When Was the Last Time You...

Life can totally take over, can't it?  There are plenty of my days that feel just like the movie, "Groundhog Day," when Bill Murray wakes up over and over again to the same scenerio of one day in his life...until he figures out the small change he needs to make.  These " groundhog days" in my life turn into weeks, which then become months and soon years have passed...doing the same thing and forgetting...

We all have small changes to make in our daily life to remind us why we are here, who we love and what we can become.  But then the blasted daily grind of each of our lives seems to quietly take over (sometimes without us even knowing), repeating itself again and again...until we stop it and remember...

When was the last time you...

....wrote your significant other a love note?
...climbed up into your son's bunkbed and read his favorite book?
...took your daughter out to lunch after that doctor appointment?
...finished a book?
....ran as fast as you could?
...worked out so hard your shirt was dripping wet (yes...with your own sweat!)?
...soaked in the tub?
...made homemade chocolate chip cookies?
...woke up to see the sunrise?
...held someone's hand as the sun set?
...gazed at the stars?
...cleaned out every cupboard in your house?
...stopped to smell the roses?
...gathered the kids for a dance party?
...memorized a scripture?

We all are living the crazy life. And we each individually need to do something to make it stop every now and again so we can remember...

So today, maybe we could each do something we haven't done in a really long time and let it remind us of something really wonderful.

Suck it Up Buttercup

(one of our Buttercups, Boo)

I have an awesome group of girlfriends that I ride and run with throughout the year. We call ourselves the Buttercups. And our motto is:

"Suck it up Buttercup!"

If you  think you want to skip a workout,  slow down, or simply give up, we tell each other in a loving yet firm voice, "Suck it up Buttercup!"  And just like that you either show up, speed up and by no means give up!

I love these girls...they really inspire.  We are not without our individual tribulations and set backs that have come and gone (and some still remain) throughout the years. The Buttercups keep going...even during the hard times:

Sickness, loss of jobs, more sickness, injuries, new jobs, busy schedules, old age...

Together we encourage one another to become better by simply taking a deep breath and continuing on...even if it hurts, because we all will feel pain at some point on our journey.

Friday morning, with a chill still in the air, muscles not yet conditioned for riding...we took off on our first ride of the season.  And in true Buttercup form, we rode swiftly, consistently, stylishly (but of course) and full of lovely conversation.

Was it easy? No! Was the headwind convenient? No!  Were we tired? Yes!  Did we complete our goal?  OF COURSE we did...by riding together as the Buttercups.

(now the rest of you Buttercups better join us next time)

 

 

Dodging Worms

Don't you just love (I am being sarcastic) the masses of worms that appear on sidewalks and streets after a big rain storm?!

Yesterday we had a BIG rain.  This morning, I noticed the slimy suckers EVERYWHERE!  There were so many worms, I actually had to do a little side stepping maneuver to avoid them. I really didn't want the bottom of my running shoes to be completely covered in mushy worminess....gross.

So it was that kind of morning...I had to avoid worms...for 18 miles. 

I wasn't expecting the masses of worms joining me on my run today...but I also wasn't expecting the need to dodge a few other obstacles in order to complete my training goal.

Because of plans to head to our yearly get away to Massunutten ski resort this weekend, I planned to run my 18 miles on Thursday morning (it was that or be stuck running the miles in the mountains...up and down steep inclines...no thanks) to get 'er done.

Unfortunately my husband had to go in early to work so he was unable to take over the "get the kids off to school" routine.  I had  a choice to make. I could avoid the run altogether for the day or I could dodge a few worms.  I decided that dodging a few worms would be easier than running in the mountains and in the rain (our forecast isn't looking great for our ski trip).

So with my resolve to complete my goal, here is what I had to do:

I woke up my middle school boys at 6:55.  I asked my older son to be sure his younger brother actually got up after I left.  I then started my run (and literally began dodging worms). My goal was to complete 4 miles and stop back at the house to be sure two the older boys were ready to hop on the bus. Check!  I then told the younger boys to start getting ready for school as I headed out for an additional 3 miles.  After that was complete, I ran home and finished getting the little boys off to school. I changed my sweaty running outfit (lucky me...it was going to be a 65 degree day) and put on shorts and a t-shirt (yay). I quickly ran around the block until my "cog" Ann arrived at my house to run my final 9.2 miles.  Bless Ann's heart, she had committed to run 8 with me but because of my "dodgy" morning, I was only able to get in 8.8 before she arrived.  With a loving and willing heart, she ran me until we hit my 18 mile total.

We all have "worms" that creep up on our plans.  We may take the easy road and simply give up on our goal because we don't want to step on something a bit uncomfortable or that requires us to do a little dodging in order to complete our task. 

Don't let it.  Just start dodging the worms...and complete your goal.  And you may even get a suntan along your journey.



Don't let a little worm rule your world.

Shopped!

Wait...stop!  I am not talking about shop as in "shopping."  As much as I wish I were referring to one of my favorite activities...shopping...today I am talking about shop...as in saws, safety goggles, robots and computers.

Today was my first official day as a substitute teacher!  I survived.  But more importantly, I survived as a shop teacher (at this moment I am fist pumping into the air and/or giggling). My purpose at becoming a sub was mainly to help out in the music departments. After hearing countless times from my children when they had a sub in chorus, movies had to be watched, I jumped on the substitute wagon.

I had to laugh when they called me yesterday and asked me to be a substitute for he school's math specialist..  I had to be honest with them and explain if they wanted their "money's worth" they may want to place me somewhere else.  Quickly the person on the other line said, well, how do you feel about shop? 

And that was how it happened.

My biggest obstacle was finding the "right" outfit.  Should I wear overalls?  Carry a tool belt?  Was I going to be provided a lab coat (seriously cool)? And would I be sporting those ugly and quite over sized plastic goggles?

I decided to leave the overalls at home and go with the cute, "I don't know what I am doing...please help" outfit.  And it totally worked. No sense trying to "look the part" when there was no way I could "act the part." I went with the plan...the totally honest plan, that states, "I have really no idea what I am doing."  Not only were the other two shop teachers very helpful but man alive there were some pretty with it students that saved the day! 

The first student who came in, said, "You don't look anything like Mr. Post."  She then proceeded to tell me he was bald.  Thank goodness we didn't look alike.

Another student told me she wished I could be her real teacher because I was so pretty.  I loved that self esteem builder.

But the best part of all was the complete respect I received after I announced these simple words at the beginning of class, "I am sure some of you may know my two sons, Calvin and Ethan Porter. I am their mother."

And just like that, they loved me.  Thanks boys. And so it's official, I am a sub.

Are You Really Sick?

I have learned from my oldest son that your children will "fake" being sick.  This happened a few years ago on a Sunday morning when we were getting ready to go to church.

"I am sick," he moaned with the best sick voice I have ever heard.  I asked him what was wrong which he quickly replied (with the ever so difficult symptom to prove and yet so effective), "My stomach, it really hurts."

So we let him stay home that day. This mysterious illness came back each Sunday for the next two weeks until I pulled my "softy and ever so trusting" husband aside and said, "That boy of yours is totally faking it."

And after we called his bluff, it never happened again. 

The other children, after seeing their brother with a bit of success through the years, too have attempted the "I am sick" routine.  I am a total proponent of letting my kids stay home from school/church every now and again, even if they aren't sick (just in need of a little break) but let's be sure we are honest about our intentions.

I quickly nipped the "I am pretending I am sick" performance in the butt when I instilled the simple rule:

If you stay home from school due to illness, you WILL NOT play with your friends that day.

It worked like a charm.

But the past two weeks have thrown me for a loop.  You see, there really is a stomach bug going around our elementary school.  Tate caught it a few weeks ago.  He woke up in the middle of the night with a stomach ache followed by a release of the day's intake.  There was no question he was really sick.  He missed school, followed by a long 3 day weekend.  He didn't throw up again but he did complain of stomach pain. He then started with a nasty cough. By Tuesday, his cough was gone but the stomach ache was still lingering. So I let him stay home.  Then Wednesday came and went...home yet again.  Thursday...home. Friday with complaints of stomach pain, I sent him anyway...I mean, we aren't perfect, right?! 

Within 15 minutes of the bell ringing in the new school day, I had a call from the school nurse (I will forgo letting you know how long it took before I saw she had called...oops), letting me know Tate wasn't feeling well.

I came and picked him up.

The weekend came and went.

Monday I informed him that no matter what, he was going to school!  He asked me to drive him. I did. Upon opening the car door, he cried, "My tummy hurts."  I had already written a note to his teacher asking her to give him free reign of the toilet. He had to eventually go to school right?!

I walked him in, spoke with the nurse...who explained to Tate, "There is a difference between being sick and not feeling well (his symptoms fell under the second explanation).  Now let's stop worrying about all this stomach stuff and go to class." 

With much hesitation, he went with Nurse Swingle and HAPPY DAY, he made it through the entire day!

Today however he did not.  He started crying about his stomach again. I called the doctor who then told me that indeed a virus was going around and recommended he go on the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast).  She said he could go to school.  Tate didn't agree. He begged me to let him stay home. 

So being the super nice mother that I am (yeah right), we marched over to the grocery store and purchased all of the above items. I told him he would only be eating these items.  He would get ONE MORE DAY and then this charade (I really think his tummy does hurt but how bad I question) would be over.

I ask myself, "Are you Really Sick?"

And I answer that question with a resounding, "YES! I am sick...sick of kids that are just barely sick.  That fine line where I need to hire a secret agent to determine if they are faking it or really need to stay home with me where I can mother them back to health."

Wish me luck. I do have 4 other healthy children that may or may not be sick in the coming days :)

Why? Because There May Be a Mouse Under Your Bed

Saturday morning I sat the entire family down and explained what was going to happen.  Instantly there were faces filled with fear, mouths suddenly dropped open and then it began...the moans and groans...followed by the complaining "why!?"

No, they were not being sent to an orphanage (yet).

They were going to clean their rooms. Yep, that's it.

I am embarrassed to admit that I had let the room cleaning slide a bit the past year.  Because of my lack of enforcement, closets were stacked high with old shoes, small clothes, toys from yonder year, dirty underwear, clean underwear, candy wrappers, old candy, dirt, grime, dust (and that is just the closets).

Drawers were stuffed with summer clothes, winter clothes, spring clothes, my clothes (yes I found a pair of my jeans in Tate's drawer) and everything else imaginable.

Their rooms were so dusty that even the walls had their own layer.  The ceilings looked like we had decorated for Halloween with cobwebs dangling in a spook-like fashion from the corners. 

And then there was what was lying beneath their beds.  Books were strewn here and there with trash mingled in between.  Dust! Oh the dust...coughing spells came quickly followed by gagging from breathing in the year of dust that had settled ever so comfortably under the beds. Missing electronic games, iPods, loose change, you name it...it was under there!

But under one bed, the one with only a few books, a couple lone socks, a wrapper or two, and plenty of cat and dog hair (that is where the animals hang out)...there was a suspicious "toy."  As I was just about to place my fingers around "it" to scoot it out with the other objects, I stopped.  It hit me...that is a MOUSE!  I quickly told Sommer (it was her room after all) I thought there was a dead mouse under her bed. She rolled her eyes and calmly said, "Mom, it is probably just one of the cat's toys."

I replied, "Well, you grab it then."

Moments later, as Sommer crawled under the bed to grab the "toy mouse" a shriek (a total mouse shriek), was heard throughout our house.  "IT'S A DEAD MOUSE!" she cried!

Her brother, Calvin was called in to remove the object of our nighmares.  He then proceeded to do what any brother would...place the mouse in front of all of our faces...thus causing more shrieks to ring out.

And then, after we all had settled down, I looked at my darling children...for they had all gathered to see what all of the fuss was about and said,

"Children, dearest children, this is the answer to your earlier question as to why we should clean our rooms in a proper and timely manner. There just may be a dead mouse (or other disgusting item) rotting under your bed."

And after six hours, beds re-bunked, rooms switched around and organized from top to bottom,they are clean...

for now.

A Little Change Goes a LONG Way!

"If you always do, what you have always done, you will always get, what you have always gotten."

If you want to get fit (or fitter than you are now or even fitter than you have ever been), you have to make some changes! Even small changes make a difference. 

Walk a little longer. Run a little faster. Lift a little more often. Eat a little less (especially candy).

Notice it ONLY takes a little change to make a big difference. A great analogy is to think of a gear. A very small cog can turn a very large wheel.  Simple as that.  Little cog, big wheel turns.  Just think what your "little cog" can be and start moving your wheel!

I know that everyone can make little changes (even you).

Since we are all at different stages in our fitness and we all have different goals, whether those goals are to lose weight, run our first 5k, eat more healthy, begin walking, build muscle...change is a must.

This year I decided I wanted to improve my marathon time. And as comfortable (and fun) it was to run a nice easy pace while chatting with my friends...I wasn't getting any faster. There was NO way I was going to give up my runs with my dear friends so I decided to make a little change in order to reach my goal.

My plan:

1. When running solo, I had to run faster. It didn't matter what the distance, I just had to run a little faster. Anything under 5 miles, required a 7:30 pace. Anything over that mileage, required a sub 8:00 pace. The pace wasn't always spot on but it was faster...and a change.

2. When running with a friend, pace didn't matter. I ran with the goal to enjoy my time with them.

This allowed me to not only improve my pace in the long run (and to reach my goal) but also kept me running with my friends (something I cherish).

So...
It's time to get fit.

Your checklist:

1. Choose an activity that YOU love (or can live with)...not everyone likes to run. Most likely you will keep doing something you love to do.

2. Be realistic. If you have never run before don't make the goal to run 5 miles everyday for the next 10 years. Start by telling yourself, you will run 5 minutes, 5 times a week (and walk the other 25 minutes). Each week increase your running time by 1-2 minutes. In just a few months, you will be running the entire 30 minutes. Don't tell yourself that you will never eat chocolate again (impossible). Why not make a small change such as only one chocolate treat per day (the size of that treat would be up to you).

Last night I found my "little cog" after thinking about my daunting 17 mile run I had to do today.  I texted my friend Ann (who has been sick for a few weeks...I have missed you girl) and asked if I could run to her house.  After the 10 mile solo trek, I reached her house were I was able to take a quick break, filling my water, have a snack AND MOST IMPORTANTLY...take her with me for my final 7 miles!

This little change helped carry me a LONG way....17 miles to be exact!