Life's Simple Pleasures: June 2014

One of Life's Simple Pleasures is knowing that we can all accomplish hard things. Last Saturday I ran a marathon! As my race date got closer and closer I started to think I had been crazy when I signed up to run a marathon a week before my wedding. It was hard to make myself train everyday in all of the wedding stress and health issues I had been experiencing. But, the feeling of accomplishment and the wonderful family support I felt made it all completely worth it.
This is an excerpt from the e-mail I sent my missionary sister about it: I especially missed you on Saturday because...guess what... I RAN A MARATHON!!!!! Oh my goodnight!! That is a long ways to run! Okay, spiritual lesson from a marathon race. At the beginning of the race I felt great! My blood was pumped full of energy my legs felt strong and loose and I was running at a 6:10 mile pace. That is like the times in life when we are feeling on top of the world because we have everything together. It is easy to get a little prideful and go out a little fast. I kept that up for 9 miles before my stomach began aching horribly. Finally, at mile 11, I ran into a porta-pottie (yes, I was so low I used one of those nasties) and had diarrhea and blood. I still kept going but was feeling a little thrown off. Sometimes life throws us unpleasant surprises. Pretty soon after that I was certain I was done because my tummy hurt so bad. I could either give up and run a poor race or I could keep moving (step step step...). Two things that kept me stepping: our sweet family cheering me on, and the aid stations. Heavenly Father never intended us to have to go through this life alone, although it often felt that way between cheering sections and aid stations. We were given people, especially our families, to bless and strengthen us in hard times. Even better than that He gives us the holy ghost. We just have to listen to the happy voice in our head and not the grumpy one. Lastly, I cannot explain to you how much I looked forward to the aid stations to give me poweraid and water (energy boosters). This can be like taking the sacrament, going to temple or having a spiritual experience. They sometimes don't happen as often as we like, but we can know that we will have them as often as we need to give us spiritual boosters and turn our hearts to the true source of strength, Jesus Christ our Savior. It's such a blessing to know we are not alone even in times of extreme hardship.