For instance. We just moved. Like I've only been unloading boxes for a week, just moved. My oldest goes to TaeKwonDo 4-5 times a week, my husband is at the work or gym for many hours a day, so I never know when I'll see him, and like I said, I (and my 29 weeks pregnant self) am unloading boxes with a 3 year old and 18 month old underfoot.... while still providing meals and laundry services. If there was ever a time in my life that I was ABSOLUTELY NOT looking for something else to do, it would be now. However, it seems like in the midst of these moments that I end up stumbling on my new goals/passions. (That actually pretty well describes how I got together with my husband too... I was super crazy busy, career oriented, and then out of no where I get hit over the head and realized that only he and the life he had to offer really matter. Boy did that change things!)
Anyway, I had to drop off my sons uniform at an Outdoor Adventure store to get patches sewn on, and I happen to look down and see a registration form for the "Polar Bear Triathlon." I notice that the event actually took place 3 days before I saw the flyer, and for some reason I asked if this was an annual event. Well, it is!! Now my mind is super focused on not only completing this event, but using it as a jumping off point to doing more and eventually trying to make it through an Ironman qualifier so I can participate in the Hawaii Championships.
Hello???????? I think I briefly entertained the thought of doing a triathlon last year, but that was just because I was working out a lot and thought training for it would be an even better workout, but where has my mind gone! *laugh* I have to say that the most rewarding part of all this is how supportive my husband is. We talked about an hour after I saw the flyer and I filled him in on everything and he got really excited. He's now talking about participating in the June Triathlon (same place, a little longer though), and I would do this one in December (I'm sure it'll be a little annoying to have to wait for mine, but seeing as how I can't really train hard until mid-April, I think the timing will work out well.)
I was just thinking that I'd train for this and do other races locally, but my goals got a lot bigger when I started thinking about doing the IronMan down the road.... (WAY down the road). I think too that while we're healthy eaters and care about exercise/fitness, that I'm especially excited for my kids to see me participate in these kinds of things. I've always been up for having a large family, but I've never been willing to accept being an overweight mom "because of it." I thankfully have slimmed down between each one, but I think this takes my views to a whole new level. My kids are already wanting to train with me and it's only been barely 3 days since this idea landed in my lap. I'm really looking forward to a time where I can enter these races with them! What an amazing opportunity!
So, thus we go creating change within the family yet again. I find solace in the fact that our other "ah ha" moments have worked out well and am excited for a new adventure with my homeschooling, cloth diapering, homemade laundry detergent, corn syrup free, mostly vegetarian, book reading, always discovering, music playing, 4 kids under 4, family!
