The "High Five" in crossfit...

Before joining CrossFit...I hadn't participated in a high five since I was wearing multi-color tube socks in middle school.  Or perhaps when my older brother tortured me with the "Up High"..."Down LOW" OOOooops...TOO SLOW.  The others (tube sock ones) were probably related to doing something really silly and the high five was an acknowledgement of our awkwardness and acceptance or a distraction from the awkwardness.  Now, all things have changed.

CrossFit takes the High-Five to a whole new plane.

The flat on your back High Five:  My first CrossFit WOD I remember laying on my back with my eyes closed gasping for breath and mentally reconfiguring my schedule for the week to get in as many WODs as possible (first signs of addiction folks) and thinking how awesome I felt when I "heard" the coach looming over my head.  I opened my eyes to see tinges of concern on his face as he held his hand up over my head (for a high five) and asked me what I thought of my first WOD.  I muttered something profane and smacked his hand.  He had a huge grin as he stalked off knowing he had just converted another treadmill/ellipticalizer to CrossFit. 

The I love you and you are amazing but I can't talk High Five: while crossing friends (who are ahead of me on a run...which is everyone) we all high five each other as we cross.  This is to say, I love you, you are awesome, great job but I can't waste oxygen right now to say those words.

The holy crap...I can't believe you just did that High Five: When your WOD mate does something awesome that they have been working on forever and you can't yet muster the words...this high five is appropriate while you come up with something amazing to say.

The "You Know it High Five":  This is a very special High Five.  It is the recipient mode of the High Five above.  Possibly the best of all.  This is when YOU do something that is awesome and have worked hard for.  Something you have accomplished and are returning the High Five of the person who is saying "holy crap...I can't believe you just did that".  This is the true meaning of community...in CrossFit we push and fight for each other and when our friends meet their goals we are in awe FOR and OF them.  Regardless of the accomplishment. 

Finally (not necessarily CrossFit related), for us Moms of boys, The "I really want to hug you right now but don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends so I will do this" High Five:  When your son does something amazing, and his friends are around, this High Five is an acceptable way of communicating your respect and awe of his accomplishment without the "mom...no hugs in public" dreaded convo.  I usually ignore this and go for the hug anyway but recognize this will soon be my fate.

In conclusion...remember...we can all be sharpened by our experiences with one another.  Don't hold back.  Encourage.  Support. Cheer on.  We are directed to do so.

Proverbs 27:17  
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

the life of a family dog...

As I have been looking through photos and trying to avoid jumping in to a container of animal crackers and simultaneously grateful that I don't have animal crackers in the house I decided to put together a few photos that made me smile....to honor Chance.  In hopes it will remind us how wonderful her life was and how she enriched ours.  I noticed that my photos are sparse during Andrew and Katherine's early years...I imagine that this is a product of having two children 13 months apart while moving overseas and then that there was a surge of photos with the creation of the iPhone.  It was nice to review the pictures and these are some of the highlights that I want to remember over the past 14 years.

So...here we go.

Fourteen years ago Glenn and I finished college and were embarking on a new adventure.  He had just started flight school and I was pregnant with our first child.  As a graduation gift, my father bought a dog for us.  She went everywhere with us that her couch potato self would allow.

Here's to Chance..

She warmly and with love welcome three children, 5 cats and another dog into this house.

While we lived in California...she became a California dog.  She would go outside and lay on her back in the grass for so long I thought I should put sunscreen on her tummy.  This is how I will always remember her.

She tolerated bath time and would pout but the second it was over she would be the happiest dog ever.  

Chance would chase cats outdoors but her indoor cat pals were for snuggling.  Somehow they had it all worked out and we never had to get involved.

She would cry and wag her tail when Glenn would come home from cruise.  It was like her tail was going to wag right off of her body...he was her favorite person.  I can't blame her...he is an amazing man.

Even blind...she had the "can I have some of your popcorn face" nailed...Jax on the left isn't so bad either.  He was looking at the popcorn...she was looking at the eyes.  In.to.your.soul.  Try to say no.

She never left our side while we worked (me from home) or relaxed....

She made one little girl a very happy little girl...

She moved 11 times, 2 drives cross country, 1 drive north to south of the West coast and 2 cross Pacific flights to include being in a kennel for 6 weeks in Japan.  Always with a smile and wagging tail....she was happy to be with her people and we were happy to be with her.

Good bye sweet girl...we will miss you so much.  May the squirrels be plentiful, the food bowl always full and a warm sunny patch of grass to roll in.