Kathleen's Adventures

I do not think I can even begin to do this story justice, but I have to share it.  As I sit here trying to describe it, all I find are tears - no words.  Tears for a family I have never met.  A pain in my heart for a family I will most likely never know.  I'm finding it unbelievable that Sarah is gone.  Less than a week ago she was video blogging, happy to be home from the hospital.  I'm not sure if anyone knew how soon she would be going to her eternal home.  I can say, without doubt, that I have never known someone so full of grace, faith, and courage as Sarah.  Even in the darkest moments, she always had her eyes and heart on the bigger picture, on God's plan for her.  She led thousands of blog followers through her battle over the last several months.  She showed sheer humility in the presence of the Lord and taught us all far more than we ever expected. Below is the blog post Sarah's husband, Eric, posted early Monday mornin...

I woke up yesterday morning to as close to a winter wonderland as we get in Texas.  I was thrilled.  I could not wait to go on a trail run with the fresh snow.  I've never run on snow before (in, but not on).  It is times like this it is beyond convenient I live on trails because I would not have driven anywhere to run, but was able to get to the trails on foot. I was talking to my mom on the phone on my way through my apartment complex to the trails.  She was telling me I was crazy to go run and that it would be slippery and bad.  I kept telling her I'd be fine, but kept having little squeals here and there.  What hadn't occurred to me was how hard it was going to be to actually get to the trail!  It is maybe 200-400 yds from my apartment through the parking lot/apartment drive to the trail head.  Um...it was completely frozen!  I walked up on the grass where I could because that was just snow, no ice, but the pavement was frozen soli...

A few years ago, I started making playlists for my big running races.  These playlists are very carefully put together and are the length of the time I want to finish the race in.  So then my goal is to beat my playlist.  The lists always end with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin.'"  I haven't made a list to beat in a long long time, possibly as many as 2.5 years because I have not been healthy enough to shoot for a PR since then.  Last week began the task of making my playlist.  I kept a list and sent myself reminders whenever I thought of more songs that would be good to have on it.  This list ended up having 60 songs, and being 4.2 hours long.  I'm annoyed because windows media player used to give you exact time, but now it only gives you tenths of an hour.  That really bothers us ocd types, but I just let it be because 4.2 hours was definitely a PR, I just wasn't sure exactly how long...was it really 4.16 hours, or 4.24 hours?...

With everything that has gone on in the past few weeks I have kind of forgotten I’m running a marathon on Sunday. Oh well, maybe its best that way. Grandmother’s service and reception went well. I enjoyed the trip up there and spending so much time with my family, it is just under unfortunate circumstances. We stayed in Stephenville which was quite entertaining. We didn’t fit in without a huge pickup truck. Yes, we were in a huge SUV, but we only had 4 wheels, unleaded gas, and no truck bed; therefore we did not fit in. We went on to Lipan Friday afternoon to meet with the preacher and get into the church to get a few things settled. We met the preacher at my mom’s cousin, Rhonda’s house. She and her daughter had redone this house and I’m not sure I’ve ever seen such an awesome remodel. Wow. I was so shocked when we walked inside. I’m having them move in and redecorate my currently non-existent house when I win the lottery. Going to Stephenville is going back about 10-20 years in ti...

So after an awful day at work (funny how one person with a serious attitude can ruin someone's day) I found out from my mom that Charlie, my water ski coach from Beaumont, died last week.  I dug a little more and found out he died of a brain tumor.  We had not been in touch since sometime when I was in college.  I had always figured I'd invite him to my wedding and we could be in touch then.  I guess this is a nice wake up call that I shouldn't put off things like getting in touch with someone like I did - especially assuming I'd see whoever at my wedding.  For all I know I'm never going to have a wedding, so it was stupid of me to think that way. I am so sad right now - so sad for his family's loss, so sad that I had not seen him in so long and I did not get to see goodbye.  Sad that I will never see him again.  People need to stop dying.  Seriously.  I know its inevitable, but if I could just go for even a little while without someon...

I'm sorry for kicking that plate of BBQ in your lap 28 years ago. I hear you were wearing a nice white suit. It is safe to say you forgave me though, similar to how you pretended not to notice when we would sample all of your Clinique cosmetics and white shoulders perfume. Coming to visit you was always the biggest treat. Our first stop was usually Piggy Wiggly. You would let us all get whatever cereal we wanted. Elizabeth liked her Lucky Charms, and Benjamin says he did too. I always remember him getting Fruity Pebbles, but maybe he switched after Paul and Chris continued to pick the marshmallows out of his lucky charms. I think I got something different each time - most likely whatever Mom had said "no" to on our most recent trip to the grocery store.  I'm not quite sure how we did not get you kicked out of your apartment. We pretty much took over not only your apartment but the entire complex when we would come visit. No more than 2 guests per apartment in the poo...

Just over an hour ago I got the phone call I had been dreading for a while now.  My grandmother passed away this morning.  Apparently they had had her up and about for physical therapy and something happened very quickly - presumably a heart attack.  Honestly, I do not remember much of what my mom said, but it was something along those lines.  She had a dnr, so they did not do anything to try to save her.  She had been doing somewhat better after her fall and surgery, but her heart was probably done.  She was one month shy of her 90th birthday. I now have no living grandparents.  I guess I am lucky to have had Grandmother this long seeing as some people my age have already lost not only all of their grandparents, but parents too.  I never knew my grandfathers (one died just before I was born and the other just after I was born) and my Dad's mother died when I was in 5th grade.  I do not like the fact that I did not get more "grandparent tim...