Day 1807 – What I Did Yesterday!

Posted on June 22, 2014 by 365 days of marriage

I had such a blast yesterday! I set up a booth at the Rebel Race in Monkton and met some really awesome people!!!

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Day 1152 – Bret’s Musings on the Most Inspiring Thing He Saw in Texas

Posted on September 5, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

“Hi again everyone! I want to tell about an inspiring experience I had while in Texas. The last race of the race day was a 15k, which is 9.3 miles. During the race, it started pouring. The dirt in that part of Texas is mainly clay, so when it gets wet, it’s a mess. So, not only had it rained pretty well the night before, it got even worse. It was bad: windy, slippery, dark skies, and a bunch of lightning and thunder. It was so bad in fact that almost everyone at the race, runners and workers left the event before half of the runners from the last race were done. But it was the lady in last place that impressed me. She was probably at least 30 minutes behind the next person, basically, a long way back there.

Now, usually we start cleaning up during the last race, but not this time. Everyone that was left, which was mainly a few workers and vendors, and the family of this lady, were huddled under a tent, futilely trying to stay dry, eating to pass the time, while they waited for her to come to the finish. Since it was pouring, there wasn’t much work we could do, or wanted to for that matter. So, I started driving a four wheeler around the course, picking up the cups from the water stations. As I caught up to the lady, I yelled, “You are awesome!” She laughed and replied, “Well, I can’t not finish at this point.” At that point, I think she was about 2 miles from finishing. Also at that point, I think every other runner was done. What also really impressed me was that a guy was walking with her. I don’t know if he was her boyfriend or husband, but I was really happy to see a guy supporting his girl like that. Much of the time she was walking, but she did run some, and I know that she was still doing some of the obstacles.

To tell you how bad it was out there, after I dropped off the trash and came to the tent that everyone was huddled under, they applauded me for being out there. I was a little embarrassed. As I started eating a turkey leg, the lady approached the last obstacle just before the finish line. I was so impressed by her determination that I wanted to run and finish with her. So, I caught up to her, gave her a high five, crawled through the last mud pit, and finished the race with her. Everyone who runs it gets a dog tag that, I think says Rebel Race, but in my opinion, she already had the best reward. Honestly, I was more impressed with her determination and perseverance than that of the person that finished first. In fact, you know what? I don’t even remember who finished first. But I do remember the lady that didn’t give up.”

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Day 1148 – Guest Post – Bret’s Musings On Working With The Rebel Race

Posted on September 1, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

“My last post was about losing my job and being encouraged to start my own businesses and write a couple books. During this past month, I have had some really neat experiences, which I want to talk about.

I went to Texas for a few weeks working for Rebel Race. As I said in my last post, the work was tough, we worked every day, and sometimes all day. That experience was a blessing because I got to spend time with another entrepreneur, which meant I got to see lots of ways to run a business. I also learned some about construction, even if they were just obstacles, and got to see Texas and some of the rest of the states in between.

We drove to Texas in U-haul trucks. That was interesting because I had never driven a truck that long; I think it was like 35 feet. For the first couple hours I was by myself, going down lanes that were narrowed because of construction, with semi trucks getting a little closer than I was at first comfortable with. After stopping at a few hotels, and getting a flat tire, we eventually made it.

The race was set up in a little town about 20 minutes south of Dallas. I did get some time to see Texas. I got to get BBQ a couple times, and went to a local bar a couple times with the other guys I was working with. I also found a neat place to work out so that was a blessing. I also got bit by fire ants which was a first, saw some really weird spiders, and so many grasshoppers that I thought it was a plague. I didn’t see much of Dallas. It had way too many freeways and buildings for me so I wasn’t really comfortable there.

Probably the most notable experience of working with Rebel Race for the past few races has been getting to work with a range of people. In Maryland, I got to work with a man who was probably about 60 years old, rode his bicycle to the event, and slept under one of the canopies during the nights. After the last day of work, I offered to give him a ride, which he was thankful for. Through talking with him, I realized he was homeless, but he wouldn’t allow me to take him much further than Towson because he didn’t want me to go out of my way. But, I got to talk to him about God and being thankful in all circumstances, which I felt really uncomfortable doing knowing that I was going to be sleeping in a bed that night. But he was so thankful for the things I said. He started telling me about a number of bad circumstances in which he felt he had no other explanation for getting out of except that God had helped him. Really remarkable was that he started crying because he was so thankful for the things he had, which were pretty much a few clothes, a bike, and some work a few days a week. I couldn’t believe it; a homeless guy was so thankful for the things he had that he was crying. I reminded him that he already had the most important thing he ever needed. He told me that he was ashamed that he felt he had been thinking only about himself lately, but that he wanted to remember the ways that God had blessed him. I got to pray with him before he rode off, and I was just so humbled by that experience.
In my next post I will share an inspiring experience about not giving up. Until then, I hope that reading about these things will help some of you the way they have helped me.”

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Day 1143 – Update or Where The Heck Have You Guys Been?? or Life is Wonderful

Posted on August 27, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

OK! So I did post about a week ago giving a mini update on where I was. Today I want to tell you what has been going on for the last month in the lives of the Gaitans!

First, Bret helped out with the Rebel Race again, this time he went to Texas! He left on July 31st and returned on August 22nd. Now, you may remember his musings about losing his job at the beginning of July. He shared what we both feel, bottom line, as he said “It really has been one of the best things to happen to me, and I have been able to give thanks in this circumstance.” We still feel this way, even more so now. The money that he earned in Texas, a payment from the GI Bill and we’re in the green until next year. Yea, you read that right, NEXT year. Bret thinks (and I agree) that it was God just covering our eyes to a certain part of our budget and making it clear the direction we should go (move back in with my family, him work with Rebel Race, etc). God is beyond words good. We are SO thankful!

Second, the day before Bret left, a woman was attacked in her home….right across the street from us. So, we decided that I should stay with my parents while he was gone. This also happened the day after we sent in our lease ending letter. Talk about a clear “yep, you made the right decision to move out” sign!

Third, to catch up on my posts, I thought I would share a few things! So, I’ll backtrack with a few wedding ideas, a few of my favorite wedding vendors and share a few anniversaries!

Lastly, thank you to all my wonderful followers, friends and new readers! I appreciate your understanding and patience about new posts! Our lives are getting back to normal…well, normal for us…so expect posts every day again!!! We have a number of engagement sessions and weddings coming up, so lots to look forward to!!!

Oh! And here is a picture of Bret and I in 29 Palms from a few years ago. The past two months have been a great reminder of what we have…and what we don’t have to worry about anymore….namely, the long distance relationship. As Bret says, we’ve been spoiled getting to see each other every day!

Day 1108 – The Course That Bret Helped Build – Rebel Race, New Windsor, NY

Posted on July 23, 2012 by 365 days of marriage

Through a series of events, Bret landed a temp job helping with the Rebel Race. He started helping in Monkton, Maryland and was invited to New York as well. While it was a little hard to be without him for nearly 2 weeks, it was a really great experience for him. It also makes us both VERY thankful for each other!

No picture today, but I wanted to share a video Bret found on YouTube of the race. It’s AWESOME. We were watching and he’s telling me things like “yep, I built that….that’s where I had to dig a pit….that’s where I bush-wacked a path…etc” then he was talking about how on the race day his main job was taking water and supplies to different water stations and staff at obstacles….and he says “oh man, I took water to that guy a LOT….oh hey! That’s me!!!” So, if you watch the video, he is seen at 7:20 and he’s wearing a yellow shirt.

Enjoy!