHX) of his FULL name.  He knew. . BUSTED!  He quickly pulled up is pants and came over.  I made him sit on the bench until I could compose myself and explain in a kids version, indecent exposure.  His response. "Yeah I shouldn't do that because no one really wants to see my penis." 

I hope you laughed as hard as Jeff did when I called him at work to relay the story. 
Have a great rest of your Wednesday!

Mindful Snapshots

I feel that I have been reminded over and over these past few weeks to take what I have decided to call "mindful snapshots".  Mindful meaning in my mind and purposeful. Snapshots, obviously meaning pictures.

Maybe the best way to describe it was the mindful shot I have in my mind from yesterday.  Let me describe the scene.  We had lunch after a great morning at church, just the five of us at Culvers.  The snapshot is all of us sitting at the table.  Sean snuggling his daddy almost on his lap, content and smiling, Jeff laughing while Lauren sits next to him laughing with her toothless grin, I am across from them with Colin putting his sweet hugging arms around my neck saying "mommy" in a little voice.  I chose to make that a mindful snapshot as we were all there, all loving each other, all laughing.  We had no agenda right then, no place to be, nothing to do other than be there in that moment sharing time with one another.   My heart was so full.  Who would have guessed that a Sunday afternoon lunch at Culvers could hold such a moment? 

Therefore, I have decided to take more mindful snapshots, more times that I just stop, live in the moment and take it in.  I know this sounds morbid to some, but it is absolutely true that life is short and 30 seconds from now I could no longer abide on this earth.  Some I know can't stand when I talk like that, and I get that it can be scary and sad, but it is reality.  Yet, because of grace the promise of new life for me is a gain, so it doesn't bother me. 

I want to live in those moments, for I believe that they are gifts from above.  I believe that they are the moments that make pain, stress, agony, and turmoil disappear from our lives even if only from an provide peace, love, happiness, joy, and contentment. 

I hope to posting more descriptions of my mindful snapshots and would love to hear some of yours as well.

The Place for Santa

I have read a lot of things recently about the place for Santa, especially among the christian community. And I am not here to judge.  Santa comes to visit our house every year, yet I thought you'd like to see where we place Santa in our house.  I think this pictures says it all.   :)

More Than a Run

This past weekend was great, but was so much more than just a 1/2 marathon for me. :) I have been so excited to share my thoughts with you and hope that I can get it all out and coherent while C watches Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. . we will see.

So this weekend was great for the run, for our marriage, and for my mind, soul and heart. 

First, the run.  It was great to run the strip at night!  But did you know that although the strip looks very long, it is truly only about 3 miles one way.  So a lot of the run was through neighborhoods with homes and businesses which was okay, but the strip at night was by far the best part.  I caught myself several times smiling at all the lights and in amazement that the whole street was closed and I got to run on it!  Well run/walk/jog on it!

The race was very crowded, not a place where if you were going for a personal record I think you wanted to be.  It was very hard to get through the crowd and move forward.  They began with a wave start, but I guess they quickly abandoned that theory and everyone just went at once, which made for slow going at first.  I mainly just walked the first part because I could walk as fast as some were jogging and there was no room to move.  So that was nice as I could take in all the lights and truly appreciate the run.  I met some amazing people in my corral, yes they call them corrals, just like cattle.  A women who chose this to be her first 1/2 and another who has a goal to finish a half marathon in every state.  They were amazing women.  I had two personal goals in this race and met one, which was just finish in less than 3 hours and that was accomplished!  The other one, I will try to set in Phoenix for that 1/2 in about 6 weeks.  I guess I better get to the speed training then huh?  I have no end race picture because it was so cold and raining off and on, I just wanted a nice warm shower!

This was a good once in a lifetime race, but I think they need to plan a bit better in the future to get the bugs figured out.  I was probably mid-pack of all the 1/2 marathon people and at several water stations there was little to no water left, so that meant that all the people behind me likely did not get any water and that is bad, especially when it happens at mile 7.  Also, they ran out of medals for participants!!! Oh my, that is not good.  So, if you are planning on doing it, give them couple years to get the bugs figured out! 

Leaving for this one was also really good for our marriage.  It is good to be away without 3 small monsters (and I mean that in the kindest way) in tow.  There is something about sharing a meal together and not having to cut up food or having anyone not like it or want to snag it off your plate.  It is nice to worry about only yourself for a bit, sleep in, take NAPS, and not have to be somewhere to do pick up or drop off.  We saved our 10th anniversary dinner for a beautiful and amazing restaurant in Vegas called Andres.  It was the nicest dinner we have ever had, and the food was WONDERFUL!   Jeff gambled and we just hung out and just spent time "being".   It was good and I am blessed to have such a wonderful husband who totally supported me, spent a long time just looking with me at the expo, and waiting in the cold for me to finish.  AMAZING! :)

And lastly, this was good for my mind, soul, and heart.  As you know I was very anxious about the run.  I know I should not have been, but I just couldn't calm my nerves.  So that morning I was listening to my iPod and had a little epiphany.  The song by Nicole Nordeman "You are Good" came on here are the lyrics.

When the sun starts to rise

And I open my eyes

You are good, so good

In the heat of the day

With each stone that I lay

You are good, so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell you I'm grateful again

When the moon climbs high

Before each kiss goodnight

You are good

When the road starts to turn

Around each bend I've learned

You are good, so good

And when some body's hand

Holds me up, helps me stand

You are so good

With every breath I take in

I'll tell You I'm grateful again

'Cause its more than enough

Just to know I am loved

and You are good

So how can I thank You

What can I bring

What can these poor hands

Lay at the feet of a King

I'll sing You a love song

It's all that I have

To tell You I'm grateful

For holding my life in Your hands

When it's dark and it's cold

And I can't feel my soul

You are so good

When the world is gone gray

And the rain's here to stay

You are still good

So with every breath I take in

I'll tell You I am grateful again

And the storm might swell

Even then it's well and You are good

I know that was long, but I cried (I know shocking) as I listened to these words over and over.  The run was not about pleasing others there, or making my time I had planned, or even about pleasing my husband and making him think I was a super cool runner.  It was about an audience of One.  I have learned that when running there is a stride and a breathing pattern that is specific to each runner.  And as I listened to the words "with every breath I take in , I will tell You how grateful I am", I thought about my breathing pattern in running.  And when the song talked about what kind of offering I could bring to someone who loves me unconditionally with total grace, I thought, my gift is my run.  My run was a gift to my audience of One.  My run was a small offering of just how grateful I am for the blessings and just how good my God is, no matter what. 

So there is my long story about the run.  I hope you were able to hang in there to know my heart and hear my story.  If not, that is okay. . it was long. :)

As we are beginning the Christmas season, I pray that you would be blessed and feel love and experience grace as you never have before, for there is nothing more to be grateful for than this. 

At the Expo

Trying to stay warm about 1 hour before race time

Now I am am REALLY trying to stay warm before race time in about 15 minutes

Fear

So I have fear.  I hate to admit it, but I fear a lot of things, even weird things.  My current battle with fear involves this half marathon in 4 DAYS!!!  And yes that was me very much emphasizing the time I have left.   I have gone back to look at my other posts in March, April and May about my first half and I remember feeling similar about that one, but this one comes with new fears of course.

I remember my sister thinking I was crazy at the starting line in May because I thought I was going to throw up. I remember thinking there was this big cartoon arrow over  my head that all 60,000 people could see saying "Psst . . she is not a TRUE runner like the rest of you. . she is faking it!!".   Then I remember her pointing out a woman probably in her 60's wearing jean capri pants and saying,  "At least you know you will beat her!"  And instead of agreeing I thought she would probably kick my @&$ in her stupid jean capri pants.

I also have had to coach my sweet husband on this whole half thing.  There are many amazing women runners that work with him, and are participating, but they are fast and run all the time.  I know they will beat me, but I have had to coach him on what not to say to me at the finish line.  For example, do not say "Good job!  I was worried about you because I saw Chris finish an hour ago!  I thought something happened to you."  Yes that is NOT what you want to say.  

I had forgotten how long 13 miles was until I did about 10 on Sunday.  Ummm yeah it is a long way.  Oh I know I will finish, but I still have these stupid fears.  My anxiety has been high all week.  I even did a run this morning and it was awful, which did not help my self talk.

When it comes to beating yourself up, I am the queen.  No one can make me feel worse than I do about myself.  So I have decided I really need to let it go.  If people think I am a non runner. . let them.  Because I am a run/walker. :)  If Jeff's colleagues think I am slow, at least I am moving!  And then I remembered this morning that this is just practice for January.  For when I run for Sam!  I run for Sam because I can, I will run because I can and there are so many people that cannot. 

So I am working on just going and enjoying my time, having great time with my husband, sleeping in, and completing a "little" run.    However, I do wish I had a sign that said to race officials and others,  "Yes I know it looks like I am going to die in the first 2 miles, but it takes me that long to get my stride." HAHA! And I realize that there are only few that will get that. . .and my hubby is not one.

I will let you know what happens when I return!!

My White Boys

As a mom I know that this is not the best music genre for my kids.  But I love this video of them as it makes me laugh so hard.  Have a great week ahead!

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth?!?!?!

We have made the promise/deal that when each child turns 5 in our home we will take a family trip to Disneyland and California Adventure to celebrate.  That is their party and present for birthday number 5.  Well my sweet S turned 5 on Monday, October 24th so we went during the fall break.  It was great and we had fun.  It actually also made me feel like a typical wife/mother/woman, and the following scenario will explain why.

Picture this:  About 7 pm a family is waiting for the parking shuttle as we walk by on the way back to our hotel.  The family has three young kids, about the same ages as ours.  As we walk past we see the mom very clearly telling the dad something.  Probably something about what they need to do, didn't do, or how she needs him to help her more as the kids are tired and exhausted, as is she.  As she is talking, the smallest of the three is throwing herself on the ground crying and has clearly had too much Mickey Mouse, and at the same time the dad is taking his frustrations out on the umbrella stroller folding it shall we say in a VERY aggressive manner.

This whole scene made our evening as we walked past.  Why?  Because that is our family.  That is what happens to us ALL the time.  Jeff and I both laughed and not at the couple and their family, but a laugh of relief and thankfulness that it was not our moment.  We did have those moments in the parks. And I just hope another family could benefit and say "Thank God, it was not our turn!" 

On more than one occasion I saw a wife arguing with her husband about something and the husband being very frustrated.  I saw kids throwing tantrums just like mine in line and over ice cream and due to pure exhaustion.  This made me happy.  I know, very sick of me huh?  But was a welcome relief as when you are a spouse and/or parent there are times you think you are the only one who ______.  Fill it in with whatever you might think you are the only one on God's green earth to do, and in reality you are not alone. 

We had a great trip and the grandparents were even able to come for a couple days as well.  It was busy, but a great birthday celebration.