a walk to remember...

We decided late to sign up for the Race for the Cure (the day before). We thought it would be a great gift to pick our mom up early in the morning take her down and walk for a cause that is so important to her and to us. Unfortunately this nasty disease has crept into her life in all the wrong places. She has since done what she can to never look it in the face! I admire her for acknowledging that it might come and for fighting it before it happens. We walked for many people that day including my Grandma Helen, Aunt Virginia (she is on our shirts), and my darling friend Shannon, who are all angels now. We also walked for our sister in law's mother - Betty, and my little friend Sadie who are in the battle of their lives. Cancer sucks. It sucks! I love that we are able to make a difference in this very small way.

We also decided last minute to have our girls be a part of this great race. We were a little worried about hungry or tired complaints, but those little girls were troopers! They had their first little taste of what thousands of people coming together for a great cause looks like! I don't think they'll ever forget it!

Savvy had no idea we were going, I just asked if she wanted to go on a walk with me in the morning. She said yes and fell asleep. So when our walk started at 6:30 in the morning, she was surprised to learn we were going to pick up Nana and take her with us. Then when we got to Nana's I asked her if we should pick up Dawnie and Taygin to go too. She was beaming with excitement already and then I told her about the Race for the Cure. I told her why people do it and what yucky Cancer is and asked her if she'd want to do it sometime. Of course she said yes and when I said "Do you want to go right now?", she looked at me like I was a bit crazy and said, "DO YOU?" So she very excitingly said yes and we were off. It was the best Mother's Day to be able to do that with my mom and my own daughter. To have my sister there with her daughter and then meet up with my brother was icing on the cake. I only wish my little sister could have been there with us, but she promised she would get work off for next year!

Seriously, just as good as a sister!

Starting Line picture.

Mom and I waiting 10 years for the other ladies to use the restroom in the gas station...sick!

The cutest brother ever made!

I hope this is the first of many for these two!

After being there with all those runners, I was itching to get out and RUN. Since the doctor told me I had IT Band Syndrome and could NOT run my marathon, I have been in a bit of a fog. It's amazing what a difference running makes in my life. There is nothing like getting outside and running in the sunshine and feeling the road beneath my feet. Listening to my music, crying with some songs and picking up speed with other songs. Because I have not been able to FEEL that, I have lost something. And so I eat. It's sad really. I can't run so why not eat 28 cookies! I hate NOT being able to complete a goal because of something that is completely out of my control. I have been walking, but it's not the same. I run three miles and then my knee breaks. Then I can't run at all. My whole leg is just broken and I think it's lame!

That Walk with all of those thousands of people helped me. It made something inside of me come back. This Race for the Cure is the first race I did all those years ago. It's what started me running. I set a goal and worked hard and then completed it! I am thankful for this race because it gave me something I have come to love and rely on. I've decided it's ok I'm not running this weekend in Ogden, I'm a believer that all things happen for a reason. Sometimes I may get a little down because of 'things' happening but I will run another Marathon. Hopefully it will be September 19th in Logan-if my knee will let me. I'm so excited to be running with my husband and some of my best friends in the Wasatch Back next month. Even if I have to get a cortisone injection before hand!

I will run this week. And then I will do leg lifts. And then I will 'roll' my IT band out. And then I will get acupuncture. And then I will ice it. And then I will run again next week. One step at a time.

Obstacles will come with every goal, and just like that first goal of just running a 5k, I have to take it one step at a time. Even if it takes years to accomplish.

I consider it all a race. There is a starting line and a finish line. I hope we can all finish what we start! And become better people for all the obstacles along the way.