WI here we come!

Today I have been thinking non-stop about this coming week.  I almost feel like it's Christmas Eve!! So much to look forward to.  We are headed to Wisconsin!  Yeah, ok, I am sure it's not the destination of anyone's dreams like say Hawaii, but the reason we are going? It is a dream come true for us!  We have worked so hard to get here. I chuckle to myself every time I say that out loud. But like Brad said it was "us" that made this possible.

I think back how many months ago when we sat down to discuss this.  Brad said he was considering seriously trying to qualify for the Games.  He had been to Wodopalooza and the Granite Games, several times.  Both amazing events at truly exciting venues.  But they weren't the "big show" in his opinion.  They weren't the Games.  Brad has always enjoyed competing at any level.  Loves to have something to train for to keep him interested.  Anyway, when we sat to discuss him making a run at the Games we both knew what type of time investment he would have to make, and subsequently the rest of the family would have to make, to even try to qualify.  After a bit of talk and processing we both decided the time was right.  He was really doing well in his training.  Things looked promising.

Then, when we were all psyched for the Open, it happened.  He tore his meniscus.  That right there would have been the end of any kind of qualifying dream for most athletes.  But not Brad.  After getting help from a friend who knows knees (her contact name in my phone is Steph-knee lol) we got that situation as under control as we could.  My husband had to manage some pretty grueling qualifying work outs getting his knee drained, getting cortisone injections and wearing a brace.

I have to admit I was kind of pissed though.  Hadn't he dealt with enough?  He had to live through everything with his dad right before Wodopalooza this past year.  He missed so much training taking care of his dad's end of life issues.  When we sat back and talked about that, it was time he would never trade for any training for any competition.  Moments, some so incredibly hard, that he holds so close to his heart and wouldn't have if he didn't make the decisions he did.  He handled all of that so beautifully, with such love and grace.  Being the epitome of the most amazing son of the world. Taking care of both his mom and his dad, single handedly, and honestly not caring about anything but them? He was the reason that that time in their lives was the easiest it could be.  Making it possible to send my father in law to where ever we all may go after our time here is done, comfortably knowing his wife would be taken care of and watched over by us.

As always he would accept no excuses for not doing as well as he wanted at Wodopalooza.  He thought he just didn't perform as well as he knew he could.  When I mentioned to him all he had to live through, and especially the mental aspect and he still managed to do as well as he did? After all of that ffs???  It's what sets him apart from your average athlete.  That ability to overcome and still manage to do all that he did? That mental toughness? That physicality? You are the whole package and you are amazing!

So those were points I made while we were dealing with this whole knee debacle.  Brad was pragmatic as always and not willing to make excuses for anything.  He would do what he could do and if that got him to the Games?  All the better.  And guess what?  It did get him to the Games....

The big show....

The moment we have worked for...

Nothing was handed to you....

Let's add an extra dose of hard just 'cause the fates were being bitchy....

The moment we made it through these obstacles for....

It came in a congratulatory email that only 20 fifty year olds world wide get....

Now he will bring up he qualified at only 19th.  Good, let everyone dismiss you not realizing how much more you had to endure to qualify at all.  Both physically and mentally.  Let them not know you did all of that injured and mentally preoccupied once again..  Believe me when I say I think Brad suffers more with all that I have to deal with than I do.  Because he can't make me better, he can't help me when I try so hard to walk and look normal, when he finds me having moments when I am truly sad about all of this knowing I will always have to deal with some level of disability now.  But he honors me with saying I am the "why" when he hits a workout up and crushes it.  That me showing the strength and fortitude I show with trying to get through every day, smiling, taking care of my family and myself as beautifully as I do according to him?  It makes him want to smash workouts and give it his best to honor me. Stop it you're making me blush Brad!

Conversely? He's my why too.  He is the reason I look forward to waking up every day and see him laying beside me.  I know how lucky I am.  I see how he gives 110% in everything he does from competing, to work, to being a dad, a son and a husband.  He's nothing short of Superman in my eyes.  Just making it, once again dealing with every thing in front of you? And this time on the next level really?  I can't think of many people who could.  Most would just give in to their reality, use it as an excuse.  But not you, you are my Jon Snow (I would have said Arya but you're a boy hahaha!)** my hero.  The toughest man I know with the softest heart *sigh* the reason mine beats.

I am incredibly proud of him no matter where he finishes.  Even if he finishes 20th?  He can still kick almost anyone's ass hands down.  You've had a ton of adversity to overcome both physically and mentally and yet here we are.  Packing our bags and getting ready to hit Wisconsin up.  Watch out Crossfit Games!  Winter is coming**

The dynamic duo is on it's way, you may never know what hit you!!


**shameless Game of Thrones plugs included for my Bud lol.