22 Minutes. (By: Jessica)

A few days ago I had 22 minutes.

22 minutes to myself, guilt free, given to me by my husband.

It was a sweet, thoughtful, and totally surprising gift.

We were sitting in the living room. Toby, me, Cece, and Leo. Kids playing and Toby and I talking. I told him about all the things I had on my mind. I wasn't complaining (or at least I didn't think I was or I honestly wasn't trying to) but just simply making conversation about things I was currently working on and trying to finish up.

Out of no where, Toby says this.... "Want me to make you a bath?"

I was taken so off guard, I didn't know how to respond. I think I laughed, thinking this statement was not serious..... something similar to when someone says, "Would you like a million dollars?"

I thought he was joking and trying to make me smile.

Then he said this.... "With a glass of wine?"

Then I KNEW he was joking. He was now making this a dream; something that only happened in movies. A woman soaking in a bubble bath, hair up in a beautiful up-do, perfect make-up on, rsting her head on a fluffy little pillow, her perfectly painted toes sticking out of thousands of tiny multi-colored bubbles, in a claw foot tub with one of those things that connects to the sides of the tub like a shelf, holding a crystal wine glass with perfectly chilled pinot inside.

If you are a fan of the TV show "Roseanne", this reminds me of the episode where she is in her dream bathroom with  muscular, half naked men fanning her with huge palms.

Then he said this......"With the door locked".

Finally.... I realized he was serious.

Why did I suddenly realize he was serious when he mentioned a locked door? Because he knows how much I miss a locked bathroom door.

I looked at him deep in the eyes. Looked at the sexy, playful, yet serious, smirk on his face and immediately took him up on the offer before he took it back!

I jumped up from the couch and headed toward the spa bathroom, while Toby got up and went to find the wine cork.

I guess I got a little excited, cause I already had the door locked before Toby could even get a wine glass out of the cabinet. Hearing the "click" of the lock gave me goosebumps.

Here are some details concerning the next 22 minutes.......

• the water was already running and the bath smelled of Johnson & Johnson bedtime bath wash
• when it was over half-way full I got in. 
• the water was already luke warm cause we had run out of hot water
• When I stepped in and sat down, a tidal wave medium size wave splashed over the edge of the tub, rudely  reminding me of the 10 pounds I would love to loose. 
• I sat back, sighed, and closed my eyes, thinking to myself that I could legit fall asleep. Here. Just like this. 
• Toby knocked on the door with my wine. 
• I had to get out, naked and cold, open the door just enough to slide my hand out, and take the wine. 
• I proceeded to get back into the tub, a little less warm than before, causing a slightly bigger wave to splash over the side because I was now lowering myself into the tub with the aid of only one free hand.  (damn these 10 lbs) 
• I sipped the wine and then sipped some more and then sipped some more, until it was totally gone in less that 5 minutes. Maybe I should have tried to make it last a little longer? Or maybe Toby should have filled it up fuller. 
• I set the glass on the floor and just rested, trying to slow down my mind and take a break from all the "to-do's" and "need-to-buy's" and "don't forget's". 
• Then I heard the door knob jiggle. 
• And jiggle again.
• Then I opened my eyes and now watched it jiggle. 
• Then a small voice yells, "MOM?" and then an annoyed "HEYYYYYYY!"  when he realizes the door is locked.
• Then I heard loud man-like footsteps and the scurry of little feet in a direction away from the door. 
• I then smiled and thought about that voice and laughed a little bit. 
• I rested a bit more. 
• Got bored. 
• Was a little chilly. 
• and snapped outta the moment. 

I grabbed my phone and looked at the time.

22 minutes had passed.

I took a deep breath, avoided seeing myself in the mirror, grabbed a towel, unlocked the door, and got back to real life.

22 minutes.

It was all I needed. A quite moment, with a few gulps of wine, a little  luke warm soak in baby bath, and the sweet sound of my son's voice wanting to come in.

I honestly will never forget that moment/gift.

It's the little things.

Ralph and Marj. Marj and Ralph. (By: Jessica)

Toby's grandparents will be married for 65 years in October.

When asked what they wanted to do special for their anniversary, they said that they wanted to go bar-hopping.

Well, an 80 year old couple's version of bar-hopping anyway. (going around to the local "clubs" and having a drink with all their grandkids) But bar-hopping is bar-hopping to me no matter how you do it.

That's awesome.

Ralph and Marj are such special people. Not because they want to go bar-hopping with me (even though that is pretty bad a**), but for so many other reasons BESIDES that.

When I first met Toby, one of the first things that I learned about him was that he had an awesome relationship with his grandparents.

 I was introduced to Ralph and Marj early on in the relationship and I think it was Toby's way of "hooking me in" for good and making sure I stuck around.

I can't tell you the exact moment when I met Ralph and Marj, or what was said or where we were at.... but I can say this..... I KNEW I was gonna love them someday. And boy was I right.

I believe God puts people in your life for a reason. We may never know the reason, but the people that we know were specifically placed there by God, Himself.

I knew from the instant when Ralph told me that he liked Key Lime Pie that I loved him.

 Every time I see Ralph I hug him. He doesn't hug me...I hug him.  I can't wait to get my hands on him first! I just love him! When I hug Ralph I see and feel a glimpse of my own grandpa and my dad. Why? I don't know. Ralph is not really similar to either one of them... but for some reason hugging Ralph fills a void in my heart. He also is always warm, smells good, and always hugs me back.

And that smile. Ohhhh.... it's a statement piece! He may be missing a couple teeth, but I wouldn't know that smile any other way. I love Ralph's long chin, thin face, and big ear lobes.

And Marj... she is a fun time!

All the time!

I love, love, love, love the sound of her voice.

I can't even begin to explain it. There's no way I could explain it. Only those who know Marj know her voice. But, I will forever know what it sounds like and so will Leo and Cece.

When Leo was born, Ralph and Marj gave him a book and they recorded their voices reading it. When I first heard it, I cried. I didn't even listen to it all the way. I shut it immediately. It was too much for this post-pardum depressed new mom could handle.  Out of allllll the gifts we received in honor of our first born, that one is my favorite. Sorry to everyone else who gave us gifts, but Ralph and Marj gift takes the cake.

 Aside from Marj's "know-it-anywhere" voice, her presence is all I need. When she's around, everyone seems happier. Maybe it's just me who is happier, but everyone else is always smiling too.

When Marj is around you can count on a funny story, remark, word said incorrectly (peez-za), some kind of statement said to or about Ralph that is hilarious, and always, always laughter.

 I'll never forget when she tried to teach me how to crochet and how bad of a failure it was. She tried so hard to make me understand.... but it wasn't happening.

 I'll also never forget how scared I was she got sick about a year ago.

I loved, LOVED, playing cards with Marge on our Beckstedt family vacation a few years ago. Sitting around the card table with her, listening to her teach me how to play, then playing game after game. It was fun.

The image of Ralph paining all our walls in Toby and I's first home together makes me grin ear-to-ear. Hearing him get up at 5am and start painting, for us, was enough to make me jump outta bed and run out to see the first swipe of paint go on the wall. (in which I immediately yelled "STOP!", I don't like that color once I see it. Can we get another color?!") He painted our ENTIRE HOUSE in 2 days. Room by room. Bright turquoise blue to bright sunshine yellow. He was a rainbow by the time he was done and he worked hard. Bless him.

I loved our wedding day and sharing Ralph and Marj with our friends, who soon fell in love with them too! I'm still bitter about the fact that I didn't get to ride in the limo with them to the reception. I missed a fun time..... or so I heard.  Oh!!!!!! and the wedding "after-party" in the hotel room..... and I'm not talkin about Toby and I's hotel room..... we had a blast and Marj was the life of the party and Ralph took his shirt off.

I never had a real relationship with either one of my grandparents, so maybe that's why I find Toby's relationship with his so unbelievable.

 I envy it.

 Does he know how lucky he is?

When we lived in Greenville, Toby and I would be driving somewhere and we would randomly want to call Marj. Just talk to her. We would put her on speaker phone and both of us would just giggle every time she said "hello"!

When we were invited to bar-hop with Ralph and Marj last week to help celebrate their anniversary it go me thinking about how incredible this couple is. (and how much I needed a drink and was glad to have a night out coming up)

 While I was getting ready for work the other morning, alllllll I thought about was Ralph and Marj and how much I love them.

Do they know?

I doubt it.

I tell them "I love you", but I tell everyone I love them. Not that is doesn't mean anything, but to me, it's just a simple phrase said at least 10 times a day.

 I believe I was superposed to fall in love with these people. God wanted me to and planned on it to happen for me. They are one of the many reasons why I thank Him everyday.

Happy anniversary, Ralph and Marge. I'd be honored to buy you a drink!

Half Marathon #2..... training (By: Jess)

In the words of my friend, Britt.....,

"Opps, I did it again.....".

Never did I think I would train, do, and finish (1) half marathon.

Now, I currently training and (hopefully!) will do/finish another one.

This process is more than  race to me. In fact its not a race at all. I don't feel like I'm "racing" anyone...... but myself.

Why am I doing this? Lots of reasons....

• I like to have something to work toward 
• I like to exercise
• I need to have something pushing me, cause really no one else will. 
• I like the feeling of working really hard at something and succeeding. 
• Its something my friends, Nicole and Maria, and I do together. 
• I want my kids to be proud of me....someday 
• I want to be proud of me.
• I like the fact that I still amaze myself that I am actually doing something like this. (running is NOT in my gene pool)
• Time alone to run is therapeutic 
• Cause I like to eat food and drink alcohol 

The 2nd half marathon  that I'm getting ready to embark on (still can't believe it!)  is going to be right here in my hometown of Celina, OH. I don't have to take an airplane this time and my friends will be coming to me! Bliss.

It's at the end of September and it's creeping up on me fast.

My training this time around went really good........ at first.

I started training in July. I ran (5) days a week. 3miles, 3miles, 4miles, long run, 3 miles, and 60 min walk/bike.

I ran in a lot of different places..... bike path down by where Toby works is my favorite! I ran through our neighborhood, through the park, through the neighborhood across the street, around the lake, on the bike path by the lake, through downtown Celina, and on the bike path by Walmart.

I have a routine. I run 4 minutes/walk 2 minutes. I got up to running 5 minutes/walking 2 minutes, but then I had a set back. I listen to "Boyance Avenue" on Pandora. I honestly love every song that is played. (sidenote: I'm going to their concert at the end of October! Cannot.Wait.) I use 3 apps at once; my interval timer, my Nike GPS, and Pandora. If I did not have access to these apps... I have NO IDEA how I would make it through a run. When I'm done, I post my Nike results to FB and twitter. Why? For verification to my partner, Maria. It keeps me accountable.

I did not miss one single day of training...... until 2 weeks ago.

I started having a weird knee pain that just wouldn't go away. I tried ice and creams and wraps and nothing really helped. So I did something that I KNEW would work. Rest.

I rested for 1 week and was planning on getting back at it. But, it still was bothering me. So I took another week off. That seemed to do it. Kinda.

Since July, I have been running in the mornings. It was perfect for me. The life of a teacher......

But now that school is back in session, its H.A.R.D.

I was supposed to run on Monday (3 miles), Tuesday (3 miles), Wednesday (4 miles), Friday (6 miles) and Saturday (9 miles) . Rest days are Thursdays and Sundays.

This week I ran Tuesday (3 miles) and Wednesday (4 miles).

Slack.

I want to do it.... but I just don't have it in me by the time the school day is over, dinner is made, kids are fed and baths have been given. At that point in my day, (usually 8pm ish) running any number of miles seems   is impossible.

If I "suck it up" and just do it.... I feel good.
If I don't, I'm hard on myself. And I am bummed.

The thing with running is that once I get going.... I'm OK. I am pretty good at finishing what I start. Even if I feel like total dog barf and its hot and sticky and I can't catch a breath and my legs feel like wet sand bags and I probably look like a complete train wreck..... I will keep going. Because I told myself I would and I don't want to hear it from myself if I wimp out or quit early or give up.

Plus, the pay off emotionally, mentally, and physically from completing a run (especially when I didn't want to) is awesome.

Seriously.... you should try it. The best medicine.

But.... dang.... sometimes that prescription for that medicine feels like it costs $5,000. And sometimes I just don't have the money,

Anyway- I have a good (3) weeks left and here is my plan....

Do my damn best.
Im gonna TRY my hardest to get at least 3 runs in a week.... whatever day of the week works out the best.
A 3 miles run
A 5 mile run
and then the dreaded "long run".

At this point, my long run is starting at 9 miles.

I want to be able to have at least (1) 12 mile run under my belt before the big event.

My goals:
1. Finish in at least 3 hrs and 30 min. My last half, I finished in almost 4 hrs.
2. Keep my pace under 14 min per mile. Right now I'm at 13:40 per mile
3. Keep up with my interval timer
4. TRY to do 5 min run/2 min walk the whole time. NO LESS that 4 min run/2 min walk.

Heres hopin'

Wish me luck! Pray for me! I'll keep you posted!!!