Thanksgiving Reflections...

Sunset on the way out to Higgens Point. This is the view I'm blessed with just a few minutes from my front door. The sun seemed to be trying to light the water on fire...

The neighborhood turkey gang on my way to taking the kids in to school. One of them actually got a little cocky and tried to peck the front tire to death as I tried to exit the street... big jerk.

The kids LOVE going to the Missoula races because we stop by the 50,000 Silver Dollar Bar... Only in Montana!

Me on my way to winning the Montana State Cyclocross Championship race. I placed 6th in the Men's B pack!

Mike on his way to taking an impressive second place at the Montana State Cyclocross Championship race. He KILLED it that day!

So I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for the four of us this year. Managed to break a nice bowl that was given to us for our wedding, but the BEST part was when I totally forgot about the sweet potatoes broiling - the marshmallows caught on fire, setting off the fire alarm (thank goodness for Mike's big lung capacity and quick thinking to blow out the flames and rush the dish outside!), and convincing my kids for sure that "Mom really doesn't know how to cook."

Since it's Thanksgiving, I thought I would actually post a blog. I've been meaning to write for quite some time, but when it came down to it, I just got lazy. It was too hard for me to articulate all my thoughts....

I've been reminded almost daily of how much I am blessed. A few months ago a colleague of mine in the racing community suddenly lost her husband in a tragic accident. A few days after that a good friend told me that she and her husband of many, many, many years were divorcing. A day after that a dear friend and co-worker told me that her husband is newly diagnosed with cancer, and is fighting for his life. Another dear friend has just told me that her mother is fighting cancer, too.

I'm not sure what God is teaching me with all this, but I just look to be a good friend to my friends, and constantly thank Him for blessing my life. There are lessons here somewhere - I just need to be patient for them to present themselves...

So, enough of the philosophy. Since my last entry, the kids have been enjoying school. We travelled to Seattle at the end of September to race the Star Crossed and Rad Racing GP cyclocross races. It was my first elite-level cross race, and I appropriately got my butt kicked! But, it was a good experience, and I chalked it up to "it'll make me stronger."

Our local cyclocross series started in October, and just finished last weekend. I placed second in the series overall... Missing three races of the nine pretty much made it impossible to take the title. But, I was excited that my fitness has been holding, taking wins in every race that I entered in the local series. We went over to Astoria, Oregon for a Cross Crusade race the weekend before Halloween. Once again, I got my butt kicked by the "Big Girls," but I did better than I did at Star Crossed, and I was excited to be racing in a field of 25-30 Women A's instead of 4 or 5. Mike won his race that Sunday against some big-time 'crossers, complete in his costume as a triathlete:

In keeping with the Thanksgiving theme, then, I've decided to take the cliche inventory of all that I am thankful for, and post it here for all the world:

1. My beautiful, witty, intelligent kids who constantly remind me that I need to be more patient, and who have given me some of the best moments of my life.


2. My patient, loving, best-friend husband, who is my rock and my steady spot in the relatively controlled chaos that is our life.


3. My parents, who have taught me lessons in generosity and unconditional love.


4. My sisters, who I miss everyday.


5. My network of friends that are such a huge support.


6. My job and the people it has introduced to my life. Everyday I learn lessons from the children I treat, the families I try to help, and the colleagues that support me.


7. My home and the place I live. I'm always amazed at what I get to experience everyday.


8. My health, and the fact that I am lucky enough to be able to ride my bike almost anyday I want.


9. My fireplace during the cold months of the year.


10. My education and opportunities it has provided me.
    

I'm sure there are things I'm missing here, but overall, it's glaringly apparent how lucky I am. And I remind myself of that everytime I'm out on my bike enjoying that freedom and the beauty around me....