Wow, has some time passed or what!!

I had it had been so long since I had posted anything on here. Life has been a bit crazy since I got home from Chicago. I really had no desire to think of anything that had to do with running. I was so upset I didn't get to finish Chicago that it hurt too much to think about it. Well, I went out to the MS Blues Marathon Saturday to cheer for the runners. I know how that made me feel in Chicago! Well, it put the fire back in me to finish a marathon. I had actually gotten to the point where I didn't care one way or the other if I did it or not. I actually think I am to the point of caring now. I mean, it was my goal for 2007. How could I let my life go on and not actually complete it. I would be cheating myself. The way I see it, I had a goal of doing a Century ride in 2006, but I fell off my bike and wasn't able to complete it. I didn't let that stop me. I just had to to April of 2007 to complete it. AND I did!! So, the same may be true about a marathon. Sometimes it takes two chances to get things done. Looks like that is the case for the two biggest athletic things I have ever set out to accomplish.
My friend Jenny Woodruff has trained with Team in Training, and her brother is a coach. So, I believe I am going to train with TNT for the June 1 Rock-N-Roll Marathon in San Diego, CA. I am pretty excited! There is an information meeting at Fleet Feet coming up soon. :o)
Well, school is back in session. My kiddos are doing fabulous!! Marcie is LOVING kindergarten!! She had her first spend the night out with a friend thing!! She had a blast! Christmas was amazing!! She was a superstar!! She is so into Hannah Montana! Clayton is into Spiderman!! It was really fun!!

Well,

I truly enjoyed running 22 miles!! I have never been more glad to be finished with anything in my life- ok that isn't true! There are several things I have much rather been through with than running 22 miles. Like teaching 1st grade, riding my bike 100 miles, riding my bike 150 miles in 2 days to name a few! :o) I am ready for this marathon. If training for a marathon has taught me anything it has taught me there is nothing I can't do! It has also taught me there is always something worse than what I am going through at this particular moment! You all know I have patellofemoral problems in my right knee. Basically this is an alignment problem between my patella and femur. Well, after the 22 mile run, my left knee decided to join in on the fun. :o) Dr. Geissler said it was their but minimal. I may or may not feel it. Well, I feel it! So, Wayne confirmed and I am sitting out a couple days. I got another brace. PT said it would be $156 to get one just like the other one! I went to academy and got one (they approved) and they let me have the horseshoe shaped thing from another brace and some Velcro to sew in the new one!! :o) Monday I should be good to go! I will let you know. I cannot believe 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY WE WILL BE RUNNING CHICAGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so ready!!! We have come so far!
On a different note, I know we are all short on funds, but I have been trying to raise some money for the Livestrong Foundation while I am training for the marathon. That is Lance Armstrong's Cancer research foundation. If anyone is interest in donating a few bucks any little bit would help. www. livestrong.org./grassroots/smcdaniel is the website. You can put a note in memory/honor of someone if you know someone who has been affected by cancer or is a cancer survivor. :o)
See y'all Saturday. Have a great week!!

I haven't fallen off...

the face of the Earth that is!! ;o) I have parent teacher conferences on Thursday! I can't believe it is midterm already! :o) Well, that isn't why I haven't seen you guys. Although I wish I had some big story to tell. It really is just me being a klutz!! I was leaving Little Caesar's getting a Hot-N-Ready Cheese Pizza for the kids and me (healthy I know!). WELL, the metal door hit my heel on my way out! It scraped a pretty big layer of skin off my heel and took my breath away! I came home and cleaned it and put neosporin on it. Evidentally that wasn't enough. Thursday, I tried to put on a shoe. I figured that had surely been long enough (over a week) NO!!!! My foot hurt so badly I ripped that shoe right off. The back of my foot was swollen from ankle bone to ankle bone. I figured this was my sign it was time to see the doctor. :o) Well, on antibiotic shot and an oral round later I think it is finally healing! I ran yesterday. I was slow as Christmas, but I did the time! :o) I am ready for the cool 70 degree highs of Chicago. I looked at weather.com today. That is what they are having now. :o) Hope you are all doing well. See you all soon. Steph

Sorry, I just didn't have it in me...

I wanted to come on Saturday morning, I just couldn't. I went to the Jackson Academy vs. Jackson Prep football game Friday night. (I even left right after the Accents performed at the half). I went to get in bed early, and I did get in bed pretty early that night. I was just worn out from the days events. As most of you know, I teach in Jackson Public Schools. I really do have a great class this year, but one of my students was acting really out of character on Thursday. I called his mother after trying numerous other tactics to get him to work and stop disturbing my class. (finally sent him to another room) Well, he came back to school the next day with his arm from elbow to wrist looking like a candy cane. I guess she did what she thought she had to do to get him to act right in the classroom. It just amazes me what parents think is an appropriate thing to "spank" a child with today. I mean, that kid just told me they where "whoopin' marks" likes it was no big deal to be hit with an extension cord! I would have NEVER in a million years dream of picking up a cord a hitting my child with it. (neither would my parents) I grew up getting spankings, but I believe there is a place on the body made for spanking a child appropriately. (for appropriate things!- not just for being a 3rd grader) I wish there was a way to reach out and teach there is a better way to disciple your children to these parents. They need to get way more creative!
So, I basically just turned my alarm off and slept. I slept until 10:00 am. It felt so amazingly good. I can't describe it!! I don't know how long it has been since I haven't had to wake up early for something. I mean, it is EVERYDAY of my life! I just needed the break! I did miss y'all though! I will see you on Saturday!!

The Date:

The big day is set for Saturday, March 15, 2008! My spring break of course!! :o) We are getting married at the new Mississippi Craftsman's Guild on Rice Rd. We are having the ceremony outside (God willing) and the reception inside! If it rains there is plenty of room to have both inside. ;o)
Thank you for all you sweet comments!! See you all tomorrow!!
Steph

Somebody's Getting Married!!!

Look what my WONDERFUL fiancee gave me yesterday!! I am telling you I feel I am the most blessed woman in the world right now. I get scared to say anything b/c I might jinx it, but so many things are going great right now. I LOVE my new class at school. I love teaching 3rd grade. It really is a much better fit for me than 1st grade was. I feel so much more calm in every aspect of my life. I don't feel that burning desire to just go off on kids including my own kids over silly things or even not silly things. I just for some reason realize that kids are kids. I can't expect them to be grown up adults. They are going to make mistakes. The kids I teach, I can't expect the same thing from them I expect from my own child. They do not have the same up bringing (most of them) that my child has. I mean believe me not everything is roses. I am really struggling through some issues with my 5 year old and with my parents ( not the same issues!) :o) It is just amazing how I have the strength to deal with it differently than I ever have before.
About the ring, I am engaged to Jayce Powell!! What an amazing man. I had honestly given up on the idea that he existed. I met him through cycling a year ago. We started "hanging out/seeing each other" whatever you call it in November, but officially starting dating in February. I pushed him away for a long time. He would let me go for a little bit then "fight" (in a good way) to get me back. Ultimately that is what won my heart. He is a silent fighter if that makes any sense, but I needed someone to fight for me. We love each other like I have never known love. I have always known love on uneven levels, either the guy I was dating was on a pedestal, or I was to them. Jayce and I are equal. It is amazing. And you should see him with my kids, and my kids with him!! When he walks in the door they start SCREAMING his name at the top of their lungs! It is so sweet. They have so much fun together. We all have fun together. I just love the way he finds ways to help make my life easier.
Well, I look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday for the 20 mile run. :o) Should be a lot of fun!! I have been eating a lot of pasta this week! I have just been craving it for some reason. I can't believe we are almost to Chicago!!! You guys are awesome!! I love every one's support!! THANK YOU!!!

What a week!!

Oh my goodness, where did the mack truck go? The one that just hit me? :o) My students entered my classroom for the first time this year around 7:20ish Wednesday morning. I had to be at school that morning at 7:00, Thursday morning at 7:00, and Friday morning at 7:00. I didn't leave till after 4 any day except Friday, and I got to leave at 3:30. I went to sleep Tuesday night at 7:45! :o) Marcie started Kindergarten at Ann Smith in Ridgeland Thursday! I was a basket case! She LOVED it!! It has been a crazy week. I haven't run a single day. I just couldn't I didn't have it in me. I was so worn out when I got home from school and the heat I just couldn't. I PROMISE I will start again on Monday!!! I am starting to feel the swing of things again. I LOVE my class. I only have 12 students b/c I am the class size reduction teacher! Now if we could get one for 4th grade. :o) there are only 2 teachers in that grade. One teacher has 35 students and the other teacher has 34 students. There are more than that on their rolls. meaning if the students actually show up they could have up to 38-39 students in their classes. It is a sad situation. We have little space to put the kids. Because of some law passed by Haley Barbour we cannot get another portable b/c it is a "trailer!" So, needless to say we are in a sticky situation. No teacher can teach that many students!
Hope y'all had a good run this morning! See you all next week!!!