Testing My Faith

This week has literally sucked the life out of me.  I've been more time crying then not.  I have a lot of demons that I'm battling, & I have no more to give.  I've depleted every ounce of what I had trying to make everything work.

& everything isn't working.

Changes needed to be made as soon as possible.  I need lots of prayers & prayers for my heart to remain strong.  

Even while my tears have been falling, God & my angels have kept reminding me they are here.  One door closed as another promising one opened - as Justin showed me he was watching over me.  I was crying & reaching out for prayers as I received an email I needed to keep fighting.

I'm so grateful for the very kind & generous donation from my Uncle & Aunt's family this week that came at a perfect time.  Thank you so much to the Schuman Family & yes... Go Patriots!

One more thank you...  Thank you to my husband who has remained my source of strength & held my hand through every up & down I've had in the past almost 10 years.  & he tries so hard to dry my tears with laughter.  Sometimes it works.  Sometimes it's an epic fail.  But his heart always has me in the center & I can't thank him enough for loving me unconditionally.

This week is Justin & Jeff's birthday on April 6th.  My goal is to have the last remaining $175.00 raised by then in honor of Justin.  

I hope I don't let him down.

Not so Good Friday

I just saw this on Twitter...  I really like it & wanted to share it!

L. ive

E. veryday to

A. chieve your

D. reams

I hope that I am inspiring someone on my journey & achieving my dreams.  I live everyday to help another person.  To share the love in my heart & make others better.  If I can do it...  Certainly you can do anything you set your mind to as well.  

Today - it's been a not so good Friday.  I've been struggling with illness again on top of my ankle injury.  I finally had to tap out of the struggle & take the day off of everything.  I'm just pushing myself way too hard between two jobs & training with little sleep.  I need to find a balance somehow cause my immune system is not here.  I seem to be catching every sniffle I encounter.  Please say a prayer for my health.

I also need to ask for a special prayer for my Second Father Lynn as he's had a bunch of complications from a recent heart surgery.  Please pray for his healing & for his family through this stressful time.

I'm so thankful & blessed that three people believed in my journey this week & donated.  Huge thanks to:

* Michele Moody

* The Overby Family

* Melissa & Billy Esnough

I wish you all a blessed Easter week.  Hug all your family & friends - & tell them how much you love them!

Halfway Mark!

Today is a very important day for me.  March 20^th marks the halfway point in my journey.  By now, I hope you received a letter in the mail from me or have had a chance to check out this blog for my progress.

This week has been an exciting week for me.  Last Sunday, I tried my first 5k trial.  While it took me a lot longer to finish it than I would have hoped, I completed my first full ½ mile run.  On Wednesday, the app I’m using made me run my first full 20 minutes – which equaled about 1 ¼ mile.  I have never run a mile in my life.  EVER. That was a pretty big milestone in my journey.

Training seems to be going well.  I’m always frustrated I can’t do MORE, but I remind myself that I still have two months ahead of me.  I spend Monday-Wednesday-Friday and Some weekends in the gym.  I would like to cut down my mile times by a full two minutes over the next two months.  My GOAL is to finish the 5k in 45 minutes.  I hope I don’t let myself down.

I did set myself back again on Friday.  I ran my ankle over with a cart.  It's pretty black & blue with an open cut on my Achilles.  I was going to go to the gym with my mom yesterday & today with Jason - but that wasn't an option.  I'll try tomorrow.

We finally got oxygen approval for my mom this week. It was a huge step when we were able to book our airfare to go.  Now that all our travel arrangements have been made, It seems more real to us both.  I brought her some some brochures from Boston, and she was excitied to see some of the things we are going to experience.  We are for sure going to do the Trolley Tour of the city since she couldn't walk everywhere as well as the Duck Boat Tour.  Being that the race is in Cape Cod on the beach, it will be nice to be able to relax on the beach after the race is over as well.  We are both looking forward to spending this time together.

I wish to thank everyone who has supported me.  I can’t tell you enough how much your faces run through my mind when I’m running on the treadmill.  It’s like I see you all cheering me on.  It means so very much to me for all the support I have received.  My motivation board has some many love notes on it.  It makes me smile so much.

I still have $530 to go in my fundraising.  If you wish to support my journey, please visit https://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/hp/support/#justinslove to donate.  If you do not feel comfortable doing so online, you can also send donations to me at my home address.  I can enter them on my site, and I love adding notes to my motivation board.  I’m working on thank yous for everyone that donates that will be sent out after I complete my run.

Once again, I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support.  It is truly what keeps me going every day.

Lots of Love,

Laura

Trying to Get My Groove Back

I'll be honest.  I'm still struggling since coming home from vacation... & a month later, I'm still sick.  I finally went to the doctor on Tuesday again after feeling like I wasn't going to make it Monday.  Doctor confirmed what I knew - my cold turned into a sinus infection.  I'm on antibiotics but still not feeling great.  I muscled my way through my workouts this week.    It's definitely been a struggle but the faces of all those who have support me go through my head when I feel like I can't push myself anymore.

Thank you so much for the Donations this week:

* Auntie K

* Sipe Gednalske & his humans

* Rick LeClair

I only have a little over $500 to raise to my goal.  I'm so appreciative of all those who've supported me.  I honestly couldn't do this without the love & support I've received.  Thank you so much - know you are what is getting me through!  Love y'all!

Thank YOU!

Just had a chance to take in the fact that I'm #20/209 on my big team!  Way cool!  Thank you all for supporting me!

I've got a long ways to go though - every dollar & donation counts no matter how small!  

Donate at: https://www.bestbuddieschallenge.org/hp/rider-donation/#form&donate/3815

Thank you to those who donated in the past couple weeks while I was on vacation:

* John & Christine Anthony

* Grandma

* Aunt Sher 

Have a good weekend y'all!

Trip Video

Here's a link to a video with all the pictures from our trip - sure am blessed we got to go & can't believe how much we did.  Hope y'all enjoy!

http://youtu.be/n6etZaYh-gg

As many of you know, Jason got sick at the end of our trip.  I got him to urgent care yesterday & he was taken by ambulance to Maple Grove Hospital with a fever of 105.  His asthma complicated influenza A.  Please keep him in your prayers.

Coming Home

This past 6 days have been incredible.  Words cannot describe what it was like for me to finally come home to Boston & see my family & friends out here.  I start writing this while I'm sitting on the plane home & I never wanted more than to get off a flight in my entire life.

The first thing I have to say I was really fortunate to be able to eat breakfast every day with the Kalligheri family - besides the first day where we had lunch at the cafe.  I felt so loved & like it wasn't my first time here from the moment we walked in -  thank you Mama Debbie, Guy, Ellie, & Aunties.  Your love & hospitality was one of a kind & truly appericated by both of us.

I had a few goals on this trip that I was able to accomplish & that fact is amazing.  My first goal was to see as many friends & family as I possibly could - thank you so much to the Kalligheri's, Our awesome Boston Tour Guide Colton Bradford, Michele - our breakfast date was only 19 years in the making as well - & Mike & Kari Sawyer for letting watch the Bruins lose in TD Garden.  It was also pretty cool to take Kari to her first Concert ever.... & Garth Brooks at that!  She'll never top her first!

My next goal was to be able to see every Boston sports stadium -  Boston sports have meant so much to my life.  Gillette, Fenway, & TD Garden - mean so much more now that we got to see them in person.  The next sporting event will be so much cooler when I have been there!

My next goal was to get my last 6 remaining states in the continental USA - Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, & Vermont.  It took me 33 years to do all 48 - & it'll probably take me 33 years to check off my last two - Alaska & Hawaii! 😁

I have many pictures on my phone (I forgot my camera....). I'll be making a video once I get home & get caught up on life.  My phone is almost full!  I had to delete a bunch of stuff even! :/

My last thing I wanted to do was a secret that only one person knew about as it was the hardest thing I had to do on this trip.  I finally got to bring snickers to my brother.

Sorry I didn't make it home till now Justin...  But I knew you watched over us through our trip & make sure we had an amazing trip.  Thanks for making me do this journey.

I love you Justin.

Until next time Boston.  You have my heart.