My visiting brother from Utah and I were left without spouses for 4 days. This wouldn't have been such a big deal, but our kids had already been together 24/7 for 6 days and our boys couldn't think of anything better to do than fight. I don't know about you, but 1 entire day of fighting is enough to drive one mad--now times that by 4. Near the end of the week(and our rope) my brother and I had a heart to heart and posed the question~what in life could be more mentally difficult than this? The only thing I could think of (now remember, we'd just run the Ragnar) was running a marathon. Someone once told me that if you could mentally get through a marathon, you could get through anything. So, I put it to the test...I ran a...OK, not a marathon, but a 1/2.
Raising children and running difficult races are so much the same. They both require so much of you emotionally, physically and mentally and yet the end reward is so gratifying. I can't express the joy I felt yesterday when my friend JoLynn and I made it through the finish line 4 minutes under our goal time. In the car on the way home we were trying to put into words how we felt and the only emotion I could compare it to was that of giving birth to a child. Obviously the reward at the end of labor is MUCH MUCH greater than a crowd of people cheering for you and a silly glass cup, however, there is something to be said about the joy you experience after doing something really hard.
I know that I am in the middle of my "children rearing race" but I have faith that as long as I keep my head up and continue pushing myself up those hills of potty training, sibling quarrels, no sleep, killing each others pets, huge messes etc. that one day I really will cross the finish line and the reward will be greater than anything one could imagine.
Now some highlights:
Raising children and running difficult races are so much the same. They both require so much of you emotionally, physically and mentally and yet the end reward is so gratifying. I can't express the joy I felt yesterday when my friend JoLynn and I made it through the finish line 4 minutes under our goal time. In the car on the way home we were trying to put into words how we felt and the only emotion I could compare it to was that of giving birth to a child. Obviously the reward at the end of labor is MUCH MUCH greater than a crowd of people cheering for you and a silly glass cup, however, there is something to be said about the joy you experience after doing something really hard.
I know that I am in the middle of my "children rearing race" but I have faith that as long as I keep my head up and continue pushing myself up those hills of potty training, sibling quarrels, no sleep, killing each others pets, huge messes etc. that one day I really will cross the finish line and the reward will be greater than anything one could imagine.
Now some highlights:
(disclaimer---we DID have a wonderful week despite the chaos!!)
Science Center Fun
Remlinger Farms
Luke and Cameron on the roller coaster. I think they rode this 6 times!
My brother and his son Landon 
JoLynn and I at the finish of the Tacoma Narrows Half Marathon. We did it, we really did it!!
This poor frog was murdered shortly after this picture was taken. Luke thought it would be funny to stick his "pet" up his sister's shirt while she was sleeping.
Comments
we have a new pet lizard-we'll see how long HE lasts! thx ben...
congrats on the run-what a great accomplishment!!!
Anyway, congrats and I miss you!
Anyway, congrats and I miss you!
Anyway, I should be a freakin size 2 if childrearing was a race because I work my stinkin A** off trying to tame these wild boys.
These days I'm only running 3-4 miles a day and calling it good - maybe I should go for more like you - you're an inspiration!! Good job.
I think I should train again so that I can "re-gain" your perspective on the child rearing thing--boy is it tough!!
Andrea