Daily Archive for March 31st, 2007

The Ironman 70.3

So, I polished off a HoHo at 11 a.m. I plopped onto my bed with the tv clicker as I gave into a lazy Saturday. The laundry can wait. It’ll just have to…
I began flipping the channels and I landed on the coverage for the Ford Ironman 70.3 Championship. It's a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike and a 13.1 mile run (a half-marathon), 70.3 miles of endurance… It is so inspiring… My heart just races when I imagine the energy and excitement those athletes are experiencing. But as I listened to interviews with some of the championship contenders… they kept talking about this “short course”. Heh. Short.

Well, compared to the Full Ironman, the 70.3 is half that distance.
Only several months ago, I laughed that the sprint triathlons I’ve done are considered “sprints”. I figure anything that takes an hour and 40+ minutes is surely not a sprint. OK, it takes ME that long…. That was until I ran the half-marathon. Having run over 2 and a quarter hours straight… Just. Running. The sprint triathlon distances earn “sprint” status in my now learn-ed eyes.

Excuse me, I need to brush HoHo crumbs off my lap and untangle my straight jacket…

I wanna do an Ironman 70.3 too! There is even a local one! I know it won’t happen THIS year, but I sure would like to pen it onto my long-term goal list. What is harder than doing an event like this is training for an event like this. I’ll spell it out - three kids. More than anything - that hurdle (training) is what would prevent me from accomplishing it. Oh, and my mountain bike wouldn’t be the best, oh… and my knees.

Happy Birthday Lucy

Where have the years gone? My first year with you was packed tightly with too few hours of sleep and Mommy's battle to learn how tend to 3 precious children - which resulted in a foggy first year.

But what about this second year? Where has it gone? In this last year, you have expanded your words from mama and dada to sentences, to songs, to demands, to expressions of pleasure and frustration, You have taken on the expressions of your big brother and sister - their attitudes as well. No one can agree on whom you look like, but you are undeniably an “Ingram”.

Lucy means “light”. You have already lived up to your namesake. This is not just you mother speaking, others have told me that. There's just something in you that draws people to you, brings smiles, brings joy - a light. You were a surprise to us, and I know the Lord planned you for our family to treat us to you and your light. You'll learn that God is a God of blessing and goodness.

Do you know how much joy you bring to us? Yes, you have aggravated Joel by destroying his things, or when he's trying to focus on a cartoon, and you press a dolls' button and he can't hear his show, oh that makes him mad. Then you look at him and cock your head, or you smile, or say, “Wawwy Joel”. He melts, smiles and loves on you. I love the softness you add to his life. I see the softness of your wonderful Daddy in Joel when you woo your big brother.

Sisters. You girls. When Livi dresses up, you follow, when she accessorizes, you follow. You are quickly on your way to creative expression through fashion. You point to reds and blues and say, “Joel?” Your babies, stuffed creatures and blankets call on your instinct to snuggle. You have not created an attachment to any one “thing”, your philosophy is simple - softness is your name and snugglin' is your game.

Music, you sing along to “Brave” by Nichole Nordeman, you love to sing “Goodnight Sweetheart” when you go to bed, If you've not heard a song, you work it out,you just love to sing. I think the whole world needs to ride in the car with me when you and Olivia sing “Sisters”. Really. And dancing, oh the power of the “shaky-shaky”! You appreciate a quality beat - and can discern the appropriate head-bob, sideways, up/down, you're a natural. I wish my rearview mirror had a camera.

Words. I am “The Mama”, Daddy is “The Da-ee”, and our friend's dog Lexi is “The Wo”, Lately you have been greeting me as “princess” when I am primping in the bathroom. In the past couple of weeks you have spring-boarded from one to two word phrases to three and more word sentences. Then there are the babbling stories of nonsense that make all too much sense to you.

Tiny Lucy. Last year, you were still learning to walk. Yesterday, you were demanding I “Wash Mama” (watch) as you navigated the large couch and hung to the edge - legs dangling over. Your 23-pound frame can execute a mean summersault, and wield a light saber with no less accuracy that Yoda himself.

You have a deep love of shoes,your shoes, my shoes, Livi's shoes, Daddy's shoes, Joel's shoes. “Shoosh” and “gocks,”

I love you Lucy Jean. Jesus loves you. I pray for your physical healthy. I pray for your emotional health. I pray you develop a faith in the God of grace your Daddy and I serve. You are a treasure to our family,

Love, Mommy