18" box jump

this morning i did something kind of cool.

when i started crossfit last july, my box jump was a whopping 3 or 4" (the height of a 45-lb. plate).  and that 3 or 4" was rough.  took everything out of me. over the months i have slowly improved, adding more height to my stack of weights, always looking on with envy to those who were using the actual box.

well, this morning i finally joined my fellow crossfitters at the box by jumping on the box.  that's right.  an 18" box jump.

like a boss.

the family is the foundation.

i love my family more than life.  they are never far from my mind and heart.  our original 8 members has now expanded to 12 and we are spread out over 3 states.  we try our best to stay in touch, to see each other as much as possible, and i am never more happy than when i am with them.  they are my everything and i love them with all my heart.  i am so grateful that i belong to them and they to me.

what i have realized over the past few months, though, is that i belong to several families, families whom i also love and appreciate.  these families are a little more fluid and not as central to my life as the 11 people who share my last name, but they are my family just the same. to name a few....

my school family. i love my fellow teachers.  we have way too much fun together.  most of the time we act like jealous siblings competing for the love and attention of mother (ie: our principal), but we work and play together really well.  and my students!  they are my children, my little rays of sunshine.  wayward children, yes, but my children all the same.  as i remind them at least once a week, we are a family and our little school is our home.  and in our home, we speak kindly to one another, and we encourage and uplift one another.  i love my school family.

my ward family.  i love going to church every week because i absolutely love the members of my ward.   yes, they are all older than me, married with children, but i so enjoy being with them and learning from them.  they inspire me and let me know that i am not alone.  i love my ward family.

my friends family. there's not much more i can say about the wonderful friends who have blessed my life in ways i can't even begin to describe.  i love my friends family.

my friends' family family.  as i have spent time with friends and their respective families, i have felt so welcomed and accepted, cared for and loved.  i love spending time with their parents, getting to know them and being included in family events and inside jokes.  i can only hope my friends feel as welcomed and accepted, cared for and loved by my family.  i love my friends' family family.

my crossfit family. a few weeks ago, i was having a particularly rough time with the workout of the day (wod), something with about a bajillion squats and toes to pole.  the last part of the wod was a 600m run, and of course, i was the last one to finish.  as i struggled with the last 200m of the run, another member of our box who had finished quite some time before jogged toward me and joined me on the home stretch, offering words of encouragement.  i didn't know this fellow crossfitter, but i was so grateful for her little kindness in helping me finish strong.  i love my crossfit family.

pleasant surprises

i really should be working on lesson plans for tomorrow or, better yet, be getting to bed, but it's been quite a while since i've written anything.  and once again, work nor sleep will come until i've released some of the thoughts swirling around my head right now.

yesterday was mother's birthday.  in a coordinated effort, dad and i arranged a little birthday surprise for her when they arrived home from the airport with family friends and birthday bundt cakes.  their flight was delayed nearly 2 hours, but the celebration was still a sweet success. a pleasant surprise.

last week, one of my more challenging students approached me to inform me that i was no longer his favorite teacher, because they had made caramel in science, so the science teacher was his new favorite teacher.  my first reaction to his confession: "i was your favorite teacher? all i do is harp at you all day about missing assignments and taking your earbuds out!" he just kind of shrugged and laughed. a pleasant surprise.

yesterday was also the last day of my 30-day crossfit paleo challenge.  other than 2 cheat days (once was during the ysa conference when i was exhausted out of my mind, the other was for a late-night pizza with a friend to which there was no way i was going to say no), i did not consume any grains, dairy, sugar or processed foods for 30 days.  i am extremely proud of myself for being so faithful to the challenge.  it also doesn't hurt that i lost 10 lbs. and several inches off my waist and hips.  a pleasant surprise.

after tonight's crossfit class, the head trainer told me that we needed to have a little chat.  it was actually a very one-sided conversation in which she informed me that i will be adding weight to all of my workouts from here on out.  despite my protests that the 26 lb. kettlebell is plenty heavy and my box jumps are just fine at their current height, she straight up told me no.  as much as i may grumble about it, it actually feels pretty good to be improving and getting stronger.  a pleasant surprise.

i've been feeling really good about life lately.  school is going well (stressful as all get out, but still a hoot and a half).  i'm being kinder to both my body and spirit.  i'm seeing prayers answered and  hoped for blessings and miracles.  if you would have asked me 6 months ago - or even 3 months ago - if i thought i could ever feel this way again, i would have replied with a sorrowful, "probably not." there is still much to be resolved and improved, but i'm starting to understand my life through a more mature and eternal perspective.  but more than anything, it just feels good to feel good again.  a pleasant surprise.

Are you sure that was just the warm-up?!

I went to my first Crossfit class this morning.  There is a strong possibility that I will not be able to get out of bed tomorrow.

Yes, I am a runner.  But no, I do not have any muscles.  I've never been especially physically strong.  My history with weight lifting and gym memberships is spotty at best.  Other than an embarrassing and short-lived stint as a shot-putter and discus thrower in 8th grade, I have never been athletic or played on team sports.  Dancing?  Yes.  Singing?  Yes.  Dancing and singing at the same time?  Yes.  But no sports for this choir girl.

I can't do a full push-up.  I found out that I cannot jump (forward, straight up, or otherwise) to save my life.  You can hardly call what I did this morning an actual pull-up.  I was disappointed to see that they did not have a 5 lb. kettlebell for me to use.  And for the love! What in the world is a burpee?

When the head trainer asked me how I was liking the WOD so far, I smiled sweetly through the shower of sweat streaming down my face and told him that they were all insane.

I am exhausted and my arms are screaming and my legs are probably going to go on strike.

Can't wait to go back.