I'm a Star! At least in my own mind

I have fans. They may only be my family and friends, but it is great none the less! Check out an email I received from one of my students today. I am a legend in my own mind thanks to my family and friends.

"Chris, I have my final for Monday night finished (yesterday) and had all my Foundations posts done had a whole day today where I didn't have to do anything for school. So I decided it was a great day outside and went to Lake Hefner Park to walk the walking trails. I saw at least 5 different chalk writings with your name on them. I especially like the "We love you Chris Bray! You're our hero!" and the "Chris Bray is awesome! (Heart shape) Chris." I just can't seem to get away from you! Good thing I like you. :0)"

An Ironman on 4 Peanut butter and Honey sandwiches

Well, I did it. I completed an Ironman. I swam 2.4 miles, biked 112 miles and ran 26.2. To be honest I really can't believe I did it. A lot of people have asked me how I did it since finishing the race. I tell them anyone can do it with 4 Peanut butter and honey sandwiches.

I love Peanut butter and honey sandwiches, but this post isn't really about that. It is about how great they are to eat while you are biking or running. Everyone around me had fancy goo's, gels, bars, space nuts and all other kinds of high dollar, high falutin' stuff that was supposed to propel their bodies to the finish line. I had 4 Peanut butter and honey sandwiches made with love from my wife. I ate one after the swim. I ate another one half way through the bike, I ate another one near the end of the bike and I ate the last one during the first thirteen miles of my run. I made it just fine. I think that was the secret of my finish. 4 peanut butter and honey sandwiches made with love at 4:30 a.m. the morning of my race. Maybe add in a bit of training and then you can run the ironman also!

To be honest the one thing that I took away from the race was the experience of it. I am finally realizing (late 30's is better than never!) that experiences are what life is made of. I had a phenomenal experience racing the ironman and having 13 hours and 18 minutes completely by myself to think, reflect, and pray (lots of that! ) It was incredible to have such quiet time to contemplate. I am now more than ever seeking after experiences for me and my family. Experiences and memories not things.

Check out some pictures from the race. Okay so I couldn't help adding the swim one. The poor guy who forgot his wetsuit.

My pet

I don't really like pets, I never have.  I blame my mother who never groomed her cat (cat hair everywhere) and who never really potty trained her dog. (you fill in the blanks with that one)  Needless to say we have no animals in our house.  (If you don't count children after a slurpee run)  I also have really, really, really bad, bad allergies (I think) to all animals so that helps with explaining to the girls why all their friends have animals but they don't.  And then I realized yesterday that I do have a pet and I have had one almost every year since Gale and I got married. So I would like to introduce our family pet, (but really my own) to the world.  Meet Charlotte

   

Charlotte lives right outside the door to the side of the house.  I pass her everytime I go to my car.  I really like her cause I never have to walk her, pet her, groom her or any of that gross stuff.  I do have to feed her, but that is easy I just turn on the flood light which is right behind her web and she gets more than her share.  It is so easy.  Sometimes I forgot but it doesn't seem to bother her.  If I feel like I haven't given her enough attention I catch a grass hopper or a moth and throw it in her web.  So fun!  She likes me too because she builds beautiful webs and if I get close enough to check on her she shows me how fast she runs by climbing her web.  Sometimes she wants to play hide and seek (she always hides under the rain gutter, but I pretend like I don't know where she is).  I love Charlotte and I can now say I am a pet person!

Instead of

Today Instead of...

1. waking up tired and barely comprehending who I am and where I am I smiled at everyone in the house and said good morning with a big hug.
2. thinking of all the things I had to accomplish in the day I just talked with my girls at breakfast.
3. screaming at the kids to get ready for church I just kept quiet and helped.
4. getting mad at the girls for fighting, touching each other, bugging each other etc. I smiled and winked at them in the rear view mirror.
5. taking a nap I played with my girls.
6. worrying about the house being clean we invited some friends and their children over for dinner.
7. sitting back I said hello to everyone first.
8. worrying about all the stuff I need and want to accomplish in my life I just sat still and didn't worry.
9. lecturing my children I just sat and asked them questions and listened to them.
10. telling my wife I loved her 3 or more times a day, I showed her by saying things I never say to her.
11. thinking about the future and the past I just thought about today.

And the funny thing is....It was the best day I have had in a long time!