3 Miles Down

Today's walk was more on the unusual size. Tonight I walked three miles at the mall...with the family. Yep, all four kids.

It was Mike's idea. I thought he was crazy.

The backstory is this. It was rainy here, so I could not do my regular 7 a.m. walk around the neighborhood. That means I have to walk at the mall.

Let me digress here for a moment to note that I really don't like to walk at the mall. Who wants to look at all those beautiful, nicely dressed people when you are the only sweaty person around? And it's torture to be barraged all those wonderful food smells. (Do remember that I am both training for a 39 mile walk AND nursing two babies so my calories needs are intense and my hunger leaves no prisoners.) It's also a reminder of how terribly out of style I am. BUT it is a dry place to walk, and there's a bathroom and water fountain around every corner. Walking at the mall is a practice in finding the blessing in all situations.

Anyways, Gracie and the babies had a 4pm doctors visit, so all six of us piled in the car and went. (At one point, all four kids were crying. Hysterically. I recall desperately wishing for a third person and deciding that three flu shots at once was a very, very bad idea.) After the appointment, we ran a few errands for the fundraising party tomorrow (PLEASE COME!!) and then finally made it to the mall.

I originally thought that we would take two cars to the pediatricians and that afterwards Mike would take the kids home while I walked the mall. Mike decided that we should ALL go to the mall. Again, I thought he was crazy. I avoid taking all four into public alone at all costs. But not fearless Mike! He strapped Julie in the Baby Bjorn, put Caleb and Gracie in the double stroller, and Chloe walked beside him. 

And it worked! They shopped while I sped-walked around the mall, doing my fastest time ever. Here and there we'd get a glimpse of each other. The last half mile, the big girls decided that they too would walk. They had to run, really, to keep up with me. Poor little Gracie was sprinting.

It felt good to be walking. I haven't walked since last Saturday when I got roaring sick again. Walking reminds me of why I'm doing what I'm doing and how good it feels to be a part of it. It gave me time to talk to the Lord and ask Him why this season has been particularly hard. I was reminded of how the Enemy comes hard against all things good. This walk is certainly an "all things good."

We ended our mall excursion with dinner at the food court. We've eaten out as family maybe four times since the babies were born, so this was a big deal. Needless to say, we had fun! The big girls were excited to sit at tables and chairs their size and eat their (shared) kids' meal. The babies kept pounding the table, and they loved the bread and gyro meat from the new gyro place. We won't even talk about the ungraceful way I inhaled my gyro.

Aren't they so cute? Worth walking for, right? I sure think so.

I can't resist the opportunity to point out that Mike is amazing. I mean, who does that? He's been such a champion and a trooper. Baby, you're the best!

I better sign off for tonight. Tomorrow is the big fundraising party. I hope y'all come out! If you can't make it, don't forget that you can donate via the Avon link on the right side of this blog. Thanks again for all your support!