Before the race
right after crossing the finish line....57 minutes!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Run10Feed10 in Chicago
The 10k in Chicago last weekend was a blast. I was nervous right before, but then I reminded myself....it's just like any other run. Here are a few pics from our 10k......
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Addiction and a forgotten person...
This subject is very close to my heart. I have known friends and family to suffer with addictions. Alcohol, prescription pills, drugs, sex...
It breaks my heart. My aunt (my mom's baby sister) is still struggling with addiction. She will deny it. We can still tell. She has been in and out of jail for different things. Each time she is sent there, I think and I pray to God she will change. I love her so much and I want to help her so bad. It comes down to the person suffering to admit they need help and to truly want help.
My aunt is only 7 years older than me. Growing up, she picked on me as if I were a younger sister. I looked up to her though. I thought she was so cool until I knew the truth. I was in 6th grade when she first went to jail. She was only 18. She was forging checks (so I've been told). This was eye-opening to me. I didn't really know or understand the extent of her troubles. Yes, she had tattoos...she smoked and drank, but so do a lot of teenagers.
Rewind a couple years. My aunt was a teen mom. She gave birth to her only son, Damien. He was the light of her world. He changed her. A few short months later, he passed away of a crib death. She was devastated. Her world came crashing down around her. The love of her life was gone.
Her world spiraled out of control again. I don't know all the details, because my family is pretty tight-lipped about it, which could be the problem of why she is still suffering. "We need to help her and love her no matter what," I always tell them. A lot of people have given up on her.
She is the primary caregiver of her good friend who is wheelchair bound. She hasn't had any responsibility for someone else since Damien. This has given her a new purpose in life - to care for someone else's well-being.
She's still suffering with her own well-being though. I can tell by her shaky hands, her frail figure, the dark circles under her eyes and her continued little appetite.
I have always wondered....how do addictions start? Why can't people stop? Don't they see it's hurting themselves - they are killing themselves?
I still pray for you, Aunt Janae. I wish I could magically make your life better and make you happy again. I know you often feel forgotten, but I haven't forgotten about you and I will never give up on you. I love you.
It breaks my heart. My aunt (my mom's baby sister) is still struggling with addiction. She will deny it. We can still tell. She has been in and out of jail for different things. Each time she is sent there, I think and I pray to God she will change. I love her so much and I want to help her so bad. It comes down to the person suffering to admit they need help and to truly want help.
My aunt is only 7 years older than me. Growing up, she picked on me as if I were a younger sister. I looked up to her though. I thought she was so cool until I knew the truth. I was in 6th grade when she first went to jail. She was only 18. She was forging checks (so I've been told). This was eye-opening to me. I didn't really know or understand the extent of her troubles. Yes, she had tattoos...she smoked and drank, but so do a lot of teenagers.
Rewind a couple years. My aunt was a teen mom. She gave birth to her only son, Damien. He was the light of her world. He changed her. A few short months later, he passed away of a crib death. She was devastated. Her world came crashing down around her. The love of her life was gone.
Her world spiraled out of control again. I don't know all the details, because my family is pretty tight-lipped about it, which could be the problem of why she is still suffering. "We need to help her and love her no matter what," I always tell them. A lot of people have given up on her.
She is the primary caregiver of her good friend who is wheelchair bound. She hasn't had any responsibility for someone else since Damien. This has given her a new purpose in life - to care for someone else's well-being.
She's still suffering with her own well-being though. I can tell by her shaky hands, her frail figure, the dark circles under her eyes and her continued little appetite.
I have always wondered....how do addictions start? Why can't people stop? Don't they see it's hurting themselves - they are killing themselves?
I still pray for you, Aunt Janae. I wish I could magically make your life better and make you happy again. I know you often feel forgotten, but I haven't forgotten about you and I will never give up on you. I love you.
my grandpa, my aunt and my grandma
I also wanted to share my blog friend's post about her cousin's addiction. You can read Camilla's story here: The Shine Project.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
What?! It's the middle of September already?!
Yeah, that's what I thought this morning when I realized, wow, I really haven't written anything on my blog since AUGUST. I am disappointed in myself. I will try to keep up with it better, my blogger friends.
Here's a a little re-cap of what I have been up to these days......
- I fell in love with Arbonne. Haven't heard of it? I recommend checking it out. www.arbonne.com. The products are all natural, botanical and safe....gluten free and AMAZing for you. I have even thought about becoming a consultant (I love it that much), but after much time and careful consideration, I have decided my life is super busy and I cannot possibly add one more thing to my plate.
- Matt and I recently watched our two nieces, Haley and Hadynn, overnight, so their mommy and daddy could take a mini vaca for their anniversary. We had so much fun taking care of girls and they were really good for us.
- I have been a running maniac, training for this 10k. It's THIS Sunday! Crazy! I can't believe it's here already. I am pumped! Matt and I are an awesome team. We have been running together and we really push and challenge each other. It's one of my favorite hobbies (and really, a regular routine for us) we do together. Last week, I logged 20 miles! I don't think I've ever run that much in a month. LOL.
- We are slowly checking things off our wedding list. We got most of our flowers for our wedding. We just need to get some ribbon and more flowers for parents and grandparents. Our friend, Stephanie, is making all the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Here's a sneak peek at our flowers....
- I went to the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert with my best friend/sis-in-law, Amanda. OMW! It was AMAZing! We had floor seats. Best concert ever!
- I visited my family last weekend in Michigan. My brother, Bill, is home on leave for 1 week from the Navy before he is deployed until March. It was a nice little homecoming for me. My mom and I went to the town market......I ran both Saturday and Sunday in town and on my alma mater's campus (I LOVE Alma College).....we went to the town high school's football game like old times....my brother, Bill, and I played a few games of HORSE in the driveway (WOW! It has been years since we did that).....and I visited my old boss' at A.C. Alma surely is the happiest place for me. My heart smiles every time I am there. It's home. I didn't realize how much I missed it.
Here's a a little re-cap of what I have been up to these days......
- I fell in love with Arbonne. Haven't heard of it? I recommend checking it out. www.arbonne.com. The products are all natural, botanical and safe....gluten free and AMAZing for you. I have even thought about becoming a consultant (I love it that much), but after much time and careful consideration, I have decided my life is super busy and I cannot possibly add one more thing to my plate.
- Matt and I recently watched our two nieces, Haley and Hadynn, overnight, so their mommy and daddy could take a mini vaca for their anniversary. We had so much fun taking care of girls and they were really good for us.
- I have been a running maniac, training for this 10k. It's THIS Sunday! Crazy! I can't believe it's here already. I am pumped! Matt and I are an awesome team. We have been running together and we really push and challenge each other. It's one of my favorite hobbies (and really, a regular routine for us) we do together. Last week, I logged 20 miles! I don't think I've ever run that much in a month. LOL.
- We are slowly checking things off our wedding list. We got most of our flowers for our wedding. We just need to get some ribbon and more flowers for parents and grandparents. Our friend, Stephanie, is making all the bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres. Here's a sneak peek at our flowers....
- I went to the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert with my best friend/sis-in-law, Amanda. OMW! It was AMAZing! We had floor seats. Best concert ever!
- I visited my family last weekend in Michigan. My brother, Bill, is home on leave for 1 week from the Navy before he is deployed until March. It was a nice little homecoming for me. My mom and I went to the town market......I ran both Saturday and Sunday in town and on my alma mater's campus (I LOVE Alma College).....we went to the town high school's football game like old times....my brother, Bill, and I played a few games of HORSE in the driveway (WOW! It has been years since we did that).....and I visited my old boss' at A.C. Alma surely is the happiest place for me. My heart smiles every time I am there. It's home. I didn't realize how much I missed it.
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