A Trooper

It's 10:00 Am and Gracie is getting ready to go back for an exploratory catheterization. She hasn't eaten since last night, but was amazingly cute and smiley during the prep time. She should be in the cath lab for about two hours, followed by a four hour recovery. Hopefully we will be out of the hospital by this evening.

Pre-Resolution-ing

Lately, I've been goal setting.  This is one of my favorite past times.  Every year I set goals in each domain of health:  emotional, mental, social, physical, and spiritual.

I realize this is a little extreme, but nonetheless...

So, I'm going to just go ahead and share the different things I want to focus on in 2011 as a way to make myself accountable to the blogging world (There couldn't be a better accountability partner, really).

1.  To take out time each week to write more and see where it leads (I'm thinking about changing to a better blog layout but need to talk to my digital media specialist friends about this....you know who you are....I need help and advice).
3.  Improve at photography (insert SHOUT OUT to Kristen Marks here for the photography lesson this week).
4.  Train and see how fast I can run a 5k (not sure which distance I should train for)
5.  Learn to play the guitar
6.  Complete digital scrapbooks from the past 2 years
7.  Have 12 piano lessons with Haley

This is not a complete list.....this is just a brainstorming session that precedes the actual New Years Resolution list.  Does anyone else do this..?

GG

Gracie has a heart Catheterization tomorrow in Charlottesville. After this procedure, they will be able to tell when open heart surgery #2 will be. Please pray for our family's peace and strength, Gracie's recovery, and our marriage as there will be a lot of added stressors to add to the equation. Please also pray for me (Annie) to be able to sleep through the night again.

The Secrets of a Telecommuter

Colby has been working from his home office a lot lately.  I love having him around for breakfast and an occasional lunch break.  It was especially fun to see how he dressed for a skype appointment last week...

New Gracie Tricks!

Gracie is learning to sit-up....

.............well................

...........kind of.....I thought it would be mean to post the picture of the face plant.

She's not sure what to think, but I'm trying to get her used to sitting at the table with us!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today

Haley's First Mile and the Story of Mine

Haley ran her first race! The Turkey Trot Kid's One Mile was the perfect distance for Haley to run.  After she was done, she asked me if she could run another race the next day.  Addicted already?  At least it's a healthy addiction!  During the race, one child stopped at a port-a-potty for a quick break.  It reminded me of my first race--The Sixth Grade Mile....allow me to tell the story:

You weren't allowed to join the track team at Logan Middle School until you were in 7th grade, but once a year the 6th graders were invited to have a fun run on the track.  I remember showing up with my white Keds and my street clothes, ready to take on the world.  The gun went off, and for the first 200 meters, I was in first place--sprinting ahead of all the boys.  Reality set in after 300 meters, and I soon drifted back in the pack.

Now, as you well know, one mile is 4 laps around the track.  If you can imagine with me, at one end of the track there was the starting line (which is--of course--also the finish line) and at the clear other end of the track there was a bathroom.  Halfway through my 3rd lap, I started to feel thirsty.  I had sprinted so hard in the beginning and was pushing a good pace, but now was starting to feel it.  Not knowing any better, I exited the track and got myself a nice, long drink and even took a bathroom break.  After taking a couple of minutes to catch my breath and recover, I joined the mass of others--who were now VERY spread out and even lapping each other--in finishing my 3rd lap.

Now, what happened next changed the rest of my life.  I turned the corner and started running down the "home stretch" to finish lap #3.  The coaches must have lost track of who was on which lap because--next thing I know--I hear the coaches shouting and yelling my name. "ANNIE HALEY!!!!!  BRING IT HOME STRONG!!!!"  I started to pick up the pace, not completely sure what was happening.  Others started to line the track and cheer for me, "ANNIE!  You're almost done!!" (Huh?  I am?! ) FINISH STRONG!!!" I started to sprint towards the finish line, trying to convince myself that I had run 4 laps.

I crossed the finish line and immediately my 6th grade P.E. teacher came up to me with his stopwatch and eyebrows raised in excitement.  I had won.  I had made an AMAZING time....possibly even broke the 6th Grade Mile Record (can't remember for sure).  The high school cross country coach came over, introduced himself and started recruiting me for the team.  The other coaches surrounded me, talking of my talent and my potential.  I stood in the spotlight beaming, completely ignoring the voice that was telling me I was a deceitful, conniving cheat.

It wasn't until after placing in the Division 1 Wisconsin High School State Cross-Country Championships that I confessed to my coach what I had done years earlier.  I've often wondered how different my life would have been if I hadn't stopped for that drink on lap #3.  Here is a picture of Haley finishing her mile on the track...Oh, and Yes....she ran the entire thing.  

Do you ever...

Do you ever lay on the ground and look up at the pale, white moon in the afternoon sky and think about how you are sitting on a speck of cosmic dust suspended in space at the mercy of its Creator?

Just wondering...

Do you ever sit on the driveway with your four-year old after breakfast and talk about the miracle of skin cell reproduction?

Do you ever hide your to-do list for a day so you can spend more time looking at your husband in the eyes and being there to listen when he decides to talk?

Do you ever sit at a lake with waves lapping and sea gulls laughing and listen to nothing but your thoughts?

Do you ever paint ceramic tea cups with your six year old and have as much fun as she is blending the colors?

Do you ever sit down and do nothing else except watch your children play as the autumn shadows dance on the wall?

Do you ever look at your baby and marvel at how she used to be the size of a poppy seed?

Do you ever look at everyone around you and marvel at how they used to be the size of a poppy seed?

Do you ever look AT YOURSELF and marvel at how YOU used to be the size of a poppy seed?

Do you ever look deeply at your reflection and ponder how one day God will draw your last breathe and you will cease to exist on this earth?

Do you ever put down the broom and have a tickle party in the middle of the day because the dirty floors will always be there...but your kids will not.

Do you ever say no to something so that your family can take a walk together in the last rays of the day?

Do you ever watch the sunset and linger as long as the colors?

Don't book your weekends.

November in Virginia