Celebrations

September 11th is a day we all remember with saddness but for some it is a day of celebrations.

This September  11th we celebrated Ms. P's birthday!

All her little Gators presented her with a pink rose and hugs!

We made wishes...ate cake....

and showered her with birthday love!

This day was also the day that my friend Pam was not supposed to make it to....but she did.
So we gathered together at P's house tonight.....

and celebrated P's birthday and Pam's rebirth day.......

We laughed and shared.....loved and cried.....and I felt so happy to have shared this night with these two amazing woman that I love so very much. P reminds me to live life to it's fullest and that in the end most things are just not a big deal...Pam reminds me that I am so lucky and so blessed to be the mother to my four littles....and how precious the gift of motherhood is.

This 9-11......I felt blessed to be celebrating and joyful to be able to wrap my arms around this brave, wonderful woman and call her my friend and to be able to share a night of love with these ladies!

Shelby County Rocket Run 2013

We put up the fall decorations....my how they have changed!

 and headed to Shelby County for the the first meet for Goshen XC this season! Everyone was excited...and a little nervous too!

 We put up the tent and the team gathered together....everyone was so excited!

photo by Pradip Patel

Rollins was to race first and he was extra nervous!

 He had a terrible start...worst one ever...but tried hard make up as much ground as he could in this one mile run.

 He finished with a big heart....and lots of tears.....and the promise of a better start next time....
oh and a PR so it wasn't that bad, Rolls! :)

Photo by Pradip Patel

Photo by Pradip Patel

 And SK...well she was excited for this...her VERY first meet!

She was all smiles!

And she did it....she ran the whole mile...like a little champ!

 We were so proud of her!

 She was proud of herself.....

 and so excited to see her Daddy after the race.....

 Both the boys and girls took first place and it was so sweet to see the smiles of my little runners as they celebrated with their team.....

 It was a fun first meet for sure!

Terra Haute or Bust

I dropped Riggs off at 6:50 am to meet the bus to his meet in Terra Haute, Indiana.

I got on...took a quick pic...and with a flick of my wrist said goodbye to him. But I wanted to wrap my arms around him and sob into his skinny, little neck and tell him I love him a thousand times. But I was at least 65% sure that he would be mortified so I went with the wrist flick...and played it cool. Easier said than done....just sayin'

 I got back in my truck and the tears fell......I had a good one.

Jeremy was on call and the little Hardy runners had their first meet in Shelby County so I was off to be there for them...and would be missing ....for the first time....Riggs' meet. A far away one at that. It really bothered me...but with 4 littles you can't be in multiple places at once....it's inevitable that I am going to miss things...I guess I should be thankful for the good run I had.

We sent Coach Jeff to be Riggs' person for the day and I all could do was love him from Shelby County. At noon, as I pulled into the meet ,I sent him positive thoughts but had a bad feeling. His team won but he had a really bad race for him...I got the news...and there was nothing I could go about it...I felt helpless. But it's all part of growing up for him...and me too... as I grow as a mom of a middle schooler. Hope the stars align more often than not and I don't have to miss many more.

Filed trip fun with SK

I was lucky enough to get to hang out with SK and her class today at the Frazier Historical Arms Museum. We went to see the mystical creatures exhibit...which was so cool! Mermaids, Dragons, Unicorns....oh it was so cool and the kids loved it!

It was also the first Xc spirt wear day so these cuties attended the field trip in their spirit wear....so fun! I love that she shares XC with some of her class mates!

 She loves her class...and her friends ....they are such sweet girls.....

 and during lunch she even got to catch up with old friends too!

Friends and a Sparkly unicorn ......what more could a girly second grader ask for?

It was a great day and I was so happy to share it with her and her class!

Running as a Mustang

For me....this is very true......

 It's a part of how I love for sure...when my littles especially are upset...bothered...uneasy...I feel it too. Riggs had the foot injury...was off for a bit...and then had two scrimmages with North that were...well....terrible. He was running over a minute slower than he had last year. He was not feeling it..."I just don't have it, Mom". It was so hard to hear....heart breaking to watch. Running has always been the one thing we could go back to for him...at first it was a starting point...a stepping stone for his confidence...then it became a reference point. I think he felt a little lost and I know I was at a loss for words...not knowing what was to come of this. So with two bad scrimmages....low confidence....new spikes, and a lot of hope we arrived at the Tiger Run for his first middle school meet.

Same order of business....new uniform...

He went on the walk through.....

got his number.......

 Put his spikes on........

 and we reviewed his goals...which were set low......hoping to keep his confidence in tact...
He was unfocused....very unlike the pre race Riggs I have come to know....but I just watched...knowing if I started in on him...he would more than likely retreat rather than step up.... parenting this middle school boy is a whole other world for me....I can't rush in and do for him...I have to stand back and let him do it himself....

But....some times the things I can't say...Jeff can get away with...and he knows Riggs so well...

He gets my boy...he always has. Their relationship is deep and is based on love and a mutual healing they found in each other.

So I told Riggs I loved him .....and headed to get a spot to watch. And while I was on the course...nervous and deeply hoping Riggs could attain the low goals set for him...that we could just take a step in the right direction...and not backward on this meet...anywhere but back wards....
Jeff stepped in......

 I don't know what the conversation was....the words used....or even how Riggs responded at the time...but in the moment Jeff changed his underdog speech to more of this....

Jeff must have seen something in his eyes....or felt it in his heart....just minutes before the gun fired it was a new plan...with new goals...harder goals...and when I saw Riggs for the first time at the one mile mark he was meeting those goals......

he was passed...and he dug deep and passed back.....

He was giving up the good......

and going for the great......

and he finished the Tiger Run with a 15 second PR.....and a shot of confidence 

 He was happy.....

and I felt like I could breathe again....

I was so proud of his effort....and his heart....and his determination

 I love how slowly he is becoming part of the team....watching as high fives were exchanged....

and "good race" exchanges were made.....

 He placed 15th over all and got a medal at the awards ceremony.....

 and the team placed first....so that was icing on the cake!

 We celebrated with a Blizzard on the way home!

 First run as a Mustang is in the books.....

 here's to many more days of going for the great!