Inspiration

There have been so many references to inspiration in my life recently. So much so that I felt inspired to to write about what inspires me.

FRIENDS! I'm so lucky to have an amazing group of friends who help keep me going.

Tina has such determination and perseverance. She wanted to get her masters degree, it was a huge goal for her. She worked so hard, and got her masters with honors. She is amazing! She shows me that you can get anything you want if you work for it.

Kait works so hard in so many ways. Her workouts are amazing. She can do so much. With a goal in mind, she finished a half iron man triathlon last summer. Amazing!

Lael has inspired me since high school. She has so much heart and determination. She is always there for me, whenever I need her. She listens to my every worry and pain. She is an amazing support in my life! She's a mom, a wife, a lawyer and now an athlete. She's balancing all aspects of her life so well. She has things in perspective, and knows what is truly important in life. She just gives me so much joy!

Kari is my biggest inspiration right now. She has nudged me along for years. 2 years ago she mentioned the Danskin triathlon to me. I never thought I could do anything like that, but she did. So, after a few months I said yes and off we went. Both Danskin Tris were amazing! I learned so much about myself. She never doubted me, even when I did. She always encouraged me, even when I might not have deserved it. After a week of biking across Iowa, I saw that I can do any physical activity I want. She was such a huge support that week, and so much fun to be around. She showed me that these events are supposed to be fun, and to take advantage of the fun times. Now, we're on our way to our first 1/2 marathon in December. I never thought I'd be doing something like this. She inspires me to push further and further. She is amazing!

FAMILY! I have an amazing family.

My dad has shown me that being loyal and a good friend can get you anywhere. He also told me that I could do and be anything I wanted. He never told me I couldn't do something. He is always excited to hear about my new adventures.

My brother perseveres over all sorts of hard times. Sometimes I think if Bill didn't have bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all. However, he keeps moving forward. He is an amazing father and makes her his priority. He's made tough choices to make Scout's life better. He really is a wonderful dad.

My sister is a fabulous friend with a huge heart. She is a natural teacher who inspires her students everyday. I wish my math teachers would have been like her. She give so much of herself. She works with the swim teams, volunteers and church and spends her summers at an orphanage in Colombia. She truly makes the world a better place. I wish I could be more like my sister Dawn.

My mom is one of my best friends. She always listens to my rants. She gives me advice that has helped me make the best decisions I can in all aspects of my life. She has so much patience. She is loyal to her friends and family. She has drive and determination. She is an 8+ year breast cancer survivor. Her treatments were tough, but she never said poor me. She is amazing!

MY HUSBAND! Greg is my best friend in the whole world. I could write so much about how wonderful he is, but that is for another post. He inspires me through his unending support. He tells me I can do anything, and he believes it. When I want to do something, he's all in. He never tells me no, or I can't. He has a huge smile and hug for me when I accomplish something big. He's the first person I want to tell about my accomplishments. Now, he's decided to run the 1/2 marathon with me in December. He never was a runner, and is starting from the beginning. He's making huge improvements each week. Soon, he'll be passing me, and I can't wait. He inspires me to keep going, to keep pushing myself, to never give up. His enormous love for me is more than I could ask for, and I'm so grateful he loves me. I am so lucky to be married to Superman!