Life is flying by....

Well everyone, life is flying by and I realized that I haven't posted in over a month (which isn't really unusual for me....) Anywho, here's an update:
I did the triathlon. I did it in about 1.5 hours. The winners did it in around 45 minutes or so. Not bad. I got up at 4:45 to get there for registration and I forgot my camelback with the Gatorade in it. Thankfully I had 2 water bottles but I drank one completely before I left so needless to say, I got REALLY thirsty. They had 2 water stops along the way, but it wasn't much. I finished though and that's what counts. I met a wonderful woman who cheered me along and took some pics for me. Her husband was racing and was pretty far ahead of me. My friend Justine came too. Here are some pics.





To make this shorter than a novel I'll touch on the big things.

We got a new puppy! We named her Libby, she is 7 months old now (5 months when we got her)and weighs about 25 lbs. Benny adores her and they have a blast together. Here is a pic.


We bought a truck. It is a 2005 GMC 2500HD Duramax crew cab with a 6" lift. I know, not the best for little ones, but it works for us. We sold Jason's truck and needed something that could hold us and our 2 dogs comfortably and in the future, our kiddos too. Here's a pic of that too.
Well, only 3 more weeks and my Honey is HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I AM ECSTATIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! It's hard to believe it's almost been 15 months since he first left. WOW! So much has changed.
I now am a licensed massage therapist and working at N Touch Therapeutic Massage in Elizabethtown. I'm there 3 days a week and after the first of the year I should be working at the gyms here on post too. Business is going very well! I recently got published in the Turret (the free paper here on post) in an article about army spouses who are entrapenuers. My business is Massage by Emily and I am contracted to N Touch and soon, the Army MWR. I came up with Massage By Emily on accident, very boring I know but it's my business email and so it's my business name too. Maybe after Jason and I get settled into where we're going to live for a while I'll open up shop with a more interesting name...LOL We'll see....it depends on if I have little ones at my feet or not.....
Well, I need to give my "babies" a bath. They've been running in the mud outside....and bringing it inside....ick.
Until later.......

my clelbruty look-alikes

It's official!

It's official! I am now Emily Hicks, Licensed Massage Therapist! All that schooling and testing has finally paid off. I am looking at a few different jobs right now, but in the meantime I am working at the State Fair. Our school rents a booth and we offer chair massage, for a fee of course. I get to work there for a few hours almost everyday the next 2 weeks! It'll be great exposure! Get my name out, and so on.

I am still working on training for the triathlon. Unfortunately I think I jumped in over my head. I have about 3.5 weeks before the race and I rode my bike today for the first time. I had wanted to get one, so I figured now was a good time to buy one. Then to top it off, the pool on post is closed for renovation so I can only do my lap swimming at the waterpark between the hours of 11am and 7pm. I'm going to do this, even if I come in last! The other girls haven't decided if they want to do the triathlon or not, so I may be flying solo.
I don't think I told you all the particulars of the race before so here they are: It is a 400 meter swim in a pool, followed by biking for 8 miles on some roads, followed by running for 3K (1.86 miles) out back where it is slightly hilly. This is going to be pretty tough, not in comparison to triathlons, but in comparison to how much I usually exercise. I've had to battle tired/laziness along the way and sometimes I lose the battle, BUT I'm trying. This is more than just a physical thing for me. It's physical, emotional, spiritual. It tests me on so many levels.
Thanks to all of you for your support. If I can do this, who knows what lies ahead!

I'm really going to do it!

I can't believe its true, but I am doing a mini-triathlon! Come September I will be swimming, biking and running for a day! There are 2 other girls doing it with me. Its interesting how it all came about.......I was doing a presentation with Arbonne when the hostess, Amanda, asked if I would like to do a triathlon with her. Normally I would have politely refused instantly, but something made me stop and think. "I've wanted to get into better shape and into the HABIT of exercising for a while now, but it's been hard to be consistent when there is no clear goal. Here is a definite clear goal. What a great opportunity for me! I get the bests of both worlds: workout buddies and an end goal. I don't have to finish first, I can go at my own pace during the triathlon...the important thing is FINISHING. I should do it! It will certainly push me outside of my comfort zone, but......that is where growth takes place. I really could use a change too and it would be GREAT to have something to look forward to instead of sitting at home alone, especially these last few months before Jason comes home. I NEED something to look forward to"......isn't it great how God provides for our every need even when what we need is to get out of a rut and off our butts?
I had a little extra incentive too...when I mentioned it to Jason he thought it was a great idea....in fact he told me how great that would be that we could finally run together. ( We attempted a run together when we were camping in Texas in February of 2006. It was awful! I had no stamina and our run ended up being a hoppy-walk for about .25 miles if even. It was so embarrassing.) Jason has really wanted to be able to run together and he joked that if I didn't learn to run then he would tie a rope around my waist and drag me along...LOL Even though he said it in a joking way, I knew he was still serious. I didn't realize how important it was to Jason that this be something we can share. Now I know and now it makes me want to do it all the more!
So now I have a bunch of reasons to motivate me to do this triathlon and now that I've told you all, you can keep me accountable...eek.
I really am excited to see what happens. I'm already feeling better after I exercise! Woohoo!

I passed the certification test!

Well, I passed! The certifiaction test wasn't the easiest test to do. I wish I would have done a little better in the assessment part, but hey, at least I passed! Now I just have to wait for the state to license me....
Last week a few of us Army wives were asked to comment on the show Army Wives that is on Lifetime. They wanted to know what a real army wife thought of the show. They actually got a few things wrong from the interview. I was the one who talked about the FRG not Carmen, but other than that everything else was the same. Check it out: http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/articles/2007/07/09/news/news03.txt
Today I have my first Arbonne presentation on my own. It should go well, since everyone there is really great! Well, I gotta get ready to go!

Family

I got back from the Kilbourne family reunion last night......there were so many people there! I met cousins that are my age that I didn't even know existed! It was great! We got to talk and catch up with everyone! It had been so long......I hadn't seen everyone in like 10 years! Everyone remembered me as a little pipsqueak. Last they knew me I was a quiet little girl that didn't have much of a personality. Well, I DEFINITELY have changed! I think I shocked some of them with my "loudness".....LOL
Family is great! Especially a family that cares about each other and makes the effort to stay in touch. Next time your family is having a reunion....be sure to go. You never know how blessed and refreshed you'll be when surround by those who love you.
Take my advice....you won't regret it. :-)

I'm biting my nails in anticipation

I got the letter stating I can take my Massage cert test. I scheduled it for Tuesday the 10th at 4pm. After the fact I figured I should have schedueld it for the morning when my brain is the "freshest". Ah well, I have no choice.
For some reason I always get super nervous before a test. I work myself up for no reason. Well I am determined to not freak myself out this time. It's going to be fine. Come on, it's mulitple choice questions. Not that bad.......
I am still trying to figure everything out with working at the massage clinic in Elizabethtown. Somehow, we've misunderstood each other so hopefully I'll still have the job. If not though, I do have options. A Chiropractor in Louisville wants to hire me and I heard that one of the spas in Elizabethtown is hiring. So we'll see......
This weekend, I get to go to a family reunion with my Grandpa's side of the family. Mom and Dad and Grandpa and Grandma are picking me up along the way. I haven't seen everyone in years! It'll be nice to catch up!
Well, I should be off. I need to clean up the house for the girls that are watching Ben while I'm gone. Hope everyone is having a good day!