Dear Mama Carole,

I miss your advice.
I miss your resilience.
I miss the way you would ask me
the tough questions when no one else would.
I miss praying with you.

I just miss you. 

Tons.

A year ago this week, 

I signed up to run the marathon in your honor. 

4 months ago, instead, I ran it in your memory.

To help me focus and get through, 

I spent a mile praying for each of the 23 people who donated
and remembering great times we had shared
(some of which had me laughing out loud).

The last 3 miles I was going to spend
remembering. praying.honoring.

But you were there all 300 minutes.

Yes, it was hard,
but so incredibly worth it.

Now, 4 months later,
I find myself running...
a lot.

It's my new favorite time to talk to you.