A Fast for my Dad

Sunday I am asking for your strength and prayers for my dad. He lives alone and is going through some things right now and is desperately trying to get back on track. I've talked with him and offered that I post this on my blog so that we could hold a fast for him. He wasn't sure about the idea but I said the more the merrier and he agreed.

For some reason, next to prayer, fasting has always been my go to thing. For one, it gives us something to fast for on fast Sunday and two it just seems to have this power connected to it and I always feel the spirit stronger on those days. The fast will be held this Sunday, December 6th.

Please pray for him that he can have enough strength to get through this trying time and bounce forward from it. My dad has a lot of strength but it is always nice to have an extra push when you are starting something that seems very intimidating, especially with Satan lurking about.

I love you Dad!

Seattle Half Marathon Finisher!

So Sunday I walked a half marathon. I really don't know what I was thinking. I had trained for three months off and on, nothing spectacular. It was haunting me for months and I just dreaded it. But I had three goals, well two really. The first was to just finish it and trust me I really didn't think I would be able to. The second was to not get last or not be the last walker. Third, I actually did have a goal to walk twenty minute miles finishing with a four hour and twenty minute goal. Then I set another goal realistically giving me another hour! So to finish walking 13.1 miles in about five hours.

So here are some things I recall about the race (good and bad)

1. People were not cheering for me but rather the runners racing pass me and lapping me a second time. Obviously they are the hard core ones and I felt like an idiot a lot of the times just walking.

2. I distinctly remember on mile 5 thinking "why do people do these things?"

3. An old woman passing me on mile 10 with two canes! Yes that's right! Kind of funny now...or not.

4. Intense pain at mile 11 and seriously thought of quitting.

5. Jim coming to my rescue and walking the last half mile with me as I was limping in my right foot from mile 10 to mile 13. He knew I was about to lose it.

6. Jim knowing I could finish.

7. The cancer patients that we were raising funds for made me cry as they had their pictures posted along the route...or it could have been from pain.

8. The rush I got from people handing me water and gatorade and I would take it drink some squish the cup and throw it just like a true marathon expert.

9. The nice views of the men who would run past me with their shirts off (I'm being honest here)!

10. The adrenaline in the first 4 miles walking down fifth ave.

11. The sense of accomplishment I felt when crossing the finish line and getting my medal and beating my original goal time by ten minutes (four hours and ten minutes) despite not being able to walk today.

I now can answer my second observation question, "why do people do these things?" The feeling of doing it alone was great. Would I do it again? It was like that time I went to Punxatawney to see the Groundhog come out in Pennsylvania. Glad I did it, probably won't do it again for a long long time. But hey if you ask me to walk for a couple of hours with you I totally can! Six miles is cake now!

In all honesty, it was very hard to do all that mileage at once. I am glad I had Karen and Jim cheering me on, those two are hard core! My future Mother-in-Law ran it in two hours and forty-seven minutes. I won't give away her age but she is almost double my age. She's awesome! I was so glad Jim finished with me as I was limping and he just walked along knowing I could do it. My love for him quadrupled that day! At one point I called him up and said I am the last walker and then when he came and found me at the end he said there are tons of walkers behind you. BUt I was alone for the last 2 miles with no walkers in site...that is until Jim pointed them out behind me. Way behind me. I wasn't last! I finished it! And I finished it ten minutes under my ambitious goal! Though I am still dead two days later. :)

PS-the pics are scare of me because well I decided not to wear makeup! Sorry beware!

WW: Week 10?

So I am down another half a pound. I didn't reach my November goal of reaching my 5% goal but I am now one pound away from it. So perhaps next week. Not bad for Thanksgiving week though! And walking the half marathon probably helped too (that will be another entry entirely). So here is a song that is supposed to be sung to "Oh Christmas tree" to inspire you for the holidays!

Oh Pumpkin Pie by Susan K Benjamin

Oh, pumpkin pie! Oh, pecan pie! How filling and caloric!
Oh, chocolate cake! Oh, breakfast bake! How fatteningly tragic!
Once I was slim in summertime, but now I'm lost in food sublime
The treats are everywhere and I'm much tempted by their magic!

Oh, cookie sweet! Ohm fugge complete! It seems a shame to waste it!
Oh, crackers, cheese! Oh, roll-ups, please! Can hardly waist to taste it!
Once I had trim waistline. but now my tummy's over-dined.
My tummy aches, and yet I pine for turkey when I taste it!

Oh, taco chips! Oh, chocolate chips! I snack on dough, pot-licker!
Oh, topping whips! Oh, veggie dips! I'm eating more and quicker!
My toes are lost below the sight of belly weight much over height!
Yes, Weight Watchers will know my plight, I know I'm getting thicker!

Oh, high fat foods! Oh season's moods! We have such great traditions!
More calories! More drama, please! And each year more ambitions!
Our houses clean with much decor, our families loving evermore,
Our children grateful, pleased for sure, And charities fine missions!

Oh, read and green commercial scene, it's everywhere with caroling
Would I be mean to ask for lean when I eat out while shopping?
Do you suppose that Auntie Grace would get her nose bent out of place
or Grandma B would lose some face if they tried lower fat on something?

Oh, what if I could give a try to eat less food this season?
Still have some treats, but waaay less eats, is this committing treason?
I'll still enjoy the season's joy, but skip the fats that do annoy.
I'll miss the high caloric ploy? My health is good reason!

What are you thankful for?

I have been thinking about this a lot this morning. There are so many things to be thankful for even when things aren't quite going your way. For one, my fiancee Jim, who is ever supportive when it comes to me and my melt downs with school. I am also thankful for his mother who is so playful and keeps me laughing. My family and friends are also at the top of my list especially lately as I've been a basket case and we have kind of leaned on each other for support. I'm grateful that my sisters are so close to me and I get to see them on a regular basis now. I'm also thankful for baked cheetos! :)

It has been bought

The wedding dress.

My mom and I went shopping last night and this morning she called me and said go take your sister right now and try your three favorite on and pay the deposit. And so I did. It has really finally hit me, I'm getting freaking married! And am so ecstatic. When I tried the dress on I kept thinking about Jim and what he will think. I just wish it was here but am taking small little joys in planning. I'm just now really starting to get into it. For example I stayed up way to late looking on all the wedding sites for silk leaves and aisle runners, etc. It's getting fun kids! And the wedding dress is superb. It was more formal than I originally wanted but it just doesn't matter it is beautiful from every angle and I love it.