My First Marathon

My little fashionista, Bailey, has been branching out. I love the scarf look and she is finally letting me do her hair again (after 18 months). She has the best hair and the color is to die for. I love having a 7-year-old. She is a sweetheart with her brothers and a great girl. One of my friends told me that Bailey stood up to some older girls who were bullying her daughter at recess. I was so proud of my little spitfire! She still has tons of energy and likes to be in charge, but she is learning about delayed gratification (at least as well as can be expected) and she is doing great in 2nd grade. I just love having her as my daughter.
We went to the Mesa temple for Family Home Evening last week. My kids love going to the temple and to the Visitor's Center. I love how close we are to the temple and am grateful we will have a new temple in Gilbert in a few years. I am excited for my kids to go to the open house and see inside.
I did a 10K with my friend, Marci, in July and then did another one a few weeks ago with my friend, Kim. In July, I had to stop and walk off and on because I hadn't run more than three miles ever. I ran the whole time in the last 10K. I never thought I would be one to love running, but I do. I love it and I love how alive I feel inside after a good run. After Landon I got post-partum depression (I had it after Myles, too, but thought I might be able to avoid it this time). It has been a rough 10 months. I love my little Landon and am grateful to be a wife and mother, but I have not felt like myself since he was born. Running has helped pull me out of the downward spiral and I'm grateful for good friends who simply invited me to run with them.
Kim is running a marathon in Hawaii December 13th and I am going to run it, too. I never thought I would be one to do a marathon, but I've got the bug. I can't wait to go and do this! I'm already planning a 1/2 marathon with Marci in January, too. Our bodies are amazing. I have progressed from barely being able to run for 1/2 hour in July to running 9 miles last Saturday. I am honestly impressed at how quickly our bodies respond to being challenged. Conversely, when we don't exercise we lose our fitness levels rapidly. Of course there are spiritual applications to this. I'll spare the sermon, but am truly grateful for a wonderful Heavenly Father who loves us more than we may ever know and who places people in our paths who inspire and lift us. Running has been just what I needed, but I never would have realized it without good friends who believed more in me than I did and who were willing to wait for me to catch up to them.