Getting mentally prepared.
Jared and his red shirt team just starting the race. That's him waving.
The last obstacle, 20 ft high cargo nets!
Jared coming up the hill to approach the last obstacle. Still Smiling!
He looks like he's not attached but he is!
And over!
Holding the cargo net for his team.
One last jump over one last mud pit!
Jared, immediately after the race.
Everyone got a shower courtesy of the FW Fire Dept.
Exhausted, but oh so proud!
My man!
The Team. (left to right) Brian, Stephanie,Ashley,Chris and Jared
The warrior (before the race)I love my husband! I know that is a pretty ambiguous way to start a blog, but that is what came to my mind. I admire so many things about Jared but there are 2 things that come to my mind today, his courage to try new things and his ability to believe in himself and to make other people believe in themselves.
This week end is a perfect case in point. Jared participated in a Mud Run with 4 other people from church. What is a Mud Run you ask? Well, it is running 6.2 miles through mud pits and about 15 obstacles. Some of the obstacles included a rope swing, climbing up and over a 20 ft wall, climbing up and over 20 ft high cargo nets, running through 50 yards of chest deep muddy water, and a 50 yard military crawl through mud. What is amazing to me is that my husband received an email a couple of weeks ago from a Sunday morning bible class at church asking for 1 more participant. He didn't know these people very well but he said, "Sure I'll do it!" He hasn't been running a lot lately much less 6.2 miles with 15 obstacles in between but he said, "Sure I'll do it!" This is what I LOVE about him. I would have been thinking of 1 million reasons why I COULDN'T do it and he is thinking of reasons why he CAN do it. I would immediately fill myself with doubts, "What if I'm the worst on the team? what if I hold them back? what if I can't finish and I embarrass myself? what if the obstacles involve my much dreaded fear of heights?" Jared is thinking, "Man, this will be so much fun! I can't believe I get the chance to do something like this. I can definitely do this. I get to meet 4 new people I didn't know before." I hope so much that Kate will inherit this trait from her Daddy. He seldom lets fear of the unknown enter his life and I am in awe of this. Of course I am not just talking about sports and races. I am talking about other aspects of life. I want her to believe she can do anything she wants to try. I don't want her to be held back by what ifs and self doubt.
I love Jared because he makes me believe in myself. He was my sole inspiration for running 5 ks, running the half marathon, and doing the triathlon. I (being the self doubter and less than refined athlete) would continually ask him, "do you REALLY think I can do this?" He would look me in the eye and say with all confidence, "Of course you can!" When I got a promotion at work I immediately started telling him about another girl I thought would have been better suited for the promotion. He looked at me like I was crazy and said "YOU are the best person for the job." He challenges me to be the best person that I can be. He encourages my dreams. He encourages me to dream big things for myself that I would have never dared to dream. If you are blessed with someone like this in your life, STOP right now and Thank God so much for blessing you with this person. Kate and I are blessed! Thank you God!
3 comments:
Sounds like you and I both were blessed to have married a Gowens!!! I'm not too sure if we'll be able to make the baby shower, but we'll try. We might just stay at home for the weekend to celebrate here (Nov. 17th is my birthday), who knows though!?!? Even if we don't make it I want you to know that we are SO very excited for Miss Kate arrival. We love you two and a half so much! Hope you are well, God Bless!
Shavonne
You are so right. It is an incredible blessing to be married to someone who supports you in everything! John and I both admire Jared's big heart and courage and are continuing to find new reasons to appreciate and respect both of you more and more. I'm with you in usually second guessing myself. These guys who just jump in and do it are amazing to me! Hopefully Kate gets some of both of her wonderful parents in her along with lots of her heavenly Father!
Betsy:
Jared has always had strong self-confidence and willingness to stretch beyond his comfort zone. He was never timid or shy and learned early on that life is too short to limit himself. Just ask him about all those broken bones in childhood? ("Ouch, Aunt Tressie? I think I broke my arm?)
When we worked together, I so enjoyed his willingness to try new things! He was so coachable; way beyond anyone I'd every had the pleasure of training. I love his sense of adventure. He's a very young spirit- and I mean that in the very best sense of the word. Our Grandmother was that type of spirit- sitting in the floor playing Barbie dolls with my daughter even though she was in her 80's! Bottom line- Life will never be dull and plodding!
Now, also remember that spirits like Jared and mine work best with a bit of gentle tempering. Think about Mark and I, we would by most people be considered a very odd pair. . . and I, for one, wouldn't have it any other way!
Love,
Tress
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