60 Miles in 3 Days

I have survived! My mom and I walked all 60 miles! I can not put into words what the walk was like. Emotional, amazing, draining, humbling, exciting, rough, tremendous, I mean seriously words can not express it.

Day one: Was miserable beyond belief. I am not even sure how warm it got...I am thinking only in the 40's. It rained the entire, yes ENTIRE time. We got to opening ceremonies around 6:30 a.m, and then started walking around 8:30 a.m. We walked in the cold, rain, sleet, fog...it was just miserable. But everyone had such great attitudes, and walking was fun, unless you had to keep your head down to stay out of the rain. We were lucky enough to sleep inside that night (not in the tents we were suppose to).

Day two: We started out about 5:30 a.m. We just walked and walked and walked. I got the first blister about mile 35 and mom got one soon after. The difference is that mom's was under a toe nail so when we got back to camp she had to go to the medic tent. We camped outside and the camp was fun, and beautiful weather!

Day three: Was fantastic! We were up again about 5:30 a.m. and walking into Atlanta. The weather was great, and the walking was mostly on sidewalks. I got blisters on top of blisters, and my legs just became tired. But I made it through all 60 miles. We met up with Jacob for closing ceremonies. It was good to soak my feet.

I am feeling great, and actually felt pretty good the day after. After awhile you just become so tired that your muscles go numb. I loved the entire experience. I want you all to be able to see as many photos as I could add. Please click on the links below to view parts of the amazing journey!

Here is Day 1 and Day 2
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2269335&l=d6beb&id=12126284

Here is Day 2 and Day 3
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2269342&l=dfc49&id=12126284

Thanks to all who rocked my world in many different ways!

A rousing recap!!!

Okay it has been a while and not completely my fault.  My life is just a bit out of control.  Between regular school commitments, tutoring, wife commitments, Church and small group I have not had more than 1 hour of down time in almost 3 weeks.  I know, I know...don't wear your body out, slow down...enjoy life.  Well I happen to be really enjoying life so far :)

Umm...trying to think what has happened.  I took my fifth grade class (read field trip) up to the top of Stone Mountain.  They were so well behaved, and the trip was amazing.  A great landform lesson, and we tied it into the Civil War - yes for double dipping to teach!!

For our fall festival I volunteered to be in the dunk tank for 20 minutes.  Needless to say I really didn't think my fifth graders would have as great of aim as they did.  HAHA!  I ended up soaked!

 

I had a birthday!  The kids totally spoiled me, and I got a fantastic cake (one of my students grandparents own a local bakery) and the kids all made cards.  Then they all wrote one thing they LOVE about Mrs. Larkin on a sticky note, and placed it on this decorated poster.   It was so sweet, to read some of their comments!  That meant a lot to me!  Jacob ordered in Chinese for me, and then I went to sleep early!  The best kind of birthday you can have.

And now I am exactly 5 days away from the Breast Cancer 3-Day.  I am really getting nervous.  I know I will be able to do the first 20 miles no problem, it is the other 40 I am nervous about.  I want to thank everyone who helped me financially, and with their thoughts to get to the place that I am now.  I will be sure to update this after the walk.  My mom is coming down ATL Thursday night, and then will leave Monday afternoon.  I can't wait to hang out with her!!

Well seriously I think that is the big stuff that went on.  The next two weeks is parent-teacher conference, and with no union down here that means we stay after school until 5pm at least for two weeks straight.  I am not really looking forward to that...oh well!  Hope all is well!

I was accepted!!

Well another thing that might throw a few of you for a loop, but I was accepted into Central Michigan University (CMU) graduate school!! I just found out last night. Now let me give some details!

#1 CMU has a campus down here in Atlanta, actually about 5 miles away from our purple house. I am not moving back to MI.

#2 I will have real professors, and NO online classes!

#3 The program will be for my Masters in Educational Leadership ( I also hope to get my doctorate in the same field. I hope to have my doctorate by the time I am 30!)

#4 I will start in January and graduate in Dec. 2010

#5 Classes are held every other Friday night (until 8) and Saturday 8-2. I will have some summer classes, but it depends on how the cohort wants to do summer classes. I might keep up the Friday and Saturday thing or we would go for 2 straight weeks, and get it over with ( I vote for that)

#6 A cohort is a small group of students who start the program together, take every class together, and then graduate together. For this program they only accepted 25 to be in the cohort out of some 400 applications. I am completely honored!

#7 I am a total dork and LOVE school! I am so excited for this program to begin!

As I said earlier I can't believe I was chosen. I did have some doubts as I have only been in the classroom for two years, and there were some people applying that had been in the classroom for 15+. I am super stoked and can't believe I might still be able to achieve my (unattainable as I thought) goal as having my doctorate by the age 30! WOW OH WOW! I am just so excited and had to share!

PEACE AND LOVE!!

PS I will always be a Bronco! My undergrad years meant the world to me. I will never cheer for CMU. I just wish Western would get in gear and get a campus down here! LOVE YOU BRONCOS!!