hello? It's me, again.

I'm back again to probably publish a few posts on the same day and then make the resolution on not waiting so very long until the next post comes along.
Life has just been extremely busy and the days seem to roll into one another.
Running has been going ok. I was chopping up the runs and mixing up my days for a few weeks when jim was gone and I was recovering from my slight ankle injury from jumping off a chair in heels. (yah, I know, DUH!)
But I look back (like I knew I would) on the last post where I was worried about the 9 mile run and laugh. I just completed a 12 on Saturday! That was a great feeling, they all are... AFTER I am done. Mostly about what I just accomplished. Thinking that I didn't think I could and having to talk myself through the run and coaching myself many steps of the way. Every run is making me stronger and knowing the stamina and the distance I can go when under pressure and by my own determination is elating. I am blown away each week I go a further distance and feel so proud for what I am doing.
I know I need to get fundraising though, and asking for $$ has never been my strong point.
I was overwhelmed (yes, me) at the realization that the kids from VBS raised over $600! It's exciting to know that they we in the game with me and really rallied to the cause.
Now that all the parties are over for the month, I am going to sit back for a few days here and brew upon my plan for August and Sept. I have 2 months left to raise a heck of a lot and I am determined to find a way. Heck, I ran 12 miles the other day... I can do anything :0)

What if...

...you had to drink this?

Your Impact through the Chicago Marathon
The NeedOver 1 billion people (1 billion!) lack access to clean water and sanitation. When clean water is scarce, all aspects of life are impacted:
Health--Contaminated water and poor sanitation are a factor in 88% of all disease in the developing world.
Food production--Without water, crops and livestock die and healthy meals cannot be prepared.
Economics--Poor health from unclean water causes a community's productivity to suffer and family incomes to dwindle.
Education--Childen spend hours fetching water each day instead of attending school.

World Vision's Response
Because clean water is foundational to all aspects of development, it is often the first work that World Vision does in a community. World Vision works with communities to:
Construct wells for clean water
Provide water-storage containers
Install water-piping systems for irrigation
Protect natural springs
Purify water contaminated by bacteria
Construct latrines for proper sanitationMore than 10 million people have gained access to clean water and sanitation as a result of World Vision's water projects.

How You are Helping by Running
The main project that Team World Vision athletes are supporting this year is in Zambia. In Zambia, the life expectancy is 40 years old, and only 40% of the population has access to a clean water source. With the help of your fundraising efforts, World Vision will be able to work with the communities in Musele and Mbala to:
Provide access to clean water by constructing 100 wells
Train men and women to take ownership in maintaining the wells
Provide improved sanitation by building 1,500 latrines
Partner with Zambia's Ministry of Health to increase awareness of water and sanitation safety in schools and communitiesYou are helping make a huge impact in Zambia for children and communities who lack one of life's most basic resources. Thank you!

More about how World Vision works
> How World Vision works: Interactive Map>

Video about the need for water and how World Vision helps

I love Chicago

Yesterday reminded me why I love Chicago. It was the first day since mid February where we have had anything worthy of being called nice weather. It was almost 70 degrees yesterday with a slight breezy and sunny. It was perfect, spectacular, paradise, wonderful. It was the kind of day that you just have to smile about because the breeze that blows by you turns up the corners of your lips. People couldn't have been in a bad mood yesterday if they tried.
I went to the marathon clinic at Moody in the morning and settled all of my fears and doubts about the whole thing. I'm in. The road is long and hard but I plan to work hard and be strong. I need to know what the experience will be like. This is the next physical, emotional and spiritual step I need to take in my life. Running for clean water is going to do that. I have joined Team World Vision and all the fundraising money I earn is going to support programs that bring clean water to South Africa. To think that if I lived in Africa, one of my babies could die from something as treatable as diareaha. It is heart wrenching and wrong and if we can do something, anything to help fix this problem, we need to. There is a pandemic in our world called Poverty and if we all focused on the methods to help these people get to the point where they can sustain, the world can be changed.
So, I know why I'm running now and I will need to think about that, focus on that and obsess on that reason every time I feel like I want to stop when I shouldn't or not go when I should.
After the clinic, I went over to Fleet Feet and got fitted for new shoes. YEAH! New cushioning! I felt great and decided to go for a run on the lake. I ran about 5 mi. and enjoyed the blue, aquamarine, turquoise colors of the lake. I did take it easy and did a run walk combo after being sick all week, but it felt sooo wonderful to get back out there.
I ran the way back by the zoo and stopped in the conservatory to see the spring flower show. I kicked myself a few times, every time I realized I wished I brought my camera, but it was kind of nice (for a few min.) to soak in the sights without thinking of how I was going to shoot it.
One image that has stuck in my head is the Bleeding Heart flower I saw on my way out. That was the flower my grandma and I like the best. She kept them in her garden and it brings back a rush of memories when I see the flower of being a child with her. I miss you Gram.
I plan to get the kids on the gardening path today after baseball practice and make the newspaper seed pots with some shade plants for the front of the house.

YEAH!! IT's FINALLY, RALLY SPRING! WHOOO HOO!!!