Sister

Sister. Melissa aka MoPro1, Mopie, Mo, Mozambique, and her least favorite and oddly enough my very favorite: Mobama!

Sisters annoy, interfere, criticize. 

 Indulge in monumental sulks, in huffs, in snide remarks.  

Borrow.  Break.  

Monopolize the bathroom.  

Are always underfoot. 

 But if catastrophe should strike, sisters are there.  

Defending you against all comers.  ~Pam Brown

I remember you as the sweetest little girl that could be.  The one who charmed everyone as you pranced around in your red cowboy boots you insisted on wearing every day.  The polar opposite of me and my tom boy stage you stood out as the ultimate girly girl.  A graceful ballerina.  An imagination that was larger than life.


Mom and Dad said you had a heart of gold, and you did.  You cried in the Jesus movie.  And threw up after.  You would put yourself second to everyone and serve others before you were taught such concepts as sharing and giving. It was who you were-and who you still are.

You are gifted with your natural brains and sense of emotion.  One who empathizes in the most true sense of the word.

You are carefree. Spirited. Gorgeous. Kind. Compassionate. Loving. Thoughtful. And resilient. 

My partner in crime.  

Oops, we did it again

My island hopping adventurista. 

alien hunting

You help me keep Austin weird. 

You drive me crazy like no one else can. You know how to push my buttons. But you also know exactly what to say to pick me up.  And how I like my burgers.  You bring me right back down to earth, calling me out and always for a good reason.

God put me on this earth a few years before you but today I stand next to you.  And go before you only to make the mistakes that you will learn from without having to suffer on your own.  Sister, you have such wisdom and strength and feel for others like no one I know. I will stand by you and celebrate your every victory, brave your every battle, and dance along beside you through every beat.  I love you, Mo

10k

Two months ago, my farthest non-stop run was 3.1 miles.  Exactly 3.1 and over a year ago at that.   Without getting too detailed on past distance records and running patterns (or lack thereof) let me just summarize in saying this: I have never been "a runner".  I have intermittently included running as part of my workouts but have never been organized or consistent about tracking mileage or even time.

Fast forward to the beginning of September.  In typical Rachel fashion, I decided that I would run a 10k race. Why not?  Perhaps a 5k would have been more appropriate to begin with,  but I wanted to push the limits and really give myself a challenge.  And so I did.  I set out to run the entire race and cross the finish line and ended up shocking myself with my time and PDR. 

The point is this: " If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves"
    - Thomas Alva Edison

There is so much that we cannot,  by physical limitations, do today.  On the other hand, there is so much we can do to get us there one day.  So you have never ran a 5k?  Do you have legs that can move and can run for 5 minutes today? Then get out there and run them for 5 minutes.  And tomorrow run them for 6.  Yes, we have to push ourselves and face challenges on the way to our goals but that is what gets us there.  And those same challenges are what deters most others.  Whatever we set our mind to do, within reason, we can.  It will take a mix of time, determination, persistence, but we can do it.  What are you waiting for?