Still thinking of her...

Last weekend Mike and I made a crazy trip to Newport with the kids.  We booked a hotel at the last minute so I could attend a session of the Writer's on the Edge Series in Newport.  Lauren Kessler was the featured author and I was excited to hear her speak.  Afterwards, I asked her how she made time to write when her kids were little.  She said, in so many words, if they are napping you have to push everything aside and take that time to write.  I guess that's what I'm doing right now.  Audrey is sleeping.  Will and Ella are playing together peacefully, at least for the moment and I, I am thinking about my grandmother, again.

 I started working on a project a few weeks ago that I'm still trying to finish.  A little bit at a time, right?  It's a bunting for the fall.  One side fall colors, the other side halloween.  Anyway, I finished cutting out the halloween pieces and today I worked on the fall colors, all from grandma Novie's stash.  So of course I'm thinking about her.  How she would pray when she sewed, probably so she could keep from cursing.  I should pray more, ahem.  Then I took a break, walked into the kitchen to take a sip from my neglected coffee mug, it's contents now lukewarm. As I picked up the butter knife and lifted the tea towel to cut a hunk of zucchini bread for myself, I thought of her some more...  Drinking her coffee, taking a slice of homemade bread, still in the loaf pan in which it was baked.  It wasn't fancy, but it was comforting and homey.  How many times did I walk into her kitchen and cut off a hunk of sweet bread for myself, or some other kind of baked treat?  I could feel even more at home with her than anywhere else in the world.  I sure miss that warm hug goodbye, the sweet scent of a grandma who loves you, my refuge.

There's a rough draft, folks.  Now as I read through this again I have to smile because God gave us that woman to light up our dark world for a time.  She was certainly a bright light in my life and I know many others.  Now go bake up some zucchini bread so you can cut off a hunk at a time until you've discovered you've eaten the whole thing by yourself!  :)

Eugene Women's Half Marathon

My coach looking especially coach like with that mustache!

 My crew

 Slow and steady

 Getting closer...

 Enjoying the post race festivities

All the gals: Kellie, Kara, Marianne, Me, Miss Audrey June

Kara talked me into running another half marathon.  Here are the pics from the comeback race, courtesy of Eric Jensen.  Thank you, Eric!  It was a beautiful day and a great race.  I can't believe how long it's taken me to get back into running after baby #3, but I'm glad to finally be moving this old bod again and I'm grateful that it still moves!  Ha! 

I was a little sad not to be running with the 9 minute mile pace group this time around.  I thought it best to try and shoot for a 10 minute mile pace.  My finish time was 2:05, which was better than expected.  I was nervous when Kara and I started out.  I kept looking down at my watch and seeing nines.  Hmmmm..was I starting out way too fast?  Would I burn out at the end and pay for this?  It felt good to be running at that pace so I decided to keep up with it.  Many times, at the end of a long run, I fizzle out.  During this half I felt like I was able to kick it up a notch after mile 9.  I don't think that's ever happened!  It left me wondering if I could have pushed a little harder.  Luckily I was able to live vicariously through Kellie who did hang out with the 9 minute mile pace group and acheived her goal of running this half in under two hours.  Awesome work, Kellie!!!  It wasn't long after my finish that I heard them announce Kara's name.  What a gritty performance!  I am amazed at her natural running ability.  Did I mention that she has a baby younger than Audrey?  Did I mention that SHE's the one that motivated ME to get back into running?  I can always count on Kara for a much needed dose of motivation.  Mere seconds after Kara crossed the finish line I heard them announce Marianne's name.  My jaw dropped.  She was aiming for 11 minute miles and finished way under goal pace.  Whoa!  I have to tell you that I got emotional upon hearing them announce her name.  Marianne has worked her tail off and I was so incredibly proud of her performance out there.  She really pushed it and looked awesome doing it too!  I should also give a shout out to Juliette who is also a part of this group.  We did quite a few early training runs together and she even got up early on a Sunday morning to come and cheer us on.  We all love Juliette, how could you not?  I'm looking forward to running a race with her soon.  I think she mentioned a marathon, right Juliette? 

At the finish line we were met by Eric, Mike and the combined brood of seven children.  I was pretty impressed with the crew's performance at this race.  Both of the guys made it to several stops to cheer us all on--not an easy task with all of those munchkins.  Since Eric and Mike are both runners themselves I feel like they were extra enthusiastic and supportive of our race endeavors.  Thanks crew!  A special thanks to Mike who has taken on coaching responsibilities too.  It's nice to be able to have an expert to consult!  I'm looking forward to the next race.   

The End of an Era

 What's left from Ella and Noel's tea party

 The kids entertaining us with their musical stylings

 Miriam and Audrey

 The whole gang minus Jen

 The whole gang minus me

 Did these guys really used to be our itty bitty babies???

 Kara and Wendy, smiling their way through motherhood :)

 Ella/Rambo

 Mei Zhen & Shan Li--sweet sisters

 Pic with Claire looking our way

Betsy trying to talk Claire into looking at the camera

Okay, so the blog title is a bit dramatic, but I feel as if I am moving on to a new phase in my life.  Life as a mother to a school age child.  When did that happen???!!!  Many of the gals in the above pictures I met through a class for new moms and their babies.  What a blessing.  I still remember walking into class.  It felt like the first day of high school.  Who would I sit by?  I felt so awkward in this role as stay at home mom.  I was still trying to get my bearings.  I didn't know how to be a stay at home mom.  I'm no suzy homemaker that's for sure!  That first day Marianne and Juliette welcomed me over and I took a seat next to them.  Whew, the hard part was over, finding a place to sit and I scored because these gals were friendly and awesome.  Some things you can just tell about a person.  I remember Trevor with his mad rolling over skills.  He was amazing.  These women saved my sanity on more than one occasion.  They probably aren't even aware of it.  I remember getting phone calls out of the blue from many of these women with invites and let me tell you that mothering should not be done solo.  It's always better with a community and I certainly feel like I have scored with mine.  These women are caring, compassionate, and interesting.  It's been great sharing in this journey with them the past five years.  I'm thankful and humbled by my friends. 

Howler Monkeys

I just saw this under posts that I never published.  These photos were taken during the "witching" hour.  To keep these guys occupied we played howler monkeys.  The kids had some wild energy and I told them that they were a bunch of monkeys.  I tried to lock them up in a cage made out of couch cushions.  As hard as I tried to keep them pleased in their cage with delicious bananas (yellow blocks) they still managed to escape.  I chased them after their various escape attempts only to be met with maniacal monkey laughter.  Oh, those monkeys!