Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Kastans Vacation 2008

At the end of our lovely vacation I'm refreshed though I ran my first 5k today! I'm so excited that I did it! We left Disney for the outlets where I fit into size 8 shorts. I was a size 22 a bit over a year ago. Again, I'm so happy to be taking care of me and all that I can do now.

Speaking of the 5k I've got my family on board to do it with me next year. They really entertain you throughout the race. I also am starting to train to do the 1/2 marathon next year. I'm so excited about taking care of myself and this jogging thing really works!

Life is still busy and I start work Monday, School starts Wednesday, and Kaila will be 8 on the 6th. All in all I am blessed with such a great family......

Enjoy the photo show of our mini vacation....


Monday, August 25, 2008

And We're Off.....

It's official in a couple of hours we leave for Big Bear. I'm so excited to get out of town. I had a migraine yesterday so I'm not running this morning, too weak but I can't wait to get on the road.

Our cabin has a BBQ and I plan on BBQing some yummy lunches and dinners.

Friday we leave for Anaheim and are staying at the Hilton Suites (I booked it for $60.00) on Priceline (gotta love priceline) and Saturday I do my first run. Sure it's only the 5k and not the Half Marathon others are doing but I plan on attending the Half Marathon next year! We are then joining Lora & Baby Charlie for a day at Disneyland.

Sunday we are doing the memorial for my Aunt at the gardens. I feel at peace for her and I know she's in a better place.

Life should then be back to normal once we complete our adventures this week. I worked 14 days straight with camp, got a raise, and will come back to a lot of work after this week with school starting BUT I'm going to try and enjoy this week with my family and not get online. A week of just the three of us.

I will post a blog entry about our adventures sometime soon.....

Friday, August 15, 2008

I might even be a Rock Star


Rock Star Thursday at Kaila's camp. Here she is with the twins, Camdyn and Perri her best friends. They've been pals since Kindergarten. Not the best quality photos but the girls are cute!

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Countdown to Disneyland Jog



I'm so excited and happy that I did 3.3 miles today in 31 minutes. I have to do it in under 45 minutes for the run at Disneyland I'm doing on the 30th.

I'm so glad I quit the gym. A trainer every other week, weights at home, and jogging out in the open is so much better then a gym.

The countdown has begun!!!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

They Did It....

My husband and lovely child made it on YouTube. We work for a Not For Profit company that works with Special Needs Children & their Families.

Below is the video we submitted to NBC for America Cheers.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Centered

I'm so excited to be feeling so much better after the past couple of weeks to a month. I went to my monthly class today and feel so centered. I so don't want to miss another class. I feel so much better and positive about the month ahead. Yes, I missed the last two months because of my wedding anniversary and traveling but I love how I feel when these classes are complete. Three hours a month makes me feel warm inside even when the work being done is hard at times.

I'm taking my cake for 11 years this Tuesday and feel really good about it. I'm making a Gluten free cake for myself too. I'll be having dinner with a friend I've gotten closer to this past year and hope to get closer to as time goes on.

Oh the gifts in my life. My aunt will be missed, I'm not perfect, and life happens and can be good at times and awful at other times but there's always a lesson and I'm grateful to be present and who I am today to go through it all (:

Friday, August 1, 2008

Endings & New Beginnings

Yesterday at 10:15AM my aunt Francine past away. She had died 10 minutes before I got to the hospital. I beat myself up at first for making stops but you know, I was there everyday almost all day with her. Nightly I would tell her I love her and let her know it was OK to move on. I saw there was no reason to beat myself up over something I had no control over. It was her destiny to move on when she did.

My aunt is at peace now. She was a neat lady. Before her Parkinson's started she would have these beautiful gardens. She loved animals and loved her old T.V. shows. I remember as a child having to watch The Sound of Music and The Towering Inferno so many times because those were two movies she'd watch over and over again.


It's sad, yes, but my mother and I took care of all the arrangements yesterday and we are going to do a family memorial once we receive her ashes in a couple of weeks.


Today is a new day and a day I can live to the fullest. It's the start of a new month and a new year for me as well. I'm grateful that I am the person I am today and that I was able to be there and accountable for my family when they needed me most. I used to be the person you wouldn't call or rely on for anything.


I've included a picture of Francine from my wedding before her Parkinson's finally took over. As I close, my sappy moment for you is to remember to cherish the ones you love, always.