I have one project close to completion. That is the 5K. I am now on week 8 of the Couch to 5K program. I can run 28 minutes without stopping. My back has hurt this week, so I have not pushed myself too hard, but I am tentatively planning to run the Three Rivers Run on October 19th. It is a 5K in Rome that benefits the Breast Center. I think I'll be ready.
I read a phrase a few years ago that has impacted my life so much. "Comparison is the thief of joy." After running two miles and feeling accomplished, I saw on Facebook another friend who ran four miles. The two miles had almost killed me, but the accomplishment felt so good. I was immediately deflated when I read her status and wondered why I couldn't do better. Then that phrase popped into my head and changed my view. Good for her. I'm sure she worked hard and felt good as well. Being at a different level does not mean that we shouldn't both feel proud. I have friends who run marathons, and I never think to compare myself with them. Why should I compare myself to someone who ran four miles? I'm doing great. The only person I should compare myself to is the person I was yesterday.
The homeschool coop is moving right along. Tomorrow will be the fourth class. I like my little group of 7th-12 graders. Will and Luke somehow ended up in a drama class. It is hilarious because it really highlights how different the boys are from each other. It is like a church drama team thing where they do hand motions and dance to piped in Christian rock music. Will is all about it. He always shows me what they worked on when we get home, and he is excited about the class performance at the upcoming fall festival. Luke, on the other hand, actually hides in the pews during class! Will rats him out, and the teacher makes him get back up with the class. Last week, he actually shed some tears about "being forced to act like an idiot". Black and white, I tell ya.
I am enjoying my bible study. I have met some nice ladies. I had seen many of them in passing for several years but never introduced myself. I really miss going to the Goodwill or TJ Maxx and having an hour to myself, but I do feel like this is something I should do, and it is much cheaper than shopping. ;-)
Will turned 11 on September 26th. We didn't go all out for it, but he had a happy day. That was on Thursday. Then on Saturday, Luke got a puppy. He had been researching dogs for several months and almost making himself sick wanting one. He wanted a black lab, so we found a black lab mix at a local animal shelter. He was named Sailor by the shelter, and Luke liked the name. He is a cutie pie. Caidleigh and Tim seem to be adjusting to the new addition just fine, and Luke is over the moon with happiness at having his very own dog.
Bonnie and I leave on our trip on Saturday morning. The government shutdown has closed the Statue of Liberty, so we have had to rearrange our schedule a little, but it actually freed up time for more fun stuff. I just saw on MSNBC that Miley Cyrus is going to be on the Today Show on Monday morning. Rockefeller Center is right across the street from our hotel, so that should be madness. Oh well. We'll work around that, too!
