Less Than a Week!

Above: a few pictures from our party on Saturday, and I MADE Jason take a picture of us in front of the Christmas tree...


Until Christmas....Better finish my shopping! I hate having to go out Christmas Eve to finish (and yes, I have done that often!). So I'm trying to finish "early."
On Saturday I ran my long run for the week - and my longest run yet: 20 miles. It was a great run and I was excited to have run it well with a good time. At about mile 13, my ipod battery died. What a huge bummer, but that allowed me to have a conversation I would not have otherwise had. Around mile 9 I saw a boy running in the opposite direction who looked so young to be out running. A few miles later - right after my ipod died, I ran up alongside him. I looked over and said "hi" and he said "good morning." I asked him how far he was running and he told me 17 miles! Are you kidding me? How old was he? 13! His name is George, and he is in training for the LA Marathon, which he is running for the 2nd year in a row. Last year, he twisted his ankle in the first mile and it took him almost 8 hours to finish! He is determined to beat his time this year. We ran together for about 2-3 miles until I had to go up a different street, but I had a great conversation with this inspiring guy. He was running in what looked like his PE clothes and shoes that are not meant for running. I could have cried as he told me that his parents make fun of his running, but he loves it. I wanted to take him home, buy him some good running shoes and encourage him. He usually runs with about 30 other kids from school who are all running the marathon, but he had to come early and run alone since he had something to do later in the day and couldn't run at the scheduled time. What dedication. I am inspired by George because he doesn't have fancy clothes, running shoes, a fancy apparatus to listen to music or a stopwatch, but he is running his heart out. The cards are stacked against this kid with running anyways, but he pushes on, determined to fulfill his goal. Go George!

*Seeing my grandparents on Friday for lunch...they live in Arizona and we don't see them very often

*A fun night at work Sunday - and the flexibility in this unit to be able to leave a little early since Jason had to go to LA to be in court

*A gift from my supervisors for Christmas. I never got anything for Christmas in the burn unit so my Starbucks gift card was a fun surprise

*Our Christmas party Saturday night - it is all our Biola friends....and some others too. We have been doing this for at least 6-7 years. Its really fun to see everyone I don't see that often.

*Jason - my husband of 6 years now...I could not have picked anyone better for me. Through thick and thin, we make it through, and can usually laugh about it at some point. He is an amazing man who loves me and the boys with all of himself.

*Talking to Kristen yesterday --poor thing has been really sick, but seems to be on the mend now.

*Ez took his first step on Sunday. Just one step, so don't get too excited, but yes, a step - all by himself. I think he will walk in the next month or so. He's finally trying.

*Plans to make Christmas cookies with my momma!!