The Night Before...

Yes this is me, with two of my fellow 3-Day Family!  We were at the crewing meeting learning all we need to know about carrying the Honor Flags.  While I was at practice, Chad went to the airport to pick up Jim Hillmann.  I have already gotten & given many PINK Hugs and even gotten the chance to see Dr. Sheri Phillips.  So, now it's off to the hotel for the night we are staying at the Hilton Suites Phoenix and Jim is going to hang out with us tonight. We are 2 blocks away from opening ceremonies!  So Excited!  It's off to eat then bed!  Early Morning for us tomorrow!  Time to get down & kick some asphalt!  

XoXo

Preparations...

Today, we took a fun Cruise on the Desert Bell, as a family.  It was like today was our Christmas that had come early.  We got lunch at Subway, then we headed off to take our cruise.  It was a wonderful break for everyone.  Once we got back my sister and I went out to run errands to get ready for the 3-Day.  Last minute things we might need and things we wanted to do before we took off on our journey.  I can tell you that I am keeping my fingers crossed that the spray tan that I got will look better tomorrow.  Right now I am not convinced... I got it so that I would look better in my SparkleSkirts that I will be wearing this weekend as well as my Tiffora Style Pettiskirt.  Not long now till we will kick off our 60 Mile Journey! We are getting really excited.  

Today is the Day!

Today is the day I got to finally see my sister, after all the months of training and preparation.  After all the physical therapy and healing that she has had to go through, to get to this moment and I am so happy to have her here with me.  She looks amazing and her spirits are high!  We are going to have a few days together to walk & get ready for our adventure.  I am getting ready to make my second trip back to the airport today to pick up Chad.  The boys refuse to go to sleep, so I am just going to take them to the airport to pick up their Dad. It has been a long day, getting up at 4:45 to start my training walk and I have been running ever since.  I will look forward to getting back home & getting some sleep, hopefully before one am!  I am running on pure happiness right now having my sister with me.  XoXo 

24 Hours Later...

Today started out with pouring down rain. Then, an e-mail telling me that I am in risk of losing my Facebook account in 24 hours because of excessive "posting", which is funny because since the 28th of October I have had to do everything via my Mother's account to pretty much post anything! Then I got a phone call from home telling me that a friend of mine, son was killed this weekend in a car accident.  I have hit the triple trifecta today.  I spent the day trying to cope with everything, I ended up cleaning my parents house from top to bottom, doing all the laundry and even went to the library to check out some movies and books so I could escape from my current "reality".  My Mother is thrilled that her house is shining like a new penny, but I am still having a hard time tonight putting it all into perspective and knowing what I can or should do from here.  I sent a message to my friend expressing our deepest condolences and told them to contact me 24/7 and I would do what ever I could for her, even if it was just to be a ear to vent to.  I have spent countless hours trying to figure out how to post to my Facebook account with little luck, and the rain.  Well...better now, then this up coming weekend while I will be on my final 3-Day journey for this year. My mind keeps going back to my friend & my heart is broken for her.  I don't know all the details, but I don't have to.  I just keep thinking in the back of my head, what if that were Tristin or Tyler?  I guess for now the only thing I can do is give her room to grieve and be there for her in any way that she wants me to.  Nothing I can say, or do will change what has happened, but if I could even bring about a little light into the darkness...  So for tonight, where ever you are, & what ever you are doing, take a moment to tell those that are special to you, how much they mean to you.  Tonight as I say my prayers, I will be saying a special one for my friend, her family & for all that I hold near & dear and love with all my heart... XoXo

Fleeting Moments...

Every morning I am making an effort to get up and walk before the sun rises.  To watch the sun come up over the mountains and stretch across the heavens, is nothing less than amazing.  The array of colors that dance across the sky in a matter of minutes.  Never to be repeated in the same pattern or displayed the same way again.  Each one is unique to that moment in time.  What a blessing to be able to wittiness it first hand and to capture a few moments of it's fleeting beauty.  I feel the same way about my friends.  I have been blessed in the last two years to be given a new view of life.  How life is fleeting and the moments that you spend especially, in the company of loved ones and friends are precious.  Never to be repeated in the same way, even if you do the same thing.  Each moment is it's own.  My "Pink" Glasses that I now wear, give me the vision of taking each moment and making the most of it. Squeezing every ounce of happiness and enjoyment out of that time, and savoring the memory long after the moment has passed.  Not every second can be filled with smiles and gladness.  There are moments that are very sobering, can bring you to your knees, rock your very core, and rip at your heart. I try to not let those moments consume me for too long.  I try to look at them as the balancing effect.  Every second of every day we are given choices.  I now always try to be mindful, to live in the moment and to tell those that I Love, that they are Forever Etched in my Heart.  Time and Distance may Steal many things from me, but not my Undying Love, Gratitude and loyalty to my Family and Friends.  So, tonight as our 3-Day family in Dallas closes out their 3-Day experience. I hope that they have savored every moment & etched those that they love in their hearts...

 XoXo