My title is optimistic at best as today's temperature is a frosty minus 13, minus 20 with windchill. However, the running continues. The above and below running ensemble was worn when we hit some balmy plus ones. Rest assured, I was appropriately suited today in hat, neck warmer, jacket and gloves. And, in case this looks like some sort of shameless promotion, please know it's no easy thing for me to post a full-body photo of myself. However, I am almost 40 and it's about time that I leave those body issues behind. Anyway, you are probably distracted by my orange shoes; I know that I am.
After more than a year of splitting the kids between two vehicles when we went anywhere (or, ahem, risking the perils of the law when we drove home from church), we finally caved and bought a
homeschool/kidnapper large van. There is actually a really beat up, white-panel van around the corner from us complete with a Jesus is Lord sticker. I so wanted to take a photo of it and post it as our new vehicle, but its owners aren't the most approachable and asking for a photo of their van seemed a little beyond neighbourly.
It's white. Pearl white, not Avalanche, because there is a qualitative difference. If I was asked to choose my least favourite big-van colour, it would be white. This van is an act of humility. How appropriate that it arrived in time for Lent. When Dave made the deal, the dealership told us that the van (shipped from Calgary) was black. It was not; it is not. We thought of having it painted, but the extra cash could have been used to sponsor two more foster children and I didn't think that I could put my aesthetic preferences above feeding and schooling children in distant and impoverished countries. In a concession to fate, I have decided that the van is rather papal and, if another papal visit is made to Canada, perhaps Dave could offer his services.
It does have leather seats, though. One word: wipeable.
It's that time of the year: Legion speeches. I find this day of competitions nerve-wracking. I sit through four of our kids giving speeches with baited breath and elevated heart rate. This year the competition was fierce and Joe and Ben, who had both placed at school, received participation awards. I chose not to include the group photo in which Joe is staring fiercely and angrily at the camera.
Hannah also placed at school, but didn't make the top three at the Legion. Jacob, however, took top honours and went on to compete today at the next level where he placed third. Like all modern academic competitions, the boys are always in the minority. We also found out the next day that Jacob and Joseph won first place provincially in the Legion Essay and Poem contest. All the money gets socked away in their education funds.
The Sunday following the Legion speeches, Dave, the three oldest, Mariana and I travelled to Peterborough where Dave ran a half marathon, Jacob and Ben ran a half of a half marathon (10.5km) and I ran a 5km. Joe was the original 5k runner, but he recently suffered his very first asthma attack and this took a toll on his training. The other three kids stayed at the farm with Grandpa Mike. Joe's words after 24 hours of caring for Isaac and Sarah, "That was exhausting."
Thus, in the spirit of being 39, I decided to throw my hat into the competition and run the 5k for Joe. Of course, my time registered under the name of Joseph Afelskie and I had a brief moment of worry that I might win the under ten age group for boys. Really, no need for worry; although I did run one of my best times ever.
Dave coming across the line in a bit under 1 hour 45 minutes.
Jacob won first in the under 19 age category and Ben claimed second place. I had to laugh as the master of ceremonies called their names and then realized that they must be brothers. "And, you'll be happy to know that the older brother beat the younger brother by 50 seconds, so I guess Jacob gets dibs on seats in the van for the ride back." Little did the MC know that there was a pick of 12 seats from which to choose in the popemobile. I included this photo because I hadn't noticed before that the woman awarding the medals had hugged Ben. I don't blame her.
Ben opened his winning loot bag and pulled out pink sunglasses and women's deodorant. Jacob looked in his and said, "I got a razor." Curb your enthusiasm, boys.
