I'm Not That Type of Grandmother

I've been a grandmother for 6-1/2 years. Unlike some grandmothers I know, I'm not the type that wants to spend every waking moment with them. Don't get me wrong, I love both my granddaughters dearly. I get excited when I see them, they cause my heart to leap. As much as I enjoy their visits, I enjoy it as much when they go home. If I were ever put into the position of raising them, I wouldn't hesitate; they are an extension of me. The older one is a little mature, she pretty much can entertain herself. The younger one is so rambunctious, we started calling her Chuckie. Yes, after the movie, not the pizza place. The girl is extremely active.

The summer of 2011, I took them on a 10 day roadtrip. We had so much fun together. The young one was only 2, she may not remember it. But the older one, still talks about. Says it was the best summer ever. Labor Day weekend 2012, I took Chuckie on a roadtrip to Omaha for her 3rd birthday. She sang every song on the radio. She talked about whatever popped in her head. 30 minutes outside of Omaha, she mentally lost it, she started screaming at the top of her lungs. I busted out laughing, which in turn caused her to laugh. I couldn't get mad because she had maintained herself for 11-1/2 hours in a car, strapped in a carseat. While in Omaha, she developed a bond with my mother, her Big Granny.

For Thanksgiving 2012, I had a strong need to take them to Omaha to see their other great-grandmother Mary Holloway. I'm so glad I took them to see her and was able to obtain a photo of them, their great-grandmother passed away almost a month later. They will have the photos to remember her. 

We have Granny/Grands days, which consist of me spending time alone with them together or they each get time alone. We have gone shopping, out to restaurants, to movies, plays, etc. Kid stuff fun.

So I do quality things with, I just don't consume my life with them. I did that with my daughters. So when I say I'm not that type of grandmother, I mean I have instilled enough of me in my daughter that it will evidently one day come out. And as each year passes I see more of me in my daughter, their mother.

The Four Seasons Is More Than A Resort and Spa

Today, February 3, 2013, I participated in my first race of the new year, the Texas Half. This race also marked the end of the Four Seasons Half Marathon Challenge, which is to run a half in all four seasons. Today was the winter race. The winter temp for today's start time was in the high 30s, light jacket, gloves and earmuff. By race end, the temps felt like the high 50s or low 60s; which meant chest cold for me. I, along with some of the other BGR members, had no desire to run this morning. We were all kind of like blah, let's get this over with. My goal was to just finish this darn race. If I could beat my first ever marathon time of 2:47 by one minute, I would be satisfied.

My strategy was to run the first two miles, the warm-up miles, nonstop, then start my 5:1 intervals. I was trying to keep it at a 12 minute mile pace, but when I glanced at my watch, I was running 10:36, I needed to slow down. As I made my way pass the crowd of runners that were either having social conversations or walking, I lost Cheryl and Ve. So I thought to myself I'll slow down after the 2 miles. At the 1.5 loop, I saw Cheryl close behind me, but no Ve. I became a little concerned because Ve had indicated earlier she really did not want to run today. So I said a runner's prayer, please don't let Ve quit. Then I see Ve, she was really taking her time.

Shortly before the 5K turnaround point, Cheryl caught up with me...good. We started on our 5:1 interval. We both told each other we were not feeling this race, so we slowed our pace. By mile 9, I had to use the restroom really bad, but no port-a-pots. I started scanning the bushes, but no good spots. So I told my bladder it was going to have to wait.

Finally, we have the finish line in sight, just in time for our one minute break. All of a sudden we hear, it's about time you two started walking. We turn around, we have picked up a new running partner. This lady said she was using us to get her to the finish line but we wouldn't slow down. We told her to come on let's get this done. Cheryl said she wanted to finish by 2:30; I wanted to finish by 2:46. We finished at 2:38:34, I set an official PR. I was too stiff and tired to do my celebration dance. I received my medals, the Texas Half and the Four Seasons Half Marathon Finisher. I was really proud of myself, I came back from an injury and set a PR.

The Rose Stank

Sunday, October 7, I ran my 5th half marathon, the Tyler Rose. It was being held at the Tyler, Texas Rose Garden as part of the annual rose festival. Myself and two of my running buddies drove to Tyler late Saturday afternoon, in time to attend the race expo. The race expo turned out to be a showcase of 3 vendors. We were a little disappointed, but received some samples to try. We all tried the Rehydrate which was pretty tasty. They also kindly pointed out we were the other group from Dallas. Black Girls Run, have running shoes, will travel.

After we left the expo, we headed for our hotel room. Several BGR members had booked rooms at the Fairfield Inn, which made it easier to communicate with one another. We got checked-in, dropped our bags off, then headed out to find something to eat. The desk clerk gave us the directions to the Olive Garden. The wait list at Olive Garden was 45 minutes to 1 hour, which gave us time to do a little window shopping.

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel. After showering, we all relaxed to watch some TV. Chris was our "chaperon", she made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed. She kept telling us to go to sleep. 5 am alarm, I wasn't ready to get up. We slowly moved around, got dressed and headed for a quick breakfast.

All the BGR members met up at the Rose Garden Convention Center. BGR East Texas showed us so much hospitality. They greeted us with signs of pinkness. The Collin County Cuties were sporting their new t-shirts. They were also celebrating Ami being a breast cancer survivor. So the color pink fitted perfectly with the day’s theme.

After taking several pre-race pictures and posing for the video, it was time to start the half. 8 am, the start clock went off. It was kind of slow getting started because the start chute was very narrow.

We all started off together until it was time to break off into our different paces. I was trying to keep up with Annie, but with a sore shin, I had drop back. Since Cheryl and Ve were doing this race as a training run for their marathon, they were keeping their pace between 12-13. I could hang with them.

Within the first mile, we had already encountered 3 hills. That's when I decided to start counting the hills. I knew we had a hilly course, I wasn't expecting what was a head of us. Before we reached the 6 mile mark, we were up to the teens in the hill count. Number 19 was a beast, it had to be over a mile long, by the time I reached the top, I was cussing.

Hill 20something, we started to notice the distance markers were not accurate. I had forgot to restart my watch after one of our potty breaks, but my distance was ahead of the markers. Ve's watch was also ahead of the markers. When my watch said 11 and the marker said 10, I was ready to quit. I had hit my wall. Cheryl quickly said get your mind focused.

At hill 34, I was pissed and extremely worn out. From my lower back to the soles of my feet, I was in pain. The raggedy roads on this course had taken their toll. This police officer must have noticed because he got on his loud speaker and said, this is the last steep hill, one more then you’re done, don't give up. Whew, I needed that boost.

As we rounded the last corner, there stood Annie and Chris. When I say a blessing to my eyes, it's just what my sore body needed. Annie said I'm going to run you through and she did. Chris stayed back to encourage the other BGR members behind us.

After a couple of seconds of rest, we headed back to the course to cheer the other ladies in. The policeman that encouraged us, was driving beside the Collin County Cuties encouraging them. This was Kimberly’s first half and she was in tears, so I ran with her even though my legs were killing me, she needed to finish strong. At the finish line, we had a BGR celebration. Even with the 35 hills of hell, some of the ladies PRed. Double celebration.

After the Injury

I really got into running to my surprise, fell in love with it. Then the injury occurred in September. Running in the incorrect shoes, on the wrong type of surface and not stretching properly. Shin splints, painful shin splints. The doctor told me I would have to rest, not quit, but rest. Did I listen, nope, I had two already paid for races in October, The Tyler Rose and the Allstate 13.1. I wanted those medals and I got them plus more pain.

After the Tyler Rose, the worse race course thus far in my running career, caused more damage. I had to revert to flat shoes, unfortunately, I only had one pair that I could wear to work. Then there was the Allstate 13.1; I promised my running buddy Chris I would run with her, this would be her first half marathon. Another big mistake for me. So after October 27, I sat my butt still. I have to admit, I had planned to sneak a race in on my visit to Atlanta, but commonsense stepped in.

On December 15, the training began again. I’m a little nervous of getting reinjured and I’ve gotten lazy on Saturday morning. I no longer have the desire to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to run, especially in the cold. My bed just swallows me up. While everyone else in BGR is finishing up their runs, I’m starting mine.

I’m sticking to the training plan, running at my pace. I was never really big on speed drills, but this time around, I’ll do them properly. I’ve done some reading on my own instead of just listening to the advice of more seasoned runners. When I run my two half marathons in February, I will not try to keep up with anyone, nor will I try to slow down for anyone. 2013 races will be about me slowly decreasing the amount of time to it takes me to complete a half.

This Too Shall Pass, Just Hold On

This too shall pass, just hold on, those are the words I received from the Lord, March 2006. I was in the middle of Lent, saying a prayer, when the Lord told me He was about to take me through several storms. During these storms, He said I would lose everything but my home. The Lord said I would struggle with my home because I willfully disobeyed His instructions. I thought I heard Him incorrectly, but as time passed and things started to fall apart in my life, I knew I heard His words correctly.

My relationship started having some serious issues, but I fought to save it until I finally couldn’t take the drama any longer. I fell behind on my car note and voluntarily surrendered my 2003 Nissan Altima back to the dealer. So from March 2006 to now, I have had 4 cars. Then there was the employment situation, I was terminated. Thankfully I obtained a temporary job 3 days later. By the end of the year I was working 3 jobs and going to school. My house has flooded and has been hit by lightening. Every utility was turned off at one time or another. We had to piece together meals.

Those were just some of the things that were occurring in my life. But the biggest was my mortgage, each month I got further and further behind. Thanks to Countrywide for racking up all the miscellaneous fees and applying majority of my payments towards the fees. Each modification put me further behind instead of helping me to get caught up. I spent one year paying double payments and I still remained behind.

Then President Obama started initiating several Making Homes Affordable programs. One particular program, I read about on the DC Sistagirls group page. So I called Bank of America, which bought out Countrywide, and inquired about the possibility of me being eligible. That call was last year, but on Monday, July 30, my acceptance package arrived by FedEx. I was only able to pull the paperwork halfway out of the envelope when I noticed the new monthly payment amount. I dropped the envelope and started jumping up and down screaming thank you, thank you. I screamed and jumped until I broke out in tears of thankfulness. Tiger came barking into my room because he thought I was being attacked. I called my best friend Jo, I was crying so hard she had to help me get the words out. Every time I tried to tell someone about my blessing, I would start crying.

Not everyone knows what all I have experienced these last couple of years. I’ve had one lady that insisted that I walk away from my home like she and her husband did. I’ve watch several of my neighbors, married couples lose their homes. I’ve had someone say I hope you lose your house for not sharing your money. But the biggest question, how are you able to maintain your home and still do all those activities. My answer, ask God why He has allowed me to keep my home. Because that was one of the questions I asked myself. Why me? I got my answer last year while sitting in church. Bishop TD Jakes answered it, because you are a tither. A tither. That name alone put my mind and heart to rest. I knew at that moment somehow, God was about to turn things around for me. I continually wondered how, tried to figure out how, guessed how it would happen. But never in my wildest imagination did I think He would wipe the past due amount away all at once, not small increments, but all at once. Past due amount gone, monthly payments dropped, and interest rate dropped by 2.25%. Effective August 1, 2012, my mortgage storm came to an end all because I trusted God and believed Him when He said “this too shall pass, just hold on".