So, today I ran my first ever 5k. In November I decided that I would train. I wouldn’t call myself a couch potato but to put things into perspective, when I started training running a full lap was beyond difficult.

My initial train, just 2 months ago, it took me 49 minutes to run the 3.1 miles. Today I clocked in at 34 minutes. I was pretty proud of myself.

As I ran today my thoughts wandered through the life lessons I have learned as of late and how the race today was metaphorical.

I want to share just a few.

Go your own pace. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, it does absolutely no good to try and be someone you are not.

Don’t try to go too fast but push yourself to always improve.

When a girl who isn’t wearing shoes passes you, don’t even pay attention because at the end of the race she will be nowhere near you and it won’t matter.

Getting to the top of the hill is always way more rewarding than cruising to the bottom because it’s at the top that you have reason to be proud that you never gave up.

When climbing the hill, just tell yourself how strong you are while simultaneously praying whole-heartedly to God to make you stronger.

When you pass someone up just know that in another 50 feet they may be passing you.

When you are climbing the hill, the right thing to do is encourage the others who are also climbing, even if they aren’t as fast. So don’t ever EVER get full of yourself.

Live life like runners do with each other. Worry about yourself and encourage everyone else to do their best. When other people are better than you, be happy for them, and be humble enough to learn from them.

When you are climbing the hill, you don’t care where your cheerleaders are in their understanding of your pain or progress, you are just so grateful they are there.

It’s much more emotionally healthy to live with the voice in your head who is congratulating yourself for how far you have come over the voice that tries to creep in and tell you that you still have so much more to improve.

Without your training, there is no need to join the race.

Sometimes watching your own feet is what you have to do because if you really see the whole hill you’ll give up. God knows this about you and that is why he doesn’t give you all the answers just because you think you want them.

Surround yourself with positivity, it’s the people who can tell you that you can do it that will be partially responsible when you do.

The end is awesome, but it is really just another beginning with a little more knowledge and a lot more accountability.

If the race is hard and you need a nap, take one.

Run the race for you and no one else.

If you have pain, acknowledge it, do what you can to change it, and plow through it because it will go away….eventually.

Who cares what you look like, it’s all about how you feel.

I remember vividly my little brother and sisters setting up that big old luggy VHS video camera and recording commercials.

They were so silly even though they were trying to be very very professional about the whole thing. They were convinced that their cereal commercial was wayyyy better than the “Mikey likes it” marketing campaign.

When I found this video done by Abigiail a few years back it took me straight back to my mom’s kitchen table in the 80’s.

Children truly are an heritage of the Lord.

And my source of greatest joy along with my Jesus and my husband.

So, a week ago I set up comment moderation on my blog so that I could weed out the spammers more efficiently. They have gotten crazy as of late. So crazy that I considered becoming one to make some much needed cash. 🙂 LG forbid it. You can thank him for being the sensible one.

Well, the 38 year old that I am, had totally forgotten until cousin Kim made me aware that she had commented but it wasn’t showing up and it said it was waiting for me.

I do appreciate all the comments that were waiting for me…about 50 of them. Who is the oversensitive idiot now?

I am mostly just glad that you all aren’t missing out on what I consider my best giveaway.

I do feel God pulling me in another direction, but I want to reassure the few of you that showed some disappointment that I will keep blogging here. It just won’t have as much of my focus. And that is the way it supposed to be and I am happy about where I am and where I am going….much happier now that I know not all of you gave up on me all together and that I am just forgetful. God really does work in mysterious ways…sometimes even through our own brain freeze.

My cousin DeAnne is my Mom Hero. There’s no doubt about it. Look at her family!

I have four children and I think I am pretty heroic. Depending on the day of the week, I might tell you that I am an all-out Wonder Woman, but the mom that I think who deserves to win the most votes in this contest is not me. She is not even my amazing mother or mother-in-law. She is my cousin. I haven’t seen her in person in about six years, but since the last time I saw her I believe she has added at least 10 more kids to her family.

My cousin DeAnne Walker and her husband Doug just got home from China where they say that they finally completed their family. Yes, they are finally done with numbers 15 and 16. They are truly an inspiration to me and so many others. They have motivated and assisted many with stateside and worldwide adoption. Check out DeAnne’s blog appropriately called It’s a Wonderful Life.

They have grown their own family biologically but more through adoption. Each child is as precious to them as the other. I can’t imagine how huge their hearts have grown as they have made room for one child after another. DeAnne has one of the biggest momma hearts that I know. She can’t stand the thought of any child being without a family or without a home. She advocates for every child of the universe in word and deed. She has children with every ethnicity and from the whole spectrum of capability. She knows all there is to know about bonding and caring for children with special needs.

I just personally don’t know how she does it. I think I would be pooped after just one meal. I can’t even think about the laundry or the taxi-ing that is required much less the time to love each one individually, but she does it. She also doesn’t claim to know how to do it either, but I am sure her 16 children will have some of her secrets if you were to ask them.

Go and vote for DeAnne. Pretty please with sugar on top. $2,500 could give DeAnne’s wonderful family one heck of a Christmas and I soooo want that to happen! It just takes two clicks. The link that says go vote and then all you have to do is scroll down and find my photo with a brief write up about DeAnne. Hit the vote button on the left. You can vote every 24 hours until November 4th.

You can also invite your friends to this facebook event started by DeAnne’s daughter, Sereen (the bride in the photo), to encourage more voters.

I love you my faithful readers.

I would love to hear your feedback on the blog.

Tell my what you want more of.
Tell me how I annoy you.

I write this blog for you.
Help me give you more of what you want.

I may or may not listen to you, depending on what you say. 🙂

Have a wonderful Saturday.
I will be laying in my bed all day
hoping for at least a couple useful comments.

What do you do to get rid of the cold as quickly as possible.
I want to do it just as soon as I take the weekend off.

Love you LG! Thanks for being my hero.
You picked up the house this morning.
You stayed up with Caroline at least 70% of the time.
And you even kissed me risking your own health.

Thank you to everyone who played along in August.

We really did have a great online version of Boggle.
My readers are so smart and talented.
I am one lucky gal.

I am declaring the winner.

Sheila.

She had the first official 7 letter word:
slabbed.

Although I must say that Cousin Linda,
Brother-in-law Logan,
and TN friend Teresa
were each pretty impressive
with the eight letter words:

Outhouse, openside, and albedoes.

Unfortunately each of their entries
were disqualified by the official rules.

However,
I am declaring you all winners.

E-mail me your addresses and your favorite candy
and wait for a fun surprise package in the mail.

Yeah I am cool like that.
And really there can never
be enough
games or sugar in the world.

alice.w.gold at gmail

September’s game will be up as soon as I think of something.
Any suggestions?

I think I am going to scale back on the blogging,