Becoming the Athlete I Never Thought I Could Be

A little over a year ago, a friend of mine talked me into participating in The Exygon and Baptist Hospitals Gusher Marathon, SETMA Half Marathon, and Kinsel Ford 5K. I of course signed up for the 5K as a favor for my friend. I made sure to tell her that I was so going to walk this because I only run when in danger. So I participated. I walked 99.5% of the race. I finished in 55 minutes and 35 seconds. Thought I did pretty well for my first 5K. I've always enjoyed walking as an exercise. Later on during the summer I had heard on facebook of the Sea Rim Striders and their summer run series. I attended two of the runs that they did at Claiborne West Park in Vidor. Each time I improved my time by a few seconds. This December after graduating from Lamar University with a Master's in Educational Administration, I decided it was time to get in shape. I had made a few friends and they talked me into joining Exygon. Which I love by the way. I made one friend in particular who is addicted to racing. Albeit that she walks and is usually the last to the finish line but never gives up. She has been such an inspiration. I have now participated in 6 races this year with one coming up this Saturday. With each race my time is improving and it feels so good to have a new goal in my life. No matter how slow I am, I am still lapping everyone sitting on the couch. Everyone is so proud of everyone that participates. It is amazing to belong to a family of friends who strive to make each other better. This November I will complete my first 10K at the Pleasure Island Bridge half Marathon, 10k, 2 mile race. Then in March 2013 I will complete my first half marathon. I never thought I could be an athlete. But with hard work and dedication anything is possible.

Thank you Lord for matching my stride.

Out with the old in with the new!!!

2011 has sure had it's ups and downs. I am excited about the positive changes that will be taking place in my life in the coming year. I have made the first steps in many of these changes I just have to follow through with them. I am not calling them resolutions but goals. For the most part I have accomplished all of the goals I have set for myself so these goals should be no different. Rough and rocky roads do lie ahead but it is just more to my testimony of what my God has done for me. I am looking forward to an even closer relationship with Jesus. Because without him none of this would be possible. Here is to a great New year from my family to yours!!! My biggest accomplishment this year is earning my Master's degree in Educational Administration!!!

Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (Psalm 37:4 KJV)

Insomnia

One of the major causes of insomnia is depression. Depression is a chemical imbalance where your body does not produce enough s
seratonin. People will look at you and say but youu don't look sad. It's not only about being sad. Yes that is a major symptom of depression but it can present itself in many forms. Loss of interest in normal activities, inability to concentrate, and the list goes on. I e also heard "Christians have no reason to be depressed" well sometimes life happens and some deal with it better than others. As a person who deals with depression yes I said deals with it rather than "suffers" from it there are many sleepless nights. So before you judge someone because they see a pyschistrist walk a mile on there shoes. Good night for now. This very tired body is going to sttemp to beat this insomniatic brain into a coma.


Love Brina

The Game Plan

It was brought to my attention couple weeks ago when a missionary came to my church and was talking about his family and made the comment that he and his wife were praying for his daughter to find a Christian husband. My mother chuckled and nudged her friend sitting next to her and pointed at me. Which made me feel like junk. But it started me thinking why have I not married. Well once upon a time just as every girl does I had the "game plan" figured out. I was going to graduate high school, get married, graduate college, become a teacher, have children. Well 3 out of 5 isn't too bad. Yes I have had opportunities for love. I've had two relationships that we will just say didn't work out. As time moved on I have decided do I really want to be married? Let's see, do I want to devote all my time to one person for the rest of my life? Do I really want to cook and clean for someone who will be less than appreciative? This may be the life for others but I really do not believe this is the life for me. As a single woman I do not have to ask permission of anyone but the good Lord. I do not have to have supper on the table ready when a man gets home. Actually single life is pretty good. So as you see the game plan has changed. This plan book seems to be a winner. The picture was taken during my first engagement. This is me in the wedding dress I had on layaway.

Happy Fathers Day

Today is the day that we have set aside to honor fathers. I have to say this is not a day that I usually celebrate. When I was three months old my father Edward Forman Dollar left. He ran away and married another woman while still married to my mom. This earned him an all expense paid trip to Huntsville for bigamy. For those of you who are not familiar with this term it is being married to two people at one time and against the law in the state of TX. Other states have different laws but that is a whole other blog post for later. When he served his time and was released on parole he jumped parole and ran away again. This time I am not sure how long it was before he made contact with my mom. My mother divorced him when I was two. She had it set up in the divorce decree that he was only to see me in her presence. Well that was a waste of time because he never attempted to see me. When I was ten I received a phone call from my aunt telling me he had been sent to prison in Georgia for five accounts of child molestation. I was told that four accounts were dropped. I received a call July 21, 1996 telling me that my father had passed away. They begged me to go to his funeral which I was very reluctant to go, but decided it was the right thing to do. Even though he died when I was thirteen and was only thirteen years behind in child support. My mother applied for government help for various helps but was told they needed to find my father and make him pay the government back before they could give her assistance. Now I was told that he died of a heart attack. I never saw an autopsy report and being that he was in prison for child molestation I have no idea the validity of that report. Am I sure of his guilt or innocence in this matter? No, I never knew the man so I have no clue. I know this much, that my life has turned out the way it is supposed to. God's plan for me has been much better. If he would have hung around I may have wound up in Nashville on crack or something. I always wanted to be a country singer. But instead my mother raised me the best way she new how. I graduated from Vidor High School in the top 25% of my class then went on to Lamar University to earn a bachelors of Science of Interdisciplinary Studies of Elementary Education. In six months I will graduate with a Masters in Educational Administration. So I would say God's plan for me that only involved Edward Forman Dollar for his name and Social Security after his death has been pretty good. Yes after twenty eight years I still wonder why my father did not hang around but I understand that life has been better this way. Today I have decided to honor the person who has been the father in my life. This person has played this role for twenty eight years of my life. Did I mention I am twenty eight years old. This person has been my number one cheerleader since the day I was born. Thank you Myrl Dollar (mama)for being mama and daddy. I am who I am today because of my mom. I also have to give credit to Jesus. Where my father lacked my mom and my savior have surely made up the difference. Happy Fathers day Mom. Love you

The Chase

Today I drove around for an hour and a half trying to get pics of a wildfire that broke out in the Gist/Mauriceville area. Due to my navigationally challenged brain I was unable to get close. All in all I was just north of it the whole time. I did learn where two new roads that I have never been down before lead. Moral of the story no matter the outcome its all about the chase.