Racing Day

The ladies from Holly Springs!

November 9th was Racing Day in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which is 4 hours from Holly Springs, NC. You would have never known it, because the ladies of Holly Springs came to race. It was an amazing day. Perfect weather, beautiful course, friendly faces I truly could not have asked for a better experience. I felt FABULOUS throughout the race...it was hard towards the end and I had no idea how I was doing for time (my Garmin watch locked up on me at the starting line). James and the girls surprised me around mile 7 and that was a huge lift. The bridge was tough and I had to walk a bit up it, but that was the only time. The finish line was tucked away and I could not see it until I rounded a few corners.

Once I saw that I put every ounce of me into those final steps. There really is no other feeling quite like it...using every last ounce of your being, digging deeper inside yourself that you ever thought you could and giving it everything you've got. I was tired, I was weak, but damn I felt good. I did it. I did not give up, I did not give in. There were so many times that family, friends and doctors said "you need to rethink this", "you need to set a different goal", "are you really sure you want to do this?" They meant well...they were thinking of me physically, but I was thinking of me mentally. This experience is now in my emotional bank. I can withdraw from this anytime and the account will not dwindle. I struggled with why for so long. Why am I doing this? Why do I push myself? This is why...because I can.

"With each step you take you are farther from your starting point, closer to your goal and stronger than you were a moment ago"

Forty and Fabulous

Well, I am officially over 24 hours into my 40's. Yesterday was fabulous. The kids were great. We carved pumpkins and had a grand old time trying to get them to dig the guts out. They turned out great. Each one different from the other...just like the girls themselves. This is definitely going to become a Halloween day tradition. Then we got to the good part PRESENTS! Each girl picked out something for me all by themselves. Jackie's was first. A beautiful cinnamon scented candle with a wick that crackles like a fire. It smells wonderful and will remind me of her every time I light it. Jenna was next, she wanted me to have the game Sorry. I think there may be an underlying message here. The girl who can never say "sorry", buys me a game called Sorry... I think she's trying to tell me something :) Then Julia, she got me the Apple Scrabble game. She knows I love to play scrabble, bananagrams....any word making game. I love that they got games to play with me. Some special time for just us as a family. James came through big for this one. First some yummy chocolates, really there is NO occasion when these are not appropriate. Then the grand finale a beautiful, sparkling necklace by David Yurman. Simply elegant and just beautiful.

I was able to spend my afternoon on the back porch catching up on some long overdue me time. Reading magazines and actually thinking about how I want to decorate for Christmas this year. It's crazy where my mind goes when there is no interruption! Carmen was so sweet to stop by with the latest book by one of my favorite authors (True Blue by David Baldacci) and some sweets for my snacking pleasure. After a leisurely afternoon, I was treated to some delicious filet mignon from my dear friend Erin. James fired them up perfectly on the grill and served them up with garlic spinach and roasted rosemary potatoes. All topped off with a beautiful polka dot birthday cake that was picked out by my girl Julia. She told me she picked it because she knows I love polka dots. She didn't want to get me a Halloween cake (thank God!) because my birthday was separate from Halloween. So very sweet and thoughtful!

Dinner was finished off with a new song James wanted to share with me...Dave Matthews Band "You and Me Together". Let me tell you, my husband has a beautiful way of communicating his thoughts through music. I love ALL the songs he has ever "given" me. This one was perfect considering the rough year we have been having with my health. It so speaks to the core of us. As much as I loved all the presents given to me, this song was the best. If I had not received any other gifts, the day would have been just as perfect. Nothing is more valuable than having the one person you love so deeply, show you how much they love you back. Without any money spent this was thoughtfulness, love and comfort from his heart to mine. It's by far the best gift I could ask for.

Tonight I get to extend the birthday festivities with dinner out with some of my girlfriends. I will be going out with 9 lovely ladies who are all special to me in different ways. Each brings something different to my life. They have become my extended family, my support system. These past few months have been very difficult for me. I am thankful to God for bringing them all into my life and for putting people where He needed them to be to do to His work. They have all been my cheerleaders, my confidantes, my sounding boards, as well as strong shoulders to cry on. I am truly blessed.

I went to dictionary.com to see how they described fabulous. Here is what they say~

Part of Speech:	adjective
Definition:	amazing, wonderful
Synonyms:	10, A-1, A-OK, aces, astonishing, astounding, awesome, best, breathtaking, cool*, doozie, extravagant, fab, fantastic, fictitious, first-class, greatest, groovy*, immense, inconceivable, incredible, legendary, marvelous, mind-blowing*, out-of-sight, out-of-this-world, outrageous, peachy*, phenomenal, primo, prodigious, rad, remarkable, spectacular, striking, stupendous, super, superb, terrific, top drawer, tops, turn-on, unbelievable, unreal, wicked*

I am so going to take on this word and challenge myself to add a splash of fabulous to each day. I am now truly Forty and Fabulous!