Big dreams: New jewelry and a mini race report...

I had dinner with a great friend a few weeks ago and half way through the meal I noticed she was wearing a very cool ring. It was chunky and silver and had words stamped into it. I actually can't remember what hers says, but I loved it and immediately asked her where she got it. When she told me that it was from a local artist friend of hers, I was quickly on my phone checking out the website and ordering one of my own.

Dream big. Love it!

Mano y Metal is the name of the company and I have to say, I love everything on the website. Warning: if you're on my Christmas list, there's a good chance your gift will come from here. I can think of a certain group of ladies in my life who could definitely use a "be badass" ring.

My ring arrived in the mail yesterday and it was just as great as I was hoping it would be. I knew as soon as I put it on, it would be a conversation piece at school and goodness was I right! After several attempts to read the ring upside down and several more attempts to tip their heads upside down to read the ring, I took it off for my kids to examine.

My teacher heart was happy as my struggling readers successfully decoded, dr-e-am b-i-g. Then, the moment I was hoping for came, and we had a fairly lengthy conversation about what it means to dream big.

I know, I know, it sounds corny. But take just a second and think about an adorable group of 5th grade students who really really struggle academically, socially, and emotionally. Think about this group of, as I affectionately call them, yahoos, talking about their big dreams.

"My big dream is to be a fire fighter!"

"My big dream is to make an ice cream sundae the size of this room!"

"My big dream is to drive a huge truck and honk the horn!"

If that doesn't bring a smile to your face and warm your heart a little, well, you might need to come meet my kids.

On the running side of big dreams, I had the honor and pleasure of running along side a wonderful friend of mine as she completed her first ultra marathon this past weekend. A big dream of hers, for sure.

The race was called the Paleozoic Denovian Fall Trail Race and was put on by the same wonderful people who put on the trail race my friends and I completed last spring. It was a crisp cool day and we couldn't have asked for better conditions. It was a two loop course for the ultra marathon. With special permission from the race director, a few of us were able to run the second of the two loops with our ultra marathon friend.

Love them!

I have developed a deep love for trail running and last Saturday was the perfect example of why. I always feel like I'm on some kind of adventure or hike and I definitely forget where I am and lose all sense of time. It is time to relax and let it all out and be with really amazing people. It's an escape in all senses of the word. 

My ultra marathon friend has been training hard for this race for months. Her mileage in training reached limits that most of us can't even fathom and she did it all with a calm sense of determination. The thing about this friend is that she is one of those women who truly does it all. She's probably shaking her head as she reads this, but it's true. Running an ultra marathon is impressive all on its own. Running an ultra marathon with two little kids and husband at home and a more than full time job? That is simply remarkable. I highly recommend her race report. You can read it here: http://runlikeamama.blogspot.com/2014/11/palezoic-50-finish-or-fossilize-race.html.

And so, tomorrow is Friday. After a crazy but wonderful week with my kids, I am dreaming big about my own big dreams of running races and potential big successes at school. I hope you are dreaming big as well. Happy (almost) Friday!