What MY fitness journey has become...

So I have blogged a bit about my journey into becoming more fit and healthy before, but this journey for me, has become something more.  Something I never would have believed if someone told me this is what it would become. 
This journey that I began, has somehow morphed into a journey that others have decided to join in with me. Chet and I were talking about this just today. How I am completely amazed, and taken back, by both all the support I have been given since beginning this journey and all of the questions that have come to me, by way of people watching where I was and how far I have come.
I never thought anyone, except perhaps my kids, would be watching me and what I did/do on a fairly regular basis. I don't know if anyone ever thinks they are being watched (for good or bad), but I am here to tell you, that even when you think no one is watching you, some sees. Someone is being influenced one way or another by the way you are living/or not your life!
   The first person I know of that actually said they were impressed with how far I had come and decided to work with me, was a gal from work last year. Now, I have been transferred and no longer work with her. I miss the opportunity I had to get to know her better and to workout with her. It was really fun, and now it is just hard to find a time that works with both of us to be able to get together at the same time. Maybe if we keep working at it, it will happen. 
A quote I saw, not long after I had finally reached the mile stone of losing 40 pounds, said "At first they will ask you WHY you do it, then they will ask HOW you did it." I kind of laughed when I saw it, because I had indeed been asked on a regular basis, WHY I was doing it. Why, now that I had finally reached one of my goals was I still working so hard. I would get that all the time. I even got told by some, that I had become obsessive. To which I just laugh at, and think to myself, if they saw me now what would they think... ;)
Anyway, the last part of the quote has also come to be true for me. That is the part of this journey I never expected to become part of my journey.
I have been asked by more people, both friends and mere acquaintances how I got it shape? How do I stay motivated? What do I eat? How often do I workout? What kinds of workouts do I do... and the list goes on! I have an acquaintance, who has a Facebook page dedicated to fitness, who messaged me and asked if I would share my story with the followers on her page, which I did. (made me slightly uncomfortable). Just recently Ford decided he had watched his Mom get into shape for long enough, and he decided it was time for him to begin, which he has done, and I have tried to help and keep him motivated. One way I have done that, is to workout with him usually three nights a week. It has been a good thing for us to be able to work together on a common goal. Now, Megan has decided that it is something that she wants as well, and she has been coming down on the days that she can, and working with Ford and I. One day, she came on a day Ford couldn't and she even brought a friend with her. Just now she sent me a message telling me she was about to bust out a workout all by herself for the first time! It is exciting to see that I have made an impact on them. :)
Yesterday, after  the workout Ford and I did, he told me I had great abs! :) Made my night! Especially since, we are our own worst critics and, I still just see all of the work I still have to do. 
Today, I got a personal message from a guy, that went to school with Megan, telling me that he was trying to take better care of himself and eat more healthy, but was having a hard time finding recipes, and did I have any suggestions...... I am taken so aback by the fact that anyone would feel like I would be the person to ask...So flattered that anyone would think enough of the strides I have made. I still feel awkward thinking that anyone is looking to me for answers, but I have learned a lot over the last three years, and if someone feels it would be worth their time to ask me a question, I will do my best to answer it to the best of my knowledge and if I don't know, well then, maybe I should find out! ;) Since beginning this journey in November 2009, I have run 3 5K races (with more to come this year), each time bettering my personal time, I have continued to learn more about strength training and how good it is, especially for women, I have learned more, but not enough about nutrition, and I am down a total of 50 pounds since the beginning. Huge strides have been made! What an adventure this journey has become. It should be interesting to see where it might lead me to next! 

♫Time, keeps on slipping into the future.....♪♪♫

This picture was taken in 2008

Wow, time sure has a way of getting away from us doesn't it? There have been SO many things I have thought about and meant to blog about over the last few months! All the way from the shooting in Connecticut, at Sandy Hook, to the race I ran in January in temperatures, I never thought I'd be out in, on purpose, let alone FOR a purpose!
So, since I am reminiscing back to the shooting, let me start with some thoughts of that incident.
For some, and probably for most, the "school shooting" was simply a huge tragedy! But for some of us, especially those of us who work in the schools, and around these special souls who are simply in children's bodies at their current state, it was SO much more than a tragedy! I was first alerted to the shooting event the day of, about a half hour or so after the shootings had taken place. I have internet on my phone, and was checking my Facebook as we sat down for lunch. A friend of mine who lives in Georgia, had posted a prayer going out to all those affected by the shooting at the elementary school..."WHAT THE HECK?" was my first thought. Then upon further investigation I found out the ugly truth about what was unfolding before our nations eyes!!! Holy crap!!! Remember now, that I work in an elementary school! With a BUNCH of these beautiful spirits in small peoples bodies!!! I was just now preparing to serve them a hot lunch and send them all out to play and enjoy a recess! I have never served a harder lunch, save ONE!
    It was the spring, almost summer of 2008, West Point Junior high. Megan was in 9th grade that year, and Ford was in 7th grade. It was the day the 9th grade students were suppose to be heading to Lagoon, for the 9th grade Lagoon day.... A day neither I nor my children will ever forget!!!
I was working at Sunset Jr High at the time, and we had a radio that we listened to everyday. Over the airwaves came a news report of the "LOCK DOWN" at West Point Jr High school...."Holy cow...that is my kids school...that can't be right....nothing EVER happens in West Point Utah!!!
Megan had gotten a cell phone for her birthday that year, and I will never forget the call I received from her that morning!
"Mom? I don't know what to do.... we are hiding in the bathroom, and SWAT is going through the halls...Mom? I'm scared and I don't know what to do, or where to go....please help me!!!"
Oh, MY..... Just typing out those words, that I still hear in my head...make tears run....I will NEVER forget that phone call! Nor the fact, that I had NO idea where Ford was or IF he was okay....
Fast forward to the current situation and the shooting that has now taken place at Sandy Hook Ele..... I am having a conversation with Ford about what has taken place.....
Now, years later is when I learn what HE remembers of that fateful "LOCK DOWN" for him......
He had a teacher, Mr. Leak. (Mr Mark Leak). When the lock down went into effect, this was the class Ford was in.
Megan was hiding in a bathroom and called me to find out what she should do...I told her to go to the nearest classroom and stay there till the lock down was over. I had no idea about Ford! I was so worried! No calls were going into the school and I had no way of getting a hold of him! (which, by the way, is one reason why my kids have had a cell phone from that time since).
I finally found out from him, some of the things that went through his head on that terrifying morning....
The fear, not only for himself, but for his sister, who he knew was somewhere in that building.
The memory of an amazing teacher, who after getting the kids to the farthest corner from the door, turned HIS chair to face the door. Giving the students in his charge, the impression, that no matter what happened, he would be there to protect them! If even for a brief moment in time, they felt safe because he was willing to put himself between them and the door...harms way if you will. Now I only found this out, because of Sandy Hook. The events that took place, stirred all kinds of memories for the kids who had shared in that "LOCK DOWN" that day. All of the kids in Ford's class that day all remembered Mr Leak, being willing to position himself in a way to make his students feel safe! I cried more than once the day of the Sandy Hook shooting. Partly for the sad and senseless loss of life, but for the willingness, of those who chose the life of an educator, that goes so much farther than that of educator! Just as those adults who lost their lives at Sandy Hook that day proved! I have an admiration for them that will never dim!
There will be more to come in the way of catching up in the very near future. This one had to come first though, because it has been on my mind ever since that day!