Anniversary of Sorts

Sunday, March 22, was the one year anniversary of the day I learned a lesson.  Actually, several lessons. 

1. Knives are not tools.  Do not, under any circumstance, no matter how convenient, use a knife to pry something open.  Take a couple of extra seconds to acquire an appropriate tool!
2. When being admitted to a German hospital, be prepared to stay for a week.  No matter the procedure, they will want you to stick around. 
3. Make sure that you are surrounded by the most amazing people in the world.  Those are the people who will do whatever it takes to make sure that you are driven an hour away to have surgery in the middle of the night, step in to take care of the children, and bring you goodies while you wander around in the glorious hospital gown.

I now realize that even a little finger can provide one of the greatest opportunities for revelations.

What's this 3-Day thing all about?

Several people have asked me exactly what it is I am doing and what the Susan G Komen 3-Day is all about.  Well, here it is.

The 3-Day is a 60-mile walk, over the course of 3 days, that raises funds in support of the Susan G Komen for the Cure.  This organization plays a huge part in supporting breast cancer research, education, screening, and treatment.

Why is is important to me?  My family.  My mother is a two-time survivor.  My friends.  I currently have 5 friends who are at various stages of fighting the disease.  I wanted to do this for them.  I wanted to do this for their daughters and my nieces.  My desire is that they could grow up in a world where they didn't have to worry about breast cancer.

So what is it that we are doing?  I have put together a team of women from all over.  We will be coming from Washington State, Colorado, Illinois and Germany to meet in Denver, CO, joining hundreds of other teams to tackle this journey.  We are in a fundraising effort as each individual is tasked with raising a minimum of $2300.  Over the course of the 3 days, there will be a miniature city that travels and sets up at each point along the route.  We will eat, sleep, shower, laugh and, I'm sure, cry together along the way.  This opportunity that we are endeavoring to pursue will have a mighty impact on each of us. 

What can you do?  I would love to have you join our team!  If you are unable to do that, you can assist in the fundraising effort.  The 3-Day widget on the right will lead you to my personal page where you can donate.

What's the news?

So I haven't been doing very well at keeping updated on information.  Go figure!  It is my after all.  Pardon the brevity, but it wouldn't get done otherwise! :)

• Logan ran his car in the pinewood derby on Saturday March 7.  He did very well, placing 3rd overall in the Bear bracket (his den).  He was so excited to win his races that, once he started losing, he didn't care too much about getting knocked out.  He will race his car again this Saturday at the District Derby.

Receiving his medal.

Logan also participated in Alaska Days in January.  Since he went sans parents, I have only just gotten the pictures from that.  Here are a few.

 

Here he is doing the snowshoe race.  Hard to run in those things!  A little sledding....

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm back to running consistently again after a recurrence of my shin splints.  Gutsy Mom and I are cutting our time down each time out....it is great to run together again and have someone to celebrate the minor accomplishments.

B has already made his big plans for his birthday weekend.  Dad is working on the logistics of putting it together.  I had to remind both of them that I was going to be out of town that weekend.  Dad will be on his own for the craziness! 

Speaking of birthdays, Gutsy Mom and I (who share a birthday!) have to put together a bash of our own:)  We are missing our other birthday sharer, Adventure Mom, this year.

Better half has started his new job.  This job should carry him through until he takes over a battery....can't say exactly when that will be as the date changes.  Often.

The Weather

It's snowing. Again. Normally, I'd be thrilled because I love the snow. I love how a blanket of snow (not a dusting mind you, but a blanket!) makes the world look clean and fresh. I enjoy seeing the evidence of all the random animals that live around us, but are rarely seen, by their tracks that are left behind when they walk across the fields. And, honestly, I do not mind driving in it.
That being said, I'm a little put off by the snow today. I'm just tired of it. Yesterday the sun was out (finally) and the snow was melting! There were streams of water flowing from the mountains (I am not exaggerating) of snow left by the snowplows. Hope was in the air that we might be done with the cold, snow and ice. Guess not. After 2 months of consistent 30-ish degrees or below, snow in random phases of freshness, and running paths covered in ice, I'm a little bored with the snow now. I'm ready for the crocus, the green grass and the budding trees.
The boys aren't!

Adventure Family

Really, we are not the adventure family, but we went on a great adventure this weekend. (I miss the TRUE Adventure Fam greatly already! We had to say our good-byes on Friday and there were lots of tears shed. I didn't stop crying until we were well on our way on the autobahn. John was going a little crazy;) I miss my Battle Buddy and snuggles from little M!)
Here are some pictures from our weekend. Bryan was unbelievable with all the great things he got to do. I was able to get one rapel run in...but only after storming the tower! The weekend was at a castle a couple hours from home.

Exciting!

Something exciting is going on in the Smith house! After many (and I won't say HOW many!) years, this mom is going back to school! I just filled out my admissions paperwork. Well, not paperwork really. Computer fill-in the blank screens. It's amazing the amount of information required to apply to take classes. You know the drill, last name of the second cousin of the carpenter who put in the cabinets of the house down the road from where you grew up. Most I can understand, maiden name, name of the high school I graduated from, other institutions of higher learning that I have attended, and (important) my address. But, seriously, do they really verify who put the cabinets in?!
All that being said, I am thrilled (and a bit terrified) to finally be working towards something again. Thrilled to find a school that will allow me to stay on track with my lifelong dream and the ability to do it via distance/online learning. I'm pouring over course catalogs and schedules trying to decide just how get it all in, which classes should I take first, last. Sort of like having a food that I'm not so keen about. "Do I eat it first and get it over with or take in all the good stuff and keep the other until last?" Lots of choices and decisions to be made. No matter. All I can say is
Hooray!

Good-byes

Same old story, told once again. We live a great life with wonderful opportunities to meet new people. We create friendships and make memories. Those experiences come with the regrettable downside of, eventually, saying good-bye. It's unusual to see more than one person off in a short period of time. To say good-bye to three people in one day....CRAZY! That was my day. Tears shed, hugs given, good-byes said. And it's a scene that will replay several more times in the months to come. There are many dear friends who will be making their way back across the pond during a sort of mass exodus. The reverse of our mass arrival! Gonna miss 'em all! Truly blessed to have them as friends. I'm already scheming for reunions:)