Ready or Not, Here We Run!

Text message thread from today with Remick classmate:

Friend: You're going Thursday to the ACE thing, right?

Me: I can't go anymore. I had to change my flight.

Friend: Oh boy, where are you going?

Me: California for the ACE Marathon :)

Friend: Ohhhhh, right. OMG, I can't believe that's here already.

Me: You're telling me.

And later, this conversation:

Roommate: You're gone all weekend?

Me: Yep, California...for the marathon.

Roommate: Are you ready?

Me: Haha. I hope so.

Roommate: I can't believe it's already here.

Me: You can say that again.

This school year has gone by so incredibly fast, especially since turning the corner on 2019. The marathon isn't the only thing that crept up on me surprisingly fast - my birthday, other people's birthdays, each new trimester. It feels like I'm living in fast forward...and everything starts to blur together. Yet, I don't feel rushed or uneasy or pressed for time, for the most part. On the contrary, I've found myself to be very much at peace since the start of the school year (and especially since the start of Lent thanks to a few prayer practices I've taken up).

Still, the marathon is here. My body feels good. My training (running and biking-wise) has been consistent and solid, even though most of it has been indoors (including many of my long weekend runs). Some mornings I literally have to give myself a pep talk to roll out of bed at 4:45am, but if I don't go to the gym first thing I won't end up going at all, as there is usually some kind of evening commitment or entertainment multiple days in any given week. I've learned over the years that there are no shortcuts in training for long races - cutting corners makes race day less than what anyone could hope for. 

In college, when my sister and I ran our first marathon at Disney, the friends/mentors we ran with advised us to make three goals: 1) finish, 2) realistic time, & 3) ideal time. In thinking about this marathon and how I've done in the past, my three goals are the following: 1) Finish the race; 2) Realistic = Finish in under 4 hours; and 3) Ideal = Finish in under 3:50:00 (as the last marathon was 3:50:51). I'd love to PR, of course, but it all depends on factors like weather, health, temps, and if I can finally run a marathon when I kick it the last mile. (I've really failed at this in the past, but in my training this time I've worked on always finishing strong, so I hope that helps!)

No matter how the race turns out, the weekend (and trip to CA) will be worth it - we'll be celebrating with current and past ACErs, Fr. Lou is coming to celebrate the Mass, I am meeting up with one of my ACE housemates who lives in San Jose, and I am hanging out post-marathon with one of my Remick classmates who lives in San Francisco. 

My heart is so ready for this!

Al Amanecer...At Sunrise

Al amanecer.

(At dawn.)

Sounds so beautiful in Spanish, doesn't it?

In any language, though, sunrise is a beautiful sight to behold. I have had my fair share of incredible sunrises on my way to work since the start of this school year - they are especially breathtaking when the clouds do their magic, causing purples and golds and scarlets to dance across the sky.

While I love my daily commute sunrises, what I love even more is getting to the lakefront just as the sun breaks over the horizon during my weekly long runs. Last week's in particular caught me by surprise, and it made me believe I was like Bert (the chimneysweep) and Mary Poppins jumping into one of their sidewalk art pieces...

Kind of takes your breath away, doesn't it?

Getting up a few minutes earlier than is reasonable for a weekend to see something like that is well worth it. But I guess I have always been an early riser - who can sleep in when such beauty and potential awaits for those ready to begin the day?

Speaking of beauty, I ended up going to the Chicago Botanical Gardens with my sister and brother-in-law last weekend, and many flowers were still in bloom. Here are some photos from the day...and from the trip directly after to Graeter's --> 

The weather was beautiful this weekend for yet another run, but the winds are blowing in now, and it looks like it will be a chilly adventure to meet up with my sister and some friends downtown in just a little bit. Our days can't always be picture-perfect, but our hearts can always be full of gratitude for the gifts we receive every day and the people we share our days and time with along this journey of life.

End of Year Smiles

The end of the school year brings a mixed bag of emotions no matter what plans for the next school year may bring. But this year, emotions are running especially high, as I am changing jobs/schools and my sister is getting married - both good things, but they bring with them big changes and the unknown...

I haven't been one for many words lately, so why should today be any different? Instead, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. (Currently I am twiddling my thumbs, waiting to be checked out of my classroom at school...)

mom came to town for Marisa's bridal shower so we went to see a show

some of my wonderful coworkers at our end-of-year luncheon

notes from Marisa's students for the shower

there will be more sunflowers at the wedding...

champagne, games, and candy :)

the socks were a hit

the book of prayers and poems was a hit too

I gave the bouquet making job to another friend - wouldn't have looked half as good if I had attempted it...

she's ready for the wedding...

the whole crew - what a great shower!

both of these ladies are getting married this summer :)

Are you twins or something? ;) ;)

just dancing and doing our thing...

Soul Cycle class with my coworkers #tonightweride

I am so incredibly grateful for the past 7 years at my school, and I am excited for the adventures to come (this summer and beyond). Cheers!

What happens when your twin sister comes to school?

My sister's been very busy with First Communion-related events (yay!) with her students this weekend, but she took a break on Saturday night to come out to my school's performance of Peter Pan, Jr.

All week my middle school students were extremely excited that my sister would be in attendance. (Some of them were quite distressed when she wasn't with me before the show began - she was coming separately a little closer to curtain time.) They knew I had a twin, but most of the 6th and 7th graders had never met her previously...

Student A: How will we know which one is the real Miss Foyle?
Me: It will be easy. She won't know your names.

Student B: What's her name?
Me: Miss Foyle...for now.
Student B: No, like her real name?
Me: Miss Foyle. :)


The show was quite a spectacle, as it usually is, and afterwards my sister, her fiance (yes, he came too - what a trooper!), and I were still in our seats waiting for the crowd to thin so we could go congratulate the students. Lo and behold, some 6th graders found us, and they definitely had more enthusiasm than they knew what to do with. When I introduced them to my sister and her fiance, they shifted gears to asking about the wedding:

Student A: Are you going to be in the wedding, Miss Foyle?
Me: (Sarcastically) No.
Student A: (laughs)
Student B: Are you going to hold flowers?
Me: Yes.

Meanwhile, another 6th grader walked up. She was more composed and calm. The girls we had been speaking with were trying to fill her in on the wedding, but this young lady was trying to make a deeper connection...

Student C (one who just walked up): That's your sister and her fiance? So, that's her vocation, right Miss Foyle - married life?
I wanted to hug that girl right there and then - yes! That's exactly what we've been talking about in religion class the past week - the 4 vocations as taught by the Church.
Me: Yes, that's exactly right. Her vocation is married life.



I'll admit, I run into a challenge every year when I teach the students about vocations because I'm not quite sure I've found my own yet. (That's right, I'm 32 years old and still not sure what God wants me to do with my life.) Questions from the students come from a place of genuine curiosity, but I don't have the answers, and, quite frankly, it makes me a little uneasy:

Miss Foyle, are you going to get married? (Maybe?)
Miss Foyle, are you committed single life? (I'm not sure about that one.)
Miss Foyle, have you thought about becoming a nun? (Yes, but that was a long time ago.)
Miss Foyle, if you could become a priest would you? (Probably not...)

There is one vocation, though, that all of us share, and that is a universal call to love (which we are getting to this week and next), and this is a vocation I strive to live out every day. Love is a choice; love is willing the good of the other, even those we do not particularly like or with whom we may be frustrated at any given moment. As Jesus says in the Gospel of John, "Love one another as I have loved you."

So, at least for now, I'll focus on this vocation of love - goodness knows there are endless opportunities to practice it during the school day. And, through continued prayer and discernment, I trust God will more clearly show me my other vocation as well...

Take Time to Celebrate!

A coincidence or not a coincidence? That is the question.

Yes, William Shakespeare's birthday (and death, some say) is on April 23rd. It may or may not have inspired some cocktails and frivolity (all in moderation) at my sister's bachelorette party this weekend...

Antony and Cleopatra

A Midsummer Night's Dream

It's like "Cards Against Humanity"...but with Shakespeare plays and quotes!

Macbeth

Yes, that was all nice, but the best part about this weekend was the excuse to get some wonderful ladies together to celebrate my favorite person and her upcoming wedding:

She's just about 100 days away from the big day...but who's counting?

This weekend's events coupled with the incredible weather and sunshine from today has me going into this week on a full tank. :)

November Memories

Ah, November - what a beautiful month you've been so far...and it's not even Thanksgiving yet! While school was super busy with end of the trimester report cards and parent-teacher conferences, I still found time to share with friends (both planned and unplanned)...

1) One of my best friends from college and her husband flew in/out of O'Hare for a wedding (in FL) earlier this month - before heading back home, we got to spend a couple of hours out by the airport enjoying a delicious brunch and great conversation. I am so glad she texted that they'd be here and wanted to meet up. 

2) Just this past weekend I was blessed to attend the wedding of a fellow ACE grad (a few years behind me) - both she and her now husband have such love for each other and for God. They are wonderful witnesses for all of us! Dinner and dancing were fun too...but that was just a bonus.

3) My sister's kiddos had their Girls On The Run 5K race last weekend. After many weeks of mild temperatures, the thermometer plummeted, and we pretty much froze...but it was awesome. The girls were so cute, and it was fun to hang out with some of my sister's co-workers too.

And now it's off to visit family and friends for the holiday...

I hope you and your loved ones (near and far) have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving! Advent is just around the corner...

Service Day 2016

On Saturday I joined with over 400 parishioners to head out to different agencies and sites around the city for my church's annual "service day." A simple morning prayer service was followed by a mass exodus from the building, with groups heading this way and that. My group was assigned painting a room at House of Good Shepherd.

When we first arrived, we took a tour of the facilities and enjoyed lunch. Then, we got to work. With one roller and 7 brushes, we tackled baseboards and walls (after taping our edges, of course). We were pretty efficient, finishing in about two hours. Aside from my sister, I didn't know anyone else in our group of eight, but after the car ride over and time talking while painting, I feel like I made six new friends.

I wish our parish did "service day" more than once a year, though I know it's incredibly hard to coordinate everything with the sites, group leaders, and participants. But maybe this will be the start that a few of us need to try to get to places on a more regular basis. (At the post-Mass dinner, some parishioners were describing places/agencies I had never even heard of before!)

All in all, it was a great way to spend a Saturday (especially one with such nice weather). Additionally (but unrelated), I received word that my volleyball girls won their match on Saturday, so that was awesome too. (Go Dolphins!)

Now, considering how beautiful it is outside, it's time for a run by the lakefront, which will be followed by a friend's baby shower and some errands (plus a little school work/prep). Have a restful Sunday!