It's getting easier

This is the bottom view of Mt. Scott, for those who don't know. We park down here, and begin the trek up. So far, today was my third time this week up this beast and it's getting easier and easier. I still can't "run" up but maybe a quarter of a mile. I walk up the whole way and run the whole way down. It's a pretty decent workout and I'm impressed with how much better I'm getting. Tim never has issues up or down. This is like his hundredth time doing it. I am just happy to not be behind a treadmill and out in the beauty of it. 

This is Mt. Scott from afar. It may not look like a whole lot but it's a serious cardio workout. (Even just waking, since it's all uphill)   

This is the sign you see when you reach the very top. Cars and other vehicles drive up and down this daily, because it's one of the "touristy" things around here. 

This is a sight from one of the turns on the way up. It's so pretty seeing the lakes and trees. It's funny too because from one of the sides, we can see the rv park we are currently staying at. 

Here's our temporary home for now.. It's not much but it's something, and life inside this lil box is getting easier among us all! 

I'm proud to say, I have come a long way since 2012. My miles are adding up and I'm super excited to reach 1000 miles. Just gotta keep going!

Stormy

I am saddened by the thought of having to leave my Stormy girl behind. She's going to be 8 this December and her Dane age is catching up with her.  Just within the last year, her back legs have been giving out on her a lot and you can see she walks in pain sometimes. I want so badly to shove her in my suitcase and fly her to Hawaii, but I just can't do that to her. We have some awesome friends that will be accepting her to their brood with loving arms and caring for her while we get settled. I know that she will love the horses and the other furry members (she should remember them from when we returned from Korea); she spent like a month or two over at their ranch.  I will just miss our waks and snuggles. :(. I took her out by the water today. She loves to frolic in it. She only did for a moment before she started limping again.  Here's the pics.

Mount Scott finally

Finally this afternoon, I made it to Mount Scott. Tim has been here already several times but for me, it was my first actual encounter with this beast. It's pretty much a three-mile trip up and three-miles back down. It's a road that basically corkscrews around the mountain. Most people go up there on car, motorcycle, or bike, to enjoy the spectacular views of the mountains and lakes. Other people also run/walk up it for exercise. Today was my day just for that! 

I had no idea just what I was in for. I knew from looking at it from afar, that it was going to kick my ass. But actually doing it and finishing, was no joke. I'm not ready to tackle hills yet, so Tim and I just walked up it. We kept about a 15 minute mile and there was a moment where I really was breathless. I wanted to stop but I also wanted to say "I did 

it" and have conquered yet another milestone in my fitness journey.  Here's our picture from the top of this beast!!!

Then to get back to the bottom, we ran it. Now I know I will be hurting tomorrow from the downhill 3 mile jog, but I can say that it was so worth it!! Tim and I did it together and we finished together.  (Ok, he was slightly ahead of me). Here's a couple other pics from our view.

Here's to good times ;)

Little things

One thing I truly love about Oklahoma is the clouds. They are the most beautiful clouds I have ever seen, even from the many places I have been throughout my life. Maybe it's because of the "wide open" ranges or the lack of buildings and clutter here on post.  Maybe it's just because it's taken me a few years to notice the beauty of Oklahoma and the things I certainly will miss about it here. Like The wildlife that just runs out in front of the vehicles or hang out on the side of the road. 

These Little things that might not mean a lot to someone else, but I noticed the beauty of God's beautiful gifts here in the state of Oklahoma. 

So, even though we are arguing more in the closeness of the rv, or annoying each other because we are too loud or in eachothers space, we still find moments where we are so thankful for each other and we make the best of what we have.. What a better way than to cook up some s'mores!!

So when life gives you lemons, make s'mores :)!

Things are moving fast...

Well, it's that time again for us. The packers were here, packing up all our goods and uncovering dust bunnies that I have been neglecting over the year. Took them two days to gather all our things and box them up and today, the shippers came and put it all on the trucks. (Truck and a half to be exact.) Tim says they had to call in reinforcements for extra help with our living room stuff, as well as our kayaks. Guess those couldn't normally fit in a crate? So where did they put that? On top of the crates, strapped onto the truck. All I could picture was it coming undone and landing on someone's car or a person. That could be a hazard. Well, they do this for a living so I put full trust in the movers. I just can't wait till we get a home and can unpack it all. It's like "Christmas" when getting your household goods after Not having them for a while, and unpacking and placing them somewhere new😊. At least I think that's the fun part. Unpacking maybe not so much, but arranging is a blast!

Our stuff will be on its way to Hawaii.  For the meantime we are living the RV life for the time being. The kids still have to go to school and where we are camping at, there's no busses, so I'll be taxiing for the time till they are taken out of school to move. This is the first time ever, where we had to pull them out during the year and have them start somewhere new. I know that this will be hard on them but they are so resilient and I know they will do fine.  It's me who's worried more.  I am seriously overwhelmed with everything this time. Maybe because I had to resign from my job, that I absolutely loved, Or the kids uprooting during the year? The thought of leaving my Stormy girl behind, due to her aging and arthritis, and Getting the other dogs prepped and ready just so they can be quarantined for 120 days, which will leave them kenneled till about 1 February, costing us a small fortune? Shipping one car out of pocket? Or maybe that this can be our LAST military duty station if Tim really does retire after this trip? Flying?!?! Flying already freaks me out, but now I am freaking out about flying on a plane with Ebola going around!!! (I need to get started on our homemade hazmat suits to fly with...)

  I honestly am just worrying way too much and I know it always works out in the end so I need to chill out and let it go but I am carrying such burdens with all this stuff. Sure, we are moving to a paradise island, where I can literally relax on the white beaches everyday and listen to the waves crashing upon the shore, yet these little things only make my mind rage on and go from relaxing mode, to what's gonna happen once we hit the island. So much will have to be done on that end too, who's gonna have time for relaxing? <<~not this girl!! I'll be worrying there too! Enrolling the kids, and praying they make friends fast and transition  well. Getting a house. Setting up delivery. Getting our household goods, unpacking them all, and putting things where they go. Waiting on a vehicle to get there from a boat. Ebola. Finding a job. (Maybe) finishing up my three last classes for my BA. Etc. etc. Ebola. Etc. haha. It never ends!!!

  I know all will be fine. Just wish that it also wasn't during all the fall holidays either. Walked through Walmart today, and really wanted to get some Halloween/thanksgiving/Christmas decorations, but can't. I mean, depending on where ever we will be, either in the rv, hotel, etc, we will celebrate everyone of them in someway

and somehow!  This time a year is my favorite for decorating, and I can't even put anything outside because currently it'll blow away. (Lights, decorations, whatever it is). They will blow away. And indoors, well, between Tim and I, two kids, three dogs, there's just not enough room! There's so little room that the dogs are even snuggling together, which doesn't happen normally!

Just not enough room :(

Well, enough whining from me. I just needed to get it out I suppose. Those who know me, know I hate being "crowded" and hate mess and clutter. It just makes me crazier than I am already! I know things could always be worse and I truly am blessed for my messy life! Love each other! Hug each other! Enjoy the life you have! It's the only one we get!!

Sadness and eye openers

These last days since the Spirit of Survival run have been emotional for me. I have been following the news about "Katie" and praying hard. Well, today Katie lost her battle with cancer. And a part of me is not only heart broken for her parents and family, but I am so angry. Why does stuff like this happen?? How does stuff like this happen? Why does cancer even exist and who is the evil maker of this disease? I know most of these answers to these questions, but I am still wondering "why"? 

Katie was one of the most strongest and smartest little girls I knew.  She fought this battle with an unselfish heart. She inspired other people with childhood cancer, those without, and even many adults-and showed us ways that we can make a difference in the fight with this disease. Things like donating to the research, being there for others in the fight, and by just being courageous. Katie never once asked "why me". She took it as what it was, and carried on with her self in a way that I can only describe as heroic. Katie is my hero. And I will forever remember her and do my part in having her beautiful memory live on.

The reality of what happened with our friend, has opened my eyes to so much. Things like cherishing the small things that come our way, because one day they will be "big" things. Try to not stress about things (which everyone who knows me-knows this is pretty impossible for me), but I'm going to try my hardest. Sticky floors from spilled liquids, piles of dirty laundry, belongings that don't belong laying all over the house, unflushed toilets, and the list can go on...why stress about these little things that only force me to see how fortunate I am to have a wonderful family? Really, it's not worth the grey hair!! Instead, embrace these things. One day, we may not have them. 

Love life. Embrace it. And make each day as if it could be the last. God has a plan for each of us, and only He knows our timeline here on Earth. 

Rest in peace Katie. May your beautiful smile light up heaven and shine down upon us all. Till we meet again...

Spirit of Survival

Today was the Spirit of Survival run in Lawton. We weren't going to run it but decided last minute (yesterday) to register. I was super excited to try and race again after not being competitive or really "running" since the end of March. I had a goal. I wanted to run this race for one of my son's friends that we met while in Korea. Her name is Katie and she is 13  years old, just like Mason. Katie was diagnosed with Lymphoma (non-Hodgkins) last year. I have been following her battle and story since she was first diagnosed. Something had struck me hard in the chest with this. We knew Katie in Korea. She was vibrant and sassy.  She was a firecracker, a ray of sunshine, and an awesome little girl. Mason had hung out with her sometimes after school at the Hallasan tower park, or Px, or even to the movies with a group of other kids. She was a cheerleader for his basketball team. From what I knew of her, and her family, they were special people. Now, as I have followed Katie's battle with this ugly cancer, I have seen what a fighter and inspiration she is to me, and tons of others who follow her on Instagram and Facebook. 

I felt something compelling me to run this race for her, in Katie's honor. I wore her name on my back, so others behind me in the race, would see my drive to push through any pain in my back or legs, in her honor. To do something so selfless and feel like I accomplished something as small as a 5k for Katie. I felt unstoppable even though I hurt. 

The sad thing was, while I posted my pictures from the finished race onto Facebook, another friend of mine posted that Katie has been admitted to Hospice as of yesterday. My heart broke and I immediately lost it and sobbed. I had no idea that This happened before I ran.  I found out when it was all done. I cried. Cried for Katie, for her family, and for all those who know her. I cried for my son, who is soon going to know that he may lose one of his friends. I cried for me, for being selfish and sometimes taking things for granted. Like when Mason gives me his 13 year old attitude when I ask him to do something, or when Madison asks if she can practice her violin so I can hear her improvements. These small things i find myself getting irritated over when all along I am so truly blessed for these "little things". And even though I do believe in miracles and the power of prayer, I still couldn't help but cry. 

As I sit here and write my blog, I am praying for Katie and her family. I pray for healing and I pray for strength during this trying time. I pray that the Lord comforts them all during this battle. I also pray for all those other runners today who ran in memory of or honor of someone.