Half Marathon

I'm very excited to say that I'm training for a half marathon. 

In January of 2012 my sisters-in-law Christy, Rada and myself are running (jogging, walking) the Tinker Bell half marathon at Disneyland! 

It's a long way off, but still, it's good to have a goal. 

I'm thinking about doing another in November here in Fresno as well, partly as a trial run because the time regulations are much more strict at Disneyland (must finish in 3.5 hours. can be picked up at any time and taken to end if not keeping pace.) and partly because I really wanted to do this particular one last year and didn't do it. 

You can follow my training here if you want. 

I will probably do most of my run-related posts there just to keep this one less boring. 

Summer

Anyone else counting down until summer? Only 3 and a half weeks of school. Yay! And then, camping. Double yay! I'm so looking forward to swimming, camping, playing outside, barbeques, and just lots of water fun. I need a break. This school thing is tough even for mom! Can't imagine how much Keith must need it. I'm just excited for change. 

And as an aside, can you believe it's almost June already too. We're almost halfway through 2011 already. Life just flies by doesn't it?

music

mom and dad west were thoughtful enough to buy the groupon for the fresno phil. i haven't been to the symphony in a long time. because of the exhausting 2 weeks preceding the concert i was hesitant to go and really thought seriously about skipping out. in fact, if someone else hadn't bought the tickets, i probably would have. but, i'm really glad i didn't.


as soon as it started and i heard the strings play i heaved this big sigh of contentment and thought "yes, i've been missing this."


life is crazy and sometimes it's hard to find time even for our passions in life when you're taking care of 4 (some could argue 5) other people. from time to time i've thought to myself that i just don't know if i love music enough to continue working on it while struggling just to survive kids and life. and that it's too late to really DO anything with the talent. don't get me wrong, i will never completely abandon it or stop playing the piano, but i feel at times that i'm happy with the current level of my abilities and don't have much desire to continue to work.


then something happens. 


i went to time out for women and listened to michael mclean and john bytheway (who is not a musician but showed us a video of him playing the banjo which he learned in the last few years--awesome!) and hilary weeks and thought "this is what i want to do! it's not even kind of too late. they're all in their 40's and 50's. i can spend the next 1 to 2 decades really learning my craft." and i realize i really do love music and want to continue magnifying my talent.


then i forgot again.


then i went to the symphony and my soul sighed in delight. and i remembered my love. and why it's been my love from the first time i started the trumpet. i'm certain it's meant to be part of my life. somehow, some way. and i think that's it's supposed to be a part of my life that i share with others and not just something i do. i'm certain there's a whole huge area of my talent that i haven't even tapped yet.


but i think i'm going to need some constant reminding for awhile because right now, some days it's all i can do just to keep my head above water...

you know, i had a piano teacher who once said to me desiring to have more than two kids was very "optimistic". now, more than 5 years later i'm sure the word isn't "optimistic" but instead "arrogant". 


seriously, how very arrogant was i to think i could handle child rearing? and not just one, but FOUR? i must be out of my mind. but, god willing (and i'm pretty certain He is or He wouldn't have sent me all these precious souls), i will make it through this. 

right??