Texas Rain Dance

How to make it rain when there is none in the forecast:

1. Plan a big craft with many children - not just your own.

2. Dress 5 kids ages 1-6 in their best clothes.

3. Take these same children by car to a "scenic" venue to take both individual and group photos.

4. When your friend notes the clouds, ignore her.

5. When the first drops of rain begin to fall, scoff saying that there is no way it could possibly rain.

5. Continue taking pictures despite the inconvenient moisture.

6. Stand there dumbfounded when the sky actually opens up and pours water down upon you, the camera, and the children in their very best clothes.

7. Admit defeat and enjoy watching your children be the best dressed kids ever to play in the rain :)

Why a triathalon?

Yep, I'm posting about myself on the kids' blogs. Seriously, I just did a triathalon :)

The first thing most people say when I tell them that I am doing a triathalon is WHY? I have lots of personal reasons to compete. Two very important ones are my kids. For each one it is different. Specifically for Ethan I want him to see his Mom do something that may seem difficult if not just down right impossible. I want him to see me try things that may seem a little crazy or a little scary, so that he knows that he can do crazy-scary things. I want him to see things as obstacle to be tackled not walked away from. I want him to know that anything is possible - you just have to move past whatever holds you back. Ethan is a worrier. He is going to need me overcoming my fears so that he can learn how to do it.

Today while I was racing I took a little bit of him out with me. It started with me wearing his helmet when I was training on the bike. We have the same size head so it works out well for me. Then I decided it would be fun to be the only woman out there with a Hot Wheels helmet. It made me think of him while I was on the bike and he got to see me wearing that crazy helmet and know that he was a part of it all. He has gone to all my road races and cheered for me. He is such an encourager. He gets better with each races that he yells for me :) He even prayed for me the night before, right after I prayed for him and his nightmares. He is an awesome son that I thank God for daily. When I asked him tonight what the best part of the day was for him he told me that it was coming out to watch my race. My prayer is that he will see in me what he needs to become a strong person as he grows up.

If you are curious about why I run for Annelise you will have to read about that on her blog :)