Runner's High

Every time I go out for a run I always wonder if I will experience that elusive runner's high. Every time I come back just a little disappointed that there was no such endorphin rush. Every time until this last Saturday. I knew the run was going to be a good one when we hit our first hill. It was a steep climb and the four of us were spread out along the length of it. But I was in the lead and I felt like I literally floated up the hill. I knew we had a couple of more hills (plus 8 more miles) so I didn't want to get too excited. A mile later we hit the next hill, same thing...felt like I floated up the hill. We continued at a conversational pace and enjoyed the scenery. We saw lots of deer and I spotted a bald eagle sitting in a tree overlooking the lake. When we hit the turn around point, I was still feeling good. We had 2.5 miles left in the 10 mile run and then it happened. That endorphin rush! It's real! When it hits, you feel like you could go on forever, nothing hurting, nothing telling you to stop. I was even able to pick up the pace for the last couple of miles. I was so jacked when I got home. I felt like I could do anything. As I was reflecting on the feelings I had during that run, I realized that those are the same feelings I have when my mind, body and spirit are totally in tune with my Heavenly Father and His will for me. When I am in that mode, I feel like I can endure any trial or challenge that comes my way. Unfortunately in my case, that "in-tuneness" is almost as elusive as the runner's high. I wish it wasn't and I do try hard most of the time to maintain that level of spirituality. But you know, life happens and then I forget and then I get snapped back and the process starts all over. I love how I feel when I know I am about my Heavenly Father's business. Now I just need to figure out how to keep that going all of the time, but I guess that is what this life is for. Here's to runner's highs and spiritual highs--may they not always be so elusive.

I Belong to a Cult

It's true. I came to this "aha" moment, yesterday, as I was pondering why I was feeling so frustrated with my association with this group. And then it came to me...it is a cult. And just like other cults, this group tries to control its members--something this very independent lady is not fond of. Oh sure, they pontificate on the merits of personal rights and freedom of speech. The catch? The rights exercised and the opinions expressed must remain within the confines of their dogma and doctrine. If one tries to step outside of these boundaries, they are warned that this behavior is frowned upon and sometimes the person is even shunned for awhile, just to get the message across. This group also holds children hostage and sadly my children are being held hostage. Again, this group is a firm believer in parental rights...until they get your children and then all of the sudden the parent is no longer the expert on their own child. The leaders of the cult are now the experts and they let the parents know that if it weren't for the guidance, leadership, and intervention of the cult, the children are destined for a less-than-full life. Matter of fact, it is only through belonging to this cult, that leads to success and through no other means is it possible. If a parent dares to remove their child from the cult, the leaders try with all of their might to hold onto the child. Sometimes it is truly heartbreaking to watch parents just totally step aside and agree that the leaders are the experts and must really know what is best for the child. I wish that I had realized earlier that I belonged to such a cult. Perhaps it would have been easier to extracate myself and my children from this place. David got out several years ago and hasn't looked back since. I'm struggling. I guess on the positive side, soon my children will be free from this cult because they will be adults and able to move on. But what will I do? I will try and break free as well, especially once my children are out of the system. I belong to the cult of Public Education.

The Shamrock Cookie Beguiled Me

But I did not eat. Oh, how I wanted to eat that cookie. I could picture my teeth sinking into the soft white flour cookie and its yummy, ummy mint-green frosting with sprinkles. My body was screaming to eat the cookie and satisfy this overwhelming carb craving that hits about once a month. But I held firm. My resolve lasted so I could walk out of the staff room without even a little nibble.

Panhandling

You know times are rough when, on my lunch hour, I have to take a milk jug and go around begging for change. I learned a couple of things while I was doing this yesterday:

• It's all about location! When I was just going around asking for change, I didn't get any donations. However, when I moved to a location where I knew people were getting change, it was amazing the way they just dropped their change into my jug. Sometimes I didn't even have to ask.
• At first I was a little embarrassed to be asking for change, but after awhile it wasn't so bad.
• 7th grade students will buy junk food as soon as it is available. The school store was not all that busy until after lunch was served. The school can't serve junk food while the lunch service is going on, but as soon as the last student is served...bring on the junk food. Chips, ice cream, crackers were all awaiting the hungry 7th graders at the school "snack shack" as Carson calls it. Lucky for me, most things are under a buck and the kids got change.

Please don't worry. This coin collection is for a good cause. I don't anticipate needing to do this more than a couple of more weeks.

PS Spokane Guild School I hope you appreciate my efforts and I hope my 7th grade advisory group learns a little about giving along the way.

Stinkin' Awesome!

I promised Katelyn that we would go shopping today for some tennis clothes and tennis bag. Our first stop was Target--I seriously can't remember the last time I was in Target, but I did remember that it had some pretty cute workout gear for a decent price. On the way to Target we reviewed the appointed "tennis" budget and discussed the importance to adhering to said budget. Actually this was a totally unnecessary discussion as my kids have a pretty good grasp on the realities of a budget. Anyway, arriving at Target we headed back to the sportswear area. Katelyn was wanting an underarmor-type shirt and a warm-up jacket. We found both and both were within the budget so no problemo. On the way to check-out, Katelyn and I again were talking about the price of the items, just to make sure we had enough for the tennis bag--which we had priced last week and discovered was about $60. We arrive at check-out and the totatl comes to $23.15. What? I ask the cashier if she had rung up everything. She said yes, this shirt is 12.99 and the jacket 3.74. $3.74! A $30 jacket had rung up for $3.74! I couldn't believe it, but the checker insisted that was the price and really, who was I to argue? Luck could only be on our side today, so off to Joe's we went. We arrived at Joe's and the tennis bag that we thought was $60.00 last week was actually $25 AND was marked down 30%. Because we had totally scored on everything, Katelyn was able to get 2 more tennis shirts, I got a NorthFace windbreaker (50% off, thank you very much) and we still had money left. Stinkin' awesome I tell you, which is what I said to the cashier at Target and Katelyn almost died of embarrassment. She said "Who even says that, mom?" I do, kid, I do.

Tagged

My sister-in-law, Maggie, tagged me last Wednesday. I'm a little late to play, but I thought I would anyway. So the rules are: go to the fourth folder, fourth picture, and then tag four other people. Steps one and two are easy. Here you go...

Wow, that's totatlly lame. I can't believe that we still have these pictures on our computer. This is the PW80 that we were selling last year on craigslist. I guess I better go through and delete some of our more lame-o files.

Step 3 was to tag four people. This is a little harder since I think there are maybe only 5 people who somewhat regularly read my blog--3 don't have blogs (mom, Nate, and Dan) and the other two I think were recently tagged (Jessica A. and Maggie). So if you are a "lurker" and want to play, you are "It"--consider yourself tagged.

Sick Day

Since my kids are older, I don't usually stay home with them when they are sick. But today I did. I don't know if it was because it was rainy and gray, or that it was a Monday, or if it was the fact that Carson looked so sick, but whatever the case, I stayed home with my sick boy. And sick he is--fever, awful cough, sore throat, all of the classic signs of the flu. It was nice--not the being sick part, but the staying home part. I got to take care of him--get him water, make sure he has kleenex nearby, fix up the "sick" couch. He doesn't hardly even let me hug him anymore so I was loving that he was feeling so bad that he just let me take care of him. Okay, I don't love that he is sick (he looks almost pathetic), but I'm glad for the opportunity to give him some good ole TLC. I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow. I'm know he is still going to be sick, but he may have had his fill of "mothering" by then and will kick me out the door. Well if that's the case, I'll at least have had today. Man it's tough having kids who just keep getting older and more independant.