Sunshine on my shoulders make me happy..

Maybe its unusual for a born and raised, meat and potatoes, Midwesterner to have an affinity for John Denver. I blame my parents. Ha! But there it is. Heck, My Mom even choose "Perhaps Love", a John Denver duet with Placido Domingo, as the song to Dance with me at my wedding.

The reason I bring this up is 4 years ago today, E1 stormed into our hearts, and to our joy, he firmly implanted himself in our lives. Today is E1's "Gotcha" Day. I think back before that day, on a visit trip that J and I made. One morning while having breakfast with E1 sleeping beside us, a song just came to mind. Its was one of those goofy Hallmark moments, but it stuck. And forevermore, when I hear that song it just takes me back to that moment. A Tiny sleeping E1, J and I barely able to eat our breakfast. Just staring at that wonderful little man, and the big goofy smiles he put on our faces. Rain or shine, E1 always bring the sunshine into my life, into our home. Thank you Lord for entrusting this Angel into our care.

Sunshine on my Shoulder - John Denver

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Peace

Look at the birds in the sky...

Just a little perspective for the day.

Today's Reading of the Day...

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat
(or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing
into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important
than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Peace

Dont just clean it. Oxiclean it!

[Ted's personal infomercial testimonial]
So each (work) day for the past few years I make some coffee and fill up my thermos and bring it to work with me. I do my best, seriously, to clean the thermos and the coffee pot out, but nothing seems to get the coffee grime off the stainless steel. Baking soda. Vinegar. Dish soap. Soaking. I've tried quit a few things. I did a quick search on the wonderful world wide web (of answers) and found a suggestion about using Oxiclean. So I opted to try it out. Grabbed a small container at Walgreens. Put in a fair sized scoop, and some hot tap water, and prepared to wait a few hours.

Even Billy Mays would have been impressed. Within seconds, "stuff" was bubbling out of my thermos. Then it looked like a volcano of cappuccino (yes, as a frothy, coffee colored mess was coming out). A very Positive sign. The next morning I dumped out the thermos and the coffee pot.

WOW! I don't think either looked so clean, even when they were brand new. Without so much as a single scrub, or swirl or anything. All that coffee I couldn't scrub off before just vanished.

Thank you Oxiclean!

Its FUN again? well maybe just a little..

Just a quick note. Not sure mentioned it here before. But I used to always say running was not something I "loved" to do, but could do. You know the whole exercise thing. I did you to enjoy "getting away" during my runs. To alleviate stress and stuff like that. It dawned on me a few months back. I'm not having "fun" anymore. In fact, running became a chore. Perhaps I even resented trying to squeeze in time for it. I'm sure wicked working hours, and prolonged lack of sleep didn't help. But something unusual (at least for this year) happened on Saturday and today.

It sounds sadistic to say a 22 mile run was fun. But it I can say didn't suck either. And today I did 8x800's (pushing E2 around in the jogger) and I must say I actually enjoyed it.

It might be to late to salvage a good time at this years marathon, being only a couple weeks away and all, but I can be hopeful that maybe I'll enjoy it a bit more than I was anticipating.

Peace

1, 2, 3, 4, who are you looking four..

5, 6, 7, 8, who do we appreciate

20, 15, 22... what??

Ah, nothing like an early night sleep before a TWENTY TWO mile training run. Frankly, I'm thinking, if you any can finish a 22mile training run, whats an extra 4.2 for a full marathon. Well it will be good practice for me. with such little sleep this week, and a less than ideal diet this week, running 22 tomorrow morning should...

well I guess we will find out. So what are YOU doing tomorrow?

We're winning (so far)

I got word that Team World Vision is currently leading in the Chicago Marathon Bank of America "Digital Footprint" project. Its free, and Bank of America will donate $1 for every footprint created, and $10,000 to the charity with the most footprints. http://footprint.chicagomarathon.com/

So select Team World Vision when you create the footprint. Its a great cause. And its an easy way to help those in need of help the most.

Peace

Musings on a Wednesday

Which feels like it really should be Thursday given the shortened week last week, it seems like this week has gone on forever! I will note that this is the second time this week that I have forgotten my socks for field visits at work. The first time I wore my beat up old penny loafer without socks. As my long pants covered my shoes, I don't think anyone noticed but me. I ended up with some good blisters over that one. Then today again, I found myself sockless and realized, once again, I had a field meeting that involved some pretty good hiking through a field. Having forgotten the penny loafers also, my only option this time was to find something to put over my feet so I could use my hiking boots. Yes, you can use reusable produce bags as socks if you are desperate enough. They don't breathe very well, so expect some foot sweating and certainly, be sure to wash the bags before using them for produce again.

On another subject, I will admit to being a blog addict. I usually like to have at least 1 blog I am reading that involves a family in the throws of a paper pregnancy. I LOVE LOVE LOVE following along on that journey with another adoptive family. That being said, the family of the blog I was following just brought home their little girl. So I am now in need to another blog to follow :) . Any suggestions?

I admitted to T the other day (after we had had some discussions about a possible third child weeks prior), that even though I picture our home filled with more children, it must not be time yet. With E1 and E2 I felt this incredible draw to begin the paperwork and proceed forward with a certain agency, location, age and gender. And the end result was the adoption of our two beautiful sons that were truly born in our hearts. We have the most amazing family unit! I can't say that I am feeling anything close to that with a possible third adoption. So I guess we will have to wait and see. In my heart, I know our family is not yet complete. Its just a matter of being patient and waiting for that sign from above :)

I did my very best to help those in need...

It was intended as a motivational video for our team. Team World Vision. But I wanted to share if with you all, as it shows just what we are all doing it for. Its not for a medal when we cross the finish line. Its not for a life goal in which we can say "I ran a marathon". its bigger. Its "I ran a marathon FOR someone". By running this marathon for others, and doing my best to raise support, I helped to save a life, many lives in fact. In a very real place. Just look in google. I did.

Here are two satellite maps.

• http://www.maplandia.com/kenya/central/mutomo/
• http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Mutomo+kenya&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&ll=-1.844698,38.208389&spn=0.269368,0.254059&t=h&z=12&iwloc=A
  

What we are doing this for? Just watch...


Peace

Why World Vision?

The 2009 Chicago Marathon, is just around the corner. With J and I posting to the blog more, we hope that traffic on the blog is picking up. Plus with the marathon approaching, that means the sponsorship window is closing. If we reached out to you, to consider a sponsorship donation, you might be wondering. Why World Vision? You might already have a favorite charity or cause you support. Why World Vision, whats special about them. Lets go straight to the horses mouth. Please check out: World Vision at a Glance

In a nutshell, World Vision is a Christian Humanitarian organization that seeks to raise Children, Families, and entire Communities from the desperate throws of poverty and injustice. Financial support and aid is helpful, but it well documented how foreign (financial) aid can lead to dependence by the very people you are trying to help.

As such World Vision seeks to lift those in need with a multi-pronged approach including Child sponsorship; Clean Water, Food Aid, HIV and AIDS prevention and care; Emergency Crises response; Humanitarian Crises response; Job/Skills development.

To put it simply. World Vision is not just giving a Man (or Child, or Community) a fish, to fill a need for a day. Rather they are teaching them to be fisherman, to fill a need for a lifetime.

Through prayer or sponsorship, Will you stand with us in making a difference?

Team World Vision Digital Footprint (Its FREE!)

We've gotten notifications from the Team Captains about a program for the upcoming 2009 Chicago Marathon. Bank of America (title sponsor) is creating digital footprints. You can go to this website:

http://footprint.chicagomarathon.com/

It will ask for a name, email, and a password. When the mock-up of the footprint comes up Please be sure to select "Team World Vision" within the "Choose a charity logo" and the "Choose a Charity to Receive $1 from Bank of America"

You too can make a difference, and this is easy (and FREE) way to help our cause.

Peace

Quick break.. Reading of the Day..

Raising up from the fray for a moment, I opted to go back and read yesterdays "Daily reading". For most Catholics, you've heard the reading. But wow. Its a good one. Jewish, Catholic, Hindu, Muslim, you name it. If the world reacted and respond in line with this reading, truly what a wonderful world it would be.

Its a shame that the bleeding liberals have hijacked society and go nuclear (not directed at you Kev going nuclear is a saying I use a lot) at even sniff of religion. Anyway... Today's reading of the day is from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 6, versus 27-38

Reading of the Day...
Lk 6:27-38

Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.

“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven.
Give and gifts will be given to you;
a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing,
will be poured into your lap.
For the measure with which you measure
will in return be measured out to you.”

Peace

(truly.. and pay it forward, maybe we can change the world. if Chaos theory says a butterfly impacts storms on the other side of the globe. It could happen. Live, Breath, and most importantly ..share.. Peace)

So how does it end...

What was that from? And 80's video. So how does it end? So how does it end? So. How does it end?

This past Sunday, with the aid of my family cheering me on, and (truthfully) thinking about the World Vision Kids and families in need, I competed in the 2009 Half Madness 13.1. I woke up with a splitting migraine headache, and I was nauseous to boot. That was the closest I have come to thinking about not doing a race. But as this blog is called "Tri for Hope, Sacrifice with purpose" I trudged on.

In the days leading up to the race, I got a wild idea about trying to finish under 1 hr 45 minutes. Well off my PR, but no slouch of a goal considering my severe lack of training this season. Long story short, I came in a 1 hour 44 minutes and 10 seconds. So I officially have a qualifying time that can get me into Start Corral "C" in next years Chicago Marathon (I'm already in Corral "c" this year).

I won't mention names, but a giant CONGRATS!! to DT and AT the dynamic running duel from the West side. I looked for you guys pre/post race. I hope you enjoyed the experience. I know I enjoyed seeing your folks, Three times (yep that's right I caught you both on the wall at the start).

So the only event left is the Chicago Marathon. No official goals, except for the standing "under 4 hour goal". With some good weather and good fortune, there is a chance I could break 3:45, but I'm not ready to set myself up for that just yet.

How was your day?

Twas the night before race day...

And all through the house
Not a creature was stirring
except for the dog, two cats, and mom watching tv

The Children were snuggled all tight in their beds
with visions of Papa panting, sweating, and RUNNING through their heads

And Mama in bed, with blanket pull high,
Me in my race cap, I exclaim "I'm a ready as I'll ever be.." as I
let out a sigh...

As we all settled down for a long (but not long enough) mid September sleep...

(Batavia Half marathon tomorrow. Good look and God speed to you all)