The Age of Aging

For me its 29.

I have never been one to be afraid of getting older or one who loathed birthdays. I made the decision years ago to adopt the aging gracefully philosophy and accept early on that birthdays are going come every year, so I might as well enjoy each and every one. And I do! Some are more important to me than others for various reasons. My 29th birthday was not one of particular importance to me and I thought remarkably little about it. It came and went with a perfect morning at the dog park with my new husband and dinner out with great friends.

And now...I'm 29 and aging. It happens to all of us and we notice it at different times and to varying degrees. I'm not upset about this discovery or bothered by it but I am noticing some changes.

For starters, I am no longer offended when the construction workers oogle or cat call. I now feel flattered and a little grateful.

I enjoy being carded and take slight note of the fact that it doesn't happen all of the time anymore.

I started taking Move Free for my right knee with the replaced ACL since its now begun to ache and click.

I have noticed the slight differences in certain parts of my physique that I used to read about and laugh at on greeting cards for womens birthdays. The journey from perky to pancake is upon me and I think I even noticed something wiggle while I was brushing my teeth a few weeks ago.

And, I've actually heard myself say "Those girls should be wearing more cloths!"

My age of aging is 29.

And thank God for that! I wouldn't go back to being 18 or 22 or even 27 if my life depended on it. The best part about noticing these aging issues is that I could care less. I like my life and I like myself...so screw you perfectly tanned, toned and accessorized 22 year old because I never have to be that young again.

And to the local construction workers....I'll see you tomorrow morning.

Downtown Time

One of my favorite things about not working this summer is that its given me the opportunity to babysit my nephews Connor and Caden on occasion while my sister-in-law, Julie, goes to her ultrasound appointments for the family's newest eddition.

It is so fun to have these two little boys running around our tiny place and chasing our two dogs. Our routine is to pick them up at the front door of the building and Connor pushes all of the buttons for the elevator and then we walk around out entire floor as he reads the numbers of each loft until he finds ours. Then after about three minutes he turns to me and says "Let's put on a kids show" So we watch an entertaining Blues Clues or two until Connor picks a dog to walk and says "I'm ready to go on a walk!"

Today we tromped all over the neighborhood checking out the various tractors helping with the construction projects, stopped by the bank and threw rocks in the fountain. Once the three of us were cold enough we headed back to my building for lunch. It was a red letter day today that I actually had not just one but two lunch options in my house! The first time I watched the boys right after we got married Julie had to bring food from her house so that the boys had something, anything to eat!

If you're noticing that I haven't mentioned Caden yet in this story its because he was an absolute doll. He was happy. He entertained himself. He ate all morning long and wasn't once interested in his brothers favorite car.

Literally within 5 minutes of his mom showing up this happened.

She walked in the door and he was ecstatic for all of three minutes and then burst into tears, no longer like the food in front of him and couldn't think of anything he wanted more than Connors matchbox car. He scream cried for about 12 minutes until it was time to say goodbye to the dogs and head home. It was hysterical for me to see as the Aunt but nothing but frustrating for the mother I'm sure!

Regardless, I love getting spend time with these cute boys.

My parents have a loft down in our neighorbood too as a weekend getaway. Today Connor looked out of our bedroom window then turned around to me and said "Were is your regular house?!" As if everyone who lives in the Pearl has two homes he could play in. It was hysterical!

And, I'm getting better at this. This time no one end ended up soaking wet!

Shine!

"You pay God a compliment by asking great things of Him."
- Theresa de Avila

Whatever your gifts, whatever your dreams, whatever your lessons, whatever your pain, fear or joy let your little light shine. As Nelson Mandela put it

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

So go on, ask great things of God.
He's asking great things of you.

Our Wedding is Online!

Our wedding has been featured online! Better Homes and Garden has selected our wedding as one of their Real Weddings to feature. This is really fun and exciting. Check out the feature of our wedding and rehearsal dinner.

18th Annual Lincoln City Trialthon

#455 made it through alive!

Yesterday I did it. I raced in and completed my first Triathlon and it was hard, scary and awesome. The race was qualified as a Sprint Triathlon and consisted of a .75 K swim in Devils Lake, a 10 mile very hilly bike ride, and a 3.1 mile run to the finish line.

The day started early with a check of my bike tire pressure and a bowl of microwaveable oatmeal and a yogurt in our hotel room. Then a brief stop at the local coffee shop for some caffeine and a sincere wish of luck from the shop owner then we headed to Regatta Park where it would all happen. The morning was cold and foggy. We arrived and while I was checking in and getting my number drawn on each arm and right leg Daren took my bike to the bike rack. He got me a prime spot on the end meaning I have more space for all of my stuff and it is easier to get to during transitions.

I was nervous. Very nervous.

The time finally came for the wetsuits and swim caps to be donned and the pack headed toward the cold water in Devils Lake. It was still incredibly foggy and that turned out to be a big blessing. Five minutes before the start of the swimming the man in charge announced that since it is to foggy the swim would have to be cut short. Fire and Rescue could not take the buoy all the way out and the organizers were not willing to risk swimmers getting lost out in the fog. The whole pack cheered!

Daren's friend Chad was also participating in this race and it was very nice to be able to stand in the water and high five someone I knew to help calm my nerves. The countdown began with 10...9...8...7...6...5...4...3...2...1 and we were off. The swimming starts with a mass start and you kick and get kicked almost the entire swim.

I had been swimming for maybe three minutes when it happened. An asthma attack. I was having an asthma attack while swimming in the middle of a lake, while racing, while wearing a wetsuit. I couldn't put my head under water to swim because I couldn't take a breath big enough to hold for any length of time. I passed the fist buoy and flipped myself onto my back kicking with my legs and grabbing at the neck of my wetsuit trying desperately to get air into my lungs. I scanned the area and found the nearest safety patrol jet ski just in case and then kept going. So much time, energy, nerves, and training days had gone into this day I didn't want to have to quit. Slowly by surely ,with some very calculated breathing, I made my way around the second buoy and as I neared the dock I could hear Darens voice cheering me on. It gave me an extra spurt of energy and confidence to make it to my bike and my inhaler.

Wetsuit off. Shoes on. Helmet. Bike and Go. My brother and sister in law arrived just in time to send me off on the bike leg with cheers and encouragements. I passed one other biker on the initial accent out of the park to the inspiring cheers of my 4 year old nephew shouting "She past that one! Whoo Hoo!"

The bike ride was hard. It was full of long hills and had you shifting constantly. My gears were being funny and so on the flat and downhill parts I wasn't able to get the traction I needed for much of the time. Nevertheless, I seemed to find my niche in the uphills and had some fun getting competitive with the other riders and sharing quips about the never ending uphill sections with other first time triathlon racers out on the course. The entire time the only song running through my head was the simply song sung by Dora in Finding Nemo "Just keep going. Just keep going..." And then all of the sudden I crested the biggest hill of all and I was done.

Down the hill, past my cheering section and off of my bike. Since I am not to the level of needing bike shoes I just had to lift my bike into the stand and start running. Running immediately after a hard bike ride is bizarre. My muscles were so confused I almost fell. Off for the last three miles of the race armed with a fresh GU and my determination. Just past the mile marker Chad and I pasted each other as he headed toward the finish line and I out to the course. We high fived.

I past a few more people and smiled and those whom I had seen at the various stages. We all seemed to be thinking the same beautiful thought "We are almost done". Once I past the last mile marker and headed to the finish I was filled with excitement and pride as I realized I was really going to do this. Around the bend and down the gravel hill to the waiting crowd and the finish line. Giving it all I could muster I crossed the finish line of the 18th Annual Lincoln City Triathlon in 1:25:28.

And then I puked behind the bathroom.

What a crazy accomplishment. The whole event was made even better by having my nervous husband there to support me and cheer me on, my nephew waiting to give me a high five at the finish line, my brother there to share inside jokes about our years of training with our father, and my sister in law there to dream about other races and challenges.

I'm not sure I will do another Triathlon yet but I am sure that I'm glad I did this one!

GO DUCKS!

Its Duck Football Season...

...and we're ready.