Running with an Irish Man on St. Patrick's Day!

This year I spent Saint Patrick's Day running with my Irish Man! 13.1 Miles of St. Patty's Day fun!!

That's right we celebrated his favorite holiday running in the Canyon Lands Half Marathon in Moab, Utah!!

Imagine around 4000 runners converging on a single place, YIKES!! It was crazy fun! We started out by boarding a bus at 7:45 and riding for about a half hour to get up the canyon. Everyone was trying to get out of the wind by hiding behind rocks, it was a little chilly that early! The race started at 10 and it took us about two minutes to cross the starting line after the gun went off. There was a sea of people in front of us and behind us!

We ran negative splits, which means we started out at a slow pace and increase our speed over time. It makes you feel good because you end up passing lots of other runners. It is a beautiful run down the canyon with the river next to you. When you get to the bottom they have drummers so it echos of the canyon walls, so cool!

Kirk stuck with me until about mile 11 and then my legs hurt so bad I had to walk. Think I was struggling with the heat a bit, we've been running in the 50's and it was in the 60's. There was a sweet gal that came up next to me and encouraged me for a little while which made the last two miles better. In the end I only finished 5 minutes behind Kirk at 2:10:45. By next year I want to run it in 2 hours flat! (Yes I think I am crazy for saying that!!)

It's funny during those last two miles I was really questioning why I was doing this, I wanted to cry when I hit that wall. Now I'm all ready thinking about doing it next year. Of course I have another half here in Durango come June! Let's see if I can cut some time off!!!!

Someone at church asked me today why I would want to run 13.1 miles, I ask myself that some days too. It feels good to be able to say I've run a half marathon. I set a goal and I accomplished it. 2 years ago I never thought I would run this far, but I do have to say I love the feeling after I'm done. Running is sometimes the only time I get to be alone and doing something to keep me sane. I admit I can be a big complainer while I'm out there, just ask Kirk, but I know it's doing good things for my body and my mental health. (gotta love endorphins!) I still have a long way to go, but it's teaching me lots of patience!

Now it's onto my next race, the Red Rock Relay in May and then another half here at home in June. Then we'll see what's next!!

T

Welcome to Holland

I posted this about 3 1/2 years ago and was thinking about it the other day. One of the young women from church approached me last week about doing a fund raiser for our family. I was very touched that she thought of us. Some days I wonder what life would be like if Emily was just like her sister or if Mike could walk. I know my life would be very different and I would not be the same person I am today. I have learned much about faith, patience and the love our Heavenly Father has for us. This poem sums up that feeling. I do have my tough days, but I can't dwell on what might have been because I will miss the wonderful things that are happening now. Enjoy!!

Welcome To Holland

by

Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.

It’s just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.

But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Gratitude

Feeling very lucky for all the wonderful people that have been in my life and are in my life now. I look back over my life and see that Heavenly Father has placed people just where I needed them when I needed them. Honestly I don't know where I would be without such supportive and loving friends and family. I really feel that Heavenly Father works through us, we are his instruments here on the earth. "He has no hands but ours."

I look around just in our ward family and our community and see so many trials and suffering. Some days I wonder what I can do, I'm only one person. Then I think about the many people that have helped me even by just smiling or saying hi. So many have been there when I lost hope, or when I just thought it would be easier to give up. We may be only one person, but if we live close to the spirit and listen we can make that difference in someones life. We can be the angels that bear others up and help them on their way back to our Heavenly home.

Thank you to the many wonderful friends and family that make me laugh, take time to listen and just brighten my day. I am grateful for you and I am grateful for our greatest friend, the one who loves us most, our Savior.

Merry Christmas from the Coppingers

Some of you may have all ready gotten this letter, but I thought I'd post it for anyone I missed or had the wrong email address for. Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas full of family, good friends, good food and the spirit our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus Christ. Love to all!!!

Another year has passed in the Coppinger household and after 5 ½ years we are happy to still be in beautiful Colorado. We love it here, even if the nearest freeway is 3 hours away. This was another adventured filled year including: Mike’s first year at Scout Camp with the older boys, Cousins Camp in Cedar City, Family trip to Moab to watch Mom run in her first big race, our annual trip to Denver for Dr. appointments and family fun and a week away for Mom and Dad while Mike was at MDA camp and the girls spent a week with Grandma and Granddad Coppinger! Here’s a little something about each of us.

Kirk: Still working for 4CORE with the Colorado Governors’ Energy Office. He’s been with them for 20 months now and just got a promotion which means we should have a job for a few more years. They are a non-profit organization that helps “weatherize” low-income homes to make them more energy efficient. He started as an inspector and now he is the Program Manager (boss) for weatherization. He works hard and is always learning something new and getting new certifications. I tease him that he speaks geek too much sometimes. It’s funny.

He has also gotten into running and is helping me to get faster. Sometimes I just want to quit and walk for a while, but he won’t let me (Darn it!). What a good coach. J When he’s not working or running he enjoys listening to books, watching movies, teasing the children and being one of the children. He has also been learning about apple trees and planted 5 this year as well as a garden which we hope to do better next year. He is always busy learning something new, I tease him that he’s a human encyclopedia.

Susan (AKA: Mom, The Boss) Still has the running bug. In May I ran in the Red Rocks Relay with 5 other friends. We ran a total of 70 miles and had so much fun along the way. Kirk and I are currently training for the Canyon lands Half Marathon which is on St. Patrick’s Day 2012. Here’s hoping we make it through the drawing, otherwise we’ll be headed to Gateway Colorado for the Half Marathon that same month.

Other than running, I’m busy doing the usual Mom duties. When I have some spare time I like to try and read a book, bake, sew and play my guitar for Emily. I was recently released as the Young Women’s President at church which has been bitter sweet. I miss seeing “my girls,” but I still grab them in the halls.

Olivia: Says she’s growing like a weed, but she doesn’t want to grow. She turned 10 in August and is up to Mom’s chin. She likes to ride her scooter, bike, play soccer, draw, do crafts, and sleep. (Silly Kid). We’re working on running with her and she is up to 1 ¼ miles at an 7:00 – 8:00 minute mile pace and is doing really well. She’s always out ahead of Mom and Dad and runs home by herself while we keep going! Keep your eyes open… she’s going to be fast!

Mike: Says he likes to play Nerf N-Strike on the Wii, build with Lego’s, tell jokes, play board games and loves Christmas. He started middle school this year and says “It ‘rocks!’ because I like science and math.” He is also in band and loves art as well. This year he turned 12 and is now part of the youth program at church. He now passes the sacrament on Sunday which reminds Mom how much he has grown. We are very proud of the young man he is becoming!

His health is still good and he seems to be having a good year at school. He is in his chair full-time and has faced a lot of new challenges this year. The teachers at the middle school have been amazing and have helped Mike succeed academically. It’s been a good change to spite the tragedy of losing his ability to walk.

Emily: Continues to earn her nick name of Em-Silly. Her laughter and smile are infectious and fills our house on a regular basis. She has started using a crutch to walk with at school, she still won’t use it for us but I hear she’s pretty fast! I actually went to see her at school and once I got there she would not walk with it. Turkey! She understands so much and has really matured which has been great to witness. To know her is to love her!

We are grateful for our family and many friends all over this beautiful country and hope you can feel the love of our Savior and remember He is the reason for this season.

Love The Coppinger Family