On Being a Finisher

Right before the start of the race

With Rebecca & Carol after finishing the race

This last weekend was the 5K race that I signed up for back in January. My friends Carol and Rebecca joined me in the fun, and our families were there to cheer us on. When asked if I was ready for the race two days prior to the event, my response was, "At this point in time, it is what it is." I knew that I wouldn't be able to run the whole thing--in fact, I wondered just how much of it I could run. My physical capacity to do what was easy three years ago has been seriously compromised by pregnancy, a slow postpartum weight loss, and my own dumb choices. Did I run the whole thing? No. But I'm happy to report that I finished in a much faster time than I anticipated.

By the end of the race my energy was pretty much spent, the alternation between running and walking much more frequent. Although there were still plenty of people behind me, I knew that I was the last of my group to finish the race. I approached the stadium and willed myself to pick up speed for the final home stretch, the goal within sight. And there stood my husband and son, my friends, cheering me on. A little burst of adrenaline energy and I crossed the finish line. Time: 37 minutes and 26 seconds--just under a 12 minute mile.

All things considered, I have to give myself credit for the progress that I have made over the last 4 months. Back in January I couldn't pull myself up to a sitting position when laying down--I didn't have the stomach muscles. I can do sit ups now. I couldn't hoist myself up on the counter, my favorite spot for sitting in the kitchen. No longer a problem. Twenty minutes of walking at a moderate pace on the treadmill was more than enough, and my knees ached when I braved a minute or two of running. Shedding ten pounds has considerably lightened the load I'm carrying and I can run for longer (albeit still short) periods of time. I'm a work in progress.

Looking at it from a broader perspective, we're all running the race of life. And it's not about who crosses the finish line first, or who has the best time. It's about determination. It's about consistency. It's about having the courage to keep moving forward even when it's hard. It's about getting back on your feet when you falter. It's about finishing the race that you started and being able to say, as did Paul in the New Testament, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

Discovering Sand

We took Jake to the beach for the first time this week. He loved, loved, LOVED the sand!

Fun in the Sun

April has come and gone in a flash, and I can't believe that in another day or two May will arrive (day or two, as in, when will I finish this post?!). We've had a busy month of fun in the sunshine with family and friends we haven't seen in a while. My dear friends Heather and Ben, with their cute little Kinley, came for a visit, followed by my favorite sister, Kristen. We trekked through the zoo, took in a ball game, learned some US history by touring Teddy Roosevelt's home on the North Shore, played in the sand at the beach, and loved the spring sunshine through it all. Now that it's just the three of us again, I miss the company and conversation of my dear friends (that includes you, too, Kristen). Isn't it amazing how even though time and distance separate loved ones, you pick up right where you left off when you're together again. I think it's pretty neat.

My cute little monkey

The Dads and their kids

with Heather & Ben at the Yankee's game

playing in the sand with Auntie Kristen

Me and my sis

Yeah for fun at the park!

Jake's first time on the swings--he loved it!

Though it's raining outside today, the weather has warmed up considerably here on Long Island, and given us more opportunity to get out of the house and enjoy our surroundings. Here are some pictures of the last couple of family outings, which took us to a Spring flower show at a local nursery as well as an animal preserve.
Don't I wish that this was the flowerbed in front of my house!

Farmer Brian with his little piglet, always biting on whatever is within range (the baby, not the Papa)

Sitting Pretty

Jake's newest hang out (i.e. jail cell) is the laundry basket. Add a few toys and he's content to play for a little while.
The plastic is a little slippery and he frequently ends up in this position.

And sometimes he's not too happy about it! :)

Bragging Rights

So, I'm bragging here, but I have to say that I'm pleased with the finished product. Take a look! The top picture is of my wedding bouquet. I had it done in silks so that I could keep it, but decided after a couple of years that I didn't want a "wedding bouquet" displayed in my living room. So, I took it apart, bought a few accent flowers to spruce it up, and Voila!!

Playing Catch Up

I know it's been a while since I gave you an update on our little family. Life seems to sneak past me, and before I know it, the end of another season has arrived. I, for one, have cabin fever as Spring plays the tease here in New York. Temperatures will spike to the 60's for a day or two and then plummet back into the 20's with snow and wind. The flowers are beginning to poke through the ground and I had the pleasure of an early spring weeding (literally a pleasure) last week when there was an afternoon of sunshine.
Brian celebrated a birthday at the beginning of the month, and we are looking forward to using his birthday present all Spring and Summer long. Don't you just love the smell of a barbeque? :)
And the star of this show, little man Jake, is really getting the hang of sitting up on his own. He's not quite there, but it's close enough that Brian said we could call it good. Jake now has four teeth, two on top and two on bottom, and he continues to chew on whatever he can get his little hands on. I knew that babies put everything in their mouths--it's how they learn, but I never thought I'd compare my son to a puppy when it comes to chewing on things! Though he's not crawling yet, he can get himself to just about whatever he has his mind set on. He rocks and rolls, twists and turns, until he's either victorious or stuck. LOL! In some ways I wish he could crawl, just because I love watching him progress and develop, and in others I'm happy he can't get into more trouble than he already does.