Celebrate Today

Monday, May 11, 2026

Running Time

sent from our Sunday fun group text today 🤣

Mother's Day run through the Arboretum yesterday morning

run like a mother :)

Sunday, May 10, 2026

The mOther Me

happy surprise with a group FaceTime with Anna and Taylor after church 💕

The mOther Me

by: Brie Naughton

I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.

Yesterday, and a lifetime ago, all in the very same breath.

I became Other the moment you breathed without my help.

Another, an-Other, me was born too that day.

The mOther me.

Every now and then, with the slight of my head,

Or when you brush past me and I catch your blurred outline,

I am gifted a glimpse of your otherness.

The You that you are becoming.

I find your father in your smile,

And hear my words in your mouth.

We are there, he and I, and we will shape you to an extent.

But you are Other from us both as well.

And I feel quite fortunate that I get to spend a lifetime

Getting to know all the yous that You will become.

"We have been entrusted with an unbelievable gift— a front row seat to the unfolding of a soul, and an invitation from the creator of love itself to participate in it.

Motherhood is the ever evolving, heart expanding, journey of a lifetime. What an honor to hold a seat in a distinctly created human's heart, and to have a voice that may take up residence in a lineage of generations beyond us."

(from an email today from Axis Ministries)

And this is a classic poem by Billy Collins that Tracey shared with me today- so perfect for Mother's Day:

The Lanyard, by Billy Collins | PBS LearningMedia

The other day as I was ricocheting slowly
off the blue walls of this room
bouncing from typewriter to piano
from bookshelf to an envelope lying on the floor,
I found myself in the 'L' section of the dictionary
where my eyes fell upon the word, Lanyard.
No cookie nibbled by a French novelist
could send one more suddenly into the past.
A past where I sat at a workbench
at a camp by a deep Adirondack lake
learning how to braid thin plastic strips into a lanyard.
A gift for my mother.
I had never seen anyone use a lanyard.
Or wear one, if that's what you did with them.
But that did not keep me from crossing strand over strand
again and again until I had made a boxy, red and white lanyard for my mother.
She gave me life and milk from her breasts,
and I gave her a lanyard
She nursed me in many a sick room,
lifted teaspoons of medicine to my lips,
set cold facecloths on my forehead
then led me out into the airy light
and taught me to walk and swim and I in turn presented her with a lanyard.
'Here are thousands of meals' she said,
'and here is clothing and a good education.'
'And here is your lanyard,' I replied,
'which I made with a little help from a counselor.'
'Here is a breathing body and a beating heart,
strong legs, bones and teeth and two clear eyes to read the world.' she whispered.
'And here,' I said, 'is the lanyard I made at camp.'
'And here,' I wish to say to her now,
'is a smaller gift. Not the archaic truth,
that you can never repay your mother,
but the rueful admission that when she took the two-toned lanyard from my hands,
I was as sure as a boy could be
that this useless worthless thing I wove out of boredom
would be enough to make us even.'

Saturday, May 9, 2026

May flowers

what an explosion of color!

with the wonderful Erin McIntosh

a few flowers peeking over Rattlesnake Ledge

hike to Rattlesnake Ledge with some folks I'll be hiking the Camino with in June

Christine, Sophia, Lorelle, Becca, and Renee

Friday, May 8, 2026

Shortcuts to Joy

shortcuts to joy....

ridiculously beautiful orange poppies lining the Burke Gilman Trail near Gasworks Park

(and talking to Taylor on my ride home and stopping to Facetime him so he could see how beautiful it was!)

baby geese at Green Lake on Thursday morning

Taylor and Riley getting free food for bike-to-work day on Thursday

a new food canister I got while in Boston

a Christmas tree that Catherine and Wallace still have on their porch :)

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Throwback Thursday- Why Run in Costume Edition

This came from the Cascade Stride Newsletter a while back and I thought it would be a great theme for a Throwback Thursday....

"Let’s be honest — running is great. It’s healthy, energizing, and a fantastic way to challenge yourself. But you know what makes running even better?

Running in costume.

Whether it’s a sparkly tutu, a superhero cape, or a full-on leprechaun outfit, adding a costume to race day instantly turns a run into a party. If you’ve never tried it before, here are a few reasons why dressing up might be the best race-day decision you’ll ever make.

It Makes Race Day Feel Like a Celebration

Sometimes races can feel a little intense. People are focused, watching their watches, and chasing personal records. Costumes remind everyone that running is supposed to be fun.

When runners show up dressed as dinosaurs, shamrocks, or pirates, the mood shifts. Suddenly the race feels less like a competition and more like a celebration. The energy becomes contagious — spectators cheer louder, runners smile more, and the whole event feels lighter.

You’ll Get WAY More Cheers

Here’s a little secret: spectators love costumes.

If you’re dressed like a leprechaun, superhero, banana, or anything ridiculous, you can bet the crowd will notice. People will shout encouragement, ask for photos, and sometimes even start chanting your costume name.

That extra energy can give you the boost you need when the miles start getting tough.

It Brings People Together

Running in costume is even better with friends. Matching outfits or group themes instantly turn a normal race into a shared adventure.

Some popular group ideas include:

Superhero squads
Lucky leprechaun crews
Decades themes (80s neon, anyone?)
Cartoon characters
Animals or dinosaurs
Holiday Theme

Suddenly, race day becomes a memory you’ll laugh about for years.

It Makes the Photos Legendary

Every race has photographers along the course and at the finish line. While regular running photos are great, costume photos are unforgettable.

Years from now, when you look back at race pictures, you probably won’t remember your exact finish time. But you will remember the year you ran dressed as a giant shamrock with your friends.

And those pictures? Instant social media gold.

It Reminds Us Why We Run

At the end of the day, running isn’t just about pace, mileage, or medals. It’s about community, laughter, and doing something active that makes you feel alive.

Costumes bring that spirit front and center. They remind us that it’s okay to be silly, celebrate movement, and enjoy the moment.

Because sometimes the best runs aren’t the fastest ones.

They’re the ones where you cross the finish line dressed like a leprechaun, laughing with friends, and wondering why you don’t run in costume more often.

So next time you sign up for a race, consider leaving the serious gear at home and grabbing something a little more festive instead.

Throw on the tutu.
Wear the cape.
Embrace the shamrocks.

Your race day just got a lot more fun!"