Friday Follies

"Motivational Monday" has now inspired me to create a "Friday Follies" showcase each week. Today's follies made me smile so I thought I'd share these two *crazy* lil' cuties with all of you. Ahhhhhhh, the things silly little boys will do for a giggle (at least this session didn't consist of talking about bodily functions or bodily noises (which, of course, I think is hilarious)). lol) Happy Weekend everyone!!! May it be a very blessed one!

Running for a Cure

This is more of a personal post, but it seems that my "Motivational Monday's" are meant to give you a bit more insight into my life, who I am as a person and to share with you the things that motivate and inspire me :) I've been a runner for 20+ years and my runs mainly have consisted of a few 5K's, 10K's, a Duathlon and just last year, I completed two very awesome 1/2 Marathons (which is by far my favorite race distance). I originally started running to lose weight while I was in college, but much to my surprise I found it to be a GREAT stress reliever, so it has forever stuck and is now something that's just become a part of who I am. When people ask me if I've run a lot of races, my typical response is "No, I just run because I don't know any better" :). I've also had several people ask if I've ever run a full Marathon and my response was always the same......."Absolutely NOT, NO WAY/NO HOW/NEVER EVER will I". Well, I guess I better bite my tongue the next time I say "Never"...........

As most of you know, I lost my beautiful Mother to Uterine Sarcoma 3 years ago and it has completely turned my life upside down and is by far the WORST thing that has ever happened to me. I spent an entire year and a half in a deep depression and honestly didn't know where to turn. Thank the Lord for His grace and mercy and for my amazing family and friends for lifting me up when I couldn't take another step.

After my Mother's passing, I had lost a ridiculous amount of weight and had completely stopped running for about 6 months. With the grief imposed weight loss I was afraid to run, but I really missed it and I knew it was something I needed in my life to help me move forward, to help me grieve and to help me heal. So, little by little I started running again, but it wasn't an easy task after a 6 month break (which was VERY frustrating). With each agonizing step, I just kept repeating "Every step I take is for YOU, Mom" and the next thing I knew we were holding our first annual 7 10K's for Sarcoma event and just yesterday I ran my very first FULL MARATHON in 4:22:22 in honor of my beautiful Mother. I am also thrilled to report that with the generous donations from family and friends who sponsored me, I was able to raise almost $1,800.00 toward Sarcoma research!! WOW, what a fantastic journey this has been, full of many highs and many lows, but what I've learned the most from this training adventure is that it has not only been very healing for me, but it's also helped teach me that only MY mind is what will hold me back from doing what I think is "impossible". It's what lies within myself and only inside of me that can determine what I'm really capable of.

Today's Motivational Monday is based on running a Marathon, but I believe that life is a Marathon and only YOU can draw deep down inside yourself to see what you're really capable of. Have a blessed day everyone :) I'm going to go ice my aching thighs. ha ha

"The marathon's about being in contention over the last 10K. That's when it's about what you have in your core. You have run all the strength, all the superficial fitness out of yourself, and it really comes down to what's left inside you. To be able to draw deep and pull something out of yourself is one of the most tremendous things about the marathon." -Rob de Castella How TRUE this was @ EXACTLY this point!!!

My beautiful girls raced out & ran with me through the finish line, while my amazing son captured it all on video :) What a beautiful moment I'll cherish forever!!

Pointing to the Heaven's above. "Every step I took was for YOU, Mom!!"

My incredible hubby
My AWESOME/AMAZING/WONDERFUL Kids (my BIGGEST Cheerleaders!)

Motivational Monday

OOPS, I just realized I was so busy last week that I completely forgot to post my motivational Monday quote, so I'm going to post two here to make up for it :)

In light of the many months of training I've been doing over the past several months to prepare for my upcoming Marathon in honor of my Mother (God rest her soul), I find this quote to be quite fitting!!! Since April, I have run over 756 miles & this coming Sunday, I will be putting all that hard word & training to use by running Detroit's Marathon (my 1st)



"Life's not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain"

Have a blessed day everyone and be sure to get out there and enjoy this gorgeous/sunny and warm day our good Lord has graced us with :)

Motivational Monday 1st Post :)

I'm starting something new & I hope you'll follow along. I LOVE LOVE LOVE inspiring, motivational, touching quotes and stories and will be sharing some of my favorites with you every Monday morning, so please be sure to check in often and follow along every Monday morning. Who said Monday's can't be fun?!?!?!!!

Right before my Mom passed away she told me about a book of inspiring quotes and poems she had been writing in since 1986. She went on to tell me that it was almost complete and she wanted me to have it once she had finished it. Unfortunately, she didn't have the chance to complete it, but thanks to my Dad, I have now completed it for her. The book I received (with her very own handwriting) is my MOST TREASURED gift of her (well, aside from her abounding LOVE and HUGE heart). It warms my heart and also brings me to tears when I read it, but it also helps me keep that close connection to her and know that her spirit shines within me. My Mom and I were SO close and it's amazing to me that I never knew she wrote in such a journal, nor shared the same passion for inspiring words and inspiring quotes. Thanks to my Mom, it's now something she's inspired me to physically write (you know pen & paper~*wink wink*) in daily for my own kids one day.

Anyway, that's the background behind my motivation for doing this every Monday. Without further ado, here's my 1st Motivational Monday quote:

"Every second that you live you are never going to get back. You are never going to get to change what you said, didn't say, did, or didn't do. Live how you want to live. Act how you want to be remembered, because you never know how long or short you are going to be here." ~Emily Doberstein~

Have a very blessed day everyone and be sure to make the most of every moment. Tomorrow may be too late!

P.S. Please be sure to click the box on the right side of this blog that says Join this site". You don't want to miss out on all the upcoming exciting news.

Gorgeous Brothers :)

These are two of my favorite little boys to photograph. Not only are they GORGEOUS, they are the most well mannered kids I have ever been around. The "please, thank you's & yes, SURE" just melt my heart & blow me away. From such young ages, they already know & follow the simple things in life. The simple things that really go a long way with people. Mr. & Mrs. "H", you are doing an AMAZING job raising such wonderful gentlemen & I'm so very honored that you have entrusted me once again with these precious memories. Thanks boys for the laughs & good times. You two are "Crazy"......or wait, that's what you called me :) *wink wink*

Amazing *Love*

This young man was hilarious & I had the BEST time photographing him. I told his Mom that I seriously need to hire him as my assistant. He is PRICELESS!!! I got the biggest kick out of *attempting* to pose him a certain way & he'd say "how about this" & it was 100 times better than anything I could have come up with. He's a true natural & was an absolute JOY to photograph. I will definitely be borrowing him for some modeling down the road. This handsome kiddo will move mountains someday :)

Beautiful Family :)