Met Colleen, Katie, and Coach D at FAC for a 4X2 mile repeats on the Creek Path. Started out conservatively and then got faster as we went along. 2 mile repeats were 11:22 downhill, 11:29 out and back, 11:12 out and back, 11:09 half mile down 1.5 mile gradual up. Solid workout and pleasant time with great people. After Ali's gymnastics class we met up with Colleen, Tara, and Tasmin at the park. We were pushing the little kiddos on the swings for some time and Colleen was prompting Tara and Bre to pump with their arms and legs while I was working with Abe (I've been working with Abe for three years now and swing pumping still hadn't quite "clicked" for him.) Well today was the day!! Bre all of the sudden got the right motion and started flying high. Of course this egged her brother on and the next thing I knew Abe was flying even higher than Bre!! My kids can finally pump on the swing! Thank goodness. Ali on the other hand didn't have such a stellar day. She wanted to go as high as her brother and sister but started to get tired and ended up falling off onto her back...ouch. Took a nap this afternoon and now we're headed to a "send-off" reception in Castle Rock for my midwife and friend, Jean and Mark Dhority. Jean has felt God calling her to serve the Tarahumara Indian tribe in the Copper Canyons in Mexico for quite some time now. The infamous "running people" spoken of in the book "Born to Run," Tarahumara's have one of the worst infant mortality rates int he world. Jean's mission is to serve, teach and train Tarahumara women about prenatal care, birthing, and postpartum recovery through a birthing clinic. Apparently the current method of birthing among Tarahumara women is just to go off into the wilderness alone when the time comes and sometimes the woman comes back alive with a living baby, sometimes the baby dies, and sometimes the woman never comes back at all. At some point they must have lost their ancient wisdom of midwifery and Jean is on a mission to restore it. Jean was my angel and facilitator throughout Breanne and Ali's amazingly empowering, peaceful homebirths. I'm excited to see Jean one last time before she leaves and send her with support, well wishes, and prayers. After serving as a direct entry midwife here in Colorado for decades, she has made an impact here and will be an amazing blessing to the Tarahumara people. Jean and her husband, Mark have been tying up their affairs and trying to raise enough money for a couple of years now and they are finally financially prepared to leave American civilized life as they know it and "retire" to the rugged life in the Copper Canyons in Mexico. God be with you, Jean and Mark! | 