Grandchildren and magical moments…

I am blessed with 10, soon-to-be 11 grandchildren – 3 granddaughters, 7 grandsons and another grandson on-the-way, due in February. These little miracles are my life…

As of this moment, their ages are 12, 12, 10, 9, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 5, 3 months and 5-months along.

These kids are active, enthusiastic, funny, fun, playful, curious, inventive, adventurous, did I mention active, loving, loving kids… and this Grandma wants to keep up with them as best I can.

This is why I run. This is why I began running 5 years ago. This is why I put on my running shoes and run.

Sometimes I run for joy.

Sometimes I run to think. All by myself.

Lots of times I run to train. I’ve trained for many things, most notably for me a Half Ironman, Half Marathons and two Marathons, including Marine Corps last October. This running I both love… and sometimes get my running shorts in a bundle about; you know, those 20 mile runs – beginning at the crack o’ dawn runs.

But mostly I run, like I live my life, for moments that otherwise I would not have.

We cannot predict magical moments. We all know this. We can only be available for them.

Well, this past Sunday, at The Color Run in downtown Providence, I had a magical moment with my 12-year old granddaughter Maddie… complete with fairy dust!

I was running along the 5k route with my two daughters-in-law, Nicole and Aimee, and my two granddaughters, Taylor and Maddie, when the girls stopped to do what they called Color Angels…

… like Snow Angels, but in the glorious YELLOW powder that lined the street, much like the famous yellow brick road we all know so well.

It was so spontaneous. So perfect. How could I not be a Color Angel, too… remembering the allure of Snow Angels from my own childhood, so long ago.

But the magic?

The magic is Maddie sprinkling the golden fairy dust on me with her beautiful hands and even more beautiful smile.

The magic is the HAPPY tattoo on her cheek that tells the story of the day, the race, the run, the colors, the moment.

This is a Grandma’s most Magical Moment…

Yes, complete with magical golden fairy dust.

This is why this Grandma runs!

#SeeGrandmaRun #SeeGrandmaPlay