Never Forget

This weekend can easily be overshadowed by barbeques, pool openings and parades. It's convenient to forget, but our duty to remember.
My Dad represents what this country was based upon: faith, honor and respect. It's easy to overlook that our parents were young once, carry stories, loves and losses. As I watched my Father place the names of men he lost, letter by letter, honoring them in his own way it made my heart ache. In silence he kneeled spelling out names and holding back tears. I can't wrap my head arund the thousand things he was thinking of and memories that he was recalling. 

His best friend lost his life in Vietnam and there are so many other faces and names that he holds within his heart. How many faces, stories that have been lost since the foundation of our country? Countless who stood, fought and suffered the ultimate sacrifice. May we never forget. Freedom is not free. It never has been and it never will be. 

I am thankful not only for those who served, but I am so grateful for those who refuse to forget and do not view today as a celebration, but rather a day to pause, reflect and never forget. 

Thank you, Dad, for constantly reminding me what today and so many others are really about.

finders keepers

We spent approximately 23.12 hours in Ocean City. We were there for the annual triathalon with full intentions of consuming pizza, getting our toes wet in the Atlantic along with finding some great treasures through a few trash picking endeavors. Who in their right mind would discard a cheetah broom and dust pan? 

Tri it out...

Ocean City's Tri is almost always met with clouds, rain and the occasional high levels of wind that have the ability to make peddling a bike comparable to pushing against a brick wall. But it has in many ways become a tradition among the thr crew and Taylor has through her super athletic ability become a member of the few, the strong, the thr. 

She finished super strong and made me proud as she pressed through sore feet (from the Broad Street Run) along with soggy clothing and shoes. Wahoo! Good job!

Prom for Tay

Prom always reinforces that the school year is coming to a rapid close. I have always enjoyed watching my students get all decked out and their joy and excitement with senior prom. Watching your own kid experience it kicks it up about a million notches. Taylor looked stunning and has become sort of a pseudo Seneca member making it an even more fun experience knowing so many kids. Yay!

Taylor's date, Tom, is one of my Drug Squad kids and was super stoked to have her by his side. She's a babe! I was happy to watch how much fun these guys were having just hanging out, talking and chilling a bit before the night began. Keith and I snapped lots of pics and the weather could not have been any more perfect. Having Jordan home to complete the family prom pic made it all the better.

Prom 2013...check!

Broad Street en la casa

I am not a runner. I do not particularly enjoy running. I do not look like a runner. I do not run like a runner. But I think, just maybe, that I have become a runner.

A little over three months ago during a discussion or a work out session one of us came up with the idea of doing the Broad Street Run. I can take full ownership and say that it was not me. Nope.

We began running before three times a week before school. True confessions...part of me didn't think we would actually do it or maybe be able to physically accomplish it. As week two went into week three and then a month became two our morning runs and weekend distance runs became something I looked forward to.
I am thankful for my friends. As runs became more like catch up sessions with my friends and an opportunity to lower my stress levels the miles no longer felt so overwhelming.
As May 5th arrived and I joined 40,000 other runners it was a pretty powerful experience. For nearly all ten miles there were people lined along the streets cheering, offering 'free' high fives and heaps of musicians jamming for goodness and encouragement. As I ran through different sections of the city and people from all walks of life cheered for us I found myself smiling and filled with a sense of pride and goodness that THIS is what our country is about. In those ten miles there were no gender, religious, economic discrepancy. We were all united. We were all Americans. 

I was honored to have run with 40,000 other runners. I was moved to be in the midst of a pretty overwhelming experience that I will never forget. As I reached mile nine my body was hitting a wall, but as flags were waving and we reached the naval yard I started to think about the many potential challenges that lie ahead. I never thought I could run ten miles. But I did. Broad Street sparked something within me. I want to dream bigger, push harder and go forward with the knowledge that if I am determined and focused I can do it. Let's do this! 

Friend 4 the ages:)

I want this chair...