Journey to 13.1: Team Granny

A couple months ago, I did a crazy thing. I signed up for the Illinois Half Marathon in April. My best high school friend and running partner, Diane, convinced me that I could do it. It wasn't until I huffed and puffed my way through 3 miles on the treadmill at a pace slighty above a walk did I realize that she obviously doesn't know what she's talking about... After falling off the training plan over the holidays thanks to first bronchitis and then the allure of fudge, I entered the new year recommitted to my goal, but doubt still was in place as I read over the training schedule with double digit runs.

At the same time I had my moment of weakness and agreed to all this madness, my Granny was having a routine 10 year colonoscopy. They found a mass, did surgery, checked lymph nodes, and she now has her treatment plan in place. Through it all, my sweet Granny has kept an optimistic, can-do attitude. While it's the same attitude I've had for most of it, I'm still angry. At who or what, I'm not really sure. Cancer in general, I think. Hasn't cancer gotten the message that it is not welcome in our family? Anyone who knows my Granny, knows that she is the picture of what healthy eating and exercise looks like. Only for her most favorite meals does she allow a second portion and her daily multi-mile walks with her dog are at a brisk enough pace that she wouldn't lag far behind my "jog" on the treadmill. As each new diagnosis came in, I was left wondering why her? She has already overcome some fairly awesome health obstacles already (2 brain aneurysms) in her life. Why this one too? Shouldn't her main worry in her retirement years be dressing up as a clown and reading stories to the Head Start kids? Rather than worry about her, which my sweet husband reminded me last night my Granny would NOT want, I've decided to do the only thing I can to honor my Granny and her journey from 400 miles away. I can't be there to help with laundry, clean the house, or cook suppers for her and Grandpa. I can't be there to keep her company at her doctors appointments or pick up groceries or any of the other things I wish I could be there to do. Instead, I will get on the treadmill and I will run. I will run for her and the many others just like her who are going through chemo to kick cancer. If she can endure six months of chemo and all the less than glamourous side effects that come with it, I can endure double digit training runs, sore knees, sore muscles, and get myself back into shape...perhaps even get into better shape than I was in high school. And I will cross the finish line at Memorial Stadium in Champaign after 13.1 miles just as she will cross the finish line with that last chemo treatment six months from now.

Granny, YOU are amazing. You motivate me to step outside my comfort zone and just do what needs to be done. I am proud to be on Team Granny. Together we will kick colon cancer in the butt because it is no match for the Kenzie's and we will prove it again.

Sunday Fun

After the disaster of Saturday evening, it didn't take much to make Sunday afternoon more fun! After we all were able to enjoy a Sunday afternoon nap, we headed out the garden to plant our tomatoes and peppers. Rachel was all about helping- even if it did mean she had to get dirty. (I'm not sure that gardening will be a passion of hers- she doesn't like to have any dirt on her hands.)

Thanks for the gardening tools! She's making good use of them!

Dirt clods will not be tolerated in Rachel's garden.

I thought this picture would be cute when I took it. Looking at it now, it's obvious that Rachel is Nick's daugher. They have the same posture...right down to the way they hold the watering can. Wow.

She's excellent with the watering can. This will come in handy since so far this spring, things have been dry.

My favorite girl in front of my favorite flowers!

THAT'S the Rachel I know and love!

Rachel loves to walk Pepper. Last night after many rounds through the house, Rachel took Pepper to the deck saying "Mon! Mon!" (I'll decipher... it's Rachelese for C'mon.) Pepper humors Rachel, but will look at me as she goes by with an expression that says "Why did you give her the leash?"

No evening would be complete without a spin around the house post-bath in her birthday suit. Best part is when she sat down and said "Brr..." Didn't deter her, as you can see.

Rachel and Great-Grandpa

Granny and Grandpa came to visit two weeks ago. (Has it really been two weeks already?!) Grandpa brought along his laptop and shared this video with Rachel. I think they watched it together at least 15 times over the three day visit. Knowing Rachel she was studying up so she could try some of these tricks this summer. :)

The Big Move

It's been awhile...but I have talked about our little church on the blog before. I believe it was a post about the hoodlum that threw stones through the beautiful, old, wavy glass windows. Oddly enough, this post will also deal with my lack of speed when chasing something.
At the end of last year, Nick, Nathan, and Melvin made the decision to sell the church to Mrs. Koch. She proposed moving it up the road about 1/2 mile to join the Santa Statue and the museum and had plans to do some restorations. Since we don't own a multi-million dollar amusement park and have the same cash flow for renovations, the church was sold and plans were made for the big move.
Now, here is where my running begins. Due to job commitments, Nick was unable to join in on the spectacle of the big move...so he asked if I would take some pictures and video. This was no problem as I already had the camera batteries charged and ready. We had been told they would move the church at 8:30am. Wouldn't you know this would be the morning Rachel would sleep until 8am. At about 8:05am, Nancy called to let me know that they had already moved the church down the hill. I had missed the BEST PART! I wanted to see how they got the church turned and onto the small road leading to the highway. I grabbed Rachel and some string cheese since she hadn't eaten and hustled down to the corner. Ron Smith (who looks alarmingly like Santa Claus) was in charge of the project and told me the highway permit wasn't good until 9am. Since I hadn't showered (hey- if Rachel sleeps in, so do I!), I left Rachel in Nancy's care and hustled home for the fastest shower of my life. No less than 15 minutes later, I'm heading back to the corner and I catch some movement out of the corner of my eye. I then notice the church is not at the corner. It's big - you can't really miss it. The movement was the church...rolling down the highway- rather quickly I might add. This is where I mutter some not so nice words and begin my version of a sprint down the road. I turned on the camera and video camera and started recording. However, due to my huffing and puffing, I don't think we'll be showing the video to anyone. It's something I'll just keep for myself when I need motivation to go to the Y...
Without further ado... I'll let the pictures tell the rest of the story!

This was taken last week. The church had been lifted and turned 180 degrees in preparation for the move.

On the road and ready to head towards the highway.

On her way down the highway (25 minutes before the 9am permit...)

Getting ready to head up the hill.

View from the other side.

It's only appropriate in a town named Santa Claus, that one of the men leading the project look JUST like Santa. When I asked Rachel who that was, she very quietly said "Ha Ha Ha". This is her version of "Ho Ho Ho". It's also important to note that Rachel LIKES this Santa. The Santa at Holiday World and the one at the Christmas store terrify her, but she likes this Santa. Coincidence??

View through the trees as the church continued her journey.

The steeple as the church passed me.

The church with the new owner, Mrs. Pat Koch.

Perhaps the most nerve wracking part of the day...turning the corner into the drive of the Santa Claus Park...

It was a gray, gloomy day...but the view through the window to the stained glass was still beautiful.

Beautiful isn't it?

Still working on making that corner....

For an idea on how smooth the ride was for the church...perched on the corner of the trailer is one of the workers coffe, tape measure, and jacket....just going along for the ride.

There are some battle wounds though. In addtion to some misplaced boards, two of the beauitful old wavy glass windows were cracked. Windows that Mel spent a small fortune replacing just this last summer....

I have a couple more pictures I wanted to share, but I have apparently reached my blogger limit for this post. I guess that's my cue to wrap it up!

As I watched the church move into her new home, I have to admit a part of me was sad to see it moved from the place it sat for 131 years. Whenever I have spent time in the church, there is a sense of peace. When I see the oil lamps on the wall and the pot belly stove, I can almost hear the bustle of ladies skirts as they came in for church 100 years ago. Babies were baptized, marriages began, and loved ones were put to rest. Families gathered for weekly services and endured the agony of a Sunday service in southern Indiana on a stifling summer day without the luxury of air conditioning. The potbelly stove was fired up for Christmas Eve services and toes tapped to keep warm in the cold winter air. For those that attended services here, I hope they will be happy to know that the church will be restored to it's original luster and those who come to visit will feel the same peace and joy that I have when her bell rings. I have a feeling that we'll still be visiting often...just to check in and say hello.

Christmas #2 and #3 - The Held's and the Wetzels

Rachel had another big day when we celebrated with the Held's and the Wetzels.

Rachel got a shopping cart complete with groceries. Now she can go shopping for ingredients and cook up her own supper in her kitchen...

It was a toss up for funniest gift this year between the leg lamp shirts and the moose egg nog cup, but I think the moose cup wins! "Can I get you anything Eddie? More egg nog? Drive you out to the middle of no where and leave you for dead?" HA HA HA!

All this gift opening is tiring. Good thing Aunt Sarah was there for some snuggles.

Pretty pretty ribbon!

Nancy and Mel opening their new stereo, cd, record and cassette player!

I was busy keeping Rachel off the stairs, so I didn't get too many pictures with the Wetzel's, but Rachel had fun helping Mary figure out how to play their new game.

Christmas #1 - Nana and Papa O.

I'm sure we are not the only people that have had multiple Christmas celebrations this year! Due to the sheer volume of gifts, Rachel has been opening gifts all week long. She's one blessed little girl...and thanks to each and every person who made her Christmas so special. Nick and I are looking for some good deals on shelves so we can store all of Rachel's loot. It looks like Toys 'R Us exloded in my living room....and the kitchen....and the hallway...and the upstairs...
Here are some pictures that chronicle the fun Rachel had with her Nana and Papa O.

Rachel thought Nana could use some bows. Doesn't she look pretty?

About the time they finished with the bows, an informercial came on tv citing the decline in brain power for people of a certain age. Coincidence? I'll let you all decide.

Nana and Rachel

Rachel assisted Nana with making the pumpkin pie for Christmas dinner.

Christmas morning arrived and so had Santa! First up, Elmo and a baby stroller.

And a Rachel sized basketball hoop!

A new piano from Granny and Grandpa.

The weather was warm so Rachel and Papa O went out to shoot some hoops.

When she was done with that, she watched the NBA for some new moves.

Tea Time!

We suggested that perhaps Elmo would like some tea. Who needs a cup when you can just pour it right in out of the pot?

Nana does need a cup either. Rachel will save time on dishes this way.

Play with her firetruck from Nana and Papa.

The sandbox looks fun too... but Mama said it was too cold.

O Tannenbaum

Today we headed over to the Whippoorwill Nest Christmas Tree Farm to pick our Christmas tree.

Rachel and her Daddy off to find the perfect tree.

I made them stop their searching for a moment for the perfect Daddy Daughter photo op.

"This one is nice, Daddy."

Thanks to Uncle Nathan, we had the chance for a family photo op. Everyone was smiling except Rachel.

 Rachel wasn't too sure about the tree when Nick brought it into the house. As he came through the kitchen, Rachel shook her head no, as if to say that trees don't belong inside. However, once we got the lights out...well...then it wasn't such a silly idea anymore! Reinforcements (Mr. Bear) were called in for the very important job of decorating the tree.

"I think we need more lights right over here, Daddy."

Yep! I think she approves! Mr. Bear approves as well.

Double checking Daddy's work.

 After the lights, Nick continued making the tree look festive with the pretty red ribbon we added last year. Then Rachel discovered the beads in the box.

This girl LOVES her beads!

"The ribbon is nice, Daddy. But what would really make this tree pop is some BEADS!"

Mama and Rachel hanging the Rachel friendly ornaments down low.

 I'm not sure what Rachel loves more in this world. Beads or balls.

Look at these beautiful, shiny, gold balls!

They are so pretty!

 And everyone knows what we do with balls...

YOU THROW THEM!!

Rachel would like to let the folks at Home Depot know that these balls are indeed shatterproof. Scuff and dent proof, not so much.

Well, I think my game was more fun, but if you say so, Daddy, I'll put them on the tree.

The finished product...The tree is almost as cute as the little elf that helped decorate it!