Girls on the Run practice 5K - last night!

Over the last two years, I've spent a lot of my time on bringing Girls on the Run to Jackson County. At this time, we have two sites, one in Raytown and one in Blue Springs. During the program, the girls train for a 5K, and last night was the practice 5K for the Raytown site.

I have NEVER been more PROUD to be a part of GOTR. When I arrived, the rain was starting, the sky was getting darker as the girls meet from 6-7pm, and I fully expected to be going back home. But the girls and the coaches said, "Let's RUN." Armed with flashlights and lots of energy, the girls started their run a little after 6 pm.

One of the mom's, Brooke, who is also on the GOTR board, and I loaded up the water station and headed to the half way point. Now, let me just say, this run was one of those out and back runs, not laps, so as far out as the girls ran, they had to turn around and run back.

Brooke, our two younger kids, and I drove to the water station, and began pouring cups of water for girls. It was sprinkling, and there was a bit of lightening, but no thunder. As the girls approached the water station, the rain started unloading. Since we'd driven to the water station, we were debating whether to load the girls up and take them back to our site. However, as each girl was presented with the option, they chose to run back. Thankfully, the adults running with them were good sports and were willing to continue to run.

After all the girls had reached the half way point and were on their way back, Brooke and I loaded up our whining soaked kids along with the water station, and began driving back to our site. At this time, it's not just raining, it's one of those downpoors we tend to get in Missouri. As we passed each girl we asked, "Doing ok? Want a ride?" And each girl shook us off. "No, we can make it." And so they ran.

Brooke and I got back to the starting point and waited in the warm dry studio while the girls and the coaches ran the last half mile or so. Brooke took one last drive by to see if anyone needed a ride. They were all determined to finish strong.

These 6 girls ran in the dark pouring rain, and they finished. As I watched the girls come back to the studio, I could feel their excitement and their accomplishment. These girls set a goal, and no matter what obstacles got in the way, they finished. What an inspiration!!!!

And, I'd also like to give a shout out to those coaches, siblings and parents that ran in those wretched conditions!!!! JULIA, SUE, CARLA, DAWNA, you gals ROCK!!!! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO to encourage and love these girls. You are my inspiration.

Glasses

Remember the first time you got glasses? When you put them on and it was like a whole new world opened up for you? "WOW, I can see. . ."

I was a senior in high school, and I really wanted colored contacts, but my mom insisted I get glasses first. I'd been needing them since FOREVER, but in the 4th grade some quack doctor told my mom I had some weird eye disease and glasses wouldn't help me. Um yeah, did I say, "QUACK!"

Anyway, I was heading to college and thought it would be nice to see. I drove to the eye doctor to pick them up, and when I put them on, I could not believe how much I was missing. I remember vividly seeing the leaves on the trees. Not the leaves as a mass, but each leaf. Then on the way home, I nearly wrecked, "What's that on the road? Why is it different colors?" And "Why do cars have two sets of lights? Ones yellow? When did that happen?"

I must say, those glasses were the ugliest glasses ever, purplish pink with pink tint on the glass. But being able to see was way more important than how I looked.

So fast forward 20 years. My daughter is 7 years old, and has recently had some problems seeing the board. Off we went to eye doctor, and sure enough she needs glasses. Um, her visions 20/100 oops. Anyway, last night she put on her new glasses for the first time. Seeing the expression on her face was like watching the lights go on in a dark room. She could see. She kept pulling them down her nose saying, "When I do this I can't see those letters, but with my glasses, I can." All night, she'd tell us what she couldn't see without and what she could with.

I think the only thing better than me being able to see for the first time all those years ago, was watching her being able to see. And the newness has NOT worn off yet. As she heads to school today, there's a whole new world for her to see. Today, they're getting new seats in her class, and for the first time, she'll be able to sit in the back and see. What a great day!