Her First Half

As a mom with a camera,  I have always tried to be there to capture

those "firsts" in the lives of my kids.  

It's not always possible now that they're older, but I still try.

 This is a picture of Annie back in 2002 (age 7) 

when she ran track for the first time.

She has run many, many miles since then.

On Sunday,  I had the privilege to watch Annie run her first half marathon in Rochester, NY.

She was looking good in mile one!

In fact,  she was probably one of the happiest runners there - or 

maybe she was just happy that we were there to cheer her on!

Vance and I got a bite to eat for breakfast and then waited for her 

somewhere in the middle of the course.

As we were waiting, we saw a few of her friends run by.

Sorry, Austin, I didn't realize it was you until the last second!

When Annie ran by, she wasn't looking quite as "fresh" as before!

Her smile had lost that "sparkle".

It had begun to rain too.

We got in the car and drove to the finish line at Frontier Field.

The sky had opened up by then and it was useless to even try to keep

your feet dry, even as a spectator!

We were there to see Sumner finish.

When Annie finished,  her smile was rejuvenated!

 She was so excited that she did it.

It was the first time she had ever run 13 miles.

And we were there!

Congratulations to everyone!

After showering, we took her out to lunch to one of our favorite places to eat in Rochester.

The sun had come out and it was a beautiful afternoon.

We were so happy to have been there for Annie's

"first" half marathon and spend time with 

her this weekend!

15 Things I've Been Doing (while I haven't been blogging)

Take a break...

People take breaks all the time.  Respite.  Time off.  Rest.  Hiatus.

I'm the type of person that, no matter how much I like something, after a while I need a break.

I need a change.  Not forever, but for a while.

Until I miss it.

Then I can begin again with a new outlook and renewed enthusiasm.

I took a break from blogging for most of August and September, but now I feel like I am ready to begin again.  Because I miss it.

Here's a glimpse at what I've been doing while I've been gone.

1)  Taking pictures.

Annie and her friend Sabrina wanted pictures with their instruments...

2) Knitting a throw for Annie's dorm room.

 
3) Bringing Annie to school.

4)  Taking in the mail - for Sami.

5)  Enjoying a visit from Kerry.

6) Walking the dogs

 7)  Bathing the dogs.

 8)  Cleaning the dogs' teeth.

9)  Chauffeuring the dogs.

10)  Doctoring the dogs.

11) Going to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

12.  Being constantly amused by Maddie.

13)  Biking - I've found my favorite form of exercise!

14)  Appreciating God's creation.

15)  Eating, eating,  and eating at the Big E.

I Dwell in Possibility

This blog is about me, and only me.  Sometimes I'm selfish that way.  So if you're looking for pictures of Adam or Kerry or Annie, you won't find them here today.  Nor will there be photos of pets.  Just me.

Being an introvert,  I look inward very often.  I reflect on the course of my life with all of its twists and turns.  I think about why I have made the decisions that I made, why I acted a certain way - or didn't act.  I think about how I became the person I am today.

Many people believe it's silly to dwell on the past because it cannot be changed. While it's not good to "dwell", I think it's very good to "revisit".

As we journey through our years,  we change so much in many different ways.  We change as we adapt to our surroundings and circumstances.

Sometimes we take on characteristics of our spouses or friends that are not naturally our own.

Or maybe with the demands of parenthood and raising young children

we become so used to putting others first that we lose track of the small things that used to bring us happiness.  

I'm 55 years old now.  I've been spending a lot of time lately thinking about all that's good in my life, but also putting a lot of consideration into things I'd like to change to make the coming years all they can be.

Emily Dickinson wrote "I dwell in Possibility."

If I'm sure of only one thing in the coming years, it's this. 

No matter what life throws at me, I will continue to be happy.

Life's too short not to be.