Whittaker Woman

Marathon Done!

THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!

Climb half dome:   (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
Hike to "my tree"
Skydive:   (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai  8/2005)
Learn to scuba dive:
Dive to a ship wreck:
Run a 1/2 Marathon: July 19, 2008, August 2, 9, 22, 2008
Run a Marathon: October 13, 2008
Walk on the Great Wall of China:
Drive across the country:
Learn to surf:
Hike the John Muir trail from Half dome to Whitney:
Go on  Dog Sled Ride:
See Northern Lights
Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
Go on a Safari:  (2/16/08)
Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: (3/2006)
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney, The highest peak in the lower 48 states! (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07)   Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Drive a race car:
Read a book once a month: X so far so good.
Go to the Olympics
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Hike the Grand Canyon
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a  disaster relief team:
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls:
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china:
Heli-snowboard:
Ice Fishing:
Travel to Kodiak Island and see the bears.                                                                                                               Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
Visit all 50 states (more than a  layover.) : Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
*Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and  Australia

Whats on my list that you have done? H

Did it, Done it, Wont do it again.

I think I will have many blogs coming these next few days... and that is because I can not walk. Carlos and I just laugh at each other. I guess they say no pain no game!
Ok so here is the run down if you did not check out my man and his twitter. He gave updates as we were running. It actually was one of the coolest things that he has ever done!
We got to Long Beach around 6am and sat in traffic for an hour.

Finally we got parked headed our way to the race. Everyone warned us about the lines for the restroom, but when you got to go you got to go.

Finally we were off. I must admit running through the start line was almost more powerful than the finish line. I loved it!


I felt so good at the beginning. I loved being surrounded by people, you heard stories of people as they ran. One man was 97 years old. Hello! It was so great! My brother was running the half so it was so wonderful to have him there encouraging us on! The first 10 miles went through LB Harbor and then along the coast. The breeze was perfect and it was so beautiful!

We were feeling so good. Not even winded at all. The half and full marathon routes split right after mile 10. So we had to say good by to my brother. I must admit I was quite jealous that he was almost done and we were not even half way done.
We  turned the corner and then all of the sudden Carlos and I looked at each other and wondered where everyone went. EVERYONE went to the half side and we were left alone. It is also where the route took a turn into the city. We were doing good but the dynamics changed so fast. We had been running by the ocean with a crowd full of energy. We turned the corner, hit the black asphalt and the deafening silence of the non existent crowds.

Finally we found this girl who was the pace setter for finishing the race at 5 hours and 30 minutes. We thought it was great and we hung with her for about 3 miles and then it hit me. Or more like I hit it... The WALL. It was about mile 16. I think the combination of not sticking to my pace, the hot sun and loss of energy from other runners just kicked my butt.

Not only did I hit the Wall but Carlos hit a High! He is a words of affirmation guy and after 3 hours of people encouraging him he was so full. He even began to dance. I just wanted to kick him!

I begin to feel like I did when I was in labor giving birth. Carlos just wants to encourage me and when I am in pain I do not want to hear encouragement. I want support but not a cheerleader. I remember accepting my friend Tammy by my side when I gave birth, and not wanting Carlos. I felt the same on the run. I wanted him there. I just wanted him to be quite. Finally I told him to be hush!

Around mile 18-20 was the hardest. My legs were cramping and I could not even imagine the finish line.

And then we saw this. What a glorious sign. One more to go!

We ran in like this. Together as a team. It was just one of our moments! My grandma, mom, kids, brother, close friend Sarah and her husband and brother and sister in law were all there! What an amazing feeling... to stop running that is.
Thank you so much for everyone's love and support! I just can not believe we really did not train at all last month and we still did it. Really anyone can do this.

WE DID IT! H

Holy Crap!

I am going to be running 26 miles tomorrow. I just realized what is happening and I am freaking out! H

You ask, I'll answer set 17

Allow me to give a disclaimer... I NEVER thought that I would be a Christian fiction book lover. If you had to define the stereotypical "Christian fiction book lover" I don't think I would fall into that category. But that is why you can not judge a book by its cover because I LOVE ME SOME CHRISTIAN NOVELS.  I have spent many hours thinking about why I love reading CFNs.  Here are a few reasons why,
1. It is so much easier for me to grasp something when I am able to see it played out in someones life.
2. I am a multi-tasker and nothing can make me stop like a good book. I can not fold laundry and read a book,  I can not help the kids do anything while I am reading a book, I can not clean, make lists or talk while I am reading. It is the first thing I have found that forces me to stop. Which is a good thing.  I need Me time!
3. I have set a goal to read one book per month for the rest of my life. I read every night as I fall asleep. Its my nightly bed time story. :)
And that are the reasons, I confess I love Christian Novels!

Ok here are my answers to your questions...
*Other than the Bible, what one book has made the most impact on your thinking?
Posted by: pam
That is hard, I would say that Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers is my favorite book, it was the book that started me on the journey of Christan Fiction. However I am not sure if it has he most impact on my thinking. I try to write down what each book taught me after I read one and although I love this love story and how it humbles me, I am not sure if I could claim it as having the most impact. I am going to say that the Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers has the most impact on me. The reason I say that is because I was able to understand the Bible so much more after reading these books. I was able to understand what words like slave, and master mean. My eyes were opened to what life was like back in the days of Jesus. Powerful stuff! It made the Bible come to life.

*Are you a book lover? What is the best book you have read? Or Top five...
Posted by: debraparker
Top five books and why
1. Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers- Best Love story out there, I love books that keep me up till 4 in the morning because I can't stop reading!
2. Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers- Books one and two are my favorite, three was ok but a little preachy at the end. 
3. I love the Series Abrams Daughters by Beverly Lewis- this is a book series on the Amish. I have admitted here before that I am fascinated by their lifestyle. I have wondered -Ok so I can admit to Christian Fiction but Amish Christian Fiction, now that sounds Grandma to me! But I've said it, I admit I love them. My reasoning? Because they teach me how to simplify my life. Slow down. Disconnect. Focus on Family. All the things I struggle doing, they do so well. That is what attracts me to these books. Don't make fun untill you have tried them.
4. I Love the Wedding which is the sequel to the Notebook. Now the book the Notebook, in my opinion was not as good as the movie. It had some amazing love notes in it but besides those I enjoyed the movie more. However the Wedding was so great.
5. I am gonna say that my final book is called the Scarlet Thread by Francine Rivers- I like this book because it taught me that there are always two sides to a story. It takes two to tango and it takes two to stop tangoing. :)

Ok my friends I have 20 pages left in the book I am reading right now. I need a new book. I enjoy easy mindless reading. I can't do those books where you have to read the same sentence 4 times just to understand it. Right now in my season of  life I like simple, feel good stories. So tell. What is your all time favorite book or give me your top 5.  H

And yes ladies, that is Carlos reading Redeeming Love on a plane!

You ask I'll answer, set 13

I love your to-do-in-your-lifetime list. It inspired me to write down my own. What's the next thing you plan to mark off your list? Posted by:laura

I got to check something off of my list that I am so excited to cross off!
WE RAN A 1/2 MARATHON THIS MORNING! 13 miles. I know we posed for 31, lets just say we were tired!

THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!

*Climb half dome:   (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
*Hike to "my tree"
*Skydive:   (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai  8/2005)
*Learn to scuba dive:
*Dive to a ship wreck:
*Run a 1/2 Marathon: July 19, 2008
*Run a Marathon:
*Walk on the Great Wall of China:
*Drive across the country:
*Learn to surf:
*Hike the John Muir trail from Half dome to Whitney:
*Go on  Dog Sled Ride:
*Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
*Go on a Safari:  (2/16/08)
*Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: (3/2006)
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney, The highest peak in the lower 48 states! (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07)   Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Drive a race car:
Read a book once a month: X so far so good.
Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Learn Spanish:
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a  disaster relief team:
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls:
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china:
Heli-snowboard:
Ice Fishing:
Travel to Kodiak Island and see the bears.
Visit all 50 states (more than a  layover.) : Alabama
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island
South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia.
*Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and  Australia  

Another off the list...

Well today I got to check another thing off my list... I have never been to Arizona and now I have. I am here for one of my best friends wedding and I am excited to do some exploring!

THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!

Climb half dome:  X  (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
Hike to "my tree"
Skydive: X  (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai  8/2005)
Learn to scuba dive:
Dive to a ship wreck:
Run a 1/2 Marathon:
Run a Marathon:
Walk on the Great Wall of China:
Drive across the country:
Visit all 50 states (more than a  layover.) : I've been to Alabama, Arizona,California,Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
Learn to surf:
Hike the Appalachian Trail:
Go on  Dog Sled Ride:
Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
Go on a Safari: Woohoo! X (2/16/08)
Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: X (3/2006)
Learn to drive a boat:
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney: X (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07)   Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Hike the John Muir trail:
Drive a race car:
Read a book Once a month: X so far so good.
Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Learn Spanish:
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a  disaster relief team
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china
Heli-snowboard
Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and  Australia.

Look what else I found here.

Oh, it makes me feel like I am back in Georgia!

My list as of February 2008

This past trip was a trip of a lift time no doubt but the added bonus of being able to mark some things off of my list just put it over the top! Last week I got to cross off going to Africa, Duh! And going on a safari. I LOVE LIVING MY LIFE!

THINGS TO DO WHILE I AM ALIVE!

Climb half dome:  X  (2004, '05, '06, '07/video)
Hike to "my tree"
Skydive: X  (Madera, 4/2005 and Kauai  8/2005)
Learn to scuba dive:
Dive to a ship wreck:
Run a 1/2 Marathon:
Run a Marathon:
Walk on the Great Wall of China:
Drive across the country:
Visit all 50 states (more than a  layover.) : I've been to Alabama,California,Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee
Learn to surf:
Hike the Appalachian Trail:
Go on  Dog Sled Ride:
Adopt a child: X (11/27/06) Korean Videos
Go on a Safari: Woohoo! X (2/16/08)
Volunteer in a hospital:
Learn to ride a motorcycle: X (3/2006)
Learn to drive a boat:
Work at a soup kitchen:
Climb Mt. Whitney: X (8/15/2007)
Take a Massage class:
Ride along with a police officer: X ( 5/4/07)   Helicopter: (Sept 15, 2007)
Hike the John Muir trail:
Drive a race car:
Read a book Once a month: X so far so good.
Travel to: Spain, South America, England's countryside, China, Africa, Korea, New Zealand
See Garth Brooks in Concert:
Backpack through Europe:
Jump off a cliff in Hawaii: X (08/2005)
Learn Spanish:
Go see a live Volcano:
Be on a  disaster relief team
Bungee Jump off of Victoria Falls
Swim in all 5 oceans: Atlantic, Pacific, Arctic, Indian, Southern
Run the great wall of china
Heli-snowboard
Visit all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and  Australia.

Lions, and tigers and bears

Well ok so maybe only lions but there were 10 in all!  We finished our very emotional and exhausting week with two days of detox time out on the Nile! Yep that's right folks where baby moses floated in a basket. I have to say that going on a safari has always been a dream of mine and this trip brought me to tears every time I allowed my mind to stop and think about where I was and what I was doing. It was incredible! I really felt like I was at disneyland, but it was real! We went on a "Jungle Cruise" and minus the men climbing up the totem pole everything was exactly the same!  Here are some pictures of our amazing time!

 

   
These hippo's are straight out of Disneyland!