Hurry!

Over the holidays I played the game Catch Phrase with my family. Um, I love that game. It's like an electronic version of Hot Potato. You spend however many seconds frantically shouting out guesses, or frantically trying to get your team to frantically shout out guesses, all while the beeping timer is getting faster and faster and faster and faster until the buzzer finally goes off. Ah! I feel a little frantic just having typed that! Well, while I was playing I realized my life generally feels like a game of Catch Phrase. I am always in a hurry. There are mornings when I wake up that I delay letting my feet hit the floor because I know the second they do, the rush will begin. Hurry up and get the baby downstairs before he wakes the toddler. Hurry up and make a bazillion breakfasts before the herd comes to submit their requests. If that goes swell, I might hurry up and switch the laundry I neglected the night before. Then I can hurry up and drink my coffee that I have warmed up in the microwave at least three times so that I can hurry up and read my Bible (No, those two things can seemingly not ever be accomplished simultaneously for reasons I have yet to figure out.). Then I can hurry up and get the baby out of his activity center because I let him remain there until the point of no return and he is now disrupting the peace with crying. Then begins the ascent upstairs where it takes an asinine amount of time to get five people ready for the day. I will spare you those details. From there, I hurry to wipe one kid's tushy so I can change another's diaper. I hurry to teach the 5 year old the value of money, so I can hurry to teach the 3 year old the difference between an oval and a circle, so I can hurry to teach the 2 year old to (for the love of Pete) put her poop in the potty, so I can hurry to teach the 6 month old to sleep in his crib. Hurry! I hurry to clean up lunch before someone asks me for a snack. Then, because the toddler broke into the pebbles (translation: pretzels) while I was hurrying to put away the vacuum, I now grab the broom so I can hurry and sweep up the crumbs. Hurry up and get everyone outside for fresh air before the sun sets. Hurry up and get everyone back inside so I can make dinner. Hurry up and clean these toys up off the floor before I throw EVERYTHING AWAY! Now that Daddy is home and dinner has been eaten, hurry up and clean up the kitchen so we can hurry up and relax!

And so it goes. If you see me sitting down I am likely thinking about the next thing that needs done so I can do the thing before someone else comes along and imposes a new thing that now needs done that I need to do. When I lay my head on my pillow at night, it takes me about three and a half seconds to fall asleep. And my thoughts when I drift off too sleep are most likely, "Hurry up and sleep before the baby wakes up!" I'm always in a hurry.

Occasionally when the stars align, or when my husband and I both can sense my sanity is in jeopardy, I go for a run where I can continue my hurrying. I hurry to take in the fresh air, hurry to be alone, hurry to see how far I can get this time, and I hurry to get back home before I'm needed. But this hurrying is a good one. It restores my peace of mind, reminds me that I am an individual, and provides a little reprieve. Even just 20 minutes can fill my heart and encourage my soul. I had four children in exactly five years and five days. Hm, I guess I was in a bit of a hurry there too. In between each of my children I managed to get a race on the calendar. Putting a race on the calendar provided the motivation I needed to get myself out the door, because although I might not have hit the starting line in tip top shape, I at least needed to know that I could hit the finish line without dying, puking, or walking (I shall not pay money to walk!). Looking back, I can see how those races made me feel enough like myself again that I could go from one pregnancy to another knowing that I hadn't totally lost myself. I'm thankful.

Now I find myself post pregnancy again (But like a forever post pregnancy this time. I think:/). And I felt like it was time to put a race on the calendar. I felt super motivated one night so I decided to register for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. I did the full marathon back in 2009. I can tell you this is not the phase of life for me to run another full, but running a half in this phase of life might actually be equivalent to running a full! I also decided to take on an extra challenge and run as a charity runner. A first for me. In all honesty, I feel intimidated by both the miles and the money (My starting goal is to raise $350). But I know like many challenges you can only take it one day at a time, one mile at a time, one dollar at a time. So that's what I plan to do.

I am super pumped about the charity I am raising money for. Light of Life Rescue Mission is a place I have a personal connection with, as it is my father-in-law's place of employment. I get to hear firsthand stories of how this place is impacting it's community. Their mission is the following: "Providing a home for the homeless and food for the hungry, and building disciples for the Kingdom of God among the poor, addicted, abused and needy". That's a cause I can get behind. The fact that they seek to meet practical needs while also providing Christ is huge. You can check out more about how they are transforming lives by visiting their website: https://www.lightoflife.org/the-mission/about/.

Over the next couple months I'll be working to raise the money (and the miles!). I would like to ask you to consider supporting me. Every dollar counts and every dollar goes towards supporting Light of Life.  There are several ways you can make a donation:
1) Online. You can access my online fundraising account by clicking directly on the link below:
https://www.crowdrise.com/LightOfLifePittsburgh2016/fundraiser/heidipi
2) Check: You can make it out to Light of Light and include "Heidi Pié Half Marathon Runner" on the memo line.
3) Cash.
*Both checks and cash can be mailed to me. If you need my mailing address, please contact me.

I want to say thank you ahead of time for all of you who are going to join me on this journey. You are appreciated! I will be keeping everyone updated on my progress along the way.

Okay, well, I better hurry up and go!

Providing a home for the homeless and food for the hungry, and  building disciples for the Kingdom of God among the poor, addicted, abused and needy. - See more at: https://www.lightoflife.org/#sthash.rBvUut7N.dpuf

Providing a home for the homeless and food for the hungry, and  building disciples for the Kingdom of God among the poor, addicted, abused and needy. - See more at: https://www.lightoflife.org/#sthash.rBvUut7N.dpuf