And Today Brings 40....

Yep, today I'm 40.  Don't know where to go with that. Really I don't.   I don't feel 40, but then, what is 40 supposed to feel like, I've never been it before, so I wouldn't know. Right?  It's just a number, so they say. I can tell you though, this number has been hitting me hard. I don't know why, but it is.  I feel like it is getting old or something. Not that there is anything wrong with growing older, it's better than the alternative.  Maybe it's just that it is the beginning of another era in my life. I think the babies are behind me, which is hard. It's a sign of age I guess. I know that I am much more than a mother and baby making machine... but that has been my life for the last 20 years and I love it.  

Am I past the "as good as it gets" age?  I hope not. In fact I think I'm in better shape now than when I was 30 or even 20, definitely have more muscle, but then I definitely have more wrinkles now. Give and take I guess.

I'm not down on this birthday, it just seems like such a huge birthday and I really can't believe I'm here already.

I had a lovely weekend (which I'll share later), a lovely breakfast out with girl friends, gifts from my family, a wonderful swap package arrived(which I will share later too),and lots of hugs and kisses from my littles and hubby.  I couldn't ask for anything more.  So happy 40th birthday to me :)

And a selfie taken today to remember a milestone age.

Have a lovely day,

Tiff

Prayer

I know a lot is going on in the world right now and sometimes I feel and I realize I live in my own little bubble...a sheltered little world that I create for my family and myself.  It's not a bad thing, but sometimes the jolt of the outside world can be harsh.

I pray for the lives lost and the families left behind from the Navy yard shootings....May God give them peace and strength.

And I don't know if you heard about it, but on Monday there was a training accident at the base my son is stationed at.... too close to my bubble.  A Marine was killed and four were injured.  The young man who was killed was only 21, please say a prayer for his family... I can't even imagine what they are going through.
My son will be 20 next month and I worry about him every day being a Marine.  I know he is smart and strong, but I am his mom and he will always be my baby.
He is being deployed on Monday, so if you could say a prayer for his safety, I would greatly appreciate it.  And please keep all of our military and their families in your prayers, it's not an easy life.

Tiff

We've Become One of Them....And did something for the first time

The busy time of year has officially started and this Fall is ultra busy for us....to the point of it being almost too much.  We value our family time and have never become an over scheduled family...it just wasn't our cup of tea.  However, this year, lots of people wanted to do lots of things that require lots of time.  So for future documentation and to remind myself not to do this again....here is the run down....

15 yr old daughter= musical theater dance class, steel drums, and play

12 yr old son=Football(practice 4 days a week and games on the weekend, steel drums

10 yr old son= Soccer, practice one night and game on Saturday

7 yr old son= Soccer, practice one night and game on Saturday

Daddy= coaching 10 yr old's soccer and working full time

Mommy= coaching 7 yr old's soccer and volunteer commitments

Ok, it doesn't sound like all that much, but for us it is. And when you throw in school, homework, work, dinner, and chores...it makes for a busy week.  Oh, and trying to get workout and run time in there too.

I think we have become "them", that busy sport family, the family that I never understood. It's good and bad. We are all getting healthy and active, which is very good. And we are still spending time together. But I think it is too hectic and I don't like family dinner time at the table to be interrupted. Luckily, most of this will end with winter.

Ok, so here was our weekend.  

Started off Saturday morning with two different soccer practices, me at one, hubby at the other....

 Saturday afternoon, hubby, 15 yr old, and I went for a 4 mile run to town and back(major hills). I was amazed that we did it. Just six months ago I never would have imagined even walking it. I felt so energized about it that I told hubby that on Sunday would should enter the 5k run in town.  To my surprise, he and my daughter were both on board with it :)  they are crazy like me.

And today.... the three of us ran the 9/11 Memorial 5k !!! Our first 5k race... and I did it 10 days shy of my 40th birthday.   Here we are before the race....smiling....

 And here we are after... still smiling !   We did it in better time than any of us could have imagined.... 33m47s for my daughter, 33m52s for me, and 33m53s for hubby(he let me beat him).  We feel great!  We hadn't planned on running our first 5k until the day after Thanksgiving but life is crazy and when things come your way, go for it.  Now we can shoot for 30 minutes or better in November.

After the race we headed straight to my 12yr old's first football game that was over an hour away.  He joined the team late and has only had 3 days of practice and doesn't know the game... but we are so proud of him for giving it his all and pushing through the tough workouts.   That's him in the white pants(we didn't know he needed game day black pants).

Busy but fun and active weekend.  I'm enjoying this new venture in our family's life but I'm also looking forward to winter when things relax a bit.

Have a great week,

Tiff