Busy weekend for walking/running. DASH–the program by the Watertown Police Department–an acronym for Drug Free, Alcohol Free, Safe and Healthy–had a 5K Walk/Run Friday night, and then a Half Marathon around Lake Kampeska Saturday morning. We had a really good turnout, even though the weather was very cold! Saturday was good for a runner, but not for those working it and standing outside and waiting. Here we are Friday night trying to stay warm before the race starts! Many people have helped organize this event: Jill, Owen, Jenn, Tim, Cheri, Jason, Michelle, Sarah, Megan, Ryan, Greg, Natasha, and me. (I am sorry if I left anybody out!). Of course, there is no way we could have done this event without all of the other people volunteering, including many groups and organizations helping to volunteer. Thanks to all of you!
Friday night was especially nice to see. Girls on the run, a group promoting running and fitness for girls, was there in force. For many of these kids, this was their first running race. That is especially what we like to see. These girls, and kids in general, getting out and participating in healthy lifestyle practices. It is tough to run, and they all stuck through it and did great!
Here is Jill with a group of them getting ready to run!
Then Saturday morning was the start of the Half Marathon, 13.1 miles, starting at 7AM. It was touch and go those few hours prior when we were setting up. Wind was strong, and raining, but then calmed down in time for the race. It was pretty when the rain stopped…
It held off again until the race was done so everybody was able to get in. Smiles, jumps for joy, tears…all emotions when you cross that finish line for a Half Marathon. Not everybody can do this. You have to put some work in for this race!
And once again, those volunteers with water stations, cheering stations…Here are Tom and Sue, just to name one of the groups…we could not have done this without you! Thank you all for giving up part of your Saturday morning to help with this great event. Hope to see you all again next year. Stay healthy. Strive to Survive! Keep moving everybody!
Well, after Thursday night, I guess the biggest thing we should all be thankful for is we are here. Most of us still have our houses as well. That is not the case for those in Castlewood. We had some trees down, and we lost a bunch of siding on the house, but it is all fixable…and relatively minor. Connor came to visit this weekend, and he was out supervising us cutting down trees. All in all, it just made it all better with him being around!
How can you not be more positive when your grandson is always smiling! Keep everything in perspective. It definitely could have been a lot worse for the majority of us. Remember what is truly important, and the rest we will get through.
The way it just picks these trees up from the roots is amazing. We are lucky we have our house standing. We can deal with this. Just keep in mind those are not as lucky and help where you can. Someday it may be you, and you would want somebody helping you.
Once it passed us by, it was pretty out. That does not change what happened, but when all is said and done, as long as everybody stayed safe, these other things are fixable. We may need to have more patience, but eventually, things can be rebuilt, or fixed. In the meantime, stay focused on weathering the storm, and keeping in mind what is really important.
Spend the time enjoying what is really important. Stay focused, keep your head down, and stay positive. It will get better. We can all weather the storm, and remember, help those who were not as fortunate with everything that happened Thursday night. Like I said, we don’t know when it may be worse for each of us. Support each other. Strive to Survive! Keep moving everybody and stay safe!
It is once again Mother’s Day! I hope all you mothers, and others who serve as a “mom” to someone…whether your own kids, your step kids, nieces, nephews, dogs… have a very special day! You deserve it! All the work you do and being the glue to the family. Your endless work and effort may sometimes not be appreciated, but you are vital to the family, and you need to know how important you are!
My mom has had a tough 6 weeks. She lives in Sioux Falls, and ended up being in the hospital, then to a rehab facility, and now on Monday this past week we got her moved into an Assisted Living. She finally came to grips with it all, after living in her same home for the last 52 years. She is now in a much better place, and always has someone to help keep an eye on her. She even said on Thursday to me: “I like it here!” Music to my ears!!!
She will always be my mom, and I always worry about her. The one constant in life is that there is always change. After the roller coaster ride she, and all of her 7 kids, have been on lately, things are starting to improve, and she once again is starting to enjoy life again. Her and my Sarah would do anything for their kids, just like all of you other mom’s out there would do. You are all very special.
How can one person possibly be all of these things rolled into one? I don’t know, but somehow you manage to do it. Thank you! Each day is a new day, just like a sunrise each day is always different, you never know what kind of day is going to be coming.
There is always something different to see, and always different things to experience. Each day is no different than what you see when raising your kids…no two are the same, yet each day brings new joys, laughs, and experiences. Tackle each day for what it is really meant to be…another day to experience being a mom!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your work is endless, and truly, it is always appreciated. Keep being the best moms you can be. Happy Mother’s Day to you all!
Technically, April was “Move More Month”, but the weather was so terrible it was still hard for many of us to get out and move, at least outside. So, I propose we have this month of May be designated as “May Move More” month. Hopefully, the weather soon will start cooperating more, and we can get outside and enjoy some warmer weather.
The Watertown Recreation Trail is always a good source to get out and move. There is always something to see with the Lake, and overall scenery. The sunrise, sunsets, and wildlife!
You never know what you may come across. Doing the activity, whether running, walking, or biking, is always so much more enjoyable when you have something else to focus on. It is also a good way to just get out and relax and clear your mind. You can always do something inside yet as well if the weather is still bad outside.
Get moving! The weather has got to be getting better soon!
You “May Move More”! Keep looking ahead. Keep staying positive. The weather will improve. Here is to a good month coming now! Keep moving everybody!
If there ever was a truer statement, it is this: Change is blowing in the wind! Any decent weather temperature wise has led to incredibly windy days. We have had some days where it is still cold and blowing. Out of all of these, you are able to see change happening. Some days with ice, then the sun, then ice again, and cold, then back to warm. It was 64 degrees out Saturday morning for a run! What??? Then the wind picked up of course, and then later in the day, the temperature plummets.
When the clouds start moving in, you never know what you are going to get. But one thing is for sure, it can also lead to some really cool scenery as well! (Cool as in amazing, not cold!)
Earlier in the week we still had a lot of ice, and that made for some really nice pictures too!
Even the birds don’t know how to handle all of this wind!
But Spring is coming. Change is coming. We may just need to figure out how to hang on better before the wind “moves” us around too! Changes in life are always going to happen. We need to figure out how to deal with it, and “sail” along with it, and let it take control before we crash into something. Put your head down, and keep your feet on the ground, and brace yourself to take on whatever life throws at you. And if you are out and about, take pictures of the changes you see. It really is interesting when you learn to pay attention to the little things in life. Those little things once again become the big things.
Sometimes you have to be just like the geese, and know how to maneuver that wind, and come in for a landing gracefully. Keep moving everybody!
