1/2 Marathon - The Epic Drama

I remember when I said I was committed to the Marathon but it didn't mean I would complete the marathon. Well, I did complete it and I think back on that post and how I felt then and how I feel now... and wow! A lot has changed in the past few months.

One thing I have really learned is slow and steady. Pace yourself. We started training with 3 mile runs and it was like, wow I ran three miles than it was, wow I ran 5 miles. I remember my first runners high... I ran a great 6 mile run on a Saturday morning with Sarah and I was buzzing. I felt so amazing, like I could do anything! Then there was that 6/7 mile run/walk, our first one outside. It was gorgeous and finally warm enough to run outside. Boy was that run discouraging. I could hardly make it up the hills, we walked half the way in between trying to find bathrooms and trying to find our path. That was my low point in training and it didn't help that people were reminding me that the marathon was held outdoors. You mean it's not held on an indoor track with perfectly controlled temperature and a level playing field?? Duh, I know. Gulp.

Somehow, I kept going with many thanks to my awesome running partner Sarah and to Lily who made the new years resolution to run the half only to pass it on to me - an unsuspecting bum.

The night before the half marathon I tossed and turned with nightmare after nightmare. I forgot my Gatorade. I forgot my registration. I couldn't get a hold of my dad (not sure why I needed to but it seemed really important at the time). I forgot my SHOES. Man, and I thought actors nightmare's were bad! I didn't realize I was so nervous until that night.

Yep, I was nervous, excited and shaking in my neatly tied tennis shoes on race day.

This was it.

Its now or never.

As I gathered with the rest of the throngs of people in their cute spandex and hot yellow and pink running shoes the adrenaline started to hit me. Apparently so did the urge to --- line up for the bathroom ---if you get where I'm going. The bathroom lines were long and I was two people away when they blew the "start horn." Fortunately my time was based on when my time chip crossed the scanner at the start of the line so we were ok. My friend Karen and I started off together and we were making a great pace trying to catch up to our pace group. We were five minutes behind. It felt great to whizz along passing up people and flying by the adrenaline pumping through my system. It was exhilarating and a really great 7 miles with Karen. When we caught up with our "10 minute miles pace group" I kind of relaxed and got in the zone hoping to not push myself and wimp out later. I was feeling great and the scenery was lovely. Each mile I looked eagerly for Jeremy and Augustine the thought of the two of them and their cute smiling faces really motivated me... maybe the next mile??... maybe the next mile...?? By mile 9 I entertained thoughts that they were not going to come and I thought, bummer. But it's ok. That motivated me. I am doing this run for me and for God and to give glory to God through my body during this run and it made me tear up and run with even more dedication. I felt amazing and empowered and blessed.

At mile 10... no Jeremy and Augustine ... but I thought of the countless nights Jeremy sacrificed his evenings so I could go running so I could achieve this personal goal this personal reward. As a mom, wife, and part time employee this is no small feat and I felt great.

At Mile 11... only two more miles to go. I thought, this time should fly by. Let me tell you, it was the longest 2 miles ever! Who in their right mind sets a marathon track where the last 2 miles are almost entirely UP HILL!! Seriously?! And yet this was another encourager... I saw most of the people around me walking and I thought... I'm tired, but I don't need to walk. Wow, I feel really good. That good kind of pride began inching its way up my body and I got that exhilarating excitement. I'm running a half marathon and I'm almost done and I am RUNNING! Ruuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnngggg!

Mile 12... Two words - UP HILL. Only one more mile though and I'm feeling good. The spectators along the side were calling out words of encouragement. "You're looking great!" "Wooohooo!" "Go runners, you are doing great!" Its amazing what some words of encouragement can do to a weary runner. They think I'm looking strong. I'll show them strong. Yeah, I feel strong. Complete strangers, thank you!

It may have looked like I ran that marathon alone, but I didn't. I ran it with my best friend and my greatest encourager. I felt a rush of emotional gratitude to God for giving me this moment. I felt like He gave me gift and I was gift. Simple and Beautiful.

When the finish line came into sight I booked it racing to the finish. I was never that athletic in school and never ever thought I would run a race. I have to admit I thought runners were a little crazy. Well, maybe I still do, but I get it now. I raced to the finish line like I was really running a race. If I have ever imagined the most perfect race that was it. Adrenaline hit me again and my legs went full force as if I hadn't been pushing them for the last 13 miles. People yelled, "There she goes."  "That's the way to go, finish really strong!"

13.1 Miles. 2hrs 18min

Amazing. Victory. Joy. All the glory to my King!

SS #582

Ballroom Dancing

So a quick update on what's coming up next week...

If I get enough people registered for this session of Ballroom Dance Classes (they start Monday) I will begin my first lessons! More info here.

Each summer I try to save my Wednesday evenings for my small TV Addiction of So You Think You Can Dance. It's great and the dancing is amazing! I actually auditioned for the show and made it to the big stage audition for Mary Murphy and Nigel. That story is for another post though. Anyway, SYTYCD is kind of my dance outlet and Jeremy even gets into it. I didn't know he knew how to "crump" until we started watching the show together. Not to mention he had ballet dance moves up his sleeve that would make a cranky depressed person laugh until they cried, I mean clap until they cried. Something like that. Dancing is an amazing way of expressing yourself, it's great exercise, its a fun thing to do for an interactive date night, and its also a fun way to meet other people with a similar interest. So if that doesn't inspire you to get your "dance on" I don't know what would! I hope if you are reading this... and you live nearby... that you sign up for some rockin' dance classes with your husband, boyfriend, girlfriend, daughter, son, or friend. It will be a BALL! Check it out here and then give me a call or e-mail and let me know you'll be registering.

SOLD OUT!

Oh, how I love those words! We were lucky enough to be able to sell out all five performances of THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. What a joy to add to the signage a sign that said, "We are sorry but this show is sold out." Beautiful music to my ears! I will tell you what is not beautiful, turning away sweet families and elderly ladies waiting at the door hoping to get in to the show. A good problem to have but not an easy one to say the least. I will gladly take that problem and dump my worries about attendance for all the rest of our shows. Uh, God, did you hear that one? Let me simplify my prayer... Please help us sell out all our shows and to Yours be the Glory! Your daughter forever, Amen.

Here are some great pictures from this fabulous show.

It is our best E-Rhapsody performance yet, the costumes and acting were superb and we got comments such as the following...
"I'm kind of a theatre buff and this is the best children's production I've ever seen!"

"I don't know anyone in the show but I had to come a second time because I enjoyed it so much the first time I saw it..."

"This show was better than the Minneapolis Children's Theatre or Stepping Stones Children's Theatre!"

"Were the costumes rented? They are amazing!"

Alright I'm like a gushing mom over all my "kids" in the program- but they are so talented and I am so proud!

In the Divine Artist,
Sarah

How green is our grass?

So tomorrow starts Production and Performance week for The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe! Get your tickets for this great show in our new space May 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th by calling 651-336-3302.

We have been so busy preparing the space: curtains, risers, chairs, painting, decorating and on and on... The work just doesn't seem to end for my dear husband who is thee HARDEST worker I have ever known. He stays up often until 4:00/5:00/6:00am and wakes a few hours later to keep working. 2-3 hrs of sleep per night is insane!! Sometimes he will even pull that all nighter thing and just restart a day without really ending the other. Where I say, 'I can't go on I have to go to bed,' he says 'ok, you can go to bed' while he plows on ahead. I don't know how he does it but he is amazing! He is doing the work of two full time employees and he somehow has been doing this for 8yrs. It really does blow my mind. He sacrifices so much for our family and this work and I am so grateful. While I go to my beloved book club or out for a 6 mile run with a friend he stays home and works, works, and works some more. Now all this work is not to be compared with workaholic. Jeremy loves taking a break and he knows how to let lose and have a great time. Anyone who really knows Jeremy knows that he is one of the most delightful and fun people there is to be around.Trust me, I know! Its just that he is so often forced into not getting to take a break due to the overwhelming work load.

I often thank God that we work together so that I can share in Jeremy's life so deeply and not feel out of the loop. I wonder sometimes what it must be like to not share in the daily grind with my husband. What would it be like to have just one of those normal lives? Where you can actually take a weekend for what it is - a break from work... Or, imagine this, coming home to a home and not your work place with duties and work needs staring you in the face. I really think the grass always looks greener on the other side and that if Jeremy and I didn't work together that I would miss him terribly and I would miss sharing in his work and passion. I'll take the good with the bad the pros with the cons and enjoy the green grass on my side of the fence. 

Keeping it real,
Sarah

Augustine Driving a Car in Menards

We had to go to Menards to pick up some stuff for work and Augustine got to come along... who knew Menards could be so much fun!

Between Driving the shopping cart...

Aren't we a pair? The car cart is pretty sweet but it also was very loud and we got a lot of looks and "can I help you?" I didn't care though. If baby is happy - Mama is happy too!

Then onto their indoor play land of parks and swings!...

Not to mention the lovely roses we were able to smell and admire in the garden center...

Sorry no picture... Augustine + Prickly Rose Bushes + Camera = not going to happen.

Yes this blog has quite the mix of big news and daily mundane. Although, I have to say, it all blends into one wonderful, joyful, blessed, and beautiful life!

Sarah

13 months and WALKING!

Hurray! Augustine has taken his first steps as many as 3 at a time. Now, that may not be walking fully but its well on its way and I'm pumped! It happened at a rather uneventful time in the first week of May. Jeremy and I were sitting at the bar table working on our laptops when out of the corner of my eye I saw Augustine step away from the coffee table where he had been contentedly popping peas. I said to Jeremy, 'look he's walking!' as he took a second and a third step before plopping down to the ground bewildered at our apparent surprise and excitement. He really seemed rather confused and not even aware of what he had just done. Even now, no coaxing required, just some great distraction and he forgets he is not holding on and - walla!

In other news he is also beginning to more naturally use my favorite words --- "Mommy, Mamma, Maaa, Mommm!" It's been kind of long and slow in coming and it makes me appreciate it even more! He also really enjoys saying "ba - ba- ba- ba-..." as an animal sound.

...And after a long hiatus from teething he has started it up again and it is rough. Really really rough. I would like to know how painful it is for him because he seems just miserable and we are too! He has four teeth coming in on top. The first of his top teeth. Teething just doesn't seem fair. Thank goodness growing skin, hair and nails doesn't hurt like growing teeth. Can you imagine??

His best and most effective pain killer can not be found at your local drug store. It is not a frozen treat or orajel. It is -- the park. If only we lived at the park and I could have a desk and laptop with me while Augustine sat peacefully staring at other kids and playing with small stones, sticks, and bits of grass all the while day dreaming his pain away. Wow, how my fantasies have changed.

So that's the update on the precious toddling cutie pie!

Sarah

When God closes a door He OPENS a WINDOW

Yes God has certainly Opened a Window for us!

Jeremy and I have been praying for a couple years about whether God would want us (Epiphany) to get our own local space. The dream was big, the shot was long. Can we really use the arts locally as a huge positive force in our local culture? Everyone wants our culture to change... what are we all doing about it? Could this be our next step in transforming our culture in a positive way? This space would provide us to produce high quality, positive, family friendly shows. We would have a home to host original and classic works that all fit within our mission. To educate, entertain and inspire! Besides all that I would now have a home for my own Dance Studio ECHO DANCE!

I have been a Ballroom dance instructor for years but without a home to host my classes. Not only could my Ballroom Dancing Classes and Dances mesh with the mission of Open Window but it would provide an additional source of revenue for this work helping to provide more financial stability.

Could Epiphany afford to take such a big leap of faith? Did we really have the local support it appeared we had? If we jump would we fall? Would we fail?? I guess that's where the whole 'leap of faith' thing comes in. Despite our concerns it seemed that God continued to open the door (or window in this case) towards Epiphany getting its own space.

And so despite many fervent prayers for God to close the door, if it was His will, He saw fit to give us this new space, birthed right out of Divine Mercy Sunday and our Patron Pope John Paul II's Beatification day as well as our 2 year anniversary! The lease was signed on a 24 hr deadline notice (someone else almost snatched the space right from under our noses) at 3pm (the hour of mercy) Monday May 2nd. There were so many beautiful signs from God that this is what he was providing for us. And although it was still a leap of faith for us both we felt strongly that this was God knocking on our hearts to sacrifice more and to continue this work.

And so with all that said I'm including a link for you to check out THE OPEN WINDOW THEATRE and its mission as well as details on the upcoming performances of  our Catholic Youth Theatre production of THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE featuring Jeremy Stanbary, my dear and talented husband, as Aslan the Lion! May 26th, 27th, 28th, and 29th  at 7:00pm and May 29th at 2:00pm

Also, I have to throw in a pitch for my Ballroom Dance Classes and Dances! The first Ballroom Dance Social will be on May 20th at 7pm. It WILL include a a free Ballroom Dance lesson for those who are interested and will be a fun social atmosphere to gather with friends, dance and chat! I hope you can come and make this your home to Social Ballroom Dancing in the Twin Cities. Also, I will be hosting two sessions of Ballroom Dance classes this summer... Let me know if you would like me to send you the registration form and more details. Dates below...

Summer Session 1: Monday nights: June 6^th, 13^th, 20^th, and 27^th

Summer Session 2: Monday nights: July 25^th, Aug. 1^st, 8^th, & 15^th

Sessions Available:

·         5:30-6:20pm….Youth Ballroom (ages 12yrs-17yrs)

·         6:30-7:20pm….Ballroom-1 (All ages)

·         7:30-8:20pm….Ballroom-2 (Must have some previous Ballroom Dance experience)

·         8:20-9:00pm….Ballroom-3 (Must have a moderate knowledge/skill of Ballroom Dance)

More info to come but I just want to thank God for making this a reality and for providing for us and blessing us beyond what we deserve!

Sarah