"With Family" and Opening day of baseball

So... The part of my blog's title "with family" got put to the test today.

With Jackson and Parker both playing baseball this year when would we get a run in? Even a short run will be better than nothing; but with baseball and General Conference, when?

Despite the gusting winds and driving dirt in the eyes, Opening day of baseball started at 8:30 this morning with Opening ceremonies and introduction of all the league's teams. The best part of that is always the playing of the National Anthem. I still always get tingles listening to that hymn and paying reverence to our great nation and it's flag. The ceremonies ended with just enough time to run through McD's for a bite of breakfast before Jackson had to be back at the park for his team and individual pictures @ 10am. Then his first T-ball game @ 11 and Parker's pictures. Jackson has been soooo excited to play baseball this year like the big boys. Wendy put it best when she made the observation that it's all about having fun at this age. Those kids are all smiles with no pressure.

After Jack's game, we had just 2 hours to get home, get in a quick run, (3.5 miles doing laps around the Elementary school) -Did I mention the WIND?- get a bite for lunch, clean up, listen to a little smattering of wisdom from this morning's GC session about families and parenting, and get back to the ballpark for Parker's game.

Whew...

Just to find out that the games are running almost an hour and a half late. Nothing to do now but enjoy the atmosphere of the ballpark, try not to get blown away, watch some baseball, and do some writing. Somebody's going to have to save some seats for me and my boys for tonight's session of conference. We're going to be a little late.

Maybe I'll get in another short late night run since I missed the last couple days.

Did you run today? No? Get out and go for a run. You'll feel better.

Can I really be a runner? Really? Can I?

I've been running since May, 2010, but I still doubt myself, a lot.  Even after everything I've done, I still question my sanity and wonder if this is just a fad I'm going through that I just haven't quit... Yet.

I'm a daddy of 5, a husband, a scout master, a homeowner with a house and yard that need my attention, not to mention the cars that need my attention, I have a full time job, and I could find tons more excuses and higher priorities.  Now add "Blogger" to the equation?

When do I really have time to "go for a run", much less blog?

And, yet... I do.  Sometimes other things have to get put on the back burner for an hour or so for sanity sake.

And... I have the best wife ever who supports me and encourages me to continue.  When I'm having a bad day, she is the first one to tell me "get out and go for a run".  Even when finances are tight, she says "Go for it.  Sign up for that race.  You can do it."  Plus, despite her health issues, she has discovered that she wants to be a runner also and is currently training for her first RAGNAR in SoCal.  If you happen across team Horns & Halos, ask for Wendy and cheer her on.  I know I'm proud of her accomplishments.  I'm a lucky guy to have her.

I'll get into when, how, and why I started running, in another entry, soon.

Until then... Go for a run.  You'll feel better.