I have found a reason to run...this is not spam

 

My dad was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  It was very discouraging to listen to the doctor apologize because there were not more effective treatment options available because pancreatic cancer is not a "popular" cancer, so the funding for research isn't there.  I decided to join Teamhope during the Rock n Roll marathon and raise money for pancreatic cancer research.  My dad needs to beat this so we need to find a cure fast!  Donating is very easy, just click on the link, or copy and paste it to your brouser and it will take you to my webpage to donate.  All of the funds go to the Pancreatic research.

 

Some facts.....

Did you know an estimated 43,140 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2010 and 36,800 will pass away from the disease?

We need to change these statistics. Join me in support of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's effort to advance research, support patients and create hope.

Together, I believe we can make a difference.

Please visit my personal page to learn more. Thank you for your support!

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

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Julie Northrup

Why is it when I have the time I don't have the money.....

Why is it that when I have the time I don't have the money, and when I have the money I don't have the time?  I have all these projects I want to do around our house, but I  have no time to do them because I have been working so much and going to school.  Now that I have cut back my hours at work, I have a lot more time, but a lot less money.  I need to be more creative and plan ahead, when I work the extra hours I need to buy the supplies for a project and stash them so I can do the project when I am not working.  Of course that would mean I also have to remember that I bought those supplies....

I love my family, they say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and that is exactly what I have seen from them recently.  Sometimes having a lot of stubborn, strong willed people in the family is really a great thing, because we stick together, work together, support each other and no one is going to let anyone else quit.  When I married I thought I was marrying in to the perfect family that would make everything wonderful, what I have discovered is that I already  had the perfect Mormon family, we were just incognito.  Do we have a lot of faults and make a lot of mistakes? Sure we do, but so does everyone else!  Some people are just more public about their mistakes than others and guess what?   The atonement covers us all.

My focus has not been on working lately, and my paycheck is going to show it, but sometimes, OK often, there are things a lot more important than money, like emotional support and strength.  I am looking to find the right job for myself, I am getting too old to do bedside nursing, it is just too physical, but I am afraid of making a mistake and choosing the wrong job and right this minute is probably not the best time to start something new.  I found a quote today from a book called Managing Transitions (Bridges, 1991).  He says to ask yourself "Am I pushing  for certainty and closure where it would be better for me to live a little longer with uncertainty and questions?"  OK, so I put quotation marks and that is not an exact quote because the book is geared at institutional change, not personal change, but I quoted it the way it works for me.   I think right now I just need to relax a little, clean my house, enjoy the sun, talk to my family and see what happens.

justs like riding a bike>>>

I decided that I needed to cross train, thanks to my dad and his neighbor I now own a bike, it's a little rusty, but it works just fine.  I purchased  he obligatory helmet, and set out.  Within the first 50 feet my quads were burning.  I thought I was in a little better shape than that , but I pushed through it.  I have to say that even though I hadn't ridden a bike in 3 decades I did fairly wel, it came right back, as the saying goes just like riding a bike, you never forget.  Well, I may not have forgotten, but I didn't remember everything, like how exactly to stop smoothly and get started again without looking like a fool.  But I managed.  I was feeling pretty good about my ride up the chehalis western until on my way back, I forgot about hand signals and started to make a left hand turn, apparently there was a much more experience rider that had been trying to pass me and I hadn't noticed, that is until I almost crashed right into him, thankfully his skills were up to par and he was able to avoid me.  I yelled out "sorry-new at this".  He had to be thinking, that lady looks way too old to just be starting to ride, but he kept going and I will probably never see him again, no harm not foul.  I definatly need to invest in a new seat, the small ones are a little uncomfortable in some of the more private areas, but that is an easy fix, overall I feel pretty good about my ride.  Thankfully the weather was awesome so I was able to get in a couple good runs this week, the longest one was 8 miles.  Good progress towards the rock n roll half marathon. Sounds like the boys are all coming along with their training too, I am so looking forward to June 25th!  we have the hotels booked for those that are running, I keep envisioning myself standing there with my boys and all our finish metals, so cool, and it looks great on a man resume for those still looking that is.  I am hoping the weather gets nicer so  training will be a little easier.

  My schedule changed, big drop in pay, but I can really use the extra time right now for all the stuff going on.  I am keeping my eyes open for a new nursing position, preferrably one in hospital education, I will have my BSN soon, so that should help.  If anyone knows of any positions for an experienced RN I would be willing to check them out.

I have developed a bad habit of pushing back my homework assignments until saturday when they are due, that creates unnecessary stress, I need to over come that habit, but things are so busy, that is when it seems to fit.

It's been a tough few weeks, and I am exhausted, time for bed!

Time Out for Women

For those of you that are not familiar with Time Out for Women (TOFW)  it is a 2 day conference that is held in cities around the united states. The organizers gather the best, most uplifting and entertaining speakers together, and ask them to speak specifically to the things that are important to women.   It is related to church, but it is most definitly not church. I was thinking as I sat there that any Christian woman would be uplifted by it, not just Latter Day Saint women.   I didn't make it last year, but I heard so many rave reviews that as soon as I saw the tickets come available I bought mine, which was a good thing, because they sold out very quickly.

It has been a rough busy couple weeks, so I considered not going, but since I already had plans to go with a friend and stay overnight, and the hotel was already paid for I decided not to back out (Thank you Lisa!).  I had other things I needed/wanted  to do on Friday, so we got kind of a late start, but we made pretty good time (must have been driving a bit fast), we were able to make the 6:30 start time. 

I had a blast.  Some people say speakers like John Bytheway are sell outs, making money off the church, I think he is an awesome, funny, talented speaker that makes people laugh and cry while he motivates them to become better.  There was one speaker that was only "good"  the rest were absolutely awesome.  Honestly, I was prepared to be a little bored at times, but that didn't happen.  The music, provided by Mercy River and John Mclain was both comforting and humorous.  It has made me look at my life, and what I am becoming and question, am I on the path the God would choose for me, or am I on a path that looks exciting and fun to me, or worse, one that other people want me on, but not one I would choose for myself?  I really need to think hard about the choices I am making in my life, because they affect people other than myself. 

The organizers goal, to provide a time out for women, was well accomplished and I am very grateful they chose Seattle as one of their cities.  I am now looking forward on their schedule to see if there is one located near Kellie and Tyla that I could go to with them, because I know they would absolutley love it, and honestly, I can't wait to participate in another one!

If you ever get the chance to go to a TOFW take it!