My diamond bracelet

Bet that caught your eye. You really ought to see mine. For years I have told my DH that I wanted a diamond tennis bracelet. I mean - I deserve it after almost 30 years of putting up with him...um, I mean being married. Actually, we all put up with our mates at times - and they put up with us too. I have married a gem - really!

Anyway, back to the jewels. I am so NOT a costume jewelry fan. My DD sells Lia Sophia jewelry, and that is great for her. I have bought some to help her out and give as gifts. But me? I want the REAL stuff! I have 3 pairs of earrings - 2 with diamonds, the other pearls that I wore in my wedding. I almost never take my earrings out for anything - other than to clean them or change them. I have a "breakless" gold necklace that I bought because every other necklace that I wore eventually broke because I wear it to bed, wear it in the shower, etc. I just don't like changing my Schmuck! (jewelry) On my necklace hang 7 little booties, one for each grandblessing, with his or her birthstone in it.

Then I have 4 rings. I wear them all, all the time (okay - yes, I take them off to play volleyball because people threatened me that I might catch them on the net and rip my finger off - Has anyone really ever done that???) I have my engagement ring (3 diamonds) and wedding band, which have been soldered together, on one hand. My husband found a simple plain wedding band in a car his dad bought when he was a kid. He forgot about it and gave it to me after we were married for 6 months. When people ask me why I have two wedding bands, I tell them that the one on my right hand is from my FIRST husband. I love watching their reactions! (I only have a first - and don't have any desire to change that!) Then when we celebrated our 15th anniversary he took me out to dinner and presented me with a tea ball (I collect those - because collecting diamonds is too expensive!) and inside was a diamond anniversary ring with 7 diamonds in it. Now I admit, I went to the jewler and picked it out and got a little card with all the info on it so he knew exactly what I wanted. I didn't want to be surprised with a ring that I didn't like and DH did a GREAT job in presenting it to me!

So, now back to the diamond bracelet. DH brought it back from America. Really, almost EVERYTHING is cheaper there than here! (Think $8 for a gallon of gas!)
So, I lay hints, ask, send links, etc. And then finally the day comes when he arrives home! Hmmm, what am I more excited about - him, or the goods??!! - Definitely HIM!! - but the goods are a close second!

He carefully unpacks his suitcase handing each one the ordered items; trumpet books for DS (he is an obsessive trumpet player - but it's all good) and a driver's manual for 16 year old DD - along with college applications. - Let's not talk about that! They leave way too quickly! And then my......
Garmin Forerunner 305!! (Ha! Thought it was going to be a diamond bracelet?) I am amazed how my wants have changed over the last two years on spark. Since being on spark I have bought a exercise mat, exercise ball, 3 exercise videos, weights, exercise bands, walking shoes, running shoes, a heart rate monitor, 3 pedometers - which have all bit the dust! (They don't like me I guess) running clothes (pants, shirts and now bondibands - which hold buckets of sweat while I am running - which may sound gross, but having it drip everywhere is grosser!)

Now, my new "diamond bracelet" (Mr. Garmin) will run with me, compete with me - yep, we raced twice yesterday and I beat him once! - keep track of my heart rate, tell me how far I have gone, etc, etc. More info than I will use in a lifetime. But unlike my Schmuck - I do take not sleep with Mr. Garmin!

And now the big initiation - Saturday's 5K. I already wrote about it - have looked forward to it for so long. When a young lady in our church mentioned it to me - I had never run before. She is a true runner and has qualified for the Boston marathon - even though she had no plans of doing it. I got so excited yesterday as I got my final e-mail about the race. I know the path, now I see where the water stations are, and probably more importantly, where the bathrooms are located on the way. I know where to pick up my number - (WOW a REAL number!! First time! ) My kids keep laughing at my excitement about wearing a number! And, I ordered a chip so I get my time documented - and not because I am fast - (I just hope to NOT finish last!) but because they will send me a document in the mail with my time on it! I want proof to show that this Oma of 7 actually ran a real race!

Then I read yesterday that the world's 4th fastest lady is going to be there - (so much for 1st place! lol!) and another renown triathlon person - okay, so I never heard of these people before. I'm a rookie of the rookies here!

All I can say is - I NEVER dreamed that I would be doing what I am doing. I HATED running and always tried to avoid it - even during my volleyball career. I never thought I would force myself to get up early to EXERCISE! I have never been a morning person - but I am becoming both a morning person AND a runner! There is just something about going out early and listening to the frogs croak and a cuckoo bird fly by (the real thing - with NO clock!) and scaring a pheasant as I run by. And the satisfaction of knowing that God made our bodies so wonderfully, that if we treat them right - we will reap the healthy rewards. The feeling of accomplishing something physically challenging is a huge reward in itself.

So, was my trade good? - A Garmin forerunner rather than a diamond tennis bracelet? Well, maybe someday I will possess both! But right now - I am thrilled for another tool to use to help me achieve my goals!