Dear Grandma,
It's been so long since I have written but with as busy as the summer has already kept me - it's no surprise, really. Nonetheless, I'm sorry. Today I'm sitting at the Office and I'm hoping today remains as mellow as the morning has been. The last two Tuesdays I have been over here and ran my little caboose off the whole day. .
Casey and I made it to Florida back and if it weren't for the heat, I probably would have stayed there forever! From the second our feet hit the ground in Orlando until the minute we were climbing in the airplane to come home, we were busy. I met Minnie Mouse, went to a baseball game, the beach, the shopping centers...we were very busy! My favorite part of the whole trip was the night we spent walking the streets of Universal Studios. All in all, the vacation couldn't have been better and I was happy to meet another member of Casey's family!
Today I am back to work from the mini vacation mom and I took to the Hills. The BLACK hills, of course, not Hollywood. When I ran the marathon, mom and I promised we would hike Crazy Horse monument in the Volks March. We did it, and my instincts tell me we'll do it again! It was a lot of fun! We headed back to Parkston on Sunday with heavy eyes and a case of wine from Prairie berry. But, all the sleepiness in the world couldn't have kept me from my first motorcycle ride of the season, especially on the new bike! It was a nice evening, so dad and I decided we were finally ready to head to Armour and check out your house...boy has it changed. Dad told me it's a couple and a brand new little baby, and somehow, that makes me feel better. I just hope they are able to find all the Easter egg hiding places. I also hope that pantry keeps all our secrets and has a full stock of Spaghettio O's. I have faith it will.
I'm back in Omaha now and am gearing up for the week of call I am facing. Like I always do when I am carrying my pager, I am looking forward to next Monday morning when it has ended. Next weekend I head to Vegas for Becky Murtha's bachelorette party, and then, hopefully, I will have a couple weeks free from plans. June will be over before we know it.
I will be better about finding time to write, I'm hoping things will settle down for awhile. I miss you.
Love you,
Kristen
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Dear Grandma,
I did it. 26.2 miles on foot. 4 hours 33 minutes and 28 seconds. Running all the while. It's an expericene I will never forget, one I will hold as a very proud moment forever, but also one I never plan to experience again. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and something I felt so proud to be a part of. 8 thousand people gathered to run, only 1300 of whom finished the full marathon. .. and I was one of those rare people. Although I prepared for 15 weeks for this day, there are definitely some factors that made it possible to complete. I didn't realize how important my family would be, it was my driving force to keep me going. As soon as I ran past them and their cheers faded away I would make a mental note of how far I would have to run before I would see them again. Every 2-3 miles we were given a break with water, ice or gatorade...or all three once I had gotten through 21 miles. And lastly, the NUMEROUS people over the age of 60 who were still making their way to the halway point as we were tackling our last six miles. I cheered on one man who told us he was 83 years old and was completing his 70th marathon. Even though the last 6 miles were a struggle I will never be able to explain, but people like this man gave me the encouragement to keep pushing forward.
Casey was the biggest help this weekend. My roomates were both having company, so he opened his house to my whole family. He made sure everyone got where they needed to be on time. He even helped my friend Blair so that she and her two little girls could come along, too. At the six mile point, he was running right beside me with a bag full of towels, back up music, and electrolytes. He knew how important this race was, how hard I had worked for it, and he was going to do whatever he could to make sure I made it to that 50 yard line. And. I. Did.
My vow to "never run another marathon" is already beginning to subside. It's amazing how quickly you forget the pain and remember only how fun it was or the way an accomplishment like this feels. I'll continue to run short races and half marathons for sure...they're just another day now, but if the day ever does come that I brave the "big one" again, it will likely be years down the road.
Miss Hannah turns two this weekend. My family is headed that way and although I want nothing more than to be there I am not able to get out of work on Friday and they are leaving Thursday. Once again, the real world gets in the way. You wouldn't believe the little character she has become. She definitely has figured out what it takes to melt the hearts of everyone and I would literally do anything for her.
Thank you for helping me live a dream ... for getting me through that finish line. It was so much more than making my legs move for 26.2 miles. It was keeping my head in the right place for 4 and a half hours. .. and for making me believe in myself to do something I never thought I was capable of doing, and now, I feel like I could fly!
I love you,
Kristen
I did it. 26.2 miles on foot. 4 hours 33 minutes and 28 seconds. Running all the while. It's an expericene I will never forget, one I will hold as a very proud moment forever, but also one I never plan to experience again. Don't get me wrong, it was a lot of fun and something I felt so proud to be a part of. 8 thousand people gathered to run, only 1300 of whom finished the full marathon. .. and I was one of those rare people. Although I prepared for 15 weeks for this day, there are definitely some factors that made it possible to complete. I didn't realize how important my family would be, it was my driving force to keep me going. As soon as I ran past them and their cheers faded away I would make a mental note of how far I would have to run before I would see them again. Every 2-3 miles we were given a break with water, ice or gatorade...or all three once I had gotten through 21 miles. And lastly, the NUMEROUS people over the age of 60 who were still making their way to the halway point as we were tackling our last six miles. I cheered on one man who told us he was 83 years old and was completing his 70th marathon. Even though the last 6 miles were a struggle I will never be able to explain, but people like this man gave me the encouragement to keep pushing forward.
Casey was the biggest help this weekend. My roomates were both having company, so he opened his house to my whole family. He made sure everyone got where they needed to be on time. He even helped my friend Blair so that she and her two little girls could come along, too. At the six mile point, he was running right beside me with a bag full of towels, back up music, and electrolytes. He knew how important this race was, how hard I had worked for it, and he was going to do whatever he could to make sure I made it to that 50 yard line. And. I. Did.
My vow to "never run another marathon" is already beginning to subside. It's amazing how quickly you forget the pain and remember only how fun it was or the way an accomplishment like this feels. I'll continue to run short races and half marathons for sure...they're just another day now, but if the day ever does come that I brave the "big one" again, it will likely be years down the road.
Miss Hannah turns two this weekend. My family is headed that way and although I want nothing more than to be there I am not able to get out of work on Friday and they are leaving Thursday. Once again, the real world gets in the way. You wouldn't believe the little character she has become. She definitely has figured out what it takes to melt the hearts of everyone and I would literally do anything for her.
Thank you for helping me live a dream ... for getting me through that finish line. It was so much more than making my legs move for 26.2 miles. It was keeping my head in the right place for 4 and a half hours. .. and for making me believe in myself to do something I never thought I was capable of doing, and now, I feel like I could fly!
I love you,
Kristen
Friday, April 30, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Dear Grandma,
Ready or not, I'm 4 days away from probably one of the greatest physical struggles I will ever voluntarily undergo. I can only hope that I've done everything I can to prepare for this - but the anxiety I feel is much like that I felt when I was preparing for boards. I've done all I can do - now all that's left is to dive in and hope the outcome is what I've dreamed it would be. Last week was filled with nothing but fear. This week, the thought of all my supporters has brought me excitement. But then, I thnk about being at about the point in the race when the half marthon runners split - when they seperate the sane from the insane - and everything in my belly drops to my feet. Not literally - well, yet. You've gotten me through a lot of long runs while I've been training, but this race is ten miles more than I've ever done. So please, please Grandma, don't give up on me now!
I'm looking foward to all the Pape's coming this weekend. Since my roomate and her fiance are running the half marathon (they have their head on a little straighter than I do) and my other roomate will have company as well, we're all going to stay with Casey in his new house for the weekend. It was his idea, so, I hope he knows what he's getting himself into. =) I don't see my family as much as I used to, and definitely not as often as I'd like to, so knowing we're all going to be under one roof is a big relief. Miss Hannah's 2nd birthday is coming up, and since I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it there because of work, we're going to do some mini celebrating for her. My friend Blair has a little girl who is a month older than Hannah, we're hoping they can have a lot of fun together. But they're both 2 - so we'll see.
This month is going to be a busy one. Once I get through this weekend I have a pretty big stretch of call and then at the end of the month, Casey and I are going to Florida to visit his sister. I've never been to Florida, so I'm definitely looking foward to just having the chance to travel there. I'm mostly looking foward to getting on an airplane and leaving Nebraska for a few days to do somewhere and spend some time on a beach.
We've been having some pretty nice weather here with the exception of a few chilly, windy, rainy days. I hope you're getting that out of your system so that Sunday we have clear skies and a nice (but fairly still) breeze. Please Grandma, I need all the help I can get!
I love you,
Kristen
Ready or not, I'm 4 days away from probably one of the greatest physical struggles I will ever voluntarily undergo. I can only hope that I've done everything I can to prepare for this - but the anxiety I feel is much like that I felt when I was preparing for boards. I've done all I can do - now all that's left is to dive in and hope the outcome is what I've dreamed it would be. Last week was filled with nothing but fear. This week, the thought of all my supporters has brought me excitement. But then, I thnk about being at about the point in the race when the half marthon runners split - when they seperate the sane from the insane - and everything in my belly drops to my feet. Not literally - well, yet. You've gotten me through a lot of long runs while I've been training, but this race is ten miles more than I've ever done. So please, please Grandma, don't give up on me now!
I'm looking foward to all the Pape's coming this weekend. Since my roomate and her fiance are running the half marathon (they have their head on a little straighter than I do) and my other roomate will have company as well, we're all going to stay with Casey in his new house for the weekend. It was his idea, so, I hope he knows what he's getting himself into. =) I don't see my family as much as I used to, and definitely not as often as I'd like to, so knowing we're all going to be under one roof is a big relief. Miss Hannah's 2nd birthday is coming up, and since I'm not sure that I'll be able to make it there because of work, we're going to do some mini celebrating for her. My friend Blair has a little girl who is a month older than Hannah, we're hoping they can have a lot of fun together. But they're both 2 - so we'll see.
This month is going to be a busy one. Once I get through this weekend I have a pretty big stretch of call and then at the end of the month, Casey and I are going to Florida to visit his sister. I've never been to Florida, so I'm definitely looking foward to just having the chance to travel there. I'm mostly looking foward to getting on an airplane and leaving Nebraska for a few days to do somewhere and spend some time on a beach.
We've been having some pretty nice weather here with the exception of a few chilly, windy, rainy days. I hope you're getting that out of your system so that Sunday we have clear skies and a nice (but fairly still) breeze. Please Grandma, I need all the help I can get!
I love you,
Kristen
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Dear Grandma,
In the mail last night from Mary I got an article that the girls had put in the paper about you. It was the poem you kept in your wallet:
And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey and now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."
And the children said "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she walked on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living presence."
...And so I stood at the kitchen counter and cried like it was the first time I realized you were gone. I got to thinking about how much I hate it still and how it's not fair that at 24 I am without grandparents, and how much it sucks not having you here. I'm sorry if that keeps me from getting banana bread, but it's true. I'm angry that people have to get sick, I hate that there is a such thing as cancer and that nearly every person I have lost in my life has fought that battle. People are suppose to die because they're old, warm in their bed. Which is exactly what happens to a lot of people who don't take care of their bodies, and their families and take every wonderful thing about life for granted. But the rare, wonderful people who take each day as a blessing die sitting in a hospital talking about cancer markers and tumors and chemo.
...and I'm sure after reading that paragraph you just say "Welllllll...."
I hope you know the difference you've made in my life and the millions of times I turn to you in a day without even realizing it. You've gotten me through a lot, probably more now than when you were around. I regret every second I ever took you for granted but I thank you for making me who I am.
I love you,
Kristen
In the mail last night from Mary I got an article that the girls had put in the paper about you. It was the poem you kept in your wallet:
And the mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey and now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."
And the children said "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates."
And they stood and watched her as she walked on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory; she is a living presence."
...And so I stood at the kitchen counter and cried like it was the first time I realized you were gone. I got to thinking about how much I hate it still and how it's not fair that at 24 I am without grandparents, and how much it sucks not having you here. I'm sorry if that keeps me from getting banana bread, but it's true. I'm angry that people have to get sick, I hate that there is a such thing as cancer and that nearly every person I have lost in my life has fought that battle. People are suppose to die because they're old, warm in their bed. Which is exactly what happens to a lot of people who don't take care of their bodies, and their families and take every wonderful thing about life for granted. But the rare, wonderful people who take each day as a blessing die sitting in a hospital talking about cancer markers and tumors and chemo.
...and I'm sure after reading that paragraph you just say "Welllllll...."
I hope you know the difference you've made in my life and the millions of times I turn to you in a day without even realizing it. You've gotten me through a lot, probably more now than when you were around. I regret every second I ever took you for granted but I thank you for making me who I am.
I love you,
Kristen
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Dear Grandma,
I guess it's been a frusterating couple weeks and I kind of have the blues. Maybe it's just because I've overwhelmed with the marathon knowing I have so much going on in the next couple months - most of which I should be excited about. Either way I am trying to keep my head on straight and keep my eye on the prize - the finish on the 50 yard line in the Husker stadium.
The summer is quickly approaching and filling up even faster. Florida, Hannah's second birthday, weddings and all the in-betweens. By the time I put everything on the schedule and fill in the cracks with call, there isn't much time to plan all the things we "just have to do this summer." No wonder some of those things never happen. I have a closet full of clothes that will probably get worn once if I'm lucky because anytime I'm not wearing scrubs I prefer my cozies.
Easter was really weird without you this year. I think it's the first time I haven't been home for Easter let alone getting eggs out of the gutter, the tree, ....that mailbox at your front door...the trees in the backyard. I can only imagine your Easter was all you had ever hoped for...and more.
I scanned a patient today that reminded me a lot of Grandpa, although I don't know what it was. Most of it was probably the way he visited with his friend and the way he talked to me. It was a comfort and I wanted to take better care of him than any other patient in that hospital. The 20 minutes I was with him changed my perception of the day completely.
I hope all is well with you, thank you so much for the nice weather - if anything it has made these runs much more tolerable (although I could do without the drizzly and/or windy days). Thanks for getting me through the last couple miles when we ran last Thursday. I didn't understand at the time why you weren't making it easier, but I finished, so you obviously did just what I asked you to. Thank you.
I love you,
Kristen
I guess it's been a frusterating couple weeks and I kind of have the blues. Maybe it's just because I've overwhelmed with the marathon knowing I have so much going on in the next couple months - most of which I should be excited about. Either way I am trying to keep my head on straight and keep my eye on the prize - the finish on the 50 yard line in the Husker stadium.
The summer is quickly approaching and filling up even faster. Florida, Hannah's second birthday, weddings and all the in-betweens. By the time I put everything on the schedule and fill in the cracks with call, there isn't much time to plan all the things we "just have to do this summer." No wonder some of those things never happen. I have a closet full of clothes that will probably get worn once if I'm lucky because anytime I'm not wearing scrubs I prefer my cozies.
Easter was really weird without you this year. I think it's the first time I haven't been home for Easter let alone getting eggs out of the gutter, the tree, ....that mailbox at your front door...the trees in the backyard. I can only imagine your Easter was all you had ever hoped for...and more.
I scanned a patient today that reminded me a lot of Grandpa, although I don't know what it was. Most of it was probably the way he visited with his friend and the way he talked to me. It was a comfort and I wanted to take better care of him than any other patient in that hospital. The 20 minutes I was with him changed my perception of the day completely.
I hope all is well with you, thank you so much for the nice weather - if anything it has made these runs much more tolerable (although I could do without the drizzly and/or windy days). Thanks for getting me through the last couple miles when we ran last Thursday. I didn't understand at the time why you weren't making it easier, but I finished, so you obviously did just what I asked you to. Thank you.
I love you,
Kristen
Monday, March 29, 2010
Dear Grandma,
I can't believe it's been so long since I've writting, time has just kind of been flying because I've been so busy. Sometimes it's good to be busy, but you find yourself looking back wondering where the day, week - and then all of a sudden - month, has gone. I'm anxious to get through April, through the marathon, and hop on the airplane to go to Florida! I can't wait for a few days out of Nebraska and in the sun!
Lots has happened in the last couple weeks. Casey closed and moved into his house, a task that has relieved a lot of stress and anxiety. Things are coming together, but slowly. I try to help in anyway I can and so far have been a pretty good laundry and cleaning lady. He's been out of town for work a lot, so I figure whatever I can to to help him so he can get more accomplished when he is home is an easy favor. He always lets me know that he appreciates it, and that's all it takes to make it worthwhile.
The weekend Casey closed on his house his parents also came to Omaha...this was my first time meeting them, so of course, I was a little nervous and anxious. The feeling didn't last long though because as soon as they got here they made me feel like family and I didn't even have to remind myself to just "be myself"...it was easy. They are a lot like my parents, so it kind of just felt like home. A couple of random facts: they like to ride motorcycle AND have a family of Bichons (Casey's parents and both his siters have them) what are the odds!?
I heard there was a nice article in the paper about you. It's too bad I didn't know about it sooner, I would have certainly tried to get a copy of my own. I suppose it's just another downfall of living 250 miles away. That being said, it's hard to believe it's been over a year, but spring is coming just like you promised and I'm starting to see all the great things that God provides for us.
This weekend is Easter and it's hard to believe we won't be hiding Easter eggs in Armour and sifting through the candy dishes in your kitchen. Maybe I'll try to fester up my own "canned" banana bread but I doubt it will even compare.
I love you,
Kristen
I can't believe it's been so long since I've writting, time has just kind of been flying because I've been so busy. Sometimes it's good to be busy, but you find yourself looking back wondering where the day, week - and then all of a sudden - month, has gone. I'm anxious to get through April, through the marathon, and hop on the airplane to go to Florida! I can't wait for a few days out of Nebraska and in the sun!
Lots has happened in the last couple weeks. Casey closed and moved into his house, a task that has relieved a lot of stress and anxiety. Things are coming together, but slowly. I try to help in anyway I can and so far have been a pretty good laundry and cleaning lady. He's been out of town for work a lot, so I figure whatever I can to to help him so he can get more accomplished when he is home is an easy favor. He always lets me know that he appreciates it, and that's all it takes to make it worthwhile.
The weekend Casey closed on his house his parents also came to Omaha...this was my first time meeting them, so of course, I was a little nervous and anxious. The feeling didn't last long though because as soon as they got here they made me feel like family and I didn't even have to remind myself to just "be myself"...it was easy. They are a lot like my parents, so it kind of just felt like home. A couple of random facts: they like to ride motorcycle AND have a family of Bichons (Casey's parents and both his siters have them) what are the odds!?
I heard there was a nice article in the paper about you. It's too bad I didn't know about it sooner, I would have certainly tried to get a copy of my own. I suppose it's just another downfall of living 250 miles away. That being said, it's hard to believe it's been over a year, but spring is coming just like you promised and I'm starting to see all the great things that God provides for us.
This weekend is Easter and it's hard to believe we won't be hiding Easter eggs in Armour and sifting through the candy dishes in your kitchen. Maybe I'll try to fester up my own "canned" banana bread but I doubt it will even compare.
I love you,
Kristen
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