This past weekend, I made a quick trip to Michigan to run my fourth CRIM...and an added bonus was that I got to run along side of my sister.
The week before, at a work party of mine, my husband made a great point. The CRIM is a funny race because as he put it, "my wife is running around the streets of Flint in areas that aren't safe for her on regular days to drive in her car," which is so true. But, even if Flint is ranked up there among cities with the highest murder rate, I still love the CRIM and will race in it every year that I can.
Last year, I ran the race all by myself...and it is something I would rather not do again. It was lonely and messed with my head. This year, it was nice to have my sister by my side to keep me company. I got teary a few times thinking of just how blessed I was to have her with me and to have running be something we can share together.
It was a good run...I always beat myself up at the end thinking of how I could have done better but all I wanted to come out and do this year was to beat last years time...and I did that by 3 minutes. So, CRIM number four I came in with a chip time of 1:45:37. I crossed the finish line, found my sister (who finished a few minutes before me), and gave her a big sweaty hug. Looking forward to CRIM number five!
This week, my two older kids went back to school. I was bummed as the day approached, but there were no tears for anyone on start day...not even Mama! Although I miss them like crazy, it's nice to get back to a routine. It's just my littlest man and me for one more year and then he's off to full day school too! Time is just flyin by!
It's hard to believe that on this day, four years ago, my youngest was born. After a long day of contractions, not knowing if he was coming or not, Dan raced me to the hospital to have him 37 minutes after walking in the door. It was truly an entrance fit for Collin...a night I will never forget.
I will be forever thankful for the events that led up to Collin coming to be. If it was up to my husband and me, we would be a family of four. God had other plans, and through the heartache of a miscarriage, He aligned our desires with His will for our lives.
I cannot begin to imagine life without my youngest. He is my wild and crazy, my talker, the life of the party...but he's also thoughtful and caring, putting others before himself. Everything about him reminds me of my husband, right down to the shape of his head and the unique color of his eyes.
There were many highlights in his third year of life, but I would say the biggest one was him asking Jesus to be his Savior just days before his fourth birthday. What a blessing.
