Utah Authors - There's Something in the Water & Review: Blood Moon by Teri Harman

Brooke, Teri, and Me at Delicious Reads Book Club (I was trying to be a water witch) 

I love to meet new authors, especially ones from Utah. It goes to show that Utah grows more than just Mormons and American Idol contestants. There are some amazing writers from here too: Brandon Sanderson (Mistborn), James Dashner (Maze Runner), Marissa Meyer (Cinder), Shannon Hale (Austenland, Princess Academy), Brandon Mull (Fablehaven), Brodi Ashton (Everneath), Ally Condie (Matched), Dan Wells (Partials), and I'm sure I'm missing some other pretty amazing ones.

There must be something in the water here because I've had the pleasure of meeting with one of Utah newest successful authors, Teri Harman. Her recently released book, Blood Moon, is well on its way to adding to the amazing novels sprouting from Utah. She came to our latest Delicious Reads book club and I was able to get some behind the scenes info from this lovely gal (Check out my Q&A after my review).

TITLE OF THE BOOK: Blood Moon

AUTHOR: Teri Harman (www.teriharman.com)

NUMBER OF PAGES: 350

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2013

GENRE: Young Adult

MY SUMMARY: Willa and Simon have grown up feeling out of touch with society because of a magic housed deep inside them - Willa's sees ghosts and dreams future events and Simon feels others emotions and can heal with a touch. It isn't until a chance meeting in Willa's hometown, Twelve Acres, that the two teens find out that they are actually witches. As an unexplained and powerful magic pull them together, they have to choose to put away their simple lives and dreams to become part of true Light Covenant, joined together forever with 10 other witches. If they don't, the Dark witches may send Twelve Acres and the rest of their world back into the dark ages.

Check out the Book Trailer:

MY OPINION: I've read several books on witches and this one had to be one of the most convincing. I loved the different gifts bestowed on the witches and the history surrounding the town of Twelve Acres.

The opening chapter hooked me with the magical pull Simon and Willa felt for each other. Their connection, though improbable, just felt right.

The different view points in the story gave me a feel for each character. The darkness coming off the evil protagonist sent eerie chills through me, while Willa's character felt innocent and light--like a believable teenager.

I had a hard time following the jumps from character to character at first, but by the middle, the story started to come together and I had to find out how the Light witches would overcome the Dark witches. The mystery of their past and how Willa's best ghost friend was connected to all of it drew me in too.

I can already tell that this story isn't going to have a simple ending and I'm excited to see how the Light witches will overcome the Dark (and I really hope that the magic within Simon doesn't make him bad).

ROBIN'S CONTENT RATING: PG-13
CONTENT CATEGORY	RATING	REASON
LANGUAGE/PROFANITY	NONE
SEXUALITY	MODERATE	Kissing, caressing
VIOLENCE	HEAVY	Fighting, killing, abuse, animal cruelty
DRUG/ALCOHOL USE	MILD
INTENSE/SCARY SCENES	MODERATE	Dark magic, lots of suspense
**Robin-approved for teens 13+**

I loved the idea of the 6 magic gifts:

I took the “Which Witch Are You” quiz to find out which type of magic I would have. I'm a WATER witch!

And now onto the part you've all been waiting for . . . the behind-the-scenes info on all things Teri Harman and Blood Moon:

Q & A with Teri Harman

1. Where did you grow up?

Kansas City, Kansas, Miami (for 2.5 years), and Utah (since 12 years old)

2. Have you always enjoyed writing?

Yes! I've always loved writing even as a child. My first story was about a cow, which I dictated to my mom and she typed on her electric typewriter when I was four or five.

3. Where did your inspiration for Blood Moon come from?

A Halloween party. Every year I host a witch themed Halloween party for the women in my family. In 2010, I found an incredible location - a 100 year old school house out in the middle of nowhere. The Camp Floyd School House was so perfect I needed a party to match. I started reading up on witches and magic to get ideas for the party, but was so fascinated by what I read that it soon became inspiration for a novel.

4. What was your publishing experience like?

The first book I tried to publish didn't work out, but I was able to get an agent for Blood Moon. A year later, we still hadn't found a publisher, but my brother was at a BYU conference and saw Jolly Fish Press. We sent my stuff off and they agreed to publish. All together it took me 6 years and over 100 rejections before I saw my first novel published.

5. Tell us what it’s been like to be a “Mom Author.”

It's chaos! But it's also great. I have to be disciplined, but also flexible to get everything done that I need to everyday. I love being at home for my kids, but am so glad I have my own pursuits as well - it keeps me sane. And luckily I have wonderful kids and an extremely helpful husband.

6. Tell us about your other book, “A Painted Life”

This book is very dear to my heart. I wrote it while BLOOD MOON was on submission and I was wondering if my dream would ever be realized. This is Saffron's story. Saffron is a painting - a girl in a painting who is alive. She wants nothing more than to escape her prison of oil and canvas to live a normal life. A normal life with the man she loves, Emmett Charles. The book is set in the late 1890's in Boston and is part literary fiction, part magic realism, part romance. I can't wait for reader's to read it!

7. What other hobbies or interests do you have?

I am addicted to stories. I read a LOT! I also love watching TV series and movies. I enjoy yoga, dancing and biking. We also love to travel and be in the great outdoors. And when the mood strikes me, I love to cook.

8. What are your favorite movies/TV Shows?

Call the Midwife (Netflix), Walking Dead, Sherlock, Downton Abbey, North and South (BBC), Wuthering Heights (BBC with Tom Hardy), The Big Bang Theory. The best witch movies I've seen are Practical Magic and Hocus Pocus. There are so many non-witch movies--its so hard to choose. An oldie but goodie is Sense and Sensibility (Emma Thompson one), The River Wild, The Decoy Bride, Love Actually, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Edward Scissorhands, I'm also a sucker for old movies and musicals.

I'm kind of a geek too so we love Doctor Who, Battlestar Galatica, and some of my favorite movies are the old Star Trek movies. I grew up on them, but I'm sure people who watch them now are saying, "What is wrong with you?!" I watched The Next Generation and probably have seen every episode at least five times.

9. Do you have a favorite witch book? Other than your own ;)

My favorite witch writer is Paula Brackston. She actually has two books out right now The Witch's Daughter and The Winter Witch. The Winter Witch just came out this spring. Her books have natural magic--they are like historical fiction/supernatural thriller. I hope she comes out with lots of them.

10. What books have you enjoyed that you think would make a good book club book?

We have a book club and we've read The Thirteenth Tale, The Book Thief, Big in Japan, Eleanor & Park (watch out for swearing and sexual content), The Snow Child, The Light Between Oceans.

11. Tell us about your book launch at The King's English.

That was one of the surreal, dream days because I go to the King's English all the time. It's my favorite book store. Every time I've stepped in there or gone to an author event, there was always in the back of my head, "I really want it to be me! Why isn't it me yet?" So that day was surreal and perfect. The King's English had a cake made with the book cover image. I didn't even know they were going to do that.

12. Which Witch gift would you choose?

I would have to say Willa's gift because a lot of the scenes in the book were inspired by my own dreams. That's why I gave her that gift. That's where it all began. The hand reaching out - that was a dream I had. I saw that hand. Also, the part where Willa is running through the forest and the sky shatters and falls. That was a dream. When I was thinking of what her magical power would be I thought, "Let's make her a dreamer." She's not me, but that gift is what I would want.

New Book Spotlight: Félicité Found by Julia King

My sister-in-law, Julia King, has just released her first book to the world! I am so excited to be related to this amazing gal and show off her masterpiece. Check out her book below, enter to win a copy, and listen to her book-inspired playlist.

Seventeen-year-old Pierre Rousseaux witnesses a young girl take a near fatal plunge off Pont Neuf Bridge into the freezing water of the River Seine in Paris, France. After diving into the racing river himself, he is able to rescue her from a watery death, but only after her head is bashed into the riverwall. Upon reviving her from unconsciousness, Pierre realizes she doesn’t remember her past at all.


The girl struggles to recall anything from before she may have tried to commit suicide, not only once but possibly twice. The few glimpses into her life are discovered through dreams that can only suggest her past was horrific and jaded by intense anger.


Her memories may force her to lose everything she has grown to adore, especially the boy she loves more than anything in the world: Pierre.


The girl, Félicité Moreau, must decide if the life she desires is enough to make things from her past right. Pierre struggles to resolve if Félicité means enough to him that he will fight for her, regardless of her past and despite his own personal demons.


With a paranormal twist, Félicité Found is Julia King’s debut Young Adult novel—a horrific love story.

Here's a little snippet from the book to whet your appetite:

“A rush of sweet warmth flooded Félicité for having remembered something about her past. The heaviness in her mind and heart seeped free from her as though it pushed itself from all of her pores. She knew that eventually everything—her memories and knowledge—would come back.

She ached for Pierre and Hélène to know her name. As fast as her legs could carry her, she sped into the living room. Pierre was sound asleep, chest rising and falling in a rhythm that followed his thunderous snores. He was so loud she found it difficult to remember why she had come to see him. However, she couldn’t bear to wake him.

She observed that the light shining through the gap of the curtains came from only the moon. It must be the middle of the night. It was difficult for her to believe that she had slept all day and into the night.

Gazing at Pierre, she noted how handsome he was even in his thunderous slumber. She wanted to touch his skin and the rough stubble of hair growth on his face. His hand that fell from the couch beckoned her to him. She resisted the urge to take it into hers, feel it, relish its rough texture, and press it to her face. Again, she felt as if she had known him for a long time.

Should she wake him to hear his welcoming, deep and vibrating voice?

No, she thought as her euphoria faded. All that was left was a lump in her throat.

Her happy news would have to wait until morning. With one last look at the most kind-natured and loving person in the world, she shuffled her feet back to bed. However, before she fell asleep, she distinctly heard her father’s voice in the room telling her, “Félicité, my daughter, I love you. I love you so much.”

She bounded out of bed like an animal pouncing on its prey and flipped the light switch. Scanning the room, she saw no one in there. She was alone.”

Where to buy:

Amazon.com (e-book & paperback)

Barnesandnoble.com (e-book)

Createspace.com (paperback)

Win a copy of her book HERE:

Rafflecopter Giveaway

This playlist sets the mood for Félicité Found. It isn’t a flowers and moonbeams plot, but richer and darker. Enjoy the songs and the lyrics that Julia feels are most relevant to her book. 

Endlessly by Muse

There's a part of me you'll never know
The only thing I'll never show

Hopelessly I'll love you endlessly

Go by Hanson

I heard your moving van

But I didn't take a stand

You can't leave with them

You can't live without them

I never thought I'd want to let you go

Tonight I Wanna Cry by Keith Urban

I've never been the kind to ever let my feelings show

And I thought that bein' strong meant never losin' your self-control

But I'm just drunk enough to let go of my pain

To hell with my pride, let it fall like rain

From my eyes, tonight I wanna cry

The Reason by Hoobastank

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

And the reason is you

Set the Fire to the Third Bar by Snow Patrol

I'm miles from where you are

I lay down on the cold ground

I pray that something picks me up

And sets me down in your warm arms

Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again by Andrew Lloyd Weber

Too many years fighting back tears

Why can't the past just die?

Wishing you were somehow here again

Knowing we must say, "Goodbye"

Try to forgive, teach me to live

Give me the strength to try

No more memories, no more silent tears

No more gazing across the wasted years

Help me say, "Goodbye"

Everlasting Love by U2

Like the sun it shines

Endlessly it shines

You always will be mine

It's eternal love

Whenever loves are gone

Ours will be strong

We'd have our very own

Everlasting Love

It's My Baby!

Minutes after our new addition was born

No, I haven't stopped writing. I know you've all been wondering ;). I'm going to play the "I just had a baby" card, since I have yet to use that excuse for anything. I think it's about time. And for those that missed the fun (it's a boy, no wait, it's a girl) story of getting our little Alana, here goes:

I found out I was pregnant the first week of October of 2012, just four days before the St. George Marathon. I decided to run the marathon anyway since I was only a month along and I'd trained all year. I ran the race - not my best time, but it was still a good race for me.

About six weeks later, I went in to get an ultrasound, thinking I was about 11 weeks along.  As soon as the ultrasound technician placed the probe on my abdomen, she asked if I wanted to know the sex of the baby.  My response was,"You can tell this early?" She replied that I was 15 weeks along and I was having a boy. Wait, what?!? 

I was shocked and excited by the news that I was four weeks further along than I thought.  Though I was slightly disappointed by the news I was having a boy (I already had 3 boys at home and I really wanted a sister for my daughter, Charly), it only took the 20 minute drive home to get excited about our new boy.  I secretly began calling him Oliver. 

Five weeks later, I went in for the official 20 week ultrasound.  Different ultrasound machine, different ultrasound technician. She confirmed that I was 20 weeks along and I was having a boy.  

Fast forward to about 8 months pregnant. "Oliver" felt like he had turned breech, so they did an ultrasound to verify.  Yep "he" was breech and still a boy.  Now, I didn't specifically ask if it was still a boy (why would I?), but I swear they checked the head and bum and didn't mention anything. Thankfully, at my next appointment, the baby had turned around. I was excited that I wasn't going to have to have a C-section again (I'd previously had two of them).

Meanwhile, my husband and I still hadn't officially decided on a baby name. Though I loved Oliver and we had a few other possibilities, nothing seemed quite right.  I also decided to put off redecorating the nursery since our two-year old daughter still slept there. I planned on transforming it to a boy room after the baby was born.

About a week and a half before my due date, I decided to go for a run.  I figured it could be my last run for a few weeks.  I barely made it a mile before I started feeling some pressure.  I ended up walk/running back home. The pressure went away after a few hours, so I figured I was safe.  My mom wasn't going to be able to drive the 12 hours from Washington until the next day. Of course my husband told me that since she wouldn't be there until Sunday night, I would go into labor before then because my mom has unsuccessfully tried to be at each of my baby's births.  Poor Mom!

A contraction woke me up at about 4am that next day, Sunday, Mother's Day.  I waited for two more contractions before dragging my hubby out of bed.  We arrived at the hospital around 530 or 6am. I'll admit that I was worried we wouldn't make it in time.  

A little before 8am, I was ready to push.  One push and I see a head.  My husband yells out jokingly, "This is where we find out it's really a girl!" We all laugh and I push again.  Our baby is here. **sigh of relief, tears of joy** THEN, I look at our "boy" and realize something's not quite right.  HE doesn't look like a boy.  The room is silent for several seconds and I'm getting a little worried because no one else seems to notice that there's a problem.  For a fraction of a second, I think that maybe he has some anatomy issues.  Finally, our doctor says, "You were supposed to have a boy, right?"  I shout, "YES! That's not a boy?" The doctor then verifies that our boy is actually a girl - a perfect girl. **shouts of surprise, more tears of joy**

After all the hysteria, the doctor shows us that our baby girl's umbilical cord was abnormally short (only 8-10 inches long when they are usually 20 inches or more).  He thinks that maybe the cord was running between her legs the whole time and that's why we had the mistaken gender, even with 3 ultrasounds.  No matter the explanation, our family was thrilled for the surprise. 

Here's our new angel: 

Book Review: A Fault in Our Stars by John Green

“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.”
-from Fault in our Stars-

TITLE OF THE BOOK: The Fault in Our Stars

AUTHOR: John Green

NUMBER OF PAGES: 336

YEAR PUBLISHED: 2012

READING LEVEL: Young Adult (Ages 14 +)

GENRE: Realistic Fiction

Summary: Hazel Grace Lancaster is a 16 year old three-year stage IV–cancer survivor. In an attempt to get her out of her depression, her doctor sends her to a weekly support group where she meets Augustus Waters, a fellow cancer survivor. Their witty personalities add to their attraction to each other and they fall in love. Hazel is fascinated with a novel about cancer called An Imperial Affliction. Most particularly, she longs to know what happened to its characters after an ambiguous ending. Augustus uses his "wish" for them to travel to Amsterdam, where the book's author lives.

My Star Rating: 4 Stars

My Opinion: Despite the quote I used at the top of this post, I don't think everyone needs to read this book, BUT if you are looking for a feel-good book about cancer, I'd put this close to the top of my list.

The characters of Hazel and Augustus have this fun and witty relationship that gives us a different outlook on the heart-wrenching ideas of cancer and death.  I don't always find sarcasm funny, but John Green finds a way to make it true in this book. He also has a way with language that I found myself keeping track of quotable lines (see below).

By the end of the book, I was convinced that the characters were real and "An Imperial Affliction" was a real book. There's something to be said about a book that entertains and teaches us how to deal with hardship.

Some of my favorite quotes:

“Grief does not change you, Hazel. It reveals you.”

“Some people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them," I said.

"Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.”

“You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world...but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.”

“I'm in love with you," he said quietly.

"Augustus," I said.

"I am," he said. He was staring at me, and I could see the corners of his eyes crinkling. "I'm in love with you, and I'm not in the business of denying myself the simple pleasure of saying true things. I'm in love with you, and I know that love is just a shout into the void, and that oblivion is inevitable, and that we're all doomed and that there will come a day when all our labor has been returned to dust, and I know the sun will swallow the only earth we'll ever have, and I am in love with you.”

“There are infinite numbers between 0 and 1. There's .1 and .12 and .112 and an infinite collection of others. Of course, there is a bigger infinite set of numbers between 0 and 2, or between 0 and a million. Some infinities are bigger than other infinities. A writer we used to like taught us that. There are days, many of them, when I resent the size of my unbounded set. I want more numbers than I'm likely to get, and God, I want more numbers for Augustus Waters than he got. But, Gus, my love, I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity. I wouldn't trade it for the world. You gave me a forever within the numbered days, and I'm grateful. 

MY CONTENT RATING: PG-13

LANGUAGE/PROFANITY: Heavy (30+ swear words, sh**, f***, etc.)

SEXUALITY: Moderate/Heavy (Not necessarily explicit, but one sex scene, lots of talk of losing virginity and getting laid)

DRUG/ALCOHOL USE: Moderate (Augustus always has cigarette in mouth, though he never actually smokes it, underage drinking)

INTENSE/SCARY SCENES: Heavy (Not freaky scary, just intense issues with cancer and dying) 

VIOLENCE: Mild

**Robin Approved for 16+**

The Best Book Club Out There: Delicious Reads

I really am part of the best book club ever! I'd like to take credit for this amazing group of gals, but I can't. My friend, Kelly, started this group years ago and I have been going since 2009. Now this book club isn't just some girls that get together every once and a while and chat, maybe mention a book. No way. We meet once a month. And when I say "meet", I mean PARTY!  Every first Tuesday of the month, we enjoy a night all about the book. Our dinner is themed after the book or time period. We often dress up as characters.

March 2013: "The Diviners" by Libba Bray - Our 1920's Inspired Book Club Night

 A moderator presents info on the book and author, gives a quiz, and prompts discussion questions. We spend at least a few hours talking about what we loved and hated about the book, favorite quotes, etc. By the end of the night, everyone is well-fed physically (always yummy food!) and intellectually. 

Our Delicious Reads Book Club has led me to read wonderful books I would have never read on my own and to meet fabulous authors.

Me (far left), some gals from Delicious Reads, Shannon Hale (front left) and Libba Bray

I could go on forever about the awesomeness of my book clubbers, but then you might want to join us too and I'm not sure how many more people we can squeeze in :). Check out our fun and start reading along with us: Delicious Reads. One day we'll be reading my book . . .  

How Much is Too Much

Many of you know by our Christmas card announcement, that good 'ol Robin is preggos. Whoo Hoo!

Our cute little kiddos have already decided to nickname this new little addition, Rerun (we do not yet have an official name picked out).  Most of the people who heard I was having my fifth child (fourth BOY!) were excited for us.  But when I head to the store with all four kids in tow and my basketball belly, 

. . . I see a few looks like "what are you getting yourself into" and I've had a many people say, "Wow! You sure have your hands full." And sometimes, it makes me wonder, what HAVE I gotten myself into?

I recently saw this quote on Pinterest and I had to share (if anyone knows what book this comes from, please let me know):

Now, I am not saying that this is me, but it makes me feel better on hard days. The question is, now that I am going to have five rug-rats running around, what does that make me?  

Yes, I do live in Utah, so I know of people with five or more kids.  But most of my friends have between 1-3 kids. Obviously we shouldn't judge each other and do what we feel is right for our families, but what is your opinion? 

Book Review: Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Better than Book #1, couldn't put it down, unexpected.

TITLE OF THE BOOK: Hallowed (Unearthly, #2)
AUTHOR: Cynthia Hand
NUMBER OF PAGES: 403
YEAR PUBLISHED: Jan 2012
READING LEVEL: Young Adult
GENRE: Paranormal

SUMMARY: Clara has to face the fact that she didn't fulfill her "purpose" as an angel when she saved Tucker in the fire. Now she's torn between her love for Tucker and her draw to Christian and the complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful.

Clara struggles with a shocking discovery - that someone she loves will die soon. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

STAR RATING: 4.25 Stars

MY OPINION: I thought I wouldn't like this book as much as the first because so many questions were already answered. I was wrong. Now there are more compelling questions and suspense, along with a love triangle that I thought would be annoying (Hello?!, who needs another Edward and Jacob saga?). The love story is sweet and questions are still hanging in the balance. I still don't know who I would choose!

The author, Cynthia Hand, does an excellent job at keeping the stakes high and the story bigger and better. I can't wait to read the 3rd book.

MY CONTENT RATING: PG-13
Language/Profanity: Mild
Sexuality: Moderate (talk of saving oneself for marriage, lots of making out)
Drug/Alcohol Use: Mild (her brother gets drunk)
Intense/Scary Scenes: Mild (more a feel for evil, than a description)
**Robin-approved for 13+**

NaNoWriMo: 30 days, 50,000 words, 0 Excuses!

Boo yah! It is November 30. After 30 days and nights of writing, writing, writing, I am officially the winner of National Novel Writing Month. Bring on the victory dance.

 

Ok, so winner may be a slight exaggeration in the true sense of the word. But that's what they told me when I copied and pasted my new novel on their website. So I'm going to go with that. How often in life do we get to be winners?

"Ahhhhhhh..." That is one seriously long breath of relief. I've shirked responsibility. I've let dust bunnies form. I've ignored my husband. My kids think my laptop is just another appendage to my body. My Christmas decorations are still in their boxes. I'm four weeks behind on ironing (sorry, honey, you're just going to have to wear a polo shirt again). My "to be filed" pile is more like a mountain. BUT, heck with it all, I just cranked out 50,000 words in 30 days.

It was super hard and super fun at the same time. Now I could go on and on about how difficult it was, how I had to miss out on some November fun because "I have to get my words in for the day." Honestly, though, I think I've got carpal tunnel syndrome, I need to catch up on about 100 hours of sleep, and my favorite TV shows have been piling up in Hulu.

Don't worry, I'm not taking a long break from writing. On Monday, I'm starting a month long venture of agent/publisher querying for my first book, Remembrandt. Then in January I'll be back to the grindstone for my second book--finishing it off and beginning the process of editing.

Until then, I'm setting my laptop aside, putting my feet up, and flashing a smile because I'm a WINNER.



James Dashner: Author of the Future?

 I recently had the opportunity to attend an author panel celebrating the release of a new middle grade series called The Infinity Ring.





James Dashner and I

 

I'm currently reading the first book in the series, Mutiny in Time, with my son and loving every minute of it.  The story follows these kids who have to travel in time to fix the "breaks" that have altered history.  There are going to be 6 books in all, the first written by James Dashner (author of The Maze Runner, The Kill Order, etc.).  This book series is one of the future - meaning that the book also has a companion website (http://www.infinityring.com/) with games and activities for kids to follow the characters in the story.  It's a whole multimedia experience. I love this idea!

Since this idea fits perfectly in with our society today, I'm wondering what everyone thinks.  Will the digital world eventually take over the paper one?.  I know I love to sit down with a hardback book and thumb my fingers on its beveled edges, but I also like listening to audio books, and reading electronic books too. What do you think? Do you think printer and paper will eventually die out and be replaced by everything digital?



Slow and Steady Wins the Race

I admit it.  I'm not the fastest at anything.  I'm not the slowest either, but that's beside the point. The point is that I am perfectly happy at being the turtle, enjoying everything and appreciating the good when it comes my way.  I feel fulfilled.

That being said, I ran a marathon on Saturday. My 10th!

I trained for months, got up early every Saturday to get in the "long run." I cross trained with swimming and biking. I lifted weights and stretched. And, of course, I still got the dreaded overuse injury, plantar fasciitis, in my foot. I'm giving you the background because when you say you've run a marathon to people that haven't done it, I think maybe they don't entirely understand the back story that gets everyone to that 26.2.

It's kind of like your wedding day. You plan it out for months in advance, choose locations, start working out harder to look fabulous, get invites ready, dress shopping, hair appointments, reception plans, honeymoon, and don't forget the DRESS. You do all of this and the actual event is usually just a few hours. Not that marathons and weddings have that much in common except both gave me blisters on my feet, but they are both big deals. Get it?

All of my friends PR'd (got their personal best times) on this marathon. I am so proud of them! With circumstances being beyond my control, this year my mantra was "finish strong." And I did. Yay me!

I started off strong too. At mile 8, I had to remind myself that I paid $80 to run it. At mile 11, when I saw a younger runner bawling like a baby while leaning against the first aid vehicle, unable to go on, I felt her pain and wanted to give up too.  At mile 13, I noticed that everyone that I ran next to had that same despondent look on their faces, the look that said, "We're only halfway?!?" and in my mind I was saying, "I really want that medal at the end!"  At mile 18, I thought, "I can do this, but it really hurts."  At mile 20, "You can't stop now!"  And eventually I made it to the last 3 miles where cheering crowds kept me moving.  A few running friends came by around mile 25 and pushed me to the end. Then I bawled too.  Only for like 5 seconds and then I was good.

 

Right after the race - I'm still standing!

 

When my son saw me after the race with my medal and asked, "So did you win, Mom?" I smiled and answered truthfully, "Yes. Yes I did."  I've read The Tortoise and the Hare and we all know how that race turned out.  I'm happy to say that I'm the good ol' tortoise.

Monday Wisdom: Just open the door!

At dinner the other night, my family sat around the table telling jokes.  After several pretend laughs on my part, my nine-year-old son, Henry, decided to tell a joke to his youngest brother, Trevor, who is four.  Here is their conversation:

Henry: Knock, knock.
Trevor: Who's there?
Henry: Orange.
Trevor: Orange who?
Henry: Knock, knock.
Trevor: Who's there?
Henry: Orange.
Trevor: Orange who?
Henry: Knock, knock
Trevor: Who's there?
Henry: Orange.
Trevor: Orange who?
Henry: Knock, knock
Trevor: JUST OPEN THE DOOR!

He may be only four-years-old, but he is wiser than me!

I'm seriously still laughing . . . My clever four-year-old, though he probably didn't mean to, taught me a great lesson at the dinner table:  Sometimes in life we are waiting for the people around us to do something or for opportunities to come to us.  But just like in the joke, it may be time for us to turn the table and make things happen.  One of my favorite quotes of all time is, "If you continue to think as you've always thought, you continue to get what you've always got."  So true. 

How many times in life are we frustrated that we don't have enough money, we can't fit into our skinny jeans, our house is disorganized, we have no direction.  Nothing is going to change if we don't help it along.  Most of the time I think I am cautionary as to how I repond to people, careful to think things through so I can make sure that no one has hurt feelings.  But sometimes, I just want to shout like my son did, "Stop talking about it and make a change!"

That's not to say I don't just stand at the door and wait for someone to open it for me now and again.  I am still learning. I just hope that we can all learn some wisdom from a four-year-old and make our dreams happen by opening the door for ourselves.