It's sprung!

Spring has definitely sprung around these parts, which is unbelievable since it doesn't usually come this early in March!  I already have tulips and green grass and blossoms on the pear tree...I love it!  (Some folks have already turned on their a/c, which I refuse to do this early in the year.)

We have spent many warm afternoons and evenings outside, making paper boats and having races in the backyard:

Practicing my new photography skills on long walks in the neighborhood:

Admiring the warm sun as it beams its way through the trees:

Loving the gorgeous flowers on the pear tree, the crabapples, the dogwoods...

and getting our garden started with seeds and a mini-greenhouse:

Is it spring yet where you are?  How are you "getting your spring on"?

1:55

Sunday, March 18th.

A day I had been training for, running up and down the hills through my neighborhood, listening to my "run, baby, run" playlist and convincing myself that I could, indeed, run a 15K race.

I set what I thought was a reasonable goal:  under two hours, maybe a bit of walking but mostly running.

On Saturday, I hydrated and carb-ed up and went to bed early.

I woke up at 3am with nightmares (forgot my running shoes, lost the race chip, couldn't find a bathroom).  I finally gave up at 5am and just climbed out of bed.

I ate the "right" things...a bit of oatmeal, a banana, some water.  I headed downtown to meet up with my Christ Hospital group, nervous butterflies in my stomach.

7:50am:  The start of the race.

This race is usually cold and rainy, so we were surprised to be blessed with perfect weather.  60's and partly sunny, with a nice breeze coming over the Ohio River.

I ran the first six miles without stopping, keeping pace with another Christ Hospital nurse and truly enjoying myself.  I just KNEW I was going to beat my goal.  Feet pounding the pavement, a smile on my face, feeling strong and GOOD.

Then, the biggest hill of the race.  Practically a 90-degree angle, for heaven's sake.  We had already decided we would walk up the hill, then run down and finish the last three miles.  My knee, however, had other plans.  Despite the support brace I was wearing to prevent this sort of injury, that last hill did me in.  I had to urge the other girls to keep going while I walked it out, hoping to run again after a few minutes.

However, every time I tried, the pain almost brought me to the ground.  I could walk, but I could not run.  So walk I did.  Until the last 1/2 mile, when I could see the finish line.  I was determined to RUN across that line. Clenching my teeth, holding back the tears, I sucked in the pain and ran.

My time?  One hour, fifty-five minutes.  Still five minutes under my goal.  With friends cheering me on, making me feel so proud.  I. Did. It.

And when I hobbled to my van, I opened up my phone to find a text from Isabel:

Congratulations, Mom, you did it!  I love you!  You should be proud of yourself!

My heart grew two sizes bigger (name that book), and despite the painful knee, I smiled all the way home.

Me, today.

I finished my BSN program on Tuesday (there's not an exclamation point big enough to end that sentence).

On Wednesday, I walked two miles with Kay, did another mile on the elliptical, sweated through 45 minutes of Muscle Max class at the YMCA, then showered and headed to the salon, where I lost at least a pound of hair.

Today, it took less than 12 minutes to do my 'do.  Which leaves me lots of time to do, well, whatever my heart desires.  Read, scrapbook, play with my camera, dream about my garden,  (laundry/cook/clean)...anything but school work.

Today, I feel free.  And I love it!

How are you feeling today?

Giddy

This past Tuesday was our last in-class day for school.  (Next week is presentation day...cue butterflies in stomach).

For the past two and a half years, Tuesdays have consisted of leaving the house before three pm and not returning until after ten.  Homework, papers, midterms and finals.  Group projects and lots of stress.  Missed baseball games and bedtime stories.

We got out at 6pm and as I drove home, the fact that it was almost over started to sink in.

I felt giddy with excitement.  Like, last-day-of-high-school-giddy.  I wanted to roll down my windows and shout to the world, "I am free!" (cue Newsboys song).

Instead, I got home and threw my bookbag to the ground and had a snack with Isabel and Gabe.  We snuggled up on the couch and watched a couple of Supernatural episodes.  And it was awesome.

Next Tuesday, at 2:30 pm, I will officially be finished.  And I can't wait!