"Mama Coose, Little O says, 'Go, Go, Go!'"

You know you are a runner when you wake up the morning after a race anxious to feel what is sore. Let's just say that my legs don't feel as fresh as daisies today, but thankfully they held up pretty well for 3 hours and 42 minutes yesterday.

First of all, it was an INCREDIBLE experience. I think I smiled the whole way because I just felt so privileged to get to run it. So what got me through the big race?

• Danny. We pushed each other along in different ways the whole race and it was unforgettable to finish side by side my amazing brother!

• Cheers! I think it is safe to say that the year of the Cheeri-O has been kicked off with one of the most encouraging experiences I have ever had. It was so fun to see friends out there...signs, balloons, hugs and shout outs made a HUGE difference.

The best sign of the day...(Thanks, Hritz & Deegan!)

John and Owen were instant energy each time I saw them (4 times!!)

• Affirmations. The counselor in me made myself think of five encouraging things to tell myself throughout the race. (I made Danny do it, too). Here is what I told myself during the more intense moments of the run:
  

1)Running the marathon is a chance to remember the mighty work of our great God. I didn't have to endure the suffering that Jesus did on the cross and I am given life and strength from our Father rather than what I deserve. Out of his love, he created me and has given me a love for running. That is why today as I run I can feel his pleasure and enjoy his creation.

2) The year is young. It is only day 15 of the year and I get to achieve a major, major goal of mine. In just a little while, I can focus on other things and have a whole year ahead of me!

3) Pray through the pain. I am ready for this, God is giving me what I need as I need it, I have been blanketed with prayers from my sweet family and friends, and now I get to thank God for sustaining me and ask that he would continue to pour out His strength on Danny and me.

4) This run signifies God's grace in my life. It feels SO good to know that I have trained for the marathon in a healthy way--I feel His freedom in every step I take. {side note story: --- I am usually not super specific about this on my blog, but there is no way to articulate how victorious the marathon felt without sharing this part of my story: Many of you know that I struggled with an eating disorder through parts of high school and college. A lot of it had to do with me becoming a slave to what my brain told my body to do, and for a long time it stripped me of my love for running. I wasn't sure if I could ever train for a marathon in a healthy way and therefore thought that I had killed my dream. I remember longing for the day where I could look back on those years of my journey and say, "Look what God has done in my life! He has conquered this and because of His grace I can experience life to the fullest". Well, yesterday I woke up before the race to find a sweet note from my husband. In the note he described a conversation we had many years ago and through my tears, he recalls me saying that I just wanted to experience God's freedom and be able to run a marathon but I felt like I had ruined that for myself. But that was not true!! John reminded me of God's faithfulness in my life-His strength that has shined and shined through my weakness-- and that is a huge reason why I could not stop smiling yesterday.}

Think about one year ago. Another reason for the smiles? A year ago on the 15th of January, I was told that my sweet baby boy could finally come home from the hospital the next morning. Although I wasn't training for a marathon at that point, God had certainly been working on my endurance through that experience. And now here I am a year later, running down the very roads that we drove our baby home from the hospital on.

Today it is January 16th. It marks one day after my marathon finally came: the most memorable run of my life. But nothing compares to the joys I have knowing that today marks one year after my baby finally came home: the most memorable year of my life.

Remember this picture of Owen's 1st night on Glourie Drive?

He was nearly 2 months old and only 6 1/2 lbs.

Little O. Mama Coose says, "Grow, Grow Grow!"

It feels like we closed our eyes that first night and now here we are a year later. So much can happen: new mommas can train for marathons and teeny tiny babies can become such big boys...

Sweet dreams! Tonight I certainly feel like some of mine have come true.