Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Top Secret Project

I must admit, I love having "top secret" projects.  I am helping out Quilt Dad (aka John Adams) with something, and I am absolutly in LOVE with it.

He sent along these Joel Dewberry prints, and for the first time, I also get to work with Robert Kaufman linen!

I'm looking forward to sharing it with you when it's done, but this is what I can share now.

 
Aren't they beautiful?  Aren't you just dying to know what it's going to be???

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Cherry Blossom 10 Miler - I did it!

I can't believe that it's been over two weeks already.  But I had to wait for the photos to arrive to properly describe my recent success story.  On April 7, I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 Mile Run with my cousin in Washington, DC.  Not only did I run it, but I finished, and I ran across the finish line smiling. It felt absolutely amazing.

For those of you that have followed my blog, you know that I am not a very experienced runner.  I started running on December 2, 2011.  I started running because for my entire life, I told myself I COULDN'T run.  That I had a lung "thing" and I just couldn't get the breathing right.  I had some fabulous women, including my cousin (who is a tri-athlete by the way) encourage me, and support me through all of the whining and complaining as I slowly became a "runner" over the last 15 months.

I don't look like I'm suffering too much, do I?  (to be fair...I didn't include any of the photos where I look like I was about to die).


I knew this race was a HUGE accomplishment for me, so every time I saw the photographers along the route, I hammed it up like crazy.


We averaged just under an 11 minute mile.  Not a land speed record by any stretch...but I did it, and I felt, on that day, like I could set any goal and achieve it.  A most amazing feeling.

Here we are, crossing the finish line. Running AND smiling.  Not bad for a girl (who am I kidding, 42 year olds are not "girls") who could barely run 30 seconds at a time just last December.


Now, I LOVE running.  It's a permanent part of my life.  I feel better, I am significantly stronger, and I am in the best shape of my life.  The next time you tell yourself you "can't" do something, think again.  You can do anything you put your mind to.