New Places and New Faces

I am really bad at blogging. I sit down to write something and as usual the children need or "want" something and then when I go back...well the moment or the thought has passed. But tonight I am sitting in a hotel room with the children in the background playing and Anthony watching TV and I am going to get something written.

We have moved to Virginia. I am going to be walking in the Washington DC Breast Cancer Walk on October 3rd, 4th and 5th. The Army has taken us from the Atlanta area and I am just blessed that the walk is happening here as well. I have to figure out a training walk where I can feel like I am not going to get mugged or something. I think for now until I learn the area a bit better I am just going to be doing my miles on the treadmill or in the parking lot of my gated community apartment.

We are grateful for the support that we have received thus far in the fundraising efforts and we are so grateful that we are nearly to our goal. I can't believe that we have been able to raise the money. I am humbled by the generosity that people have shown. What a wonderful tribute to all of those people that I am walking for and all of those that are touched by this awful disease in some way. I am amazed at how many people I have come in contact with that have had someone they have known that has been affected by breast cancer.

Thank you again for your support and love. We walk for those that have been affected and pray that walking and raising this money will help those that we love that they will not have to worry about this awful disease.

Walk On Friends -- Walk On!

Moving Experiences

Well I will admit it...getting up at 5 am is really for the crazies of the world but lately I have been one of those crazies. I have two faithful friends that encourage me more than they probably thought they would in order to keep me going.

We recently moved from our rental home to an apartment, (let's just say that it is less painful to walk up a flight of stairs than to have to deal with the drama of our landlord any longer). Anyway, the moving has been stressful and to add fuel to the fire, we had another moving surprise (moving being the key word) we are expecting another child! More stress. Oh and one more thing the Army has given us orders - to move again; this time to Virginia.

No worries though, this is the Army life and we have grown accustomed to it. First, I have been given the go ahead from my doctor to "walk the walk" even being pregnant; he even said it would probably be healthy for me and the baby.

Second, you may be thinking that since we are moving to VA before the walk here in Atlanta, I won't be walking...wrong; I will be walking at the beginning of October but, instead of walking in Atlanta I'll be taking on the streets of Washington, DC. So, everything is right on track.

My walking continues and as slow as it may be going with all of the changes, the fact that you, my loyal supporters, shoudl know that we're going to move forward.

Thanks again for your kind support. Keep those funds rolling in so I will be able to walk.

Oh that reminds me! We will be having a garage sale/silent auction the second week in July. If you have stuff you would like to donate to be sold at the event, the proceeds from the sale of your items will go to the walk in your name. Thanks again!

Back in the Saddle Again!

Yep I have had a bit of a dry spell there but we are back on track now. We have been on vacation and we are moving to a different apartment so life has been a little hectic but I believe things are starting to get back to normal.

We went to Myrtle Beach, SC with some friends for our first real family vacation where we didn't need to be anywhere at any specific time and we didn't have to visit anyone in particular. It was great and I did try and walk while we were there but honestly we were having so much fun on the beach that the time just slipped away. Good thing there is repentance and moving forward right?

I have started walking in the morning with two of my friends. It is a great way to get to know people and also to get yourself moving in the morning. I get up at 5am and drag myself down to my friends house and pick her up and then we head over to the pond. We have done it for two days and I am looking forward to many more. It is always nicer to have someone to walk with. Talking and walking makes the time go so much faster and it seems like we walked longer today than yesterday just because we were involved in a conversation the whole time.

I am still looking for ideas for fund raising. I have nearly $500 raised but I have a long way to go before I will be allowed to cross that starting line so if anyone has any ideas please send them my way. Thanks!

One down side to getting up so early is that you are tired all day...my hope is that with time that will get easier.

Thanks again for all the love and support you have sent my way. Ta Ta for now!

Hard Week

Well this has been a crazy week. I am trying to update this every day or every other day. This week Anthony has been gone so it has just been me and the kids. It is very hard to get anything done with two very active children in tow, even sitting down at the computer. He will be gone this next week as well. I have gone to my water aerobics class and tried to walk with the kids in the stroller...needless to say I haven't been that successful this week with anything. It is a good thing that we have a while before I am supposed to be walking in the double digits. I look forward to this next week and hope that with a new week comes another mile in the books. (meaning up to 5 miles per day)

Up to 4 miles

Yeah! I did it. I went 4 miles yesterday. I thought I would die right at the beginning when I barely made it to the 1/2 mile mark but I just kept putting one foot in front of the other and after awhile I made it. Tonight I went to water aerobics. I tell you what working out in the water is a lot of fun but you definitely get tired from it. I need to go 4 miles tomorrow and Saturday so that I can get the 12 miles in for this week.

Isn't this crazy! 3 weeks ago I couldn't even walk a mile and now I am doing 4 miles...yes it is a hard 4 miles but hey I am still doing it. I couldn't this without the help on my Heavenly Father first and my family second. They are the reason I keep getting out there. I can feel them cheering me on and it just feels so great!

Life is Good! TaTa for now!

Splashing Around

Well I am in the beginning stages of my training and I chose to do water aerobics as my cross training exercises. I went last night and this evening and did as much of the "real" water aerobics that I could remember from when I was going on a regular basis. There is a class that was supposed to be starting up tonight but since it was cold and the pool is outside they canceled it. I went just to swim and do what I could remember anyway since this was my scheduled cross training day. I have to say that even though I am sure that I am doing very little exercising while in the pool without an instructor giving me some direction I was very tired last night and feel like I could fall over at any moment tonight.

So as I was splashing around in the pool I couldn't help but think that this is a lot easier than the 4 miles I will have to walk tomorrow. I look forward to doing the walks as they are one mile closer to that goal that I have set for myself but I am hoping that as the days and weeks go on that I will get more energy and be able to get through the next day. As it is now I am pretty tired when the morning comes rolling around. I guess it is all part of the experience. I am reading a book that says that you have to stretch out of your comfort zone in order to make progress...I have been doing a lot of stretching lately...before and after walking...does that count? =)

Life is Good! TaTa for now!

Time to Get Movin'

Hey there! I have been a little bit of a slacker this weekend. I didn't walk on Thursday because I had a meeting to go to and then yesterday Anthony wasn't around to watch the kids because he had to work all night. Then today I have been gone all day and now at 10:14pm I am just getting home and getting online. Well I had better get my rear in gear if I am going to get this training done right. I have a huge calendar on my wall in the kitchen and tomorrow I am going to write down the training schedule that the 3-Day Coaches have put together for a 24 week training program. I worry that I won't be able to get the walks in when Anthony is gone for TDY (Army term for gone on business). I have to be able to get out there so perhaps I am just going to have to put them in that wagon and pull them behind me. Although I think that after pulling two 25 + pound kids 3 + miles I will be dead and we won't have to worry about finishing up the rest of the training.

Anyone that has any fund raising ideas please send them my way. I am not sure exactly what we will be doing to get all of the funds but any idea will be appreciated.

This whole thing is still a bit overwhelming but I love how much support I have gotten from people already. What a blessing to have friends, family and associates that are willing to help where they can and to cheer you on even when the event isn't for another 5 or 6 months. You all are a blessing! Thanks!

In Home Walk Tonight

Holy Cow! I did an in-home walk tonight that I bought called Walk Away the Pounds, Intensity Walk with Leslie Sansone. I have several of her DVD's and each time I have tried to walk while at home for some reason Ammon my 16 month old wants to be held and cries until he gets his way. I did figure out though that I can do them at night once he is asleep and I can make it through the entire thing. I thought I would try this new one as something different and thought since I have been doing the 3 miles out on the road that I would be able to handle one more mile in the house. Yeah that didn't happen tonight. I barely got one mile done when I was ready to collapse. On her other DVDs she didn't go quite so fast or intense quite so soon. Needless to say she kicked my bumba lumba (word that Anthony has taught Araya our nearly 3-year-old to say instead of butt). I have a lot of work to do before I can master the intensity walk.

I sent out a letter to a lot of people that we know from here, there and everywhere in hopes that I can get some donations towards the $2200 goal that I have to reach in order to walk in the event. Honestly raising this much money is almost more intimidating than the walk itself but my hope is that we have enough time to get it done.

Thanks to all those that are reading our blog and posting comments. It is really fun to do this. Toodle Loo for now!

Feeling The Pain

Okay, so the hard work is starting to catch up to me. I knew it would eventually but, now it's here. The first few days of walking, my leg muscles were letting me know they were there. A little ibuprofen and away I went.

So, now I'm starting to get some knee pain and tendon soreness. It worries me a little bit. I've never really tried to do something like this and honestly this is really the first time I've really set myself on a course to be truly physically active. I'm sure most of it will pass but, my body is definitely waking up.

I'm holding at walking three miles a day for now but, next week I need to get onto at least one four-mile walk. I couldn't imagine being able to do three miles but, aside from the soreness, the walks, though slow, are getting easier.

Thanks to those of you that have expressed your support in word and in contributions. I feel like we are all doing this as a team and your actions and words help motivate me to keep on going - for you and especially those we are walking for. No pain, no gain - right? :-)

If It Ain't Rainin', It Ain't Trainin'

My husband has been a soldier in the US Army for twenty years and he and his soldiers always say, "if it ain't rainin', it ain't trainin'". I think I finally know what they are talking about. Today I walked three miles in a rain storm. It started to clear near the end of my walk but, during the downpour I thought, first that I must be crazy to be walking out in the rain and second, this is what it takes to dedicate yourself to something worthwhile.

Too many times in life we choose the easy route; we stay inside till the storm passes by. But I'm learning that somehow being out in the storm makes you stronger. Not that we should look for a good storm to go out and walk in but, that when the storms come we shouldn't compromise our determination just to take an easier path.

Again, I think about the women in my life that have fought the breast cancer battle. They didn't have a choice - the storm came to them and caught them without an umbrella. I have a worthwhile goal here. The least I can do is keep my commitment to those I am walking for and to myself. Just keep on walking.

I have to admit that as I was walking and people driving past were giving me that look of "what an idiot", I was having a lot of fun. While Anthony and the kids were following me around in the car, they kept giving me the thumbs up sign and cheering me on - it just made the experience that much greater. I know I couldn't do this without them.

As I continued on in the rain tonight and saw my family right there with me I couldn't help but think of all of those women and men who fight or have fought this battle; my prayer is that they have this kind of support and love. I am just walking for this cause and my family is supporting me so much. I can't imagine the kind of support it takes for a family that is battling breast cancer. I know I'm the only one who can make this walk happen just as the cancer patient is the only one who actually battles the disease but, I can't help but believe that our families act as the umbrella to shield us from some of the storm.

Another Day ... Another 2 Miles

Well I went another 2 miles today. For some reason it seemed like I went faster but when I got home it took me the same time as it did yesterday...45 minutes for 2 miles. I have a long way to go before I am at the 3 to 4 miles per hour mark. Anthony...my husband keeps telling me that I shouldn't worry about the time right now but, that I just need to get the miles in and be consistent with walking. I guess he is right but it's hard not to think of how slow I am going regardless.

I've received so much support from my husband and two wonderful children...ages nearly 3 and 16 months. They are great! I couldn't do this without them.

I've been thinking a lot about the people I am walking for lately. I hope to share with you some of the memories I have of them and the love I have for them as well. I hope that in some small way they will know that this really is for them.

The Longest Journey Begins With the First Step

Here they are - pristine and untested. They will be one of the many treasures I will take on my journey to walk 60 miles in just 3 days. Tonight I walked my first two miles. It took me 45 minutes it seemed like forever.

The ladies we walk for? One second probably felt like a lifetime - the second they found out they had cancer. I can do 45 minutes, we can do 45 min, we can do more. We still have many miles to travel together. Stay with me, we have just taken our first step together.