Excitement All Around

This week I received my very first letter from my brother; I can't remember the last time I was so excited to get snail mail. I was incredibly impressed by his significantly improved penmanship, but more so impressed by the eloquence in his writing, and the positive attitude. I am certain that bootcamp is very difficult and often times absolute hell, but he seemed very positive and to be enjoying it immensely. In fact, he received one of the top jobs. He is a division leader, which means that he is in charge of 88 other guys, and is the "go to" man for his Chief. After speaking with a friend husband is a Chief at Navy bootcamp, she said that this job is a "big deal". He will be leading his group at graduation, he gets to carry a sword, and gets to have a collar device. With this job, he also has a chance to advance quicker. I am so proud of him! Before we know it, he will be graduating from bootcamp. I know that this experience is changing him for the better and making him a more responsible and ambitious man. I am going to write him again today, send him a valentine, and then get a newspaper tomorrow and send him an article from the Superbowl; even though he is rooting for the Saints because he hates the Colts. I continue to pray for his safety, courage, and knowledge.

As well all know, it is SUPERBOWL SUNDAY, and YES, I am excited as I will cheer on my TEAM to another LOMBARDI TROPHY. The Colts make me so happy! I love living in a city that has such a respectable football team on and off the field. The Colts bring so much to the city of Indianapolis! However, I am a little sad that this means that football season is over after today. I have thoroughly enjoyed my Sunday afternoons with my husband watching football, and keeping up with our fantasy football teams; which, I forgot to mention that I got second place in our league behind my father-in-law. So, here's to the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS!!! BELIEVE IN BLUE... I DO!!!

This week is going to be such a great week! Tomorrow I will wake up, go to work for a half of a day and then board the plane to Charlotte, NC. I have been waiting for this day since September when I decided to do it, to start an independent council of Girls on the Run in Hamilton County. This week I will be attending council training in Charlotte. I will be learning how to get my council up and "running" (no pun intended). I will also have the wonderful opportunity to meet the founder, Molly Barker. I know that my three days there are going to be busy, full of great information, and will instill an even stronger passion for Girls on the Run than I already have, but I can't wait!!! I have been so blessed to have the opportunity to work with such amazing woman to start this council. Here we go GIRLS ON THE RUN HAMILTON COUNTY!!!!

Until next time,
H =)

Welcome Hamilton County Girls on the Run

The waiting game is over... our independent council of Girls on the Run for Hamilton County has been accepted.  I can't believe it!  

I had a phone interview with the girls at the international office at 11:45 yesterday.  I felt very confident about the interview because they said our application was very thorough and they didn't have too many questions for us because we answered everything.  However, they then told us that it was the most applications they have received; I was then nervous.  At 4:30 pm I then received an email letting me know the the council was accepted!  WOW!  I am still in shock!

The next steps...

I am now working diligently to form our steering committee, which will turn into our Board of Directors.  I will attend training in February in Charlotte, NC.  I can't wait to meet Molly Barker and the rest of the GOTR staff.  It is going to be fabulous!  After that, we will begin the process of gaining our 501c3 status and begin to fundraise and advertise in Hamilton County.

So, here the journey begins.  I can't even begin to explain my excitement.  Last night Mr. Hoosier and I went to dinner to celebrate and he kept asking me what was going through my head.  For the first time in my life I feel like I am unable to accurately articulate my feelings.  I am just so amazed that I have been chosen to bring this opportunity to my community.  At the age of 25, I will be starting my non for profit program for the girls in my community.  Some people dream of this their whole lives!  My dreams have come true!   I am not nervous, I am not second guessing myself, I am ready to "hit the ground running" (non pun intended).  I am so very grateful that God has unveiled his plans for me and for my life.  He has put me in a position that I am overly enthusiastic about, and I know I will enjoy and be successful.  

So, friends, I ask you to support me and follow me through this journey!  I am sure I will be blogging about it quite often.  

Here it goes... "All for the girls"  

H :)

The Waiting Game Begins

So, all the hard work is over and now the waiting game begins.  Yesterday, I submitted my application for the creation of an independent council of Girls on the Run in Hamilton County.  I will find out by December 15th if the council becomes approved or not.  

The application process was long and there were many components, but I am confident that we did a good job.  I know that Girls on the Run will thrive in Hamilton County, and this is the perfect place for this kind of program.  I hope the application committee feels the same.  

Until December 15, I just have to hope and pray that it gets approved.

I did get some GREAT news today!!! After the application is approved, I get to go to North Carolina to become trained by the founder, Molly Barker.  We need to have 1,500 raised by January 1 in order to attend.  Well, today, we secured an individual donor to pay for the WHOLE cost.  That quick, we asked one person and it was taken care of.  I hope that is a sign!!!!

Wish me luck, and keep me in your prayers- as well as the application committee :)

A few random notes:

-The Blind Side is a FANTASTIC movie, and I highly recommend it!!!  

-Happy 6 months of marriage to my wonderfully, perfect husband!!! Yesterday, we made it to the half year mark.  Wow, does time every fly.  I am more in love with him today than I was the day I married him.  I am so lucky to have Mr. Hoosier.  We celebrated with dinner (yummy Thai restaurant) and a movie (The Blind Side) last night after work!!

-The house is decorated for Christmas.  I love it!!! 

My Mother's Touch

In between application questions for Girls on the Run, I have been reading and catching up with the founder, Molly Barker's blog.  In September, she wrote about her mother's touch, and this inspired me to write about mine. 

My mom is the reason I am where I am today.  She has taught me to follow my dreams and to never give up; as cliche as it sounds, it is oh so true.  She is the reason I am so stubborn, the reason I always take control, and it is from her where I get my heart felt passion.  As my husband would say, "I am my mother's daughter."  

My mom overcame obstacles I can't even imagine.  A single mother at the age of 21, and losing her own mother at the age of 22.  It's no wonder she is as strong as she is.  I am not talking about the strength in her arms, as we all know she 

is physically strong, but the mental and emotional strength she possesses.  

I often times forget that my mom was only 22, and had a two year old daughter when she lost her own mother.  I am 25, I don't have any children and I couldn't even fathom what it would be like to lose my mom.  It has been 23 years since my mom has physically felt her mother's touch, however, I hope she often feels her presence.

Although my mom is 2 hours away there isn't a day that goes by that I don't feel her presence. As I am teaching in my classroom or coaching my girls after school I often times evaluate my actions and my personality and I feel my mom.  I turn more and more into my mom each and every day.  If you would have told me three years ago that I am just like my mother, I wouldn't have liked it, but now I am so proud to be like her. 

It's something about my mom's morning phone calls as I am driving into work that always seem to get my day off to the right start.  Or her emails during the day that often times just say "I love you" that makes me appreciate her unconditional love.  As I received an email from my mother last week that cheered me up, I thought to myself, "my mom hasn't heard those words from her mom in years."  I couldn't imagine...

My mom can take responsibility for many of my attributes and interests, but she really deserves all the credit for my love and passion for running and exercise.  Ever since I can remember we have exercised together.  I remember going to her aerobic classes with her when I was just four years old. They were in the basement of a church.  I always insisted to wear my bathing suit with leggings underneath to look like a true aerobics outfit.  I took a towel as my mat, and small shampoo bottles as my weight.  Even 20 years ago, exercising was our "mother-daughter" thing to do.  Some mom's enjoy taking their daughter's shopping, but mine would rather run or go to the gym.  

There was a point in my life where I would have rather gone shopping with my mom.  There was a point in my life where I hated going to the gym with her.  There is still some days that she drives me crazy as she pushes me to work harder on my runs.  However, as I read Molly's post, I began to realize that it is these times with my mother I feel her touch the most.  I am so blessed to have a mother that is healthy enough to go on a 5 mile run with me when she comes and visits.  I will surely appreciate it even more when she is able to go on runs with her grandchildren.  

I will always remember crossing the finish line of the 2009 Indy Mini holding your hand; it may have not been my fastest time, but it was surely the most heart felt race I have ever run!  As Molly said in her post, she misses her morning runs with her mom, I promise to you, Mom, that I will appreciate ours even more.