The Fundraiser

Here we are at our 4th of July Bake SaleJust an update, Nissa and I had to raise $1000 for Dixie Care and Share, they have our Marathon ticket..... and WE DID IT!!!!! The burden is lifted, it is sooo nice to not be worrying about that any more. I found to best way to raise money was to think BIG....we decided to do our first fundraiser: a Bake Sale at the 4th of July festivities, we raised just under $200.

The Jam Man, that owns Old Nauvoo Jam, donated 3 cases (36 jars) of jam for our sale, I really believe it was inspiration to involve him . I literally baked bread allll dang day on Friday. It was successful as we sold all the bread and the baked goods and about 1/2 the jam, that was a great day.

The next week we had 2 more fundraisers...a Car Wash at Lin's parking lot that I was over, and a Rummage & Bake sale that Nissa was over. I was astounded by the wonderful donations for the Rummage Sale and the awesome volunteers helping at the car wash. Our best helpers were the Beehives and Mia Maid girls from the ward, my husband's 15 year old sister, and 25 yr old brother (he brought a couple of friends and was an animal at washing) my son Eaph, the City Princesses helped too. My Father-in-Law came and helped a bit, and later my handsome husband came and helped shoulder sling and all (he had shoulder surgery in June) and he brought our 7 and 6 yr old and our little 4 and 2 yr old they washed too. It was quite a sight. We had very generous people telling us to keep the change. Plus we were really consistant washing cars the whole time.

We made $234 at the Car Wash and close to $385 at the Rummage Sale. That with the donations and my Mary Kay order we were able to hand a $1000 check to Dixie Care and Share. A HUGE thank you to all of you that came out and supported us. What a Blessing, and what a BIG burden lifted...now we can direct our energy to...you guessed it....running!!!!

Andrea

Africanized Killer Mosquitos

Lame seems to be my word of the day. Starting about 1 a.m. I woke up about every 15 minutes to look at the clock. I was terrified of sleeping in. Zandrea was going to be there to pick me up at 5 a.m. for our 1o miler. After about the 10th time waking up....I muttered "this is so lame!" When an email from my sister came through at 4:09 a.m., I replied saying "I'm up for the day, this is so lame." I smiled a little as I hit send. Zandrea text me at 5:01 a.m. to tell me she was on her way. I replied "This is so lame, what is wrong with you people!" I laughed as I hit send. 10 MILES TODAY!!!! I can't say it was one of those runs that just felt great. Breathing was easy, my muscles felt great, but the joints were feeling it. I did learn a very valuable lesson today.....Mosquitoes love Gatorade!!! Especially the africanized killer mosquitoes that dwell along the roadsides. Have you seen those things?!! It would only take about 3 of them to pick me up and carry me off! I figure in the last month, I have literally drank about 30 gallons of Gatorade. That stuff is flowing through my veins. We stopped at our water bottles to rehydrate and I was instantly swarmed with massive mosquitoes that eat regular size mosquitoes for breakfast. They LOVED ME and just turned up their noses at Zandrea. I kept swatting and ordering poor Zandrea to "KILL THEM....GET THEM!!!" I started running and squealing still swatting like a mad woman. One that had already latched on, was still clinging for dear life about 1/2 mile later, but I'd managed to outrun the rest. Talk about a close call......I'd hate to think about what would have happened if I wasn't such a speed demon.

7/23/09 Since my original diatribe about africanized killer mosquitoes, Zandrea pointed out that she has 8 mosquito bites and she has drank A LOT of Gatorade too. I think she was too busy killing mosquitoes on me, to notice she too was being swarmed. Don't I have the best running partner ever!! My theory still stands.....mosquitoes love Gatorade. :)

Nissa

My new runnin shoes

I'm in love all over again...
Get your own pair here: http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/shoes/brandsforshoes/keds/women/PRD~406503/Keds+Spright+Wedges.jsp Or just hop over to your nearest Kohls~

Week 5 of OFFICIAL Marathon Training

We are 5 weeks into our OFFICIAL marathon training. 78 Days, 17 Hours, 1 Minute to start time!!! We were each running on our own before we started training together, but the fact that we were going to run a marathon, was almost too big to wrap our little minds around. Every day it seems we amaze ourselves with what we are able to accomplish (always acknowledging God's part in our success). I won't lie, some days are down right BRUTAL!!! Almost every time we run, we play the "Do you remember?" game. We talk and laugh about all the times, not all that long ago when 3 miles seemed impossible....or wondering when this was ever going to get easy....or even addicting...."yah right!" we'd say. I remember my first day running, I went about 2 1/2 miles. About 3 blocks into it, I was ready to turn around and go home!! By the time I hit the 1/2 mile mark, I started walking, but I wasn't about to give up! I have been blessed with a lot of grit and heart. So despite wanting to fall over dead on the sidewalk, I started running again. Run 1 block, Walk 1 block.....until I made it back home........Now....week 5 of our official training......we have a 10 miler on Friday and I can't wait! I think I'm an addict.....

Nissa

Pink it's like red, but not quite

Written: Thursday, June 18, 2009

Pink it's like red, but not quite

Thank you Aerosmith for getting me through another run. Okay, and Def Leopard and Bon Jovi, all that butt rock. Man I gotta get some new music.

When you see me runnin, or anyone you know or don't know just....
honk,
smile,
wave,
thumbs up,
all that wonderful encouraging stuff.

It helps a lot. I got people smilin at me not knowin who I am with my hair pulled up and my sunglasses on. They are thinkin' "who is that crazy lady with the white legs?" It's just me.My ipod musta ran outta battery today, because half way through it stopped....arrrgh. I didn't realize my dependance on the thing. It really helps.

I kept finding myself lookin for the next spot on the road pretending it was shade from a tree. I was becoming delirious. Not to mention it was 3 in the afternoon, I know....stupid, yeah it was, but I needed to run today. My husband had surgery on his shoulder yesterday so I couldn't leave him this morning with no one to care for him. I made it through. Hurray for me!!!!! Now if I can just do the 5 miles on Saturday.

Andrea

Written: Thursday, May 28, 2009

Running, a Spiritual Experience?
I am happy to announce that my endurance levels are increasing. Yay!!!! Last Saturday I didn't get my run in because I went turkey huntin', or as folks around here say "huuntuun". My first time ever hunting anything...but I got "nuuthuun". I went again this morning and shot at one, that was crazy...So, Saturday I had to fit in a run...we were headin' over to my parents and I decided to jog there. I have never done that before, and it really passed without too much difficulty. I was pleasantly surprised when I found myself running up the two hills, they weren't the brutes I thought they would be. I found a lot of courage as I past a home where 6 kids, with 3 still at home are helping their mother through the last stage of her life, as she is dying of cancer.... I am running for her.... I am running for my mom who battled cancer last year and will always be battling the repercussions of it.... I am running for my dad who has had his hip replaced and faces the crippling effects of arthritis everyday.... I am running for my darling, handsome husband who has a herniated disk and can't do the things he loves, and when he does he does it with great pain... I run for my children, because I'm not pregnant right now and I can move. If I never knew what it was like not to move, I probably wouldn't appreciate moving so much. I feel free, I am in charge of my own destiny.... I run for all those people I see in the morning out walking, hobbling their way down the street...they can't run, they can barely walk, but they face their day with courage and do this thing that is unnatural. I run for those who can't run because they are going to work...I am getting stronger, and I am soo grateful that I can run. Thank you to our Father in Heaven. I know He will help me find the strength to face the more difficult days to come.

Andrea

Self Doubt.....What's that?

Written on Monday, May 18, 2009

Marathon
I have so many things going on in my brain... a lot of it is self doubt. It takes me about 25 min to run 2 miles, dang, how can I run 26.2 in 6 hrs. I run everyday, and am just glad I get up in the morning and get the bed off my back and try to be fit and not balloon outta my clothes.I was gonna run the marathon, I told my sis-in-law, but I wasn't gonna train I would walk/run it if I have to, then she burst my bubble and said the first person that ran the marathon died. uuuuggh....so I decided not to do it, at least not this year, I didn't wanna train. So I get a text from a friend asking me to run it with her. Dood, wow, umm okay.... She says there is a great 26 week program to train for it. I was in unbelief, what did I just say? Okay? My word, I have prolly never ran more than 2 miles ever, straight. I don't think I have even ran 3 miles. I think I could prolly do 3, but you know this self talk stuff?So now I am in a commitment stage, part of me is there and a lot of me isn't. I told Nissa, my marathon friend, I was honored she would ask me, as I was really surprised, I feel like I don't know her that well. She told me she thinks I'm a strong woman, how can I say no to that? And how can I not face everyday knowing that someone is counting on me to be there? And to top things off we don't even have tickets to run yet, they are in a bidding stage at Dixie Care and Share, so we won't know for sure if we have tickets til middle of June, and then we have just over a month to raise $1000 dollars for their cause. Nissa is pretty confident we will get them. Where does she get all this awesomeness? Well, I am becoming more inspired because I have had people already ask how much I need. I could cry. Just as I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of the marathon, I am overwhelmed by the wonderful support, and belief. Now if I could just convince myself.

Andrea