Whew! I made it through the day--and I'm still wearing my

. Amazing and nothing short of God's grace, I'm telling you. I'm in the deepest, darkest part of the dzone

, but I have felt totally uplifted and carried by support all day--even now at around 10 p.m. when I'm just finishing curricula writing for the week. Thank you Beth, Doreen, Marcia, and Satine--for your kindnesses.
I had so much on my mind and heart today--issues with various children/parents, my friend starting chemo, work deadlines and concerns, but I worked to truly give it all up to God, to let Him take care of me and my problems, and to walk through the day with a grateful heart instead of a worried one. Blessings were there at every turn--from the child who nestled in my lap instead of screaming for his mommy (like last week!) to the Fed Ex lady who showed up at the exact right moment, from the surprise news I got in a PM (all I can say is that it involves princess fashions) to having the strength to stay within the points. Just an amazing day.
I hope that I don't sound too syrupy for those of you who visit my journal, but I do have to tell it like I see it, and if anyone's read my journal from the beginning, you know how difficult TOM is for me. Over the last few months, the insights and support that I've gotten here at the WISH have helped me to learn how to live in the most optimal way possible during this time each month. Why, the whole healthy living process--the faith walk that it's been for me, the changes that I've made in how I eat and how I live, the wonderful friendships that I've made, the new goals and challenges that I've set for myself (like the half marathon)--it's been an amazing journey. I am so happy to be on it, taking things one day at a time. Day by day. Pound by pound. Onward and inward.
I've been having a lot of guilt lately about the half marathon. DH and I have been back and forth about whether he and DD should go with me--I have really wanted them there to share all of the excitement, but DH and I really think it's best financially not to do another WDW trip yet, since we've done two this past year. Today I told him that I was feeling so bad, that maybe I just wouldn't go--I would miss him and DD too much. (I know, I know, it's only a few days, but DH and I are really close. Hey, we must like each other--we work together every day!) Anyway, he said, "Erin, you deserve this. You deserve a special reward for all that you've accomplished, for how hard you've worked." He was so sincere. I thought some more about it--how this journey has been something that I've done as woman for myself, and I think that I have to continue on to the half marathon on my own, with just my WISH pals with me. Simply said, it's a trip that's just going to be about me (and all my WISH buds, of course

) this time.
Gee, I've gotten quite wordy in my sleepiness. I think I'd better just turn off the computer and get some zzzzzs. Tomorrow's another one of my long days, but hey, that's OK.
Big hug to all,
Erin