
We have been in process to adopt a girl from Ethiopia since mid-2008. We have now received word that we have been matched with a three and a half year old girl, and that we can expect to travel to Ethiopia to meet her and bring her here in about 5-6 months. We are obviously overjoyed to be at this point in the process. After this long wait, we now have her name, a couple pictures and some other information about her. It is really exciting to think that she will be with us by the end of the summer! While at the same time, we are sad for her and the circumstances in her life that have led to her being in need of adoption.
I’ll be posting more about my thoughts and feelings during this time, as well as information and details about our upcoming trip. But I won’t be posting much about B., including her name or photos. Partially because I don’t like to share personal details of any of my family in a public forum like this, but also because the Ethiopian government has requested that any personal or detailed information about children in the process of adoption not be shared publicly. This is mainly to protect the integrity of the adoption process, and the rights of the child.
At some point after she is here with us, I will certainly post her photo because she is beautiful! In the meantime, I hope you will send prayers and good thoughts our way as well as to a little girl in Ethiopia.
On December 3 I started a running program. Last Thursday, I ran 3.17 miles without stopping. That’s eight weeks for me to go from non-exercising couch potato to running a 5k. Although running is a pretty strong word for my 5.3 mph pace.
Yesterday, I ran this distance again and shaved a minute off my time. A new PR! That’s lingo that us runners use, it means Personal Record (I think).
Several people have asked me what program I used. I followed Couch to 5k which sends you out three times a week for thirty minutes. It begins with intervals of walking and running (mostly walking), and shortens the walking intervals until they are gone completely. I used a Couch to 5k IPhone app that would tell me when to run and when to walk.
After the walking intervals disappeared and it was all running, I switched to the the free version MapMyRun app. This app will track your run on Google maps, calculate your distance covered, speed, elevation, and associated stats. As you run it will tell you how much time has elapsed, what your average or current speed is, and how far you have run.
Here is the map from yesterday’s run:
I’m glad that I’ve stuck with this. It’s the first regular exercise program that I’ve stuck with since…ever. I can’t say that it’s fun or that I enjoy it, when almost every step of the way my only thought is, “Can I stop now?” But I enjoy the fact that I am running, even if I don’t enjoy running.