Marathon Mom

Today I signed up to do a half marathon. I am not a runner, but all the literature said that there were options to walk/run so I am certain that's what I'm gonna do.

I joined Team in Training so that I could raise funds for blood cancer research and also because they will provide me with coaching and mentors along the way. Likewise, because I am asking for financial assistance with my goal pledge of $3400, I feel doubly accountable to make sure that I follow through to the finish line.

My mom was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in June 2011. She began treatment right away and has been a fighter ever since. Her expert doctors performed two stem cell transplants and she is currently in remission. I am raising money so that more treatments can be found and hopefully, a cure.

I would love to receive encouraging words, running buddies, or your uplifting stories. You may check on my progress at my Team in Training website which will be live in a few days.

Melissa

I have worked Saturdays for such a long time, so with today being my first Saturday off in years, you would think that I would choose to do nothing.  Ha! Have you not been reading my blog?!  Sitting still is definitely not my style.

Here's what happened today:
-Several loads of laundry
-Practiced guitar
-Went to Target and actually stayed true to my shopping list, with the exception of adding paper lunch bags
-Came home, put the baby to bed
-Searched high & low for wrapping paper or gift bag. Couldn't find either, so I used a small beach bag and tied on some blue curly ribbon
-Took my 7 year old to a bowling birthday party
-Bowled with my 4 year old in a neighboring lane. Bowled 3 strikes and 1 spare somehow! :)

-Fed the baby chicken, smiley fries, and apple in the stroller between bowling. (I sneaked the food in, but I was planning to tell them that he had food allergies if I got caught.)

-Put the baby back to bed.

-Helped hubby tear carpet out of older son's bedroom.

-Pulled staples out of plywood and hammered in nails to prepare floor for new laminate.

-Made ratatouille for supper. Tasted good, but kids wouldn't try it. Not worth a fight tonight I decided.

-Made homemade oatmeal raisin whoopie pies with orange buttercream filling. (picture below)

-And I'm still in the kitchen preparing meatballs for a Labor Day family reunion that is sure to be visited by all-day thunderstorms. 

Whew. This is my written record for years later, when life is even busier, that I did actually have it somewhat together for a period in my life. 

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