Today is the day of the Vegas Rock-and-Roll Marathon. I was planning on running it a few months ago. It was fun to pretend and train for awhile, until I began getting hurt. Anything beyond 6 miles quickly hindered me for the rest of the day, sometimes even the next. I realized there was no way I would run, not even the half- I have 2 babies to care for. Self inflicted injury these days is not an option.

Today they will run without me (Go Mandi!)

Today I will instead put up the balloons, eat a cupcake and celebrate my babies turning ONE.

The birthday party invitations

Today, I realize that although I did not run across a finish-line to crowds cheering down Las Vegas Blvd, I have still run the race this year. I am quickly winding around the last bend and today, with the small crowd that has cheered us on Matt and I will celebrate completing the most exhausting, exhilarating, amazing run we have ever attempted.

This week we will break through the ribbon together, hand-in-hand after the most difficult and joyous experience of our lives. We will finish the race, we have survived the marathon that is our first year with twins.

I am incredibly happy to have come this far together. Maybe one day I will actually run, but for today I choose to hold my babies gratefully. I am giddy. Sore body, tired soul and all, by the the grace of God we have survived this year and today we celebrate a race completed, a victory given, a medal won.

Thankfully ours.

BLESSINGS

PS. I am looking forward to sharing with you the details of their party this week, I hope you will enjoy my chatting about it all.