OGDEN HALF MARATHON, AGAIN



Steve and I after the race.
Pretty tired, but the medal makes it all worth it!!





 This was my 4th time running the 1/2 Marathon in Ogden.

Steve and I got to the "busstops" about 5:00 am.  Steve loaded onto his full marathon bus and I found my half marathon bus and boarded.  I sat around others that were as anxious as myself to begin the 13.1 mile journey back down the canyon.  I had my earbuds in my ears and was already getting "pumped up" by my playlist, but I could still hear the people who sat around me talking.  The discussed times and fuel, but the comments that caught my attention the most was one of the runners saying, "...you know what really impresses me?  The people that walk the half marathon.  That is a LONG time to walk, I'm not sure I could do it..."  I can't even tell you how much it meant to me to hear them essentially be talking about me.  Made me feel pretty good.

The message that kept me going for 4 more miles

The start was not as cold as I had anticipated it to be. It began a little late, but once we got going I began to warm up.  It was a beautiful day to be racing.  It had rained 5 days in a row prior to race day.  Spent the 13.1 miles alternating between walking and jogging.  When I came up to mile 9, I began to remember how hard the race gets for me from that point on.  It was then that I could hear my phone ringing.  I had just received a text message from my daughter, Belle.  It said, "LET'S GO MOM".  I teared up a little.  How did she know I needed that.  It was that message that pushed me the next 4 miles.

Yep, that's me running!!!

Steve passed me after mile 10.  I was still feeling pretty confidant and impressed at how my body was feeling.  Nothing ached or hurt.  Before I knew I was running the last tenth of a mile and could see the finish line that never seemed to get any closer.  I did finally get there and finished the race and got my medal.  Another half marathon done. 

NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY

Ysabelle was inducted in the National Junior Honor Society last night.  It was quite an accomplishment for my girl.  During her 6th grade year, she had a hard time balancing school work with having a social life.  She opted many times to skip studying or doing homework to hang out with her friends.  When this school year began, which happens to be her 1st year in middle school, she had set a personal goal to make honor roll.  I wasn't sure if she would be able to meet that goal after the bumps she had through 6th grade. Then the first quarter report card came out and sure enough, she had made the honor roll and this continued with the following 2 report cards.  So I was not surprised when she brought home the application to join the National Junior Honor Society.  And we were pleased when we got the letter saying she had been accepted.

 

 The program was quite nice.  The student officers each took a characteristic that exemplifies a member of the NJHS, which included Citizenship, Service, Character, Scholarship, and Leadership.   The principal, Mr. McLeod spoke for a brief time about how impressed he is by the youth that are so willing to give service to their communities.  Then the members of the National Junior Honor Society stood and repeated the pledge:  

"I pledge myself to uphold the high purposes of the South Jordan Middle School National Junior Honor Society to which I have been selected.  I will be true to the principles for which it stands.  I will be loyal to my school and will maintain and encourage high standards of scholarship, service, leadership, character, and citizenship."

Then I watched as Belle's name was called and she received her certificate and shook hands with the principal.  I am always the typical proud mama when my kiddos accomplish something.  More proud of their accomplishments, no matter how small or large they maybe, than anything I ever have accomplished myself.

A ROYAL WEDDING

When I was 9 years old, my mom and I got up early and watched Lady Diana Spencer marry Prince Charles.  It was so magical to me.  The beautiful dress, the carriage she rode in, to walk out of the church as a Princess.  It was just a real life fairytale.  Well, as soon as I heard that Prince William had proposed to Kate Middleton I knew I would want to share the experience with my girls, just as my mom had done for me.  I was grateful when mom invited us to her home to watch the festivities at 2 am.  So the girls and I drove down to Ferron on Thursday evening after Belle's softball game.  We slept for 3 hours and woke up and entered the tv room to find crowns for us to wear, tea and pastries.  We wore our nicest pajamas as we watched the hatted women arrive at the church and eventually got to see Prince Charles and the Queen which was quite fun to see.  Then the moment came when we saw Kate in her beautiful dress.  It was breathtaking.  By the time the hour long ceremony was done, the girls were ready to get a little shut eye.  I admit I closed my eyes for a few minutes, but woke up in time to watch as the newly named Duke and Duchess of Cambridge kissed on the balcony to the 500,000 people who had gathered to celebrate the union.  So glad I took the time to share this with my girls.  I listened to some people who are LDS mentioned how sad it was that these two had married for just time...I guess I am just happy to see two people, who are obviously very much in love with each other, make that commitment.  I loved watching the fairytale.  Sometimes its nice to just be taken away in the fairytale...