The 18 miles...

The alarm is going off.  It's 4:00 a.m.  Yes I'm one of those crazy people who gets up early and the fact that I'm going to run 18 miles makes me even crazier...I ate some breakfast and got all my stuff together.  Then drove to my angel-sister-in-law Alyssa's house to run with her.  She is amazing!  We started off pretty good until the South Weber wind started blowing.  How I hate running against the wind!!!  I don't know what was up with me, but I was being so slow!  We got through South Weber and made our way up a hill.  My marvelous mother drove by at that point and shouted, "You go girls!"  That gave me even more motivation, but alas I'm not that great of a runner and to me the hill was quite steep....I had to walk most of it.  Bless Alyssa's heart she stayed with me the whole way up!  I'm so lucky to have her in our family.  My brother made a good choice when he decided to start chasing her. :0)  Mom met us at the top of the hill for some more encouragement and on we went.  Alyssa pulled away and I was better able to find my groove.  I'm glad she was with me for the hill though because I'm not sure I would have made it without her! 

By mile nine I was running an average 13.5 minute mile.  It kind of went downhill from there (lol).  By the time I got back to South Weber Drive I was beyond done,  but Alyssa and my Mom met me and helped me make it through the last couple miles.  Then I finished!  in 4 hours and 20 minutes which is an average 14:26 mile.  The last mile took me around 20-25 minutes, so it threw off my average :-(.  But I still did better than I thought I would!

Only a short few weeks before the marathon...

Blah!

Only 50 days left until the marathon.  I'm loving the weather!!!!  I love running outside and I discovered a new fun place to run near my parents' house (soon to be my house).  I can't wait to get out and use it some more!  Tomorrow morning I'm running with Alyssa at 5:00 in the morning.  We're on the same running schedule.  It's going to be a doozy...18 miles!  I'm stoked/nervous.  That's my farthest distance so far and I'm hoping I can make it without getting too sick... I guess we'll see :0)

61 days and counting...

It's getting closer to that wonderful marathon day!!!  I've felt so unmotivated the past month that I haven't been running much...Yeah not good...This last week though, I got out and made myself do it.  I had Addi on Saturday, so I had to leave work early Friday to go home and get on my running gear for a fabulous 16 mile jog...Well it was supposed to be 16 miles...I had a meeting to go to at work that I originally didn't know about, so I left later than I thought.  The first 5 miles were the hardest.  I couldn't get into a rhythm due to the fact that the road had many hills, but after that it was all down hill and straight.  I actually did better than I thought I would do.  I made it 14.2 miles before stopping.  I would have finished, but I had to get home to get ready to go out for Brittnee's birthday.  It was the longest run I've done to date.  I also have to say that even though I haven't been sticking to my schedule, it still wasn't too bad! :0)  Now I just have to get myself running a little less than twice that amount and doing it a little faster and I'll be able to get through the marathon without too many problems.  I just keep chanting, "It's mostly downhill.  It's mostly downhill."  I figure if I keep telling myself that I will convince my mind that it can do anything! :0) 

Dinner was fun!  We went to Tucano's Brazillian Grill at the Gateway.  They have delicious fried bananas!  I love them!  It was fun to be able to go and spend some time with friends out and about.  We don't do it as much as we used to and sometimes I really miss having fun just hanging out!  It's been a great week!  I hope next week is just as amazing!

"What a Wonderful World"

So I discovered a really cool website.  You put in words

 from a song or just words and it spits them out into

 a cool arrangement.  The biggest words are the most

 used words and the smaller words are the words 

that are used less.

T-Minus 100 days until the marathon!

Well, in a mere 100 days I will be running a marathon...Yikes!  I'm at 11 miles tomorrow and I'm going to have to figure something new out for keeping my body alive before I get to more miles or I'll never make it through 26 miles, let alone the .2 that comes after it. I'll work on it and get back to you on that.

By the way, you should check out this blog written by my friend Michelle.  She is another third grade teacher at school and she has a blog about funny things she hears kids say.  They are hilarious!

Tucker's Cancer

Last summer when I ran Ragnar I met this amazing woman named Amber who was on my team.  She was all energy and making sure we all had what we needed from water to encouragement.  I had the opportunity to meet her family as well when we would stop between legs of the run.  Her son was full of energy and FUNNY!  He was fun to talk to.  I found out that when he was 5 or 6 he had been diagnosed with leukemia, but had been in remission for a while. 

A couple of weeks ago Tucker was told his leukemia had relapsed in his central nervous system.  This week they also found out that his brain is swelling.  The doctors are trying to figure out what caused his brain to swell and do not believe it was caused by his cancer or his treatments.  Sounds like he is slowly starting to feel better, but will be in the hospital until they can see that his brain swelling has gone down. 

Hearing his amazing story and reading about small miracles that are taking place has reminded me of how thankful I am for the life I have.  I am blessed with an amazing family, a great job, and a healthy body.  I am also thankful for the knowledge I have that I'm a daughter of God, that he loves me as I am, and that through my Savior, Jesus Christ my sins can be forgiven and I can return to live with Him again someday.  Who could ask for more in their life?

To read more of Tucker's story or to donate to help their family click on the link in "My Friends" called "Well That Sucks!"-------->

Skittles!!! Taste the Rainbow!!!

I LOVE SKITTLES!!!!!!

The original kind....Just thought you should know.... :o)

Happy New Year!

It's finally a new year and I'm excited to make some new goals and do some new things!  Some things to look forward to:  Ogden Marathon 2011(Yikes!), Ragnar Wasatch Back 2011(I know I swore never to do it again, but hey I want to go and have fun this time!), moving back in with my parents, and a trip to WI and Nauvoo is also in the works! 

As I ask myself what kind of goals I want to make this year, I come up all the normal resolutions I make at this time of year:  lose 50 lbs, exercise more, Keep my room clean, write in my journal every day etc.  I never do these things....hmmmmm...

"What should I do?" I ask myself.  "Duh make them more specific!"  So here we go:

1. Follow my training schedule.  On Monday-Friday I will go to the gym (or run outside at my house) right after I get off work and before I go home.  Saturdays I will go to the gym right after I wake up. 
2. I will be in bed by 10 o'clock each weekday night and I will turn out the light no later than 11.  On weekends I will be in bed by 12 with the lights turned out.
3. I will write in my journal every Sunday morning before getting ready for church. 
4. I will not drink any soda until after I am finished with all my races for the year. 
5. When I'm angry or in a bad mood, I will stop and think before I say anything to others.
6. I will fold my laundry and put it away before I go to bed each night.

Well, that's a beginning.  I'll let you know how it goes :0)

Sleep Part II

Made it to bed at 9, but couldn't sleep again.  Had a migraine... I feel better today and I'm looking forward to the weekend!  I'm starting to feel that Christmas Spirit again.  If only I had my own house....it would look amazing all decked out for Christmas!  :0)

Sleep

Sleep is good.  I'm not getting any.  Get home around 10 p.m.  Laundry. Not able to sleep.  1ish I finally fall asleep.  I swear that all I did last night was blink and then my alarm went off.

My goal for tonight:  Be in Bed by 8:30!

I'll let you know how it goes! :0)

A Pure Heart

What a great day!  I got up and went with my cousins to the temple.  I'm ashamed to say it's been a while since I've been.  I left with a great feeling and a new goal to get back on track with my temple attendance.  As I was sitting in the Celestial room watching the rainbows dance around from the chandlier, it reminded me of a quote about a crystal from a book I read:

"The direct sunlight that hits the crystal is like the light of Christ.  The crystal is like our hearts, or our spirits.  We can choose to close the curtain between that light and ourselves, or we can let that light penetrate us and became an instrument to spread the light and diffuse it into all that we do.  As long as we don't close ourselves off, we will always be touched by the light" (The Miracle by Anita Stansfield).

I hope that I can be an instrument to spread the light of Christ to those I come in contact with in my life. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I know I'm a day early, but tomorrow will be a very busy day.  I'm looking forward to it!  Starting off with and 8 a.m. 5K in the freezing wind!  I am so thankful for clothes that keep me warm and a cousin who is helping me be motivated to run outside in the cold :0)  Then it's off to my parents' house for family pictures...I didn't get a chance to get a haircut, so I might look interesting...Then helping my mom get ready for the Raymond crew to come over for dinner.  I'm so thankful for the supportive family I have both immediate and extended.  They are loud and crazy, but we have fun and they would do anything for me!  I <3 you guys!

Happy Thanksgiving!

New Blogs

My new blogs are up and running!  Check them out in my sidebar there ----------------->

They are:  SEE the Future, Megz Favorite Quotes, and Megz Favorite Scriptures.

Enjoy!! :0)

Coming Soon: New Blogs

So I'm going to create some new blogs! :0)  Check them out if you have a chance.  Look at the top of this blog under the picture to find the tabs that will take you to a page to connect you to the new blogs.  They are under construction right now, but I hope to get them up and running by the end of this week. :0)

A New Discovery

So I just discovered a new website that helps me track my training!  And guess what!?!?!?  It has widgets to put on your blog!

Check it out in my sidebar here ------------------->

Cool huh!?!?!?!?  I'm pretty excited :0)

Life is good and running is fun!!! :0)

In Loving Memory

I've had this post saved all week.  I wanted to put a picture on, but that would require scanning one in and I keep forgetting.  I'll work on that, but for now there are just words.

In Loving Memory of Steven and Sharolyn Erickson--November 1, 2002

I can't believe it has been eight years since we said good-bye to our dear friends.  I can't even begin to tell you all that I learned from these two wonderful people.  They were always there with their loving hearts.  They taught us to always think about others, to give to those less fortunate than us, and to work hard. 

I remember one week just before Thanksgiving, Shar came to the house and gave each of us an envelope with twenty dollars inside.  She then told us that it was our money to spend as we pleased, but she hoped we would choose to help her buy turkey and other foods to take to the food bank.  I remember how hard it was for Beth and Devin to use the money to buy something for someone else.  Shar didn't force them to though.  I think she knew that forcing them to do it wouldn't have the same effect as them choosing to do it.  We all ended up using most of our money to help buy food.  I learned that day that you can't force people especially children to do nice things.  They need to choose to do it or it will not help them to be better people in the long run.  I'm grateful for this lesson as I've spent my adult life working with children.  If I ever wonder what to do I just ask myself, "What would Shar have done?" 

This next part is going to sound kind of corny, but just bear with me :0)  Another great thing that I got from Steve and Shar is Jazzmin.  (I told you corny)  I know that I complain a lot about how annoying he is and how I can't stand him, but in all reality I can't look at him and not think of Shar.  He's a reminder.  He also is a great friend....I know all you people out there who hate cats are thinking I'm insane....He's the only being who listens to me without offering opinions or advice about what I should be doing.  There was a time about 18 months ago when I was really struggling.  Everyone had an opinion about what I should have done or what I should be doing.  No one just listened.  Suffice it to say, as sad as this is LOL, I talked to Jazz a lot.  He would come lay with me on the couch or in bed and just be there, purring away with his happiness.  That familiar sound calmed me and many times put me to sleep.  All he has ever required is to be fed and petted a little here and there.  He accepts all of me the way I am, just like Shar always did...It's like she's here with me helping me along...

I could go on and on, but I won't.  I learned a lot from Steve and Shar and I'll always be grateful for the influence they have had on my life and that they still have an influence on me each and everyday.  I hope that someday I can be all they were!  :0)

Count Your Many Blessings!!! Part VI

91.  Steve
92.  Shar
93.  Dad
94.  Mom
95.  Alyssa
96.  Brian
97.  Addi
98.  Beth
99.  Devin
100.  My marvelous, fantastic, amazing, magnificent, great and full life!

Count your many blessings!! Part V

81.  Halloween
82.  Jazzmin
83.  olives
84.  Electric blue
85.  Rock Band
86.  my iPod when I'm running
87.  Time off-track
88. Weather forcasts
89.  Spell Check
90.  When people tell other people how wonderful a teacher I am and how all the kids want to be in my class.  Then I find out because they tell my mom. :0)

Count your many blessings!!! Part IV

71.  make up
72.  zippers
73.  the color purple
74.  batteries
75.  Chap Stick
76.  students with great parents
77.  milk
78.  orange juice
79.  Limeade
80.  Playdoh

Count your many blessings!!! Part III

I am SO far behind!  I go off track tomorrow and then hopefully I'll have more time to keep up on my blog.  I'm trying really hard.  Here are blessings 41-70.

41.  President Thomas S. Monson
42.  Poetry
43.  Chuck :0)  It's always good for a laugh!
44.  Uno  The best game on the planet!
45.  Wireless internet
46.  Hoodies
47.  Zip hoodies
48.  a recorder on my TV :0) so I can watch Criminal Minds even though I have class when it's on.
49.  A family that is not annoying to have around.  We have fun together:0)
50.  Pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips
51.  Carrot Cake
52.  Sugar cookie dough
53.  Fabreeze
54.  The letter L
55.  Jeans
56.  T-shirts
57.  Tube socks
58.  Dark chocolate
59.  Volleyball
60.  blankets
61.  tomatoes
62.  French Fries
63.  Food Network
64.  Revelation
65.  Being able to attend the temple
66.  Titanium, so I can wear glasses without breaking out in a rash.
67.  graham crackers and chocolate frosting:0)
68.  witty friends who keep me entertained
69.  Pumpkin Gutz
70.  People who can get the pumpkin gutz out without puking!  (Funny story...at least now that it's in the past LOL)