I had to stay home from work yesterday, feeling "icky". I had lost my voice the night before, and then coughed during the night instead of sleeping. I tried to rest, but we're having construction done on our house, so the noise level wasn't what I required for daytime sleeping. My dogs were concerned that I wasn't safe with these new people on our property, so they were not conducive to daytime sleeping, either. Also, the construction fellows plugged all their equipment into one outlet and blew the fuse requiring me to answer the door (still in my pajamas and having no voice) to see what they needed. Last night I still coughed as much as I slept and today I have no energy. I'm not saying poor me, since there are people in the world with worse ailments, for sure. Just have that frustrated feeling: too much to do and too little time... combined with too little energy and too much coughing. :)
On a happier note, definitely not "Ick", I am enjoying my job so much! The kids are great, and they think working with me is fun (I think working with them is fun, too! :)) They all ask "when are you going to take me out and work with me??!" :) I hope they're learning a lot. I'm seeing progress, but I hope it continues. In my experience, thus far, I think they've gotten a concept down, they're showing great progress and then when I work with them again the next day it seems like it's disappeared somewhat... We'll see how it is going after a few more times and fingers crossed I find a way to make it stick better! :) I've thoroughly enjoyed working with a variety of ages (grades 2-5) and subject matter (Language arts of all kinds like writing, and reading fluency, and a variety of math topics like division, fractions, measurement, subtracting and basic facts, to name a few.)
Both of my girls' fall sports are over, which is a boost of time to our schedule. I've been thinking about the upcoming holidays... For the first time in quite a few years our plans have changed. We usually go to my parents' and visit my family over Thanksgiving and black Friday, and then stay home, visiting my husband's parents over Christmas. My husband's employer-well the company his company is consulting for-is requiring his services over black Friday... So, our plans are being reworked. Not sure how, yet, but they are. :) The thankful feathers are in process. :) Actually, I should be working on the letter to send out with the feathers right now... so I should sign off. I hope you are well, and your fall is going wonderfully, dear reader. :))
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Half Marathon
My half marathon is complete!! Here's the rundown. :)
The day before the half marathon was our daughter's district meet for cross country, so I ran a bit around the course to cheer her on in a few different spots, although I tried not to run too much, to save energy for my race. Bad mom? :) That night same daughter had homecoming. Last year I picked her up from the dance and heard all about her evening in the car on the way home. I had hoped to do the same this year, but the dance didn't end until 11... and I was leaving home at 5:40am for my race the next day. I had gone to sleep earlier the night before and napped on Saturday. I thought I'd be ok, so I ended up picking her up. :) I heard about how fun the dance was, how she had a great time and it was so worth it! :) I went to bed shortly after we got home and could not sleep. I tried and tried, I tossed and turned, and groaned in frustration. The last time I checked the clock it was almost 12:45am. I fell asleep only to wake up again at 5 with the alarm. I ate two bites of far-too-ripe-banana and two pretzels. I took a few sips of water and got ready. I put on Garmin Girl so she could pace me, my ipod touch preloaded with songs to energize me should I need it, my compression sleeves (think compression socks like hospitals give people-they have saved me from shin splints!!) I also wore a running skirt-I don't love to run long in it, but I've had some serious ab/stomach issues lately (wasn't sure if it was muscle related or what) and last time I ran in the skirt, I had no ab issues... so it was on the list for race day. I got ready and headed across the street to my neighbors. He was driving down and running the full marathon. We are members of the same running group and met up at a hotel with them. They rent a meeting room so we can all hang out together, use the hotel's nice, clean bathrooms (normally, it's 40-something degrees and port-a-pots in the cold and dark are not ideal!) so it was a great way to prepare for the race.
The two times I've done the full marathon I have been so mental-thinking about the race, concentrating so much that I miss the "atmosphere" people talk about. This year, I enjoyed, I soaked it all in. :) There are so many bands along the race route-87 along the full marathon course! They were playing our local college's fight song, pep-you-up music like "I will survive!" I only listened to my ipod for about three songs. :) There were so many spectators rooting on "runners" if they didn't know a name. There were 15,000 people lined up at the start for the half and full marathon. 15,000. It was amazing. We were packed in like sardines, I couldn't have bent over to stretch we were so closely packed. It took me almost 10 minutes to get to the starting line after the gun went off! :)
The weather was perfect-cool but not freezing. I felt great, and on pace through mile 7, but at 8 I started to worry a bit about my ab issues. I plugged onward. I was frustrated through 8 and 9, but at 10, I thought "I only have a 5K left!" and ran with a smile. Seriously, one of my race photos shows me crossing the ten mile mark smiling! :) The course has all the runners running together until just before the half. Then the half marathoners head to the left and the full marathoners head to the right for a loop out it the other direction. In the two marathons, I heard the cheering as the half finishers completed their race and thought, woa, I still have 13 to go! This year I thought YEAH! :) My goal time was 2 hours or less and I ran in 1:54. I walked four steps just as I entered the last mile and headed up a hill and some man said, "Don't walk now, you're almost done! Come on!" He was smiling and waving at me. I began to run again and got the same teary emotional feeling I've gotten when I ran the full marathons. The MANY people who line the finish cheering with excitement for you. It's pretty cool.
I had a moment of ache at the start, a wonder if this would be as meaningful as the full, or would it be a letdown? It was wonderful. It was 13 instead of 26 miles, but it was wonderful. My body was exhausted, I had worked hard and run farther than most will ever attempt. It wasn't a "marathon" but I was happy! :)
We went out to dinner with my husband's family and sat for about an hour. When it was time to go my knees screamed! I woke a few times in the night with knees that felt like they'd been smashed by a sledgehammer! The next day my dress shoes up and down the stairs at work were very painful, but today I woke up fine. :) No knee pain. :) I felt so good I (crazily) went out for a run. I went about a mile and a half.
I am still smiling that I did it and feel so good right now-so different than after my full marathons! :) Just the joy of running; it makes me smile now. :) I have no idea if I will shoot for another full. I know that the half was a good distance for now. :)
The day before the half marathon was our daughter's district meet for cross country, so I ran a bit around the course to cheer her on in a few different spots, although I tried not to run too much, to save energy for my race. Bad mom? :) That night same daughter had homecoming. Last year I picked her up from the dance and heard all about her evening in the car on the way home. I had hoped to do the same this year, but the dance didn't end until 11... and I was leaving home at 5:40am for my race the next day. I had gone to sleep earlier the night before and napped on Saturday. I thought I'd be ok, so I ended up picking her up. :) I heard about how fun the dance was, how she had a great time and it was so worth it! :) I went to bed shortly after we got home and could not sleep. I tried and tried, I tossed and turned, and groaned in frustration. The last time I checked the clock it was almost 12:45am. I fell asleep only to wake up again at 5 with the alarm. I ate two bites of far-too-ripe-banana and two pretzels. I took a few sips of water and got ready. I put on Garmin Girl so she could pace me, my ipod touch preloaded with songs to energize me should I need it, my compression sleeves (think compression socks like hospitals give people-they have saved me from shin splints!!) I also wore a running skirt-I don't love to run long in it, but I've had some serious ab/stomach issues lately (wasn't sure if it was muscle related or what) and last time I ran in the skirt, I had no ab issues... so it was on the list for race day. I got ready and headed across the street to my neighbors. He was driving down and running the full marathon. We are members of the same running group and met up at a hotel with them. They rent a meeting room so we can all hang out together, use the hotel's nice, clean bathrooms (normally, it's 40-something degrees and port-a-pots in the cold and dark are not ideal!) so it was a great way to prepare for the race.
The two times I've done the full marathon I have been so mental-thinking about the race, concentrating so much that I miss the "atmosphere" people talk about. This year, I enjoyed, I soaked it all in. :) There are so many bands along the race route-87 along the full marathon course! They were playing our local college's fight song, pep-you-up music like "I will survive!" I only listened to my ipod for about three songs. :) There were so many spectators rooting on "runners" if they didn't know a name. There were 15,000 people lined up at the start for the half and full marathon. 15,000. It was amazing. We were packed in like sardines, I couldn't have bent over to stretch we were so closely packed. It took me almost 10 minutes to get to the starting line after the gun went off! :)
The weather was perfect-cool but not freezing. I felt great, and on pace through mile 7, but at 8 I started to worry a bit about my ab issues. I plugged onward. I was frustrated through 8 and 9, but at 10, I thought "I only have a 5K left!" and ran with a smile. Seriously, one of my race photos shows me crossing the ten mile mark smiling! :) The course has all the runners running together until just before the half. Then the half marathoners head to the left and the full marathoners head to the right for a loop out it the other direction. In the two marathons, I heard the cheering as the half finishers completed their race and thought, woa, I still have 13 to go! This year I thought YEAH! :) My goal time was 2 hours or less and I ran in 1:54. I walked four steps just as I entered the last mile and headed up a hill and some man said, "Don't walk now, you're almost done! Come on!" He was smiling and waving at me. I began to run again and got the same teary emotional feeling I've gotten when I ran the full marathons. The MANY people who line the finish cheering with excitement for you. It's pretty cool.
I had a moment of ache at the start, a wonder if this would be as meaningful as the full, or would it be a letdown? It was wonderful. It was 13 instead of 26 miles, but it was wonderful. My body was exhausted, I had worked hard and run farther than most will ever attempt. It wasn't a "marathon" but I was happy! :)
We went out to dinner with my husband's family and sat for about an hour. When it was time to go my knees screamed! I woke a few times in the night with knees that felt like they'd been smashed by a sledgehammer! The next day my dress shoes up and down the stairs at work were very painful, but today I woke up fine. :) No knee pain. :) I felt so good I (crazily) went out for a run. I went about a mile and a half.
I am still smiling that I did it and feel so good right now-so different than after my full marathons! :) Just the joy of running; it makes me smile now. :) I have no idea if I will shoot for another full. I know that the half was a good distance for now. :)
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Today
My posts have been so few. I apologize. I have been reading your posts, trying to comment. I've been off working, being a mom, getting my runs in (supposed to get 12-13 done today) and getting ready for our youngest daughter's birthday. She will be 12 this week. Parents always tell you how time flies, but you don't realize it until you have your own children and see them growing up before your eyes.
Our daughter wanted her room redone for her birthday so we began the emptying of furniture, tearing down wallpaper and cute flower borders yesterday. Then we spackled it, and began painting. The first coat looks good. Looking forward to getting that tackled today. Tonight is her party with my husband's family. We're doing tacos for dinner-one of her favorites. :) so, housecleaning will need to be finished today, too.
The job is going well. Spending a lot of time assessing to gather data. The data lets us know where the students are so we know which ones to focus on. I'm hoping to be able to work with those who really need help, and really make a difference. The school I'm back to really feels like home. The staff feel like family. I'm blessed to be a part of them. It's also good to see the kids I got to know last year.
Our oldest is enjoying high school, although she has a lot of tests, which she doesn't appreciate. :) She broke 22 minutes yesterday for her cross country time-that was her most recent goal, so she was pretty excited.
Our youngest is having fun in middle school. She is also happy playing soccer.
Hope you are well. I will try to post more often again! :)
Our daughter wanted her room redone for her birthday so we began the emptying of furniture, tearing down wallpaper and cute flower borders yesterday. Then we spackled it, and began painting. The first coat looks good. Looking forward to getting that tackled today. Tonight is her party with my husband's family. We're doing tacos for dinner-one of her favorites. :) so, housecleaning will need to be finished today, too.
The job is going well. Spending a lot of time assessing to gather data. The data lets us know where the students are so we know which ones to focus on. I'm hoping to be able to work with those who really need help, and really make a difference. The school I'm back to really feels like home. The staff feel like family. I'm blessed to be a part of them. It's also good to see the kids I got to know last year.
Our oldest is enjoying high school, although she has a lot of tests, which she doesn't appreciate. :) She broke 22 minutes yesterday for her cross country time-that was her most recent goal, so she was pretty excited.
Our youngest is having fun in middle school. She is also happy playing soccer.
Hope you are well. I will try to post more often again! :)
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
New Day
Hello! :) I have been meaning to post... just haven't gotten around to it. I've been:
*taking the girls school shopping
*grocery shopping
*using said groceries to make 7 chicken dishes to freeze for later in the schoolyear
*getting more groceries
*using said groceries to make 7 loaves of quick breads to freeze (like zucchini bread)
*seeing my oldest off to cross country running camp-she comes home tomorrow. She hasn't had cell coverage so we are very anxious to see/talk to her!
*enjoying time with our younger daughter, like taking her out for Mexican food, since our oldest doesn't enjoy it all that much and our youngest LOVES it.
*filling out school paperwork. We find out the schedule for our newly-minted-middle=schooler today and the schedule for our oldest after she returns home tomorrow.
*putting school dates on the calendar, like days off, early release, vacations, etc.
*planning all I can for my NEW JOB! :) Yep, I finally got a job. It's not a classroom teacher, but it's teaching kids and I'm very excited! I have to tell you my story: when I interviewed for a specific position (regular readers recall my interviewing and hoping?) the principal told me of another position that would be available. It felt like a "consolation prize" so to speak. I set it aside not to think about for a while. Then I called him in August. He told me about it and I was pretty excited... but unsure. I called my husband to talk over my thoughts. He had heard me talk of this when I was interviewing. Earlier in the day I called him, he had been talking with a coworker about his teacher wife and how she'd needed to something different than subbing before she got her job. This made my husband think, hm, if I heard about this job again, I should take it. So, he got back from lunch, talked to me and said he thought it was a sign-that I should apply for this. I put my name in, was interviewed and now have a job as an "alternative instructor". I will be blessed with the opportunity to work with kids who need intervention in areas they struggle with. Small groups and one-on-one, whatever the teacher would like. At this point, no specific age group, just K-5 and I'm really excited! :)) I meet with the principal and other alternative instructors on Friday and I'm looking forward to jumping in!
I'm still training for the half marathon-finished an eight miler on Saturday. Felt good, was in the time range I'd hoped. Nine miles on the schedule for this week!
I've been listening to some podcasts on digital scrapping and I'm pretty excited about doing that more, as well.
Hope your week is going smoothly! Halfway through! :)
*taking the girls school shopping
*grocery shopping
*using said groceries to make 7 chicken dishes to freeze for later in the schoolyear
*getting more groceries
*using said groceries to make 7 loaves of quick breads to freeze (like zucchini bread)
*seeing my oldest off to cross country running camp-she comes home tomorrow. She hasn't had cell coverage so we are very anxious to see/talk to her!
*enjoying time with our younger daughter, like taking her out for Mexican food, since our oldest doesn't enjoy it all that much and our youngest LOVES it.
*filling out school paperwork. We find out the schedule for our newly-minted-middle=schooler today and the schedule for our oldest after she returns home tomorrow.
*putting school dates on the calendar, like days off, early release, vacations, etc.
*planning all I can for my NEW JOB! :) Yep, I finally got a job. It's not a classroom teacher, but it's teaching kids and I'm very excited! I have to tell you my story: when I interviewed for a specific position (regular readers recall my interviewing and hoping?) the principal told me of another position that would be available. It felt like a "consolation prize" so to speak. I set it aside not to think about for a while. Then I called him in August. He told me about it and I was pretty excited... but unsure. I called my husband to talk over my thoughts. He had heard me talk of this when I was interviewing. Earlier in the day I called him, he had been talking with a coworker about his teacher wife and how she'd needed to something different than subbing before she got her job. This made my husband think, hm, if I heard about this job again, I should take it. So, he got back from lunch, talked to me and said he thought it was a sign-that I should apply for this. I put my name in, was interviewed and now have a job as an "alternative instructor". I will be blessed with the opportunity to work with kids who need intervention in areas they struggle with. Small groups and one-on-one, whatever the teacher would like. At this point, no specific age group, just K-5 and I'm really excited! :)) I meet with the principal and other alternative instructors on Friday and I'm looking forward to jumping in!
I'm still training for the half marathon-finished an eight miler on Saturday. Felt good, was in the time range I'd hoped. Nine miles on the schedule for this week!
I've been listening to some podcasts on digital scrapping and I'm pretty excited about doing that more, as well.
Hope your week is going smoothly! Halfway through! :)
Monday, August 02, 2010
Fun
Happy Monday! :) Hope this email finds you well.
Some fun things we've done over the last week:
*went to the zoo with family today
*my youngest built a fort out of our large stack of firewood, some tarps, she even sewed some flags and curtains for it, and it's the perfect reading spot. :)
*had some of my husband's family over for smoked pork and zucchini bake with zucchini from our garden!
*dreamt of renovations we'd like to have done to our home (wow, the list can get pretty long! ;))
*learned/played a new card game
*learned to digitally scrapbook (I've done a layout and have thought/planned several more!)
*I finished my Run Like a Mother book and it was great! (answers to previous questions about running posts: I think about different things... depends on the day. Often, I pray and think of all the things I'd like God to help me with and all the things I'm thankful for. I listen to music and when I'm tired I try to match my footsteps with the rhythm of the music. I look at the nature around me-I run on a path sometimes that is full of bunnies, birds chirping, elderly couples, and more! :) I also think about my plans for the half marathon, how I'm going to make it there, and how much I can eat that day due to burnt calories! :))
*Lately I've been reading posts about digital scrapbooking which has been a fun learning experience!
*We got to keep my niece for half a day last week and it was FUN! She's four and is such a cutie! :) Took her brothers to the zoo with us today and they were just as fun! :)
*Had two fires in our fire pit-one night I sat and enjoyed a chat with one of our dear neighbors beside a fire, which made a delightful evening.
I looked at the calendar this weekend and couldn't believe it's already August! I wondered where is our summer going! (I'm wondering, too, Thimbleanna!! :)) My girls start school three weeks and two days. I look ahead at our busy schedules and I wonder how I will finish my "summer to do list"!
I have often wondered, lately, where my path is leading, as you probably read in recent posts. Today I ran into a student I had last winter/spring. She wasn't happy to have me for a substitute, as, understandably, she had loved her teacher. She gave me stubbornness and obvious dislike at the beginning of my stay. She was sad to say goodbye to me at the end of the year. I really saw a change in her. Today, when I ran into her, she shouted my name, and ran up and hugged me, smiling to see me! It was then I remembered why I work so hard at teaching, even if it's subbing or long-term subbing. :) My heart smiled again. :) If God's plan is for me to be a substitute, then that's what I will be. :) I will touch lives... if only temporarily. :) I've said it before and I will say it again, I do not know where God's road map has me going-although I'd love to glance at it sometimes!-and I don't know where I'm headed, but I know He has a plan and He has me in His hands. :))
I hope you have a wonderful week and are smiling in your heart!! :))
Some fun things we've done over the last week:
*went to the zoo with family today
*my youngest built a fort out of our large stack of firewood, some tarps, she even sewed some flags and curtains for it, and it's the perfect reading spot. :)
*had some of my husband's family over for smoked pork and zucchini bake with zucchini from our garden!
*dreamt of renovations we'd like to have done to our home (wow, the list can get pretty long! ;))
*learned/played a new card game
*learned to digitally scrapbook (I've done a layout and have thought/planned several more!)
*I finished my Run Like a Mother book and it was great! (answers to previous questions about running posts: I think about different things... depends on the day. Often, I pray and think of all the things I'd like God to help me with and all the things I'm thankful for. I listen to music and when I'm tired I try to match my footsteps with the rhythm of the music. I look at the nature around me-I run on a path sometimes that is full of bunnies, birds chirping, elderly couples, and more! :) I also think about my plans for the half marathon, how I'm going to make it there, and how much I can eat that day due to burnt calories! :))
*Lately I've been reading posts about digital scrapbooking which has been a fun learning experience!
*We got to keep my niece for half a day last week and it was FUN! She's four and is such a cutie! :) Took her brothers to the zoo with us today and they were just as fun! :)
*Had two fires in our fire pit-one night I sat and enjoyed a chat with one of our dear neighbors beside a fire, which made a delightful evening.
I looked at the calendar this weekend and couldn't believe it's already August! I wondered where is our summer going! (I'm wondering, too, Thimbleanna!! :)) My girls start school three weeks and two days. I look ahead at our busy schedules and I wonder how I will finish my "summer to do list"!
I have often wondered, lately, where my path is leading, as you probably read in recent posts. Today I ran into a student I had last winter/spring. She wasn't happy to have me for a substitute, as, understandably, she had loved her teacher. She gave me stubbornness and obvious dislike at the beginning of my stay. She was sad to say goodbye to me at the end of the year. I really saw a change in her. Today, when I ran into her, she shouted my name, and ran up and hugged me, smiling to see me! It was then I remembered why I work so hard at teaching, even if it's subbing or long-term subbing. :) My heart smiled again. :) If God's plan is for me to be a substitute, then that's what I will be. :) I will touch lives... if only temporarily. :) I've said it before and I will say it again, I do not know where God's road map has me going-although I'd love to glance at it sometimes!-and I don't know where I'm headed, but I know He has a plan and He has me in His hands. :))
I hope you have a wonderful week and are smiling in your heart!! :))
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