First time including links ~ Happy six months

I have been blogging for over a month and a half and recently got a new computer.  So I am trying to do link attachments today.  Hang in there with me as I try.  I am really just going to review some of the blogs that I am really loving.
jenchoosesjoy.com  I really love her blog and have followed it religiously.  I even met her last year at the Cumberland Plateau Stage Race.  She has great recipes, running tips, and is very involved with St. Judes Childrens Hospital

hungryrunnergirl.com  Janae is a runner from Utah with a super gorgeous daughter.  She is a very positive person with a really interesting life.

greatnowwhatsk.blogspot.com This is a blog that I recently started following.  Shay writes great stories about her and her husband's adventures in home renovation and she runs as well.

These are just a few I love reading everybody's blog. If I made a list of all the blogs I love it would be over a hundred.

Ok, so now a huge shot out to my friend Cat!!!!!  I am so happy to announce that she has made it six months clean and sober.   I love me some Cat.  She is the most supportive person in my life.  I met her at the hospital when she was at a whole new level of rock bottom.  To the point she had scraped holes in her forehead on a heroin binge and did not even realize it.  She weighed about 80 pounds, and looked like a zombie.  I do not know why I felt the immediate need to support her, I never had met her before this day.  I never even tried a cigarette in my life. I have never used a drug.  I had only seen the criminal side of drug use.  The theft, burglary, possession, and other related crimes often associated with drug use.  I knew I could help her.  Let me tell you that drug use has no boundaries. It can affect rich, poor, smart, dumb, good looking, ugly etc.  I am so happy to now know  how beautiful and smart Cat is.  She is the most caring and giving person and I wish her all the joy and health that I possibly can.  Overcoming drug addiction is not easy.  I would say it is one of the hardest things there is to do. 

 

 It is fall break this week for Shelby County Schools.  So I have a whole week of just me and Zachary and I am pretty excited to go for walks, lunches, and watching movies.  Zachary is the most low maintenance of all my kids, maybe I am just worn out? 

I cannot wait to hear all the great race reports from Chicago, Kona, and the Army ten miler.  I have a lot of friends racing this weekend.

Were any of your friends racing this weekend?
Have you ever known somebody who was an addict?
Did the links work?  I hope so.

 

 

I have bloggers block

I have sit here for two hours and cannot think of anything to blog about.  Is bloggers block a real thing? 

Yesterday was National Taco Day.  I made the meat eaters in my home regular tacos.  I just had some cheese dip and chips.  Nobody like the hard shell tacos. So I pan fry flour tortillas with butter until they get slightly crispy.  They are so delicious.

 

Today is mommy Monday and I am trying to brainstorm ideas.  I am pretty sure we are going on an ABC nature scavenger hunt.  We used to do this when he was a toddler, but I mentioned it yesterday and he was on board.  We just go to a park with a piece of paper with the alphabet written down the side and try to find something for each letter.  Fortunately his name starts with Z so I always have that covered. 

 

I was randomly scrolling through the local news yesterday and how about I found an article that said they are breaking ground for a Trader Joes in Memphis. This is good for two reasons 1) I love Trader Joes 2) my son who has worked at the one in Atlanta could possibly move here!!!!

This week marks my friend Cat's six months of sobriety and I am so happy to be able to go with her to receive her six month chip. We are taking her out Saturday to celebrate.

I am currently addicted to Sour Patch kids, and have no plans on quitting.  The blue ones are my fav.
After this past weekend, I realize how much I am not looking forward to the cold temperatures.  It was in the fifties and to me it felt like below zero. 
Today is my weekly rest day from running.  I am really feeling good when I run again.  I have really missed that feeling.  I am really excited for my friends who have big races this coming weekend.  Have a great taper week

Have you ever had bloggers block?
What is your favorite candy?
Did you celebrate National Taco day?

 

 

 

Things I believe in

It is sad to think that it has taken so many years to finally come to terms with life.  I recently saw a sign that said "Be kind because everyone is fighting a battle."  I pondered over this simple sentence for a long time. At first you think sure, whatever.  

What kind of battle does a person living in a beautiful house, driving a luxury car, or travelling etc, have?

My battle is depression/PTSD. My battle is understanding what happiness is. My battle is body image.

EVERYONE IS FIGHTING A BATTLE.  Life is not easy.  Somedays life sucks. You have to have faith that everything is going to work out and it will!!!!  

Another quote that I really spent some time thinking about is from the Dalai Lama

How true is this?  How many people do you know who do this?  

A friend of mine at jenchoosesjoy.com did a post about things she believes in and I thought what a great idea.  So here is a list of things that I believe in, no specific order.

1. Hard work ALWAYS pays off

2. My children

3. Nature is the best treatment for the blues

4. Karma - I am a firm believer in this

5. True love

6. Not taking life too seriously

7. Always say please and thank you

8. My guardian angel

9. Do not eat fake food - if it has chemicals it is fake

10. Watching the same movie many times

11. Always make eye contact - the eyes are the windows to your soul

12. Sleep I get no less than 8 hours

13. Don't write a check you cannot cash - say what you mean and back it up

14. Chocolate no need to explain

15. Never leave a loved one without saying I love you

16. Smile

17. Eating meals together

18. Generosity - give what you can

19, There is a huge difference between listening and hearing

20. Money does not equal happiness

21. Setting attainable goals

22. Faith

23. Good sports bras not need to elaborate 

24, Never forget where you came from

25. Salt

26. Peanut butter

27. In my friend, Cat, she is rocking sobriety!!!!

What are a few things you believe in?

How is your weekend going?  Perfect

What movie do you watch over and over?  The Other Woman

Thinking out loud ~ Thankful edition

Yesterday sucked for me...I have days when everything seems impossible where if I take a shower it is a huge accomplishment. A couple years ago I was stuck in bed for days on end with depression, without going into all the details, I just wanted to die.  I got to rock bottom and learned there was a deeper level of rock bottom.  So today I have so much to be thankful for. 

Yesterday, is gone, today is my bitch!!!  

I am thankful for my children who never give up on me!!!

I am thankful for my doctors who listen to me and keep me supplied with Ambien. 

I am thankful for Prissy, she is my sunshine when skies are gray!!!

I am thankful for Pinterest. Why?  I think it is the easiest way to type in a word and there are literally thousands of motivational, inspirational, and humorous things that instantaneously lift my spirits...

I am thankful for not having to work anymore!!!!!!  This is what has ultimately changed my life the past couple years. I have simplified my life so I do not have to.  I have worked ever since I was able to work.  I went into the military when I was 18, spent the next twenty three years in law enforcement.  I was tired, I was depressed, I was just not enjoying life or my family.  Things had to change.

I am thankful that my car gets me to and from where I need to be.  I am thankful that I have good running socks and shoes.  I am thankful that I have raised my children to realize that things are just that things.  Time is the most priceless possession there is and to use it wisely.  I am thankful for peanut butter.  I am thankful that I sit here today and type this list because I never thought I would be able to sit and be happy.  I am thankful that God chose to make me live when I wanted to die.  I am thankful for my story. I am thankful that I walked away from police work and the only injuries I ever sustained were some bruises and cuts.  I am thankful that the bullets that went flying in my direction never hit me.  I am thankful that after I have put my friends through so much hell the last few years they are still by my side. I am thankful that six months ago I met my friend, Cat, who had been fighting addiction for years, is now six months clean and a friend for life.  I am thankful for an ice cold Coke after a long run.

One day I will detail my fight with depression, hopefully sometime this month because September is suicide prevention month.  The statistic that always sticks in my mind about this month is 22 Veterans will commit suicide today.  Which is 8,030 U S Veterans a year.  This is a problem.

I am thankful that my readers will not judge!!!!! 

What are a few things you are thankful for today?

Were you aware of the staggering suicide rate for U S Veterans?

Have you or a family member ever suffered from depression?