Just what the DR ordered

As you all now I have been whining and moaning about getting outside. Today- I decided to take a mental health day from work and get out and enjoy the day. I slept until about 1o am and then I got up and had a pastrami sandwich. This is what I have every morning for breakfast. Well, most mornings anyway. I need whole grain and protein in the morning.

After Breakfast- Leanna and I went to Burr Oaks. It is in Blue Springs. They have five trails. They have 3 unpaved trails- 2 of which are loops and one is a straight trail that links the 2 other loops together. They also have a 1/2 mile paved trail and a 1 mile paved trail. We really just set out to walk 1 or 2 trails. When we pulled in the parking lot we joked about how we should just do all 5 trails. We looked at the layout and planned our route and took off. It took us 2 hours and 55 minutes but we finished all 5 trails. The grand total of all of our walking was 7.2 miles. We were so proud of ourselves when we finished. I am sure we will be just as proud tomorrow morning when both of us can't walk because our legs won't work.

I am probably the only goofball in the world who would take a vacation day from work to hike 7.2 miles around Blue Springs and tell you that it was the best day I've had in a while. I so thoroughly enjoyed it. Leanna and I got to have some good conversations- on the occasions that she got way ahead of me on the trail (which happens a lot) God and I had good conversations. It was just such a peaceful day.

I think we should start planning group outings where we can all get together on a weekend and get out and get moving. I hope you all are having an awesome week and could get out in this beautiful weather.

Vertical Dash

A team of us got together to do the "Vertical Dash". There was some people from my church and some people from my work. It was quite the mix of people. There were all different levels of fitness but there was one thing everyone had in common. Everyone on the team had an incredible heart. We won the "Top Team Fundraising Award" The 6 of us raised over $500 for the American Diabetes Association.

This is a picture of us before the race.

Just to put things in perspective- this is a picture of the building we climbed. There are 38 floors in this building. We climbed all but 4 of them. I think Marilyn and Deborah did the math and it was 28 stairs per floor for the first 7 floors and 22 stairs per floor for the rest. That is 790 stairs. I want to mention that the stairwell did NOT have airconditioning and it was terribly humid.

We lined up and my nerves started kicking in. They started everyone 10 seconds apart and our team was somewhere pretty close to the end. As we got closer to the stairwell- we could see the people who had been at the front of the line coming back down. The super duper fast people get to go first. The fastest guy ran up all 34 floors in 3 min 38 secs. That is CRAZY!! Did I mention it is 790 stairs. The fastest girl did it in 5 min 11 secs.

They counted me down and up I went. I did pretty good for the first 7 floors and then I took a break. I knew that I was going to have to pace myself but I wasn't prepared for how hot it was. I started up the stairs again and I think I made it up to the 11th floor before my lungs were screaming again. I think the last of the people behind me passed me while I was there. That means I had to go up the next 23 floors knowing that I was going to be the last one up. I pretty much knew that going in but I really thought I would be higher up before it happened. When I got up to floor 17- I wanted to quit. I was huffing and puffing, I was overheated and I was frustrated. God gently reminded me that I'm not a quitter anymore. I pretty much stopped and took a breath every 2 floors from 17 to 26. At floor 24, I leaned against the wall and thought "COULD A GIRL GET SOME WATER". I was kind of surprised that there wasn't anyone on the way up with some water or at least coolers or water bottles on some of the landings. I remember leaning against the wall- stretching my legs and trying to regroup thinking that if anyone was watching cameras in the stairwell that they would be sending an EMT to rescue me sometime soon. I was looking pretty rough but I was determined not to give up.

When I got to floor 26- I saw a full bottle of water on the bottom step of the next flight. At first I thought it was a mirage but I went over and picked it up. I thought "My God in heaven had someone put that bottle of water there" but I looked..and the seal had been broken. I could almost hear nurse Leanna telling me about all of the cooties that would be on that bottle so I set it down. I almost wept. I knew that I only had 8 more floors so I took the next 4 all at once. When I got to 30 I finally knew I wasn't going to die. I took the time to catch my breath and went up the next 4. My team was AWESOME!! Of course they were the only ones standing around up there because I was the last one up but they applauded loudly for me when I made it. I was sooo proud of myself for getting up those stairs. It was a realization of how much harder I need to work to get in shape but it was such an awesome reminder of what I can do when I put my mind to it.

Did I mention that all I wanted was some WATER!!!!! Apparently they ran out at the top and my reward for getting to the top was some luke warm orange vitamin water....EEWWWWW!!! Don't get me wrong...I sucked it down!! =)

Marilyn and I had joked on Thursday night about whether we thought we could do it in less than 20 minutes. I told her that my best time so far had been 25 min but I was going to shoot for 20 minutes. These are the results of our team: (did I mention how awesome they are)

Deborah Doss- 7 min 14 sec - 8 out of 90 girls- 33 out of 128 overall

Mark Patterson- 8 min 25 sec- 28 out of 38 men - 64 out of 129 overall

Marilyn Humphrey- 10 min 23 sec - 55 out of 90 girls- 94 out of 128 overall

Meagan Patterson- 12 min 32 sec- 74 out of 90 girls - 115 out of 128 overall

Megan Bishop - 16 min 56 sec- 84 out of 90 girls- 125 out of 128 overall

Holly Waugh- 20min 32 sec- 90 out of 90 girls- 128 out of 128 overall

Now...I am fully aware that I was the last place FINISHER...but I WASN'T in last place. I know of at least one guy who quit!!! I AM NOT A QUITTER!!!!

I almost made my 20 min goal and I am cursing the fool who set their water bottle down on the 26th floor. They made me waste at least 32 seconds trying to decide if I should drink their water!! Curses I say!!

Here is our after picture

I am already looking forward to next year-- Want to join us???

Testimony

I'm sorry that it's been so long since I've posted. I have been just a wee bit busy. I haven't had time to think about a diet this week or exercise for that matter. Thursday night was my testimony night and it was the most incredible experience ever. God MOVED in an awesome way not only in my heart but in the hearts of others.

I have to admit that standing in front of a group of strangers and telling them your business is not an easy thing to do. I was pretty sick to my stomach up until the moment I sat down on the stage. Then God just took over. I still held my breath...and I still felt like people were judging me but God also allowed me to see into the hearts of those he wanted me to speak to. I think when we are led to tell our stories- it is a healing process. Healing for us..and healing for others who need to know that they are not alone in what they are going through.

I was explaining to a friend the other night that sometimes sharing your story doesn't mean that you have to stand up in front of a huge group...sometimes it's as simple as listening to God when he tells you that this person or that person needs to hear your story. You start sharing parts of you on an individual basis. That opens God up to start working in you. I think we all have dark little corners of ourselves that we try to hide from the world but the problem is...the devil hides in the dark little places. Thursday night was like opening my heart and exposing it ALL to the light so that there is no place left for the devil!! I highly recommend it!!

The women at my church are the most awesome group of ladies that I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. I don't really know all of them but I love them just the same. The amazing hugs and words of encouragement after I was done talking made my heart weep with joy- (and Kay sitting on the stage laughing her butt off over me having to deal with a hug line made me laugh- and want to smack her). God has already shown me several people who needed to hear what I had to say...and I would do it all again even if it was only one person!!

Stay tuned for Vertical Dash info tomorrow...just waiting on all the results. I didn't write them all down like Marilyn did. =)

11 years ago today

I would like to take a pause from weight loss talk today and talk about something that is on my heart. Today is the 11th anniversary of the day I lost my brother to a fatal car accident. It was also the day that forever changed my life. God turned that tragedy into so much good and for that I am grateful. I think if I had the chance to talk to him today - he would have a lot to say to me. I imagine him telling me that I need to stop thinking so little of myself. I imagine him saying that while I'm not doing a "perfect" job of raising his son- I am doing the best that I can. I imagine him being proud of my integrity and my character and proud of how I try to lift up others. I imagine him telling me to forgive the people in my life who have hurt me because the bitterness is only keeping me from being free. These anniversaries seem to come quicker now and thankfully they are a lot less painful. It is amazing how God can heal up wounds that you never thought would heal. If you don't mind- I would like to share some pictures of him with you.

This is my favorite baby picture of him

Apparently this was my brother's birthday

This was sooo totally in the 70's. This one of many pictures of me without my 3 front teeth. That's a story for another day.

Yes- I've always been a little crazy

Bob's Senior Picture

This is the last picture we have of Bob and his son Josh together. This was taken at Christmas- Bob died a little over 2 months later.

I always miss him but I know that I'll see him again someday!!

Thanks for letting me share him with you!!

It's good to have friends

I just wanted to take a minute and thank all of the people in my life who make a difference every day. There are people in my work life who make my day better when I see them. They always have a hug or an encouraging word. They make it easier to get through the mundaneness of it all. They say a sincere thank you even when I'm just doing my job. There are those in my work life who have been put into a position to mentor me (even though they may hate it sometimes) and they are doing an awesome job.

There are people in my church life that help me draw closer to God. They are good for a friendly conversation, or a discussion about more serious things. They join me in adventures (like climbing 34 floors) and they invite me to sit and have dinner with them when I run into them at Chipotle's. Most importantly- they love me just for being me.

There are those in my everyday life who come to my house and help me put a fence. They come and help me finish my basement. They help get me through cub scouts (by being loud and rowdy and parents meetings) so that my boy could live to see Boy scouts. They "facebook" me just to stay in the loop and they forgive me when I get to busy to call and check on them.

Friends are soooo important. We all need people in our lives who can hold us accountable, love us unconditionally, and put up with our nonsense. I pray often that I might be a blessing to others as much as they have been a blessing to me.

So a big thank you to all of you in my life who help make me a better person.

Love you all!!