A few of my favorites.

1. family first
2. ice cream (Moose Tracks)
3. my new kitty (what's his name)
4. my computer (that Kelly built)
5. a sunset that makes me go WOW!
6. trips to Mexico
7. any traveling
8. movies (Stranger Than Fiction)
9. movies (Juno)
10. art museums
11. oil painting
12. taking pictures
13. hot chocolate in the winter in Colorado
14. ice water in the summer in Arizona
15. laughter of my grandchildren
16. our family website
17. lunch with a friend
18. lemonade
19. bagels & cream cheese
20. spring in Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, Utah
21. long talks about nothing with Dale, Linda, Shirley & Peggy
22. reading stories at bed time with my grandchildren
23. family reunions
24. Josh's girlfriend
25. picture memories (looking at pictures)

Alaina, she is a powerful little girl, don't let those cute little dimples fool you.

This is Jaiden after soccer practice. She is a talented little girl. And smart too!

I got a kitty!

My trip to Vegas

I went to Las Vegas last weekend to attend a wedding. It was my pleasure to see these kids. Dru is so grown up. Phoebe is a rare beauty like her mother. Skyler is very bright. They are all fun to talk to. After the wedding we went to Red Robin for lunch. The time went too fast.

I Finished!

I said I would run the Los Angeles marathon March 2, 2008 and I did it. My sister Dale called me "Little miss sunshine" because I had such a cheery attitude the whole way. I really did. I loved it so much. It was nothing like training.

In my training book the author talked about the angels along the course who would be there just when you needed them. I decided to be the angel for so many people. I reached out to people who seemed like they were having trouble, a word of encouragement, a "You can do it". I felt energized each time I encouraged someone. "Givers Gain" Tom Willhite said that. I gained strength, I gained energy, I gained confidence. My body did not hurt until after the run was over. I Finished! And I finished strong! I told the man that put the metal around my neck at the finish line that I just ran the LA marathon he smiled and said "I know, congratulations". I cried of course because of pure joy.

This is big and I just might go on and on about this for awhile. I'm not going to be done talking about it before you are going to be finished listening I bet.

My World by Gail

"Grass does not strain to grow." I heard that said once. In other words grass gets all it needs to grow, water, light, food and it doesn't have to do anything to get it. I wrote that little statement on a 3x5 card and put it where I can see it daily. So if grass does not strain to grow then I don't have to either. We (grass and me) are created by the same God above. Life is full of surprises and changes. I have learned in all my needs over the years I have always been taken care of. Heavenly Father knows me and loves me like He loves all His creations. I'm so blessed!
Now I want t tell you how I am blessed lately. THE MARATHON!
I have to give credit to my daughter Neeley for her inspiring me to run a marathon. She did it. 26.2 miles. WOW! I am doing it too, on Sunday March 2, 2008. I have to admit I have strained in the process of training. I probably will have moments on the course where I will be saying, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? However, I have grown and I have gained so much in the process. I feel runing a marathon is like life. I have used this great book to train called The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. Of course if I didn't run the miles ahead of time my body would rebel and not let me do it but I have trained both my body and my mind. The experience truly has been a life lesson for me. I can't count how many times I have wanted to quit. At the beginning of the book they tell you to tell everyone that you are running a marathon. Ring it loud and clear that is because they know most people will quit when the miles get bigger and bigger and at least want to quit. I did, but then I would have to tell all those people when they asked how my training was going, I quit. I'm not rnning a marathon. It was too hard. I couldn't do that. I mainly don't want to disapoint myself with another failure. I am strong! I am a runner! I finish! I am a MARATHONER! I am blessed!

I am so amazed at the support I have felt all through this training. My family first of all have been my biggest fans, my cheerleaders, most of them will be at the run to cheer me on during the run. I need that so much. My friends have expressed how proud of me they are. Also the perfect strangers I meet as I'm running my long runs. Kathy is a lady I met two weeks ago on my 18 miler. She was walking her dog and said "I see you run all the time, are you running for a marathon?" I told her when and where and she said "you are amazing and I'm so proud of you" She asked me to stop by her house when I'm home after it's all over and let her know how it went. I will do that. She and all my supporters have no idea the energy that gives me. I feel it to my very center. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

As many of you know I am also raising money for The Kaiizen Foundation. My goal is $2,000.
The link to donate is http://www.active.com/donate/gail52runforids please support me by giving whatever you can to the kids.