Asher's Soul

Asher came to my room early this morning and told me that he had had a nightmare. He got in bed with me and then said, "I don't think that my soul is used to being in a two-person bedroom." :)

A side note: he had his second basketball game last night. He rebounded the ball when the other team had shot it. He immediately tried to put it up for a shot in THEIR basket!! Silly kid! But it was pretty cute! :)

Pay it Forward

Last week I pulled into Braum's to go through the Drive-thru and get some food. One of their delivery trucks had pulled up beside the building making it difficult for a sweet old lady to back out of her parking spot that was parallel to that truck. She backed out and pulled back in a few times because she couldn't really see how far back she could actually go before hitting the truck. I decided that I would pull to the side and get out and help her (I couldn't really get around her to get to the Drive-thru anyway). She gladly accepted my offer and I stood at the back of her car and directed her until she was able to get out safely. She was grateful and I was happy to help.

I proceeded to the Drive-thru and placed my order. When I got to the window to pay the cashier said, "The lady in front of you has paid for your lunch. She said that she witnessed you doing something nice for someone else and wanted to pay for your food." I was so very touched. I almost cried. "Thank you, Sweet-Lady-Who-Paid-For-My-Lunch!"

This is the idea behind the phrase "Pay it Forward". There was a touching movie made in 2000 about this very thing: Pay it Forward. Evidently, there is someone on Facebook trying to get today the 2nd of Dec to be National Pay it Forward Day.

Although my experience didn't happen today AND it was closer to Paying it Back rather than Paying it Forward, these types of experiences are what will make this world a better place.

Today at breakfast I encouraged my kids to do it at school. It will be fun to listen to their stories when they get home!

So if you feel so inclined, perform a random act of kindness today!

Blog Resurrection....

...even if for just one day!

I recently got deleted from a friend's blog roll on her own blog because I hadn't posted in the last 3 months. My feelings weren't hurt but it really got me thinking about my blog. I miss it. I miss the ramblings that come out of my brain. I'm sad that I haven't kept up with it better because this is essentially my journal and scrapbook all rolled into one. These are my family's memories.

It is my desire to do better at chronicling our life and keeping tracking of our memories. I know it will be hard to get back in the swing of it but, I'm going to try.

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{This is a questionnaire that Ainsley had to fill out at the beginning of the school year for her teacher. I actually typed this all up in August but am just now getting around to posting it}

Ainsley:

What is your full name? -Ainsley Shay Gibson.

What do you like to be called? Ainsley.

Why? I don't like to be called by my nick name, Peanut.

List 10 words that describe you.

1. fun
2. silly
3. weird
4. smart
5. loving
6. helping
7. smiley
8. reader
9. thinker
10. friendly

List the people that live in your home and put 2 describing words after each name.

1. mom - fast, heart strong
2. dad - strong, slow
3. Aspen - tall, witty
4. Asher - big, young
5. Andyn - short, mean
6. me - loving, smiley

What do you think you will be like 5 years from now?

- Athletic, tall, thin, and a talker-backer.

What are you most afraid of?

- Fear, dementors (from Harry Potter), death, and gorillas (shiver!).

What is it about you that makes your friends like you?

- My humor, my loyalty, and my stick together attitude.

What is something I (the teacher) need to know about you?

- I like the things you like, =reading, comfy chairs. I have things you have, =a good sence of humor, my sence of fasion, stuff like that.

Write your own question and answer it?

- What is your favorite color? Purple!

Ainsley: Love This Girl

Today is this sweet girl's 10th birthday.

I love you, Ainsley! Happy Birthday!!

"Nutcracker"

My 6 year old son just came into the kitchen with a Santa hat on and only his tighty-whities. He said he was looking for something green to wear. I wish I had been able to take a picture of it. Seriously, a sight. And shortly after this I overheard him tell his oldest sister, "your DAD is a nutcracker."

Kids crack me up!

Treasurer?

When Aspen got in the car today after school she said, "I had to write a speech today."

I said, "Oh really? For what?"

She said, "I'm running for treasurer of the National Elementary Honor Society."

I said, "That's great! Why treasurer?"

She said, "Because I like money."

Oh. :)

Here are some photos of Aspen at the NEHS Induction Ceremony.

Most of these kids looked oh so happy to be there, didn't they?!

We're very proud of you Aspen! Good work!

Absolute Sweetness

"Daddy, who put the frog (fog) outside?"

Andyn-3yrs...

Wow. I Love Her.

I wrote this post the first of November. I'm making efforts to return to blogging...

As Aspen entered the van after school today she announced that something really bad happened at school today. When I asked her what it was she told me that she would have to tell me later in private.

Later in private... she came into my room and shut the door. She informed me that today at school her two best friends both used the 'F' word and the 'B' word.

Her: "I don't know what to do about it."

Me: "Do want my advice or are you just wanting to tell me about it?"

Her: "I don't know. I guess I want your help."

I thought about it for a minute.

Me: "Well, you could tell them that it makes you uncomfortable when they use those bad words."

Her: "And sad."

Me: "Sad? Are you sad because you think they won't be friends with you anymore?"

Her: "No. Sad because I won't be friends with them anymore."

Wow.

I love her.

No Cussing Club

As mentioned in the previous post, Aspen is currently dealing with something difficult. Difficult for her.

After mentioning it to a friend of mine, she told me about this video clip... I'm looking forward to sharing it with Aspen:

No Cussing Club

Thanks, Jen.

A Big Slide

As I entered my 3 yr old's room this morning she was just waking up. She had big fat tears in her eyes and a very sad face. I picked her up and held her as she proceeded to tell me about a dream she had had.

"I was in a slide"

"You were in a slide?"

"A big slide"

Tears are streaming down her face.

"It's okay, Andyn. You're awake now and it was just a dream. It wasn't real. I've got you."

"They weft me."

More tears.

"They left you?"

Rubbing her back I told her, "everything is okay."

"Ainsley and Asher saved me."

A Bad News Sandwich

I have very vivid memories of when I was a kid and my parents used to hit the side and/or top of the television to make it work. I've always wondered how this solution came to be. I imagine my mom or dad got really mad at the t.v. because it wasn't working and punched it real hard and... voila!! It worked.

I posted yesterday how our t.v. died. In reality, it was still mostly functioning. You could hear what was showing but the screen was all green. You couldn't see anything but green... The Green Screen of Death.

In an effort to live out this legacy, I banged really hard on the side of the t.v. and I'll be a monkey's uncle.... the picture came back on.

Now, for The Bad News Sandwich...

Good news is: the t.v. started working again so we could watch part of yet ANOTHER Star Wars movie last night.

Bad news is: the t.v. started working again so chances are slim for buying a new one.

Good news is: the t.v. screen turned green again during Star Wars and it was just frustrating enough that we may have to get a new after all!

Once again, here's hoping for some really good Black Friday sales!

A Good News Sandwich

Our television died today.

This television has been a loyal family friend ever since we were married. We had a small 13 in television when we got married and a good friend of ours traded us that small t.v. for a larger 25 in t.v. shortly after we were married. It was several years old to her then and has been a part of our family for more than 10 years.

Secretly, I have wished it to die the last couple of years (and preferably around Black Friday) so we could finally update to flat screen. Voila!

Where does the sandwich come in? When I called Geoff to let him know, I told him that I had a Good News Sandwich to share with him:

Bad News: the t.v. died.

Good News: we'll need to get a new one.

Bad News: we don't have the moola for it!

To which he said, "well, we really don't watch that much t.v."

To which I said, "we play a lot of wii...."

Geoff: "oh. this isn't good."

Here's hoping for some really good Black Friday deals.

The 5K Saga Continues...

I wasn't sure how exactly to include a lot of these photos into my previous sappy post so I decided to just do a separate post with pictures.

If you didn't read My First 5K or Crossed the Finish Line then you may want to do that first so you will understand some of these photos better!

Now, for your viewing enjoyment:

This was taken right before the race started. I was choking back tears in this photo. And wishing that I had better luck with tanning.

I wore my Moo-ville Creamery t-shirt that we picked up in Michigan last time we were there. The kids agreed that we should all wear them at all the races that we enter! I think that's a fabulous idea! We might be hitting Aunt Karin up for a shipment of some bright colored ones soon!

This is my new friend Lori. I'm laughing at her because... she was funny. During our brief conversation each of my kids randomly came up to hug me. When the 3rd kid came up she said, "Is that one yours, too?" Then she said something about having my own little Catholic 'something'. I didn't catch exactly what she said but I laughed. If she only knew. Then the 4th kid came up!

Now, time to wait. Waiting is not my kids' speciality. But, Bear seams to be handling it well!

This event appears to have been absolutely painful for Ainsley. You can see it in her eyes.

Maybe a little for Aspen, too. But loyal... ever loyal!

I have to thank Terra so much for this photo! It is my favorite. The expressions on the kids' faces is priceless as they wait for me to come around the bend!

Getting close!!!

Even closer!

Even closer still!! The guy in the foreground is absolutely astonished by my time! As he should be!

Please, don't ask me what I was doing here. I don't know. The lady in the white tank top is stifling her laughter!

What a beautiful sight! See that bald man on the left? That's my husband taking a 3 second video of me crossing the finish line:

This is when I actually crossed the finish line!

Notice the time on the clock. Minus the 6+ minutes from the start of the half marathoners I finished at 35:33!!!

THIS was there to greet me at the end!

And this! Notice my niece Emma's gorgeous red hair. Andyn, on the other hand, looks like her daddy got her ready that morning.

Emma pretty much loves me to death. It's mutual.

I love this picture.

Sophie, my other niece, loves me too she just doesn't know it yet. And their daddy... well, Jeff was just mad I didn't ask him to run the race with me... who knew?! You're on like Donkey Kong, dude!

Oh, boy. I'm thinking we need to find a charity race for finding a cure for male pattern baldness.

I did it.

I'm a dork. But, I did it.

Crossed the Finish Line

(note: I started this post on Saturday and finished it up today)

Such a range of emotions....

Sad last night. Asked my girls if they wanted to see me run my first 5k and they both said, "I want to but I really want to do such-and-such..." My heart was broken. All my fears of my kids not loving me confirmed.

Sad this morning that my husband and children wouldn't be there. Disappointed in myself that I wasn't better prepared. Upset that I didn't have any cohorts to cheer me on and snap photos with. I felt alone.

But then... Geoff called. He asked if I wanted them to come. Evidently, Aspen woke up and told her daddy that she wanted to come watch me. I told him that would be really nice.

As I stood among the 500+ people waiting to start the race, I saw my clan walking towards the crowd. I cried. I felt supported. I felt loved. All 5 of them gave me hugs and wished me luck. Aspen gave me a rainbow colored sweatband for my wrist and asked me to wear it on my race... which I did. Who cares if people thought I was wearing it for gay pride!

Once my family was there I seemed more like myself. Throwing all caution to the wind, I mentioned to the lady next to me that I wish that I had remembered my deodorant. Thankfully, she laughed. And we began to talk. This was her first race, too. She was planning on walking it because she had only built up to running a mile so far. But this was a start for her. I felt such admiration for her. Geoff snapped a photo of us talking:

The gun 'blew' and the crowd took off. I was still feeling a bit anxious that I would make it but definitely more confident now that I knew I had a cheering squad waiting for me at the end! AND I had my Shiny Toy Guns to keep me going!

My sister also came (with her family) but was a little late so I caught a glimpse of them a minute or so later. For the record: she is my number one fan. And, I am hers. I love her.

As I was focusing on getting my stride down to what I'm used to (and avoiding speeding up to keep up with the others), I became very aware that everyone was passing me. I never looked back but I was pretty sure everyone except the people that were walking were passing me. The positive self talk had to kick in: "Not EVERYONE is passing you. And even if they are you're still going to do this thing!"

I can proudly say that I only stopped to walk a few times. And it was only on the inclines. My legs just weren't used to the slight inclines that were on the course. The first time that I stopped to walk I was starting to feel disappointed but when I noticed several other people doing the same I realized... it's okay. I only had the right to be mad at myself if I had properly prepared for the race... which I didn't.

The best part of the race was coming around the bend to the finish line. Strangers on the corner cheering for me to keep going! A knot was totally welling up in my throat! I was REALLY going to make it to the finish line without quitting!

As I approached the finish line I spotted my family! They were all cheering for me!

I did it. I really did it. My family all hugged and kissed me and congratulated me. And almost immediately they all started talking about doing the next race with me!

Aspen, my 10 year old, told me she wants to run a race with me. This was priceless to me. My children struggle with ambition. They are content with mediocrity. It's obvious that this has been the case for me for years now, so why wouldn't it be for them? I'm hoping to change that. They will, for the most part, be like their parents.

Geoff, Terra (my sister), Jeff (her husband), me, and possibly a couple of my kiddos will be running a 5K together.... soon. That's all we could talk about.

So, when you check-in they give you a 'chip' to be attached to your shoe lace. This records your running time. Because I haven't actually ran a full 3.2 miles and timed it I was guessing that I would probably do it in 40-45 minutes. Apparently, as you cross the finish line there is a clock that posts your time. I didn't see it by my sister did and she said that it posted 41 or 42 minutes. "Good", I thought. That's what I thought. Not bad and gives me a goal for improvement.

But... when I went online to check my actual time I was shocked to see the numbers 35:33!

35 MINUTES! How is this possible??

All of sudden I remembered! They started the clock with the half marathoners 6 minutes prior to us starting! They told us before we started that we would need to deduct 6 minutes from our finish time.

I was very happily surprised. Very pleased. Very pleased, indeed.

My First 5K

Several months ago when I agreed to run a 5K with my friend I secretly thought I was crazy. Then, as I lost weight and increased my endurance for running I thought: I can do this!

I thought I would be excited when race day finally arrived.

I'm not.

I feel like an idiot.

I don't want to go.

My friends have backed out of running for one reason or another and I haven't been training like I should. 

Obviously, I'm the only one that will be disappointed with my poor performance. Disappointed in myself.

Only my sister is planning on being there to cheer me on.

My kids won't see me run my first 5K race because I'm too prideful to ask my husband to bring them... he hasn't offered.

Eight Years Ago Today

Seems like a lifetime ago... yet just like yesterday.

Another year has gone by. Yet... I still remember.

There will forever be a scarred piece of my heart in reference to the suffering and trauma that took place on 9-11-2001.