Triatha-Mom

Triatha-Mom

I am doing it! I can't believe I am doing it!! But I am really doing it. Every Saturday when I Swim/Bike/Run, I try to envision how fun it will be to cross that finish line. I don't know if I have ever crossed a finish line in my lifetime. Does finishing marching in a parade in Marching Band count?

I still feel SO incredibly out of shape to do a thing like this, but I have a feeling-- at this particular event -- I won't be the only one feeling that way. Already I am thankful for my friends who have pushed me to do this. And I am incredibly thankful for my wonderful husband who had a good talk with me about doing it and how he inspired me to continue in a way that only he can.

A crazy thing happened when I was training yesterday.... I did my swim and bike like normal. After last week, I had decided that I was going to discontinue running and just speed walk the run portion of the race. Well, I started my 35 minute speed walk on the treadmill intending to walk the whole time. Then, as I had increased my speed to 4.0 mph, it happened. I. WANTED. TO. RUN................. I didn't run for long or very fast, but I ran... not because the timer told me to, not because the training schedule said I needed to do so much running. But because I WANTED to. I don't know how much total time I ran (it wasn't much), but I am going to continue to train that way... run when I feel good and when I want to. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to run (and I mean run) that 5k someday after all.

My New Year's Resolutions (in case you were curious)

Resolution #1:
I am not going to use the credit cards anymore.  It's cash or debit from here on out.  I do love my points I get from my Amazon.com card, but I don't really control my spending too well when I use it; so I am giving it up.

Resolution #2:
I will exercise 30 minutes each day six days a week.  (As of Jan. 4 in the AM, this has not happened once)  Maybe it will happen today!  Who knows!

Resolution #3:
I am giving up my diet Pepsi (and diet Coke).  I have just been pondering my usage of the substance during the last couple months.  I have decided it can't be very good for you... I mean just look at the color.  Does it look good for you?

Resolution #4:
I will get up at 6 AM every day but Saturday.  I need time to do some of those important things I find myself not having time to do (i.e. showering, praying, studying scriptures, maybe even getting that 30 minutes of exercise in?).  This one is also not happening, but I figure it is going to be a gradual process.  I am going to work up to it and say that by June I should probably be getting up at 6 AM.

What do you think?

Curing procrastination-- laundry version

My biggest hurdle today? Laundry. That pile of never-ending, mountainous ruin. I have no problem cleaning the stuff. It's the folding and the putting away that brings the process to a grinding halt. But today I am going to quit procrastinating that which has been sitting there and DO IT!! Laundry, YOU ARE GOING DOWN!!

Pointe Digital GIVEAWAY

Check it out here:  http://pointedigital.blogspot.com/

You can enter; but just be warned, I am going to win.  :D

Why I am a Mormon (the short version)

I was born this way. Haha! No, but seriously. I was born into a family that actively attended church. When I had questions, my parents answered them. As I got older, I had more serious questions, especially when I decided to attend Brigham Young University (a Church-sponsored university). I found answers to my questions, but they weren't really questions that were going to produce testimony-cementing answers.

My first experience with that kind of answer came when I was preparing to enter another country as a missionary. I was about to go and teach people of the veracity of this gospel, but I didn't feel like I could say I "knew" certain things were true. For example, I didn't KNOW Joseph Smith, Jr. saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. If I was going to say "I know," I wanted to be able to say it truthfully. Well, my answer came.... No one can ever take it away from me. It's not a story I tell lightly, so I will not type it out here; but if you want to "know" you can do the same thing I did. Pray, pray and pray some more.

I am also Mormon because I want a forever family. I may not understand all the logistics of it, but my family can be forever because I am striving to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He makes it possible.

OMGosh!!! I have followers

I guess this means I better update my blog more often than yearly. I won't let you down, dear followers.

It's that time of year again

No not Christmas (well, yes it is that). But M's birthday coming up. He's going to be 8 which is a milestone in so many ways. He's getting baptized, his IEP renewed, becoming a Cub Scout. I don't think I have enjoyed these first few years like I feel like I should have, but I guess I am just trying to take one day at a time. Especially with this precious boy of mine.

With the renewal of his IEP (individual education plan for those not in the know) coming up, I am reminded of how far he has come and also how far he has to go. But I guess we all have a long ways to go in one way or another. One day at a time... like I said. He has never been diagnosed, but M has a disorder on the Autism spectrum known as Pervasive Development Delay- Not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS). His school psychologist wants to label him as autistic for educational purposes, and I am not sure how I feel about that. I am going to have to talk to my friend who is also a school psychologist and see what she thinks. I am probably just freaking out for no reason, which is often the case... I mean I am pregnant and crazy at the moment so pointless freaking out is pretty much the norm lately. It makes me feel better to type this stuff out, so you might be hearing more about this in the future. Here is what I posted to a poor mother on Facebook who feels alone with her daughter in this strange world of PDD-NOS:

"Hi Stephanie, my son has not been diagnosed with PDD-NOS (yet), but he has seen a child psychologist once and that is where you need to get a diagnosis. My son is 8 and still has some speech and social issues, though he has come a very long way from when he first saw the psych 5 years ago. He told me it didn't really make a difference if we got the diagnosis at that point because we were already doing what he needed to improve (i.e. having him in early childhood education and the school district aware of it). Now he is in regular second grade and receives help with speech and social issues.

It is a VERY hard thing to deal with emotionally as a parent. I have shed many tears over my sweet son and how to help him. I feel far from understanding what I need to do and just overwhelmed over the whole thing. Mostly, I feel these things worst when his IEP comes due (this week) and I have to be reminded by professionals once again how much help he still requires. However, I think no matter what the diagnosis or label we place upon our children, they are still the children God gave us to care for and we can rely on His help and guidance... and if you don't believe in God, then just know this girl is your daughter and NOBODY on Earth knows her as well as you do and you probably know best deep down inside what is best for her.

If there are any other questions you have, feel free to post them here. I'll check this group often now that I know it's here. You're not alone!"