Planning and Training to run the Have Joy. Spread Hope. 5K on Saturday is teaching me a lesson in endurance.
You have a deadline. You have tasks that must be completed before the date. There are your regular responsibilities and the pop up surprises along the way. There is always a snafu, you can count on that.
To finish you have to bear down, set your mind to it and pace yourself. If you go out too fast, you won't be able to sustain until the end.
I am finding that there are times I need to step back and take a break. I need to recharge and make my bugs the priority. Not the training schedule or the 5K. Not my job. My family.
In the middle of the chaos of life I am reminded not to loose sight of the 3 little goals who are usually right on top of me or under my feet.
Showing posts with label Joy-Hope Foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joy-Hope Foundation. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Running
The Eric and Ava Benton Joy-Hope Foundation's 5K is 4 1/2 weeks away. It's all starting to come together, and we are all just so excited to debut our Foundation and raise lots of money to support those who grieve.
I started training for the run in August. I took 2 full weeks off - one because I forgot my sneakers while we were on vacation and 1 because I hurt my knee. So now I have three weeks of training left to see if I can make that distance.
Honestly, I have no idea if I can. I want to, so I suppose that is half the battle. Will the walkers pass me? Most likely. But this is not to win. It's for me. I never do things just for me, but I am and it feels good.
There are so many side benefits that I did not foresee occurring. I have better days, emotionally, when I run. It seems that the endorphins produced and the sweat poured out helps me to pound away at all the crappy life circumstances I've endured in the past 8 years.
I have more energy for our bugs. I like that. Especially since 2 bugs couldn't produce energy. I love that by pushing myself and expending mine, I have extra to share with those I love the most.
So far, I've lost about 12 pounds! I love this. I had 5 babies in just under 6 years, all by c/s. I looked it. When we go out I have 2 nearly 6 year olds and a 3 1/2 year old. I don't have the 7 year old and the 13 month old to show why I looked the way I did. This is a battle for me and always hurt my heart in a deep and strange way. To see that I am taking shape and look a lot less like "letting myself go" that burden I've been lugging around is starting to fall away.
Who knew that I would be so into this. I am and I love it.
Our 5K theme is "Use your Energy for those who can't". You know what, whether you are afflicted with mitochondrial disease or you are dealing with grief, you don't have energy. It is awesome to see that even though my children aren't with me on earth, I can still do this for them and me too!
I started training for the run in August. I took 2 full weeks off - one because I forgot my sneakers while we were on vacation and 1 because I hurt my knee. So now I have three weeks of training left to see if I can make that distance.
Honestly, I have no idea if I can. I want to, so I suppose that is half the battle. Will the walkers pass me? Most likely. But this is not to win. It's for me. I never do things just for me, but I am and it feels good.
There are so many side benefits that I did not foresee occurring. I have better days, emotionally, when I run. It seems that the endorphins produced and the sweat poured out helps me to pound away at all the crappy life circumstances I've endured in the past 8 years.
I have more energy for our bugs. I like that. Especially since 2 bugs couldn't produce energy. I love that by pushing myself and expending mine, I have extra to share with those I love the most.
So far, I've lost about 12 pounds! I love this. I had 5 babies in just under 6 years, all by c/s. I looked it. When we go out I have 2 nearly 6 year olds and a 3 1/2 year old. I don't have the 7 year old and the 13 month old to show why I looked the way I did. This is a battle for me and always hurt my heart in a deep and strange way. To see that I am taking shape and look a lot less like "letting myself go" that burden I've been lugging around is starting to fall away.
Who knew that I would be so into this. I am and I love it.
Our 5K theme is "Use your Energy for those who can't". You know what, whether you are afflicted with mitochondrial disease or you are dealing with grief, you don't have energy. It is awesome to see that even though my children aren't with me on earth, I can still do this for them and me too!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Have Joy. Spread Hope.
It looks as if we have ourselves a Foundation!!!
The Eric and Ava Benton Joy-Hope Foundation will be holding it's kickoff event on Saturday October 23, 2010.
The Joy-Hope Foundation will provide families who are grieving the loss of their child to illness with a "New Memory Making Getaway" and support Mitochondrial Disease Research. After Ava's death friends joined together to raise funds to send our family to Disney. We found the "break" to be a huge blessing for our family and are honored to be able to offer that to others.
We will be hosting the Have Joy. Spread Hope. Inaugural 5K Run/Walk Kids Fun Run.
The race Starts and Finishes at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church located at 7 Mt Lebanon Rd, Wilmington, DE. Registration begins a 9am race starts at 10am. The race is EdJaH Chip timed, a division of races2run.
Entrance into the race is $18 if you register by Oct 21 and $22 the day of the race. A family of 4 can register for $60 and Kids under 18 can register for $15 by Oct 21 and $22 the day of the race. The Kids Fun Run is free, but the children are encouraged to obtain sponsorship. The child who raises the most money will receive a prize.
There will be t-shirts for all who are pre-registered and there will be merchandise awards for the Top Male and Female finisher, the top three in 10 year age categories and the top 3 walkers.
There will be post race refreshments provided for all as well!
Online Registration is available through http://www.races2run.com/
The direct link is:
http://www.races2run/2010/2010details/10-2010details.htm#102310-Joy
If you are not a racer or walker but would like to help you may send a donation to "The Joy-Hope Foundation" 220 Fieldstone Crossing Dr, Bear De 19701.
We will post when the Joy-Hope Foundation website is up and running! http://www.joyhopefoundation.com/ if you would like to peek at our logo.
We are a not for profit foundation, who is pending IRS approval. Donations are tax deductible to the extent which is allowable by law.
The Eric and Ava Benton Joy-Hope Foundation will be holding it's kickoff event on Saturday October 23, 2010.
The Joy-Hope Foundation will provide families who are grieving the loss of their child to illness with a "New Memory Making Getaway" and support Mitochondrial Disease Research. After Ava's death friends joined together to raise funds to send our family to Disney. We found the "break" to be a huge blessing for our family and are honored to be able to offer that to others.
We will be hosting the Have Joy. Spread Hope. Inaugural 5K Run/Walk Kids Fun Run.
The race Starts and Finishes at Brandywine Valley Baptist Church located at 7 Mt Lebanon Rd, Wilmington, DE. Registration begins a 9am race starts at 10am. The race is EdJaH Chip timed, a division of races2run.
Entrance into the race is $18 if you register by Oct 21 and $22 the day of the race. A family of 4 can register for $60 and Kids under 18 can register for $15 by Oct 21 and $22 the day of the race. The Kids Fun Run is free, but the children are encouraged to obtain sponsorship. The child who raises the most money will receive a prize.
There will be t-shirts for all who are pre-registered and there will be merchandise awards for the Top Male and Female finisher, the top three in 10 year age categories and the top 3 walkers.
There will be post race refreshments provided for all as well!
Online Registration is available through http://www.races2run.com/
The direct link is:
http://www.races2run/2010/2010details/10-2010details.htm#102310-Joy
If you are not a racer or walker but would like to help you may send a donation to "The Joy-Hope Foundation" 220 Fieldstone Crossing Dr, Bear De 19701.
We will post when the Joy-Hope Foundation website is up and running! http://www.joyhopefoundation.com/ if you would like to peek at our logo.
We are a not for profit foundation, who is pending IRS approval. Donations are tax deductible to the extent which is allowable by law.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Faces
So Emily was having a hard time off and on today that culminated in on. She just broke down while making a book. This is not like her, really. She bottles it all up until her defenses are down and then look out.
I looked at her little face all twisted and incredibly sad at dinner. I felt sucker punched. I realized that I haven't seen that look since Disney. Prior to Disney that was the face I the majority of the day. Every day for a month, I saw my grief stricken babies and I don't think I realized how sad they looked for being caught up in my own grief. To see that face tonight was more heartbreaking. I don't want to go back to nearly 4 months ago. I want to move forward and get away from that intense full on pain.
Only God and time will do that. I just can't feel like back peddling. As much as I hate to see that grief on the face of my sweet bug, I know they hate to see it on Mommy and Daddy as well.
As much as that was and is hard to see, manage and deal with. I find that I am grateful for the fact that while it pops out, we are not in it constantly. I can see that we have made progress. So that is good.
What I also realized is how important the mission of the Joy-Hope Foundation is. Those long faces were chipped and cracked into smiles and twinkling eyes in Disney. Our family could be free to be where we were and have fun. To be distracted and to step out of ourselves.
After Eric died a generous family greatly helped us to go away. We went to St Maarten. When we came home as I would feel so incredibly sad I could picture pristine sand and blue green water. It just helped to see the beauty in the world. To be out in it. To be anonymous. It was refreshing.
I am grateful that two times now we were able to bookmark the grief and have something fabulous to think about.
I looked at her little face all twisted and incredibly sad at dinner. I felt sucker punched. I realized that I haven't seen that look since Disney. Prior to Disney that was the face I the majority of the day. Every day for a month, I saw my grief stricken babies and I don't think I realized how sad they looked for being caught up in my own grief. To see that face tonight was more heartbreaking. I don't want to go back to nearly 4 months ago. I want to move forward and get away from that intense full on pain.
Only God and time will do that. I just can't feel like back peddling. As much as I hate to see that grief on the face of my sweet bug, I know they hate to see it on Mommy and Daddy as well.
As much as that was and is hard to see, manage and deal with. I find that I am grateful for the fact that while it pops out, we are not in it constantly. I can see that we have made progress. So that is good.
What I also realized is how important the mission of the Joy-Hope Foundation is. Those long faces were chipped and cracked into smiles and twinkling eyes in Disney. Our family could be free to be where we were and have fun. To be distracted and to step out of ourselves.
After Eric died a generous family greatly helped us to go away. We went to St Maarten. When we came home as I would feel so incredibly sad I could picture pristine sand and blue green water. It just helped to see the beauty in the world. To be out in it. To be anonymous. It was refreshing.
I am grateful that two times now we were able to bookmark the grief and have something fabulous to think about.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Big Steps
Today is the day we take our first official step in getting the Eric and Ava Benton Joy-Hope Foundation up and running. It's an exciting step. We are on the precipice of something wonderful. While I am wondering how all this will really be possible, I can't wait to get out there and help other families.
It's funny, I don't have many expectations about this meeting, I'm not sure if it's a "here's a boat load of money let's get our paperwork done" or a "these are the things we want to do" type meeting. I do know it's the first step and getting it off the ground.
Getting the foundation off the ground will lead to a 5K and planning a fund raiser concert event. I don't know the details, I know our vision. I also know that for the better part of a year now I haven't known the details and it all seems to work better that way. God is doing this. I'm just following.
While I wish there weren't any families that would need to go on vacation after the death of their child, I can't wait to make that a possibility for those people. I can't wait to bring awareness to a disease that is so misunderstood, especially in the medical field. I hope to band together with others who are affected and see where that goes.
What's really cool is that the bugs really want to do this as well. They have a very really idea of be supported from the community and they can't wait to dive in and return the favor. I had no idea that that would occur, what a cool and surprise blessing!
It's funny, I don't have many expectations about this meeting, I'm not sure if it's a "here's a boat load of money let's get our paperwork done" or a "these are the things we want to do" type meeting. I do know it's the first step and getting it off the ground.
Getting the foundation off the ground will lead to a 5K and planning a fund raiser concert event. I don't know the details, I know our vision. I also know that for the better part of a year now I haven't known the details and it all seems to work better that way. God is doing this. I'm just following.
While I wish there weren't any families that would need to go on vacation after the death of their child, I can't wait to make that a possibility for those people. I can't wait to bring awareness to a disease that is so misunderstood, especially in the medical field. I hope to band together with others who are affected and see where that goes.
What's really cool is that the bugs really want to do this as well. They have a very really idea of be supported from the community and they can't wait to dive in and return the favor. I had no idea that that would occur, what a cool and surprise blessing!
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