Boston Forever

I woke up this morning with such a heavy heart but since I just woke, I didn't remember why I was sad.  It wasn't until I brushed the sleep out of my eyes that I remember what happened yesterday in Boston. 

You see, last year I was there. My amazing dad ran the Boston Marathon. I cheered him on at mile 16 and took the subway to the finish line to meet my dad, along with the thousands of others who were supporting their loved ones who lived out their own dreams. 

I was in the crowds of the thousands of runners and their families, the hundreds of volunteers and the media at the finish line. It was a zoo! I can only imagine how more crazy it was yesterday. 

My dad wanted to train again really hard the past year to qualify for Boston again for 2013 but in late summer 2012, he injured his foot real bad and to this day can't run 6k without it hurting. That is the scary part, thinking my family could have been down there this year again. If I think about, it would just be my parents as I have exams and papers to write this week. But we weren't down there. Thank you Lord for not letting my dads foot heal in time. (Feels silly to thank him for that, but really it saved our lives.) 

Boston and the Marathon is always talked about is my house, we have shirts and hats from last year always being worn. My family has goals of going again, maybe next year. Boston will always have a special place in our hearts. 

As much as I didn't want this post to be about my family or myself. It is coming out that way and I need to express my feelings. 

What happened yesterday sucked. It's sad and I want to cry. As a future elementary teacher I still feel uneasy about what happened in Newtown and now this? We can't even run one of the worlds most prestigious marathon in the world without fearing for our life. This world needs help. We need new laws...stat. 

Hearing the stories about the man who ran 26 miles for the 26 victims in Newtown and now his legs are gone?! I'm speechless at that. 

I encourage everyone today to wear blue or yellow in honour of all the victims and those for witnessed everything. If you can, go out and run. Even if it is 26 steps. 

I pray that all runners and their families get home safe and sound today. I pray for peace in this world that is changing and becoming dark....very fast. 

Friday Randoms

Hope everyone is having a great day and looking forward to the long weekend. It's been a crazy week here, I had two mid-terms this week. I won't apologize for not blogging much because I don't want blogging to all I do and run my life.

• First off, my heart is heavy today as one of my bloggy friends Jenn is at the hospital visiting her very sick gramma. Jenn wrote a great post explaining just how sick she is with stage 4 lung cancer. For all those prayer warriors out there, please include Jenn's Gramma in your prayers tonight. And pray for Jenn and her family as they need comfort.

• I'm on reading week! So looking forward to having a week off. My plans? Sleep and homework. Sleep to get rid out the dark bags under my eyes. And yes, I should do some homework, get those assignments out of the way.

• Things for my brothers wedding is coming a long nicely. Right now, Danielle's sisters and I are planning the Jack and Jill which is on March 24th. I've never been to one but from what Danielle tells me, it's a big party with prizes. I am beyond excited for this wedding!

• Wanna knows what sucks? Getting a bleeding nose during my run this morning. Nothing like standing in the middle of the sidewalk gushing blood. Thank goodness I had a Kleenex in my back pocket! #closeone!

We remember.

Today, is Remembrance day. A day to remember those who fought for our freedom and are still fighting today. 

My Grandpa Hannon was in World War II as a tank operator. He was shot in the right side of his brain and came home paralyzed. He met my Grandma Hannon and had my aunt and my daddy. 

So when 11am comes around, I hope everyone stops and for a moment to remember the heros.

Poppies that Canadians where to show remembrance

RIP Jack Layton

On monday morning Canada lost a very popular politician named Jack Layton from cancer. Jack was the leader of the New Democatic Party from 2003-2011 before he stepped down to focus on his health. In February 2011 Jack announced he had prostate cancer. He vowed to beat the cancer and said it would not interrupt his duties as member of Parliament or as leader of the NDP. The whole country seemed to have his back. On July 25, 2011 Jack announced that he would be taking a temporary leave from his post to fight an unspecified, newly diagnosed cancer. He was hoping to return as leader of the NDP upon the resumption of the House of Commons in September 2011.

He died monday at 4:45am in Toronto with his family.

When we think the word "politician" good words don't come to mind. Jack changed that. All Canadians, regardless of what political office you belonged too, loved Jack. He was the guy who loved to jam and have a nice beer. He always could be found in local bars when the Toronto Maple Leafs were playing a big game.

Aside from being a great person, Jack was a strong leader for us Canadians. He gave us a voice and made sure we were heard in Ottawa during Parliament.

I might Jack back when I  was in grade 8, when the grads went to Ottawa and Quebec for a week long school trip. None of the other politicians came out/gave us a tour of this big building that the debates took place in, except for Mr.Layton. He was that type of person.

While on his death bed Jack wrote a letter to all Canadians. It's a lenghy letter basically saying how much he has loved fighting for Canada. He included a paragraph encouaring those who are fighting cancer and young Canadians who want to work in the government.

At the end of his letter Jack wrote this: My friends, love is greater than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world.

This  is  the  kind  of   man  who worked  for  us.  Jack:  Thanks   for  all  you   did,  you  will  be  missed.

Monday Monday Monday

You're about to read some random stuff. You've been warned!

I am so excited for the Royal Wedding this Friday. I was watching the specials that TLC was playing yesterday evening and now am pumped up. I plan to come home from work thursday, sleep until 2:58am, watch the wedding till 11 am and sleep till 3:50 when I have to go to work friday evening. My parents think I'm crazy but hey, it's a once and a lifetime thing. Wills and Kate are actually my first royal wedding (as I'm sure it is for most people) so that makes it more exciting :)

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As you might know my brother is getting married next may (90% sure the big day is may 26.) I'm really excited to be a bridesmaid! Last week I went into Davids Bridals to get catologs for Danielle. While I was there I found my dream wedding dress, I was thisclose to trying on the dress! I'll try to find a picture and post it here, ya know for my upcoming wedding...not.
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I'm seriously comtemplating cutting my hair short. I like this (left), its from a another blogger. One thing I don't want is the typical short "mom" cut. This isn't a mom cut, is it? Right, right?! (ignore the writing...I couldn't get it cut off)

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I've started running again. Last night I ran 4km in 25 minutes. Feels good, hopefully I will get out today. Actually no, I will get out today.

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3 weeks yesterday I will be in Alberta! I'm going away for two weeks to visit my dad's sister and her family. I'm really looking forward to it!

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Yesterday was a sad day at church. A long time member (when I say long time I mean 30+ years, brought his kids up at my church ect) died last night. About a year a go Greg found out his cancer was back. He did chemo/radiation and fought it. Then in the fall it came back, he knew it would be harder to beat and tried his hardest. A month a go Greg and his wife went to the Philippines for mission work and that's where he died. It's always a shock when I open the weekly bullentins and find out a faithful member has passed. Please keep them in your prayers.      Greg-if heaven has wi-fi (which I hope it does) and you're reading this. We miss you. I'll always remember you as being the "hand shaker," you were always shaking peoples hands! It made me feel special when you shook my hand. You've made it Greg: You lived the godly life and I know you're enjoying spending time with Jesus. Thank you for everything you did for our church.

happy monday friends!

 

Heavy Heart

Here I am at 12:06 am writing this post. This post is something that I've been thinking about writing for a long time (ha past month). It is a topic that I'm very sensitive about. Only my BFF (and now brother and mom know about.) I might come across someone who is full of life, happy and independent but I'm not.

You must be dying to know what I'm hinting about. Well its my love life (or my non-love life)Even though I'm only 18 (19 in march) I worry about my love life.

I'm going to be honest, this fact scares me to write, knowing it's on the world wide web. But I've never had a boyfriend (other than 3 week fling in grade 9) Why should that bother me?! I know girls who say I'm lucky. "You don't have to be careful or answer to someone" But I WANT TO. I want someone. I'm not talking about marriage ( I want to get married, I know many who at this age were planning their wedding, their still happily together) but just someone to hang out with other than my girl friends. Now, don't understand me, I like guys. I have crushes (hate using that word..crushes so grade 3) I flirt. I know what I want. But my problem is when I think the guy knows I like him...I freeze. I back off. I stop flirting. All because I'm afraid of getting hurt. I pull back. I regret this.

Every once and a while (read:that time of the month) when my hormones are going CRAZY, it seems that all I think about is marriage/moving in/kids.

Today was one of those days.

It was my brothers birthday on the 19th (happy 24th Ryan!) so he and his girlfriend D came into the city for dinner. The last weekends my bro has stopped in to visit he has poked some fun at me. (We always do this, its normal) but this time I didn't take it as a joke and had a melt down in the basement. It went like this: enter grandma, "oh hey cutie"

me: aww hi grandma (totally shocked to see her, didn't know she was coming by)

ryan: who else did you think it was? grandma is the only person that's gonna call you cute.

Oh NO he didn't. But he did.

I brushed it off like it was nothing but as I walked down the hall to my room I just felted the water works coming. I excused myself and went downstairs to watch thursdays greys episode (I lied, to ball my eyes out). Never have I felt like that. I knew he meant no harm but when my emotions are playing with me already I couldn't stop them. The worst part was, I was thinking that my bro who loves me a lot, meant that no one would ever want to be with me. Then the negative talk entered my mind. "Because your not good enough, not pretty enough, it would help to lose 10 pounds." ya, um I can be really REALLY mean to myself.

It just seems like everywhere you look, people are in love, holding hands, kissing, getting married. But me. When I see this all.the.freakin.time. Its hard not to think that I'm going to end up as the crazy cat lady.

But I'm wrong.

I know that God has someone for me. He even says that its not good for people to be alone. I have faith in him that he has a great Christian guy waiting to sweep me off my feet. I know he does because I pray for my future boyfriend/husband a few times a week. Its the waiting part that kills me. The unknown part that scares me. I'm a planner, I like to know when stuff is gonna happen. But God doesn't work that way. I have to wait. Wait for my love. Wait for my time. It will come, I know.

~~~When a door closes, another opens~~~

Yup.

I'm done with the high school relationship stuff and ready for the better more serious stuff!

My mom did come down and I told her what had happened, and she explained to Ryan what was going on. He did come down and said sorry. He didn't know it would hurt my feelings. I'm not mad at him, never was, just my feelings were hurt and the negative talk wasn't helping at all.

HAPPY SUNDAY