...Insert Witty Title Here... (I don't have one.)

I should be at the Women of Faith conference this weekend.

I blogged about it. I arranged to have childcare, (no small feat around here.) I even picked up something new to wear.

Then, yesterday morning, I got one of those phone calls, the ones you get a few times in your life that change everything.

In this case, the one where I find out my mom has breast cancer.

Mom's been battling Multiple Sclerosis for the better part of 20 years, most of my life. I'm used to her being sick. I'm used to the slow, downhill battle that is MS. But this...wow.

My mom is being oddly stoic, which is totally not like her. I, the stoic one, am having a hard time keeping it together.

I'm spending the weekend at home with my family, praying, thinking, planning, and yes, occasionally hiding in bed, with my head under the pillow.

We'll have more answers next week, test results, hopefully a treatment plan. I think we'll all feel better then. Sometimes not knowing is the worst part.

My apologies to the Book Sneeze program, which generously provided me with the tickets to the event. I wish I were there, having a great time, as planned.

A Declaration of Intent

I've never been athletic. In elementary school, I'd beg mom to write me a note to get me out of P.E. (Yes, it's true. In that capacity, she was something of an enabler.) In high school, I moved on to skipping P.E. altogether. It was just never my thing. I was never particularly good at any games, nor did I exactly know how to play anything, coming as I did from a background of people who had to work on the weekend, instead of coaching soccer or t-ball.

As an adult, I've made the occasional attempt at physical fitness. I joined a gym for a while with my sister once, where she whooped me on the treadmill, the elliptical machine, and basically everything else. I've worked out at home here and there with DVDs, and more recently, on the Wii. I'm not great on the follow through though. Eventually I get bored, or tired, or distracted by other things, and my good intentions are forgotten.

Next month, I turn 30. Both of my parents have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. One of my sisters, (in her 40's,)  has osteoporosis. I've decided to make a real effort this time to get in better shape. I'm not looking to lose weight, (my weight's fine,) just to be in better health. Right now I'm the absolute definition of a couch potato.

I've downloaded the C25K app on my phone, and along with my new running buddy, (the dog,) I'm going to try to complete it.

My exercise buddy.

I figured if I told you all, I might be obligated to follow through with it. :) I'll let you know how it goes.