Before

August 9 was the first day back to school for us teachers. We did have five days off after the 9th but having looked at my room and feeling completely overwhelmed, I took those five days and used them to get my room in order.

I called my mom because I felt COMPLETELY overwhelmed and begged for her to come help! It didn't take much convincing - she agreed.

These are the before pictures...

Gearin' Up

Have I mentioned lately how thankful I am to have a job? And not just ANY job, but one that I really want? I'm a first grade teacher. I...AM...A...FIRST...GRADE...TEACHER! :o)
The only thing that would put sprinkles on this cake is if we added "bilingual" before "first grade teacher" - but I'll wait. I can wait.

I've spent the past week cleaning, organizing, and preparing my classroom. I have before pictures and haven't taken after pictures yet...because it's not ready!! AAAAHHH!! It's almost there. I think I need one more day and I'll be set.

Have I mentioned how it takes a village? I couldn't have done this on my own. I've had the AMAZING help of my mom, my brother Tim and my childhood friend Angela. I'm SO incredibly thankful to have the most incredible people in my life! (of course, this is the SHORT list)

More to come later!

THE 5k

Hi.
I just wanted to report that I ran a 5k today with my friend Regina. It's the one that benefits the World Parrot Trust! :o)

Our goal was to RUN the entire thing. While the time did matter, I really wanted to RUN the whole thing. This did not happen! Why? Well, there was a hill (bridge) at the very beginning. The first ten minutes of any run are hard for me. Add a hill and you finish me! haha!

So, instead, we ran 1.55 and then went into 2-1 intervals.

Towards the middle of mile 2, I started panicking during the run because I couldn't seem to get a deep breath in. Thankfully, I got myself calm and all everything was fine.

Then we got closer to the end and we saw some girls with really fun shirts. One said: I GOT THIS! And the other said: I may be slow, but you're still behind me. Regina & I both agreed that while they are way cute shirts we had to beat them to the finish line!! HAHAHA!

And at the end, the hill that we had to climb at the beginning, helped us gain momentum on the way down for the finish. The girls with the cute shirts were behind us officially. I saw my family and heard them cheering us on. At that point I was SUPER close to crying! But I held it together.

We sprinted to the finish line and then Regina tells me our time: 37.07.

Enter Mimi's excited tears here! :o) I was really happy with the time! Even during our practice runs we run 3.1 miles at 39 minutes. The 5k in April I finished in 47 minutes.

I'm very VERY happy!

Next to the Bible...

I wrote this January 2009. I remember the context well and I laugh a bit when I read this. I'm thankful that I'm a teacher now. And I'm very thankful those winds of change brought some needed fresh air!

******************

Next to the Bible, if you look a little to your left there's "You've Got Mail."

Mr. Joe Fox tells my hero Kathleen Kelly:

"You're at war. 'It's not personal, it's business. It's not personal it's business.' Recite that to yourself every time you feel you're losing your nerve. I know you worry about being brave, this is your chance. Fight. Fight to the death."

So inspirational! Don't you think? Because really...we recite that to ourselves knowing full well that when people are involved it's personal. Business doesn't grow without personal investment.

When life gives you limes you make limeade. If these people don't like your limeade - make some popsicles and take them to someone new!

2009 has the winds of change blowing through the corridors.

This Week Is Exciting!

Among other things, what I'm looking forward to the most is attending the Global Leadership Summit. I really wish I was going to Chicago and then accidentally bumping into Blake Mycoskie, the Founder and "Chief Shoe Giver" of TOMS Shoes, Inc. Since that isn't going to happen, I'll enjoy what I get in the Houston Satellite location.

I'm excited because I know that the GLS was one of the main components of giving me a kick in the pants to get in gear for getting back on the teaching train. And this time I'm taking my brother Tim along with me!

I signed up before school was out last spring and I seriously can't believe that it's THIS week!

I promise!

I promise to write about more things than JUST running, but I just wanted to tell the WHOLE WORLD that I'm officially signed up for the 5K August 7. The race is called the Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer and I'm still laughing at the fact that this race benefits the world Parrot Trust which is dedicated to the survival of parrot species in the wild, and the welfare of captive birds everywhere.

Just to be clear, I'm not doing this for the birds. I'd prefer to run for people, but for now I'm doing this one for ME!

Today, I ran 2 miles without stopping...and actually completed the 5k distance in a decent time. It was the hardest run I've had in a while. I'm not sure why my legs felt like lead, but they did. It's interesting how you have to train your mind to say, "I CAN!" because your whole body is saying - "PLEASE STOP!" And once you finish you feel like you can conquer all beasts!

My friend Regina and I ran the 2.88 miles just under 36 minutes and ran the 3.1 miles in 39. She can do better than I can - so really this is my time with a friend cheering me on. Her patience and encouragement is PRICELESS! And I'm wishing my friend Lara was here running with us. She'll be back soon, but the three of us are running this 5k together. I'm dubbing us the DREAM TEAM! They don't know that yet, but they'll find out soon enough. ;O)

************

I mentioned before that I'd share the scripture that comes to mind when I run so here they are:
Isaiah 40:29-31

He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

The infamous Philippians 4:13

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Psalm 28:7

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

And my theme verse Romans 8:37

...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

There is also a song that in my head I'm belting out (I think I'd pass out if I was ACTUALLY singing it)! The chorus says:

I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.

Update on the Running Front

Well, I spent three weeks in Guatemala and was unable to run as well as I would have liked. The altitude really got the best of me...so I ran ONCE! Sad day! But I did go up and down these never ending steps every day that really do take your breath away. I wish I had a picture of them. They are steep and the steps are a bit awkward. I also did a bit of Jillian Michaels 30 day shred, which I've carried over to the States for "cross-training."

As I suspected, I indeed gained weight. I should stay away from RICE and the rest of the amazing food they serve there. But even if I had, this is what happens. The GOOD news is that I didn't lose momentum on running. I think the thing that was hurt was my confidence in how far I've come. My first run back here was Saturday morning and it was NOT bad at all.

Today was my second run since I've been home and my brother Tim came along with me and Regina. He kept up with us!! Well, he also has a bigger stride...So he could leave me in the dust. But I just wanted to say, in case I hadn't mentioned it before: I LIKE RUNNING! :o)

I'm about 3 weeks from running my next 5k! I'm very excited!!